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[Video below.] In a wide-ranging interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu laid out Israel’s security priorities, regional ambitions, and diplomatic outlook following extended discussions with President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago.

Netanyahu said Israel is watching closely as Iran works to rebuild its military capabilities, including nuclear enrichment and missile production. He warned that Tehran has not abandoned its ambitions and must be stopped from regaining them. “The President was correct when he said that Fordow was obliterated, so they’re trying other sites. They’ll try that. They also are trying to recover their ballistic missile production facility,” Netanyahu said, adding, “We set them back considerably on both areas, but, yeah, they’ll try. And I think the President was right to tell them, ‘hey, don’t, don’t’. That’s basically what his message was.”

He stressed that the core issue with Iran remains its nuclear infrastructure. “And I think with Iran, the real issue is they should accept the fact that they shouldn’t have enrichment, nuclear enrichment capability. They should take out all the material that they’ve already enriched, take it out of Iran and have inspections,” he said.

Netanyahu also disclosed that Iran recently staged military drills simulating missile strikes on Israel. “I said if you dare do that, you know, the results would be devastating. So I hope Iran doesn’t make that mistake,” he warned.

Turning to Gaza, Netanyahu argued that any progress toward stability hinges on one essential demand. “One word, disarmament,” he said, explaining that Hamas remains heavily armed, with tens of thousands of rifles and an extensive tunnel network. “You’ve got to take all these rifles, take them away from them,” he said, adding that Hamas’ refusal to disarm is the central barrier to moving forward.

Asked whether stripping Hamas of its weapons is realistic, Netanyahu said the effort deserves a chance, possibly through international involvement. “I think we have to give it a chance,” he said, noting that an international stabilization force could play a role. “If it can be done the easy way, fine.”

On Gaza’s future leadership, Netanyahu said no meaningful change can occur while Hamas remains intact. A new governing framework is possible only “if you disarm Hamas,” he said, emphasizing, “The point here is not to negotiate with Hamas… Their job is to vanish, stop, no more. And you know who wants it more than anyone else? The people of Gaza.”

Addressing criticism of Israeli military actions during the ceasefire, Netanyahu defended Israel’s responses to threats. “These terrorists try to kill us… What would you do? Well, you just did. There was this jihadist in Syria who killed two Americans. Bam. You hit them back,” he said.

On tensions in Judea and Samaria, Netanyahu rejected claims of widespread violence by Jewish residents, describing the incidents as limited and unacceptable. “It’s about 70 kids. They’re not from the West Bank… they do things like chopping the olive trees… I can’t accept that. That’s vigilantism. I’m taking that out,” he said, contrasting those acts with the scale of terror attacks against Israelis. He added, “I want peaceful coexistence between the Israelis and the Palestinians who live in Judea and Samaria, which is part of our ancestral homeland.”

Netanyahu dismissed suggestions that he needed to persuade President Trump on Israel’s approach. “We saw eye to eye. He cut right to the chase,” he said. “He said, look, skip all this press stuff… you’ve got to get Hamas to disarm.”

Looking beyond immediate conflicts, Netanyahu expressed confidence that Israel’s regional standing has improved, opening doors to new diplomatic opportunities. “I think it’s possible precisely because of the great achievements that we had fighting Iran and its axis… people are open to a peace agreement,” he said, citing Israel’s military strength and economic growth. “We’re just a high-tech juggernaut.”

On his ongoing legal case in Israel, Netanyahu reiterated that he views the charges as politically driven. “The president was right to call for a pardon,” he said. “They said that I received a bribe… favorable coverage in a third-rate Internet site. That’s the bribe.”

He described what he sees as the trivial nature of the allegations. “On the first day of my cross-examination… 29 years ago, your son received a Bugs Bunny doll. That’s what they’re cross-examining. And about cigars I received from a friend. That’s the trial. So it’s ridiculous. It’s been dissolving.And the president is right to ask for a pardon.”

Responding to accusations that he is extending the war for political reasons, Netanyahu pushed back forcefully. “This is so vicious and so false… I’ve been to war… One of my best friends died in my arms… That’s the last thing I want,” he said, adding that his goal is to convert military success into long-term stability. “What I want to do is to secure the future of Israel and to give it a future of peace, prosperity, and security.”

On the global surge in antisemitism, Netanyahu urged vigilance and resolve. “If somebody says they want to kill you… believe them, and be prepared,” he said, calling for firmer international action. “President Trump does. Many governments don’t. And they should.”

Asked about Syria’s interim leadership, Netanyahu signaled cautious openness. “We’d like to see if we can have a different relationship with them. We have talks, which we never had with the Assad regime,” he said.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu addressed the international criticism surrounding Israel’s decision to recognize the self-declared Republic of Somaliland, defending the move during an interview with Newsmax while visiting the United States.

Responding to questions about the backlash from European governments and Muslim-majority countries, Netanyahu framed the recognition as a values-based decision. “Why not support a democratic moderate country that wants to join the Abraham Accords? I think everybody should do that,” he said.

He described Somaliland as a stable and moderate society, emphasizing its population and political character. “Somaliland has six million citizens – moderate Muslims, they want to join the Abraham Accords, and I think that’s very good,” Netanyahu stated.

The prime minister went on to contrast Somaliland with the broader situation in Somalia. “They are democrats, they’ve had elections,” he said, adding that this stands in stark contrast to “the rest of Somalia, which is hodgepodge, has had Al-Shabaab terrorists there, never had elections for, I don’t know, for decades, has had a lot of terrorists coming there.”

Following Netanyahu’s announcement last week, Channel 12 reported that discussions about establishing ties with Somaliland intensified as Israel explored options for countries willing to accept Palestinians from Gaza during the ongoing war with Hamas.

The report also noted additional strategic considerations behind the move, including Somaliland’s geographic proximity to Yemen, which could provide Israel with improved access for surveillance and potential strikes against Iran-backed Houthi forces operating there.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. and partner forces have killed or captured nearly 25 Islamic State operatives in Syria following a wave of retaliatory strikes launched earlier this month, the U.S. military said, underscoring an intensified campaign to degrade the terror group’s remaining networks. According to a statement from U.S. Central Command, American and partner forces carried out 11 […]

A head-on collision between two tourist trains near Peru’s famous Machu Picchu killed a train driver and injured at least 40 people on Tuesday, authorities said. The crash occurred on the railway route to the ancient Inca citadel, one of the country’s top tourist destinations, with the trains operated by Inca Rail S.A. and PeruRail […]

The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on Monday on Israel’s recognition of Somaliland. US Deputy Ambassador to the UN Tammy Bruce slammed the convening of the meeting, calling the Council out for its double standards. “Israel has the same right to conduct diplomatic relations as any other sovereign state,” she asserted. “Earlier this […]

Iran escalated its diplomatic confrontation with Canada on Tuesday, formally designating the Royal Canadian Navy as a terrorist organization in what Tehran described as direct retaliation for Ottawa’s 2024 decision to blacklist Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. In a statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said the move was a response to Canada’s designation of […]

Australian authorities said Tuesday that the father and son who carried out a mass shooting on Chanukah at Sydney’s Bondi Beach acted alone and were not part of a wider terrorist network, even though the attack was inspired by ISIS and deliberately targeted a Jewish event. The shooting – carried out with rifles and shotguns […]

While thousands of New York City homeowners rushed to clear snow after last weekend’s storm to avoid penalties, icy walkways next to government-owned properties told a different story.

City officials issued more than 3,000 summonses to private property owners, with fines beginning at $100, under rules that require sidewalks to be shoveled within a set number of hours after snowfall ends. Those enforcement standards, however, do not apply the same way to sidewalks controlled by the city or the state.

Along Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, commuters encountered a long, slippery stretch of sidewalk bordering a Long Island Rail Road train yard that remained buried under snow and ice Monday morning. During peak travel hours, pedestrians were left navigating the hazardous conditions with care.

Comparable situations appeared elsewhere, including outside city-owned parks. Near Dean Playground in Prospect Heights, neighbors voiced concerns about safety after sidewalks remained unshoveled. Only after complaints were made did Parks Department crews arrive to clear the area.

The city acknowledges that while it strictly enforces snow-removal rules on residents and businesses, it does not issue fines to itself or to other government agencies. The Department of Sanitation says it lacks authority to penalize fellow agencies and generally responds to large sidewalk areas only after receiving complaints.

As one resident put it, “It’s funny how the rules are enforced block by block — unless the sidewalk belongs to the city.” For now, officials say the primary way to prompt action on unshoveled government sidewalks is for residents to report the issue by calling 311 or using the city’s 311 app.

{Matzav.com}

The Pentagon announced that Boeing has been awarded an $8.6 billion contract to supply Israel with advanced F-15 fighter jets, a major expansion of Israel’s airpower that comes as Washington weighs a potentially contentious sale of F-35s to Turkey. The contract, disclosed shortly after Donald Trump met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida, covers […]

Outgoing New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Monday that one of his first priorities after leaving office will be an effort to use cryptocurrency and other technology-based tools to combat antisemitism, though he offered few details about how such an initiative would work. Speaking at what was among his final press conferences as mayor, […]

WATCH: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on what he’s learned from the attack on October 7th and his thoughts on antisemitism around the world

“I’m very grateful to President Trump for the support that he gives us.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his meeting with President Trump Monday at Mar-a-Lago.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kyiv was discussing with Washington a possible presence of US troops in Ukraine as part of security guarantees. The White House had no comment on the issue of dispatching US troops to Ukraine.

Emergency officials in rural Kentucky ordered residents to remain indoors Tuesday morning after a freight train derailment led to the release of hazardous materials along a rail line.

The incident involved a 31-car CSX train that derailed in Todd County shortly after 6 a.m. Authorities said at least one railcar was leaking molten sulfur, a substance that can cause serious burns and release toxic gases such as sulfur dioxide or hydrogen sulfide.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear alerted the public to the situation in a social media post, writing, “Kentucky, there has been a train derailment in Todd County, and local emergency management has issued a shelter-in-place for the City of Trenton. Please follow local guidance and stay safe.”

Photos taken at the site showed damaged freight cars strewn across the tracks, with a white chemical substance visibly escaping from one of the cars.

Officials later said the situation was stabilized, and the shelter-in-place order was lifted at about 11 a.m. Authorities reported no injuries and said nearby homes were not damaged.

Reflecting on the severity of the incident, Todd County Executive Todd Mansfield told WZTV News, “It could have been catastrophic.”

CSX Transportation confirmed that it is reviewing what led to the derailment. Company spokesman Austin Staton said Tuesday that cleanup efforts were underway. “CSX crews remain on scene and are working as safely and as quickly as possible to clean up the impacted site,” Staton said. “We appreciate the swift response and coordination of local first responders and emergency management officials.”

CSX has previously faced criticism from environmental advocates, who have raised concerns about the risks associated with transporting hazardous materials by rail and the potential consequences of chemical spills.

{Matzav.com}

BREAKING: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has frozen all child care payments to the state of Minnesota after reports of fraud, ordered an audit of day care centers, activated the ‘defend the spend’ system requiring receipts and launched a fraud reporting hotline.

Sen. John Fetterman has endorsed new military action against Iran’s nuclear program, saying he fully supports past U.S. strikes and would back future attacks if Tehran continues pursuing nuclear weapons. “Iran can’t ever develop a nuclear weapon,” Fetterman wrote in a post on X, declaring his support for using force to prevent the Islamic Republic […]

Federal authorities say they have confirmed at least $1 billion in fraudulent childcare payments in Minnesota so far, with 92 individuals already charged. According to the US Attorney’s office, 82 of those charged are Somali immigrants, and prosecutors have cautioned that the total scope of the scheme could ultimately reach $9 billion.

Against that backdrop, the Trump administration has moved to cut off all childcare-related payments to the state and is pressing for an extensive review of Minnesota’s day care system, as scrutiny intensifies around the state’s human services department.

Deputy Health and Human Services Secretary Jim O’Neill announced the decision on Tuesday, writing on X, “We have frozen all child care payments to the state of Minnesota,” just days after a widely shared investigative video focused national attention on alleged fraud involving local day care providers.

O’Neill accused state officials of allowing massive abuse of public funds, saying Minnesota has “funneled millions of taxpayer dollars to fraudulent daycares across Minnesota over the past decade.” He detailed three steps the department is taking to prevent further misuse of federal money.

As part of the first measure, O’Neill said the federal government will now require “a receipt or photo evidence” before releasing any payments to states through the US Administration for Children & Families.

He also said he has “demanded” that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz carry out a “comprehensive audit” of the day care centers identified in the investigation. “This includes attendance records, licenses, complaints, investigations, and inspections,” he wrote.

O’Neill pointed specifically to a YouTube video published Friday by Nick Shirley, who visited multiple Minneapolis-area day care sites that had received millions in public funding but appeared to be shuttered or not operating.

In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services has set up a dedicated hotline and email address at childcare.gov for reporting suspected fraud. “Whether you are a parent, provider, or member of the general public, we want to hear from you,” O’Neill said.

Summing up the administration’s posture, he added, “We have turned off the money spigot and we are finding the fraud.”

{Matzav.com}

Flu is rising rapidly across the U.S., driven by a new variant of the virus — and cases are expected to keep growing with holiday travel. That variant, known as “subclade K,” led to early outbreaks in the United Kingdom, Japan and Canada. In the U.S., flu typically begins its winter march in December. On Tuesday, the […]

The inauguration of Zohran Mamdani as New York City’s next mayor will depart sharply from past practice, with organizers planning a large public celebration rather than a ticketed ceremony at City Hall Plaza. According to the mayoral transition team, the January 1 event will feature a block party along Broadway in the Canyon of Heroes, complete with “dedicated viewing areas for tens of thousands to gather and participate in the ceremony, ensuring the day belongs to all New Yorkers.”

The transition team also announced that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York will deliver the opening remarks at the ceremony. In a statement cited by Fox News, the team said, “Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez’s presence underscores the leaders central to the movement to usher in a new era for New York City – one focused on delivering an affordability agenda and reimagining what government can do for working people.”

Ocasio-Cortez campaigned alongside Mamdani during the race. Mamdani, who is set to become the city’s first Muslim mayor, praised her role in his political rise, saying, “For the many New Yorkers who have long felt betrayed by a broken status quo, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez embodies a new kind of politics that puts working people at the heart of it.” He added, “I’ve been so proud to count her as a partner across the many stages of our people-powered movement – from the primary campaign to our Forest Hills rally in October to the very first day of the transition – and I’m honored that she’ll be a part of our historic City Hall inauguration.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, another ally who appeared with Mamdani on the campaign trail, is scheduled to administer the oath of office. Sanders said the swearing-in will take place at the Old City Hall subway station, describing the symbolism of the location. “I’m honored to swear in our Mayor-Elect at the Old City Hall subway station. His inauguration will represent the blending of our city on a subway filled with cacophony, diversity, challenge and opportunity,” Sanders said. “The subway is a lifeblood of our city, and a great equalizer for New Yorkers. All of us are treated the same on the subway; it connects and binds New Yorkers in our daily lives. For all of our strengths and weaknesses as individuals, we ride together on the train, to places far and wide.”

Sanders continued by tying that imagery to Mamdani’s message, saying, “Zohran is our next mayor because he understands how important it is that New Yorkers living side-by-side all deserve a city that we can thrive in, no matter what subway line you use.”

Mamdani’s rise has also drawn controversy. He has faced sustained criticism over his policy positions, particularly his anti-Israel stance. He has declined to disavow the phrase “globalize the intifada” and publicly criticized Israel on October 8, 2023, one day after the Hamas massacre in southern Israel.

In repeated statements, Mamdani has accused Israel of committing war crimes in its campaign against Hamas in Gaza and has said he would seek to arrest Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu if he were to visit New York City.

Ocasio-Cortez, often referred to by her initials AOC, is a member of the progressive Democratic bloc known as “The Squad” and has a long record of opposing Israeli policies. Her past actions include accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinian Arabs and calling for reductions in US military assistance to Israel until humanitarian aid flows freely into Gaza.

Sanders has likewise been outspoken in his criticism of Israel’s government. In September, he asserted that Israel is committing “genocide” in Gaza, the first time he used that term in reference to the conflict.

Those views have translated into legislative efforts. In late July, the Senate voted down a resolution introduced by Sanders that sought to block American arms transfers to Israel. The measure failed 27-70, marking his third unsuccessful attempt since late 2024 to halt US weapons deliveries to Israel.

{Matzav.com}

Facebook has been accused of serious failures in moderating extremist content after allegedly allowing posts celebrating the Bondi Beach massacre to remain online. The findings, based on analysis by the UK-based Community Security Trust (CST), allege that Facebook lagged in removing content praising the deadly attack on a Chanukah celebration in Sydney earlier this month, […]