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Sen. Mitch McConnell disclosed Sunday that the medical emergency that landed him in the hospital last month began with a fall that briefly left him unconscious, ending weeks of speculation surrounding the Kentucky Republican’s health and explaining why he has remained away from the Senate.

In a statement, the 84-year-old senator said he lost consciousness for a short time around the incident that led to his hospitalization and has since undergone extensive medical testing to determine what caused the fall. He also revealed that doctors treated him for a mild case of pneumonia and that he has since been transferred to a rehabilitation facility.

“My doctors have confirmed that I didn’t break any bones or suffer a concussion. I didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke. I don’t have any tumors or hemorrhages,” McConnell said, adding that he is now “regaining my strength.”

McConnell’s update came just hours after the sudden death of fellow Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. While expressing optimism about his recovery, McConnell acknowledged that he is not yet ready to resume his Senate duties.

“I cannot return to the Senate quite yet,” he said.

With McConnell temporarily sidelined and Graham’s seat now vacant, Republicans’ majority in the Senate has been reduced to 51-47 at a critical time, as the party works to advance President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda, increase military spending, and confirm the president’s nominees.

Addressing why he had remained silent about his condition for nearly four weeks, McConnell said his generation often finds it difficult to discuss the realities of aging.

“Folks of my generation often hesitate to share the vulnerability that comes with growing older.”

“Even in the public eye, I feel that same instinct — I can’t help it,” he said.

McConnell added that he continues to stay involved in Senate matters by working closely with his staff while recovering. His statement also included a smiling photograph of himself with his wife, Elaine Chao, appearing to push back against online rumors suggesting he had died or was no longer capable of serving.

The senator’s announcement follows growing public pressure for greater transparency. Since his hospitalization on June 14, his office had released few details beyond saying that he was “receiving excellent care” and recovering. As questions about his condition mounted, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear publicly urged McConnell last week to provide the public with an update in a “transparent manner.”

McConnell is scheduled to retire at the end of January, bringing to a close one of the most influential careers in modern American politics. Republicans have nominated U.S. Rep. Andy Barr to succeed him, while Democrats selected former Kentucky state lawmaker Charles Booker as their nominee. Despite his health challenges, McConnell emphasized that he intends to complete the remainder of his term.

“I still have unfinished business to complete on your behalf,” McConnell wrote in the statement addressed to Kentuckians, “and I have every intention of finishing the job you elected me to do.”

McConnell has dealt with significant health issues for much of his life. After contracting polio as a young child, he has long acknowledged that the illness left him with lingering difficulty walking and climbing stairs.

The Office of the Attending Physician to Congress said Sunday that McConnell has “experienced several falls through the year” because of his “post-polio condition.” According to the statement, his rehabilitation program is focused on reducing the likelihood of additional falls.

“A comprehensive evaluation by a multidisciplinary team determined that he had no fractures, cardiac abnormalities, stroke, tumor, or hemorrhage,” the physician’s office said.

First elected to the Senate in 1984, McConnell served as the Republican leader from 2007 until last year, holding the roles of both majority leader and minority leader during that span. Although no longer in leadership, he has remained an active member of the Senate, frequently relying on a wheelchair while traveling through the Capitol.

In recent years, however, his physical condition has become increasingly noticeable. In March 2023, he suffered a concussion after falling at a Washington hotel, forcing him to miss several weeks of Senate business. After returning, he experienced two widely publicized episodes during press conferences in which he suddenly froze and stared silently ahead until aides intervened. The following year, he suffered another fall while leaving a Republican luncheon, spraining his wrist.

{Matzav.com}

New details have emerged regarding an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate President Donald Trump during his visit to Turkey, following earlier reports that Israel had warned the United States about the threat. According to the latest report, it was actually foreign intelligence—not Israeli intelligence—that first detected Iran’s preparations for the alleged assassination attempt, prompting U.S. officials to switch the presidential aircraft before the trip.

According to a report by Yaron Avraham on Israel’s Channel 12 News, foreign intelligence services uncovered indications that Iran was preparing to target Trump while he was in Turkey. The report states that senior Iranian officials viewed the president’s planned visit as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” but the intelligence was passed to American officials in time for security measures to be implemented, including replacing the aircraft designated for the president’s travel.

Last week, The Wall Street Journal, citing Western intelligence officials, reported that Israel had provided the United States with new intelligence pointing to a renewed Iranian plot to assassinate President Trump. According to the report, the intelligence indicated a significant escalation in Tehran’s efforts to target the American leader.

The alleged assassination plot is rooted in Iran’s longstanding vow to avenge the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force. Soleimani was killed in a U.S. airstrike ordered by President Trump during his first term in office, and Iranian leaders have repeatedly pledged retaliation.

Speaking at a press conference in Ankara, Turkey, last week, Trump acknowledged the reported threats against him.

“They want to assassinate the leader of the United States—me,” Trump said. “I saw this morning—I’m on every one of their lists. Every single list. So far, I guess I’ve been a little lucky, but maybe that won’t last much longer.”

The Israeli Embassy in Washington declined to comment on the report. Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not respond to requests for comment, while the White House referred reporters to the president’s remarks made during the NATO summit.

{Matzav.com}

A growing dispute between Shas and the Religious Zionism Party has brought the planned appointment of approximately 60 community rabbis across Israel to a halt, exposing a widening coalition rift just hours after Religious Zionism delayed final approval of Shas’ kashrus legislation.

The appointments were part of an agreement reached before the last election between Shas chairman Aryeh Deri and Finance Minister and Religious Zionism chairman Betzalel Smotrich. According to sources, the two leaders agreed to move forward with appointing about 60 community rabbis throughout the country. The entire initiative has now stalled after Smotrich reportedly refused to grant the approvals needed to complete the process.

The central point of contention involves rabbinic appointments in Judea and Samaria. Religious Zionism is insisting that additional rabbis in those communities be included as part of the broader package, while Shas argues that those appointments cannot currently be carried out due to technical considerations.

Officials in Religious Zionism say the party has drawn a firm line and will not agree to implement only part of the deal.

“Either there are appointments in Judea and Samaria as well—or there are no appointments at all,” party sources said.

The latest clash comes amid mounting tensions between the coalition partners. Just hours earlier, Religious Zionism prevented Shas from securing final approval of its kashrus bill in the Knesset Committee for Public Initiatives, chaired by MK Ohad Tal, further highlighting the deteriorating relationship between the two parties.

The Knesset has taken a historic step toward formally recognizing Israel’s combat veterans suffering from psychological trauma, as a new bill establishing their legal status advanced Sunday and is expected to receive final approval later this week.

The Knesset Committee, chaired by MK Ofir Katz, together with the Labor and Welfare Committee headed by MK Michal Waldiger, approved legislation that, for the first time, formally defines combat veterans suffering from combat-related trauma under Israeli law.

The bill, which is expected to pass its second and third Knesset readings this week, would establish an official legal definition of a combat veteran suffering from combat trauma within the Disabled Veterans Law. It would also guarantee specialized treatment and rehabilitation through the Defense Ministry’s Rehabilitation Department while expanding benefits, financial assistance, and support services for their families.

Kikar HaShabbos has learned that the legislation was originally developed during discussions surrounding the Basic Law: Torah Study. Lawmakers later decided to incorporate the measure into an amendment to the Disabled Veterans Law, a move that ultimately received bipartisan support from both coalition and opposition members.

During the committee deliberations, lawmakers and government representatives said the legislation is intended to bring Israel’s laws in line with the country’s complex security reality and ensure that thousands of combat veterans suffering psychological trauma receive care specifically tailored to their needs.

Labor and Welfare Committee Chairwoman MK Michal Waldiger welcomed the bill’s advancement, saying, “I am happy to lead a meaningful and moving amendment that is tailored to the complex reality of the State of Israel. Combat veterans deserve personalized care and the best possible rehabilitation, both for themselves and for their family members, whose lives were turned upside down in an instant. They gave for us, and today, through great effort and true justice, we are giving back to them a little so that they can return to life.”

Following the committee’s approval, Netanel Shaked, one of the leaders of the Combat Veterans Forum, thanked MK Moshe Abutbul and the Shas party for supporting the legislation. He described the measure as a historic law that, for the first time, will provide official legal recognition to combat veterans suffering from combat trauma while significantly expanding the system of benefits, compensation, and assistance available to them and their families.

If the bill receives final approval in the Knesset plenum, Israel will, for the first time, formally enshrine the legal status of combat veterans suffering from combat trauma in statute, replacing a system that for years relied primarily on administrative procedures and government policies.

A new organization aimed at uniting chareidi journalists from across the media spectrum is set to be formally launched on Monday at the Museum of Tolerance in Yerushalayim. But even before the inaugural conference has taken place, organizers claim the initiative is already facing an organized effort to discredit and derail it.

Dozens of chareidi reporters, editors, broadcasters, and media professionals representing a wide range of chareidi news outlets are expected to attend the founding convention of the newly established Chareidi Journalists Council. Organizers describe the body as a professional organization designed to support journalists working in the chareidi media. In recent days, however, a series of media reports has fueled speculation that some parties are attempting to undermine the new organization before it even begins operating.

Much of the controversy stems from a recent investigative report aired by Channel 14, which alleged that the conference is being organized by Avi Widerman, whom the network characterized as a prominent left-wing figure. The station later reported that former Chief Rabbi Rav Dovid Lau had withdrawn from the event following publication of that investigation.

Organizers strongly dispute those claims, arguing that the reports appear to be part of a broader campaign to tarnish the council by attaching political labels to it rather than addressing its stated professional mission.

They point to the reporting surrounding Rav Lau’s absence as an example. While Channel 14 claimed the former chief rabbi canceled his participation because of its investigation, organizers say the official response from Rav Lau’s office—and subsequent conversations with his staff—confirm that he informed organizers last week that he would be unable to attend because he is currently overseas as part of an official delegation strengthening ties with Jewish communities in the Diaspora.

“Those facts apparently were of no interest to those looking to manufacture a negative headline,” one of the conference organizers said. “Deciding on the facts first and only afterward asking for a response is the exact opposite of journalistic ethics. And if that is the reason the Chareidi Journalists Council is being established, then that alone justifies its existence.”

Organizers also reject claims that the conference represents a political initiative associated with the left, noting that the lineup of keynote speakers tells a very different story.

Among those scheduled to address the gathering are Israel’s Chief Rabbi, Rav Kalman Ber; veteran educator and chairman of the Madaim V’Yahadus network, Rav Ben Zion Nordman; and Dr. Avishai Ben Chaim, who is widely identified with Israel’s political right, traditional values, and the “Second Israel” movement.

“The list of speakers at the council’s inaugural conference completely refutes the claim that this is a left-wing event,” a source involved with the new organization said. “It appears that someone has already decided on a target and refuses to let the facts get in the way. Instead of journalism, we are seeing anonymous actors trying to sabotage an important initiative.”

The source added that Widerman’s Zericha Foundation operates under the guidance of gedolei Yisroel. While Widerman has never concealed his personal political views, the source said those opinions have never influenced the foundation’s work, including its involvement with the journalists’ council.

“It is unfortunate that some have chosen to take sides against chareidi journalists who simply want to establish a professional organization that will provide them with support,” the source said. “Unlike members of the general media, chareidi journalists currently have no professional body standing behind them.”

According to the organizers, the council’s mission is entirely professional and is intended to address a growing need within the chareidi media. They say that in recent years, chareidi journalists have increasingly faced threats, pressure campaigns, and lawsuits intended to intimidate them, making a unified representative body more necessary than ever.

The organization’s primary goals are to protect the professional rights of chareidi journalists, provide formal recognition for their work, and offer legal assistance and representation to reporters carrying out their responsibilities on behalf of the public.

“This council is more necessary today than ever before,” one of the organizers said. “Journalists should not have to fear competing media organizations trying to impose agendas on them. Our goal is to provide full support and protection to every chareidi journalist, regardless of any political or ideological agenda.”

{Matzav.com}

Despite the rapidly intensifying confrontation between the United States and Iran, Israeli officials believe Tehran is unlikely, at least for now, to launch direct attacks against Israel, according to assessments discussed Sunday evening at the highest levels of government.

According to a report by Israel’s Channel 12 News, Israeli officials—including participants in a security meeting chaired by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Sunday evening—believe Iran understands that attacking Israeli territory or civilians would trigger a return to full-scale war and could send the conflict spiraling beyond anyone’s control.

An Israeli official quoted in the report said, “We all hope our assessment proves to be wrong and that Iran makes the mistake.” The official added, “The Americans know that we want to complete our missions in Iran—and they know exactly what we mean. Right now, it isn’t relevant. The current operation is limited, and we are not part of it. We will become part of it only if the Americans bring us into it—or if the Iranians bring us into it.”

Earlier Sunday, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had launched drone strikes against American HIMARS surface-to-surface missile launchers in Kuwait. According to the Iranian report, “the missile infrastructure that was prepared to launch attacks against Iran was destroyed.”

Meanwhile, Sabereen News, a media outlet affiliated with pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, reported that drones targeted headquarters belonging to Iranian Kurdish opposition groups in the Sulaymaniyah province of northern Iraq. The report did not immediately provide additional details regarding the alleged strikes.

{Matzav.com}

A new series of arrests targeting bnei Torah has raised concerns that another wave of mass chareidi protests could be imminent. On Sunday, two Gerer chassidim and one Erlauer chassid were arrested and sentenced to military prison after attempting to resolve their draft status with Israeli authorities.

One of those arrested was a young Gerer chassid and talmid of Yeshivas Chiddushei Harim, who was detained after reporting to the military induction office in an effort to “regularize his status.” He was sentenced to 20 days in military prison.

Also arrested on Sunday was a Gerer avreich from Ashdod. He, too, was sentenced to 20 days in Prison 10 and, according to reports, was being transported there shortly after his sentencing.

In a separate incident, a young Erlauer chassid, a talmid of Yeshivas Chayei Torah, was arrested after reporting to the induction office in Be’er Sheva in an attempt to regularize his status. He was likewise transferred to Prison 10.

The arrests come roughly one month after Gur held its largest protest yet against the arrest of bnei yeshivah. Tens of thousands of chassidim participated in the demonstration following the detention of a yeshivah bochur from Ashdod who had been declared a draft evader. In an exceptionally rare move, the Gerrer Rebbe personally attended the mass rally.

In addition, approximately two weeks ago, thousands of vehicles took part in a nationwide protest convoy that departed from multiple locations across Eretz Yisroel, including Yerushalayim. The demonstration, titled “Enough Is Enough!,” featured a slow-moving procession toward military detention facilities but stopped short of physically blocking access to Prison 10.

{Matzav.com}

Health officials are investigating a growing outbreak of a rare foodborne parasite that has already sickened hundreds of people across the United States, with experts still unable to identify a single source. As the number of infections continues to climb, many Americans are wondering whether the fresh fruits and vegetables in their kitchens are safe to eat.

Since May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed at least 145 cases of cyclosporiasis nationwide. The true number, however, appears to be significantly higher. Michigan alone had reported more than 1,000 infections as of July 9.

The illness is caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis, a parasite that is relatively uncommon in the United States. It spreads through food or water contaminated with human waste. According to Wisconsin health officials, some infected individuals may have contracted the parasite while traveling to countries where it is more widespread. CDC figures show that at least 45 patients became sick after eating food or drinking water outside the United States.

Within the U.S., however, infections are more commonly linked to contaminated fresh produce. Previous outbreaks have been associated with foods such as romaine lettuce, basil, cilantro, snow peas, and raspberries. Although investigators are still searching for the cause of the recent cases, the CDC says “there is currently no evidence of a single, multistate … outbreak.”

With the source still unknown, many people are understandably concerned about becoming infected, particularly because the illness can produce unpleasant and prolonged symptoms.

Not everyone exposed to the parasite becomes sick. For those who do develop symptoms, the CDC and Cleveland Clinic say the hallmark sign is frequent watery diarrhea that can be severe and “sometimes explosive.”

Patients may also experience loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, “bloating, including burping and farting,” a mild fever, and significant fatigue. Symptoms generally begin anywhere from two days to two weeks after exposure.

Anyone experiencing these symptoms is urged to seek medical attention. Doctors can confirm the infection through specialized stool testing.

Dr. Katie Theoktisto of Baylor Scott & White told Nexstar’s KXAN that in some patients the illness will “self-resolve after a few days.”

She cautioned, however, that persistent diarrhea should not be ignored. “If you’re having a diarrheal illness that’s lasting over a week or two, it’s probably something unusual,” she warned, saying that “those with prolonged symptoms should seek care from their health care providers.”

According to Theoktisto, young children, pregnant women, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems face a greater risk of serious illness. These patients may also experience symptoms that return after initially improving.

She noted that several treatments are available. The Cleveland Clinic says therapy may include antibiotics, anti-diarrheal medications, and maintaining proper hydration. Patients who cannot take sulfa-based medications because of allergies can be treated with alternative drugs.

The CDC says that while healthy individuals may recover without medical treatment, others can remain “sick for anywhere from a few days to a month or longer.” Symptoms may disappear and then return, placing some patients at risk for “severe or long illness.” Without treatment, the infection can persist for a month or even longer.

One encouraging fact is that Cyclospora is not believed to spread directly from one person to another.

To reduce the risk of infection, health officials advise thoroughly washing all fruits and vegetables before eating, preparing, or cooking them.

Experts also recommend refrigerating peeled, cut, or cooked produce promptly and trimming away any bruised or damaged portions of fruits and vegetables before consuming them.

{Matzav.com}