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The United Arab Emirates announced Tuesday that it is immediately suspending all trade, commercial activity and financial transactions with Iran until further notice, a sweeping move that comes amid renewed tensions between the two countries and accusations that Tehran fired ballistic missiles toward Emirati territory.

Afra Al Hameli, director of the Strategic Communications Department at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the action was prompted by escalating developments in the region that Abu Dhabi believes pose a danger to peace and security both in the Middle East and around the world.

Despite the dramatic economic step, Al Hameli emphasized that the UAE continues to regard dialogue, cooperation and greater regional integration as crucial tools for achieving long-term stability, peace and prosperity. She added that the Emirates remains committed to safeguarding the international financial system, following international law and maintaining established global standards.

Abu Dhabi also said it intends to continue supporting efforts aimed at protecting financial stability throughout the region and internationally.

The decision came after the UAE Defense Ministry accused Iran of firing two ballistic missiles in the direction of the country, although officials said neither projectile ultimately struck Emirati land.

“UAE air defenses detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran toward the country, with the first falling outside the country’s territorial waters, while the second fell within the territorial waters,” the ministry said in a social media post.

Tehran rejected the allegation that it was responsible for the launches. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei called the UAE’s claims “baseless” and cautioned that “false flag operations” could be involved.

The UAE was one of several countries across the region that came under Iranian attack following the outbreak of war between Iran, the United States and Israel in late February. Those Iranian strikes ended after a ceasefire was reached and the sides signed a framework agreement in mid-June aimed at bringing the conflict to an end.

The Wall Street Journal reported in May that the UAE had secretly participated in dozens of airstrikes against Iran during the fighting, coordinating the operations with the United States and Israel. According to the report, military installations and energy infrastructure were among the targets, and Emirati operations continued even after the ceasefire was announced.

The newspaper had earlier reported that UAE forces were directly involved in attacks against Iranian infrastructure. Among the strikes attributed to the Emirates was an operation targeting a major oil refinery on Lavan Island in the Persian Gulf.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump announced Tuesday night that he was putting a planned 50% tariff on most Canadian imports on hold for three days, saying the United States and Canada had reached a tentative agreement and suggesting that the long-stalled Keystone XL pipeline could be revived as part of the breakthrough.

“I have paused the 50% Tariffs against Canada, that were scheduled to kick in tomorrow morning for a three day period,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, “based on the fact that Canada and the U.S.A., subject to the finalization of documents, have a DEAL!”

Trump then raised the possibility that the agreement could breathe new life into Keystone XL, the massive pipeline project that was abandoned after President Joe Biden revoked a key permit shortly after taking office in 2021.

“The great Keystone XL Pipeline, long ago killed by Sleepy Joe Biden, may be awoken from the grave!” Trump wrote.

The president followed that message by posting an AI-generated image depicting himself pulling a pipeline marked “Keystone” from the ground alongside a damaged tombstone bearing the words “Buried by Biden.”

Trump’s announcement came less than two hours before the 50% duties were scheduled to begin, averting an immediate escalation in the growing trade dispute between Washington and Ottawa. The decision followed a day of intensive discussions involving Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

First proposed in 2008, Keystone XL was designed to carry as much as 830,000 barrels of crude oil per day over roughly 1,200 miles from Alberta to Nebraska. From there, the oil would enter existing pipeline networks supplying refineries along the U.S. Gulf Coast.

The pipeline became a major political and environmental battle during the Obama administration and was eventually stalled amid strong opposition from environmental groups. Trump later moved to revive the project during his first term, but Biden revoked a critical cross-border permit in January 2021. TC Energy, the Calgary-based company behind the project, officially abandoned it several months later.

The tariffs that Trump has now temporarily suspended would cover approximately $20 billion in Canadian goods, representing roughly 5% of Canada’s annual exports to the United States. Products including wine, hockey sticks and cement were expected to face the new duties, while critical minerals, fish, potash and energy products were among those slated for exemptions.

Canadian officials had warned that Ottawa would respond to the new U.S. tariffs with additional levies on American products, threatening to intensify a trade confrontation between two countries that exchanged approximately $880 billion in goods and services last year.

Tensions have also been evident among Canadians. A petition calling for the removal of U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra, a Trump ally and onetime Michigan congressman, has accumulated nearly 218,000 signatures since July 21.

Carney had declined to publicly discuss details of the negotiations while the talks were underway.

″We are negotiating,” Carney told reporters Monday, speaking in French. “The negotiations are very intense and delicate. This is not the time to talk about negotiations in public.”

Trump first unveiled the 50% tariffs last month, shortly after he was seen speaking with Carney during the World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina. The president invoked Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 as the legal basis for the duties.

The Depression-era provision gives a president authority to impose tariffs of as much as 50% on goods originating in countries deemed to have discriminated against American businesses. The broader tariff law enacted during that period has long been criticized by economists who contend that protectionist trade measures helped deepen the worldwide economic downturn.

Trump has argued that Canadian trade policies unfairly disadvantage American products, specifically pointing to automobiles, alcoholic beverages and cheese.

Canada, along with China, was one of only two countries to impose retaliatory tariffs against the United States following Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff measures last year.

The three-day reprieve now gives Washington and Ottawa additional time to finalize the documents behind the agreement Trump announced Tuesday night, with the president’s remarks raising the prospect that a revived Keystone XL project could become a major component of a broader U.S.-Canada trade deal.

{Matzav.com}

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It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rebbetzin Sarah Rochel Yisroelson a”h, a daughter of Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l and the widow of Rav Yosef Yisroel Yisroelson zt”l. She passed away overnight at Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center in Bnei Brak. She was 93.

Just last Wednesday, Rebbetzin Yisroelson participated in the engagement celebration of her youngest grandchild. The following day, she collapsed, and her condition subsequently deteriorated, requiring hospitalization. Her many descendants gathered near her room to recite Tehillim, and during the night she passed away.

Rebbetzin Yisroelson was born in Yerushalayim on 3 Teves 5693 to her father, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l, the renowned posek hador, and her mother, Rebbetzin Sheina Chaya a”h, a daughter of Rav Aryeh Levin zt”l.

She was raised in a home permeated with Torah and witnessed firsthand the extraordinary mesirus nefesh of her parents for Torah despite difficult circumstances.

Upon reaching marriageable age, she married Rav Yosef Yisroel Yisroelson zt”l, who served as rosh kollel of Kollel Bar Shaul in Rechovot and authored the sefer Kitzurei Halachos. He was known as an exceptional talmid chochom who lived quietly and avoided public recognition.

Together, Rebbetzin Yisroelson and her husband established a home founded upon Torah and yiras Shomayim. She devoted herself to supporting her husband and enabling him to dedicate himself to his learning.

For decades, the Yisroelsons lived at 5 Chazon Ish Street in Bnei Brak, where their neighbors included Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman zt”l and Rav Yitzchok Grodzensky zt”l.

Rebbetzin Yisroelson was deeply devoted to her father and would travel from Bnei Brak to his home twice each week to take care of his household needs. She would arrive at approximately 11:30 a.m. and remain until 7 p.m. When her work was finished, she would approach her father before returning to Bnei Brak and wish him “a gute nacht.” Rav Elyashiv would respond warmly, thanking her for everything she had done and blessing her that she merit success, bracha and nachas from all her descendants.

During the final years of Rav Elyashiv’s life, his extraordinary hasmadah intensified even further, to the point that he was reluctant to interrupt his learning for virtually anything. During that period, even when his daughter came to say goodbye before leaving, Rav Elyashiv would simply nod his head toward her rather than interrupt his learning.

Someone once asked Rebbetzin Yisroelson whether she was hurt that her father merely nodded to her while giving warm brachos to the many others who came to see him.

She replied: “My father warmly blesses everyone who comes to his home because he knows that they need it. But he knows me and knows that I am happy with every second that he learns, and therefore I prefer to forgo his farewell blessing as long as I do not interrupt his learning or take away from his precious moments.”

During her lifetime, Rebbetzin Yisroelson sat shivah for four of her sisters: Rebbetzin Batsheva Esther Kanievsky a”h, Rebbetzin Leah Auerbach a”h, Rebbetzin Dina Ettel Berlin a”h and Rebbetzin Shoshana Zilberstein a”h. She also mourned the passing of her brothers, Rav Shlomo Elyashiv zt”l and Rav Avrohom Elyashiv zt”l.

She is survived by her sons, Rav Dov Yisroelson, a distinguished talmid chochom; Rav Avrohom Tzvi Yisroelson, rov of Chanichei Rabbeinu Chaim Ozer; Rav Shlomo Yisroelson, an educational supervisor at Talmud Torah Avi Ezri-Halichos Shmuel; and Rav Lipa Yisroelson, publisher of the seforim of Rav Elyashiv, among others. She is also survived by her son-in-law, Rav Dovid Sofer, rov of the Alfei Menashe kehillah in Bnei Brak.

She is also survived by her brothers, Rav Moshe Elyashiv and Rav Binyomin Dovid Elyashiv, and her sister, Rebbetzin Rimer.

Yehi zichrah baruch.

{Matzav.com}