Feed aggregator

Brazil has been plunged into a new political confrontation after presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro rejected the results of Sunday’s election and announced plans to seek their annulment, despite losing to incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva by more than 4.4 million votes.

Bolsonaro, the son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, accused the country’s Supreme Court of improperly interfering in the election after a justice ordered polling stations to remain open for an additional two hours. The controversial decision was issued just minutes before voting was scheduled to end, creating confusion across the country and prompting questions about how the extension was implemented.

According to Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court, Lula secured 64,256,232 votes, representing 51.79% of valid ballots, while Bolsonaro received 59,826,041 votes, or 48.21%. The result gives Lula, who is approaching his 81st birthday, a historic fourth term as president.

Bolsonaro refused to acknowledge the outcome, arguing that the last-minute changes to voting procedures had compromised the integrity of the election.

“It is impossible to accept the election results given the circumstances under which these events unfolded. We will take legal action and seek to have the election annulled. We are not here to play games. I will not accept that this rule was changed mid-game – once again – by Lula’s friends on the Supreme Court,” Bolsonaro declared during remarks outside his campaign headquarters in Brasília.

The dispute centers on an emergency order issued by Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin, who directed that voting be extended from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. following complaints that transportation disruptions and severe weather had prevented some voters from reaching polling stations.

Both presidential campaigns had requested additional voting time, although their requests differed in scope and justification.

Lula’s campaign raised concerns about public transportation problems, particularly in areas of Bahia and São Paulo, where reduced bus service and lengthy delays allegedly made it difficult for residents to vote.

Bolsonaro’s campaign also sought extended voting hours, citing heavy rainfall, flooding, and power outages in several states, including Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, São Paulo, Paraná, and Santa Catarina.

The controversy arose when Zanin issued a nationwide extension shortly before the scheduled closing time. By the time election officials received the order, some polling stations had already shut their doors, while others remained operational.

Election authorities subsequently clarified that the additional two hours would apply only to polling locations that had not already closed. Ballots from locations where voting had ended would be counted normally.

The conflicting circumstances produced considerable uncertainty, particularly because voters in some areas were permitted additional time while those in other locations were not.

Bolsonaro argued that the inconsistent implementation deprived voters of equal treatment and created circumstances in which the election results could no longer be accepted as legitimate.

“What happened today was not normal. It was, in fact, unacceptable. A Supreme Court justice – for the first time in history, a former lawyer for Lula – signed a decree at the request of a former business partner and changed the rules of the game midway through the game. At 5:01 p.m., Justice Zanin – who is not a member of the Superior Electoral Court – bypassed the specialized electoral court system and decided to extend voting hours by two hours. This had never happened in Brazil’s history. There was a complete breakdown of equality among Brazilians in different cities and states. I’ll never know how many votes I might have received in a state where polling stations weren’t reopened. It’s inexplicable that this actually happened,” Bolsonaro said.

Zanin previously served as Lula’s attorney before being appointed to the Supreme Court, a connection Bolsonaro cited in questioning the justice’s involvement.

The president of Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court, Justice Kassio Nunes Marques, subsequently instructed regional election authorities to implement the extension at polling stations that were still operating.

Vote counting, which had already begun, was temporarily interrupted while the additional voting period continued. The tally resumed after the extended deadline.

However, subsequent reporting indicated that fewer than 35,000 ballots were cast during the additional voting period, a figure dramatically smaller than Lula’s margin of more than four million votes.

That disparity has raised serious questions about whether Bolsonaro’s proposed legal challenge could succeed, even if courts were to examine irregularities surrounding the voting extension.

Election officials have maintained that the additional voting period did not change the outcome of the presidential contest.

The president of the Superior Electoral Court formally announced Lula’s victory Sunday night, congratulating both presidential candidates and reviewing the administration of the nationwide election.

More than 128 million Brazilians participated in the runoff, with voter turnout exceeding 80% of those eligible. The election followed a fiercely contested campaign in which the candidates offered sharply different approaches to economic policy, public security, and Brazil’s international relationships.

Lula’s victory marks his fourth nonconsecutive presidential term and extends the political career of one of Latin America’s most prominent left-wing leaders.

Bolsonaro, a conservative senator, had sought to return his family’s political movement to the presidency after his father lost to Lula in 2022.

Jair Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence following his conviction in connection with an attempted coup after the 2022 election. The elder Bolsonaro has denied wrongdoing, and his political allies have continued to challenge the treatment he received from Brazil’s judicial authorities.

The younger Bolsonaro’s refusal to concede has revived concerns about another prolonged confrontation over the legitimacy of Brazil’s presidential elections.

His campaign has indicated that it intends to pursue legal action, although the precise grounds and timetable for a formal challenge have not yet been established.

Meanwhile, Lula celebrated his victory with supporters, presenting the result as a renewed mandate for his administration and promising to govern on behalf of Brazilians across the political spectrum.

The outcome also carries implications for Brazil’s relationship with Washington. Lula has frequently criticized President Donald Trump’s foreign policy, while the Bolsonaro family has maintained closer political ties with Trump and his allies.

International reaction to the election has begun to emerge, with leaders from several countries congratulating Lula on his victory. As of Monday’s reporting, the Trump administration had not publicly issued a congratulatory statement.

Financial markets reacted sharply to the result, with Brazil’s currency and major stock index suffering substantial declines amid investor concerns about the country’s fiscal outlook and the direction of economic policy under another Lula administration.

Despite his victory, Lula will face significant political obstacles, including a conservative-dominated Congress containing numerous lawmakers aligned with the Bolsonaro movement.

The immediate question, however, is whether the election dispute will remain a legal challenge or develop into a broader political confrontation.

Bolsonaro has made clear that he does not intend to recognize the declared result, while election authorities maintain that Lula won by a decisive numerical margin.

With Lula preparing to begin another term on January 5, 2027, Brazil now faces the prospect of a renewed battle over election procedures, judicial authority, and the legitimacy of its presidential vote.

In a significant development in the decades-long battle over control of Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled Monday that the faction headed by Rav Shmuel Markowitz cannot be forced to vacate the yeshiva premises in the middle of the academic year, postponing the threatened eviction until the 10th of Av 5787, in the summer of 2027.

The decision, issued by Supreme Court Justice Ofer Grosskopf, provides a major reprieve for the yeshiva and its more than 1,200 talmidim and avreichim, who had faced the possibility of being displaced following an arbitration ruling in favor of the Kahaneman family.

The court also expressed serious reservations regarding a financial obligation of approximately 10 million shekels imposed under the arbitration award, raising concerns that enforcing such a substantial payment could jeopardize the continued operation of an institution serving hundreds of young men.

The ruling does not bring the longstanding dispute to an end. A separate request for permission to appeal the underlying arbitration decision remains pending before Supreme Court Justice David Mintz, leaving the broader questions of control of the yeshiva property and the substantial financial award unresolved.

The latest proceedings arose after Rav Markowitz and the Mesores HaTorah nonprofit organization petitioned the Supreme Court to suspend implementation of the arbitration ruling, which called for their removal from the disputed premises and imposed a substantial monetary obligation.

Attorneys representing the Kahaneman family sought to have the eviction carried out without further delay. However, Justice Grosskopf determined that the consequences of removing an educational institution of this magnitude during the academic year required consideration.

According to figures submitted by the petitioners, the yeshiva and its affiliated kollelim currently serve 1,266 talmidim and avreichim. Of those, 226 are minors, while approximately 837 are dormitory residents who depend on the institution for their living arrangements in addition to their learning.

The petitioners argued that an immediate eviction would cause severe disruption to the lives and education of hundreds of bochurim, many of whom would suddenly find themselves without their established places of learning and residence.

Justice Grosskopf accepted the need to avoid such disruption during the academic year, establishing the 10th of Av 5787 as the postponed eviction date. The timing places the deadline after the conclusion of the regular yeshiva year, providing the institution with additional time to address its circumstances while the legal proceedings continue.

The financial component of the arbitration ruling also drew the court’s attention.

The monetary obligation originated in the arbitration proceedings overseen by retired judge David Cheshin, whose decision formed the basis of the subsequent enforcement efforts.

Justice Grosskopf raised concerns about the potentially devastating consequences of imposing a financial burden of approximately 10 million shekels on an institution responsible for the education of such a large number of students. The court’s reservations, however, should not be confused with a final cancellation of the financial award, which remains part of the ongoing legal dispute.

The case is the latest chapter in the bitter and prolonged struggle between the rival factions of Ponevezh Yeshiva, one of the most prominent Torah institutions in the world.

For decades, the dispute has centered on competing claims to the leadership, administration, and use of the yeshiva’s historic Bnei Brak campus. The faction associated with the Kahaneman family and the faction led by Rav Shmuel Markowitz have been engaged in repeated legal battles over their respective rights within the institution.

The controversy has extended well beyond internal disagreements, resulting in arbitration proceedings, court litigation, and continuing uncertainty over the future use of the premises.

The current arbitration ruling represented a significant development in favor of the Kahaneman family’s position, particularly because it provided for the removal of the opposing faction from the disputed property.

Monday’s Supreme Court decision does not overturn that determination. Instead, it delays the practical implementation of the eviction while the separate legal challenge proceeds.

That distinction is particularly important because the request for permission to appeal the arbitration ruling will be considered independently by Justice David Mintz. The outcome of those proceedings could have substantial implications for the next stage of the dispute.

For the immediate future, however, the decision means that Rav Markowitz’s yeshiva will be able to continue operating at its present location without facing eviction in the middle of the current zeman.

The ruling also underscores the court’s concern for the welfare of the talmidim and avreichim, whose learning and living arrangements could be profoundly affected by the enforcement of the arbitration award.

Additional reporting on Monday’s hearing indicated that Justice Grosskopf also proposed requiring the Markowitz faction to commit in writing to vacating the premises by the new deadline, refrain from using the Ponevezh name, and prevent violence. Attorneys representing the Kahaneman faction argued that the continued shared use of the campus has caused friction and deprived their students of dormitory space.

Although initial reports described the postponement as a court ruling, detailed accounts of the proceedings indicated that some of the conditions discussed by Justice Grosskopf remained proposals and that a final written decision was still pending. The precise terms of the postponement and the treatment of the financial award therefore remain subject to confirmation in the court’s written order.

While the postponement gives the yeshiva several additional months, it leaves the institution facing considerable uncertainty. Unless subsequent legal developments alter the situation, the new eviction deadline is expected to fall in the summer of 2027.

The legal battle over Ponevezh Yeshiva is therefore far from concluded, with the Supreme Court still expected to address the challenge to the arbitration ruling that lies at the center of the dispute.

[COMMUNICATED]

With neither family able to cover the wedding expenses, HaGaon Rav Moshe Sternbuch shlit”a calls upon Klal Yisroel to help this yasom reach his chuppah.

A chasunah is supposed to be one of the happiest days in a family’s life. For a mother marrying off her son, it’s a moment she has waited years to experience. But for one widow, that long-awaited simcha has become a source of overwhelming worry. Her son is preparing to get married, and she simply doesn’t have the money to make it happen.

There is no father to help shoulder the burden. His mother is struggling to cover even the necessary expenses, and the kallah’s family is not in a financial position to help either. Two young people are ready to begin building their home together, but the financial reality facing their families is making what should be a beautiful new beginning painfully difficult.

This chosson’s situation was brought before HaGaon Rav Moshe Sternbuch shlit”a, who described the opportunity to help him as an exceptional mitzvah and urged Klal Yisroel to contribute. When a gadol of Rav Sternbuch’s stature personally calls attention to the plight of a yasom preparing for his chasunah, it underscores just how much is at stake — and what an extraordinary zechus it is to take part in helping him.

The chosson doesn’t need a lavish wedding. He needs the opportunity to stand beneath his chuppah without the crushing worry of how everything will be paid for. His mother deserves to experience her son’s simcha with some measure of peace, rather than carrying the entire burden alone. We cannot replace the father who won’t be standing beside him. But we can make sure this chosson doesn’t have to face the financial burden of his wedding alone.

Help this yasom reach his chuppah with dignity and simcha.

DONATE HERE: https://thechesedfund.com/kollelinternativvvonalinc

With Israel’s Knesset elections just one day away, the latest public opinion polls indicate that Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party could emerge as the largest faction in the next Knesset, ahead of Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s Likud, while neither political bloc is projected to secure the 61 seats needed to establish a government.

A comparison of four major surveys published ahead of Tuesday’s elections shows Eisenkot maintaining a narrow lead over Netanyahu in the race for the largest party, with the balance of power potentially determined by smaller factions struggling to cross the electoral threshold.

According to an analysis published by Maariv, the four surveys give Eisenkot’s Yashar an average of 22 Knesset seats, compared with approximately 20 for Netanyahu’s Likud.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s B’Yachad party follows with an average of 14.5 seats, while Yair Golan’s Democrats receive approximately 9.5 seats and Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beytenu averages eight.

The surveys present a particularly complicated picture regarding the formation of the next government.

Across the four polls, the opposition parties average 54 seats, compared with approximately 49.5 seats for Netanyahu’s bloc. The Arab parties are projected to receive approximately 14.5 seats.

Since a majority in the 120-member Knesset requires 61 seats, neither of the two principal blocs would be able to form a government independently under these projections.

The situation places particular importance on the smaller parties, several of which are polling close to the 3.25% electoral threshold required to enter the Knesset.

In the final Maariv survey, the opposition bloc received 54 seats, while Netanyahu’s bloc was projected to win 48.

The poll showed Eisenkot’s Yashar holding steady at 21 seats, while Bennett’s party climbed to 15. The Democrats received 10 seats, and Yisrael Beytenu remained at eight.

On the coalition side, Likud, Shas, and the Religious Zionist Party each gained one seat compared with the previous survey, while United Torah Judaism and Otzma Yehudit each lost one.

The poll also showed Ofer Winter’s People of Israel party receiving 3% of the vote, narrowly missing the electoral threshold.

Winter’s party has attracted considerable attention during the campaign, particularly because of concerns within Netanyahu’s political camp that votes cast for smaller right-wing parties could be lost if those parties fail to enter the Knesset.

Another significant development involves the joint Reservists and Economic Party list, headed by former Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel and economist Yaron Zelekha.

That party crossed the threshold in the Maariv poll, receiving four seats, but its position remains uncertain.

Across the four surveys, the joint list crossed the threshold in only two, receiving four seats in each. Its average support stood at approximately 3.1%, slightly below the required 3.25%.

The Channel 13 survey presented a similarly divided political picture, giving Eisenkot’s Yashar 22 seats compared with 19 for Likud.

Bennett’s B’Yachad received 14 seats, while Netanyahu’s bloc was projected to receive 50 seats against 54 for the principal opposition bloc.

Of particular interest to the chareidi community, Channel 13 found that the newly established HaTzibbur HaChareidi party, headed by Motti Leitner, received just 1.3% of the vote, well below the electoral threshold.

Winter’s party received 3.1%, while the Hendel-Zelekha list stood at 3%, leaving all three outside the Knesset under that survey.

The Kan 11 poll also placed Eisenkot ahead of Netanyahu, with Yashar receiving 22 seats and Likud 20.

Bennett’s party was projected to receive 14 seats, while Netanyahu’s bloc received 50 seats and the principal opposition bloc 52.

The Arab parties received a combined 14 seats, and the Hendel-Zelekha list secured four.

Winter’s party, HaTzibbur HaChareidi, and the Noam party all failed to cross the threshold in that survey.

For the established chareidi parties, the polling presents an additional concern as they seek to maintain their representation in the Knesset.

Shas and United Torah Judaism each average approximately 7.5 seats across the four surveys, while Otzma Yehudit averages 7.75 and the joint Religious Zionism-Zehut list averages seven.

The uncertainty surrounding the smaller parties has become one of the central issues in the final days of the campaign.

Under Israel’s electoral system, parties that fail to receive at least 3.25% of the vote do not receive any Knesset seats. Consequently, substantial numbers of votes cast for unsuccessful smaller parties could affect the distribution of seats among the factions that do enter the Knesset.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Shmuel Betzalel, rosh yeshiva of Porat Yosef and a member of Shas’ Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah, has emphatically rejected allegations that Shas chairman Aryeh Deri dictates decisions to the party’s rabbinic leadership, revealing details of the extensive deliberations surrounding the proposed draft law and insisting that the Gedolei HaTorah independently determine the movement’s positions.

In a rare and wide-ranging interview with Avi Mimran on Radio Kol Chai’s main evening news program ahead of Tuesday’s Knesset elections, Rav Betzalel addressed the controversy surrounding the drafting of bnei yeshivos, the future of the Sephardic Torah world, criticism of Shas from within the chareidi community, and the growing influence of Israel’s judiciary.

“Never did Rav Aryeh Deri give an instruction or direct us in any way,” Rav Betzalel declared. “There were exhausting negotiations here. We discussed every clause for hours and hours.”

The rosh yeshiva, who has been closely involved with Shas since its establishment, described the discussions that took place in his home concerning the proposed legislation regulating the status of bnei yeshivos.

“I was the head of the committee dealing with the draft law,” he revealed. “Attias sat here, Rav Attias, and Azulai, who was on the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.”

He was referring to former minister Ariel Attias and Knesset member Yinon Azulai, both of whom participated in the discussions.

“There were exhausting negotiations here over whether we would accept the law. We discussed every clause for hours and hours, what this provision or that provision could lead to,” Rav Betzalel said.

He stressed that the Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah carefully examines the implications of proposed legislation before reaching its conclusions, and that the decisions are not simply presented to the rabbonim by political representatives for approval.

According to Rav Betzalel, the same principle applies to major political decisions, including whether Shas should join a governing coalition. Such matters, he explained, are determined by the Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah rather than by any individual politician.

The rosh yeshiva made clear that he personally examines the issues under consideration and does not hesitate to engage in lengthy discussions over matters affecting the future of the Torah world.

During the interview, Rav Betzalel also reflected on the early years of Shas and his personal involvement in the movement’s establishment.

He recalled the longstanding relationship he maintained with Maran Chacham Shalom Cohen zt”l and described the circumstances that led to the creation of a political movement specifically representing the Sephardic Torah community.

For many years, he explained, Sephardic families and institutions suffered from inadequate representation, insufficient resources, and a shortage of educational opportunities.

The establishment of Shas was intended to address those deficiencies and provide the Sephardic community with the means to develop its own network of yeshivos, Talmudei Torah, and other Torah institutions.

Rav Betzalel recalled an early meeting at Yeshivas Porat Yosef attended by Rav Yitzchak Peretz, one of the original leaders of Shas, and spoke about Chacham Shalom Cohen’s involvement in the discussions that shaped the movement’s direction.

“I think there is no movement and no party, even among the chareidi parties that we accompany, support, and love, like Shas, which is a living movement,” he said.

He pointed to the tremendous expansion of the Sephardic olam haTorah as evidence of the movement’s accomplishments over the decades.

According to Rav Betzalel, the number of talmidim attending Sephardic yeshivos ketanos today exceeds the combined number attending Litvishe and Chassidishe yeshivos ketanos.

He also noted that Shas continues to establish new Talmudei Torah, including in communities where the number of prospective talmidim is relatively small.

For Rav Betzalel, these developments demonstrate that the movement’s mission extends far beyond political representation and is fundamentally connected to the growth and preservation of Sephardic Torah education.

Turning to the contentious issue of military conscription, Rav Betzalel sharply criticized the sanctions imposed on bnei yeshivos and warned that certain elements in Israeli society are seeking to undermine the very existence of the Torah world.

He emphasized, however, that a distinction must be made between bochurim who are genuinely sitting and learning in yeshiva and young men who are not engaged in Torah study.

When Mimran asked about the status of those who are not learning, Rav Betzalel clarified that Shas has never maintained that every chareidi young man must be exempt from military service regardless of his circumstances.

“Shas never said, at least I certainly did not, and the Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah never said, that it is forbidden to enlist in the army,” he explained.

He stressed that the immediate responsibility of the rabbinic leadership is to protect those bochurim who devote themselves to learning Torah.

“We are obligated to establish a law for the bochurim who are sitting and learning. Those who are not learning will arrange their status according to the law,” Rav Betzalel stated.

At the same time, he expressed serious reservations about the military’s treatment of religious soldiers who seek to maintain their religious observance.

The rosh yeshiva recounted an incident that had been brought to his attention involving the observance of Shabbos by religious soldiers, citing it as an example of his concerns about whether the army adequately accommodates the religious needs of its personnel.

The details of that particular incident were presented as an account relayed to Rav Betzalel and were not independently verified during the interview.

Another subject addressed during the conversation was the position of certain Sephardic chareidi groups that oppose participation in Knesset elections, citing the practices of earlier Gedolei Torah, including Rav Ben Tzion Abba Shaul zt”l and Rav Yehuda Tzadkah zt”l.

Rav Betzalel challenged the suggestion that the personal voting practices of those Gedolim should be interpreted as opposition to Shas or its activities.

He explained that some rabbonim had refrained from voting because that had been the practice of their own rabbeim, but this did not necessarily mean they opposed the establishment of Shas or the movement’s efforts on behalf of the Sephardic community.

“They said that their rabbeim did not go to vote, so personally they did not go,” Rav Betzalel explained.

He criticized those who portray these Gedolim as having been categorically opposed to electoral participation, arguing that such presentations fail to accurately reflect their historical positions.

In the final portion of the interview, Rav Betzalel discussed the balance of power between the Knesset and Israel’s judicial system.

He expressed concern that, over the years, authority has increasingly shifted toward unelected legal officials, limiting the ability of elected representatives to implement the policies for which they were chosen.

Rav Betzalel voiced hope that the next government would be able to advance legislation addressing this imbalance and removing sanctions imposed on the olam hayeshivos.

{Matzav.com}

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of Israel’s Yashar party, declared Sunday evening that if he becomes prime minister, every student in Israel will be required to study the state’s core secular curriculum within four years, and educational institutions that refuse to comply will lose government funding.

Speaking before thousands of supporters at his party’s election rally, Eisenkot outlined a series of commitments involving education, military service, government spending, national security, and the future of Hamas in Gaza.

“Within four years, all Israeli students will study core subjects and be part of the state education system. Those who do not will not receive funding,” Eisenkot declared.

The announcement follows the publication of his party’s education platform over the weekend, which includes proposals to reduce government funding for chareidi schools that do not meet the party’s curriculum requirements.

Under Eisenkot’s proposal, schools would be required to incorporate the state’s core curriculum, commonly referred to in Israel as limudei libah, or face the loss of public financial support.

The policy would have significant implications for chareidi educational institutions, many of which maintain independent curricula centered on Torah learning and do not teach the full range of secular subjects required in the state education system.

Eisenkot also presented a timetable for the measures he intends to introduce if he forms Israel’s next government.

He pledged that on his first day in office, he would establish a state commission of inquiry, and that within one week, his government would create a national cabinet dedicated to combating crime.

During that same first week, he said, legislation would begin on a universal national service law, which would address the obligations of Israeli citizens to serve.

Within his first month, Eisenkot promised to enact legislation granting priority to communities located along Israel’s borders and other confrontation zones.

He further pledged that within one year, government ministries would operate according to a policy giving preference in benefits and entitlements to citizens who serve and work.

The proposals reflect Eisenkot’s broader campaign platform, which places particular emphasis on military service obligations, changes to government funding priorities, and reforms affecting the chareidi education system.

Turning to national security, Eisenkot repeated his commitment to eliminate Hamas’s control over the Gaza Strip within 18 months of assuming office.

“Within eighteen months of my taking office, the Hamas terrorist organization will no longer control Gaza. There is no person more committed to dismantling Hamas than I am,” he told the gathering.

Eisenkot also directed part of his address toward supporters of Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s Likud party, urging them to reconsider their political allegiance in Tuesday’s election.

“I know how difficult it is to choose differently, but this time, it is not you who are choosing a different path; it is Likud that has strayed from the path,” he said.

The Yashar chairman argued that his party must emerge from the election with a substantial lead over Likud if Netanyahu is to be replaced.

“Netanyahu wants a tie. Only that way can he claim that he needs to remain in office. On Tuesday, Netanyahu must go home,” Eisenkot declared.

He maintained that unless Yashar wins significantly more seats than Likud, the election will not produce the political change his party is seeking.

Eisenkot also cautioned supporters against assuming that a change in government is inevitable.

“Anyone who thinks that change is guaranteed is mistaken and misleading others,” he warned.

In another attack on Netanyahu, Eisenkot alleged that the prime minister “will not hesitate to use any lie or any extreme measure in order to remain in power.”

{Matzav.com}

Does the mitzvah of kibbud av va’eim obligate a son to vote for the political candidate his father supports? Rav Avrohom Yosef addressed the question during his “Shamor V’Zachor” program on Radio Kol Chai, explaining that a father’s political preference does not create a halachic obligation for his son to vote for that candidate.

The question arose when a listener related that his father had instructed him to vote specifically for Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu. He wanted to know whether honoring his father required him to follow that instruction at the ballot box.

Rav Yosef explained that voting for the chareidi parties already constitutes support for Netanyahu and his political camp, but stressed that an election is not necessarily about personal allegiance to any particular political leader.

He emphasized that the proper approach is to follow the guidance of the Gedolei HaTorah while recognizing that the outcome of an election ultimately rests in the hands of the Ribono Shel Olam.

Rav Yosef described voting as an act of hishtadlus, explaining that every Jewish man and woman has a responsibility to make the appropriate effort by participating in the election.

At the same time, he said, a person must remember that political leaders are merely human beings and that the ultimate authority over who governs rests with Hashem.

Citing the posuk, “Lev melech v’sarim b’yad Hashem,” Rav Yosef explained that the hearts of kings and rulers are in the hands of Hashem, and it is He Who determines who will ultimately lead Klal Yisroel.

He urged listeners to daven that Hashem guide those who assume positions of leadership, regardless of whether they come from the political right or left, and that their decisions be motivated by concern for Klal Yisroel rather than personal interests.

Rav Yosef also cautioned against developing an excessive attachment to any political figure, recalling a particularly sharp expression his father, Rav Ovadia Yosef zt”l, had used regarding Netanyahu approximately twenty years ago.

At the time, Rav Ovadia referred to Netanyahu as an “eizah iveres,” a blind goat.

Rav Avrohom Yosef invoked the remark to illustrate that political leaders should never become objects of unquestioning admiration or devotion.

Nevertheless, Rav Yosef acknowledged that Netanyahu has demonstrated loyalty toward his political partners in recent years, particularly during the most recent period.

He said that Netanyahu had proven himself through his integrity and faithfulness to the political understandings he had reached with his coalition partners.

However, Rav Yosef stressed that past conduct does not guarantee future behavior, and that one must never place complete trust in any human being.

It was in that context that he returned to the original question concerning kibbud av va’eim, explaining that a father’s request that his son support a particular politician does not transform that political choice into a religious obligation arising from the mitzvah of honoring parents.

Rav Yosef also addressed the increasingly heated election campaign, including attempts by political figures and activists on both the right and left to pressure voters through dramatic declarations and pledges.

He dismissed the significance of such declarations and urged the public to remain focused on the instructions of the Gedolei HaTorah and the morei hador.

Rather than becoming swept up in political arguments concerning prisons, police enforcement, or the drafting of chareidim into the military, Rav Yosef said the Torah community must remain focused on its fundamental priorities.

“Our portion is not with them. Our portion is with the Torah, and the Torah, and the Torah, for the education of the children of Israel,” Rav Yosef concluded.

{Matzav.com}

Families may be throwing away hundreds of dollars every month without realizing it, simply because of poor grocery shopping habits, inadequate meal planning, and food that sits forgotten in the refrigerator until it spoils.

Israeli financial commentator Hillel Kessler says that the average family discards nearly one-quarter of the food it purchases, potentially wasting thousands of dollars over the course of a year.

Speaking during his regular “Osim Seder BaKis” financial advice segment on Radio Kol Chai, Kessler explained that relatively small changes in shopping and food storage habits can produce substantial savings without requiring families to reduce the amount or quality of food they consume.

“If your monthly grocery bill is 2,500 shekels, approximately 600 shekels of that amount goes directly into the garbage every month,” Kessler said.

“That isn’t just food going bad. Those are banknotes that we are simply throwing away with our own hands.”

Kessler outlined three practical steps that he said could help families reduce unnecessary food waste and keep more money in their pockets.

His first recommendation is to prepare a weekly meal plan before heading to the supermarket, including the meals that will be served on Shabbos.

Rather than wandering through grocery aisles and deciding what to purchase based on whatever looks appealing, families should determine in advance what they intend to cook each day.

For example, Monday’s menu might include meatballs, while Tuesday could feature a dairy meal. Once the menu is established, shoppers can identify exactly which ingredients are needed and avoid buying items that are unlikely to be used.

“When you know exactly what is being cooked each day, you know exactly which ingredients you are missing and which ingredients will simply remain in the refrigerator and end their lives in the garbage,” Kessler explained.

The second recommendation is to shop with a prepared grocery list and avoid entering the supermarket while hungry.

Kessler noted that grocery chains employ a variety of marketing techniques, including background music, enticing aromas, and special promotions, to encourage customers to purchase products they had not originally intended to buy.

He urged shoppers to treat their grocery lists as firm guidelines rather than casual suggestions.

“The list you wrote at home after planning your menu is not a recommendation. It is the law,” he said.

Kessler explained that sticking to a list does not mean refusing to purchase something genuinely necessary simply because it was accidentally omitted. Nor does it mean ignoring a worthwhile discount on a product the family regularly uses.

However, he warned against buying unnecessary products merely because they are being advertised at a reduced price.

“Sales on things you don’t need are simply a spending trap,” he cautioned.

His third recommendation focuses on something that takes only a few minutes but can prevent considerable waste: checking the refrigerator before the weekly grocery trip.

Kessler advised families to spend approximately two minutes examining what is already in the refrigerator, paying particular attention to vegetables, cheeses, and other products approaching their expiration dates.

Items that need to be used soon should be moved to the front of the refrigerator, where family members are more likely to notice them.

He also encouraged families to find creative ways to use ingredients that may no longer look their freshest but are still suitable for consumption.

“You can make soup, a kugel, or an excellent shakshuka for supper from vegetables that are a little tired,” he explained.

After returning from the supermarket, newly purchased products should be placed behind older ones so that the food already in the refrigerator gets used first.

This approach, commonly known as the “first in, first out” method, helps prevent food from being forgotten at the back of refrigerator shelves until it expires.

Kessler emphasized that reducing grocery expenses does not require families to deprive themselves of necessities or compromise their standard of living.

Rather, the objective is to eliminate waste by making better decisions about what to purchase, how much to purchase, and how to store food once it is brought home.

“Saving money on grocery shopping is not about deprivation or stinginess. It is simply proper management,” Kessler said.

“Planning a weekly menu, shopping strictly according to a list, and managing the refrigerator properly will leave hundreds of shekels in your pocket every single month.”

For a family spending 2,500 shekels monthly on groceries, the estimated waste of 600 shekels represents approximately 7,200 shekels over the course of a year.

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. Department of Transportation has imposed a combined $425,000 in penalties on Air France and KLM after determining that the European airlines operated more than 130 flights over Iraq at altitudes below the minimum permitted under American aviation safety regulations.

The violations, which occurred between 2022 and 2025, involved flights operating under codeshare agreements with Delta Air Lines, making them subject to U.S. restrictions despite being operated by foreign carriers.

The penalties were announced Friday, October 23, following an investigation by the Department of Transportation’s aviation consumer protection authorities.

According to the findings, Dutch carrier KLM operated more than 100 flights below the permitted altitude, while Air France conducted more than 30 such flights during the period under investigation.

The issue was not that the aircraft entered Iraqi airspace, but that they descended below the minimum altitude established by American aviation authorities for flights operating in the region.

U.S. regulations require covered aircraft flying through the Baghdad Flight Information Region to remain at or above 32,000 feet, approximately 9.75 kilometers, because of security concerns associated with the region.

The altitude restriction is intended to reduce the danger posed to civilian aircraft by ground-based weapons and other potential threats in an area that has experienced years of military conflict and instability.

Flying below that threshold without authorization constitutes a violation of the applicable safety requirements.

Under the settlement, KLM received the larger penalty of $320,000, while Air France was assessed a $105,000 fine.

Of the combined $425,000, the airlines must pay $265,000 within 60 days. The remaining $160,000 will become payable only if the carriers commit additional violations during the following year.

Both companies were also directed to refrain from similar violations in the future.

In their responses to the investigation, the airlines maintained that their pilots had been following instructions issued by local air traffic controllers.

According to the carriers, Iraqi air traffic control personnel directed aircraft to descend because of congestion in the airspace, and refusing those instructions could have created additional safety risks.

The airlines argued that their crews were placed in a difficult operational position, forced to choose between complying with local air traffic control directions and maintaining the altitude required by American regulations.

The Department of Transportation rejected that explanation.

Federal officials determined that the airlines should have taken steps to avoid repeated violations once they became aware that local controllers were regularly directing aircraft below the American minimum altitude.

According to the department, the carriers could have planned alternative routes that avoided the affected airspace or removed Delta Air Lines’ flight code from services that could not reliably comply with the restrictions.

Because the flights were marketed under Delta’s code, they remained subject to the applicable American safety rules.

The codeshare arrangements allowed passengers to purchase tickets bearing Delta flight numbers even though the aircraft were operated by Air France or KLM.

Such agreements are common among international airlines, enabling carriers to market one another’s flights and provide passengers with connecting services across their respective networks.

However, the arrangements can also subject foreign-operated flights to regulatory requirements associated with the American airline whose code appears on the service.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

I have a question that has been bothering me more and more as Election Day approaches. Have we reached the point where the only consideration in frum politics is, “What can we get from the politicians for our communities?”

Is that really the beginning and end of the conversation? How much government funding can we secure? How many grants can our mosdos receive? How many programs can be expanded, how many favors can be obtained, and how many elected officials can be persuaded to return our phone calls?

What about the politicians themselves? Does it matter what they believe? What they say when they are not standing at our dinners or posing for photographs with our rabbonim? What their positions are on morality, on the family, on the issues that are changing the character of this country, or on Eretz Yisroel? Are those matters simply irrelevant once someone promises us another allocation of public money?

Surely there must be a difference between maintaining a working relationship with an elected official and publicly embracing that official as though his or her entire record deserves our admiration.

That distinction seems to get lost far too often. A politician can take positions that many in our community consider deeply objectionable, yet the moment a check is delivered or a grant is announced, the photographs appear, the speeches begin, and the praise flows. Suddenly, questions about values become inconvenient. We are told to be practical. We are told that this is how politics works. We are told that we must look after our own.

Fine. Let us be practical. But since when did practicality require us to abandon discernment?

And why is it that the public is so often presented with only one side of the ledger? We hear exactly how much money a politician helped obtain. We hear about the permits, services, and programs. But do we hear, with equal clarity, what that politician believes about the moral questions that shape the society in which our children are growing up? Do we hear where that politician stands when Israel is under attack or when Jews face hostility? Shouldn’t those questions at least be part of an honest communal discussion?

We spend enormous effort teaching our children that Torah values are not negotiable. We tell them that a Yid must stand for something, even when doing so is inconvenient. We teach them to resist the temptation to measure everything in dollars and cents. Then election season arrives, and the message they sometimes see is that the most important qualification for public office is the ability to produce funding for our institutions.

What are they supposed to learn from that? That principles belong in the classroom, while politics operates by an entirely different set of rules? That moral convictions are important until a politician offers us something we want? That the question is never what a candidate stands for, but only what we stand to gain?

A public endorsement carries a message far beyond one vote. It tells the world something about what we are willing to overlook, what we choose to emphasize, and what we consider important enough to defend.

What happens to our credibility when we speak passionately about moral issues throughout the year, only to appear indifferent to those same issues when the politician on the other side of the table can deliver a benefit? People notice these contradictions. Our children notice them. The broader public notices them. Most troubling of all, we should notice them ourselves.

We should be able to ask hard questions without being dismissed as naïve. We should be able to examine a politician’s record without being told that doing so threatens communal interests. We should be able to distinguish between what benefits our institutions today and what kind of society we are helping shape for tomorrow.

If our entire political philosophy can be reduced to “What can you give us?” then perhaps the most uncomfortable question is not what the politicians have become. It is what we have allowed ourselves to become.

Surely our principles are worth more than that.

Shmuel Hoffman

To submit a letter to appear on Matzav.com, email MatzavInbox@gmail.com

DON’T MISS OUT! Join the Matzav Status by CLICKING HERE. Join the Matzav WhatsApp Groups by CLICKING HERE.

The opinions expressed in letters on Matzav.com do not necessarily reflect the stance of the Matzav Media Network.

The growing population of working and modern chareidim in Israel can no longer be dismissed as a small group on the fringes of the community, and established chareidi institutions must recognize their needs and provide them with proper representation, according to chareidi activist Eliakim Stark.

In an interview with Yishai Cohen on Kikar HaShabbat, Stark addressed the establishment of the new “HaTzibbur HaChareidi” (The Chareidi Public) political party by his close friend, Motti Leitner, acknowledging that the movement represents genuine concerns within the chareidi community while arguing that meaningful change should be pursued from within the existing establishment rather than through a separate political party.

Stark began by disclosing his close personal relationship with Leitner and revealing that the two had discussed the proposed party extensively before its establishment.

“First of all, Motti is a very good friend of mine. We have spoken for countless hours, including about the new party. We discussed this and the need of the younger chareidi public, which wants people to pay attention to it and make changes in various areas. Motti is a friend,” Stark said.

Despite their friendship and his acknowledgment of the concerns motivating Leitner’s political initiative, Stark maintained that they disagree fundamentally about the most effective way to bring about change.

“My position then was the same as my position today: The greatest change can be achieved from within the system, from within the establishment,” he explained.

Asked whether he views himself as an alternative to Leitner’s party, Stark said the issue extends far beyond one political movement. He described a substantial transformation within the chareidi population, particularly among working chareidim and those commonly described as modern chareidim.

According to Stark, individuals who were once treated as outsiders have become a large and increasingly established segment of the community, one that expects its needs to be addressed without having to abandon its chareidi identity.

“Motti Leitner and the public he represents certainly have legitimate grievances, naturally,” Stark said. “There was a time when people were labeled ‘modern chareidim’ and pushed to the fringes. That manifested itself in their leaving the chareidi community institutionally, even though they remained observant of Torah and mitzvos.”

Stark said that the situation has changed dramatically as the population in question has continued to grow.

“Today, those fringes have become very large. They are no longer fringes! The public is saying, ‘Listen, I want to live this way. I want a shul that suits me, in my spirit, and I am here to stay.’”

To illustrate his argument, Stark recounted a recent meeting he held with members of the Kedushas Levi community in Bnei Brak, where most of those attending were supporters of Leitner.

During the gathering, Stark presented an analogy intended to demonstrate why established chareidi leadership must recognize the changing reality.

“I told them: Listen, you have a shul with 400 mispallelim, and you see three bochurim standing outside and chatting during davening. What do you do? You approach them and reprimand them. But when you go outside and see 60 bochurim talking, you understand that this is a phenomenon!”

At that point, Stark explained, the response must change because the issue can no longer be treated as an isolated problem involving a handful of individuals.

“Either you solve it at its root, or you open a separate minyan for them, or you create activities for them. That is the difference between isolated individuals and a phenomenon,” he said.

Stark argued that the same principle applies to the working and modern chareidi population. What may once have been regarded as a relatively small group with distinct preferences has grown into a significant constituency requiring institutions, services, communal frameworks, and representation suited to its needs.

He warned that established chareidi leadership cannot simply assume that these individuals will eventually return to existing communal structures or disappear from the public conversation.

“If you ignore them or think they will be pushed to the sidelines, that is not going to happen,” Stark said.

“They need to be taken care of and provided with everything. And I am their representative!”

{Matzav.com}

Maran Rav Dov Landau, rosh yeshiva of Slabodka, issued a sharp warning against newly established chareidi political parties at a major United Torah Judaism election gathering in Bnei Brak, accusing them of damaging the Torah world and misleading voters with false claims about their commitment to bnei yeshivos.

His remarks were directed at the newly formed HaTzibbur HaChareidi party, headed by Motti Leitner, as well as other smaller chareidi parties seeking support in Tuesday’s Knesset elections.

The address followed the publication of a letter in Rav Landau’s name on Motzoei Shabbos expressing opposition to the new parties. Speaking at the election gathering, Rav Landau reiterated his position in particularly forceful language.

“I call out with a pained heart to those who have gone astray and established various parties that do not have the approval of the chachomim. Please, you are harming the Torah world,” Rav Landau declared.

He accused the parties of presenting misleading arguments to justify their participation in the election, warning that their campaigns could cost the established chareidi parties valuable votes.

“All their claims are lies, because you are doing nothing but causing votes to be lost, and it is forbidden to support parties that are nothing but falsehood. The falsehood is clear to everyone,” he said.

Rav Landau continued with another unequivocal warning against supporting the new political movements.

“It is forbidden to support these parties, which are nothing but falsehood and damage. The claims of those parties that they are concerned about bnei yeshivos are lies,” he stated.

In the latter portion of his address, Rav Landau turned directly to Israel’s governing authorities, explaining that the Torah community’s political involvement is intended to protect the ability of bnei Torah to continue learning.

“I turn to the governing authorities: We have no desire for power, and we have no intention of harming the government. Our only desire is to learn Torah. We are not connected to this party or that party. We will support only those who will give us the ability to learn and allow the holy yeshivos to continue,” he declared.

{Matzav.com}

Vice President JD Vance has established an early lead in the race for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, while Democrats remain deeply divided over who should lead their party into the next presidential election, according to a new New York Times/Siena University survey.

The poll found that Vance commands the support of 33% of Republican primary voters, placing him ahead of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who received 23%. On the Democratic side, however, no potential candidate managed to attract even 15% support, and a striking 45% of Democratic primary voters were unable to identify a preferred nominee.

The findings, released as the country prepares for the November 3 midterm elections, reveal a significant difference between the two parties. Republicans are already beginning to consolidate around potential successors to President Donald Trump, while Democrats have yet to develop a clear consensus about their political leadership or the direction their party should take.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost the 2024 presidential election to Trump, emerged as the leading Democratic prospect, but with the backing of only 12% of Democratic primary voters.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom placed second with 9%, followed by former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 7% and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York at 6%.

Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia received 4%, while Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona attracted 3%. Every other Democrat mentioned by respondents received 2% support or less.

The unusually scattered results reflect the absence of a dominant figure within the Democratic Party following its defeat in the 2024 presidential election.

Unlike surveys that present voters with a predetermined selection of candidates, the Times/Siena poll asked respondents to name their preferred nominee without providing any suggested choices. That approach produced more than 20 different Democratic names, illustrating how unsettled the party’s presidential field remains.

Among those mentioned were Barack Obama and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, neither of whom is eligible to seek the presidency. Obama is constitutionally barred from another term after serving twice as president, while Mamdani, who was born outside the United States, does not meet the Constitution’s natural-born-citizen requirement.

Even some Democrats who attracted measurable support have indicated that they are not interested in entering the 2028 contest.

Ossoff, who is currently campaigning for another Senate term, said during a debate last week that he intends to complete the full six years if reelected and has “zero interest in running for president.”

The survey also found substantial disagreements among Democratic voters over how the party should position itself politically after the 2024 election.

Nearly half of Democrats, 48%, said the party should adopt a more moderate approach and move closer to the political center. Another 27% preferred a shift further to the left, while 21% believed Democrats should maintain their current ideological direction.

The preference for moderation was even more pronounced among independent voters, with 72% saying Democrats should move toward the center. Only 11% of independents favored a more liberal direction.

Those findings suggest that Democrats face a challenge extending beyond the selection of their next presidential nominee. The party must also determine whether its future lies in appealing to more moderate voters or continuing to embrace the progressive positions championed by its left wing.

The Republican picture was considerably different, with Vance and Rubio together accounting for a majority of the preferences expressed by GOP primary voters.

Vance’s 33% support gives him a 10-point advantage over Rubio, who has previously indicated that he would defer to the vice president rather than challenge him for the Republican nomination.

President Trump himself was named by 8% of Republican respondents, despite being constitutionally ineligible to seek a third presidential term under the 22nd Amendment.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who challenged Trump for the Republican nomination in 2024, attracted just 3% support.

Another 26% of Republican primary voters did not identify a preferred candidate, considerably fewer than the 45% of Democrats who were unable to name a favorite.

The results suggest that Vance enters the early discussion about the 2028 Republican nomination with a substantial advantage, although Rubio remains a potentially significant figure should he decide to seek the presidency.

The survey also examined whether Republicans want their party to continue following Trump’s political agenda after his presidency ends.

A clear majority of Republican respondents, 63%, said they favor maintaining Trump’s policies, compared with 34% who would prefer the party to adopt a different direction.

Support for continuing Trump’s approach was particularly strong among older Republicans, while younger GOP voters were less firmly committed to preserving his political program.

Independent voters expressed a sharply different preference. More than 80% said they would like the Republican Party to move away from Trump’s approach, suggesting that the policies popular among the GOP base could present challenges in attracting voters outside the party.

The poll’s findings point to a potential dilemma for Republicans as they begin contemplating the post-Trump era. Although most Republican primary voters favor continuing his agenda, the broader electorate appears considerably less enthusiastic about that direction.

The presidential findings were drawn from a larger national survey conducted shortly before the November 3 congressional elections.

In the broader Times/Siena polling, Democrats held a substantial advantage among voters asked which party they would support for Congress. Among likely voters, Democrats led Republicans by approximately 11 percentage points in House races, 52% to 41%.

The survey also found that Trump’s job approval rating stood at 36% among likely voters, while 59% disapproved of his performance. Concerns about the economy, inflation, gasoline prices, and the war with Iran contributed to the negative assessments.

Those results suggest that Republicans face immediate electoral difficulties even as Vance emerges as an early favorite to succeed Trump as the party’s presidential nominee.

For Democrats, the situation is almost the reverse. Although the party currently enjoys a significant advantage in congressional voting preferences, its supporters have yet to agree on who should carry its banner in the next presidential election.

The Times/Siena survey was conducted from October 12 through October 19, with researchers interviewing 3,494 registered voters nationwide by telephone in English and Spanish.

The full survey carries a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 1.9 percentage points.

The presidential preference questions were answered by smaller groups consisting of 1,170 self-identified Democratic primary voters and 850 Republican primary voters. Because those samples were smaller, their margins of error are greater than that of the overall survey.

{Matzav.com}

After days of negotiations and disagreements among the Chassidic courts represented on the Israeli Agudas Yisroel Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, an agreement has reportedly been reached to publish the council’s election declaration on Monday, just one day before Israel’s Knesset elections.

The kol korei will appear in the newspapers Hamodia and Hamevaser without the signatures of the Rebbes, in accordance with a request from Ger. However, the original wording will remain unchanged, including its strongly worded warning concerning those who do not vote for United Torah Judaism.

The agreement brings to a close a dispute that had delayed publication of the declaration during the final days of the election campaign.

The controversy began when the original text, which had been prepared for publication Thursday evening, was halted at the last moment following objections from the Gerer Rebbe.

The declaration states that voters must support only United Torah Judaism, whose ballot symbol is the Hebrew letter gimmel. It further warns that anyone who does not vote gimmel indirectly becomes a participant in a chillul Hashem and bears an extremely serious sin.

The Gerer Rebbe reportedly objected to the implications of that language, pointing out that it could be understood to mean that someone who votes for Shas is committing a sin.

He questioned how such a sweeping determination could be made, particularly regarding voters who support another established chareidi party.

Following his objections, discussions began over a revised version that would preserve the council’s endorsement of United Torah Judaism while removing the more severe language.

Under the proposed compromise wording, United Torah Judaism would be identified as the only party that the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah was calling upon the public to support.

The revised declaration would also have warned against voting for parties that do not enjoy the approval of the chachomim, but it would have omitted the assertion that anyone who fails to vote gimmel becomes a participant in a chillul Hashem.

Throughout Friday and Motzoei Shabbos, Agudas Yisroel Moetzes secretary Yaakov Walzer worked to resolve the disagreement, transmitting different versions of the declaration between the various Rebbes’ courts.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir questioned Israel Police Commissioner Danny Levy on Sunday about possible efforts to interfere with Tuesday’s Knesset elections, despite a ruling by Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg that neither politician has the authority to direct police operations involving election integrity.

According to a report by Kan 11, the controversial meeting included discussions about potential attempts to disrupt voting, road blockades, and the police response to demonstrations. The discussions took place after Netanyahu had assured election authorities that the meeting would focus on security threats rather than political interference in the electoral process.

During the meeting, Ben-Gvir asked Levy whether police had received information about groups he described as “anarchist groups” planning to interfere with Tuesday’s voting.

Levy responded that police were investigating all information brought to their attention.

Netanyahu then sought details about how law enforcement would respond to attempts to prevent voters from reaching polling stations. The commissioner reportedly assured him that road blockades would be dealt with “with a heavy hand.”

The discussion followed a decision by Justice Sohlberg rejecting a petition seeking to prevent the meeting from taking place.

Although Sohlberg permitted the meeting to proceed, he explicitly stated that the prime minister and national security minister were not authorized to issue instructions to the police concerning election integrity or the administration of voting.

In reaching his decision, Sohlberg relied in part on Netanyahu’s explanation that the meeting was intended to address security preparations.

Earlier, Likud officials had maintained that the gathering was necessary because of security concerns and was unrelated to the management of the election.

Netanyahu himself informed the Central Elections Committee that the meeting would deal with intelligence warnings concerning possible terrorist efforts to interfere with the voting process.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara had opposed the meeting before it took place, arguing that political leaders should not become involved in the operational management of elections.

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party, also criticized the gathering, accusing Netanyahu of attempting to interfere in the electoral process.

Meanwhile, Israel Police are preparing an extensive nationwide security operation involving approximately 22,000 officers, amid concerns about demonstrations, blocked highways, disturbances at polling stations, and possible unrest following the announcement of election results.

According to Channel 12, a senior police official disclosed that authorities had received warnings about planned demonstrations by chareidi protesters intended to interfere with voting, obstruct major roads, and make it difficult for citizens to reach polling locations.

Police are preparing to maintain a presence at nearly every polling station across the country.

Authorities have classified voting locations according to their assessed risk of disturbances or confrontations, with particular attention being given to potential flashpoints in chareidi and Arab communities.

Specialized Yasam police units will also be available for deployment if serious disturbances develop.

Another issue raised during Netanyahu’s meeting with the police commissioner reportedly concerned an organization known as “The Gideons.”

According to the senior police official, the group includes far-left activists who have publicly discussed physically protecting the Knesset and blocking Netanyahu at his residence.

Netanyahu reportedly asked police to devote particular attention to the group and any activities that could threaten public order.

The concerns extend beyond the voting itself.

Police officials are reportedly particularly worried about the possibility of widespread unrest after the election results become known, especially if the outcome produces intense political confrontation.

One scenario examined by law enforcement involves demonstrators attempting to storm the Knesset.

However, police officials emphasized that they have not received concrete intelligence indicating that such an attempt is actually being planned.

A senior police official told Channel 12 that the period following the election could prove considerably more volatile than Election Day itself.

“What happens after the elections should concern us more than the elections themselves. The results could bring people into the streets,” the official said.

Despite those concerns, police currently expect Tuesday’s voting to proceed with relatively limited disturbances.

Authorities are nevertheless preparing for a range of possible security emergencies, including terrorist attacks and missile fire.

According to the senior official, police have received several warnings about potential terrorist activity over the past week and a half, although there is presently no specific intelligence indicating an attack planned for Election Day.

The heightened security preparations come amid an intensely contested election campaign, with political tensions running high and authorities seeking to ensure that voters can reach polling stations without intimidation or interference.

The meeting between Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir, and Levy has added another layer of controversy to the final days of the campaign, raising questions about the boundaries between legitimate government security coordination and political involvement in election-related policing.

While Netanyahu and Likud insist that the discussions were necessary to address genuine threats, critics maintain that election security must remain under independent police command, free from political direction.

With approximately 22,000 officers preparing for deployment and security officials monitoring potential disturbances both before and after the vote, Israel is entering Election Day under unusually extensive police precautions.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump delivered a blistering attack on Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed on Sunday, declaring that Jewish Americans who vote for him should be ashamed of themselves and accusing the candidate of harboring deep hostility toward Israel and the Jewish people.

Speaking at a campaign rally ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, Trump expressed outrage that El-Sayed, who has repeatedly criticized Israel and questioned the United States’ relationship with the Jewish state, could receive support from Jewish voters.

“Any Jewish person that supports this guy should be ashamed of themselves,” Trump declared. “You should never speak to them again.”

TRUMP: Any Jewish person that supports El-Sayed should be ashamed of themselves. I'm polling at 99% in Israel and I cannot how anybody who's Jewish can even think about voting for this guy pic.twitter.com/bJkLWVGFt8

— Acyn (@Acyn) October 25, 2026

The president continued by questioning how Jewish voters could consider backing the Democratic nominee despite his record of controversial statements about Israel.

“I cannot understand how anybody who’s Jewish can even think about voting for this guy,” he continued, adding, “And he’ll get some.”

El-Sayed, a physician and former Detroit health director, is running against Republican Mike Rogers in one of the closely watched Senate contests of the election cycle. The race has attracted national attention as Republicans and Democrats battle for control of Congress.

The Democratic candidate emerged victorious from his party’s August primary, narrowly defeating Rep. Haley Stevens, who had been regarded as a strong supporter of Israel. His nomination immediately intensified scrutiny of his positions on Israel, antisemitism, and American foreign policy in the Middle East.

Throughout the campaign, El-Sayed has been a vocal critic of Israel’s military operations and has advocated major changes to Washington’s longstanding security relationship with the Jewish state.

During an appearance on MS NOW, he characterized Israeli military actions as “bloodthirsty” and accused the Israeli government of committing genocide.

In another interview, this time with journalist Jim Acosta, El-Sayed acknowledged that Hamas had committed war crimes but continued to level serious accusations against Israel’s leadership.

He has also opposed unconditional American military assistance to Israel and has faced criticism for declining to provide an unequivocal answer when asked whether Israel has a right to exist.

During one campaign interview, he described Israel’s leadership as “as evil as Hamas.”

Those statements have become central to Republican criticism of his candidacy, with Trump and other party figures arguing that his positions reflect hostility toward America’s closest Middle Eastern ally.

The confrontation took place at a Republican campaign event in Port Huron, Michigan, where Trump appeared alongside Rogers and Republican gubernatorial candidate John James. Much of the president’s address focused on El-Sayed, whom he portrayed as a dangerous choice for the Senate.

At the beginning of his remarks, Trump accused the Democratic nominee of having extremist associations, repeating allegations that El-Sayed has denied.

“I’m here to keep a jihadist, Muslim Brotherhood member from becoming a United States senator,” Trump told the crowd.

The president also invoked the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, drawing a comparison between the current political contest and the passengers aboard United Airlines Flight 93 who fought back against the hijackers.

“Twenty-five years later, Michigan needs to stand up and fight, just like Todd did, to stop a jihadist from walking into the Capitol,” Trump said, referring to Todd Beamer, a Michigan native who helped lead the resistance aboard the hijacked aircraft.

Trump further asserted that El-Sayed’s alleged associations should disqualify him from serving in Congress.

“Anyone with that record of support for jihadists would be screened and unable to get a seat on an airplane. They certainly should not give him a seat in the United States Senate,” he said.

El-Sayed has rejected accusations that he belongs to the Muslim Brotherhood or supports terrorism. There is no established evidence that he is a member of the organization. The Republican allegations have drawn heavily on statements attributed to his half-sister concerning their mother’s purported involvement with the group in Egypt decades ago.

The Democratic candidate has condemned the accusations as attacks on his Muslim faith and has argued that Republicans are attempting to portray him as un-American rather than debate his policy positions.

Another major controversy surrounding El-Sayed involves his reaction to the March 12 attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, outside Detroit.

Authorities said an armed attacker drove a vehicle containing gasoline and fireworks into the synagogue complex while approximately 140 people, many of them children, were inside. Security personnel confronted the attacker, preventing a potentially catastrophic loss of life. The FBI subsequently described the incident as an act of terrorism inspired by Hezbollah.

El-Sayed condemned the attack and antisemitism, but his subsequent explanation of the circumstances surrounding the violence provoked outrage among Jewish community members.

Discussing the incident, he said that “violence is a cycle” and that “hurt people hurt people.”

Critics accused him of appearing to rationalize the attack by discussing the attacker’s family losses in Lebanon and connecting the incident to the wider conflict in the Middle East.

El-Sayed later apologized to members of the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus in August, acknowledging that his attempt to provide broader context had caused pain and that his remarks should have ended with an unequivocal condemnation.

The candidate has maintained that he never intended to excuse the attack and has repeatedly stated that antisemitic violence is unacceptable.

His position on Israel has nevertheless remained a central issue in the Senate campaign.

In an interview last week with ABC News, El-Sayed argued that the United States should reconsider treating Israel as an ally, accusing the Israeli government of drawing Washington into military conflicts while receiving American assistance.

“An ally that takes your money to push you into wars you shouldn’t be fighting is not an ally,” he said during an interview with ABC News.

The statement generated additional criticism from Republicans and pro-Israel voters, particularly given the continuing tensions involving Iran and Israel’s security.

El-Sayed has maintained that his criticism is directed at the Israeli government and its policies rather than Jews or Judaism. He has rejected accusations of antisemitism, arguing that opposition to Israeli military operations should not be equated with hostility toward Jewish Americans.

The divisions over his candidacy have also surfaced within Michigan’s Jewish Democratic community. While some prominent Jewish Democrats have endorsed El-Sayed, others have expressed serious reservations about his rhetoric and positions on Israel.

Republican Mike Rogers has sought to capitalize on those concerns, making outreach to Jewish voters a significant component of his campaign.

During a recent debate, Rogers accused El-Sayed of concealing the extent of his political positions and suggested that even some Democrats were uncomfortable supporting him.

“Think about this: there are so many Democrats who are coming out today and saying they can’t vote for Abdul El-Sayed because he’s too extreme,” Rogers said.

Rogers has also described El-Sayed as hostile toward Jewish interests, although the Democratic candidate has strongly disputed that characterization.

Trump has been making similar allegations since El-Sayed secured the Democratic nomination in August.

Shortly after the primary, the president launched a personal attack on the candidate, accusing him of dishonesty and hostility toward Jews.

“When I watch Abdul, he’s full of [garbage],” Trump said at the time, describing the Democratic nominee as a “man of hate” and accusing him of harboring hostility toward Jewish people.

Trump went further, insisting that El-Sayed’s public statements of tolerance did not reflect his true beliefs.

“This guy hates Jews. Somebody said, ‘Oh, that’s a little strong’. No, he hates Jews and he hates Israel…He’s a man of hate. And now he’s going around saying, ‘No, I love everybody.’ He doesn’t love everybody. Put him in office. You’re going to find out what he loves.”

The president also asserted that El-Sayed “doesn’t love Israel. He doesn’t love Jewish people. He hates them. He hates them with a passion that burns in his heart.”

Those accusations have become a recurring feature of Trump’s campaign appearances as Republicans attempt to defeat El-Sayed and win the Michigan Senate seat.

The race has attracted additional attention following an appearance Saturday by Barack Obama, who campaigned in Detroit for El-Sayed and other Democratic candidates. Obama criticized efforts to question El-Sayed’s American identity because of his religion.

Trump responded with his own campaign appearance the following day, using the Port Huron rally to deliver some of his strongest criticism of the Democratic nominee yet.

The president also praised Rogers, a former congressman and FBI agent, as a candidate who would represent Michigan’s interests in Washington.

“This guy, he’s like Central Casting. He’s what your state is all about. He really is. He’s a fantastic man. He’s going to be one of the great United States senators, Mike Rogers,” Trump said.

Rogers previously ran for the Senate in 2024, narrowly losing to Democrat Elissa Slotkin. He is now seeking another opportunity to represent Michigan, with Republicans viewing the open seat as an important opportunity in their effort to maintain control of the chamber.

For El-Sayed, the campaign has become a test of whether his progressive positions on Israel and American foreign policy can attract enough voters to overcome Republican attacks and concerns among some Jewish Democrats.

For Rogers, the strategy involves consolidating Republican support while persuading independents and traditionally Democratic voters that El-Sayed’s positions are too extreme.

With the election only days away, Michigan has become one of the country’s most closely contested Senate battlegrounds, and the outcome could have significant consequences for the balance of power in Washington.

Trump’s remarks Sunday made clear that he intends to keep El-Sayed’s record on Israel, his response to the synagogue attack, and his alleged extremist associations at the forefront of the campaign through Election Day.

{Matzav.com}

Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu sparked a political firestorm Sunday after sharing an AI-generated image depicting a nuclear explosion over Tel Aviv, accompanied by a warning that Iran’s nuclear ambitions pose an existential threat to Israel and that the country must take advantage of President Donald Trump’s remaining time in office to confront the danger.

The image, showing a massive mushroom cloud rising over Tel Aviv as buildings are engulfed in flames, was posted to Netanyahu’s social media account just two days before Tuesday’s Knesset elections.

Netanyahu shared the image alongside a lengthy statement written by Israeli political commentator Yuval Bloomberg, introducing it with the words, “Read the important words of Yuval Bloomberg.”

The statement warned that the Iranian nuclear threat dwarfs the political controversies dominating Israel’s election campaign and argued that the next prime minister must be capable of working closely with President Trump to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

“The State of Israel faces a real and tangible existential threat,” Bloomberg wrote in the statement shared by Netanyahu. “If the Iranians obtain nuclear weapons, nothing else will matter anymore. Everything pales into insignificance in the face of the existential threat posed by Iran and the Shiite axis.”

Bloomberg argued that Israel has a limited opportunity to deal decisively with Iran while Trump remains in the White House.

“We have another two years of Trump to finish the job in Iran, and there is no way of knowing what will come after that,” he wrote, warning that a future American administration might be less willing to cooperate with Israel.

The statement described the current period as a historic opportunity to address what Bloomberg characterized as the greatest threat facing Israel.

He argued that controversies involving Qatar, chareidi military conscription, Netanyahu aide Yonatan Urich, and other political disputes were distracting the public from the Iranian danger.

“If two atomic bombs were to fall on central Israel, who would care about all these meaningless controversies?” the statement asked.

Bloomberg warned that future generations would not forgive Israeli leaders if they failed to take advantage of the opportunity to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

He further argued that Israel requires a prime minister capable of maintaining a close relationship with Trump and withstanding international pressure.

In one of the statement’s most provocative passages, Bloomberg warned that voters who choose a leader incapable of confronting Iran could expose themselves and their families to the danger of a “second Holocaust.”

Netanyahu’s decision to circulate the message, together with the graphic depiction of a nuclear attack, immediately drew fierce criticism from opposition leaders.

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party and one of Netanyahu’s principal election rivals, accused the prime minister of attempting to frighten voters.

“Netanyahu, you’re hysterical,” Eisenkot wrote on X.

“As in every election campaign, it’s the same method of lies and scare tactics. This time, threatening Israeli citizens with mass destruction,” he continued, accusing Netanyahu of failing to achieve the objectives of Israel’s military operations against Iran.

Eisenkot added, “You’ve failed. And in two days, the people of Israel will show you that at the ballot box.”

Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats party, also sharply condemned the post.

“The prime minister of Israel has published an image of an atomic bomb over Tel Aviv,” Golan wrote. “I ask that he be kept away from social media. The man and those around him have lost it. The pressure is mounting.”

Golan said that Tuesday’s election would provide an opportunity to replace the current government.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also criticized Netanyahu, accusing him of suggesting that Israel’s survival depends on his continued leadership.

“He tells us that if he loses, we will all die. This is a lie,” Bennett wrote.

“The State of Israel was born and grew strong long before him, and will continue long after him. The people of Israel are stronger than any politician,” Bennett added.

The controversy comes amid renewed questions about the status of Iran’s nuclear program following the American and Israeli military operations against Tehran in 2025 and 2026.

Netanyahu previously declared that those operations had inflicted devastating damage on Iran’s nuclear capabilities, describing the results as a major victory for Israel.

Opposition leaders seized on the apparent contrast between those earlier declarations and Sunday’s warning that Iran continues to pose an existential nuclear threat.

The social media post also reportedly raised concerns among American officials.

According to a Channel 12 report, White House officials feared that the dramatic image and accompanying rhetoric could lead Iranian leaders to misinterpret Israel’s intentions, potentially increasing the risk of military escalation.

The report suggested that Trump’s subsequent statement ruling out an American strike on Iran that day may have been intended, at least in part, to ease tensions.

LISTEN:

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Bitachon4Life-Shiur-1894-Seiver-Part-94-Mishan.mp3

​​For more info, email bitachon4life@gmail.com.

 

LISTEN:

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Tefila4Life-Shiur-1145-Impact-Vayevarech-Dovid.mp3

Two Israeli opposition figures outlined competing priorities for Gaza and Israel’s future relations with the Palestinians on Sunday, with former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot pledging to end Hamas rule in Gaza within 18 months of taking office, while Democratic Party MK Gilad Kariv called for the Palestinian Authority to assume a role in Gaza and for Israel to resume negotiations with the Palestinians.

Kariv, a member of the Democrats party, made his remarks during an event organized by Israel Shelanu, an organization representing immigrants from Russia.

Addressing the future of Gaza, Kariv argued that the territory should be politically connected to the Palestinian Authority and the West Bank.

“The future of Gaza includes a connection between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank,” Kariv declared.

He also called for renewed diplomatic engagement between Israel and the Palestinians, stating, “We need to renew negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.”

Kariv’s remarks reflect his party’s support for renewed diplomatic negotiations and a political arrangement involving the Palestinian Authority, which currently administers portions of the West Bank.

His proposal to involve the Palestinian Authority in Gaza comes amid continuing disagreements within Israel over who should govern the territory following the war against Hamas.

Meanwhile, Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar! party and a former IDF chief of staff, presented his own commitments during a major election gathering held by his party.

Eisenkot promised that Hamas would no longer govern Gaza within 18 months of his assuming office, presenting the dismantling of the terrorist organization’s rule as a central objective of a government under his leadership.

“Within 18 months of my taking office, the Hamas terrorist organization will no longer rule Gaza,” Eisenkot declared. “There is no person more committed to dismantling Hamas than I am.”

The former military chief also outlined several steps he said his government would take immediately upon assuming power, including establishing a state commission of inquiry and advancing legislation concerning military service.

“On the government’s first day, we will establish a state commission of inquiry,” Eisenkot said. “Within a week of its establishment, we will create a national cabinet to combat crime and begin legislating a universal service law.”

The proposed commission of inquiry would address demands for an official investigation into the failures surrounding the October 7 Hamas attack and the events that followed.

Eisenkot’s proposed universal service legislation would also place the military draft controversy at the center of his government’s agenda, at a time when the status of yeshiva students remains one of the most contentious issues in Israeli politics.

{Matzav.com}