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Israel’s next national election will take place on October 27 as originally scheduled, after the Knesset completes its full term, marking the first time in nearly four decades that Israelis will head to the polls on schedule rather than after an early collapse of the government.

Knesset Legal Adviser Sagit Afik confirmed on Sunday that the current parliament will conclude its term on July 17, with the election date remaining unchanged.

“The current Knesset will complete its full term and will not be dissolved [early]. The election date remains as established by law — October 27,” Afik said during a meeting of the Knesset House Committee.

If the timetable holds, it will be Israel’s first regularly scheduled election since 1988. It will also make Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s current administration the first Israeli government to serve out its entire term since 1973.

The announcement comes as coalition lawmakers race to advance a long list of controversial legislation before the Knesset adjourns. Once parliament dissolves, most legislative activity effectively comes to a standstill unless measures receive backing from both the coalition and the opposition.

Israel’s 37th government was sworn in on December 29, 2022, following the collapse of the Naftali Bennett-Yair Lapid coalition.

Led by Netanyahu’s Likud party and supported by several chareidi and right-wing parties, the coalition has frequently been described as the most conservative government in Israel’s history.

Despite surviving its full term, the coalition repeatedly faced threats to its stability. One of the most persistent flashpoints involved legislation aimed at preserving longstanding exemptions from mandatory military service for chareidi men, an issue that has divided not only the opposition but members of the coalition itself.

The government also weathered repeated threats from right-wing coalition partners during the war in Gaza, with some warning they would bring down the government over proposed hostage-release and ceasefire agreements with Hamas.

Recent polling indicates that if Israelis were voting today, Netanyahu’s coalition would likely fall short of securing a majority in the 120-member Knesset. At the same time, the Zionist opposition bloc—an alliance opposed to Netanyahu that excludes both Arab-majority and chareidi parties—appears to be hovering near the threshold needed to form a governing coalition.

Among those expected to challenge Netanyahu for the premiership are former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party, and former prime minister Naftali Bennett, who now leads the Together party.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump disclosed Sunday that he spoke with Sen. Lindsey Graham just hours before the South Carolina lawmaker’s unexpected death, saying the senator was focused on advancing the SAVE America Act and appeared to be in good spirits despite mentioning he was tired after returning from Ukraine.

Speaking by phone on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Trump recounted what he believes may have been one of Graham’s final conversations, describing a senator who remained fully engaged in his work until the very end.

“What makes it even stranger is I got a call last night some time in the early evening, maybe in the sevens, and he called, and he said we’re all set for the SAVE America Act,” Trump said. “He was pushing the SAVE America Act like crazy.”

Trump said Graham had just arrived back in the United States after traveling to Ukraine, a demanding journey that left him fatigued but otherwise seemingly healthy.

“He said he just landed from Ukraine. That’s a long trip to make. He sounded a little tired, but perfect,” Trump said. “He actually said he was tired, but he wanted to pass the SAVE America Act, and I said, ‘Well, we’ll get it done, Lindsey. I’ll get it done. I’ll see you soon. We might even meet today.'”

Only a few hours later, Trump said, he received the devastating news that Graham had died following what has been described as a brief and sudden illness.

“It couldn’t have been much longer. It could have been his last call. I don’t know exactly, but I got a message at about 1:00 in the morning from one of the people in his office that he had passed away,” Trump said. “I said, I can’t believe it. He was like a member of the family to me. It’s very tough, actually.”

The president praised Graham as an exceptionally effective legislator, highlighting his ability to bridge partisan divides and negotiate with members of both parties.

“He was such an advocate,” Trump said. “If he wanted to get something, and you know, he had a unique ability. He was able to deal with Democrats. If I had a problem, a real problem, I wouldn’t often ask, but if I had a problem with a Democrat, he could work it out. He was a great politician, actually.”

Trump also said Graham had no intention of stepping away from public office and believed he was well-positioned for another electoral victory.

“There was nobody like him,” Trump said. “He loved being a politician, and he was going to win his election. He was going to win it big.”

Although Graham could be relentless when pursuing issues he cared deeply about, Trump said that determination earned him admiration from colleagues across Washington.

“He was a tough cookie. Don’t misunderstand,” Trump said. “If he wanted to get something, if he thought he was right and had people against him, he could be very tough, actually, but he was a good person.”

When asked whether Graham had indicated he was unwell during their conversation, Trump said the senator spoke only of being worn out from travel.

“He told me, ‘You know, I feel good, but I’m tired,'” Trump said. “He was fine. I knew him well. He would let you know if he wasn’t feeling well.”

Trump said the suddenness of the senator’s death came as a complete shock.

“It had to be something like that that would just be a quick end,” Trump said. “Other than being tired, he was fine.”

Looking back on Graham’s career, Trump singled out his forceful defense of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during the contentious 2018 confirmation hearings, calling it one of the defining moments of the senator’s public life.

“His moment on Kavanaugh was one of the classics in the history of the Senate,” Trump said. “I think that saved Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court ascension.”

Trump also reflected on how his relationship with Graham evolved from political rivals during the 2016 Republican presidential campaign into a close friendship.

“We got friendly, and the friendship grew,” Trump said. “He was an amazing advocate. I don’t know how you find anybody like him.”

According to Trump, Graham became one of his most trusted allies in Washington, frequently visiting the White House and providing valuable insight into the mood of the Senate.

“He was a great gauge, a temperature gauge, of the Senate,” Trump said. “He was somebody that most Democrats liked, some didn’t, but most Democrats liked, and just about all of the Republicans liked Lindsey.”

Asked who should succeed Graham in the Senate, Trump said he already has a preferred candidate but believes it is too soon after the senator’s passing to discuss names publicly.

“I have someone that I think would be great, but I don’t want to say it now because it’s too soon with Lindsey,” Trump said. “I don’t want to even talk about anybody.”

Instead, Trump voiced confidence in South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, saying he expects the governor to make a wise interim appointment until voters elect a permanent successor.

“The governor is a good friend of mine,” Trump said. “I endorsed him early on, and he endorsed me right from the beginning.”

Trump recalled that McMaster, then serving as South Carolina’s lieutenant governor, was among his earliest supporters during the 2016 presidential campaign. He also noted that his decision to appoint then-Gov. Nikki Haley as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations ultimately elevated McMaster to the governorship.

“By moving her, I got myself a great guy,” Trump said. “Henry McMaster has been a really good governor, and a really good guy. … He’s going to do the right thing, I think.”

While expressing confidence in McMaster’s judgment, Trump emphasized that South Carolina voters will ultimately choose Graham’s long-term replacement at the ballot box.

“Ultimately, there will be an election,” Trump said. “I have someone that I like, but I’m not going to tell you now because it’s too soon.”

Closing the interview, Trump once again honored Graham’s legacy, saying his contributions to the nation would endure long after his passing.

“He’s got so many legacies,” Trump said. “He was somebody that loved our country, and he fought very hard for the country.”

{Matzav.com}

A Ukrainian refugee who fled the war in his homeland, only to lose his son and son-in-law to Hamas terrorists on October 7, has now died in a tragic drowning accident in Ashdod, bringing yet another heartbreaking chapter to a family already devastated by unimaginable loss.

Vladimir Logvinenko, 60, drowned at an unrecognized beach near Citadel Beach in Ashdod. On Sunday, family members gathered at the Ashdod cemetery to bid him a final farewell, less than three years after Hamas murdered his son, Vitali, and his father-in-law, Oleg, during the October 7 massacre.

He is survived by his wife, Irina, his daughter, Katya, his daughter-in-law, Lilia, and his grandson, Yaroslav. According to relatives, Vladimir suffered from a hearing impairment, an experience that deeply influenced his son Vitali, who devoted himself to volunteering on behalf of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

Born in Ukraine in January 1989, Vitali attended a police academy before marrying Lilia in 2017. The couple made their home in Kherson, where they welcomed their son, Yaroslav. Lilia recalled the extraordinary relationship between father and son, describing Vitali as a warm, generous man who loved cooking, entertaining family and friends, and spending his free time fishing by the sea. He also operated a successful food stand in Kherson and was widely admired for his kindness.

The family initially immigrated to Israel in 2019 but later returned to Ukraine. Vitali eventually came back to Israel on his own, and after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Lilia and Yaroslav joined him. Together they settled in Ashkelon, close to Lilia’s parents.

On the morning of October 7, Vitali and his father-in-law, Oleg, went fishing near the Gaza border. When Hamas launched its murderous assault on southern Israel, the two men attempted to flee but were caught by terrorists and murdered near the Gama Junction.

The family’s suffering deepened again on Saturday afternoon. At 4:27 p.m., Magen David Adom’s 101 emergency dispatch center in the Lachish region received a report of a drowning at an unrecognized beach near Ashdod.

MDA motorcycle unit paramedic Orel Asulin and MDA medic Simcha Hasid described the desperate efforts to save Vladimir’s life.

“We saw a man in his 50s who was unconscious, without a pulse and not breathing, after he had been pulled from the water and beach rescuers were performing CPR. We continued providing medical care and carried out prolonged resuscitation efforts, but unfortunately, we had to pronounce his death.”

{Matzav.com}

A New Jersey township has agreed to pay $80,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a retired police lieutenant who alleged he was denied a promotion after reporting antisemitic comments made by a fellow officer, according to court records. The settlement resolves the case without any admission of wrongdoing by the township.

The lawsuit was brought by retired Montgomery Township Police Lt. Richard F. Szemcsak, who claimed he suffered retaliation after reporting remarks allegedly made by Sgt. Robert Bijl. Among the comments cited in the lawsuit was the sergeant’s reference to kosher food as “Jew food,” along with other alleged derogatory statements about Jews.

According to the complaint, Szemcsak reported the alleged comments through the department’s chain of command, believing they reflected religious bias that should be addressed within the police force. He later alleged that, instead of being commended for raising the issue, he was passed over for promotion to captain despite his qualifications and years of service.

The lawsuit contended that the failure to promote Szemcsak constituted unlawful retaliation for reporting discriminatory conduct in the workplace. Township officials disputed those allegations but chose to settle the case before it proceeded further through the courts.

Under the settlement agreement, Montgomery Township will pay Szemcsak $80,000. As is customary in many civil settlements, the agreement specifically states that the payment does not constitute an admission of liability or wrongdoing by the township or any of its employees.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., repeatedly called for the assassination of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Now, after Graham’s sudden death, some are wondering if Putin got his wish first, Newsmax reports.

In March of 2022 Graham posted on X: “Is there a Brutus in Russia? Is there a more successful Colonel Stauffenberg in the Russian military? The only way this ends is for somebody in Russia to take this guy out. You would be doing your country – and the world – a great service.”

Asked about the matter later at a press conference, Graham urged the people of Russia to “rise up and end this reign of terror.”

“I hope he will be taken out, one way or the other. I don’t care how they take him out. I don’t care if we send him to The Hague and try him. I just want him to go,” said Graham during a press conference shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Among those raising the possibility of Putin’s involvement in Graham’s death is Russian opposition sociologist Igor Eidman, who argued that the Kremlin may have had both a motive and an opportunity to target the South Carolina Republican.

His comments, however, remain speculative.

Eidman pointed to Graham’s prominent role as one of Congress’ strongest advocates for Ukraine and one of Russia’s harshest critics.

According to Eidman, the senator’s continued push for increased military assistance to Kyiv and tougher sanctions against Moscow may have made him a target in the eyes of the Kremlin.

The opposition commentator also noted Graham’s recent visit to Ukraine, suggesting—without presenting evidence — that a hypothetical poisoning using a slow-acting substance could have occurred during the trip.

Eidman speculated that Russian intelligence services might have been capable of conducting such an operation through clandestine networks operating inside Ukraine.

He acknowledged that his theory was based on circumstantial considerations rather than direct proof.

No law enforcement agency, intelligence service, or government has publicly concluded that Russia played any role in Graham’s reported death. No forensic evidence, intercepted communications, witness testimony, or official intelligence assessments have been released supporting Eidman’s claims.

The allegations nevertheless draw attention to Graham’s yearslong confrontation with the Kremlin.

Throughout Russia’s war against Ukraine, Graham emerged as one of the most vocal proponents of expanded U.S. military assistance to Kyiv.

He repeatedly called for stronger sanctions on Russia and advocated providing increasingly sophisticated weapons systems to Ukraine.

According to Eidman, Graham had recently stated that President Donald Trump supported legislation imposing what Graham described as “hellish sanctions” against Russia.

Eidman argued that Russian officials may have viewed Graham as one of the key figures influencing Trump’s evolving approach toward Moscow.

Those assertions also remain speculative.

For years, Graham has been a frequent target of criticism from senior Russian officials and state media.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has repeatedly denounced Graham’s remarks as provocative and irresponsible.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, has also regularly attacked Graham on social media, accusing him of promoting escalation of the conflict.

Russian state television commentators have often portrayed Graham as one of Moscow’s principal political adversaries in Washington, criticizing his support for Ukraine and his calls for additional military assistance.

Following some of Graham’s previous remarks regarding Putin, Russian officials discussed possible legal action against the senator under Russian law and publicly condemned statements they characterized as encouraging violence or regime change.

Those exchanges contributed to Graham’s reputation inside Russia as one of the Kremlin’s most outspoken American critics.

Still, political hostility does not establish responsibility for his death.

Security analysts have long noted that Russia has been accused by Western governments of involvement in several poisonings and assassination attempts targeting Kremlin critics and defectors over the past two decades.

Moscow has consistently denied those allegations.

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