Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a recent interview with Israeli outlet i24NEWS that Russia is providing Iran with drone technology, as tensions rise following Iranian warnings that Ukraine has become a “legitimate target” due to its support for Israel.
Addressing the threats from Tehran, Zelensky made clear that such messages do not intimidate him or his country.
“We are not afraid of such messages; we have been living with messages like this every day for the past four years,” the president said.
During the interview, Zelensky also discussed the evolution of Iranian drone capabilities, arguing that the weapons being used today are significantly different from those deployed earlier in the war.
“It is impossible to compare the ‘Shahed’ from the beginning of the war to the ‘Shahed’ of today. In 99% of cases, the ‘Shahed’ has been used against Ukrainian civilians,” he said, adding that he is “certain” Russia is supplying Iran with Shahed-type drones.
Zelensky pointed to physical evidence, saying that components recovered from a drone strike in the Middle East indicate Russian involvement in their production.
“We saw several components from one of the ‘Shahed’ drones that struck a country in the Middle East. These were Russian components, so we know the Iranians did not manufacture it,” he said.
In recent days, Iran escalated its rhetoric, warning Ukraine that it has become a legitimate military target because of assistance it has provided to Israel.
Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, wrote on X that Ukraine’s actions have placed it directly in the conflict.
“By providing support to the Israeli regime through drones, the collapsing Ukraine is effectively involved in the war. According to Article 51 of the UN Charter, this has made its entire territory a legitimate target for Iran.”
The warning followed comments earlier in the week from Zelensky, who confirmed that Ukraine had sent interceptor drones, along with teams of experts and operators, to Jordan in order to help defend U.S. bases in the country.
Separately, reports indicated that Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu has sought to arrange a conversation with Zelensky regarding potential cooperation between Israel and Ukraine in countering Iranian drone threats.
{Matzav.com}Three individuals turned themselves in to authorities following a brutal daytime attack outside a San Jose restaurant that left two Israeli-American men injured and sparked widespread concern within the community.
Police identified the suspects as Ramon Akoyans, 18, Roma Akoyans, 20, and Bruneil Chamaki, 32. All three surrendered to the San Jose Police Department on Monday, about a week after the alleged assault took place outside Augustine, located in the Santana Row area.
The incident, which occurred in broad daylight and is being investigated as a possible hate crime, was captured on video and quickly spread online. Footage aired by KTVU shows three individuals dressed in black shirts repeatedly striking a person lying on the ground.
“The victims alleged that the suspects used antisemitic language during the altercation,” police said last week.
According to accounts shared by community leaders, the victims were attacked without warning. “While they were waiting for their table, three people came up to them out of nowhere and knocked one of the victims out cold and then three of them jumped on top of the other victim,” Jewish Silicon Valley CEO Daniel Klein told KTVU. Both of the victims are Israeli-American men, and one was reportedly knocked unconscious during the attack.
Authorities acknowledged the public reaction and emphasized their commitment to a careful investigation. “We recognize the community’s concern about this incident and appreciate the patience shown as investigators worked methodically to ensure the case was handled thoroughly and correctly,” the San Jose PD wrote on X. “Those responsible for this violent crime will be held accountable.”
The investigation is ongoing, with San Jose police continuing to coordinate with the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office as the case proceeds.
{Matzav.com}
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The IDF announced Tuesday that Israeli forces carried out a targeted airstrike near Tehran a day earlier, killing Ali Larijani, a top Iranian national security official who had effectively assumed leadership of the regime’s operations. According to the IDF, the mission was executed by the Israeli Air Force based on detailed intelligence and specialized operational coordination.
Larijani had long been regarded as one of the most experienced and influential figures within Iran’s leadership and maintained a close working relationship with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei over many years.
After Khamenei’s elimination, Larijani emerged as the central authority within the regime, taking charge of its military and strategic efforts against Israel and other countries in the region.
In his capacity, Larijani was responsible for overseeing Iran’s national security apparatus, including coordinating its global activities and maintaining ties with allied elements within the broader regional network.
During the latest wave of unrest inside Iran, Larijani played a leading role in enforcing the regime’s crackdown, directing harsh suppression efforts and personally supervising a deadly campaign against demonstrators.
The IDF stated that his killing is part of a broader campaign that has already resulted in the deaths of numerous high-ranking Iranian officials during Operation Roaring Lion, dealing another significant setback to Tehran’s ability to plan and execute hostile actions against Israel.
He was also deeply involved in shaping Iran’s national security direction, including direct participation in key strategic matters such as the country’s nuclear program.
Following widespread reports of his death, a message appeared on Larijani’s official Telegram account claiming that a statement would soon be released. Shortly afterward, the account posted a handwritten note prepared for a naval funeral, but made no mention of the assassination reports and offered no confirmation that he remains alive.
{Matzav.com}After a missile fragment struck Rechov Yerushalayim in Bnei Brak, thousands of residents rushed to the scene, creating a massive crowd that quickly became the most striking aspect of the incident. Beyond the physical damage, the overwhelming number of onlookers—far greater than usual—drew widespread attention.
Photos from the area showed clear destruction, but in a city known for its distinct character, it was the surge of curious residents that stood out most. While such gatherings are not uncommon in Bnei Brak, many said this time the scale appeared to break previous records.
To understand the phenomenon, local personalities described reactions that ranged from humor to discomfort. Some noted that the behavior reflects a deeply rooted cultural pattern within the city.
Despite the jokes, observers stressed that Bnei Brak is a city that consistently provokes strong reactions. Its intensity, constant movement, and unpredictability shape how residents respond to unfolding events.
On the ground, however, emergency responders described a far more difficult reality. The sheer volume of people created major obstacles for rescue and medical teams attempting to operate effectively.
Efi Feldman, head of the United Hatzalah branch in Bnei Brak, said the situation quickly became unmanageable as crowds poured into the area.
“When there are no schools or structured frameworks, the situation spirals out of control. Everyone who is outside ends up heading in the same direction. As time passed, the streets became so crowded that we had to use barriers to create controlled zones for medical and emotional care.”
He explained that although the number of injured was relatively small, the emotional toll was severe, particularly for families who lost their homes in an instant.
“Thank God there were only a small number of injuries, but entire families lost their homes in a single moment and had to pack up their lives into bags. When thousands of people are standing around watching you at your most vulnerable moment—it is extremely difficult.”
Feldman urged the public to act with greater responsibility in the future, emphasizing both safety and basic human dignity.
“Beyond the fact that staying in a protected area saves lives, I ask people to think about mutual respect. When someone sees a family being evacuated to a hospital or taken from their destroyed home to temporary housing and just stands there watching—it is a lack of respect. Everyone needs to ask themselves what matters more: their curiosity or ‘love your fellow as yourself.’”
Others pointed to a deeper cultural explanation for the phenomenon. Chilik Rosenberg, who leads guided tours of Bnei Brak for secular visitors, said the answer lies in the community’s intense appreciation for life.
“People in Bnei Brak truly love life. Not everyone in the world experiences life with that kind of intensity. Every event excites them, and they immediately come to experience it fully.”
He added that visitors are often surprised by the city’s nonstop energy, even late at night.
“Secular visitors are surprised to discover that Bnei Brak is the real city that never stops. At midnight, the city is still full and alive. Today, unlike in the past, Tel Aviv is no longer a nonstop city—it’s quiet at night.”
Rosenberg concluded that being a Bnei Brak resident reflects a lifestyle rooted in Torah, vitality, and a deep sense of belonging.
“It means living at the center of things, in a stronghold of identity. It gives children a sense of rootedness and connection.”
{Matzav.com}
A key Knesset committee on Monday approved moving forward with legislation that would strengthen the authority of the Chief Rabbinate over the Kosel area, advancing the proposal to the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee in preparation for its first reading in the Knesset plenum.
The committee that will now handle the bill is headed by MK Simcha Rothman of the Religious Zionism party, who has often worked closely with the chareidi parties on matters relating to religion and state.
The legislation, introduced by MK Avi Maoz of the Noam party, had already passed its initial stage last month. It seeks to address a recent High Court ruling that directed the government to proceed with plans to upgrade the separate area near the Kosel designated for non-Orthodox prayer.
Those plans trace back to an arrangement from roughly a decade ago, during the tenure of then-Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu, which proposed the creation of a formalized space for pluralistic prayer at the site. That arrangement has remained largely stalled.
Under the current proposal, final authority over all sections of the Kosel, including the adjacent plaza used by non-Orthodox groups, would be placed in the hands of the two chief rabbis of Israel. The bill would also define any conduct at the site that runs contrary to their directives as a “desecration” of a holy place.
As written, the legislation stipulates that such a violation could carry a penalty of up to seven years in prison.
MK Maoz welcomed the bill’s progress, stating that it brings closer the goal of limiting the involvement of the High Court in matters relating to the Kosel. He said the move would return oversight of the site “to its natural and proper place, the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, and will safeguard the sanctity of the remnant of our Holy Temple.”
The advancement of the bill, of course, prompted sharp criticism from leaders of Reform and other non-Orthodox movements, who argued that the legislation marginalizes large segments of world Jewry.
The radical, trouble-making group Women of the Wall, which advocates for expanded prayer rights at the site, also voiced strong opposition. “You have to rub your eyes in disbelief,” the organization said in a statement.
The bill had previously passed its preliminary reading in the Knesset by a vote of 56–47.
{Matzav.com}
