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Senior Sefardi rabbonim are calling on the public to gather outside Israel’s Prison 10 on Sunday night for a major atzeres tefillah and protest following the arrest and imprisonment of Bnei Brak yeshiva bochur Yisroel Guchafi over his military draft status.

Rav Moshe Maya, the senior member of the Shas Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah, and Rav Shlomo Machpud, a member of the Moetzet, issued a joint call urging widespread participation in the gathering outside the Neve Tzedek military prison.

“It is incumbent upon everyone to participate and protest the arrest of talmidei chachomim at the gathering for the honor of Torah,” the rabbonim declared.

The rally is scheduled for Sunday, 17 Elul, at precisely 9 p.m. outside the gates of Prison 10 at the Neve Tzedek military base.

The latest mobilization comes following the arrest of Guchafi, a Bnei Brak yeshiva bochur who was taken into custody and sent to military prison amid the ongoing enforcement campaign against yeshiva students classified by the authorities as draft evaders.

In a letter issued by Rav Machpud and joined by Rav Maya, the rabbonim placed the call under the heading “Lech kenos es kol haYehudim — Go, gather together all the Jews.”

“In light of the degradation of the honor of Torah and the persecution of those who study it, with the arrest of the yeshiva student, the distinguished bochur R’ Yisroel Guchafi of the city of Bnei Brak, who was arrested and sent to prison for the ‘crime’ of toiling in Torah,” the letter states.

The rabbonim said Guchafi’s arrest has now triggered a commitment previously undertaken by Bnei Brak rabbonim during a major gathering held on 14 Tammuz.

At that gathering, the city’s rabbonim declared that if a Bnei Brak yeshiva bochur or kollel yungerman were arrested, they would unite in defense of kavod haTorah and travel to Prison 10.

The new letter quotes that earlier resolution: “If, G-d forbid, one of the yeshiva students or kollel yungeleit from our city is apprehended, we, the rabbis of Bnei Brak, are hereby joined and united to elevate the honor of Torah, to go out to Prison 10 to cry out and daven before Hashem for the annulment of the decree.”

With Guchafi now imprisoned, the rabbonim are calling on the broader public, and Bnei Brak residents in particular, to fulfill that commitment and join Sunday night’s gathering.

The event is being characterized as an atzeres tefillah, public outcry and demonstration of support for Guchafi and his family, amid the broader confrontation over the arrest of yeshiva bochurim and avreichim who have not reported for military service.

Organizers stressed that the gathering is intended to proceed peacefully and in accordance with the instructions of the rabbonim.

“The gathering will take place with Kiddush Hashem, while observing the instructions of the law and with absolute adherence to the guidance of our rabbonim, the Gedolei Hador, and the ushers at the site,” the announcement states.

The letter concludes with a forceful declaration that the community will continue protesting arrests of those engaged in Torah learning.

“The Torah is our life and the length of our days. We will neither rest nor remain silent over the honor of Torah and those who study it.”

{Matzav.com}

A New York appeals court has rejected the latest attempt by the Gabboim of 770 Eastern Parkway to obtain further review in the years-long legal battle involving the iconic Lubavitch headquarters, denying their request to appeal a January 2024 ruling involving Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch and Agudas Chasidei Chabad.

The one-page order, entered Thursday, August 28, 2026, by the Appellate Division, Second Department, denied a motion filed by Zalman Lipskier, Avrohom Holtzberg and Shalom Ber Kievman. The three had asked the court for permission to challenge the January 2024 decision issued by the Appellate Term.

The court rejected the request.

Although the latest order is exceedingly brief, it represents another consequential development in litigation that has continued for years over the properties and shul facilities at 770 Eastern Parkway and 784-788 Eastern Parkway.

The scope of the new ruling is important. The Appellate Division was not being asked at this stage to conduct a new review of the underlying ownership dispute or issue a fresh determination regarding who owns the properties.

Instead, the Gabboim were seeking the court’s permission to pursue an additional appeal of the Appellate Term’s January 19, 2024 decision.

In Thursday’s order, the Appellate Division described the application by Lipskier, Holtzberg and Kievman as a motion “for leave to appeal” from the January 19, 2024 decision and order.

Having reviewed the submissions from both sides, the four-justice panel issued a succinct determination: “the motion is denied.”

The ruling therefore means that the Appellate Division will not hear the requested appeal.

Justice Francesca E. Connolly signed the decision, with Justices Linda Christopher, Helen Voutsinas and Laurence L. Love concurring.

The latest ruling is the newest chapter in a complicated legal fight that stretches back nearly two decades.

At the center of the litigation are Agudas Chasidei Chabad, which courts have recognized as the owner of 770 Eastern Parkway; Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, the owner of 784-788 Eastern Parkway; and Congregation Lubavitch, Inc., the corporate entity associated with the Gabboim.

The buildings encompass the central Lubavitch shul as well as offices and other facilities. For years, the Gabboim have been involved in the everyday administration of the shul.

The dispute has traveled through several levels of New York’s judicial system, including Supreme Court, the Appellate Division and Civil Court.

In an earlier Supreme Court case, Agudas and Merkos secured an ejectment judgment against Congregation Lubavitch, Inc. involving 770 and 784-788 Eastern Parkway. The court determined that Agudas and Merkos were the respective property owners and were entitled to possession. The Appellate Division later upheld the portion of that judgment ejecting CLI from the properties.

A subsequent phase of the litigation began when Agudas and Merkos initiated summary proceedings seeking possession of their respective premises.

Agudas brought proceedings involving 770 Eastern Parkway, while Merkos pursued proceedings relating to 784-788 Eastern Parkway. Merkos additionally commenced a separate proceeding over office space at 302-304 Kingston Avenue, identified during the litigation as the “Gaboyim-CLI Office.”

After conducting a non-jury trial, the Civil Court issued judgments on January 6, 2022, granting possession to the respective petitioners.

The Gabboim and Congregation Lubavitch appealed those judgments.

That appeal resulted in a January 19, 2024 ruling by the Appellate Term that was considerably more complicated than some accounts of the decision indicated.

The Appellate Term dismissed the cases against several entities that had improperly been named as unincorporated associations and vacated the judgments entered against those entities.

Regarding Congregation Lubavitch, Inc., the court modified the judgments covering 770 and 784-788 Eastern Parkway. It vacated the portions entered against CLI and dismissed those portions of the petitions. The court nevertheless upheld the judgment concerning the office at 302-304 Kingston Avenue.

The reason the proceedings involving CLI and the Eastern Parkway properties were dismissed was largely the doctrine of res judicata, which generally bars parties from relitigating claims that have already received a final judicial determination.

The Appellate Term cited the earlier Supreme Court ejectment litigation, observing that CLI had already been ejected from 770 and 784-788 Eastern Parkway and that the relevant judgment had subsequently been affirmed by the Appellate Division.

Because the question of possession from CLI at those properties had already been adjudicated, the Appellate Term concluded that the later proceedings seeking possession of those same premises from CLI were barred by the previous judgment.

The Kingston Avenue office presented a different situation.

Because the 302-304 Kingston Avenue property had not been included in the earlier ejectment litigation, the Appellate Term found that the proceeding concerning that space was not barred by res judicata. It therefore allowed the judgment regarding that office to stand.

The Appellate Term also turned aside claims that secular courts lacked jurisdiction to resolve the dispute because of its religious dimensions.

The court concluded that questions involving property ownership and possession could be decided through “neutral principles of law,” such as examining deeds, corporate records and bylaws, without requiring judges to rule on matters of religious doctrine.

The Gabboim and CLI subsequently sought another opportunity to challenge the January 2024 decision.

In June 2024, the Appellate Term rejected motions asking it to reconsider its January ruling or, alternatively, to permit an appeal to the Appellate Division.

That denial left another procedural avenue available: asking the Appellate Division directly for permission to hear an appeal.

It was that effort that culminated in Thursday’s decision.

Lipskier, Holtzberg and Kievman asked the Appellate Division for leave to appeal the Appellate Term’s January 19, 2024 ruling.

After reviewing papers submitted in support of and in opposition to their application, the Appellate Division refused to grant permission.

Unlike the extensive January 2024 ruling, Thursday’s order does not reconsider the evidence or analyze the competing arguments regarding ownership, possession, religious questions or the other issues that have surfaced during the litigation.

Its determination is procedural and narrow: the court declined to permit the requested additional appeal.

The practical importance of the decision therefore centers on what remains in place.

The January 2024 Appellate Term ruling continues to govern this particular round of litigation, with the latest effort to secure review by the Appellate Division now unsuccessful.

That decision also exists alongside the earlier Supreme Court and Appellate Division rulings concerning CLI’s ejectment from 770 and 784-788 Eastern Parkway. Indeed, those earlier decisions were the basis for the Appellate Term’s conclusion in 2024 that the subsequent possession claims against CLI were barred by res judicata.

Thursday’s order does not newly rule that the Gabboim must physically leave the shul, nor does it issue a separate determination governing the everyday operation or administration of 770. Its immediate effect is to shut down another attempted route for appellate review of the January 2024 ruling.

Throughout the long-running fight, New York courts have addressed distinct questions involving legal ownership of the properties, the right to possession and the practical administration of the shul — issues that should not be treated as interchangeable.

After years of litigation across multiple courts, the August 28 order marks another significant procedural setback for the Gabboim and further narrows the remaining avenues for challenging the rulings that have shaped the legal battle over 770.

Likud minister Eli Cohen is accusing Israeli pollsters of consistently underestimating the political right, arguing that current surveys do not accurately reflect the strength of Likud and predicting that undecided right-wing voters will ultimately return to the party when elections are held.

Cohen made the comments in his first interview with Ynet since scoring a major victory in the Likud primaries, where he finished first by a wide margin and emerged in a significantly strengthened position within the ruling party.

“Actions beat populism and shouting,” Cohen told Ynet, arguing that Likud members rewarded his record in government rather than political rhetoric.

Cohen pointed to accomplishments from his tenures in the Foreign and Energy ministries, including securing visa-free travel to the United States for Israelis, the natural gas agreement with Egypt, maintaining Israel’s energy sector during wartime and breaking the Israel Electric Corporation’s monopoly.

Despite his strong showing in the primaries and his growing standing within Likud, Cohen declined to engage in speculation about the party’s leadership after Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.

“That question is not relevant right now,” Cohen said, stressing that Likud is united behind Netanyahu as the party prepares for the upcoming elections.

Cohen did, however, make clear which senior government position he would like to hold next: finance minister.

According to Cohen, the Finance Ministry should remain under Likud control following the election. He said the next finance minister should prioritize economic growth, reducing the cost of living, increasing employment and narrowing economic disparities, rather than concentrating primarily on the distribution of government funding.

On the contentious issue of Chareidi military service, Cohen adopted an unequivocal position.

“Our Chareidi brothers must also enlist,” Cohen said.

He argued that those for whom Toraso umnaso does not apply should participate in military service, describing increased enlistment as a security, economic and social necessity for Israel.

Cohen also addressed Israel’s confrontation with Iran, saying the country achieved substantial successes in the campaign and significantly delayed Tehran’s nuclear program.

He warned that Israel remains prepared to act again if Iran attempts to rebuild either its nuclear program or its ballistic missile capabilities.

Turning to domestic politics, Cohen challenged the accuracy of recent election polling, maintaining that Likud and the broader right-wing bloc have repeatedly been underestimated by surveys.

Cohen pointed to previous Israeli elections in which, he said, right-wing parties ultimately performed better at the ballot box than polling had suggested beforehand. He predicted that a similar pattern could emerge in the coming election, with voters from the nationalist camp who currently describe themselves as undecided eventually returning to the right when they enter the voting booth.

Cohen also addressed the October 7 massacre, saying Israel should establish a national commission of inquiry with a mandate to examine the conduct of the country’s institutions and decision-makers over a period of years.

At the same time, Cohen argued that Israel’s position in the region has changed dramatically since October 7, saying that the country has emerged as the strongest and most formidable power in the Middle East.

{Matzav.com}

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth forcefully denied a report that he is considering a run for president in 2028, rejecting claims that he has privately discussed a possible White House campaign with friends and associates.

Hegseth, who worked at Fox News before joining the Trump administration, responded to the report on X, calling it “100% false” and saying he had directly informed NBC News that he had no plans to run.

He accused the outlet of disregarding his denial, writing that he told NBC he wasn’t running, “but they just lie w/ anonymous ‘sources.’”

The NBC News report, published Friday, said Hegseth had spoken with people close to him about the possibility of seeking the presidency in 2028. The report also pointed to his recent appearance at the Iowa State Fair as one indication that he could be positioning himself for a national campaign.

Hegseth’s trip to the politically significant early-voting state, however, was officially made on behalf of Rep. Zach Nunn, an Iowa Republican for whom the defense secretary was campaigning.

No major contender has formally entered the race for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, leaving the prospective field largely a matter of speculation.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has publicly acknowledged that he is interested in another presidential run. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have also frequently been mentioned among potential Republican contenders.

Hegseth has previously sought elected office, although his only campaign ended before reaching the primary ballot.

In 2012, he launched a bid for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Minnesota. Hegseth ultimately withdrew from the contest following the state Republican Party convention.

Two years later, Hegseth joined Fox News as a contributor and went on to become a prominent conservative media personality.

President Trump nominated Hegseth in 2024 to lead the Department of Defense, and he has served as defense secretary since early 2025.

Speculation over the Republican Party’s post-Trump presidential field has intensified ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, although several of the figures most frequently discussed have stopped short of announcing campaigns.

Prediction markets currently show Vance receiving the most attention among possible GOP nominees. Kalshi gives the vice president a 44% probability of winning the Republican nomination, followed by Rubio at 19%, while no other prospective candidate is above 5%.

Vance has said he intends to make a decision about his political future after the midterm elections.

Rubio, meanwhile, has said he would support Vance for the Republican nomination if the vice president decides to seek the presidency.

The two men have nevertheless been associated with different currents within the Republican Party. Vance has generally been identified with the populist wing of the GOP and its skepticism toward some forms of American intervention overseas, while Rubio has historically been associated with the more traditional interventionist foreign-policy approach that held greater influence within the party before Trump’s rise.

{Matzav.com}

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday that she wants U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement disbanded and replaced by the old Immigration and Naturalization Service, accusing ICE of “wreaking havoc across America” even as she insisted New York will continue cooperating with federal authorities to remove immigrants who commit crimes.

Hochul made the remarks during an appearance on MS NOW’s “Morning Joe” while discussing newly enacted New York legislation restricting agreements that allow local law enforcement agencies to assist ICE with civil immigration enforcement.

The Democratic governor began by drawing a distinction between cooperation with federal authorities involving criminals and the use of local police officers for broader immigration enforcement.

“New York state will never be a sanctuary for criminals, full stop. We work with federal law enforcement, including ICE, when it comes to protecting New Yorkers, and that means we always have and always will work to get criminals off the streets and in the criminal justice system, get their justice, go to jail, and then go back to their home country. That’s how we do it in New York.”

Hochul then turned to agreements that some New York counties have maintained with ICE, arguing that local police resources should not be used to enforce federal civil immigration laws.

“But what we had before was, there were counties that had relationships with ICE, formal agreements, where they would actually be using local law enforcement for civil immigration enforcement. I’m not talking about criminals. I’m talking about someone who the only offense is coming into this country, and these are people with temporary protective status, maybe they had a green card, a work permit, married to an American citizen. They’re going after everybody, because they have to hit those inane Stephen Miller quotas. So, I’ve said, and we passed a law, and it went into effect just this week, you cannot have those agreements with ICE to be using local cops for doing your job, ICE. I want local cops focused on local crimes. And crime has gone down dramatically since I’ve been Governor in the state of New York for the last five years, and it’s because I’ve invested money in law enforcement. We’re building trust between communities and law enforcement.”

The governor argued that assigning local officers to immigration enforcement can divert them from responding to violent crime and other public-safety needs in their own communities.

Hochul then escalated her criticism of ICE itself, saying the massive federal agency should be capable of carrying out immigration enforcement without relying on local police departments.

“It has nothing to do with having our local police diverted from catching the rapists, catching the murderers, responding to an emergency, and doing ICE’s job for them. It’s an $85 billion agency. I think they can take care of themselves. In fact, I wish they would just disband and go back to the old Immigration and Naturalization Service. Remember old INS? People trusted them. They did their jobs. This is a rogue policing state that is wreaking havoc across America. In New York, we say, no more.”

The INS, which Hochul invoked as her preferred model, ceased to exist in 2003 when its immigration responsibilities were divided among agencies within the newly created Department of Homeland Security, including ICE.

Hochul’s comments came as immigration enforcement remains a major point of confrontation between Democratic-led states and the Trump administration, which has pursued an aggressive nationwide campaign to identify, detain and deport illegal immigrants.

The New York governor’s newly signed legislation places the state squarely in that battle by barring local law enforcement agencies from entering certain agreements under which their officers perform immigration-related functions on behalf of ICE.

At the same time, Hochul sought to reject the characterization that her policy would protect immigrants who commit serious crimes, repeatedly emphasizing that New York authorities will continue working with federal law enforcement in criminal cases.

Her broader condemnation of ICE, however, went considerably further than criticism of individual enforcement tactics. Hochul said she wants the agency itself eliminated, arguing that the country should return to an immigration enforcement structure resembling the system that existed before ICE was created more than two decades ago.

{Matzav.com}

A weeks-long crisis over school admissions in London came to a dramatic resolution on Erev Shabbos, when all 20 girls who had remained without a school placement were successfully accepted into institutions, following an unprecedented directive from the city’s rabbonim that no school would be permitted to open until every girl had a place, Matzav.com has learned.

The development brought an end to an issue that had consumed London’s Chareidi community in recent weeks and has drawn considerable attention elsewhere, where families routinely face similar placement struggles at the beginning of the school year.

As previously reported, the rabbonim of the Badatz of Hisachdus Kehillos Hachareidim in London took the extraordinary step of ruling that none of the city’s schools could begin the new school year as long as even one girl remained without an appropriate placement.

The rabbonim had initially sent a warning letter approximately a month ago, calling for the situation to be resolved before the beginning of the new school year.

When the deadline approached and 20 girls still had no school to attend, the Badatz followed through. Last week, the rabbonim formally announced that the schools would not be allowed to open their doors at the beginning of the zeman until the placement problem was resolved in its entirety.

The sweeping directive meant that the entire school system would remain closed rather than allow the school year to begin while a group of girls remained at home.

The ruling generated considerable urgency throughout the community and triggered intensive efforts behind the scenes to find appropriate placements for each of the remaining students.

Those efforts ultimately succeeded.

By Friday, all 20 girls who had been without placements had been accepted into schools, resolving the crisis before the school year began.

Following the breakthrough, the members of the Badatz issued a new letter on Friday announcing that, with every girl now provided for, the schools could open as scheduled.

The outcome has drawn widespread praise in Chareidi circles, with many pointing to London’s handling of the crisis as a possible model for other communities struggling with the painful phenomenon of girls beginning a school year without a placement.

Supporters of the approach noted that admissions disputes can sometimes leave individual families struggling largely on their own, particularly when a girl lacks the connections or influence that might help secure her admission to a desired institution.

In London, the rabbonim effectively made the plight of those girls a responsibility of the entire community. By tying the opening of every school to the placement of every student, the directive created enormous pressure to find a solution rather than allowing the unresolved cases to linger after classes began.

The successful outcome has prompted calls for other Chareidi communities to consider adopting a similar approach.

“May everyone copy this blessed model,” some in the Chareidi community said following news that the final placements had been completed.

The episode has attracted particular attention because placement controversies are hardly unique to London. Each year, families in Chareidi communities elsewhere face the anguish of reaching the beginning of the school year while their daughters remain without an institution.

The London rabbonim’s response established a straightforward principle: the school year would begin for everyone only when there was a school for everyone.

With all 20 girls now placed, London’s schools have been cleared to open — and a crisis that only days earlier threatened to delay the start of the entire school system has ended with every student having a place to begin the new year.

{Matzav.com}

A simmering dispute over Shabbos traffic in Bnei Brak escalated on Friday when large dumpsters were placed across an access road leading into a neighborhood shared by Chareidi and secular residents, effectively blocking vehicles from entering or leaving until police arrived and cleared the roadway.

The dumpsters were positioned shortly before the onset of Shabbos at the entrance to the city’s Mitcham HaSofrim neighborhood. According to Ynet, individuals associated with the Bnei Brak municipality were responsible for placing them there, although the municipality denied that the blockade had been officially authorized.

Residents contacted police and complained that the dumpsters had effectively trapped them inside the neighborhood. Officers dispatched to the scene subsequently had the containers moved, reopening the road to traffic several hours after they had been put in place.

Police also summoned the truck driver who transported and positioned the dumpsters for questioning on suspicion of endangering a transportation route.

The driver reportedly told investigators that he had been carrying out work on behalf of the Bnei Brak municipality. City officials, however, denied instructing anyone to place the dumpsters across the road.

The incident marked the latest escalation in a growing conflict over Shabbos traffic in Mitcham HaSofrim, a relatively new Bnei Brak neighborhood constructed as part of Israel’s Mechir Lamishtaken affordable housing program.

Unlike many other areas of Bnei Brak, the development includes both Chareidi and secular residents who moved there from communities around the country. Tensions have recently intensified over the use of neighborhood roads by vehicles on Shabbos.

The dispute had already spilled onto the street the previous week, when Chareidi residents placed a barrier across the roadway in an effort to prevent Shabbos traffic. Police removed that obstruction as well, determining that the road closure was illegal.

The confrontation continued Friday evening, with some Chareidi residents accusing others in the neighborhood of deliberately attempting to change Bnei Brak’s religious character.

A police source, however, said provocative behavior has occurred on the other side of the dispute as well.

“Even the secular residents deliberately provoke the Chareidim, driving wildly and doing donuts. Anyone who enters by car via the new Landa Bridge passes by shuls. The secular residents have another way to enter,” the source said.

Police said the Bnei Brak municipality had not issued a lawful decision under its municipal bylaws authorizing the road to be closed.

Authorities have reportedly suggested that the two sides bring the dispute before a court and seek a legal determination over access to the road and Shabbos traffic.

For now, however, no resolution has been reached, leaving Chareidi and secular residents of the neighborhood locked in an increasingly bitter dispute over Shabbos observance and vehicle access in one of Israel’s most heavily Chareidi cities.

Dozens of Chareidi protesters blocked the main entrance to Yerushalayim on Shabbos afternoon, preventing Egged buses from entering the capital before the conclusion of Shabbos in an escalating protest against public transportation operating during the holy day.

The demonstration unfolded near the Chords Bridge and Weizmann Boulevard, where protesters moved into the roadway and erected makeshift barriers. At least 13 intercity buses arriving from northern Israel were ultimately prevented from continuing toward the city, according to multiple Israeli reports.

The buses operate on routes connecting northern Israel with Yerushalayim and arrive in the capital while Shabbos is still underway. According to reports, the routes have operated for years under the existing status quo, with passengers dropped off outside the Central Bus Station rather than inside the terminal.

The protesters specifically targeted the Egged buses, with reports from the scene indicating that private vehicles were largely able to maneuver around the demonstration during its earlier stages. The roadway itself was subsequently blocked as the protest expanded.

Journalist Liran Tamari, who documented the scene, initially reported that approximately 10 buses had already been stuck for half an hour while there was no visible police presence. Later reports placed the number of stranded buses at at least 13.

The protest was the second consecutive week in which Chareidim demonstrated at the entrance to Yerushalayim over buses traveling during Shabbos. A local Chareidi report said buses were unable to proceed toward the Central Bus Station for an extended period.

Police eventually announced that reinforced forces were heading to the entrance to Yerushalayim to disperse the protesters and restore normal traffic. Officers also directed motorists toward alternative routes as the blockade continued.

According to a report in Yeshiva World News, police made the announcement approximately an hour after the blockade began and only minutes before the conclusion of Shabbos. Security officials reportedly sought to proceed cautiously because of the timing and the potential for clashes with the protesters.

The demonstration eventually ended after Shabbos, with police reporting that the protesters had left the area and traffic had returned to normal. One police account said the disruptions lasted nearly two hours before the demonstration was dispersed.

The Yerushalayim protest was part of a broader series of confrontations over chillul Shabbos that unfolded in several Israeli cities over the weekend.

In Tzfas, approximately 20 Chareidi protesters attempted to interfere with bus traffic at the Meron Junction on routes operating between Tzfas and Nahariya. Similar demonstrations have taken place there repeatedly on Shabbos.

Tensions have also erupted inside Yerushalayim itself over businesses operating on Shabbos, including demonstrations outside the “Basimta” café.

Yerushalayim Deputy Mayor Adir Schwartz sharply condemned the blockade, calling it a “crossing of a red line.” He argued that attempts to shut down the capital on Shabbos through pressure would encounter resistance from Yerushalayim residents.

{Matzav.com}

A heated discussion over Chareidi voting patterns erupted on an Israeli current affairs program after journalist Ari Kalman argued that the identity of United Torah Judaism’s individual candidates is largely irrelevant to its voters, declaring that the party could put “four monkeys” on its slate and still win seven Knesset seats.

Speaking during a discussion on Kikar HaShabbat’s “Kipot Shchorot” program, Kalman said Chareidi voters cast their ballots based primarily on adherence to the instructions of their rabbonim rather than their personal opinions of the politicians appearing on the ballot.

“This is the beautiful thing about the Chareidi public, that it votes for an idea. To do what the rabbis tell us, even if we don’t understand them,” Kalman said.

Kalman maintained that voters supporting UTJ are therefore not making their decision based on the identities or placement of individual candidates on the party slate.

“We don’t vote because Gafni is number one and Yaakov Asher is number three. Put four monkeys there — and they will still get seven seats,” he said.

Kalman’s remarks sparked a sharp response from fellow panelist Yaakov Wieder, who challenged the notion that Chareidi political representatives themselves consistently follow rabbinic guidance once they are in office.

Wieder focused particularly on municipal politics, arguing that Chareidi political operatives invoke rabbinic authority when seeking votes while making many of their everyday political and financial decisions independently.

“The budget of the mayor of Bnei Brak, 3,000 shekels a day, did he receive approval from a rabbi? Probably not,” Wieder said.

He then leveled a broader accusation at Chareidi political operatives: “They make use of a rabbi once every four years.”

During the discussion, Netanel Isaac described Wieder as a “trailblazer” who has been subjected to “political lynchings” over his positions.

Wieder argued that Chareidi voters are conditioned from a young age to view political obedience through stark religious terms, describing a system of pressure in which voting choices can become associated with concepts of Gan Eden and Gehinnom.

He maintained that this dynamic should be separated from municipal elections, where he argued that residents should focus on the performance of local officials and whether those representatives are serving their constituents.

“Voting, especially for a municipality, is voting for whoever works for you, for whoever does not harm you,” Wieder said.

The contentious exchange aired on “Kipot Shchorot,” Kikar HaShabbat’s program hosted by Yossi Sargovsky, with the debate over rabbinic authority, political operatives and the voting habits of the Chareidi community generating considerable discussion online.

{Matzav.com}

Israel has formally rejected the Trump administration-backed 15-point Gaza plan, but behind the scenes Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has reportedly reached understandings with the Board of Peace on several of the proposal’s central provisions, including the disarmament of Hamas, mechanisms for monitoring the process and urgent humanitarian issues in the Gaza Strip.

According to a report by Israel Hayom, the quiet understandings were reached despite Jerusalem’s public insistence that the 15-point framework presented by the Board of Peace is unacceptable. Significant disagreements remain, however, particularly over what Hamas disarmament would actually entail.

The political calendar is further complicating efforts to move the process forward. With elections approaching in both Israel and the United States, Israeli officials are reportedly reluctant to take steps that could be portrayed domestically as concessions, raising the likelihood that major decisions will be postponed.

The most serious dispute centers on Hamas’s weapons. Nikolay Mladenov, a representative of the Board of Peace, has reportedly made clear that the agreement requires Hamas to surrender all of its weapons and provide maps identifying its tunnel network.

Hamas, however, is presenting a sharply different interpretation. Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan claims the understandings call only for the organization’s heavy weapons to be transferred to the control of a Palestinian technocratic government, with the process overseen by Palestinian “resistance” organizations and without foreign involvement.

Hamas is also reportedly refusing to surrender its weapons to the multinational force that is supposed to operate in Gaza. The terror group is additionally opposing Shin Bet security screening of Hamas personnel seeking to join the new police force envisioned for the Strip.

The Board of Peace and the Trump administration are reportedly attempting to use Hamas’s deteriorating financial position as leverage to force the terror organization to accept the disarmament demands. Hamas has struggled to pay salaries and collect taxes, leaving the organization under mounting economic pressure.

Israeli officials remain deeply skeptical that Hamas will ultimately honor any commitments it makes. The assessment in Jerusalem is reportedly that Hamas will accuse Israel of violating its obligations and use those allegations to justify failing to carry out its own commitments, potentially leaving the process stalled until after the elections.

At the same time, Israel and the Board of Peace have reached understandings on several urgent civilian issues. Plans are being advanced to address sewage and sanitation problems in Gaza before the winter, including concerns that untreated sewage could eventually contaminate the coastline near Ashkelon.

A proposed reopening of the Erez Crossing has meanwhile been frozen. Netanyahu and the defense minister reportedly reversed course on the matter following pressure from right-wing organizations.

Disagreements have also emerged over the entry of tents into Gaza, amid Israeli concerns that some materials brought into the Strip could be repurposed for the manufacture of weapons.

Responsibility for physically collecting Hamas’s weapons is supposed to fall to the International Stabilization Force, or ISF, a multinational force that has yet to become operational.

Military representatives from countries expected to participate in the force, including Uganda, Morocco and Kosovo, have already visited areas where the ISF is expected to deploy. The actual troops, however, are reportedly unlikely to arrive in the near future.

Israel Hayom reported that several unresolved obstacles are delaying the deployment. Israel wants agreement on precisely how Hamas’s weapons will be surrendered, stored and ultimately destroyed, while Hamas continues to reject handing its arsenal to a non-Palestinian force.

The countries expected to contribute troops to the ISF are also wary of placing their soldiers in a position where they could become embroiled in armed confrontations with Hamas.

In a statement issued over the weekend, the Board of Peace said it had delivered a direct message to Hamas through intermediaries demanding an immediate end to all armed activity emanating from Gaza, including the recent launching of kites into Israeli territory.

The Board of Peace also conveyed a message to Israel regarding its obligations under the ceasefire, stressing that all parties must abide by the agreement.

It further told Israel that military operations cannot continue beyond what is necessary to respond to genuine and immediate threats, underscoring the delicate balance Washington and the Board of Peace are attempting to maintain as they push both sides toward implementation of the Gaza framework.

{Matzav.com}

A 20-year-old Trenton woman who authorities say had never possessed a driver’s license in any state has been charged with manslaughter after allegedly striking a mother and her two young children in the parking lot of NPGS in Jackson on Friday, killing an infant boy and injuring his mother and sister.

The child, Yitzchok Rosenberg, was approximately eight months old. He was rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center following the crash but was tragically pronounced deceased.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer identified the driver as Maria CobonGuzman, 20, of Trenton. Prosecutors say she was operating a Ford Fusion when the vehicle struck the family shortly before noon Friday.

Jackson Township police officers were dispatched at approximately 11:55 a.m. to the NPGS grocery store on West County Line Road after receiving a report of a motor vehicle crash involving pedestrians. When officers arrived, they found that a mother and her two children — a five-year-old girl and an infant boy — had been struck in the parking lot.

The mother had been pushing a baby carriage carrying the two children when the Ford Fusion struck them, according to investigators. All three victims were transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune. The infant was pronounced dead at the hospital, while his mother and five-year-old sister remained hospitalized in stable condition as of Shabbos afternoon.

Central Jersey Hatzolah and other emergency personnel responded to the horrific scene, and a Mass Casualty Incident was declared because of the number of victims and the severity of their injuries, according to frum media reports.

The public has been asked to continue davening for the injured mother and daughter, Chana Golda bas Leah Shaindel and Rochel bas Golda Chana.

The investigation quickly turned to the woman behind the wheel. Authorities determined that CobonGuzman did not merely lack a valid New Jersey license at the time of the crash; prosecutors allege that she had never been issued or possessed a valid driver’s license in New Jersey or anywhere else in the United States.

CobonGuzman has now been charged with manslaughter, operating a motor vehicle without ever having possessed or been issued a valid driver’s license while involved in a fatal motor vehicle crash, and two counts of assault by auto.

Authorities also arrested a second woman, Ariadna Lazaro-Flores, 22, of Toms River, over her alleged role in allowing CobonGuzman to get behind the wheel.

Investigators allege that Lazaro-Flores knew CobonGuzman had never possessed a valid driver’s license but nevertheless permitted her to operate the Ford Fusion. Lazaro-Flores was charged with knowingly engaging in conduct creating a substantial risk of death to another.

Both CobonGuzman and Lazaro-Flores were taken into custody and transported to the Ocean County Jail, where they were being held pending detention hearings.

The tragedy sent shockwaves through Jackson and the greater Lakewood community on Friday as word spread that a mother and two children had been critically injured outside the heavily frequented kosher supermarket.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad and High Tech Crime Squad are investigating the crash together with the Jackson Township Police Department, Lakewood Township Police Department and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit.

Authorities have not publicly disclosed additional details about what caused CobonGuzman to strike the family or the precise circumstances under which she came to be driving the vehicle.

The investigation remains ongoing.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump announced Friday that the United States has reached a sweeping oil agreement with Venezuela that he says will give the U.S. majority control over more than 65 billion barrels of proven Venezuelan oil reserves, bring massive private investment to the country and help push down gasoline prices for Americans.

In a social media post announcing the agreement, Trump called it “THE BIGGEST OIL DEAL IN WORLD HISTORY” and said the arrangement would place a majority stake in more than 65 billion barrels of Venezuela’s proven reserves under U.S. control.

Trump said the enormous new source of oil would serve American energy interests for decades and “substantially lower” gas prices for Americans “long into the future.”

The announcement comes as Americans have faced sharply rising oil and gasoline prices amid the war with Iran, which reached the six-month mark on Friday.

“At my direction, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, working closely with Highly Respected Interim President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, and, through a partnership with private business, have secured majority U.S. control of more than 65 BILLION BARRELS of proven Oil Reserves in Venezuela, at no cost to the American Taxpayer,” Trump said in the post.

An American official familiar with the agreement told ABC News that the U.S. will hold a 55% share in a joint venture involving a private Venezuelan company. That stake will be divided between equity ownership and oil production.

The arrangement creates the “second-largest private oil company by reserves in the world,” the official added.

Under the agreement, Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodriguez granted the private company a 100-year lease covering oil fields containing an estimated 65 billion barrels of proven reserves, according to the U.S. official.

Rodriguez welcomed the agreement in an English-language statement posted on social media, saying it would “have a significant impact on our nation’s revival.”

The American official said oil produced by the company and supplied at cost will be used in part to replenish the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The arrangement is also expected to provide oil for use by the U.S. military.

According to the official, negotiations leading to the agreement were conducted by the State Department and Defense Department.

The deal comes after years of severe economic turmoil in Venezuela. The country suffered another major blow in June, when two powerful earthquakes struck in quick succession, killing more than 6,000 people.

Rodriguez thanked Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their roles in securing the agreement, describing the pact as a “historic milestone” in the relationship between Washington and Caracas.

“The agreement will allow for a significant increase in oil production with the participation of private operators,” Rodriguez said in the statement, saying the deal calls for the development of 17 strategic fields, with a proven potential of 65 billion barrels of oil, and an investment of more than $100 billion, and more than $209 billion in tax revenue.

“Venezuela is thus ushering in a new era of recovery, growth, production, security, and prosperity for our people,” she said in the post.

Venezuela possesses the world’s largest recognized proven oil reserves, although years of economic deterioration and underinvestment have severely hampered its ability to fully exploit those resources.

Chevron, currently the only American oil company operating in Venezuela, declined to comment on Trump’s announcement.

Trump said the massive energy agreement would also “greatly strengthen” relations between Washington and Caracas, marking a dramatic shift in the relationship between the two countries.

That relationship was transformed in January, when the United States conducted a military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of then-President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. The two were brought to the United States to face federal charges that include narco-terrorism and drug trafficking.

Maduro and his wife have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Their trial is scheduled to take place in New York City in 2027.

Rubio also celebrated the new energy agreement in a social media post, calling it a “huge win” for both countries.

“It demonstrates how President Trump’s bold foreign policy is driving America First wins: securing stable reserves and low-cost oil in our Hemisphere and lowering gas prices here at home,” Rubio said in the post. “For the Venezuelan people, this deal will bring nearly $100 billion in private investment, support thousands of high-paying jobs, and drive the reconstruction of Venezuela’s economy.”

{Matzav.com}

President Trump lashed out at New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday after she declared that the state would refuse to recognize his decision to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America,” accusing the Democratic governor of siding with Canada while the two countries remain locked in a bitter trade dispute.

“Governor Kathy Hochul is for Canada,” Trump fumed on Truth Social, “a Country that has been ripping off New York State for years, especially under her Administration, instead of the good ‘ol USA.”

“Can you imagine her saying that she won’t respect or acknowledge LAKE AMERICA,” the president continued. “That’s why the Dumocrats are so bad for our Country.”

The clash erupted after Trump on Thursday signed documents directing that Lake Ontario be renamed “Lake America,” with the change taking effect immediately. The move came amid escalating trade tensions between Washington and Ottawa.

Lake Ontario shares a lengthy border between the United States and Canada, with approximately 250 miles of its shoreline running along northern New York.

Hochul quickly rejected Trump’s proclamation. Shortly after the president signed the order, she posted on X that “New York won’t be calling it that.”

Trump responded with another Truth Social post in which he called Hochul “stupid” and argued that Canada has deliberately targeted New York with its tariffs because Canadian officials view the governor as politically weak.

“They’re aiming at her because they consider her Weak and Ineffective — Not nice!” the president argued.

Trump continued his attack by accusing Hochul of preferring to hand Canada a political victory rather than embrace the new name, while claiming that Canada has treated New York like “garbage.”

“She doesn’t want us to use the name, ‘Lake America,’ she’d rather have Canada get a win,” Trump continued.

The president used both posts to turn the dispute into an issue in New York’s gubernatorial election, urging voters to support Republican candidate Bruce Blakeman against Hochul in November.

Trump concluded by offering an enthusiastic endorsement of Blakeman, portraying him as an aggressive political fighter who would cut taxes and crack down on crime.

“He’s an ‘animal,’ he fights like hell, he doesn’t let anyone else win,” Trump said of Blakeman. “He’s for the people. He’s smart and cunning, and will Lower your Taxes, and Stop Crime.”

Concern continues to mount throughout Vizhnitz and the broader chassidishe world over the condition of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, as his son issued an emotional and urgent appeal for tefillos, saying that his father is undergoing extremely difficult treatments and is in need of great rachamei Shomayim.

The Vizhnitzer Rebbe is currently staying in Moshav Ora while receiving treatment. On Shabbos morning, after receiving an aliyah, the Belzer Rebbe instructed that a Mi Shebeirach be recited for the complete refuah of his brother-in-law, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, Rav Yisroel ben Leah Esther.

Ahead of Shabbos, the Vizhnitzer bais din called upon chassidim to recite the fourth book of Tehillim on Friday night as a zechus for the Rebbe’s recovery. The Rebbe’s son, Rav Yaakov Mordechai Hager, av bais din of Vizhnitz Elad, also delivered a tearful message to Vizhnitzer chassidim and Jews everywhere, pleading with them to intensify their tefillos.

Speaking in a recording distributed through the Vizhnitz information line, Rav Yaakov Mordechai said: “An emergency cry from every place, to men, women and children and to all of Klal Yisroel: Why are you sleeping? The condition of the Rebbe, our father and shepherd, is very far from good. The Rebbe is undergoing very difficult treatments that weaken him. For two years already, the Rebbe has been suffering greatly from the illness, and these are terrible sufferings. It is already impossible to watch this and endure it. We need a healthy and strong Rebbe, and, G-d forbid, there is no end in sight, that is what the doctors are saying.”

Rav Yaakov Mordechai went on to invoke his father’s constant emphasis on maintaining a close connection with the Ribono Shel Olam, urging the public to use the special opportunity of the month of Elul to plead for the Rebbe’s recovery.

“How much our father always speaks about being connected to the Ribono Shel Olam, and our strength is only through our mouths, to ask of HaKadosh Baruch Hu, especially during these days, when it is written in the seforim hakedoshim that the King is in the field, when it is possible to ask more of HaKadosh Baruch Hu. We are asking for a gift from HaKadosh Baruch Hu. The Rebbe said that 5787 is an acronym for ‘Tehei Shnas Zayin Freilach.’ This is what we see with our father, that constantly, even in this condition, he remains freilach with HaKadosh Baruch Hu, happy with HaKadosh Baruch Hu.”

The emotional appeal comes amid continued concern over the Rebbe’s health and heightened efforts throughout Vizhnitz to increase tefillah for his recovery.

Last week, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Monsey traveled to Moshav Ora to visit his cousin, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe. Because of the circumstances, only four accompanying individuals were permitted to enter. The two Rebbes spent an extended period together, speaking privately for approximately an hour.

The Vizhnitzer Rebbe subsequently sent his son, Rav Chaim Meir Hager, av bais din of Vizhnitz, together with his gabbai, Rav Ben Tzion Stanger, to spend Shabbos in Meron with the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Monsey.

During Seudah Shlishis, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Monsey called upon those assembled to increase their tefillos for the Vizhnitzer Rebbe’s recovery, stressing that “the generation needs him.”

Preparations are meanwhile underway for the upcoming Shabbos Selichos. The Vizhnitzer Rebbe is not expected to spend Shabbos in the Vizhnitz neighborhood, but plans call for him to arrive on Motzoei Shabbos for the first Selichos, which will be recited in the presence of a massive crowd. Thousands of chassidim are expected to travel from communities across Eretz Yisroel for the occasion.

In the meantime, organized transportation is bringing groups of Vizhnitzer chassidim from cities throughout Eretz Yisroel to Moshav Ora, where they are being received by the Rebbe for kvittlach. The visits are being arranged in advance through a registration system as Vizhnitzer chassidim continue to intensify their tefillos for the refuah sheleimah of Rav Yisroel ben Leah Esther.

{Matzav.com}

British conservative provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos has been deported from the United States to the United Kingdom after immigration authorities arrested him in Louisiana for allegedly remaining in the country beyond his authorized stay, U.S. officials said Saturday.

The Department of Homeland Security said Yiannopoulos was sent back to Britain on Friday. Authorities said he had legally entered the United States in May 2019 but subsequently overstayed. An immigration judge ordered him removed on July 22 after he failed to appear for an immigration hearing, according to a DHS spokesperson.

Yiannopoulos was taken into custody Thursday at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Representatives for Yiannopoulos did not respond to requests seeking comment on his deportation.

Yiannopoulos became widely known for his outspoken conservative activism and provocative commentary on feminism, Islam and immigration. He has also been a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies.

Immigration authorities initially announced Yiannopoulos’ arrest Friday, saying the British national had entered the United States legally through New York City in May 2019 before remaining beyond his authorized period. DHS said an immigration judge issued the July 22 removal order after Yiannopoulos failed to attend his scheduled immigration proceeding.

“He chose to overstay his welcome in violation of our nation’s laws,” a spokesperson for DHS wrote in an emailed statement.

ICE’s online detainee tracking system did not disclose where Yiannopoulos was being held following his arrest. It instead directed relatives and attorneys seeking information to the agency’s office in Alexandria, Louisiana, which serves as a major hub for international deportation flights.

Yiannopoulos’ representatives did not respond to another request for comment following his detention, and it was not immediately known whether he had an attorney representing him in the immigration case.

More recently, Yiannopoulos has worked for rapper Ye, previously known as Kanye West, who was scheduled to perform in New Orleans on Friday night.

Yiannopoulos has spent years as a prominent and controversial figure in conservative political circles, frequently drawing attention for his attacks on feminism, Islam and immigration. His own immigration case drew particular attention because of his outspoken support for President Trump’s immigration crackdown.

“Zero immigration for the next 20 years. No ifs, no buts,” Yiannopoulos wrote on the social platform X last year.

His detention Thursday occurred as federal immigration authorities have sharply increased arrests across the country as part of President Trump’s broader immigration enforcement campaign.

Conservative activist Laura Loomer, who has feuded publicly with Yiannopoulos for years, quickly celebrated news of his arrest on social media.

“I was the first person to report on the fact that Milo was in the US illegally where he incited violence against President Trump and worked for Marjorie Traitor Greene,” Loomer wrote on X.

Yiannopoulos became an especially polarizing figure in 2017 during what he dubbed his “Troll Academy Tour,” a series of appearances on college campuses around the country. His visits prompted heated demonstrations and, in some instances, physical confrontations, with critics accusing him of promoting hate speech while supporters portrayed him as a defender of free expression. BuzzFeed reported around that period that Yiannopoulos had maintained close relationships with individuals who identified themselves as white nationalists.

He remained involved in conservative political and media circles in subsequent years. The Washington Post reported that he served as an intern for then-Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in 2022 before later managing Ye’s brief 2024 presidential campaign.

Most recently, Yiannopoulos has served as a spokesperson for Ye, whose own public profile has been marked by controversy over antisemitic statements for which the rapper subsequently apologized.

{Matzav.com}

A federal judge in California has ruled that the Trump administration cannot deport international students or other noncitizens simply because they criticize Israel or voice support for Palestinians, finding that such action violates constitutional protections for free speech.

U.S. District Judge Noël Wise handed down the decision Friday in a case brought on behalf of Stanford University’s student newspaper, which argued that international students had become afraid to express their views because they feared their speech could result in deportation.

The ruling largely follows the reasoning of a federal judge in Boston who concluded nearly a year ago that the Trump administration had violated the Constitution by targeting noncitizens for deportation solely on the basis of their pro-Palestinian advocacy or criticism of Israel.

In her decision, Wise described freedom of speech and freedom of the press as “foundational to America’s enduring democracy.” She found that portions of the federal government’s deportation framework suffered from constitutional problems involving both free-speech protections and vagueness, violating the First and Fifth Amendments.

The judge pointed to actions taken by federal immigration authorities beginning in March 2025 against individuals who publicly supported Palestinians or criticized Israel’s conduct. Wise also cited government action involving people who made critical remarks about Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk following his assassination last September.

“Tomorrow, or perhaps even today, targets may include anyone in the United States who exercises their freedom of speech to simply express opinions the government does not like,” the judge in San Jose said.

“This downward spiral is antithetical to our Constitution that recognizes our right to speak freely,” she added. “Here you can simultaneously hate the content of a person’s speech and love the country that cherishes the freedom to allow it. Zealous protection of our Constitutional right to free speech is a provocative demonstration of our country’s powerful lack of fear.”

The ruling comes amid an ongoing international dispute over Israel’s military actions, which a growing number of experts — including experts commissioned by a United Nations body — have characterized as genocide.

The Justice Department had not issued a response to the decision as of Saturday and did not reply to a request for comment.

Conor Fitzpatrick, an attorney with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, the organization that filed the lawsuit, welcomed the court’s decision.

“In America, free speech doesn’t just belong to the people who say things the government agrees with,” Fitzpatrick said in a release.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is preparing to spend as much as $2 million on Boston Dynamics’ four-legged Spot robots, with the agency planning to use the remotely operated machines in potentially dangerous law enforcement environments, according to a Department of Homeland Security procurement notice.

The acquisition forecast, published Aug. 27, states that ICE “has a requirement to purchase Boston Dynamics SPOT robots and accessories” to support “public safety and law enforcement operations by providing a remotely operated robotic capability for inspection, situational awareness, and hazard assessment in environments that may pose risks to personnel.”

According to the procurement document, deploying the robots would allow ICE personnel to assess potentially hazardous locations without immediately placing officers in harm’s way.

The capability “helps improve officer safety, supports informed operational decision-making, and enhances DHS’s ability to respond to incidents involving dangerous, confined, unstable, or difficult-to-access areas,” the listing says.

DHS projects that the purchase will cost between $1 million and $2 million. The department expects to issue a solicitation on Sept. 4, with a firm-fixed-price purchase order anticipated during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026. The planned contract would remain in effect through April 24, 2027, and the procurement notice indicates that the purchase is not expected to undergo a competitive bidding process.

The equipment is slated for use at Fort Benning, Georgia, where ICE’s Office of Training and Tactical Programs operates its firearms and tactics division. ICE has previously said that approximately 13,000 field officers undergo periodic weapons qualification at the facility. The agency is also expanding both staffing and student capacity there by hundreds of people as it responds to an increase in hiring.

Boston Dynamics’ Spot is a four-legged robot roughly comparable in size to a dog. The machine can be equipped with cameras, sensors and a robotic arm, allowing operators to remotely inspect areas that could be unsafe for humans.

Similar robotic systems have already been deployed by police departments, fire departments and other public-safety agencies. Among their uses have been examining suspected explosives, entering buildings during armed standoffs and surveying locations where hazardous conditions could endanger first responders.

Boston Dynamics promotes Spot for public-safety applications and says it is “committed to partnering with first responders, police departments, fire brigades, military or government agencies charged with keeping the public safe.” At the same time, the company’s terms prohibit customers from employing its robots “as weapons, or to enable weapons, or to harm or intimidate any person or animal.” Boston Dynamics has also joined an industry commitment opposing the weaponization of general-purpose robots.

The use of robotic dogs by law enforcement has previously generated controversy. New York City ended a lease involving a Spot robot in 2021 following criticism over deployments at public housing and during a hostage incident. The city later brought robotic technology back into its policing operations in 2023.

The ICE proposal has not yet resulted in a finalized purchase. Federal acquisition forecasts outline anticipated procurements and can be modified or withdrawn before a contract is ultimately awarded.

{Matzav.com}

Six months after suffering severe, disfiguring injuries in the opening airstrikes of the war, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has yet to appear publicly in any photograph, video or audio recording, fueling growing questions inside the country about his health and whether he is actually exercising control over the Islamic Republic, Reuters reports.

Khamenei was elevated to the position of supreme leader following the death of his father in the opening phase of the war. His continued disappearance from public view comes as Tehran confronts consequential decisions over the conflict, along with an economy already weakened before the fighting and now under enormous additional pressure.

Iranian officials and other senior figures insist that Khamenei remains firmly in command. They say he is deliberately staying out of sight because of security concerns while recovering from injuries that disfigured his face, and that he has handed much of the government’s routine management to a small group of senior officials.

Yet the absence of any visual or audible proof of Khamenei’s condition has increasingly raised doubts among Iranians. Since assuming the position approximately a week after the war began, he has released no photograph, video or recording of his voice — an extraordinary situation in a political system built around the supreme leader’s ultimate authority.

“The question is no longer whether Mojtaba is alive, but whether Iran still has a functioning supreme leader,” said Alex Vatanka of the Middle East Institute in Washington. Khamenei has communicated with the Iranian public only through several written statements subsequently read by broadcasters. His absence was particularly conspicuous last month, when he failed to appear during an elaborate week of funeral ceremonies for his father.

Senior Iranian officials and other insiders maintain that the secrecy is necessary because of concerns that Khamenei could be assassinated. They say he regularly confers with the country’s most senior officials, reviews major reports and personally makes the ultimate decisions on matters of national importance.

President Masoud Pezeshkian offered one public indication of such activity on August 10, saying he had participated in a seven-hour meeting with Khamenei.

Questions about the supreme leader’s absence, however, are beginning to surface even among some of the Islamic Republic’s staunchest loyalists.

“We need to hear our leader’s voice, or see any sign that he is there on top and leading the country to give us more confidence,” said a member of the Basij volunteer militia in Qom, the religious center that occupies a central place in Iran’s theocratic establishment.

The Basij member, who spoke anonymously because of the sensitivity of the issue, said he nevertheless believed Khamenei remained responsible for major decisions. Still, he argued that the failure to release even a single photograph was hurting morale and damaging Iran’s interests.

Among reform-minded Iranians and opponents of the regime, skepticism about the official explanation is considerably stronger. “How do we know that Mojtaba has not been killed?” said Shahrokh, a pro-reform businessman in Tehran who also requested anonymity.

“It is not logical that there is ‌not a single sign proving he is alive, let alone evidence that he is involved in decision-making,” he added.

After six months of warfare against its most formidable adversaries, Iran has sustained extensive damage but its governing structure remains intact. The regime’s military still possesses capabilities that could threaten energy shipments and target American allies in the Gulf.

The Islamic Republic has also demonstrated its ability to survive the deaths of its previous supreme leader and other senior commanders without experiencing an institutional collapse. The political and military command structure has remained operational and loyal to the ideology of the regime.

Iran’s economic position, however, has become increasingly precarious. The financial burden of the war, combined with a blockade that has choked off oil exports for months, has sent the rial plunging and raised fears of another wave of widespread unrest. Iranian authorities violently suppressed mass demonstrations in January, killing thousands of protesters.

Against that backdrop, regime leaders have reorganized their priorities around protecting the survival of the Islamic Republic, rebuilding Iran’s deterrent capabilities and preventing the worsening economic crisis from threatening the stability of the government.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, already one of the country’s dominant institutions before the conflict, expanded its influence after the war began. According to sources familiar with the leadership structure, the Guards remain deeply involved in strategic decision-making within a reorganized system centered around the Supreme National Security Council.

The leadership circle includes senior Revolutionary Guard commanders alongside major political figures, including Pezeshkian and parliament speaker Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf.

Multiple senior sources inside Iran told Reuters that Khamenei is indeed meeting with members of that group, participating fully in discussions and retaining final authority over all major decisions.

One senior Iranian official said Khamenei’s face-to-face interactions have been restricted to a very small circle. According to the official, authorities have deliberately withheld information about his whereabouts and condition because they fear that releasing details could enable the United States to locate and target him.

A person described as close to Khamenei’s inner circle said his physical condition has improved considerably and characterized the supreme leader as mentally sharp and actively engaged in government decisions.

“Despite all the pressures, services to the people have not stopped. Our ‌foreign policy line is unified and our decisions are coherent. All of this shows the ‌supreme leader is in charge,” a second official said.

Khamenei was never known for seeking the spotlight even before becoming supreme leader. As a senior aide to his father, he generally operated behind the scenes and avoided prominent public appearances. According to senior sources, he suffered facial disfigurement during the opening hours of February 28, when Israeli and American airstrikes launched the war and killed his father.

His continued invisibility has become more difficult to explain, however, now that he occupies the Islamic Republic’s highest position during what is arguably Iran’s gravest national crisis since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The supreme leader is not merely another senior official in Iran’s system, but the figure entrusted with ultimate authority over the country’s most consequential decisions.

“A genuine deal with Washington requires Mojtaba’s unmistakable approval and so does any decision to sustain a long and costly conflict with the United States,” said Vatanka.

“His prolonged absence has created a dangerous situation in which rival factions can all claim to know what ‌the leader really wants,” he added.

New information has emerged about the circumstances surrounding Mali and Liel Yahalomi’s unexplained departure from Israel, including debts exceeding NIS 200,000, a birthday celebration shortly before they vanished, and a fully furnished apartment that appeared to have been abandoned without any preparation for a permanent move.

According to a Channel 12 News report, Mali’s financial difficulties had developed over a lengthy period, with outstanding debts eventually climbing above NIS 200,000 and continuing to increase.

People familiar with the circumstances said there was little indication that Mali was preparing to leave the country. Just days before she disappeared, she attended a surprise celebration organized for her 50th birthday. Relatives and close friends who were present reportedly detected nothing unusual and were unaware that Mali and her daughter were preparing to leave Israel.

The mystery surrounding their whereabouts ended when Mali and Liel were located in Argentina. After they were found, Liel contacted relatives who had assembled at her grandmother’s home. During the late-night conversation, which was facilitated by a local police representative, Liel was heard crying as she assured relatives that she and her mother were safe and had departed voluntarily. She apologized for causing the family alarm and said they would provide additional information.

Meanwhile, the Modi’in apartment rented by the two appeared largely untouched. Furniture and personal possessions remained inside, and investigators reportedly found nothing that would ordinarily suggest that its occupants had been preparing to relocate abroad.

Mali’s son, a married yeshiva student living in Israel with his young son, was reportedly just as surprised as other relatives. Mali had been providing him with financial support, and he had no advance knowledge of his mother and sister’s plans. After their disappearance, he helped relatives gain access to a computer and iPad left behind by providing the necessary passwords.

Investigators and others familiar with the case reportedly believe that Mali’s mounting financial problems played a major role in her decision to leave Israel. She had apparently spent considerable time attempting to strengthen her financial position, earning a master’s degree in hopes of increasing her income and later receiving a promotion at her job. Those efforts, however, were not enough to bring the growing debts under control.

Relatives reportedly suspect that Mali concealed the plan because she feared family members would either try to prevent the departure or offer to pay the debts themselves. The secrecy was particularly striking because some relatives had reportedly acted as guarantors for financial obligations incurred by Mali.

Another development surprised family members after Mali and Liel were located in Argentina: Mali was seen without a head covering. According to the report, the change was especially noticeable because she had become religious approximately two decades earlier. Some relatives viewed the change as a possible indication that Mali and her daughter intended to make a broader break with the lives they had previously led in Israel.

With the mother and daughter remaining in South America, their relatives have been left handling the practical and financial matters they left behind. Those responsibilities reportedly include dealing with the Modi’in apartment and leased vehicles, caring for the dog that remained in Israel, and providing assistance to Mali’s son and grandson.

Police have continued to emphasize that the evidence gathered during the investigation does not point to an abduction. Authorities currently believe that Mali and Liel made a personal and voluntary decision to leave Israel.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Yitzchok Yosef, the former Rishon LeTzion and nosi of Shas’s Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah, sharply attacked Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara on Motzoei Shabbos over her directive preventing this year’s state-sponsored memorial events honoring his father, Rav Ovadia Yosef zt”l.

Speaking during his weekly shiur, Rav Yosef contrasted the decision with the annual commemorations held for assassinated Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin, arguing that political considerations were behind the differing treatment.

Rav Yosef recalled the enormous and diverse crowd that attended his father’s levayah in 2013, when hundreds of thousands of people poured into the streets of Yerushalayim to pay their final respects.

“At Maran’s funeral, there were nearly a million people there. All of the Jewish people. There were secular and religious Jews, knitted kippahs, white kippahs, Chassidim, Litvaks. Anyone who was at the funeral and saw the broad public that was there — everyone was there, a million people. Now, the anniversary of the Rav arrives, and they want to hold a memorial for him as is proper, as befits his honor, as the entire public recognized his greatness. Suddenly, they issue a legal opinion — this wicked woman, the attorney general, what is her name? Miara, this crazy Miara — issues a legal opinion saying that it is forbidden to hold a gathering in honor of Maran.”

Rav Yosef then questioned why memorial events honoring Rabin were permitted close to elections while events honoring Rav Ovadia were being restricted.

“Rabin, he was murdered under circumstances, just shortly before elections. And they don’t prohibit events for him, because he belongs to the left. Fine, let them hold a gathering, why not? But the Rav, Maran, the gadol hador, who was not a political figure — Maran was a Torah figure, Rabin was a political figure, but Maran was a Torah figure — she issues a legal opinion this week saying that gatherings are forbidden before elections. They should not listen to her. Who is she anyway? HaKadosh Baruch Hu should destroy her, He should give her the blow that is coming to her.”

The controversy surrounds the cancellation of “Yom Maran,” the state memorial day established in honor of Rav Ovadia Yosef, the legendary Sephardic posek and longtime spiritual leader of Shas. The attorney general’s position was that the memorial events could not proceed in their planned format ahead of the upcoming elections.

Rav Yosef rejected the reasoning, emphasizing that his father’s stature extended far beyond partisan politics and pointing to the enormous cross-section of Israeli Jewry that revered him.

He concluded his remarks with another fierce denunciation of Baharav-Miara over the decision.

“She is meddling, meddling with Maran? Maran, the gadol hador, she is meddling with him? This will not pass in silence. Hashem should help that she receives the blow that is coming to her.”

{Matzav.com}