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Gov. Tim Walz: I’m not going anywhere, and you can make all your requests for me to resign over my dead body.

VP Vance addresses the attack on his home in Ohio: “Our family’s doing fine… I guess this person assumed we were there and tried to make an attack… Clearly a very sick individual. The good thing is, my kids are young enough, they have no idea what’s going on.”

Gov. Tim Walz: “The one thing that I hate is anytime I get drug into being next to Donald Trump. God help me I don’t want to be judged against that guy. Judge me against an average Minnesotan…”

Tehran indicated that it did not view its security posture as purely reactive, stressing that it “does not consider itself limited to reacting after the fact, and considers objective signs of threat as part of the security equation.”

The warning followed growing concern inside Iran over what officials described as hostile rhetoric and pressure from adversaries. The council said, “The long-standing enemies of this land… are pursuing a targeted approach by repeating and intensifying threatening language and interventionist statements in clear conflict with the accepted principles of international law, which is aimed at dismembering our beloved Iran and harming the country’s identity.”

In a broader statement addressing national defense, the body underscored the seriousness with which it viewed potential attacks, declaring that “Iran’s security, independence and territorial integrity are an uncrossable red line, and any aggression or continuation of hostile behavior will be met with a proportionate, decisive and decisive response.”

The Defense Council, established to lead strategic planning in the aftermath of the 2025 war with Israel, warned that Iran could launch a preemptive strike if it determined that an imminent threat to the country’s security was taking shape.

{Matzav.com}

Lockheed Martin announced Tuesday it will raise annual production of PAC-3 MSE interceptors for the MIM-104 “Patriot” missile system from about 600 to 2,000 under a new Department of Defense contract. Stockpiles have been critically low for over a year due to heavy use in Ukraine and the Twelve-Day War against Iran.

George Conway has officially announced that he is running for Congress as a Democrat in New York’s 12th District, seeking to succeed retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler. Conway says his goal in entering the race is to oppose Donald Trump.

Prime Minister Netanyahu meets with Japanese lawmakers in Jerusalem, thanking them for their support during the war and discussing regional issues and bilateral cooperation.

A rare and unusually sharp unsigned editorial published Tuesday in the Israeli Hebrew Yated Ne’eman, the flagship newspaper of the Degel HaTorah faction of UTJ, has laid bare a profound internal fracture within the chareidi public over the proposed IDF draft law. The article, attributed only to “one of the rabbonim,” launches a fierce attack on opponents of the legislation and places significant blame on the Chassidishe Agudas Yisroel faction of UTJ for what it describes as a worsening crisis, all against the backdrop of hundreds of chareidi young men enlisting in the IDF in recent days.

The editorial, described by observers as unprecedented in tone for Yated Ne’eman, targets critics of the draft bill being advanced by Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Boaz Bismuth. The paper argues that “in the face of a campaign of propaganda and falsehoods, there is a need to present the unvarnished truth.” Beneath that claim, however, the article reflects deep frustration within the Litvishe chareidi camp over what it sees as the erosion of its long-standing leadership role in shaping chareidi policy and public discourse.

For decades, Yated Ne’eman and the Litvishe rabbinic leadership it represents were widely viewed as setting the tone on the most sensitive communal issues, with other chareidi factions often deferring to their guidance. According to the report, senior Chassidic rebbes once waited to hear the Litvishe position before taking public stances on controversial matters.

That dynamic, the article suggests, has changed dramatically. In recent years, those from other chareidi communities have shown diminishing interest in Litvishe positions. Large anti-draft rallies have been held in defiance of leading Litvishe rabbanim, and Yated Ne’eman now openly laments that Chassidic newspapers and leaders feel free to attack the draft law publicly.

The split is increasingly visible across the chareidi media landscape. In recent weeks, Chassidic newspapers have waged an aggressive campaign against the proposed law, while the Litvishe public has largely remained quieter. Shas, which often aligns with the Litvishe camp, has also been drawn into the divide. A major anti-draft rally scheduled for Yerushalayim today highlights how fractured the chareidi street has become.

The tension is compounded by hard numbers. According to the report, between 600 and 700 chareidi young men are expected to enlist in the IDF this week alone — a figure far higher than what chareidi political operatives had anticipated. The army is seen as the primary beneficiary of the disunity.

The rift extends beyond Yated Ne’eman. Also this morning, Hamodia, identified with the Gerer Chassidus and Housing Minister Yitzchok Goldknopf, devoted a full page to opposing the draft law. HaMevaser, aligned with the Shlomei Emunim faction led by the Porush family, published similarly scathing criticism. In contrast, Yated Ne’eman devoted its editorial space to explaining why, in its view, the law must be passed.

In its arguments, Yated Ne’eman reiterates a core position: the Toraso umnaso arrangement is intended solely for genuine full-time lomdei Torah and must not be exploited by young men who are not learning seriously. This is a position that was famously held by Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach. At the same time, it insists that military service itself remains absolutely forbidden. The paper stresses that the struggle over conscription must not be conflated with the broader mission of preserving the Torah world, warning that such conflation is “entirely destructive.”

For years, tens of thousands of chareidi young men who were not learning were nevertheless covered by the exemption framework, until the law expired. From a chareidi ideological perspective, the paper argues, even an idle young man is preferable on the street than in uniform, out of fear that the visible presence of chareidi soldiers would normalize enlistment and eventually unravel the fabric of chareidi society.

Yated Ne’eman places responsibility for the current vacuum squarely on “other factions within United Torah Judaism,” accusing them of blocking earlier, more favorable legislation while insisting on waiting for a better political opportunity, a fact that has been highlighted many times in the past.

The paper further claims that chareidi opponents of the bill are “preventing any form of rescue, even a minimal one,” and dismisses reports suggesting that leading Litvishe gedolim have agreed to compromises on the severity of the draft issue as “an outrageous falsehood.”

Warning of dire consequences, the editorial argues that arrests and imprisonment of chareidi youth place them under “bitter and severe trials,” increasing the risk that some will ultimately enlist. For that reason, it says, legislation eliminating arrests is essential. In particularly harsh language, the Yated accuses Agudas Yisroel of exacerbating the crisis and of having the audacity to blame “the leading sages of the generation who are working to save the entire Torah world.”

The paper concludes by demanding that opponents support any law that removes arrests from the equation. Once such legislation is passed, it argues, each community’s leadership would be free to instruct its followers to continue resisting the army, reject deferments, sever all contact with military authorities, and publicly declare that they do not fear arrest.

The Israeli Yated has no connection to the American newspaper that goes by the same name.

{Matzav.com}

In Abdanan, residents are dumping food from IRGC-owned stores meant for regime forces, while other IRGC businesses have been set on fire.

The NYPD reports that 2025 saw a record-low 688 shootings citywide, down 24% from 2024. The department also recorded a historic low 856 shooting victims, a 22% drop from last year.

Former U.S. hostage negotiator Roger Carstens recalls meetings with Maduro.

Flu Surges Across U.S., Doctor Visits Hit Highest Since 1997 Flu cases are spiking across the U.S., with doctor visits for flu-like illnesses reaching 8.2% of all visits—the highest level since 1997, the CDC reports. As of December 27, the CDC estimates at least 11 million cases, 120,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths, including nine children. […]

TRUMP: “We have the highest stock market in the history of our country, by far, every single month. They like to demean that. You know what the Democrats say? ‘Well, that doesn’t mean anything.’ No. That means jobs and it means 401(k)s — because a lot of people have 401(k)s.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar carried out a first-ever official diplomatic visit to Hargeisa on Tuesday, marking a major step toward full diplomatic relations between Israel and Somaliland. The visit was conducted discreetly at the request of security officials and was cleared for publication only afterward.

Sa’ar traveled to Somaliland at the invitation of President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi, following the signing of a historic mutual recognition agreement between the two sides on December 26. During the visit, the foreign minister held meetings with senior Somaliland officials, including the president, Foreign Minister Abdirahman Dahir Adam, Minister of the Presidency Khadar Hussein Abdi, Chief of Staff Nimsan Yusuf Osman, Speaker of Parliament Yasin Haji Mohamoud, and Senate Speaker Suleiman Mahmoud Aden. The meetings took place at the official presidential palace in Hargeisa. Sa’ar was welcomed upon arrival by Somaliland’s foreign minister.

Speaking during the visit, Sa’ar said, “On December 26, Israel and Somaliland signed a historic agreement for mutual recognition and the establishment of full diplomatic relations. We agreed on the mutual appointment of ambassadors and the opening of embassies, and we will do so soon. We agreed to work together to advance relations between our countries, for the prosperity of both.”

He added that Israel seeks to build ties not only at the governmental level, but also between the two peoples. “We want to build a warm friendship not only between governments, but also between peoples — the people of Israel and the people of Somaliland. Since December 26, we have seen authentic joy in Somaliland, and also in Israel. We are excited to take part in the brave journey of the people of Somaliland from independence to recognition.”

Sa’ar said Israel’s Foreign Ministry is already working, under his direction, to expand cooperation in multiple fields. “The Foreign Ministry is working to build relations in many areas: economy, water, agriculture, and more. We will carry out cooperation on security issues and develop a strategic partnership between us.”

In unusually blunt remarks, Sa’ar contrasted Somaliland with the Palestinian cause. “Unlike ‘Palestine,’ Somaliland is not a virtual state. Somaliland is a functioning state in every sense, according to the principles of international law. Somaliland has been a stable democracy for nearly 35 years, with democratic elections and orderly transfers of power. It is pro-Western and friendly toward Israel. It is an honor for us to be the first UN member state to recognize Somaliland as an independent and sovereign country.”

Addressing international criticism, he continued, “We hear the attacks, criticism, and condemnations against Israel. No one will decide for Israel whom to recognize or with whom to maintain diplomatic relations. We recognize the simple truth and the existing reality, and we hope to see additional countries do the same soon. Somaliland deserves, justly, a place among the nations. This is a natural relationship between two democratic states, both located in challenging regions.”

Sa’ar concluded by relaying an invitation from Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu to the Somaliland president. “In our meeting, I reiterated the prime minister’s invitation for you to make an official visit to Israel. We hope to host you in Yerushalayim very soon. We are full of hope that these historic days and moments will mark the beginning of a deep friendship between our peoples for many years to come.”

President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi confirmed that he plans to visit Israel in the near future and announced that Somaliland will open an embassy there.

In his remarks, the president described Sa’ar’s visit as a landmark event. “Your visit has historic importance and represents a significant milestone in the evolving relationship between Somaliland and the State of Israel. It reflects not only political relations, but also a shared commitment to transform this relationship into a productive, forward-looking, and strategic partnership.”

He emphasized Somaliland’s long-term vision for the relationship. “We are committed to building a strategic relationship with Israel that will be beneficial to both sides and based on cooperation in policy, security, economy, and development. We see this partnership not merely as a political matter, but as a move of historic significance.”

The president added that the visit sends a clear message of resolve. “We want our countries to promote stability, prosperity, and shared interests. Your presence here today demonstrates leadership and confidence in the future of our relations. It sends a strong message that Somaliland and Israel are ready to deepen engagement and act decisively to establish diplomatic infrastructure, including the opening of embassies.”

He concluded by formally accepting Netanyahu’s invitation. “For our part, I wish to assure our full readiness and political will to open an embassy in Israel and to support a permanent and effective Israeli diplomatic presence in Somaliland. I hereby announce that I accept Prime Minister Netanyahu’s invitation to visit Israel.”

{Matzav.com}

Meanwhile in Iran…. hundreds of thousands continue protesting. The government does not seem to having a handle on it, as they continued to spread around Iran.

Thousands are now attending the Eida HaChareidis hafganah against the IDF draft.

Republican Doug LaMalfa, a seven-term U.S. representative from California and a reliable vote on President Donald Trump’s agenda, has died, reducing the GOP’s narrow control of the House. He was 65. A former state lawmaker and rice farmer, LaMalfa had more than a dozen years in Congress, where he regularly helped GOP leaders open the […]

Nvidia, AMD and Intel all had important chip and AI platform announcements on the first day of CES 2026, but all audiences wanted to see more of was Star Wars and Jensen Huang’s little robot buddies. CES is a huge opportunity annually for companies both large and small to parade products they plan to put […]

Construction beats promises They say Tzfat is having a hot moment. Real estate market ups and downs aside, let’s be honest, Tzfat has pulled at the heartstrings of Jews everywhere for centuries. The cobblestone alleys where kabbala was transmitted, open vistas where Lecha Dodi was born, and mountain air breathing history. Shabbos and every day […]

Ahmed al-Ahmed, who heroically disarmed a terrorist during the Bondi Massacre, and Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, of Chabad of Bondi, prayed for humanity at the Ohel, the Rebbe’s resting place, in Queens, New York, this morning. Ahmed al-Ahmed was one of the many heroes during the horrific attack on December 14th. The 43-year-old Syrian- born Muslim […]