President Donald Trump announced that he intends to send National Guard forces into Chicago, denouncing the city led by Democrats as a “hellhole” plagued by rampant violence.
“We’re going in,” he told reporters, also suggesting that Baltimore may be next on his list of cities to receive federal troops.
Responding to criticism that he is only singling out Democrat-led cities, Trump pushed back, saying his actions are about protecting lives, not politics. “I have an obligation,” he insisted, citing statistics of recent shootings in Chicago. “This isn’t a political thing. I have an obligation when 20 people are killed over the last two and a half weeks and 75 are shot with bullets.”
Although he did not provide a specific timeline for the move, Trump, who just weeks ago had deployed the National Guard in Washington, emphasized that Chicago’s Democrat mayor and governor would not be able to block him. “Chicago is a hellhole right now. Baltimore is a hellhole right now,” he said.
On Truth Social, Trump declared that he “will solve the crime problem (in Chicago) fast, just like I did in (Washington).” He further blasted the city, saying, “Chicago is the worst and most dangerous city in the World, by far,” and accused Illinois Governor JB Pritzker of being oblivious to how much help he really needs. His post escalated into a bold statement in all caps: “CHICAGO IS THE MURDER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD!”
Governor Pritzker responded forcefully, condemning Trump’s plan as nothing less than “an invasion.” At a press briefing, he said, “Chicago does not want troops on our streets.” Pritzker also challenged Trump’s premise, noting, “Crime is down in Chicago. Murders are down by almost 50 percent in the last four years.” He continued, “None of this is about fighting crime or making Chicago safer. For Trump, it’s about testing his power and producing a political drama to cover up for his corruption.”
Trump pointed to his earlier actions in Washington, claiming success. “It’s now a safe zone,” he said. “We have no crime.”
The president has also used the military in other Democrat-led cities. In June, thousands of National Guard members and Marines were dispatched to Los Angeles to support police during protests tied to Trump’s immigration raids.
But on Tuesday, Trump’s approach faced a legal blow. A federal judge ruled that his use of troops in Los Angeles had broken the law, prohibiting National Guard or Marines from performing law enforcement functions such as arrests or searches. Judge Charles Breyer, based in San Francisco, warned that Trump appeared intent on “creating a national police force with the President as its chief.” His injunction is set to begin on September 12, leaving room for the conservative-leaning Supreme Court to potentially weigh in.
Meanwhile, tensions continue to mount in Chicago. On Monday, protesters filled the streets with a “Workers over Billionaires” demonstration, where many voiced strong opposition to Trump’s proposed deployment of troops into their city.
{Matzav.com}
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich introduced a new initiative on Wednesday proposing that Israel annex 82 percent of the West Bank, a move that has already drawn sharp warnings from the United Arab Emirates, which cautioned that such an action would jeopardize Israel’s growing acceptance in the broader Middle East.
The plan, which Smotrich presented alongside a map illustrating the proposed borders, marks the clearest indication yet of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s government’s growing determination to formally extend Israeli sovereignty over the territory. Smotrich and other longtime advocates for annexation believe that the timing is right, especially in light of a push by several Western nations to officially recognize a Palestinian state, despite mounting international objections.
“The broad consensus for sovereignty is a direct result of a deep understanding that we can never allow an existential threat to establish itself among us, and after decades of hesitation, it is time to state this clearly and act accordingly,” Smotrich said during a joint announcement with Israel Ganz, head of the Yesha Council, which represents West Bank settlements.
Referring to the territory by its biblical name, they added, “It is time to apply Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria and remove once and for all the idea of dividing our small land and establishing a terrorist state in its heart.”
Smotrich, who leads the Religious Zionism party and manages civilian matters in the West Bank, has been a staunch opponent of Palestinian statehood and supports annexing both the West Bank and Gaza. In recent weeks, he has pushed forward several measures aimed at strengthening Israeli control over the area, including plans to build in the sensitive E1 corridor east of Yerushalayim. Just one day earlier, the Defense Ministry declared a significant portion of the West Bank as state land.
“Continuing to build and establish,” Smotrich wrote on X after the announcement. “Removing the danger of an Arab terror state from the agenda.”
The unveiling of this plan comes at a time when the future of the West Bank is once again at the forefront of global debate, with annexation returning to the center of policy discussions. Later this month, several European nations are expected to formally recognize a Palestinian state during the United Nations General Assembly. Reports have also surfaced that France is considering opening an embassy in Ramallah, signaling a possible escalation in international support for Palestinian claims.
In response to these developments, Netanyahu is expected to convene a high-level meeting on Thursday with senior ministers, including Smotrich, to discuss whether extending sovereignty over the West Bank should serve as Israel’s countermeasure. Earlier this year, the Knesset overwhelmingly passed a non-binding resolution supporting annexation in a 71-13 vote.
Smotrich’s plan includes a detailed map showing that Israel would incorporate the vast majority of the West Bank while leaving six Palestinian population centers as enclaves. These areas include Ramallah, Shechem, Jenin, Tulkarem, Yericho, and Chevron, with the latter being one of the most volatile regions in the territory.
“Preventing a Palestinian state is an Israeli consensus,” a statement accompanying the map read. “Sovereignty takes the idea off of the global agenda.”
The proposal, according to the statement, seeks “maximum territory and minimum Arab population.”
If implemented, the plan would mark a dramatic shift in the way the West Bank has been administered since Israel captured the territory from Jordan during the 1967 Six Day War. While Israel has maintained security control, the Palestinian Authority, headquartered in Ramallah, has overseen daily governance in several urban centers for more than three decades.
Today, the West Bank is home to more than half a million Israeli settlers alongside millions of Palestinians. The majority of the international community views Israel’s presence in the territory as illegal under international law and sees the expansion of settlements as a major obstacle to peace — an assessment Israel firmly disputes.
Smotrich brushed aside warnings from the Palestinian Authority, making it clear that threats would not deter him.
“We are done surrendering to threats and intimidation. If the Palestinian Authority dares to rise up and try to harm us, we will destroy them just as we do Hamas,” he said, urging Netanyahu to move forward with government approval for applying sovereignty.
“And you, Mr. Prime Minister, will enter the nation’s history books for generations as a great leader who knew how to seize the moment, take advantage of the opportunity, and save Israel once and for all from the idea of dividing the land and the existential threat euphemistically called a ‘Palestinian state,’” he added.
This is not the first time annexation has been on the table. In 2020, a peace proposal by US President Donald Trump envisioned Israel extending sovereignty over large parts of the West Bank while leaving room for a future Palestinian state on the remainder. At the time, Netanyahu pledged to move forward with partial annexation.
However, those plans were set aside later that year in favor of signing the Abraham Accords, a landmark agreement that normalized relations between Israel and four Arab countries.
Five years later, Lana Nusseibeh, a senior envoy for the United Arab Emirates, warned in an interview with The Times of Israel that unilateral annexation would be a “red line” for her government and would derail the vision of regional cooperation.
“Annexation would be a red line for my government, and that means there can be no lasting peace. It would foreclose the idea of regional integration and be the death knell of the two-state solution,” she said.
Nusseibeh’s remarks were echoed by other officials who have cautioned against destabilizing moves in the West Bank. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, who has previously expressed support for Israeli control over the territory, reportedly told Smotrich and other ministers that Washington is deeply worried about the potential collapse of the Palestinian Authority, according to Channel 12.
The financial strain on the PA has worsened in recent months as Smotrich has ordered the suspension of funds typically transferred to Ramallah, creating growing instability.
“If the Palestinian economy collapses, that is nobody’s victory,” Huckabee warned in comments to Channel 12, adding that “desperate people do desperate things.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
[COMMUNICATED]
‘Rav Yaivy’ is the first chassidic sefer ever printed by the tzaddikim of Slavita in their famed Slavita Press, as well as one of the first chassidic sefarim ever published altogether. In this sefer, Rav Yaivy cites many teachings from the Baal Shem Tov and his venerable disciples.Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz announced on Wednesday that the newly deployed Ofek 19 satellite gives Israel the ability to “keep an eye on our enemies at all times.”
In his statement, Katz cautioned, “This is also a message to all our enemies, wherever they may be – we are keeping an eye on you at all times and in every situation.”
He also extended an invitation to the broader region, adding, “And in general, a message to the region: come collaborate with these capabilities for a better shared future for all of us.”
Katz praised the teams behind the successful launch, describing it as an “achievement of the highest level that few countries in the world can accomplish.”
“I salute the aerospace industry, the Defense Ministry, the IDF, and everyone who took part in the development,” he said.
This marks the second satellite in the Ofek series to be launched by Israel, following Ofek 13, which became operational in March 2023.
During Israel’s conflict with Iran, Ofek 13 played a critical role, with the Defense Ministry revealing that it captured nearly 12,000 images of Iranian territory.
The satellite provided Israel with near real-time intelligence, allowing quicker identification of potential missile launches and improving precision for air operations across Iran’s approximately 1.6 million square kilometers of land.
Prior to that, Israel launched Ofek 16 in July 2020, continuing the satellite program that began in 1988. All launches in the series, including Ofek 19, have been carried out using the Israeli-developed Shavit 2 launcher.
{Matzav.com Israel}Israeli security forces recently uncovered and arrested a Hamas cell from Chevron that was allegedly working under the direction of Hamas leadership in Turkey to carry out an assassination attempt against National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
During their questioning, the Shin Bet discovered that the suspects had purchased multiple drones, which they intended to load with explosives for the planned attack. These drones were confiscated at the time of their arrest.
The Shin Bet continues to interrogate the detainees as the investigation remains ongoing.
In response, Minister Ben-Gvir expressed gratitude toward the various security branches involved, stating, “I am grateful to the Acting Head of the Shin Bet, to the agency’s investigators and operatives, to the Israel Prison Service intelligence, to the Magen Unit personnel, to IDF soldiers, to Israel Police officers, and to everyone working to protect lives.”
Ben-Gvir noted that this marked the fifth attempt by Hamas to target him and declared, “I will not be intimidated or afraid… I will continue to lead a policy of a firm hand in prisons against terror, to demand a complete victory in Gaza, and the erasure of Hamas from the map. The terrorists must know: instead of them harming me, we will strike them, anywhere and at any time.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
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