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[Video below.] Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio forcefully defended Muslim socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a contentious appearance on Fox News Monday, echoing Mamdani’s attacks on Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu and declaring that Netanyahu is “literally a war criminal.” The remarks add to the growing political firestorm over Mamdani’s repeated calls to have the Israeli leader arrested if he visits New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September.

During the interview, de Blasio acknowledged the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre in southern Israel, in which approximately 1,200 people were murdered, but argued that Israel’s military response in Gaza had exceeded what he considered justifiable. He insisted, “Two wrongs don’t make a right,” while making clear that he supports Mamdani’s criticism of Netanyahu.

De Blasio’s comments come just days after Mamdani released a video announcing that his administration had examined whether New York City possessed the legal authority to arrest Netanyahu during a potential September visit. After consulting with city attorneys, Mamdani acknowledged that the city has no such authority, though he nevertheless continued referring to the Israeli premier as a “war criminal” and urged the federal government to enforce the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant instead.

The controversy stems from Mamdani’s long-standing campaign pledge to seek Netanyahu’s arrest should he enter New York City. Although he has since conceded that municipal officials cannot carry out such an arrest, the issue has sparked nationwide debate and drawn sharp responses from leaders across the political spectrum.

President Donald Trump weighed in on the dispute last week, making clear that Netanyahu would be protected during any visit to the United States. Trump declared that the Israeli prime minister “will not be arrested” while on American soil, directly rejecting Mamdani’s position.

The escalating feud has also prompted a public exchange between Mamdani and Netanyahu. After Mamdani recently declared that Netanyahu is “not welcome” in New York City, the Israeli prime minister vowed to travel to New York regardless and dismissed the accusations against him, describing the International Criminal Court’s allegations as baseless while accusing Mamdani of encouraging hostility through his rhetoric.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in 2024 for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity connected to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Israel has categorically rejected the allegations, calling the ICC politically motivated and lacking jurisdiction over Israeli officials. The United States likewise does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction over American or Israeli nationals.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

Three women were wounded in a stabbing attack on a street in northern Paris on Monday, two of them seriously, after a man allegedly attacked them without warning before being subdued and arrested. Although the suspect reportedly declared that “Allah sent me to kill,” French authorities are not currently treating the incident as a terrorist attack.

The attack occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. The three victims, ages 19, 24, and 36, were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said one woman suffered a stab wound to the back while another was stabbed in the abdomen. Both remain in serious condition, though neither is believed to be in life-threatening danger.

The suspect was apprehended by an off-duty police officer who happened to be in the area. After spotting the attacker, the officer pursued him and, with the assistance of several bystanders, restrained the suspect until uniformed police officers arrived.

French authorities have not yet released the identity of the suspect or announced an official motive. According to Nuñez, the attacker made what he described as “incoherent statements” during the assault. However, a source familiar with the investigation told Le Parisien that the suspect claimed “Allah sent him to kill.”

Despite that statement, investigators currently believe the suspect may be suffering from mental illness, and the case is not, at this stage, being investigated as an act of terrorism.

The stabbing came just two days after a deadly vehicle-ramming attack in Paris carried out by a man who had previously attempted to join ISIS. In that attack, one woman was killed and 29 others were injured.

{Matzav.com}

Russia appears to be positioning itself for a dramatic expansion of its war against Ukraine once September’s State Duma elections conclude, with new political messaging, legislative moves, and military preparations suggesting the Kremlin is preparing for a more intensive phase of the conflict, according to a new assessment by the Jamestown Foundation.

As those warnings mount, Ukrainian forces have continued carrying out deep strikes inside Russian territory. In a national address on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Moscow is getting ready to launch a large-scale mobilization campaign while also preparing to deploy tens of thousands of additional North Korean troops.

The assessment comes as Ukraine sustains one of its most extensive long-range attack campaigns since the war began.

Using drones and missiles, Ukrainian forces have repeatedly targeted oil refineries, military logistics hubs, and strategic infrastructure in and around Moscow, highlighting Kyiv’s expanding ability to strike well beyond the battlefield.

At the same time, analysts say the Kremlin has noticeably altered its public messaging.

According to the Washington-based Jamestown Foundation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov’s recent statement describing Russia’s campaign as “a real war” marks a significant shift from the language Moscow has used since launching its invasion in 2022.

Throughout the conflict, Russian officials had consistently referred to the fighting only as a “special military operation.”

Jamestown believes Peskov’s remarks may be designed to prepare the Russian public for a broader military call-up and a prolonged war effort rather than any serious move toward negotiations.

The report highlights four key developments that, taken together, suggest the Kremlin is laying the groundwork for escalation.

The first is reports from sources said to be close to President Vladimir Putin claiming he has “resolved to escalate” the war instead of pursuing a negotiated settlement, reinforcing previous assessments by Western intelligence that his objectives extend far beyond Ukraine.

The second involves growing expectations within Russia that Putin could announce a nationwide mobilization shortly after September’s parliamentary elections.

According to the report, while the elections themselves do not determine Putin’s political future, they provide an opportunity to demonstrate public and elite support before unveiling potentially unpopular military decisions. Jamestown suggests Peskov’s comments may have served as a test of public reaction.

A third warning sign is proposed legislation requiring Russian citizens to obtain exit visas before traveling abroad.

Although the measure is initially aimed at travel to countries Russia considers “unfriendly,” analysts believe it could also make it far more difficult for military-age men to flee the country if another draft is ordered, similar to the mass departures that followed Russia’s partial mobilization in 2022.

The fourth indicator cited by the report is the Kremlin’s continued expansion of its nationwide Cossack mobilization system.

Jamestown says Russia is building reserve formations expected to eventually number about 60,000 personnel while simultaneously creating specialized drone units, expanding reserve training exercises, and strengthening volunteer battalions already fighting in Ukraine.

The report also points to increasing military cooperation between Moscow and North Korea as another major concern.

Speaking Saturday, Zelenskyy said Russia has been preparing since June to receive an additional 30,000 North Korean troops in the Voronezh region.

Russia and North Korea signed a mutual defense agreement in 2024, and Pyongyang has already sent an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 personnel to support Russian military operations.

“Russia wants to receive another 30,000 troops from North Korea,” Zelenskyy said, warning that the partnership is allowing North Korea to gain valuable combat experience while advancing its military technology.

According to Politico, such a deployment would significantly deepen North Korea’s direct involvement in Europe’s largest ground war since World War II.

Zelenskyy also argued that Russia’s battlefield losses continue to exceed the pace of new recruitment.

He said Moscow has enlisted roughly 221,000 soldiers during 2026 while suffering approximately 225,500 casualties, including an estimated 131,000 troops killed.

Despite those losses, Ukrainian intelligence believes the Kremlin still intends to launch another mobilization campaign later this year.

The Institute for the Study of War similarly concluded that Putin is likely to wait until after the September elections before announcing another politically unpopular draft, while continuing to signal that Russia remains committed to achieving its maximum military objectives rather than freezing the conflict.

For Western officials, analysts say the combination of increasingly forceful Kremlin rhetoric, legal measures that could facilitate mobilization, the rapid expansion of reserve forces, and growing North Korean military involvement all point toward preparations for a significantly larger phase of the war as 2026 progresses.

Whether those moves ultimately lead to a nationwide mobilization or a major new offensive remains unclear.

Even so, analysts say the overall pattern increasingly suggests the Kremlin is preparing for escalation—not negotiations—as the next stage of the conflict.

President Donald Trump said the United States has temporarily suspended a broader military campaign against Iran to give diplomacy one more chance, but made clear that the pause will be short-lived if negotiations fail to produce results.

In an interview with Axios, Trump explained that he ordered a halt to expanded U.S. strikes so talks with Tehran could continue. He said the current discussions are centered on securing an agreement that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz while reviving negotiations on a wider nuclear accord.

“We are in very deep talks with Iran. If they don’t work out, we will go back to very strong military action,” the President said.

Pressed on how long he is willing to let diplomacy play out, Trump indicated that Iran has little time to act.

“Not much time. Either it goes fast or not at all,” he said.

Trump said he made the decision on Friday after countries helping mediate the negotiations urged him to hold off on further military action and give the diplomatic process another opportunity.

“All of the people that deal with Iran asked me: ‘Don’t fire,'” Trump said, adding that he believes Iran wants to reach an agreement.

Summing up his reasoning for pausing the strikes, Trump said, “Nothing gained, nothing lost.”

The President also pointed to the market reaction following the pause, noting that oil prices declined while stocks climbed after the decision to suspend additional military operations.

Trump is expected to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday, where Iran is expected to be a central topic of discussion.

“I am going to talk to Bibi about the fact that if I weren’t president, Iran would have had nuclear weapons by now and Israel would have been destroyed,” Trump said.

{Matzav.com}

Previously unseen documentary footage reportedly shows the late Sen. Lindsey Graham aggressively lobbying President Donald Trump and foreign leaders to dramatically expand the military campaign against Iran during the final months of his life. The recordings include a striking exchange in which Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu reportedly cautioned Graham against widening the conflict, urging restraint over a proposed strike on Hezbollah.

The footage, reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, comes from more than 400 hours of filming conducted over the last three years by British filmmaker Alex Holder for an upcoming documentary titled Lindsey’s Game. The project offers an inside look at the South Carolina senator’s influence on Trump’s second-term foreign policy in the weeks leading up to Graham’s unexpected death on July 11.

One of the documentary’s most notable moments reportedly took place on March 4, just days after the United States and Israel launched their current military campaign against Iran.

As Graham prepared to travel to Florida to persuade President Trump to expand the conflict by targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon, he first discussed the proposal during a phone conversation with Netanyahu.

The Israeli prime minister, speaking on speakerphone, urged Graham not to pursue the idea.

“We’re concentrating right now on Iran,” Netanyahu said, according to the footage.

“If we tell Hezbollah that we’re going all the way, we threaten them, but if we actually do it, then they have no reason not to go all the way against us.”

After hearing Netanyahu’s reasoning, Graham abandoned the proposal, responding, “That’s actually good counsel.”

The documentary also reportedly captures Graham’s enthusiastic reaction to the opening phase of the campaign against Iran.

“Look what we’ve done here. I almost cried,” he told the filmmakers, according to Ynet’s account of the Wall Street Journal report. He also recounted a conversation with President Trump, saying, “I talked to Trump this morning, he’s jacked, he said, ‘Best thing I have ever done.’ He loves blowing stuff up.”

According to CNN, Graham went on to compare the wartime partnership between Trump and Netanyahu to that of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill.

In another scene, during a March phone conversation with former Biden National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Graham reportedly predicted that Iranian government forces would begin losing control of major cities within three to four weeks—a forecast that events on the ground ultimately did not bear out.

Holder followed Graham over several years, accompanying him on numerous overseas trips, including meetings with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman aimed at building international backing for the Iran campaign, as well as discussions with senior Israeli officials and members of the Mossad, according to reporting summarized by Political Wire.

The report notes that some individuals who spoke with Graham by telephone were apparently unaware their conversations were being recorded for the documentary.

The footage also reportedly reveals disagreements within President Trump’s foreign policy team.

According to The Times of Israel, Graham told Sullivan that Trump’s Middle East envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were “too conflicted” to oversee diplomacy with Iran and argued that responsibility should instead rest with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Holder said the documentary’s final interview with Graham took place at a bagel shop in Columbia, South Carolina, just weeks before the senator’s death. In that conversation, Graham expressed disappointment after President Trump signed a preliminary agreement with Iran in June.

“He’s letting this thing slip away,” Graham said. “I got to go talk to him.”

Graham, 71, died on July 11 after suffering an aortic dissection following his return from a trip to Ukraine.

Holder is continuing to edit the hundreds of hours of recorded material and hopes to release Lindsey’s Game in the coming months.

A Bronx mother who gave 12-year-old Jacob Freytes the bicycle he rode just one day before he was fatally struck by a stray bullet is blaming New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for allowing gang violence to spiral out of control in the neighborhood where the tragedy unfolded, the NY Post reports.

Jacob, the son of a retired NYPD sergeant, was riding his bicycle to Wanda Deli Grocery near the Grand Concourse shortly before 5 p.m. Shabbos when gunfire erupted. Investigators believe a suspected gang member opened fire at rivals, and one of the bullets struck the innocent boy, killing him.

Miledy Rosario, a mother of four whose own 12-year-old daughter was one of Jacob’s close friends, said city leaders have failed to address the persistent gang activity that has plagued the Mount Eden neighborhood for years.

“I feel that the mayor that’s celebrating in the parade right now should take better care of this block, because there’s a lot of gang members,” Rosario said, referring to Mamdani’s appearance in the Bronx Dominican Day Parade on Sunday.

She said violence at that intersection has become a recurring problem that city officials have failed to stop.

“There’s a lot of gang members. This is not the first time this thing happened here. This has been happening a lot of times. He [the mayor] should know that there is a lot of gangs on that block there, and they had to be a cleanup,” Rosario said.

Rosario argued that promises to combat crime have not translated into meaningful action and noted the apparent absence of police officers at the location on the day of the shooting.

“He’s talking about stopping violence. But it is still continuing. And so if they don’t clean that block there, we’re gonna continue to see the same thing,” she added. “Before there was police on that corner. But yesterday there was no one there.”

The grieving mother also recalled her final conversation with Jacob just one day before the shooting. After purchasing a new bicycle for her daughter, she offered Jacob the old one, an act of kindness that would take on heartbreaking significance less than 24 hours later.

“I bought a new bicycle for my daughter, and I asked him, ‘Hey, do you want [her’s]?’” she told The Post.

“He said, ‘Oh, thank you so much. 
I’m gonna talk to my mom.’ And they gave him permission to have the bicycle. … And, you know, he was really happy,” Rosario said.

Fighting back emotion, Rosario said the random nature of the killing has left her terrified for her own children.

“I’m a mom of four kids, and I’m really scared. This kid was just running around on a bicycle, and got shot. 
Jacob didn’t deserve this.”

Authorities say the Mount Eden neighborhood has long been contested by the violent Trinitarios and Sev Side Pinni street gangs, and investigators are examining whether members of those organizations were involved in the shooting.

Police arrested 45-year-old William Ferrer outside his residence on Sunday in connection with Jacob’s killing.

According to law enforcement sources, Ferrer has an extensive criminal history stretching back to 1999, including prior arrests involving drug possession, marijuana possession, driving while intoxicated, and possession of stolen property.

Following the shooting, Mamdani issued a statement expressing sympathy for Jacob’s family and the other victims.

“My heart breaks” for Jacob’s “family, friends and all those who loved him.”

“Their loss is unimaginable. I am praying for the speedy recovery of the other two victims of this shooting. I’m grateful for the hospital staff, and the NYPD for their work to find those responsible for this heinous act,” Mamdani said.

“Our children should be able to ride their bikes on a nice summer day in their neighborhood without fear of being shot. We cannot accept this violence as normal.”

Jacob’s father, Jesus Freytes, is a retired NYPD sergeant who previously served in the same Bronx precinct where his son was killed.

Rosario’s daughter, Marlyn, who had been friends with Jacob, struggled to comprehend the senseless loss, saying her classmate “was at the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Daniel Rosario, Miledy’s husband, said the shooting has devastated not only his own family but many neighborhood children who regularly played with Jacob.

“My kids are traumatized. My daughter, who was just talking to you, was in tears yesterday. Crying all night. You see them running around the street now, but they are traumatized,” he said.

Remembering the simple moments the children shared together, he added, “[Jacob] put up a little hoop outside our apartment door, and he would play basketball. He had a little ball. And my son told me last night, ‘Dad, I won’t be able to play basketball no more.’ The kids are traumatized.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump on Monday highlighted a blistering social media post condemning Tucker Carlson after the commentator announced that he was leaving the Republican Party, sharing criticism that accused Carlson of abandoning conservative principles and becoming increasingly hostile toward Israel.

The post, authored by conservative media personality Wayne Allyn Root, cited a New York Post editorial attacking Carlson and claimed the former Fox News host had undergone a dramatic ideological transformation.

According to Root, Carlson “caught a case of ‘Jew Derangement Syndrome.'” Which “led him down a dark, destructive path. A conservative patriot hero who destroyed his life and committed career suicide. Never seen this before. Tragic.”

President Trump also shared a link directing readers to the New York Post editorial referenced in Root’s post.

In its editorial, the New York Post blasted Carlson’s decision to abandon the Republican Party, arguing that his departure should be welcomed rather than mourned.

The newspaper wrote that the “only sensible response is, ‘Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.'”

The editorial contended that Carlson has embraced what it characterized as an “eccentric, toxic agenda,” accusing him of becoming “mysteriously pro-Vladimir Putin,” “obsessively anti-Israel,” and “weirdly ashamed of America.”

It also rejected Carlson’s suggestion that large numbers of Republicans would follow him out of the party, describing the prediction as “bizarre,” while also criticizing his recent remarks directed at Vice President JD Vance.

The editorial concluded by arguing that Republicans “can happily cheer his exit” and added that it hopes Carlson “gets the professional help he so plainly needs.”

{Matzav.com}

A Jewish community outside Paris was left reeling after thieves stole at least 12 Sifrei Torah during a carefully orchestrated overnight break-in at the Grand Synagogue of Levallois.

The shocking theft was discovered Monday morning by the shul’s Rav, Rav Chalom Lellouche, as he was preparing the shul for a bar mitzvah celebration, according to the French newspaper Le Parisien.

Authorities were immediately alerted, and police have launched an investigation into the burglary.

Despite the shul being equipped with security cameras and an extensive surveillance system, preliminary findings indicate that two suspects managed to break into the building and make off with the Sifrei Torah in what investigators believe was a meticulously planned operation.

Levallois Mayor Agnès Pottier-Dumas condemned the theft, saying the Jewish community had been attacked “at what is most sacred and precious to it.”

{Matzav.com}

Naftali Bennett declared Monday that, if he returns to power as Israel’s next prime minister, one of his first moves will be to officially designate Qatar as an enemy state, accusing the Gulf nation of bankrolling terrorism and orchestrating a worldwide campaign aimed at undermining Israel.

Speaking at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) National Security Conference, the former prime minister and chairman of the Beyachad (“Together”) party said Qatar poses a direct threat to Israel and should be treated accordingly.

“In the next government, I will declare Qatar an enemy state,” Bennett said. “It is a cancer that sends metastases into the West, and even into the office of Israel’s prime minister.”

Bennett expanded on his accusations, arguing that Qatar’s actions go far beyond regional politics and are part of a broader effort to weaken and ultimately eliminate the Jewish state.

“Qatar is a violent antisemitic cancer that sends metastases into the West and even into the office of Israel’s prime minister, with the goal of destroying the State of Israel,” he said.

He also blamed Qatar for playing a central role in supporting Hamas and other Islamist terror organizations, saying the country’s involvement has had deadly consequences for Israel.

“As the principal financier of Islamist terrorism, headed by Hamas, Qatar’s hands are stained with the blood of our sons and daughters who were murdered, raped, burned, and abducted on October 7,” he said.

Bennett further alleged that Doha has spent years building an extensive international influence apparatus designed to damage Israel’s standing abroad, singling out the Al Jazeera network as a key component of that strategy.

“Qatar has built a global influence operation to destroy Israel. In a sophisticated manner, it operates and funds the antisemitic Al Jazeera network, which amplifies Hamas’s messages and incites against Israel,” he said.

Concluding his remarks, Bennett argued that any official investigation into the failures surrounding the October 7 massacre should closely examine Qatar’s role, asserting that such a finding would inevitably lead to recognizing the country as a hostile state.

“Had even the most basic commission of inquiry into October 7 been established, one of its first conclusions would have been that Qatar is an enemy state, and that its leaders seek to destroy Israel,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

In a rare diplomatic and interfaith encounter, a delegation of senior rabbis from across the Muslim world—including Iran’s chief rabbi—was received Monday at the Lusail Palace in Doha by Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to offer condolences following the passing of the Emir’s father and predecessor.

The delegation represented the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States and was headed by Rabbi Mendy Chitrik, chairman of the organization and Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of Istanbul. During the visit, the rabbis conveyed their condolences to the Qatari ruler over the death of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

Joining Rabbi Mendy Chitrik were his son, Qatar’s Chief Rabbi Eliyahu Chitrik, and Iran’s Chief Rabbi Yehuda Gerami.

According to the organization, the Emir thanked Rabbi Chitrik for the delegation’s visit and expressed his appreciation for the condolences offered on behalf of the alliance.

Also participating in the meeting were Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, as well as Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Khulaifi, Chief of the Amiri Diwan.

The Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States said the purpose of the visit was to extend condolences to the Emir, the Qatari royal family, and the people of Qatar following the death of the country’s former ruler.

The organization noted that it provides religious leadership and support to Jewish communities throughout the Muslim world, including serving the Jewish community and Jewish visitors in Qatar through Rabbi Eliyahu Chitrik.

Following the audience at the palace, Rabbi Mendy Chitrik expressed his gratitude to the Emir for hosting the delegation.

“My sincere thanks to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for warmly receiving our delegation of the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States,” Rabbi Chitrik said.

He added, “Grateful for His Highness’s support in ensuring Jewish life can flourish in Qatar and for enabling my son Rabbi Eliyahu Chitrik to serve the Jewish community and its many visitors.”

{Matzav.com}

A new radio panel has sparked debate within the Chareidi community over whether yeshiva bochurim should be visiting the Knesset during the ongoing military draft crisis. While the participants agreed that such visits are not inherently prohibited, they argued that, in the current political climate, they project the wrong image and could damage the public standing of the Torah world.

The discussion aired during the debut of a new segment, Bein HaSedorim, on Kol Chai Radio’s Seder Shlishi program, hosted by Yossi Chaim Maimon. Panelists Yanki Haas, Pinchas Ben Ziv, Pinchas Binder, and Nati Shulman weighed in after yeshiva bochurim were seen in the Knesset visitors’ gallery during debates directly affecting the Chareidi community.

Shulman acknowledged that there is nothing inherently wrong with visiting the Knesset but argued that the timing makes it a serious mistake from a public relations standpoint. “There’s nothing wrong with it—go ahead. Watch a soccer game at home, in your room, or in your office, but don’t go to the Knesset when every headline is attacking yeshiva students,” he said.

Binder agreed, saying that because the Chareidi public is currently under intense scrutiny, yeshiva bochurim should be especially mindful of how their actions are perceived. “Nobody sees the students who are actually learning because they’re in the yeshivos. Who do people see? The weaker students. There’s no need to poke anyone in the eye,” he said.

Haas emphasized that every yeshiva bochur represents the Torah world wherever he goes. He said students must think carefully about the place, the timing, and the manner in which they appear in public, particularly at a symbolic institution such as the Knesset.

Ben Ziv argued that journalists and media figures have no authority to determine who qualifies as a yeshiva bochur. Nevertheless, he said he believes such visits are inappropriate. “It’s obvious that it’s not appropriate for him to go there, just as it’s not appropriate for him to go to many other places,” he said.

The panel also noted that entry into the Knesset requires authorization from someone inside the building, suggesting that responsibility does not rest solely with the students themselves but also with those who facilitated their visit.

The discussion concluded with broad agreement that the Torah world should not feel obligated to apologize to critics who are determined to attack it regardless. At the same time, the participants stressed that bnei yeshivos have a responsibility to exercise good judgment, act with dignity, and promote Kiddush Hashem, particularly during a period when even a single photograph of a handful of yeshiva bochurim can be used to paint the entire Chareidi community in a negative light.

As thousands of yeshiva students face uncertainty over their military status, Israel’s Employment Service has clarified that Chareidim who have not resolved their draft status cannot be denied employment solely because of their military standing. The clarification comes in response to questions about whether such individuals may work at polling stations during the upcoming Knesset elections.

Following an inquiry  regarding the employment of young Chareidi men who have not regularized their status with the military authorities, the Employment Service said it does not examine the military status of job seekers. At the same time, it stressed that eligibility requirements for election-related positions are determined exclusively by the Central Elections Committee.

Earlier Sunday, the Central Elections Committee and the Employment Service announced a broad partnership to recruit thousands of workers for Israel’s 26th Knesset elections. The hiring campaign includes positions such as polling station attendants, logistics personnel, technical support staff, administrative employees, and other election-related roles.

In light of that announcement, the Employment Service was asked whether Chareidi draft evaders would be eligible to participate in the recruitment effort for Election Day jobs.

Responding to the inquiry, the Employment Service stated: “The Employment Service is obligated to operate in accordance with the principle prohibiting discrimination (Section 42 of the Employment Service Law) and to refer job seekers regardless of their military status, and there is an absolute prohibition against requesting or making use of a military profile.”

The agency added, however, that employees of the Central Elections Committee are subject to separate legal eligibility requirements.

“However, employees of the Central Elections Committee are subject to unique and stringent eligibility requirements established by law, including prohibitions relating to political affiliation or certain criminal convictions, and the Employment Service is not authorized to intervene in those requirements or in the employment relationship itself.”

Earlier in the day, the Central Elections Committee also addressed the question.

In its response, the committee said: “The Central Elections Committee attaches great importance to the participation of the entire population in the election operation, whether as polling committee secretaries and election integrity supervisors, committee members, or observers, all subject to the provisions of the law. The committee is responsible for conducting the elections, but, as is well known, it is not an authority with investigative or law enforcement powers.”

The committee further explained: “The eligibility requirements for these positions are established by law. Anyone who meets those requirements may be appointed to the position. In any event, the committee’s consistent position is that the polling station is neutral territory, and considerations unrelated to the proper conduct of the elections should not be introduced into it.”

The clarification comes as the Central Elections Committee and the Employment Service move forward with plans to recruit thousands of workers for the upcoming election. Under the initiative, the Employment Service will assist in filling polling station, logistics, technical support, administrative, and other positions through a dedicated recruitment website and direct outreach to job seekers across the country.

The announcement also follows an earlier decision by the Central Elections Committee that no enforcement operations targeting draft evaders will be conducted on Election Day, ensuring that all eligible voters can cast their ballots without fear of arrest.

At the same time, officials emphasized that employment for Election Day remains governed by the legal eligibility requirements established by the Central Elections Committee.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

I am absolutely boiling, and I know I can’t be the only one. Can somebody please explain to me when this became normal?

We pay $3,500 or more for HALF A SUMMER of camp. Half a summer! If you have a few children in camp, you’re talking about tens of thousands of dollars. Tens of thousands! We break ourselves all year to pay tuition. We borrow. We juggle credit cards. We cut back on family vacations because camp IS the vacation. We do whatever it takes because we want our children to have a wonderful summer.

And then comes Visiting Day. Then the next thing you know, you’re handing out envelopes. Tips for the counselors. Tips for the assistant counselors. Tips for the rebbeim. Tips for everybody.

Why? Somebody please explain it to me. Why am I paying your employees? Isn’t that what I already paid camp tuition for?

Yesterday I went to visit my children. Between all my kids, I spent almost $1,000 in tips. One thousand dollars! For what? Didn’t I already pay the camp? Wasn’t the tuition supposed to cover salaries? Or was that just the down payment?

If a counselor deserves more money—and many of them do—PAY HIM MORE. If a rebbe deserves a raise—and many of them do—PAY HIM MORE. That is the camp’s responsibility. Not mine.

Why are parents subsidizing camp payroll after already paying outrageous tuition?

Every year camp gets more expensive. Every year there are more fees. Transportation. Trips. Canteen. Laundry. This fee. That fee.

And now another thousand dollars because apparently the camp forgot to include employee salaries in the tuition bill. Enough already.

If the real cost of camp is another $300 per camper, then have the courage to charge another $300. At least be honest about it. Don’t smile at us all year and then quietly expect us to finance the payroll ourselves.

And before anybody says, “It’s hakaras hatov,” let me say something. Real hakaras hatov comes from the heart. When someone changes your child’s life, you’ll buy him a gift. You’ll write him a letter. You’ll show appreciation because you want to. The minute it becomes expected, the minute everyone is comparing envelopes and wondering what’s “normal,” it stops being hakaras hatov and becomes another invoice.

The camps should be ashamed that this has become the culture.

Parents are stretched to the limit. Every dollar matters. Yet somehow we’re expected to shell out hundreds and hundreds—and for many families, thousands—of extra dollars because camps won’t simply pay their own staff what they deserve.

Enough is enough.

Pay your own employees.

A Very Frustrated Parent

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Dear Matzav Inbox,

I wanted to share a new, completely free community initiative in case you feel it would be of interest to your readers.

Tosfos Shabbos (shabboshemeilizok.com) is a communal zechus board built around one simple idea: taking on a few extra minutes of Shabbos—a few minutes before Shabbos begins and a few minutes after it ends—as a zechus for a refuah or l’ilui nishmas.

Making a pledge takes about 30 seconds, and each commitment is added to a shared, growing total, allowing the entire kehillah’s additional Shabbos observance to become one collective zechus on behalf of every name listed on the board.

The site also automatically generates a Mi Shebeirach and Tehillim for each name, along with a printable “Names to Daven For” card that can be used at the Shabbos table.

The initiative was established l’ilui nishmas Yissachar Dov and Yossi Loriner.

There is nothing to purchase and nothing to install. The goal is simply to make it easy for anyone to increase kevod Shabbos and participate in a meaningful communal zechus.

Tizku l’mitzvos and thank you for your consideration.

Boruch Loriner
bloriner@gmail.com
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shabboshemeilizok.com

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It is with great sadness that Matzav.comreports the passing of Reb Yaakov Aharon Farber z”l, a prominent Belzer activist and one of the driving forces behind the Ma’alos Tzur military technology program, an initiative designed to enable Chareidim to serve in specially tailored IDF frameworks while maintaining a fully Chareidi lifestyle. He passed away Sunday night at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Yerushalayim after a prolonged illness. He was 32.

Rabbi Farber had battled a serious illness over the past year, prompting widespread tefillos for his recovery. In recent days his condition deteriorated, and he passed away as family members and those gathered at his bedside.

In recent years, Rabbi Farber became widely known for establishing the Ma’alos Tzur program, a specialized technological track within the IDF created for Chareidi participants. The framework was designed to allow recruits to serve while preserving their Chareidi way of life, including regular tefillah, Torah study, and strict adherence to religious standards.

Friends and acquaintances described Rabbi Farber as a yerei Shamayim whose boundless energy and dedication were devoted to serving the broader community. They recalled his exceptional selflessness, refined character, and warm, welcoming demeanor toward everyone he encountered.

He is survived by his wife and five young children, the youngest of whom is just three months old.

With just 100 days remaining until the midterm elections, a new Decision Desk HQ forecast projects Democrats as the favorites to retake control of the House of Representatives, while Republicans remain slight favorites to hold the Senate in what is shaping up to be a closely contested election cycle.

Both parties are entering the final stretch facing significant political challenges that could reshape the landscape before voters head to the polls.

Republicans are grappling with renewed tensions involving Iran after hopes for a winding down of the conflict faded. The latest escalation has raised fears that the fighting could spread further, particularly as the Iran-backed Houthis threaten shipping through the Red Sea. The resulting increase in oil prices has added another layer of pressure to the Trump administration as economic concerns remain front and center for voters.

Democrats, meanwhile, are confronting growing internal divisions over the party’s future direction. Victories by democratic socialist and anti-establishment candidates in congressional primaries have fueled concerns among moderates that Republicans will portray the party as increasingly aligned with its progressive wing.

President Trump and Republican leaders have made that argument a central part of their campaign strategy, seeking to persuade voters that Democratic control of Congress would move the country too far to the left.

As a result, both parties enter the final 100 days with reasons for both optimism and concern.

“It’s a competitive situation in both the Senate and the House,” said Geoffrey Skelley, DDHQ’s chief elections analyst.

Democrats remain encouraged by the outlook in the House, where Republicans hold only a slim majority during a midterm election year—a political environment that has historically favored the party out of power. In the Senate, however, Democrats face a steeper climb, needing to flip several seats in states won by President Trump.

Decision Desk HQ currently projects Democrats winning a 225-210 House majority, giving them a 15-seat edge, while Republicans are forecast to maintain Senate control in a 50-50 chamber, with Vice President JD Vance casting any tie-breaking vote. As of late July, DDHQ gives Democrats a 60% chance of winning the House and Republicans a 60% chance of retaining the Senate.

The latest projection reflects a tightening House race compared to earlier this month, when the model suggested Democrats could gain as many as 25 seats.

Polling on the generic congressional ballot also indicates a narrowing advantage for Democrats.

According to DDHQ’s polling average, Democrats currently lead Republicans by four percentage points on the generic ballot. Recent surveys from YouGov/The Economist placed Democrats ahead by five points, while Morning Consult found a three-point advantage. Just a month ago, the Democratic lead averaged between six and seven points.

An Emerson College Polling survey offered a more favorable outlook for Democrats, giving them an 11-point lead on the generic ballot, although analysts caution it is too early to determine whether that represents a broader trend or simply an outlier.

Skelley said the Emerson findings “suggests a real range of opinions about what things are going to look like in the fall.”

Democrats hope dissatisfaction with President Trump and frustration over a Republican-controlled Congress will translate into electoral gains.

Much of that dissatisfaction has been driven by voter concerns about the economy, which continues to weigh on Trump’s approval ratings. Analysts expect economic issues to dominate the 2026 campaign, particularly as they intersect with developments in the conflict involving Iran.

“The big question is: will the Iranian conflict … will people being concerned about that ratcheting up, is that going to create reverberations in things like the generic ballot that signal ‘OK, Democrats’ advantage is growing again’?” Skelley said.

Earlier this year, Democrats’ lead on the generic ballot widened as tensions with Iran intensified and gasoline prices climbed. As energy costs eased during the spring, Republicans regained some ground in polling.

“The challenge for Republicans is the Iranian conflict is heating up again,” Skelley said, pointing to recent increases in gas prices as the conflict has escalated.

“This is politically very bad for the GOP. For them to try to make a case that Democrats are too extreme, it’s a lot easier to make that case if economic conditions are at least OK,” he said.

Polling conducted this month by The Economist/YouGov also highlighted voter skepticism about the conflict, with 57% saying the war was the wrong decision. While nearly 80% of self-identified MAGA Republicans supported the military campaign, only 51% of non-MAGA Republicans—a group representing roughly one-quarter of GOP respondents—expressed the same view.

Some Republican lawmakers have also voiced concern that Trump, who has dismissed affordability worries as a Democratic “hoax,” may be out of step with voters on economic issues.

“Given that President Trump was elected in part on the strength of how people viewed his handling of the economy during his first term … for polling to show sizable majorities disapproving of his handling of the economy or inflation or other things like that, it’s just very bad,” Skelley said.

Despite Republican concerns, Democrats face their own political hurdles.

Still searching for a clear national leader following their 2024 defeats and looking ahead to the 2028 presidential race, Democrats remain divided over whether the party should move toward the center or embrace its increasingly energized progressive base.

Candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America have scored several high-profile primary victories this cycle, while progressive challengers have defeated a number of longtime incumbents, signaling growing influence within the party.

President Trump has repeatedly attacked the democratic socialist movement, describing it as “communism” and “the biggest threat to our nation there is.”

Republicans “are going to be, from here until the fall, trying to sort of blanket the opposition with terms like ‘communists’ and ‘socialists,’” Skelley said.

One of the most closely watched races next month will take place in Michigan, where centrist Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens faces progressive challenger Abdul El-Sayed in a competitive Senate primary. The winner is expected to face presumed Republican nominee Mike Rogers in a race Cook Political Report rates as a toss-up, while DDHQ currently views it as leaning Democratic.

Some Democrats worry that if El-Sayed wins the Aug. 4 primary, Republicans could gain an advantage in the general election.

According to DDHQ, a Republican victory in Michigan would increase the party’s chances of holding the Senate to 86%.

“If Democrats are going to find a path to a majority, they cannot afford to lose Michigan,” Skelley said.

Even with Democrats positioned to make gains in the House, Skelley cautioned that the current political environment falls well short of the overwhelming Democratic momentum seen in 2018.

At this stage of the 2018 midterm campaign, Democrats held a seven- to eight-point lead on the generic congressional ballot—roughly double their current advantage, according to DDHQ.

With just over three months until Election Day, both parties are increasingly focused on a handful of closely contested races that are likely to determine control of Congress, making battleground states such as Michigan central to each side’s path to victory.

{Matzav.com}

Israel has approved the legal framework to allow an international security force to enter Gaza as part of President Donald Trump’s proposed ceasefire and postwar plan, according to an Israeli official. The move comes just one day before Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu departs for Washington for high-level meetings with the president.

The Israeli official said Netanyahu’s Security Cabinet voted Sunday to authorize the legal mechanism needed for the deployment of the multinational force. Netanyahu is scheduled to leave for the United States on Monday and is expected to meet with President Trump on Tuesday.

According to the official, the mission—known as the International Stabilization Force—will consist of approximately 200 personnel drawn from what were described as “friendly countries such as Uganda and Morocco.” The troops will operate only in areas outside direct Israeli control, and each participating country’s deployment will require Israel’s individual approval before entering Gaza.

The official did not indicate when the force is expected to begin operating inside the enclave.

Large portions of Gaza remain devastated following nearly two years of war that began after the Hamas-led terrorist attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023.

Following the ceasefire agreement reached in October, President Trump unveiled a broader peace proposal for Gaza that called for a dramatic increase in humanitarian assistance, governance by Palestinian civilian technocrats, Hamas to surrender its weapons, and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Implementation of that framework has largely stalled. The proposed civilian governing body, known as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, has yet to establish a presence inside the territory.

Israel currently maintains effective control over roughly 64% of Gaza, while nearly all of the enclave’s approximately two million residents remain concentrated in a narrow coastal area still controlled by Hamas. Many continue to live in temporary tents or damaged buildings under difficult humanitarian conditions.

Hamas has continued to reject demands that it disarm, while Israel has announced plans to increase the territory under its control to approximately 70% of Gaza as military operations and near-daily strikes continue.

Trump’s proposal also envisions the creation of a Board of Peace that would serve as the international body responsible for overseeing implementation of the overall peace plan, including supervision of the International Stabilization Force.

Earlier this month, an official with the Board of Peace said the organization is preparing a pilot humanitarian zone inside Gaza in an effort to advance the president’s broader plan for the territory.

Nickolay Mladenov, President Trump’s envoy to Gaza for the Board of Peace, praised Israel’s decision to approve the multinational deployment.

“It is a critical part of the agreed framework for stabilizing Gaza, supporting demilitarization, and enabling the transition to effective Palestinian transitional administration under the @NCAG,” he wrote on X, referring to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.

{Matzav.com}

The chairwoman of the New Jersey Republican Party says the more than 6,600 non-citizens recently identified on the state’s voter rolls represent only a fraction of the problem, arguing that the true number of improper registrations is likely much higher and that additional revelations are expected.

Speaking Sunday on 77 WABC’s “Cats Roundtable,” New Jersey GOP Chairwoman Christine Hanlon disputed the scope of the figures released by Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill, insisting the problem extends well beyond what has been publicly acknowledged.

“They’re indicating it’s over 6,000, but I know it’s more than that,” Hanlon told host John Catsimatidis.

“So it’s more to come,” she added.

Last week, Sherrill disclosed that more than 6,000 non-citizens were mistakenly placed on New Jersey’s voter rolls and that roughly 400 of those individuals ultimately cast ballots in state elections between June 2023 and June 2024.

According to state officials, the improper registrations occurred during the administration of Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy through the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission’s automatic voter registration system, which enrolls eligible residents when they apply for identification.

Reacting to the governor’s disclosure, Hanlon argued that Republicans have been raising concerns about election integrity for years.

“Wow. This is something we’ve been talking about for a long time,” Hanlon said Sunday of the egregious snafu.

“They admitted non-citizens were on the voting rolls.”

The U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into the matter. Meanwhile, New Jersey officials and software vendor IDEMIA have each pointed to the other as being responsible for the breakdown. Sherrill’s administration has also retained the law firm CSG Law to conduct an independent review.

The governor attributed the registrations to what she described as a “serious software error” within the state’s motor vehicle system involving French technology company IDEMIA.

IDEMIA, however, has rejected that explanation, saying the state possessed information identifying those applicants as non-citizens but nevertheless proceeded to register them to vote.

Automatic voter registration through departments of motor vehicles is used in dozens of states across the country.

Hanlon argued that even a relatively small number of improper registrations could have significant consequences in close elections.

“Elections come down to a small number of votes. This type of issue cannot be dismissed or pushed aside,” Hanlon said.

According to Ballotpedia, more than a dozen New Jersey elections over the past decade have been decided by margins of 10 votes or fewer.

Hanlon called for a comprehensive investigation and broad policy reforms, rejecting suggestions that the issue was simply an isolated technical failure.

“Full investigations need to happen, and policy changes need to happen,” Hanlon said. “The governor of New Jersey is trying to say, ‘It’s this one glitch, one tiny thing. A software glitch during a short time that allowed this to happen.’ I know that’s not the whole story.

“We are pushing to expose the rest of the story and really push for policy changes,” she said. “It is bad policies that lead to these election-integrity issues.

“It’s the main focus for me. It’s the main focus for the RNC [Republican National Committee], and for so many of our Republicans across our state and across the country. We need election integrity.”

The controversy comes as congressional Republicans continue advancing legislation aimed at tightening election procedures, an effort strongly backed by President Trump.

In a recent primetime address, Trump asserted that nearly 250,000 non-citizens had been registered to vote across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, and Nevada, including as many as 35,152 in New Jersey alone.

Last week, the Republican-controlled House approved legislation that paired a voter identification requirement with a ban on members of Congress trading individual stocks. Every Republican voted in favor of the bill, while all but 13 Democrats opposed it, arguing that the voter ID provision would make it more difficult for eligible Americans to cast ballots.

Trump has also made passage of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act one of his top legislative priorities for 2026. The proposal would require documentary proof of citizenship before registering to vote in federal elections, though it has stalled in the Senate. Republican lawmakers are now pursuing a revised version in hopes of advancing the legislation.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump has forcefully rejected reports suggesting he postponed a major military offensive against Iran because of dwindling U.S. missile stockpiles, insisting America has more than enough munitions to sustain any operation.

Reports published Sunday by The Wall Street Journal, confirming an earlier account by The New York Times, said Trump decided against immediately expanding the military campaign against Iran while his administration pursues diplomatic efforts aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and evaluates the implications of reduced inventories of key air defense weapons.

According to U.S. officials cited by the newspaper, the military had been prepared as of Friday to launch a large-scale series of strikes against Iran that could have continued for as long as two weeks. The operation was reportedly postponed to allow diplomatic initiatives to move forward and because senior officials were weighing how such an offensive could affect shrinking supplies of Patriot missiles and other interceptor systems.

Those officials emphasized that no final decision has been made and that Trump retains the option of authorizing the strikes if circumstances warrant, noting that the situation remains highly fluid.

The Wall Street Journal also reported that Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has kept the White House informed about declining inventories of air defense interceptors. According to the officials, Caine believes the current stockpiles would not prevent renewed large-scale military action against Iran but could increase the risks associated with such an operation.

A spokesman for Caine declined to comment on the general’s confidential discussions with the president.

Other officials told the newspaper that Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), believes the United States can manage with current interceptor inventories because an expanded American air campaign would significantly reduce Iran’s ability to launch large-scale missile attacks. A CENTCOM spokesman declined to discuss Cooper’s operational planning.

Trump flatly rejected the suggestion that U.S. weapons supplies are becoming a limiting factor, telling The Wall Street Journal, “we have far more munitions than anyone in the world, and far more than we need.”

Before Friday’s high-level meeting on whether to broaden military operations against Iran, Trump stressed that U.S. forces remained fully prepared while leaving the door open to a diplomatic resolution.

“Look, we’re locked and loaded,” Trump told reporters Friday afternoon, adding, “We’re ready to go, but we’re talking to them, so maybe there will be, maybe there won’t be a tipping point.”

In an interview with Axios published Thursday, Trump also signaled that he was seriously considering a far more expansive military campaign against Iran, declaring, “I am considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before. I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it.”