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The U.S. military has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones during the war with Iran, wiping out roughly one-quarter of a fleet that numbered approximately 185 aircraft and inflicting losses valued at more than $1.3 billion, according to officials.

Each MQ-9 is estimated to cost between $30 million and $50 million, depending on the weapons, sensors and other equipment installed aboard the aircraft.

The drones have been deployed extensively for surveillance and precision-strike missions around the Strait of Hormuz. Their relatively slow speed and operations at lower altitudes, however, have reportedly left them vulnerable to attacks by Iran and its proxies in Yemen and Iraq.

Not all of the aircraft were lost to enemy fire. Some Reapers reportedly crashed after their operators lost communications with the unmanned aircraft.

Lt. Gen. David Tabor told the Senate in May that the number of MQ-9s remaining in the American fleet had fallen to approximately 135. The Air Force is now examining ways to rapidly rebuild its inventory following the substantial wartime losses.

The depletion of the Reaper fleet comes amid broader concerns over American weapons stockpiles following years of extensive military assistance to Ukraine and heavy expenditures of sophisticated munitions during the war with Iran.

An analysis by the American Enterprise Institute warned that replenishing some of the most critical weapons could take years because of limitations in U.S. defense manufacturing capacity.

One particularly significant constraint involves THAAD missile interceptors. Current production capacity is limited to approximately 96 interceptors annually, while the Pentagon is seeking nearly 2,600 over the next five years. At the present production rate, manufacturing that quantity would take an estimated 27 years.

Todd Harrison, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, noted that producing a single THAAD interceptor takes nearly three years. As a result, even orders placed immediately would not begin producing significant quantities of additional interceptors until late in President Trump’s current term.

President Trump has sought tens of billions of dollars to replenish U.S. weapons inventories and expand production capacity.

The Pentagon, however, has pushed back against claims that American weapons stockpiles are becoming dangerously depleted.

{Matzav.com}

Ahead of the opening of Zman Elul in kollelim, Rav Yisroel Zicherman presented a series of practical and timely questions to his rebbi, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, addressing issues ranging from computers and cellphones in kollelim to struggling avreichim, family responsibilities and the importance of learning sugyos through practical halachah.

Rav Zicherman, Rav of Achuzas Brachfeld in Modiin Illit and the nasi of several kollelim, visited Rav Zilberstein at his home as the Torah world prepares for the beginning of Zman Elul in yeshivos and kollelim.

Rav Zicherman himself spent many years learning in Kollel Bais Dovid in Cholon under Rav Zilberstein. Drawing upon contemporary questions facing roshei kollel and avreichim, he presented his rebbi with a wide-ranging series of educational and halachic dilemmas.

The following is the full Q&A as transcribed by Matzav.com staff:

The Importance of Learning a Sugya Through Practical Halachah

Rav Zicherman: In our network of kollelim, we are currently learning the melachos of Shabbos. As we were privileged to learn in Kollel Bais Dovid, we study the sugyos all the way through to practical halachah. There are avreichim, including young men who have just come from yeshivos and are accustomed to the analytical style of yeshivah learning, who are now transitioning to learning asukei shemaitsa aliba dehilchasa — from the sugyos and Rishonim through the Tur, Shulchan Aruch and its commentaries. What is the proper way to instill in them an appreciation for learning halachah so that they become fully immersed in it?

Rav Zilberstein: One must know that an avreich who merits reaching asukei shemaitsa aliba dehilchasa is among the greatest that our nation possesses, because the highest level among Klal Yisroel is attained by one who merits issuing halachic rulings for the public. As explained in Maseches Gittin regarding the child who was imprisoned: “I am certain that he will become one who renders halachic rulings in Yisroel.”

Any talmid who is capable of reaching this level — if he is not lacking in understanding — will jump at the opportunity. He knows that his learning is taking him all the way to a conclusion and to practical application, and there is no greater satisfaction than that. Already while learning Abaye and Rava, one should be thinking about how the discussion emerges in practical halachah and looking into the poskim.

In addition, it is appropriate for the rosh kollel to present a fascinating question connected to the sugya each day, with the avreichim required to derive the answer through their learning.

How to Deal With an Avreich Who Arrives Late or Talks During Seder

Rav Zicherman: Is it appropriate for a rosh kollel to reprimand an avreich regarding keeping the sedorim and talking — only when it disturbs the other members of the chaburah, or also in order to help the avreich himself advance? Similarly, if an avreich sometimes arrives late and disrupts the schedule of the kollel, is it appropriate to remove him after he has been warned?

Rav Zilberstein: Removing him is out of the question. We are speaking about bnei Torah. What must be done is to investigate what lies behind his lateness, determine what is troubling him, and try to resolve the problem and help him.

Primarily, that avreich should be taught that he can merit reaching the King — Hakadosh Boruch Hu — and this is accomplished through studying practical halachah. If a person understands this, his heart opens much more and he will flourish.

Rav Zicherman: I remember when I was privileged to learn under the Rav in the kollel. We would travel by van from Bnei Brak. The moment the van picked up the avreichim, the Rav would immediately raise a question while we were traveling. In effect, the seder had already begun on the way, and there was no possibility of anything else.

Who Should Stay Home With a Sick Child — the Husband or the Wife?

Rav Zicherman: When there is a sick child at home, is the responsibility to care for the child incumbent upon the mother, or should the avreich also share the burden at the expense of his sedorim in kollel? If the burden falls solely on the avreich, it can lead to a weakening in his learning, while if it falls exclusively on the mother, who works to support the family, it can create problems with her employment. Should the kollel take such circumstances into consideration?

Rav Zilberstein: Certainly, when something like this happens, the kollel administration must take it into consideration. However, the family itself should make an effort to seek help from others, such as the grandmothers, so that the husband will not have to interrupt his learning.

An atmosphere should be established in the home that the husband is not a babysitter. A home of yirei Hashem is not built on the premise that the mother works under all circumstances while the husband is absent from kollel. If the wife understands the tremendous power of a Jewish mother and the importance of her husband’s consistency in learning, the family will know how to find solutions without causing him to interrupt his learning.

If a Chavrusa Is Sick, Should His Partner Go Learn With Him?

Rav Zicherman: If one of the avreichim is ill and is at home, should his chavrusa go to his house to learn with him, or should he refrain from leaving the bais medrash?

Rav Zilberstein: There is something very great, and that is chesed. Going to learn with an avreich in his home when he is weak is an unparalleled act of chesed. The Torah must be a Toras chesed.

Rav Zicherman: Even though it may cause somewhat of a weakening in the bais medrash?

Rav Zilberstein: If the chavrusa’s absence will cause a weakening in the kollel, he should remain in the kollel, but he should learn with him over the telephone. He should call him and discuss the learning with him.

Computers and Cellphones in the Kollel

Rav Zicherman: How should we conduct ourselves regarding computers? Should the use of Torah databases be permitted inside the kollel? For some people, it helps them organize the sugya, but on the other hand, there is a need for amal haTorah. Until now, our practice has been not to have computers. What is the Rav’s opinion?

Rav Zilberstein: From the day of Matan Torah, Torah was learned without computers. Because of the weakness of the generation, these things have come along to make matters easier, but the true path is amal haTorah.

Rav Zicherman: Regarding cellphones, in our network of kollelim they are bal yeira’eh u’bal yimatzei — they are not to be seen or found — and there is one public telephone. However, there are avreichim whose wives are approaching childbirth and they are not at ease. Should an exception be permitted?

Rav Zilberstein: Absolutely not. From the day of Matan Torah, there were no telephones.

(In extremely exceptional circumstances and in a situation of great necessity, the rosh kollel may permit an avreich to discreetly keep a cellphone in his pocket, set only to vibrate.)

Learning With a Struggling Avreich and Staying Up Late to Learn

Rav Zicherman: When there is a weaker avreich, is it appropriate for the rosh kollel to learn with him for part of the time, even though doing so will detract from the rosh kollel’s own personal progress?

Rav Zilberstein: Certainly. It is the greatest thing there is. When a rosh kollel sits beside a struggling avreich and learns with him instead of shouting at him, that is a wonderful level to attain.

Rav Zicherman: What about an avreich who remains learning until 3 a.m. because he is immersed in a sugya, and as a result arrives late to kollel in the morning?

Rav Zilberstein: That is literally the counsel of the yetzer hara. When the time comes to sleep, one must sleep, and someone who does not go to sleep at the proper time is acting improperly.

The Obligation of Roshei Kollel to Sacrifice for Others

Rav Zicherman: Roshei kollel are heavily occupied with preparing shiurim and mareh mekomos. To what extent should they sacrifice their own interests for the sake of the broader group?

Rav Zilberstein: That sacrifice is the greatest gain. When Hakadosh Boruch Hu sees an avreich sacrificing his own interests for the sake of another person, He takes him under His protection, because Torah is acquired through chesed.

{Matzav.com}

United Torah Judaism may run together in the upcoming elections only as a technical arrangement before splitting back into its two component factions and conducting separate coalition negotiations, according to veteran Chareidi political analyst Yaakov Rivlin.

Rivlin said Thursday that the growing divisions within the Chareidi political camp could result in UTJ contesting the election on a joint ticket while effectively functioning as two separate parties once the votes are counted.

Under that scenario, Degel HaTorah and Agudas Yisroel would separate following the election, with each faction independently negotiating its terms for joining a future governing coalition.

MK Yitzchok Pindrus of Degel HaTorah, however, strongly rejected the report, dismissing the speculation during an interview with Kol Chai Radio.

“These reports are meaningless,” he said.

“There is an entire industry today, including within the Chareidi media, that needs to make a living, so it constantly has to come up with some exciting new angle… I suggest everyone calm down,” he added.

Pindrus similarly brushed aside reports of possible primaries or significant changes to the party’s electoral slate, stressing that the Chareidi parties operate under the direction of the Gedolei Yisroel rather than through conventional party politics.

“Perhaps some are envious of Likud – which has primaries and internal tribunals – and want that for us too, thinking, ‘Why not make things interesting?’ But we are led by the Torah luminaries, and nothing is going to change.”

Turning to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and his handling of the political crisis surrounding the Chareidi community, Pindrus was asked whether Netanyahu bears responsibility for the current situation.

“Clearly, he failed to deliver,” he said.

Despite that criticism, Pindrus said no conclusions should yet be drawn about whether the Chareidi parties will support Netanyahu or another candidate following the elections. Such decisions, he stressed, will be made only after the election results are known and in accordance with the directives of the Gedolei Yisroel.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump’s executive order calling for major changes to the childhood vaccination system could face formidable practical and financial barriers, with experts saying drugmakers would potentially need years to develop separate vaccines while families could be forced to make substantially more visits to pediatricians.

The order announced Monday directs federal officials to pursue the separation of combination vaccines, including the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine, into individual injections. It also calls for appointments involving other childhood vaccinations to be spaced apart whenever possible.

Putting those directives into practice would require pharmaceutical manufacturers to bring back individual vaccines that have largely disappeared from the American market over the past several decades. Companies could also need new production facilities capable of manufacturing millions of additional doses.

Families would face their own logistical challenges. Separating the three components of the MMR vaccine and spreading out other immunizations could require parents to make numerous additional trips to doctors’ offices. Pediatric practices could face increased workloads, while the greater number of injections would increase spending on syringes and other medical supplies.

Research conducted in the United States and abroad has found that combination vaccines make it more likely that children will receive full protection against infectious diseases before reaching school age.

Public health experts opposed to Trump’s plan argue that there is no scientific justification for abandoning the current approach.

“We do things that are less convenient and more expensive if there’s a good reason to do it,” said Dr. Anna Durbin, of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

“There is no good justification for this. I think it’s very bad public health policy.”

Trump’s order gives federal officials 90 days to formulate plans for separating the MMR vaccine and increasing the intervals between other vaccinations.

Scientists in the pharmaceutical industry and individuals who previously served as federal regulators say implementing those changes could take years rather than months, potentially requiring manufacturers to spend tens of millions of dollars on research and new production infrastructure.

There are currently no individual measles, mumps or rubella vaccines available in the United States.

Every vaccine for those three diseases currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration is administered as a combination product. The three-in-one MMR vaccine has been standard practice in the United States since the 1970s.

Dr. Jesse Goodman, who previously headed the FDA’s vaccine division, said manufacturers could be required to undertake extensive studies demonstrating that newly produced standalone vaccines generate immune responses in children comparable to those produced by existing products. How much additional research would be necessary could depend on the quality of historical data involving the older standalone vaccines and how FDA officials assess that evidence.

“The question is how much has changed since then and how comfortable will the FDA and the companies be relying on those comparisons,” said Goodman, who is now a professor at Georgetown University.

Manufacturers could also be required to establish that new production facilities and manufacturing methods are safe, particularly because individual measles vaccines have not been produced on a large scale in the United States for decades.

Industry experts say designing and building a vaccine manufacturing facility and securing the necessary federal approvals generally takes approximately five years.

Goodman said another challenge would involve the FDA individually reviewing and licensing each vaccine separated from an existing combination product, something regulators have not previously been called upon to do on this scale.

“I don’t think there’s any comparable example of removing hugely effective public health measures that protect babies for no documented scientific reason,” he said.

Standalone vaccines for measles and similar illnesses are more commonly used in lower-income countries where combination MMR vaccines can be less affordable. Merck, GSK and the small group of other manufacturers supplying childhood vaccines in the United States currently produce only combination versions for the American market.

Merck and GSK each issued statements defending the safety and effectiveness of their existing vaccines. Neither company indicated that it intended to begin producing separate versions.

“To date, there has been no published scientific evidence that shows any benefit in separating the combination MMR vaccine into three individual shots,” Merck said in an emailed statement.

Under the current vaccination schedule, children receive two MMR injections, with the first generally administered at age 1 and the second after age 4. Administering measles, mumps and rubella vaccines separately could turn those two injections into six separate office visits.

If vaccines protecting against pertussis and other infectious illnesses were similarly separated and spaced apart, the number of appointments required for a fully vaccinated child could increase substantially further.

Durbin said requiring additional appointments would make it more likely that families miss scheduled visits or eventually stop returning for subsequent vaccinations.

“It’s going to be less convenient, more expensive, and you’re going to have fewer people getting vaccinated,” she said.

Trump has argued for more than a decade that American children receive too many vaccines and that immunizations should instead be administered in smaller numbers over a longer period, a position that has conflicted with recommendations from major medical organizations.

Last year, Trump asked Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to examine whether the number of recommended childhood vaccinations could be reduced. Kennedy and other administration officials have cited countries such as Denmark, whose recommended vaccination schedules include somewhat fewer immunizations than those in the United States.

Durbin noted, however, that separating combination vaccines could ultimately produce the opposite result in terms of individual injections, leaving American children receiving considerably more shots than children in comparable countries.

White House spokesman Kush Desai defended the administration’s approach, saying its work regarding the MMR vaccine “will give parents more options on timing and frequency for their children, which ultimately will increase vaccination rates for all three diseases.”

Despite the sweeping nature of the executive order, some specialists question whether it will ultimately produce significant changes to the vaccines available to American families.

Neither the White House nor the FDA has the power to force pharmaceutical manufacturers to develop new standalone vaccines and submit them for regulatory approval. Companies could also have little commercial reason to invest heavily in separate versions of vaccines that they already successfully market as combination products.

“They’d be competing against themselves, and there’s no reason to do that,” said Dr. Paul Offit, a Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia vaccine researcher and former government adviser.

The executive order also calls for additional federal research and recommendations, but decisions requiring vaccinations for children attending school are made by state governments rather than the federal government. The administration’s directive therefore recommends that states consider revising their laws to conform with its proposed approach rather than requiring them to do so.

“I think states will ignore this,” Offit said. “I think that bottom line is that we don’t need to look to Donald Trump for our medical advice.”

{Matzav.com}

Speculation that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez could seek the White House in 2028 is intensifying, with the New York Democrat climbing into second place in a major online prediction market and polling competitively among potential Democrat primary contenders.

Polymarket announced Thursday that Ocasio-Cortez had moved ahead of Secretary of State Marco Rubio in its 2028 presidential election market for the first time this year, leaving her trailing only Vice President JD Vance.

Vance held the top position with a 23% chance of winning the presidency, according to the market, while Ocasio-Cortez stood at 13% and Rubio at 12%. Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia and California Gov. Gavin Newsom were each at 9%, while Kamala Harris registered 4%.

Ocasio-Cortez’s rise comes as questions mount over whether she will attempt to move from the House to the White House. While she has not closed the door on a presidential campaign, she has publicly maintained that her immediate attention is on this year’s midterm elections.

“I’m focused on winning the midterms. I’m running for Congress right now,” Ocasio-Cortez told ABC News’ “This Week” on Aug. 2 when asked whether she plans to run for president in two years.

“I haven’t ruled out the possibility. And I’m very humbled to the tremendous amount of support out there,” she added.

Ocasio-Cortez has also shown strength in the crucial early-primary state of New Hampshire. A University of New Hampshire survey conducted last month among likely Democrat presidential primary voters found her narrowly leading a hypothetical field, with 22% support compared to 21% for Pete Buttigieg.

Vance himself has predicted that Ocasio-Cortez could emerge as the Democrats’ standard-bearer in 2028. Appearing on “The Michael Knowles Show” on June 30, the vice president said he views her as the most likely candidate to lead the Democrat ticket.

“I think it’s got to be AOC. I know that’s probably conventional wisdom,” Vance said.

Knowles questioned whether Vance really believed Ocasio-Cortez had a better chance than Ossoff or other potential contenders.

“AOC more than Ossoff, more than any of these other guys?”

Vance responded that the answer depends largely on where the real center of influence within the Democrat Party now lies.

“It’s funny. The AOC versus Ossoff thing, the question would be who do you think really has the power in the Democratic Party,” Vance said.

“And if you think the answer is like Wall Street and the left-of-center business community, then it would be Ossoff. If you think it’s the universities, it would be AOC,” he continued.

Vance then pointed to an observation by author and political commentator David Brooks that he said offered an important explanation for the transformation of the Democrat Party’s political base.

“So [author] David Brooks made an observation. I think David Brooks probably hates my guts; but he, like, occasionally, will say something that I think is genuinely brilliant, and this was one of them,” Vance said.

“He said the fundamental problem with today’s Democratic Party is that the power center has shifted from unions to universities. If that’s right, AOC will be the nominee.”

National polling, however, currently paints a different picture from the New Hampshire survey and prediction markets. The RealClearPolitics average of hypothetical Democrat primary polling has Harris in first place at 28.9%, followed by Newsom at 16.4%. Buttigieg stands at 10.5%, while Ocasio-Cortez is fourth at 8.8%.

On the Republican side, Vance holds a commanding advantage in the RealClearPolitics polling average, receiving 39.8% support compared with Rubio’s 21.6%, an 18.2-point margin.

Rubio has sought to minimize speculation surrounding his own potential 2028 candidacy, saying his attention remains on his responsibilities as secretary of state in the Trump administration.

Still, Rubio recently demonstrated significant support among conservative activists. At the Western Conservative Summit in Colorado, he won a 2028 Republican presidential straw poll by a decisive margin, defeating Vance by 36 points.

{Matzav.com}

Senior Hamas official Hussam Badran said overnight that the terror group intends to participate in elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council scheduled for Nov. 28, 2026, despite opposition from several Western countries.

Badran stressed that Hamas has no intention of withdrawing from any election and said the group’s decision to participate is based on what he described as the right of every Palestinian to take part in the political process.

Speaking in an interview with Al Arabiya, Badran said Hamas also wants to prevent any single faction from maintaining a monopoly over Palestinian decision-making. He insisted that the group’s participation in elections should not be interpreted as an effort to seize control of the Palestinian government.

Badran claimed that Hamas has “given up ruling Gaza,” saying that while the terror organization wants representation in the Palestinian Legislative Council, it “does not want to rule.”

He further said that Hamas would accept the choice of the Palestinian people and honor the results of the elections. According to Badran, the group is also seeking additional discussions with other factions with the goal of forming electoral alliances.

The Hamas official called for a system of collective leadership within the Palestinian Legislative Council, arguing that Hamas’ participation in the body would not mean that the terror group intends to take control of the government. Instead, he said, Hamas is seeking a role in jointly shaping Palestinian political decisions.

This would not be the first time Hamas has participated in Palestinian elections. The terror group contested the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections, winning a majority of seats. The following year, Hamas violently seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, ousting forces loyal to the Palestinian Authority.

{Matzav.com}

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Rav Shlomo Moshe Amar, Sefardic Chief Rabbi of Yerushalayim, has issued a sharply worded letter condemning those distributing materials encouraging Jews to ascend Har Habayis, accusing them of falsifying the positions of leading rabbonim — including his own.

The letter, sent on Erev Shabbos Parshas Eikev, 17 Av 5786, was addressed to an unnamed talmid chochom in the Jewish Quarter of Yerushalayim who had asked Rav Amar to state his position clearly regarding the severity of the prohibition against ascending Har Habayis today.

Rav Amar opened his letter by lamenting what he described as the growing brazenness of the current generation, citing the teaching of Chazal that in the period preceding the arrival of Moshiach, brazenness will increase. He wrote that with each passing day and hour, that brazenness appears to be growing and intensifying.

He then described his shock after being shown several photographed pages bearing the headline, “Daas Torah Regarding the Mitzvah of Ascending Har Habayis in Our Time.” Rav Amar characterized the presentation as a new level of brazenness, devoid of truth and based on distortion.

Addressing the halachic issue itself, Rav Amar wrote that the leading poskim of previous generations, as well as the gedolei Torah of the present generation, have prohibited entering Har Habayis with the utmost severity. According to the Rambam, he noted, entering prohibited areas can carry the punishment of kareis, while even the Raavad maintains that entering is prohibited on a Torah level.

Rav Amar therefore rejected any attempt to present ascending Har Habayis as representing the accepted Torah position.

He further accused those behind the publications of attributing fabricated or distorted positions to prominent rabbonim, including both gedolim who are no longer alive and those living today.

Rav Amar said his own name had also been improperly inserted into the materials, despite what he described as his well-known and longstanding opposition to ascending Har Habayis.

He wrote that his position is widely known and that, in shiurim delivered in yeshivos and kollelim, he regularly presents what he considers strong evidence demonstrating that there is no reliable way today to make the measurements necessary to determine precisely which areas may be entered.

Rav Amar acknowledged that a minority of rabbonim have taken a different position on the issue, noting that virtually every subject is subject to disagreement. Had the activists simply stated that they rely upon the minority opinion, he wrote, he would have remained silent.

Instead, Rav Amar charged, they are attempting to portray their position as far more broadly accepted because they recognize that halachah generally follows the majority — particularly when the majority is so overwhelming. He accused them of deliberately misleading the public and causing others to stumble.

Concluding his letter, Rav Amar issued an unusually forceful warning against relying upon the publications or those responsible for them.

“The Jewish people should know that all the words and writings of those distributors are lies and deception,” Rav Amar wrote, adding that anyone concerned for his spiritual wellbeing should distance himself from them and their sphere of influence.

He further declared that they had demonstrated that fear of Hashem was not before them, and therefore “they cannot be relied upon, and it is forbidden to believe their words in anything they say.”

Rav Amar concluded with a tefillah that Hashem remove the spirit of impurity from the land, that Moshiach Tzidkeinu be revealed peacefully, and that the Bais Hamikdash be rebuilt in its proper place speedily in our days.

{Matzav.com}

A potentially tragic incident was narrowly avoided Thursday afternoon in Netivot after a young child became trapped inside an abandoned vehicle during extreme summer heat and was unable to escape until a passerby noticed the situation and rushed to help.

The child remained inside the sealed vehicle during the hottest part of the day until the owner of a local delivery company happened to pass by and spotted the child in distress.

According to a report by the local news outlet Netivoti, the delivery driver saw the child desperately trying to open the car doors but unable to get out. He immediately ran to the vehicle and succeeded in rescuing the child. By the time the child was freed, he was reportedly sweating heavily and appeared dehydrated after spending a prolonged period inside the sweltering vehicle.

The vehicle was reportedly abandoned, not in use, and had neither a valid inspection nor insurance. Authorities have not yet determined how the child managed to get inside the car or how long he remained trapped before being discovered.

Baruch Hashem, the incident ended without injuries. Nevertheless, it once again highlighted the serious danger posed by abandoned vehicles that remain unlocked and accessible to children, particularly during the summer months, when temperatures inside a closed vehicle can climb rapidly to life-threatening levels.

In recent years, Israel has witnessed numerous tragic cases involving children who were forgotten or became trapped inside vehicles. According to data from the Beterem Child Safety Organization, 23 children have lost their lives over the past five years after being forgotten or trapped in vehicles. During the same period, 53 children were injured, while another 1,513 were rescued safely.

Child safety experts warn that the temperature inside a closed vehicle can soar to approximately 70 degrees Celsius (158 degrees Fahrenheit) within about 30 minutes, even when the outside temperature is only around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit). They stress that parking in the shade or leaving a window slightly open does not eliminate the danger. Infants and young children are especially vulnerable because their bodies heat up three to five times faster than those of adults, and they are unable to free themselves.

ZAKA and the Beterem Child Safety Organization are urging parents never to leave a child unattended in a vehicle, even briefly. They also recommend slowing down and consciously checking that every child has exited the vehicle before walking away by using multiple senses—looking at the children, confirming they are with you, physically touching them, and listening for them. According to safety experts, engaging sight, hearing, touch, and movement together helps reinforce the routine and reduces the risk of forgetting a child.

The Netivot incident also underscores the importance of securing or removing abandoned vehicles from residential neighborhoods to prevent similar potentially deadly situations in the future.

{Matzav.com}

American officials have reportedly expressed frustration after learning that some money donated in the United States to Magen David Adom was used to purchase European-made ambulances rather than American vehicles.

According to a report by ynet, the funds in question were raised through American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA), which has spent 86 years raising money in the United States to support the Israeli emergency medical organization.

For years, American-made Ford and Chevrolet ambulances purchased with the assistance of donors in the United States were a common sight on Israeli roads. Over the past three years, however, Magen David Adom has purchased almost no American-made vehicles, with much of its recent fleet procurement consisting of Mercedes ambulances manufactured in Poland.

American administration officials reportedly became aware of the situation over the past month and were unhappy to learn that money donated in the United States was ultimately being spent on vehicles manufactured outside the country.

A senior US administration official sent a sharply worded message to Magen David Adom officials, writing, “Using American donation funds to purchase ambulances from European countries that hate Israel is not an acceptable practice.”

A senior Israeli official familiar with the matter said American officials were surprised to discover that substantial sums raised from donors inside the United States were not being channeled back into the American economy through purchases of US-made vehicles and other products.

The criticism carries additional significance because of the Trump administration’s “America First” policy. The administration has emphasized strengthening American industry and the domestic economy across a broad range of policies involving trade, investment, energy, immigration and foreign affairs.

The dispute now raises questions over whether Magen David Adom will alter its procurement practices and increase purchases of American-made ambulances or continue using some US-raised donations to purchase vehicles manufactured in Europe.

Magen David Adom responded to the report by saying it was unaware of any such communication from American officials.

“MDA is not aware of any such inquiry. The friends associations purchase the ambulances in accordance with the organization’s operational needs and the types of vehicles required. Most of the ambulances are purchased in the US. MDA is the only organization in Israel that uses US-made ambulances,” the organization said.

{Matzav.com}

Thousands of Vizhnitzer chassidim from across Eretz Yisroel gathered Tuesday in the Bais Medrash of the Gerer Chassidus on Yirmiyahu Street in Yerushalayim for a massive prayer rally and fundraising event on behalf of the Union of Vizhnitzer Institutions. The gathering focused on the government’s ongoing efforts to draft yeshiva students, with the Vizhnitzer Rebbe issuing a forceful directive prohibiting enlistment in any military framework.

The gathering was filled with emotion as the Vizhnitzer Rebbe appeared before the thousands despite his visibly weakened condition in recent weeks. The event had originally been planned for the holy site of Meron, but because of the Rebbe’s health it was relocated to Yerushalayim, near Ora, where he has been residing over the past year for rest and recuperation.

The evening began with a moving and inspiring presentation by the American-based Yiddishe Nachas children’s choir, which vividly portrayed the Jewish people’s historic mesirus nefesh for Torah study throughout the generations.

The program continued with a powerful dramatic presentation depicting “Prison 10,” in which a chassid was shown sitting in iron chains while completely immersed in the study of Torah, symbolizing unwavering devotion to Hashem and His Torah even under imprisonment and persecution.

The thousands in attendance also heard addresses from Rav Zusha Horowitz, av beis din of the Chassidic communities in Elad, and Rav Mordechai Grinfeld, one of the senior Vizhnitzer rabbonim in Antwerp, whose passionate speech deeply inspired the assembled crowd.

Moments before the Vizhnitzer Rebbe entered, his brother-in-law, Rav Menachem Ernster, rosh yeshiva of Vizhnitz, led the congregation in Selichos and Shema Koleinu using the moving Yomim Noraim melody, as thousands joined him in tearful prayer. Rav Yaakov Mordechai Hager, av beis din of Vizhnitz in Elad, then led the recitation of Tehillim and Shir Hamaalos Mimaamakim, with the verses recited responsively by the chazzan and the crowd.

During the gathering, a special delegation headed by Rav Menachem Ernster, together with Rav Yitzchak Yeshaya Hager and Rav Yaakov Mordechai Hager, personally visited the home of the Gerer Rebbe to invite him to participate in the event.

The Gerer Rebbe accepted the invitation, and his arrival at the gathering sparked an outpouring of emotion as thousands of chassidim broke into spirited singing. The Vizhnitzer Rebbe welcomed him with exceptional warmth and honor, while Rav Yaakov Mordechai Hager greeted the Gerer Rebbe on behalf of his father and thanked him for graciously hosting the event and extending generous hospitality.

Organizers said the Gerer Rebbe’s participation underscored the cry of the Torah world over the draft decree and reflected a united Chareidi front committed to strengthening the walls of Torah and religion during this critical period.

The emotional peak of the evening came when Rav Yaakov Mordechai Hager read a special message from the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, presenting what he described as a clear and unequivocal directive to all Vizhnitzer chassidim and the broader Chareidi public.

The Rebbe’s first instruction was an absolute prohibition against military service. He ruled that no one is to enlist in the Israeli military “in any army framework whatsoever, under any circumstances or in any form.”

He further instructed parents and educators to strengthen children and tinokos shel bais rabban with teachings of simple emunah and mesirus nefesh for the sanctification of Hashem’s Name.

In addition, the Rebbe called upon the public to undertake a special kofer nefesh campaign to strengthen the Torah world and support the network of Vizhnitzer institutions in light of the current situation facing the Chareidi community.

הכינוס של ויז’ניץ צילום: שוקי לרר הכינוס של ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לרר הכינוס של ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לרר הכינוס של ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לרר הכינוס של ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לרר הכינוס של ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לרר

הקריאה הבהולה של רבי מיילך לפדיון שבויים וההתחייבות לישועה

בשיתוף קופת העיר

08:36

המתנה המפתיעה שהעניק מנשה צרפתי לבנו החתן רגע לפני החופה

מקודם

14:29

לא ציפינו: רוכשי דירות שנתקלו בסירוב מהבנק, קיבלו פתרון יוצא דופן

תוכן מקודם

06:17

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{Matzav.com}

Nancy Pelosi is denying that she was aware of Joe Biden’s apparent decline while he was president, arguing that anyone who did know about his condition had a responsibility to take action.

In an interview with Politico’s Jonathan Martin, the onetime House speaker repeatedly maintained that she had no knowledge that Biden was experiencing any decline while in office.

“I didn’t know, but I do think that those who did know should have acted upon that information, whatever that means,” Pelosi said.

Pelosi acknowledged that questions remain over who within Biden’s inner circle was aware of his condition and when they became aware of it.

“There was the staff saying the family knew, the family saying the staff knew, I don’t know,” she added, while saying those with knowledge should have acted sooner.

Pelosi and Biden had been at odds over the events surrounding the 2024 presidential campaign, though Pelosi said in March that the two had since spoken.

Pelosi, who was broadly viewed as one of the most influential Democratic figures pushing Biden toward abandoning his 2024 reelection bid, also again rejected claims that she personally told him to leave the race.

She said her conversation with Biden instead focused on polling and concerns about how his campaign was being managed.

“I only said to President Biden, ‘I’ve come to question the polling that you have and how your campaign is being conducted,'” Pelosi said. “I didn’t ask him not to run or anything like that. This is what I asked. ‘I would hope that we could have some other pollsters come in and sit with your pollster and discuss what they hear out there.'”

Pelosi said she also suggested that Biden provide the public with evidence demonstrating that he was capable of serving another term in the White House.

“And I did say this, ‘I think the public would like to hear that you’ve had a testing that demonstrates that you can serve the next [term],'” she added.

Asked by Martin how Biden reacted to that suggestion, Pelosi said he responded that the demands of serving as president effectively tested him every day.

Pelosi described their private discussion as cordial and rooted in their shared Catholic faith, while insisting that reports about what transpired during the meeting did not originate with her.

“He responded. We were prayerful, you know, Catholic. We’re prayerful. We had our rosaries and all that. And we had a lovely meeting. It was only the two of us, except when he put somebody on the phone to talk about the polls. So, whatever people said about it there, didn’t come from me, or maybe it came from somebody in his staff, but none of his staff was really in the room. He said, ‘I get tested every day in what I’m doing and the rest of that.’ I said, ‘I think people want to see something more in that regard.’”

Pelosi’s latest account drew sharp criticism from Fox News political analyst Guy Benson, who characterized her explanation as “non-credible gaslighting.”

Benson argued that Biden’s condition had been readily apparent and accused Pelosi and other Democratic figures of dismissing concerns about his fitness until his disastrous 2024 debate performance made doing so politically untenable.

“Everyone with eyes and ears clocked the former president’s clear decline. The gaslighting denials came from partisan actors who were invested in a political outcome, very much including Pelosi. Once their gaslighting efforts died on that debate stage, they feigned shock at the very reality they’d cynically attacked others for noticing, very much including Pelosi. Because their desired outcome abruptly required turning on Biden, the knives came out. And the sharpest knife may have belonged to Pelosi. She can try to deny this, but it’s just more non-credible gaslighting,” Benson told Fox News Digital in a statement.

Pelosi’s public comments in the aftermath of Biden’s June 2024 debate had fueled speculation that she was seeking to pressure him to reconsider his candidacy. In early July of that year, Biden had publicly insisted that he intended to remain in the presidential race.

Yet during an appearance on “Morning Joe,” Pelosi appeared to leave open the possibility that Biden could still withdraw, describing his candidacy as a decision that had yet to be made.

“It’s up to the president to decide if he is going to run. We are all encouraging him to make that decision, because time is running short,” Pelosi said at the time.

{Matzav.com}

Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that the Trump administration’s strategy in its confrontation with Iran is centered on two primary objectives: maintaining stable global energy prices and ensuring that Tehran is permanently prevented from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Speaking during an interview on Fox News, Vance was asked about the shifting nature of the conflict and what the administration hopes to achieve once the fighting subsides. He expressed confidence that the United States will emerge in a stronger strategic position.

“Well, the thing I can say with confidence is I think this ends with the United States in a stronger position, with Iran not having a nuclear weapon, and with the Strait of Hormuz returned to a place where oil and gas prices are stable for the American people,” Vance declared.

JD Vance on Iran:

It’s inherently an unpredictable thing because the Iranians themselves are unpredictable, and sometimes they don’t honor the commitments they make to us.pic.twitter.com/9twTWcoc9o

— Clash Report (@clashreport) August 13, 2026

Vance acknowledged that negotiations with Iran have often been frustrating, arguing that the regime has repeatedly failed to honor its commitments. He said the United States has a broad range of options—diplomatic, economic, and military—that it can employ depending on the circumstances.

“I think the issue here is that the Iranians sometimes make commitments that they don’t honor. They make a deal, they don’t honor the deal. And I understand your point about the seesaw nature of this, but I think what that reflects is that we have a lot of tools at our disposal to compel action. And sometimes we’re focused on the energy piece of it because we want Americans to be able to afford the price of oil and gas. Sometimes we’re obviously focused on the military nature of it, sometimes we’re focused on the nuclear program.”

Describing the administration’s overall strategy, Vance said President Donald Trump is carefully employing the full range of American power rather than acting indiscriminately.

“So I think what is really happening is that you’re seeing a President of the United States at the height of his authority with a lot of tools, diplomatic, military, and economic,” Vance remarked.

“What I think is really going on from the inside is that we’re using those tools very selectively, very strategically to get the outcome that the president of the United States needs to get for the benefit of the American people.”

The vice president said the administration remains focused on two specific priorities, beginning with protecting the flow of energy through the Persian Gulf in order to keep fuel prices in check.

“It’s ensuring that the Gulf countries continue to send oil and gas to the world economy so that we have energy price stability. That’s obviously important for the American people. I know that oil is down today and it’s way down from the highs in the early days of the conflict. That’s goal number one, keep oil and gas cheap for Americans all over our country.”

He said the second objective is to eliminate Iran’s nuclear ambitions once and for all.

“And then obviously goal number two is [to] ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon. I feel confident we’re accomplishing both of those goals, but it’s inherently an unpredictable thing because the Iranians themselves are unpredictable and they sometimes don’t honor the commitments they’ve made to us,” Vance concluded.

Vance’s comments came just days after President Trump addressed reporters about the possibility of a broader military escalation with Iran.

Earlier this week, when asked whether a major escalation remained possible after he had warned Iran that diplomatic negotiations represented its final opportunity before “decapitation,” Trump replied, “You’ll find out.”

Pressed further on whether a significant escalation was still on the table, Trump responded, “Well, we certainly have that ability if we want to do that. You’ll find out.”

The following day, after returning from a visit to Ohio, Trump again expressed deep skepticism toward Iran’s leadership while asserting that the United States now controls one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.

“Iran is going fine, going just absolutely fine,” Trump said, before adding, “I’m the last person to trust Iran. They’ve lied to me constantly. We have total control over the Hormuz Strait right now. They don’t have control. We have total control. We own it. And at some point, maybe they’ll do something, and then they get blown away.”

Trump concluded by arguing that Iran has lost the dominant regional influence it once wielded.

“But we right now, we’re in a very good position. We have a country that has been the bully of the Middle East for 50 years. It’s been saying 47 for four years. And they’re no longer the bully of the Middle East,” Trump stated.

{Matzav.com}

An Arab American advocacy group filed a proposed federal class-action lawsuit on Tuesday against Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Caterpillar and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, alleging that the defendants facilitated Israeli military operations in Lebanon that damaged property owned by U.S. citizens.

The 79-page complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan by the Dearborn, Mich.-based Arab American Civil Rights League and several plaintiffs who say they own homes, apartments and other property in Lebanon.

The suit alleges that the companies supplied weapons, aircraft, software, parts and heavy equipment to Israel despite knowing, or having reason to know, that those products could be used “in a manner involving unreasonable risk of harm to the persons and property of the plaintiffs.” The complaint also cites the Leahy laws, which restrict U.S. security assistance to foreign military units accused of human-rights violations.

In one example, U.S. citizen Kareem Hassan Jammal claimed that he owned “multiple houses and apartments in Lebanon” that were destroyed during Israeli airstrikes in 2024 and 2026.

While the complaint includes 18 individual plaintiffs who assert ownership interests in property in Lebanon, it contains only a map labeled “Map of 2026 Israeli Aggression in Lebanon” and does not appear to include deeds, title records or other documentation establishing ownership.

The plaintiffs are represented by attorney Nabih Ayad, the ACRL’s founder and chairman, who served on the Michigan Civil Rights Commission from 2008 to 2011.

The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief, including a “temporary injunction halting the transfer of further instrumentalities” to Israel. JNS

IDF surveillance soldiers stationed in two separate sectors near the Gaza border are warning that Hamas operatives have been approaching the military’s designated security zone on a daily basis, raising fears of a dangerous repeat of the conditions that preceded the October 7 massacre. The soldiers say they repeatedly identify threats but often encounter delays in obtaining authorization to open fire.

In interviews with Channel 12, the lookouts said they have observed suspicious individuals—including Hamas terrorists—regularly nearing the yellow line, the boundary marking the IDF-controlled area inside Gaza. According to the soldiers, the activity poses a genuine danger, yet forces in the field are frequently not granted permission to neutralize those approaching.

The lookouts believe Hamas is deliberately probing Israel’s defenses, using these repeated incursions to gauge how quickly and forcefully the IDF responds.

One of the soldiers said the current atmosphere is eerily reminiscent of the days before Hamas launched its October 7 assault. “I feel like October 6th. The only difference is that we see it on the yellow line and not on the fence.” She added that those approaching the area appear to be constantly testing Israel’s response. “It’s literally like before October 7th.”

According to the lookouts, one of the greatest obstacles is the lengthy approval process required before troops can engage suspicious individuals. They said that when authorization must come from senior command levels, it can take considerable time, whereas approval is obtained much more quickly when the decision rests with the battalion commander on the ground.

The soldiers described one recent incident near the border in which a lookout spotted a suspect carrying what appeared to be a weapon and observed activity suggesting an explosive device might be planted. She immediately alerted troops in the area, but despite identifying what she believed to be a serious threat, no authorization was given to eliminate the suspect.

“It got stuck up top,” the lookout claimed. She said the soldiers feel powerless, explaining that while they identify suspicious activity in real time and warn the forces on the ground, they are often unable to translate those warnings into immediate action because of the approval process and a broader desire to preserve calm.

One lookout acknowledged that speaking publicly could expose her to disciplinary measures, but said remaining silent was no longer an option. “If they tell me that I’m going to jail because of what I said, I say it’s worth it.”

Responding to the report, the Prime Minister’s Office rejected claims that political leaders are limiting the military’s ability to act. “The political echelon does not restrict the IDF from eliminating any threat to our forces and citizens. In accordance with the political leadership’s directive, the Chief of Staff clarified the rules of engagement and emphasized: eliminating a threat is the responsibility of every soldier in the field, and every soldier is expected to act decisively to eliminate the threat.”

{Matzav.com}

Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s embattled rollout of New York City’s new pied-à-terre tax was back on track Thursday after an appellate court temporarily cleared the way for the city to continue implementing the program, though the legal fight over the tax remains far from resolved.

The ruling lifts—for now—a restraining order issued Monday by a lower court, allowing City Hall to resume the rollout while a full panel of appellate judges reviews the case. The order was signed by Associate Justice Philip Hom of the Appellate Division in Brooklyn.

Attorneys representing three New York City homeowners challenging the tax quickly blasted the decision. Former First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro, who is representing the plaintiffs, accused the Mamdani administration of trying to sidestep the lower court’s ruling, calling the effort “an astonishing display of chutzpah.”

“It is a shame that the City can’t own up to its own mistakes and admit that it has badly botched the rollout of this surcharge,” Mastro said after the appellate ruling. “Instead, the administration is doubling down, going to court to ensure that it can continue harassing and threatening New York City homeowners who clearly are permanent residents — something the City would know if it would only do its homework.”

In court filings submitted Thursday, Mastro argued that the city was “compounding their illegal conduct by going to extraordinary lengths to avoid a three-week pause in their harassment campaign of New York City homeowners, all done in their zeal to impose a Surcharge that does not have to be invoiced until November 15, 2026 and collected until January.”

He further accused city officials of “negligence, laziness or intentionality” for failing to use existing government data to determine who actually qualified for the tax before sending out thousands of notices. According to the filing, the city may have been counting on residents missing the exemption deadline in order to collect additional revenue.

“The only reasonable explanation is that the City is trying to ensnare thousands more New York City residents who are not liable for this Surcharge into having to pay it anyway,” Mastro wrote Thursday in a court filing.

During the hearing, Mastro sharply criticized the city’s approach, telling the court, “You can’t terrorize first and then clarify,” adding that “which is exactly what the city is trying to do.”

Staten Island Supreme Court Judge Wayne Ozzi voiced similar concerns when he issued Monday’s temporary restraining order, questioning whether the city had fulfilled its legal obligation to verify eligibility before mailing the tax notices.

“So if they surcharge people who are surcharged only because they didn’t file for an exemption, I don’t think that’s appropriate,” the judge said, according to the hearing transcript.

City attorneys countered that delaying the rollout would create significant administrative problems because Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the legislation only in late May, leaving the Department of Finance with strict statutory deadlines for implementing the tax.

Corporation Counsel Steve Banks also argued that delaying the rollout could deprive the city of “sorely needed revenues for the City to help close its generational budget gap.”

Banks maintained that once the city appealed Judge Ozzi’s ruling, the appeal automatically stayed the lower court’s order, allowing officials to continue the rollout without interruption while the appeal is pending.

The lawsuit, filed last Friday, contends that the city violated the state law authorizing the pied-à-terre tax by failing to use the extensive state records the legislation specifically made available to identify eligible taxpayers before sending notices.

Instead, the complaint argues, City Hall shifted that burden onto homeowners by requiring them to prove they qualified for an exemption within what was initially a one-month filing period, later extended.

Among the plaintiffs are Staten Island residents Rachel O’Brien and Carmine Morano—the wife and father of City Councilman Frank Morano—whose homes appeared on the city’s published tax list alongside thousands of other properties.

A third plaintiff, Chelsea resident Simon Hedley, who has publicly described himself as a supporter of Mayor Mamdani, also received one of approximately 17,000 tax notices, according to the lawsuit. Hedley has since successfully obtained an exemption after applying for one following the filing of the case.

{Matzav.com}

The Trump White House issued a report Thursday accusing countries of helping exporters sidestep U.S. tariffs by routing products through third-party nations, estimating that the practice is costing the federal government between $19 billion and $26 billion in lost tariff revenue each year.

According to the report, China began shifting its strategy after new U.S. tariffs were imposed in 2018 by sending goods to countries such as Mexico, Malaysia, and others for minimal processing or repackaging before shipping them to the United States. The practice, known as transshipping, allows products to avoid being identified as Chinese exports.

The report argues that while official trade statistics appeared to show declining imports from China, the strategy enabled Beijing to continue expanding its manufacturing base while undermining American factories and threatening U.S. jobs.

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro told reporters during a conference call that China is disguising the origin of its exports through more than 40 countries, although he emphasized that the larger problem is the willingness of other nations to facilitate the tariff-avoidance scheme.

“For years, the great transshipment scam has let communist China launder its exports,” Navarro said.

The report was released just weeks before Chinese leader Xi Jinping is expected to visit the United States in September. During his own trip to Beijing in May, President Donald Trump spoke favorably about Xi.

Although Beijing has characterized its ties with Washington as one of “strategic stability,” the report contends that Chinese industrial policies promoting manufactured exports have disrupted key industries—including automobiles, metals, and electronics—not only in the United States but also across Europe, Japan, and other major economies.

Navarro said China is not the only country employing such tactics, warning that nations including India could also use transshipping to circumvent tariffs. He added that trade agreements negotiated by the Trump administration will include provisions to punish countries that participate in the practice.

Since returning to office, the Trump administration has imposed steep tariffs on imports from countries around the world in an effort to strengthen domestic manufacturing. While the policy has targeted both allies and adversaries, economists have also pointed to the tariffs as contributing to higher inflation in the United States.

The White House report estimates that the value of goods routed through third countries each year ranges from approximately $34.2 billion to as much as $303 billion, based on government and private-sector data. Using a midpoint estimate of $75 billion in transshipped goods, the administration calculated annual tariff revenue losses of between $19 billion and $26 billion.

Navarro said U.S. Customs and Border Protection has begun testing an artificial intelligence system designed to detect transshipping operations. He added that importers caught falsely declaring a product’s country of origin can be required to pay tariffs retroactively for imports dating back roughly one year.

Several of Trump’s tariff policies enacted during his second term have been challenged in court, and the Supreme Court struck down some of those measures in February.

Despite the ongoing disputes over tariffs, the U.S. trade deficit has narrowed considerably. Although America continues to import more goods than it exports, the trade gap has totaled $371 billion so far this year—about $189 billion lower than during the same period a year ago.

{Matzav.com}

The Pentagon is preparing to deploy the USS George Washington to the Middle East, where it will replace the USS Abraham Lincoln following one of the longest and most demanding carrier deployments in recent memory, according to a Wall Street Journal report published Thursday.

U.S. officials told the Journal that the George Washington’s deployment is part of a routine carrier rotation that had already been scheduled before members of Congress began raising alarms about the difficult conditions facing sailors aboard the Lincoln.

The Abraham Lincoln originally left on deployment last November but was redirected to the Middle East in January as the United States prepared for war with Iran. Since then, the carrier’s aircraft have participated in Operation Epic Fury—the U.S. air campaign against Iran—and the ship has continued operating as part of the maritime blockade of Iranian ports, the Journal reported.

The extended mission has placed extraordinary demands on the crew. According to Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., the carrier has now spent more than 250 days deployed and nearly 200 consecutive days without stopping at a port—an unprecedented period at sea.

Blumenthal sent a letter this week to War Secretary Pete Hegseth and acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao requesting detailed information about the conditions aboard the vessel.

In his letter, the senator pointed to reports describing shortages of essential supplies, contaminated drinking water, plumbing failures, safety issues, interruptions in mail delivery, and increasing mental health challenges among the crew.

Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., also announced that he plans to press the Pentagon and the Trump administration for answers regarding the situation.

“At the end of the day, we know that those who are serving have to have comfort knowing that they’re getting properly taken care of,” Stutzman told CNN on Thursday.

Earlier reports indicated that sailors aboard the Abraham Lincoln had been coping with dwindling food supplies as well as shortages of everyday necessities such as toothpaste and soap.

Lawmakers have also voiced growing concern about crew fatigue and declining mental health after months of continuous operations with virtually no opportunities for rest during port visits.

According to the Wall Street Journal, sending the USS George Washington to the region will allow the Abraham Lincoln and its exhausted crew to head home while ensuring the United States continues to maintain an aircraft carrier presence in the Middle East as tensions with Iran remain high.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Thursday strongly defended the overwhelming majority of Jewish residents in Judea and Samaria while sharply condemning a small group of Israelis accused of criminal and violent behavior, insisting their actions do not represent the broader community.

“‘Settlers’ are not the problem in Judea/Samaria. ‘Unsettlers’ are,” Huckabee wrote. “Very small minority who do great damage to Palestinian families & to Israel.”

Huckabee pointed to comments made by Yisrael Ganz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council and chairman of the Yesha Council, who publicly denounced the conduct of Israelis involved in a recent confrontation near the Palestinian Arab village of Qusra.

“Real settlers like Yisrael Ganz, Governor of Judea/Samaria, condemn the actions of the few,” Huckabee wrote. “Let’s hope the media gives attention to this & balances their stories.”

The controversy centered on an incident in Qusra, where several Israelis were reported to have attempted to occupy a Palestinian Arab residence. After the family refused to vacate the home, a lengthy standoff ensued until Israeli security personnel arrived and removed the group. Following the evacuation, the Israelis allegedly tried to obstruct a roadway leading into the village.

Ganz forcefully criticized the episode, saying it “does not reflect our values or our way of conducting ourselves.”

“There is no place for individuals to take matters into their own hands and establish an outpost in someone’s backyard, even when dealing with an illegal home or an attempt to seize control of the land,” Ganz said. “There is no justification whatsoever for violence against uninvolved civilians or security forces.”

He added, “There is no doubt that some are exploiting these events as part of a campaign against the Jewish communities, but that must not obscure the simple truth: what happened in Qusra was wrong and is unacceptable to us.”

Ganz said Jewish communities in Binyamin and across Judea and Samaria would continue moving forward “with determination and responsibility” through what he described as “an orderly and proper process.”

“At the same time, I call on the Israeli government to cancel the Oslo Accords and enable legitimate, regulated Jewish communities throughout the open areas,” he said.

Israeli security personnel, including IDF troops, Border Police officers, and Civil Administration officials, arrived to dismantle an unauthorized outpost that had been established several days earlier. During the operation, Hilltop Youth activists attempted to impede the evacuation by placing large boulders across nearby access roads.

Central Command commander Avi Bluth visited the scene to oversee the operation before departing roughly an hour later. Security forces ultimately completed the evacuation and restored order without major confrontations.

According to reports, the outpost had been established about three days earlier near Qusra as an expansion of the Tel Talpiyot outpost. Palestinian officials claimed it prevented local residents from reaching their homes and interfered with daily life.

The incident followed several recent reports alleging that Israeli civilians had entered homes and other areas near Qusra and the neighboring village of Jalud in attempts to assert control over the properties.

An IDF spokesperson condemned the reported conduct in unusually strong terms, calling it “illegal, despicable, and improper.” The spokesperson also said several Hilltop Youth activists attempted to gain entry into the area by riding in an ambulance after the military had declared the location a closed military zone.

“Upon the ambulance’s arrival at the crossing, IDF forces identified Israeli citizens inside it who sought to enter the area under its cover,” the spokesperson said.

The military stated that those responsible would be handled together with the appropriate security agencies and warned that any active-duty or reserve soldiers found to have taken part in the incidents would face disciplinary action.

During overnight operations Thursday, security forces dismantled two unauthorized outposts in Area B near Qusra and Jalud, confiscated equipment from both sites, and detained one Israeli.

Soldiers from the IDF’s 51st Battalion were deployed to the area to conduct patrols and defensive operations aimed at maintaining security and protecting local residents.

Earlier in the week, Huckabee also responded to accusations made by Palestinian Arab Ihab Hassan, who claimed that Israeli “settler terrorists” had surrounded the home of an American citizen in Qusra and alleged that the U.S. Embassy had failed to intervene.

“This is another lie,” Huckabee responded.

Huckabee said the U.S. Embassy in Yerushalayim had been “VERY involved” and explained that the IDF and Israel Police entered the area at the embassy’s request to remove what he described as “the Israeli terrorists” responsible for the incident.

“The actions of those doing this to this family’s home is criminal,” Huckabee wrote, adding that the White House had not “intervened” because Washington had already been kept informed of the situation.

He further characterized the intimidation of the family as a “horrific act of terror meant to intimidate and harass” and denounced the conduct as “disgusting” and “thuggish.”

“There is no excuse for such thuggish behavior,” Huckabee wrote. “But saying the US Ambassador or US Embassy doesn’t care or hasn’t done anything is simply untrue.”

In a follow-up post sharing video of Israeli security forces dismantling the outpost, Huckabee said the footage demonstrated that the IDF and Israel Police had acted to remove illegal trespassers who were attempting to intimidate Palestinian residents.

“It’s just not accurate to say Israel nor the US Embassy did nothing to protect Palestinian homeowners/US citizens,” he wrote.

{Matzav.com}