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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}

A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that an attack on a Jewish woman wearing an Israeli flag may constitute racial discrimination, allowing most of her lawsuit to proceed toward trial.

Kimmara Sumrall accused Janine Ali, 74, of approaching her from behind during a demonstration at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., in November 2024 and pulling the Israeli flag tied around her neck, briefly choking her.

Mark Goldfeder, director of National Jewish Advocacy Center, which is representing Sumrall, told JNS that “today, the court denied the motion to dismiss, which means the case is going forward.”

U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden rejected Ali’s argument that the flag did not represent Jewish identity. “Sumrall supports Israel as an expression of her Jewish identity,” he wrote in the ruling.

“The Star of David, emblazoned upon the Israeli flag, symbolizes the Jewish race,” he wrote. “Battery, particularly involving a racial symbol, is strong evidence of racial discrimination.”

McFadden added that “it is quite a stretch to say that yanking on a flag tied around someone’s neck is an objection to state policies; battery is not a legitimate form of protest.”

Goldfeder called the ruling a “massive win.”

“The ‘it’s just anti-Zionism not antisemitism’ excuse has now been raised, briefed and rejected,” Goldfeder said. “On the record. Every defendant who reaches for that excuse will now find this opinion waiting.”

According to the filing, Sumrall had previously witnessed Ali, at other demonstrations, calling Jews “baby killer” and accusing Jews of “committing genocide” and being “disgusting ex-IDF soldiers.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

Pro-Israel candidates from both parties scored major victories across Florida on Tuesday, with Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds, Republican Rep. Randy Fine and Democratic Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Jared Moskowitz all defeating opponents who had made hostility toward Israel a prominent part of their campaigns.

Donalds easily captured the Republican nomination for governor, positioning himself to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis while dealing a decisive defeat to James Fishback, whose campaign drew attention for its outreach to the “groyper” movement associated with Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes.

With 87% of ballots counted, Donalds had received 762,364 votes, or 48.3%, while Lt. Gov. Jay Collins was a distant second with 393,248 votes, or 24.9%. Fishback finished third with 163,261 votes, or 10.4%.

The Associated Press called the Republican gubernatorial contest for Donalds roughly an hour after polls closed.

Fishback has denied harboring hostility toward Jews, but his campaign was heavily focused on opposition to Israel and was also marked by repeated racial jabs at Donalds, who is black.

Among other proposals, Fishback promised to remove Florida state investments from Israel and signed a “contract with Florida” pledging not to accept money from the pro-Israel group AIPAC. He also referred to food served at the University of Central Florida as “goyslop” and repeatedly called Donalds “By’rone,” apparently seeking to make his first name sound more stereotypically black.

Donalds, by contrast, has been an outspoken supporter of Israel and has previously characterized the Jewish state as the United States’ closest ally in the Middle East.

The Republican congressman will now advance to the November general election, where he will face David Jolly, a onetime Republican congressman who secured the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

Republicans also rejected an explicitly antisemitic challenge to Jewish Rep. Randy Fine, who comfortably retained the GOP nomination for his House seat against social media personality Dan Bilzerian.

With 87% of ballots counted, Fine had 42,898 votes, or 56.8%, compared with Bilzerian’s 13,816 votes, or 18.3%.

Bilzerian, who has approximately 29 million Instagram followers and has previously denied the Holocaust, made antisemitic rhetoric a central feature of his campaign.

Days before the primary, Bilzerian posted an AI-generated video asking “should we revisit that Austrian painter’s opinions” alongside an image of Adolf Hitler. The video also depicted Fine wearing a yarmulke while horns appeared to grow from his head.

The video prompted widespread condemnation from Republicans, Democrats and Jewish organizations.

The Republican Jewish Coalition celebrated the results, praising Fine for defeating a “neo-Nazi” and Donalds for overcoming “one of the most openly bigoted campaigns in recent memory.”

“James Fishback spent this race trafficking in vile racism and antisemitic filth,” stated Matt Brooks, CEO of the coalition. “He peddled antisemitic conspiracy tropes to his supporters while courting the endorsement and praise of white nationalist Nick Fuentes.”

“Dan Bilzerian did not merely flirt with antisemitism. He made Jew-hatred the entire premise of his campaign,” Brooks said. “Tonight, the Republican voters of Florida’s 6th District stood up to this fanatic and buried Bilzerian’s hateful campaign in the dustbin of history where it belongs.”

On the Democratic side, two prominent Jewish and pro-Israel members of Congress also survived challenges from candidates who have accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.

Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Jared Moskowitz each won their respective Democratic House primaries despite major changes to Florida’s congressional map resulting from Republican-led mid-decade redistricting.

The new boundaries prompted Moskowitz to seek reelection in the 25th Congressional District, which had previously been represented by Wasserman Schultz. She instead moved to the predominantly black 20th Congressional District, a seat left vacant when Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned in April after being federally indicted on fraud charges.

Despite leaving Congress, Cherfilus-McCormick remained a candidate in the Democratic primary. Wasserman Schultz also faced former Broward County Mayor Dale V.C. Holness; Elijah Manley, a self-described democratic socialist and convert to Judaism; and Luther Campbell, the rapper best known for leading the 1980s hip-hop group 2 Live Crew.

All four of Wasserman Schultz’s primary opponents are black.

With 99% of ballots counted, Wasserman Schultz led the field with 29,759 votes, or 45.6%. Holness finished second with 14,985 votes, or 22.9%, followed by Manley with 9,059 votes, or 13.9%. Cherfilus-McCormick received 5,997 votes, or 9.2%, while Campbell finished with 5,520 votes, or 8.4%.

Moskowitz, meanwhile, faced Oliver Larkin in the Democratic primary for the 25th District. Larkin was the only Florida candidate to receive the endorsement of the Democratic Socialists of America.

With 91% of ballots counted, Moskowitz held a commanding advantage with 27,584 votes, or 63.5%, compared with Larkin’s 15,867 votes, or 36.5%.

Republicans also held a competitive primary for the 25th District. With 91% of those ballots tabulated, Scott Singer led with 11,603 votes, or 31.3%, while George R. Moraitis was second with 10,162 votes, or 27.4%.

The November outlook differs significantly for Florida’s two Jewish Democratic incumbents. The Cook Political Report currently considers Moskowitz’s newly configured 25th District a toss-up, potentially setting up a closely fought general-election contest, while Wasserman Schultz’s 20th District is rated solidly Democratic.

{Matzav.com}