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Naftali Bennett has been in the United States since the end of last week, departing in the midst of a difficult stretch for his political campaign while declining to reveal details about the purpose of his visit, according to a report by journalist Michael Shemesh.

Bennett, who heads the Beyachad party, reportedly traveled to the U.S. to attend a professional conference while also taking a family vacation. However, despite public interest surrounding the trip, he has refused to provide any information about the conference or his itinerary.

According to the report, Bennett traveled without members of his office or his campaign staff.

People close to Bennett offered only a brief statement, saying, “At these moments Bennett is working on the great repair of the State of Israel.”

The trip comes as Bennett’s political standing has weakened in recent polling. Recent surveys indicate that he has lost his position as the leading figure in the anti-government bloc to Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot, who has now overtaken him in the race to lead the bloc.

{Matzav.com}

The man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk confessed to the killing on three separate occasions—through a handwritten letter, text messages, and an in-person admission to his partner, according to testimony and evidence presented Thursday during a preliminary hearing.

The explosive evidence came through a prerecorded deposition from Lance Twiggs, Robinson’s roommate, who testified that Robinson returned to their Utah apartment the day after the Sept. 10 shooting, expressed remorse, and admitted responsibility for the murder.

The testimony, along with Robinson’s alleged written and electronic communications, offered prosecutors their clearest account yet of how the accused gunman described carrying out the fatal shooting at Utah Valley University. Court proceedings also revealed that Robinson allegedly made crude jokes related to the killing.

Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, urged the court to release Twiggs’ full interview with prosecutors, arguing that making the evidence public would help put to rest the conspiracy theories that have circulated about the Turning Point USA founder’s assassination.

The courtroom became emotional as prosecutors read aloud text messages Robinson allegedly sent to Twiggs. Erika Kirk broke down in tears while listening to the messages.

Among the communications presented in court was one in which Robinson, now 23, allegedly referenced his grandfather’s old .30-06 hunting rifle, writing that it “does just fine.”

Twiggs, who has not been charged with any crime, testified under a limited immunity agreement granted by both the US Attorney’s Office and the Utah County Attorney’s Office. Appearing in a coat and tie, Twiggs casually chewed gum throughout much of the recorded deposition until investigators instructed him to spit it out.

According to testimony, Twiggs and Robinson lived together in St. George, Utah, about three hours from Utah Valley University.

Twiggs said the first alleged confession came immediately after Kirk was shot and killed before a crowd of thousands attending a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in Orem.

According to Twiggs, Robinson had apparently scheduled a text message in advance that arrived shortly after the shooting, instructing him, “Drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard.”

Confused, Twiggs replied, “what????????????” before adding, “you’re joking right????”

Robinson allegedly answered, “…..I TRIED TO DELETE THAT.”

Twiggs testified that beneath the keyboard he found a letter addressed to “Luna” in which Robinson allegedly wrote, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”

Prosecutors said Robinson later continued discussing the shooting through text messages, including his efforts to recover the bolt-action Mauser rifle he allegedly abandoned while fleeing the scene.

One message allegedly read, “Shouldn’t be long until I can come home, but I gotta grab my rifle still. To be honest, I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you.”

Twiggs responded, “You werent the one who did it right????”

According to prosecutors, Robinson answered with a direct admission: “I am, I’m sorry.”

Twiggs testified that the third confession came when Robinson returned to the apartment on Sept. 11, one day after the shooting.

When asked by prosecutor McBride, “Did he talk about what he had done?”

Twiggs responded, “Didn’t go into detail… I just asked him in person if what he said was true the night before, and he said it was… started crying a little bit, and said he wishes he hadn’t done it.”

Twiggs added, “…Eventually he said he would talk to his parents or turn himself over.”

“I personally had never heard him talk about Charlie Kirk before specifically,” Twiggs testified.

Twiggs also recalled that approximately a month before Kirk’s death, Robinson asked whether they owned a Dremel engraving tool.

“I don’t remember exactly when, but he had said he was planning to go hunting with his family and he asked me… if we had like a Dremel, because he said he wanted to engrave messages on bullets,” Twiggs testified.

Brian Davis of the Utah State Bureau of Investigation told the court that Twiggs’ testimony was consistent with statements he gave investigators during an interview conducted on Sept. 12, 2025.

Davis said investigators reviewed text messages, Discord conversations, and a handwritten note that prosecutors allege were authored by Robinson.

Kirk was fatally shot in the neck during the Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University.

Defense attorneys argued that the court should prevent the media from publishing the deposition video and text messages, contending that widespread dissemination could prejudice prospective jurors and infringe upon Robinson’s right to a fair trial.

Prosecutors, joined by Erika Kirk, urged the judge to release the evidence in full.

“The Kirk family has waited 10 months for this hearing… They have a right to see and feel what’s going on in this courtroom,” attorney Jeffrey Neiman told the court.

“To be here and not to see the evidence — what’s the point of being here?”

Members of the Kirk family have said they hope the public release of the evidence will finally dispel conspiracy theories promoted by commentator Candace Owens and others regarding the circumstances surrounding Charlie Kirk’s death.

Earlier in the week, prosecutors introduced surveillance footage that they say tracks Robinson’s movements across the Utah Valley University campus on the day of the shooting.

They also presented FBI forensic evidence that they claim connects Robinson through DNA recovered from a towel allegedly used to conceal the rifle.

Witnesses further testified that DNA believed to belong to both Robinson and Twiggs was discovered on a screwdriver allegedly left at the location where Robinson positioned himself before firing the fatal shot.

Robinson, who is now 23 years old, has not yet entered a plea. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.

{Matzav.com}

The Knesset House Committee on Thursday approved the proposed Basic Law: Torah Study for its second and third readings after coalition lawmakers agreed to remove its most controversial provision, transforming the legislation into what legal officials described as a largely declarative measure.

The decision followed negotiations between Likud and the chareidi parties aimed at producing a compromise that would preserve coalition unity. The revised bill passed the committee by a vote of six in favor and four opposed.

The committee, chaired by MK Ofir Katz, accepted Katz’s own amendment eliminating Section 2 of the proposal. The deleted provision had declared that the purpose of the law was to recognize Torah study as a fundamental value “to create a balance against other fundamental values in the State of Israel.”

During the discussion, Katz said that after talks with the chareidi coalition partners and other members of the coalition, it was decided to retain only the opening section of the bill, which recognizes Torah study as a foundational value and part of the heritage of the Jewish people in the State of Israel. He added that some opposition lawmakers had indicated they might have supported the legislation had the second clause been removed. Katz also emphasized that “no soldier will be harmed” by the bill’s passage.

Katz further announced that on Sunday the committee will advance separate legislation intended, he said, to address the needs of soldiers and those serving in the military. He pledged that only after that bill moves forward will the Knesset hold its final votes on both the revision and the Basic Law: Torah Study.

Opposition lawmakers continued to criticize the proposal despite the changes. MK Naor Shiri argued that even without the deleted section, Torah study remains the only value explicitly enshrined in a Basic Law, while other national values, including military service, have not been granted similar constitutional standing.

Government legal officials, however, indicated that the revised bill carries little practical legal effect. Deputy Attorney General Avital Sompolinsky said that removing the disputed clause leaves existing judicial balances intact, making the legislation primarily declarative. Knesset Legal Adviser Sagit Afik expressed a similar view, stating that once the controversial language was removed, the law could no longer be interpreted as a basis for disadvantaging soldiers or altering the allocation of government funding or other resources, leaving it as a statement recognizing the importance of Torah study.

Despite agreeing to the compromise, some chareidi lawmakers voiced disappointment over the changes. MK Yinon Azoulay said that removing Section 2 was not consistent with his party’s position but that it agreed to the coalition’s request. United Torah Judaism chairman Yitzchok Goldknopf likewise opposed deleting the provision, maintaining that it should have remained part of the legislation.

The compromise reached between Likud and the chareidi parties is expected to ease resistance to the bill within the governing coalition while preserving formal recognition of Torah study as a foundational national value, but without the provision that critics argued could have carried practical implications for military service policy and government funding.

Israel “did not ask anyone for permission to enter Lebanon, and we do not need permission to remain in Lebanon,” Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz said on Thursday, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump said he believed Yerushalayim would withdraw from the country.

“It is our right and our duty to protect the residents of the Galilee and the citizens of Israel from the threats posed by the jihadist Hezbollah terrorist organization, which seeks to destroy the State of Israel,” Katz said in a Hebrew-language statement.

The defense minister noted that the Iranian proxy had launched two unprovoked terrorist campaigns against the Jewish state—the first a day after the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, massacre, and again following the start of “Operation Roaring Lion” against the Islamic Republic of Iran on Feb. 28.

After Hezbollah’s renewed attacks on March 2, Yerushalayim launched a broad aerial campaign against terror targets in Lebanon and expanded military operations aimed at preventing cross-border attacks on Israeli communities.

The Israel Defense Forces “responded with force and, over the past two and a half years, has destroyed most of Hezbollah’s capabilities and leadership, foremost among them the arch-terrorist Hassan Nasrallah, one of the architects of the plan to destroy Israel,” Katz said on Thursday.

The IDF “established a strong security zone in Lebanon, stretching from the Mediterranean coast in the west to the Beaufort Ridge and the foothills of Mount Hermon in the east,” he continued. “The area has been cleared of residents and terror infrastructure, both above and below ground, in order to protect the residents of the Galilee from the threat of cross-border raids, anti-tank missile fire and other direct threats.

As he and Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu “have made clear, we will continue to remain in the security zone in Lebanon and operate from it as long as necessary until Hezbollah is disarmed throughout Lebanon and the threat to the residents of northern Israel is removed,” Katz vowed.

Trump, speaking to reporters alongside Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at a press conference in Ankara on Wednesday, said he had discussed an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon with Netanyahu.

“I talked to Bibi [Netanyahu] about that. I think they’re going to. I think they want to. I don’t think it’s a question,” the U.S. president said. “We have a deal with Israel and Lebanon, and yeah, they’ll leave.”

The June 26 framework of understandings between Yerushalayim and Beirut conditions an Israeli redeployment on Hezbollah being removed from Southern Lebanon. JNS

{Matzav.com}

After a week of elaborate funeral ceremonies across Iran and Iraq, former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was buried Thursday in the holy city of Mashhad, bringing to a close days of state-organized mourning as the Islamic Republic continues to grapple with internal turmoil and ongoing U.S. military strikes.

Thousands of mourners packed the streets of Mashhad on Thursday morning, waving Iranian flags, carrying portraits of Khamenei, and displaying banners bearing revolutionary slogans as the funeral procession made its way through the northeastern city, home to Iran’s holiest Shiite shrine.

Khamenei’s burial marked the conclusion of a weeklong series of funeral processions that carried his body through multiple cities in Iran and Iraq. Throughout the ceremonies, senior clerics and leaders of the Islamic Republic urged supporters to participate in large numbers in an effort to project the regime’s strength, reinforce its revolutionary ideology, and demonstrate continued popular support.

Despite surviving months of war involving both the United States and Israel, Iran continues to face serious domestic challenges, and Khamenei’s 37-year rule remains deeply divisive within the country.

Meanwhile, the whereabouts of Mojtaba Khamenei—who was named Iran’s new Supreme Leader by the Assembly of Experts one week after his father’s death—remain unknown to the Iranian public.

Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly since the war began on February 28. Although written statements have been issued in his name, no photographs, videos, or audio recordings have been released.

He was reportedly seriously wounded in the same strike that killed his father and several other family members, suffering severe facial injuries as well as major wounds to his limbs.

Senior sources in Tehran told Reuters that Mojtaba is continuing to recover from those injuries but has not yet regained sufficient strength to appear in public. According to the report, Iranian security officials are also limiting his public exposure out of concern over possible American assassination attempts.

As mourners gathered in Mashhad awaiting the arrival of Khamenei’s funeral procession, some in the crowd chanted slogans calling for revenge against President Donald Trump.

Prior to Thursday’s burial, memorial ceremonies for Khamenei and four members of his family who were killed alongside him had already been held in Tehran, Qom—the center of Shiite religious authority in Iran—and the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala.

At each stop along the funeral route, massive crowds filled the streets, chanting Shiite religious slogans alongside revolutionary and anti-American chants in honor of the longtime Iranian leader.

{Matzav.com}

The Skverer community is abuzz today after New York State Police allegedly stopped the Skverer Rebbe’s motorcade on Route 17 as he was returning home from the airport following a trip to Malibu, California.

According to sources withing the community, troopers pulled over the Rebbe’s entourage while it was traveling along Route 17 and issued a total of 14 traffic tickets to members of the motorcade.

The incident delayed the procession before it was allowed to continue toward New Square.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump reportedly flew home from Turkey aboard the older Air Force One after the Secret Service recommended the change as tensions with Iran escalated, despite officials insisting there was no specific threat targeting the president.

The recommendation was made while Trump was attending the NATO summit in Turkey after fighting between the United States and Iran flared up again, according to an initial report by The New York Times.

Although authorities stressed there was no credible intelligence indicating an imminent danger to Trump, the Secret Service advised that he return on the long-serving presidential aircraft as an added precaution.

The decision underscored the extraordinary security precautions taken whenever the president travels during periods of heightened geopolitical instability.

Rather than remaining on the recently acquired Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar, Trump left Turkey aboard one of the veteran Boeing VC-25A aircraft that has transported American presidents for decades. He later reunited with the upgraded 747-8 at RAF Mildenhall in England before continuing the journey back to Washington, according to The New York Times and ABC News.

Additional security measures accompanied the flight. Those on board the older aircraft were instructed to keep the window shades closed during takeoff, and publicly available flight-tracking information showed the plane’s transponder remained off until after it had passed over the Black Sea—a tactic frequently used to reduce visibility during presidential travel through potentially dangerous regions.

Trump rejected the suggestion that the switch was driven by security concerns. Instead, he said the newer aircraft flew separately so American military personnel stationed in England could tour what he called the “magnificent” plane.

Even so, the president openly discussed the risks posed by Iran.

“I’m No. 1 on the kill list for Iran,” Trump told reporters, later adding that passengers were “probably on a dangerous flight” because of the threats posed by Tehran.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung defended the Qatari-donated aircraft, saying it is “a state-of-the-art aircraft that has been fitted with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the president and his staff.”

Cheung also noted that because “many enemies of America have their sights” on Trump, the administration uses “every tool at our disposal — including distraction and misdirection — to address those threats.”

Nevertheless, Trump’s use of the older Air Force One has intensified questions about whether the retrofitted Qatari aircraft possesses all of the defensive capabilities found on the longstanding presidential fleet. The Air Force spent roughly a year upgrading the jet at a cost estimated to be nearly $400 million.

According to The New York Times, both current and former defense officials have expressed concern that the accelerated retrofit schedule may not have allowed enough time to install every classified protection system carried by the VC-25A fleet, including sophisticated missile defense technology and shielding against electromagnetic pulse attacks.

The Air Force has countered that the aircraft satisfies all required standards for security, communications, and safety. Officials also acknowledged that certain highly advanced modifications intended for the next-generation Air Force One fleet were deliberately omitted because the aircraft is serving only as an interim “bridge” platform.

Administration officials emphasized that the Secret Service’s recommendation was simply a precaution reflecting the elevated international security environment and was not prompted by any known or specific threat directed at the president.

{Matzav.com}

Jewish Wikipedia editors said they felt “traumatized” and emotionally exhausted after editing topics related to Jews and Israel, according to a recent study in the journal Convergence by University of Haifa researcher Shlomit Lir.

Lir conducted video interviews with 19 veteran Jewish editors between February and August 2025. Most remain active on the platform, though several have stopped editing.

There was a “great sense of fear” among the editors to even talk about the subject, Lir told JNS. Some participants kept their cameras off during Zoom interviews, and one used a pseudonym.

“Editing on Wikipedia is a great part of their identity, and the fear of being banned is great,” she said. “Some of the conversations were very alarming.”

Wikipedia editors are unpaid volunteers, and anyone can contribute to the online encyclopedia.

The editors interviewed live in the United States, Europe and Israel and have between two and 24 years of editing experience. All have contributed to articles about Israel, and some identify politically with the Left, according to Lir.

Several said their experience on Wikipedia was largely positive until they began editing articles related to Israel after the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

One editor cited the lead section of Wikipedia’s article on the Gaza war, saying it emphasizes devastation in Gaza, with only a brief mention that “there was an axis of resistance led by Iran and its proxies.”

Another said that after Oct. 7, “all kinds of entries related to Palestinian terror and such things were deleted.”

Other participants said efforts to correct anti-Jewish, inaccurate or “libelous” content, even in articles unrelated to Israel, were often quickly reversed by editors they described as “condescending” and “exclusionary.”

One editor said anti-Israel contributors “have more time and they are more numerous,” adding that they “know all the relevant books, so arguing with them is very difficult.”

Several participants also accused anti-Israel editors of engaging in “data attacks,” using Wikipedia’s dispute-resolution process to seek sanctions against them.

“They will contest your edit, and then they will make false reports against you,” one said. “They will go through, like, months, if not years, of your past edits, and it’s almost like being knocked—like someone’s threatening your front door, and then all of a sudden they send somebody around to the back door.”

One participant said they felt “traumatized” but believed reporting harassment would accomplish little, Lir told JNS.

“As long as you didn’t touch the sensitive topics, then things were OK,” she said. “Once you started editing Israel-related or conflict-related articles, then the problem began.”

‘Physical feeling of not being safe’

According to the study, one editor has received threatening messages warning, in effect, that others would ensure the person could no longer edit Wikipedia. “We’ll get to you,” one of the messages stated, according to the study. “You won’t be editing here much longer. We’ll make sure of it.”

The editor realized that “if someone is really interested in me, they can find me very easily.” While he has continued editing, the realization made him “stop and think,” the study stated.

“There’s an actual physical feeling of not being safe,” Lir told JNS.

Another editor quit editing after feeling “shocked and deeply hurt” as well as a “sense of personal risk and betrayal” over anti-Israel content. Lir also noted a doctoral researcher interviewed for the study who suffered a heart attack after stressful editing experiences on Wikipedia.

The latter can’t go back on the site because “she was so upset by it,” she told JNS.

Lir said some “extremely biased editors have been banned” by Wikipedia, but argued that more needs to be done to safeguard neutrality.

“Wikipedia is a place of knowledge,” Lir told JNS. “It cannot be a place of manipulation, and if the manipulation occurs, then there’s a need to examine how it happens, why it’s not diversified, what can be done.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir declared Thursday that Israel remains on constant alert for threats from Iran and Lebanon, warning that any attack on the Jewish state will be met with “overwhelming force.” Speaking at the graduation ceremony for the 192nd Israeli Air Force Pilots Course, Zamir praised the Air Force’s wartime achievements, reflected on the lessons of October 7, and outlined an ambitious expansion of Israel’s aerial capabilities.

Opening his address, Zamir said that Israel’s most celebrated military operations are united by a common spirit of boldness, innovation, and courage.

“a clear line of initiative, creativity, professionalism, and heroic courage connects the chapters of exemplary operations of the IDF and the Air Force over the years.”

He pointed to landmark missions including the Entebbe hostage rescue, the Second Lebanon War, and Operations Rising Lion and Roaring Lion, describing them as proof of Israel’s technological superiority and the Air Force’s ability to adapt to evolving threats.

“are a demonstration of Israel’s unique offensive and defensive technological might, a testament to the Israel Air Force’s unique ability to reinvent itself against every threat, to turn the impossible into a sophisticated operational plan, and to execute it with remarkable precision at the moment of truth.”

Zamir emphasized that the military’s successes were made possible through close coordination among every branch of the armed forces.

“Everyone works together for a joint goal.”

Reflecting on the scope of recent combat operations, he said Israel’s Air Force has carried out an extraordinary range of missions across multiple fronts.

“It is difficult to describe in words the multi-arena missions conducted by IAF pilots in the skies of the Middle East in the past two and a half years. We struck every arena.”

Detailing those accomplishments, Zamir said Israel achieved overwhelming control of the skies, allowing the Air Force to operate wherever necessary while carrying out devastating strikes against Iran’s military leadership and strategic assets.

“We achieved air superiority that allowed us to fly over any area to our choosing. In a surprise attack, we eliminated the leaders of the ayatollah regime, the nuclear officials, the weapons industry, the surface-to-air missile batteries, and the surface-to-surface launchers. We turned the third perimeter into a first perimeter and caused the enemy in Gaza, Beirut, Sanaa, and Tehran to feel the same sense of persecution.”

He also credited the Air Force’s defensive operations with helping Israel continue fighting while preventing major threats from fully materializing.

“At the same time, the IAF also led the aerial defense effort with unprecedented success rates that allowed us to continue to fight. We distanced the existential threats a short time before they became tangible.”

Zamir highlighted the close military partnership between Israel and the United States, describing the cooperation as historic.

“in a unique collaboration between the IDF and the US Military, our ally, the biggest superpower in the world, we flew wing-to-wing… a historic joint combat procedure which led to unprecedented capabilities that proved the IAF’s purpose: to be Israel’s strategic and multi-arena wing.”

Addressing the newly commissioned pilots, Zamir urged them to carry forward the legacy established by those who came before them.

“Dear graduates, today you inherit this proud legacy-to dare, to innovate, to surprise, and to achieve victory.”

At the same time, he stressed that the military has not forgotten the devastating failures surrounding Hamas’ October 7 massacre and has undertaken an exhaustive effort to learn from those mistakes.

“We never forget our point of departure. The failure of October 7 will forever be remembered as a national disaster and a systemic failure. We looked directly at the root causes of the shortcomings throughout the IDF, and we did the same within the Air Force. Without compromise, and with the required humility, we worked to uncover the truth, internalize the lessons, and implement them. As a result, we remain constantly prepared and alert in accordance with the evolving security assessment.”

Warning that the threat environment remains volatile, Zamir revealed that the Air Force continues to maintain a high level of readiness.

“in recent weeks, hundreds of Air Force aircraft have been on immediate takeoff alert,” adding, “Even at this moment, we are closely monitoring developments in Iran and Lebanon and are prepared for immediate action. Against anyone who attempts to harm us, we will respond with overwhelming force.”

He also noted a major transformation in cooperation between the Air Force and Israel’s ground forces during the current conflict.

“A major change that has taken place within the Air Force over the past two and a half years is the deep partnership with the ground forces. Fighter jets and attack helicopters carried out thousands of strikes during the ground campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon, providing closer support than ever before to maneuvering forces. ‘Sa’ar’ helicopters transported troops to the front lines and evacuated wounded soldiers directly from the battlefield.”

Zamir paused to honor those who lost their lives or were wounded during the war, paying tribute to their sacrifice and the resilience of their families.

“‘Even a fist was once an open hand and fingers,’ wrote the poet Yehuda Amichai, and we remember that well. We remember the fallen, our finest sons and daughters, who gave their lives in fierce battles. We embrace the bereaved families and stand alongside those wounded in body and spirit, who bear the scars of war. Their memory and heroism are the compass that obligates us to continue, to fight, and to prevail.”

Looking ahead, Zamir said the Israeli Air Force is undergoing one of the most significant expansions in its history, with new aircraft, additional squadrons, and enhanced capabilities already being added to strengthen Israel’s long-term military advantage.

“Graduates of Pilots Course 192, our Air Force is in the midst of a dramatic force-building process, a broad expansion that is being accelerated even under fire. New squadrons are being established, we are acquiring new transport and attack helicopters, and our aerial refueling and intelligence capabilities are being enhanced to ensure Israel’s absolute air superiority for generations to come. These aircraft and these capabilities are now waiting for you. I have complete confidence in the skills you have acquired to join the ranks of our aircrews and take to the skies at any hour in defense of the homeland.”

As he concluded, Zamir reminded military leaders and the graduating pilots that leadership begins with honoring one’s word, quoting this week’s Torah portion.

“‘He shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds from his mouth.’ There is a connection between a military leader and the words that come from his mouth. Words create obligation, and the command to us is clear: Speak with genuine and pure intent, say little, do much. Let our actions speak for themselves.”

He closed by encouraging the new pilots to carry out their mission with courage, humility, and an unwavering commitment to protecting the people of Israel.

“New air warriors, fly with determination, fight with courage, and always remember the justice of our cause, the depth of your responsibility, and the people on the ground for whom you serve as a shield of protection. Soar high, ‘knights of the skies, brave and noble,’ and always return home safely. Today we salute you with pride and great expectations for what lies ahead.”

{Matzav.com}

More than a year after an anti-Israel arsonist attacked the governor’s mansion in Harrisburg, Pa., while Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family were there on April 13, 2025, a resident of suburban Philadelphia was arrested for threatening the state’s Jewish chief executive and using antisemitic slurs in doing so.
Richard John Franklin, 65, of Delaware County in the Philadelphia area, was arrested Wednesday and charged with making threats in a state representative’s district office.

According to Pennsylvania State Police, Franklin had gone to Leanne Krueger’s office on a tax issue on July 7 and while talking to one of her aides, used an “antisemitic ethnic slur” against Shapiro while threatening to set the governor’s mansion on fire.

“It is our duty to uphold the sanctity of the law and to protect the commonwealth,” Sgt. Logan Brouse, communications director of the state police, told JNS, responding on behalf of the governor’s office.

The state police “takes threats against the lives of public officials seriously. That’s why the department has formed a dedicated unit to address the growing amount of ideologically motivated violence against elected officials,” Brouse told JNS. “PSP will continue to ensure the safety of public officials in Pennsylvania.”

When members of the state police’s political violence threat unit went to Franklin’s house on Wednesday, the accused “provided multiple, inconsistent accounts of what occurred at the district office,” including admitting “to using the ethnic slur,” per an incident report from the police.

Franklin claimed that his statements “about the governor’s mansion were sympathetic and positive in nature, because the governor and his family survived the previous arson,” per the incident report.

He was taken into custody without incident, police said.

Franklin was charged with making terror threats, ethnic intimidation, political threats, harassment and disorderly conduct.

Marcia Bronstein, regional director for the American Jewish Committee, praised the state police for its actions.

“Words matter, especially when antisemitism has reached record levels in this nation,” she stated. “The Jewish community doesn’t have the luxury of assessing whether someone is making idle threats, especially when Gov. Shapiro and his family were forced from their residence last year when someone tried to burn it down.”

“We thank the state police for their swift and thorough investigation of this incident,” she said.

The person in the earlier arson case, Cody A. Ballmer, 38, said he was upset about Shapiro’s position in the Israel-Hamas war. The governor and his family had held a Passover seder hours before the attack.

Ballmer pleaded guilty and was sentenced, in October, to between 25 and 50 years in prison.

The attack against Shapiro was one of three violent antisemitic incidents in 2025, and was cited by the Anti-Defamation League in its annual audit.

The others were the murder of two Israeli embassy staff members in Washington, D.C., and firebombs thrown at peaceful demonstrators in Boulder, Colo., who were supporting hostages held in Gaza. The firebomber killed one of the demonstrators. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Yerushalayim was ranked as the world’s seventh-best city in the World’s Best Awards 2026 list in a survey published this week by the highly esteemed U.S. travel magazine Travel + Leisure.

Israel’s capital also topped the rankings as the best city in the Middle East and North Africa.

Running for 31 consecutive years, this year’s survey registered more than 661,000 votes by roughly 207,000 readers, across more than 10,088 total properties that include cities, hotels, cruise lines and more, according to the magazine.

San Miguel de Allende in Mexico topped the list at number one, followed by Kyoto (Japan), Chiang Mai (Thailand), Hoi An (Vietnam), Oaxaca (Mexico) and Bangkok (Thailand).

With a possible end to hostilities in the Mideast region, Israel’s tourism industry is looking to rehabilitate from the effects of almost three years of war. JNS

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu spoke on the phone on Thursday, amid renewed U.S.-Iran tensions and the potential collapse of talks on a nuclear deal.

Netanyahu’s office said that the call was part of “continuous contact” between the two and that “continued coordination between the countries in various sectors was established.”

Trump updated Netanyahu “on American moves in the Gulf,” according to the Israeli prime minister’s office.

Netanyahu’s office stated that he talked with Trump about anti-Israel comments that Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, president of Turkey, made recently and about the “need for security zones along Israel’s borders.”

Trump met recently with Erdoğan in Ankara, and the White House released photos of the two shaking hands and smiling. In one photo, Erdoğan takes Trump’s arm.

Hakan Fidan, foreign minister of Turkey, told the Turkish CNN affiliate on July 2 that the Jewish state has “become a burden that humanity can no longer bear” and that Israel is representative of “humanity’s common problems.”

Erdoğan previously expressed similar sentiments but has remained a strong ally of Trump’s. The U.S. president said this week that he is considering asking Congress to approve selling F-35 fighter jets to Ankara.

That announcement has drawn concern from Netanyahu and members of Congress on both sides of the aisle. JNS has reported that experts are divided on whether Turkey is a “NATO member in name only” or a closer ally than ever.

Trump and Netanyahu could meet in Washington next week reportedly, although Washington and Tehran trading strikes might change those plans. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Michael Sam Teekaye Jr., 22, who admitted to trying to join the Islamic State and planning to attack Jews and Zionists in the United States, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by supervised release for life.

The resident of Hanover, Md., had faced 20 years.

He admitted that he had “multiple” conversations with an undercover officer in March and April 2023, during which he said he wanted to go to Africa and become a mujahid, a “fighter,” for ISIS, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Teekaye told the officer that his “plan B” was to attack Jews and Israel supporters in the United States and “said that he researched buildings close to him that support Israel and thought about how to ‘gun down key members or anyone involved,’” the Justice Department said.

“Mr. Teekaye sought to support a foreign terrorist organization that has committed unspeakable acts of violence and took real-world steps to carry out a terrorist attack in Maryland,” stated Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. attorney for the District of Maryland.

“Today’s sentence underscores that those who seek to aid terrorist organizations will be identified, prosecuted and held fully accountable,” Hayes said. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Israeli authorities uncovered a large-scale smuggling attempt on Wednesday when thousands of cigarettes were found concealed inside a shipment of pineapples intended for entry into the Gaza Strip.

The discovery was made at the Lachish Crossing in southern Israel during a routine inspection conducted by the Land Crossings Authority, a unit of the Ministry of Defense. Inspectors identified irregularities in a truck carrying hundreds of pineapples and uncovered cigarettes hidden inside the fruit.

The shipment had been purchased by an Israeli company authorized to transfer goods into Gaza under the private-sector humanitarian aid mechanism. It was scheduled to continue to the Kerem Shalom Crossing for delivery as part of the approved aid supply process.

Following the discovery, Israeli authorities confiscated the truck and its cargo and transferred the materials for examination. The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories suspended the company’s authorization to bring goods into Gaza.

Israel and Egypt have maintained restrictions on Gaza to prevent weapons smuggling since Hamas seized control of the territory in 2007.

A coalition of state financial officials is calling on President Donald Trump to take executive action that could unlock an estimated $39 billion in forgotten savings and war bonds, arguing that the money belongs to American families—not the federal government—as the nation prepares to mark its 250th anniversary, the NY Post reports.

Thirty state financial officers sent a letter to Trump on Thursday urging him to direct the Treasury Department to release billions of dollars tied to unclaimed bonds. They contend that many of the original bondholders have since died, misplaced their records, or simply forgot about the investments, leaving their heirs unaware that the assets exist.

“Americans purchased war bonds not merely as investments, but as acts of patriotism and confidence in the nation’s future,” officials from Alabama, Idaho, Missouri, North Carolina and 26 other states wrote, nodding to savings stamps purchased by children, neighborhood bond drives and payroll savings plans.

The officials pointed out that Trump sought to speed up the process of returning matured savings bonds during his first administration through a 2020 executive order. However, they said changes enacted under the Biden administration through the Secure 2.0 Act in 2022 created “a frustrating catch-22” for state treasurers.

According to the letter, the law requires states to prove ownership of abandoned bonds before the Treasury Department will provide information about the bondholders. But the officials argue that meeting that requirement is virtually impossible because they need access to the Treasury’s records in order to establish ownership in the first place.

“America’s 250th anniversary presents a unique opportunity to honor one of the most enduring expressions of civic faith in our nation’s history: the decision by millions of Americans to invest in their country through the purchase of savings bonds and, during World War II, war bonds,” the treasurers added.

Treasury Department data show that since the U.S. Savings Bond program was established in 1935 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, more than 6.8 million paper savings bonds valued at over $731 billion have been issued.

Although the overwhelming majority of those bonds have already been redeemed, the letter notes that millions remain unclaimed because owners lost the paperwork, relocated over the years, or simply forgot about investments they made decades ago. As a result, billions of dollars remain dormant.

“When Americans were asked to step up and contribute to the fight for freedom, the individuals and families who purchased US savings bonds did not hesitate,” OJ Oleka, chief executive of the State Financial Officers Foundation, told The Post.

Returning the bonds “is the proper way to honor their legacy and the important role these citizens played in allowing our nation to celebrate 250 years of freedom. After all, this is not the government’s money. These were loans, made in patriotic good faith, and it’s time this debt is repaid,” he said.

The state officials maintain that Trump could address the issue through a new executive order that would eliminate regulatory obstacles put in place during the Biden administration. They argue the matter is fundamentally a “property-rights issue” and can be resolved without Congress passing additional legislation.

While the letter does not spell out the exact process by which eligible families would receive the money, the treasurers said such an executive order would cap years of work to modernize Treasury records, improve bondholder search capabilities, expand outreach efforts, and digitize historical debt records with funding approved by Congress.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul have unveiled an $800 million initiative aimed at speeding up bus service across the city, but critics argue the proposal is less about improving transportation and more about expanding traffic camera enforcement and increasing penalties for drivers.

The Democratic leaders announced the plan Wednesday during a press conference in Flatbush, saying the project will create additional rapid bus corridors while installing 200 new automated traffic enforcement cameras along 50 more routes by next year. They claim the upgrades will reduce travel times by approximately six minutes per bus trip.

“In New York City, time is money. And we are going to give New Yorkers some of that time back,” Mamdani said. “Six minutes precisely.”

To emphasize the promised time savings, Mamdani started a stopwatch before speaking and pledged to finish his remarks within six minutes. Instead, his speech ran longer than planned, prompting comparisons to the city’s frequently delayed buses.

Not everyone is convinced the projected time savings are realistic. Allan Rosen, vice chairman of the rider advocacy group Passengers United, argued the numbers are misleading because they assume riders travel an entire bus route.

“They are saying that bus lanes will save you up to six minutes,” said, who spent three decades at the MTA, including a stint running bus planning.

“That means if you travel the entire bus route, say 8 miles, you save six minutes,” he added. “The average local bus trip is 2.3 miles. So the average passenger would save only an insignificant two or three minutes from their 45 or 60 minute trip.”

The proposal, developed jointly by the city Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, also calls for new traffic signals that give buses dedicated green turn arrows, along with expanded tap-and-go fare payment to reduce boarding delays. Even so, Rosen believes the overall impact on commute times will be modest.

Under the proposal, City Hall plans to invest $254 million, while another $628 million in capital funding will be spent over the next five years. Officials also intend to increase the distance between bus stops to better match national and international transit guidelines as part of the MTA’s continuing redesign of the city’s bus network.

That change would eliminate some existing bus stops. According to the MTA, most urban transit systems place local bus stops roughly every quarter mile, while many New York City routes currently have stops about every 800 feet apart.

Rosen warned that removing stops could actually leave many riders with longer commutes despite slightly faster buses.

“If you miss a bus because your bus stop was removed, you can easily add another 10 minutes to your trip. So your trip can take 20 minutes longer under the MTA’s planning,” Rosen said.

He argued that the real weakness in the city’s bus system is unreliable scheduling rather than slow travel speeds.

According to Rosen, only about 20 supervisors oversee scheduling for approximately 6,000 buses operating throughout the city, and he said the new initiative does nothing to address that staffing shortage. The MTA did not respond to requests for updated figures regarding the number of bus schedule supervisors it currently employs.

Rosen also sharply criticized the plan’s significant expansion of automated traffic enforcement.

“The real reason bus lanes are implemented is to raise fines from violators and to discourage automobiles by clogging up traffic by removal of lanes. It’s not to help bus passengers,” Rosen said.

The proposal has also drawn scrutiny because it closely mirrors recommendations made by Transportation Alternatives, an advocacy organization that supports reducing automobile traffic. In its November 2025 policy agenda for the incoming Mamdani administration, the group called for broader camera enforcement and additional rapid bus routes—both central features of the mayor’s newly announced plan.

Mamdani’s proposal identifies Transportation Alternatives as one of the stakeholders involved in the initiative, and his administration also appointed a former executive from the organization to oversee city bus operations.

Financial disclosures previously released by Transportation Alternatives show that Verra Mobility—the company operating New York City’s automated traffic enforcement camera network—contributed more than $100,000 annually to the organization from 2020 through 2023, the most recent year donor information was publicly available.

Earlier this year, the New York City Department of Transportation awarded Verra a new five-year contract worth $998 million, representing roughly a 34% increase over the company’s previous agreement with the city.

In announcing the expanded contract, Verra stated that the anticipated growth in bus lane camera enforcement was one of the primary reasons for the larger agreement.

According to the city’s annual Local Law 6 report, bus lane enforcement cameras generated $152.9 million in fines during fiscal year 2025, with the city collecting approximately $126 million from drivers. Revenue from cameras mounted on buses surged by 551% compared to the previous year.

That dramatic increase followed the state’s decision to expand the MTA’s authority to issue camera-generated tickets not only for driving in bus lanes, but also for blocking bus stops and double-parking along designated bus routes.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Editor@Matzav.com,

Every summer I ask myself the same question: Is this really what we have become?

We spend ten months a year speaking about ruchniyus, shalom bayis, family values, chinuch, and living simply. Then July arrives, and suddenly an entire segment of our community embraces a lifestyle that seems to contradict everything we claim to believe in. We call it “going to the bungalow colony,” but for many people it has become something far uglier. It has become two months of prustkeit, materialism, social climbing, and endless comparison.

Let’s stop pretending otherwise. Walk around many bungalow colonies. You’ll find groups of women sitting on porches or around tables for hours upon hours every single day. The conversations are rarely about anything meaningful. It’s who bought what, who renovated, whose husband is making more money, whose daughter is dating, whose son got into a better yeshivah, who is wearing designer clothing, whose bungalow looks nicer, who hired which decorator, who is serving what for Shabbos, who has the bigger deck, the nicer swing set, the newer outdoor furniture. It’s an endless, exhausting culture of comparison. People don’t even realize they’re doing it anymore because it has become the air they breathe.

And what is perhaps even more tragic is that nobody seems embarrassed by it. We have somehow transformed idle sitting and endless fatzing into an accepted way of life. Hours disappear every day. Entire mornings. Entire afternoons. Somehow there is unlimited time to sit and talk. And let’s not kid ourselves that it’s all innocent conversation. Anyone who has spent time in these settings knows that gossip, judging, and comparing are woven into the fabric of the culture.

Meanwhile, the husbands are nowhere to be found because they’re back in the city all week. This is perhaps the craziest part of the entire arrangement. We have normalized husbands and wives living separate lives for two months every summer. The husband works, eats supper alone, sleeps alone, wakes up alone, repeats that routine all week, and then drives for hours on Friday just to spend barely a day with his family before getting back in the car on Sunday morning. (We’re not even talking about those men who may engage in unbecoming behavior. I won’t elaborate here, as Matzav is a family forum.)

We speak endlessly about strengthening marriages, about communication, about shalom bayis. Then we voluntarily choose a lifestyle that keeps husbands and wives apart for the majority of the week and somehow convince ourselves this is ideal. Since when?

And don’t tell me it’s all for the children. Children need fathers during the week, not only for forty-eight rushed hours. They need to see their parents together. They need to watch a father come home from work, eat supper with the family, help with homework, learn with them, and simply be present. Instead, for weeks on end, many children grow accustomed to a father who exists mainly on weekends. We have accepted this as normal only because many people do it. If someone proposed such an arrangement from scratch today, most people would call it unhealthy – or insanity.

Then comes Shabbos, and instead of finally reconnecting as a family after five days apart, the social circus goes into overdrive. Every meal becomes another opportunity to entertain, to visit, to be visited, to see and be seen. There are “toamehas,” Kiddushim, porch hopping, backyard gatherings, and endless social “obligations.” The comparisons continue. Who has the nicest table? Who invited the “right” guests? Who has the fanciest food? Who bought new dishes? Who has the best location? Who’s the prettiest? Even Shabbos, the one time when families should simply enjoy being together, gets swallowed up by the social scene, not to mention men talking to women, women talking to men, and more details that I’d rather not get into on a forum that is read by all ages.

What frightens me most is what our children are learning. We think they don’t notice. They notice everything. They notice what excites us. They notice how much time we spend talking about people instead of ideas, possessions instead of values, appearances instead of character. They learn that success means impressing others. They learn that happiness comes from having what someone else has. Then we wonder why so many young people struggle with contentment, why they feel pressure to spend money they don’t have, why they measure themselves against everyone around them. We spent the summer teaching them exactly that.

Before anyone writes in accusing me of painting with too broad a brush, let me say it myself. There are beautiful bungalow colonies. But let’s stop pretending the culture I’m describing doesn’t exist. It does. Everyone knows it does. People complain about it behind closed doors every summer, yet nobody seems willing to challenge it publicly because they’re afraid of offending people.

Maybe it’s time someone said it. People have built a summer culture that encourages precisely the values we spend the rest of the year fighting against. They’ve accepted a lifestyle that breeds jealousy, gossip, overspending, neglected marriages, absent fathers, and endless pressure, all while convincing ourselves it’s somehow wholesome because it happens in the Catskills instead of the city.

I don’t know exactly how to fix it. But I know one thing. If this is what you proudly call our summer, then you shouldn’t be surprised when it follows you home in September.

H. L.

A Disturbed Reader

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A growing majority of Americans now believe the nation’s economic system is failing, according to a newly released Wall Street Journal-NORC survey, underscoring rising dissatisfaction with capitalism, declining faith in democracy, and deep concern over the country’s future.

The poll, released Wednesday, found that fewer than half of Americans — 49% — believe capitalism is working either very well or somewhat well. That marks a significant drop from roughly a decade ago, when 60% expressed confidence in the system. Meanwhile, 51% now say capitalism is functioning poorly or not at all, compared to 37% who held that view in 2015.

The results point to growing unease over economic mobility and waning trust in America’s core institutions.

Just 35% of those surveyed said they are fairly or very confident that the United States still provides people with a meaningful opportunity to secure good jobs and achieve the American dream.

Many respondents also expressed frustration over the role of money in politics. Approximately three-quarters said billionaires and major corporations have excessive influence in Washington, while ordinary working Americans have too little say in government.

A slim majority, 52%, said they believe large corporations exercise too much power at the expense of workers and consumers, and they support government efforts to curb that influence and share control of certain businesses.

The findings come as democratic socialist candidates continue making gains in Democratic primary elections and as President Donald Trump has repeatedly argued that the country’s economic system has left working-class Americans behind.

Public confidence in the political system proved even weaker than confidence in capitalism.

Only 12% of respondents said democracy in the United States is working very well or extremely well, while just 16% believe average citizens have significant influence over political decisions.

More than half of those surveyed — 56% — said democracy is either not working well or not working at all, the highest level measured in comparable Wall Street Journal polling since 2020.

The survey also revealed widespread pessimism about where the country is headed.

More than two-thirds of Americans said they believe the United States is in decline, and about six in ten said the nation’s best years are already in the past rather than still ahead.

Expressions of national pride have also weakened. Fewer than 40% said they are very proud of American history, while only 35% described patriotism as very important in their own lives, a notable decline from more than 60% who said the same in a 2019 Wall Street Journal-NBC News survey.

Attitudes toward America’s history and identity varied dramatically depending on political affiliation.

Roughly two-thirds of Republicans said they are very proud of American history, compared with only about one in five Democrats. Nearly half of Republicans believe the United States stands above every other nation, while only 8% of Democrats and 13% of independents agreed.

Age also played a role in shaping opinions. Younger Americans tended to be more pessimistic about the country’s future than older respondents and were less likely to view patriotism, religion, and other traditional values as especially important.

Despite the sharp ideological divides, respondents shared concern over the nation’s political climate.

Nearly three-quarters agreed that political polarization has become so severe that the federal government can no longer effectively address major national problems, and they believe those divisions are likely to deepen.

The survey also found broad support for several issues. Fifty-eight percent favor birthright citizenship, about 60% believe immigration benefits the United States more than it harms it, and roughly two-thirds said maintaining the separation of church and state remains very or extremely important to America’s identity.

The Wall Street Journal-NORC poll surveyed 1,862 adults nationwide between June 11 and June 18. The sample included additional Black, Latino, and Asian American respondents, and the survey carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.

{Matzav.com}

An extraordinary incident unfolded during the shivah period near the kever of the mekubal Rav Amos Guetta zt”l in Netanya, where a remarkable chain of events ended without injuries despite the sudden collapse of a wall at an active construction site.

The incident occurred as workers were preparing a new entrance to the tzaddik’s grave. According to eyewitnesses, a vehicle belonging to a Chevra Kadisha employee arrived at the site to oversee the cutting of a wall that would provide direct access to the grave. The vehicle had reportedly been experiencing a mechanical problem for about a week that caused it to emit thick black smoke. As part of the wall-cutting operation, workers were using a continuous flow of water, as is standard for this type of work.

At one point, one of Rav Amos’s talmidim noticed smoke pouring from the vehicle. He immediately grabbed the water hose being used by the construction crew and rushed toward the vehicle in an attempt to cool it down and prevent the problem from worsening. However, the combination of the vehicle’s mechanical malfunction, the intense heat, and the water apparently caused the vehicle to catch fire.

According to those at the scene, the four workers cutting the wall did not understand why their water hose had suddenly been taken away. Initially believing someone was interfering with their work, they left their positions and walked toward the vehicle to see what had happened.

Just moments later, the very wall they had been cutting suddenly collapsed.

The collapse occurred precisely where the workers had been standing only seconds earlier. Because they had stepped away immediately before the wall gave way, none of them was injured.

Those present described the sequence of events as nothing short of miraculous, saying they believed the zechus of the tzaddik, who was buried only days earlier, protected those at the site. They remarked that even after his passing, he continues to intercede on behalf of his followers.

{Matzav.com}

Veteran political analyst Yaakov Rivlin believes that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s push to advance legislation benefiting the chareidi community is aimed not only at the upcoming election, but also at ensuring the chareidi parties remain firmly aligned with the right-wing bloc in the political battles that follow.

Speaking Wednesday on Kol Chai Radio’s “Central Edition” with Avi Blum, Rivlin discussed the coalition’s efforts to pass the proposed Basic Law protecting Torah study and legislation preventing the arrest of yeshiva bochurim. Despite ongoing security tensions, he said he sees little chance that the legislative process will be halted.

“On Wednesday the Knesset session ends, and whatever isn’t achieved now will never be achieved,” Rivlin said. He noted that the bills are already moving through committee discussions and added that “it would take something very extraordinary for the legislative process not to continue.”

Addressing claims that the proposed Basic Law is merely symbolic, Rivlin argued that the fierce opposition from legal and economic officials suggests otherwise.

“I also thought it was merely declarative and worth nothing, but every day I open TheMarker I discover that it will grant the chareidim new benefits,” he said. He added that officials in the Budget Department also contend the legislation would cost the state significant sums of money, concluding, “so apparently it has meaning.”

Turning to the proposed legislation freezing the arrests of yeshiva bochurim, Rivlin said he is not convinced Israel’s Supreme Court would rush to issue an injunction because the measure is designed as a temporary five-month order.

According to Rivlin, even within the military there is growing recognition that the arrests have failed to achieve their intended purpose.

“The army itself unofficially admits that arrests are a headache,” he said.

Rivlin argued that Netanyahu’s strategy extends well beyond the next election campaign.

“Netanyahu is investing in the chareidim not for this election, but for what comes after the election,” he said. “He believes he won’t reach 61 seats, but the center-left also won’t reach 61 without the Arab parties. He wants the chareidim to remain with him even if he doesn’t have a majority.”

According to Rivlin, Netanyahu’s broader objective is to cement the loyalty of the chareidi parties within the right-wing bloc.

“He wants to lock Gafni and Deri into the right-wing bloc,” Rivlin said, explaining that Netanyahu wants to prevent them from later telling their voters they will join whichever coalition offers them the best deal. “He says to them: I gave you what you wanted—the Basic Law: Torah Study.”

Rivlin also addressed the growing economic sanctions affecting the chareidi community, including restrictions on eligibility for discounted housing programs, but cautioned that even more severe measures could be forthcoming.

“There are harsher decrees on the way,” he said. “Anyone who thinks that economic measures will bring down the Torah world does not know the Torah world.”

{Matzav.com}