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Russian President Vladimir Putin has increasingly withdrawn from public view and is reportedly spending extended periods operating from secure bunker locations, according to a report citing Western intelligence sources, amid growing concern over internal threats and potential instability within the Kremlin, the Daily Express reports.

According to the report, security protocols around Putin have been significantly intensified, with the Russian leader said to have abandoned his usual residences out of concern they could be targeted, including by elements within Russia’s own political elite. The findings were published by the independent outlet Important Stories and are based on intelligence assessments from an unidentified Western agency.

“Since the beginning of March 2026, the Kremlin and Vladimir Putin have been concerned about a leak of sensitive information and, at the same time, about the risk of a plot or coup attempt against the Russian president,” the outlet reports. “In particular, he fears the use of drones for a possible assassination attempt by members of the Russian political elite.”

The report also points to rising suspicion surrounding senior figures, including Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, who is described as being “associated with the risk of a coup attempt”. Tensions reportedly escalated following the arrest last month of his former deputy, Ruslan Tsalikov, who is suspected of amassing nearly $68 million in family assets through corruption.

Shoigu’s name first surfaced in connection with alleged coup concerns in recent weeks, according to the same intelligence assessment.

Security enforcement by the Federal Protective Service has been sharply increased, with tighter controls placed on access to government facilities and the president himself.

“The FSO has significantly tightened security measures” around Putin, according to the report. “Visitors to the Presidential Administration undergo two levels of screening, including a full body search by FSO officers,” the report revealed.

Authorities have also restricted Putin’s movements, limiting the locations he visits and reportedly ending trips to familiar residences such as Novo-Ogaryovo and Valdai.

“The FSO has significantly reduced the list of locations regularly visited by the president; neither he nor his family visit their usual residences in the Moscow region [Novo-Ogaryovo] and Valdai anymore,” it states.

The report claims that since the start of the war in Ukraine, Putin has frequently relied on fortified underground facilities, particularly in southern Russia, where he is said to remain for extended periods while official communications continue through pre-recorded appearances.

“since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Putin has often taken refuge in renovated bunkers, particularly in the Krasnodar region, where he may work for weeks, while Russian media continue public communication using pre-recorded footage.”

The Krasnodar region, which has been targeted in Ukrainian drone strikes, is also home to Putin’s large Gelendzhik residence, a multi-level complex built into a cliffside.

Additional security precautions reportedly include periodic shutdowns of mobile internet across Moscow and expanded surveillance measures.

“FSO officers conduct large-scale checks using canine units and are also deployed along the Moscow River, ready to respond to possible drone attacks,” it states.

Media access has also been tightened, with security officials reportedly reviewing all public messaging about the president following what is described as a classified directive.

According to the report, individuals working closely with Putin face strict limitations, including bans on using internet-enabled mobile devices and restrictions on travel, relying instead on secure transportation arranged by state security services.

Heightened security measures have also been extended to senior military leadership following the assassination of Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov in a car bombing in Moscow late last year, an attack believed at the time to be linked to Ukraine.

The killing reportedly triggered internal tensions among top officials, leading to a contentious meeting in which senior figures accused one another of failing to prevent the breach.

The report states the meeting concluded with Putin calling for calm while directing officials to submit proposals to address the situation.

Additional protections were subsequently ordered for high-ranking generals, amid concerns over further attacks.

The report also suggests that growing security fears may be reflected in recent political signals, including the absence of State Duma deputies from invitations to the Victory Day parade on Red Square.

Roman Amin, founder of Important Stories, described the broader context behind the developments, warning of deepening internal strain within Russia’s leadership.

“The stalemate in the war in Ukraine, the painful Ukrainian drone strikes on oil infrastructure, and economic and social problems…were bound to eventually lead to a war between Russian power clans for the throne of the weakening dictator.”

Putin, he added, “who built this system of power himself, understands well what awaits him-hence the increased paranoia, the unprecedented isolation from the people and his own entourage.”

{Matzav.com}

Jonathan Pollard, who previously served 30 years in a U.S. prison, announced that he is entering Israeli politics and intends to run in the upcoming elections.

In an interview with Israel’s Channel 13 News, Pollard said he made the decision after a lengthy period of deliberation, explaining that the events of October 7 served as a turning point for him.

According to Pollard, the terror attack and the national upheaval that followed led him to conclude that he must take an active role in public affairs. He said he will run together with Nissim Lok, the father of Shani Lok Hy”d, who was murdered in the Simchas Torah massacre.

Pollard also expressed strong views regarding the future of the Gaza Strip, stating that he supports “full transfer” of the Gaza population. He argued that Israel is not winning the war and said a new leadership is needed to implement a more decisive and clearly defined policy.

Addressing Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, Pollard said he would accept any democratic outcome but stressed that the performance of the leadership since October 7 must be carefully examined. He added that while he is open to working with some political figures, he voiced strong reservations about Naftali Bennett.

Pollard said that Bennett is “right” in his criticism of Netanyahu, but maintained that Bennett’s past role in security decisions prevents him from being a partner going forward.

{Matzav.com}

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Emergency responders treated and evacuated 23 participants from the hilulah of Rashbi in Meron. In a separate incident, a 15-year-old bochur was moderately injured after being burned in a medurah in Arad.

The simchas Lag BaOmer continued without any major incidents, despite the heightened security restrictions in place this year.

Emergency teams stationed at the various hadlakos in Meron and Yerushalayim reported only a limited number of injuries, the overwhelming majority of them minor, including fainting and light trauma.

According to official figures, as mentioned, Magen David Adom teams on site in Meron provided treatment and transported 23 individuals to hospitals. Among them was a man in his 50s in moderate condition with a head injury, while the remaining 22 were listed in light condition, suffering from weakness, fainting, or minor injuries. Additional MDA teams treated another 39 participants at the scene who did not require hospital transport.

In Yerushalayim, at the central hadlakah led by the mashpia Rav Elimelech Biderman on Rechov Shefa Chaim, Hatzalah reported that approximately 20 participants received assistance at a medical station set up on site.

Leizer Heiman, deputy CEO and head of volunteers and operations at Hatzalah, said, “With chasdei Hashem, the security operation concluded just moments ago without any unusual incidents. I would like to thank the Deputy Mayor of Yerushalayim Yitzchak Meir Brim and the entire dedicated Activer team for their cooperation for the benefit of the public.”

Gilad Solomon, deputy CEO and head of operations, added, “After many days of preparation and extensive readiness for the security operation, it can be concluded that aside from a number of minor injury cases, the event passed without unusual incidents.”

In addition to the events in Meron and Yerushalayim, a more serious incident occurred in Arad, where MDA paramedics treated and evacuated a 15-year-old bochur to Soroka Medical Center in moderate condition after he sustained second-degree burns over approximately 18% of his body from a medurah of Lag BaOmer.

This year, due to the complex matzav and the strict restrictions imposed by the security forces and Pikud HaOref, the usual masses were not able to ascend to the tziyun of Rashbi in Meron as in past years. According to the approved misgeres, three official hadlakos were held to preserve the mesorah — the central hadlakah of the Boyaner Rebbe in Meron, the hadlakah of Edot HaMizrach led by Rav Shlomo Amar, and the hadlakah of the dati leumi tzibbur led by Rav Shmuel Eliyahu.

At the same time, major maamadim of hadlakah took place in Yerushalayim.

{Matzav.com}

Barack Obama said in a recent interview that he has deliberately limited how often he publicly criticizes President Donald Trump, explaining that speaking out too frequently would lessen the weight of his words.

“For me to function like Jon Stewart, even once a week, just going off, just ripping what was happening — which, by the way, I’m glad Jon’s doing it — then I’m not a political leader, I’m a commentator,” Obama told the New Yorker for a wide-ranging profile.

Since leaving office in January 2017, Obama has periodically taken aim at Trump and his administration, though he has done so sparingly.

Earlier this year, he sharply criticized federal immigration enforcement after an incident in Minneapolis in which officers fatally shot two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, and also weighed in on Republican-led redistricting efforts across the country.

“The rogue behavior of agents of the federal government is deeply concerning and dangerous,” he told liberal commentator Brian Tyler Cohen, referring to the actions of immigration officers.

He also voiced opposition to the way congressional maps are being drawn, arguing that the process should not be controlled by elected officials.

“Redistricting is another good example of where I strongly believe we should not be having politicians draw lines that determine who’s voting for them,” he later said.

The issue has become a central political fight ahead of the midterm elections, with Republicans in Texas having redrawn congressional districts last year at Trump’s urging, while Democratic-led states such as California and Virginia have taken steps to counter those changes in an ongoing redistricting battle.

Obama also backed a ballot initiative in Virginia that enables Democrats to redraw congressional districts in the state.

Reflecting on his public role, Obama suggested that many of his efforts go unnoticed due to the current media climate, and that when he does speak out, it prompts questions about why he does not do so more often.

“The media environment is so difficult that people don’t even know all the stuff I am doing, right?” Obama told the New Yorker. “And, I think, when they do see me, then the sense is, ‘Well, why isn’t he doing that every day instead of just during a midterm election, or during a referendum campaign around gerrymandering, or what have you?’”

When Obama left office, his approval rating stood at 59 percent, according to the American Presidency Project, placing him among the most popular departing presidents since Harry Truman and trailing only Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan.

A Gallup survey conducted in January 2025 found Obama’s approval rating remained at 59 percent, the highest among the five living current or former presidents at the time, while Trump’s stood at 48 percent shortly after beginning his second term.

More recent polling shows a decline in the sitting president’s approval rating, with an average of surveys compiled by Decision Desk HQ putting it at 39.7 percent as of Friday.

{Matzav.com}

The Supreme Court on Monday moved swiftly to implement its decision striking down Louisiana’s congressional map, accelerating the timeline for returning the case to a lower court and setting off a pointed dispute between Justices Samuel Alito and Ketanji Brown Jackson.

By issuing the order immediately, the justices bypassed the typical 32-day waiting period before formally sending the case back, allowing the lower court to proceed without delay.

The move came amid concerns raised by some parties that the lower court may have acted prematurely in positioning Louisiana Republicans to quickly redraw the map ahead of this year’s elections, given that the case technically remained before the high court at the time.

With the case now officially returned, the ruling effectively opens the door for Louisiana to redraw one of its two majority-Black congressional districts, a change that could create an opportunity for House Republicans to gain a seat before November.

In a dissenting opinion, Jackson criticized the majority’s handling of the case, arguing that it had abandoned standard procedural limits. She wrote that the majority “unshackles itself” from “constraints,” insisting that the court should adhere to its usual practices.

Her criticism drew a strong response from Alito, who was joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch. The three justices pushed back forcefully, describing a portion of Jackson’s dissent as “baseless and insulting.”

“The dissent in this suit levels charges that cannot go unanswered,” Alito wrote. “The dissent would require that the 2026 congressional elections in Louisiana be held under a map that has been held to be unconstitutional.”

No additional justices publicly revealed how they voted on the order.

The dispute follows last week’s 6-3 ruling in which the court found Louisiana’s addition of a second majority-Black district unconstitutional, a decision that weakened a key provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

The timing of the ruling created complications for election officials, as it coincided with the distribution of overseas ballots and preparations for early voting in the state’s primary elections.

Despite the urgency, the court did not clarify whether Louisiana must redraw its congressional map before the upcoming midterms, even though prior rulings have cautioned against making changes too close to an election.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry postponed the state’s primary election to give lawmakers time to draft a new map, a step the lower court indicated would be permitted.

Still, the case had remained with the Supreme Court under its standard 32-day window following a decision, prompting disputes among the involved parties over whether to expedite its return.

Voters who challenged the map — identifying themselves as “non-African American” — urged the justices to skip the waiting period so Louisiana could move forward immediately with redistricting.

At the same time, the court has historically been cautious about endorsing election changes close to voting dates, even as Louisiana’s congressional primaries have now been delayed from their original May 16 schedule.

Black voters who had successfully pushed for the creation of the second majority-Black district argued that the Supreme Court should retain the case until after the election. Louisiana officials themselves did not take a position, asserting they already had the authority to eliminate the invalidated district.

“The Court’s decision in these cases has spawned chaos in the State of Louisiana,” Jackson wrote in her dissent, adding later “The question whether our decision should affect the map to be used in the ongoing primaries raises a host of legal and political questions that are entirely independent of the issue in Callais.”

The ruling comes as part of a broader national struggle over redistricting, with both Republican- and Democratic-led states working to redraw congressional boundaries ahead of the midterm elections in a bid to influence control of the House.

Control of the House is widely viewed as a key battleground, with Democrats aiming to regain a majority in November, a shift that could complicate the final two years of President Trump’s term. Party leaders have also signaled potential investigations into the administration should they take control.

Republicans, encouraged by the White House and allied groups, have already begun redrawing maps in Texas and are expanding those efforts to states such as Missouri, North Carolina, and Florida. Democrats, in turn, have moved to counter those changes in states like California and Virginia.

Legal challenges over multiple congressional maps remain ongoing across the country.

During a rare rehearing of the Louisiana case in October, the justices appeared poised to place new limits on the role of race in redistricting, though uncertainty lingered about when a final decision would be issued and whether it would come too late to impact the midterm cycle.

Following last week’s ruling, which appears to favor Republicans by allowing map changes ahead of the elections, other states are now preparing to take similar steps.

Alabama has asked the Supreme Court to release its pending case involving a second majority-Black district, which the justices had held while considering the Louisiana matter. The situation is further complicated by the fact that Alabama’s second district was created following a separate Supreme Court decision in 2024.

Tennessee has also signaled plans to revisit and potentially redraw its congressional districts before the midterms.

{Matzav.com}

Tesla CEO Elon Musk agreed to pay a $1.5 million fine in a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission over allegations that in 2022 he cost Twitter shareholders $150 million by being late to disclose that he was amassing shares in the social network. Musk went on to acquire the company for $44 billion in late 2022 and renamed the service as X.

The SEC sued Musk in January 2025, days before President Donald Trump’s second inauguration. The financial regulator alleged that the billionaire had bought more than 5 percent of Twitter shares without disclosing his position to the public within 10 days, as securities laws required.

By keeping the transactions private until 11 days after he was required to disclose them, Musk saved $150 million on subsequent purchases of Twitter stock, the SEC alleged, by preventing public attention to his actions from triggering an increase in the company’s share price.

When Musk finally disclosed that he had acquired 9 percent of Twitter’s stock, the company’s shares jumped by 27 percent, the SEC said in its complaint.

Musk did not admit to wrongdoing as part of the settlement, which is still subject to court approval.

Musk’s purchases of Twitter stock and later the whole company have triggered a series of legal fights. After becoming its biggest shareholder through regular stock purchases, the billionaire considered taking a seat on its board by then launched a hostile takeover bid.

Musk then struck a deal to buy the company for $44 billion before attempting to pull out. A shareholder lawsuit ultimately forced him to go through with the deal.

The SEC settlement announced Monday comes days after Musk testified in the trial for a lawsuit he brought against two leaders at ChatGPT developer OpenAI, who he alleged broke their commitments to maintain the company they co-founded with Musk as a nonprofit venture.

Legal filings in the case have revealed unflattering private text messages and emails between some of the tech industry’s most powerful figures.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post · Gerrit De Vynck 

Sen. Ted Cruz said Monday that the ongoing conflict with Iran is expected to conclude within a relatively short timeframe, expressing confidence that the situation will stabilize in the coming months.

Speaking during an interview with Bloomberg, Cruz said the current hostilities are not expected to drag on indefinitely and suggested the situation will soon come under control.

He opened by saying that things will “wrap up in time.”

Cruz also addressed the economic implications of the conflict, particularly its effect on fuel costs, noting that prices had previously declined significantly before rising again amid the current tensions.

He added, “[I]n terms of gas prices, you go back a couple of years under Joe Biden, and gas prices were about six bucks a gallon. President Trump and the Republicans in Congress came in, and we dropped it in half, to about three bucks a gallon, that was a massive savings. Now, any time you have a military conflict in the Middle East, that’s going to have an upward pressure on gas prices. So, gas prices have risen to about four, four-and-a-half bucks a gallon. So, about — it’s gone up about halfway from the distance it fell. That being said, this conflict will be over. It will be over in a matter of months. And when it is over, if we can have anything like a stable regime in Iran, that will have a long-term, major downward pressure on gas prices. But, more importantly, look, the Iranian regime is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, they’ve killed nearly 1,000 Americans. The president is acting to keep people safe. And, by the way, you noted, California. California, people are paying seven bucks a gallon. That is not because of Iran, that is because Gavin Newsom and the Democrats tax and regulate the heck out of gas. They’ve made the decision that they want it to be really expensive to live in California, which is a big part of the reason so many people are leaving California.”

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{Matzav.com}

By Mikkael Sekeres, MD

Q: Can vaping cause cancer? And is vaping any safer than smoking traditional cigarettes?

The modern electronic cigarette, or e-cigarette, was invented in the early 2000s by a Chinese pharmacist in response to his father’s death from lung cancer. It was meant to be a nicotine-delivery device that was an alternative to traditional, tobacco cigarettes.

Since their introduction in Europe in 2006 and the United States in 2007, the use of e-cigarettes – a.k.a., vapes – has skyrocketed. The percentage of U.S. adults who used electronic cigarettes increased from 4.5 percent in 2019 to 6.5 percent in 2023, and sales from brick-and-mortar retailers jumped 34.7 percent, to over 21 million units, between February 2020 and June 2024.

According to the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, almost 6 percent of middle and high school students – 2.25 million children – reported using the devices in the past 30 days. The World Health Organization estimates that there are more than 16,000 flavors of e-cigarettes and that 88 countries do not require a minimum age to purchase.

But while they were introduced as a healthier and less carcinogenic option than tobacco cigarettes, the contents of e-cigarettes and their aerosols can contain harmful or potentially harmful substances that nobody should be eager to introduce to their bodies. These may include nicotine, heavy metals, particulate matter, propylene or diethylene glycol (found in antifreeze), diacetyl (linked to lung diseases), acrolein (an herbicide) and benzene (a known carcinogen).

A recent review from researchers in Australia found the results from laboratory investigations of e-cigarettes and their effects to be compelling enough to shift their recommendations from describing a need for more investigations to expressing frank concern about e-cigarette carcinogenicity.

That’s not something to take lightly. However, it’s important to note that the existing research does not definitively prove that vaping on its own (without smoking cigarettes currently or in the past) causes cancer in humans. While studies that have firmly established the link between tobacco smoking and multiple cancers have been conducted over the course of decades, studies focusing on e-cigarettes are still coming of age. E-cigarettes are still relatively novel and more popular among young adults. Presumably, younger people simply haven’t been smoking e-cigarettes long enough to develop cancer at high rates – yet.

However, research in animals and laboratory-grown cells, plus a handful of studies in humans, can give us a general idea of risk until more long-term research matures.

Here’s what we know – and still don’t know – about the connection between vaping and cancer.

Studies are still relatively sparse, but a few that have been conducted in laboratory-grown cells and mice suggest that vaping likely causes cellular changes that are associated with cancer development.

One study in mice showed that e-cigarettes delivered at the high-powered setting could cause damage to DNA in lung and liver cells, while studies of laboratory-grown breast cancer cells demonstrated that exposure to e-cigarettes increased levels of proteins in the cells that would make them more likely to metastasize and spread in mice.

Other laboratory studies have linked the liquid contents of e-cigarettes to growth and changes in squamous cell cancers found in the mouth, to the transformation of normal bladder cells into cancerous cells, and to brain tumor cell growth.

Again, these studies are compelling and their findings provide the rationale for additional research. But the results don’t always translate to humans, in part because they don’t perfectly mimic real-life use – for example, the lengths and concentrations of exposure used in mouse studies are not necessarily reflective of the average user’s puffs per day.

How vaping compares to cigarettes as a cancer risk
Unfortunately, here again the data are limited and imperfect but worrisome enough to be concerned that e-cigarette use may lead to cancer – perhaps not as strong a risk factor as traditional cigarettes, but certainly more than abstaining altogether.

For example, e-cigarettes can cause changes to chemicals in bodily fluids. In one small study that included 150 people, one-third smoked only tobacco cigarettes, one-third smoked only e-cigarettes, and one-third were non-smokers. Those who smoked tobacco cigarettes were more likely than the other two groups to have markers of inflammation associated with cancer risk in their saliva, but e-cigarette smokers still had higher levels of the markers than non-smokers.

One case report from China describes two patients who smoked e-cigarettes for more than a decade, but not tobacco cigarettes, who developed cancers of the mouth we would usually associate with long-term tobacco use.

In another study exploring e-cigarette use patterns in the U.S., among almost 120,000 participants, 1 percent reported current e-cigarette use, 5 percent past use, and over 500 people reported having a lung cancer diagnosis. Those with lung cancer were over two-and-a-half times more likely to use e-cigarettes than those without lung cancer, but it was not known if they adopted use after their cancer diagnosis or before. Further confounding the results, many also reported simultaneously using tobacco products.

There does appear to be a worrisome cancer risk when people vape and smoke cigarettes. In a study of more than 32,000 people, those who used e-cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes had four times the risk of developing lung cancer than those who smoked tobacco cigarettes alone. Their cancer risk was 40 times higher than those who didn’t smoke at all.

Similarly, in a preliminary population study from Korea that included more than 4 million people, over 50,000 people developed lung cancer. Those who stopped smoking tobacco cigarettes and took up e-cigarettes were 23 percent more likely to develop lung cancer than those who stopped smoking tobacco cigarettes but did not take up e-cigarettes.

In short, the data are accumulating and I suspect will become more definitive over the next few years in linking vaping to cancers of the lung, oral cavity and pharynx. Vaping is already linked to a potentially life-threatening condition known as EVAL1 (mostly associated with the delivery of THC in noncommercial vapes), a scarring condition known as bronchiolitis obliterans or “popcorn lung” and a higher risk of infections.

Some people do use e-cigarettes as a method of tobacco smoking cessation, and from what we can tell so far, e-cigarettes have not been tied to cancer in the way that tobacco smoking has. If possible, though, my advice is to try to kick the habit now, and discourage use in youth, before those studies come out.

Mikkael A. Sekeres, MD, MS, is the chief of the division of hematology and professor of medicine at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami. He is author of the books “When Blood Breaks Down: Life Lessons from Leukemia” and “Drugs and the FDA: Safety, Efficacy, and the Public’s Trust.”

(c) The Washington Post · Mikkael Sekeres, MD · HEALTH-FEATURES, SCIENCE

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New assessments from the U.S. intelligence community indicate that recent military action has not meaningfully delayed Iran’s progress toward developing a nuclear weapon, according to a report published Monday.

Citing three individuals familiar with the findings, the report states that Iran’s estimated “breakout time” remains between nine months and one year, unchanged from projections made after last summer’s coordinated U.S.-Israel strikes.

This conclusion comes even after the latest round of military operations, which were intended in part to eliminate the nuclear threat posed by Tehran. While Israel focused on striking key nuclear sites, the broader U.S.-led campaign largely targeted Iran’s conventional military assets and industrial capabilities, the report said.

Analysts attribute the lack of progress in extending the timeline to Iran’s continued possession of highly enriched uranium. Although “Operation Midnight Hammer” and “Operation Epic Fury” inflicted damage on major enrichment facilities, including Natanz and Fordow, the International Atomic Energy Agency has indicated that Iran still retains sufficient material for roughly ten nuclear weapons if further processed.

According to current intelligence, a significant portion of this enriched material is believed to be stored in heavily fortified underground locations, particularly at the Isfahan Nuclear Research Center. These deeply buried facilities are difficult to strike using standard weaponry, prompting some U.S. officials to weigh the possibility of high-risk ground missions to secure or destroy the material.

Within the Trump administration, officials continue to emphasize a strategy of complete prevention. White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales underscored the President’s position, stating, “While Operation Midnight Hammer obliterated Iran’s nuclear facilities, Operation Epic Fury built on this success by decimating Iran’s defense industrial base that they once leveraged as a protective shield around their pursuit of a nuclear weapon. President Trump has long been clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon – and he does not bluff.”

Vice President JD Vance reinforced that message, stressing that the central aim of the effort remains ensuring that “Iran can never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.”

{Matzav.com}

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Monday that the latest confrontations in the Strait of Hormuz demonstrate that the conflict cannot be resolved through military means.

In a message posted on social media, Araghchi cautioned both the United States and the United Arab Emirates against becoming entangled in what he described as a dangerous situation fueled by outside forces.

“Events in Hormuz make clear that there’s no military solution to a political crisis,” wrote the Iranian Foreign Minister.

He pointed to ongoing diplomatic efforts, particularly involving Pakistan, while urging Washington and Abu Dhabi to avoid deeper involvement.

“As talks are making progress with Pakistan’s gracious effort, the U.S. should be wary of being dragged back into quagmire by ill-wishers. So should the UAE,” he added.

Araghchi also criticized the newly launched U.S. maritime initiative aimed at assisting ships in the region, dismissing it as counterproductive.

“Project Freedom is Project Deadlock,” concluded Araghchi, referring to the newly launched US operation to free ships trapped in the Strait of Hormuz.

His remarks followed a series of Iranian strikes earlier in the day, which included 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles, and four drones targeting the United Arab Emirates, leaving three people injured.

At the same time, President Donald Trump said U.S. forces had destroyed seven small Iranian boats near the Strait of Hormuz.

Amid the rising tensions, Trump also accused Iran of targeting “unrelated nations” in its attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

In separate comments to Fox News, the president warned that any Iranian strike on U.S. naval vessels escorting commercial ships would trigger a severe response, stating Iran would be “blown off the face of the earth” if it attacks the US naval vessels escorting merchant vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

{Matzav.com}

A respected talmid chacham known for his humility and lifelong dedication to Torah, Rav Yitzchok Menachem Cohen zt”l passed away Monday at the age of 82.

The niftar collapsed on the eve of the recent Yom Tov and was taken to Sheba Medical Center, where he remained hospitalized until his petirah Monday afternoon.

The levayah will be held tonight at his home on Meromi Sadeh Street 11 in Modiin Illit, proceeding to Segulah Cemetery in Petach Tikvah for kevurah.

Rav Cohen zt”l was born in Yerushalayim on the 7th of Teves 5704 to his father, Rav Aviezri Eliezer Cohen zt”l, of the Bayit Vegan neighborhood. As a child, he davened at Yeshivas Kol Torah, where he was exposed to many gedolei Yisroel there.

He later continued his learning at Yeshivas Kol Torah for his yeshiva ketanah years, before advancing to Ponevezh Yeshiva, where he became a close talmid of the mashgiach, Rav Yechezkel Levenstein zt”l, as well as of the Ponevezher Rov. He was a regular participant in the mashgiach’s shmuessen.

Upon reaching marriageable age, he married the daughter of Rav Avraham Schwartz zt”l, mashgiach of Yeshivas Or Yisrael in Petach Tikvah, who had passed away prior to the chasunah. Following his marriage, he initially lived in Petach Tikvah and developed a close connection with the rosh yeshiva of Or Yisrael, Rav Yaakov Neiman zt”l.

He later moved to Bnei Brak, where he joined Kollel Chazon Ish, immersing himself in Torah learning for decades. There, he developed a close relationship with the rosh kollel, Rav Nissim Karelitz zt”l, and merited learning alongside the Sar HaTorah, Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l, as well as other leading gedolim of the generation. Throughout his life, he remained exceedingly modest, avoiding attention and never seeking recognition.

He maintained halachic discussions with many gedolei Yisroel, who held him in high regard. Approximately 20 years ago, he relocated to Modiin Illit to be near his children, where he continued his daily sedorim, learning both in the morning and afternoon and maintaining his chavrusashafts consistently, even during difficult periods. He completed Shas multiple times, always quietly and without fanfare.

Seven years ago, his wife, Mrs. Devorah Cohen a”h, passed away suddenly. He accepted the loss with deep emunah and continued his regular learning schedule, often learning with his children over the phone. He took great joy in hearing their chiddushim and would share his own insights with them as well.

He was niftar Monday afternoon in the hospital, surrounded by family.

Tehei nishmaso tzerurah b’tzror hachaim.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Asher Yedidya Lerner zt”l, a longtime resident and one of the founders of the Ramat Elchanan neighborhood in Bnei Brak and a key figure behind the well-known Eim V’Yeled organization, passed away after years of illness at the age of 71.

The levayah is set to take place Tuesday morning, Lag BaOmer, at 11:00 a.m., departing from his home at 20 Giborei Yisrael Street in Bnei Brak. The procession is to pass the Khal Chassidim Shul in Ramat Elchanan and continue to the Ponovezh Bais Hachaim for kevurah.

Rav Lerner was born in Kfar Chassidim on the 20th of Av, 5714, to his father, Rav Nachman Lerner zt”l, and his mother, Mrs. Devorah Lerner a”h. In his youth, he was counted among the outstanding talmidim of Kfar Chassidim.

Upon reaching marriageable age, he married his wife, Chedva, daughter of Rav Shmuel Eliyahu Weinberg z”l, who served as the fourth mayor of Bnei Brak. She was also a descendant of the Slonimer Rebbe of Tel Aviv and a niece of the Gerrer Rebbe, the Beis Yisrael.

Following his marriage, Rav Lerner was among the founders of Ramat Elchanan in Bnei Brak, where he became known for his extraordinary acts of chesed. When his mother-in-law, Esther a”h, daughter of Rav Moshe Eckstein z”l, established the Eim V’Yeled organization, he stood at her side and ultimately took on a leading role in running the institution.

He earned a reputation as an exceptional baal tzedakah, admired and respected by the rabbanim of the neighborhood. He was diligent in attending daily shiurim in the shul, drawing strength and vitality from his learning. A man of integrity and action, he was known for his honesty, his pursuit of tzedakah and chesed, and his humility. He loved Torah and those who studied it, and even as he endured suffering, he continued learning with acceptance and faith.

A particularly remarkable aspect of his life was his dedication to honoring his parents. After the passing of his mother and father-in-law, he and his wife devoted themselves for many years to the daily care of his father and mother-in-law. Even after falling ill, he maintained his regular learning schedule and continued his acts of tzedakah and chesed.

He is survived by ten children—sons and daughters—who continue in his path.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

A controversial decision by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi to sharply limit media access to Meron has sparked backlash, as the government enforces security restrictions on Lag BaOmer events while thousands are already present on the mountain.

Despite overseeing the hilula and being responsible for communications, Karhi advanced a plan to restrict the number of journalists allowed to report from Meron, using a lottery system established by legal advisers to determine which outlets would gain entry.

The move comes even as large crowds remain on the mountain and additional visitors are expected throughout the day.

In a surprising outcome, several of Israel’s most prominent media organizations were excluded from the lottery. Among those denied access are leading outlets such as Kikar HaShabbat, Channel 12 in the general media, and B’Chadrei Chareidim, despite their large audiences.

Announcing the results, Karhi said: “Let us pray that the day passes peacefully with Hashem’s help. I call on the public not to come to Meron this year, and to celebrate within their communities and towns. I also call on ministers and members of Knesset to set a personal example and not to come. And you shall greatly guard your souls.”

Chareidi officials involved in organizing the hilula expressed strong confusion and criticism over the decision, noting that efforts had been made to allow broader media access. “Apparently, with decisions like these, all that’s left for us is truly to pray that the day passes peacefully,” those sources said.

According to the official statement, “Similar to the framework in 2024, it was decided by the minister in charge of the hilula, Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, to once again hold a transparent and equitable lottery among the various media outlets. This is intended to balance the operational need to reduce the number of people on the mountain with the preservation of press freedom and the public’s right to know. Based on security directives, entry was approved for only 30 media organizations, with each outlet permitted to send a team of two — a journalist and an accompanying staff member.”

Among the outlets that were granted access are Galei Tzahal, Kol Chai, Kan (Moreshet/B), Kol Barama, Yisroel Hayom, Walla, Haaretz, Ynet, Kan 11, News 13, Channel 14, and Hidabroot, along with smaller publications, niche magazines, WhatsApp groups, and freelance photographers.

Sources close to Karhi attempted to deflect responsibility, saying, “The lottery and the criteria were set by the legal advisers of the Yerushalayim Affairs Ministry.”

However, officials within that ministry pushed back, stating, “The decision regarding the number of journalists was made by the minister in charge, Shlomo Karhi — we did not want this.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump indicated Monday that it remains unclear whether the ceasefire between the United States and Iran has been broken, despite a series of Iranian attacks on commercial shipping near the Strait of Hormuz and strikes on oil-related facilities in the United Arab Emirates.

“[It was] not heavy firing,” Trump said in a phone call with ABC News when asked if the ceasefire had been violated. “We’ll let you know. Ships are moving. You know, we moved quite a few last night — big ones. There was no firing. I guess there has been some recently. I’m looking into it.”

Trump added that maintaining the ceasefire would ultimately benefit Iran, cautioning that the situation remains fluid.

“Iran better hope [the ceasefire] remains in effect. The best thing that can happen to them is that we keep it in effect.”

When pressed on how the United States would respond if Iran were to break the agreement, Trump declined to provide specifics but suggested other nations should play a role.

“I’ll let you know, like I’ll let everyone else know. We just heard about this, and we’ll find out about it. What should happen is South Korea should get involved. It was a South Korean ship that got hit. And I would think, if you have a ship that’s hit, you should immediately send some people.”

He also emphasized that the U.S. is currently exercising restraint while continuing to project strength globally.

“Right now, we we’re being very nice. We’re taking care of the world,” Trump added.

Addressing the missile and drone attacks launched by Iran toward the UAE, Trump said most of the incoming threats were intercepted.

“they were shot down for the most part. One got through. Not huge damage.”

Asked about the broader implications for ending the conflict, Trump expressed confidence in the outcome regardless of developments.

“We have it under control. One way or the other, we win. And you know why? I always win. You found that out a long time ago.”

The remarks followed a series of Iranian strikes involving two waves of cruise missiles fired toward the UAE. The attacks came roughly two hours after emergency alerts were sent to residents’ mobile devices warning of a possible missile threat and urging them to seek shelter, before an all-clear was later issued.

During the first wave, three missiles were intercepted while another landed in the sea. In the second round of strikes, three individuals were reported injured.

UAE officials also said Iran deployed attack drones during the assault, with at least one reportedly striking a petrochemical installation.

In a separate message posted on Truth Social, Trump accused Iran of striking “unrelated nations” amid its attacks on shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking to Fox News, Trump warned that any direct Iranian attack on U.S. naval forces escorting commercial vessels would trigger a devastating response, saying Iran would be “blown off the face of the earth” if it targets those ships.

{Matzav.com}

At a Lag BaOmer shiur delivered tonight, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein addressed the current security situation that has prevented travel to Meron this year, offering a chizuk-filled perspective: Even if we cannot go to Rashbi, Rashbi can come to us.

Speaking at his weekly shiur in the central bais haknesses of Ramat Elchanan, Rav Zilberstein opened by stressing the greatness of the day. “Baruch Hashem, we have reached a very great day, Lag BaOmer,” he said. “A day that is capable of many good things. Chazal greatly praise this day, and all those who know how to be mispallel on this day and perform maasim tovim on this day — Chazal greatly praise them.”

He went on to reflect on the situation facing Klal Yisroel. “Today we are in a matzav where not all the nations of the world are with us. Many are against us in a major way. But we rely on HaKadosh Baruch Hu, and we direct our tefillos that they should ascend upward, be’ezras Hashem, and that we should merit the special segulos that HaKadosh Baruch Hu granted us for this day, Lag BaOmer.”

Rav Zilberstein then shared a powerful teaching he once heard from his father-in-law, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv. Referring to the long-standing minhag of traveling to the kever of Rashbi in Meron, he recalled asking whether Rav Elyashiv would go.

“There were always those who traveled to Meron. Today there is no Meron — that is not a simple thing,” Rav Zilberstein said. “I once heard from my father-in-law, Maran Hagaon Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l. I asked him if he was traveling to Meron, and he told me a sharp line: ‘Why do I need to go to Meron? Rashbi comes to me…’”

He continued with the explanation he heard: “‘Why are you asking me if I will go to Meron? What do you mean? I use every moment for limud haTorah — and instead of me going to him, he comes to me.’”

Rav Zilberstein explained that the meaning is clear: “Rabi Shimon bar Yochai comes to someone who learns his Torah. That is what Rav Elyashiv meant — I learn his Torah, and he comes to me to hear how I am learning it.”

Newly released recordings have ignited political controversy after Minister Idit Silman was heard making sharp allegations about former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s ability to function while in office.

The recordings, aired by Channel 14, capture remarks Silman made during a closed-door gathering of activists, where she described what she claimed took place behind the scenes during the previous government under Bennett’s leadership. In the conversation, she asserted that Bennett was in a severely weakened mental state and was not effectively running the government.

Silman is heard saying: “I’ll tell you something most people don’t know. Practically speaking, in the previous government, Naftali Bennett did not function, and that was from the beginning. He was both confused and stammering. In my opinion, in general, he was in a very, very poor mental state – everyone around him knew.”

She continued with a more striking claim: “Everyone around him knew it. They would give him pills in all kinds of red boxes, supposedly so he could function.” According to her, his alleged inability to lead resulted in power shifting to his political partner: “The one who actually ran the Prime Minister’s Office was Lapid and his entire team.”

Silman also addressed her decision to leave the coalition — a move that ultimately brought down the government — saying: “As far as I’m concerned, when I brought them down, I brought down Lapid as prime minister, and that was clear to everyone.”

No response was issued on behalf of Silman following the publication of the recordings.

A statement from Bennett’s “Together” party dismissed the claims, saying: “Fake. The ‘Together’ party led by Bennett wishes Silman great success in the upcoming primaries. There is no doubt she will bring great honor to Likud.”

{Matzav.com}