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Dear Matzav Inbox,

Every year, as sure as the traffic clogs Route 17, we get treated to the same tired charade: families pack up for the “summer in the country,” only for husbands to vanish back to the city by Monday morning, leaving behind wives to play single parent all week long. Then, come Thursday night, these husbands trickle back up for a quick 48-hour reunion, if that.

This bizarre ritual, so widely accepted in our frum community, is not cute. It’s not “reality.”

It’s dysfunction parading as normalcy, and it’s time someone said it out loud.

Let’s stop pretending this makes sense. We are talking about spouses living apart for two entire months. That’s eight weeks of being disconnected, out of sync, and physically absent. And for what? So that the wives can “sit in the circle” yapping away all day and take walks around the colony loop while their husbands sit in traffic, eat takeout alone, and fall asleep in their Brooklyn or Lakewood home with nobody to talk to but the fan?

We’ve normalized something that is, at its core, completely unnatural and, frankly, a bit insane.

What exactly are we teaching our children? That marriage is a part-time job? That it’s okay for Totty to be a ghost all week and magically reappear just in time to make Kiddush? That a real normal relationship in marriage is optional during the summer?

We wonder why kids are confused. Look no further than this ridiculous arrangement.

And don’t tell me, “It’s just for the summer.” That’s two months of distance, of miscommunication, of drift. Two months of wives hanging out in the bungalow colony in “make believe world.”

And don’t kid yourself—it affects marriages. Absence does not make the heart grow fonder when the only thing growing is resentment.

There is something disturbingly casual about how we’ve embraced this setup. We speak about shalom bayis from the pulpit, about building strong homes and prioritizing family, and then we collectively nod along as thousands of couples live apart for 80% of the summer.

We treat this as a luxury, as if splitting the family in half for ten weeks is a badge of middle-class honor.

It’s not. It’s unhealthy.

And let’s talk about the absurdity of the “Thursday night culture.” These men aren’t coming up for a quiet Shabbos. They’re arriving for a whirlwind of chaos: three-hour traffic, maybe a barbecue and some bug spray, then davening, and by Sunday afternoon, they’re already mentally back in Flatbush.

That’s not quality time. That’s pretending.

This is not to say that every family situation is the same, or that every working man can telecommute from a hammock in Monticello. But this isn’t about exceptions. It’s about the normalization of a lifestyle that has spiraled way out of control. We’ve created a community standard where the nuclear family lives fractured for an entire season in the name of comfort and convenience, or because “everyone is doing it.” How pathetic.

And there’s more to write about what goes on in the city when the husbands are left hanging out each night, but I’d rather not get into that.

Let’s stop whitewashing this. Let’s call it what it is: a breakdown in priorities.

Marriage is not a weekend arrangement. Parenting is not a part-time gig. Family is not something you commute to. And pretending that this summer setup is “ideal” or “the best of both worlds” is just a cover for a situation that is increasingly strained, lonely, and wrong.

It’s time to rethink what we’ve accepted as “normal.”

Because this?

This isn’t normal.

Sincerely,
Saying the Brutal Truth

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The IDF has restructured access to humanitarian aid centers in Gaza, operated by the U.S.-based Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. To stop Hamas from capturing aid, the IDF is implementing fencing, signage, new pathways, checkpoints, and enhanced surveillance.

CNN host Michael Smerconish admitted on his program that President Donald Trump has experienced a notably successful stretch over the past week.

“I’m talking about offering an objective analysis in view of what’s transpired in the last two weeks that I’ve laid out substantively and with data. He’s been on a roll,” Smerconish said. “It might not be the roll that you desire, but I like the word that David [Urban] used and that Salena Zito used in her column this morning. Consequential. Who among us could deny how consequential Trump 2.0 is turning out to be? But in order for you to recognize that, you need to have an open mind about what’s transpiring.”

During the broadcast, Smerconish asked viewers to weigh in on whether they were capable of viewing Trump with an open mind. When he shared the results later in the show, a majority of 72% responded that they were not open to reconsidering their views on the president.

“I applaud those of you who are part of the 72% who say you do not have an open mind on Donald Trump, and the reason that I’m applauding you is not that I appreciate your closed-mindedness,” Smerconish said. “I appreciate your candor. Like, you don’t want to hear it.”

He added, “I made the case at the outset of the program today that he’s had a good two weeks. No B.S. He’s winning, maybe not in a way you want. There are many things that he’s doing that I disagree with. And I tell you what they are. Every day on radio and once a week here. But you got to stand back and say it’s consequential. It is consequential. So, interesting.”

Among the recent accomplishments being highlighted by the Trump administration were a successful U.S. strike against Iranian nuclear assets, a possible de-escalation deal between Israel and Iran, and a new NATO pledge to increase defense spending in response to Trump’s pressure.

The president also notched a legal victory when the Supreme Court limited the power of federal judges to issue sweeping national injunctions—an obstacle that had previously blocked multiple executive actions.

While Smerconish has not shied away from expressing his differences with Trump’s policies, he’s also cautioned that relentless criticism from the press may be contributing to Trump’s political resilience.

“It’s like a parenting lesson. The more that you tell people what they can’t do, what’s intolerable, you must not do this, you should not do this, the more they’re going to rebel,” he said during an interview in November.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

The FBI is warning U.S. critical infrastructure sectors to stay alert for possible Iranian cyberattacks.

The Iranian rial is plummeting, with 1 US dollar now valued at 900,900 rials on the open market.

Palestinians in Gaza are expressing gratitude to President Trump, with some chanting “I love you Trump” and “I love you Donald,” as US and Israeli-backed aid from the Gaza Humanitarian Fund is distributed to the region.

Sen. Jim Banks: “There are 5 million Americans who get Medicaid, who are able-bodied. They sit at home, they don’t work, they’re not taking care of a sick kid or a sick mom — and they’re still on Medicaid… Let’s reform Medicaid and save it for those people who need it.”

The Israeli settlers torched a multi million shekel security station used to “thwart terror attacks and maintain security” in the Ramallah area of the West Bank overnight. The IDF says damage to the site “poses a danger to the security of the residents.”

Last night, dozens of Israeli settlers rioted outside the Binyamin military base in the West Bank, protesting live fire used against rioters who attacked an army patrol on Friday. They demanded the prosecution of a commander assaulted by settlers, falsely claiming he used live fire. The rioters vandalized vehicles, and used pepper spray on forces.

The Knesset House Committee on Monday voted 14-2 to impeach MK Ayman Odeh, the chairman of the Arab Hadash Ta’al party, over comments he made supporting terrorism. All representatives of the coalition parties voted in support of his ouster, along with representatives from Yisrael Beytenu, Yesh Atid, and the National Unity Party.

A procession transported the fallen firefighters after two were killed and another was wounded as gunfire erupted while firefighters responded to a brush fire on the mountain near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on Sunday.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said late Sunday trade talks with U.S. have resumed after Canada rescinded its plan to tax U.S. technology firms. U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that he was suspending trade talks with Canada over its plans to continue with its tax on technology firms, which he called “a direct and blatant attack on our country.” The Canadian government said “in anticipation” of a trade deal “Canada would rescind” the Digital Serves Tax. The tax was set to go into effect Monday. Carney and Trump spoke on the phone Sunday, and Carney’s office said they agreed to resume negotiations. “Today’s announcement will support a resumption of negotiations toward the July 21, 2025, timeline set out at this month’s G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis,” Carney said in a statement. Carney visited Trump in May at the White House, where he was polite but firm. Trump traveled to Canada for the G7 summit in Alberta, where Carney said that Canada and the U.S. had set a 30-day deadline for trade talks. Trump, in a post on his social media network last Friday, said Canada had informed the U.S. that it was sticking to its plan to impose the digital services tax, which applies to Canadian and foreign businesses that engage with online users in Canada. The digital services tax was due to hit companies including Amazon, Google, Meta, Uber and Airbnb with a 3% levy on revenue from Canadian users. It would have applied retroactively, leaving U.S. companies with a $2 billion U.S. bill due at the end of the month. Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal, called Carney’s retreat a “clear victory” for Trump. “At some point this move might have become necessary in the context of Canada-US trade negotiations themselves but Prime Minister Carney acted now to appease President Trump and have him agree to simply resume these negotiations, which is a clear victory for both the White House and big tech,” Béland said. He said it makes Carney look vulnerable to President Trump’s outbursts. “President Trump forced PM Carney to do exactly what big tech wanted. U.S. tech executive will be very happy with this outcome,” Béland said. Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne also spoke with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday. “Rescinding the digital services tax will allow the negotiations of a new economic and security relationship with the United States to make vital progress,” Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said in a statement. Trump’s announcement Friday was the latest swerve in the trade war he’s launched since taking office for a second term in January. Progress with Canada has been a roller coaster, starting with the U.S. president poking at the nation’s northern neighbor and repeatedly suggesting it would be absorbed as a U.S. state. Canada and the U.S. have been discussing easing a series of steep tariffs Trump imposed on goods from America’s neighbor. Trump has imposed 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum as well as 25% tariffs on autos. He is also charging a 10% tax on imports from most countries, though he could raise rates on July 9, after the 90-day negotiating period he set would expire. Canada and Mexico face separate tariffs of as much as 25% that Trump put into place under […]

Envision your family gathered on a sweeping terrace as the sun sets over Jerusalem’s  ancient walls. Children’s laughter mingles with conversation while you host a Shabbos meal or Sunday BBQ against a panoramic backdrop spanning from the Old City to distant hills. This isn’t just a view — it’s a new perspective on how you experience Yerushalayim. This is life at ONE PARAN — four extraordinary triplex residences marking the first entirely new construction in Ramat Eshkol in decades. It is not a renovation. It is a revolution. Discerning buyers have responded with remarkable enthusiasm since our initial announcement, recognizing what makes these residences unprecedented in Jerusalem’s luxury landscape. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION Each triplex embodies chic fashion with Mediterranean warmth — an exclusive collection of limitless views and luxe motifs in a coveted location that’s transforming the community. High-concept design intersects with ultimate comfort, advanced technology, and beauty down to the minutest detail. Your dream home is crafted with only the finest materials and artisanal finishes. Your exclusive experience begins at the entrance, where glamorous lobbies welcome you home before high-speed Shabbos elevators whisk you upstairs. Private in-home elevators connect three levels of meticulous craftsmanship within each residence. Huge master bedrooms with full en-suite bath and large walk-in closets give you that perfect sanctuary within. Sweepingly large porches extend your living space into the crisp air — the perfect settings to sip coffee in peace, host family and friends or a lively neighborhood simchas beis hashoeva, or relax in your personal spa pool.  Rising above all surrounding buildings, ONE PARAN will be Ramat Eshkol’s iconic landmark. Way beyond a towering structure, it offers you a signature life within each uniquely-designed residence. Conceived by Amit Mandelkern’s award-winning o2a studio, whose expertise was cultivated at SOM New York and Gehry Partners Los Angeles, ONE PARAN presents an architectural vision respecting Jerusalem’s timeless character while boldly redefining its future. This is a home created for those who appreciate one-of-a-kind concepts, styled to enrich and inspire. With a dignified nod to convenience but respecting ultimate privacy, an upscale boutique retail area with completely separate entrances will be part of the project. Below ground, two designated parking spaces and private storage await.  ONE PARAN places you at the prestigious nexus of refined living — with the Jerusalem light rail providing effortless access across the city. Ramat Eshkol has evolved into a vibrant Anglo community with Paran Street’s flourishing culinary scene featuring trendy eateries and specialty shops. And  you’re within easy walking distance of the Kotel, Maalot Dafna and Arzei Habira, Givat Hamivtar and Geula.  In this pastoral yet central neighborhood, established yet contemporary, you’ll discover a beautiful blend of old and young forming a societal tapestry where everyday life is filled with timeless moments to be shared through generations. ONE PARAN is developed by Chutzot Yerushalayim, led by Yaakov Lifshitz of the esteemed Neta Lifshitz Group, with financing by Ruby Capital. ONE PARAN is where four distinct architectural visions are expressed. Which ONE is yours? For a private appointment, contact us at 1paran.co.il

Iran’s most senior Shiite religious authority issued a fatwa on Sunday against President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, in a move analysts are calling a provocation that borders on incitement to terrorism.

Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, one of Iran’s most influential clerics, declared in his religious edict that Muslims worldwide must rise up against any individual or regime that undermines the unity or leadership of the Islamic world. According to The New York Sun, the ruling categorizes such people as mohareb, a term in Islamic law used to describe those who are at war with God. Iranian law prescribes harsh punishments for mohareb, including death, amputation, crucifixion, or exile.

“Those who threaten the leadership and integrity of the Islamic Ummah are to be considered warlords,” the Ayatollah wrote in the fatwa. He concluded his decree with a supplication for divine protection from the “enemies” of Islam and a plea for the Mahdi’s quick arrival.

The ruling was sharply criticized by British-Iranian commentator Niyak Ghorbani, who labeled it a direct endorsement of global religious violence.

Posting to his X account, Ghorbani asserted that the Iranian regime’s threat extends far beyond its borders and warned that the fatwa reveals the Islamic Republic’s wider strategy of exporting extremist violence.

“The West must realise: the Islamic Republic is not only targeting its own people — it is preparing for global violence in the name of religion,” he wrote in the post.

This pronouncement came in the aftermath of what observers have dubbed the “12-Day War,” a fierce round of hostilities that reportedly saw Iran’s nuclear infrastructure significantly degraded by Israeli and American strikes.

{Matzav.com}

A Palestinian human rights group lost its legal challenge on Monday to the British government’s decision to supply Israel with parts for F-35 fighter jets and other military equipment. Al-Haq alleged that the U.K. broke domestic and international law and was complicit in atrocities against Palestinians by allowing essential components for the warplanes to be supplied to Israel. The government said the ruling showed it had rigorous export rules and it would continue to review its licensing agreements, a spokesperson said. The government last year suspended about 30 of 350 existing export licenses for equipment deemed to be for use in the conflict in Gaza because of a “clear risk” the items could be used to violate international humanitarian law. Equipment included parts for helicopters and drones. But an exemption was made for some licenses related to components of F-35 fighter jets, which are indirectly supplied to Israel through the global spare parts supply chain. While Al-Haq argued the U.K. shouldn’t continue to export parts through what they called a “deliberate loophole” given the government’s own assessment of Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law, the government said the parts were distributed to a collaboration involving the U.S. and six other partners to produce the jets. Components manufactured in the U.K. are sent to assembly lines in the U.S., Italy and Japan that supply partners — including Israel — with jets and spare parts, the court said. Two High Court judges ruled that the issue was one of national security because the parts were considered vital to the defense collaboration and the U.K.’s security and international peace. They said it wasn’t up to the courts to tell the government to withdraw from the group because of the possibility the parts would be supplied to Israel and used to violate international humanitarian law in Gaza. “Under our constitution that acutely sensitive and political issue is a matter for the executive, which is democratically accountable to Parliament and ultimately to the electorate, not for the courts,” Justices Stephen Males and Karen Steyn wrote in a 72-page judgment. Al-Haq and the groups that supported it, including U.K.-based Global Legal Action Network, Amnesty International and Oxfam, described the ruling as a disappointing setback, but said they had already made significant gains in getting the government to suspend some arms exports to Israel and they vowed to continue pressing their case. “Despite the outcome of today, this case has centered the voice of the Palestinian people and has rallied significant public support, and it is just the start,” said Shawan Jabarin, general director of Al-Haq. “We continue on all fronts in our work to defend our collective human values and work towards achieving justice for the Palestinians.” Compared with major arms suppliers such as the U.S. and Germany, British firms sell a relatively small amount of weapons and components to Israel. The Campaign Against Arms Trade nonprofit group estimates that the U.K. supplies about 15% of the components in the F-35 stealth combat aircraft, including its laser targeting system. (AP)

After a quarter-century of absence, the IDF is now examining the feasibility of reestablishing a permanent Jewish presence at Kever Yosef in the heart of Shechem. The move comes in response to mounting public and political pressure to restore Israeli sovereignty and security at the site.

According to a report in Yediot Acharonot, a recent special session of the Knesset Subcommittee on Judea and Samaria Affairs—chaired by MK Tzvi Succot of the Religious Zionism party—marked the first time the possibility of permanent Israeli return to the site was officially debated.

Senior security officials participated in the session, including Lt. Col. Lahet Shemesh, Deputy Head of the Civil Administration, and a representative of the IDF Central Command. The latter committed to submitting an operational opinion within six weeks evaluating the practical steps and implications of reestablishing Israeli control over the area.

Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan, who is spearheading the initiative alongside MK Succot, presented an official IDF protocol from the year 2000 confirming that the withdrawal from the site was intended to be temporary. “No nation in the world would willingly relinquish its holiest site,” Dagan said. “After October 7, it’s clear to all: when you flee from terror, it only chases you harder. Returning to Kever Yosef will enhance security in Shechem—and throughout Israel.”

MK Succot strongly criticized successive Israeli governments for abandoning the site, saying, “It’s unacceptable that the State of Israel violates agreements it itself signed and neglects such an important site. Kever Yosef must once again have a permanent Jewish presence, as part of our sovereign responsibility in Judea and Samaria. Leaving it in the hands of the Palestinian Authority is a blow to our national security and to our values.”

Support for the move came from former IDF officers as well. Retired Brigadier General Harel Kanfo, former commander of the Samaria Brigade, stated, “Creating a perimeter around Kever Yosef is simply a matter of political will. In places where Judaism and the state are not respected—nothing will be respected.”

Several Knesset members, including MKs Amit Halevi and Limor Son Har-Melech, voiced strong support. “This is not just a territorial battle—it’s a battle over identity and spirit. Kever Yosef symbolizes exactly that,” said Halevi. Son Har-Melech added, “The disgrace of those nighttime sneak-ins must end. We are in Eretz Yisrael, not in exile.”

The session concluded with emotional remarks from Rabbi Dudu Ben-Natan, father of Staff Sergeant (res.) Shuval Ben-Natan hy”d, who was killed in the line of duty. “We call out, as a father and as a yeshiva student, to correct this injustice and restore full Jewish presence to Kever Yosef,” he said.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Nearly a week of heavy monsoon rains and flash floods across Pakistan have killed at least 46 people and injured dozens as continuing severe weather similar to past emergenicies remains possible, officials said Monday. The fatalities caused by abnormally strong downpours since Tuesday include 22 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 13 in eastern Punjab province, seven in southern Sindh and four in southwestern Balochistan, National Disaster Management Authority and provincial emergency officials said. “We are expecting above-normal rains during the monsoon season and alerts have been issued to the concerned authorities to take precautionary measures,” said Irfan Virk, a Pakistan Meteorological Department deputy director. Virk warned forecasters cannot rule out a repeat of the “extreme situation” seen during devastating floods in 2022. Rains inundated a third of the country, killing 1,737 people and causing widespread destruction. The deaths from the past week include 13 tourists from a family of 17 who were swept away Friday. The other four family members were rescued from the flooded Swat River in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Rescuers found 12 bodies from the group and divers continued searching Monday for the remaining victim, said Bilal Faizi, a provincial emergency service spokesman. The incident drew widespread condemnation online over what many called a slow response by emergency services. (AP)

The Israel-based Modern Orthodox network Ohr Torah Stone pushed back strongly against allegations made by conservative commentator Candace Owens, who claimed that the group’s founding rabbi tried to bribe Christian pastors to speak out against her during church sermons, JTA reports.

Owens, who has previously courted controversy with remarks widely regarded as antisemitic, repeated the claim both on her podcast and on her X account. She posted what she said was a copy of a letter from Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, allegedly sent to an unidentified pastor, suggesting the rabbi offered Bitcoin as an incentive for pastors to deliver anti-Owens and anti-Tucker Carlson messages.

“Noticing an increase in anti ‘Candace and Tucker’ content,” Owens wrote in her post on X, sharing screenshots of the supposed email. “Today we showed you verifiable proof that Rabbis in Israel are offering, among other things, BITCOIN to pastors to preach against us on Sunday. Read the email from Rabbi Shlomo Riskin! THIS IS DEMONIC.”

Rabbi Riskin, originally from the United States, founded Ohr Torah Stone and served as its first chancellor. The organization also created the Hertog Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation, the interfaith initiative referenced in the email Owens publicized.

In the document shared by Owens — which she claimed was authenticated via “screen recordings” — the sender offers the pastor “a donation of $2,500 in Bitcoin to your congregation” in return for a summary or recording of remarks that would promote “awareness, compassion, and caution when engaging with media voices that spread division under the cover of opinion.”

The message goes on to single out Owens and Carlson directly, accusing them of using speech that “lately has crossed a line” and “veered into rhetoric that echoes classic antisemitic tropes.”

Rabbi Kenneth Brander, President and Rosh Yeshiva of Ohr Torah Stone, took to X to categorically reject the accusation, calling it “entirely false, baseless, and defamatory.”

A spokesperson for Ohr Torah Stone reiterated the denial in a comment to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), stating that the email Owens shared “does not originate from the organization.”

Following a request from JTA for clarification, Rabbi Brander issued a statement via email, slamming the accusations. “Rabbi Riskin and Ohr Torah Stone don’t spend time thinking about Candace Owens,” the statement said. “We are entirely focused on our mission of educating the next generation, supporting agunot [women whose husbands deny them a Jewish divorce], and building bridges between all segments of society and different faiths.”

“We do not engage in smear campaigns, and we certainly don’t make unsolicited offers — Bitcoin or otherwise — to anyone. The claim is absurd and bears no connection to reality,” the statement added.

Although once considered a prominent voice in conservative political circles, Owens has lost favor with some on the right due to her rhetoric, which critics say increasingly flirts with antisemitism. Nevertheless, she remains influential on social media, boasting around 6.9 million followers on X.

{Matzav.com}

Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty, said on Sunday that Cairo is actively pursuing a plan to establish a ceasefire in Gaza, floating the idea of a 60-day pause in fighting as a foundation for a more comprehensive resolution to the ongoing war.

Speaking during an interview on Egyptian television, Abdelatty cautioned, “If Israel resumes its aggression in Gaza after an agreement is reached, this will be the main source of instability in the region.”

He charged that Israel had breached the terms of the January 19 ceasefire agreement, suggesting the recent resurgence in hostilities lacked justification. Abdelatty added that Washington appears to accept the idea that any future deal must come with binding assurances to preserve a truce.

From the Hamas camp, senior member Mahmoud Mardawi said there has been no notable headway in indirect talks with Israel. He laid blame on Israel, citing its “insistence on continuing its aggression” as the major impediment to progress.

Mardawi reiterated that Hamas has laid out specific conditions for a ceasefire, which include the full cessation of Israeli military operations and unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza.

He also criticized Israel’s position, saying the demands being made are a direct challenge to Palestinian self-determination, particularly calls for disarming resistance groups. Mardawi underscored that Palestinian armed factions view their weapons as essential to the struggle to “end the occupation” and stated unequivocally that this issue is non-negotiable.

{Matzav.com}

Many of the world’s nations are gathering starting Monday in Spain for a high-level conference to tackle the growing gap between rich and poor nations and try to drum up trillions of dollars needed to close it. The United States, previously a major contributor, pulled its participation, so finding funding will be tough. The four-day Financing for Development meeting in the southern city of Seville is taking place as many countries face escalating debt burdens, declining investments, decreasing international aid and increasing trade barriers. “Financing is the engine of development. And right now, this engine is sputtering,” United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in his opening comments at the conference. “We are here in Sevilla to change course, to repair and rev up the engine of development to accelerate investment at the scale and speed required.” The U.N. and Spain, the conference co-hosts, believe the meeting is an opportunity to reverse the downward spiral, close the staggering $4 trillion annual financing gap to promote development, bring millions of people out of poverty and help achieve the U.N.’s wide-ranging and badly lagging Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. Even though the gathering comes amid global economic uncertainty and high geopolitical tensions, there is hope among the hosts that the world can address one of the most important global challenges — ensuring all people have access to food, health care, education and water. “The government of Spain believes that this summit is an opportunity for us to change course, for us to raise our voice in the face of those who seek to convince us that rivalry and competition will set the tone for humanity and for its future,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told the delegates as he inaugurated the conference. The ambitious package seeks to reverse decline in development High-level delegations, including more than 70 world leaders, are attending in Seville, the U.N. said, along with several thousand others from international financial institutions, development banks, philanthropic organizations, the private sector and civil society. At its last preparatory meeting on June 17, the United States rejected the 38-page outcome document that had been negotiated for months by the U.N.’s 193 member nations and announced its withdrawal from the process and from the Seville conference. The rest of the countries then approved the document by consensus and sent it to Seville, where it is expected to be adopted by conference participants without changes. It will be known as the Seville Commitment — or Compromiso de Sevilla in Spanish. The document says the leaders and high-level representatives have decided to launch “an ambitious package of reforms and actions to close the financing gap with urgency,” saying it is now estimated at $4 trillion a year. Among the proposals and actions, it calls for minimum tax revenue of 15% of a country’s gross domestic product to increase government resources, a tripling of lending by multilateral development banks, and scaling up private financing by providing incentives for investing in critical areas like infrastructure. It also calls for a number of reforms to help countries deal with rising debt. U.N. trade chief Rebeca Grynspan said recently that “development is going backward” and the global debt crisis has worsened. Last year, 3.3 billion people were living in countries that pay more interest on their debts than they spend on health or education — and the number will increase to […]