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Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu devoted part of his Motzoei Shabbos press conference to Israel’s ongoing military draft crisis, arguing that the government’s enforcement campaign against bnei Torah is producing the opposite of its intended effect and discouraging enlistment among the chareidi public.

Alongside his remarks on the new security agreement with Lebanon, Netanyahu said he had received a clear message from the heads of chareidi hesder yeshivos: arresting full-time bnei Torah does not increase military service but instead drives the chareidi community further away from cooperation.

Quoting what the roshei yeshivah told him, Netanyahu said, “When you send people into the yeshivos, take Torah students out, and put them in prison—no one enlists.” He added that they continued, “We received tremendous responsiveness from the chareidi public. Young chareidim want to enlist, but when you send arrests into places of Torah study, it produces the exact opposite result.”

The prime minister also compared the situation to what would happen in Europe, saying, “If I told you that in some country in Europe the police were entering yeshivos, taking young men who were learning Torah and putting them in prison—you would be horrified.” He said the comparison underscored both his opposition to the current enforcement policy and the damage it has caused in relations with the chareidi community.

In recent months, the chareidi public has been deeply shaken by the growing wave of arrests targeting bnei Torah, with many of the detentions resulting from planned enforcement operations rather than incidental encounters. However, unlike Netanyahu’s description, the arrests have taken place in homes and public areas—not inside yeshivah buildings—though critics argue that this distinction does little to lessen the gravity of the situation.

{Matzav.com}

The death toll from the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela has continued to climb, with some reports estimating that as many as 1,400 people have been killed. Officials fear the number will rise significantly as rescue teams continue searching for tens of thousands of missing people amid severe shortages of manpower and emergency aid. The disaster is being described as the country’s most powerful earthquake in more than 125 years.

While the official government death toll has surpassed 920, health authorities believe the actual number of fatalities has already exceeded 1,400—a figure also cited by The New York Times.

Authorities reported that more than 50,000 people remain missing or out of contact, while hospitals across the country have treated over 3,200 injured survivors.

Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez declared the coastal state of La Guaira a national disaster zone after widespread collapses of homes, public buildings, and critical infrastructure.

The capital, Caracas, has suffered extensive disruption. The city’s subway system has been completely shut down, the country’s main international airport remains closed because of significant runway damage, and large sections of the capital are without electricity, cellular service, or natural gas.

Thousands of displaced residents have been forced to spend their nights in parks and open areas, fearing that continued aftershocks could bring down additional buildings. Maria Andreina Pernalet, whose home sustained major damage, described the terrifying experience: “We are deeply shocked and frightened. We hugged each other and prayed. It was truly horrifying.”

The powerful quake struck during a national holiday, catching many residents inside their homes.

Luis Colmenares said he was inside a movie theater when the earthquake struck. “Everything went dark and everything started shaking. People started running, children were screaming in fear. The earthquake lasted between two and three minutes—it felt endless.”

Countries around the world have begun dispatching humanitarian aid and specialized rescue teams, including experts and search-and-rescue dogs from the United States, Britain, Switzerland, and Chile.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the disaster consisted of two massive earthquakes measuring magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 that struck just 39 seconds apart along the San Sebastián fault system, making it the strongest seismic event to hit Venezuela in well over a century.

{Matzav.com}

Amid mounting economic sanctions and the ongoing wave of arrests targeting bnei Torah, Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, rosh yeshivah of the Mir, asked Ateres Shlomo rosh yeshivah Rav Chaim Feinstein to deliver a special address of hashkafah and daas Torah to provide guidance and encouragement during this difficult period.

The special gathering drew thousands of avreichim from the Mir. With the main botei medrash filled to capacity, additional participants assembled in neighboring rooms, where the address was broadcast live.

During a lengthy shmuess that lasted approximately an hour, Rav Chaim spoke extensively about the Torah perspective on the current campaign of economic measures and arrests directed against the Torah world and those who devote themselves to full-time Torah study. His remarks focused on offering chizuk and clarifying the proper outlook in confronting the challenges facing lomdei Torah in the present climate.

{Matzav.com}

A violent confrontation broke out at Ben Gurion Airport on Friday after passengers from two delayed flights became frustrated by the late arrival of their checked baggage. The incident escalated into a physical altercation that left a ground crew employee and a security guard injured, while airport security personnel responded with their weapons drawn.

The disturbance began in the baggage claim area, where passengers waited for luggage from two flights that had landed behind schedule. Some travelers feared their bags would not arrive before the onset of Shabbos, raising the prospect of being stranded at the airport throughout the day.

As the delay continued, several passengers confronted ground staff, demanding answers about the whereabouts of their luggage. The exchange eventually turned physical, resulting in injuries to a ground attendant and a security guard stationed near the baggage carousel. During the confrontation, airport security officers drew their firearms as they worked to regain control of the situation.

The incident came to an end after security forces intervened. Police complaints were subsequently filed against those involved in the altercation.

According to an N12 report, both the Ben Gurion Airport administration and the airport police have launched separate investigations to determine exactly what transpired and what led the confrontation to spiral into violence.

{Matzav.com}

Hundreds of residents gathered in Tzfas on Shabbos for one of the city’s largest demonstrations in years, protesting the operation of public bus routes during Shabbos. The protest centered on buses departing for Haifa, Nahariya, and Kiryat Shmona approximately 90 minutes before the conclusion of Shabbos. Six demonstrators were arrested during the protest, while community leaders have begun efforts to engage in dialogue with the Ministry of Transportation in an attempt to end the service.

The demonstration took place at the city’s central bus station, where participants protested what they described as the public desecration of Shabbos. The routes at the center of the protest were Route 361 to Haifa, Route 511 to Kiryat Shmona, and Route 367 to Nahariya, all of which begin boarding passengers and depart at 6:00 p.m. while Shabbos is still in effect.

Participants included observant Jews from across the spectrum of Torah-observant communities in Tzfas, who gathered to express their pain over the public operation of transportation on Shabbos and to call on the relevant authorities to halt the service.

Organizers said the protest remained orderly throughout. Demonstrators sang Shabbos songs and voiced their opposition peacefully, despite several attempts by individuals opposed to the demonstration to provoke confrontations.

During the protest, six demonstrators were taken into custody. Efforts are currently underway to secure their release as quickly as possible.

Following the demonstration, organizers issued a statement expressing satisfaction with the turnout.

“We are filled with satisfaction over the tremendous success of the gathering of such a large ציבור to cry out publicly before all that our holy Shabbos will not become trampled in the streets of the city, and over the kiddush Hashem that atones for the sin of chillul Hashem. Our intention is to continue these demonstrations and increase the number of participants as long as the transportation lines continue to operate.”

At the same time, local community activists have opened discussions with the relevant government officials in hopes of reaching an agreement that will end the ongoing Shabbos bus service in the city.

In advance of the protest, large notices posted throughout Tzfas called on residents from all of the city’s kehillos to participate in the demonstration.

“Toward Shabbos, let us go! The masses of Bais Yisroel, residents of Tzfas from all the holy communities, old and young alike, will gather in great numbers this Shabbos, Parshas Balak, for a protest against the chillulei Shabbos being carried out by Netiv Express at the instruction of the Ministry of Transportation through the operation of public transportation routes: Route 361 to Haifa, Route 511 to Kiryat Shmona, and Route 367 to Nahariya, departing at 6:00 p.m. in the midst of Shabbos, trampling the honor of Shabbos into the dust. The protest will begin at 5:45 p.m. at the central bus station in Tzfas. Let us cry out from the depths of our hearts that the chillulei Shabbos in our city come to an end. All of us together for the honor of Heaven—let no one be absent! Association of Lovers of Shabbos, Tzfas, representing all the holy communities.”

Hundreds of residents responded to the call, gathering to publicly express their anguish over the ongoing desecration of Shabbos through the operation of the bus routes.

Government Secretary Yossi Fuchs has urged Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman MK Boaz Bismuth to fast-track emergency legislation that would suspend for three months the arrests and criminal proceedings against yeshivah bochurim and bnei Torah subject to military conscription. Fuchs warned that the ongoing arrests are deepening tensions with the chareidi community and could lead to an unprecedented national rift.

In a letter sent to Bismuth, Fuchs argued that arresting bnei yeshivah has failed to advance enlistment and is instead producing the opposite effect.

“These arrests of Torah learners do not advance enlistment among the chareidi public; rather, they distance enlistment, and there is a real concern of severing the bond with the chareidi public to the point, chalilah, of reaching a civil war, and this less than a week before the beginning of the Bein HaMetzarim period,” he wrote.

Fuchs said recent developments have shown growing unrest even among chareidi families whose sons already serve in chareidi military frameworks, including combat units and chareidi hesder yeshivos. According to him, many parents had previously accepted military service by some of their sons as long as other children were able to remain in yeshivah learning. Now, however, the prospect that full-time bnei Torah could be arrested at any moment has caused many of those same families to oppose additional enlistments.

He also pointed to a letter issued last week by 12 heads of chareidi hesder yeshivos, who warned that the wave of arrests has “caused a profound shock within the chareidi public.” They wrote that “instead of bringing people closer, it drives them away. Instead of building trust, it destroys it, and instead of allowing responsible dialogue, it creates a feeling of persecution, pain, and radicalization.”

According to Fuchs, the roshei yeshivah called for immediate passage of temporary legislation that would halt the arrests of bnei yeshivah and allow a long-term solution to be reached through agreement rather than coercion.

Fuchs also addressed the situation of married avreichim between the ages of 26 and 29. He explained that with the expiration of Chapter 3A of the law, the provision establishing age 26 as the exemption age also expired. As a result, even married avreichim whom the IDF has no interest in drafting are now vulnerable to arrest. He argued that such arrests serve no practical benefit to the state and only intensify public anger.

Recognizing that comprehensive legislation regulating the status of bnei yeshivah cannot realistically be completed before the upcoming elections, Fuchs proposed advancing a narrower measure dealing solely with criminal enforcement. Under his proposal, a temporary three-month order would remain in effect throughout the election period, freezing arrests and criminal proceedings against full-time yeshivah students whose Torah study is their full-time occupation, provided they can demonstrate that they are actively enrolled in a yeshivah and are subject to effective oversight. The proposal would not apply to chareidim who are not yeshivah students.

Fuchs stressed that the proposed temporary order would not exempt bnei yeshivah from military service, would not grant them official draft deferments from the IDF, and would not eliminate the financial sanctions imposed following the High Court’s ruling. Rather, he said, its sole purpose is to temporarily suspend criminal enforcement and arrests in order to prevent the crisis from escalating further while allowing time for a negotiated legislative solution.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Shlomo Binyomin Schreiber zt”l, a former senior inspector in Israel’s Ministry of Education who was widely respected for his unwavering support of yeshivos and seminaries. Rav Schreiber passed away on Shabbos at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Yerushalayim at the age of 87.

The levayah took place on Motzoei Shabbos, departing from Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim and proceeding to Har HaMenuchos, where he was laid to rest.

Rav Schreiber was born in Galicia on the fifth of Teves 5699 (1938) to Rav Ephraim Schreiber zt”l and Mrs. Devorah Schreiber a”h. He was a descendant of the Chasam Sofer.

After arriving in Eretz Yisroel as a teenage orphan, he was taken in by Rav Aharon Cohen zt”l, the longtime rosh yeshivah of Chevron Yeshiva, who raised him as one of his own sons.

When he married, Rav Schreiber became the son-in-law of the renowned Ger chossid Rav Yaakov Zalman Kurlansky zt”l. He also enjoyed a close relationship with the Gerer Rebbe, the Bais Yisroel.

Professionally, Rav Schreiber served as a senior inspector in Israel’s Ministry of Education. Throughout his years in that position, he became well known for assisting the administrators of yeshivos and seminaries, who deeply appreciated his dedication and steadfast advocacy on their behalf. Following his retirement, he devoted himself to Torah study with the enthusiasm and diligence of a young bochur, spending long hours immersed in learning each day.

In recent months, as his health declined, he regularly davened in the home of his neighbor, Rav Shmuel Mintzer zt”l, R”M at Yeshivas Maayan HaTalmud, who was niftar just last week at the age of 75.

Rav Schreiber is survived by a distinguished family. His sons are Rav Ephraim Schreiber of Ramat Shlomo, Rav Aharon Schreiber of Bnei Brak, and Rav Yisroel Schreiber of Bnei Brak. He is also survived by his daughter, Mrs. Greenwald of Modi’in Illit–Rechasim.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com}

Nearly three days after 25-year-old Yisroel Mordechai Stern of Bnei Brak disappeared, hundreds of volunteers and rescue personnel continue an around-the-clock search effort amid growing fears for his safety. Search operations have remained underway since Thursday and even continued throughout Shabbos under special halachic authorization due to the serious concern that his life may be in danger.

Stern, who has special needs, left his home on Thursday morning and has not been heard from since. As the hours have turned into days without any sign of him, concern among his family, emergency responders, and volunteers has intensified.

The Aleh Siach organization, which works with individuals with special needs, emphasized that Stern has significant communication difficulties, making the situation especially urgent and increasing fears for his well-being.

Search efforts began Thursday evening and have expanded steadily ever since. Dozens of volunteers from multiple emergency and rescue organizations have been combing the area using advanced search techniques, including drone units and other specialized equipment. Teams have repeatedly searched open fields, city streets, buildings, and any other locations where Stern may have traveled.

The search continued uninterrupted throughout Shabbos after rabbonim ruled that the serious concern for Stern’s life warranted ongoing rescue efforts. Hundreds of yeshivah bochurim from Ger joined police officers and United Hatzalah volunteers in extensive searches across numerous areas.

At the same time, Aleh Siach established a special command center in cooperation with Israel Police to coordinate the large-scale operation. The headquarters, located at 41 Yarkon Street in Bnei Brak, continues to receive volunteers, provide briefings, and dispatch search teams based on operational needs.

Rescue officials involved in the effort stressed that every passing hour increases the urgency of the search and renewed their call for broad public participation. Volunteers continue expanding their search areas in the hope of finding any clue that could lead to Stern’s whereabouts.

Yisroel Mordechai Stern is 25 years old, approximately 1.76 meters (5 feet 9 inches) tall, has a fair complexion, and wears eyeglasses with clear frames.

Police and emergency organizations are urging the public to remain vigilant. Anyone who has seen a person matching Stern’s description or has information that could assist in locating him is asked to immediately contact the Israel Police emergency hotline by dialing 100.

As of late tonight, search efforts remained ongoing, with Stern’s family, hundreds of volunteers, and rescue personnel continuing to hope that new information will soon lead to his safe return.

{Matzav.com}

A leaked draft resolution obtained by The Guardian outlines sweeping legal protections for members of President Donald Trump’s UN-backed Board of Peace, granting immunity to board officials, staff, foreign contractors, and the international force assigned to Gaza, while also allowing the body to take control of public property in the territory without compensation.

The four-page document, marked “sensitive but unclassified” and identified as Resolution No. 2026/3, would prohibit “any arrest, detention or legal proceedings in the courts or other entities in Gaza” against board members, the office of the high representative, Palestinian technocrats serving in the transitional administration, foreign contractors, and members of the international stabilization force operating alongside them.

The proposal remained in draft form as of Saturday and had not yet been formally adopted.

Under the proposed framework, Trump, serving as chairman of the Board of Peace, would have authority to lift an individual’s immunity if a majority of the board’s seven-member executive panel approved the move.

That executive committee includes Jared Kushner, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio.

The Board of Peace was created under UN Security Council Resolution 2803, approved on Nov. 17, 2025. The resolution authorized the body to oversee Gaza’s transitional administration through Dec. 31, 2027, while also empowering it to negotiate legal protections for the international stabilization force. According to the report, however, the new draft would expand those protections far beyond what the original UN resolution envisioned.

A Board of Peace official rejected The Guardian’s characterization of the proposal, stating that there is “no operative resolution or immunity framework of the kind described” and denying that Trump would personally establish or waive immunity.

The official added that board personnel and contractors would be subject to oversight and accountability procedures but did not provide details about how those mechanisms would function.

The Guardian reported that six attorneys it consulted raised concerns about Section 7 of the draft, which establishes an internal process for handling claims involving property damage, personal injury, or death resulting from the board’s operations in Gaza.

Noura Erakat, a professor of international law at Rutgers University, told the newspaper that the proposal effectively creates a legal system accountable only to the board itself.

Emily Schaeffer Omer-Man, an attorney specializing in international humanitarian law, said the language appears intended to shield the board and its personnel from legal responsibility for possible violations committed during their operations.

According to the report, those concerns are amplified by the absence of any formal status-of-forces agreement governing Gaza. An American security contractor told The Guardian that Israel has refused to negotiate such an agreement because doing so could be interpreted as recognizing Gaza as a sovereign state.

The report also noted that the board has already invited bids for projects involving debris removal, security services, and large-scale reconstruction—initiatives Jared Kushner has promoted as laying the foundation for luxury resorts and high-tech development zones in Gaza.

Another provision in the draft would authorize the Board of Peace, the office of the high representative, and the international stabilization force to use public buildings and facilities throughout Gaza “free of charge,” although the proposal does not specify whether Israel, Hamas, or the Palestinian Authority would be responsible for transferring those properties.

According to The Guardian, the board’s Bulgarian high representative for Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov, has been holding meetings with Palestinian officials in Cairo this week, but the draft resolution has not been shared with them.

If approved, the resolution would become effective upon Mladenov’s signature.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu declared tonight that Israel had secured a “historic achievement” with the newly signed framework agreement with Lebanon, saying the U.S.-brokered accord preserves Israel’s security interests, weakens Iran and Hezbollah, and opens the door to a future peace agreement between the two countries.

Speaking at a press conference following Friday’s signing ceremony in Washington, Netanyahu praised the breakthrough and said it marked a turning point in Israel’s northern security strategy.

“Yesterday before the start of the Shabbos, we achieved a historic accomplishment for the State of Israel,” Netanyahu said. “Following direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, mediated by the US, we have reached a framework of understandings that allows us to move forward toward ending the conflict, and, G-d willing, eventually reaching a peace agreement between the two countries.”

Netanyahu emphasized that the agreement formally recognizes Israel’s right to remain inside the security zone in southern Lebanon until the threat from Hezbollah has been eliminated.

“Under these understandings, the US and Lebanon have recognized Israel’s right to maintain the security zone inside Lebanon for as long as it is required for our security. We will continue to hold it until Hezbollah and the rest of the terrorist organizations are disarmed, and until no further threat to Israel is posed from Lebanon.”

The prime minister argued that the agreement represented a major strategic defeat for both Tehran and Hezbollah, saying Israel had resisted international pressure to withdraw from southern Lebanon.

“I want you to know – this is a massive blow to Iran and Hezbollah. Iran tried to force a withdrawal from southern Lebanon upon us. You heard these demands all the time, and you also heard their disappointment and their criticism of the agreement – both theirs and Hezbollah’s. I stood firm on our vital interests and forcefully opposed the notion of forcing a withdrawal upon us.”

He added that the agreement effectively sidelines Iran from any future role in Lebanon.

“Lebanon, Israel, and the US are essentially saying to Iran: This is none of your business. You have no status here. You have no involvement and no role, not you, not Hezbollah, and not any terrorist organization.”

During the briefing, Netanyahu displayed a map of the newly established Yellow Line and outlined the two pilot areas where Israeli forces are expected to begin a phased withdrawal. He stressed that both sectors lie primarily outside the security zone.

“Israel and Lebanon have agreed on two adjacent areas near the Yellow Line, recommended by the IDF, where there will be a pilot program for disarming Hezbollah and transferring the territory to the control of the Lebanese army,” he explained. “This is a tremendous achievement, because what were they trying to do? They tried to get us out of there through all kinds of means and pressures. That, of course, will not happen.”

Under the framework, Israel and Lebanon recognize each other’s sovereignty and commit to pursuing a permanent resolution to the conflict. Israel reaffirmed that it has no territorial ambitions inside Lebanon and stated that once Hezbollah and its terrorist infrastructure are dismantled throughout the country, there will no longer be a need for an Israeli military presence there.

The agreement also provides for a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, beginning with the two designated pilot zones, which will be transferred to the control of the Lebanese Armed Forces once Hezbollah and its infrastructure have been removed.

Netanyahu expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for helping broker the agreement, while also thanking Lebanon’s leadership and Israel’s negotiating team.

“I thank President Trump and Secretary of State Rubio for their involvement, their contribution, and for achieving these understandings. I thank the government of Lebanon and the people of Lebanon; they showed great courage. I thank Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, and our team, they faithfully represented Israel in the talks.”

He said the agreement not only weakens Iran militarily but also dismantles its diplomatic influence in the region.

“We are breaking the Iranian axis of terror, but we are also breaking the Iranian diplomatic axis.”

Netanyahu credited Israel’s battlefield successes for making the diplomatic breakthrough possible.

“We managed to reach this framework of understandings for a simple reason: Because we struck Hezbollah hard. And Hezbollah, which expected assistance from Iran, did not receive it, because we struck Iran hard. All of this was done thanks to the heroism of our fighters, and also thanks to the wise and courageous decisions we made.”

Reviewing the military campaign in southern Lebanon, Netanyahu said Israeli forces would continue dismantling Hezbollah’s infrastructure while maintaining control of key strategic positions.

“We took control of the Beaufort and we are staying in the Beaufort; we took control of the Ali Taher ridge, and of Bint Jbeil – they are under our control. We are eliminating their terrorist infrastructure throughout the entire area, in the entire Yellow Zone; we are simply wiping out the terrorist infrastructure. There are bunkers there, there are tunnels there, there are terrorist villages there; we are wiping the, all out. We are not done yet, we still have work to do, especially regarding the global problem of explosive drones, and in this too, we will be the first in the world to find a solution.”

He concluded that the agreement marks a major turning point for the region.

“But what is clear is one thing: There is a historic achievement here. This agreement strengthens Israel and Lebanon, and weakens Iran and Hezbollah. And G-d willing, this is a sign of things to come.”

Netanyahu also pledged to restore security and economic growth to Israel’s northern communities.

“We will continue to do everything necessary to restore security to the residents of the North, just as we successfully did in the South. We did it once again thanks to the heroism of the fighters and commanders, and also thanks to your steadfast resilience, residents of the North. We are bringing you not only security assistance, but also over 20 billion shekels to restore prosperity to the North.”

Looking toward the future, Netanyahu said his vision is for the northern border to become one of peace and prosperity.

“This is what I want to see: A quiet border between us and Lebanon, a border of peace. And in the North, I want to see security, peace, and prosperity. What happened in the South, which is currently prospering in the western Negev, will also happen in the North. This is my goal, and with your help and G-d’s help, we will achieve it.”

Asked about the upcoming elections, Netanyahu said he intends to build a broad national unity coalition rather than govern through a narrow political alliance.

“I believe there are forces within our society that want to create division among the people,” he said. “They want to deepen misunderstandings and disagreements, and I think that is a terrible mistake. We must make every effort to resolve our internal disputes through consensus, because we have enemies outside. I say this clearly: There will not be a civil war here.”

He said such a government would require ending political boycotts and focusing on shared national priorities.

“To achieve that, I intend to form a broad national government – not a narrow one, and not a left-wing government that will be dependent on Arab parties. Rather, a broad national government, because I think that is the only way that we can reach agreements among ourselves.

“What does that mean? It means an end to political boycotts. I am not boycotting anyone. Everyone is welcome to join, they simply need to agree on our fundamental principles.”

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir sharply criticized the new framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon on Motzoei Shabbos, calling it a dangerous mistake and revealing that he has asked Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu to bring the accord before the cabinet for a formal vote.

Ben Gvir said he has opposed the agreement for weeks and argued that Israel should not rely on the Lebanese government to dismantle Hezbollah’s military capabilities.

“The agreement with Lebanon is a serious mistake,” Ben Gvir said. “I contacted the prime minister this evening and requested a cabinet vote. I have been fighting against this agreement for weeks. At the moment, we remain in control of most of the area, but the state of Lebanon will not disarm Hezbollah of its weapons. There is no reason to trust Lebanon to take Hezbollah’s weapons away. I will demand a cabinet vote. Only IDF soldiers will destroy Hezbollah. No other body will do it for us.”

His remarks followed the signing of a framework agreement by Israel, Lebanon, and the United States outlining the initial stages of an Israeli withdrawal from parts of southern Lebanon. Under the agreement, however, Israeli forces will continue operating inside the security zone until Hezbollah has been fully disarmed.

The deal emerged after extensive negotiations in Washington, where the parties reached understandings on launching a limited pilot program in two separate areas. As part of the arrangement, the IDF would pull back from designated sectors, allowing the Lebanese Armed Forces to move in and assume responsibility there.

One of the pilot zones is located south of the Litani River, while the other lies to the north. Although the IDF is expected to scale back its footprint within the security zone, it will not completely withdraw from Lebanese territory at this stage.

The pilot initiative is narrowly focused, with Israeli troops remaining deployed throughout the area while repositioning their forces to enable the Lebanese army to enter the agreed-upon locations.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem launched a fierce attack on the newly signed framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon, denouncing the U.S.-brokered accord as a national humiliation and accusing the Lebanese government of abandoning the country’s sovereignty.

Condemning Beirut’s decision to sign the agreement in Washington, Qassem questioned the government’s commitment to protecting Lebanon’s independence and honoring previous ceasefire commitments.

“Where is the government’s responsibility for Lebanese sovereignty and its commitment to the ceasefire?” Qassem demanded.

Qassem argued that the agreement should never have been approved, insisting that it lacks any legitimacy. At the same time, he urged all parties to implement the terms of the memorandum of understanding reached between Iran and the United States.

According to Qassem, Hezbollah will continue employing every available avenue—including diplomatic efforts in the Arab world and the international community—to pressure Israel into complying with the first provision of the U.S.-Iran memorandum and withdrawing its forces from Lebanon.

He also appealed to Lebanon’s leaders to reverse what he described as a dangerous decision, warning that allowing the agreement to stand would ultimately bring devastation upon the country.

Despite his criticism, Qassem said Hezbollah remains willing to work with Lebanese authorities “for the sake of Lebanon’s sovereignty, the liberation of its land, and the expulsion of the Israeli occupier.”

He said such cooperation could extend to efforts aimed at securing the release of prisoners, enabling displaced residents to return home, rebuilding damaged areas, and reaching agreements on Lebanon’s long-term national security strategy.

The IDF and Israel Security Agency (ISA) announced that they have eliminated Walid Haniyeh, a senior Hamas terrorist who helped lead the October 7 massacre and was responsible for recruiting and training operatives in the organization’s elite Nukhba force.

According to the military, Haniyeh served as the deputy commander of a Nukhba company within Hamas’ military wing. In recent years, he played a key role in expanding the terrorist organization’s ranks by recruiting additional operatives and overseeing the military training of fighters under his command.

The IDF said Haniyeh personally commanded a terrorist cell that infiltrated Israeli territory during the October 7 attack and also participated in the cross-border assault. Officials said he directed the operation and provided operational instructions to the terrorists responsible for abducting Israeli civilians and taking them into the Gaza Strip as hostages.

The military also noted that Walid Haniyeh was the nephew of Ismail Haniyeh, the former head of Hamas’ Political Bureau.

Following the operation, the IDF emphasized that its forces remain on high alert in southern Israel and will continue taking action against emerging threats.

“Troops under the Southern Command are deployed in the area in accordance with the agreement and will continue to operate to remove any immediate threat,” the IDF said.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump announced today that he is nominating retired Oklahoma State Trooper Lance Schroyer to serve as the next director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, praising the longtime law enforcement officer as a proven leader with decades of experience combating crime and working alongside federal immigration authorities.

Sharing the announcement on Truth Social, Trump highlighted Schroyer’s nearly three decades in law enforcement and pointed to his own electoral success in Oklahoma as he introduced his nominee.

”Lance has over 29 YEARS of Law Enforcement experience in Oklahoma,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, noting he won all of the state’s counties in three successive elections.

If confirmed, Schroyer would become the first Senate-confirmed ICE director since 2017. The position has remained vacant due to years of partisan disputes in Washington over immigration enforcement policy.

Trump praised Schroyer’s record, describing him as a “PATRIOT with real operational experience, and proven leader with DECADES of experience locking up the worst of the worst, including spearheading 287g Law Enforcement partnerships with ICE!”

The president also emphasized Schroyer’s hands-on role in immigration enforcement, saying he has firsthand experience removing illegal immigrants from American communities and enjoys strong support among ICE personnel.

He noted Schoyer’s firsthand experience getting “Illegal Aliens OFF our streets” and said just like Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, “he LOVES the men and women of ICE.”

Mullin assumed leadership of the Department of Homeland Security after winning Senate confirmation following President Trump’s decision to remove his predecessor, Kristi Noem.

The ICE director’s position has been vacant since former acting director Todd Lyons stepped down in April. His resignation followed the January shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti during anti-ICE demonstrations.

Trump urged senators to act swiftly on Schroyer’s nomination despite Congress currently being in recess through the week of July 4.

Trump called on the Senate — in recess through the week of July 4th — to confirm Schroyer immediately.

Schroyer has maintained a minimal public profile online. A LinkedIn page bearing his name contains no posts or personal information beyond his job title, while local news reports from 2015 and 2016 documented his response to several serious highway traffic accidents during his tenure with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

{Matzav.com}

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani officially opened the city’s public pool season today by jumping into an East Harlem swimming pool fully dressed in a business suit—while apparently violating the very rules swimmers are expected to follow.

Mamdani made the splash at the Thomas Jefferson Pool, where he joined dozens of children for the ceremonial kickoff to the summer season. Instead of changing into swimwear, however, the mayor entered the water in his suit, despite regulations requiring all swimmers to wear proper bathing attire.

He even left his black socks on before making what spectators described as a modest cannonball into the pool.

The stunt delighted many of the children in attendance.

“It was so fun. I didn’t think he would do it! And then he shook my hand. That felt amazing,” said Mila Mader, 12.

“I told my brother, Leo, I was like, ‘Oh my God, the mayor shook my hand.’ He shook my brother’s hands, too.”

Mamdani’s jump revived a tradition that had largely disappeared in recent administrations. Earlier this year, The City reporter Katie Honan asked whether he planned to bring back the custom of mayors taking an opening-day plunge.

Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg was the last New York City mayor to participate in the ritual, while both Bill de Blasio and Eric Adams opted not to continue the tradition.

“I’m gonna be honest, I may do it. I may commit to it,” Mamdani said in March, though he did not officially announce his plans until this week.

City regulations require everyone using public pools to wear bathing suits. Male swimmers must also wear trunks with mesh lining unless they choose to wear Speedos, which are permitted under the rules.

According to the Parks Department, those requirements are intended to help maintain proper chemical balance and sanitary conditions in the pools.

This was not the first time Mamdani has made a public splash while dressed in formal clothing.

During last year’s mayoral campaign, he ran into the frigid waters off Coney Island in a business suit during the annual Polar Bear Club Plunge, using the event to promote his pledge to freeze rents if elected.

That campaign promise moved closer to reality on Thursday, when the New York City Rent Guidelines Board approved a freeze on both one-year and two-year leases for approximately one million rent-stabilized apartments across the city.

{Matzav.com / Photo: NY Post}

The United States carried out a large-scale wave of airstrikes against multiple Iranian military targets on Saturday after Tehran allegedly violated the ceasefire agreement with another attack on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting President Donald Trump to warn that Iran’s continued aggression could threaten the country’s very existence.

Announcing the operation on Truth Social, Trump said the strikes were directed at Iranian military assets responsible for recent attacks.

“United States aircraft just struck Iranian missile and drone storage location, and costal radar sites, for violating the Cease Fire Agreement, AGAIN!” President Trump posted on Truth Social after ordering the attack.

He followed with an even sharper warning to Tehran.

“It is very possible that they will never learn!” he wrote. “There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started. If that happens the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!”

According to U.S. Central Command, the latest military action followed another alleged Iranian violation of the ceasefire. Officials said Iran had been given an opportunity to halt its attacks after Friday’s U.S. response to the drone strike on the M/V Ever Lovely, but instead launched another one-way attack drone.

CENTCOM says that after the US struck Iran Friday in response to an Iranian attack on a ship called the M/V Ever Lovely, the Iran “was given a chance to honor the cease-fire agreement but elected not to when its forces launched a one-way attack drone that hit M/T Kiku this morning at 4:30 a.m. ET.”

Military officials said Saturday’s operation focused on key components of Iran’s military infrastructure.

Military officials said the new today attacks “targeted Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities, and minelayer capabilities.”

Despite the escalating conflict, the U.S. military indicated that maritime traffic through the strategic waterway remained active.

The military also said that “commercial vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz continue.”

CENTCOM added that the strikes were launched under direct presidential authorization.

The message from CENTCOM said attack began “at the Commander in Chief’s direction.”

Iran swiftly denounced the operation. The country’s Foreign Ministry, speaking through the semi-official Tasnim news agency, accused the United States of carrying out unlawful military aggression.

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told its semi-official news agency counterpart Tasnim that Iran condemns the “savage attacks, which targeted Iran’s coastal surveillance facilities,” adding that they constitute violations of international law.

Iran also urged neighboring Gulf states not to assist Washington in future military operations.

The Ministry also called upon its neighbors in the Persian Gulf “to adhere to the principles of good neighborliness” and to “observe the fundamental principle of international law” by preventing the US from using their territories and facilities.

Senior U.S. officials told Fox News that Saturday’s operation represented a significant escalation over the previous night’s strikes.

Senior US officials told Fox News that the barrage was “It’s a larger strike than last night.”

“It’s a larger strike than last night,” the official told Fox News.

The officials said Iran had an opportunity to de-escalate but instead chose further confrontation.

“Iran had a chance to stop shooting … and they didn’t take it,” the official said, adding, “instead, they attacked another ship in Hormuz this morning, the MT Kiku.”

The latest exchange marked another major setback for the already fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, which has unraveled rapidly following a series of military incidents in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

Friday’s U.S. strikes had been launched after Iran targeted the cargo ship M/V Ever Lovely, while Tehran later responded with a retaliatory drone attack aimed at U.S.-linked facilities in Bahrain.

The renewed fighting now threatens to derail the broader diplomatic initiative spearheaded by Vice President JD Vance.

Meanwhile, commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz continues to face major disruptions as tensions remain high.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani vowed Friday that his administration would not accept the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision allowing the Trump administration to revoke deportation protections for hundreds of thousands of Haitian and Syrian migrants, calling the ruling one of the most damaging blows to immigrants in recent history.

Responding to the court’s 6-3 decision, the socialist Muslim anti-Israel mayor released a video message condemning both the ruling and the administration’s immigration policy.

“To have people who frankly taught the world about freedom have their own freedom put into jeopardy by the actions of a Supreme Court and federal administration — it is not only cruel, it’s not something we will ever accept,” Mamdani said in a video statement after Thursday’s bombshell 6-3 ruling.

The Supreme Court concluded that the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) law does not permit judicial review of the administration’s decisions, preventing lower federal courts from blocking the Trump administration’s move to terminate deportation protections for more than 350,000 Haitians and approximately 6,000 Syrians living in the United States.

Soon after the ruling was issued, Mamdani appeared alongside immigration advocates, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, and Attorney General Letitia James before issuing an additional statement through City Hall.

“The Supreme Court just sparked one of the largest attacks on immigrants in modern American history. In one fell swoop, thousands of Haitians and Syrians now risk losing the right to live and work in the country they call home,” Mamdani also said in a statement issued by City Hall.

He warned that New York City would feel the effects of the ruling more than many other places because of its large Haitian and Syrian populations.

“This decision will cause enormous pain across the five boroughs. Here in New York, it falls hardest on our Haitian community, one of the largest in the country, alongside Syrian families,” the statement said.

Seeking to reassure affected residents, Mamdani pledged that the city would continue to stand behind immigrants with Temporary Protected Status.

“To the tens of thousands of New Yorkers with TPS who are watching the news, frightened about what comes next, hear me clearly: New York City is your home. You belong here. We will not turn our backs on you.”

City Hall also announced that the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs would soon release updated guidance and additional resources for impacted migrants.

“You will not face this cruelty alone. This administration will stand alongside immigrant New Yorkers today, tomorrow, and every day that follows,” Mamdani said.

New York City’s sanctuary policies generally prohibit local agencies and law enforcement from assisting federal immigration enforcement or participating in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.

Since taking office in January, Mamdani has expanded those sanctuary protections. In February, he signed an executive order barring ICE agents from entering city-owned properties—including public schools, homeless shelters, and hospitals—without a judicial warrant.

The executive order also directed a review of city agencies to ensure compliance with sanctuary policies, called for recommendations to strengthen enforcement of those rules, and required additional training for municipal employees.

“We will make it clear once again ICE will not be able to enter New York City property without a judicial warrant. That means our schools, our shelters and our hospitals,” Mamdani said at the time.

According to city figures, New York is home to roughly 115,000 Haitians and nearly 12,000 Syrians.

Temporary Protected Status has been available to Syrian nationals since 2012 following the outbreak of the country’s civil war, while Haitians have been eligible for the designation since the devastating 2010 earthquake.

The Supreme Court previously issued a similar ruling that cleared the way for the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelan migrants.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump declared Friday that even Iran’s own leadership and citizens were relieved by the death of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, while also touting his administration’s military and diplomatic actions against Tehran as having prevented the Islamic Republic from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Trump made the remarks during a speech before the Faith and Freedom Coalition, where he reflected on key moments from his presidency and highlighted what he described as major successes in confronting Iran.

Recalling the January 3, 2020 U.S. drone strike in Iraq that killed Soleimani, Trump argued that the operation was welcomed even within Iran. He claimed that the country’s late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, “and all of the people in Iran were happy about” Soleimani’s death “because they were afraid of him too.”

Trump also disclosed that Israel had originally planned to participate in the operation but ultimately withdrew shortly before it was carried out.

“And I said to a couple of generals that we had who were very good, I said, ’What do you think, generals, can we do it?’ Because we worked on it for 30 days, worked on it with Israel. They said, ‘We’ll do it, sir…we’ll do it better. And he was dead the next day.”

Turning to last week’s Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran, Trump praised the accord as a landmark achievement, saying it delivered results no previous administration had managed to secure.

Calling the agreement “historic,” Trump said it accomplished “what no president has ever been able to accomplish before, that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. We’re not going to let that happen. And thanks to the power and skill of the United States Armed Forces, Iran today has no Navy, no Air Force, no anti-aircraft capability, no radar, virtually no manufacturing. Their drone capacity has been cut by 82 percent. Their missile capacity has been cut by 80 percent. Their rocket launchers have been cut by 90 percent.”

The president also renewed his criticism of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement negotiated during the Obama administration, which he withdrew the United States from during his first term.

Labelling former President Barack Obama “a disaster”, Trump continued, “He gave [Iran] $1.7 billion in cash. Gave it to Iran. Thought he could buy their friendship. And it was just the opposite. They used the money, and they built missiles and everything else. And I terminated the JCPOA, which was his agreement. It was the Iran nuclear deal. It was a disaster.”

Trump concluded by arguing that withdrawing from the Obama-era agreement and later authorizing military action against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure had prevented a far greater threat.

He further stated that if he had not terminated the Obama-era deal, “Iran would have had a nuclear weapon. If I didn’t send the B-2 bombers in 10 months ago, they would have had a nuclear weapon. We obliterated that nuclear dust. And then you wouldn’t have Israel. Israel would be gone.”

{Matzav.com}

The United States launched a series of military strikes against Iranian targets on Friday after Tehran attacked a commercial cargo ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz, with U.S. officials saying the operation was intended to respond to the assault and safeguard one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes.

In a statement posted on X, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces targeted Iranian facilities used to store missiles and drones, along with radar installations connected to the attack.

According to CENTCOM, the military action followed Iran’s June 25 drone strike against the Singapore-flagged cargo vessel M/V Ever Lovely as it was departing the Strait of Hormuz along the Omani coastline. The ship was struck by what officials described as a one-way attack drone.

CENTCOM condemned the incident, describing Iran’s actions as an “unwarranted aggression” that violated the existing ceasefire agreement while threatening the principle of free navigation through the strategically vital waterway.

“CENTCOM forces continue to provide safe passage coordination and support to commercial vessels transiting the strait,” the command said, adding that the U.S. forces remain “present and vigilant.”

{Matzav.com}

Israel and Lebanon signed a landmark framework agreement in Washington today, marking a major diplomatic milestone intended to reshape the security situation along Israel’s northern border. The US-brokered accord establishes a roadmap for future understandings between the two countries while making the removal of Hezbollah and Iranian influence from Lebanon its central objective.

The agreement was formalized during a ceremony in Washington attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, signed on behalf of Israel, while Lebanon was represented by its ambassador to the US, Nada Hamadeh Moawad.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the Israel-Lebanon peace framework: "It's the beginning of the beginning. There is a lot of work ahead." pic.twitter.com/djoFtFMeaQ

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) June 26, 2026

Addressing those gathered before the signing, Rubio welcomed the breakthrough, saying, “We are pleased to announce the agreement between Lebanon and Israel. Both countries deserve it after years of suffering caused by external interference,” he stated.

Israeli officials had indicated earlier in the day that a framework agreement would be unveiled following four days of intensive negotiations held in Washington.

According to Channel 12 News, the Memorandum of Understanding is designed to create the conditions for a new security reality along the northern frontier. At the heart of the agreement is a shared commitment to eliminating Iran’s influence inside Lebanon and preventing Hezbollah from continuing to operate as the dominant military force in the country.

Under the terms of the agreement, Israeli forces will continue holding positions within the Yellow Line security zone until Hezbollah has been completely disarmed and the Lebanese government demonstrates that it can exercise full authority over all of its territory.

Explaining Israel’s position, a senior Israeli official told Channel 12 News, “We will withdraw from the territory we have taken only if Hezbollah ceases to be a factor in the entire country. We retain the freedom to respond to any threat that arises.”

The official also emphasized that Jerusalem is seeking broad international recognition for maintaining its military presence in the security zone for as long as threats against Israel remain.

The framework further includes a pilot initiative under which the IDF would gradually leave a limited area of southern Lebanon, allowing the Lebanese Armed Forces to move into those positions and assume responsibility for security.

The pilot phase will initially focus on two designated sectors. One area is located outside the Yellow Line, west of the Salouqi River and south of the Litani River. The second extends north of the Litani, with portions both inside and outside the newly established Yellow Line.

Implementation of the pilot program is expected to begin once the Lebanese Armed Forces complete their deployment preparations. During the initial stage, US military personnel will accompany Lebanese troops to assist them in carrying out the transition.

Following the signing ceremony, a senior Israeli diplomatic official described the agreement as an important diplomatic breakthrough, stating, “Following lengthy negotiations, representatives from the US, Israel, and Lebanon signed a trilateral working framework this evening, designed to pave the way for future agreements and achieve a lasting peace settlement.”

The official stressed that Israel’s security requirements remain unchanged, adding, “Israel will maintain its security zone within the boundaries of the Yellow Line in Lebanon until the day Hezbollah and all other terrorist organizations in Lebanon are disarmed, and a threat to the State of Israel no longer emanates from Lebanese territory. The IDF will retain full operational freedom of action throughout the security zone to neutralize threats of any kind.”

Highlighting the broader significance of the agreement, the senior diplomatic official concluded, “This trilateral framework represents a major achievement for Israel.” He asserted that the framework agreement “categorically rejects Iran’s attempt to force a unilateral withdrawal from southern Lebanon,” effectively stripping both Iran and Hezbollah of any role or influence in the country.