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Negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire and the release of hostages between Israel and Hamas in Gaza are reportedly making headway, two Egyptian security sources told Reuters.

The Egyptian officials said that talks currently taking place in Cairo appear to be moving toward a “significant breakthrough.”

According to the officials, while a broad agreement has been reached on the framework for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, several critical issues remain unresolved, particularly regarding what will happen to Hamas’ arsenal.

Israeli sources, however, disputed the claims, telling Kan 11 News that “there is no real progress at this time.”

At the same time, Egypt’s Al Qahera News TV, which is tied to the government, reported that General Hassan Mahmoud Rashad, Egypt’s top intelligence official, is slated to meet with an Israeli delegation headed by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.

On Shabbos, Asharq Al-Awsat revealed that Egypt and Qatar have put forward a new initiative proposing a six-month truce in Gaza, the release of all hostages being held, and the freeing of convicted terrorists.

Previously, Hamas informed AFP that the group is ready to agree to a deal that would see the release of all 59 remaining hostages at once, along with a five-year ceasefire agreement with Israel.

Just last week, Hamas turned down an Israeli offer that demanded the terror group disarm in exchange for a six-week ceasefire.

{Matzav.com Israel}

During a meeting between Israeli PM Binyamin Netanyahu and this year’s Yom Ha’atzmaut torch-lighters on Monday, Sara Netanyahu was heard whispering that fewer than 24 hostages in Gaza remain alive, a video released by the Prime Minister’s Office shows. “There are up to 24 alive, up to 24 alive,” the prime minister said while referencing the 59 hostages believed to still be in captivity. Sitting beside him, Sara Netanyahu was heard quietly whispering, “less,” prompting the prime minister to add, “I say up to, and the rest of course unfortunately are not alive, and we will return them.” Until now, the government has avoided publicly specifying how many hostages are thought to still be alive. Sara Netanyahu’s comment offers a rare, though unofficial, glimpse into the grim reality facing ongoing negotiations. KAN News reported that Sara Netanyahu’s words refer to partial information “considered confidential and conveyed in sensitive forums.” Despite Sara Netanyahu implying that fewer than 24 hostages are alive, a member of Israel’s hostage team told Times of Israel that “the number of living hostages (24) that the prime minister mentioned in the meeting with the torchbearers is indeed the correct official number.” Israel believes that alongside the hostages still alive, the bodies of at least 35 others are being held in Gaza. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Speaking at the JNS International Policy Summit on Monday at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Jerusalem, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer discussed the ongoing threats to Israel’s security and prospects for future peace.

During his remarks, Dermer proclaimed, “In 12 months, the war on seven fronts will be over, and Israel will have won. I think you will see many peace agreements that either have been forged or will be forged in the coming years, but the key to that is victory. In the Middle East, when you win, when you’re strong, that’s what attracts others.”

Dermer further elaborated at the event, emphasizing, “The reason I believed in the ceasefire in Lebanon is that we maintained freedom of action in Lebanon. We will ensure that Hezbollah does not rebuild its strength.”

He asserted that Hezbollah has remained weakened since the death of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and similarly pointed out that Iran has been unable to fully recover after the loss of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also addressed the gathering. Answering a reporter’s question, Huckabee remarked, “Hamas is stealing aid to Gaza; that is the tragedy of what is happening in Gaza. I don’t blame Israel; I blame Hamas.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Newly uncovered Hamas documents found in Gaza reveal a devastating miscalculation by Israeli leadership: the terror group saw the 2021 Operation Guardian of the Walls not as a setback, but as a resounding victory — a misreading that emboldened Hamas to launch the brutal October 7 attacks more than two years later, according to a Channel 12 report. At the time, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu heralded the 11-day operation as an “extraordinary success,” vowing that Hamas had been severely weakened and that Israel’s deterrence had been restored. But internal letters exchanged between Hamas’s then-Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar and the group’s leader Ismail Haniyeh tell a different story — one of the terror group’s triumph, long-term deception, and preparation for a far deadlier assault. The letters show that following the conflict, Sinwar advocated for a strategy of proposing a so-called “hudna,” or long-term ceasefire, not as a path to peace, but as a calculated ploy to isolate Israel internationally and sow division within its own society. “It is likely that this move, which would be acceptable to most countries in the world, would not be acceptable to the occupation [Israel] and would therefore increase their isolation and disconnection from them,” Sinwar wrote. “If the occupation decides to go in this direction, it would tear it apart from within and lead to internal division and civil war.” Haniyeh, in response, congratulated Sinwar on what he called a “clear victory,” celebrating the global acclaim for Hamas’s military wing and its then-chief of staff, Muhammad Deif, who has since been killed by Israel. “Millions cheer to the dear chief of staff of the resistance… who won a divine and glorious victory,” Haniyeh wrote. The correspondence reveals that while Hamas fired over 4,000 rockets and mortars at Israel in May 2021 — killing a dozen civilians and one soldier — it saw its ability to withstand Israel’s military response and maintain its tunnel networks as proof of its growing strength. Despite Israel’s claims at the time that it had crippled Hamas’s underground “metro” system, senior Hamas officials later told Hezbollah and Iranian leaders in Beirut that the damage was superficial and quickly repairable. “‘The ‘metro’ was not damaged at all, and only the offensive tunnel network was slightly damaged and will be repaired soon,” Hamas officials reportedly assured Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and IRGC Quds Force Commander Esmail Qaani during a July 2021 meeting. The revelations come as a painful reminder that from the end of Operation Guardian of the Walls until October 7, Hamas meticulously conducted a campaign of deception, leading Israeli intelligence to believe it was not preparing for a major war. The tragic result was laid bare on October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists stormed across the Gaza border, massacring around 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza. Both Sinwar and Haniyeh, central architects of the deception, have since been killed by Israeli forces. But the newly revealed documents serve as a stark warning: Hamas doesn’t want peace with Israel — at best, it is only waiting for the deadliest moment to strike. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Colonel Richard Kemp, who once led British forces in Afghanistan, gave an interview to Arutz Sheva-Israel National News while attending the JNS International Policy Summit at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Jerusalem.

When asked about the current status of Israel’s campaign against Hamas, Colonel Kemp said, “I think Hamas is now feeling a significant amount of the weight of the IDF on it, and the only reason it’s not feeling even more is because the IDF has to be cautious about the hostages. But at the same time, they’re making mincemeat of Hamas.”

He continued by emphasizing the heavy toll inflicted on Hamas leadership and infrastructure: “Most of Hamas’s most senior leadership has been destroyed, huge numbers of their terrorists have been destroyed, a lot of their equipment, so I think they’re very much on the back foot, and I would hope that Hamas will be completely eliminated as a fighting organization within perhaps a few weeks,” Kemp stated.

Speaking about the path toward what Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has termed a “total victory,” Kemp explained, “Well, a total victory goes even beyond dealing with the terrorists and with their weapons and with their tunnels. Of course, you can do all of that. It takes a lot of time, dealing with 400 miles of tunnels underneath Gaza is a long-term project. But Hamas can be certainly neutralized by sheer military force and then prevented from rising again by a long-term security presence in Gaza, and I think what I would define as total victory in Gaza is retrieving the hostages, all of the hostages. I’m not saying that’s going to be 100% possible, but every effort needs to be made to do that.”

Kemp elaborated on what achieving complete success entails: “Secondly,” he said, “is to eliminate Hamas as a terrorist entity that’s capable of threatening Israel. And thirdly, preventing anything like Hamas rising again in Gaza.”

When questioned about whether Israel should let international condemnation influence its military campaign, Kemp was clear: “Israel doesn’t really have to do anything differently in order to do what the world wants it to do, which is to fight within the laws of war. Israel’s been doing that ever since the beginning and will continue to do so…There’s nothing but lies, distortions, which have been going on not just since the war began, but long before the war began against Israel. And yes, of course, Israel has to try and do what it can, and Israel’s friends have to try and do what they can to counter the lies.”

He added that while criticism cannot be dismissed altogether due to practical reasons, Israel must continue managing its international relations: “And the world can’t be just ignored because Israel depends on the world for numerous things, including, in some cases, weaponry, including particularly from the US and from Germany, from Italy, from the UK to an extent. So Israel has to maintain the relationships, not to mention, of course, Israel’s dependence on international trade. So yes, Israel has to do what it can to try and influence political leaders around the world, and also, of course, has to fight back against the legal warfare that’s taking place with the disgraceful efforts by the International Criminal Court to arrest the Prime Minister and the former Defense Minister, and the even more disgraceful attempts by the International Court of Justice to brand Israel as a genocidal state.”

In a related discussion, Kemp also addressed the ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran. “I think it’s a reasonable position for the President of the US to take, to try negotiation first before going into what is going to be a very violent attack, if it happens, on Iran’s nuclear capabilities. So I think it’s reasonable to try that. I don’t think it’s likely to work,” he remarked.

He concluded with a grim assessment of any potential diplomatic resolutions: “And even if you do have some deal with Iran, it’s not worth the paper it’s printed on. You know, there is no negotiating with jihadists. So ultimately, I think whatever happens on the diplomatic front, I think there’s going to have to be a military attack against the Iranian nuclear program,” Kemp warned.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Speaking with Arutz Sheva during the JNS Conference at Yerushalayim’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Malcolm Hoenlein, Vice Chair and CEO Emeritus of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, sounded serious alarms about the rise of foreign-backed antisemitism and anti-Israel hostility in the United States. He also urged the international community to take immediate steps to confront the threat of Iran’s advancing nuclear program.

Hoenlein described how substantial financial contributions from foreign nations—including Qatar, China, Saudi Arabia, and Germany—have steadily infiltrated the American educational system over the past several decades. He pointed out that the pace of this funding has dramatically increased during the Biden administration.

“We are discovering immense amounts of money that have been flowing over the years, over forty years into the universities, even into K to 12, in public schools across the country, where they are adopting curricula that are hostile to Jews, hostile to Israel, where children are taken out of kindergartens to demonstrate against Israel,” he said.

He explained that just during the Biden presidency, another $25 billion in foreign donations has poured into American universities—more than twice the amount documented over the prior forty years combined. Hoenlein singled out Qatar as a major player but also stressed Germany and China’s significant roles.

Addressing China’s motives, Hoenlein clarified that their support has nothing to do with genuine concern for Palestinians. “Because it weakens America,” he explained. “They don’t demonstrate for the people who are dying in Sudan. They don’t care about Christians being persecuted in Nigeria. They don’t care about the Uyghurs. Only about the Jews.”

He cautioned that much of the turmoil and protests erupting on college campuses across the country are not spontaneous uprisings, but rather orchestrated efforts funded by foreign powers to destabilize American society. “Why do they attack statues of Lincoln? Because it’s to undermine the fundamental commitment of American society.”

Commenting on the Qatar-Gate scandal making headlines in Israel, Hoenlein said it is not particularly significant to the Jewish diaspora but reiterated that Qatar’s attempts to buy influence have been widespread and longstanding. “The Qataris have been trying to buy people all throughout the years, and in many cases, they succeed. I hope that’s not the case here.”

On the topic of Iran, Hoenlein expressed grave concern about Tehran’s accelerating nuclear ambitions and criticized the Biden administration’s inconsistent messaging. He urged for strong leadership similar to what was shown by President Trump.

“I think it’s too early to judge what President Trump really wants to do,” Hoenlein said. “But he also said that he would lead the charge. And I think he understands the threat that Iran represents.”

Hoenlein pointed out that internal dissatisfaction within Iran—such as spiraling inflation, massive youth unemployment, and growing opposition to the regime—presents a historic opportunity to encourage regime change without requiring American boots on the ground. “Working with the Iranian people, we could undermine this government. It wouldn’t even involve American troops.”

Still, he warned that Iran’s nuclear development today has far surpassed the conditions that existed during the 2015 JCPOA agreement. “They are now at [centrifuge] IR-6s and IR-7s. They can replace enriched uranium that is taken away. They’ve developed ballistic missiles. They’ve developed weaponization. This is a different game—and we have to stop Iran now.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

The internal security division of the Hamas terrorist group claimed it had discovered Israeli spy devices that had been hidden inside a camp for displaced people in southern Gaza.

An official from the group’s internal security force, called “Al-Hares” (The Guardian), alleged that Israeli intelligence agents camouflaged the surveillance equipment to make it appear like ordinary items commonly found in the area.

A photo released alongside the announcement showed a surveillance device made to look like a large rock. According to the officer, Israeli intelligence likely used drones to deploy the equipment into the area.

The internal security apparatus urged residents of Gaza to be on high alert for any strange objects near their tents and homes, advising them to immediately report anything that appears suspicious.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara was forced to reach a compromise with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir after realizing that her claims that it is “illegal” for him to serve as minister will not be accepted by the Supreme Court, Ynet reported on Tuesday. When Ben-Gvir announced in March that his Otzma Yehudit party is returning to the government following the resumption of the war in Gaza, Baharav-Miara lost no time in announcing that it is “illegal” for him to do so. Following her announcement, left-wing organizations filed petitions to the Supreme Court against his return to the government. According to the report, Baharav-Miara, understanding that the Supreme Court would not agree to remove Ben-Gvir from his position, agreed to represent Ben-Gvir against the petitions at the Supreme Court in exchange for a limited reduction of his authority in his role. Ben-Gvir will maintain his authority to dictate policy for the police and approve or reject appointments, and will lose some insignificant powers, such as his authority to interview junior officers and investigators. Ben-Gvir’s associates said: “The Attorney General and the Supreme Court are acting against Ben-Gvir in a way that they have not acted against any other minister.” Previously, Baharav-Miara tried to fabricate a criminal case against Ben-Gvir and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar launched a secret probe against his office. Additionally, State Attorney Amit Aisman asked Baharav-Miara to launch a criminal investigation against Ben-Gvir for inciting violence against the residents of Gaza. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

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The IDF and Shin Bet eliminated three senior terrorists in the Gaza Strip over the past week, the IDF spokesperson revealed on Tuesday. One of the terrorists was Sa’id Abu Hasnan, a Nukhba terrorist who led the October 7 massacre in the Kissufim kibbutz in the Gaza border area. The second eliminated terrorist was Ali Naddal Husni Sarfiti, a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine terror organization in the Gaza Strip. Sarfiti is a former security prisoner who served time in Israel from 2002 to 2015 for terror activities, including planning a suicide bombing attack in Israel. In recent years, he returned to terror activities, including transferring millions of shekels to terrorists in Yehudah and Shomron to establish terror infrastructure and carry out terror attacks. The third eliminated terrorist was Mustafa Al-Mutawwak, an operations officer in Hamas’s Jabaliya Brigade who directed terror attacks against IDF soldiers in the Gaza Strip. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

The cause of Spain and Portugal’s widespread blackouts remained a mystery on Tuesday, with some isolated disruption remaining after power was largely restored to both countries. One of Europe’s most severe blackouts grounded flights, paralyzed metro systems, disrupted mobile communications and shut down ATMs across the Iberian Peninsula on Monday. By 7 a.m. on Tuesday more than 99% of energy demand in Spain had been restored, the country’s electricity operator Red Eléctrica said. Portuguese grid operator REN said all 89 power substations were back online and power had been restored to all 6.4 million customers. As life began to return to normal — with schools and offices reopening, traffic easing and public transport restarting — the authorities in Spain have yet to provide further explanations for what caused one of the most serious blackouts to ever take place in Europe. The Southern European nation of 49 million people lost 15 gigawatts — equivalent to 60% of its national demand — in just five seconds. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said that the government’s priorities were twofold: restoring Spain’s electrical system and finding the causes of the blackout so that a similar event “never takes place again.” Cause remains a mystery Such widespread electric failure has little precedent on the Iberian Peninsula or in Europe. Eduardo Prieto, director of services for system operations at Spain’s electricity operator, noted two steep, back-to-back “disconnection events” before Monday’s blackout. Speaking at a new conference on Tuesday, he said that more investigation was needed to understand why they took place. Spain’s meteorological agency, AEMET, said that it hadn’t detected any “unusual meteorological or atmospheric phenomena” on Monday, and no sudden temperature fluctuations were recorded at their weather stations. Portugal’s National Cybersecurity Center on Monday dismissed speculation about foul play, saying that there was no sign that the outage resulted from a cyberattack. European Council President António Costa also said that there were “no indications of any cyberattack,” while Teresa Ribera, an executive vice president of the European Commission, also ruled out sabotage. Nonetheless, the outage “is one of the most serious episodes recorded in Europe in recent times,” she said. Madrid Open resumes At Spain’s largest train stations, droves of travelers waited Tuesday morning to board trains, or to rebook tickets for journeys that were canceled or disrupted. At Madrid’s Atocha station, hundreds of people stood near screens waiting for updates. Many had spent the night at the station, wrapped in blankets provided by the Red Cross. Similar scenes played out at Barcelona’s Sants station. The Madrid Open tennis tournament resumed after the blackout caused 22 matches to be postponed on Monday. A packed schedule Tuesday included second-ranked Iga Swiatek advancing to the quarterfinals. Mainline trains still disrupted By 11 a.m. Tuesday, service on Madrid’s cubway system was fully restored. In Barcelona, the system was operating normally, but commuter trains were suspended because of “electrical instability,” the company that runs the service, Rodalies Catalunya, said on X. In some parts of the country, commuter and mid-distance services were still suspended or running at reduced capacity. Emergency workers in Spain said they had rescued around 35,000 passengers on Monday stranded along railways and underground. The blackout was especially disruptive on transit systems, turning sports centers, train stations and airports into makeshift overnight refuges. Rubén Carión was stranded on a commuter train […]

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The IDF is preparing to significantly expand the military operation in the Gaza Strip, including a large-scale mobilization of reserve brigades. The decision was made by the government following demands by senior cabinet ministers and due to the lack of progress in hostage deal negotiations. Ministers have been pushing for the government’s immediate approval of an expanded military operation in Gaza, but the decision was delayed by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz in order to first exhaust diplomatic efforts for a hostage release deal. An Israeli political source denied a report by Reuters on Monday evening quoting Egyptian officials as saying that there was “significant progress” in the talks currently taking place in Cairo. An Israeli political source said on Monday that Israel had rejected an Egyptian proposal for a five-year ceasefire with Hamas in exchange for the release of all the hostages. Hamas refuses to consider any suggestion of the terror group laying down its arms as a condition for a deal. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

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Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, who refused to step down after the government unanimously voted to fire him, announced on Monday evening that he will resign from his position on June 15. Bar’s refusal to heed the democratically elected government, supported by the Supreme Court and Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Biara [despite a conflict of interest due to personal ties with him], was a shocking and unprecedented move, especially as the head of the agency that bore the most responsiblity for the failure to prevent the October 7 massacre. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi responded to the announcement by stating: “Ronen Bar…the government fired you on April 10. Your attempt to hold onto your position is a crime against state security! You’ve done enough damage. Enough!” Likud MK Tally Gotliv responded: “Mr. Bar, who’s asking you when you’ll resign? Who’s asking you?” National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir wrote: “ברוך שפטרנו.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

The Trump administration on Monday announced federal officials are launching investigations into Harvard University and the Harvard Law Review, saying authorities have received reports of race-based discrimination “permeating the operations” of the journal. The investigations come as Harvard fights a freeze on $2.2 billion in federal grants the Trump administration imposed after the university refused to comply with demands to limit activism on campus. A letter sent to the university earlier this month called for the institution to clarify its campus speech policies that limit the time, place and manner of protests and other activities. It also demanded academic departments at Harvard that “fuel antisemitic harassment” be reviewed and changed to address bias and improve viewpoint diversity. Monday marked the first time both sides met in court over the funding fight. The investigations by the U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services were announced separately on Monday, with authorities saying they were investigating policies and practices involving the journal’s membership and article selection that they argue may violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. According to the federal government, the editor of the Harvard Law Review reportedly wrote that it was “concerning” that the majority of the people who had wanted to reply to an article about police reform “are white men.” A separate editor allegedly suggested “that a piece should be subject to expedited review because the author was a minority.” “Harvard Law Review’s article selection process appears to pick winners and losers on the basis of race, employing a spoils system in which the race of the legal scholar is as, if not more, important than the merit of the submission,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor in a statement. “Title VI’s demands are clear: recipients of federal financial assistance may not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin. No institution — no matter its pedigree, prestige, or wealth — is above the law.” A spokesperson for Harvard Law said in a statement that a similar claim was dismissed in 2018 by a federal court. “Harvard Law School is committed to ensuring that the programs and activities it oversees are in compliance with all applicable laws and to investigating any credibly alleged violations,” said Jeff Neal. “The Harvard Law Review is a student-run organization that is legally independent from the law school.” Harvard is among multiple universities across the country where pro-Palestinian protests erupted on campus amid the war in Gaza last year. Republican officials have since heavily scrutinized those universities, and several Ivy League presidents testified before Congress to discuss antisemitism allegations. The Cambridge, Massachusetts, institution was the fifth Ivy League school targeted in a pressure campaign by the administration, which has also paused federal funding for the University of Pennsylvania, Brown, and Princeton universities seeking to force compliance with its agenda. (AP)

A major development has taken place at Yeshivas Brisk on Rechov Press in Yerushalayim, led by the rosh yeshiva, Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Soloveitchik. Over the past year, a new building has been purchased directly across from the yeshiva’s historic main building.

For many years, Brisk has flourished, attracting close to two thousand talmidim — bochurim and yungeleit — from across the global Torah world. The tremendous growth, however, resulted in severe overcrowding, forcing many talmidim to learn in batei medrash throughout the neighborhood. Some of these facilities were rented by the yeshiva itself, while others became informal hubs packed with Brisk talmidim.

It has become increasingly rare for any talmid with less than two years of seniority at Brisk to secure a seat in the main beis medrash.

Now, ahead of the summer zeman, the newly acquired building — purchased through the generous support of a dedicated benefactor — is being renovated and prepared to open. The new building will offer seating for 500 talmidim, significantly easing the pressure on the existing facilities.

In addition to the new beis medrash space, the building will include a special shiur room for Rav Baruch Soloveitchik, the fifth son of the rosh yeshiva, who will soon begin delivering regular shiurim. The building will also house offices and private dormitory accommodations for the rosh yeshiva.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Mark Carney has been elected as Canada’s new prime minister, according to projections from CBC News and CTV News, securing a strong mandate to confront President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariffs and trade agenda. The Liberal leader earned the trust of Canadians who endorsed his vision for the country.

With this victory, Carney has delivered a fourth consecutive Liberal government — a rare accomplishment in Canadian political history — successfully fending off a strong challenge from Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. The result was interpreted as a rejection of the Trump-style populism that Liberals accused Poilievre of embracing.

After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stepped down, Carney shifted the Liberal Party towards the political center and emphasized his extensive financial credentials. His background includes leadership roles at two major G7 central banks, over a decade at Goldman Sachs, and top positions at Brookfield Asset Management and Bloomberg.

Throughout the campaign, Carney highlighted his credentials as an experienced “crisis manager,” positioning himself as someone capable of shielding Canada’s economy and cultural values from the impact of Trump’s tariffs and expansionist rhetoric. The Liberals skillfully tapped into voters’ fears about economic instability and rising living costs.

During his campaign stops, Carney pledged that he would “Trump-proof” Canada and work to unify a nation that had seen a surge in national pride after Trump voiced aspirations to annex it as the 51st American state.

Carney managed to defeat Pierre Poilievre, a seasoned Conservative politician who had spent two decades in the House of Commons. Despite Poilievre’s long tenure, Carney’s message resonated more strongly with voters.

Analysts described the Liberal Party’s political comeback as extraordinary. After nearly two years trailing badly in the polls, the combination of Trudeau’s exit, Carney’s leadership, and President Trump’s renewed influence sparked a dramatic Liberal resurgence.

Relations between the U.S. and Canada have become increasingly strained, with Washington imposing multiple tariffs, including a 25 percent levy on Canadian goods not meeting the standards of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, as well as a 25 percent duty on certain cars and auto parts.

Carney has pledged that his top focus upon taking office will be negotiating with Trump, though he has made it clear that “Canada’s traditional relationship with the U.S. is ‘over.’” His plans include pursuing fresh alliances on trade and security, expanding the country’s automotive supply network, and strengthening Canada’s military presence, especially in the Arctic region.

Carney has been upfront with Canadians about the challenges ahead. “There is no silver bullet. There is no quick fix,” he remarked after the announcement of auto tariffs. “But I have every confidence in our country because I understand what President Trump does not. That we love Canada with every fibre of our being.”

{Matzav.com}

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal Party won Canada’s federal election on Monday, capping a stunning turnaround in fortunes fueled by U.S. President Donald Trump’s annexation threats and trade war. After polls closed, the Liberals were projected to win more of Parliament’s 343 seats than the Conservative Party, though it wasn’t immediately clear if they would win an outright majority that would allow them to pass legislation without needing help. The Liberals looked headed for a crushing defeat until the American president started attacking Canada’s economy and threatening its sovereignty, suggesting it should become the 51st state. Trump’s actions infuriated Canadians and stoked a surge in nationalism that helped the Liberals flip the election narrative and win a fourth-straight term in power. “We were dead and buried in December. Now we are going to form a government,” David Lametti, a former Liberal Justice Minister, told CTV. “We have turned this around thanks to Mark,” he said. The Conservative Party’s leader, Pierre Poilievre, hoped to make the election a referendum on former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose popularity declined toward the end of his decade in power as food and housing prices rose. But Trump attacked, Trudeau resigned and Carney, a two-time central banker, became the Liberal Party’s leader and prime minister. Trump was even trolling Canada on election day, suggesting on social media that he was in fact on the ballot and repeating that Canada should become the 51st state — an assertion that Canadians find deeply insulting. He also erroneously claimed that the U.S. subsidizes Canada, writing, “It makes no sense unless Canada is a State!” Poilievre, who has been criticized for not taking a firmer stance against Trump, responded with a post of his own. “President Trump, stay out of our election. The only people who will decide the future of Canada are Canadians at the ballot box,” he posted hours before polls closed. Trump’s truculence has infuriated many Canadians, leading many to cancel U.S. vacations, refuse to buy American goods and possibly even vote early. A record 7.3 million Canadians cast ballots before election day. “The Americans want to break us so they can own us,” Carney said in the runup to the election. “Those aren’t just words. That’s what’s at risk.” Election day came as the country grappled with the fallout from a deadly weekend attack at a Vancouver street fair that led to the suspension of campaigning for several hours. Police ruled out terrorism and said the suspect is a local man with a history of mental health issues. Poilievre implored voters to “Get out to vote — for a change” as he and his wife cast their ballots Monday in their Ottawa district. After Trump seized the election spotlight, though, his similarities to the bombastic American president might have cost him. Reid Warren, a Toronto resident, said he voted Liberal because Poilievre “sounds like mini-Trump to me.” And he said Trump’s tariffs are a worry. “Canadians coming together from, you know, all the shade being thrown from the States is great, but it’s definitely created some turmoil, that’s for sure,” he said. Historian Robert Bothwell said Poilievre appealed to the “same sense of grievance” as Trump, and that, “It’s like Trump standing there saying, ‘I am your retribution.’” “The Liberals ought to pay him,” Bothwell […]

Excitement is in the air at the Mir Yeshiva in Yerushalayim as preparations for the summer zman reach their peak. Over the bein hazmanim break, the yeshiva undertook a major renovation of its central beis medrash, which had not been refurbished in eighty years.

Workers labored around the clock — continuing even through the night — to ensure the project would be completed in time for the start of the new zman.

The extensive renovations included the restoration of the yeshiva’s historic Aron Kodesh, dating back to the era of the yeshiva’s legendary roshei yeshiva, as well as a full repainting of the main and oldest building on campus.

The renovation project was funded by several friends and supporters of the yeshiva from the United States.

In advance of the new zman, hundreds of new yungeleit and bochurim — from both Eretz Yisroel and abroad — were tested for acceptance into the yeshiva by the rosh yeshiva, Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, and the mashgiach, HaTzaddik Rav Binyomin Finkel. Due to the growth of the yeshiva, a serious shortage of space and significant overcrowding have developed.

{Matzav.com Israel}