A federal appeals court on Thursday declined to block a lower court order requiring the Trump administration to restore funding for the Gateway tunnel project linking New York and New Jersey, allowing construction support to restart as litigation continues.
The decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit means the funding directive issued by a federal district judge can take effect for now, even as a lawsuit filed by the Democratic-led governments of New York and New Jersey moves forward. The appellate court indicated it will revisit the matter after hearing oral arguments scheduled for later this month.
“The Trump administration’s legal stay to avoid funding the Gateway Tunnel has expired,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) wrote on social media. “Donald Trump needs to follow the law and get the project back on track immediately.”
The dispute centers on the $16 billion Gateway initiative, which would construct two additional rail tracks beneath the Hudson River, connecting New Jersey to Penn Station in Manhattan. The Transportation Department suspended its financial support for the project last fall.
Federal officials have maintained that the pause is tied to a broader review of whether the project complies with federal requirements. President Trump reportedly told Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) last month that he would lift the funding hold if Schumer agreed to rename Penn Station and Washington Dulles International Airport in his honor.
Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas directed the administration to restart funding after the Gateway Development Commission instructed contractors to halt work pending the return of federal payments.
Vargas, who was appointed by President Biden, sided with New York and New Jersey, finding that the funding freeze likely violates federal regulations and describing the move as arbitrary and capricious.
Government attorneys argued that complying with the order would require the immediate release of approximately $200 million and asked the 2nd Circuit to temporarily block the ruling.
“The government will be forced to disburse those sums without any obvious mechanism for recovering them later if the government prevails on appeal,” the Justice Department cautioned in court filings.
The district judge had agreed to delay enforcement of her order until late Thursday afternoon to give the appellate court time to act. She acknowledged that the administration raised substantial questions about whether she has jurisdiction to hear the case, noting that it might belong in a specialized court that handles federal contract disputes.
As the deadline approached, the 2nd Circuit issued a short order setting oral arguments for the week of Feb. 23 but declined to pause the lower court’s directive in the interim, effectively allowing funding for the project to resume for now.
{Matzav.com}
A new Channel 14 mandate survey paints an updated picture of the political arena, showing Likud maintaining its strength, Naftali Bennett’s party losing ground, and the right-wing bloc inching up to 66 seats. In the question of suitability for prime minister, Bibi Netanyahu widens his lead.
According to the poll, the right-religious bloc would secure 66 Knesset seats if elections were held today, reflecting a slight uptick compared to previous measurements.
Likud remains stable at 35 mandates, unchanged from the prior survey. The Joint List climbs to 13 seats, positioning itself as the second-largest faction after Likud. In contrast, Bennett’s party and Shas each drop one seat compared to last week and now stand at 10 mandates apiece.
The Democrats, led by Yair Golan, gain one seat and reach 10 mandates. United Torah Judaism holds firm with 9 seats. Yisrael Beiteinu remains steady at 8 mandates, while Eisenkot’s Yashar party posts a two-seat gain to reach 8 as well.
Elsewhere in the field, Otzma Yehudit retains 7 seats. Religious Zionism adds one mandate to reach 5, and Yesh Atid also gains a seat, bringing it to 5. Blue and White once again fails to cross the electoral threshold, underscoring the party’s continued struggle to regain relevance.
When broken down by blocs, the survey shows a clear advantage for the right: 66 seats for the right-wing bloc, 41 for the left, and 13 for Arab parties. The numbers point to a comfortable edge for the right overall, even as internal shifts occur among its component parties.
In the head-to-head question of who is best suited to serve as prime minister, Netanyahu not only leads but expands his margin following his recent visit to Washington, earning 57% support. Bennett trails with 19%, followed by Gadi Eisenkot at 13%, Yair Lapid at 5%, Avigdor Lieberman at 4%, and Benny Gantz at just 2%. The findings indicate a substantial and ongoing gap at the top of the leadership rankings, in Netanyahu’s favor.
{Matzav.com}
An IDF reservist and a civilian have been formally charged after allegedly exploiting classified military intelligence to place wagers on the online prediction platform Polymarket, Israeli authorities disclosed Thursday.
According to a joint announcement by the Defense Ministry’s Director of Security, the Shin Bet, and the Israel Police, the case emerged from a coordinated investigation that resulted in the detention of several individuals, including reserve soldiers. Investigators say the suspects placed bets on Polymarket “based on classified information to which the reservists were exposed by virtue of their military roles.”
The indictments follow earlier reporting by Kan News, which revealed that security bodies were probing suspicions that members of the defense establishment had leveraged sensitive information to gamble on the site. Among the events reportedly wagered on was the timing of Israel’s initial strike against Iran during the 12-day conflict in June 2025.
Officials declined to provide specifics about the precise nature of the bets tied to the indictment.
Authorities confirmed that on Monday, prosecutors filed charges against one reservist and one civilian for “severe security offenses,” along with bribery and obstruction of justice. The prosecution has asked the court to keep the defendants in custody through the duration of the proceedings.
A sweeping gag order issued by the court continues to restrict the publication of additional information related to the affair.
In their statement, security officials warned of the broader implications of such conduct. “The defense establishment emphasizes that placing such bets, based on secret and classified information, poses a real security risk to IDF operations and to the security of the state,” the statement read. It further stressed that authorities regard “the acts attributed to the defendants with utmost severity and will act decisively to thwart and bring to justice anyone involved in the unlawful use of classified information.”
The IDF said it is treating the matter with the highest level of seriousness, while clarifying that “no operational harm was caused.”
“This constitutes a severe ethical failure and a clear crossing of a red line,” the military said in a statement, adding that the alleged actions “are not in line with IDF values and what is expected of servicemembers.”
The army also noted that it “steps have been taken and procedures will be sharpened across all IDF units, with the aim of preventing the recurrence of similar cases.”
Kan previously reported that a Polymarket user operating under the name ricosuave666 made a series of highly accurate wagers in June 2025 related to Israeli military activity in Iran. The individual reportedly staked tens of thousands of dollars and ultimately earned approximately $150,000.
Polymarket is considered one of the world’s largest prediction market platforms, enabling users to bet on future developments using cryptocurrency, credit and debit cards, or bank transfers.
In recent years, prediction markets have grown dramatically in popularity, allowing participants to gamble on the probability of an expanding range of global events. While some users have posted significant gains, many others incur steady losses. The platform has faced allegations of manipulation and insider trading.
Last month, attention also focused on a trader whose major wagers were placed just hours before US President Donald Trump announced a surprise overnight operation that resulted in the capture of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. The close timing of the bets and the trader’s limited overall activity on the site fueled online speculation about possible insider trading.
Substantial sums have likewise been placed on predictions related to a potential new American strike on Iran.
Over recent months, users have collectively won and lost tens of millions of dollars as anticipated strike dates came and went. Current odds on the platform estimate a 53 percent chance of a US airstrike on Iran by June 30, less than 1 percent if it occurs this Thursday, and 1 percent for Friday.
Additional millions of dollars have been wagered on the prospect of the removal of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Israel’s internal security agency, the Shin Bet, arrested an undocumented Palestinian resident in Bnei Brak Thursday morning on suspicion that he was planning to carry out a terror attack. The suspect was taken into custody and transferred for questioning by security forces. Three additional undocumented residents were also arrested.
At the same time, police detained five other undocumented individuals in a nearby area.
The primary suspect was handed over to the Shin Bet for interrogation, as investigators work to determine the nature and scope of the attack he allegedly intended to carry out. As of now, no further details have been released regarding the suspected target.
In a separate development, police updated the public on additional enforcement activity carried out this week in Yerushalayim. Officers from the Lev Habira police station were operating in the Ramot neighborhood after noticing several individuals who aroused suspicion. When officers approached, the suspects fled into a building under construction.
Police entered the structure and located five undocumented individuals who are suspected of having infiltrated Israel from the village of Ubeidiya. All of the suspects were arrested and taken in for questioning.
The investigation revealed that this was the second time security forces had discovered undocumented individuals at the same construction site. As a result of the findings, the employer was detained for questioning.
Following the investigation, Yerushalayim District Commander Superintendent Avshalom Peled signed an administrative order closing the construction site for 20 days. Police noted that the undocumented individuals were deported from Israeli territory upon completion of the legal proceedings in their case.
{Matzav.com}
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed an executive order Wednesday prohibiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement from initiating enforcement operations on property owned by the state, intensifying the standoff between Trenton and the Trump administration over immigration policy.
In announcing the move, Sherrill framed the order as part of her broader duty to protect residents and uphold constitutional principles. “I take seriously my responsibility to keep New Jersey residents safe, and as a Navy veteran and former federal prosecutor, my commitment to upholding the Constitution will never waver,” Sherrill said in a statement. “This executive order will prohibit ICE from using state property to launch operations.
“To strengthen public safety, we will also give New Jersey residents the tools to report ICE activity to the Attorney General’s office and ensure residents know their constitutional rights.”
She went further, accusing federal officials of overstepping legal bounds. “Today, we are making clear that the Trump administration’s lawless actions will not go unchecked in New Jersey,” added Sherrill.
“Given ICE’s willingness to flout the Constitution and violently endanger communities — detaining children, arresting citizens, and even killing several innocent civilians — I will stand up for New Jerseyans’ right to be safe.”
Alongside the executive order, Sherrill unveiled an online reporting system allowing residents to notify the state about encounters with federal immigration agents.
According to Department of Homeland Security data obtained by CBS News, nearly 400,000 immigrants were taken into custody by ICE during President Donald Trump’s first year after returning to office.
Immigration enforcement activity has continued across New Jersey in recent weeks, triggering pushback from local officials and community leaders. Officers assigned to ICE’s Newark Field Office, based at 970 Broad Street, have conducted several arrests throughout the state, including operations at transportation centers and neighborhood gathering spots. In cities such as Hoboken, local officials reported subdued activity and near-empty streets in the aftermath of enforcement actions.
State lawmakers have also responded by introducing bills designed to impose new transparency requirements and curb certain ICE practices, as stepped-up immigration enforcement has heightened anxiety among residents and public officials alike.
{Matzav.com}
