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Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said Friday that he does not believe Mayor Zohran Mamdani should participate in ceremonies commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Speaking during an appearance on Newsmax’s “Finnerty,” Giuliani argued that the United States is facing what he described as an organized effort by some individuals to transform the country into an Islamic state. Mamdani is Muslim.

“Why are they fighting about Sharia law in Texas and in Dearborn, Michigan?” Giuliani said. “When the Germans came here, they didn’t ask for German law. The Puerto Ricans didn’t ask for Puerto Rican law. The Irish didn’t ask for Irish law.”

“They want to impose a barbaric foreign code on us, given the advances that we’ve made as an Anglo-American country,” Giuliani said. “It’s a disgrace. They’re trying to accomplish by infiltration what they couldn’t accomplish by murderous attack.”

Giuliani also criticized former New York City mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa over comments he made regarding the families of those killed in the Sept. 11 attacks.

“Every once in a while says things I don’t quite understand,” Giuliani said. “If he’s attacking the victims’ families, I don’t know what’s happened to him.

“When I was the mayor, and Bloomberg following me, we just about universally respected the wishes of those families,” Giuliani added. “Because every time we would go to a service and I went to more funerals, than any mayor ever, you had to respect them.

“You can’t imagine going through what they went through, losing your child, losing your husband, losing your wife,” Giuliani continued. “It’s awful [under] any circumstances, but having them attacked by a foreign force, Islamic terrorism, sacrificed that way, you never get over that.”

Israeli investigators now believe that the disappearance of Mali and Liel Yahalomi was not a spur-of-the-moment decision but the result of a carefully orchestrated plan developed over an extended period. According to the investigation, the mother and daughter allegedly erased digital evidence, withdrew cash, and even used artificial intelligence to help avoid detection before leaving Israel.

Police say newly uncovered evidence, including private messages exchanged between the two, indicates that the disappearance was deliberately planned in advance rather than carried out impulsively.

Investigators believe Mali Yahalomi, who was divorced and experiencing financial hardship, intended to leave her former life behind and begin anew outside Israel. Authorities now believe her daughter, Liel, knowingly participated in the plan from the outset.

Among the evidence recovered by investigators was a message in which Liel told her mother, “I’ll go with you anywhere.” Police say the correspondence reinforced their assessment that Liel was aware of the plan beforehand and willingly accompanied her mother.

Authorities also explored the possibility that the disappearance was connected to criminal activity or family-related issues. However, investigators said they found no evidence of domestic abuse or unusual financial liabilities, concluding that the pair had been living otherwise ordinary lives and that their departure was a voluntary decision rather than the result of any immediate danger.

Another factor supporting that conclusion, investigators said, was the withdrawal of approximately 50,000 shekels from Mali Yahalomi’s bank account shortly before she left Israel.

“Mali simply wanted to disappear from the world,” a senior official familiar with the investigation said.

Police also believe the two spent considerable time preparing for their journey. According to investigators, they deleted applications and other information from their mobile phones, allegedly used artificial intelligence to learn techniques for avoiding detection, and took additional measures to complicate efforts to trace their movements. Authorities further believe Mali may have traveled abroad previously to scout the route and prepare for the operation.

After investigators received information indicating that the mother and daughter were traveling toward Argentina, Israel Police dispatched its South America liaison, Walter Kogan, to assist in the search. Authorities located the bus carrying the pair shortly before they were scheduled to continue to another destination elsewhere in South America. The identity of that destination remains under a court-ordered gag order.

During questioning, Mali and Liel told investigators that they had left Israel for personal reasons but declined to provide additional details about what prompted their decision.

Police emphasized that the international search operation was conducted exclusively through cooperation between law enforcement agencies and did not involve any other Israeli security organizations.

An official familiar with the investigation said the time it took to locate the pair was the result of a deliberate operational strategy rather than any investigative failure.

“We followed them throughout the entire journey and waited for the right moment to complete the operation without exposing the parties who assisted us in Europe,” the source explained. “There was no concern for their lives – we waited for the appropriate time to close the circle.”

The BBC is asking a federal judge for permission to subpoena Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner as part of President Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the broadcaster, arguing that all three possess firsthand knowledge about President Trump’s intentions before, during, and after his Jan. 6, 2021, speech.

In a court filing submitted Friday in federal court in Miami, attorneys for the BBC requested authorization to use alternative methods to serve subpoenas on the three family members. The broadcaster said repeated attempts to deliver the subpoenas in person have been unsuccessful because of Secret Service security protections.

“The Third Parties have personal knowledge and likely have possession, custody, or control of records relevant to multiple elements of Plaintiff’s claims against the BBC,” the broadcaster’s lawyers wrote.

President Trump filed the lawsuit in December after the BBC aired a 2024 documentary that edited together portions of his Jan. 6 speech that had originally been delivered nearly an hour apart.

According to the complaint, the edited version falsely suggested that Trump “incited” or “fomented” the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Although the BBC has acknowledged and apologized for the editing error, it maintains that it did not defame the President. The broadcaster argues that Trump’s intent in delivering the speech is directly relevant to determining whether the documentary materially misrepresented his remarks.

Friday’s filing also cited an earlier discovery ruling stating that the BBC is entitled to examine Trump’s “intention behind the speech and anything that bears on the impression his audience could have reasonably obtained in listening to the speech,” including “the extent of any resulting injury or harm.”

The broadcaster said Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump were present in the Oval Office while the President was still revising his speech, including around the time he unsuccessfully urged then-Vice President Mike Pence not to certify the 2020 election results. The filing cites testimony both previously gave to the House Jan. 6 committee.

According to the BBC, both Trump Jr. and Ivanka later accompanied the President from the White House to the Ellipse, where they “personally witnessed” him deliver the speech and observed the crowd’s reaction.

The filing further states that Ivanka Trump returned to the White House afterward and witnessed her father’s response as reports of violence at the Capitol began to emerge.

The BBC also noted that Donald Trump Jr. contacted then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows during the riot, urging him to have the President “condemn this s**t. Asap.” The filing says Trump Jr. also later spoke directly with his father.

The broadcaster contends that Jared Kushner likewise possesses significant firsthand knowledge. According to the filing, Kushner spoke that afternoon with then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who warned him “it was getting really ugly over at the Capitol” and asked for “anything [he] could do to help.”

The BBC alleges that Kushner subsequently drafted a proposed presidential statement that “would have condemned the use of violence” and later worked alongside senior administration officials on another statement as Congress prepared to resume certification of the election.

The broadcaster further argues that testimony from Trump’s family members is relevant to his claim that the documentary harmed his personal reputation.

The three have “personal knowledge of Plaintiff’s reputation before and after the Documentary,” BBC lawyers wrote, adding that their testimony could help determine whether the disputed edit “actually and proximately caused him the reputational harm he alleges.”

That issue has taken on added importance after President Trump recently received permission to amend his lawsuit, withdrawing claims that the documentary damaged his businesses and commercial brand and instead focusing solely on alleged personal reputational harm.

U.S. District Judge Roy Altman has indicated that narrowing the lawsuit could affect the amount of damages ultimately available, while leaving unresolved the extent of the financial discovery the BBC may still pursue.

Media attorney Deanna Shullman told Newsweek that the revised lawsuit does not necessarily shield Trump’s relatives from participating in discovery.

“They may be asked to produce communications with the president, and they may be deposed,” Shullman said. “I think it is fair game.”

She added that family members could possess “very relevant information” concerning Trump’s claimed damages and “other issues in the case, truth being one of them.”

Florida International University law professor Howard Wasserman expressed a similar view, saying, “There should not be anything sacrosanct about them,” while describing Trump’s relatives with relevant information as “potential non-party witnesses.”

The immediate issue before the court concerns how the subpoenas can legally be served.

According to the filing, law enforcement personnel prevented a process server from reaching Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner at their Florida residence and instead referred BBC attorneys to the Secret Service. The agency replied that it “is not authorized to accept service of these subpoenas for these individuals” and said it could not advise the broadcaster on how to serve them.

The BBC also stated that security personnel at Trump Tower prevented a process server from serving Donald Trump Jr. at that location.

The broadcaster said it repeatedly sought voluntary cooperation from President Trump’s legal team but was unsuccessful.

The BBC is now asking the court for what it described as the “modest relief” of permitting service through alternative means, including certified mail sent to the family members’ homes or workplaces or by serving Trump’s attorneys.

Judge Altman has scheduled the case for a two-week trial beginning in February 2027.

An unusual summer storm swept across parts of Eretz Yisroel on Shabbos, bringing heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning to several regions. The unexpected weather caused flooding in Yerushalayim, prompted rescue operations, and temporarily forced the closure of a major highway amid concerns over flash floods.

Rain fell in Yerushalayim, Maaleh Adumim, and the northern Golan Heights, with some areas receiving significant precipitation despite the middle of the summer season. Maaleh Adumim recorded 18.4 millimeters of rainfall, while Yerushalayim received 2 millimeters. An additional 0.4 millimeters was measured at Mount Bental in the northern Golan Heights.

The downpour led to flooding in several neighborhoods in eastern and southern Yerushalayim. Fire and Rescue Service crews responded to rescue individuals who became trapped by rising waters. Officials urged residents to avoid underground parking garages, basements, and elevators during flooding and warned people to stay away from fast-moving streams and floodwaters.

Meanwhile, Route 90 was shut down in both directions for approximately one hour because of fears that flooding could make travel hazardous along part of the roadway.

Earlier in the day, the Israel Meteorological Service issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms and lightning across wide areas of the country, including the northern mountains and valleys, the central mountain region, the Jordan Valley, the Yehudah Desert, the Dead Sea region, the northeastern Negev, and the northern Aravah.

Authorities also banned swimming at Achziv Beach in the western Galil because of dangerous sea conditions, warning that entering the water could pose a serious risk to life.

Forecasters expect additional localized showers on Sunday afternoon, mainly in eastern parts of the country, with continued concern over flash flooding in streams flowing through the Yehudah Desert, the northern Aravah, and the northeastern Negev.

The forecast also calls for a slight drop in temperatures on Monday, providing a brief respite from the summer heat before warmer conditions return to the mountainous and inland regions on Wednesday.

{Matzav.com}

The producer of the biographical film Reagan says John Hinckley Jr. recently revealed that he originally intended to shoot President Ronald Reagan as he arrived at the Washington Hilton in 1981 but hesitated after Reagan smiled and waved at him, delaying the assassination attempt until later that day.

Mark Joseph made the comments Friday during an appearance on Newsmax’s “Ed Henry: The Big Take,” where he discussed the upcoming theatrical release of an extended version of his 2024 film Reagan. The expanded edition is scheduled to return to approximately 600 theaters on Sept. 25.

Joseph said his years of research for the film included reviewing FBI and KGB documents and interviewing more than 50 people who worked closely with President Reagan. He said the revelation came during a recent podcast interview with Hinckley, who for decades had been prohibited from speaking with journalists or researchers.

“I had no idea he was planning to shoot Ronald Reagan upon arriving at the hotel that day, not on departing,” Joseph said, adding that Hinckley said Reagan “smiled and waved at him, and he just couldn’t bring the gun out in time because he was kind of disarmed by that charm.”

Hinckley ultimately carried out the attack after Reagan completed his speech before the AFL-CIO and exited the Washington Hilton. Reagan was struck by a bullet, while White House Press Secretary James Brady and two other individuals were also wounded. According to Joseph, Hinckley’s account suggests there had been an earlier opportunity to carry out the attack that was abandoned.

Joseph also discussed Soviet intelligence records concerning Reagan, saying the KGB maintained an extensive file on him dating back to his years as governor of California.

“The KGB files basically said that Reagan was superstitious, which is probably their code for religious, that he was a teetotaler — didn’t drink alcohol — and they considered him vain,” he said, adding that FBI agents interviewed the future president’s neighbors as part of a background inquiry related to Reagan and nuclear weapons.

According to Joseph, those neighbors described Reagan as a friendly individual who nevertheless held what they characterized as “extreme right-wing views.”

Joseph said there were two people he was unable to interview while producing the original film. One was former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who requested payment for an interview that Joseph declined to provide. The other was Hinckley, who at the time remained barred from speaking publicly with members of the media or researchers.

The extended edition of Reagan includes approximately 10 minutes of additional footage that was not part of the original release. New scenes feature Nancy Reagan in the Oval Office, additional material involving Reagan’s father, Jack, and footage filmed at the Reagans’ California ranch.

The wider theatrical release follows a limited run of special screenings over the July Fourth holiday held in conjunction with America’s 250th anniversary celebration.

Joseph also recounted one humorous scene restored for the expanded version, describing an incident in which Reagan became frustrated by birds stealing fish from a pond at the White House.

“This brought the Secret Service agents to converge and say, ‘Mr. President, we thought you were being shot at,'” Joseph said.

The original theatrical release of Reagan earned more than $30 million worldwide against a production budget of approximately $25 million, receiving sharply divided reviews from critics while drawing a much warmer response from moviegoers.

Former Hamas hostage Rom Braslavski made an emotional appeal to National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir during a podcast interview, asking to personally carry out the execution of convicted terrorists if Israel’s proposed death penalty law is enacted. Ben Gvir responded by pledging to do everything possible to fulfill the request.

Braslavski, who survived Hamas captivity, addressed the minister directly while interviewing him on his personal podcast. Referring to legislation promoted by Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit party that would authorize capital punishment for terrorists, Braslavski made an extraordinary request.

“I have a personal request, and I’m really looking you straight in the eyes, honored Minister,” Braslavski told Ben Gvir. “Let me be the one who hangs them. I don’t want a rope; I want a button. With my own hands, I will execute every terrorist in the State of Israel.”

Ben Gvir responded by expressing strong support for the request.

“I will move heaven and earth to make that happen. I promise you that I will try and move heaven and earth so that it happens. And G-d willing, it is one of my greatest dreams to see you there.”

The minister also clarified the form of execution outlined in the proposed legislation.

“By the way, it’s hanging. The punishment we established there is to carry it out by hanging. And G-d willing, G-d willing. You are the right person in the right place for us to hang them and execute them one by one. They don’t deserve to live, and you’re right.”

During the interview, Ben Gvir also discussed what he described as sweeping changes to the treatment of security prisoners since he assumed office, contrasting current prison conditions with those that previously existed.

Recalling what he said he encountered in Israel’s prisons before the changes, Ben Gvir said, “You would visit the prisons and see the marmalades and chocolates, the television, ping-pong, and meat. Everything they had there – it was insane. I go through the Israel Prison Service facilities and you hear the stories: We took this one for cosmetic surgery, and we gave that one a prosthetic eye because he lost an eye after throwing a Molotov cocktail.”

He concluded by saying that prison conditions have changed dramatically under his leadership.

“Thank G-d, today we are in a completely different reality,” Ben Gvir concluded. “They are suffering, it’s difficult for them, they are miserable – and I’m glad they are miserable. That’s the only thing that can provide some measure of correction and relief for the tremendous pain that you and all the others carry.”

Dr. Anthony Fauci has declined a request to testify before a second Senate panel, further intensifying his dispute with congressional Republicans after a Senate committee voted last week to hold the longtime infectious disease expert in contempt of Congress.

In a letter sent Friday to Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., Fauci’s attorney rejected the invitation for a voluntary appearance before the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. The attorney argued that requiring Fauci to testify again following his contentious July 29 hearing would “impermissibly harass or degrade Dr. Fauci for political purposes.”

During that July hearing, Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination approximately 100 times while declining to answer lawmakers’ questions regarding his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

His repeated reliance on the Fifth Amendment led the Senate Homeland Security Committee to vote along party lines on Aug. 6 to hold him in contempt of Congress, setting the stage for a referral to the Department of Justice to determine whether his refusal to testify constitutes contempt.

Homeland Security Committee Chairman Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who led the effort to pursue the contempt resolution, argued that Fauci could not properly invoke the Fifth Amendment because President Joe Biden had previously granted him a preemptive pardon. According to Paul, that pardon removed any realistic threat of criminal prosecution.

Paul has been one of Fauci’s most outspoken congressional critics throughout the years, repeatedly accusing him of misleading the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. The July hearing marked the latest in a series of high-profile confrontations between the two, and Paul has repeatedly called for Fauci to face criminal prosecution and imprisonment.

Johnson, who chairs the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, is conducting a separate inquiry into Fauci’s role in the federal government’s response to the pandemic, including questions surrounding the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.

Three Israeli soldiers were seriously wounded Friday night after a Hezbollah explosive drone struck IDF forces operating in southern Lebanon. In response, the Israeli military launched airstrikes that killed a senior Hezbollah commander and several other terrorists involved in planning attacks against Israeli troops.

The IDF said an officer and two soldiers sustained serious injuries when an explosive UAV hit their position in southern Lebanon. All three were evacuated to a hospital for treatment, and their families were informed.

According to the military, the drone attack targeted IDF troops operating in the Ali al-Taher Ridge area within the security zone established by Israel in southern Lebanon.

The IDF responded by striking Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in the Nabatieh and Ansar areas of southern Lebanon. The military said the targeted headquarters served as a command center from which Hezbollah directed terrorist operations in the region.

Among those killed in the strike was Ali Samir Al-Haj Hassan, identified by the IDF as a battalion commander in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force.

The military said several additional terrorists were also eliminated in the operation. According to the IDF, those killed had been actively involved in planning and advancing attacks against Israeli forces operating in the security zone.

The IDF acknowledged reports that members of Hassan’s family were present inside the command center during the strike.

“At the time of the strike, Hassan’s family was also present with him inside the military headquarters and, according to the claim, was harmed in the strike. It should be emphasized that the family members were not the target of the strike.”

The military stressed that Hassan himself was the intended target and accused Hezbollah of deliberately placing civilians at risk.

“The strike was specifically directed at Hassan, who was a lawful target under international law. The terrorist used his family as human shields, hiding alongside them inside the military headquarters.

“The IDF remains committed to the ceasefire agreement and will not allow the Hezbollah terrorist organization to harm Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers.”

Earlier Saturday, the Prime Minister’s Office took the unusual step of issuing a public statement on Shabbos, departing from its customary practice.

“This morning Hezbollah violated the ceasefire in Lebanon by attacking our soldiers in the security zone, which protects Israeli communities just across the border,” the statement read. “The Hezbollah attack seriously injured three of our soldiers. The IDF responded by striking the Hezbollah terror headquarters which ordered the attack.”

The statement added that Israeli officials were initially unaware that civilians had been inside the compound.

“Only later did the IDF learn that Hezbollah deliberately put civilians in that military compound.

“Hezbollah is willing to do anything, including using its own civilians as human shields, to falsely accuse Israel of deliberately targeting civilians, which the IDF clearly did not.”

Lebanese media reported that 11 people were killed in the Israeli strikes. Israeli officials maintained that Hezbollah intentionally embedded civilians within the military facility in an effort to use them as human shields and shift responsibility for civilian casualties onto Israel.

In a separate incident in southern Lebanon, the IDF said soldiers from the Paratroopers Brigade killed two terrorists after they crossed the Blue Line and advanced toward Israeli troops in a manner the military described as posing an immediate threat.

President Donald Trump sharply criticized Gov. Kathy Hochul during a campaign-style appearance on Long Island Friday, accusing her and the “radical left” of driving New York into decline while confidently predicting that Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman will win this year’s election.

Trump made the remarks at the Nassau County Police Academy, where he joined Blakeman, the county executive, to highlight newly released FBI statistics showing a significant nationwide decline in violent crime compared with the previous year.

Addressing an enthusiastic audience of law enforcement officers and supporters, Trump warned that progressive policies were pushing American cities toward disorder and violence.

“And then the death comes, and it becomes really a true hell hole,” he said, before adding, “It’s not going to happen to New York, New York state. That’s why we got to get Bruce into office.”

Trump argued that Blakeman should have a clear path to victory given the policies adopted by Hochul and other Democratic leaders in New York, particularly the state’s 2020 cashless bail law.

“How the hell can you lose to that? If you lose, you’ll be ashamed for the rest of your life,” he told Blakeman.

Recent polling suggests the race has tightened. A Siena College survey conducted in early August found Hochul leading Blakeman by 10 percentage points, 49% to 39% among likely voters.

The poll also indicated that Blakeman is outperforming where Republican Lee Zeldin stood at a similar point in the 2022 campaign. Zeldin ultimately lost to Hochul by six percentage points in one of the closest gubernatorial races for a Republican in New York in decades.

Trump’s Long Island visit came as Blakeman and other Republicans intensified their criticism of Democratic leadership ahead of November’s election, arguing that the party’s leftward shift could alienate suburban and swing voters.

While New York City’s Democratic Socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani has become a central target for many Republicans, Trump mentioned him only briefly, drawing boos from the crowd.

Instead, the President repeatedly focused his criticism on Hochul, accusing her of being weak on crime because of her support for cashless bail and New York’s sanctuary-state policies, which limit cooperation between local law enforcement agencies and federal immigration authorities.

“Hochul and the radical left stand with the gang members, child predators, violent felons. We stand with hardworking New Yorkers,” Trump said.

“She thinks the sanctuary cities are wonderful, which are killing our country,” he added.

Although Trump and Hochul frequently criticize one another publicly, they have occasionally praised their ability to work together on specific projects, including the redevelopment of Penn Station.

Before Trump’s remarks, Blakeman touted Nassau County’s partnership with federal immigration authorities, saying it has contributed to the county’s public safety.

“Nassau County has the most comprehensive agreement with ICE in the United States of America. In one year, we removed 2,000 illegal migrants with criminal records ranging from attempted murder, rape, murder, robbery… drug dealers,” he said.

Trump was joined during the visit by Blakeman, Attorney General Todd Blanche, and FBI Director Kash Patel, who grew up in nearby Garden City. The group toured Nassau County’s police training facility before the rally.

Speaking to the law enforcement audience, Trump praised Blakeman for expanding the county’s police force by more than 700 officers.

The crowd also applauded loudly when Trump called for imposing the death penalty on those convicted of murdering police officers. Introducing Blakeman, the President described him as a longtime friend and added, “He’s a winner.”

Ahead of Trump’s appearance, Hochul sought to counter expected criticism by posting crime statistics on X showing significant declines in several major categories.

According to the figures she shared, shooting deaths have fallen by 62%, murders are down 57%, and overall crime has decreased by 10%.

“Here are the facts: Crime rates are continuing to drop across the state,” Hochul wrote.

The United States recorded its lowest homicide rate in roughly 70 years during 2025, according to newly released FBI crime statistics, which also show a sharp nationwide decline in violent crime. The report found that murders, property crimes, and vehicle thefts all dropped significantly, while preliminary figures indicate the downward trend has continued into 2026.

According to the FBI’s annual crime report released Friday, the national homicide rate fell to 4.1 killings per 100,000 people in 2025, matching the levels recorded in 1955 and 1956. Overall violent crime declined by 9.3% during the year.

Criminal justice experts cautioned that the reasons behind the dramatic decrease remain uncertain, noting that violent crime has been falling nationwide since 2022 across communities with widely differing policies and political leadership. The FBI’s report is based on crime data voluntarily submitted by thousands of law enforcement agencies throughout the country.

“The homicide drop is historic and crystal clear. But right now, what’s driving it is about as clear as a glass of milk,” said Adam Gelb, president and CEO of the Council on Criminal Justice.

“Rates are falling in cities with very different public safety strategies, economic conditions, and political leadership,” Gelb said. “The consistency across the map should make us cautious about handing credit to any one leader, party, policy, or program before the evidence catches up.”

President Donald Trump highlighted the FBI’s findings during an appearance Friday at a police academy on Long Island, where he credited his administration’s law-and-order agenda for the decline in crime.

Trump contrasted his approach with that of the previous administration and criticized sanctuary city policies while emphasizing his support for law enforcement and actions such as deploying the National Guard in Washington and other locations.

“We ended the war on police, and we declared a very strong war on crime,” Trump said during the Long Island appearance.

Criminologists who have monitored crime trends in major U.S. cities had projected that the homicide rate could fall to approximately four killings per 100,000 residents, a level that would have marked the lowest since national recordkeeping began in 1900.

Although the final figure came in slightly higher, the FBI reported a homicide rate of 4.1 per 100,000 people, tying the rates recorded in 1955 and 1956 as the lowest in the modern era.

The report also found that murders and non-negligent manslaughters declined by 18.1% between 2024 and 2025. Property crime also dropped substantially, falling 12.4% over the same period.

Motor vehicle theft, which surged during 2022 and 2023 following a social media trend that exploited security flaws in certain Kia and Hyundai models, declined by nearly 23%, reaching its lowest level in more than two decades.

In an unusual step, the FBI also included preliminary data showing that violent crime has continued to decrease during the first half of 2026, rather than waiting until year-end statistics become available. The update comes as Republicans have increasingly pointed to falling crime rates ahead of the midterm elections.

Separate data from the Council on Criminal Justice also suggests the trend is continuing, with homicides in the cities it tracks falling another 18% during the first six months of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier.

The report also noted the dramatic spike in violent crime that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, when homicides surged by nearly 30% in 2020—the largest single-year increase since the FBI began collecting national crime statistics. Since then, violent crime has steadily declined, approaching pre-pandemic levels by 2022.

The FBI compiles its annual report through the Uniform Crime Reporting Program, which gathers standardized crime data from law enforcement agencies across the country. The 2025 report includes submissions from more than 17,000 agencies—representing over 87% of participating departments—and covers communities totaling nearly 329 million Americans.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is reportedly angered by the Army’s decision to withdraw newly announced academic standards for ROTC cadets, including a proposed minimum SAT score of 1,000, after the requirements were rescinded just days after being unveiled.

The now-suspended policy was introduced on Aug. 5 in an internal memorandum signed by Jules Hurst, who was then serving as the Army’s assistant secretary for manpower and reserve affairs before being confirmed two days later as the Pentagon’s comptroller.

In the memo, Hurst stressed the importance of strengthening the Army’s future leadership.

“The Army must cultivate intelligent and adaptive officers to build a lethal and ready Army prepared to deter, fight, and win our nation’s wars. The strength of our Officer Corps is the strength of our Army,” Hurst wrote.

Under the proposal, which had been scheduled to take effect in January, prospective ROTC cadets would have been required to achieve at least a 1,000 on the SAT. However, on Aug. 12, Army Under Secretary Mike Obadal formally withdrew the new standards, saying additional review was necessary and citing a need for “further staffing and analysis.”

According to Pentagon officials who spoke with The New York Post, the abrupt reversal exposed internal divisions within Army leadership. Sources said Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Hegseth have clashed repeatedly over personnel matters during the past year and are barely communicating despite the ongoing conflict with Iran.

One source told the newspaper that neither memorandum was reviewed by Driscoll before it was issued. Another source said the Army secretary was not even included in internal email discussions announcing the original policy.

Three Pentagon sources told the Post that Hegseth was deeply frustrated by the sequence of events.

Military officials familiar with the proposal argued that raising academic standards for future officers is long overdue and consistent with Hegseth’s broader effort to increase professionalism throughout the armed forces.

“I have friends that taught ROTC. They literally deal with some cadets that can’t put together a coherent sentence or write correctly,” a senior Pentagon official told The Post.

“A modest policy like this is a move in the right direction. Especially in an environment where the quality of a formal college education is less than what it was. 1000 on the SAT is nothing. If you can’t hit that you probably shouldn’t be an officer to begin with. We don’t want stupid people leading our soldiers.”

The proposed standards also would have allowed applicants to qualify by earning a score of 20 on the ACT or finishing above the 50th percentile on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), the test commonly administered to enlisted personnel.

“These are really common sense policies that everyone should be able to get behind,” the senior official said.

“Every branch of the U.S. military, except for the Army, has minimum requirements to commission via ROTC regardless of scholarship status. The fact that this was not in place to begin with is a bit strange. Enlisted service members, in many cases, seem to have stricter testing requirements to join.”

At present, Army ROTC applicants are not required to submit standardized test scores.

ROTC remains the Army’s largest source of newly commissioned officers, accounting for roughly 40% to 70% of incoming officers in recent years, according to publicly available figures.

The proposed testing standards are part of a broader effort by Hegseth to tighten military requirements. He has also advocated for stricter physical fitness and grooming standards for officers, criticizing what he has described as the presence of “fat generals” and “beardos,” arguing that they undermine the military’s professional image.

Although the testing proposal has been withdrawn for now, Army officials indicated it has not necessarily been abandoned.

“The Army is in lock-step with Secretary Hegseth and the president’s direction regarding military standards and readiness,” an Army spokesman told The Post. “The Army is evaluating proposed changes to ROTC cadet standards for review by appropriate senior leaders and approval by the Secretary of the Army and the Acting Chief of Staff of the Army.”

A man accused of launching a violent antisemitic attack inside a Manhattan synagogue during Shabbos services has been charged with multiple hate crimes after allegedly assaulting a congregant, attacking a security guard, and causing damage inside the sanctuary, according to the NYPD.

Police identified the suspect as 46-year-old Larry Montes of the Bronx. Authorities said he entered Central Synagogue, located on Lexington Avenue and East 55th Street, shortly before 6 p.m. Friday and began behaving erratically near the front of the sanctuary while services were underway.

According to law enforcement sources, synagogue security personnel approached Montes and attempted to escort him from the building. Before they could remove him, however, he allegedly punched a 63-year-old congregant in the face.

Investigators said Montes also headbutted and spat on one of the synagogue’s security guards. During the disturbance, he allegedly destroyed two religious candles valued at approximately $20,000.

An NYPD sergeant assigned to a paid security detail at the synagogue quickly intervened and took Montes into custody.

Video from a livestream of the service, later shared on X, captured the chaotic moments as Montes shouted uncontrollably from the front of the sanctuary.

Moments later, the sound of an object shattering could be heard off camera, prompting audible cries from members of the congregation. The footage then showed Montes being escorted down the aisle while yelling and repeatedly thrusting his fists into the air.

Prosecutors charged Montes with two counts of assault as a hate crime and one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said she had spoken with the synagogue’s rabbi following the attack and expressed gratitude that the incident did not result in more serious injuries.

“I have spoken with the rabbi of the synagogue, and I’m relieved that no one was seriously injured,” Tisch said in a statement.

“There are no known additional threats at this time, and additional NYPD resources have been deployed to the synagogue,” she added.

Tisch later noted her personal connection to the congregation, explaining that she attended the synagogue as a child.

She said she confirmed with synagogue leadership that “those who were hurt were evaluated at the scene and are doing well.”

“I understand the sanctity of this space and its meaning for congregants. Central Synagogue is where I grew up,” the commissioner wrote.

“In joy and in sorrow, it has always been a place of comfort and peace. What happened there tonight is deeply painful. A place of worship should never be a crime scene.”

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also condemned the attack, describing it as “appalling” and saying she was “grateful the suspect is in custody and that no one was seriously injured.”

“Jewish New Yorkers have every right to worship openly, proudly, and without fear,” Hochul wrote on X.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani likewise denounced the incident, saying he was “horrified by the assault at Central Synagogue.”

“I can only imagine the pain and fear an attack like this, during Shabbat services, causes for the congregation and for Jewish New Yorkers across our city,” Mamdani said.

“Every New Yorker must be able to observe their religion without fear of violence. This despicable act has no place in our city, and our administration will do everything in our power to keep Jewish New Yorkers safe.”

Attorney General Letitia James also issued a statement following the attack.

“My heart is with the Central Synagogue community this evening,” James said.

“The assault during services at Central Synagogue today is appalling and unacceptable,” she added. “No one should feel threatened in their place of worship.”

The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is continuing its investigation into the incident.

{Matzav.com}

A 14-year-old girl was seriously injured Friday morning in Bnei Brak after her hand became caught in a kitchen mixer while preparing Shabbos challos. Several of her fingers were severed in the accident, and she was rushed to the hospital, where doctors are attempting to save them.

The accident occurred at the family’s home on Ginot David Street as the teenager was kneading dough for Shabbos challos. According to initial reports, she accidentally placed her hand into the operating mixer, resulting in the traumatic amputation of several fingers.

United Hatzalah emergency responders arrived quickly at the scene and immediately began administering first aid, controlling the bleeding and bandaging her injuries before transporting her for emergency medical treatment.

Hili Miller and Yanky Deitch, medics with United Hatzalah’s Koach Hatzalah unit who treated the girl, said, “We were told that the girl accidentally placed her hand into the mixer while kneading dough for Shabbos challos. We provided emergency medical treatment, including stopping the bleeding and bandaging her wounds. She was then transported by United Hatzalah ambulance to Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, where doctors will attempt to save her fingers.”

The teenager was taken to Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, where medical teams are working in an effort to reattach and save her injured fingers.

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

More than 1,000 Roshei and Menaheli Kollelim from across Eretz Yisrael gathered in Kfar Saba for a historic Adopt-a-Kollel convention. The nine-hour gathering was devoted to tefillah, chizuk, hadrachah and strengthening the partnership between kollelim in Eretz Yisrael and their sponsor kehillos in Chutz La’aretz.

The convention comes at an exceptionally difficult time for the olam haTorah. Government cuts have severely affected kollelim and avreichim, while the declining value of the dollar against the shekel has reduced the support arriving from abroad. Despite these pressures, tens of thousands of yungeleit continue learning with extraordinary hasmadah and mesiras nefesh.

The gathering was graced by HaGaon Rav Dov Landau Shlit”a, HaGaon Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch Shlit”a, HaGaon Rav Yitzchak Soloveitchik Shlit”a, HaGaon Rav Yehoshua Dovid Torchin Shlit”a, HaGaon Rav Yaakov Hillel Shlit”a, HaGaon Rav Gamliel Rabinowitz Shlit”a, HaGaon Rav Shimon Galei Shlit”a, and HaGaon Rav Elimelech Biderman Shlit”a.

The Gedolim expressed profound admiration and hakaras hatov to the Roshei Kollelim and avreichim carrying the ol haTorah. Rav Dov Landau Shlit”a emphasized the extraordinary zechus of sustaining Torah and the importance of kehillos abroad partnering with kollelim. Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch Shlit”a spoke of the tremendous kevod Shamayim created when a kehillah assumes responsibility for a kollel.

Throughout the convention, it was stressed that an Adopt-a-Kollel partnership is far more than a financial arrangement. A partner kehillah becomes a genuine shutaf in its kollel’s Torah, while receiving a living connection to Toras Eretz Yisrael.

Rav Moshe Yosef Scheinerman of Kollel Bnei Yeshivos of Flatbush expressed the impact of this relationship simply: “We get so much more than we give!”

Participants received practical guidance for deepening these relationships, while Roshei Kollelim without partner communities met with Adopt-a-Kollel coordinators to begin forming new partnerships.

Above all, the gedolim delivered an urgent message: At a time when so much more is being demanded of our yungeleit, Klal Yisrael must rise to the moment and do more for them.

In response, Adopt-a-Kollel, which has established more than 560 partnerships, is preparing a special Yom Tov campaign to bring desperately needed relief to the avreichim and their families, showing them that their partners recognize their sacrifices and stand beside them.

The limud hatorah of Eretz Yisrael is being upheld with extraordinary mesiras nefesh. Now it is our turn to do more.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has warned that government funding for Chareidi educational institutions will be conditioned on compliance with state-mandated core curriculum requirements, prompting a sharp response from MK Moshe Gafni, who demanded that secular schools be required to teach the 613 mitzvos if the state intends to dictate what Chareidi children must learn.

Baharav-Miara submitted the state’s response to the Supreme Court today in a case dealing with government funding for Chareidi educational networks. The response made clear that funding will not continue without stricter oversight to ensure that institutions are teaching the required curriculum and meeting the government’s core educational standards.

In presenting the state’s position, the Attorney General cited Education Ministry findings that allegedly identified substantial shortcomings in compliance by Chareidi schools.

“Ministry of Education data indicate significant gaps in the networks’ institutions meeting their obligation to teach the full core curriculum, as well as failures in the ability to monitor compliance with these obligations and enforce them”.

Based on those findings, the state said that funding provided to the institutions under the “all children in Israel” framework will no longer be transferred automatically. Instead, continued government support through the program will depend upon individual institutions fulfilling their obligations regarding core studies.

The tougher conditions are slated to begin during the current school year. Among other requirements, institutions will be expected to teach the entire state-prescribed core curriculum, employ appropriately trained teachers, participate fully in government measurement and evaluation programs, cooperate with state monitoring and enforcement procedures, and fulfill all mandated reporting requirements.

Gafni blasted the Attorney General’s position, arguing that the government should not dictate the educational priorities of the Chareidi community while continuing to fund secular schools whose curricula do not include fundamental Torah teachings.

“If she decides what Chareidi students should study, I demand that all Israeli children study the 613 commandments; otherwise, they should not receive funding.”

{Matzav.com}

A New Jersey man has admitted in federal court to orchestrating a massive $47 million investment fraud that victimized dozens of investors, most of them members of the chareidi community. Prosecutors said the scheme promised extraordinary returns but instead financed gambling debts, home renovations, and other personal expenses. Sentencing is scheduled for December.

The suspect pleaded guilty in federal court in Trenton to operating the multimillion-dollar investment fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 16, 2026.

According to court filings, between June 2019 and June 2023, the suspect raised approximately $47 million from 97 investors through his company, Capital Funding ASAP. Authorities said nearly all of the victims were members of the frum community. Investors were told their money would be used exclusively to finance short-term business loans and would generate annual returns ranging from 9% to 53%.

Instead, prosecutors said that the suspect operated a Ponzi scheme, using funds from new investors to pay earlier participants while diverting roughly $11 million for his own personal use. Investigators said the stolen money paid for gambling losses, home renovations, mortgage payments, and automobile loans.

U.S. Attorney Robert Fraser said that the suspect exploited the trust of the chareidi community to carry out the fraud. “The defendant turned the trust of the Orthodox Jewish community into a tool for fraud, using personal relationships to fuel a massive Ponzi scheme,” Fraser said. “Thanks to the combined efforts of our partners and federal law enforcement agencies, he has been brought to justice. Our office will continue to uncover financial fraud, protect investors, and hold accountable those who abuse positions of trust for personal gain.”

Stephanie Roddy, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Newark Field Office, said investment scams can leave victims financially devastated and permanently alter their lives.

“Investment fraud can drain people’s bank accounts and change their lives. Dozens of victims placed their trust in the promises made by [the suspect], who admitted using their money to fund his gambling habit, among other things,” Roddy said. “The FBI Newark will pursue anyone who breaks the law to exploit victims, and we will do everything in our power to bring justice to every victim harmed by fraud.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump announced Friday that he intends to declare the Strait of Hormuz part of American territory once Iran is defeated, while also touting what he described as overwhelming U.S. success against the Iranian regime during a campaign rally in New York.

Speaking at a rally on Long Island in support of New York gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, Trump said, “After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated, pretty soon, I will be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States.”

Trump argued that the military campaign against Iran benefits not only the United States but the entire international community. “What we are doing [in Iran] is a great service for the world, not only for ourselves, for the world,” Trump continued.

The President also asserted that the extent of America’s battlefield success has exceeded public understanding. “Nobody has any idea how successful we are [in Iran]. You know who knows how well we are doing? Iran.”

Trump on Iran:

Pretty soon, I will be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States. pic.twitter.com/ySyIIhvF5V

— Clash Report (@clashreport) August 14, 2026

Pointing to Iran’s air force, Trump claimed it had been completely destroyed. “They had 212 very nice airplanes, some bought from the United States, brilliantly, through Obama. And every one of their airplanes is shot down, it’s gone,” Trump said.

He went on to describe Iran’s governing structure as having been effectively dismantled, saying there was virtually no one left with whom to negotiate. “no leadership. Their leadership is gone. Their second tier is gone. The third tier is half gone. That’s one of my problems, that there is nobody to negotiate with. It’s a problem. It’s the only country in the world where nobody wants to be president.”

A day earlier, Vice President JD Vance outlined the administration’s objectives in the confrontation with Iran during an interview with Fox News, saying the White House is focused on preserving stable global energy supplies while ensuring Tehran never acquires nuclear weapons.

Explaining the administration’s priorities, Vance said, “It’s ensuring that the Gulf countries continue to send oil and gas to the world economy so that we have energy price stability. That’s obviously important for the American people. I know that oil is down today and it’s way down from the highs in the early days of the conflict. That’s goal number one, keep oil and gas cheap for Americans all over our country.”

Vance added that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons remains the administration’s second major objective. “And then obviously goal number two is [to] ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon. I feel confident we’re accomplishing both of those goals, but it’s inherently an unpredictable thing because the Iranians themselves are unpredictable and they sometimes don’t honor the commitments they’ve made to us,” Vance concluded.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also signaled that the United States is preparing a dramatic escalation in its economic campaign against Tehran, saying additional measures will be announced in the coming days.

“Watch this space for more announcements coming next week because we are going to apply measures like have never been seen in the history of economic isolation on a country,” Bessent told Newsmax in an interview.

He added that the administration intends to combine unprecedented sanctions with continued restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz. “It will be a combination of economic isolation like the world has never seen before, and the continued blockade in the Strait of Hormuz that will keep anything from going in or out of the Iranian ports,” he added.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli authorities state that missing mother and daughter Mali and Liel Yahalomi have been found safe in Argentina, bringing an end to an intensive international search that spanned multiple countries. Investigators said the pair had left Israel voluntarily and were traced to a bus in Buenos Aires after days of coordinated investigative work involving law enforcement agencies in Israel and overseas.

The Israel Police confirmed that the two women, who had been missing since last Friday, were located alive. Video released by police showed Mali and Liel aboard a bus in Buenos Aires.

“The Israel Police, in full cooperation with all security agencies and relevant entities in Israel and abroad, operated over the past few days in an extensive and focused effort to locate the missing women,” the Israel Police said.

“Under the direction of the Israel Police Commissioner, Chief Commissioner Danny Levy, the police – led by Lahav 433 and the Police Intelligence Division – operated command centers in Israel and overseas 24/7. They allocated all necessary resources and capabilities to locate them and executed hundreds of investigative actions.”

“Following extensive efforts and joint cooperation among all agencies, including Europol and additional foreign law enforcement organizations, the missing women were located. The Israel Police expresses its gratitude to all partners in Israel and abroad for their cooperation and assistance throughout the search efforts,” the statement concluded.

A senior police official told Channel 12 News that investigators successfully reconstructed the women’s movements and ultimately pinpointed the exact bus on which they were traveling. According to the official, authorities quickly came to believe that the departure had been voluntary and that there was no immediate indication of foul play, though officers still needed to confirm their physical safety in person.

After making contact with the mother and daughter and verifying that they were unharmed and not victims of any criminal act, investigators officially closed the case. Since no legal basis existed to detain them, police allowed the pair to continue their journey.

The same police official said the women had accumulated financial debts, which led them to leave Israel.

In a statement released after they were found, the Yahalomi family said, “Above all, the family feels immense relief that Mali and Liel have been located and are alive.”

“The family wishes to thank the Israeli public for their concern and goodwill, as well as the Israel Police, the Israeli Consul in Vienna, Magen Search and Rescue, and the rescue team members.”

Confirmation that the two had been located came shortly after Austrian authorities announced that the mother and daughter had departed Vienna on their own. Vienna was the last city where they had been seen before disappearing.

Israeli media later reported that the pair traveled by train from Vienna into Germany before boarding a flight to Argentina.

Earlier in the investigation, as speculation intensified over what may have happened, family members urged security officials not to dismiss any possible explanation for the disappearance.

“For a week now, we wake up every morning with the same prayer – to find you safe and sound and bring you home. Please do not stop searching,” the family said. They added that they “demand all security and investigative authorities continue examining all potential scenarios, including the possibility of a terror-related motive, until it is definitively ruled out based on concrete findings.”

Investigators had also obtained surveillance footage showing Mali and Liel leaving the apartment building where they had been staying in Vienna. The video showed the two carrying their belongings as they exited, with no one else accompanying them.

{Matzav.com}

Thousands of travelers faced major disruptions at Ben Gurion International Airport on Friday, with passengers stuck aboard planes, families waiting hours for luggage and dozens of flights caught in an unusual backlog as roughly 90,000 people were expected to pass through the airport in a single day.

The problems intensified in the hours leading up to Shabbat, turning departure gates, baggage claim areas and aircraft into scenes of mounting frustration. Some passengers traveling overseas said they remained aboard their planes for hours after boarding because their baggage had still not been loaded. Arriving travelers encountered similar problems, with parents and children waiting long after landing for their suitcases to appear.

“The children are already impatient. We’ve been sitting on the plane for hours without knowing when we will take off,” passengers said. Other travelers described spending hours alongside baggage carousels waiting for their belongings. On several flights, crews reportedly informed passengers that congestion at Ben Gurion was also causing delays for aircraft scheduled to fly to Israel.

The Israel Airports Authority pushed back against reports that the disruption was connected to a strike by baggage handlers, insisting that no labor action was underway and that there was “no shortage of workers.” According to the authority, approximately 90 flights accumulated in a backlog during a period of just three hours, overwhelming baggage operations and placing extraordinary demands on ground services.

Airport officials said several factors converged to produce the unusual congestion, including peak summer travel and restrictions affecting European airspace, particularly in the area of Greece. The activity of American aerial refueling aircraft was also cited as contributing to the situation. Approximately 600 aircraft movements were scheduled at Ben Gurion during the day, carrying an estimated 90,000 passengers and making Friday one of the airport’s busiest days of the summer.

According to the Airports Authority, flights originally scheduled to reach Israel at different times can become compressed into a much narrower arrival window because of delays and airspace restrictions elsewhere. When large numbers of aircraft arrive almost simultaneously, available parking positions quickly become scarce while baggage crews, ground personnel and airport logistics systems are forced to handle an unusually concentrated workload.

The Airports Authority said additional personnel had been deployed and were working continuously despite the hot weather in an effort to process aircraft and luggage more quickly and shorten delays. Officials maintained that all available workers were operating at maximum capacity and asked travelers for patience as crews worked through the backlog.

Transportation Minister Miri Regev said Israel’s aviation system is dealing with particularly challenging circumstances, with the normal surge in summer travel occurring alongside security-related and aviation restrictions. She said authorities are working to preserve regular flight operations and limit inconvenience to travelers as much as possible, while noting that broader restrictions affecting regional airspace are also having consequences for flights into and out of Israel.

{Matzav.com}

Missing Israelis Mali and Liel Yahalomi reportedly traveled from Austria to Germany before boarding a flight to Argentina, a significant development that appears to shed new light on the mysterious disappearance of the mother and daughter.

Israeli media reported Friday evening that the two left Vienna aboard a train bound for Germany and subsequently took a flight from Germany to Argentina.

While authorities have not officially established where Mali and Liel are currently located within Argentina, investigators have reportedly confirmed that the pair purchased airline tickets and boarded the flight from Germany.

The development came after Austrian police confirmed earlier Friday that the mother and daughter had departed Austria on their own. Authorities said there was currently no indication that the pair had been victims of a violent crime.

According to Austrian media reports, Vienna police checked local hospitals and conducted internal inquiries in an effort to determine what had happened to the two women. Police did not, however, launch an official public missing-person search because authorities determined there were insufficient legal grounds to do so.

Israeli investigators also reported making headway Friday in reconstructing the movements of Mali and Liel before their disappearance from contact.

“We have made progress in mapping out the pair’s timeline and activity,” Israel Police sources said.

Investigators have reportedly succeeded in establishing additional details about the pair’s movements and activities, helping close some of the gaps in the timeline surrounding the case.

“We hope there will be a breakthrough soon,” the sources added.

The developments followed days of intense speculation over what might have happened to the mother and daughter. Earlier, their family appealed to Israeli security and law enforcement authorities not to dismiss any possible explanation until it had been thoroughly investigated.

“For a week now, we wake up every morning with the same prayer – to find you safe and sound and bring you home. Please do not stop searching,” the family said.

Relatives added that they “demand all security and investigative authorities continue examining all potential scenarios, including the possibility of a terror-related motive, until it is definitively ruled out based on concrete findings.”

New surveillance footage obtained during the investigation also provided important evidence about the pair’s departure from their accommodations in Vienna. The video shows Mali and Liel leaving the apartment building where they had been staying while carrying their personal belongings. No other individual can be seen accompanying them.

Before reports emerged that the two had traveled onward to Argentina, a senior official familiar with the investigation said Friday that authorities believed Mali and Liel remained alive. At the time, however, investigators still had not determined why they had disappeared or stopped communicating with those searching for them.