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A woman who previously worked for Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is among 12 defendants facing federal charges in connection with an alleged campaign of threats, vandalism, and intimidation targeting Jewish residents and University of Michigan officials. The expanding criminal case has drawn renewed attention to El-Sayed’s campaign just before Tuesday’s midterm elections.

Mariam Odeh, 24, of Dearborn, Michigan, was employed by El-Sayed’s Senate campaign earlier this year before being charged in June. Her name appears in a 63-page superseding federal indictment that now includes a dozen defendants following the addition of four individuals announced by the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Federal prosecutors accuse members of the alleged conspiracy of participating in a coordinated effort to frighten Jewish families and university officials through threatening messages, property destruction, and attacks on private residences.

US Attorney Jerome Gorgon condemned the alleged conduct and drew a connection between the accusations and the long history of antisemitic violence.

“From Pharaoh to Hitler to Hamas, those who terrorize Jews have been the bad guys,” Gorgon said. “As Americans, our job is to fight the bad guys.”

According to the indictment, Odeh served as president of Students Allied for Freedom and Equality, an anti-Israel student organization at the University of Michigan. She faces one federal count of “conspiracy to transmit threats in interstate and foreign commerce,” an offense carrying a maximum prison sentence of five years if convicted.

The indictment describes an alleged pattern of intimidation that included threatening graffiti, shattered windows, and glass containers filled with foul-smelling chemicals thrown into residential properties. Prosecutors contend that the incidents were intended to frighten the targeted individuals and their families.

Investigators also allege that participants left red handprints and inverted red triangles at targeted homes. Federal authorities identify the inverted triangle as a symbol used by Hamas to designate targets. Images of the vandalized properties were allegedly circulated online alongside threatening language, including “you cannot hide.”

The investigation has also placed El-Sayed’s campaign under scrutiny because of Odeh’s previous employment. Federal campaign finance disclosures show that she received two payments earlier this year, totaling $747. The campaign paid her $154 on March 3 and another $593 on March 13.

Campaign spokeswoman Roxie Richner said Odeh had worked as an hourly employee for approximately two weeks and that her association with the campaign ended on April 15. However, a pretrial services officer previously told a judge that Odeh had reported “full-time employment for approximately four months.”

El-Sayed has previously questioned whether the prosecution was motivated by the defendants’ political activities rather than their alleged conduct. Speaking at a campaign event in June, he suggested that the decision to bring charges reflected selective enforcement.

“It’s a lot more about what you’re advocating for that gets you indicted or not indicted, rather than what you did,” El-Sayed said.

The Justice Department’s latest announcement, issued Friday, identified the four additional defendants as Henry David MacKeen-Shapiro, 23; Aaron Hunter Vonbargen, 25; Joseph Mark Fisher, 23; and Srishti Tarana Sharma, 23. MacKeen-Shapiro and Vonbargen were arrested, while Fisher and Sharma remained at large at the time of the announcement.

According to federal authorities, the alleged conspiracy developed after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks on Israel. Investigators say participants attempted to pressure the University of Michigan and businesses believed to have connections to Israel into ending those relationships through threats and acts of intimidation.

The alleged targets included the Jewish Federation of Detroit, two University of Michigan regents, other university administrators, a campus police lieutenant, a student, and two businesses. Prosecutors say the defendants used encrypted messaging applications, social media, and online research tools to identify targets, coordinate activities, and publicize their actions.

The indictment also describes alleged efforts to interfere with witnesses and prevent investigators from obtaining evidence. Authorities say some participants attempted to conceal their involvement while continuing to coordinate activities against individuals and institutions associated with Israel.

FBI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan warned that those responsible for threatening families would face prosecution.

“Those who believe they can threaten families, hide behind a group, and avoid accountability should think again. Justice will find you,” Runyan said.

The expanding prosecution comes as El-Sayed faces Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s closely watched Senate race. El-Sayed has already encountered criticism over his positions concerning Israel and his associations with controversial anti-Israel activists, issues that have complicated his efforts to win support among Jewish voters.

The Detroit News endorsed Rogers, citing concerns about El-Sayed’s limited governing experience and questions surrounding the removal of numerous older videos and social media posts. During their final debate, Rogers challenged El-Sayed over his foreign policy positions, asking whether he stood with America “or these terrorist groups overseas.”

Odeh has not been convicted, and the allegations against her and the other defendants remain subject to federal court proceedings. Prosecutors have not accused El-Sayed himself of participating in the alleged conspiracy.

{Matzav.com}

A 50-50 split in the US Senate following Tuesday’s midterm elections could plunge Washington into an unusual battle over control of the chamber, with neither political party guaranteed the powers traditionally held by the majority. Although Vice President JD Vance would retain the authority to break tied votes, Senate rules provide no automatic mechanism for determining which party would control committees, manage legislative business, or hold the majority leader’s position.

The possibility of an evenly divided Senate has raised questions about whether Republicans and Democrats could negotiate a power-sharing arrangement similar to those adopted following the 2000 and 2020 elections. Such an agreement would require cooperation between the parties at a time of deep political divisions.

Unlike a tied vote on legislation, which can be resolved by the vice president, an evenly divided Senate presents a broader institutional problem. The chamber’s 44 standing rules do not establish a procedure for awarding majority status when each party controls 50 seats. Nor does the Constitution automatically grant that designation to the party occupying the White House.

Under Senate procedures, legislation or nominations receiving an equal number of votes ordinarily fail unless the vice president intervenes to break the tie. But deciding which party chairs committees, sets the legislative agenda, and exercises other leadership privileges requires a separate political arrangement.

The Senate has encountered such circumstances before, including periods of deadlock in 1881 and 1954. The most relevant modern examples followed the presidential elections of 2000 and 2020, when closely divided results forced senators to negotiate how the chamber would operate.

Following the 2000 election, the Senate remained evenly divided after Democrat Maria Cantwell narrowly defeated Republican incumbent Slade Gorton in Washington state. The outcome was not finalized until December, leaving both parties facing the prospect of a chamber with 50 senators on each side.

Republican leader Trent Lott of Mississippi and Democratic leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota eventually negotiated an agreement establishing how the Senate would function. With Republican Dick Cheney becoming vice president, Republicans would hold the majority leader’s position, but Democrats received substantial procedural protections.

Under the arrangement, committees included equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats, while both parties received a role in managing legislative business. The agreement also established procedures for handling matters that became deadlocked in committee.

The full Senate approved the arrangement unanimously, reflecting a shared recognition that neither party could effectively conduct business without some accommodation.

Republicans wanted to prevent Democrats from obstructing President George W. Bush’s legislative priorities, while Democrats sought to preserve influence that would otherwise have been lost under conventional majority-party rules.

A similar problem emerged following the 2020 election, when Democrats won both Georgia Senate runoff contests on January 5, 2021. The victories of Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock produced another 50-50 Senate, with Vice President Kamala Harris providing Democrats the deciding vote on matters requiring a simple majority.

Negotiations over the chamber’s operating rules followed, with Republican leader Mitch McConnell pressing Democratic leader Chuck Schumer to adopt the framework used two decades earlier. The Senate ultimately approved a power-sharing agreement providing equal committee representation and procedures for resolving committee deadlocks.

A new 50-50 division in 2027 would present President Trump and Vice President Vance with a difficult political calculation. Republicans would possess the advantage of Vance’s tie-breaking authority, but the question of how much influence Democrats should receive over committee operations and Senate business could become a major source of conflict.

Vance’s constitutional position as president of the Senate would allow him to preside over proceedings and cast deciding votes when senators are equally divided. It would not, however, permit him to participate in Senate debates or exercise the legislative powers reserved for elected senators.

The president pro tempore, a position traditionally held by a senior member of the majority party, could also become a point of contention. Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa currently holds that office, while Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington is the senior Democrat who could be considered for the position if her party gained control.

The position carries additional significance because the president pro tempore stands third in the presidential line of succession, following the vice president and the speaker of the House.

A failure to reach an organizational agreement could leave committee assignments, leadership responsibilities, and the handling of legislation subject to prolonged disputes. Such uncertainty could also increase the burden on Vance, who might be called upon to preside more frequently while balancing his responsibilities in the Trump administration and any potential presidential ambitions for 2028.

The Senate’s procedures could further complicate negotiations. A proposed power-sharing resolution may face procedural obstacles, including the possibility of filibusters requiring 60 votes to overcome. Even if the agreement ultimately needs only a simple majority for approval, getting it to a final vote could require bipartisan cooperation.

Election results themselves may also take time to settle. Alaska’s Senate contest is among the races that could delay a final determination of party control, particularly if ranked-choice voting procedures or disputes over ballots prolong the counting process. Other closely contested states could likewise leave Washington waiting days or weeks for a definitive outcome.

A 50-50 Senate would not necessarily prevent Republicans from advancing every element of President Trump’s agenda. Vance could provide the decisive vote on nominations and certain measures requiring only a simple majority. However, most major legislation would still face the Senate’s 60-vote threshold for ending debate, leaving bipartisan support necessary for many proposals.

The ultimate arrangement would depend on negotiations among Senate leaders and the willingness of both parties to accept compromises. The historical agreements of 2001 and 2021 provide possible models, but neither would automatically govern the next Congress.

With the midterm elections approaching and control of the Senate potentially resting on a handful of competitive races, an evenly divided chamber could leave Republicans and Democrats arguing over the rules of power before the new Congress even begins its legislative work.

{Matzav.com}

House Democrats are demanding that Rep. Haley Stevens be expelled from their congressional caucus after the Michigan Democrat endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers over her own party’s nominee, Abdul El-Sayed, just two days before the midterm elections. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has indicated that party leaders will address the controversy when lawmakers return to Washington after Election Day.

Stevens, who narrowly lost the Democratic Senate primary to El-Sayed, stunned fellow Democrats Sunday by appearing alongside Rogers at a Detroit church and announcing her support for the Republican candidate. The endorsement immediately triggered calls for disciplinary action, including demands that she be stripped of her committee assignments.

Jeffries sharply criticized Stevens but stopped short of announcing an immediate punishment, leaving the decision about her remaining time in the Democratic caucus until after the elections.

“Haley Stevens made a terrible decision, blindsided everyone and isolated herself from the House Democratic caucus. We will have a discussion about appropriate next steps upon our return,” Jeffries told POLITICO.

A senior Democratic aide told Fox News Digital that Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, who chairs the House Democratic Caucus, would likely follow Jeffries’ lead in determining how to respond. Neither leader’s office provided additional comment.

Stevens, a four-term congresswoman whose House tenure ends in January, has maintained a strained relationship with El-Sayed since losing their Senate primary contest. Although she initially signaled support for the Democratic nominee, she repeatedly raised objections to his positions concerning Israel and his approach to Jewish and Black voters.

The dispute intensified over the weekend after Stevens indicated that she intended to attend a church event with El-Sayed and Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina as part of an effort to encourage Black voter participation. El-Sayed’s campaign subsequently made clear that it did not want her appearing at its events.

Stevens instead attended a different church service with Rogers and his wife, where she publicly threw her support behind the Republican. The move caught Democratic officials off guard, particularly after Stevens had reportedly assured colleagues that she would not endorse Rogers.

Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan said Stevens had told her “multiple times” during the weekend that she would not support the Republican candidate.

“I don’t know what changed between late Saturday and Sunday morning,” Dingell said during a CNN interview Monday.

The fallout extended beyond Capitol Hill. Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Curtis Hertel announced that Stevens would no longer be welcome in the state party following her decision to support Rogers.

Hertel wrote that Stevens “is not a current member of the Michigan Democratic Party, nor will she be in the future” after she backed Rogers.

Within the House Democratic Caucus, progressive lawmakers responded with particularly harsh criticism, accusing Stevens of abandoning her party at a critical moment in the election campaign.

Rep. Delia Ramirez of Illinois demanded Stevens’ removal, portraying the endorsement as a betrayal of Democratic voters and principles.

“Deplorable and embarrassing. Capitulating to fascism, Islamophobia, racism and the policies hurting everyday Americans makes you unfit to serve with the Democratic caucus,” Ramirez wrote on X. “Shame on Haley Stevens. She must be removed from the caucus.”

Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington joined the criticism, declaring that Stevens “has no place in our party,” according to POLITICO.

The controversy has also drawn attention to El-Sayed’s associations with progressive political commentator Hasan Piker and a political advertisement from an outside group that linked American support for Israel to rising household expenses. Stevens had pressed El-Sayed to condemn the advertisement more forcefully, describing its message as antisemitic. El-Sayed distanced himself from the advertisement, which his campaign did not produce, while accusing Stevens of attempting to reopen their primary battle.

The Democratic backlash has reached Stevens’ own congressional office. Multiple staff members resigned following her announcement, including longtime chief of staff Justin German, who said he was “shocked and heartbroken” by the endorsement. Stevens’ communications director, Logan Basch, also departed, with an automatic email response confirming that he was “no longer with the Office of Congresswoman Haley Stevens” as of November 1.

Stevens has defended her decision as a matter of personal conviction rather than a broader rejection of the Democratic Party. During a contentious CNN interview with Anderson Cooper, she maintained that she still wanted Democrats to win control of the Senate, even as she supported Rogers in Michigan.

“I absolutely do. I’m just casting this vote in my own way,” Stevens said. When Cooper questioned her decision to announce that vote publicly, she responded, “I’m just one person.”

The endorsement has received enthusiastic support from Republicans, including President Donald Trump, who praised Stevens for crossing party lines. Rogers, meanwhile, said he was honored by her support and portrayed their joint appearance as a statement against hatred and political division.

The dispute has created an unexpected complication in one of the country’s most closely watched Senate contests. Rogers and El-Sayed are competing for the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, with control of the Senate potentially depending on the outcome.

The fight over Stevens’ future in the House caucus has also exposed disagreements among Democrats about how quickly to respond. Some lawmakers want her expelled immediately, while others have argued that the party should wait until after the election, particularly because Stevens is already preparing to leave Congress at the end of her term.

Organizations aligned with the Democratic Party have joined the campaign for disciplinary action. The progressive group IfNotNow was among those urging Jeffries to remove Stevens from the caucus and take away her committee assignments.

“As national organizations representing Jewish, Muslim, and Democratic voters opposed to Donald Trump’s war on Iran, which is responsible for the rising costs of gas and groceries and an affordability crisis that is taking a heavy toll on working families at a time when the future of our democracy is at stake,” the organization said in a statement shared with Fox News Digital. “We call on House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries to expel Congresswoman Stevens from the Democratic Caucus and strip her of her committee assignments.”

Removing Stevens from the Democratic caucus would prevent her from participating in its regular meetings and internal party deliberations. Any effort to revoke her committee positions would require additional procedural steps under the relevant House rules.

For now, Jeffries has left the matter unresolved until lawmakers return to Washington, while Stevens’ endorsement continues to reverberate through Michigan’s final hours of campaigning.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] President Donald Trump warned Monday night that American forces could attack Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain nuclear installation within an hour if he authorized the operation, delivering a fresh warning to Tehran while expressing optimism that Iranian leaders are eager to negotiate an agreement with Washington.

Speaking with Sean Hannity on Fox News, Trump said the United States remains firmly committed to ensuring that Iran never acquires nuclear weapons, regardless of whether that objective is achieved through diplomacy or additional military action.

“We cannot let Iran, an evil nation, who has killed many of our people, Soleimani is an example, no longer with us, but killed many of our people, we cannot let them have a nuclear weapon, and we won’t,” Trump stated.

Trump on Iran War: What we have done is amazing. pic.twitter.com/KZ1JkQyvyy

— Acyn (@Acyn) November 3, 2026

The president indicated that the American military retains the capability to strike additional Iranian nuclear targets with little advance notice, specifically identifying the heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain site as a potential target.

“We bombed out all of their potential nuclear power. Now, we might have to go after Pickaxe [Mountain], but that’s not a big deal. We can do it in, literally, we can do that in one hour, okay, as soon as we want, at any time we want.”

Trump also rejected the characterization of the current American confrontation with Iran as a full-scale war, arguing that the prolonged absence of major combat operations and the devastating impact of American economic pressure have left Tehran in a weakened position.

“I mean, what’s a war? A war is fighting. Take a look at World War I, World War II, these were..when was the last time you saw us fighting with them? We go months and months. We talk. They’re in not a good negotiating position. Their economy is cratering because of us. They have 301 percent inflation. They don’t have money. They’re not paying their soldiers. They’re not paying their police. We’re not fighting a war.”

The president pointed to extensive damage inflicted on Iran’s military capabilities, including its naval forces, while maintaining that Tehran has strong incentives to reach an agreement before the confrontation escalates.

“This is a very soft war. We did have a big hit on them, and we hit them very hard, and that took out their navy, 159 ships are gone. But this isn’t like a war that’s going on. It could happen if they don’t make a deal, but they want to make a deal very badly, there’s a very good chance we make a deal,” he said.

The remarks came amid new disclosures about American military operations against Iranian targets. The Wall Street Journal reported that US forces struck Iran’s Qeshm Island on Monday, part of a series of limited attacks that had not previously been publicly acknowledged.

According to a senior US official cited by Axios, an American fighter jet destroyed an Iranian surface-to-air missile launcher after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps personnel fired an anti-aircraft missile from the position. Washington characterized the response as a defensive operation.

American officials also disclosed that smaller strikes have been conducted over recent weeks, including operations intended to protect commercial shipping from Iranian threats in the Strait of Hormuz. The administration reportedly chose not to announce some of those missions to avoid creating the impression that a major new offensive was underway.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard, meanwhile, claimed Monday that it had shot down two American drones south of Qeshm Island. The claim came as tensions continued around the strategically important waterway, through which substantial volumes of international oil shipments ordinarily pass.

The president had already raised the possibility of targeting Pickaxe Mountain over the weekend, telling reporters Saturday that one or two Iranian sites remained to be addressed. The installation has attracted Western intelligence attention because of concerns that nuclear material could be stored there.

On Monday, Trump also sought to dispel speculation that he was preparing to launch a major new military campaign immediately after Tuesday’s midterm elections.

“We had a war with Iran. We won,” Trump told reporters. “I don’t know if you even call it a war because we haven’t been doing any fighting for months.”

In a separate interview with Axios, Trump indicated that he was not rushing toward a decision on renewed large-scale strikes. Diplomatic efforts have continued through regional intermediaries, with Qatar reportedly working on proposals intended to restart negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

Vice President JD Vance has also expressed optimism about the possibility of reaching an agreement, although substantial differences remain over Iran’s nuclear activities and the future of the Strait of Hormuz.

Financial markets reacted to the diplomatic developments Monday, with oil prices falling sharply as traders reassessed the likelihood of another major escalation. Brent crude dropped more than 7%, while US benchmark oil also registered a steep decline.

Trump seized on the falling prices as evidence that investors increasingly expect an agreement rather than another round of major fighting.

“Oil Prices are DROPPING LIKE A ROCK, down almost $10 a Barrel, A RECORD, because people feel that there will not be a War with Iran. Iran wants a settlement, as soon as possible. It could happen!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

{Matzav.com}

The US Supreme Court on Monday refused to grant an emergency request from President Donald Trump’s administration to isolate approximately 20,000 California mail-in ballots while federal authorities investigate whether the voters who submitted them are American citizens. The decision represents a setback for the administration’s election integrity efforts just one day before the midterm elections.

The justices declined to overturn lower court rulings that had prevented California election officials from separating ballots belonging to voters whose citizenship status was questioned by the Justice Department. The Supreme Court offered no explanation for its decision, and none of the justices issued a public dissent.

Federal officials had sought a temporary arrangement under which the disputed ballots would be kept apart from other votes until election administrators could establish whether the individuals involved were legally eligible to participate. The administration argued that such a measure would protect federal election requirements without permanently disqualifying legitimate voters.

California authorities resisted the proposal, maintaining that the federal government’s information contained inaccuracies and that implementing the requested procedures immediately before Election Day would create serious administrative complications.

The controversy arose from a Justice Department review that identified roughly 20,000 individuals on California’s voter rolls whose citizenship information raised questions. Federal officials argued that further examination was necessary to determine whether any noncitizens had improperly registered or participated in federal elections.

Under federal law, only US citizens may vote in federal contests. The Trump administration has made citizenship verification a central component of its election security agenda, arguing that election officials must take additional precautions to prevent unlawful ballots from influencing election results.

During earlier court proceedings, Justice Department attorney Kenneth Kao acknowledged concerns about the accuracy of the government’s information while explaining that federal authorities wanted California officials to assist in checking the registrations.

“That’s a fair statement,” Kao said when questioned about whether the records contained a substantial number of errors.

“That’s why we ask for the registrars’ aid in verifying these are all valid voters,” he added.

Bill Essayli, the federal prosecutor responsible for the Justice Department’s Los Angeles office, defended the investigation at a separate news conference, insisting that the administration had identified legitimate grounds for examining the registrations.

“This isn’t speculation. This isn’t a theory,” Essayli said, although he conceded that some records might be inaccurate.

California, which sends mail-in ballots to approximately 23 million registered voters, began its election process in early October. State officials argued that locating and isolating the ballots associated with the disputed registrations would be extremely difficult because large numbers of votes had already been received and processed.

The Justice Department filed its lawsuit in mid-October after California officials declined to act on the federal list. A federal district judge rejected the administration’s request, warning that a last-minute change to ballot procedures could disrupt the election and undermine confidence in the counting process.

A divided federal appeals court subsequently upheld the refusal to intervene. Two judges declined to grant the administration’s request, while a third, appointed by Trump, dissented and argued that California’s position risked encouraging the “violation of federal law.”

Additional questions have emerged about the reliability of the federal government’s list. Researchers examining the records reported that roughly 9,000 names, representing more than 40% of those identified, did not appear on California’s voter rolls. They also identified entries that appeared to correspond to American citizens, raising further concerns about the accuracy of the information used to challenge the registrations.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, writing that the justices had rejected the emergency application without requesting a response from the state. “Democracy won,” he declared.

In a separate legal proceeding Monday, US District Chief Judge James Boasberg in Washington concluded that certain Justice Department demands directed at California election authorities likely exceeded the federal executive branch’s constitutional powers.

“The Executive Branch has likely violated the Constitution’s Elections Clause, which commits authority over election rules to the states and Congress alone,” Boasberg wrote.

The Supreme Court’s action does not constitute a final ruling on the legality of the disputed registrations or establish that every individual on the government’s list is eligible to vote. Rather, it leaves existing election procedures intact while the underlying litigation continues.

With millions of Californians having already submitted their ballots, the decision allows state election administrators to proceed without the special segregation process sought by the Trump administration as voters cast their final ballots Tuesday.

{Matzav.com}

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Shas is confronting a serious political crisis after losing nearly 100,000 votes in Israel’s latest Knesset elections, with former party spokesman Itzik Sudri warning that the party has alienated both its chareidi and traditional Sephardic constituencies. According to Sudri, approximately 30,000 chareidi voters abandoned Shas for United Torah Judaism, while another 70,000 traditional voters turned elsewhere, leaving the party struggling to reconcile the competing expectations of its supporters.

The election results saw Shas fall to six Knesset seats, securing 299,506 votes, while United Torah Judaism emerged with seven mandates. The outcome has prompted difficult questions about the future direction of the Sephardic chareidi party and the political strategy pursued by chairman Aryeh Deri.

Speaking with Avi Mimran on Kol Chai Radio’s central news broadcast, Sudri, who previously served as Shas spokesman and currently works as a commentator on chareidi affairs for Channel 16, offered an explanation for the party’s dramatic electoral decline.

“30,000 chareidim voted for United Torah Judaism, more or less, looking for the more chareidi option, while 70,000 traditional voters looked for the more traditional side,” Sudri said.

His assessment suggests that Shas has found itself caught between two distinct groups of supporters, each increasingly dissatisfied with the party for opposite reasons. Chareidi voters, he argued, felt Shas had failed to maintain a sufficiently strong chareidi identity, while traditional Sephardic voters believed the party had moved too far toward the chareidi sector at the expense of their own concerns.

Unlike United Torah Judaism, whose electorate consists overwhelmingly of chareidi voters, Shas has historically attracted a broad coalition of Sephardic chareidim, yeshiva graduates, baalei teshuvah, and traditional Jews. That diverse electoral base helped establish Shas as a major political force, but Sudri believes the party has struggled to maintain the delicate balance necessary to retain those voters.

He attributed part of the decline to Shas’ close political identification with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, as well as growing public criticism of the chareidi community and the party’s difficulty presenting a clear position on the military draft controversy.

Sudri was particularly critical of the party’s public messaging concerning the status of yeshiva bochurim and avreichim, arguing that Shas failed to communicate a coherent position during a campaign dominated by the conscription debate.

“At best, it remained silent,” he said.

According to Sudri, the party’s handling of the issue created difficulties among traditional Sephardic supporters, many of whom have children serving in the IDF and felt increasingly uncomfortable with rhetoric they perceived as dismissive of military service.

“The traditional Shas voter, whose children, as he says, are in the army, hears constant disparagement of those serving in the military, and he says: I want to vote for a party where I’m a first-class citizen, not a second-class citizen,” Sudri explained.

At the same time, he suggested that more strongly chareidi voters were drawn toward United Torah Judaism, which they regarded as taking a firmer position on issues affecting the Torah community.

Despite the substantial losses, Sudri emphasized that Shas continues to represent both sectors. He estimated that approximately 200,000 Sephardic chareidim and 100,000 traditional voters supported the party in the latest election, demonstrating that its original electoral coalition has not disappeared entirely.

Sudri also expressed confidence that Deri, who has yet to deliver an extensive public assessment of the election results, remains the person best equipped to rebuild Shas and restore its political strength.

“The very person who is truly best suited to restore the glory of Shas, to return the crown to its former glory, is Aryeh Deri,” he said.

He explained that Deri’s longstanding familiarity with the different communities that make up the Shas electorate gives him a unique ability to reconnect with voters who have drifted away from the party.

Sudri maintained that resolving the military draft controversy will be essential to repairing the divisions within the Shas electorate and restoring confidence among both chareidi and traditional supporters.

While acknowledging the severity of the setback, he cautioned against dismissing the party’s remaining electoral strength, describing its ability to retain six Knesset seats after such a difficult campaign as an achievement in its own right.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Police Commissioner Daniel Levy are locked in an extraordinary public confrontation over allegations that the police chief personally ordered officers to use excessive force against chareidi demonstrators protesting military conscription. The dispute escalated Monday after the Israel Police issued a blistering statement rejecting Ben Gvir’s accusations, while the minister stood by his claims that Levy had instructed officers to use batons and stun grenades against protesters.

The police response followed an urgent petition submitted by Ben Gvir to Israel’s High Court of Justice, seeking the removal of an interim order restricting his involvement in police operational instructions concerning demonstrations. In the court filing, the minister alleged that Levy had personally directed officers to intensify their use of force against chareidi protesters, even before disturbances had begun.

In a statement issued through its spokesperson’s office, the Israel Police categorically rejected the accusation that Levy had ordered violence against demonstrators for improper reasons or in violation of police regulations.

“The claim that Police Commissioner Daniel Levy instructed officers to use violence against chareidi protesters for improper motives or contrary to the law and regulations is baseless, completely unfounded and outrageous,” the police statement declared.

Ben Gvir’s office responded immediately, insisting that the minister had no intention of retracting his accusations and providing additional details about the conduct he attributed to the commissioner.

“The minister stands behind everything he said. Police Commissioner Daniel Levy ordered police forces to use severe and increased violence against chareidi demonstrators, and was even quoted as saying, ‘I want to see blood.’ The commissioner personally approached officers and district commanders in the field and instructed them to use batons against protesters. In addition, he removed district commanders from their positions unlawfully and without the minister’s approval, and even traveled abroad and remains there at this moment without obtaining the minister’s authorization,” Ben Gvir’s office stated.

The minister’s representatives further accused Levy of allowing political considerations to influence his decisions following the recent Knesset elections.

“The minister appreciates and supports the officers of the Israel Police, but direct responsibility for what is happening rests with the commissioner, who, from the moment the election results became known, decided to curry favor with Yair Golan, Yoav Segalovitz and Ra’am,” the statement continued.

Police officials responded by describing the minister’s allegations as “serious, delusional and disgraceful,” accusing him of attacking the very institution he is responsible for overseeing.

The police said Ben Gvir’s accusations “cross every line, particularly coming from the minister responsible for the police, who, instead of supporting its officers and commanders, chooses to malign them, cast doubt on their professionalism and damage public confidence in those entrusted with their security.”

At the center of the controversy is Ben Gvir’s request that the High Court lift restrictions preventing him from intervening in operational decisions concerning protests. The minister contends that those restrictions have prevented him from exercising appropriate oversight while police commanders have allegedly authorized increasingly aggressive tactics against chareidi demonstrators.

In his submission, Ben Gvir alleged that Levy had contacted commanders directly and ordered them to deploy batons and stun grenades before protesters had engaged in public disturbances. Those allegations have been firmly denied by the police.

The police spokesperson’s office emphasized that accusations of deliberate violence against civilians represent a particularly serious attack on the integrity of the country’s law enforcement personnel.

“The attempt to attribute to the commissioner and police commanders a deliberate intention to harm civilians is especially serious and constitutes a direct attack on the thousands of police officers, Border Police and National Guard personnel, and volunteers who work day and night with dedication and self-sacrifice for public safety and security,” the statement said.

Police leadership also rejected suggestions that operational decisions were being influenced by political loyalties.

“The Israel Police is not a tool for political attacks. The commissioner, police commanders and officers will continue to act with impartiality, professionalism and in accordance with the laws of the State of Israel, without fear or favoritism,” the statement declared.

The department added that “no attempt to malign the police or its leadership will divert them from their mission and their unwavering commitment to the security of Israel’s citizens.”

It further maintained that “the Israel Police is an apolitical police force that carries out its duties equally for all Israeli citizens. That is how it has acted, and that is how it will continue to act.”

In an unusually direct appeal to the minister, police leadership concluded by demanding that Ben Gvir withdraw his accusations.

“Retract the statement that harms all members of the Israel Police, and the sooner the better,” the statement said.

The confrontation follows disturbing scenes at recent anti-draft demonstrations, particularly near the Geha-Jabotinsky intersection at the entrance to Bnei Brak, where video footage showed police throwing stun grenades toward groups of chareidi protesters and using batons and kicks during confrontations.

Those incidents have generated criticism of police conduct, including from individuals described in Israeli media reports as police insiders.

In recent days, sources within the police were quoted as saying that “the commissioner has completely lost control of the police,” reflecting concern over the handling of demonstrations and the growing controversy surrounding the use of force.

{Matzav.com}

Senior Shas lawmakers began a series of consultations with the party’s leading rabbonim Monday evening to determine whom the party will recommend to President Isaac Herzog to form Israel’s next government, with discussions also expected to address the possibility of replacing the Knesset speaker. Notably, Shas chairman Aryeh Deri did not participate in the visits.

The consultations mark the first formal meetings between Shas representatives and the party’s senior spiritual leadership since the results of last week’s Knesset elections were announced, as political parties prepare to submit their recommendations to the president regarding the formation of the next coalition.

Shas MKs Michael Malkieli and Yinon Azoulay visited the home of Harav Moshe Maya, the senior member of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah, to seek his guidance on the party’s position ahead of the presidential consultations.

Among the issues expected to be discussed is the identity of the candidate Shas will support for prime minister, a decision that could carry considerable weight as the various political factions maneuver to determine who will receive the mandate to establish a government.

Another matter reportedly under consideration is whether Shas should support replacing the current Knesset speaker, a potentially significant move as negotiations begin over the leadership and composition of the next Knesset.

Following their meeting with Rav Maya, the Shas representatives were scheduled to visit Harav Yitzchak Yosef, the party’s spiritual leader, as well as additional members of the Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah, before a final decision is announced.

The absence of Deri, who has long served as the dominant political figure within Shas, drew attention as the party embarked on discussions concerning some of the most consequential decisions of the post-election period. No explanation for his absence was provided in the report.

An official statement issued following the initial visit confirmed that the party’s representatives were seeking guidance from the rabbinic leadership before making any formal recommendation to the president.

“Shas Knesset members Michael Malkieli and Yinon Azoulay entered the residence of the senior member of the Council of Torah Sages, Maran Hagaon Harav Moshe Maya, this evening for consultation and to receive his guidance regarding the Shas faction’s recommendation to the president on the candidate to form the government. They will subsequently consult with the remaining members of the Council of Torah Sages, after which the Council’s decision will be announced,” the statement said.

{Matzav.com}

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul issued strong condemnations Monday after four buses used to transport Jewish schoolchildren in Brooklyn were defaced with swastikas and antisemitic messages, prompting demands for the perpetrators to be arrested and prosecuted.

The vandalism occurred in South Williamsburg, home to a large chassidishe community, where the discovery of the hateful markings on school buses raised fresh concerns about antisemitism directed at Jewish children and families.

“The antisemitic vandalism targeting school buses in South Williamsburg is abhorrent. Every New Yorker – especially our children – deserves to live free of such hatred,” Mamdani said in a statement.

{Matzav.com}

A unique event took place in New Square, New York, where the small electric vehicle used by the Skverer Rebbe was fitted with a specially developed internet filtering system and received certification from the Skver community’s L’Taher organization, which works to protect the community from the dangers of unfiltered technology.

According to sources, the vehicle is used regularly by the Rebbe to make it easier for him to travel between his home, the main bais medrash, and other locations throughout New Square.

Because modern electric vehicles can contain sophisticated electronic systems with internet connectivity and the ability to communicate with other technological devices, community representatives sought to ensure that the Rebbe’s vehicle would be completely protected from such connections.

Activists associated with L’Taher, an organization operating within the Skverer chassidus to promote strict safeguards against inappropriate technology, developed a customized filtering solution designed to prevent internet access through the vehicle’s electronic systems.

The new system was installed last week in the personal presence of the Skverer Rebbe, who has long been at the forefront of efforts within his community to maintain strict standards regarding internet use and modern technological devices.

Following the installation, the vehicle received the organization’s official approval, confirming that the necessary safeguards had been implemented to prevent unwanted internet connectivity.

{Matzav.com}

Four school buses belonging to chassidishe communities in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, were vandalized with swastikas, antisemitic slurs, and anti-Israel graffiti early Monday morning, prompting a hate crime investigation by the NYPD and Williamsburg Shomrim.

The disturbing incident occurred at approximately 5 a.m. near the intersection of Bedford Avenue and Williamsburg Street West, where buses serving the Satmar, Sanz-Klausenburg, and Tiferes Yisrael communities were targeted. The vehicles, used to transport children to local yeshivos, were discovered with hateful messages spray-painted across their exteriors.

Photographs circulating Monday showed swastikas painted on the yellow school buses, along with slogans including “Free Palestine,” “America First,” and vulgar statements directed against Jews and Israel. Some of the graffiti was sprayed directly over the Hebrew lettering identifying the buses and their affiliated institutions.

According to police, the vandalism was reported shortly before 10 a.m. after someone associated with a local yeshiva discovered the damage and contacted authorities.

Officers from the NYPD’s 90th Precinct responded to the location, and the department’s Hate Crimes Task Force launched an investigation. Williamsburg Shomrim is working alongside investigators to identify those responsible, including efforts to obtain surveillance footage from the surrounding area.

The attack drew immediate condemnation from elected officials and Jewish community representatives, who expressed outrage that vehicles used to transport children had been singled out for antisemitic vandalism.

City Councilman Lincoln Restler, whose district includes the affected neighborhood, denounced the incident and confirmed that his office was coordinating with law enforcement and Shomrim.

“Anti-Semitic graffiti on our community’s school buses is truly obscene,” Restler said. “We are working with NYPD and Shomrim to track down those responsible. The decade-long rise in anti-Semitic incidents must be stopped.”

New York Attorney General Letitia James also condemned the vandalism, calling for those responsible to be identified.

“This is despicable. Antisemitism and hate have no home in New York,” James said. “I urge anyone with information to contact local law enforcement.”

The administration of Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed that it was aware of the incident and had been communicating with police and community leaders.

Phylisa Wisdom, executive director of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism, described the attack as abhorrent and pledged that the city would continue working to protect Jewish residents.

“The antisemitic vandalism targeting school buses in South Williamsburg is abhorrent. No Jewish New Yorker should have to live with the threat of hatred and intimidation,” Wisdom said.

Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal also condemned the attack, describing the targeting of schoolchildren as particularly reprehensible and urging authorities to prosecute those responsible under applicable hate crime laws.

The vandalism comes amid continued concern over antisemitic incidents across New York City. According to NYPD statistics cited in local reporting, anti-Jewish offenses accounted for approximately 52.9% of confirmed hate crimes in the city through September 30, despite Jews representing a substantially smaller percentage of the overall population.

{Matzav.com}

Vice President JD Vance said Monday that the Trump administration is increasingly hopeful of reaching a negotiated agreement with Iran, although Tehran must provide concrete, verifiable assurances that it will not restore its nuclear program. Vance said Washington has established no deadline for a deal, even as President Donald Trump continues to warn that military action remains an option if diplomacy fails.

Speaking with reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Vance described recent discussions with Iranian representatives as encouraging and revealed that he had spoken with Trump about the negotiations just an hour earlier.

JD Vance on Iran:

Trump and I both feel pretty good about the prospects for potentially coming to a negotiated settlement.

We've certainly made some progress. We'll see if we can make some more. pic.twitter.com/Gl4uMGRjbG

— Clash Report (@clashreport) November 2, 2026

“We’ve had a number of good conversations with the Iranians,” Vance said. “I actually spoke with the President of the United States about this an hour ago.”

“The President and I both feel pretty good about the prospects for potentially coming to a negotiated settlement. We’re going to keep on working at it. You never know, of course. The Iranians are always a little unpredictable, and as the President always says, he retains kinetic options, he retains non-kinetic options,” the Vice President added.

“We’ve certainly made some progress. We’ll see if we can make some more,” he said.

Vance dismissed suggestions that the administration had imposed a specific timetable on Iran, explaining that Washington’s overriding objective is to prevent the country from reconstituting nuclear capabilities that American military operations previously targeted.

“No, we haven’t set deadlines. I mean, look, we’ve said, ‘Here’s what we want.’ And what we want is, having destroyed their nuclear program, we want to make sure they don’t rebuild it or try to rebuild it. That’s what matters most to the United States.”

The vice president acknowledged that Iranian leaders are seeking to preserve their sovereignty and revive their battered economy. He indicated that those priorities could provide an opening for an agreement, provided Tehran accepts meaningful restrictions on its nuclear activities.

“The thing I’ve picked up is they care a lot, obviously, about their sovereignty. They care a lot about economically rebuilding. We do think that there is a pathway there, but it really does require a firm commitment and a verifiable commitment that they don’t rebuild that nuclear program.”

Trump offered a similarly upbeat assessment Monday, pointing to a sharp decline in oil prices as evidence that markets increasingly expect an agreement rather than another round of fighting.

“Oil Prices are DROPPING LIKE A ROCK, down almost $10 a Barrel, A RECORD, because people feel that there will not be a War with Iran. Iran wants a settlement, as soon as possible. It could happen!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

During a separate appearance at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, the president again suggested that Tehran was prepared to negotiate an end to the confrontation.

“They want to make a deal. And it could happen.”

Trump also portrayed the American military campaign against Iran as a decisive success, arguing that U.S. forces had already inflicted devastating damage on the country’s military capabilities.

“We had a war with Iran. We won, and I don’t even know if you can call it a war because we haven’t been fighting for months,” Trump said, adding, “It’s not a war. We’ve done very little fighting. We’ve wiped out their military and air force and we did everything we had to do.”

The president credited American military achievements with helping drive oil prices down by approximately $10 per barrel and predicted additional declines. He also asserted that Iran was experiencing severe economic distress, including inflation exceeding 300%.

Nevertheless, Trump made clear that his preference for negotiations should not be interpreted as an unwillingness to authorize further strikes. Speaking Sunday at a campaign rally in Iowa ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections, he warned that Iran’s opportunity to reach an agreement would not remain open indefinitely.

“The only reason we are not finished with Iran is because I want to be nice. I want to try and save all those lives if I can. But at some point, we’re going to have to give them the hammer.”

Trump predicted that the confrontation would be resolved soon but offered no specific timetable.

Meanwhile, Washington and Tehran have continued indirect negotiations through Qatari intermediaries. Reports over the weekend indicated that the two sides had reached preliminary understandings involving Iran’s nuclear activities, freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and possible economic incentives for Tehran. No final agreement has been announced.

According to a Reuters report Monday, Iranian negotiators departed Doha following discussions with Qatari mediators, although an official familiar with the negotiations said their departure did not signal a breakdown. A draft proposal is reportedly being circulated, and another round of talks remains possible.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran’s proposal centers on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the American naval blockade of Iranian ports. Iran has offered to accelerate implementation of its plan, potentially reopening the strategic waterway within two days if its conditions are accepted.

Significant differences remain, however, particularly over Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief, and the terms of a broader security arrangement.

{Matzav.com}

American forces carried out a covert strike Monday against Iran’s strategically important Qeshm Island, according to a new report, marking the latest in a series of previously undisclosed U.S. military operations targeting Iranian positions near the Strait of Hormuz.

The operation was part of a broader campaign of limited strikes conducted by American forces against Iranian targets in recent weeks, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing U.S. officials who characterized the actions as defensive measures intended to protect the vital international shipping corridor.

Qeshm Island, located off Iran’s southern coast at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, holds considerable military importance because of its proximity to one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.

The island has reportedly been used by Iran to store ballistic missiles and is home to an Iranian naval installation. It also contains civilian infrastructure, including a desalination facility.

The reported operation comes amid continuing tensions between Washington and Tehran over control of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a substantial share of the world’s seaborne oil supplies ordinarily passes.

The waterway connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, making it essential to energy exports from several major oil-producing countries. Military activity in and around the strait carries the potential to disrupt international shipping and affect global energy markets.

Qeshm Island has reportedly been targeted repeatedly by American forces since the beginning of the current conflict with Iran, reflecting its importance to Tehran’s military operations in the region.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the limited attacks have been carried out without public announcements because the administration wants to avoid creating the impression that the United States is returning to a full-scale military campaign against Iran. American officials said the strikes were intended to weaken Iran’s ability to threaten commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian state media reported several explosions on Qeshm Island on Monday, although the precise targets struck, the extent of the damage, and whether there were casualties remained unclear.

The disclosure is particularly significant because President Trump has publicly played down the possibility of renewed large-scale military action against Iran, even as the Pentagon continues preparing options for additional strikes.

Asked Monday whether he intended to resume attacks against Iran following Tuesday’s midterm elections, Trump responded, “No.”

The president has maintained that the United States already achieved its principal military objectives against Iran and has expressed confidence that a negotiated settlement remains possible. At the same time, administration officials have made clear that military options remain available if Tehran refuses to accept American demands.

The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Washington had warned several Persian Gulf countries to prepare for the possibility of a short but intense military campaign following the midterm elections. The preparations reportedly included additional military equipment and defensive systems being positioned throughout the region.

The Pentagon has also moved to strengthen missile defenses in Israel, including preparations to deploy an additional Patriot missile-defense system from Texas, according to the report.

The military preparations have raised concerns among regional governments that a new round of American strikes could trigger Iranian retaliation against American installations, Gulf Arab countries, or commercial shipping.

The latest developments also come amid continuing diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement with Tehran. Vice President JD Vance has expressed cautious optimism about the possibility of an agreement, while emphasizing that Iran must provide firm guarantees that it will not rebuild its nuclear weapons program.

Iranian officials, meanwhile, have insisted that Washington must take meaningful steps toward an agreement and have warned that renewed military operations would provoke retaliation.

The reported Qeshm Island strike highlights the delicate balance the Trump administration is attempting to maintain between military pressure and diplomacy. While the White House continues to signal that a negotiated settlement is preferable, American forces are reportedly carrying out targeted operations against Iranian military capabilities.

For now, the Pentagon has not publicly disclosed the details of Monday’s operation, and the full extent of the American military campaign around the Strait of Hormuz remains unknown.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli law enforcement officials are reportedly casting serious doubt on allegations that Qatar financed efforts to influence last week’s Knesset elections, with investigators describing the evidence connecting Doha to suspicious payments as extremely weak or possibly nonexistent. The development comes amid an escalating confrontation between Shin Bet director David Zini and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara over how the sensitive election interference investigation should proceed.

According to a report Monday evening by Roy Yanovsky of Kan News, the investigation began after intelligence emerged concerning an alleged transfer of substantial sums of money to individuals associated with the Joint List. Although investigators have reportedly established that money was transferred, they have yet to determine its original source, and law enforcement officials are increasingly skeptical that Qatar was responsible.

The investigation is also examining allegations involving the Palestinian Authority, following claims made Monday by Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Lieberman that Palestinian officials had attempted to influence Israel’s Arab political parties during the election campaign.

The information currently available to the Shin Bet reportedly concerns a specific financial transaction, with investigators attempting to establish where the funds originated and how they were ultimately used. According to the report, the suspected activity is considerably narrower than the sweeping allegations of Qatari involvement that have circulated publicly in recent days.

Meanwhile, Channel 13 reported that Baharav-Miara has refused to authorize the immediate questioning of parliamentary aides associated with the Joint List, insisting that investigators must first present sufficient evidence concerning suspicions against the Knesset member involved.

The attorney general reportedly determined that because the investigation concerns allegations against an elected lawmaker, questioning members of the lawmaker’s parliamentary staff must be treated as part of the investigation of the MK himself. Consequently, the relevant parliamentary immunity protections and legal approval procedures must be observed.

Under Baharav-Miara’s instructions, the Shin Bet must first substantiate the allegations against the Knesset member before she will consider authorizing the questioning of the lawmaker and his aides.

A separate Channel 13 report by Aviad Glickman revealed that the disagreement extends beyond the questioning of parliamentary staff. During a special meeting Sunday attended by Zini, Baharav-Miara, and Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg, a heated confrontation reportedly erupted over whether the Israel Police should participate in the investigation.

Zini argued that the suspected foreign interference constituted a national security matter that should remain exclusively under Shin Bet jurisdiction. Baharav-Miara and other senior Shin Bet officials reportedly disagreed, maintaining that the case involved suspected criminal offenses with national security implications and therefore required police involvement.

Sohlberg attempted to resolve the disagreement but ultimately informed Zini that, under the circumstances, the investigation could not proceed without the participation of the police.

The exchange reportedly became increasingly contentious, with Zini accusing government legal officials of interfering with his ability to conduct the investigation.

“The legal advisers are trying to slow me down and bypass me. This is unacceptable to me,” Zini reportedly declared.

Glickman also reported unusually sharp criticism of Zini from senior figures within the Shin Bet, who questioned his judgment and the investigative measures he was seeking to implement.

“Zini is seeking to carry out dangerous and extreme actions. He does not understand what an investigation is, what evidence is, or how the police and Shin Bet work and operate,” the officials reportedly said.

According to those officials, Zini had already received legal authorization to carry out significant investigative activities before the elections. However, they alleged that following the strong electoral performance of the Arab parties, he sought permission to take considerably more aggressive steps.

The officials went further, reportedly accusing the Shin Bet director of failing to understand the principles of democracy, an extraordinary criticism of the head of Israel’s domestic security service from individuals described as senior members of his own organization.

The dispute has emerged as the investigation attracts enormous political attention, particularly because the Arab parties could play a decisive role in determining the composition of Israel’s next government following an election in which neither major political bloc secured a parliamentary majority.

The Shin Bet declined to address the reported disagreements or the criticism attributed to its senior officials.

“We do not comment on what is said in closed discussions,” the agency stated.

The IDF has begun installing protective anti-drone netting at military positions inside the Gaza Strip amid growing concerns that terrorists could introduce fiber-optic-controlled drones similar to those encountered during the fighting in Lebanon, according to a report Monday by Channel 12 News.

Israeli military officials are increasingly concerned that the technology, which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and can be smuggled into conflict zones, could eventually reach terrorist organizations operating in Gaza and pose a serious danger to Israeli soldiers stationed in forward positions.

Unlike conventional drones that depend on radio signals for communication with their operators, fiber-optic drones transmit commands through a thin cable connected to the aircraft. This makes them particularly difficult to neutralize using traditional electronic jamming systems, which are designed to disrupt wireless communications.

Rather than waiting for the threat to materialize, the IDF’s Southern Command and Technology and Logistics Directorate have begun implementing physical defensive measures intended to protect soldiers and military infrastructure against potential drone attacks.

As part of an initial pilot program, specialized protective netting has already been installed at three Israeli military outposts located beyond the Gaza border fence. The barriers are designed to provide an additional layer of protection against drones attempting to enter or strike military positions.

The pilot project is expected to serve as the foundation for a broader fortification effort covering other vulnerable IDF positions in Gaza over the coming months.

Military officials emphasized that fiber-optic-controlled drones have not yet been used in the Gaza Strip. Nevertheless, the IDF believes that lessons learned during operations in Lebanon make it necessary to prepare for the possibility that terrorist groups in Gaza could acquire similar capabilities.

The army’s experience confronting drone threats along the northern border has demonstrated the limitations of conventional electronic countermeasures against aircraft controlled through physical cables, prompting the development of additional protective systems.

Despite the preparations underway in Gaza, the IDF’s immediate priority remains strengthening defenses along the Lebanese front.

Under instructions issued by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the military will first complete the installation of protective measures at all relevant positions in Lebanon before significantly expanding the anti-drone netting program in Gaza.

Once the northern fortification effort is completed, the army intends to extend the protective systems to additional positions in the Gaza Strip as part of its preparations for emerging threats to Israeli forces.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] A Bnei Brak yungerman who was brutally assaulted by a group of teenagers inside a shoe store where he works says he is now living in fear that his attackers will return to retaliate against him for filing a police complaint. The disturbing incident, captured on security cameras and widely circulated on social media, has sparked outrage throughout the chareidi city and renewed demands for police action against violent youths.

Speaking on Monday, the avreich described the anxiety that has gripped him since the attack, saying that he is particularly concerned that the police investigation will go nowhere and that the perpetrators will feel emboldened to target him again.

“I’m afraid. I’m afraid the investigation will fizzle out and they’ll come to take revenge on me for filing the complaint,” he said. “How have we reached a situation where I’m the victim, but instead of them being afraid, I’m the one afraid they’ll come back and once again treat me with such brutal violence?”

The victim, who required medical treatment following the assault, said he is still struggling to comprehend how an ordinary day at work turned into a terrifying ordeal. He described himself as a quiet avreich who has never been involved in confrontations or physical altercations.

“I’m a normal person. I’ve never gotten into trouble, I’ve never been beaten up. I’m a quiet avreich who doesn’t stand out, and then one fine day I suddenly find myself in a situation where people enter my workplace, a place where I’m supposed to feel safe, spray me with pepper spray, and beat me brutally.”

According to sources, the attack took place last Thursday when a teenager approximately 16 years old entered the shoe store and asked the employee to assist him in trying on shoes.

Witnesses said the encounter subsequently took a threatening turn when the teenager allegedly attempted to extort the avreich and threatened to file a false police complaint against him. The employee refused to give in to the demands, after which the teenager left the store.

Several minutes later, however, the teenager allegedly returned with five other youths. The group stormed into the business and attacked the avreich, striking him repeatedly and spraying him with pepper spray. The assailants caused a disturbance inside the store before fleeing.

Security camera footage showing the violent confrontation was released Monday and quickly spread across social media, prompting widespread condemnation. Residents expressed particular alarm that an avreich could be subjected to such an assault in broad daylight while simply carrying out his work.

The incident has intensified criticism of what residents describe as an increasingly serious problem involving troubled and violent youths in Bnei Brak. Many have accused authorities of failing to respond adequately to repeated incidents of harassment and violence, leaving ordinary residents concerned about their personal safety.

The victim said he hopes the police will treat the attack with the seriousness it deserves and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

“I hope the police will handle this case severely, so they won’t dare do it again to anyone else,” he said.

The latest assault follows another serious incident last month on Rechov HaAdmor MiGur in Bnei Brak, where three avreichim were attacked. One of the victims sustained moderate injuries after a troubled youth allegedly struck him in the head with a paving stone.

The repeated incidents have prompted calls for a stronger police presence and more decisive enforcement against those responsible for violence in the city, particularly amid concerns that attackers may feel they can act without facing meaningful consequences.

Israel Police confirmed that a formal complaint had been filed and that investigators are working to identify the individuals involved.

“Following the complaint, an investigation was opened and is ongoing, and all necessary actions are being carried out to locate the suspects in the incident,” police said.

{Matzav.com}

A confrontation has erupted between Shin Bet director David Zini and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara over an investigation into suspected foreign interference in Israel’s recent Knesset elections, with the security chief reportedly accusing government legal officials of obstructing efforts to question parliamentary aides connected to an Arab Knesset member.

According to a Monday evening report by Channel 13, Baharav-Miara has withheld authorization for Shin Bet investigators to interrogate aides associated with the Joint List, insisting that additional evidence must first be presented to justify investigative steps involving the lawmaker.

The disagreement centers on the legal protections afforded to Knesset members and the extent to which those protections apply to their parliamentary staff. Baharav-Miara reportedly determined that because the investigation involves allegations concerning an MK, questioning the lawmaker’s aides must be treated as part of the same investigation and subjected to the relevant immunity procedures and approval requirements.

Under the attorney general’s position, investigators must first establish a sufficient evidentiary basis for their suspicions against the Knesset member. Only after reviewing that material would she consider authorizing the questioning of the MK and the parliamentary aides involved.

Zini has reportedly objected strongly to the restrictions, arguing that the legal authorities are interfering with the Shin Bet’s ability to pursue a sensitive investigation into possible foreign involvement in Israel’s democratic process.

“The legal advisers are trying to slow me down and bypass me. This is unacceptable to me.”

The reported dispute has added another layer of controversy to the investigation into allegations that foreign money was used to influence voting in the October 27 election. Israeli media have reported suspicions involving funding from Qatar or Turkey, although the origins of the money, its intended recipients, and whether any criminal offenses occurred remain under investigation.

Likud responded to the Channel 13 report with a sharp attack on Baharav-Miara, accusing her of “selective enforcement on steroids.” The party argued that the attorney general had authorized investigations involving senior government officials in the past but was now placing obstacles before investigators examining suspected foreign involvement in the elections.

“In her campaign of persecution, Baharav-Miara readily authorized investigations of ministers, Knesset members, the Prime Minister’s chief of staff, advisers to the Prime Minister, advisers to ministers, and others. Now, when it comes to a serious affair involving foreign interference in Israel’s elections, she is doing everything in her power to obstruct efforts to uncover the truth.”

The dispute follows separate reports of disagreements within the Shin Bet over the scope of the investigation. According to Kan News, some senior security officials have questioned whether the available intelligence provides sufficient grounds for the more extensive investigative measures sought by Zini. Legal authorities have reportedly raised concerns about proceeding without stronger evidence concerning the suspected offenses and the source of the funds.

The investigation was authorized by Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg, who instructed the Shin Bet to examine suspicions of improper foreign financing intended to influence the election. The inquiry is being conducted in cooperation with police and prosecutors under Sohlberg’s supervision.

On Sunday, Sohlberg appeared in a joint video statement alongside Zini and Baharav-Miara, declaring that the elections had been conducted properly and that the investigation would not invalidate the overall results. He said the inquiry would continue while the official election process proceeded as scheduled.

The allegations have taken on particular political significance because neither Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s bloc nor the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot secured a Knesset majority. The Arab parties, which won a combined 19 seats, could play an important role in determining the next government’s composition.

Likud concluded its response by demanding that the attorney general permit the security service to pursue the investigation without further restrictions.

“We demand that the Attorney General allow the Shin Bet to complete its investigation and cease her attempts at a cover-up, as she did with the investigation into the Military Advocate General.”

A massive rainstorm described by local officials as a once-in-200-year flooding event has inundated Okeechobee, Florida, overwhelming drainage systems, submerging roadways, forcing school closures, and prompting a countywide state of emergency. The flooding has struck a region that has recently attracted a growing frum community of approximately 100 families, with many additional families expected to relocate there in the coming years.

The extraordinary weather event unfolded Sunday, November 1, when torrential rain swept through Okeechobee County, dumping approximately 10 inches of precipitation on the city of Okeechobee in just six hours. The downpour overwhelmed local drainage infrastructure and left streets and residential neighborhoods under water, with authorities warning that additional rainfall could complicate recovery efforts.

Okeechobee Mayor Dowling Watford described the destruction during a Monday news conference at the county’s Emergency Operations Center, saying the community was facing an exceptionally rare weather disaster.

“We had a very catastrophic event yesterday with a flood that is a one-in-200-year flood event,” Watford said. “It was very devastating to our community and to our roadways.”

“The recovery is going to be long and hard,” the mayor warned.

The flooding followed an unusually wet period in the region. According to local officials, Okeechobee County had already experienced four storms characterized as once-in-100-year rainfall events over the preceding two months. The repeated downpours left the ground saturated and groundwater levels elevated, greatly reducing the area’s ability to absorb Sunday’s extraordinary rainfall.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for southeastern Okeechobee County, describing the conditions as life-threatening. Authorities reported that sections of State Road 70 and U.S. Highway 441, two important transportation arteries serving the area, had become impassable, while floodwater was entering some structures.

Among the locations identified in official weather warnings were Treasure Island, Taylor Creek, Four Seasons Estates, Whispering Pines, Basswood Estates, and areas surrounding Okeechobee Airport.

The flooding carries particular significance for the Orthodox Jewish community, which has been establishing a growing presence in the Lake Okeechobee region. More than 100 frum families have reportedly moved to Lakefront Estates, a developing Orthodox community near Buckhead Ridge in neighboring Glades County, on the northwestern side of Lake Okeechobee.

The approximately 550-acre development is envisioned as a substantial new frum community, with plans for as many as 1,000 single-family homes and 300 rental units, along with shuls, mikvaos, yeshivos, schools, a kollel, and kosher shopping facilities.

Many of the families relocating to the area have come from New York, drawn by the opportunity to establish a new community with the infrastructure necessary for frum family life. Schools have already opened, and plans for a local Hatzalah South Florida operation are underway.

There have been no confirmed reports indicating that Lakefront Estates itself experienced flooding comparable to the hardest-hit neighborhoods in Okeechobee County. The development is located several miles from the city of Okeechobee, where the most severe damage has been reported.

County officials declared a state of emergency Sunday afternoon and urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel. Public schools were closed Monday because of flooding and concerns about road safety, although Superintendent Dylan Tedders subsequently reported that school buildings had escaped damage and were ready to reopen. Osceola Middle School experienced flooding in its parking lot and bus circulation area.

Emergency crews have been working to reduce standing water and restore normal conditions. Mayor Watford said the South Florida Water Management District activated pumps at Taylor Creek and opened its locks, helping alleviate flooding in the surrounding area.

Okeechobee Public Safety Director and Fire Chief Justin Hazellief said drainage ditches were functioning, but cautioned that the enormous volume of accumulated water would require time to clear. Damage assessment teams were going door to door in the most severely affected neighborhoods to determine how many homes and businesses had been damaged.

The flooding also brought an unusual danger for residents: alligators were spotted in some inundated areas, prompting additional concern about people entering standing water. Florida health officials warned that floodwater can contain bacteria, sewage contamination, and agricultural chemicals, and urged parents to keep children away from flooded streets, drainage ditches, and other submerged areas.

Okeechobee County Sheriff Noel Stephen said water rescue teams had been deployed during the storm to assist residents in low-lying neighborhoods. Authorities also warned motorists that speeding through standing water could cause vehicles to hydroplane or become stranded.

Police Chief Donald Hagan urged residents and sightseers to stay out of flooded neighborhoods unless they had a legitimate reason to be there, explaining that vehicles traveling through deep water can create waves that push additional water into nearby homes.

As floodwaters gradually receded Monday, forecasters continued monitoring the possibility of additional downpours across east-central Florida. The National Weather Service warned that saturated ground and excessive runoff could produce renewed flooding, particularly in low-lying neighborhoods and areas with inadequate drainage.

For residents of Okeechobee and the surrounding region, including families who have recently established new homes in the area’s growing frum community, the immediate concerns remained the condition of local roads, the extent of property damage, and whether additional rainfall would delay recovery efforts.