Feed aggregator

The American-backed regional alliance aimed at countering Iran is showing signs of internal tension following a dispute between Israel and the United Arab Emirates over a reported meeting involving Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, according to a Middle East analyst, as concerns mounted Sunday over the possibility of renewed conflict with Tehran.

The controversy began on May 13, when Netanyahu’s office announced that the Israeli leader had held what it described as a “historic breakthrough” meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during a “secret visit” to the city of Al Ain near the Omani border.

Shortly afterward, the UAE Foreign Ministry publicly rejected the Israeli announcement.

The ministry stated, “Its relations with Israel are public and were established within the framework of the well-known and publicly declared Abraham Accords. These relations are not based on secrecy or clandestine arrangements.”

The UAE added, “Therefore, any claims regarding undisclosed visits or arrangements are baseless unless issued by the relevant official authorities in the UAE.”

Middle East Institute analyst Natan Sachs told Fox News Digital that the fallout could carry significant consequences.

“The stakes are high,” Sachs said.

“I imagine the Israelis are working overtime to mend relations with the UAE, but it is too early to tell,” he added.

President Donald Trump spoke Sunday with Netanyahu as tensions involving Iran continued to intensify, with the Israeli premier declaring that Israel was “prepared for every scenario.”

According to the Times of Israel, the two leaders discussed the possibility of renewed military action against Iran as well as Trump’s recent trip to China.

Sachs, who serves as a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, said the Israeli announcement appeared to create unnecessary diplomatic complications for the Emiratis.

“This seems like a diplomatic blunder because it embarrasses the UAE,” he said.

“This was an odd move to make since the UAE has been a close partner of Israel, even during this war,” Sachs continued.

“Either Netanyahu didn’t think, or he was thinking about something else — domestic politics. It would not be the first time he did that.”

Sachs also suggested that the leak itself may have damaged trust between the two countries.

“To the degree that the Emirati anger is genuine, it would have meant working to preserve trust with their Gulf Arab ally,” he said.

“I would also not rule out Emirati anger at the leak itself, which could be seen as a break of trust — something very important to the Emirati leadership.”

The Abraham Accords, arranged by the United States in 2020, reshaped diplomatic ties across the region by establishing formal relations between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.

Since then, cooperation on security matters has grown considerably due to shared fears regarding Iran’s military capabilities and regional ambitions.

That partnership came under pressure after Iran reportedly targeted UAE military and energy sites during Operation Epic Fury.

According to U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, Israel deployed Iron Dome defense systems and personnel to assist the UAE. Emirati officials confirmed Sunday that three drones approaching from the west had been intercepted.

“The UAE received much of the fire from Iran. It is the most vulnerable to Iranian short-range missiles, which are more plentiful and cheaper than the medium-range missiles fired at Israel,” Sachs explained.

“While short-range missiles can be intercepted, Iran has many more of them. The UAE took the most hits, yet it stood out by sticking most clearly to its strategy of open partnership with Israel.”

“But the public disclosure that Netanyahu himself visited may have just been seen as a step too far,” Sachs added.

{Matzav.com}

Firefighters were called to battle a blaze that erupted in a bochurim‘s dormitory at Yeshivas Tifrach in the town of Tifrach. Boruch Hashem, no injuries were reported.

According to Israel Fire and Rescue Services, emergency crews received reports through the 102 hotline regarding a fire that had broken out inside the dormitory building. Fire and rescue teams from the Netivot station, together with local volunteer units, were immediately dispatched to the scene.

When firefighters arrived, they encountered heavy smoke and flames spreading through parts of the dormitory structure. Crews moved quickly to contain the fire, search the building for possible trapped occupants, and protect nearby structures from the spreading blaze.

Authorities said the incident ended without injuries, and firefighters succeeded in preventing the flames from causing even more extensive damage.

During a rare and fascinating discussion with members of Kollel Pnei Menachem, Rav Shaul Alter addressed a sensitive question touching on the relationship between a chossid and his rebbe, and whether learning differently from one’s rebbe reflects a lack of devotion or submission.

One of the avreichim asked whether a chossid who chooses a different style of learning than his rebbe is lacking in dedication to the rebbe or in his level of chassidus, particularly when he understands Torah differently from the approach taught by his rebbe.

Rav Shaul responded with unusual openness.

“Which rebbe today is directing people in methods of learning? Sanz? Boyan?” he asked. He explained that every person has his own personality, strengths, and connection to different styles of Torah study. According to Rav Shaul, a person must be honest with himself and find “his own understanding” within the vast sea of Torah.

The rosh yeshiva then illustrated the value of deep learning over speed by sharing a story about Rav Dovid Beharan. Rav Dovid’s chavrusa once noted that the Chofetz Chaim had written in one of his seforim — possibly Toras Habayis — a calculation estimating how many words of Torah a person can learn in one minute.

According to the calculation cited in the name of the Chofetz Chaim, a person can learn roughly 200 words per minute, and every word of Torah creates an angel.

The chavrusa questioned Rav Dovid about the fact that they had spent two full weeks learning a single Tosafos. Based on the Chofetz Chaim’s calculation, he argued, they had lost the opportunity to create a tremendous number of angels by not learning at a faster pace.

Rav Dovid replied with what Rav Shaul described as the essence of in-depth Torah study: “Yes, but from this Tosafos that we sat on for two weeks — a big angel comes out, not small angels.”

{Matzav.com}

A British Airways flight departing London’s Heathrow Airport for Washington was delayed for nearly three hours after a crew member accidentally opened an aircraft door and deployed the emergency slide just moments before takeoff, causing an estimated $136,000 in damages.

The aircraft was carrying approximately 336 passengers when the incident occurred shortly before departure. According to reports, a flight attendant who was only on his second flight on the job mistakenly believed he had been instructed to open the door, triggering the deployment of the emergency slide and bringing the flight to a halt.

As a precaution, the airline called emergency services to the aircraft. Passengers reportedly remained stuck onboard for close to three hours before finally being allowed to disembark, according to the British newspaper the Daily Mail.

A source described the incident as “a foolish mistake,” explaining that the crew member accidentally opened the door, activated the emergency slide, and completely disrupted the flight. The mishap reportedly caused major operational losses for the airline in addition to the lengthy inconvenience suffered by passengers waiting on the tarmac.

A spokesperson for British Airways said, “We apologized to customers for the delay to their journey, and our teams worked to get them to their destination as quickly as possible.”

The incident is not the first of its kind involving the airline. Last year, a similar mishap took place on a Heathrow-to-Brussels flight after an emergency slide was deployed on an Airbus A321 aircraft, forcing the cancellation of the flight and leaving passengers delayed for roughly three hours until a replacement plane was arranged.

Another similar mistake occurred in February 2024, when a captain preparing a flight to Romania accidentally activated an emergency slide while handing paperwork to crew members after failing to properly deactivate the aircraft’s door system. That incident reportedly caused damages estimated at approximately $50,000.

{Matzav.com}

A delegation of leading gedolei Torah visited Argentina last week as part of Keren Olam HaTorah’s global fundraising campaign to sustain the yeshivos of Eretz Yisroel, drawing thousands of Argentine Jews to a series of receptions, gatherings and chizuk events across Buenos Aires.

The delegation, which included Rav Yaakov Hillel, Rosh Yeshivas Ahavat Shalom; Rav Avraham Salim, Rosh Yeshivas Meor Hatorah; Rav Yosef Chevroni, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chevron; Rav Chaim Peretz Berman, rosh yeshiva of Ponevezh; Rav Shimon Galai, and Rav Malkiel Kotler, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, landed Tuesday afternoon and immediately went to the Alvear Hotel, where they davened Mincha before being escorted to a public kabbalas panim at the Shuva Yisrael kehillah.

The beis medrash of Shuva Yisrael was filled beyond capacity, with thousands of men, women and children spilling into an overflow hall outfitted with screens. Boys and girls lined the streets waving flags and balloons as the rabbanim entered.

Rav Avraham Antebi, president of Shuva Yisrael, opened the reception by noting the rarity of the moment. “It is remarkable that at the edge of the world, roshei yeshiva have gathered together,” he said, adding that the visit fell on the exact date, 25 Iyar, that Rav Aharon Leib Steinman zt”l visited the same beis medrash twenty years earlier. He thanked philanthropist Andy Meta, whose support, he said, made the visit possible.

Rav Yaakov Hillel spoke of the approach of Shavuos and the obligation to protect Torah and chinuch in every generation. “There are people who want to distance us from the Torah,” he told the crowd. “But Am Yisrael continues moving forward, protecting its children so they will guard and fulfill the Torah.” He praised the growth of Argentine Torah institutions, including local yeshivos ketanos, kollelim and chinuch mosdos.

Rav Malkiel Kotler delivered an address, building on the theme of Shavuos and ahavas haTorah. “We never dreamed that Torah would grow in such a way, even in places like these,” he said. He explained that the yom tov of Shavuos is named for the weeks of preparation rather than the day of Matan Torah itself because the yom tov reflects the love and yearning that Klal Yisroel demonstrates toward kabbalas haTorah. “When we truly love the Torah and genuinely desire it, the same energy that existed at the moment of maamad Har Sinai is awakened once again,” he said.

A formal gala dinner followed, chaired by Rav Dovid Basul. Tzipora Meta, mother of Andy Meta and the daughter of Holocaust survivors, spoke of her parents’ mesirus nefesh to maintain Yiddishkeit during the war years. “Yiddishkeit is with Torah,” she told donors. “Let every person contribute in whatever way they can.”

Dr. Paul Volosov, told the audience that the Israeli government’s longstanding support for Torah mosdos has ended, leaving a gaping void. “The Torah of Klal Yisroel deserves a permanent fund that guarantees its continuity,” he said, noting that he was among the first four donors to pledge towards the $100 million goal. “But it is still not enough.”

Philanthropist Barry Jeremias, addressing the assembled donors, said the trip had reversed the delegation’s expectations. “We thought that we were coming to strengthen the Argentine kehilla, but it was exactly the opposite,” he said, citing the thousands who came out to greet the rabbanim. He noted that Keren Olam HaTorah currently supports 1,650 yeshivos, with funds going entirely toward Torah institutions.

Rav Yosef Chevroni invoked the bracha given to Avraham Avinu, “ויוצא אותו החוצה,” explaining that Klal Yisroel has always been called to accomplish what appears impossible. “The olam haTorah is in danger,” he warned. Quoting his twelve-year-old granddaughter at his Pesach seder, he said the secret of Jewish continuity is captured in four words: “Ten li Yavneh v’chachameha.”

Rav Chaim Peretz Berman addressed why mosdos hatorah depend on the generosity of others rather than nissim. “Hakadosh Boruch Hu wants spirituality to rest within the hearts of Am Yisrael,” he said. “He does not merely want a mishkan or a divine presence in the world. He wants the nediv lev from every single Jew.” He added pointedly: “Would that the honor being shown here to the chachmei Yisrael would also exist in Eretz Yisrael itself.”

The following day, the rabbanim davened Shacharis at Kehillas Yeshurun, led by Rav Yosef Meta, and visited the Toratenu school, where they addressed its talmidim. Rav Berman told the children that they are the future leaders of Klal Yisroel and invoked the gemara about Mordechai gathering children to learn Torah during the gezeirah of Haman. Rav Galai told the talmidim, “It is through the voice of children who study Torah that the world is sustained.”

An assembly bringing together rabbanim from all Argentine kehillos closed out the public program. Rav Avraham Salim urged the assembled rabbanim to focus on chinuch and to address the dangers of technology. Rav Berman spoke about the achrayus of a rav, drawing on the exchange between Moshe Rabbeinu and Yehoshua descending from Har Sinai. “If you want to be a leader, you must know what the people need,” he said.

Rav Galai, who closed several of the events with energetic singing and dancing, shared at one point that doctors had told him 25 years ago he would never walk properly again following physical therapy. “Now you can all see that it was the doctor who was crazy,” he said. “Because we depend on the Borei Olam, not on the doctors.”

President Trump has agreed to withdraw his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS as part of a settlement that includes a formal apology and the creation of a $1.776 billion federal fund intended to compensate Americans who believe they were unfairly targeted by the government.

The newly created Justice Department initiative, known as the Anti-Weaponization Fund, will allow individuals and organizations to apply for financial compensation if they believe they were subjected to politically motivated treatment by federal authorities. Eligible applicants could include people prosecuted in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, as well as Hunter Biden, according to a senior administration official who spoke with The Post.

“The point of this isn’t to make every January 6-er a millionaire,” the official said. “The point is to compensate, and to give entitled people back some of their dignity and some of what they lost, including money, whether it’s for legal fees or other costs associated with what they went through.”

Although Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and the Trump Organization were among the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the IRS, none of them will be permitted to seek money from the compensation fund. Instead, they will receive an official apology from the federal government.

The agreement announced Monday does not impact Trump’s other legal claims tied to the FBI’s August 2022 search of Mar-a-Lago or allegations involving the FBI’s investigation into supposed ties between Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and Russia.

After returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump repeatedly pledged to dismantle what he described as the political weaponization of federal agencies. During his second inaugural address, he declared: “Never again will the immense power of the state be weaponized to persecute political opponents — something I know something about.”

The settlement was finalized as both Trump and the Justice Department faced an approaching legal deadline requiring them to explain why the lawsuit against the IRS should continue moving forward.

Officials said applications to the Anti-Weaponization Fund will be evaluated based on several factors, including the merit of the claim, the claimant’s own conduct, legal expenses incurred, and whether the applicant has already received other forms of compensation or relief.

Hunter Biden, who was convicted on federal tax and firearm charges before later receiving a pardon from his father, President Joe Biden, could potentially qualify to seek compensation because of the significant legal bills he accumulated. His legal team is reportedly still pursuing payment for millions of dollars in fees.

“I potentially expect it,” the official said when asked if Hunter Biden could file a claim. “Whether the commissioners will agree with that, and feel like he needs to be compensated, is something that, I think we’ll have to see.”

Administration officials emphasized that eligibility for the program is not restricted based on political affiliation or which administration carried out the alleged misconduct. Both individuals and organizations will be allowed to submit claims.

“We didn’t limit it in that way, because we really viewed it as, and actually this is what the president has said, which is that the Department of Justice was used as a weapon for reasons that are totally wrong, and if Hunter Biden believes that the Department of Justice was used as a weapon against him, he’s allowed to apply.”

The compensation program will be overseen by a six-member board. Five members will be selected by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, while another appointment will be made after consultation with congressional leadership. The president will retain authority to remove board members at any time.

“The whole point of why we’re doing this is because weaponization comes in many different forms, and having five commissioners, who kind of bring their own unique perspective to how to remedy it, was really our goal,” the administration official said.

According to another senior administration official, Blanche has not yet finalized his appointments to the board, though consultations with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are expected soon.

The board will have authority to issue apologies, approve financial compensation, or seek additional records and information from both applicants and government agencies before making determinations.

Any approved claims will remain subject to federal transparency laws, including FOIA requirements and government audits, and reports regarding payouts will have to be submitted to the attorney general.

The Anti-Weaponization Fund is scheduled to expire on Dec. 15, 2028. Any money left unused at that point will return to the federal government.

Federal compensation programs of this kind have existed before. In 2010, the Obama administration resolved the Keepseagle v. Vilsack lawsuit involving Native American farmers by creating a $680 million compensation fund and providing as much as $80 million in farm loan debt relief.

Trump and the other plaintiffs filed their lawsuit against the IRS on Jan. 29, accusing the agency of failing to safeguard confidential tax records that were leaked to The New York Times in 2019.

Chaz Littlejohn, a contractor working for the IRS, later admitted to illegally disclosing the tax information. He pleaded guilty to unauthorized disclosure charges and received a five-year prison sentence in January 2024.

Littlejohn was also responsible for leaking tax information belonging to thousands of affluent Americans to ProPublica, prompting additional lawsuits against the federal government from some of those affected.

{Matzav.com}

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Sunday that the Department of Justice is actively investigating allegations of wrongdoing tied to the 2020 presidential election and promised that any findings uncovered by federal investigators would eventually be made public.

During an appearance on Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” host Maria Bartiromo referenced comments from White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles suggesting that evidence may emerge showing President Donald Trump actually carried certain states in the 2020 race.

“So, [White House chief of staff Susie Wiles] just said that we’re going to find out that President Trump actually did win certain states in the 2020 election,” Bartiromo said. “Now, the president says all the time that the election was rigged. What have you done about that? Do you have any evidence that the election was rigged? What can you tell us?”

Blanche responded by claiming there is already substantial evidence supporting concerns about the election.

“Well, there’s a ton of evidence that the election was rigged. That’s not something the DOJ needs to tell you about. There’s been evidence about that for many, many years. What I can tell you is that we have multiple investigations going on in Arizona, in Georgia, in Fulton County, Georgia. And that’s exactly what we’re looking at, is, we’re — by the way, this is very difficult, because they’re very good. They’re very good at hiding up misconduct and hiding what they’re doing. And so that’s why we’re very focused on finding out whether the right people voted, whether people who were supposed to vote voted, whether there was one vote cast per voter. And that’s what we’re doing in multiple states. And I expect — and, again, people — you will say to me, how long is it taking? Why is it taking so long?”

The acting attorney general acknowledged that the investigations are taking significant time, saying investigators are relying on traditional law enforcement methods to examine what occurred during the election.

“And the reality of the answer to that is because it takes a lot of work to uncover what happened in 2020,” he continued. “It takes a lot of old, good old-fashioned law enforcement, police work, which is what we’re doing. And we have great prosecutors working on it as well. And I expect that — and I assure you, I assure the American people that as soon as we have something to say for it, whether it’s charges, whether it’s a report, whether it’s the results of an investigation, the American people will learn about what we uncovered.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Minister Dudi Amsalem spoke Sunday about the ongoing controversy surrounding the Draft Law, forcefully defending the olam haTorah and accusing opponents of unfairly targeting the chareidi tzibbur with what he described as exaggerated and unrealistic claims.

Speaking at the Association of Municipal Corporations conference in Eilat, Amsalem stressed the central role of Torah learning in the existence of Klal Yisroel and compared the contribution of lomdei Torah to that of soldiers fighting on the front lines in Gaza.

“Without the Torah, there is no Nation of Israel. I view anyone who studies Torah as contributing no less than a soldier currently fighting in Gaza. There is no difference between them. The IDF has a surplus of combat soldiers in whom billions have been invested – yet the military allows itself to be dragged along by the toxic rhetoric of the left. If all the haredim were to enlist tomorrow, the left would be protesting at Kaplan Square shouting ‘don’t draft them,'” Amsalem said.

He then launched a harsh attack against the Israeli left, blaming it for deepening divisions within the country.

“We have been through four horrific, terrible years, and I have come to the conclusion that the left in Israel is the most violent and anti-democratic element in the country,” he said.

Addressing the issue of judicial reform and the coalition’s plans moving forward, Amsalem said the government intends to continue pressing ahead with the legislation despite opposition.

“There are three or four million David Zinis in this country. The same goes for [Roman] Gofman. We will pass the reform by both force and intellect,” he stated.

Amsalem also offered his prediction regarding the timing of the next elections, saying he believes Israelis will likely head to the polls shortly after the Yomim Noraim if the current political timetable remains unchanged.

“The elections will take place after the Yomim Noraim, if they are held on schedule. A month here or there doesn’t matter. In my opinion, it will be sometime in September,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

Chareidi filmmaker Tali Avrahami pushed back against calls to protest a women-only screening of her latest film in Herzliya, accusing critics of engaging in what she described as “anti-liberal bullying.”

The event, scheduled to take place Sunday evening at the Herzliya Cinematheque, will feature a screening of Avrahami’s new film for women only. Controversy erupted after activist Naor Narkis announced online that he and several others had purchased tickets and planned to attend in protest of what he called “gender separation.”

Narkis wrote that “it is impossible in the name of pluralism to allow a dark policy of gender separation.”

Responding to the criticism, Avrahami said the evening was intended as “a cultural event for women who want to enjoy themselves in an environment that is comfortable for them.” She added that intentionally coming to the event in order “to provoke or ruin an evening women were looking forward to” ultimately harms women themselves.

According to Avrahami, “If a woman wants to attend a women-only evening, that is her full right. True equality does not mean everyone has to live the exact same way.”

Despite the backlash and online calls to protest the screening, Avrahami said the event will go ahead as planned.

One of the most historically significant properties connected to the Vizhnitzer Chassidic dynasty in Eretz Yisroel is poised to be sold in a major real estate transaction worth more than 32 million shekels. The historic building at 13 Feirberg Street in Tel Aviv — where the Damesek Eliezer of Vizhnitz established the first Vizhnitzer yeshiva in Eretz Yisroel during the dark years of World War II — is expected to be sold to the “Teri Finansi” company, controlled by Eti Richman.

The deal, which is currently awaiting final approval from the Tel Aviv District Court, comes on the 90th yahrtzeit of the Ahavas Yisroel of Vizhnitz, father of the Damesek Eliezer. The nearly century-old property is slated to be sold for the full appraised value of 32.25 million shekels.

The building itself, known for its classic architecture, high ceilings, and vintage windows, occupies a revered place in Vizhnitzer history. The Damesek Eliezer originally received the structure as a gift from the wealthy philanthropist Reb Ephraim Fishel Feldman, one of the great supporters of Vizhnitzer chassidus.

In 1944, the Damesek Eliezer, son of the holy Ahavas Yisroel of Vizhnitz, arrived in Eretz Yisroel after escaping war-torn Europe. During the height of the destruction sweeping across European Jewry, the rebbe established a major center of Torah within the Tel Aviv building and founded the “Bais Yisroel V’Damesek Eliezer” yeshiva there — the institution that would later become the foundation for the Vizhnitzer Torah empire in Eretz Yisroel after the war. Only two years later, in 1946, the rebbe was niftar without leaving children.

During that period, the Damesek Eliezer granted his nephew, the Vizhnitzer rebbe Rav Chaim Yehuda Meir, permission to live in a special apartment that had been constructed atop the building.

Around 1958, ownership of the property began changing hands. The heirs of the Damesek Eliezer — his brothers, the Imrei Chaim of Vizhnitz and the Mekor Boruch of Seret-Vizhnitz — sold their shares in the property to Reb Simcha Ernster and to the widow of the Damesek Eliezer.

The building’s rooftop apartment continued to house Rebbetzin Retza Hager, wife of the Visheva rebbe. Following her husband’s passing, she later remarried Rav Schlesinger. In 1974, the rebbetzin amended her will and directed that ownership of the building remaining under her control eventually pass to the “Tiferes Menachem V’Ohel Meir” kollel. To facilitate the implementation of the will, the “Hekdesh Hager” trust was formally established in 1978 in memory of Rav Chaim of Visheva and Rebbetzin Retza.

Over the next fifty years, the aging structure deteriorated significantly. When the current trustees, attorneys Nimrod Teper and Shmuel Appel, were appointed in 2021, they discovered a severely neglected property plagued by major financial and maintenance problems. According to reports, there were no organized rental agreements, the trust was operating with ongoing deficits, and the building suffered from major plumbing leaks, collapsing sewage lines, and municipal safety concerns serious enough to place it on Tel Aviv’s dangerous structures list.

To stabilize the property and pay off mounting municipal tax debts, the trustees reportedly took out a mortgage of 750,000 shekels. At the same time, the building became the center of complicated legal battles involving former trustees, including Rav Boruch Hager and Rav Mordechai Lustig, members of the Hager family seeking trustee appointments, and a tenant who attempted to purchase the property at a reduced price.

Today, the property contains ten residential apartments along with the “Damesek Eliezer” bais medrash, which spans roughly 204 square meters and is currently undergoing renovations.

In 2024, the District Court formally authorized the trustees to move ahead with the sale. Based on an appraisal prepared by real estate assessor Motti Zeid, the minimum price was fixed at 32.25 million shekels. Although twelve companies reportedly purchased the bidding documents, only “Teri Finansi” submitted an offer meeting the required amount and has already deposited ten percent of the purchase price.

Much of the current discussion surrounding the sale centers on the fate of the enormous proceeds. According to the rebbetzin’s will, the beneficiary is the small Yerushalayim-based “Tiferes Menachem V’Ohel Meir” organization, whose declared purpose is operating batei knesses and Torah and chesed institutions. Financial records reportedly show that the organization’s annual operating budget in 2024 was only about 146,000 shekels — meaning the sale proceeds equal more than two centuries of its ordinary yearly funding.

In court filings, the trustees stressed that the funds will not immediately be distributed. “The trust will continue to exist regarding the net financial proceeds that will be received,” the filing states. The trustees are expected to later submit a separate request determining whether the funds will be preserved as a permanent endowment, used to purchase a replacement property, or directed toward Torah institutions — all subject to consultation with Israel’s Registrar of Trusts and final court approval.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the story involves speculation over whether any of today’s major Vizhnitzer courts will ultimately benefit from the sale. According to the report, none of the present-day Vizhnitzer factions in Eretz Yisroel or abroad are expected to receive any portion of the inheritance, since the elder Vizhnitzer rebbes of previous generations already sold all of their rights to the property decades ago in 1958.

{Matzav.com}

The Fatah completed its internal elections Sunday, cementing control over the movement’s two most powerful governing bodies — the Central Committee and the Revolutionary Council — during the closing session of its eighth general conference.

According to an official statement cited by Xinhua, turnout in the voting process reached 94.64 percent as delegates cast ballots during the faction’s final convention session.

Among the nine newly elected members joining the influential 18-member Fatah Central Committee was Zakaria Zubeidi, the former commander of the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades terror organization. Zubeidi was recently freed from Israeli prison after serving years behind bars on terrorism-related charges.

The election results also highlighted the growing influence of the Palestinian Authority’s current intelligence and political leadership in Ramallah. Palestinian Authority intelligence chief Majed Faraj secured a seat on the Central Committee after receiving the second-highest number of votes in the election. Only Marwan Barghouti, who is serving multiple life sentences in Israel for orchestrating deadly terror attacks, received more support.

Further strengthening the movement’s established leadership circles, Yasser Abbas — businessman and son of Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas — also won a seat on the committee.

He will serve alongside Laila Ghannam, the longtime governor of Ramallah and Al-Bireh, who also secured a place in the movement’s senior leadership structure.

The election process stretched across three days and took place simultaneously in four different locations — Ramallah, Gaza, Beirut, and Cairo — allowing more than 2,580 delegates to participate in the conference proceedings.

Fatah continues to dominate the Palestine Liberation Organization and has controlled the Palestinian Authority since the PA was established in 1994.

The movement’s last general conference, held in Ramallah in 2016, reinforced Mahmoud Abbas’s control over the organization and its internal institutions.

The current conference opened Thursday with delegates unanimously re-electing Mahmoud Abbas as the overall leader of the movement.

{Matzav.com}

The International Criminal Court pushed back Sunday against reports in Israeli media claiming the court had quietly approved a new round of arrest warrants against top Israeli political and military figures.

The denial came after a report published by Haaretz alleged that prosecutors at the Hague-based court had submitted a confidential request seeking warrants against several unnamed Israeli officials. Diplomatic sources cited in the report claimed the list included three senior politicians along with two high-ranking military officers.

The ICC responded swiftly to the claims. Court spokesperson Oriane Maillet issued a direct statement to reporters rejecting the report and insisting that the claims were inaccurate.

The court “denies the issuance of new arrest warrants in the situation in the state of Palestine,” Maillet stated in a note to journalists quoted by Reuters.

The ICC became the focus of fierce criticism in November 2024 after issuing controversial arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity connected to Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza.

Additional reports later indicated that prosecutors at the court had also explored possible legal action against other Israeli cabinet members. In May 2025, The Wall Street Journal reported that prosecutors were considering moves against Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

{Matzav.com}

WATCH:

LISTEN:

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

LISTEN:

Eretz Yisroel moved another step closer to elections Sunday night after Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni met with the Slabdoka Rosh Yeshiva Rav Dov Landau, who instructed the Degel HaTorah representatives to support dissolving the Knesset in Wednesday’s vote.

Following the meeting, a statement released from the home of Rav Landau said that Gafni arrived together with the new rov of Ramat Hasharon, Rav Yitzchok Edelstein, accompanied by Bnei Brak deputy mayor Menachem Shapiro, for brachah and consultation with the Rosh Yeshiva.

The statement added that “Maran repeated and emphasized the message delivered last night, that the members of Knesset of Degel HaTorah are to vote in favor of dissolving the Knesset on Wednesday.”

Earlier today, the home of Rav Landau informed the media that “the members of Knesset of Degel HaTorah were instructed last night by Maran Rav Dov Landau not to be dragged into political games and to support dissolving the Knesset this coming Wednesday.”

According to a senior Degel HaTorah source, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is attempting to stall the dissolution process in order to gain additional time and push elections off until October.

The source claimed Netanyahu is using the chok hagiyus issue as a political tactic while trying to coordinate elections for October, something strongly opposed by Yahadus HaTorah.

“What do you do when you want to gain time?” the senior source explained while outlining what he described as Netanyahu’s strategy. “You tell the chareidim there is suddenly a breakthrough in obtaining a majority — when there is no majority. They tell Boaz Bismuth to hold committee discussions, and according to the attorney general there still need to be another two or three discussions before the law can be brought for a reading.”

The source further claimed Netanyahu is currently freezing advancement of the Knesset dissolution bill.

“And this way he gained another week or two,” the source added. “Even if afterward they want to bring a dissolution bill, the Elections Committee will not allow it because it will not be able to organize itself according to the required timetable.”

A senior Agudas Yisroel official reportedly confirmed the claims and sharply criticized the Prime Minister, saying, “And once again there is no majority and once again they are lying to the chareidim.”

The comments reflected the deep frustration among the chareidi parties over the ongoing handling of the chok hagiyus negotiations.

Unless there is a dramatic last-minute development, the Knesset is expected this week to approve the preliminary reading of a bill to dissolve the Knesset, bringing Israel significantly closer to elections in 2026.

Still, the political picture remains uncertain. A renewed war or agreements with at least some of the chareidi factions could still delay elections. At this stage, the position of Shas remains unclear, though current indications suggest the party may ultimately align with Netanyahu and support postponing dissolution efforts.

A California judge has ruled that the longtime advertising campaign used by Kars4Kids violated the state’s False Advertising Law, ordering the charity to stop broadcasting the commercials in their current form beginning June 8.

The ruling was issued by an Orange County Superior Court judge and specifically targets the nonprofit’s well-known commercials featuring the familiar “1-877-Kars4Kids” jingle, which for years became a recognizable part of radio and television advertising and a recurring subject of pop-culture humor.

The case was brought by an Orange County resident who claimed he donated a vehicle under the impression that the charity’s proceeds were helping disadvantaged children throughout the United States.

According to the court’s decision, the advertisements gave donors the impression that the organization broadly supported needy children, while most of the funds raised were actually directed to another nonprofit that supported Orthodox Jewish youth programs in New York, New Jersey, and the Middle East.

Legal analyst Neama Rahmani said the central issue in the case involved how the organization presented its charitable mission to the public.

“When you’re running ads with young kids and the funds are going to older kids in another state and maybe even another country that’s a problem,” he said.

Anthony Graham, the attorney representing the plaintiff, said the legal burden required proving that the organization intentionally misled the public.

“We have to show that they knowingly and intentionally misled the public and it’s not an easy thing to do, but we did it,” he said.

Kars4Kids strongly disputed the ruling and announced plans to appeal. In a written statement, the organization described the court’s decision as “deeply flawed” and argued that its website openly identifies the group as a Jewish organization.

“We believe this case was nothing more than a lawyer-driven attempt to siphon off charitable funds for their own gain. We expect to win on appeal because the law and the facts are clearly on our side,” said Wendy Kirwan, the organization’s communications director.

The charity is also facing a separate federal class-action lawsuit that attorneys say could expose the organization to massive financial liability.

“You have to be looking at least ($400 million) to $500 million,” Graham said.

Legal observers say the ruling could bring additional attention from government authorities. According to experts following the case, if regulators or prosecutors decide to become involved, executives connected to Kars4Kids could potentially face criminal investigations as well.

{Matzav.com}

A request to approve a class action lawsuit against El Al was filed last week in the Tel Aviv District Court, accusing the airline of improperly refunding passengers for canceled flights through installment payments instead of issuing the money back in one immediate payment.

The lawsuit focuses on situations in which passengers had already fully paid for their tickets before the flights were canceled. The filing was submitted by an attorney who is also a customer of the airline. Represented by attorneys Nitzan Gadot and Doron Radai of the Radai-Gadot law firm, the plaintiff estimates the damages suffered by the affected group of customers at more than 2.5 million shekels.

According to the filing, El Al follows a policy under which customers whose flights are canceled receive their refunds divided into the same number of installments used during the original purchase transaction. The lawsuit argues that this practice continues even when the airline had already collected the entire payment long before the cancellation took place. The plaintiff contends that this violates Israel’s Aviation Services Law, which requires airlines to return the full refund within 21 days and does not permit refunds to be spread out over installments.

The request states that “this conduct causes passengers real financial harm, including by tying up their credit limit and denying them the ability to make immediate use of their money.”

In the specific case described in the filing, the plaintiff says she bought a Sun d’Or ticket to Warsaw for her daughter and paid El Al in two installments. According to the lawsuit, the payments for the ticket were completed in January 2026, but after the April flight was canceled at the end of March due to updated directives that sharply reduced operations at Ben Gurion Airport, the airline refunded the money through two future installments. This occurred even though the full amount had already been paid months earlier.

The plaintiff said she was stunned by the airline’s handling of the refund because El Al had already held the full payment for an extended period before the cancellation. “Why, then, once the ticket was canceled by El Al, is the refund being delayed by the company?” she asked.

The lawsuit states that the plaintiff later contacted El Al seeking clarification as to why the refund was divided into installments despite the ticket having already been fully paid. According to the filing, the airline responded by placing responsibility on the credit card company and claiming that the installment refund process was determined by the credit card issuer. The plaintiff argues that “El Al’s puzzling response was that it had made the refund in one payment, and that when a ticket charged in an installment transaction is canceled, the method of the refund is the responsibility of the credit card company.”

However, according to the filing, when the plaintiff contacted the credit card company, she was told the exact opposite — that El Al itself had instructed that the refund be issued in two installments.

The request further alleges that “by continuing to hold passengers’ money after their flights were canceled for a period exceeding the refund period set by law, El Al is unjustly enriching itself at their expense and effectively turning passengers whose flights were canceled into a source of financing for itself.”

El Al responded to the report by saying: “The statement of claim in question has not yet been received by the company. Once it is received, the company will study it and respond through the legal proceeding as customary.”

{Matzav.com}

Sen. John Kennedy delivered another one of his trademark sharp-tongued attacks against Vice President Kamala Harris, mocking her as a “Woketopus” and accusing her of pandering to the far-left wing of the Democratic Party.

Speaking in remarks that quickly spread online and across conservative media circles, the Louisiana Republican took aim at Harris’s political style and policy positions with a string of colorful insults.

“She’s a Woketopus, pandering to the loon wing of her party. Nobody has ever accused her of being a policy maven. Sometimes she acts like she has a billy goat brain and a mockingbird mouth, that’s a dangerous combination,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy, who has become known nationally for his folksy one-liners and blunt criticism of Democrats, has frequently used unusual metaphors and Southern-style expressions during television appearances and interviews.

WATCH:

American Airlines said Sunday that it will continue halting its direct flights between New York and Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport until January 6, 2027.

“We will proactively reach out to impacted customers of this schedule adjustment, offering options in line with our customer-friendly schedule change policy,” the airline said in an e-mailed statement.

The carrier first stopped flying to Israel in the immediate aftermath of the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023.

Although American Airlines had initially planned to restart service to Israel in March, the company has repeatedly postponed its return because of ongoing instability and security concerns in the region.

Before Sunday’s announcement, the airline had already extended the suspension of its Tel Aviv route through September 7.

Last week, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) revealed that it was prolonging its Conflict Zone Advisory covering Israeli airspace as well as parts of the broader Middle East and Persian Gulf region, according to Globes.

The revised advisory is scheduled to remain active through at least May 27. However, the agency’s latest language reflected a somewhat different approach to the regional threat environment.

Earlier notices from the European regulator had strongly encouraged airlines to stay away from the area entirely. The newest guidance instead emphasizes heightened caution and ongoing monitoring of conditions.

Several major European airlines, including Wizz Air, KLM, Air France, and Air Europa, are now reportedly reconsidering the timing of their planned return to Israel because of the continuing EASA advisory.

{Matzav.com}