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The IDF has released the names of two Israeli soldiers killed Friday morning in a terrorist shooting attack at the Judea Junction near Chevron, where two Hamas-affiliated terrorists opened fire on a military checkpoint before being eliminated following a 20-minute gun battle.

The fallen soldiers were identified as Staff Sergeant Ron Yonatan Roytman, 23, of Ashkelon, and Sergeant Yuval Shai Svilem, 20, of Hod Hasharon. Both served in the Ari Battalion (775) of the IDF’s Search and Rescue Brigade.

Roytman served as a squad commander, while Svilem was a combat soldier in the same battalion.

Three additional soldiers from the battalion sustained light injuries during the attack. They were evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment, and their families were notified.

According to an initial military investigation, the two terrorists were 27-year-old residents of Chevron affiliated with Hamas. They arrived at the scene carrying an M4 rifle and a handgun, apparently intending to carry out an attack along Highway 35.

Investigators believe the terrorists changed their plans after determining that they could not reach their intended target. They instead opened fire on soldiers stationed at the nearby checkpoint, setting off a prolonged exchange of gunfire.

Israeli forces engaged the attackers for approximately 20 minutes before killing both terrorists and bringing the shooting to an end.

Magen David Adom reported that the other victims injured in the attack suffered light wounds and were receiving treatment at hospitals.

Following the attack, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir held a security assessment with senior military commanders, during which he praised the soldiers’ response and warned that the terrorists had apparently been preparing an even more devastating attack.

“This was a serious terrorist attack. The soldiers’ swift actions prevented an even more severe attack and further harm to civilians and security forces. A large quantity of ammunition was found in the vehicle the terrorists used to reach the scene of the attack, which was intended to be used in a larger-scale attack.”

Additional details emerging from the investigation indicate that the terrorists arrived in a vehicle bearing Israeli license plates and positioned themselves near a scrapyard, where they reportedly observed Israeli troops before launching their assault.

The soldiers had reportedly left a nearby military position to inspect vehicles at a checkpoint when the gunmen opened fire. The ensuing battle continued for approximately 20 minutes before Israeli forces eliminated both attackers.

Emergency medical personnel, including Magen David Adom teams and military medics, responded to the scene and treated the wounded before transporting them to hospitals in Yerushalayim, including Shaare Zedek and Hadassah Ein Kerem.

The IDF deployed additional forces to the area following the shooting, including soldiers from the elite Duvdevan unit, Border Police personnel, and aerial surveillance assets. Security forces also conducted searches to determine whether additional terrorists had been involved.

Israeli authorities imposed a security cordon around Chevron and several surrounding communities, while police closed portions of Highway 35 as investigators examined the scene and collected evidence.

Zamir subsequently approved intensified intelligence operations and additional arrest efforts in the region as the military sought to identify anyone who may have assisted the attackers.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday designed to reduce mortgage-related expenses, ease the financial burden on homeowners, and bring down construction costs as high interest rates continue to squeeze the American housing market.

The measure introduces several initiatives aimed at making homeownership more affordable, including a program that could eliminate certain mortgage insurance premiums, reduce refinancing expenses, and lower borrowing costs for qualifying homebuyers receiving federal assistance.

At the center of the order is a directive to Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte to establish a pilot program under which borrowers with government-backed mortgages could stop paying mortgage insurance premiums once they have accumulated sufficient equity in their properties.

The initiative is intended to prevent eligible homeowners from continuing to pay insurance charges after meeting the required equity threshold, potentially reducing their monthly housing expenses without requiring them to refinance their loans.

Trump also directed the creation of a federal task force charged with finding ways to make residential construction less expensive while improving the quality of newly built homes. The task force will examine how newer manufacturing techniques can be incorporated into housing projects that qualify for federal programs.

According to the White House, the effort will include “facilitating the use of modern manufacturing methods” to help streamline the production of residential units and address some of the expenses associated with building new housing.

In a statement accompanying the executive order, the administration presented the initiative as part of Trump’s broader effort to eliminate unnecessary regulations and expand opportunities for Americans seeking to purchase homes.

“Homeownership is a vital pillar of our great Nation, and President Trump and his Administration are working tirelessly to cut burdensome costs and red tape to make the American dream of homeownership more affordable for all Americans,” the White House said.

The announcement comes during a particularly difficult period for prospective homebuyers, with mortgage rates remaining above 7 percent after climbing sharply in recent months.

The increase has been driven in part by rising Treasury bond yields and higher energy prices associated with the war involving Iran, developments that have pushed up borrowing costs throughout the economy.

Although mortgage rates declined slightly this week, financing a home remains substantially more expensive than it was earlier in the year.

Figures released by Freddie Mac showed that the average interest rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 7.32 percent from 7.4 percent the previous week, marking the first weekly decline since the middle of August.

Rates on 15-year fixed mortgages also edged lower, dropping from 6.71 percent to 6.68 percent.

Despite those modest improvements, the sustained rise in borrowing costs has weakened demand for housing and made it increasingly difficult for buyers to qualify for affordable monthly payments.

The National Association of Realtors reported that pending home sales fell 7.3 percent between August and September, while declining 11.3 percent compared with the same period a year earlier.

The figures illustrate how rapidly changing financing conditions have affected the real estate market, even as employment and wage growth have provided some support for household purchasing power.

“Market conditions weakened in September due to fast-rising mortgage rates,” said Dr. Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors. “Although job growth and income gains can support home purchases, housing affordability is more affected by changes in mortgage rates.”

In addition to addressing mortgage insurance premiums, Trump’s order instructs Pulte to make permanent an existing Federal Housing Finance Agency pilot program that allows certain borrowers to use alternatives to traditional title insurance.

The program is intended to lower the closing expenses associated with refinancing a mortgage by reducing the need for conventional title insurance coverage in qualifying transactions.

The White House said expanding the initiative would “allow more borrowers to utilize cost-friendly alternatives” and provide homeowners with additional opportunities to reduce refinancing costs.

Trump also instructed Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins to pursue lower interest rates on single-family housing loans administered through their respective departments.

Those directives focus on federally supported lending programs that serve eligible rural borrowers and military veterans, among others.

The administration hopes that adjustments to those programs will make home financing less expensive for qualifying households, particularly at a time when conventional mortgage rates remain elevated.

Pulte, who has been among the president’s most vocal supporters, celebrated the executive order Thursday, describing it as the “greatest” presidential action ever taken to address housing affordability.

“Because of President Trump’s bold actions to put Americans First, millions of Americans will save thousands and thousands of dollars,” Pulte wrote on social media.

Pulte, who briefly held the position of acting director of national intelligence earlier this year, has been closely associated with the administration’s efforts to reshape federal housing policy.

The executive order also received a favorable response from the National Association of Realtors, whose leadership has repeatedly warned that elevated borrowing costs and the limited supply of affordable homes are placing homeownership beyond the reach of many Americans.

Shannon McGahn, the organization’s executive vice president, welcomed the administration’s initiative, saying it would help “address the costs associated with homeownership.”

She added that the measure “takes steps toward making homeownership more sustainable” for American households.

The order arrives as housing affordability has become an increasingly prominent economic and political concern, particularly among first-time buyers and families seeking larger homes.

Higher mortgage rates have significantly increased the monthly payments required to purchase a home, while existing homeowners who secured mortgages at substantially lower rates have had less incentive to sell and take on new financing.

That combination has contributed to a difficult market in which buyers face elevated borrowing expenses and sellers remain reluctant to give up favorable mortgage terms.

While the executive order seeks to address several costs associated with purchasing, financing, and constructing homes, its provisions will require implementation by federal agencies before borrowers can begin benefiting from the proposed changes.

The mortgage insurance initiative, in particular, will begin as a pilot program, meaning its eligibility requirements, scope, and potential savings will depend on rules developed by the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Similarly, efforts to reduce construction expenses and adjust federal loan programs will depend on the actions taken by the agencies responsible for carrying out the president’s directives.

The measures do not directly establish lower interest rates for conventional mortgages, which remain heavily influenced by financial markets and broader economic conditions.

Nevertheless, the administration is positioning the order as a major step toward reducing the additional costs that make buying and maintaining a home more expensive.

With the housing market struggling under the weight of high borrowing costs, Trump is seeking to provide relief through changes to federal mortgage programs, refinancing procedures, and construction policies, even as broader interest-rate pressures continue to challenge prospective buyers.

The new measures are intended to complement existing federal housing programs rather than replace them, with the administration seeking to reduce costs at several stages of homeownership, from construction and financing to refinancing and ongoing mortgage payments.

The White House has not yet specified when the mortgage insurance pilot will begin or how many borrowers will qualify. Those details will be determined as the responsible federal agencies develop and implement the programs.

For homeowners and prospective buyers, the practical impact will depend on how quickly those changes take effect and whether the savings are substantial enough to offset the broader pressure of elevated mortgage interest rates.

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Harvard Law School professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz warned Thursday that Rep. Ilhan Omar could face the loss of her American citizenship and eventual deportation if federal investigators establish that fraud was involved in her naturalization, suggesting that the recent search of her Washington residence indicates the government may be pursuing a serious case against the Minnesota Democrat.

Appearing on Newsmax’s The Record With Greta Van Susteren, Dershowitz said the decision to execute a search warrant at the home of a sitting member of Congress was particularly significant and raised questions about what evidence federal authorities had presented to the judge who authorized the operation.

“I think she’s in much, much deeper trouble than she is willing to admit,” he said of Omar.

The legal commentator, a longtime Harvard professor and author of Why I Quit the Dems, argued that the investigation could ultimately extend beyond possible criminal charges to proceedings aimed at revoking Omar’s naturalized citizenship.

Federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations, an investigative division of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, searched Omar’s Washington home before sunrise on October 12. The operation was conducted under a sealed warrant that reportedly identified conspiracy, immigration fraud, and false statements in immigration documents as possible offenses.

According to reporting attributed to individuals familiar with the investigation, authorities are examining whether Omar or her late father provided inaccurate information about her age during the immigration and naturalization process that culminated in her becoming an American citizen in 2000.

Omar has denied engaging in wrongdoing, and no criminal charges had been announced against her as of Thursday.

Dershowitz emphasized that while judges routinely approve search warrants when prosecutors establish probable cause, he believes the circumstances surrounding the search of a congresswoman’s residence warrant particular attention.

Discussing the issuance of search warrants, he said, “usually they’re issued pretty easily, but not against the sitting congresswoman.”

In Dershowitz’s assessment, the authorization of a predawn search involving an elected federal lawmaker suggests that investigators presented a substantial factual basis for their request.

He argued that “there has to be very substantial evidence beyond just a mere probable cause claim.”

The professor contrasted the search with less intrusive investigative measures that federal authorities might ordinarily employ when seeking documents or other evidence from a public official.

“In a situation like this, often you’ll just get a subpoena,” he said, referring to the legal process through which investigators can compel the production of records without entering and searching a person’s residence.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh authorized the search after imposing safeguards intended to prevent investigators from improperly accessing materials connected to Omar’s legislative duties, according to reporting by Reuters.

Those protections are particularly relevant because members of Congress possess constitutional safeguards concerning certain legislative activities and records.

Dershowitz said the most consequential potential outcome of the investigation would be denaturalization, the legal mechanism through which the federal government can seek to revoke citizenship obtained through the naturalization process.

Such proceedings would require the government to establish that citizenship had been unlawfully procured, including through qualifying fraud or material misrepresentation.

“You have to prove fraud,” Dershowitz said, explaining that the government would need to establish wrongdoing by Omar herself or fraudulent conduct by her father in which she knowingly participated.

He suggested that investigators could examine the original information submitted during the family’s immigration process, along with subsequent documents in which Omar may have repeated details now under scrutiny.

Dershowitz described the investigation as potentially “the beginning of a much deeper search” that could end “very, very likely in her denaturalization and deportation.”

His prediction represents his assessment of the case rather than a finding by investigators or a court. Omar remains an American citizen, and no judicial determination has been made that her citizenship was improperly obtained.

The former Harvard professor also addressed whether the passage of time could prevent the government from pursuing allegations involving immigration documents submitted decades ago.

He noted that the legal deadlines applicable to criminal prosecutions do not necessarily prevent the government from pursuing civil proceedings to revoke naturalized citizenship.

According to Dershowitz, “statute of limitations that apply in criminal cases don’t apply in deportation and denaturalization cases.”

He further suggested that if an individual repeatedly supplied inaccurate personal information in later official documents, investigators might examine whether those subsequent representations constituted separate violations.

If Omar continued using allegedly false information concerning her date of birth, he argued, “this could be a continuing crime.”

The investigation has also renewed public attention to longstanding allegations concerning Omar’s previous marriage to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, including claims that the two are related.

Omar has repeatedly rejected accusations that she married her brother, describing those allegations as “bigoted lies.”

During a recent appearance on MS NOW, the congresswoman was asked directly whether she was related to her former husband.

“Not to my knowledge,” she replied.

Dershowitz criticized that response, suggesting that Omar should have been able to provide a more definitive answer about the relationship.

“You’re either related to somebody, or you’re not related to somebody,” he said.

The allegations concerning Omar’s former marriage have circulated for years, but the claim that Elmi is her brother has not been established through publicly substantiated evidence. The reported federal investigation has not resulted in a criminal charge involving that allegation.

Meanwhile, efforts are underway to obtain the court documents underlying the October 12 search.

On October 15, a group of 14 news organizations, including Reuters, petitioned a federal judge to release records associated with the warrant.

The requested materials include the affidavit submitted by investigators to justify the search, which could provide important information about the government’s allegations and the evidence presented to the court.

Dershowitz said public access to that affidavit would be particularly valuable in determining whether investigators have identified credible evidence of serious immigration violations or whether the inquiry is being driven by political considerations.

He said the documents could help establish “whether this is just picking on her because of her political views, as she says,” or whether investigators have uncovered significant fraud that might lead to “not only being thrown out of Congress, but being thrown out of the United States.”

The case has drawn heightened political attention because Omar has been among President Donald Trump’s most outspoken congressional critics, and the administration’s investigation has raised concerns among her supporters about possible political retaliation.

Omar has maintained that she has committed no wrongdoing, while the government has not publicly disclosed the full evidentiary basis for the search.

The eventual release of the warrant affidavit could provide a clearer picture of the allegations under investigation and the legal grounds on which federal authorities are proceeding.

For now, Dershowitz’s remarks highlight the potentially serious legal consequences of a successful denaturalization case, even as the underlying allegations against Omar remain unproven and the investigation continues.

Additional reporting indicates that the investigation has extended beyond the search of Omar’s home. Federal prosecutors have issued more than a dozen subpoenas, including at least one directed to a member of her family, while investigators have also spoken with relatives as they examine immigration records dating back to the 1990s.

According to Reuters, one of Omar’s sisters voluntarily spoke with federal agents. Investigators also seized the congresswoman’s personal cellphone during the October 12 operation.

The Justice Department has pursued an increased number of denaturalization cases during Trump’s second term. Reuters reported that at least 164 such cases have been filed, a sharp increase compared with the historical average of approximately 11 cases annually between 1990 and 2017.

Omar’s attorneys have challenged the manner in which the search was conducted, alleging that investigators failed to observe restrictions intended to protect confidential congressional materials. Federal authorities have maintained that the operation was lawful.

The controversy is unfolding less than two weeks before the November 3 midterm elections, adding to questions about the timing of a high-profile investigation involving an incumbent member of Congress.

While Dershowitz believes the investigation could ultimately threaten Omar’s citizenship and ability to remain in the United States, the government would first have to establish the legal grounds for denaturalization. The existence of a search warrant, even one involving a sitting congresswoman, does not itself establish that fraud occurred.

Omar continues to deny the allegations, and the federal investigation remains ongoing.

President Donald Trump called Thursday for Rep. Ilhan Omar to resign from Congress after federal prosecutors identified the Minnesota Democrat under another name in a court filing, reigniting longstanding allegations concerning her personal history, immigration records, and previous marriage.

Speaking at a political rally in Iowa, Trump accused Omar of having used a fraudulent name when she entered Congress and suggested that the disclosure should cost Democrats another seat in the House of Representatives.

The controversy erupted after a filing submitted Wednesday by the office of U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro in Washington, D.C., referred to the congresswoman as “Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, a/k/a Ilhan Abdullahi Omar.”

The appearance of the name Elmi in a federal court document prompted renewed scrutiny of Omar’s background, particularly because the same surname belongs to a man she previously married and whose relationship to her has been the subject of years of disputed allegations.

Trump seized on the development during his appearance in Iowa, declaring that Omar had obtained her congressional position under a name that was not hers.

“It was just revealed just a little while ago that … her name is not Ilhan Omar, the one that she used to get elected and sworn into Congress,” Trump said. “She used a fake name to be sworn in.

“I assume she must immediately have to resign from Congress.”

The president then suggested that Omar’s departure was already inevitable, telling supporters, “The Republicans have just picked up a seat in the House.”

Despite Trump’s assertions, the court filing does not establish that Omar committed identity fraud or improperly obtained her congressional seat. She has not been charged with any crime, and her office has categorically rejected allegations that she used a fictitious identity.

The disputed identification appeared in documents connected to a federal investigation involving a search warrant for Omar’s Washington residence. Prosecutors submitted the filing while asking a federal judge to keep the warrant confidential as investigators completed its execution.

The New York Times and other media organizations had sought access to the warrant materials, prompting the government’s effort to maintain the documents under seal.

According to Fox News Digital, two individuals familiar with the matter claimed that Omar was not born with the surname under which she serves in Congress. Separately, a source familiar with the investigation told the New York Post that Elmi was her original family name.

Omar’s representatives strongly disputed those accounts.

“This is completely false. Ilhan Omar is her real name,” a spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

The spokesperson also denounced the allegations as a “desperate smear” designed to divert public attention from the Trump administration and Republican leadership, calling it “disgraceful that the media continues to give this lie oxygen.”

Attorney General Todd Blanche was questioned by the New York Post about the name appearing in the Justice Department’s filing. Although he did not publicly establish whether the identification was accurate, he said he did not believe federal prosecutors “would make up names.”

The latest controversy has also revived questions surrounding Omar’s former husband, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, whom she married in 2009 and divorced in 2017.

For years, political opponents and other critics have circulated allegations that Elmi is actually Omar’s brother and that their marriage was connected to immigration-related misconduct. Those claims have not been substantiated by publicly established evidence, and Omar has repeatedly rejected them.

In 2016, she described the accusation as “absurd and offensive.”

The subject resurfaced Wednesday during Omar’s appearance on MS Now with Chris Hayes, when she was questioned about the allegations and her relationship to her former husband.

Omar dismissed the suggestion as “insane.”

When asked directly whether she was related to Elmi, she responded, “Not to my knowledge.”

That answer drew particular attention from Trump, who repeated it during Thursday’s rally and suggested that the wording was revealing.

“That tells you a lot right there,” the president told the Iowa audience.

Trump also delivered a broader denunciation of Omar, criticizing her political record and making disparaging remarks about Somalia, the East African country where she was born.

“She’s been a scammer for a long time. I’m pretty good at watching that stuff, and she comes from a non-country, basically. Somalia has no government, has no nothing. … All they do is run around shooting each other. Then she comes over here. The Constitution gives me absolute right to freedom of speech,” Trump said.

The dispute comes amid reports of an expanding federal investigation into Omar’s immigration history and the accuracy of information submitted in connection with her entry into the United States.

According to the New York Post, agents from Homeland Security Investigations searched Omar’s residence in Washington on October 12, confiscating her cellphone, computer, and passport.

The newspaper further reported that federal prosecutors in Minnesota have been examining whether Omar supplied inaccurate information on immigration-related documents. Investigative steps reportedly have included interviews with family members and the collection of DNA evidence.

Those investigative activities, as described in the reports, have not resulted in publicly announced criminal charges against the congresswoman.

Omar’s background has long been a subject of political debate. Born in Somalia, she fled the country’s civil war with her family in 1991. The family subsequently spent approximately four years in a refugee camp in Kenya before immigrating to the United States.

Omar has previously stated that her original birth certificate was destroyed, a circumstance that has complicated efforts to independently reconstruct portions of her early personal history.

The congresswoman has consistently maintained that her identity and immigration history are legitimate, rejecting accusations that she engaged in fraud or misrepresented family relationships.

The identification contained in the Justice Department filing nevertheless introduces a new element into the longstanding controversy because it places the disputed name in an official federal court submission rather than solely in political commentary or media allegations.

At the same time, the use of an alternative name in a legal filing does not, by itself, demonstrate wrongdoing. Individuals may legally use different surnames over the course of their lives, and the filing does not explain the basis on which prosecutors included the Elmi identification.

The distinction is particularly significant given Trump’s demand for Omar’s immediate resignation. No court has determined that she assumed a fraudulent identity to take office, and the allegations remain contested.

The president’s remarks also intensified an already bitter political confrontation between the White House and Omar, who has been among Trump’s most outspoken congressional critics.

With federal investigators reportedly continuing their work and the disputed court documents drawing heightened attention, the controversy is likely to remain a major political issue as the November congressional elections approach.

For now, Omar remains a member of Congress, her office continues to deny the allegations, and the Justice Department has not publicly established that the alternative name appearing in its filing reflects criminal misconduct.

Additional reporting has also brought attention to the legal dispute surrounding the search of Omar’s home. Her attorneys, Amy Jeffress and Joshua Matz, have accused federal investigators of disregarding restrictions imposed by a magistrate judge to protect the constitutional rights of a sitting member of Congress.

In correspondence sent to the Justice Department on October 16, the attorneys demanded the return of property seized during the search and requested that investigators preserve any audio or video recordings of the operation.

The legal team characterized the investigation as politically motivated, arguing that the government had improperly targeted one of Trump’s most prominent congressional opponents shortly before the midterm elections.

The Justice Department has maintained that investigators followed lawful procedures.

Meanwhile, the dispute over the search warrant has drawn interest from multiple news organizations and Judicial Watch, which have sought the release of sealed court records.

Federal prosecutors have asked for additional time to respond to those requests, arguing that the search warrant has not yet been fully executed. The government has proposed providing a status update after the warrant’s execution is completed, while also requesting additional time to address the applications for disclosure.

The procedural filing does not explain why prosecutors identified Omar using the Elmi surname, leaving unresolved one of the central questions driving the controversy.

Whether additional court records will clarify that identification, or disclose evidence supporting the government’s investigation, remains uncertain.

Vice President JD Vance acknowledged Thursday that Russia and Ukraine remain sharply divided over the terms of a possible peace agreement, warning that significant obstacles continue to stand in the way of President Donald Trump’s efforts to bring the war to an end.

Although both Moscow and Kyiv have agreed to return to negotiations, Vance said the two countries remain far apart on fundamental questions, including territorial control and the conditions necessary for a lasting settlement. His remarks came as American diplomats continued working to arrange another round of discussions next month.

Speaking during an interview with Forbes, Vance was challenged over the prospects for renewed diplomacy, particularly given Ukraine’s repeated willingness to participate in negotiations and Russia’s reluctance to accept previous proposals.

“I think both countries have agreed to come to the negotiating table. The reason we have not yet reached a peace agreement is that they are simply too far apart on the details of those negotiations,” Vance said.

The vice president emphasized that the administration remains committed to pursuing a negotiated resolution, despite the considerable differences separating the two sides and the repeated setbacks that have complicated previous diplomatic initiatives.

Vance pointed to the efforts of Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, who has recently held discussions with senior Russian and Ukrainian officials in an attempt to identify possible areas of compromise.

According to Vance, Witkoff has remained encouraged by his latest contacts, even as the administration recognizes that reaching an agreement will likely require continued negotiations and additional diplomatic efforts.

“He is optimistic. The nature of these things is that you make an attempt, see how far you can get, and then come back to it again. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t,” Vance said.

The vice president praised Witkoff and the broader American negotiating team for continuing to pursue an agreement despite the difficulties involved in reconciling the competing demands of Moscow and Kyiv.

His comments followed an announcement Wednesday by Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, who indicated that Russia was prepared to participate in another round of three-way negotiations involving Russian, Ukrainian, and American representatives.

Ushakov suggested that the discussions could be held in the United Arab Emirates between November 10 and November 19, potentially providing a new opportunity for the Trump administration to advance its diplomatic initiative.

Witkoff has also described his recent meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Oslo and Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg as constructive. He indicated that further discussions would take place among officials responsible for working through the technical details of a possible agreement.

Despite those developments, substantial disagreements remain over the future of Ukrainian territory currently occupied by Russian forces, the security arrangements that would accompany any ceasefire, and the broader conditions governing a permanent settlement.

The territorial dispute remains among the most difficult issues confronting negotiators, with the two governments holding fundamentally different positions concerning the future of areas under Russian control.

Questions surrounding security guarantees for Ukraine have presented another major obstacle. Any agreement would need to address Kyiv’s concerns about preventing renewed Russian military action while also confronting Moscow’s objections to certain Western security arrangements.

The Trump administration has repeatedly sought to establish a diplomatic framework capable of ending the fighting, but successive initiatives have failed to produce either a comprehensive peace agreement or a major, lasting ceasefire.

Meanwhile, military operations have continued despite the diplomatic activity.

Russian forces have maintained attacks against Ukrainian population centers and civilian infrastructure, contributing to further destruction and placing additional pressure on Ukraine’s energy and transportation systems.

Ukraine, in turn, has intensified operations against Russian energy installations, including oil refineries and facilities connected to Moscow’s military supply network. Those attacks are intended to disrupt resources that help sustain Russia’s war effort.

The continuing hostilities have complicated the diplomatic environment, with each side seeking to improve its position while negotiations remain unresolved.

Vance’s assessment underscored the gap between securing agreement to hold talks and obtaining the concessions necessary to end the conflict. Although the administration views the willingness of both governments to participate in negotiations as a positive development, the vice president made clear that the central disputes remain unsettled.

The proposed November meetings could provide another opportunity to narrow those differences, but there has been no indication that either Moscow or Kyiv is prepared to make the major compromises required for a final agreement.

For Trump, who has made ending the Russia-Ukraine war a central foreign-policy objective, the challenge remains translating renewed diplomatic engagement into an arrangement acceptable to both governments.

With fighting continuing and the most contentious issues still unresolved, Vance’s remarks suggest that Washington expects the negotiating process to continue, even as the prospect of a near-term peace agreement remains uncertain.

{Matzav.com}

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A major disagreement has emerged within Agudas Yisroel just days before Israel’s elections, with the Gerer Rebbe reportedly refusing to add his signature to the traditional proclamation issued by the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah urging the chareidi public to vote for United Torah Judaism.

According to a report Thursday evening by journalist Ari Kalman of i24NEWS, efforts to secure the Gerer Rebbe’s signature have so far been unsuccessful, despite attempts by senior party figures to resolve the matter ahead of the publication of the election appeal.

The election kol korei is traditionally published on the Friday preceding Election Day and bears the signatures of the admorim who serve on the chassidic Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel. It calls upon the chareidi community to support the party at the ballot box.

In preparation for the upcoming election, the secretary of the Moetzes has been working in recent days to collect the signatures of its members. However, the Gerer Rebbe has thus far declined to sign the document, creating a significant complication for those seeking to publish the appeal in its customary format.

In an attempt to overcome the disagreement, representatives of Ger have proposed issuing the proclamation without the individual names and signatures of the admorim. Under that arrangement, the appeal would instead appear under the collective designation “Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah.”

Such a compromise would allow the traditional election message to be published without requiring each member of the Moetzes to personally sign the document.

Discussions over the proposal are continuing, with party officials working against a tight deadline. The matter must be settled before the newspapers go to print at midnight if the proclamation is to appear in Friday’s editions.

The Gerer Rebbe’s position has remained unchanged despite a personal visit Wednesday evening by MK Yaakov Asher, chairman of United Torah Judaism, who traveled to the Rebbe’s residence in an effort to secure his participation in the party’s election campaign.

Asher’s visit was intended to bring the Rebbe on board with the party’s efforts ahead of Election Day, but according to the report, the meeting did not produce the desired result.

The disagreement comes at a particularly sensitive moment for Agudas Yisroel, as its leadership seeks to present a unified position to voters ahead of the election.

President Donald Trump is considering a new wave of American military strikes against Iran following the November 3 midterm elections, with plans under discussion for a sustained operation targeting the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, missile and drone arsenal, and critical energy facilities.

The possibility of another major offensive comes amid growing frustration in Washington over Iran’s refusal to resume negotiations despite months of economic and military pressure. According to a report published Thursday by The Atlantic, administration officials and military planners have been examining options for a campaign lasting several days, although the president has not authorized any new attacks.

The proposed operation would go beyond a limited strike, potentially targeting multiple elements of Iran’s military and strategic infrastructure in an effort to weaken Tehran’s capabilities and increase pressure on its leadership to accept American demands.

Several individuals familiar with the administration’s deliberations indicated that Trump is increasingly dissatisfied with the results of the economic pressure campaign, which had been intended to compel Iranian leaders to return to negotiations before Americans headed to the polls.

Although sanctions and other economic measures have placed considerable strain on Iran, Tehran has continued resisting Washington’s demands, leaving administration officials divided over whether additional military force would improve the situation.

One outside adviser familiar with the discussions expressed confidence that Iran’s leadership is approaching a breaking point.

“The economic pressure is working, and we believe Iran is getting close to the edge.”

The adviser suggested that another American military operation “would push them over.”

Other officials, however, have cautioned that renewed attacks could complicate diplomatic efforts and produce consequences that would undermine Washington’s broader objectives.

The timing of any military action has emerged as a central consideration. According to the report, Trump had previously explored the possibility of authorizing another round of strikes before the midterm elections, with some advisers arguing that a successful operation could strengthen Republican prospects in the closing days of the campaign.

The administration has also been grappling with elevated energy prices, which have created political difficulties for Republicans and added urgency to discussions about how to handle the confrontation with Tehran.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has reportedly advocated an earlier American offensive as well. A White House official told The Atlantic that Netanyahu encouraged Trump to approve additional strikes before Israel’s upcoming election, scheduled for next week.

Despite those appeals, Trump has thus far resisted launching another operation before November 3.

Earlier this month, the president stated publicly on Truth Social that the United States would refrain from carrying out additional attacks until after the American elections.

That position has not ruled out military action afterward, and officials familiar with the discussions emphasized that the president continues to evaluate his options.

Some administration figures believe that leaving Tehran uncertain about whether an attack is coming, and when it might occur, could provide additional leverage without requiring an immediate military commitment.

Meanwhile, developments across the Middle East have fueled speculation that Washington is positioning itself for a possible escalation.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth traveled to Israel earlier this week, where he met with Netanyahu for discussions centered on the Iranian threat and the security situation in the region.

The visit came as American and Israeli defense officials continued coordinating their approaches toward Tehran, including the possibility of further military action should diplomatic and economic efforts fail to produce results.

Another significant development occurred Wednesday, when the State Department ordered nonessential American personnel and their families to leave Saudi Arabia.

The evacuation directive followed an increase in attacks attributed to the Iranian-backed Houthi movement in Yemen, raising concerns about the safety of American personnel and the possibility of additional regional instability.

The Atlantic reported that the White House did not provide an immediate response to its questions concerning the proposed operation. US Central Command, which is responsible for American military operations in the Middle East, also declined to discuss the matter.

The latest disclosures follow reporting Wednesday by The New York Times indicating that American and Israeli military officials have already developed detailed plans for another series of attacks against Iranian targets.

Those proposals reportedly contemplate an operation beginning after the midterm elections, although no final presidential authorization has been issued.

The discussions come as Iran continues resisting American demands concerning its nuclear activities, including the disposition of enriched uranium, while Washington maintains that Tehran must never be permitted to develop a nuclear weapon.

Trump addressed the possibility of additional strikes Thursday while speaking with reporters outside the White House, defending his administration’s military campaign and acknowledging that Americans have differing views about the confrontation.

“But we can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon. I mean, in one way, people probably don’t love it. But many people, many great patriots really love it.”

The president also criticized his predecessors for failing to deal more aggressively with the Iranian threat, arguing that the confrontation should have been addressed years earlier.

“This should have been done a long time ago by other presidents, the Iran war. And we’ve knocked the hell out of them. And we may do it a little bit further.”

His remarks reinforced the possibility that Washington’s military campaign against Iran is not yet finished, even as the administration continues to weigh the risks of further escalation against the potential benefits of increasing pressure on Tehran.

For now, the White House has made no formal announcement of a new offensive, leaving open the question of whether Trump will authorize another military campaign once the midterm elections have concluded.

The reporting also indicates that Trump’s advisers remain divided over how much additional military pressure Iran can withstand and whether further attacks would bring Tehran closer to an agreement or deepen the conflict. The Atlantic reported that some officials believe Iran is nearing an economic breaking point, while others question whether its leadership would respond to renewed strikes by making concessions.

The possibility of escalation comes against the backdrop of an American naval blockade and months of fighting that have affected international energy markets. Earlier this month, Trump declared that the blockade would continue but that American forces would not launch fresh attacks before the November 3 elections.

Military planning has continued in the meantime, leaving the president with options should he decide to resume large-scale operations.

The coming weeks will determine whether Washington continues relying primarily on economic pressure or returns to an intensive military campaign intended to force a change in Tehran’s position.

{Matzav.com}

In an unusually candid appeal to English-speaking chareidi voters in Eretz Yisroel, United Torah Judaism MK Yitzchok Pindrus has acknowledged that his party failed to accomplish its central objective of protecting the status of yeshiva students, while warning that refusing to vote for UTJ in the upcoming elections would only further endanger the future of the chareidi community.

In a letter addressed directly to English-speaking chareidi communities, Pindrus openly accepted responsibility for the failure to resolve the military conscription crisis, describing the outcome as a serious disappointment that demands acknowledgment rather than excuses.

“Let’s speak openly. When this government was formed, we had one central challenge before us: securing the status of yeshiva students and ensuring their ability to continue dedicating their lives to Torah learning,” Pindrus wrote.

“I look you in the eye and say this plainly: We didn’t succeed. There are valid explanations for this – the courts, the legal advisors to the government and the Knesset – but at the end of the day, the responsibility still rests with us.”

Pindrus went further, declaring that the party must recognize its failure to deliver on the issue that had been at the heart of its political mission.

“We did not succeed in achieving the central objective for which we exist: securing the status of those who dedicate their lives to Torah learning. Public responsibility requires us to acknowledge that we did not succeed and to learn from it.”

The letter comes amid growing frustration within segments of the chareidi community over the unresolved draft crisis, ongoing legal proceedings, and enforcement measures targeting yeshiva students who have not reported for military service.

Pindrus acknowledged that the disappointment has prompted some voters to consider staying home on Election Day, while others have begun openly encouraging voters to withhold their support from United Torah Judaism.

“I hear the voices of disappointment and despair. Some have expressed indifference toward the upcoming elections and say they do not intend to vote at all. Others are calling on people not to vote for United Torah Judaism.”

Despite recognizing those frustrations, Pindrus argued that punishing UTJ at the ballot box would ultimately harm the very community whose interests the party is attempting to protect.

To illustrate his argument, he related a pointed joke about a man who was offered the opportunity to make a wish, with the condition that his rival would receive twice whatever he requested.

After considering the offer, the man made an astonishing request.

“Take out one of my eyes.”

When others expressed disbelief that he would waste such an opportunity, the man explained his reasoning.

“That’s true. But this way, he’ll lose both of his!”

Pindrus used the story to warn voters against allowing their anger at UTJ to produce an outcome that would be even more damaging to their own interests.

“Not voting for United Torah Judaism will not bring about a solution. On the contrary, it will only deepen the harm,” he wrote.

The MK maintained that the political and judicial challenges facing the chareidi community extend well beyond the question of military conscription, warning that reduced chareidi representation in the Knesset could jeopardize funding for educational institutions and other essential community services.

“We have already seen during this past term that the legal establishment and the courts are not stopping at the issue of military conscription. They seek to undermine our kindergartens, our Talmud Torahs, and our schools. As far as they are concerned, the Chareidi community is not entitled to the same rights as everyone else.”

Pindrus emphasized that chareidi lawmakers have spent much of the outgoing Knesset term battling to preserve government funding for institutions serving the community, often facing opposition from the attorney general and other legal authorities.

“These are not empty warnings. Throughout the past term, we fought for every budget allocated to the Chareidi community, for every shekel that Chareidi children are rightfully entitled to receive. In many cases, we succeeded, despite the opposition of the Attorney General. But what will happen if Chareidi representation in the Knesset becomes smaller?!”

The letter reflects the increasingly difficult political position confronting UTJ as it seeks to retain the support of voters who are deeply dissatisfied with the party’s inability to secure a lasting legislative arrangement protecting yeshiva students from conscription.

Pindrus also warned that opponents of the chareidi community are openly seeking to undermine its ability to maintain its traditional way of life, portraying the upcoming election as a struggle over the community’s very future in Eretz Yisroel.

“The plans of those who oppose the Chareidi community are out in the open. They even want to take away our right to vote. In the current election campaign, they are seeking to challenge our very right to exist as a community.”

He urged voters to respond with confidence and pride, invoking the words of Rav Avraham Ravitz zt”l, the founding chairman of Degel HaTorah.

“Our response must be to stand tall with Jewish pride. We need not apologize, nor do we need to ask anyone’s permission. As the first chairman of Degel HaTorah, Rabbi Avraham Ravitz zt”l, famously put it: ‘We exist because we exist!’”

Pindrus concluded by emphasizing that voting for UTJ represents, in his view, an affirmation of the chareidi community’s right to preserve its values, institutions, and identity.

“By voting for United Torah Judaism, we declare that we have every right to live as Chareidi Jews, and that we are proud of who we are.”

“I need your vote. United Torah Judaism needs your vote. The entire Chareidi community needs it, so that we can continue fighting for our children, our institutions, and our way of life.”

He ended the letter with a final declaration: “Because we have every right to be Chareidi.”

The appeal comes just days before Israel’s October 27 election, as UTJ confronts dissatisfaction among voters over the failure to pass legislation protecting yeshiva students from military conscription. Reports have indicated that some communities traditionally aligned with the party have considered withholding their votes in protest.

Pindrus has been addressing those concerns directly in recent days. At a gathering in Yerushalayim this week, he faced pointed questions from chareidi voters who challenged the party’s record and demanded to know why they should support UTJ again after its failure to resolve the draft crisis.

During that discussion, Pindrus maintained that the party would refuse to enter the next governing coalition without an agreement addressing the conscription issue. He has made similar statements in recent interviews, describing a draft arrangement as a fundamental condition for participating in any future government.

His letter to English-speaking chareidim reflects that broader campaign to restore confidence among disillusioned voters, combining an unusually explicit admission of political failure with a warning about the consequences of diminished chareidi representation.

For Pindrus, the message is that the disappointment over the outgoing government’s failures is justified, but withdrawing electoral support from UTJ would leave the community with even less influence over the decisions that will shape its future.

{Matzav.com}

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri’s election promise to provide free tefillin to every boy reaching bar mitzvah age in Eretz Yisroel has come under sharp attack from Israeli journalist Amichai Attali, who accused the Shas leader of using a seemingly worthwhile religious initiative as a means of creating government jobs for political associates and distributing public money to his supporters.

Deri announced that Shas would seek to establish a government-funded program under which every Jewish boy celebrating his bar mitzvah would receive a pair of tefillin and a tallis, with the state covering the cost. The proposal would be advanced by Shas in the next government following the upcoming Israeli elections.

Attali, however, questioned whether such a program addresses any genuine need, arguing that tefillin are already readily available throughout Israel and that individuals who wish to fulfill the mitzvah generally have numerous avenues through which to obtain them.

“Every child knows that Israel has an abundance of sets of tefillin. Every day, hundreds of people die and leave behind perfectly kosher tefillin,” he wrote.

The journalist pointed to the widespread availability of tefillin in public places, including businesses that maintain tefillin stations for those who wish to put them on during the day. He also cited charitable organizations and volunteer efforts that purchase tefillin for soldiers, young people, and immigrants who might otherwise have difficulty obtaining their own pairs.

According to Attali, the existing network of private initiatives and communal assistance has already made tefillin accessible to virtually anyone who wants them.

“There is almost no one in Israel who wants tefillin and doesn’t have them.”

Attali then turned his attention to what he believes would be the real consequences of Deri’s proposal: the establishment of an entirely new government operation, complete with administrative offices, employees, vehicles, advisers, and substantial budgets.

In his criticism, he suggested that the program could provide a financial benefit to families who would have purchased tefillin for their sons regardless, while simultaneously creating a new source of government-funded employment.

“So why is Deri a genius? Because he’s bringing in hundreds of soferim (scribes who write tefillin, mezuzot, and Torah scrolls) through the back door, who will make a living from his new bureaucracy. Because he’s putting cash into the pockets of hundreds of thousands of haredim – they’re already buying tefillin for their sons’ bar mitzvahs anyway, so why not shift a substantial portion of the expense onto those who actually work and pay taxes?”

The journalist continued with a lengthy, sarcastic description of the bureaucracy he imagined would emerge from the initiative, referring to a hypothetical government agency that he dubbed the “National Tefillin Administration.”

He predicted that such an agency would quickly become another avenue for political appointments, with Shas associates receiving salaried positions and government resources being directed toward individuals connected to the party.

“Another 20 Shas members will get jobs in the National Tefillin Administration. They’ll rent spacious offices in a new building in Givat Shaul. There will be an exemption from the requirement to hold tenders, so the property owner will surely be a relative of some senior Shas official.”

Attali went on to paint an exaggerated picture of the proposed administration, envisioning officials enjoying leased vehicles, consultants being hired for various responsibilities, and additional layers of management being created to oversee the distribution of tefillin.

Among the positions he mockingly proposed were an “adviser on Rashi tefillin” and a separate adviser on Rabbeinu Tam tefillin, referring to the different types of tefillin worn according to the respective shitos.

His satire continued with the suggestion that the government might eventually establish separate administrations for Sephardic and Ashkenazic tefillin, citing the differing minhagim and practices of the two communities as a pretext for creating additional departments and jobs.

According to Attali’s imagined scenario, these agencies would become entrenched bureaucracies, with positions and benefits distributed among relatives, associates, and political insiders at the expense of taxpayers.

The journalist emphasized that his criticism was rooted in his belief that Deri, as someone who has spent his life in the Torah-observant community, is fully aware that obtaining tefillin is generally not a serious obstacle for those who genuinely wish to perform the mitzvah.

“I’m telling you that Aryeh Deri lives within the religious world no less than I do, and he cannot even imagine that there is a Jew who wants tefillin but cannot obtain them.”

Attali argued that Deri’s familiarity with the religious community makes it difficult to accept that the Shas chairman views a shortage of tefillin as a pressing national problem.

Instead, he maintained that the proposal should be understood primarily as an election-season initiative designed to benefit the party’s constituency and potentially expand its network of political appointments.

Attali concluded by accusing Deri of dressing up what he believes is a political patronage initiative as a program intended to strengthen Yiddishkeit.

“His announcement today is actually about creating yet another unnecessary bureaucracy whose entire purpose is to provide a livelihood for associates while exploiting the public treasury for the benefit of voters. And this is just one more piece of proof that Aryeh Deri is a genius.”

Deri, for his part, has presented the proposal as part of a broader effort to strengthen Jewish identity in Eretz Yisroel. In announcing the initiative, he also pledged that Shas would work to require schools to designate appropriate areas where students who wish to put on tefillin and daven could do so during the school day.

The Shas chairman framed the initiative as a response to statements by Democrats Party chairman Yair Golan concerning religion in public institutions. Deri maintained that providing tefillin to young Jewish boys would reinforce their connection to Torah and mesorah, particularly amid disputes over the place of religious observance in Israeli society.

Golan responded with a competing election message, calling for universal military draft orders for 18-year-olds and emphasizing that putting on tefillin should remain a matter of personal choice.

The proposal has also raised questions about its potential cost. With kosher tefillin frequently costing thousands of shekels per pair, a nationwide distribution program would require substantial government funding. Deri has not yet presented a detailed budget, procurement plan, or administrative framework explaining how the initiative would operate.

The financial questions are particularly relevant because the proposed program would cover all eligible boys, including those whose families are already prepared to purchase tefillin privately. Critics question whether the government should subsidize those purchases across the board, while the initiative’s stated objective is to make the mitzvah accessible to every Jewish boy regardless of his family’s circumstances.

For now, the plan remains an election promise rather than an approved government program. Whether it advances will depend on the composition of the next government, the priorities established in coalition negotiations, and the allocation of the necessary funding.

Attali’s criticism has added another dimension to the debate, shifting attention from the religious significance of tefillin to the question of whether the proposed government initiative would genuinely address an unmet need or create an expensive new bureaucracy.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has warned senior officials in Washington that President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace initiative could face serious difficulties because of inadequate staffing, uncertain funding arrangements, and unresolved questions about military support, according to a diplomatic communication obtained by Politico.

The warning comes as the Pentagon prepares to scale back its involvement in an American-led coordination center in Israel, potentially transferring critical responsibilities to civilian personnel who may not yet have the resources or manpower needed to carry them out.

Huckabee outlined his concerns in a cable transmitted Thursday from the U.S. Embassy in Yerushalayim to senior State Department officials. The communication, which bore the ambassador’s signature, raised questions about whether the American diplomatic mission and Trump’s newly established Board of Peace are equipped to oversee the complicated process of disarming Hamas, establishing security arrangements, and rebuilding Gaza.

At the center of the concerns is the International Gaza Support Center, known as the IGSC, which serves as the primary American-led coordination operation connecting the United States, Israel, and international partners involved in implementing the administration’s Gaza initiative.

The Pentagon is planning to reduce the number of military personnel assigned to the center over the next year, with civilian officials gradually taking over duties currently performed by American military representatives.

Huckabee cautioned that neither the embassy nor the Board of Peace presently has the personnel necessary to assume those responsibilities without additional preparations.

“Embassy Jerusalem is not currently staffed to assume these roles, but can be if it has an idea of the human, financial and logistical resources that will be needed,” Huckabee wrote.

“The BoP is working to increase staff but its ability to cover all functions at the IGSC remains unclear.”

The Board of Peace, created by Trump and officially inaugurated in February, was established to coordinate major elements of the administration’s proposed postwar framework for Gaza.

Working under a United Nations mandate, the body is tasked with organizing international financial assistance for reconstruction while helping establish new security and governing structures in the territory.

Although several European governments declined to formally join the organization, some have nevertheless agreed to cooperate with its activities, allowing the board to maintain working relationships with countries outside its membership.

The IGSC is also expected to provide important operational support for the International Stabilization Force, a multinational security contingent that the Board of Peace intends to deploy in Gaza as part of the broader peace arrangements.

The center was originally established last year by U.S. Central Command as the Civil-Military Coordination Center, before being reorganized and given its current name.

According to the diplomatic cable, which was designated “sensitive but unclassified,” the organization is now undergoing another transition after the Board of Peace assumed responsibility for its financing on October 11.

The shift in funding and oversight has created questions about how the center will function once American military personnel begin withdrawing and civilian representatives are expected to take their places.

Huckabee was particularly concerned about the potential consequences for coordination with the Israeli military, especially in areas involving sensitive security information.

He warned that the replacement of American military officials with civilian personnel “could complicate the coordination dynamic” with the IDF, “especially on the intelligence-sharing front.”

Such concerns are significant because the center is intended to coordinate operations involving multiple governments, military organizations, and civilian agencies, all of which must cooperate to implement the Gaza arrangements.

The ambassador sought specific guidance from Washington on how responsibilities would be divided among the Pentagon, State Department, and Board of Peace during the proposed transition.

“How will roles and responsibilities shift to State and the BoP as DoW reduces its presence?” Huckabee asked.

“How will we keep critical IGSC workstreams running and what conditions should be met before this transition begins?”

His questions reflect uncertainty over whether the administration has established a sufficiently detailed plan for transferring responsibilities without disrupting ongoing operations.

The concerns also come at a sensitive stage in the Gaza initiative, with disarmament arrangements, reconstruction efforts, and the establishment of an international security presence all dependent on coordination among the United States, Israel, and other participating countries.

The Board of Peace, however, has not acknowledged the organizational changes described in Huckabee’s communication.

In a response to Politico, the organization said it had not seen the cable and disputed any suggestion that it was unprepared to carry out its responsibilities.

The board said it was “confident in the highly detailed plans that have been developed for improved humanitarian assistance, security, governance, the rule of law, infrastructure development, and reconstruction in Gaza. Our capacities and systems in place are strong and ready for implementation.”

The Pentagon referred questions about the reported cable to the State Department, which declined to provide a comment.

The staffing concerns emerge against the backdrop of other obstacles confronting the Gaza reconstruction initiative. In September, the Board of Peace presented international diplomats with a six-month recovery program involving 66 projects and approximately $2.45 billion in proposed expenditures. However, implementation remains dependent on securing financial commitments and establishing the necessary security arrangements.

There have also been difficulties in preparing for the deployment of international forces. Reports earlier this month indicated that Israel had not authorized construction of a proposed Gaza base intended to accommodate an initial contingent of stabilization troops from Morocco and Kosovo. The proposed facility would house approximately 150 personnel drawn from a larger force.

At the same time, efforts to secure Hamas’s disarmament remain a central unresolved issue. Israeli officials have expressed concern that Hamas continues rebuilding its military capabilities, while the international arrangements intended to replace the terrorist organization’s control of Gaza have yet to become fully operational.

Huckabee himself has previously emphasized that the success of the administration’s Gaza initiative depends heavily on eliminating Hamas’s military capabilities. Earlier this month, he accused the terrorist organization of obstructing progress by refusing to surrender its weapons.

The latest diplomatic communication highlights a separate problem facing Washington: Even if political agreements can be reached and security arrangements finalized, the American-led organizations responsible for implementing them must have sufficient personnel, funding, and operational capabilities to function effectively.

With the Pentagon preparing to reduce its role, Huckabee’s questions leave Washington facing a consequential decision about how quickly military responsibilities can be transferred to civilian authorities without jeopardizing coordination with Israel or disrupting the broader Gaza initiative.

A fragment of a Sefer Torah stolen from a Polish shul during the Holocaust and reportedly used by a Nazi SS soldier as wrapping paper for a package sent to Germany will be preserved by a Holocaust remembrance organization in San Diego, following an international uproar over plans to sell the sacred parchment at an auction in Norway.

The fragment, which still reportedly bears military identification information and the address of the package’s recipient on its reverse side, had been scheduled for sale by Valkyrie Historical Auctions in Oslo. The proposed auction sparked widespread condemnation from Jewish organizations and Israeli officials, who objected to the commercial sale of a sacred Jewish artifact desecrated during the Holocaust.

Following the protests, the auction house withdrew the item from sale. Within 48 hours, representatives of RUTH – Remember Us The Holocaust, a San Diego-based Holocaust education and remembrance organization, worked with collaborators to arrange for the parchment to be donated for preservation and eventual public exhibition.

The organization announced Wednesday that it had secured an agreement for the donation and would undertake the necessary conservation work before placing the fragment on display.

According to earlier reporting by Ynet, the parchment originated in a synagogue in Poland and was taken during the Holocaust. At some point, an SS soldier reportedly cut or removed a portion of the sacred scroll and used it to wrap a parcel destined for Germany.

The surviving writing on the back of the parchment, including information identifying the soldier’s military unit and the address to which the package was sent, provides a disturbing reminder of the manner in which the Nazis desecrated Jewish religious objects while systematically destroying Jewish communities across Europe.

The planned auction drew a particularly forceful response from Israel’s Foreign Ministry, which described the proposed sale as a “moral atrocity” in a statement published on X.

The World Jewish Restitution Organization also intervened, urging Norwegian authorities to prevent the sale and take steps to ensure that the artifact would be returned to appropriate custodians rather than treated as a commercial collectible.

The controversy raised broader questions about the handling of Jewish religious artifacts stolen, confiscated, or desecrated during the Holocaust, particularly items that subsequently entered private collections and the international memorabilia market.

For Jewish communities, a Sefer Torah carries profound religious significance, and the use of its parchment as ordinary wrapping material represents an especially painful example of the Nazis’ contempt for Jewish religious life.

Sandra Scheller, founder, curator, and president of RUTH, said her organization immediately recognized the importance of ensuring that the fragment would be treated with the dignity appropriate to both its religious significance and its historical background.

“We recognized the importance of this fragment and the urgency of helping secure its donation,” Scheller said.

“Once it has been inspected and appropriately restored, we will be honored to display it alongside the histories of Holocaust survivors. As we grow from an exhibition into a museum, we hope this effort will open doors to collaboration with organizations around the world dedicated to preserving and respectfully exhibiting Holocaust artifacts.”

The organization said it intends to present the parchment as part of its broader effort to preserve Holocaust history through authentic artifacts and the personal accounts of survivors.

Dr. Moises Salinas Fleitman, RUTH’s executive director, emphasized that the fragment must be handled with particular sensitivity because it is both a sacred religious text and physical evidence of Nazi persecution.

“We acted because this Torah fragment deserves preservation, careful study, and a place where people can learn from its history,” Salinas Fleitman said.

“Our responsibility now is to care for this fragment as both a sacred Jewish text and historical evidence, and to ensure that its exhibition respects both.”

To assist with that responsibility, RUTH has enlisted Dr. Adolfo Roitman, a prominent expert in ancient Jewish manuscripts and former curator of the Dead Sea Scrolls and head of the Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum in Yerushalayim.

Roitman will provide guidance on the appropriate conservation, handling, and exhibition of the parchment, with particular attention to the religious considerations involved in displaying a fragment of a Sefer Torah.

His involvement is expected to help the organization navigate the delicate balance between preserving the fragment as a historical artifact and maintaining the respect due to a sacred Jewish text.

The parchment will undergo a professional examination to determine its physical condition and identify the conservation or restoration measures necessary to prevent further deterioration.

Because the fragment has survived for more than eight decades and was reportedly subjected to improper handling during the Holocaust, specialists will need to assess its stability before determining how it can safely be transported and displayed.

RUTH has not yet announced when the fragment will be available for public viewing. The organization said that a timetable will be established after conservation experts have completed their initial examination and provided recommendations concerning its treatment.

According to the auction listing, the fragment measures approximately 64 by 46 centimeters, or about 25 by 18 inches, and is made of calfskin parchment bearing handwritten Hebrew text. The listing described fire damage and other deterioration, and said the fragment had been discovered at a flea market in Poland several years ago.

The auction had originally estimated the fragment’s value at between $1,500 and $2,000. Online bidding records subsequently displayed a winning bid of $8,500, which would have brought the total to $10,625 after the auction house’s 25% buyer’s premium.

However, the auction house later maintained that the transaction had not been completed. Separate reporting indicated that the auctioneer had intervened to prevent the parchment from passing into the hands of a private collector.

The auction itself had featured other disturbing Holocaust-related items, including tefillin, a garment bearing a yellow Star of David, and striped clothing associated with a concentration camp. Their inclusion intensified concerns about the commercial trade in personal and religious possessions connected to Nazi persecution.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry also criticized the proposed sale against the backdrop of reports that Norway was considering withdrawing financial support for student visits to former Nazi extermination camps. Israeli officials pointed to the contrast between the commercial sale of Holocaust artifacts and the possibility of reduced educational visits to sites where millions of Jews were murdered.

The auction house subsequently defended its handling of the controversy, saying that questions surrounding the ownership and origins of Holocaust-era artifacts are often complicated. A representative suggested that the Torah parchment might have been abandoned during the war rather than conclusively stolen, although the original auction description itself had identified the fragment as having been taken by German SS soldiers.

The World Jewish Restitution Organization’s intervention underscored the importance of establishing the provenance of such objects and ensuring that artifacts connected to Jewish communities destroyed during the Holocaust are handled appropriately.

For RUTH, the acquisition represents an important step in its efforts to establish a permanent Holocaust museum in San Diego.

The organization currently focuses on preserving survivor testimonies, collecting authentic historical artifacts, and educating the public about the Holocaust, particularly through the experiences of survivors who settled in San Diego and Southern California.

Its long-term plans call for a permanent museum that will bring together personal histories and original artifacts, allowing visitors to understand the Holocaust through the experiences of those who endured it.

The organization operates under the guiding principles “Memory needs an address” and “Never again for anyone, anywhere,” emphasizing the importance of preserving Holocaust history for future generations.

The Torah fragment will eventually become part of that educational mission, with its exhibition intended to explain both the destruction of Jewish religious life under Nazi rule and the responsibility to preserve the surviving remnants of that world.

A new survey of Israel’s chareidi electorate suggests that voter participation could climb sharply in next Tuesday’s Knesset elections, potentially strengthening the established chareidi parties while making it increasingly difficult for smaller political movements to cross the electoral threshold.

The survey, conducted by Super Data and published by Kikar HaShabbat, projects turnout among chareidi voters at approximately 88%, compared with 75% in a survey conducted roughly a week and a half earlier.

The findings come amid an intense campaign by rabbonim and chareidi political leaders to encourage voters to support the established parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, rather than independent lists challenging their leadership.

Pollster Avi Widerman said the projected increase in turnout could have significant consequences for smaller parties attempting to enter the Knesset.

According to his calculations, higher participation across the electorate could raise the number of votes needed to cross the electoral threshold from approximately 167,000 in the previous election to between 185,000 and 190,000.

That would present an especially difficult challenge for new chareidi parties seeking to win seats by attracting voters dissatisfied with the established political leadership.

The survey also examined the influence of rabbinic guidance on voting decisions, finding that 70% of respondents regard following the instructions of their rabbonim in elections as a religious obligation.

Another 33% said they would experience substantial feelings of guilt if they voted contrary to those instructions.

These findings suggest that rabbinic endorsements remain a major factor in shaping chareidi voting behavior, even as independent candidates attempt to appeal to voters frustrated by the handling of the military draft controversy and other issues affecting the Torah community.

The poll also reflects the growing importance of the military draft controversy in the election campaign. Arrests of yeshiva bochurim, uncertainty over the legal status of full-time Torah learners and the failure to enact new legislation have generated considerable frustration among chareidi voters.

Independent parties have attempted to capitalize on that dissatisfaction, arguing that the established chareidi factions have failed to deliver sufficient protection for the yeshiva world.

However, the renewed emphasis by gedolei Yisroel on voting for the established parties could complicate those efforts, particularly among voters who regard electoral participation as an obligation determined by their rabbonim.

The survey’s findings should nevertheless be interpreted cautiously. A stated intention to vote does not guarantee actual turnout, and the projected electoral threshold will ultimately depend on nationwide participation and the number of valid votes cast.

The complete survey methodology, including its sample size and margin of error, was not available in the material reviewed.

With the election approaching, the central question is whether the apparent increase in intended turnout will translate into stronger support for Shas and United Torah Judaism, or whether some voters will still direct their ballots toward alternative chareidi parties.

{Matzav.com}

Travelers flying between Eretz Yisroel and New York are finally seeing significant relief from the soaring airfares that have dominated the route in recent years, with ticket prices dropping by an average of 25% over the past six weeks and some round-trip flights now available for as little as $600 with a connection, or $650 nonstop for select dates in early 2027.

The dramatic decline follows the return of major American airlines to Ben Gurion Airport and the introduction of additional flights by Israeli carriers, bringing renewed competition to one of Israel’s busiest international travel markets.

According to a new analysis by the Israeli financial newspaper Globes, the average round-trip fare between Tel Aviv and the New York area across five airlines has fallen to approximately $1,223. The findings suggest that travelers who postponed booking during the expensive Yom Tov season may now be able to save hundreds of dollars.

The turnaround is particularly striking because, just six weeks ago, prices remained exceptionally high despite the anticipated return of American carriers. At the time, El Al and Arkia were the primary airlines operating nonstop service between Israel and New York, and demand continued to exceed the available supply of seats.

That situation changed in September when Delta Air Lines and United Airlines resumed flights to Israel following a suspension of more than six months. Israir also entered the transatlantic market, launching its first New York service on September 15 and becoming the third Israeli airline serving the route.

The increased competition initially did little to reduce fares because of heavy travel demand surrounding the Yomim Noraim and Sukkos. With the busy holiday period now over, however, the additional seats are beginning to translate into lower ticket prices.

Data collected by the Israeli travel platform lastminute.co.il shows that Delta has experienced the steepest decline. Six weeks ago, the average round-trip Delta ticket for post-holiday October travel, including baggage, cost approximately $1,980. A new examination of fares for the second half of October found that the average had fallen to $1,245, representing a 37% reduction.

United Airlines recorded a similarly dramatic decline, with average fares dropping 33%, from $1,844 to $1,237.

The Israeli carriers also lowered their prices, although the decreases were less pronounced. El Al’s average fare fell 13%, from $1,459 to $1,270, while Arkia’s declined 7%, from $1,359 to $1,265.

Looking ahead to November, the average price across all five airlines stands at $1,223, with Israir offering the lowest average fare at $1,135. United follows at $1,190, Arkia at $1,230, Delta at $1,265, and El Al at $1,295.

Asaf Grinberg, vice president of marketing at lastminute.co.il, said the shift has been particularly noticeable among the American airlines, which were substantially more expensive than their Israeli competitors at the beginning of September.

“Within a month and a half, there has been a dramatic change,” Grinberg said. “The American airlines, which were significantly more expensive at the beginning of September, have dropped by more than 30%, and today their prices are almost identical to those of the Israeli airlines.”

He noted that the lower prices are continuing into November, suggesting that the decline is broader than a temporary promotion involving a handful of flights.

Grinberg also pointed to the strengthening of the Israeli shekel against the dollar, which has made dollar-denominated airfare less expensive for Israeli travelers paying in shekels.

Beyond the average fares, the survey uncovered several particularly attractive deals for passengers who can be flexible with their travel dates.

United Airlines was offering round-trip tickets starting at approximately $790 for flights during the final week of November. Israir had a limited number of tickets available from approximately $990 for selected dates in late October and November.

Travelers willing to make a connection rather than fly nonstop can find even cheaper options. According to the Israeli airfare-deals platform Secret Flights, round-trip tickets on Condor, involving a connecting flight, have been advertised for $600 or less.

The savings could be especially significant for families traveling between Eretz Yisroel and the United States, where purchasing several tickets at once can make even a modest difference in airfare amount to hundreds or thousands of dollars.

The lower prices are also extending into the winter travel season, with several airlines offering round-trip tickets below $1,000 for selected dates in early 2027.

A survey by Israeli tourism company Gulliver identified Delta tickets for mid-January at approximately $878 and El Al flights for early March at approximately $773.

Secret Flights also reported finding nonstop Delta round-trip tickets for dates early next year starting at approximately $650, a price considerably below the fares that travelers have faced during much of the past year.

The advertised bargains are date-specific and may be available only in limited quantities. Actual prices can change as seats are sold, and travelers should examine baggage allowances, connection times, ticket restrictions, and other conditions before booking.

Another promotion has been introduced by SuperFly, the travel credit-card club associated with the Rami Levy group. The company recently advertised New York tickets for $909 for eligible cardholders and new members, with travel dates extending through March 2027.

According to the company, the offer includes a checked suitcase weighing up to 23 kilograms, approximately 50 pounds, along with a carry-on bag. SuperFly said hundreds of tickets were available under the promotion.

Despite the substantial reductions, industry analysts caution that the lower fares do not necessarily represent an unprecedented collapse in ticket prices.

SkyGini, a digital travel agency that tracks airline pricing, found that October fares were approximately 18% below summer levels. However, the agency attributed much of that decline to normal seasonal patterns, noting that airfare typically falls after the summer and holiday travel periods.

According to SkyGini, prices on the New York route remain broadly comparable to those recorded in previous years, suggesting that the current reductions reflect a combination of seasonal demand and renewed airline competition.

The timing of Israel’s upcoming elections may also be influencing demand. With Israelis preparing to vote, some travelers may be postponing trips abroad, adding downward pressure on fares.

Israir CEO Uri Sirkis, speaking at a recent investment conference, emphasized that the reduction in ticket prices is occurring despite significantly higher airline operating expenses.

“People need to remember that fuel prices have risen significantly compared with last year, by around $700 per ton,” Sirkis said.

He explained that a wide-body aircraft consumes approximately six tons of fuel per flight hour, meaning that fuel expenses on a long-haul flight can reach roughly $80,000.

Sirkis argued that when those increased expenses are considered, a ticket selling for $1,200 today represents a considerably better deal than the same nominal price would have been last year.

He estimated that without the return of additional carriers, fares on the route could have remained around $1,800.

The latest developments mark a sharp contrast with conditions earlier this year, when airline service between Israel and the United States was severely restricted.

Delta and United suspended their Israel operations during the conflict with Iran in March, leaving travelers with fewer options and contributing to elevated prices.

Both airlines resumed service in September, with Delta returning to the Tel Aviv–JFK route and United restoring flights between Ben Gurion Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.

Israir’s entry into the market further increased available capacity. The airline invested approximately $85 million in two Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft and associated preparations to establish its long-haul operations.

Its initial New York flights began in September, after the company received the necessary regulatory approvals from Israeli and American authorities.

The carrier has also outlined plans to expand its long-haul fleet, including the use of additional leased aircraft and the eventual introduction of another independently operated wide-body plane during the second half of 2027.

American Airlines, meanwhile, remains absent from the route. The company previously postponed its planned return to Israel until late March 2027, after having suspended regular Tel Aviv–New York service following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks.

The current price reductions therefore reflect competition among five airlines rather than a complete restoration of all the carriers that previously served the market.

Tamar Gerzon, CEO of Gulliver, said the return of American carriers and the expansion of Israeli airline operations have substantially improved the options available to passengers.

“The return of the American aviation giants, alongside the Israeli companies that have begun operating on the route, is a significant development for the flight market to the United States,” Gerzon said.

She noted that the shortage of available seats had previously been reflected in both higher prices and fewer travel choices, while the addition of airlines and flights is now beginning to restore competition.

For travelers considering trips to New York in the coming months, the latest figures indicate that the expensive conditions of the recent Yom Tov season have eased considerably, particularly for those able to adjust their departure and return dates.

{Matzav.com}

A Chabad shul in Monsey has publicly denied any involvement in the distribution of anonymous booklets criticizing the religious atmosphere in Crown Heights, following speculation about the source of the publications and their connection to the local Lubavitch community.

Congregation Tzemach Tzedek of Monsey issued a statement distancing itself from the material, making clear that neither the shul nor its leadership had authorized or participated in the initiative.

The clarification followed the circulation of booklets raising concerns about standards of religious observance and communal life in Crown Heights, the Brooklyn neighborhood that serves as the international center of Chabad-Lubavitch.

The publication, titled “I sent my son to Crown Heights for Shiur Daled,” was distributed in Crown Heights and mailed to homes in other communities. It was presented from the perspective of a parent concerned about the spiritual environment encountered by young bochurim who travel to Crown Heights to learn near 770 Eastern Parkway.

The booklet carried no author’s name and did not identify any sponsoring organization. However, it included a return address associated with Congregation Tzemach Tzedek in Monsey, prompting questions about whether the shul or individuals connected to it were responsible for the publication.

After the matter received publicity, a member of the shul’s board contacted COLlive to deny any connection.

“This pashkvil did not come from us,” the board member said. “Somebody used our address without permission.”

The congregation subsequently issued a formal statement addressing the matter.

“Congregation Tzemach Tzedek of Monsey wants to state clearly that we had no involvement in the anonymous booklet recently distributed in Crown Heights and mailed to homes elsewhere, as reported in your article ‘Who Is Behind the Mystery Booklet Decrying Crown Heights?’”

The statement continued:

“We did not write, fund, authorize, or distribute it, and we did not know our address would appear on it.”

The congregation also emphasized its longstanding relationship with Crown Heights and the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s neighborhood.

“Our shul has deep ties to Crown Heights and the Rebbe’s shechunah, and we do not endorse the booklet or the way it was put out.”

The controversy has generated considerable discussion within the Lubavitch community, with some readers arguing that the concerns raised in the publication deserve attention regardless of who wrote it, while others have questioned the decision to circulate anonymous criticism of an entire neighborhood.

The booklet’s focus on young bochurim arriving from outside Crown Heights has added sensitivity to the discussion. Crown Heights is home to numerous Chabad educational institutions and attracts talmidim from communities around the world, particularly those seeking to spend time learning in the vicinity of 770.

The anonymous publication raised questions about the responsibility of a community that hosts visiting bochurim and the religious atmosphere those talmidim encounter outside the walls of the yeshiva.

At the same time, the decision to use an established shul’s address without its knowledge has created a separate controversy over the methods employed by the unidentified publishers.

The Monsey congregation’s statement leaves little ambiguity about its position: the shul denies having written, financed, authorized or distributed the material and rejects the suggestion that its address establishes any connection to the publication.

As of Thursday, the identity of the person or group responsible for the booklet remained unknown, and no evidence had emerged publicly establishing who arranged its printing or distribution.

President Donald Trump has demanded that NBA superstar LeBron James apologize to the American people and the nation’s fallen military heroes after the basketball player was seen making shooting gestures and swinging his arms during the national anthem ahead of his debut with the Philadelphia 76ers.

The incident occurred before the 76ers’ game against the New York Knicks, as singer Avery Wilson performed “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Rather than standing still throughout the anthem, James appeared to imitate shooting motions and move his arms, drawing criticism from Trump, who accused the veteran basketball star of showing disrespect toward the United States.

Trump posted footage of the incident on Truth Social, accompanied by a sharply worded condemnation of James’ behavior.

“While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country,” Trump wrote.

The president went on to demand an apology, invoking the sacrifices of American servicemen and women who gave their lives defending the nation.

“LeBron James should apologize to all of ​those Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the ​American Flag, and all that our Country stands for!” Trump declared.

As of Thursday afternoon, neither James nor the Philadelphia 76ers had publicly responded to the president’s criticism.

The confrontation marks another chapter in Trump’s longstanding disputes with prominent professional athletes over their conduct during the national anthem, an issue he has repeatedly framed as a matter of patriotism and respect for the American flag.

Trump was among the most outspoken critics of former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, whose decision to kneel during the anthem in protest of racial injustice sparked a nationwide controversy over patriotism, free speech, and the responsibilities of professional athletes.

During his first administration, Trump also canceled a planned White House celebration honoring the Philadelphia Eagles following their 2018 Super Bowl victory. The decision came amid disagreements over anthem protests and whether players should be expected to stand during the performance.

The president has consistently maintained that professional athletes representing American sports organizations should demonstrate respect for the national anthem and the flag, particularly in recognition of military personnel who have sacrificed their lives for the country.

James’ actions come amid renewed controversy surrounding anthem observances in professional basketball.

The Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream of the WNBA recently faced criticism after players from both teams left the court before the national anthem during the first three games of the league’s Finals.

The teams rejected suggestions that their departures represented a new form of political protest, explaining that leaving the court before the anthem had long been part of their established pregame routines.

“We’ve been doing that,” Valkyries guard Veronica Burton told reporters before Game 2. “That’s just our pregame routine. We’ve been doing that since last year.”

The controversy has also highlighted differences between professional sports leagues in their policies governing player conduct during the national anthem.

The WNBA does not require its players to remain standing for the anthem, allowing teams greater flexibility in their pregame routines.

The NBA, by contrast, has a longstanding rule requiring players, coaches, and trainers to stand in a dignified posture during the national anthem.

The NFL similarly requires players and team personnel who are present on the sideline to stand during the anthem, although individuals who prefer not to participate may remain in the locker room.

Additional reporting Thursday identified the movements as resembling a golf swing followed by a basketball jump shot. James was standing with his Philadelphia teammates, most of whom remained motionless as the anthem played.

The controversy overshadowed an otherwise successful beginning to James’ Philadelphia career. The 41-year-old, now entering his record 24th NBA season, contributed 14 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists as the 76ers defeated the Knicks 106-100 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.

James joined Philadelphia this summer after eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. His move to the 76ers has attracted considerable attention as he continues one of the longest and most accomplished careers in NBA history.

The dispute also revives the longstanding personal and political tensions between Trump and James, who has frequently criticized the president and supported Democratic candidates. James has used his public platform to speak about racial inequality, voting rights, and other political issues.

Germany has summoned an Iranian diplomatic representative following a court case involving an alleged Iranian-backed plot against prominent Jewish figures, including Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, and Volker Beck, a former German parliamentarian and leading Jewish communal official.

The diplomatic confrontation follows the conviction and sentencing of two men connected to the alleged operation, which German authorities have linked to Iranian intelligence activity. The case has renewed concerns about Tehran’s use of operatives and criminal intermediaries to intimidate or attack Jewish and Israeli targets on European soil.

Schuster, who heads Germany’s principal Jewish representative organization, and Beck, president of the German-Israeli Society, were among the individuals identified in reporting about the alleged plot.

The case is particularly significant because of the positions held by the intended targets. Schuster has been one of Germany’s most prominent voices against antisemitism, while Beck has been outspoken in his support for Israel and his criticism of the Iranian government.

On October 15, the Higher Regional Court in Hamburg sentenced the principal defendant, a 54-year-old Danish national identified as Ali S., to eight years and six months in prison for his role in preparing assassination and arson attacks.

His accomplice, 43-year-old Afghan national Tawab M., received a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence.

According to German prosecutors, Ali S. received instructions in early 2025 from operatives associated with the Quds Force, the foreign operations branch of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The assignment involved gathering intelligence on Schuster and Beck, monitoring their movements and identifying opportunities to carry out attacks.

Investigators also determined that the operation included surveillance of Jewish-owned grocery businesses in Berlin, with preparations for a possible arson attack against a kosher establishment.

The principal defendant subsequently recruited Tawab M., who was accused of helping arrange an attacker and obtain a weapon for an assault on Beck.

The two men were arrested in Denmark in 2025 and subsequently extradited to Germany to face prosecution.

In announcing its verdict, the Hamburg court said the evidence established that the principal defendant had been recruited by Iranian intelligence and incorporated into an operation intended to carry out state-sponsored terrorism in Germany.

Presiding Judge Petra Wende-Spors declared that Iran was attempting to export terrorism to Germany, conduct the court considered unacceptable.

The German Foreign Ministry responded on Monday, October 19, by summoning Iranian Ambassador Majid Nili Ahmadabadi to protest Tehran’s involvement in the operation.

In a public statement, the ministry said, “We will not tolerate attacks on Jewish life and those who defend it—anywhere, least of all in Germany.”

The diplomatic protest prompted a response from Tehran, which summoned Germany’s ambassador to Iran, Axel Wilhelm Dittmann, and rejected the allegations against the Iranian government as baseless.

Schuster welcomed the court’s verdict but warned that the case reflected a much broader danger.

“With the now proven commissioning of these two spies, the regime in Tehran has once again shown its true face. The masterminds are in Iran, and the danger they pose to our open society remains great as long as the mullahs’ regime exists,” Schuster said.

He described the case as “the tip of the iceberg.”

Beck, who was placed under heightened police protection after German security authorities learned of the plot, called for a stronger diplomatic response, including the expulsion of Iran’s ambassador and most of its diplomatic personnel.

According to Beck, he spent six weeks under the highest level of personal protection, during which even routine activities outside his home required police security.

The former Green Party lawmaker said Germany should leave only a minimal Iranian diplomatic presence sufficient to maintain the embassy building.

The convictions have intensified scrutiny of Iranian intelligence operations in Europe, particularly those directed against Jewish communities and individuals publicly associated with Israel.

German officials have repeatedly warned about threats to Jewish institutions, and the Hamburg proceedings provided a documented example of an operation that investigators say moved beyond threats to concrete preparations for violence.

The two defendants have the right to appeal their convictions. Further details of the court’s findings are expected to become available when the complete written judgment is released.

The case has also renewed calls among Jewish communal leaders for stronger measures against Iranian intelligence activity, as Germany confronts the prospect of foreign-directed attacks against Jewish individuals and institutions within its borders.

Karoline Leavitt has offered a blunt assessment of Katie Zacharia’s brief and troubled tenure as White House press secretary, declaring that the highly demanding position simply was not suited for her successor, who lasted just five days before leaving the Trump administration.

Speaking to Fox News, Leavitt addressed Zacharia’s rapid departure and acknowledged that even a carefully selected candidate can struggle when confronted with the pressures of representing President Donald Trump before the national media.

Leavitt explained that the position “takes a lot of preparation and sometimes you don’t know how someone will perform until they go out there.”

“We wish Katie the best. The job obviously was not for her, but we wish her and her family well,” she added.

Zacharia’s departure followed a turbulent introduction to the White House briefing room, where she appeared visibly uncomfortable and nervous during her first appearance before reporters. Her performance quickly attracted widespread attention, and her tenure ended before she had completed a full week in the position.

Since returning to her home in California, Zacharia has largely avoided public discussion of her experience in Washington. She has been photographed exercising outdoors and walking through Los Angeles, including an appearance this week in which she wore a Make America Great Again hat.

Leavitt’s comments, however, have angered people close to Zacharia, who believe the previous press secretary should refrain from publicly criticizing the woman selected to replace her.

“It’s unfair for the former press secretary to continue brutalizing President Trump’s hand-picked successor,” a source familiar with Zacharia’s thinking told the New York Post.

The source emphasized that Zacharia has deliberately avoided interviews and opportunities to defend herself publicly because she does not want her brief tenure to distract from the administration’s work.

“Katie has been adamant about not taking any interviews with friendly or hostile press, has declined profile pieces and would like for the coverage to focus on President Trump’s hard work,” the source continued. “She will not go on a self-promotion tour because it does not benefit the president. And she remains ruthlessly loyal while facing unprecedented attacks against her.”

Some administration officials have privately acknowledged that Zacharia was placed in an unusually difficult position, having been given almost no time to familiarize herself with the responsibilities of one of Washington’s most demanding communications jobs.

Her introduction to the administration began when she traveled from California to meet with Trump on the Friday before her appointment. Following the interview, she returned home to prepare for the move and then flew back to Washington over the weekend.

Monday was largely consumed by the administrative requirements associated with entering federal government service, including paperwork, background information, and other onboarding procedures.

By Tuesday morning, essentially her first full working day, Zacharia was already standing behind the White House podium, facing reporters who regularly challenge administration officials on domestic policy, international developments, and the president’s latest statements.

The rushed transition has become a central argument among Zacharia’s defenders, who maintain that she was never afforded a reasonable opportunity to prepare for the role.

Despite the circumstances surrounding her departure, Zacharia has continued to express strong support for Trump and his administration.

“I have always been deeply thankful for the opportunity to support President Trump and his agenda in the media in the years before he asked me to serve as Press Secretary,” Zacharia told the New York Post.

“There is no other president in history like him. He has single-handedly saved America with his effective policies, and no one has been more relentlessly attacked by the media than President Trump.”

She continued: “He deserves fair coverage of the real wins he is delivering for Americans — historic border security, massive new investments in manufacturing and energy, and the women’s health initiative he and the First Lady just launched. I continue to fully support the incredible work he is doing for the American people and for America’s interests around the world.”

The White House is now searching for another press secretary, although administration officials have indicated that an appointment is unlikely before the November midterm elections.

“I wouldn’t expect anything new pre-midterms,” a source familiar with the administration’s plans told the Post.

Leavitt confirmed that she has been involved in discussions about finding a suitable replacement and has offered to assist Trump in identifying someone capable of handling the intense demands of the position.

She described the White House press secretary role as “one of the hardest jobs in politics,” pointing to the extensive preparation, political knowledge, and personal resilience required to succeed.

“I’ve offered my help to the president to help him select someone who can serve him and the country well,” Leavitt told Fox News.

Although she acknowledged participating in the selection process, Leavitt declined to identify any potential candidates or disclose the names being discussed within Trump’s circle.

“I’ll keep my private counsel to the president private, but I do obviously talk to him about what the job entails, and he knows it very well. Nobody understands the press better than Donald Trump. He knows he needs someone who is tough, who is smart, who understands his policies, who is loyal, and who can go out there and put up a fight,” Leavitt said.

“There’s plenty of people who want the job… It’s just up to the president to make that decision.”

Leavitt herself earned considerable praise from Trump supporters for her aggressive defense of the administration and her ability to respond forcefully to hostile questioning during White House briefings.

She stepped down from the position in August after returning from maternity leave, explaining that she wanted to devote more time to her family, including her two young children.

Her departure from the White House did not mark an end to her involvement in Trump’s political operation. She continues to work as a spokesperson for the president’s political organization and remains an influential voice within his circle of advisers.

On Wednesday, Leavitt appeared in Manchester, New Hampshire, at an event associated with the Make Heaven Crowded Tour, where she discussed the preparation that went into her appearances before the White House press corps.

Reflecting on her earliest days in the position, she explained that she devoted considerable time to studying administration policies and consulting senior officials before appearing before reporters.

“I prepared like heck for that first briefing especially,” Leavitt said. “I poured myself into my preparation. I read. I studied. I talked to every cabinet member. I talked to the president.”

Leavitt has previously spoken about the difficult atmosphere inside the White House briefing room, where exchanges between reporters and administration officials can become heated.

During an interview last year with Miranda Devine on the Pod Force One podcast, Leavitt said maintaining professionalism and providing accurate information were essential even when reporters challenged the administration aggressively.

“The press briefing room can be combative, and sometimes it is behind the scenes as well, but I tell our team that we need to be professional and get them facts, and nobody does that better than President Trump,” she said.

Zacharia’s difficulties extended beyond her performance at the podium. Her first White House briefing lasted approximately 14 minutes, during which she answered only three questions, and she subsequently faced questions about her professional credentials.

Although Zacharia graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law, she acknowledged that she had failed the California bar examination and was not licensed to practice law in the United States. The disclosure attracted scrutiny because she had previously been described as an attorney, including in Trump’s announcement of her appointment.

Zacharia defended her professional background, explaining that she had pursued a different career path and had worked in China. She maintained that she had not presented herself as a licensed practicing attorney when providing legal commentary.

The controversy added to concerns within the administration about whether she could effectively handle the relentless scrutiny associated with the position.

Trump himself publicly suggested that Zacharia reconsider remaining in the job, while also expressing sympathy over what he considered harsh treatment by the press.

Before her brief White House tenure, Zacharia had worked as a communications adviser for Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind Truth Social. She had also served for several weeks in a public affairs position at the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year.

Despite the criticism and her abrupt departure, Zacharia has insisted that accepting the White House appointment was the right decision.

“I’m proud I said yes, stood firm in what I believe, and kept supporting the president even when the circumstances weren’t ideal for me — showing my children what courage looks like in the face of criticism,” she told the California Post.

The search for her replacement continues, with Trump expected to make the final decision after consulting advisers about who can best represent his administration before the White House press corps.