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The U.S. State Department is moving forward with a plan to cancel the passports of thousands of Americans who owe substantial amounts in unpaid child support, marking a significant step in enforcing longstanding federal policy.

Officials said Thursday that the first wave of revocations will begin Friday, targeting individuals who owe at least $100,000. Based on data provided by the Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 2,700 U.S. passport holders fall into that category.

The initiative, which was first detailed earlier this year, is expected to widen considerably in the near future. According to the State Department, enforcement will soon extend to those with unpaid child support exceeding $2,500, the level set by a 1996 law that has historically seen limited enforcement.

Authorities acknowledged that the total number of people owing more than $2,500 remains unclear, as HHS continues gathering information from state agencies responsible for tracking such debts. Officials indicated that the broader enforcement could ultimately affect many thousands more individuals.

Previously, enforcement was limited to people seeking to renew their passports. Under the updated approach, HHS will regularly notify the State Department of anyone with overdue obligations above $2,500, and those individuals who already hold passports will face revocation.

“We are expanding a commonsense practice that has been proven effective at getting those who owe child support to pay their debt,” Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar said. “Once these parents resolve their debts, they can once again enjoy the privilege of a U.S. passport.”

Following initial reports in February about the expanded effort, officials said there has already been a noticeable response from affected parents.

“Since the AP reported the expansion of the program on Feb. 10, the department said it had “seen data that hundreds of parents took action and resolved their arrears with state authorities since news broke that the State Department would start proactively revoking passports.””

“While we can’t confirm the causation in all of those cases, we are taking this action precisely to impel these parents to do the right thing by their children and by U.S. law,” the department said.

Even before the latest expansion, the State Department described the policy as highly effective in collecting overdue payments. Since the program began in 1998, states have recovered approximately $657 million in back child support, including more than $156 million in over 24,000 lump-sum payments during the past five years.

Individuals whose passports are canceled under the policy will receive notice that their documents are no longer valid for travel and that they must reapply once their outstanding obligations have been settled.

Those who are overseas at the time their passports are revoked will be required to contact a U.S. embassy or consulate to obtain emergency travel papers allowing them to return home.

{Matzav.com}

A sharp dispute broke out in Albany on Thursday after Kathy Hochul declared that an agreement had been reached on New York’s overdue state budget, only to be publicly contradicted by Carl Heastie, who insisted no such deal exists.

The clash followed Hochul’s early morning announcement, made around 9 a.m., in which she outlined what she described as the framework of a finalized spending plan.

Within roughly two hours, Heastie forcefully pushed back, dismissing the governor’s claim outright.

“There’s no budget deal. There’s no deal,” the Bronx Democrat said.

“I’m not conferencing anything else until I know what the financial picture is.”

Heastie added that he had exited a high-level meeting of legislative leaders the previous evening without any agreement being reached.

Hochul has been under growing pressure to finalize a budget as the state repeatedly missed its statutory deadlines, and had been eager to present a resolution.

She had initially planned to unveil the agreement a day earlier, even arranging for the Red Room at the state Capitol to host the announcement, but scrapped those plans at the last moment.

Her assertion that a deal had been secured — seen by some as an effort to pressure lawmakers — drew pushback from both sides of the aisle.

“I would actually thank the speaker for standing up for the legislature in this process,” Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra told reporters.

“No you didn’t reach an agreement,” state Sen. Jabari Brisport posted to Hochul on X. “You do this every year. Please stop.”

The proposal Hochul presented lacked detailed specifics and comes as New York City’s newly elected mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has been urging Albany for additional funding to address what he says is a $5.4 billion budget gap.

State officials are expected to provide some form of assistance to the mayor, either through direct funding or by postponing requirements to reduce class sizes in city schools — a move insiders say could ease roughly $600 million in costs.

Legislators have also been considering changes to pension fund contributions, which could yield up to $1.5 billion in savings, though negotiations over those details were still ongoing late Wednesday.

A spokesperson for the governor indicated that the city’s financial figures are still being finalized, but confirmed that the state plan is expected to include additional support for New York City.

Hochul has maintained that Mamdani must identify cost-cutting measures within his expanding $127 billion municipal budget, which is approximately half the size of the state’s overall spending plan.

For his part, the first-term mayor has yet to put forward significant proposals to rein in spending and has delayed releasing his executive budget blueprint until next week.

The governor has also sought to hand Mamdani a policy victory by advancing a tax on high-value secondary residences in the city, allowing him to claim progress on his campaign promise to increase taxes on the wealthy.

However, that measure is expected to bring in only about $320 million and is likely to encounter substantial political and legislative challenges.

The state budget had originally been due on April 1, and remains unresolved weeks past the deadline.

{Matzav.com}

Officials in Florida are reportedly engaged in discussions with the Trump administration about the possible shutdown of the immigration detention facility known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” as concerns grow over the high cost of maintaining the site.

The detention center, located deep in the Everglades, has emerged as a prominent symbol of strict immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

According to a report by The New York Times, officials within the Department of Homeland Security have privately determined that the facility is too costly to sustain and has fallen short of expectations in terms of effectiveness.

Newsmax reached out to DeSantis’ office for a response to the report.

The state is said to be spending more than $1 million each day to operate the center, which began housing detainees last summer at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, situated between Miami and Naples.

Its isolated swamp location, chosen in part to discourage illegal crossings and limit escape attempts, has significantly driven up operating expenses.

Supplies such as tents, generators, and trailers must be transported into the site, while waste and sewage must be removed, adding to the logistical burden.

Despite the costs, DeSantis and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier have consistently defended the facility, arguing that it plays a critical role in supporting federal immigration enforcement efforts.

The site marked the first state-operated center to house federal immigration detainees and was hailed by officials in the Trump administration as a model that other states could follow.

President Trump and then–Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited the facility shortly after it opened.

Opponents, including environmental advocates and immigration activists, have criticized the center for months, raising concerns about conditions at the site as well as its environmental impact.

Florida officials have rejected those claims, maintaining that the criticism is driven by political motives.

In April, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Florida and the Trump administration, reversing a lower court decision that would have required the facility to be closed and dismantled, according to The Hill.

The appeals court determined that the federal government did not have sufficient direct involvement in the construction of the facility to require an environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act.

At the time, a DHS spokesperson welcomed the decision, saying the lawsuit was driven by “open-borders activists and judges trying to keep law enforcement from removing dangerous criminal illegal aliens from our communities.”

Even with that legal victory, uncertainty continues to surround the future of the detention center, as Florida has reportedly yet to receive more than $600 million in federal reimbursements it has requested to cover operating costs.

Data from ICE cited in the Times indicated that the facility was holding close to 1,400 detainees as of last month, with about two-thirds classified as individuals without criminal records.

{Matzav.com}

The White House is set to start making public a trove of long-anticipated UFO-related records on Friday, following President Donald Trump’s directive earlier this year instructing senior officials to initiate the disclosure process, The Post has learned.

Details about the timing emerged during a Thursday meeting in the West Wing that included Tim Burchett, who serves on the House Oversight Committee’s task force focused on declassifying federal secrets.

“It’s going to start tomorrow. It’s going to have some stuff in there from pilots, and maybe one video,” Burchett told independent journalist Jeremy Corbell in remarks shared with The Post.

Sources indicated that the reference to “pilot materials” likely points to documented encounters involving U.S. military aviators who reported sightings of unidentified aerial phenomena during active missions.

The initial batch of records will not feature the 46 UFO-related videos that lawmakers have been pressing the Department of War to make public.

Officials plan to release additional materials in weekly installments, a structured approach that differs sharply from the bulk document dumps seen in past disclosures such as those involving the Assassination of John F. Kennedy and files connected to Jeffrey Epstein.

Burchett acknowledged that resistance remains among some members of Congress regarding the declassification effort, but expressed confidence that the administration will follow through on its commitment.

“I totally support and am grateful to President Trump for keeping his word and being the president of transparency and disclosure,” Burchett said in a statement to The Post.

“I would like to remind people that transparency won’t all happen at once, it will take some time.”

{Matzav.com}

Voters across the United Kingdom headed to the polls Thursday in a wide slate of local and regional elections that are widely expected to deal a significant blow to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Labour Party, raising renewed doubts about his political standing.

Nearly 5,000 council seats in England, along with elections to devolved legislatures in Scotland and Wales, are up for grabs. The results could signal a major shift away from the country’s long-standing two-party system if voters turn instead to nationalist and populist alternatives over Labour and the Conservatives.

Polling indicates that Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, may expand its presence in English councils and could emerge as a leading opposition force in Scotland and Wales, competing against pro-independence parties such as the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru.

At the same time, the Green Party is expected to challenge Labour’s traditional support base, particularly in London and other urban centers, presenting a threat from the political left.

The possibility that Labour could lose a substantial number of local council seats, along with its dominant position in the Welsh Senedd and a potential drop to third place in Scotland’s Holyrood parliament, is likely to intensify pressure on Starmer to step down or at least outline a timeline for his departure.

Financial markets have already shown signs of unease, with Britain’s borrowing costs rising in recent weeks amid concerns that a leadership change could bring in a more left-leaning government inclined toward higher public spending.

Starmer, 63, who came to power with a sweeping victory less than two years ago, has insisted he will remain in office, focusing on addressing the country’s cost-of-living crisis, which has been exacerbated by conflicts in Ukraine and Iran.

“We can rise to this moment together – become a stronger, more resilient and more united nation with opportunities for all, or we can sink into the politics of grievance and division,” Starmer wrote on Substack at the weekend.

“The answer to this moment, to the world we face today, is not passive government nor is it the populists who look out at the world and offer only easy answers that would make us weaker, or bankrupt. This is a time for patriots.”

Hinting at possible changes after the elections, Starmer pledged to pursue what he described as an “active, interventionist government.” He is seeking an opportunity to reset his leadership after spending weeks dealing with criticism over his appointment of veteran Labour figure Peter Mandelson as British ambassador to the United States.

That appointment has sparked a broader controversy centered on Mandelson’s past connections, including ties to the late convicted offender Jeffrey Epstein, as well as business links involving Russia and China. Starmer dismissed Mandelson last September after emails surfaced detailing the extent of those connections.

Mandelson was arrested by British authorities in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, though he has not been formally charged.

Labour campaigners and party activists say they have frequently encountered voter anger on the campaign trail. Any electoral losses are expected to deepen dissatisfaction within the party toward Starmer and his leadership team, with some lawmakers considering a move against him that could include a formal call for him to set a departure timeline.

However, replacing him would not be straightforward.

Potential successors such as Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner are not currently positioned to launch leadership bids, while other possible contenders appear reluctant to challenge him at this stage.

Former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson, who previously supported a push for Tony Blair to announce his resignation date in 2006, cautioned against repeating that approach.

“I would tell them not to be as reckless as we were,” Watson, now a member of the upper house, said in his own Substack column. “Firstly, it will not work,” he said. “Secondly … voters will see a party talking to itself while the country is shouting at it.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he held what he described as a productive conversation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, while warning that the European Union has until July 4 to meet its commitments under a previously agreed trade deal or face significantly higher U.S. tariffs.

“I’ve been waiting patiently ⁠for the EU to fulfill their side of the Historic Trade Deal we agreed in ⁠Turnberry, Scotland, the largest Trade Deal, ever!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Trump added that the agreement required the EU to follow through on specific tariff reductions, and that he had set a firm deadline tied to a symbolic national date.

“A promise was made that the EU would deliver their side of the Deal and, as per Agreement, cut their Tariffs to ZERO! I agreed to give her until our Country’s 250th Birthday or, unfortunately, their Tariffs ⁠would immediately jump to much higher ⁠levels.”

Earlier in the week, Trump had already signaled his willingness to escalate trade measures, warning that tariffs on European automobiles could rise sharply in response to what he views as noncompliance with the deal reached in Scotland last summer.

The president also noted that his discussion with von der Leyen extended beyond trade, saying the two leaders addressed concerns about Iran and reached a shared position on preventing the country from obtaining nuclear weapons.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Hundreds of young men affiliated with the Peleg Yerushalmi gathered Thursday evening in the heart of Yerushalayim, blocking major roads and shutting down the light rail for hours in protest of the recent arrests of yeshiva bochurim.

The police eventually moved in to disperse the crowd, deploying a water cannon that sprayed blue-colored liquid.

The demonstrators, identified with the kehilla of Rav Tzvi Friedman, assembled at the Sarai Yisroel–Yaffo intersection near the central bus station and the Navon train station, bringing traffic in the area to a standstill. For an extended period, they remained in place, preventing vehicles from passing and halting the train service.

At the conclusion of the protest, police stated that they had been working for two hours to disperse what they described as a disturbance. According to the police, “As part of the incident, a small group of individuals blocking the roads and the light rail route caused disruption, including the involvement of minors.”

During the course of the dispersal, five individuals were taken into custody. Police reported that all roads were reopened shortly afterward and that calm was restored to the area.

The protest led to major disruptions throughout central Yerushalayim, with the light rail service repeatedly suspended and multiple roads closed. Large police forces were dispatched in an effort to remove the demonstrators from both the streets and the train tracks.

As tensions escalated, a police officer officially declared the gathering illegal and instructed the crowd to disperse. According to police accounts, when the protesters refused to comply, officers began crowd-control measures, including the use of a water cannon that sprayed blue-colored water. Footage from the scene showed many demonstrators soaked in blue dye as a result.

Members of the Peleg Yerushalmi say the protest was sparked by the arrest of a yeshiva bochur in Herzliya last week. According to their version of events, the arrest was carried out through deception, claiming that a military police officer posed as a delivery messenger, contacted the bochur, and told him there was a package waiting outside his home, where he was then arrested.

Holding the protest in Yerushalayim marked a departure from the group’s usual demonstrations, which are typically concentrated along Route 4 in central Israel. This time, organizers appear to have deliberately shifted the location to the capital in order to catch authorities off guard.

Earlier, police issued a statement saying: “Yerushalayim District police officers and Border Police forces are working to remove individuals disrupting public order in the Yaffo–Sarai Yisroel area. The demonstrators are blocking roads and the light rail route, thereby disturbing public order. A police officer declared the gathering unlawful and instructed the protesters to clear the roadway. Since they did not comply, forces began dispersing them using force and a water cannon in order to restore order and reopen the roads for public use.”

Police added: “The Israel Police will continue to allow lawful protest and freedom of expression. At the same time, we will not allow a blatant disruption of public order that harms freedom of movement, and we will act decisively to restore order.”

Senior legal officials are warning that Israel’s High Court of Justice is likely to invalidate the proposed draft law outright, even if the coalition revises its language and advances the framework led by MK Boaz Bismuth.

According to a report citing conversations with legal sources, the expectation is that the court will not allow the legislation to stand due to concerns that it fails to meet equality standards. The assessment is based on recent rulings and statements made by justices during hearings, which indicate that the law does not satisfy constitutional requirements. Officials said that “an order to halt the law will be issued immediately — since it does not align with the requirements of equality.”

The situation is further complicated by the position of the Knesset’s legal advisory body, which has raised “several significant comments” regarding the current wording of the bill. Despite the lack of legal approval, Bismuth, who chairs the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, appears determined to continue advancing the legislation.

Legal experts cautioned that the effort is unlikely to succeed in its present form, stating that “there is no chance of passing the draft law in its current version” without the backing of professional and legal authorities.

At the same time, leading rabbinic authorities have not yet issued a final ruling on the matter. Reports indicate that while Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch has expressed reservations about the proposed law, a final decision from Rav Dov Landau has not yet been handed down.

Sources in Bnei Brak suggest that given the intensifying situation on the ground, including arrests of yeshiva students, Rav Landau could ultimately support the legislation in an effort to halt sanctions and detentions.

However, the latest legal assessments cast doubt on whether any political or rabbinic decision would ultimately matter. If the High Court issues an immediate injunction against the bill, even full backing from chareidi parties would not be enough to bring the law into effect.

This leaves the yeshiva community in a state of uncertainty, as the proposed legislation faces the prospect of being struck down immediately and outright, by High Court order.

The conduct of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee has also raised questions within legal circles. The fact that its chairman has continued to move forward in recent discussions without the approval of the Knesset’s legal advisers is seen by some as an attempt to bypass fundamental legal obstacles.

Legal analysts say the High Court is closely monitoring the legislative process, and any attempt to pass a version of the law that does not meet equality standards is expected to face firm judicial opposition.

{Matzav.com}

The man responsible for a firebombing attack targeting a pro-Israel march in Boulder, Colorado, was sentenced Thursday to life in prison after admitting guilt to every state charge filed against him.

Mohamed Sabry Soliman entered guilty pleas to 101 counts, including a murder charge in connection with the death of 82-year-old Karen Diamond. The attack, which took place last June, targeted participants in a demonstration calling for the release of hostages taken by Hamas during its October 2023 assault on Israel.

More than a dozen others were injured in the assault, which shook Boulder’s Jewish community and heightened concern over growing antisemitic violence across the United States.

Addressing the court, Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty said the attack spread “terror, fear and death.”

During Thursday’s hearing, victims and relatives rose one after another to describe the lasting trauma they have endured in the months since the attack.

They recounted scenes of chaos as Molotov cocktails exploded around them, forcing them to flee in panic while others tried desperately to put out flames that engulfed clothing and burned fellow participants.

“When I’m alone and close my eyes I can vividly see Karen’s body in flames,” Orrie Gartner testified in court.

Several victims spoke of lingering psychological scars, describing how memories of screams, fire, and the smell of gasoline and burning hair continue to haunt them. Some said they now remain constantly on alert, scanning their surroundings for danger, while others fear they could be targeted again.

One man said he now checks for escape routes wherever he goes. Another said he has begun concealing his Star of David necklace, while a woman said she chooses to wear hers openly despite the hatred. Others reflected that the attack shattered their sense of security in what they once believed was a safe and peaceful college town.

“We learned the full meaning of the expression ‘Living Hell,’” Ms. Diamond’s sons, Ethan and Andrew, said in a statement read aloud in court.

Karen Diamond’s husband, Lou, suffered severe burns in the attack and endured a month of intense suffering in a hospital burn unit, located near his wife’s room, their sons said. She succumbed to her injuries three weeks after the incident.

According to their sons, the attack abruptly ended a life filled with activity and purpose. The couple had recently participated in the Bolder Boulder 10K race, where Ms. Diamond placed fourth in her age category and her husband, then 84, finished seventh in his. They frequently hiked, worked in their garden, attended concerts, and had been planning a trip to France.

“Now, none of those things will happen,” their sons said.

Inside the courtroom, victims and family members were visibly emotional, many wiping away tears as they listened to the statements.

After the testimonies concluded, Soliman, an Egyptian national who arrived in the United States in 2022, addressed the court for the first time. Speaking in Arabic, he expressed regret and said he believed he deserved the death penalty.

“I find that to be the justice for Ms. Diamond,” he said while seated beside his attorneys.

He rejected the claim that his actions were motivated by antisemitism, but then launched into an extended criticism of Zionism, calling it “the enemy,” and spoke about civilian deaths in Gaza.

“Yes, I am against Israel, and I can’t deny that,” he said. “And that’s my right.”

Chief District Judge Nancy W. Salomone dismissed his arguments, stating that his actions constituted terrorism and had impacted an entire community.

“Your choices were acts of terror, and they victimized an entire community,” she said.

“You chose to victimize these people because they were members of the Jewish community,” the judge added.

Soliman also told the court that his wife and five children had no knowledge of his plans and would have tried to stop him had they known.

Following the attack, his family was taken into federal custody and held for several months in an immigration detention facility in Texas before being released earlier this year. His legal team is currently fighting efforts by the Trump administration to deport them.

At the start of the hearing, Judge Salomone reviewed each of the charges individually, naming each victim as she confirmed Soliman’s pleas.

He responded briefly in Arabic, confirming that he understood he was giving up his right to trial and appeal, and stated he had no questions.

“Guilty,” he repeated multiple times as the charges—ranging from murder to attempted murder and assault—were read out.

Because Colorado law does not allow for the death penalty, the life sentence without the possibility of parole represents the most severe punishment available at the state level. However, Soliman could still face capital punishment in a separate federal case involving hate crime charges.

Prosecutors said Soliman spent approximately a year preparing for the attack, which targeted a group known as Run for Their Lives, whose members gather weekly in downtown Boulder to advocate for hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

Many participants in the march were members of Boulder’s Jewish community, including elderly individuals, at least one child, and a person using a wheelchair.

“They were completely defenseless,” Mr. Dougherty said in court. “To show up and attack people who were standing outside the Boulder courthouse in a peaceful gathering, walking in the middle of the day? That is, beyond anything, cowardly.”

Authorities said Soliman approached the group disguised as a gardener before launching the attack, throwing homemade Molotov cocktails and shouting “Free Palestine.” According to an FBI affidavit, he had intended to “kill all Zionist people.”

{Matzav.com}

Rabbi Eyal Tzionov is facing a potential defamation lawsuit demanding 200,000 shekels after publishing a video urging the public to boycott a Tel Aviv nightclub, which he described as a “place of drug users,” just days after drawing attention for his appearance at the state Independence Day ceremony.

Tzionov, who sparked widespread public controversy after managing to enter the VIP section at the official torch-lighting ceremony on Mount Herzl while dressed in the attire associated with the Rishon Letzion, has now become embroiled in another legal dispute—this time with one of Israel’s nightlife venues.

According to a report on N12, the latest episode began when Tzionov was seen at a nightclub at the Tel Aviv Port just days after the state event. Footage circulating on social media showed him dancing near the DJ booth, surrounded by large crowds who filmed the unusual sight.

However, the visit quickly turned into a public attack against the venue. In a video he later released, Tzionov called on his followers to boycott the club entirely, claiming that his visit had been intentional and aimed solely at raising awareness and persuading the public to avoid the location.

He described the venue as a “place of drug users” and called for the closure of nightclubs across Israel, arguing that such environments represent a corrupt culture incompatible with the values of the Jewish people. His remarks went beyond general criticism of nightlife and included serious allegations of criminal activity and violence.

In the video, he claimed that stabbings occur at the club and alleged that the venue is saturated with drugs and alcohol, stating that he is working “to eliminate the phenomenon at its root.” These statements, which gained wide exposure on social media, angered the club’s owners, who contend that the accusations are baseless and intended to damage their reputation and livelihood.

Following the publication of the video, attorney Oren Ben Yair, representing the club’s owners, sent a formal warning letter ahead of legal action for defamation. The letter demands that Tzionov pay substantial compensation totaling 200,000 shekels.

The attorney emphasized that the claims were false and misleading, designed to portray the establishment in a negative light and deter customers from visiting. It remains to be seen whether the matter will be resolved through a settlement or proceed to court, adding to the broader legal complications surrounding Tzionov in the wake of the Independence Day incident.

This is not the only issue Tzionov has faced in recent days. As previously reported, the Sephardic Community Committee sent him a formal warning letter demanding that he stop wearing the robe and turban associated with the Rishon Letzion. The letter stated that doing so constitutes “deception and misleading the public” and amounts to a “desecration of God’s name and a desecration of the honor of the former Rishon Letzion sages.”

Following public and legal pressure, Tzionov contacted the chairman of the Sephardic Community Committee, Avraham Doron, and agreed to stop appearing in that attire. During the conversation, he requested permission to continue wearing a robe without gold or silver embroidery and a turban without the diagonal marking associated with the Rishon Letzion, and the committee chairman agreed.

In an earlier interview prior to reaching that agreement, Tzionov explained how he began wearing the robe. “My students bought me this robe as a gift, I started wearing it on Purim and saw that the public really enjoyed it and connected to it,” he said. He added, “My goal is to bring peace and love, and everywhere I go people stop and ask, and I tell them explicitly: this is Rabbi Eyal Tzionov, I am not the Rishon Letzion.”

In recent days, Tzionov has been seen in the streets of Bnei Brak wearing Bukharian-style clothing, with the turban replaced by a regular hat.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump intensified his criticism of House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Thursday, urging that the New York congressman face charges for allegedly encouraging violence. Trump’s remarks came in the wake of an incident last month involving an armed individual who tried to gain entry to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

“This lunatic, Hakeem ‘Low IQ’ Jeffries, should be charged with INCITING VIOLENCE!” Trump posted on his Truth Social page. “The Radical Left Democrats actually want to Destroy our Country. President DJT.”

Although Trump did not directly reference the attempted breach in his written statement, the post featured two images: one showing Jeffries speaking in front of a sign promising “maximum warfare” against Trump’s policies, and another depicting the suspect—identified as California resident Cole Allen—captured on surveillance footage while attempting to access the event.

In the aftermath of the incident, Jeffries publicly defended his use of the phrase “maximum warfare,” according to reporting by Axios, maintaining that the language was tied to political disputes rather than any endorsement of violence.

“As it relates to the comment related to ‘maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time,’ in connection with the redistricting battle that Republicans launched, I stand by it,” Jeffries said. “You can continue to criticize me for it. I don’t give a damn about the criticism … get lost.”

Some Republican lawmakers have argued that Jeffries’ rhetoric contributes to heightened tensions. Representative Andrew Clyde criticized the remarks in a social media post last month.

“Hakeem Jeffries called for ‘Maximum warfare’ against President Trump and his Administration,” Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., wrote in a post last month on X. “The Democrat Party’s rhetoric is demonic and dangerous.”

Representative Randy Fine also weighed in, calling on Democrats to respond to Jeffries’ statements.

“It is unacceptable that House Democrats continue to remain silent in the aftermath of his call for ‘maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time’ against Republicans,” Fine posted on X.

{Matzav.com}

Rudy Giuliani’s current hospitalization is being linked to health complications stemming from his time at Ground Zero following the September 11 attacks, according to information he shared publicly on Thursday.

The 81-year-old former New York City mayor reposted a message from Dr. Maria Ryan, who detailed how Giuliani developed restrictive airway disease after spending prolonged periods at the World Trade Center site in the aftermath of the attacks.

“On 9/11 @RudyGiuliani ran to the towers to assist and lead,” Ryan wrote on X. “While there one of the towers fell and he was trapped. Upon emerging from the building he was covered by white dust.”

According to Ryan, the long-term effects of that exposure led to chronic respiratory issues, which were recently aggravated when Giuliani contracted human metapneumovirus.

“He lives with difficulty breathing every day,” Ryan wrote. “Recently he got a virus, metapneumovirus that overwhelmed his already compromised 9/11 lungs.”

She noted that Giuliani is still in the hospital but remains conscious of the widespread support and prayers being offered on his behalf.

“He is a deeply religious man. Keep the prayers coming!” she wrote.

Giuliani has since been transferred out of the intensive care unit, though he continues to receive treatment in the hospital as he recovers from pneumonia.

His spokesman, Ted Goodman, said that Giuliani and his relatives are grateful for the “outpouring of love and prayers” expressed by supporters.

Giuliani became a global figure during the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, when he led New York City through the crisis, earning widespread recognition as “America’s Mayor.”

In the days and weeks that followed the attacks, he was frequently present at Ground Zero, working alongside emergency personnel and recovery teams amid hazardous conditions filled with dust and debris.

Health officials and advocacy organizations have since documented that many first responders and workers who were exposed to the site developed serious respiratory conditions and other lasting medical issues.

Giuliani’s recent health crisis was described by some as “nothing short of a miracle,” following his hospitalization with severe breathing complications tied to double pneumonia.

Individuals close to him told Newsmax that doctors initially viewed his condition as potentially fatal.

Despite the seriousness of his illness, Giuliani is said to be focused on returning to his media appearances and continuing his vocal support of President Donald Trump.

Trump commented on Giuliani’s condition earlier in the week, writing on Truth Social that Giuliani is “a True Warrior” and “the Best Mayor in the History of New York City, BY FAR.”

Giuliani has been a prominent supporter of Trump since backing him in the 2016 presidential race.

Those familiar with his condition say that physicians are encouraged by his progress as he undergoes continued care and recovery efforts in the hospital.

Officials in Merom HaGalil say widespread damage totaling millions of shekels was caused in recent days after large numbers of people attempted to reach Mount Meron for Lag BaOmer by bypassing security restrictions.

According to local authorities, many individuals made their way through open areas, forests, and agricultural land, leaving behind extensive destruction to infrastructure and private property.

The regional council reported significant damage, including breached fences, trampled farmland, harm to orchards, and destruction of irrigation systems. In addition, security fencing in communities near the northern confrontation line was damaged—barriers that had only recently been installed with government funding as part of defense preparations.

Council head Amit Sofer warned about the severity of the situation, stating: “We raised this important issue with government ministers. This involves heavy damage to security fences in frontline communities that were funded just this year by the Ministry of National Security, as well as to private agricultural infrastructure: fences that were broken and trampled, damage to crops and orchards, and to irrigation systems. Farmers on the confrontation line are still recovering from the damage of the war. A solution must be provided—this situation cannot continue without accountability.”

The council is currently working to collect evidence and document the full scope of the destruction in order to seek government assistance and compensation for those affected.

Israel’s Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Rav Kalman Meir Bar issued a sharply worded protest following a decision by authorities in Belgium to file charges against three mohalim, condemning the move as antisemitic and comparing it to historic persecutions.

In a formal letter, Rav Bar—who also serves as president of the Chief Rabbinate Council—strongly criticized the decision, underscoring the central importance of circumcision in Jewish life and calling on Belgian authorities to reverse course. “One of the defining markers of a Jew, wherever he may be, is the fact that he fulfills the divine command of ‘you shall circumcise every male.’ History teaches us how Jews in every generation and across the globe, since becoming a nation, have sacrificed themselves for this important mitzvah. I call on the authorities to reconsider this hasty step, to take into account the harm to Jewish communities around the world, and to withdraw this unprecedented prosecution—and the sooner the better.”

In his full letter, Rav Bar expressed deep shock at the development, writing, “I was shocked to hear that law enforcement authorities in Belgium have filed an indictment against three mohalim. Words are insufficient to express my dismay at this matter. It is deeply regrettable that this country is joining an unflattering list of those who wage war against Judaism—something that, by definition, is called antisemitism.”

He continued by emphasizing the historical and religious significance of circumcision, adding, “One of the defining markers of a Jew, wherever he may be, is the fact that he fulfills the divine command of ‘you shall circumcise every male.’ History teaches us how Jews in every generation and across the globe, since becoming a nation, have sacrificed themselves for this important mitzvah. This reminds us of one of the decrees imposed by Antiochus upon the Jews during the period of Hellenistic rule over the Land of Israel. This is a decree that outrages every Jewish soul, and the public will not remain silent in the face of such a phenomenon.”

Addressing claims that circumcisions could instead be performed by physicians rather than certified mohalim, Rav Bar rejected the argument outright. “The claim that circumcisions can be performed by doctors rather than trained mohalim, on the grounds that the latter are not qualified for surgical procedures, is fundamentally flawed. History shows that since the Jewish people became a nation—long before there was documentation of European populations—it has been the mohalim who circumcised Jewish children.”

He stressed that the practice is rooted in religious obligation rather than medicine, writing, “Circumcision is a mitzvah, not a surgical procedure, and there are halachic requirements that doctors are entirely unfamiliar with and do not meet for the fulfillment of this commandment.”

Rav Bar concluded with a renewed appeal to Belgian officials: “I call on the authorities to reconsider this hasty step, to take into account the harm to Jewish communities around the world, and to withdraw this unprecedented prosecution—and the sooner the better.”

He signed the letter, “On behalf of the right of the Jewish people to live everywhere according to their faith.”

{Matzav.com}

A classified CIA report presented this week to senior U.S. officials concludes that Iran may be able to withstand the Trump administration’s naval blockade for roughly four months before experiencing a serious economic breakdown, according to a report published Thursday by The Washington Post.

That internal evaluation stands in contrast to repeated statements from the White House suggesting that Tehran is close to collapse.

According to individuals familiar with the intelligence findings, Iran has managed to preserve a substantial portion of its missile capabilities despite weeks of strikes carried out by U.S. and Israeli forces.

One American official indicated that Iran still holds approximately 70% of its pre-conflict missile inventory and about 75% of its mobile launching systems. The same official noted that the country has reopened underground storage sites and repaired parts of its weapons infrastructure that had been damaged.

These conclusions differ from comments made Wednesday by President Donald Trump, who described Iran’s missile arsenal as being largely destroyed.

”Our missiles are mostly decimated, they have probably 18, 19%, but not a lot by comparison to what they had,” Trump said at the White House.

Even as administration figures continue to emphasize the success of the blockade, they also acknowledge that Iran remains capable of resisting.

A senior U.S. intelligence official told the Post: ”The president’s blockade is inflicting real, compounding damage — severing trade, crushing revenue, and accelerating systemic economic collapse.”

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly likewise maintained that the economic campaign is rapidly taking a toll on Tehran.

”During Operation Epic Fury, Iran was crushed militarily,” Kelly said. ”Now, they are being strangled economically by Operation Economic Fury and losing $500 million per day thanks to the United States military’s successful blockade of Iranian ports.

“The Iranian regime knows full well their current reality is not sustainable, and President Trump holds all the cards as negotiators work to make a deal.”

At the same time, officials cited in the report said Iran has adjusted to the pressure by stockpiling oil at sea, cutting back on production to protect infrastructure, and possibly preparing alternative land-based export routes through Central Asia.

One U.S. official suggested that the CIA’s estimate may actually understate Iran’s ability to endure.

”The leadership has gotten more radical, determined, and increasingly confident they can outlast U.S. political will and sustain domestic repression to check any resistance,” the official said.

”Comparatively, you see similar regimes lasting years under sustained embargoes and airpower-only wars.”

Experts also pointed to Iran’s drone arsenal as an ongoing danger to international shipping passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Former Israeli intelligence official Danny Citrinowicz told the Post that even relatively small-scale drone strikes could disrupt global oil flows, since insurers would likely refuse to cover vessels operating in such conditions.

Citrinowicz said that while there have been tactical successes on the battlefield, the long-term strategic picture remains unclear.

”The problem is they don’t think they need to capitulate,” he said.

He later added on social media that the conflict could ultimately reinforce Iran’s leadership rather than weaken it, leaving the country with meaningful missile strength and ongoing uranium enrichment capabilities despite continued U.S. and Israeli military pressure.

New polling indicates shifting political momentum in Israel, with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu widening his advantage while the joint political effort of Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid shows signs of weakening.

A Channel 12 News survey published Thursday night found that if elections were held today, Netanyahu’s Likud would be tied with the Bennett-Lapid “Together” party, with each receiving 25 seats. The figure represents a one-seat drop for the Bennett-Lapid alliance compared to the previous week’s poll.

The survey also showed a slight decline for Gadi Eisenkot, whose “Yisra!” party fell by one seat to 14. The broader opposition bloc dropped to 59 seats—down one from the previous poll—without counting Arab parties.

In contrast, Yair Golan’s Democrats party gained one seat, rising to 11. Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu held steady at 9 seats, as did Aryeh Deri’s Shas and Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit, each also at 9.

United Torah Judaism, led by Yitzchak Goldknopf, strengthened to 8 seats. Among Arab parties, Mansour Abbas’s Ra’am and the Hadash-Ta’al alliance were each projected to win 5 seats.

Several parties remained below the electoral threshold, including Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism (2.9%), Yoaz Hendel’s Reservists party (1.0%), Benny Gantz’s Blue and White (1.5%), and Sami Abu Shehadeh’s Balad (0.8%).

The poll also explored hypothetical political alliances. If Eisenkot’s party were to merge with Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu, the joint list would become the largest faction with 25 seats, surpassing both Likud and the Bennett-Lapid alliance, each projected at 24. In that scenario, the opposition bloc would reach 60 seats—without Arab party support—while the coalition would fall to 50.

Another scenario examined a potential alliance between Hili Tropper and Hendel. In that case, Likud would drop slightly to 24 seats but still emerge as the largest party. The Bennett-Lapid list would decline to 23 seats, and Eisenkot’s party to 13. The new Tropper-Hendel list would cross the threshold with 5 seats.

When respondents were asked who is best suited to serve as prime minister, Netanyahu led in every matchup. Against Bennett, he received 39% support compared to Bennett’s 36%. The same margin held against Eisenkot, 39% to 36%. Against Lieberman, Netanyahu maintained 39%, while Lieberman trailed with 24%.

A separate poll conducted by Channel 14 and the NEXT DATA research firm painted an even stronger picture for Netanyahu. Based on a sample of 721 respondents, the survey showed the right-wing bloc maintaining a solid 65-seat majority—enough to form a stable government under Netanyahu’s leadership.

In that poll, Likud surged to 34 seats, making it the clear largest party. The Bennett-Lapid alliance dropped sharply to 16 seats—four fewer than it had received in the first poll following its formation. Eisenkot’s party climbed slightly to 13 seats.

Among other parties, Shas was projected at 10 seats and United Torah Judaism at 8. Otzma Yehudit, the Democrats, and Yisrael Beiteinu each received 8 seats, while Religious Zionism stood at 5.

The broader center-left bloc lagged far behind, totaling just 45 seats. Arab parties Hadash-Ta’al and Ra’am each received 5 seats but were not seen as playing a decisive role in coalition-building. Balad (2.1%) and Blue and White (1.8%) remained below the threshold.

On the question of leadership, Netanyahu held a commanding lead, with 56% of respondents saying he is best suited to serve as prime minister. Eisenkot placed a distant second with 20%, followed by Bennett at 18%, Lieberman at 5%, and Gantz at just 1%.

The poll also measured public opinion on security issues. A majority of 59% said Israel should seize additional territory in Lebanon to eliminate the threat posed by Hezbollah, while 32% opposed such a move and 9% said they had no opinion.

Another question examined perceptions of coordination between Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the campaign against Iran. A majority of 58% described the cooperation as “full and close,” while 33% said it was only partial, and 9% believed there was no coordination at all.

Israeli military police carried out coordinated overnight raids on the homes of yeshiva bochurim in several cities, including Herzliya, Tel Aviv, and Dimona, as part of a renewed wave of arrest attempts, though in each case the targeted individuals were not taken into custody.

The operation is part of a broader series of enforcement actions against yeshiva students reported over the past week.

The most dramatic incident occurred in Herzliya. At approximately 4 a.m., military police forces arrived at the home of a talmid from Yeshivas Chazon Mordechai, a mosad that has already seen one of its talmidim arrested earlier this week. According to reports, family members opened the door, after which officers entered the home and conducted what was described as a forceful and aggressive search.

A turning point came when the student’s mother managed to contact the Tzeva Shachor alert system, a network that assists yeshiva bochurim. Upon noticing the phone call, the commanding officer reportedly ordered his forces to withdraw immediately. The family was left shaken by the incident, but the student was not arrested.

Additional attempts were made elsewhere across the country.

In Tel Aviv, the operation focused on the residence of a student from Yeshivas Kiryat Malachi, who had previously been detained by authorities. When forces arrived, however, the student was not present, and officers left the scene without making an arrest.

At the same time, in the southern city of Dimona, military police raided the home of a married yeshiva student affiliated with the Gerer chassidus. In that case as well, a rapid alert through the Tzeva Shachor system led to members of the public arriving at the scene, prompting police to withdraw without detaining the suspect.

The overnight activity follows a series of recent arrests involving yeshiva students.

Last Sunday, a yeshiva student in Herzliya was reportedly taken into custody after receiving a phone call telling him a package was waiting outside his yeshiva. When he went to retrieve it, he encountered military police officers who arrested him and transported him to the Tel Hashomer base.

In another case, a yeshiva student was handed over to military police after being detained by Israeli police at a gas station near Ashdod.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF announced that it carried out a strike last Wednesday that killed Ibrahim Abu Tzakar, identifying him as a Hamas operative who posed as a paramedic while orchestrating multiple attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers.

According to findings based on intelligence assessments, the military said Abu Tzakar had crossed into Israeli territory during the October 7 massacre and took part in the kidnapping of Mia Schem from the Mefalsim area.

Schem had been seized on October 7 after attending the Nova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im and was later freed in November 2023 as part of a hostage release deal.

The IDF added that forces under the Southern Command remain positioned in line with the ceasefire arrangements and will persist in acting against any immediate dangers to both Israeli civilians and military personnel.

{Matzav.com}

Despite heavy restrictions on access to Mount Meron due to the security situation in northern Israel, Rav Tzvi Meir Zilberberg traveled to the site for Lag BaOmer together with a group of followers, enduring an eight-hour journey marked by roadblocks and significant delays.

Rav Zilberberg, head of the Nachalas Yaakov chaburah, maintained his longstanding custom of attending the hilula of Rav Shimon bar Yochai. After lighting a bonfire in Yerushalayim, he set out with his chassidim by bus, hoping to arrive in time for the conclusion of Lag BaOmer so that he could immerse in a mobile mikveh prepared for him, as he does each year.

However, what was expected to be a routine trip turned into a prolonged and exhausting journey. The group encountered heavy traffic and numerous checkpoints along the way, significantly delaying their arrival.

Instead of reaching Meron in the early evening as planned, they arrived only around midnight after approximately eight hours on the road. The bonfire lighting began much later than scheduled—around midnight rather than the originally planned 8:00 p.m.

Despite the difficulties, fatigue, and setbacks, participants described an atmosphere of joy and spiritual elevation throughout the trip. Rav Zilberberg, as is his custom, offered words of encouragement and led singing along the way, while his followers viewed the challenging journey as a meaningful act of dedication and a privilege to reach the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, even under such circumstances.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir is calling on chareidi lawmakers to push forward immediately with the draft law, arguing that concerns over a likely High Court rejection should not stop the legislative effort.

Addressing the issue, Ben Gvir said that, as with previous legislation such as the death penalty law for terrorists, the government should proceed regardless of expected judicial intervention. “They asked me why I passed the death penalty law for terrorists if the High Court will strike it down. I said I do my part and we need to leave something to Hakadosh Boruch Hu.“

Speaking on Kol Chai radio’s “Central Edition,” Ben Gvir argued that the root solution to the sector’s challenges—from daycare funding to military conscription—lies in reforming the judicial system. He directed a message to Knesset members from Shas and United Torah Judaism, saying, “We must insist on judicial reform. It cannot be that they always go after the good and harm chareidi children and women. It is possible, and it is right.”

Ben Gvir also sharply criticized Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and opposed the idea that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might pursue mediation in his legal cases. “This is a big mistake, she is not someone you can work with in cooperation,” he said.

He further revealed that he had previously urged Netanyahu to dismiss the attorney general early on. “Two and a half years ago I told him, let’s send her home. He told me I’m a young minister and don’t understand how things work, and today he openly admits that I was right. She is a dismissed and fired adviser who cannot continue in her role.”

{Matzav.com}