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Israeli Security Chiefs Urge Court to Delay Netanyahu’s Trial, Cite Historic Middle East Peace Opportunity

Yeshiva World News -

In a dramatic closed-door session, top Israeli security officials told judges overseeing Prime Minister Netanyahu’s trial that there is “an opportunity to change the face of the Middle East and for Israel to expand its circle of peace, including with Syria,” according to a report by Kan News. Present at the confidential court hearing were the heads of the IDF Military Intelligence and the Mossad, who both emphasized the urgency and sensitivity of current regional developments. They explained to the judges why it was necessary to delay Netanyahu’s scheduled testimony hearings.

California Gov. Newsom Sues Fox News for $787 Million Over Edited Trump Call Segment

Yeshiva World News -

California Gov. Gavin Newsom sued Fox News on Friday over alleged defamation, saying the network knowingly aired false information about a phone call he had with President Donald Trump around the time the National Guard was sent Los Angeles. The lawsuit alleges Fox News anchor Jesse Watters edited out key information from a clip of Trump talking about calling Newsom, then used the edited video to assert that Newsom had lied about the two talking. Newsom is asking for $787 million in punitive damages in the lawsuit filed in Delaware, where Fox is incorporated. That’s the same amount Fox agreed to pay in 2023 to settle a defamation lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems. The company said Fox repeatedly aired false allegations that its equipment had switched votes from Donald Trump to Joe Biden during the 2020 election, and the discovery process revealed the network’s efforts not to alienate conservatives in its audience in the wake of Biden’s victory. “If Fox News wants to lie to the American people on Donald Trump’s behalf, it should face consequences — just like it did in the Dominion case,” Newsom said in a statement. “I believe the American people should be able to trust the information they receive from a major news outlet.” He asked a judge to order Fox to stop broadcasting “the false, deceptive, and fraudulent video and accompanying statements” that Newsom said falsely say he lied about when he spoke to Trump regarding the situation in Los Angeles, where protests erupted on June 6 over Trump’s immigration crackdown. Fox News said in a statement that it would fight the lawsuit “vigorously” and looks forward to it being dismissed. “Gov. Newsom’s transparent publicity stunt is frivolous and designed to chill free speech critical of him,” it said. Newsom’s suit centers on the details of the phone call with the president. Both Newsom and the White House have said the two spoke late at night June 6 in California, which was already June 7 on the East Coast. Though the content of the call is not part of the lawsuit, Newsom has said they never discussed Trump’s plan to deploy the National Guard, which he announced the next day. Trump said the deployment was necessary to protect federal buildings from people protesting increased immigration arrests. Trump later announced that he would also deploy Marines to the area. On June 10, when 700 Marines arrived in the Los Angeles area, Trump told reporters he had spoken to Newsom “a day ago” about his decision to send troops. That day Newsom posted on the social platform X that there had been no call. “There was no call. Not even a voicemail,” Newsom wrote. On the evening of June 10, Fox’s Jesse Watters Primetime show played a clip of Trump’s statement about his call with Newsom but removed Trump’s comment that the call was “a day ago,” the lawsuit said. Watters also referred to call logs another Fox News reporter posted online showing the phone call the two had on June 6. “Why would Newsom lie and claim Trump never called him? Why would he do that?” Watters said on air, according to the lawsuit. The segment included text across the bottom of the screen that said “Gavin Lied About Trump’s Call.” Newsom’s suit argues that […]

Report: Saudi King Gives Palestinian Terrorists’ Families Free Trip to Mecca

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Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has stirred controversy by sponsoring 1,000 Palestinian family members of terrorists to perform the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, even as the kingdom remains under the spotlight for its potential normalization of ties with Israel.

This development was reported through Palestinian Authority outlets and highlighted by Palestinian Media Watch, raising new concerns about the Saudis’ stance toward Palestinian violence.

While there has been ongoing talk of Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords, the latest move — a grant seen as honoring those tied to acts of terror — suggests that Saudi leadership has not turned its back on supporting individuals responsible for deadly attacks against Israelis.

Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority, publicly expressed gratitude to Saudi leaders, saying, “thanked Saudi Arabia and its leadership for the generous grant they provided this year to 1,000 Palestinian pilgrims from among the families of the Martyrs, the prisoners, and the wounded” [Official PA TV News, June 9, 2025]. The term refers to Palestinians who were killed, captured, or injured while carrying out attacks — and their relatives were flown to Mecca under the king’s sponsorship.

According to Palestinian Authority television, this act symbolizes enduring “loyalty” to the attackers and a pledge of “constant sponsorship and honoring” their families.

The issue of providing material support to relatives of Palestinian terrorists has repeatedly complicated American-Palestinian diplomatic relations. Now, Saudi Arabia’s involvement adds another layer of complexity as it weighs potential diplomatic ties with Israel.

Observers note that while Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS, has shown greater willingness to explore a relationship with Israel and promote reforms within the kingdom, his father, King Salman, appears far more hesitant and continues to adhere to older policies rooted in support for the Palestinian cause — including controversial acts like this pilgrimage grant.

{Matzav.com}

‘Make the Middle East Great Again’: Netanyahu Thanks Trump for Support 10

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Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu expressed appreciation to President Donald Trump for his vocal support, after Trump denounced what he described as a “political witch hunt” designed to destabilize Israel’s leadership. Trump’s endorsement included a variation of his signature phrase, calling to “Make the Middle East Great Again.”

Responding on the platform X, Netanyahu thanked Trump and echoed the president’s phrasing, writing, “Together, we will make the Middle East great again!”

The wording mirrored President Trump’s recent slogan usage, which he employed to call for assertive and visionary leadership throughout the region.

This exchange came after President Trump posted on Truth Social, where he harshly criticized Israel’s legal proceedings against Netanyahu and advocated for the charges to be dropped.

“It is terrible what they are doing in Israel to Bibi Netanyahu,” President Trump wrote. “He is a War Hero, and a Prime Minister who did a fabulous job working with the United States to bring Great Success in getting rid of the dangerous Nuclear threat in Iran.”

President Trump also highlighted Netanyahu’s role in handling the crisis involving Israeli hostages held by Hamas, while condemning the legal case against the prime minister. “How is it possible that the Prime Minister of Israel can be forced to sit in a Courtroom all day long, over NOTHING (Cigars, Bugs Bunny Doll, etc.). It is a POLITICAL WITCH HUNT, very similar to the Witch Hunt that I was forced to endure.”

Trump also warned that the case could have serious repercussions on ongoing diplomatic efforts.

“This travesty of ‘Justice’ will interfere with both Iran and Hamas negotiations,” President Trump wrote. “In other words, it is INSANITY doing what the out-of-control prosecutors are doing to Bibi Netanyahu.”

He invoked the United States’ longstanding strategic alliance with Israel, stressing that American leadership would not tolerate what he sees as an injustice.

“We are not going to stand for this,” Trump declared. “We just had a Great Victory with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu at the helm — And this greatly tarnishes our Victory,” he concluded. “LET BIBI GO, HE’S GOT A BIG JOB TO DO!”

President Trump’s latest remarks come amid his broader campaign to pressure Israeli authorities to end Netanyahu’s prosecution, arguing that it threatens critical joint efforts involving national security and diplomacy.

Breitbart News previously noted that Trump first demanded the case be dropped following the U.S.-Israel victory in the 12 Day War against Iran, highlighting that several charges had already begun to unravel.

This latest show of solidarity points to a growing trend among conservative voices who are raising alarms about judicial overreach and its potential impact on global leadership and Middle East stability.

Notably, just hours after President Trump’s renewed public comments, an Israeli court granted a one-week delay in Netanyahu’s corruption trial. While no formal link was drawn, the timing of the postponement sparked renewed speculation.

{Matzav.com}

Another Deal, Few Details: U.S.-China Try to Defuse Trade War With Vague Pact

Yeshiva World News -

The United States and China have reached an agreement — again — to deescalate trade tensions. But details are scarce, and the latest pact leaves major issues between the world’s two biggest economies unresolved. President Donald Trump said late Thursday that a deal with China had been signed “the other day.” China’s Commerce Ministry confirmed Friday that some type of arrangement had been reached but offered few details about it. Sudden shifts and a lack of clarity have been hallmarks of Trump’s trade policy since he returned to the White House determined to overturn a global trading system that he says is unfair to the United States and its workers. He’s been engaged for months in a battle with China that has mostly revealed how much pain the two countries can inflict on each other. And he’s racing against a July 8 deadline to reach deals with other major U.S. trading partners. The uncertainty over his dealmaking and the cost of the tariffs, which are paid by U.S. importers and usually passed on to consumers, have raised worries about the outlook for the U.S. economy. And although analysts welcomed the apparent easing of tensions with China, they also warned that the issues dividing Washington and Beijing are unlikely to be resolved anytime soon. What did the two sides agree to? U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday that the Chinese had agreed to make it easier for American firms to acquire Chinese magnets and rare earth minerals critical for manufacturing and microchip production. Beijing had slowed exports of the materials amid a bitter trade dispute with the Trump administration. Without explicitly mentioning U.S. access to rare earths, the Chinese Commerce Ministry said that “China will, in accordance with the law, review and approve eligible export applications for controlled items. In turn, the United States will lift a series of restrictive measures it had imposed on China.” The Chinese have complained about U.S. controls on exports of advanced U.S. technology to China. But the ministry statement did not specifically say whether the United States planned to ease or lift those controls. In his interview on Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria,” Bessent mentioned that the United States had earlier imposed “countermeasures” against China and ”had held back some vital supplies for them.” “What we’re seeing here is a de-escalation under President Trump’s leadership,” Bessent said, without spelling out what concessions the United States had made or whether they involved America’s export controls. Jeff Moon, a trade official in the Obama administration who now runs the China Moon Strategies consultancy, wondered why Trump hadn’t disclosed details of the agreement two days after it had been reached. “Silence regarding the terms suggests that there is less substance to the deal than the Trump Administration implies,″ said Moon, who also served as a diplomat in China. Wait. This sounds familiar. How did we get here? The agreement that emerged Thursday and Friday builds on a “framework” that Trump announced June 11 after two days of high-level U.S.-China talks in London. Then, he announced, China had agreed to ease restrictions on rare earths. In return, the United States said it would stop seeking to revoke the visas of Chinese students on U.S. college campuses. And last month, after another meeting in Geneva, the two countries had agreed to dramatically reduce massive taxes they’d […]

FIREFIGHTERS AMBUSHED: Two Dead, Multiple Others Injured After Being Lured Into A Deadly Trap In Idaho

Yeshiva World News -

Firefighters were ambushed by sniper fire while responding to a blaze in a northern Idaho mountain community Sunday, killing at least two people and unleashing barrages of gunfire over several hours in an attack the governor called a “heinous” assault. The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office said crews responded to a fire at Canfield Mountain just north of Coeur d’Alene around 1:30 p.m., and gunshots were reported about a half hour later. Sheriff Bob Norris said officials believe the two people killed were fire personnel. He didn’t know if anyone else was shot. “We don’t know how many suspects are up there, and we don’t know how many casualties there are,” Norris told reporters at a 4:30 p.m. news conference. “We are actively taking sniper fire as we speak.” People are still coming off the mountain, the sheriff said, so it “would be safe to assume” that others were still up there. Gov. Brad Little said “multiple” firefighters were attacked. “This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters,” Little said on the social platform X. “I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more.” Norris said it appeared the sniper was hiding in the rugged terrain and using a high-powered rifle. He said he instructed deputies to fire back. “I’m hoping that somebody has a clear shot and is able to neutralize, because they’re not at this point in time showing any evidence of wanting to surrender,” the sheriff said. An alert by the Kootenai County Emergency Management Office asked people to avoid the area around Canfield Mountain Trailhead and Nettleton Gulch Road, about 4 miles (6.5 km) north of downtown Coeur d’Alene. The fire was still active, Norris said. “It’s going to keep burning,” he said. “Can’t put any resources on it right now.” The FBI has responded to the scene with technical teams and tactical support, Deputy Director Dan Bongino said. “It remains an active, and very dangerous scene,” he wrote in a post on X. Coeur d’Alene is a city of 55,000 residents near the border with Washington. Canfield Mountain is a popular hiking and biking area on the outskirts, covered with trees and heavy brush and crisscrossed with trails. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

NOT BACKING DOWN: Muslim Socialist Zohran Mamdani Doubles Down On Plan To Target ‘Whiter Neighborhoods’ With Higher Taxes

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Socialist New York City mayoral contender Zohran Mamdani reaffirmed on Sunday his intention to raise property taxes in what he described as “richer and whiter neighborhoods,” maintaining that billionaires should not exist in society.

Mamdani, labeled by one wealthy opponent as “the Fidel Castro of New York,” defended his tax-the-wealthy platform as not racially motivated—even as it focuses on white homeowners in particular areas.

“That is just a description of what we see right now. It’s not driven by race. It’s more of an assessment of what neighborhoods are being under-taxed versus over-taxed,” Mamdani told NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”

He further claimed that the city’s property tax framework is unfair, noting that even current Mayor Eric Adams had pledged to reform it early in his term.

“We’ve seen time and again that this is a property tax system that is inequitable. It’s one that actually Eric Adams ran on, saying that he would change in the first 100 days,” the pol said.

When asked whether emphasizing race could turn off some voters, Mamdani dismissed the concern and insisted that he’s simply stating facts as they are.

The candidate criticized New York’s dwindling tax base but blamed the city’s steep cost of living for driving people out. He highlighted his plan to boost taxes on the top 1% as part of the solution.

“We are talking about our tax base growing smaller and smaller each day, with New Yorkers leaving to New Jersey, to Pennsylvania, to Connecticut,” Mamdani said. “If we do not meet this moment, we will lose the city.”

Although he acknowledged that implementing his tax policies would require cooperation from Albany, Mamdani argued that his goal is to shift the conversation and change what people view as politically achievable.

He didn’t hold back on his views of extreme wealth either.

“I don’t think that we should have billionaires, frankly,” he said.

New York City currently hosts more billionaires than any other city in the world, with a count of 123.

Asked specifically about billionaire supermarket mogul John Catsimatidis—who warned he might shutter his stores if Mamdani wins—Mamdani was unbothered.

“In order to run New York City suddenly as mayor, do you not need the support of a billionaire businessman like John Catsimatidis?” host Kristen Welker asked.

Mamdani replied, “I don’t know if I need his support specifically.

“But I want to make clear that my vision for this city is a vision for every single New Yorker, including business leaders across the city,” he said.

Mamdani added that raising the city’s corporate tax rate to align with New Jersey’s could actually help business owners, not hurt them.

“And the reason I say that is that my proposals, even the ones to increase the top corporate tax rate of New York to match that of New Jersey, are ones that would also benefit those business leaders. Because when I have conversations with them, what I also hear is just how expensive this city is, which is preventing them from attracting and retaining the talent they need to grow their business.”

Catsimatidis, who also owns WABC radio, was blunt in his reaction to Mamdani’s anti-billionaire rhetoric.

“Zohran is trying to be the Fidel Castro of New York,” Catsimatidis told The Post.

He shared that during a 1990 visit to Cuba, he saw firsthand the devastation of that country.

“If Zohran is elected mayor, he’ll make New York City the next Detroit,” Catsimatidis added.

In the same interview, Mamdani again refused to condemn the controversial slogan “globalize the intifada,” a phrase widely seen as encouraging violence against Jews. Welker pressed him repeatedly, but he declined to disavow it.

“That’s not language that I use. The language that I use and the language that I will continue to use to lead this city is that which speaks clearly to my intent, which is an intent grounded in a belief in universal human rights,” he said.

“I don’t believe that the role of the mayor is to police speech in the manner.”

But House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who represents areas of Brooklyn, said on ABC’s “This Week” that the phrase is unacceptable.

“‘Globalizing the intifada’ by way of example is not an acceptable phrasing. He’s gonna have to clarify his position on that as he moves forward,” Jeffries said of Mamdani.

Despite the criticism, Mamdani said he’s confident of his chances in the general election this November.

He faces a crowded field, including independent incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, GOP nominee Curtis Sliwa, former Governor Andrew Cuomo—who Mamdani bested in the Democratic primary and who may still run independently—and independent candidate Jim Walden.

“Ultimately, it’s a referendum and how [Adams] made this city so unaffordable,” Mamdani said of the race. “For too long, politicians have pretended to simply be bystanders to a cost of living crisis. They’ve actually exacerbated it. And our vision is one that will respond to it and make this a city affordable for every New Yorker.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

Report: Trump Working On Deal To Release All Israeli Hostages Held In Gaza

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President Donald Trump is actively engaged in promoting a comprehensive agreement intended to secure the release of Israeli hostages and bring the fighting between Israel and Hamas to a close, according to individuals familiar with the ongoing diplomatic discussions who spoke to The Jerusalem Post on Sunday.

“We’re optimistic a deal can be reached,” a US official stated.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu convened a high-level meeting with several cabinet ministers and senior members of Israel’s defense establishment at the IDF’s Southern Command to assess the state of military operations in Gaza and consider future steps.

A primary point of discussion at the meeting was whether Israel should dispatch negotiators to upcoming talks, which are likely to be held in either Qatar or Egypt.

A source informed the Post that about three-quarters of the points under negotiation have been agreed upon in recent weeks. “The remaining 25% includes key matters such as the humanitarian situation, the conclusion of the war itself, and the guarantees Israel is demanding to prevent Hamas from rearming.”

Speaking at the headquarters of the Shin Bet, Netanyahu remarked, “We will have to resolve the situation in Gaza and defeat Hamas, and I believe we will accomplish both goals. Beyond that, broader regional opportunities are emerging – and in nearly all of them, you are partners.”

A proposal that has once again been brought into the discussion is the possibility of forcing Hamas’s top leadership into exile, a concept previously covered by the Post.

Although Hamas had earlier rejected exile as part of any arrangement, the idea has reemerged during the latest round of talks.

{Matzav.com}

Satellite Images Reveal Ongoing Activity At Fordow Nuclear Site After Israeli and U.S. Strikes

Yeshiva World News -

Recent satellite images reveal ongoing activity and fresh evidence of significant damage at Iran’s underground Fordow uranium enrichment facility following last week’s Israeli and U.S. airstrikes. The site was struck by Israeli forces on June 23, just one day after the U.S. conducted airstrikes using bunker-buster bombs. High-resolution imagery from Maxar Technologies shows an excavator and several personnel near the northern shaft on the ridge above the underground complex. A crane is also seen operating at the entrance to the shaft, with multiple vehicles parked along an access path built to reach the site. Maxar’s photos also show the complete destruction of a facility north of the main compound, surrounded by impact craters and a cloud of dust. Additional damage, including a crater and visible burn marks, is seen on a western access road. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Fourth of July Fireworks Tradition Faces Uncertainty Under China Tariffs

Yeshiva World News -

Like clockwork, Carla Johnson sends out letters every spring asking for donations to help pay for the annual Fourth of July fireworks show that draws tens of thousands of people to New Mexico’s largest lake. And she has no reservations about doling out verbal reminders when she sees her patrons around town. There’s too much at stake to be shy about fundraising when donations collected by Friends of Elephant Butte Lake State Park are what make the tradition possible. But even Johnson’s ardent efforts as the group’s fundraiser might not cut it next year if the U.S. and China remain locked in a trade war. With nearly all of the aerial shells, paper rockets and sparkly fountains that fuel America’s Fourth of July celebrations being imported from China, volunteer groups like Johnson’s and cities big and small have been closely watching the negotiations. A 90-day pause on what had been massive tariffs brought some temporary relief, but industry experts acknowledge that the tiff has lit a fuse of uncertainty as the price tag for future fireworks displays could skyrocket if an agreement isn’t reached. Not the first time There were similar concerns in 2019 as trade talks between the U.S. and China dragged on. Industry groups had called on officials then to exempt fireworks from escalating tariffs. The American Pyrotechnics Association and the National Fireworks Association reignited the lobbying effort this spring, noting in letters to President Donald Trump that fireworks play a crucial role in American celebrations. The groups say the industry is made up mostly of family-owned companies that are often locked into long-term contracts that leave them unable to raise prices to offset cost surges brought on by higher tariffs. And there are few options for sourcing the more than 300 million pounds (136 million kilograms) of fireworks needed to feed demands. China produces 99% of consumer fireworks and 90% of professional display fireworks used in the U.S., according to the APA. “I think overall it’s the uncertainty,” said Julie Heckman, the APA’s executive director. “Yeah, we have a 90-day pause, but are the negotiations with China going to go well? Or is it going to go sky-high again? You know, triple digits. It’s very hard for a small business to plan.” How it began Fireworks have their roots in China. To ward off evil spirits, people would throw bamboo stalks into a fire, causing them to pop as the air inside the hollow pockets heated up. These early firecrackers evolved into more sophisticated fireworks after the Chinese developed gunpowder in the 9th century. By the 15th century, Europe was using fireworks for religious festivals and entertainment. In 1777, they were used in Philadelphia and Boston for what were the first organized Independence Day celebrations. Now, fireworks are synonymous with the summer holiday and with ringing in the new year. Shows have become elaborately choreographed displays that are often synced to live music. In Nashville, the Music City’s award-winning symphony orchestra puts its own spin on the festivities. In New York City, organizers of the Macy’s show will fire off 80,000 shells, with some reaching heights of 1,000 feet (304 meters). The National Park Service promises a spectacular show on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. At Elephant Butte in southern New Mexico, they’re going old school and will light the fireworks […]

Abbas to U.S.: “Israel Is Undermining Ceasefire Efforts and Preventing an End to the War”

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Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel on Sunday of deliberately sabotaging international efforts to bring about a ceasefire and end the ongoing war in Gaza. His comments were conveyed to the United States in an official message, expressing frustration with what he described as Israel’s escalating military actions.

According to a statement from Abbas’s spokesman, the Palestinian leader issued a warning regarding what he called an Israeli “threat” to evacuate additional residents from Gaza. Abbas claimed this was a precursor to “a new and destructive military operation.”

In a letter addressed to the United States, Abbas urged Washington to “compel Israel to stop issuing threats and to take active steps toward achieving a ceasefire—if it genuinely seeks real regional stability.”

The statement went on to claim that “Israel’s current policies endanger the possibility of reaching an agreement and increase the risk of annexation in the West Bank—developments that could lead to further wars and long-term instability throughout the region.”

It concluded with a sharp accusation: “Israel’s actions confirm its clear intention to thwart international efforts for a ceasefire and an end to the war.”

Abbas also warned that “any initiative that ignores Palestinian rights—based on international legitimacy and international law, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital within the 1967 borders—is doomed to fail. Such a path will not bring security, peace, or stability, but rather exacerbate chaos in the region.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

A NEW ERA BEGINS: Two New Lakewood Wedding Halls Launch, Offering Chasunos For Just $13,000

Yeshiva World News -

A pair of newly dedicated Lakewood wedding halls — Ateres Blima and Ateres Esther, dedicated l’zecher nishmas R’ Ari Stern’s grandmothers — held their kvias mezuzah on Sunday, marking the beginning of a new era in local simcha planning. Located at 400 Oak Street, in a building named in memory of Mrs. Matel Leah Schron a”h, the halls were built to address a pressing need in the community: lowering the overwhelming cost of weddings. Backed by numerous donors and overseen by a board of askanim including R’ Mordy Schron, R’ Menashe Frankel, R’ Ari Stern, and R’ Avraham Meir Retkinski, the project was designed with a clear purpose — to reset community expectations and bring weddings back to a simpler, more manageable standard. At these new halls, the complete wedding package will cost just $13,000, a fraction of the tens of thousands of dollars that families usually pay to marry off a child. The all-inclusive package at Ateres Blima and Ateres Esther is designed for peace of mind: it includes hall rental, catering, photographer, videographer, musician, singer, kallah’s bouquet, artificial floral arrangements, a lavish smorgasbord, and a full seudah. A well-planned schedule will allow weddings to flow smoothly from photos at 4:30 p.m. through to the final dance, with music ending by 11:30 p.m. Each hall will comfortably seat 250 adult guests, with accommodations for children and an on-site shul for davening and learning. Families expecting larger crowds can pay a modest upgrade fee of $500 to expand food options, or $1,000 for a mitzvah tantz celebration, complete with extended refreshments. The halls have already booked 75 weddings, with many more inquiries pouring in — a clear signal that Lakewood’s families are ready for a more sustainable approach to simchas. The initiative extends beyond the halls themselves. Plans are in motion to coordinate affordable options for other wedding expenses, including sheitels, gowns, jewelry, and invitations. A gown gemach, a jewelry gemach, and an interest-free loan program are being developed to help families avoid financial hardship. Organizers also hope to shift community thinking more broadly. Education efforts are planned for local high schools and community gatherings, with the message that the current wedding standards are unrealistic for the majority of families, and that there is no shame in scaling back. An information hotline and a centralized guidance center will help families navigate all aspects of making a wedding affordably, from the vort through the sheva brachos. Ateres Blima and Ateres Esther are poised to become a model for how Lakewood can celebrate its chasunos with simchah, dignity, and achrayus — without burying families under debt. To book your simchah or learn more, call 732-952-1200 or email bookings@ateresestherblima.com

State Approves Immediate Return Home of 7 of 13 Worst-Hit Gaza Border Communities

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The Israeli government on Sunday approved the immediate return of residents to seven of the 13 southern communities devastated during the October 7, 2023 Hamas assault. These communities were among the hardest hit during the brutal terror onslaught.

All military restrictions in these areas have been removed, and critical infrastructure has been restored to allow residents of Re’im, Kerem Shalom, Nirim, Ein Hashlosha, Sufa, Nir Yitzchak, and Netiv Ha’asara to come back starting Tuesday if they choose.

Those who do not return by July 31 will lose access to government-funded rental housing.

Work is expected to wrap up in Nachal Oz during August, opening the door for residents there to return in time for the new academic year.

Kissufim residents are projected to receive the go-ahead in November 2025, with the communities of Holit, Kfar Aza, and Be’eri slated for return sometime in 2026.

Kibbutz Nir Oz, where Hamas terrorists stormed nearly every home and either murdered or abducted roughly a quarter of its 400 residents, has not yet received a return date. Only six homes were left untouched in the brutal assault that left 117 people dead or kidnapped.

Nir Oz residents recently finalized an agreement with the state, which includes over NIS 350 million (about $95 million) for long-term recovery and reconstruction. The kibbutz’s rebuilding effort is in its earliest stages, and residents remain in temporary housing in Kiryat Gat paid for by the government.

Ze’ev Elkin, the minister overseeing the rehabilitation of communities along both the Gaza and Lebanese borders, stated, “Thanks to a deep partnership with the communities, the Tekuma Directorate [responsible for rehabilitating the Gaza border area] and local authorities, we were able to shorten schedules, expand budgets, and create an infrastructure that allows not only a return, but growth as well.”

He also pledged that the region would be “restored, developed, and be a symbol of the strength, resilience and resurrection of Israeli society as a whole.”

Aviad Friedman, who heads the Tekuma Directorate, emphasized that with the lifting of military constraints, residents can now return “as a community” to their homes.

Nir Mesika, who leads the Construction, Housing and Infrastructure Division of the directorate, said his team quickly realized that the rebuilding effort had to break with conventional methods. “Given the extraordinary events on every scale that occurred in the region on October 7, the physical rehabilitation had to be different.”

Mesika explained that the agency’s model gave local communities a major role in shaping their own recovery, saying, “with the understanding that this was the way to advance the healing and rehabilitation processes of the communities themselves. We will continue to work with full vigor, together with the communities, until the entire process of building and rehabilitating the settlements in the region is completed.”

Immediately following the Hamas invasion — during which around 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 taken hostage — authorities evacuated 46 farming communities and the city of Sderot, all within about four miles of the Gaza border.

As of the end of May 2025, the Tekuma Directorate reported that 92% of those displaced had gone back to their homes.

The government’s long-term objective is to nearly double the Gaza border population from 64,000 before the war to 120,000 by October 2033.

Still, it remains unclear how many of the 5,000 people from the 13 most devastated towns and kibbutzim will ultimately return, or how long they’ll stay if they do.

The Habayta Forum, an advocacy group for the hardest-hit areas, estimated in May that about 30% would never come back. The State Comptroller placed the figure at closer to 13%.

Though much of the physical damage has been repaired, communities close to Gaza are still affected by the sounds and tremors from Israel’s military campaign. The booming echoes of airstrikes continue to rattle homes near the border day and night.

In Kibbutz Nirim, community leader Maya Liberman reported that shockwaves from nearby IDF strikes have caused fresh structural damage across the community. “Shutters fall out, windows burst, doors dislocate, pergolas separate from houses, and drinking glasses break. The kibbutz just moves,” Liberman told The Times of Israel. “There are also big underground pipe bursts that were never an issue before this war.”

The damage stems from ongoing Israeli airstrikes aimed at Hamas military sites and underground tunnel networks in Gaza.

“You don’t have to be clever to understand that there’s a war on, and it’s very hard to be here [close to the border] and to sleep,” said Ziv Mazliach, chairman of the Habayta Forum and a Kfar Aza resident currently living in Kibbutz Ruhama. “I live in Ruhama, and my house moves whenever [the IDF] bombs northern Gaza. I don’t know how many will come back even if the army decides it’s okay.”

Mazliach highlighted a recent survey by the Forum showing that many residents of the border communities are struggling financially and emotionally.

According to the poll, just 45% of 585 respondents from 11 frontline communities were employed full-time — a sharp drop from the 70% employed before October 7. Among those not working at all (28.1%), nearly half said emotional or mental challenges were the primary reason.

Nearly 60% of those surveyed said their expenses had skyrocketed since the war began, and more than 70% admitted feeling more financially insecure than before the Hamas attack.

Mazliach said that while the reconstruction was “very nice,” much more is needed to rebuild lives. He insisted that the return of the hostages, rebuilding trust in the government, and significant investments in job opportunities, education, healthcare, and psychological services were all essential. As he put it, helping people recover takes “more than plaster and paint.”

{Matzav.com}

Report: US Planning To Lean On Dermer To End Gaza War During DC Meetings

Matzav -

Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer is expected to face mounting pressure from the Trump administration when he arrives in Washington tomorrow, according to a U.S. official and an Arab diplomat who spoke with The Times of Israel. The administration is urging Israel to bring the conflict in Gaza to an end.

According to the two sources, international mediators have been hoping Israel would send representatives to Cairo to finalize negotiations on several unresolved matters. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opted to send Dermer to Washington instead, aiming to align with the U.S. position ahead of renewed proximity talks in Egypt.

Among the key issues holding up progress, the sources explain, is Hamas’s insistence on a permanent end to hostilities. Israel, by contrast, is pushing for a limited pause in fighting that would preserve its right to resume military operations later. Hamas, with support from Arab mediators, is also demanding either a return to previous aid distribution systems or the creation of a new mechanism to replace the current one overseen by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. While Israel defends the GHF as necessary to stop Hamas from diverting supplies, critics say the setup has resulted in Gazans walking long distances, often through dangerous areas under Israeli military fire, just to access basic food provisions.

Hopes were high among Arab mediators that Israel might commit to sending a team to Cairo during a senior ministerial session held late Sunday night. However, according to reports, the meeting concluded without any formal decisions being made.

The Arab diplomat noted that earlier this month, efforts were made to bring Israeli officials to Doha to consider a compromise framework developed jointly by Qatar and Egypt. This proposal was designed to combine elements of Hamas’s latest demands with a new initiative presented by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff.

The mediators were anticipating the Israeli team’s arrival in Doha on June 13. Instead, Israel initiated its first wave of strikes in its campaign against Iran on that same morning. Following the escalation, Israel informed the mediators that hostage negotiations would be paused while Israel concentrated its efforts on countering the Iranian nuclear and missile threat, the diplomat said.

Once a ceasefire with Iran was achieved on June 22, President Donald Trump conveyed a clear message to Prime Minister Netanyahu: it was time for the conflict in Gaza to come to a close, according to the same two sources.

{Matzav.com}

Mossad Trolls Iranian Officials: We See You Follow Us On Social Media, We Follow You, Too

Matzav -

On Sunday evening, the Mossad posted a message on its official X account, taking aim at several high-ranking Iranian officials: IRGC Commander Mohammad Pakpour, Iran’s military chief Abdolrahim Mousavi, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

The Israeli intelligence agency wrote that it “conducted a thorough review of the page’s followers and was not surprised to find that the honorable gentlemen Pakpour, Mousavi, and Araghchi are among our most loyal viewers.”

The post also pointed out that these officials make efforts to conceal their activity. “Of course, they use their ‘secondary’ phones, and two of them even utilize private internet connections.”

The message continued with a tongue-in-cheek remark: “As a token of appreciation, we are also following them.”

Speaking directly to Iranian citizens, the Mossad advised them that they’re welcome to keep reading the updates but warned against engaging with the page publicly. “We will continue to provide important news updates,” the post continued.

Pakpour and Mousavi were appointed to their current posts only recently, following the deaths of their predecessors in Israeli airstrikes.

Mossad has played a significant role in Israel’s recent conflict with Iran, not only by gathering intelligence but also by launching offensive operations. Israeli drones reportedly took off from covert Mossad-operated launch sites inside Iran as part of the IDF’s initial assault.

This deep infiltration has shaken the Iranian leadership. Reports from both local and international sources indicate that the regime has begun a massive internal crackdown, targeting civilians suspected of cooperating with foreign intelligence agencies.

According to Fars News, a media outlet affiliated with the IRGC, more than 700 people have been detained over the past 12 days in connection with espionage accusations. The suspects are believed to have links with Mossad, the CIA, and MI6.

{Matzav.com}

Trump: I Thought Iran Would Join The Abraham Accords, They Would Have Been Better Off

Matzav -

President Donald Trump disclosed in a Fox News interview on Sunday that momentum is building among nations considering joining the Abraham Accords in the wake of recent U.S. military actions against Iran.

“We have some really great countries in their write now, and I think we’re going to start loading them up. Because Iran was the primary problem,” the President stated.

In a surprising twist, Trump revealed that Iran itself had once been viewed as a potential signatory to the historic peace agreements. “We had a period of time when I thought Iran would join the Abraham Accords along with everyone else. Frankly, they would have been better off than where they are write now.”

Turning to the issue of Iran’s nuclear program, Trump emphasized that no nuclear material had been removed from the key Fordow site ahead of the U.S. strikes. “They didn’t move anything,” Trump replied when asked about the reports. “You know what they moved? Themselves; they were all trying to live.”

He went on to describe the aftermath of the mission, highlighting the skepticism Iran had toward the success of such an operation. “They didn’t think it was doable, what we did, and what we did was amazing. There were energy commissions that went there now. It’s just thousands of tons of rock in that room right now.”

Detailing the extent of the damage inflicted, Trump said: “The whole place was just destroyed, and the other two also. Israel was able to do damage, but we did the final damage. We have the greatest submarines in the world. We launched 30 rockets from submarines, every single one of them hit their target.”

He offered high praise for the American airmen involved in the mission, particularly the B-2 bomber pilots, and announced plans to honor them personally. “These people flew 36 hours in a small space, and they flew so brilliantly, and they hit a small target, half the size of a refrigerator, from 50,000 feet in the air going at a rapid speed.”

Reflecting on the efforts to reach a peaceful solution prior to the strikes, Trump said he initially believed diplomacy might succeed. “But they said they wanted enrichment. Enrichment doesn’t mean like air conditioning, and it doesn’t mean to jack up your car. Enrichment is a bad word. I said, ‘You have so much oil, what do you need that for?’ And they answered: ‘We need it. We need it.’ I wouldn’t let that happen. I think people wouldn’t have understood it if I allowed that to happen. So we had a 60-day talk, and that delayed them a lot. And then we said, ‘let’s go at it,’ and it worked out.”

{Matzav.com}

MAILBAG: It’s Time to End the “Shidduch Freezer” and Fix Our Broken System

Yeshiva World News -

Dear Editor, I read the recent heartfelt letter about the shidduch crisis with deep emotion and full agreement. The pain, frustration, and desperation felt by so many parents of Bnos Yisroel is real — and it is unacceptable that our community has allowed this “shidduch crisis” to persist for so long, largely unchallenged. While the new initiative encouraging girls to wait until Shavuos to begin dating, and boys to return earlier from Eretz Yisroel, is a step in the right direction, it must be the beginning — not the end — of our communal introspection and action. We can no longer ignore a glaring truth: the system is broken. And it is man-made. The numbers don’t lie, and neither does the heartache of thousands of wonderful, accomplished young women waiting months and years just to begin the process. There is one phrase in particular that must be addressed head-on — even if it makes some uncomfortable: the “shidduch freezer.” It has become a sacred cow in some of the larger yeshivos, where boys returning from Eretz Yisroel are told to “settle in” before they are allowed to date. This policy, once created with the best intentions, has become deeply harmful. It must stop. We need our yeshivos — especially the major ones — to lead with courage. They must stop enforcing artificial delays in dating, and instead work hand in hand with the Gedolim and askanim who are trying to restore balance and save a generation from unnecessary pain. Likewise, may I be bold enough to raise another sacred assumption: that every boy and girl must go to Eretz Yisroel after high school or be labeled as “less than.” While there are immense benefits to learning in Eretz Yisroel, we must stop treating it as the only path to success, especially when it creates real hardship in the shidduch parsha. Is it possible that our communal pressure for every 18-year-old to spend a year (or years) “running around” in Eretz Yisroel — disconnected from the timeline and needs of the broader community — has contributed to the very crisis we are now so desperate to fix? Yes, talmud Torah is a supreme value. But so is building a bayis ne’eman b’Yisroel. And so is listening to our Gedolim when they say, “It’s time to change the system.” Let’s have the courage to act. To speak up. To change. To bring our boys home a bit earlier, and let them begin building their futures without unnecessary delay. And let’s give our daughters — each one a precious neshamah — the dignity and chance they so deeply deserve. This is not a crisis of emunah. It is a crisis of community responsibility. We now have the opportunity — and the obligation — to fix it. Sincerely, Y.R.B. The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review. 

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