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Americans have become markedly less favorable toward both the Israeli people and Israel’s government over the past several years, while opinions of Palestinians and their leadership have changed relatively little, according to a new survey released by the Pew Research Center.

The poll found that, as recently as 2022, Americans viewed Israelis far more positively than Palestinians. That gap has now nearly disappeared, with both groups receiving almost equal levels of public support. Pew attributed the dramatic shift largely to changing attitudes following Hamas’ October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel and the wars that followed in Gaza and Iran.

The survey questioned 12,574 U.S. adults between May 4 and May 17, approximately two months after the U.S.- and Israeli-led military campaign against Iran began and before Hamas announced it was dissolving its governing authority in Gaza.

Despite the decline in support for Israelis, the study found that many Americans continue to distinguish between the Israeli public and the country’s political leadership.

According to Pew, majorities of Americans hold unfavorable opinions of the Israeli government, the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas. However, negative views of Israel’s government have increased much more dramatically than unfavorable opinions of either the Palestinian Authority or Hamas.

The survey also found that declining support for Israelis extends across political affiliations, age demographics, and most religious groups, although the magnitude of the shift differs significantly among those categories.

Republicans and Republican-leaning independents continue to express much warmer views toward both the Israeli people and Israel’s government than Democrats and Democrat-leaning independents. Democrats, meanwhile, are considerably more favorable toward Palestinians and the Palestinian Authority than Republicans, although positive views of Hamas remain low across both political parties.

Support for Israelis has declined among Republicans as well as Democrats since 2022, but the drop has been substantially greater among Democrats, further widening the partisan divide over Israel.

The differences are especially pronounced among younger Americans.

Among adults under the age of 30, 58 percent expressed favorable views of Palestinians, compared with just 32 percent who viewed Israelis favorably. Pew found that this disparity is driven largely by young Democrats, 72 percent of whom hold favorable opinions of Palestinians, while only 26 percent view Israelis favorably.

Young Republicans now rate Israelis and Palestinians at nearly identical levels, marking a significant shift from several years ago, when support for Israelis was considerably stronger.

Among Americans age 50 and older, Israelis continue to receive more favorable ratings than Palestinians, particularly among older Republicans. Older Democrats also expressed somewhat warmer views toward Palestinians than Israelis, though the difference was considerably smaller than among younger Democrats.

The survey also found particularly strong opposition to Israel’s government among younger Democrats. Among Democrats under 30, respondents were slightly more likely to express favorable views of Hamas than of Israel’s government, although overall support for Hamas remained relatively low. Democrats across all age groups also viewed the Palestinian Authority somewhat more favorably than Israel’s government.

Religious affiliation likewise played a significant role in shaping public opinion.

Jewish Americans and White evangelical Protestants expressed the strongest support for both the Israeli people and Israel’s government. White evangelical Protestants were the only major religious group in which a majority—57 percent—held favorable views of Israel’s government.

Among Jewish respondents, favorable views of Israelis declined from 89 percent in 2024 to 83 percent this year. Favorable opinions of Israel’s government also fell, dropping from 54 percent to 47 percent.

Pew found that Muslims, Black Protestants, and religiously unaffiliated Americans were more likely than other religious groups to express favorable opinions of both Palestinians and the Palestinian Authority. The survey also found that younger Jewish adults were less supportive of both Israelis and Israel’s government than older Jewish respondents.

{Matzav.com}

Political commentator Tucker Carlson called today for U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee to be removed from his post, accusing him of failing to publicly defend Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) after the congressman said he was detained during a visit to Israel.

Carlson launched the attack in a sharply worded post on X, criticizing Huckabee for promoting a Fox News appearance instead of speaking out on behalf of an American lawmaker. In the post, Carlson misspelled “American” as “Amercian.”

According to Carlson, Huckabee’s silence amounted to an unacceptable failure to represent U.S. interests, and he argued the ambassador should be dismissed immediately.

“An Amercian member of congress is threatened by foreign terrorists carrying American rifles, backed by a foreign military paid for by American taxpayers, and the US ambassador to that country says not a word in defense of his own countryman, and instead uses his social media accounts to promote his own vapid cable news appearances, which amount to propaganda for that same foreign country. It’s too much, too insulting and humiliating to America. This is how revolutions start. For the sake our nation, Mike Huckabee should be removed from his post immediately.”

Carlson’s comments came after Khanna said he had been detained while traveling in Israel.

Mediaite’s Zach Leeman summarized Khanna’s account of the incident: “The congressman, a vocal critic of Israel’s government, said he was detained by Israeli settlers, and later Israeli military, during a three-day trip this week while he touring the demolished-Palestinian Bedouin village of Khirbet Zanuta. Khanna told The New York Times Israeli settlers with guns blocked his vehicle and others from leaving via the road to the village. The men were reportedly “swearing at them in Hebrew and Arabic and kicking the tires of their minibus.” A Times photographer was in another vehicle and witnessed the incident. Two Israeli military vehicles later arrived and Khanna assumed they were there to help him leave, but they “smoked cigarettes, chatted with the men and after the settlers left, moved a car to block the road. I felt powerless in that situation, which is not an easy thing, as I have a lot of privilege in life,” he said. “Imagine how people feel every day, Palestinians under the occupation, if they could make an American congressperson feel powerless for 90 minutes.””

The latest criticism marks another chapter in the ongoing public feud between Carlson and Huckabee over Israel.

During an interview between the two in February, Huckabee forcefully rejected Carlson’s assertion that Christians were being driven out of Israel.

“But I would also say that when you said the Christians were kicked out, Tucker, Christianity is growing in Israel. And there is a big lie that goes out there, but let me finish this because I keep hearing that Christians are really not treated well in Israel — that’s simply a lie. It is a lie! There are lots of different… There were 34,000 Christians in Israel in 1948. There are 184,000 Christians here today,” Huckabee said.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump has declared that he has left standing instructions for the U.S. military to unleash overwhelming force against Iran if the regime ever succeeds in carrying out its long-standing threats to assassinate him. While the president’s warning underscores the seriousness with which he views the threat, constitutional procedures mean that any military response following a president’s death would ultimately rest with his successor.

Under the Constitution and the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, Vice President JD Vance would immediately assume the presidency and become commander in chief if Trump were killed. That would give Vance the authority to carry out the type of military response Trump has called for, alter those plans, or pursue a different course of action altogether.

Although Trump suggested he has standing orders in place, experts note that the United States has never employed an automatic or pre-authorized military retaliation mechanism triggered by a president’s death.

“The U.S. has, for a whole variety of reasons, never utilized a technical ‘dead man’s switch,'” said Garrett M. Graff, author of Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Government’s Secret Plan to Save Itself — While the Rest of Us Die.

The United States maintains extensive continuity-of-government plans designed to preserve national leadership during a nuclear attack or other catastrophic event. Those procedures, however, do not authorize the military to launch retaliatory strikes automatically upon the death of a president, even if prior instructions had been issued.

Trump reiterated his warning Saturday in a Truth Social post, saying Iran had repeatedly threatened his life and that the U.S. military stood ready to respond with overwhelming force.

He wrote that 1,000 “missiles are Locked and Loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran, with thousands more to immediately follow, should the Iranian Government act on its threat.”

Hours later, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, renewed calls to avenge the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed during the opening U.S. and Israeli strikes earlier this year.

Retaliation, he declared, “is the will of our nation and must certainly be carried out.”

In a televised address, Mojtaba Khamenei added, “We pledge to take revenge for the pure blood of you and all the martyrs of these two wars from the criminal and disgraceful killers. This revenge is the will of our nation and must certainly be carried out.”

The White House did not immediately respond to questions regarding how Trump’s standing military directives would be handled if the president were assassinated.

During funeral ceremonies for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei this week, crowds repeatedly displayed banners and signs calling for the deaths of both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Wall Street Journal reported this week that Israel recently warned U.S. officials about new Iranian efforts to assassinate Trump. Although the White House declined to comment, Trump appeared to reference those threats during this week’s NATO summit in Turkey.

“They want to take out the U.S. leader — me.”

Sabrina Singh, who served as deputy Pentagon press secretary during the Biden administration, said the threat posed by Iran against senior American officials is well understood within the national security community.

“Iran wanting to target senior American leaders is something that we know is happening.”

“You have to take these as credible threats,” Singh said.

Trump also survived two assassination attempts during the 2024 presidential campaign and, earlier this year, a gunman breached security at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner while the president was attending the event.

Security surrounding the president has drawn renewed attention after Trump traveled part of the way back from Turkey aboard an older Air Force One aircraft rather than the newer Boeing 747 donated by Qatar. Reports indicated the refurbished aircraft lacks some of the missile-detection and defensive countermeasure systems installed on previous presidential jets.

The aircraft change came as fighting between the United States and Iran resumed, placing renewed strain on last month’s agreement intended to halt the conflict.

Asked about Iran’s threats while aboard Air Force One, Trump replied, “I’m No. 1 on their list.”

Graff noted that throughout the Cold War, the United States developed elaborate contingency plans governing the transfer of nuclear launch authority in the event Washington was incapacitated, including maintaining airborne command posts that could preserve military command after a surprise attack.

“What I believe Trump is saying is that he’s left standing orders to attack if he’s killed, e.g., that the Pentagon should proceed with standard launch protocols,” Graff said. “There’s a lot of reason to doubt the legality of such standing orders, since in the event of a president’s death, the nuclear launch authority would immediately pass to the vice president or designated successor — and ultimately it would be up to him or her to determine whether to proceed.”

Graff also pointed out that Trump’s social media post referred only to conventional missile strikes against Iran and did not mention the use of nuclear weapons.

He added that Trump could instead privately instruct his successor how he would want the United States to respond.

Graff said Trump also might tell Vance, “something to Vance like, ‘If I’m killed, nuke Iran,'” adding that such an instruction would “more sense and would be absolutely legal”.

U.S. intelligence agencies have long monitored credible threats against American presidents and senior officials from Iran and other foreign adversaries, though such matters are typically handled through classified channels rather than discussed publicly. Trump’s decision to openly state that he is personally a target of Tehran is highly unusual.

This is also not the first time Washington has warned Iran against targeting Trump or other American officials.

In 2022, after the Justice Department accused a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of plotting to assassinate former National Security Adviser John Bolton, the Biden administration warned Tehran that any attack on Americans would trigger severe consequences.

At the time, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan stated, “should Iran attack any of our citizens, to include those who continue to serve the United States or those who formerly served, Iran will face severe consequences.”

Two years later, during Trump’s presidential campaign against Democrat Kamala Harris, the Biden administration quietly delivered another warning to Iran, informing the regime that any attempt to assassinate Trump would be treated as an act of war.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump defended the ongoing renovations at the White House today, arguing that the historic residence had been allowed to deteriorate for years and promising that the restoration project will leave it more beautiful than ever.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump shared what he said were “before” photographs of the White House’s main entrance, contending that the property had fallen into an unacceptable state before he returned to office.

“This is the horrible front of the White House, and it’s been like that for years,” Trump wrote. “The condition is deplorable, just like our Country was when I inherited it from Sleepy Joe Biden.”

The president also dismissed criticism over the scope of the restoration effort, saying opponents have unfairly attacked him for investing time and resources into preserving one of America’s most recognizable landmarks.

“The Radical Left Dumocrats criticize me for spending so much time bringing our White House back to the Glory of 100 years ago,” he wrote. “Actually, it will be far better than that.”

Trump said the White House project reflects a broader effort by his administration to revitalize the nation’s capital and restore pride in public spaces across the country.

“This is what we are doing all over Washington, D.C., and, in different ways, with our Country, itself!” Trump wrote.

He predicted that the renovations will transform the executive mansion into an iconic showcase while preserving its historic character.

“The White House, as you can see in the before pictures attached, was an embarrassment,” he wrote. “Believe it or not, these pictures were of the Main Entrance. In a short period of time, it will be a Symbol of Extraordinary Beauty and Pride!”

The White House has undergone regular maintenance, preservation work, and renovation projects under numerous administrations over the years to protect the historic structure, which serves both as the president’s home and the headquarters of the executive branch. Because of the building’s symbolic importance, major restoration efforts have often drawn widespread public attention.

Throughout his second term, Trump has repeatedly highlighted beautification initiatives, describing them as part of a larger campaign to restore historic monuments, federal buildings, and public spaces throughout Washington.

One of the administration’s more ambitious proposals—a new White House ballroom—failed to gain congressional approval earlier this year. In May, lawmakers from both parties rejected the administration’s request for $1 billion for the project after it was attached to a Homeland Security funding measure.

The proposal became politically contentious as many Americans continued to grapple with elevated inflation and the rising cost of living.

The Washington Post reported in June that the estimated cost of the ballroom project had climbed to approximately $600 million, according to a contractor’s project summary, with more than half of the funding expected to come from taxpayers.

{Matzav.com}

The United States launched another wave of military strikes against Iran on Saturday after Tehran attacked a commercial cargo vessel and announced it was shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed.

Responding to the latest escalation, Hegseth posted a blunt warning on X, saying Iran would face the consequences of its actions.

“Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay,” Hegseth said.

His remarks accompanied a statement from U.S. Central Command, which accused Iran of carrying out an unprovoked assault on a Cyprus-flagged container ship traveling through the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM announced that, acting on orders from President Donald Trump, U.S. forces began retaliatory strikes at 4:15 p.m. Eastern time.

Describing the maritime attack, CENTCOM said one civilian crew member remains missing and that the vessel sustained extensive damage that forced it to abandon its voyage.

“A civilian crew member is missing and the vessel is unable to continue the journey due to an onboard fire and significant engineroom damage,” CENTCOM posted about Iran’s attack earlier in the day. “Iran was provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding after being held accountable for earlier attacks on commercial vessels but has again failed.”

The military added that the latest operation is intended to further weaken Iran’s ability to threaten international shipping through one of the world’s busiest waterways.

“The United States is imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait.”

Hegseth’s statement came shortly after CNN reported that Iranian state media claimed the Strait of Hormuz had been closed after Iranian forces fired what were described as “warning shots” at a vessel that was allegedly “traveling on a route it did not approve of.”

Axios correspondent Barak Ravid, citing a senior U.S. official, reported that American forces struck multiple military targets throughout Iran, including air surveillance radar installations, missile and drone storage facilities, missile and UAV launch sites, maritime surveillance radars, and surface-to-air missile launchers.

The renewed military action comes just weeks after Washington and Tehran reached a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding in mid-June that established a 60-day framework for negotiating a broader peace agreement. Vice President JD Vance subsequently traveled to Switzerland for talks, later saying the Iranian negotiating position had been “extremely confusing,” while expressing optimism that progress was being made.

That diplomatic momentum now appears to have unraveled as Iran has continued violating the fragile ceasefire. President Trump has also adopted an increasingly confrontational tone, referring to Iran’s ruling regime as “scum” last week and warning Friday that the United States has 1,000 missiles “Locked and Loaded” should Iran attempt to assassinate him.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee confirmed that Israeli intelligence provided President Donald Trump with information about what he described as a credible Iranian assassination plot targeting the American leader.

The ambassador’s remarks came after Trump issued a stark warning to Tehran on Truth Social, declaring that the United States has already prepared an overwhelming military response should Iran attempt to assassinate him.

“1000 Missiles are Locked and Loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran, with thousands of more to immediately follow, should the Iranian Government act on its threat, pronounced in many corners of the Globe, to assassinate, or attempt to assassinate, the sitting President of the United States of America, in this case, ME! Orders have already been given, and the U.S. Military is ready, willing, and able, for a one year period of time, subject to extension, to completely decimate and destroy all areas of Iran – PRAISE BE TO ALLAH!”

Earlier this week, The Wall Street Journal reported that Israeli intelligence had uncovered what it described as a new Iranian plot to kill Trump. The president, however, dismissed the suggestion that the threat was newly discovered, saying Iran has viewed him as a top target for years.

“No, no. Israel came up with nothing. No, no,” Trump noted. “I’ve been No. 1 [on Iran’s kill list] for a long time, and it’s the way life is, you know.”

Trump concluded the exchange with a lighthearted remark despite the seriousness of the threat: “I hope you’ll miss me.”

{Matzav.com}

The United States and Canada have reached a new agreement that will allow the long-awaited Gordie Howe International Bridge linking Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, to open later this month, ending a dispute over toll revenue and ownership interests.

The Canadian government announced Friday night that the $4.7 billion crossing, which had originally been scheduled to open on June 27, is now expected to begin operations on July 27 after negotiators from both countries finalized a new arrangement.

President Donald Trump had previously vowed to prevent the bridge from opening unless the United States received greater financial benefits and an ownership interest in the project.

“I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them, and also, importantly, Canada treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve,” Trump wrote earlier this year on Truth Social.

Following negotiations with Canadian officials, Trump announced Saturday that a revised agreement had been reached that he said delivers a significantly better outcome for the United States.

“I was able to cut a MUCH BETTER DEAL for America, and by so doing, will be allowing the new and spectacular Gordie Howe International Bridge, spanning Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, to open on July 27th, as scheduled,” he wrote.

Emphasizing his dissatisfaction with the original arrangement, Trump added, “The original deal made was unacceptable to me!” before praising the revised agreement.

“The new deal is great, and fair. Thank you and congratulations to the Canadian Government. May we both have many years of success with this wonderful new development!!!”

Canadian officials said the agreement includes several joint initiatives intended to ensure that both countries benefit from the bridge’s operation.

“Canada and the United States have agreed to a series of cooperative measures focused on toll governance and transparency, as well as investments in the region, including through the establishment of a 15-year economic development fund tied to a portion of profits from bridge operations,” the Canadian government said Friday in a statement.

According to Reuters, the agreement gives the United States half of the bridge’s toll revenue while also granting Washington approval authority over any proposed toll increases exceeding 10 percent of current rates.

Reuters reported that the agreement was negotiated by U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s minister responsible for U.S. trade.

Named in honor of Detroit Red Wings legend Gordie Howe, the 1.5-mile international bridge is expected to become one of the busiest commercial transportation corridors between the United States and Canada. Construction began in 2018, with the project financed by the Canadian government.

{Matzav.com}

Hunter Biden won a major legal victory Friday after a federal judge ordered former Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne to pay $1.7 million in punitive damages for spreading false allegations that linked Biden to a massive Iranian bribery scheme.

Byrne, who has repeatedly rejected Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory over President Donald Trump, had accused Hunter Biden of participating in an $800 million bribery operation involving Iran. He failed to substantiate those claims during the court proceedings.

In a 25-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Stephen Wilson of the Central District of California concluded that Byrne deliberately spread false information while showing blatant disregard for Hunter Biden’s legal rights. The judge also noted that Byrne continued promoting the allegations even after the lawsuit had been filed.

“Here, the evidence is clear and convincing that [Byrne] has engaged in intentional misrepresentation with conscious disregard towards [Hunter’s] rights,” Wilson wrote in his 25-page ruling.

The judge further stated that Byrne’s “defamation went far beyond mere negligence,” adding that Byrne had urged his followers on social media to circulate the false accusations and expand their reach.

Wilson, who was appointed to the federal bench by President Ronald Reagan, awarded Hunter Biden the symbolic $1 in compensatory damages he had requested, along with $1.7 million in punitive damages. The judge also directed Byrne to pay nearly $35,000 in previously ordered court sanctions within two weeks, warning that failure to comply would result in an additional $1,000 fine for each day the payment is overdue.

“This is a complete vindication for Hunter Biden against the false statements made about him by Patrick Byrne,” Bryan Sullivan, an attorney for Hunter, said in a statement. “As found by the court, Byrne had no basis to say that Hunter had any involvement with Iran whatsoever.”

The lawsuit centered on Byrne’s repeated assertions that Hunter Biden had sought an $800 million bribe from Iran in exchange for persuading his father, then serving as president, to release $8 billion in frozen Iranian assets and ease U.S. pressure during negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program.

Hunter Biden consistently denied the accusations, arguing that Byrne knowingly republished fabricated claims despite having no evidence to support them.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Yitzchak Yosef, president of Shas’ Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah, delivered sharp remarks about Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu during his weekly shiur on Motzoei Shabbos, saying he does not believe the prime minister will ever do teshuvah.

Speaking about the spiritual state of the country, Rav Yosef said, “We are living, because of our many sins, in a secular state, not a chareidi state. We pray that everyone will do teshuvah. There are those who have done teshuvah, and there are those whom I do not believe will do teshuvah. Will Bibi Netanyahu do teshuvah? There is absolutely no chance. Eisenkot perhaps will do teshuvah.”

Rav Yosef has previously been highly critical of Netanyahu, particularly over comments the prime minister made about his father, Rav Ovadia Yosef zt”l.

Referring to those remarks, Rav Yosef said, “Netanyahu is insolent. He said that my father was a politician after my father said he was pained over the yeshiva bochurim. How can he speak so disrespectfully?”

On another occasion, Rav Yosef said that had Chacham Shalom Cohen zt”l still been alive, he would have strongly opposed relying on Netanyahu politically.

“He would have shouted at the shluchei d’Rabbanan: Why are you relying on Bibi? He is an atheist.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump launched a blistering attack on Democrats and major news organizations today, just one day after his administration subpoenaed several New York Times reporters over their reporting on the security capabilities of the new Air Force One.

Posting from his golf club in Sterling, Virginia, Trump singled out The New York Times for criticism, targeting both the newspaper itself and reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, whose new book, Regime Change, details internal disputes within his administration.

Trump repeatedly mocked Haberman, referring to the 52-year-old journalist as “maggot,” calling her “one of the most unattractive people in the News ‘Business,’” while dismissing Swan, 40, as her “lightweight assistant.”

The president accused The New York Times of devoting its coverage almost exclusively to attacking him, though he did not specifically address the newspaper’s recent report about Air Force One. That article, which was not written by either Haberman or Swan, reported that Trump had returned to using the older presidential aircraft after flying the Qatar-donated Boeing 747 that underwent a $400 million refurbishment.

Trump also celebrated his 2024 election victory, ridiculed Democrats by referring to them as the “Dumocrat Party,” and expanded his criticism to several television news outlets.

“All of their Readership, Ratings, and Viewership, are “tanking” because the Public understands they are, as I have said right from the beginning, “FAKE NEWS!” They have no credibility, or it would have been impossible for me to win with only bad stories, especially in a Historic Landslide.”

The president went on to accuse Democrats of embracing communism as their political strategy.

“They are going COMMUNIST because they are a desperately “sinking ship,” and there’s not a thing they can do about it. Instead of writing inaccurate, false articles, for over 10 years now, shouldn’t it be time that they say, ‘We give up, we can’t beat him, there seems nothing we can do,’” he wrote.

Meanwhile, attorneys representing The New York Times strongly objected to the subpoenas, which direct several reporters to appear before a federal grand jury in Manhattan on Wednesday.

Stephen J. Adler, chairman of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, also condemned the administration’s move, arguing in a statement that it “crushed” the public’s right to know about the actions of its government.

{Matzav.com}

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a defiant statement today pledging revenge for the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declaring that those responsible will be pursued regardless of who holds power in Tehran.

In a written message, the younger Khamenei vowed that Iran would retaliate not only for his father’s killing but also for the deaths of those killed during the recent conflicts.

“We swear to avenge your pure blood (Ali Khamenei) and that of all the martyrs who fell in these two wars at the hands of the murderers,” the younger Khamenei wrote, adding that, “This revenge is the demand of our nation and it must definitely be carried out soon.”

He also promised to continue his father’s legacy, saying Iran’s pursuit of revenge would not be deterred by changes in leadership.

“Now, when we part with teary eyes and broken hearts from your body, we swear that we will keep your word and, standing strong, we will walk straight along your path, which you showed us.

“These sinners, of whom there is a detailed list – they must know that this matter (revenge), is not dependent on my presence as a person or the presence of the rest of the officials. Whether we will be or will not be, this demand will be fulfilled.”

The threats were reinforced by Hamshahri, one of Iran’s leading newspapers, which published what it described as a list of those allegedly responsible for Ayatollah Khamenei’s death. The list appeared beneath the headline, “Revenge Is Certain,” alongside another warning attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei: “The criminals will take their wish for a peaceful death to the grave.”

Among those named were Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu, President Donald Trump, Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, U.S. Central Command Commander Gen. Brad Cooper, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, as well as the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, and Italy.

The United States carried out a third round of military strikes against Iran after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces attacked a commercial cargo ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command announced.

In a statement, CENTCOM said the latest operation began this evening following what it described as an unprovoked Iranian assault on the M/V GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container vessel.

“At 7:15 p.m. ET today, US Central Command forces began launching the third round of strikes this week against Iran after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces blatantly attacked M/V GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM stated.

According to the military, one civilian crew member remains unaccounted for, while the vessel suffered extensive damage that left it unable to continue its voyage.

“A civilian crew member is missing and the vessel is unable to continue the journey due to an onboard fire and significant engine-room damage.”

CENTCOM said Iran had been given another opportunity to comply with the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding after previous attacks on commercial shipping but chose instead to continue its aggression.

“Iran was provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding after being held accountable for earlier attacks on commercial vessels, but has again failed.”

The U.S. military said the strikes are intended to further weaken Iran’s ability to threaten international maritime traffic in one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.

“In response, the United States is imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait.”

CENTCOM concluded by emphasizing that the military operation was authorized directly by President Donald Trump.

“The strikes are being carried out at the direction of the Commander in Chief,” the statement concluded.

Reacting to the operation, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth posted a brief message on social media warning Iran of the consequences of its actions: “Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay.”

Apple has launched a sweeping lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the artificial intelligence company and two of its senior employees of stealing confidential Apple technology to accelerate OpenAI’s push into the AI hardware market.

The lawsuit, filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that OpenAI Chief Hardware Officer Tang Tan and technical staff member Chang Liu improperly took Apple’s proprietary information after leaving the company. According to the complaint, both men previously held positions at Apple and used confidential knowledge to advance OpenAI’s hardware ambitions.

Beyond the actions of the two employees, Apple claims the conduct was not isolated, accusing OpenAI itself of participating in what it describes as a “coordinated pattern of misconduct at an institutional level.”

“This case is about Apple’s former employees stealing Apple’s trade secrets for the benefit of OpenAI,” the complaint states. “Apple brings this suit to put a stop to it.”

According to the filing, Tan spent more than 20 years at Apple, where he played a key role in developing products including the iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPod. The lawsuit further alleges that Liu, who worked as an Apple electrical engineer for eight years, had access to some of the company’s most closely guarded product development secrets.

Responding to the lawsuit, an Apple spokesperson said Friday that the company will “always defend our teams’ hard work and innovations, and we are taking all appropriate steps to do so.”

Although OpenAI has yet to disclose the specific hardware products it intends to release, the company has publicly stated that it is exploring new methods for people to interact with artificial intelligence beyond “traditional products and interfaces” as it expands into physical devices.

The legal battle comes as OpenAI moves toward what many expect will be a blockbuster initial public offering. In its complaint, Apple contends that OpenAI has strayed from its original nonprofit mission in favor of maximizing revenue while launching “an aggressive campaign to bring hardware devices to the market.”

Apple further alleges that intense pressure to introduce its first hardware product led OpenAI to cut corners. According to the lawsuit, the company “resorted to taking unlawful shortcuts.”

The complaint argues that OpenAI’s developing hardware division “now rests on the shakiest of foundations, rotten to its core by its illegal reliance on misappropriated trade secrets.”

Apple also claims it attempted to address its concerns privately before turning to the courts, saying it contacted OpenAI regarding allegations that the company had obtained Apple’s confidential information. According to the lawsuit, OpenAI never responded.

“This lawsuit and the discovery process are needed to expose and begin to remedy the pervasive theft of Apple’s trade secrets,” the suit states.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Yechiel Drillman zt”l, a veteran mechanech and longtime maggid shiur at Yeshiva Rabbeinu Yaakov Yosef of Edison, New Jersey, who inspired generations of talmidim over decades. He was in his 70s.

Rav Drillman was a son of Rav Shlomo Elimelech and Mrs. Chaya Sarah Drillman. Rav Shlomo Elimelech was a rosh yeshiva at Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yitzchok Elchonon for over 40 years and rov of the Glenwood Jewish Center. Born in Germany, Rav Shlomo Elimelech began learning with Rav Elchanan Wasserman in Baronovitch at the age of twelve and then learned with Rav Boruch Ber Leibowitz in Kamenitz before fleeing to Siberia with his family during World War II. Rav Shlomo Elimelech came to America in 1946. He entered RIETS and became a talmid of Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik. Rav Shlomo Elimelech was a rebbi at Yeshiva University’s High School for Boys in Brooklyn and became a rosh yeshiva at RIETS in 1982 when the high school closed.

Rav Yechiel was raised in a home of extraordinary yiras Shomayim and chashivus haTorah, laying the foundation for his own career in harbotzas haTorah.

For many years, Rav Yechiel was a familiar and beloved figure in the Edison community, where he served as a 10th-grade rebbi at the Edison Yeshiva. With dedication and warmth, he devoted his life to shaping the lives of young bochurim who passed through his classroom.

As a maggid shiur, Rav Drillman was known not only for his clear and thoughtful shiurim, but also for the personal interest he took in each of his talmidim. His influence extended well beyond the walls of the shiur room, as former talmidim continued to cherish the guidance, chizuk, and hadrocha that he imparted long after they left the yeshiva.

Rav Drillman was a devoted eved Hashem with palpable yiras Shomayim and great humility. His years of harbotzas haTorah left an enduring imprint on generations of talmidim, many of whom credit him with helping lay the foundation for their continued aliyah in Torah and yiras Shomayim.

In later years, Rav Drillman relocated to Lakewood, where he resided in the A Country Place community. For a time, he served as a R”M at Bais Medrash L’Torah in Lakewood.

He is survived by his devoted rebbetzin, as well as children and grandchildren carrying on his legacy. He is also survived by his brothers, Rav Yaakov Drillman, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Novardok of Flatbush, and Rabbi Yehoshua Drillman.

Levayah details will be published as they become available.

Yehi zichro boruch.

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{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump announced Friday that Iran has requested additional negotiations with the United States, but declared that the ceasefire between the two countries has officially come to an end.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Washington has agreed to continue discussions with Tehran while making clear that the previous ceasefire arrangement is no longer in effect.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue ‘talks.’ We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!” the President wrote.

Axios, citing a source familiar with the matter, reported that U.S. and Iranian officials are expected to hold another round of negotiations next week, with Switzerland emerging as the likely venue.

According to the report, regional mediators have been working behind the scenes to reduce tensions and pave the way for renewed diplomatic engagement following the recent military escalation between Washington and Tehran.

Iran, however, quickly rejected those reports. Fars News Agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, denied that another round of negotiations has been scheduled.

A source quoted by Fars dismissed reports that preparations had been completed for talks in Islamabad or that technical discussions would continue next week, calling the claims entirely unfounded.

The source added that any future developments regarding negotiations would be announced only through the Islamic Republic’s official channels.

Mohammad Marandi, a member of Iran’s negotiating team, also rejected the reports, declaring, “No negotiations will be held until the Trump administration fulfills its commitments.”

Earlier this week, Trump authorized a series of military strikes against Iranian targets following Tehran’s attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

As those operations were underway, Trump told reporters that Iranian officials had reached out to him seeking to negotiate an agreement with the United States.

“Iran called a while ago. They want to make a deal so badly,” the President said. “I just don’t know if they are worthy. I don’t know if they are going to honor the deal. That’s the problem.”

{Matzav.com}

Camp Aliyah has announced a new policy requiring any camper who brings a 24Six music device to camp to have it connected to the platform’s “Upstate Mode” filter, saying the move is intended to ensure that the camp environment reflects the values of its families.

In a letter to parents, the camp explained the thinking behind the new policy, writing that, “In today’s busy world, our children are bombarded with distractions and pressures from all sides. Baruch Hashem every summer thousands of Bnei Torah go to camp where they are in a ‘cocoon’ away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.”

The administration emphasized the powerful role music plays in shaping young people, noting, “As we all know, one of the great influences on the heart and mind of a Yid is the music that he listens to. Throughout the Torah we find references to the ‘Koach Haniguna’ (sic). At a simcha, at a kumzitz or even when traveling, music is used to set a certain tone.”

The letter continues by recognizing music as an important part of the camp experience, stating, “Certainly, camps in general, and Camp Aliyah in particular, have come to recognize how valuable music can be in helping a bochur unwind and relax, surely an important benefit of the camp environment.”

At the same time, camp officials stressed that music must remain consistent with Torah values. “But as with all things that border on ruchniyos, care must be taken to ensure that the music’s effect is only positive and wholesome,” the letter states. “Every Yiddishe parent takes seriously the job of gatekeeping their children’s music selections. We in camp understand that even when a child is in camp, parents want reassurance that the bunk airwaves are dominated by songs and artists with which they are comfortable.”

The letter explains that the growing popularity of the 24Six music device has created new concerns.

“Over the past few years, the 24Six solo device has gained popularity. However, the variety of music styles and singers featured even on that device has given some parents and mechanchim pause, as they are uncomfortable with some messages and styles accessible there.”

Camp Aliyah then announced its new policy in bold lettering. “WHILE CAMP ALIYAH IS NOT ENCOURAGING THE USE OF A 24SIX DEVICE, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED THE FOLLOWING POLICY. ANY CAMPER BRINGING A 24SIX DEVICE TO CAMP MUST BE LINKED TO THE ‘UPSTATE MODE’ FILTER.”

Parents are instructed to activate the filter before camp begins.

“Before coming to camp, a parent must log onto their profile at 24Six.app, and register their son’s 24Six with the ‘UPSTATE MODE’ permissions.”

The camp explained that the filter “whitelists hundreds of singers and groups, including thousands of songs, covers the gamut of music acceptable to the vast majority of our parent body.”

The letter further notes that the filter cannot be removed by campers themselves. “Once installed, the filter can only be removed by Camp Aliyah. (This will happen automatically on the day camp ends.)”

According to the policy, songs by artists who are not on the approved whitelist will simply become inaccessible while the filter is active.

“The filter will prevent songs by artists who are not on the whitelist from being played, even if those songs have already been downloaded to the device. It will not delete those songs; they will simply remain unavailable for as long as the filter is active.”

Camp Aliyah also warned that any devices arriving without the filter will not remain with campers.

“Unfiltered devices will be placed in the camp office and will be returned the last day of camp.”

The camp said additional instructions would be sent shortly, adding, “Details about how to install the filter will IYH be sent out next week. B’EH your son will have enough time to go through the device to select proper music for the summer.”

The letter concludes by thanking parents for their cooperation and expressing hope “for an amazing summer full of ALIYAH in all areas.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said he has already authorized an overwhelming military response against Iran if Tehran ever succeeds in carrying out an assassination against him, declaring that U.S. forces should strike the Islamic Republic with unprecedented force in such a scenario.

In an interview with The New York Post, Trump said Iran has viewed him as a top target for years and suggested the threat against his life is nothing new.

“I’ve been on their list for a long time. That’s what we’re dealing with,” Trump said. “… The only thing is, I’ve left instructions – if anything happens, to just literally bomb them at levels that they’ve never seen before.”

Trump’s comments came one day after The Wall Street Journal reported that Israeli intelligence had uncovered what it described as a new Iranian plot targeting the president. Trump, however, dismissed suggestions that the threat represented a newly discovered conspiracy, saying Iran’s efforts to target him have been ongoing for years.

“No, no. Israel came up with nothing. No, no,” Trump noted. “I’ve been No. 1 [on Iran’s kill list] for a long time, and it’s the way life is, you know.”

Asked about the continuing danger, Trump ended the exchange with a lighthearted but pointed remark.

“I hope you’ll miss me.”

Earlier this week, while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey, Trump again addressed the threats he says Iran has made against him.

“They want to take out the US leader – me,” he said. “I’m on every list. I saw this morning, I’m on every single one of their lists. And so far, I guess I’ve been a little bit lucky, but that maybe doesn’t last very long.”

Iranian leaders have repeatedly vowed revenge against Trump over the U.S. drone strike during his first term that killed Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force.

Anti-Trump rhetoric has remained prominent in Iran. During the funeral for Iran’s slain Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, crowds chanted for Trump’s death while holding a banner proclaiming, “We Will Kill Trump.”

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan intensified his criticism of Israel on Friday, accusing Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu and his governing coalition of deliberately creating foreign crises to serve domestic political interests. He also claimed Israel’s policies pose a growing danger to regional and international security.

Speaking during an appearance on The National’s “On the Record with Hadley Gamble,” Fidan declared, “The policies of Netanyahu’s government are not only a problem for us. His policies and his government are a burden for Israel, a burden for the region, and a burden and threat for international security.”

Asked whether the increasingly hostile rhetoric between Turkey and Israel could ultimately lead to direct military conflict, Fidan downplayed that possibility.

“There is no reason to have an open conflict,” Fidan clarified.

The Turkish foreign minister also argued that although European governments are becoming more aware of what he described as the strategic challenges posed by Israel, they have yet to take meaningful action. He warned that continued interference with Syria’s political development could further destabilize the region.

“We are not sure if Israel wants to see a stable, good, powerful, evolving, developed Syria,” he remarked.

When pressed on whether he believes Israel is actively working to weaken Syria’s new leadership in Damascus, Fidan answered affirmatively.

“When you look at the past and current patterns of the Israeli government towards the regional countries, yes.”

The remarks were Fidan’s second major verbal attack on Israel in recent weeks. In an interview with CNN Türk last week, he asserted that Israel’s current political approach and governing philosophy had “become a burden that humanity can no longer bear.”

He also described Israel as one of “humanity’s common problems” and urged the international community to unite in applying pressure against the Jewish state.

Fidan further suggested that Turkey would not shy away from military confrontation if necessary, stating, “We have no problem with confrontation. If it comes to that, it is not an issue for us.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar sharply condemned those remarks, saying, “Turkish FM Hakan Fidan’s sickening words are textbook incitement to genocide.”

“Dehumanizing the Jewish people as an ‘unbearable burden’ is the classic, horrific language of history’s worst eliminationist regimes,” the foreign minister added.

Germany also criticized Fidan’s rhetoric. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul responded by affirming Israel’s security concerns, stating, “Israel faces an ongoing threat from the region and has the right and duty to protect its population.”

Fidan’s latest statements are part of an ongoing series of increasingly hostile comments by senior Turkish officials. Last month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned of possible action against Israel, claiming Israeli military operations in Syria and Lebanon had reached the point where they also threatened Turkey.

Just days before those remarks, Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi declared that Turkey would one day regain control of Yerushalayim.

Relations between Turkey and Israel had been moving toward normalization shortly before Hamas launched its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Since then, however, Turkish leaders—led by Erdogan—have repeatedly denounced Israel and its military campaign.

In March of last year, Erdogan condemned Israel following its strikes on terrorist targets in Gaza, calling the country a “terror state.”

Several months later, Erdogan claimed Netanyahu’s government represented the greatest threat to stability in the Middle East.

In April, prosecutors in Istanbul filed a sweeping indictment against 35 senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, over the Israeli navy’s interception of the “Sumud” flotilla that attempted to reach Gaza in October of last year.

{Matzav.com}

New satellite imagery obtained by CNN has revealed what analysts say could be renewed Iranian efforts to rebuild portions of its nuclear infrastructure, prompting fresh questions about whether Tehran is complying with the terms of its recent agreement with the United States.

CNN’s visual investigation identified new activity during late June and early July at several Iranian missile and nuclear sites. The movements and construction work, particularly around key nuclear facilities, have fueled concerns that Iran may be violating the bilateral memorandum of understanding it signed with the United States on June 17.

The images became available during a brief period when the U.S. government temporarily relaxed restrictions that had prevented commercial satellite companies from distributing imagery of the region. Those limitations have since largely been restored as American military operations resumed.

Among the locations highlighted in the analysis was the Parchin military complex, specifically a facility known as Taleghan 2, which intelligence analysts believe is associated with the storage of specialized explosives used in nuclear weapons development.

Working with the Institute for Science and International Security, CNN compared satellite images taken on June 22 and July 7 and concluded that repair and reconstruction work was underway at the site. According to the report, crews appeared to be repairing damage caused by earlier joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes.

Satellite imagery also showed activity at the heavily fortified underground complex known as Pickaxe Mountain. Images captured on June 21 revealed a steady stream of vehicles entering and leaving the underground tunnel system while the newly signed agreement between Washington and Tehran remained in effect.

CNN said both Iranian officials and the U.S. government were asked to comment on the satellite findings. A Pentagon spokesman declined to discuss the report, saying the Defense Department does not comment on battlefield conditions or intelligence matters because of operational security concerns.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said Friday that Iran has requested additional negotiations but insisted that the previous ceasefire arrangement has ended.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue ‘talks.’ We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Axios reported, citing a source familiar with the discussions, that U.S. and Iranian officials are expected to hold another round of talks next week, with Switzerland emerging as a possible venue.

According to the report, regional mediators have been working to lower tensions and lay the groundwork for renewed diplomacy following the recent military escalation between Washington and Tehran.

Iran’s Fars News Agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, quickly denied reports that another round of negotiations has been scheduled.

Earlier this week, Trump authorized a series of military strikes against targets inside Iran following Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

While those operations were underway, Trump told reporters that Iranian officials had contacted him seeking to reach an agreement with the United States.

“Iran called a while ago. They want to make a deal so badly,” the President said. “I just don’t know if they are worthy. I don’t know if they are going to honor the deal. That’s the problem.”

Israel’s political leadership has ordered the IDF to suspend all military operations classified as “sensitive” in southern Lebanon following a request from the United States, according to a Friday evening report by Kan 11 News.

The report said the directive will remain in place until further notice while officials monitor both the escalating confrontation between the United States and Iran and ongoing diplomatic contacts between Israel and Lebanon.

According to Kan 11, U.S. officials have become increasingly concerned in recent days that Israel could be drawn into the growing conflict with Iran while Washington remains focused on its own confrontation with Tehran.

A security official quoted in the report said Israel stands ready to respond forcefully if Iran launches an attack against Israeli territory, including carrying out major strikes inside Iran. Nevertheless, at the White House’s request, the IDF has been instructed to hold off for now in an effort to prevent the conflict from widening to include Israel.

The report also stated that the IDF could begin withdrawing from designated pilot zones in southern Lebanon as early as next week. The expected redeployment coincides with another round of negotiations between Israeli and Lebanese officials scheduled to take place in Rome.

Israel’s delegation will be headed by Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter, who will be joined by members of the Israeli negotiating team that participated in previous rounds of talks with Lebanon.

On Thursday, a U.S. official said the first pilot zone—under which territory currently controlled by Israeli forces would be transferred back to Lebanese authority—will begin operating “in a matter of days.”

The same official added that the United States “will soon begin outreach to international partners to help the Lebanese Government effectively restore sovereignty in these zones and across their country more broadly.”

The pilot-zone initiative is based on a 14-point framework negotiated during U.S.-mediated discussions between Israeli and Lebanese representatives in Washington in late June.

Despite the diplomatic progress, substantial disagreements remain between Jerusalem and Beirut over both the scope and timing of an Israeli military withdrawal, leaving the future of the framework uncertain.

According to a diplomatic source familiar with the negotiations, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has conditioned Lebanon’s continued participation in the talks on Israel first beginning its withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

The proposed arrangement has also drawn opposition from the Hezbollah terrorist organization, which has refused to disarm as required under the framework agreement and declared that “without Hezbollah, nothing will pass.”