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At a formal handover ceremony for the leadership of the Judea and Samaria Division, IDF Brig. Gen. Yaki Dolf transferred command to Brig. Gen. Kobi Heller on Sunday.

Central Command chief Avi Bluth opened his remarks with words from the Torah portion of the week. “On the coming Shabbat we will read the portion that begins ‘When you go out to war against your enemy’ and ends ‘Remember what Amalek did to you.’ On October 7, these two verses came together — when we, as an army, failed to defend our citizens, and the enemy, Hamas — like Amalek — launched a wicked attack.”

Bluth explained that one of the central takeaways from October 7 is that the military must evaluate the enemy based on its capabilities and strike firmly. “Problems must be killed while they are small and not left to grow. We should not place our hopes solely on early warning and deterrence. The same applies to disturbances of the peace — we have determined not to tolerate disturbances but eliminate them immediately.”

He went on to say that the changes in Judea and Samaria over the past two years — especially since the start of Operation Wall of Iron — will be analyzed for years to come. “All this was accomplished amid a war in which Israel is engaged on seven fronts. Yaki, you are handing over a sector that is much more stable and secure than the one you received.”

Bluth emphasized the difficulty of the task in the central sector. “It is no secret that the central arena is the most complex of all arenas and requires a professional and value-based approach as well as a moral backbone to implement this approach. Day by day you, the commanders and soldiers, prove that it is possible to win and remain humane. Our mission as a command is to ensure that the central and eastern arenas remain stable and secure even as the challenges are great.”

He noted that the IDF operates with full awareness of the population in the region. “We are not confused; we know we operate in an area that has a civilian population and we see everyone. We set clear priorities — protecting Israelis, fighting terrorism and, yes, enforcing law and order. The decisive action against anarchist fringe youth has led to a decrease in nationalist crime over the last three months. We are committed to ensuring that this trend continues.”

The general stressed that military activity is always guided by both determination and moral principles. He said operations are carried out “with an offensive and cunning approach that sanctifies initiative, and all while adhering to the state’s laws and rules of morality. The Torah says ‘Justice, justice shall you pursue’ — and we pursue it! We also pursue our enemies, and doing so while justice, morality and the law are our guiding light.”

Looking forward, he warned that the coming weeks would present new tests. “The holidays and the olive harvest are at hand, the battle for control of Gaza is ongoing, and there are various initiatives and statements that could shake the arena. Our enemies, though they were struck hard, try continuously to direct terrorism in the West Bank sector and from the eastern arena. Nevertheless, we are determined to continue the positive trends alongside our operational readiness for shifts and escalation.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

A sweeping and controversial postwar plan for Gaza is circulating inside the Trump administration, envisioning the relocation of the enclave’s entire population and the transformation of the war-torn territory into a U.S.-administered economic and tourism hub, The Washington Post reported Sunday. The 38-page proposal, dubbed the Gaza Reconstitution, Economic Acceleration and Transformation Trust — or GREAT Trust — reflects President Donald Trump’s repeated pledge to “take over” Gaza. It lays out a decade-long U.S. administration that would redevelop the territory into high-tech “smart cities,” industrial zones, and luxury beachfront resorts. At the heart of the plan: relocating Gaza’s more than 2 million residents. According to the documents, departures could take the form of voluntary resettlement abroad or movement into heavily secured zones within the enclave during reconstruction. Every Palestinian who leaves Gaza would receive a $5,000 cash grant, four years of rent subsidies, and a year’s worth of food. The trust calculates that relocating each resident would save roughly $23,000 compared with providing temporary housing and basic services on-site. Landowners would be compensated with “digital tokens” redeemable for housing in six to eight planned AI-powered smart cities inside Gaza — or to finance new lives abroad. The plan stresses it would require no U.S. taxpayer funding. Instead, it pitches itself as a magnet for private capital, projecting a nearly fourfold return on a $100 billion investment over ten years. Potential mega-projects include electric vehicle plants, data centers, high-rise apartments, and beach resorts. Some of the same Israeli operatives behind the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — which currently distributes food in Gaza under U.S. and Israeli supervision — helped design the GREAT Trust. Financial modeling was carried out by former Boston Consulting Group analysts, though the firm later distanced itself, saying the work was never formally approved. Two senior partners were dismissed. Trump convened a closed-door White House meeting last Wednesday to review postwar options. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner — who spearheaded the administration’s first-term Middle East initiatives and retains private business interests in the region — all attended. No decisions emerged from the session. Witkoff described the administration’s planning as “very comprehensive,” while the White House declined to comment. The plan contrasts sharply with alternative proposals from the United Nations, Arab states, and the Palestinian Authority, which have floated models for technocratic or international administration. Israel, for its part, has ruled out restoring control of Gaza to the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority and insists on retaining security control. Legal experts warn the GREAT Trust could collide with international law. Any plan that blocks Palestinians from returning to their homes or fails to ensure adequate shelter, food, and medical care could be deemed unlawful, regardless of the financial incentives attached. The proposal envisions starting with clearing debris and unexploded ordnance, then rebuilding power and water systems before launching new industrial and tourism zones along Gaza’s borders. The planned smart cities would combine residential, commercial, and industrial development with schools, clinics, parks, and green spaces. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

BREAKING: Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani seriously injured after car accident while assisting domestic violence victim in New Hampshire

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was hospitalized Saturday night after a car accident in New Hampshire, his spokesperson confirmed. Giuliani, 81, suffered a fractured vertebra along with cuts and bruises to his left arm and lower leg when his rental car was rear-ended at high speed, according to spokesman Michael Ragusa. The former mayor — who rose to national prominence for his leadership of New York after 9/11 — had just finished assisting a woman who flagged him down as a victim of domestic violence. Giuliani called 911 and stayed on the scene until police arrived. The crash happened after he re-entered his vehicle. Ragusa said Giuliani is “recovering and in good spirits” despite the injuries. “The mayor is in great spirits. He’s a beast. He survived 9/11,” he added. Giuliani, once hailed as “America’s Mayor,” has in recent years remained a polarizing political figure, facing mounting legal troubles tied to his work for Donald Trump. His team did not immediately say how long he would remain hospitalized. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Rudy Giuliani was badly hurt in a car crash in New Hampshire on Saturday night, according to his representative.

The 81-year-old was taken to the hospital with a fractured vertebra along with multiple cuts and bruises, including injuries to his left arm and lower leg. His spokesperson, Michael Ragusa, said the accident happened when a rental car Giuliani was driving was struck from behind.

“Mayor Giuliani was flagged down by a woman who was a victim of domestic violence prior to the accident. He rendered assistance and contacted 911, remaining on scene until responding officers arrived to ensure her safety,” explained Ragusa, who also serves as Giuliani’s head of security.

“The accident occurred after he re-entered his vehicle, which was then hit from behind at high speed,” Ragusa continued.

Giuliani, who served as mayor of New York City between 1994 and 2001, is currently recovering and maintaining a positive outlook.

“The mayor is in great spirits. He’s a beast. He survived 9/11,” Ragusa said.

According to Ragusa, Giuliani is expected to remain under observation at a hospital in the Manchester area for the next several days and will then need to wear a brace for his spinal injury.

Maria Ryan, his business partner and a nurse by profession, is actively involved in overseeing his medical treatment.

“He’s getting further tests and stabilization of his injuries,” Ryan stated.

{Matzav.com}

After reports surfaced highlighting severe problems with infrastructure and hygiene at an IDF base near Eilat, Ynet revealed that a soldier was punished with 13 days of detention for filming and circulating video clips from inside the facility.

The soldier had captured footage of eggs in the base’s dining hall that appeared to contain dead chicks. He later uploaded the recording to social media, which prompted disciplinary measures for breaking security rules regarding photography and distribution of material from within a military compound.

An IDF spokesperson stressed that the eggs shown in the clip were never given to soldiers to eat, and explained: “Last Monday, a soldier at the base was sentenced to 13 days of detention for breaching information security regulations. He admitted to filming and distributing content from within the camp. The base has explicit rules prohibiting photography on its premises, in line with IDF-wide directives.”

The case comes against a backdrop of sharp criticism from troops and their families about the poor conditions at the base. During a recent heatwave, the compound suffered a blackout that left soldiers without air conditioning or steady access to water. Some soldiers also said the food provided in the dining hall was moldy and inedible.

At the same time, approximately 400 female recruits had just begun their service at the base.

As complaints mounted, the IDF responded by giving the majority of soldiers there an extended weekend furlough, keeping only one company behind to handle security. By the following day, even that group was released as well.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israel’s Defense Ministry said it is pulling out of the DSEI UK 2025 defense exhibition in London after the UK barred Israeli government officials from attending the show due to “Israel’s escalation of its military operation in Gaza.” The exhibition, scheduled for September 9-12, is one of the world’s leading defense exhibitions. The ban does not include representatives of Israeli defense contractors. The Defense Ministry called the move “offensive and disgraceful” and “a deliberate act of discrimination against Israeli representatives.” The statement clarified that Israel will not establish a national pavilion at the fair but will provide logistical support to representatives of Israeli defense contractors who are still interested in participating. The statement said that the UK has acted against Israel [alluding to its announcement that it will recognize a Palestinian state] while it is “at war on multiple fronts against radical Islamist elements that also threaten Western countries and international shipping routes. In doing so, the UK has taken a step that serves extremists, legitimizes terrorism, and stems from political considerations outside the professional framework of international defense exhibitions.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

With chasdei Shamayim, the surgery performed today on the Belzer Rebbe was completed successfully, according to doctors at Hadassah Medical Center.

The public is urged to continue davening for the refuah sheleimah of the Rebbe, Rav Yissachar Dov ben Miriam.

Throughout the duration of the surgery, chassidim gathered to pour out their tefillos in every beis medrash of the chassidus, as well as at the tziyun of the previous Belzer Rebbe, Rav Aharon of Belz.

Senior staff at Hadassah, including Dr. Saar Hashavia, deputy director of the hospital, and the surgeons Dr. Eri Libergal and Dr. Ram Moshayov, personally updated the Rebbe’s son, along with the Rebbe’s longtime gabbai Reb Michoel Firer, and askanim Ahrele Fried, who coordinated the arrangements at the hospital, and Motti Eichler, who remained on site throughout the procedure.

The Rebbe is now resting comfortably in his hospital room, and it is hoped that his recovery and rehabilitation in the coming days will be smooth and speedy.

At the conclusion of a large public Tehillim gathering today in the main Belzer beis medrash, Rav Shalom Rokeach, the Rebbe’s eldest grandson, conveyed a request from his father. Quoting the posuk in Tehillim, “Mi ha’ish he’chafetz chaim, ohev yamim liros tov…”, he asked that all those who are able should accept upon themselves, as a merit for the Rebbe’s recovery, to refrain from speaking lashon hara or gossip for at least one hour each day.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Qatar, a regime that openly supports Hamas, has funneled money into film and stage productions by Mira Nair, the mother of socialist politician Zohran Mamdani, whose work has often attacked Israel. Now, according to the New York Post, a member of Qatar’s royal family is promoting Mamdani’s bid for mayor.

Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani, the sister of the ruling emir, has directed state-backed cultural institutions that have supported Nair’s artistic projects since at least 2009. She even extended Nair a personal invitation to take part in cultural events organized for Qatar’s 2022 World Cup celebrations.

Since June, the sheikha has actively pushed Mamdani’s campaign online, sharing polling numbers favorable to him on Instagram and dropping fire emojis under a TikTok clip showing him hugging his mother.

“They are buying somebody who is willing to be bought and at the time of their choosing they will ask for what they want,” warned Danielle Pletka, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, speaking of Nair’s ties to Qatar. “They need a rainbow coalition of people who will support the ideology they promote: sometimes it will be Islamism, sometimes it will be antisemitism, sometimes it will be anti-Israel.”

The NY Post uncovered multiple links between Nair and the Qatari royal family.

Qatar’s legal system, rooted in sharia, prohibits women from marrying or holding government positions without male approval. These realities clash with the progressive image that both Nair and her son have sought to project.

Human rights groups estimate that thousands of migrant laborers died in scorching 125-degree heat while building Qatar’s World Cup infrastructure, under what has been described as “modern day slavery.”

Yet Nair, in an interview with Qatar Happening during the World Cup and the run of her Monsoon Wedding musical, spoke glowingly about the regime. “Her Highness Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani has loved the movie but also supported the inception of this musical over several years,” Nair said.

Nair has refused to attend the Haifa International Film Festival, citing Israeli policies that she claimed “privilege one religion over another.” Meanwhile, Qatar forbids public worship by non-Muslims, and the U.S. State Department has warned that the regime is “pursuing a number of actions which will ultimately lead to the eradication” of its Bah’aii community.

Despite these abuses, Nair was photographed as recently as November 2024 at a major opening at the Qatar National Museum. She has never publicly condemned the regime’s well-documented record of human rights violations.

Analysts have labeled Qatar “America’s ultimate ‘frenemy,’” pointing out that while it funds Islamist movements hostile to the U.S., it also hosts a major American airbase. Jonathan Schanzer of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies described the country as “both arsonist and firefighter”: aiding groups like Hamas and the Taliban while offering itself as a broker between them and the West.

Schanzer expressed alarm that there could be “one degree of separation” between the Qatari royals and the potential mayor of New York City, especially given the country’s track record of using its wealth to buy influence, such as the scandals involving ex-Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey and members of the European Parliament.

“The Qataris are hyperactive in terms of international diplomacy, international investment, and everything that they do is designed to spread their funds and spread their influence,” Schanzer warned.

No evidence has surfaced of a direct financial connection between Mamdani and the Qatari state. The assemblyman has said he has never traveled to the country nor received funding from its institutions.

However, his campaign refused to clarify whether he had accepted help from his mother, or if he has had any contact with the sheikha. His team would not issue a direct condemnation of the Al-Thani regime, offering only a statement about “his belief in universal human rights and the freedom to advocate for justice everywhere.”

“The attempt to weaponize his mother’s career against him is an insult to voters who care about actual issues, not manufactured distractions,” campaign spokeswoman Dora Pekec said.

{Matzav.com}

Palestinian media is reporting that Abu Obeida’s three kids and wife were killed alongside him.

JUST IN: At least 35 people shot, 5 fatally, in shootings across Chicago so far this Labor Day weekend.

The popular Israeli children’s performer Chaim Osadon, best known on stage as “David Chaim” and cherished by countless families for his lively shows, announced that he will no longer appear on Shabbos.

In an emotional message on Instagram titled “David Chaim – Closed on Shabbos,” Osadon shared his decision with his fans and supporters.

“Dear friends and colleagues,” he wrote, “after many years, I’ve made a deeply personal and significant decision for myself and my family. I have decided that I will no longer perform on Shabbos.”

Recognizing that this step could affect his career, Osadon admitted, “I understand the consequences—this year, for the first time, I will not be participating in a major Hanukkah production. Still, I am ready to accept this ‘price’ with love and a full heart.”

He ended his post with a note of optimism: “This year, I’ll continue performing for municipalities, shopping centers, workers’ unions, and other clients who wish to bring my show to their audiences. Wishing everyone only good news.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

A pro-Palestinian activist vandalized the French Republic monument in Republic Square but became stuck, requiring rescuers to help him down.

Netanyahu declared that most of the Houthi government and several military operatives have been eliminated in Yemen, stressing that Israel is carrying out actions unprecedented by others who have fought the Houthis before. He warned that the strikes on the leadership in Sanaa are only the beginning and vowed, “We will reach everyone.”

Newly released footage shows the incredible moments a pilot was rescued after his plane crashed into the ocean off the North Carolina coast earlier this month.

Rav Yitzchak Yosef, the former Sephardic chief rabbi of Israel, used his weekly motzoei Shabbos shiur to make clear that yeshiva bochurim should not cooperate with the Military Police if they attempt to arrest those avoiding the draft.

At the beginning of his words, Rav Yosef declared that the victories of the IDF and the very survival of the state are due solely to the power of Torah. “Your Torah, yeshiva students, and the heads of households who study in the morning and evening – it is in this merit that even the heretics are victorious,” Rav Yosef said.

“How is it possible? The Chief of Staff was a heretic, what about Rafael? Do you remember him? How was Ariel Sharon? How were the heretics? How were the anti-religious? And they succeeded? How did they succeed? Torah.”

Rav Yosef noted that political leaders have no real grasp of what Torah learners contribute to Klal Yisroel. He explained, “They don’t know this. If they knew, they would grant us all sorts of benefits. Anyone who learns in yeshiva, who is a son of Torah, would get a free apartment, exemption from municipal taxes. The sages have always been exempt from taxes,” he said. “But they don’t know, they don’t understand. Poor things, they were educated in non-religious schools; they don’t understand what this is.”

In his sharpest comments, Rav Yosef urged bochurim not to allow security forces to enter the yeshivos. “Thank God, they don’t enter the yeshivas. Don’t be afraid. If the Military Police come, stand up to them. It is unacceptable for them to go there. They will not come. Don’t think about it at all,” he emphasized.

He repeatedly underscored the idea that Torah learning provides protection for Klal Yisroel. “The entire people of Israel who were saved from the missiles the Houthis are firing – it is in the merit of Torah study. You are giving strength to the soldiers. This is our Torah,” he said. He concluded: “Anyone who says otherwise is a heretic, G-d forbid.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

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President Donald Trump blasted Illinois Governor JB Pritzker as “weak and pathetic,” warning that he is ready to send federal troops into Chicago if the governor cannot get the city’s crime wave under control.

Pritzker has accused Trump of “attempting to manufacture a crisis” in Chicago, where at least 35 people were shot over the Labor Day weekend, four of them fatally.

Trump’s latest remarks on Truth Social followed another violent stretch in the city between August 22 and August 25, when six people were killed and more than two dozen others were injured in shootings.

“Six people were killed, and 24 people were shot, in Chicago last weekend, and JB Pritzker, the weak and pathetic Governor of Illinois, just said that he doesn’t need help in preventing CRIME,” Trump wrote.

“He is CRAZY!!! He better straighten it out, FAST, or we’re coming! MAGA. President DJT,” the president continued.

The White House has noted that Chicago has recorded the highest number of homicides in the country for 13 straight years, and reports indicate that officials have been preparing for months to potentially deploy up to 1,000 National Guard troops to the city as early as September.

At the same time, statistics show Chicago’s murder rate is still lower than that of Washington, DC.

Trump has previously dispatched the National Guard to Los Angeles to protect federal agents during immigration enforcement operations, and to Washington, DC as part of an anti-crime push. He has also cited New York City, Baltimore, and Oakland as places where federal troops might be used in the future.

In recent days, Trump and Pritzker—seen as a possible Democratic contender in 2028—have repeatedly clashed, with Trump hammering him over Chicago’s persistent violence.

“Panic stricken Governor Pritzker says that crime is under control, when in fact it is just the opposite. He is an incompetent Governor who should call me for HELP,” Trump wrote earlier in the week.

Trump has also ridiculed Pritzker’s weight, remarking that the governor “ought to spend more time in the gym, actually.”

“It takes one to know one on the weight question,” Pritzker responded on Monday.

The governor has also called Trump’s talk of deploying the military to Chicago “unconstitutional” and “a dangerous power grab.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump announced that he plans to sign an executive order making voter identification mandatory for all voters.

“Voter I.D. Must Be Part of Every Single Vote. NO EXCEPTIONS! I Will Be Doing An Executive Order To That End!!!,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“Also, No Mail-In Voting, Except For Those That Are Very Ill, And The Far Away Military,” he added.

Trump has long argued for eliminating electronic voting machines, urging instead a return to paper ballots and hand counts. Election officials, however, maintain that such methods are slower, more expensive, and less reliable than machine tallies.

At the beginning of August, Trump said he would issue an executive order banning both voting machines and mail-in ballots ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Still, since elections are run by the states, there is uncertainty about whether a president has the constitutional authority to enforce such a directive.

The upcoming November 3, 2026, elections will be the first major test of Trump’s policies at home and abroad since he returned to office in January. Democrats are hoping to reclaim control of at least one chamber of Congress in order to limit Trump’s ability to advance his legislative agenda.

{Matzav.com}