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Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir came under attack from stone-throwing demonstrators on Sunday while touring the Bedouin village of Tarabin al-Sana, as tensions flared following a wave of police activity in the area.

According to police, unrest had already begun before the minister’s arrival. Young residents hurled stones at officers, prompting police to respond with tear gas. Two suspects were arrested during the clashes, law enforcement officials told The Times of Israel.

Ben Gvir arrived at the village accompanied by Israel Police chief Danny Levy, Southern District commander Haim Boublil, and large contingents of police officers, moving through the area under heavy security.

“These criminals thought that they would send me a message, that they would do a ‘price tag,’” Ben Gvir said while walking with his security detail, using a term commonly associated with retaliatory settler violence.

Footage aired by Channel 12 showed police scuffling with local residents as Ben Gvir spoke with a man dressed in Arab clothing nearby. Despite the confrontation, the minister told reporters that he was undeterred and pledged to continue visiting the village.

In an official statement, Ben Gvir accused Bedouin communities of operating without effective law enforcement. He said the towns had “gotten used to there being no police and no rule of law,” adding that “everyone does as he pleases.”

“That is over. Finally there is a police force here that functions and responds,” he said.

The visit followed police operations over Shabbos, during which officers arrested three Tarabin al-Sana residents suspected of torching and vandalizing vehicles in nearby Jewish communities. Police said the acts were carried out as “revenge” for an earlier overnight raid in the village.

Over the past month, police have intensified their presence across the Negev as part of an initiative aimed at curbing violent crime, weapons trafficking, and traffic violations. The campaign, known as New Order, has included repeated raids in Bedouin localities.

Bedouin leaders and residents have strongly criticized the operation, accusing Ben Gvir of undermining their rights as Israeli citizens. They dispute his claims of improved policing, arguing instead that their communities lack a steady police presence.

Residents say that rather than routine law enforcement, they experience surprise, military-style raids involving counterterror units and Border Police, along with checkpoints at town entrances that affect ordinary civilians as well as criminals.

Ben Gvir, for his part, praised the concrete barriers police have placed at entrances to several Bedouin towns, rejecting accusations of collective punishment.

“This is the State of Israel. Period. Those who don’t like it, fantastic — they can go drink the water in Gaza,” he said.

A Tarabin al-Sana resident identified as Alaa told Ynet that villagers were being unfairly blamed. “It makes no sense to blame us [residents] for everything that goes on in the village,” he said.

“I blame Ben Gvir for this situation. You want to catch criminals? Go in and arrest them. What are these checkpoints for? Where are we, in the territories?” he added, referring to the West Bank.

Addressing the alleged retaliatory vandalism in the nearby Jewish towns of Giv’ot Bar and Mishmar Hanegev, Alaa told Ynet that he maintains friendships in Giv’ot Bar and condemned the attacks.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s High Court on Sunday morning rejected the petitions filed by left-wing organizations against the appointment of David Zini as head of the Shin Bet, after two out of three judges on the panel ruled that there is no ground for judicial intervention in the government’s decision. The opinion of Justice Yitzchak Amit, who sought […]

FBI Director Kash Patel said the massive fraud uncovered in Minnesota represents only a small portion of a much larger criminal web, signaling that further investigations, along with immigration consequences, are still ahead for those involved.

In a detailed statement posted on social media, Patel said the Federal Bureau of Investigation had already redirected significant manpower and investigative assets to Minnesota well before the case drew widespread attention online, allowing agents to aggressively pursue the scheme at an early stage.

“To date, the FBI dismantled a $250 million fraud scheme that stole federal food aid meant for vulnerable children during COVID,” Patel wrote.

He explained that the probe uncovered a complex operation involving fake vendors, shell corporations, and extensive laundering of illicit funds connected to the Feeding Our Future network. “The investigation exposed sham vendors, shell companies, and large-scale money laundering tied to the Feeding Our Future network,” he added.

The sprawling case resulted in dozens of prosecutions, ultimately leading to 78 indictments and 57 convictions.

Detailing the scope of those charged, Patel said, “Defendants included Abdiwahab Ahmed Mohamud, Ahmed Ali, Hussein Farah, Abdullahe Nur Jesow, Asha Farhan Hassan, Ousman Camara, and Abdirashid Bixi Dool, each charged for roles ranging from wire fraud to money laundering and conspiracy.”

He also highlighted efforts to corrupt the justice system itself. “Abdimajid Mohamed Nur and others were charged for attempting to bribe a juror with $120,000 in cash. Those responsible pleaded guilty and were sentenced, including a 10-year prison term and nearly $48 million in restitution in related cases,” Patel said, cautioning that the full scale of the wrongdoing has yet to be uncovered.

Looking ahead, Patel stressed that investigators are far from finished. “The FBI believes this is just the tip of a very large iceberg. We will continue to follow the money and protect children, and this investigation very much remains ongoing,” he said.

He added that criminal penalties may not be the final consequence for many of those involved. “Furthermore, many are also being referred to immigrations officials for possible further denaturalization and deportation proceedings where eligible,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

During Chanukah, ArtScroll rolled out 8 extraordinary deals at 33% off, one each day. If you didn’t get a chance to take advantage of them, now’s your moment. These are the lowest prices of the year on each of these sets! For 48 HOURS only — from Motzei Shabbos until Monday at midnight — every one of those 8 […]

In a shock to no one, Israel’s High Court has stepped in to block the government’s plan to shut down Army Radio (Galei Tzahal). Justice Yitzhak Amit issued an interim order halting the move, effectively freezing the government’s decision for now.

UPDATE: One person was killed and another critically injured after two helicopters crashed near Basin Road in Hammonton, New Jersey; the FAA and NTSB have been notified and will investigate the incident, police said.

TRUMP BLASTS REPORTER! “What a dumb question! Nobody even knows what the security agreement is going to say!”

After meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Florida on Sunday, President Donald Trump said he sees real potential for a breakthrough in efforts to end the war between Ukraine and Russia, while cautioning that the human toll will continue to rise without an agreement.

Standing beside Zelensky outside the main dining room at Mar-a-Lago, Trump told reporters, “I do believe that we have the makings of a deal. It’s good for Ukraine, good for everybody. It’s very important.”

Trump emphasized the stakes involved if the conflict drags on, warning that failure to reach an accord would cost countless lives. “If the war continues, ‘millions of additional people will be killed, millions, and no one wants that,’” he said.

The president also underscored how challenging the negotiations have been compared to past efforts he has led. “There’s nothing more important,’’ Trump said. “I solved eight wars, and this is the most difficult one.”

Despite expressing confidence in progress, Trump dismissed the idea of locking in a specific deadline for a final agreement. Describing the talks, he said they were “Pretty complex but not that complex,’’ adding, “No deadlines. ‘You know what my deadline is, getting the war ended.’”

Trump nevertheless predicted swift movement following discussions with Zelensky over unresolved elements in a 20-point peace proposal drafted by both sides’ teams. He said the process is likely to “move very rapidly” as those remaining issues are addressed.

As part of advancing the proposal, Trump said he plans to speak directly with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and to consult with senior European officials. He noted that he had already spoken with Putin before sitting down with Zelensky.

Sunday’s meeting marked the first time Trump and Zelensky have met face to face since October 17, following a period of highly publicized disagreements between the two leaders.

Reflecting on Zelensky’s role in the conflict, Trump offered praise for the Ukrainian president and his country. “This gentleman has worked very hard,’’ he said. “He’s very brave, and his people are very brave, but what they’ve gone through, no nation, very rarely, has a nation ever gone through this.”

{Matzav.com}

President Trump announces he will immediately call President Putin following his meeting with Zelensky in Florida.

President Trump greets Ukrainian president Zelensky for their meeting on the Ukraine/Russia war.

Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-linked terror group Al-Shabaab has issued an explicit threat against Israel, vowing to fight any Israeli involvement in Somaliland following Jerusalem’s decision to formally recognize the breakaway territory as a sovereign state. “We will not accept it, and we will fight against it,” the group said in a statement, framing Israel’s recognition as a […]

In a largely symbolic ruling, the Jerusalem District Court has ordered Hamas to pay close to 1 billion shekels in compensation to hundreds of victims of the October 7 massacre — including the families of those murdered and people injured in the attack. The judgment was issued by default, after Hamas failed to submit a […]

President Donald Trump expressed confidence after what he described as a successful phone conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, held shortly before Trump’s scheduled meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago to discuss a proposed 20-point peace framework.

“I just had a good and very productive telephone call with President Putin of Russia prior to my meeting, at 1:00 P.M. today, with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump’s optimism came against the backdrop of intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine. In the days leading up to the anticipated discussions, Russian forces launched more than 2,100 drone strikes, nearly 800 guided aerial bombs, and 94 missiles, according to Ukrainian officials.

On Saturday alone, Ukraine was hit with 500 drone strikes and 400 missile attacks, leaving parts of Kyiv without electricity. Officials said at least one person was killed and 27 others were wounded in the barrage.

Zelensky, who is traveling to meet Trump, reiterated his country’s determination to bring the conflict to an end, even as the violence escalates. “Ukraine is willing to do whatever it takes to stop this war. For us, priority number one – or the only priority – is ending the war. For us, the priority is peace. We need to be strong at the negotiating table,” he said.

While Trump was preparing for talks, Putin issued a stark warning signaling no immediate softening of Moscow’s position. “If Ukraine does not want to resolve everything peacefully, Russia will resolve all its objectives by military means,” Putin said, according to a translation.

Russia has insisted that Ukraine relinquish control over the entire Donbas region, where Moscow occupies most of the territory while Kyiv still holds several strategically significant cities. Ukrainian leaders have resisted surrendering any land not already lost in combat, viewing the remaining areas as vital to national security and a buffer against future Russian advances.

Zelensky has also noted that Ukraine’s constitution would require a referendum before any territory could be ceded.

Behind the scenes, Ukrainian negotiators have spent weeks in discussions with Trump’s team, helping reshape an initial 28-point proposal viewed as favorable to Moscow into a revised 20-point plan that Kyiv sees as more balanced.

Zelensky told reporters last week that the new proposal is nearly complete but that several critical issues remain unresolved, including territorial questions, the status of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and long-term security guarantees.

He has publicly stressed the need for Moscow to engage seriously in the diplomatic effort. “The key is that Russia must not sabotage this diplomacy and must take ending the war 100% seriously,” Zelensky wrote on X last week. “If it doesn’t, then additional pressure on Russia must follow. The world has all the instruments needed to make that pressure effective and ensure that peace is achieved.”

Ending the war, which is set to reach its four-year mark in February, has been a central foreign policy goal for Trump.

In an interview with The NY Post last Friday, Trump voiced guarded optimism that progress could be made during his talks with Zelensky. “Well, I think we have a good shot at it,” Trump said. “I think [Ukrainian officials] want to do it now, and I think that Russia wants to do it. But every time one wants to do it, the other doesn’t.”

{Matzav.com}

Satellite imagery and expert assessments reviewed by The Washington Post indicate that China has been quietly but dramatically ramping up its ability to produce nuclear warheads, modernizing sensitive weapons facilities and expanding output at a pace unmatched by any other country.

According to the report, Beijing appears to have moved beyond a long-standing strategy centered on maintaining a limited nuclear deterrent. Analysts now believe Chinese planners are preparing for quicker and more assertive nuclear responses, a shift that could significantly heighten tensions in a future clash with the United States and allied nations.

Independent experts who examined satellite photos told the Post that since around 2019, China has carried out extensive upgrades at several locations connected to nuclear warhead manufacturing. The work spans multiple stages of the production process, from core components to explosive triggers.

Among the most significant expansions are at facilities believed to produce plutonium pits, the central element of a nuclear warhead, as well as plants that manufacture the high explosives used to initiate a detonation. One analyst described the scope of the transformation in stark terms. “The scale of change we’re seeing is unlike anything before,” said Renny Babiarz.

Despite these advances, recent Pentagon assessments estimate that China’s existing stockpile remains in the low 600s. Defense officials, however, say the trajectory is clear, with projections indicating Beijing could surpass 1,000 warheads by the end of the decade.

President Donald Trump has publicly warned that China could come close to matching U.S. nuclear capabilities within five years, reflecting growing alarm in Washington over Beijing’s long-term strategic aims.

Even so, specialists emphasize that China is not expected to rival the approximately 3,700 warheads held by the United States in the near future. What concerns analysts more is the speed and breadth of the buildup, which they say points to preparation for an extended period of nuclear competition.

Images analyzed by experts reveal construction activity and enhanced security across nearly every link in China’s nuclear weapons supply chain. At sites associated with plutonium pit production, observers noted new structures, expanded infrastructure, and security zones that have roughly doubled in size.

One particularly notable location near Pingtong in Sichuan province — the only publicly identified Chinese site tied to plutonium pit production — has seen especially sweeping changes over the past five years. Analysts say its capabilities now rival, and in certain respects exceed, those of the Pantex facility in Texas, where U.S. nuclear warheads are assembled and maintained.

Rapid growth has also been observed at a separate facility in Zitong County, also in Sichuan, believed to manufacture high-explosive components. Satellite imagery shows newly erected security barriers, expanded storage and testing areas, and a massive 430,000-square-foot structure completed last year that could support assembly and transport of warhead parts.

Beyond manufacturing, analysts point to renewed activity at China’s Lop Nur nuclear test site in Xinjiang, where new underground tunnels and shafts have been constructed. Experts suggest this could signal preparations for future nuclear tests, despite China having signed — but never ratified — the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

Some specialists also believe Beijing may be edging toward a “launch-on-warning” posture, under which it would fire nuclear weapons upon detecting an incoming attack rather than waiting for a strike to land.

“Rapid-response nuclear postures raise the danger of misunderstanding and overreaction,” said Tong Zhao of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

{Matzav.com}

Israel, Greece, and Cyprus have signed a joint military work plan for 2026, formalizing three-way defense cooperation intended to present a united front toward Turkey. An Israeli delegation led by Brig. Gen. Amit Adler traveled to Cyprus to sign the agreement, which includes joint exercises and training, professional working groups across multiple fields, and continued […]

NEW YORK Governor Kathy Hochul has signed new legislation requiring social media platforms in New York State to display warning labels for young users. The labels will alert minors to the potential mental-health risks linked to features such as addictive feeds, auto-play, and infinite scrolling. Hochul said the measure is part of broader efforts to […]

A Jewish merchant arrested earlier this month in Damascus has been released and fully cleared of all charges. Salem Hamdani, a longtime member of Syria’s Jewish community, was freed after about 20 days in detention, with authorities concluding the accusations against him were unfounded. A close associate confirmed he was treated respectfully during custody and […]

Italian authorities arrested nine people on Saturday in a sweeping counterterrorism operation that uncovered an alleged charity fraud network accused of secretly funneling more than $8 million to Hamas-run organizations in the Middle East, officials said. The arrests targeted individuals linked to three charitable groups accused of masquerading as humanitarian organizations while financing Hamas through […]

Footage from the scene in Hammonton shows smoke billowing from the crash site, where two helicopters crashed, with multiple casualties feared.

An Iranian-linked hacking collective said Sunday that it had gained access to the cellphone of Tzachi Braverman, chief of staff to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and warned that it would soon publish material it says connects him to the so-called Qatargate affair.

The group, which operates under the name Handala, asserted in an online post that it had penetrated an iPhone 16 Pro Max belonging to Braverman and planned to disclose details later in the day regarding his alleged role in the controversy that has shaken Netanyahu’s inner circle.

Handala had already claimed momentum last week, when it said it had successfully hacked the phone of former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett.

Among the initial materials released by the hackers were files they say include contact information for senior officials and other figures close to Netanyahu, including his wife, Sara Netanyahu.

Additional content circulated by the group appeared relatively mundane, consisting of videos and official paperwork, including a document outlining emergency protocols established during the June conflict with Iran.

The hackers dubbed the effort “Bibi Gate,” a label seemingly intended to echo the wider scandal they claim to be exposing.

Responding to the allegations, the Prime Minister’s Office said there was no evidence of a successful intrusion. “No breach has been found. The issue is being investigated.”

In more inflammatory language, Handala asserted that it possesses extensive sensitive material. “We have everything: encrypted chats, hidden deals, shameful moral and financial indulgences, abuse of power, blackmail, payoffs. For years, you performed your little dance, thinking Handala was not among you. But we were in the room, every time,” the group claimed.

In a further message, the hackers warned that additional disclosures were imminent. “The files, the voices, the videos, every thread of Braverman’s double life, every secret that ties your regime to the heart of corruption, are about to surface,” Handala wrote.

{Matzav.com}