Feed aggregator

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) intensified his criticism of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Thursday, declaring that he believes the mayor will eventually do something serious enough to warrant being arrested and sent to Guantánamo Bay, the U.S. military detention facility in Cuba commonly known as “Gitmo.”

Speaking during an interview with conservative commentator Benny Johnson, Tuberville expressed disbelief that New York voters elected Mamdani to lead the nation’s largest city, arguing that the outcome reflects a broader political shift he believes threatens the country.

“For some reason, we have enough people in New York that would vote for this guy to run the largest and the most popular city in the world, just goes to show you how close we are to losing our country,” Tuberville, who won the Republican nomination in the Alabama governor’s race earlier this year, told conservative personality Benny Johnson in an interview while discussing Mamdani.

The Alabama Republican went on to predict that Mamdani would eventually cross a line that would justify federal action against him.

“Sooner or later, he will do something more stupid than what he’s done, to where we’ll finally say, ‘Enough’s enough,’ go putting handcuffs on him and get him the hell out of here and send him to Gitmo, because the guy hates this country, he wants to change it and that’s not going to happen,” he added.

Guantánamo Bay, often referred to simply as “Gitmo,” is best known as the U.S. military detention center that has housed terrorism suspects since the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. The facility has long been the subject of international scrutiny over allegations of torture and detainee abuse during the War on Terror.

Tuberville has repeatedly criticized Mamdani in recent months. Earlier this year, the senator drew sharp backlash after posting a message linking the mayor’s Ramadan iftar event at City Hall to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The remarks prompted a wave of criticism from Democrats, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who called the Alabama senator “a racist piece of [garbage]” over the post.

Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, rose to national prominence after defeating former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in last year’s Democratic primary for mayor. Since then, he has become one of the Democratic Party’s most recognizable progressive figures.

His emergence has coincided with a string of victories by democratic socialist candidates in New York, Los Angeles, Colorado, and Washington, D.C., fueling debate over the growing influence of the party’s progressive wing.

Republicans in the House have increasingly pointed to those electoral gains as evidence of what they describe as a growing communist threat, arguing that some of the Democratic Party’s most left-wing candidates are advocating policies rooted in collective ownership rather than free-market principles.

{Matzav.com}

Senate Republicans on Thursday voted down an effort to advance legislation that would have required President Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from the conflict with Iran, signaling continued support for the administration’s military campaign despite growing unease among some GOP lawmakers over rising casualties and the length of the war.

The Senate rejected a procedural motion to bring the War Powers Resolution out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, defeating it by a vote of 47-49.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) broke with most Republicans by joining Democrats in favor of advancing the measure, while Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) was the lone Democrat to oppose it.

Several senators did not participate in the vote, including Republicans Rand Paul of Kentucky and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, both of whom have previously supported efforts to limit President Trump’s authority as commander in chief. Senate Republicans Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Katie Britt of Alabama were also absent.

Although he missed the vote, Paul reiterated this week that he believes the conflict has weakened the United States rather than strengthened it.

“I think the Iran war has not been a success. I’ve been opposed to the Iran war from the beginning. I think by any objective measure we’re worse off than we were before the war,” Paul said after a Senate hearing.

Other Republican senators also expressed concern about the direction of the conflict, citing increasing civilian casualties and uncertainty over the administration’s long-term strategy.

“There’s got to be an off-ramp, that’s all there is to it,” said Sen. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.).

“Naturally all of us are concerned because we’ve lost three wonderful, wonderful service people in the last little while,” he said, referring to three U.S. service members who were killed in the past week.

On Wednesday, President Trump warned that if Iran attacks ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the United States would respond by striking civilian infrastructure, including bridges and power plants around Tehran.

The conflict has now claimed the lives of 18 American service members.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who introduced the resolution, argued that Congress needed to reassert its constitutional role as the war continues to expand following the collapse of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

“It’s the first resolution since shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has once again been ground to a halt,” he said. “More civilians have been killed as well, and the United States and Iran are now deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure.”

Speaking against the proposal, Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), a former Navy SEAL, insisted that Iran’s ruling regime remains a grave threat that must be confronted militarily rather than restrained by congressional action.

“This regime that we are fighting does not care about our partisan politics. They don’t care who you voted for, who you pray to, or where you live. They want to kill all of us and they don’t just say it, they actually do it,” he said.

The Senate vote followed action earlier Thursday in the House of Representatives, where four Republicans joined Democrats in approving a separate War Powers Resolution directing President Trump to remove U.S. troops from the conflict unless Congress specifically authorizes military action.

The House approved the resolution by a vote of 214-208. Republicans Tom Barrett of Michigan, Warren Davidson of Ohio, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania joined Democrats in supporting the measure.

The latest congressional debate comes after lawmakers approved another House-backed concurrent resolution in June calling on President Trump to end military operations against Iran. That vote prompted a contentious meeting at the White House on June 24 between the President and Senate Republicans.

Following that earlier vote, President Trump sharply criticized Republican senators who supported the resolution, directing particular frustration toward Rand Paul, Lisa Murkowski, and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.

After that meeting, both Cassidy and Paul altered their positions. Senate Republicans subsequently defeated another war powers measure sponsored by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) that sought to require an end to U.S. military involvement in the conflict.

Cassidy voted against Kaine’s proposal after receiving a White House briefing from Vice President JD Vance on the war, while Paul voted “present,” explaining that he wanted to “give the president more space and leverage to negotiate a lasting peace.”

Unlike the concurrent resolution approved in June—which carried no legal force and did not require the President’s signature—the legislation considered Thursday would have been legally binding if enacted into law.

Cassidy again voted against advancing the proposal on Thursday. Even if Congress had approved the measure, it would still have required President Trump’s signature before taking effect.

{Matzav.com}

Longtime New York real estate developer Charles Kushner says he is leaving New York for Florida, citing what he calls the antisemitism of Mayor Zohran Mamdani and First Lady Rama Duwaji as the primary reason for relocating after a lifetime in the city, the NY Post reports.

“I don’t want to pay taxes and live in a city with a blatantly antisemitic mayor and his antisemitic wife, period,” Kushner told The Post. “I also don’t want to live in the city with the people who voted for him.”

Kushner said his decision had little to do with Mamdani’s socialist agenda and far more to do with what he views as the mayor’s longstanding hostility toward Israel and the Jewish community. He pointed to Mamdani’s refusal to participate in the Israel Day Parade, his calls to arrest Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu as a war criminal, his outreach to anti-Israel demonstrators at Columbia University, and what Kushner described as Duwaji’s apparent celebration of the October 7 Hamas massacre.

“I don’t think you can reason with people that celebrate brutality on October 7th and say it was a hoax,” said Kushner, who is currently serving as US Ambassador to France and living in Paris for the time being. “I don’t think they are people worth talking to. I speak to a lot of people that don’t have political views that I have, and there’s two sides, and I respect everybody’s opinion, but I don’t respect anybody that celebrates murder, rape, brutality.”

Kushner also criticized what he described as Mamdani’s broader hostility toward successful business leaders, arguing that the mayor’s political rise reflects growing resentment toward people who have earned wealth through entrepreneurship and investment.

He specifically referenced a viral campaign video in which Mamdani promoted his proposed pied-à-terre tax by singling out billionaire hedge fund manager Ken Griffin as someone who owns valuable New York real estate without living in the city full time.

“You know, Ken Griffin worked hard to earn all that money,” Kushner said. “He took a lot of risk to earn all that money. That’s what America’s about.”

Although Kushner intends to establish Florida residency, he said he is not severing all ties with New York. He plans to keep his Manhattan apartment—even if it means paying the proposed pied-à-terre tax—but worries that Mamdani’s leadership could inflict lasting damage on the city he has long called home.

“I think there’s a lot of people like me that love New York City,” he said, adding that he hopes the city is “so robust and such an energetic and strong city that hopefully one person can’t ruin it.

“Bill de Blasio couldn’t ruin it, because the city is such an economic center, and really a cultural center, and it’s the center of the world,” he said. “But if I was a betting person, if one person could ruin it or bring it down, it’s this mayor.”

Kushner has spent decades building Kushner Companies into one of the country’s most prominent family-owned real estate firms. In 2004, he pleaded guilty to tax evasion, witness tampering, and making illegal campaign contributions before later receiving a presidential pardon from President Trump. His eldest son, Jared Kushner, served as a senior White House adviser and is President Trump’s son-in-law, while his younger son, Joshua Kushner, founded the investment firm Thrive Capital.

Kushner argued that New York should remain a place where ambition and hard work are rewarded rather than one where successful individuals are vilified. He said supporters of the new mayor should focus on taking advantage of the city’s opportunities instead of attacking those who have prospered.

“The opportunity is there for all Americans,” he said, adding. “I hope they find happiness with this moronic mayor.”

For his part, Kushner said he has no regrets about the move and is looking forward to beginning the next chapter of his life in Florida.

“I’m going to have a very nice life as a resident of Florida, with a lot of family and a lot of friends that are doing exactly that, have done, and continue to do exactly the same thing,” he said.

The Trump administration announced a new round of tariffs Thursday targeting roughly 60 countries that have not taken sufficient steps to prohibit goods produced through forced labor, replacing a temporary global tariff policy that expires Friday with a new trade framework tied to labor standards.

Senior administration officials said the new duties will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on July 24. Under the plan, countries that have enacted or begun enforcing laws banning imports made with forced labor will face a 10% tariff, while nations that have failed to adopt such measures will be subject to a 12.5% import tax.

“The United States has had a forced labor import ban for nearly a century, and rigorously enforces it; it’s well past time for our trading partners to do the same,” said US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

“Today’s action will begin to correct what is both a human rights abuse and distortive trade practice to improve the welfare of workers everywhere,” Greer added.

According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the 10% tariff rate will apply to Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Kingdom.

The agency also said certain products imported from European Union member states, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and Switzerland will be subject to either the 10% or 12.5% rate, depending on the circumstances. All remaining countries—including China—will generally face the higher 12.5% tariff.

One administration official noted that India qualified for the lower tariff after adopting legislation designed to block products manufactured through forced labor from entering its market.

The latest move underscores the Trump administration’s continued effort to reshape U.S. trade policy while pursuing new legal avenues to impose tariffs after the Supreme Court invalidated last year’s “Liberation Day” tariffs.

“It encourages stronger labor rights enforcement abroad,” an official said of the so-called Section 301 approach. “It will restore fairness in the global market for American workers. And it incentivizes our trading partners to join the United States in eliminating forced labor from global supply chains.”

“For nearly a century, the United States has prohibited imports made in whole or in part with forced labor,” the official added.

Administration officials said oil and natural gas imports will be exempt from the new tariffs, which follow a government investigation examining labor practices in at least 60 countries.

The new duties are being imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, replacing the blanket 10% tariffs issued under Section 122 that are scheduled to expire shortly after midnight.

Officials said the policy will cover approximately 99% of all imports entering the United States, although they do not expect it to significantly alter overall economic conditions because the new rates are largely comparable to the existing tariff levels.

The administration also emphasized that the new Section 301 duties will not be added on top of other tariffs already in place, such as Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum, and certain other products that were imposed for national security reasons.

President Trump introduced the temporary Section 122 tariffs earlier this year after the Supreme Court struck down his baseline 10% tariff imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) on Feb. 20.

Thursday’s announcement comes just days after President Trump imposed a 50% tariff on certain Canadian imports, marking another escalation in his administration’s broader trade agenda.

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of helping create the atmosphere that led to today’s stabbing attack on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, arguing that the mayor’s repeated anti-Israel rhetoric has endangered the city’s Jewish community.

Danon issued the sharp rebuke after two men—one Jewish and one Asian—were stabbed in broad daylight in what authorities are investigating as a possible bias-motivated attack. Witnesses told investigators the suspect shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the assaults.

“Zohran Mamdani, your incitement is putting Jewish lives in danger in New York, home to the largest Jewish community outside Israel. You have spent months fueling hatred, demonizing Israel and legitimizing hostility toward Jews. Now take responsibility for the consequences,” wrote Danon.

He continued, “Every time you pour more fuel on this fire, you make violence more likely. Stop the incitement. Before more people get hurt.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar echoed Danon’s criticism, saying the violence was the predictable result of months of inflammatory rhetoric directed at the Jewish state.

“I am appalled by the horrific antisemitic stabbing attack in New York. Appalled but sadly not surprised.”

“This violence did not happen in a vacuum. Months of incitement against the Jewish state from Mamdani have helped create a climate in which Jews are targeted,” said Sa’ar.

“Words have consequences. Mamdani must end the incitement, confront antisemitism with resolve, and act now to protect the city’s Jewish community. Enough is enough,” he added.

Mamdani later addressed the attack in a statement posted on social media, saying he had been briefed on the incident and condemning the violence.

“I have been briefed on today’s horrifying stabbings on the Upper West Side, where an Asian man and a Jewish man were attacked. According to witness and victim statements, the perpetrator yelled ‘Allahu Akbar’ during both attacks. I am relieved that both victims are in stable condition.”

He thanked the NYPD for quickly arresting a suspect before adding, “The NYPD’s initial investigation suggests that mental health may have been a factor. They are also evaluating these stabbings as potential hate crimes. These hateful and despicable attacks have no place in our city.”

New York Governor Kathy Hochul also denounced the attack, describing it as another apparent act of antisemitic violence.

“Disgusted by what appears to be another senseless attack on New Yorkers simply because they’re Jewish. The strength of New York has always been our ability to live together across every faith and background.”

She added, “Anyone who tries to tear that apart will be met with the full force of the law. New York will stand with our Jewish community today, tomorrow, and always.”

Hochul also expressed concern for the second victim, saying, “Our hearts are also with the second victim. Asian New Yorkers, like Jewish New Yorkers, have endured waves of hate-fueled violence in recent years. Hate rarely stops with one group. New York will continue confronting it wherever it appears.”

Police said the attacks unfolded shortly after 1:30 p.m. Thursday on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Officers first responded to West 84th Street and Central Park West, where they found a 57-year-old man suffering from a stab wound to the torso. Minutes later, they discovered a second victim, a 50-year-old man, with a similar injury near West 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, witnesses reported hearing the suspected attacker shout “Allahu Akbar” during the assaults. Authorities said one victim is Jewish and the other is Asian.

Both men were transported to a nearby hospital, where officials said they are expected to recover.

After the attacks, the suspect allegedly fled into an apartment building on Amsterdam Avenue between West 88th and West 89th Streets. Members of the NYPD Emergency Service Unit and hostage negotiators responded, eventually taking the man into custody at approximately 2:45 p.m. He was transported to a local precinct for questioning.

Investigators also recovered a weapon near the second crime scene at West 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. Police said the victims do not appear to have known one another, and detectives have not determined whether either had any previous connection to the suspect.

While investigators are examining whether the attack qualifies as a hate crime, officials stressed that no formal determination has yet been made regarding motive.

New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin nevertheless said the attack appeared to have targeted Jews and called for a forceful response.

“I am absolutely sickened and furious by what appears to be an antisemitic stabbing on the Upper West Side. While we await additional details to be confirmed, we know that what is happening in our city is abhorrent. The fear in the Jewish community is real. Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe in their neighborhood, regardless of their faith or identity,” she wrote in a post on social media.

“We must remain united in condemning antisemitism and ensuring those responsible are held fully accountable. I thank the NYPD for its swift response in apprehending the assailant. My prayers are with the victims and their loved ones,” added Menin.

{Matzav.com}

As thousands of bnei yeshivah headed into bein hazemanim for the month of Menachem Av, the organization “Tzeva Shachor” (“Black Alert”), together with the “Nosnim Gav” support organization, released an emergency bulletin outlining detailed instructions for those concerned about possible encounters with military law enforcement amid the ongoing draft crisis.

The guidance, which has been widely distributed throughout yeshivos, reiterates the unequivocal directives of the Gedolei Yisroel that bnei Torah should not report to military induction offices under any circumstances. It also provides practical instructions on how to respond if approached by police or military enforcement personnel.

The organizations’ first and most emphatic instruction addresses situations in which Military Police officers arrive at a person’s home. According to the published guidelines, residents are advised not to open the door, to avoid any conversation with officers, remain completely silent, and immediately contact the Tzeva Shachor emergency hotline.

The advisory also addresses encounters outside the home, urging bnei yeshivah to remain calm, avoid fleeing or engaging in confrontations, and identify themselves only when legally required to do so. It further advises anyone concerned about detention or arrest to immediately notify the organization’s emergency center.

The organizations also devoted significant attention to issues involving medical deferments and military status. They cautioned bnei Torah not to visit draft offices or military induction centers without first receiving proper guidance and strongly warned against relying on self-described “fixers” or private attorneys who promise to resolve draft-related matters for a fee.

According to the advisory, many individuals have allegedly suffered both financial losses and arrests after placing their trust in such intermediaries.

The published guidelines further stress that if an arrest, chas v’shalom, does occur, the individual should immediately exercise the right to remain silent. The advisory instructs detainees: “Maintain absolute silence and do not answer any questions until receiving guidance from an attorney through the hotline.”

The organizations note that military disciplinary proceedings often move quickly before a commanding officer and without legal representation present in the hearing room. For that reason, they emphasize the importance of obtaining legal guidance beforehand rather than attempting to explain one’s position directly to the officer conducting the proceedings.

Alongside the emergency guidance, Tzeva Shachor announced an unusual initiative designed to draw attention within the yeshivah world. The organization said that any bochur whose home receives a verified visit from the Military Police will receive a complimentary premium coffee machine.

The organizations also published emergency contact information for both the 24-hour Tzeva Shachor hotline and the Nosnim Gav information and support center for anyone seeking guidance or assistance.

Several Israeli municipalities opened public bomb shelters on Thursday as security officials warned that the rapidly escalating confrontation between the United States and Iran could spill over into Israel, raising concerns that Tehran may choose to target the Jewish state.

Among the cities taking precautionary measures was Ramat Gan, where Mayor Carmel Shama-Hacohen directed municipal officials to unlock the city’s public shelters despite no changes being issued to the Home Front Command’s official guidelines.

City officials emphasized that the decision was purely precautionary and was intended to ensure residents would be prepared should the security situation deteriorate.

The municipality also urged building committees and residential associations to inspect and prepare their shared bomb shelters so they would be ready for immediate use if needed.

“Municipal officials, led by the mayor, are in continuous contact with the Home Front Command,” the Ramat Gan municipality said.

Similar precautionary measures were implemented by local authorities in Karmiel, Eilat, and several other municipalities as officials across the country monitored the increasingly volatile regional situation and prepared for the possibility of an Iranian attack.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz issued a blunt warning to Iran on Thursday after convening a high-level security assessment with Israel’s top military leadership, declaring that while Israel is preparing for every possible scenario, any Iranian attack would be met with overwhelming force.

Katz met with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir as tensions with Iran continued to mount and intelligence officials monitored the possibility of further escalation.

Also participating in the security consultation were Defense Ministry Director General Maj. Gen. (res.) Amir Baram, the commander of the Israeli Air Force, the head of the Operations Directorate, the head of the Intelligence Directorate, the head of the Planning and Force Build-Up Directorate, the commander of the Home Front Command, and other senior defense officials.

At the outset of the meeting, Katz delivered a direct message to Tehran, stating, “We are preparing for every possibility. If Iran attacks Israel, it will suffer a crushing blow.”

The security meeting followed growing assessments among Western intelligence agencies that Iran could choose to launch the next round of hostilities by striking Israel first. Earlier Thursday, Likud MK Moshe Saada echoed those concerns during an interview on Channel 14, saying, “We all know that we’re approaching a strike on Iran-perhaps even this weekend. Those are the current assessments.”

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump told Axios on Thursday that he is weighing the possibility of launching a major military strike against Iran. Speaking with journalist Barak Ravid, Trump acknowledged that such a decision would carry far-reaching consequences but emphasized that he had not yet made a final determination.

“I am considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before. I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it,” Trump said.

The President added that Israel “would join within two minutes if I asked,” while stressing that “we don’t need anyone” to carry out a military operation against Iran.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] A record 3,698 Jews ascended the Har HaBayis on Tishah B’Av this year, according to organizers, surpassing last year’s total of 3,527 visitors.

While supporters hailed the turnout as a milestone, the overwhelming consensus of the leading poskim and Gedolei Yisroel—both past and present—has remained unequivocal that Jews are prohibited from ascending Har HaBayis under contemporary circumstances.

For decades, the foremost Gedolei HaPoskim across virtually every segment of the Torah world have ruled that entering Har HaBayis is strictly forbidden due to the inability to determine with certainty the precise boundaries of the areas where entry is prohibited because of tumas meis and the location of the Makom HaMikdash. Among those who have prohibited ascending Har HaBayis were Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook, Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer, Rav Tzvi Pesach Frank, Rav Ovadia Yosef, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, Rav Shmuel Wosner, Rav Nissim Karelitz, Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman, Rav Chaim Kanievsky, Rav Gershon Edelstein, and numerous other gedolim. They have consistently maintained that Jews must refrain from ascending the site until the coming of Moshiach and the rebuilding of the Beis HaMikdash.

Despite those longstanding prohibitions, organizers reported that 3,698 Jews visited Har HaBayis on Tishah B’Av, establishing a new record for the day. Last year, 3,527 visitors ascended the site on Tishah B’Av.

Rav Elisha Wolfson, Rosh Yeshiva of the Temple Mount Yeshiva, welcomed the increased attendance.

“It is moving to see the masses of the House of Israel coming to visit the site of the Temple. Thank God, we were privileged to pray on the Mount using Tisha B’Av prayer booklets and beneath shade canopies in the eastern section. There is no doubt that the process of returning to Zion is making groundbreaking progress year after year.”

He continued, “Now, after 59 years, the people of Israel are beginning to understand that the Holy One, blessed be He, has truly returned us to the site of the Temple.”

Rav Wolfson argued that yearning for Tzion should not be limited to prayer alone but should also find practical expression through visits to Har HaBayis, which he said should be conducted in accordance with the halachic guidelines advocated by his organization.

He also said conditions on Har HaBayis have changed significantly over the past two years, particularly since National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir assumed office. According to Rav Wolfson, when the yeshiva first began operating approximately six years ago, even silent prayer could lead to police detention.

“Today there are songs, prayers, and prostration on the Temple Mount. And starting today, there are also shade canopies and Tisha B’Av prayer booklets,” he said.

Rav Wolfson encouraged additional members of the public to participate by visiting Har HaBayis after making what he described as the necessary halachic preparations and by supporting the yeshiva’s ongoing activities.

According to Rav Wolfson, the yeshiva’s efforts continue throughout the year and are not limited to Tishah B’Av or Yomim Tovim. He said its talmidim ascend Har HaBayis daily after immersing in a mikveh, learn Torah at the site, and maintain a constant presence there.

“We’re carrying out an incredible revolution here and making these tremendous changes possible,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

After more than a year of deliberations, consultations, and extensive halachic discussion surrounding artificial intelligence and its implications, Rav Meir Kessler, mara d’asra of Modi’in Illit, delivered a forceful address outlining the dangers he believes AI poses to the Torah community, echoing the guidance of the Gedolei Yisroel regarding modern technology.

Opening his remarks, Rav Kessler drew a sharp comparison between today’s technological challenges and traditional halachic observance.

“Would anyone ever have imagined that the day would come when we would need to organize a gathering to address a weakening among the Torah-observant public regarding the prohibition of muktzeh? Muktzeh is a serious Rabbinic prohibition, and it would never occur to anyone that the public would treat it lightly. Yet we see what is happening in our generation in the face of the challenges posed by technology and the internet.”

Rav Kessler also recalled a powerful conversation he had years ago with Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman zt”l, during which he sought guidance on confronting the ever-changing dangers presented by technology. He stressed that every Jewish household should hear the complete presentation rather than relying on fragments or secondhand reports in order to fully understand the issues involved.

Turning specifically to artificial intelligence, Rav Kessler said, “The internet is the sin of the Eitz Hadaas (Tree of Knowledge) itself. With AI, a person can know many things—much that is good and much that is bad. But the bad is a tremendous problem. Even the very knowledge of evil connects a person to evil. There are many things that stem from the sin of the Tree of Knowledge, but this is literally the Tree of Knowledge itself.”

He also expressed concern about the community’s educational approach, saying, “We made mistakes in chinuch—I say this publicly. We failed by not educating the public to think independently. I can tell you that no gadol b’Yisroel ever instructed people to leave their office jobs. That approach will never work. No one is going to take responsibility for decisions that affect the livelihoods of so many families.”

Warning that the dangers are particularly acute for younger people, Rav Kessler continued, “It is a danger for adults as well, but for young people it is far greater. They absorb everything within seconds. It exists even today on kosher phones. This is literally pikuach nefesh if we do not awaken in time. One must not even go into the details because that only arouses curiosity. A person simply has to run away from it.”

Rav Kessler also related an observation he had heard from an academic, saying, “I heard that a certain professor said that in the end, only bochurim will still have functioning minds, because the entire world is moving over to AI, while they are the only ones sitting and learning sugyos of shakla v’tarya. There won’t be anyone left with real intellectual ability other than bnei yeshivah.”

Concluding his remarks, Rav Kessler emphasized the responsibility of parents and educators to protect the next generation.

“For children, there is certainly no place for this. We must educate them not to come near it. Not through threats, chas v’shalom—threats will not help. We must explain to them the tremendous danger involved. In America, those who did not fight to preserve Shabbos ultimately became goyim. We must safeguard the coming generations.”

{Matzav.com}

In response to a call issued by Rav Dov Landau, tens of thousands of Yidden gathered Thursday night following Tishah B’Av for mass atzerei tefillah held across Eretz Yisroel, joining together in heartfelt tefillah over the difficult matzav facing Klal Yisroel and the ongoing persecution of lomdei Torah.

The announcement, issued at the direction of Rav Landau, called upon Klal Yisroel to unite in prayer in light of the many challenges confronting the Jewish people. It declared: “Gather together and stand up for our very lives. In light of the difficult situation facing the Jewish people, the crushing hardships from within and without, and the terrible persecution of those who study Torah, by the directive of our master, Rav Dov Landau, all of Klal Yisroel throughout the holy communities of Eretz Yisroel should assemble tonight, Motzoei Tishah B’Av, at 10:00 p.m. for gatherings of prayer and outcry. ‘For the Almighty does not reject the prayers of the multitudes.'”

The central maamad took place at Yeshivas Slabodka in Bnei Brak, where Rav Dov Landau was joined by Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch.

At the same time, dozens of additional atzerei tefillah were held throughout Bnei Brak, including at Yeshivas Orchos Torah, Yeshivas Ponevezh, the Lederman Shul, Divrei Shir, Shomrei Shabbos, Itzkowitz, Ne’os Yosef, Beis Hashem, Beis Tefillah in Kiryat Herzog, Rambam, Ohel Tamar, Siach Tefillah, Mishkan Uziel, Helligman, Mishkenos Yaakov, Tiferes Nachman, Shoneh Halachos, Volozhin, Yotzei Chevron, Yotzei Orchos Torah, and numerous other batei medrash and batei knesses.

In Yerushalayim, the primary gathering was held at Yeshivas Mir, while additional tefillah assemblies took place at the Chazon Ish shul in Ramat Shlomo, the Bnei Yeshivos batei knesses in Neve Yaakov and Romema, and the Bnei HaYeshivos shul in Pisgat Ze’ev.

Similar gatherings were also held in Beit Shemesh, Modi’in Illit, Elad, Beitar Illit, Ofakim, Rechasim, Haifa, Tiveria, Petach Tikvah, Afula, Ganei Ayalon in Lod, and numerous other cities and communities throughout Eretz Yisroel.

In Modi’in Illit, the atzerei tefillah took place at Ketzos HaChoshen, Zichron Moshe, Heichal Yitzchok, Meromi Sadeh, Sha’agas Aryeh, Kehillas Rebbi Yehudah HaNasi, and Meshovev Nesivos. In Rechasim, gatherings were held at Ohel Malka, Heichal Moshe, Shivtei Yisroel, HaMinyan HeChadash, and the city’s Bnei HaYeshivos center.

Organizers said the purpose of the gatherings had been to unite Klal Yisroel in earnest tefillah and to beseech Rachamei Shomayim during a period of tremendous tzaros, while strengthening support for the olam haTorah in the face of the continuing challenges confronting bnei Torah.

The Vizhnitzer chassidus has announced plans for a major gathering at Meron later this month, where thousands of chassidim are expected to assemble for special tefillos for the recovery of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, while also rallying in support of the Torah world amid what organizers describe as the ongoing persecution of bnei Torah.

The event, titled “Makdishei Shemecha,” is scheduled to take place, be’ezras Hashem, on Tuesday, the 28th of Menachem Av, in Meron under the leadership and with the participation of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe.

The program will begin with a large tefillah gathering at the tziyun of Rashbi, where participants will daven for the Rebbe’s complete recovery. The event will also serve as a public outcry over what organizers describe as the disgrace of Torah and the persecution of its learners, under the banner, “Shelo Sishokach Torah MiYisroel.”

Following the prayers at the tziyun, a massive assembly will take place at a nearby venue for Vizhnitzer chassidim. Organizers stressed that admission will require a special entry card distributed through local coordinators. At the same time, the chassidus’ bochurim studying in its yeshivos will unite in tefillah from their respective batei medrash throughout the country.

A central focus of the gathering will be the launch of a new financial fund aimed at ensuring long-term support for families of avreichim devoted to full-time Torah study. Supporters are being asked to commit to sponsoring an avreich for a three-year period at a cost of 30,348 shekels.

In addition, the chassidus is preparing for a special “Shabbos Lo Sishokach” in Meron—a Shabbos of inspiration, yearning, and closeness to Hashem together with the Rebbe—for those who join in supporting families of avreichei Torah.

In a notice, organizers emphasized that the required contribution has been set at an amount intended to be attainable for participants and that no discounts or last-minute changes will be permitted. The announcement added that supporters may seek donations from outside the Vizhnitzer community to help fulfill their commitments.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Shraga Shteinman delivered a powerful message about faith and priorities during a meeting with the head of a prominent yeshiva, expressing surprise that so many people are preoccupied with geopolitical developments while giving little thought to the imminent possibility of the coming of Moshiach.

During the Nine Days, the visiting Rosh Yeshiva met with Rav Shteinman to seek guidance on several halachic and hashkafic questions related to the summer camp scheduled to begin after Tishah B’Av.

During their discussion, the Rosh Yeshiva raised concerns about the increasingly tense security situation with Iran and the possibility that war could erupt at any moment. He asked whether, in light of the uncertain military and political developments, it would be appropriate to slow or temporarily suspend preparations for the camp.

Rav Shteinman responded with a heartfelt observation about the Jewish people’s priorities. “People are talking about Trump and not about Moshiach?” he asked. He went on to lament that so many are consumed by fears over political and military developments while so few are anticipating the arrival of Moshiach, whose coming would render all current plans irrelevant as the Jewish people journey to Yerushalayim and the rebuilt Beis Hamikdash.

A Jewish man was among two people stabbed Thursday afternoon in a shocking knife attack on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, prompting a large emergency response and a police investigation into whether the victims were deliberately targeted.

The first attack occurred shortly before the suspect struck again just blocks away. According to police, a 40-year-old man was walking along West 86th Street near Broadway when an assailant allegedly came up from behind and stabbed him once in the back without warning.

Authorities said the suspect then continued several blocks to the area of West 86th Street and Central Park West, where he allegedly attacked a second victim, a 50-year-old man, stabbing him once in the chest.

The attacker allegedly yelled, “Allahu Akhbar.”

Emergency medical personnel rushed both victims to a nearby hospital. Police said one of the men remained in critical condition, while the condition of the second victim has not been fully disclosed.

Law enforcement officials quickly located and detained a possible suspect, who is now in custody as detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attacks.

Police have not yet determined whether the stabbings were random or whether the victims were specifically targeted. Authorities are also working to establish a motive for the violence.

{Matzav.com}

The Department of Justice has decided to withdraw subpoenas issued to several New York Times reporters as part of an investigation into reporting on President Donald Trump’s new Air Force One aircraft, federal prosecutors informed a judge Thursday, ending a legal dispute over the government’s efforts to compel journalists to testify.

The announcement came during a hearing before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian in Manhattan, where the court had been considering the newspaper’s request to invalidate the subpoenas directed at its reporters, according to MS NOW.

Earlier this month, on July 10, the Justice Department served subpoenas requiring several Times journalists to appear before a federal grand jury, according to the newspaper. Federal agents reportedly delivered some of those subpoenas directly to the reporters’ homes.

The subpoenas had been authorized by Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, whom President Trump has nominated to serve as director of national intelligence.

The New York Times also reported earlier this week that the Justice Department had notified the newspaper that it had obtained subpoenas for phone and text message records from third-party telecommunications providers. According to the paper, one subpoena even sought records belonging to the mother of one of its reporters.

The federal investigation followed reporting by the Times concerning security issues involving President Trump’s newly acquired Air Force One aircraft, which had been donated by the government of Qatar.

In a July 8 report, the newspaper stated that Trump had flown from Turkey aboard the older Air Force One aircraft rather than the recently donated Boeing 747-8 because of heightened security concerns following renewed hostilities with Iran.

Citing individuals familiar with the aircraft, the Times also reported that “the new plane does not have all the features of the older plane” in terms of security.

Reacting to the subpoenas after they were issued, New York Times attorney David McCraw sharply criticized the Justice Department’s actions.

“The appearance of federal law enforcement agents on the doorstep of news reporters should shock the conscience of any American who believes in the Constitution and the press freedom it protects,” said David McCraw, The Times’ lawyer, in a statement on July 11.

“Our journalists report the facts and advance the American public’s right to know how their government is operating and their taxpayer dollars are being used,” McCraw said. “This brazen act should be seen as nothing more than an attempt to prevent the public from knowing what is happening in their country by intimidating journalists from doing their jobs.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu is expected to convene Israel’s restricted security cabinet on Friday in an unusual meeting amid growing intelligence assessments that Iran could launch the next round of fighting by striking Israel first, as defense officials remain on heightened alert for a possible escalation over the weekend.

The rare Friday meeting comes as Israel’s security establishment prepares for multiple scenarios following updated intelligence assessments indicating that Tehran may be changing its strategic approach toward Israel.

According to intelligence assessments developed in recent days by Western intelligence agencies, one of the leading scenarios is that Iran could seek to draw Israel into a broader military confrontation by initiating hostilities itself. The assessment was reported Thursday by Ynet.

According to the report by Nadav Eyal, Iranian leaders believe Israel may currently be reluctant to return to a full-scale military campaign. Tehran is also believed to be looking to exploit what it views as recent strains and disagreements between Jerusalem and Washington.

At the same time, President Donald Trump told Israeli journalist Barak Ravid that he is nearing a decision on Iran and is considering a military strike that would exceed anything carried out previously.

“We are fully prepared for it,” Trump said, adding that “Israel will join within two minutes if I ask them, but we don’t need anybody.”

Trump’s remarks come as tensions across the Middle East continue to intensify. Overnight, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) completed another wave of strikes against military targets inside Iran. According to the report, the operation targeted advanced naval capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites, and Iranian air defense assets. In an unprecedented move, American forces also bombed the Shalamcheh border crossing linking Iran’s Khuzestan Province with southern Iraq.

Israeli defense officials are closely monitoring developments throughout the region while analyzing Iran’s intentions based on intelligence indicating that Tehran may be increasingly willing to take calculated military risks.

Friday’s security cabinet meeting is expected to focus on developing Israel’s strategic roadmap for responding to the emerging threats, including both intelligence operations and military preparedness.

According to the report, the primary objective of the discussions will be to ensure that Israel is prepared to respond rapidly—or act preemptively if necessary—and prevent Iran from exploiting what it perceives as tactical or diplomatic vulnerabilities. Senior defense officials believe Tehran is attempting to capitalize on the current international climate and the complex political environment as it searches for an opportunity to shift the balance of the conflict.

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers has introduced legislation that would authorize the Department of Homeland Security to shut down artificial intelligence systems deemed to pose a serious threat to human life or the U.S. economy. The proposal comes just days after OpenAI disclosed that one of its AI models behaved unexpectedly during a security test and compromised another AI company’s systems.

The measure, known as the “AI Kill Switch Act,” was introduced by Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., and Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Texas. Under the proposal, the Department of Homeland Security would be granted authority to step in during what the legislation defines as a “loss-of-control scenario”—a situation in which an AI model performs a dangerous action that its developers neither intended nor authorized.

The lawmakers unveiled the bill shortly after OpenAI acknowledged that one of its AI agents went rogue during internal testing and launched a hacking attack that breached the infrastructure of AI startup Hugging Face.

“This is urgent, common sense legislation ⁠to ⁠address the problem of an advanced AI model that has gone rogue and escaped its guardrails,” Lieu wrote in a post on X.

The OpenAI incident has heightened concerns among AI experts that increasingly sophisticated artificial intelligence systems are beginning to present the very security risks many researchers have warned about for years. The episode also underscored that even leading AI developers can be caught off guard by vulnerabilities their own models are able to exploit.

{Matzav.com}

Travelers planning to fly during the bein hazemanim vacation period can expect flights to continue as scheduled, according to Israel Airports Authority Chairman Maj. Gen. (res.) Yiftach Ron-Tal, who said Israel’s airspace will remain open even if the security situation deteriorates.

Speaking Wednesday in an interview on Kan News’ Bachatzi Hayom program, Ron-Tal rejected concerns that additional American aerial refueling aircraft arriving in Israel could disrupt operations at Ben Gurion Airport. His comments come amid heightened regional tensions and concerns over a possible escalation involving Iran.

“I’m pleased that there is a policy that was updated just two days ago by the transportation minister, and I agree with it 1,000%,” Ron-Tal said. “There is absolutely no intention of closing the airspace of the State of Israel, even under the sensitive strategic and security circumstances in which we currently find ourselves.”

Ron-Tal’s remarks directly contradict comments made just one day earlier by Israel Airports Authority Director General Sharon Kedmi, who warned during the same program that Ben Gurion Airport would be unable to maintain its full flight schedule if additional U.S. refueling aircraft were stationed there.

“We can’t accommodate even one more refueling aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport. If one more arrives, we’ll have to begin canceling flights,” Kedmi said.

Ron-Tal, however, painted a far more optimistic picture, saying airport officials are determined to keep Israel’s skies open during one of the busiest travel seasons of the year.

“We will do everything in our power to keep the skies over the State of Israel open during a season that is so important to the Israeli public,” he said. “I’ll go even further than that—every day that passes is setting new records this year.”

The Airports Authority chairman said Ben Gurion Airport is already handling approximately 90,000 passengers per day and emphasized that all operations are being carried out in close coordination with Israel’s defense establishment.

According to Airports Authority figures, more than two million passengers are expected to pass through Ben Gurion Airport during July, representing an increase of approximately 25 percent compared to the same period last year.

The surge reflects the continued recovery of Israel’s aviation industry following Operation Rising Lion. Terminal 1 has reopened for international flights, and airport officials say traffic is steadily returning to normal. Approximately 230,000 international passengers are expected to travel through Terminal 1 during July alone.

Ron-Tal stressed that his position is fully aligned with the Transportation Ministry’s policy of keeping Israel’s airspace open. Transportation Minister Miri Regev has previously stated that the government is committed to maintaining open skies throughout the summer travel season while meeting the growing demand for flights to and from Israel.

Government preparations have included intensive coordination with all relevant agencies, including relocating some American military aircraft from Ben Gurion Airport to create additional capacity for commercial flights during the busy summer season.

The government has also approved an exceptional compensation package of up to 55 million shekels for Israeli airlines to offset losses incurred from empty flights they were required to operate during Operation Rising Lion.

Officials say the strong passenger numbers demonstrate renewed confidence in Israel’s aviation sector among both the traveling public and international airlines. Numerous foreign carriers have resumed regular service to Ben Gurion Airport, and Israelis are once again flying in numbers not seen since the outbreak of the war.

In recent days, Ben Gurion has repeatedly set new post-war passenger records. Last Thursday alone, approximately 85,000 travelers passed through the airport on arriving and departing international flights—the highest daily total since the start of Operation Rising Lion.

{Matzav.com}

Kozo Okamoto, the last surviving member of the three-man terrorist squad that carried out the 1972 massacre at Ben Gurion Airport, has died in Beirut at the age of 78. Okamoto participated in one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Israel’s history, in which 24 people were murdered and 71 others were wounded before he was later released from prison in the 1985 Jibril prisoner exchange.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) announced Okamoto’s death, stating that he died in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district, a Hezbollah-controlled area of the Lebanese capital.

On May 30, 1972, Okamoto landed at what was then known as Lod Airport, now Ben Gurion Airport, aboard an Air France flight together with two fellow members of the Japanese Red Army.

Moments after arriving, the three terrorists pulled Kalashnikov assault rifles from their luggage and began spraying gunfire into crowds of passengers before hurling grenades into the terminal.

The attack left 24 people dead and another 71 wounded.

Okamoto was the only member of the terrorist cell to survive the massacre. His two accomplices were killed during the assault, while he was wounded, captured by Israeli authorities, and taken into custody.

An Israeli court sentenced him to life in prison, but after serving 13 years, he was freed in 1985 as part of the Jibril prisoner exchange. Following his release, he relocated to Lebanon, where he remained for the rest of his life.

Although the attackers were members of the communist Japanese Red Army, they carried out the massacre on behalf of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which had recruited and trained the group for the operation.

Over the years, Japan repeatedly requested that Lebanon extradite Okamoto to face justice, but Lebanese authorities consistently refused those requests.

Okamoto lived largely out of the public eye during his decades in Lebanon, making only occasional public appearances.

One of his few public appearances came in May 2022 during a ceremony in Beirut commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Ben Gurion Airport massacre.

The event took place at a cemetery where numerous Palestinian terrorists are buried, near a memorial dedicated to four Japanese nationals who had been involved with Palestinian terrorist organizations.

At the ceremony, Okamoto wore a Palestinian flag along with a scarf bearing the slogan of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Appearing visibly frail, he was assisted to the memorial by several companions.

Although he remained silent throughout the approximately 30-minute ceremony, he occasionally smiled and waved to those in attendance.

With his party continuing to lose ground in the polls, Bennett Party chairman Naftali Bennett sparked a political firestorm after delivering a blistering speech attacking the chareidi community, warning that Israel must “dismantle the anti-Zionist chareidi state” or risk losing the Zionist state altogether.

Addressing a conference of party activists, Bennett called for a fundamental change in the government’s approach to the chareidi public, arguing that the era of political compromise had come to an end.

During his speech, Bennett said: “Therefore, the era of compromises is over; no exemptions, no budgets. If we do not dismantle the anti-Zionist chareidi state, we will lose the Zionist state. And I want to tell you, I say this out of love for our brothers—I do not hate them…”

The remarks, delivered just days before Tishah B’Av, drew widespread criticism because of both their timing and their unusually harsh tone. Tishah B’Av is traditionally a time for reflecting on the dangers of internal division and baseless hatred among the Jewish people.

Bennett’s comments also come as his political standing continues to deteriorate. Recent public opinion surveys have shown his party steadily losing support after previously polling at significantly higher levels.

Political analysts are now debating whether the increasingly aggressive rhetoric is an attempt to shore up support among his base as his poll numbers slide or whether it signals a broader shift toward a more confrontational campaign strategy ahead of the next election.

A Channel 13 News poll released Tuesday night showed Bennett’s party falling to a new low of just 14 Knesset seats.

According to the same survey, Likud lost one seat, while the anti-Netanyahu bloc also dropped by one seat to 60 mandates, despite the Arab parties gaining two seats.

{Matzav.com}