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An attempt by Israeli Military Police to arrest a yeshiva bochur at his family home in Maale Adumim ended without an arrest early Monday morning after dozens of protesters rushed to the scene. The forces ultimately withdrew, and those gathered broke into celebratory dancing after it became clear the bochur was not at home.

The incident began shortly after 12:30 a.m., when the Tzeva Shachor alert system reported that Military Police officers were attempting to arrest a bochur at his family’s residence on Tzemach HaSadeh Street in Maale Adumim. About 30 minutes later, the system reported that the officers had left the area.

It later emerged that the yeshiva bochur whom the Military Police had sought to arrest was actually at the yeshiva where he studies in Yerushalayim’s Ramat Eshkol neighborhood and was not at his family home when the officers arrived. His brother, who is scheduled to be married in the coming days, was at the house.

Following the alert, dozens of people converged on the home in an effort to prevent the arrest. After the Military Police withdrew, participants gathered outside the Nager family’s home and celebrated with singing and dancing alongside the chosson, the bochur’s brother.

Video published by Kan 11 reporter Daniel Groveis captured one of the officers telling protest organizers, “Look, I didn’t bring even one police vehicle. I came alone.” Protesters responded, “Kol hakavod.”

The attempted arrest came amid growing tensions between the chareidi parties and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu over legislation concerning the military draft of bnei yeshivos.

As previously reported, Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs recently sent a letter to Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Boaz Bismuth outlining proposed legislation intended to prevent the arrest of lomdei Torah through what he described as “effective supervision.”

In the letter, Fuchs wrote that, as a direct result of the High Court’s ruling, yeshivos enrolling draft-eligible students have lost all government funding, while the students and their families have also been subjected to various financial sanctions. He said that, following the ruling, the Attorney General instructed the IDF to carry out frequent arrest operations in cooperation with the Israel Police.

A senior source in the chareidi parties remarked, “We’ve had enough of words and promises. Netanyahu will be judged only by his actions. As long as we don’t see action, no legislation will move forward in the current Knesset until it is dissolved.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump announced Sunday that work will soon begin on restoring the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after Independence Day celebrations conclude, accusing what he called “Radical Left Vandals” of deliberately damaging the landmark and causing extensive deterioration.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said the pool has only recently returned to service after undergoing major repairs and claimed that vandals were responsible for sabotaging the project.

“The Reflecting Pool is now in full use after suffering great damage from Criminal, Radical Left Vandals, people that truly hate our Country,” Trump wrote.

He said the pool will be drained immediately after the nation’s 250th anniversary festivities so repairs can be completed.

“It never worked properly until last week and, right after July 4th, when we will drain the water to treat the damage caused by these ‘animals,’ it will again be in perfect shape,” he added.

Trump also said the algae problem has been eliminated for now and that landscaping repairs are underway.

“In the meantime, it is working well, the criminally made algae is gone, and the grass, which was destroyed, is being replaced shortly.”

The administration invested nearly $15 million earlier this year to overhaul the iconic reflecting pool. The project included installing a new blue liner, repairing persistent leaks, and adding advanced “nanobubbler” technology designed to prevent algae growth. Despite those upgrades, the pool soon experienced a significant algae bloom, while portions of the new lining reportedly began peeling.

Trump and the National Park Service have maintained that the damage was intentional, alleging that vandals cut through the protective liner with a sharp object.

“They cut the lower surface of a very expensive and strong waterproof padding, in the color of American Flag Blue, and put their hands underneath the surface, and ripped it,” Trump said in his Sunday post.

The reflecting pool project is one of several major renovation efforts undertaken during Trump’s second term. Among the most high-profile has been the construction of a new White House ballroom, a project that required demolition of the East Wing and has generated considerable public debate.

Trump also revealed that he recently toured the East Potomac Golf Links, describing the historic municipal course as being in severe disrepair.

Calling the property “dilapidated, worn out, and very dangerous,” Trump pledged that his administration will transform it into “one of the Greatest Golf Courses anywhere in the World,” while emphasizing that it will remain open for public use and offer panoramic views of Washington’s monuments.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump launched a blistering attack Sunday against two New York Times reporters over their forthcoming book about his administration, accusing them of fabricating events and conversations that allegedly took place inside the White House Situation Room.

Writing on Truth Social, Trump dismissed the book as fiction and singled out veteran Times reporter Maggie Haberman for sharp criticism.

“Based on a very quick and boring briefing concerning the Magot Hagerman book about me, it is mostly made up, Fake News, largely fiction, as have been most of the things she has written about me for so many years,” Trump wrote.

He continued, “She is a third rate writer and intellect, who has made a first rate income because of your favorite President, ME.”

The criticism came ahead of the release of Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump, co-authored by Haberman and Jonathan Swan, a former Hill reporter who now covers the White House for The New York Times.

Excerpts from the book claim that senior Trump administration officials discussed the possibility of suspending habeas corpus and debated how to respond to renewed scrutiny surrounding convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a confidential meeting inside the highly secure White House Situation Room.

The authors also recount what they describe as detailed exchanges from that meeting, including direct quotations attributed to Vice President JD Vance, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and White House Communications Director Steven Cheung.

The level of detail included in the reported conversations has fueled speculation that the reporters may have obtained an audio recording of the classified meeting or had access to someone with unusually detailed knowledge of what transpired.

Haberman and Swan have declined to say whether any recordings were provided to them, stating only that they are “not going to comment” on the matter. At the same time, both reporters have defended the accuracy of their reporting.

The reports have reportedly unsettled some administration officials. Vice President Vance acknowledged concerns about the possibility that recordings of internal White House meetings could exist, saying he is “legitimately worried” that such audio may have been made.

{Matzav.com}

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is facing fierce criticism after publicly celebrating Somali Independence Day and declaring that the city stands with its Somali community, remarks that quickly reignited debate over immigration, public spending, and a massive federal fraud case involving Somali-owned organizations in Minnesota.

Happy Somali Independence Day!

Here in Minnesota, home to one of the largest Somali communities in the United States, we celebrate the resilience, culture, and leadership that continue to enrich our city and community. pic.twitter.com/RP7jlgO5ar

— Mayor Jacob Frey (@MayorFrey) June 28, 2026

In a post on X, Frey shared a video commemorating the occasion, praising the Somali community for its contributions to Minneapolis. He wrote that the city was honoring “the resilience, culture, and leadership that continue to enrich” both Minneapolis and its residents.

In the accompanying video, Frey emphasized that Somali residents are viewed as members of the community rather than outsiders.

“Through the most difficult of times and through Operation Metro Surge, we all saw that they tried to come for some of us,” Frey said. “And, when that happens, we say that you’re coming for all of us. In Minneapolis, we love our neighbors. In Minneapolis, we do not see you as immigrants, we see you as our family.”

He continued, “You are our brothers, you are our sisters. You have done so much for this incredible city, and for that, we stand with you.”

According to Kare11 News, Somali Independence Day is observed annually on July 1, marking the day Somalia gained independence from European colonial powers and unified as a nation.

The mayor’s comments quickly drew criticism online, with several conservative commentators and independent journalists pointing to the massive Feeding Our Future fraud scandal that centered on numerous Somali-run organizations in Minnesota.

Commentator Matt Van Swol wrote on X, “The Somali community in Minnesota alone stole $250 million from federal child nutrition programs meant to feed hungry underprivileged children.”

Independent journalist Nick Sortor also criticized the mayor, asking, “Are you really too stupid to understand the Somalis simply see you as their useful idiot?”

Townhall columnist Dustin Grage took aim at Frey’s priorities, writing, “Jacob Frey’s Independence Day references. America: 4, Somalia: 10.”

Another social media user sarcastically questioned the mayor’s praise, asking, “Minnesota taxpayers, do you feel enriched?”

The controversy follows previous criticism of Frey over his outreach to the Somali community. After winning reelection in November 2025, he delivered portions of his victory speech in Somali, a move that also generated backlash.

More recently, federal authorities carried out coordinated raids at more than 20 locations across Minneapolis, including childcare centers, as part of an investigation into alleged fraud involving Somali-owned businesses.

Citizen journalist Nick Shirley has also drawn attention to the issue through videos documenting visits to several Minnesota childcare centers that reportedly received millions of dollars in federal funding. According to Shirley, many of the facilities appeared empty during his visits, with no visible signs of children despite receiving substantial government assistance.

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, sharply criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Sunday after the mayor questioned Israel’s identity as the Jewish state and renewed his calls for major changes to U.S. support for Israel.

Speaking in an interview with ABC, Mamdani challenged the concept of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people and argued for a sweeping overhaul of American foreign policy, including military assistance to Israel.

His latest comments came shortly after he referred to the pro-Israel lobbying organization AIPAC and its supporters as “monsters,” drawing widespread criticism.

Responding on social media, Danon accused the mayor of engaging in increasingly hostile rhetoric toward Israel and the Jewish community.

“Recently, Mamdani used blatant antisemitic language against AIPAC, calling them ‘monsters moving dark money.’ He then expressed sorrow over the elimination of a Hamas terrorist, and now says he does not support Israel as a Jewish state,” Danon wrote.

“When you connect all the dots, it becomes very easy to understand who Mamdani does support,” the ambassador added.

Mamdani has drawn repeated criticism over his comments and positions regarding Israel. During his mayoral campaign, he declined to condemn the slogan “globalize the intifada,” a phrase many Jewish organizations have described as a call to violence against Jews. He also faced backlash for criticizing Israel on October 8, 2023, just one day after the Hamas massacre in southern Israel.

He has repeatedly accused Israel of committing war crimes during its military campaign against Hamas in Gaza and has pledged that, if Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu visits New York City, he would seek to have him arrested.

Controversy continued after Mamdani assumed office, when he rescinded several executive orders signed by his predecessor, Eric Adams, that dealt with Israel and antisemitism.

Among the orders he revoked was one issued in June 2025 formally adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism.

He also eliminated an executive order that prohibited mayoral appointees and city agency employees from participating in boycotts or divestment campaigns targeting Israel.

Since taking office, Mamdani has remained at the center of multiple disputes involving antisemitism. Most recently, he became the first New York City mayor to boycott the city’s annual Israel Day Parade, a move that drew sharp criticism from many Jewish leaders and pro-Israel organizations.

{Matzav.com}

The United States and Iran have reportedly agreed to temporarily halt military action following a tense exchange of attacks near the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, with diplomatic talks now scheduled to resume in Qatar later this week.

A Trump administration official told CNN on Sunday that both countries have agreed to de-escalate for the time being. “Both sides will stand down for now and vessels can move freely,” the official said, confirming an earlier Axios report.

According to both CNN and Axios, American and Iranian representatives are expected to meet in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday in an effort to continue negotiations.

Iran, however, has not publicly confirmed the reported agreement, leaving uncertainty over Tehran’s official position regarding the planned talks.

Earlier Sunday, another senior administration official emphasized that negotiations surrounding the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding remain on schedule despite the recent military confrontation.

“Nothing has been canceled. Technical talks regarding the implementation of MoU are on track for the coming days as planned, and deconfliction channels are up and running after the Lake Lucerne Summit,” the official told CNN, referring to the recent Switzerland meetings led by Vice President JD Vance.

The diplomatic developments came after U.S. forces carried out two rounds of strikes over the weekend against Iranian positions near the Strait of Hormuz. American officials said the attacks were launched in response to what they described as repeated Iranian violations of the ceasefire agreement.

President Donald Trump issued a stern warning Saturday evening, signaling that the United States could escalate its military campaign if Tehran continues to violate the ceasefire.

“United States aircraft just struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations, and coastal radar sites, for violating the Cease Fire Agreement, AGAIN! It is very possible that they will never learn!” Trump wrote.

He added, “There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started. If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!”