Feed aggregator

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman took aim at New York Gov. Kathy Hochul with a Halloween-themed attack, circulating AI-generated images depicting the Democratic incumbent as a witch while insisting that polls showing him trailing by double digits are wrong.

“Forget witches. The real Halloween nightmare is four more years of Kathy Hochul!” Blakeman declared in a social media post. “DITCH THE WITCH!”

The Nassau County executive’s campaign also released an AI-generated video featuring Hochul dressed as a witch, part of a final effort to energize Republican voters ahead of Tuesday’s gubernatorial election.

Speaking to more than 100 supporters at Juniper Valley Park in Middle Village, Queens, Blakeman dismissed recent surveys suggesting that Hochul has a comfortable advantage, maintaining that the contest is actually a “virtual dead heat.”

“Don’t believe those phony polls,” Blakeman told the crowd.

His remarks came after two surveys released Wednesday showed Hochul with substantial leads. A Siena poll placed the governor 14 percentage points ahead of Blakeman, while a Marist survey showed her leading by 11 points.

Blakeman described the polling figures as “inaccurate” and predicted that he would deliver an Election Day upset reminiscent of Republican George Pataki’s victory over Democratic Gov. Mario Cuomo in 1994.

He argued that polling had been “wrong” in that election as well, suggesting that Republican enthusiasm and turnout could produce a similar surprise this year.

Among the political figures attending the Queens rally were Queens Republican Party Chairman Tony Nunziato, Republican City Councilwoman Joann Ariola and former Democratic City Councilman Robert Holden.

Blakeman’s Saturday schedule also included planned appearances at Halloween parades in Maspeth and Glendale, followed by outreach to voters on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

Hochul, meanwhile, campaigned across Long Island and New York City, with stops in Huntington, Brookhaven, Brooklyn and Queens as both candidates worked to mobilize supporters during the final weekend of early voting.

The Democratic governor’s campaign fired back with its own Halloween-themed attack, circulating an email criticizing Blakeman’s program of armed civilian volunteers serving as emergency special deputy sheriffs. The campaign characterized the initiative as a “militia cluster….”

The candidates also clashed over New York’s affordability crisis. At his Queens rally, Blakeman promoted his proposal to eliminate state income taxes on the first $100,000 earned by married couples filing jointly, while accusing Hochul of leaving New Yorkers vulnerable to further tax increases.

Hochul defended her administration’s economic record during a Brooklyn campaign appearance, highlighting investments in housing, education and child care. She argued that increasing the housing supply was essential to making rents and homeownership more affordable.

Blakeman’s aggressive closing campaign comes as early voting draws to a close Sunday, November 1. More than 468,000 ballots had already been cast in New York City as of Friday night, according to the city’s Board of Elections, with Election Day scheduled for Tuesday, November 3.

{Matzav.com}

Thousands of Palestinians flooded the streets of Gaza City for the funeral of senior Hamas terrorist Arafat al-Raer, who was involved in the 2006 kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, as armed terrorists reportedly fired ammunition worth tens of thousands of dollars into the air in a public display of force.

The massive funeral procession, held Sunday, November 1, came as discussions continue over the future of the Gaza Strip and demands that Hamas surrender its weapons. Footage circulating on social media showed enormous crowds accompanying the terrorist’s body through the streets, raising their hands and chanting “Allahu Akbar.”

According to reports from Gaza, armed Hamas operatives fired repeated volleys of gunfire into the sky throughout the procession. Local sources estimated that the ammunition expended during the funeral was worth tens of thousands of dollars, although that figure has not been independently verified.

Al-Raer died after suffering critical injuries in an Israeli airstrike in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood of western Gaza City. He subsequently succumbed to his wounds.

The Hamas operative was closely connected to one of the most notorious terrorist kidnappings in Israeli history. He participated in the June 2006 abduction of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, who was captured during a cross-border attack near the Gaza Strip and held by Hamas for more than five years.

Al-Raer was also involved in Shalit’s captivity and was photographed accompanying the Israeli soldier on the day of his release in October 2011, when Israel freed more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for his return.

He was believed to have been among the last surviving Hamas terrorists directly involved in the kidnapping and captivity of Shalit.

The funeral provided a highly visible demonstration of Hamas’ continued presence in Gaza City despite the heavy losses inflicted on the terrorist organization during the war.

The scenes also raised fresh questions about the prospects for disarming Hamas, an issue that remains central to negotiations over Gaza’s postwar future.

While international discussions have focused on removing Hamas’ weapons and preventing the terrorist organization from rebuilding its military capabilities, Sunday’s procession showed armed operatives openly displaying their weapons and reportedly firing large quantities of ammunition in the streets of Gaza.

The extraordinary expenditure of ammunition at the funeral was particularly striking given the continuing humanitarian and economic difficulties facing Gaza’s civilian population.

New York Attorney General Letitia James is facing accusations of failing to pursue investigations into three controversial New York City homeless shelter operators while receiving more than $56,000 in political contributions from individuals connected to the organizations, including executives, lobbyists and their spouses.

The allegations, raised just days before Tuesday’s election, concern Samaritan Daytop Village, Acacia Network Housing and CORE Services Group, three nonprofits that have received substantial taxpayer funding despite repeated scrutiny over their financial practices, management and operations.

According to campaign finance records, individuals associated with the organizations have contributed to James’ political committees over the past eight years. Critics contend that her office has not taken enforcement action against the three providers since she became attorney general in 2019, even as other government agencies investigated their activities.

The organizations have attracted attention from the state comptroller, state inspector general, New York City’s Department of Investigation and federal authorities over allegations involving questionable financial arrangements, excessive executive compensation, inadequate oversight and potential conflicts of interest.

A sweeping 2024 Department of Investigation review of 51 city-funded shelter providers, including Acacia and CORE, identified instances of “nepotism, lack of competitive bidding and exorbitant salaries” within the city’s multibillion-dollar homeless shelter system.

The report also noted that the attorney general has the authority to “bring action to enjoin, void or rescind” improper transactions involving nonprofit organizations.

Republican attorney general candidate Saritha Komatireddy, a former federal prosecutor challenging James in Tuesday’s election, accused the incumbent of neglecting her responsibilities.

“These are precisely the kinds of abuses the attorney general is supposed to investigate,” Komatireddy said.

“Yet while other watchdog agencies have exposed serious misconduct, Letitia James has refused to hold these operators accountable.

“The fact that individuals tied to these [three] organizations have contributed thousands of dollars to her campaigns raises serious questions about whose interests she is protecting,” Komatireddy added.

Among the financial connections identified is Vito F. Pitta, a Samaritan Daytop Village board member who has personally donated $6,000 to James’ campaigns since 2018. His lobbying company, Pitta LP, contributed another $22,500, according to campaign records.

Samaritan has faced criticism over its handling of public funds. A 2024 examination by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli determined that the organization had improperly billed New York City $566,556 over the preceding two years. A subsequent audit this year found that the Department of Homeless Services had still not recovered $385,109 of that amount.

Financial disclosures also showed that Samaritan CEO Mitchell Netburn received a 25% pay increase in 2025, bringing his annual compensation to $465,289, even as the nonprofit reported operating losses for a third consecutive year.

City investigators additionally identified arrangements in which Samaritan purchased legal and insurance services from businesses associated with members of its own board.

The organization’s operations have also been linked to serious incidents at facilities under its supervision.

In 2019, Marcus Coles, a house manager at Samaritan’s residential treatment center in Ellenville, New York, was arrested for sexually assaulting a woman receiving care at the facility. He subsequently pleaded guilty to a felony sex offense.

The state later sued Samaritan, alleging that the organization had failed to conduct adequate background checks despite Coles having an extensive criminal record involving burglary and drug-related arrests. The litigation was eventually settled.

In March of this year, however, James’ office asked a state judge to transfer ownership of the same treatment facility to Samaritan after the original corporate owner ceased operations. The transfer would permit the property to qualify for additional state financing.

Another tragedy occurred in 2022 at the Pan American Hotel in Elmhurst, Queens, which Samaritan was operating as a family shelter. Three-year-old Shaquan Butler Jr. was discovered dead with bruises on his body.

Local elected officials criticized conditions at the shelter, including allegations of widespread drug activity. The child’s father, Shaquan Butler, was ultimately convicted of murder and sentenced to 32 years in prison.

Acacia Network Housing has also drawn scrutiny over its financial arrangements and executive compensation. One of its prominent lobbyists, Luis Miranda Jr., is a longtime political strategist for James, while Miranda and his wife, Luz Towns-Miranda, have contributed a combined $25,898 to her campaign committees since 2018.

In 2019, city investigators examined Acacia following revelations that the organization had directed tens of millions of dollars in business to a security company established by its president, Raul Russi. The payments reportedly included $12 million in 2017 alone, while the business relationships were not properly identified in certain city disclosures and tax filings.

The city’s 2024 investigation also highlighted compensation at Acacia, reporting that Russi received $935,391 annually and CEO Lymaris Albors earned $836,684. Acacia has defended its executive compensation practices, citing independent assessments of whether the salaries were reasonable.

CORE Services Group, the third organization at the center of the controversy, lost its New York City shelter contracts in November 2021 after investigations exposed questionable business relationships involving its leadership.

During former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s eight years in office, CORE obtained approximately $763 million in city contracts. Reports subsequently revealed that its chief executive, Jack Brown, had employed associates and established a network of private subcontracting companies that generated substantial payments.

Brown reportedly received more than $1 million annually through CORE and affiliated businesses. Campaign records show that he contributed $2,350 to James in 2018.

Federal agents searched CORE’s Brooklyn headquarters in December 2021, and New York City subsequently filed a lawsuit seeking the return of $2.3 million in “excessive executive salaries.”

James’ campaign did not directly address the criticism concerning her office’s handling of the three nonprofits. Instead, campaign spokesperson Grace Smoker attacked Komatireddy’s political fundraising connections.

“Ms. Komatireddy has raked in donations from Trump’s lieutenants and right-wing hacks, including [Ohio GOP gubernatorial candidate] Vivek Ramaswamy,” Smoker said.

President Donald Trump delivered a forceful appeal to New York voters, urging them to elect Republican Bruce Blakeman as governor and arguing that the Nassau County executive could reverse what he described as the damage inflicted by Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration.

Speaking during a telephone campaign rally just days before Election Day, Trump sharply criticized Hochul while promoting Blakeman and two other Republican candidates, attorney general hopeful Saritha Komatireddy and congressional candidate Anthony Constantino.

“Kathy Hochul may be the worst governor in the history of New York State and one of the worst in the nation,” Trump declared during the event.

“She been a disaster, and I can tell you that Bruce has been a friend of mine for a long time,” the president continued.

Trump praised Blakeman’s record as Nassau County executive, pointing to the county’s strong public safety rankings and describing him as an effective administrator who has demonstrated his ability to deliver results.

“Anybody that can do what he did in politics and get resounding results, and not only that, he has the safest county in the United States of America [according to US News & World Report] … He’s a great manager.”

Although recent surveys have placed Hochul ahead by margins ranging from 11 to 14 percentage points, Trump expressed confidence that Blakeman could pull off an upset. He also indicated that a Blakeman administration would enjoy a close working relationship with Washington.

“I’ll be waiting for his call,” the president said. “I bet he’s going to be one of the first calls if he wins, and he’ll get tremendous help from the federal government. And it’s hard to help people that do such a bad job. It’s almost like throwing good money after bad.”

Hochul’s campaign responded by emphasizing Blakeman’s political alliance with Trump, portraying the Republican nominee as someone who has embraced the president’s agenda throughout the gubernatorial contest.

“Blakeman … started with the promise to ‘bring Trump-style leadership to Albany,’ and his closing message is telling people how little he regrets going full Trump in this campaign,” Hochul spokesman Ryan Radulovack said.

Radulovack also defended the governor’s record on affordability and public safety, contrasting her administration’s policies with Blakeman’s support for Trump.

“Gov. Hochul has put money back in New Yorkers’ pockets, invested $4 billion in public safety, and fought back against Trump’s attacks,” the spokesman said, while accusing Blakeman of being someone who “defends everything Trump does.”

Trump also urged Republicans to turn out in large numbers on Tuesday, November 3, telling supporters to approach the election as though his own name appeared on the ballot. He argued that Republican turnout rises substantially when he is running and that the party needs similar enthusiasm to win competitive races this year.

Blakeman, meanwhile, has rejected the polling numbers showing him trailing Hochul. At a campaign appearance in Queens on Shabbos, he characterized the contest as a virtual dead heat and suggested that his campaign could produce an upset similar to Republican George Pataki’s victory in the 1994 gubernatorial election.

Trump used the telephone rally to promote additional Republican candidates, including Komatireddy, who is challenging Democratic Attorney General Letitia James, and Constantino, who is seeking a congressional seat in upstate New York. The president also endorsed congressional candidate Kailee Buller.

The president briefly shifted from New York politics to the ongoing American military campaign against Iran, claiming that U.S. forces had inflicted devastating losses on Tehran while diplomatic discussions continued.

“We’re winning very easily the war with Iran,” Trump said.

“They’re talking to us. They’re negotiating, but they do a lot of talking. And we’ll see what happens.”

“But one way or the other, their Navy’s gone. Their Air Force is gone. All blown up. All at the bottom of the sea, and they’re not going to have a nuclear weapon. It’s very simple, and they know that. They know that, and we can end it any time we want.”

Trump also accused Hochul of presiding over rising costs, excessive taxation and deteriorating public safety, while promising that Blakeman would pursue major middle-class tax reductions and policies intended to lower energy expenses.

With Election Day approaching, Trump said he hoped to speak with Blakeman on Tuesday night to congratulate him on a victory, despite the substantial polling advantage currently enjoyed by Hochul.

A disturbing theft took place Sunday afternoon in the heart of Bnei Brak when a pair of valuable tefillin belonging to a local yungerman was stolen from a shul on Rechov Rabbi Akiva, with security cameras capturing the suspect entering the building, taking the tefillin and fleeing the scene.

The incident occurred at approximately 3 p.m. at the Harishonim shul, located at 17 Rechov Rabbi Akiva, one of the city’s busy central thoroughfares.

According to reports, the yungerman had left his tefillin inside the shul while stepping out briefly to take care of several urgent errands nearby. He expected to return within minutes and had no reason to suspect that his tefillin would disappear during his short absence.

When he returned, however, he was shocked to discover that the tefillin were missing.

A review of the shul’s surveillance footage quickly revealed what had occurred. The cameras recorded an individual entering the shul, noticing the unattended tefillin, picking them up and leaving the premises without being stopped.

Additional footage tracking the suspect’s movements showed him quickly departing the area on foot in the direction of Rechov Jabotinsky.

The incident has caused considerable distress among the shul’s administrators, who expressed alarm over the ease with which valuable tashmishei kedushah can be stolen from places of worship, even in the middle of the day.

The gabbaim said the latest theft was not an isolated occurrence, noting that similar incidents had taken place in the past.

Following Sunday’s incident, they issued an urgent warning to mispallelim throughout the community, urging them not to leave tefillin or other valuable religious articles unattended in shuls, even for a few minutes.

“We ask and plead that under no circumstances should tefillin be left in the synagogue, not even for a few minutes. Unfortunately, there are people who take advantage of the innocence of worshippers, enter the synagogue and simply steal,” the gabbaim warned.

The identity of the suspect has not been reported, and it remains unclear whether the stolen tefillin have been recovered.

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. military has stationed surface-to-air missile defense systems near President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, as federal security officials warn of an increasingly serious threat environment surrounding the president.

Photographs published by The Palm Beach Post show two U.S. Army Avenger short-range air defense systems mounted on Humvees positioned aboard a floating barge in the Lake Worth Lagoon, immediately west of Trump’s sprawling oceanfront property.

The images, captured by newspaper photographer Greg Lovett during the president’s October 23 visit, show uniformed military personnel stationed alongside the missile systems near the seawall bordering the 17-acre estate.

Trump had arrived in South Florida through President Donald J. Trump International Airport in West Palm Beach before spending the night at Mar-a-Lago.

Additional photographs show a U.S. Coast Guard vessel patrolling the Intracoastal Waterway during the presidential visit. A crew member wearing protective body armor was seen operating a mounted machine gun at the front of the boat.

The Avenger system is designed to intercept aerial threats at relatively short distances, including low-flying aircraft, unmanned drones and certain cruise missiles. Its deployment represents a significant visible expansion of the military defenses protecting the president’s Florida residence.

A Secret Service spokesperson confirmed that the agency has been adjusting its protective measures in response to evolving security concerns.

“The US Secret Service is operating in a heightened threat environment, and we continuously adapt our protective operations to incorporate cutting-edge tools, technology, and methods to safeguard our protectees,” the spokesperson told The Telegraph, which first reported the deployment.

The Secret Service is also pursuing tighter and more permanent restrictions on flights over Mar-a-Lago, pointing to intelligence concerning possible threats against the president, including terrorism-related concerns.

In federal court filings, Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn warned that aerial threats to the property require continuous attention, regardless of whether Trump is physically present.

“Today’s threat environment is heightened, real, and dynamic,” Quinn wrote. “The airborne threat vector at Mar-a-Lago is persistent and substantial.”

The military deployment extends beyond the president’s estate. Additional Avenger missile systems have been positioned near President Donald J. Trump International Airport, where Air Force One operates during presidential visits to Palm Beach.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command, known as NORAD, and U.S. Northern Command confirmed that ground-based air defense equipment was deployed in the area at the Secret Service’s request. The agencies declined to disclose operational details or identify a specific threat that prompted the move.

The enhanced defenses follow repeated violations of restricted airspace near Mar-a-Lago. More than 60 aircraft have reportedly been intercepted in the area since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.

In one incident on October 24, a NORAD F-16 fighter jet intercepted a civilian aircraft that entered restricted airspace near the estate. The pilot subsequently established communication with authorities and departed the restricted zone without further incident.

The new security measures also come against the backdrop of continuing tensions between Washington and Iran, as well as previous attempts on Trump’s life.

In February, Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy fatally shot an armed man who breached a security gate at Mar-a-Lago. Authorities said the individual was carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a container of gasoline. Trump was in Washington at the time.

In September 2024, an armed suspect was discovered near Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach while the president was playing golf. That incident followed the July 2024 assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Trump was wounded by a gunshot.

Federal authorities have not announced how long the missile systems will remain deployed, and officials have not established a public connection between the new defenses and any particular threat from Iran or another adversary.

A heartbreaking tragedy has struck the Modzitz and Lelov communities with the petirah of three-year-old Yisroel Don Taub z”l, a grandson of the Modzitzer Rebbe and the Lelover Rebbe of Yerushalayim, who passed away shortly before the onset of Shabbos after battling a serious illness.

The young child, a son of Rav Shlomo Tzvi Hirsch Taub, was hospitalized at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Yerushalayim, where his condition deteriorated dramatically in the hours leading up to Shabbos.

As his condition became critical, doctors informed the family that his life was in immediate danger and that he might have only hours remaining.

An urgent message was circulated among Modzitzer chassidim before Shabbos, calling upon the community to intensify their tefillos and plead for rachamei Shomayim on behalf of the young child.

Throughout those final hours, family members and chassidim davened fervently for his recovery, hoping that the heartbreaking situation would take a turn for the better.

Tragically, despite the many tefillos, little Yisroel Don was niftar just minutes before Shabbos, leaving his parents, grandparents, extended family and the Modzitz and Lelov communities plunged into profound grief.

The levayah was held on Motzoei, departing from the Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim and proceeding to Har Hazeisim for kevurah.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Russia launched another major wave of attacks against Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure overnight, leaving hundreds of thousands of households without power Sunday, as Ukrainian drones struck industrial targets deep inside Russia, reportedly causing extensive damage to a facility in the Nizhny Novgorod region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian forces targeted energy installations across four regions, disrupting electricity supplies as the country prepares for the approaching winter.

“The intensity of the strikes is very high, and the Russians are seeking to maximally exploit the ​deficit of ballistic missile interceptors,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram.

Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia had launched 433 long-range drones beginning Saturday evening, with Ukrainian defenses intercepting 371 of them. Dozens of additional drones remained airborne Sunday morning, while residents of Kyiv faced six separate air raid alerts after midnight.

The latest bombardment came despite a six-day localized ceasefire around Oleshky, a Russian-occupied town in southern Ukraine, which remained in effect on its final day. Fighting continued elsewhere along the front lines, however, with both countries carrying out long-range attacks against targets beyond the battlefield.

Ukraine also struck back inside Russian territory. Zelensky said Ukrainian forces had attacked the Kamensky plant in Russia’s Rostov region, identifying it as a facility involved in producing missiles for the Russian military. Moscow did not immediately respond to that claim.

In the Nizhny Novgorod region, Governor Gleb Nikitin acknowledged that an extensive Ukrainian drone assault overnight had inflicted “significant damage” on an industrial installation, although he declined to identify the affected facility.

The region contains the NORSI refinery, one of Russia’s largest oil-processing plants, raising questions about whether the attack had disrupted critical fuel production or distribution operations.

Russian authorities subsequently moved to reassure motorists about fuel availability. The regional government said it was working to maintain supplies at gas stations and advised residents to “buy fuel only as ⁠needed and ⁠avoid panic buying,” according to the Interfax news agency.

The warning suggested possible damage to oil-refining or fuel-distribution infrastructure, although officials did not confirm the nature of the facility that had been struck. Ukrainian authorities did not immediately claim responsibility for the Nizhny Novgorod operation.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses had intercepted 235 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory during the night.

Additional reports from Sunday identified the damaged Russian industrial site as being in the Kstovo district, where the major Lukoil oil refinery is located. Ukrainian media reported that the refinery had been struck, while footage circulating online appeared to show flames at the complex. Russian officials confirmed extensive damage to an industrial facility but did not publicly identify it.

Governor Nikitin said Russian defenses had destroyed more than 100 drones over the Nizhny Novgorod region alone, with preliminary reports indicating no casualties.

The attacks followed renewed tensions over Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy facilities. On Friday, Moscow accused Kyiv of restarting attacks against its oil refineries despite a request from President Donald Trump to halt such operations.

Trump has expressed concern that attacks on Russian oil infrastructure are contributing to rising diesel prices ahead of Tuesday’s U.S. midterm elections.

Ukrainian officials maintain that they are prepared to accept a comprehensive ceasefire covering energy infrastructure on both sides, including Ukraine’s severely damaged electricity network, but accuse Russia of refusing such an arrangement.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who oversees the country’s energy sector, addressed the issue Sunday in an interview with state television broadcaster Vesti. Without discussing the specific damage in Nizhny Novgorod, Novak argued that Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries were worsening instability in international fuel markets and putting additional pressure on prices.

Hundreds of right-wing demonstrators gathered in Tel Aviv on Motzoei Shabbos to protest the possibility of a minority government headed by Gadi Eisenkot that would depend on the support of Arab parties in the Knesset.

The demonstration took place at Habima Square, where protesters carried signs and voiced opposition to any coalition arrangement involving parties they accuse of sympathizing with terrorism. The central message of the rally was “לא מקימים ממשלה עם תומכי מחבלים” — “Do not form a government with supporters of terrorists.”

The protest comes amid growing political uncertainty following last week’s elections for Israel’s 26th Knesset, which left neither the right-wing bloc nor its opponents with enough seats to independently establish a governing coalition.

One scenario now being discussed involves Eisenkot heading a minority government that would rely on parliamentary backing from Arab parties to secure the confidence of the Knesset and remain in office.

The possibility has prompted fierce objections from right-wing political activists, who argue that a government dependent on Arab factions would be unacceptable, particularly given the positions taken by some Arab politicians on terrorism and Israel’s security policies.

Adding to the tensions is an investigation into allegations of foreign interference in the recent elections, including suspicions that overseas funding was used in efforts to influence voting patterns and strengthen the electoral performance of Arab parties.

The investigation, which has been referred to in Israeli media as the “ballot terrorism” affair, is reportedly being conducted by the Shin Bet, with the Mossad also said to have become involved. The allegations remain under investigation, and the claims of foreign involvement have not been established as fact.

A newly married chosson who was arrested by Israeli military police on Sunday while traveling with his kallah to their Sheva Brachos celebration has been sentenced to 20 days in military prison, triggering an outpouring of condemnation from chareidi political leaders and urgent demands for his immediate release.

Yaari Lieberman, a talmid of Yeshivas Ohr Hachaim in Yerushalayim under Rav Reuven Elbaz, was apprehended by plainclothes military police officers shortly after stepping off a bus with his wife. According to eyewitness accounts, the officers were not wearing visible identification badges and forcibly seized Lieberman before taking him away to military detention.

His kallah, who had married him only days earlier, reportedly did not initially realize that the men were military police officers and feared that her husband was being kidnapped.

The announcement that Lieberman had received a 20-day military prison sentence intensified the controversy, with chareidi lawmakers demanding that authorities intervene to allow the young couple to complete their Sheva Brachos celebrations together.

United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yaakov Asher spoke directly with Israel’s defense minister following the arrest, demanding his intervention to secure Lieberman’s immediate release.

“This is not a totalitarian country or a police state,” Rabbi Asher declared. “Arresting a groom in the midst of his days of celebration is an act of insensitivity that knows no bounds. I demanded that the defense minister act to secure his immediate release and return him to his family and his celebration.”

Shas also issued a sharply worded condemnation and announced an initiative to gather signatures from Knesset members across the political spectrum demanding that Lieberman be freed.

“We vehemently condemn the brutal arrest of a groom in front of his bride, in the midst of the days of Sheva Brachos, and call on the Military Police to release him immediately!” the party said.

Shas added, “We are appealing to all members of the Knesset and asking them to sign a petition calling on the IDF to immediately release the groom so that he can return and rejoice in his celebration. This is a necessary first step toward repairing and healing the divisions among the people.”

Agudas Yisroel chairman MK Rabbi Yitzchok Goldknopf delivered particularly harsh criticism of the military authorities, describing Lieberman’s detention as an unprecedented escalation in the campaign against yeshiva students.

“The arrest of a young groom in front of his bride in the midst of the days of Sheva Brachos is a new low in the campaign of persecution against Torah learners,” Rabbi Goldknopf said. “The obsessive pursuit of yeshiva students, whose only crime is studying Torah, has crossed every boundary of humanity and sensitivity.”

Rabbi Goldknopf continued, “This shameful arrest is a mark of disgrace for a Jewish state. I demand the immediate release of the groom.”

He also directed his criticism at Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, accusing him of failing to fulfill his commitments regarding legislation that would regulate the military service status of yeshiva students.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu has failed until now to fulfill his promise to pass a law that would regulate the status of yeshiva students, and the result is the disgraceful arrests we are witnessing,” Rabbi Goldknopf said. “The responsibility for this situation rests on his shoulders.”

Meanwhile, the nationwide Tzeva Shachor emergency alert network, which mobilizes activists when military police attempt to arrest yeshiva students, sent an urgent letter to Rabbi Asher and Rabbi Goldknopf demanding immediate action.

The letter, titled “An Urgent Outcry and Protest Over the Arrest of the Groom Yaari Lieberman During His Days of Wedding Celebration,” described the distress experienced by Lieberman’s family following the arrest.

“We are turning to you urgently and with great pain following the difficult reports and appeals received by our organization from the family members of the groom Yaari Lieberman concerning the shocking and distressing circumstances of his arrest,” the organization wrote.

The group said it remained in constant contact with Lieberman’s extended family, who were overwhelmed by the incident and struggling to comprehend what they described as the humiliation of a ben Torah during the days traditionally devoted to celebrating his marriage.

Addressing the two lawmakers, the organization stressed their responsibility to defend yeshiva students against military enforcement actions.

“You are emissaries of Hashem and representatives of the rabbonim, and this is your role and mission: to stand as a fortified wall in defense of Torah learners and prevent any harm to the Torah world and those who toil in it,” the letter stated.

The organization concluded with an appeal for the lawmakers to use every available means to obtain Lieberman’s release.

“We appeal to you with a heartfelt request that you employ every tool at your disposal, shake the heavens and the earth, and neither rest nor remain silent until his sentence is canceled and the groom is returned to his home and his celebration without delay.”

MK Rabbi Meir Porush also joined the growing chorus of condemnation, describing the arrest as an incident that should deeply disturb the Jewish public.

“The criminal conduct of the Military Police, who arrested a groom during his Sheva Brachos, should shock every Jew,” Rabbi Porush said.

Rabbi Porush recalled an earlier incident in which a newly married man was detained and Knesset members from several political parties signed a petition seeking his release. That effort ultimately succeeded, he noted, expressing hope that similar intervention would secure Lieberman’s freedom.

“I call on the authorities this time as well to be attentive to the Jewish heart and release the groom immediately,” he added.

The arrest has also prompted discussions within the Yerushalmi Faction about organizing demonstrations in response to Lieberman’s imprisonment.

Lieberman’s detention comes less than a month after military police made an unsuccessful attempt to arrest him at his parents’ home in Modi’in.

On October 6, military police arrived at the residence intending to take him into custody over his military draft status. An emergency alert brought hundreds of protesters to the location, where demonstrators entered the building and prevented officers from completing the arrest.

After approximately two hours, military police withdrew without taking Lieberman into custody.

At the time, Lieberman was preparing for his wedding and had reportedly expressed concern that authorities might attempt to arrest him during the wedding itself.

Although the wedding proceeded without incident, military police apprehended him during the subsequent Sheva Brachos celebrations.

Lieberman’s reported 20-day sentence comes amid continued enforcement against yeshiva students classified as military draft evaders, an issue that has generated widespread demonstrations and intensified tensions between Israel’s military establishment and the chareidi community.

{Matzav.com}

As Israel’s political parties weigh their options following last week’s Knesset elections, a chareidi commentator is urging Shas and United Torah Judaism not to rush into a coalition headed by parties that have spent years attacking the chareidi community, even if such a government offers major concessions on yeshiva funding and military conscription.

In an opinion column published by Emess, Yanki Hess argues that the chareidi parties face a fundamental choice between securing immediate political gains and preserving the principles, dignity and public trust of the communities they represent.

Hess maintains that the question is not whether the chareidi parties should remain loyal to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, but whether they should enter a government led by politicians whose previous positions were openly hostile to chareidi interests.

He acknowledges that the community is experiencing an exceptionally difficult period, with yeshiva bochurim facing arrests, Torah institutions struggling financially and families confronting considerable uncertainty over the future of the draft law.

A new coalition, he writes, might offer legislation protecting yeshiva students from conscription, restore funding to Torah institutions and bring an end to the arrests. Nevertheless, he argues that those potential achievements do not automatically justify joining forces with longtime political adversaries.

Among the figures he identifies are Avigdor Lieberman and Naftali Bennett, both of whom have repeatedly clashed with chareidi parties over military service, religious policy and the role of the chareidi community in Israeli society.

Hess questions whether politicians who previously portrayed chareidim as a burden on the country should suddenly be embraced as acceptable coalition partners simply because the parliamentary arithmetic has changed.

He also challenges the argument that chareidi representatives should participate in any government willing to meet their legislative and financial demands.

For years, he notes, critics have accused chareidi politicians of caring primarily about budgets and being prepared to join virtually any coalition in exchange for concessions. Entering a government headed by outspoken opponents of the community, he suggests, would reinforce precisely that accusation.

Hess argues that the political benefits of such an arrangement must therefore be weighed against the damage it could cause to the community’s credibility and confidence in its elected representatives.

The commentator goes further, suggesting that remaining in opposition, or even allowing Israel to return to the polls, may be preferable to accepting a coalition agreement that lacks a foundation of mutual trust.

Another election, he contends, could give right-wing parties an opportunity to reassess the mistakes that contributed to their disappointing showing and develop a more coordinated electoral strategy.

He specifically points to the parties associated with Ofer Winter, Leithner and Avi Maoz, which failed to cross the electoral threshold, arguing that their leaders must examine the consequences of running separately and allowing votes to go unrepresented in the Knesset.

Shas, he writes, must also evaluate its electoral performance, determine why some voters abandoned the party and work to rebuild confidence among its traditional supporters.

Hess additionally calls for a thorough investigation into suspicions surrounding the unusually high voter turnout in Arab communities, including allegations of foreign financial involvement and possible Qatari funding. He emphasizes that any wrongdoing would need to be established through an investigation and that there is currently no basis for predicting how such findings might affect future elections.

Turning to the prospect of a new coalition agreement, Hess warns that even apparently significant concessions could prove unreliable.

Draft legislation enacted by a new government might subsequently face challenges in court, while promised financial allocations could encounter legal or administrative obstacles before reaching the institutions they are intended to support.

For that reason, he argues, chareidi representatives should demand meaningful guarantees rather than accept political declarations that may ultimately prove impossible to implement.

The commentator also raises the possibility that joining a controversial coalition could have serious electoral consequences for the chareidi parties themselves.

He describes a scenario in which Shas and United Torah Judaism enter a new government, announce a trial period and promise major accomplishments, only to see the coalition collapse months later without delivering the expected results.

Such an outcome, he warns, would leave party leaders struggling to explain why they had entered an alliance with political opponents without securing the achievements that supposedly justified the decision.

The resulting disappointment could extend beyond negative publicity and produce a lasting loss of confidence among voters who traditionally support the chareidi parties.

Hess suggests that even the loss of one or two Knesset seats would represent a serious setback, particularly following an election that exposed tensions and dissatisfaction within segments of the chareidi electorate.

He cautions against assuming that traditional voters will continue supporting their parties regardless of the political decisions their representatives make.

While acknowledging the urgent need to address the hardships facing yeshiva students, avreichim and Torah institutions, Hess concludes that those concerns must be balanced against the longer-term consequences of entering an unstable and politically uncomfortable alliance.

In his view, if the choice is between joining a government whose leaders cannot be trusted and preparing for another election, the chareidi parties should seriously consider the latter option.

The central question, he argues, is not merely which politicians will occupy ministerial positions in the next government, but what price the chareidi community will be asked to pay to put them there.

{Matzav.com}

A newly married yeshiva bochur was arrested by Israeli military police on Sunday while traveling with his kallah to a Sheva Brachos celebration, in an incident that has sparked outrage throughout the chareidi community and prompted Shas to demand his immediate release.

The chosson, Yaari Lieberman, a talmid of Yeshivas Ohr Hachaim in Yerushalayim under Rav Reuven Elbaz, was apprehended shortly after he and his wife stepped off a bus on their way to the celebration. According to eyewitness accounts, military police officers dressed in civilian clothing and without visible identification badges suddenly approached Lieberman, seized him and forcibly removed him from the scene.

His kallah, who had married him only days earlier, was reportedly not informed initially that the men were military police officers. Fearing that unidentified individuals were abducting her husband, she believed she was witnessing a kidnapping.

Lieberman was subsequently transferred to military prison over his status as a military draft evader.

The incident is particularly striking because Lieberman had already been the subject of a dramatic attempted arrest less than a month earlier, when hundreds of protesters gathered outside his parents’ home in Modi’in and prevented military police from taking him into custody.

During that earlier operation, military police arrived at the residence intending to arrest Lieberman. An emergency alert was circulated through the chareidi community using the “Tzeva Shachor” warning system, bringing hundreds of demonstrators to the location.

Protesters entered the building and the apartment where Lieberman was staying, making it impossible for the officers to complete the arrest. After approximately two hours, the military police withdrew without taking him into custody.

The failed operation reportedly led to disagreements between the Israel Police and the IDF over responsibility for the unsuccessful arrest attempt.

At the time, Lieberman was approximately three weeks away from his wedding. His rebbi, Rabbi Dor Salti, subsequently told Kol Chai radio that the young man was concerned military police might attempt to arrest him even during his wedding ceremony.

Although Lieberman was able to celebrate his wedding without incident, military authorities apprehended him during the week of Sheva Brachos, while he was accompanied by his new wife.

Reports have also raised suspicions that military authorities may have located Lieberman by tracking his cellphone. However, that allegation has not been confirmed, and no evidence establishing that such surveillance occurred has been publicly presented.

Lieberman’s arrest comes amid a continuing series of detentions involving yeshiva students classified by military authorities as draft evaders.

Earlier Sunday, Yosef Chaim Mansour, a talmid of Yeshivas Tiferes Ovadia, was arrested by traffic police at the Morasha Interchange.

According to the Am Kadosh organization, which assists yeshiva students facing military detention, Mansour was expected to be transferred to Military Prison 10 and was receiving legal representation through the organization.

Another arrest occurred Friday when Shlomo Ovadia, a talmid of Yeshivas Romemus Halev in Givat Ze’ev and a resident of Netivot, was stopped by traffic police on Route 3 while traveling home from yeshiva for Shabbos.

The encounter took place at approximately noon. During a check of Ovadia’s identification, officers discovered that he was listed as a military draft evader and summoned military police to take him into custody.

Ovadia, who serves as a representative of Am Kadosh at his yeshiva, managed to activate the organization’s emergency notification system, known as “The Kidnappers Have Arrived,” which alerts activists when a yeshiva student is being detained.

However, before protesters could reach the location, Ovadia was handed over to military police and transported to Military Prison 10 at Beit Lid.

According to Am Kadosh, Ovadia is expected to face proceedings before a military court because of the length of time he has been classified as a draft evader.

Following his arrest, prison authorities reportedly asked his attorney to agree to a hearing within 48 hours rather than the customary 24-hour period. His attorney refused the request, and a hearing was held Friday, resulting in an extension of his detention.

A subsequent hearing was scheduled for Sunday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Shas issued a strongly worded statement condemning the arrest of Lieberman during his Sheva Brachos celebrations and calling for his immediate release.

The party declared, “We strongly condemn the brutal arrest of a groom in front of his bride, in the midst of the seven days of Sheva Brachos, and call on the Military Police to release him immediately!”

Shas also appealed to members of the Knesset to sign a petition demanding that Lieberman be freed so he could return to his wife and continue celebrating their marriage.

The party described such a release as an essential first step toward repairing the divisions that have developed within Israeli society over the military draft controversy.

The arrests come amid renewed enforcement of military conscription requirements against yeshiva students, an issue that has generated repeated demonstrations, road closures and mounting political tensions.

As of the latest reports, Lieberman remained in military custody, while efforts to secure his release were continuing.

A young child from Netivot desperately needs life-saving surgery.

His family cannot afford the enormous medical expenses and is turning to Acheinu Bnei Yisrael for help.

Whoever saves one Jewish life is considered to have saved an entire world.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE. 

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday that he is willing to postpone a new trade agreement with the United States until President Donald Trump leaves office if the two countries cannot reach terms favorable to Canada, signaling that Ottawa is prepared for a prolonged economic confrontation with Washington.

In an interview with Politico following a meeting with European Union leaders in Montreal, Carney made clear that he would rather continue without a new agreement than accept concessions he considers harmful to Canadian interests. He also criticized Washington’s handling of relations with Canada and expressed frustration over American policy toward Russia and Ukraine.

Negotiations between the neighboring countries have remained largely stalled since Canada withdrew from discussions in August. The dispute has intensified in recent months, with both governments introducing additional tariffs and showing little indication that a compromise is imminent.

Carney reiterated that Canada would not sign an agreement “just for the sake of it.” When asked whether that position meant waiting until a different American president takes office, he indicated that he was prepared to do exactly that.

“We’ll have to, if that’s what it takes,” Carney said after a summit in Montreal with European Union officials. “And American families, American businesses, will also lose out because of that. They’re not winners in this circumstance.”

Meanwhile, Canada is exploring ways to strengthen its economic relationship with Europe. According to the CBC, Carney has been pursuing a proposal that would make Canada the European Union’s first associate member, although the initiative has encountered resistance from several European governments, including Germany.

The White House had not issued an immediate response to Carney’s comments when Politico sought its reaction.

Relations between the two countries have also been strained by accusations concerning possible Canadian involvement in American electoral politics. The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa recently distributed material to journalists raising concerns about “potential interference in U.S. elections” by Canadian officials.

American Ambassador Pete Hoekstra subsequently clarified that U.S. authorities had reached no “definitive” conclusion that Canadian politicians had interfered in the election process.

“I think Canadians are tired of it,” Carney said. “I think that’s very clear.”

Carney also took issue with the Trump administration’s approach to Russia’s war against Ukraine, suggesting that changes in American policy have complicated efforts by Western governments to maintain a coordinated response to Moscow.

With Tuesday’s midterm elections approaching, Trump has eased certain economic restrictions involving Russia while seeking additional diesel supplies to reduce energy costs. Carney avoided criticizing any single decision but pointed to “variance in terms of U.S. actions, with respect to restrictions on, sanctions on Russia, provision of defensive capabilities to Ukraine.”

“That’s been unhelpful,” Carney said.

The Canadian leader also dismissed suggestions that Ottawa should reconsider its growing relationship with the European Union out of concern that Trump might impose retaliatory measures.

Asked whether he had modified his approach to the Montreal summit to avoid provoking the American president, Carney answered emphatically.

“Absolutely not,” he said. “That way lies madness.”

At the summit, Canadian and European leaders agreed to pursue closer cooperation on trade, defense, technology and critical minerals. Although Carney has expressed interest in an associate-membership arrangement with the EU, the joint declaration stopped short of adopting that designation. The two sides aim to define their expanded partnership by their next summit in 2027.

Despite the political friction, Carney also shared a lighter detail about his relationship with Trump, revealing that the president recently presented him with four Brooks Brothers shirts.

The Canadian prime minister said he had yet to wear any of the gifts but suggested that reaching a satisfactory trade agreement might finally give him a reason to do so.

“I haven’t had occasion to put on the shirts, because we don’t have a mutually advantageous trade deal,” he said.

For the moment, Carney added, “They’re sitting in my closet.”

{Matzav.com}

Join tens of thousands of Lomdei Oraysa as they embark on Masechta Kiddushin

On a cold November evening in 2025 at the CURE Insurance Arena in New Jersey, thousands of Lomdei Oraysa heard the voice of Hagaon Rav Shlomo Feivel Schustal shlita ring out as he read the first Mishnah of Yevamos. To many lomdim, the goal that lay ahead seemed daunting: to learn the entire Masechta Yevamos, a masechta known to be challenging even for accomplished talmidei chachamim. However, the electricity that coursed through the arena that night as they celebrated a siyum of Seder Moed, and the pure simchas haTorah that permeated the atmosphere, left every lomed with a renewed sense of mission: The goal was within reach, amud by amud, day by day.

Now, almost a year later, their persistence and perseverance—their dedication to the daily amud and rigorous chazarah—have borne fruit. This past Thursday night, October 29, 2026, well over a thousand people gathered for a beautiful siyum celebrating Masechta Yevamos, following many months of genuine ameilus and toil by Lomdei Oraysa.

Besides being a unique masechta in its own right, Yevamos is also the first masechta in Seder Nashim, which will be the focus of Lomdei Oraysa for the next few years.

While Kesubos ordinarily follows Yevamos, Gedolei Roshei Hayeshivos have guided Oraysa to learn Kiddushin next as a special one-time change to the regular order. After Masechta Kiddushin, Oraysa will learn Masechta Kesubos and resume learning the masechtos in the order of Shas.

Today, Sunday, November 1, heralds the beginning of Masechta Kiddushin, and lomdim across the globe are excited to begin this new masechta with vigor.

Masechta Kiddushin contains many fundamental sugyos that are relevant throughout Shas, including kinyanim, avadim, shlichus, and much more. These exciting sugyos will bring many lomdim back to the geshmak they experienced during their yeshiva years.

The Oraysa Amud V’Chazara program was developed in collaboration with leading Roshei Yeshiva and Gedolei Yisroel to address the growing demand for a Gemara-learning framework that balances consistent progression with meaningful review.

By learning one amud a day from Sunday through Thursday, chazering the previous day’s amud daily, and reviewing the week’s 2½ blatt over Friday and Shabbos, the program provides the lomed with momentum—steadily covering ground while retaining the material as well.

The program’s structured yet flexible approach makes it accessible to lomdei Torah across the spectrum, from kollel yungerleit to baalei batim and mechanchim. With Oraysa, every participant, regardless of background or schedule, has the ability to grow in limud haTorah and deepen their connection to their learning.

Almost seven years since its inception, Oraysa now has more than 45,000 lomdim in 503 chaburos across more than 110 cities worldwide. With every passing masechta, scores of new lomdim and chaburos join the worldwide chaburah of Lomdei Oraysa.

Lomdim have access to a plethora of high-caliber shiurim available on the Oraysa website and other platforms. The comprehensive Yalkut Askin B’Oraysa, which contains a wealth of resources in print, has become a beloved addition to Oraysa chaburos around the world.

With a long winter ahead, joining Oraysa with the goal of acquiring Masechta Kiddushin, day by day and amud by amud, is sure to add depth, meaning, and fulfillment to one’s daily seder hayom.

Join thousands of Lomdei Oraysa as they embark on their journey into the sugyos of Kiddushin. Savor the satisfaction of learning in a goal-oriented way, with a built-in system for chazarah and retention that ensures every amud remains truly yours for years to come.

Oraysa begins Masechta Kiddushin today, Sunday, November 1.

To join the program, for more information, or to help establish a chabura in your community, contact Oraysa at 914.8.ORAYSA or email info@oraysa.org.

The Kashrus Council of Lakewood (KCL), one of the established kashrus organizations serving Lakewood and the surrounding communities, has announced a major leadership transition following the retirement of Rabbi Avraham Moshe Weisner, who has headed the organization for nearly 40 years.

The KCL has informed its clients that Rabbi Weisner is stepping down after decades of overseeing the organization’s kashrus operations.

The announcement outlined a reorganization under a newly appointed five-member Board of Trustees, along with changes to administrative procedures, contact information and payment arrangements.

The development marks the end of a lengthy chapter in the history of Lakewood’s kashrus infrastructure. Under Rabbi Weisner’s leadership, KCL grew into a recognized kashrus organization providing supervision to food establishments and businesses throughout the area.

The organization expressed its appreciation for Rabbi Weisner’s decades of service, crediting his dedication and leadership with helping build KCL into the organization it is today.

In a separate Hebrew letter addressed to Lakewood’s residents, store owners and business community, Rabbi Weisner reflected on his nearly four decades of involvement in local kashrus supervision and explained his decision to retire.

He wrote that he had been privileged to serve under the guidance of the city’s rabbinic leadership in maintaining standards of kashrus throughout Lakewood. Over the years, he noted, the organization expanded its supervision to numerous stores and businesses operating under the Kehillos Chareidim of Lakewood kashrus system.

Rabbi Weisner explained that he had reached a point in his life when he felt it was appropriate to step away from the demanding responsibilities of administering a kashrus organization. He expressed confidence in those assuming responsibility for KCL’s operations and voiced his hope that the transition would proceed smoothly.

The new Board of Trustees will consist of five community members: Ari Stern, Meir Gelley, Shaul Seigman, Tovia Rosenberg and Yanky Adler. The board will oversee the organization’s operations as KCL undergoes what it describes as a period of transition and restructuring.

KCL emphasized that its fundamental mission and kashrus standards will remain unchanged despite the leadership transition. The organization said it intends to strengthen its administrative operations, improve communication with businesses under its supervision and provide more efficient service.

Rabbi Weisner’s letter also paid tribute to the rabbonim who guided the organization over the years, including Rav Yaakov Forchheimer and the late Rav Gavriel Finkel zt”l, whose guidance and dedication contributed to the organization’s development.

He also expressed gratitude to the rabbonim currently involved in KCL’s leadership, including Rav Shalom Taub, Rav Yosef Fund, Rav Yechezkel Auerbach and Rav Avraham Shlomo Katz, as well as the mashgichim and administrative personnel who have worked to maintain the organization’s standards.

In his letter, Rabbi Weisner called upon the community and the businesses under KCL supervision to cooperate with the new leadership and continue supporting the organization’s work.

As part of the restructuring, KCL has announced updated contact arrangements for businesses requiring assistance. Rabbi Shlomo Perl will handle matters involving stores, products and mashgichim, while Rabbi Avraham Shlomo Katz will address catering, halls, Shabbos events and detailed halachic questions.

{Matzav.com}

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has warned that any new American or Israeli military attack on Iran will trigger an immediate response, declaring that Tehran’s forces must be prepared to strike U.S. and Israeli interests wherever they are located. The threat comes as reports suggest that diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran may be making progress in Qatar.

In a statement posted on X following a meeting with senior Iranian military commanders, Khamenei called for a forceful response to any future threats against the Islamic Republic, without limits on where Iranian forces could operate.

“Every level or type of threat must be met with an immediate and effective response, without geographical restrictions,” Khamenei wrote.

The Iranian leader further warned that Tehran would not allow its adversaries to dictate the duration or terms of any renewed military confrontation.

He declared that if Iran’s enemies launch additional military operations or terrorist attacks against the country, “it will be the armed forces of the Islamic Republic and the Iranian people who determine when and under what conditions these attacks will end.”

Khamenei also instructed Iran’s military leadership to undertake a broad reassessment of potential targets, demanding that its operational plans encompass American and Israeli assets of every kind, including both physical facilities and nonphysical infrastructure.

According to Iranian state media, the instructions followed a meeting with the country’s senior military commanders, including the heads of its armed forces, army and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The gathering was reportedly the first publicly disclosed meeting between Khamenei and all three commanders since the war began in February.

The warning comes amid speculation that President Donald Trump could authorize another round of strikes against Iran following Tuesday’s U.S. midterm elections. Iranian military officials have separately warned that renewed fighting could spread across a much larger area of the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Iranian representatives traveled to Doha for talks with Qatari mediators after more than 12 hours of negotiations in Tehran on Friday. Sources familiar with the diplomatic effort reported preliminary progress on Iran’s nuclear program, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and potential financial incentives for Tehran.

An American delegation could join the discussions in Qatar, according to the reports, while China and Russia have been mentioned as possible guarantors of an eventual agreement. Washington has not confirmed that direct negotiations have been arranged.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that President Donald Trump has imposed no deadline on diplomatic negotiations with Iran and has not decided whether to launch another round of military strikes, leaving Washington’s options open as efforts to reach an agreement continue.

Speaking with reporters following a G20 foreign ministers’ gathering in Atlanta, Rubio said the administration would prefer to settle the confrontation through negotiations but remains alarmed by Tehran’s nuclear activities and its attacks on international maritime commerce.

Asked how much longer the United States might pursue talks mediated by Qatar before turning to military action, Rubio pointed to Iranian threats against civilian shipping and the danger they pose to countries around the world.

“Well, I mean, the message is simple. Iran is blowing up ships, including ships that have, for example, Indian sailors on them, including ships that have energy that’s destined for countries represented at that table. We live in a world in which a country is openly – a regime is openly – saying: We will blow up commercial ships. Think about that, okay? Think about the world we now live in. It sounds like something from a hundred years ago or 80 years ago. It’s happening, and every country there is challenged,” he said.

The secretary of state explained that communication with Tehran has continued during the fighting, sometimes through direct exchanges and at other times through intermediaries. He said Trump alone would determine when negotiations had run their course.

“As far as the talks are concerned, I don’t know if there’s a time frame. It’s up to the President to make decisions with regards to those sorts of things,” he said.

Rubio described Trump as favoring diplomatic solutions to international crises whenever they are achievable, while recognizing that negotiations do not always produce an acceptable outcome.

He made clear that any arrangement with Iran would need to address the concerns that prompted American involvement in the conflict, including the regime’s nuclear ambitions and its activities throughout the Middle East.

Rubio said Washington would not accept an agreement that “endangers our national security or one that doesn’t meet our core concerns that we have that brought us into that in the first place.”

He also reiterated the administration’s position that Iran has sought nuclear weapons capabilities and that the United States is determined to prevent the regime from acquiring such weapons.

When questioned about whether a renewed American offensive could be carried out quickly without triggering a wider conflict, Rubio declined to discuss operational plans or speculate about potential military action.

“First of all, I’m not going to comment about what the US may or may not do militarily,” he said, while expressing confidence in the American military’s ability to accomplish its objectives if ordered to act.

Rubio emphasized that the president has not authorized another attack and that the administration is treating the possibility of renewed hostilities seriously.

“He hasn’t made a decision. I have no announcement in that regard with you today, and nor do we take any of it lightly,” Rubio said.

The secretary of state added that American forces are already helping defend commercial shipping and regional allies against Iranian drones and missiles. He accused Tehran of threatening not only vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz but also energy infrastructure in neighboring Gulf countries.

Meanwhile, Iranian negotiators met with Qatari mediators in Doha yesterday after extensive discussions in Tehran the previous day. The diplomatic effort has focused on Iran’s nuclear program, restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and possible economic concessions. Reports indicate that the discussions are being coordinated with Washington, although no breakthrough has been announced.

The negotiations are unfolding amid continued American military preparations. Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, reportedly briefed Trump at the White House on Thursday about possible operations against Iran.

On Friday, Trump suggested that Iran’s worsening financial situation was increasing pressure on its leadership to reach an agreement.

“There are talks. They want to talk. They keep talking. They’re not paying their soldiers. They’re not paying their police. They’re in a lot of trouble,” Trump said.

The president also indicated that he saw no immediate need to bring the confrontation to a conclusion.

“We have time, frankly. It’s a war, but it is not a typical war.”

A senior Religious Zionist Party official has accused the Noam party of costing his faction an additional Knesset seat in last week’s Israeli elections, arguing that Noam’s decision to compete independently squandered thousands of right-wing votes and weakened the broader national camp.

Noam, headed by Avi Maoz, received 9,876 votes in the election but failed to win representation in the Knesset. According to the Religious Zionist official, his party needed only 6,312 additional votes to capture a seventh mandate, which instead went to Likud under the surplus-vote agreement between the two parties.

“Seats are allocated using the Bader-Ofer method, which examines the relative number of votes when distributing the final seats,” the official explained to Arutz Sheva-Israel National News.

He maintained that Noam’s supporters could have changed the allocation of the final seat had they voted for Religious Zionism instead.

“If the votes cast for Noam had gone to the Religious Zionist Party, the additional seat would have gone to us rather than Likud. The meaning is simple: Noam brought Erez Tadmor into the Knesset instead of Tzvi Sukkot. That is its decisive contribution to strengthening the Jewish identity of the State of Israel,” he added sarcastically.

The official also dismissed Noam’s defense that its separate campaign had caused no meaningful damage because the right-wing bloc had fallen short of the 61 mandates required to secure a governing majority regardless.

“That is a lie on two counts,” he charged. “First, even without 61 seats, the internal composition of the Knesset and the strength of the Zionist, nationalist, and Torah-oriented parties are enormously important. The loss of a Religious Zionist Party seat to another party is a real blow to those forces, even if it does not, by itself, change the ability to form a government.”

He further contended that the cumulative impact of votes cast for unsuccessful right-wing parties may have been considerably greater than the loss of one Religious Zionist mandate.

“If you add up all the votes wasted on parties that failed to cross the electoral threshold, including Noam and other parties that ran independently, you find that the national camp could have reached around 55 or perhaps even 56 seats.”

The official argued that the difference between 53 seats and a stronger showing of 55 or 56 could have major implications for coalition negotiations, particularly regarding the influence of Arab parties.

“There is an enormous difference between a situation in which the change bloc, together with Ra’am, holds a majority over the national camp, and one in which it also needs the active support of the Joint List. Whether a government can be formed with Ra’am alone, with the Joint List abstaining, or only with its explicit support is a question of tremendous public and political significance.”

Election results released by Israel’s Central Elections Committee on Friday gave Likud 27 seats and Religious Zionism six, with Netanyahu’s broader bloc securing 53 of the Knesset’s 120 mandates. The opposition bloc received 48 seats, while Ra’am and the Joint List together won 19. No political bloc secured an outright majority.

Noam was among the parties that failed to clear the 3.25% electoral threshold, leaving its votes without direct Knesset representation. Updated election tallies showed the party receiving approximately 9,900 votes.

The Religious Zionist official insisted that even when an election produces no clear governing majority, the distribution of individual seats can determine which parties hold influence and what coalitions might ultimately be possible.

“The argument that if there are no 61 seats, it doesn’t matter where the votes go is simply untrue. Every vote affects the balance of power in the Knesset, the identity of its members, and the possibility of forming a government. In Noam’s case, the price paid by the Religious Zionist Party is clear to see.”

Iran is refusing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or return to formal negotiations with the United States unless Washington accepts seven conditions laid out by Tehran, Iranian security official Mohsen Rezaei declared Saturday, even as diplomatic efforts to avert another military confrontation continue.

Rezaei, identified as secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, told Iranian state television that the two countries have been exchanging proposals through diplomatic channels for more than a month. According to his account, the Trump administration has submitted three separate proposals, and Iranian officials are awaiting Washington’s reaction to Tehran’s latest demands.

“We are now waiting for the Americans’ response,” Rezaei said, insisting that the strategically important waterway “cannot reopen unless Iran’s seven conditions are met.”

The Iranian official characterized Washington’s first response as unsatisfactory but acknowledged that its second offer represented progress. He nevertheless accused the United States of attempting to draw Iran into negotiations while preparing another military offensive. A third American proposal, he said, remains under consideration because several provisions require clarification.

Rezaei said Iran’s demands are intended to resolve outstanding disputes stemming from an earlier understanding reached in Islamabad, particularly over shipping arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran’s proposed collection of transit fees.

His remarks came amid reports of direct outreach from Vice President JD Vance, who reportedly sent Rezaei a letter on President Donald Trump’s instructions. The Wall Street Journal first disclosed the correspondence, while The Washington Post subsequently reported that Vance had offered to meet the Iranian official in person, potentially in Istanbul or Doha.

Rezaei acknowledged receiving and reading the vice president’s message but said he had not responded.

“The tone of the letter has completely changed,” he said, contrasting Vance’s communication with an earlier message from Trump.

On Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Rezaei maintained that Tehran has made no decision to alter its existing policy, notwithstanding calls within the country for a different approach following attacks on Iranian nuclear installations.

“There has been no new decision regarding a change in the nuclear doctrine,” he stated.

“If there are to be nuclear negotiations, we will demand our rights,” he added.

Separate reports from Qatar indicated that mediation efforts were advancing, with an Iranian delegation participating in discussions in Doha and American representatives reportedly expected to join the process. The talks have addressed Iran’s nuclear program, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and potential economic concessions. China and Russia have also been mentioned as possible guarantors of a future agreement.

The diplomatic maneuvering comes as the Trump administration weighs additional military action. Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, reportedly briefed Trump at the White House on Thursday about potential operations against Iran.

On Friday, Trump portrayed Tehran as eager to negotiate because of mounting economic and military pressures.

“There are talks. They want to talk. They keep talking. They’re not paying their soldiers. They’re not paying their police. They’re in a lot of trouble,” Trump said.

The president also indicated that Washington was not facing an urgent deadline to reach a settlement.

“We have time, frankly. It’s a war, but it is not a typical war.”