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Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s ruling Likud Party held a steady lead in the polls this week, with the premier’s approval rate remaining significantly higher than those of his main political rivals, according to a new Direct Polls survey by Channel 14 on Thursday.

Direct Polls, which correctly predicted the results of Israel’s most recent election in November 2022, surveyed a representative sample of 536 Israeli adults on Sept. 5. (The margin of error is plus or minus 4.6 percentage points at a confidence level of 95%, Direct Polls said.)

If a general election were to be held today, the Likud Party would secure 29 seats out of the Israeli parliament’s 120, down by one since last week.

Benny Gantz’s National Unity received the next most projected seats (17), followed by Yisrael Beiteinu (13), Yesh Atid and the Democrats (11 each), Shas (10), United Torah Judaism (eight), Otzma Yehudit and Ra’am (six each), Religious Zionism (five) and Hadash-Ta’al (four).

Mansour Abbas’s Islamist Ra’am Party gained one Knesset mandate at the expense of the Arab Hadash-Ta’al Party, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism Party also rose by one seat.

No political camp would win a majority. Hence, Netanyahu or Gantz would only be able to form a coalition if members of the opposite bloc join or, alternatively, through the establishment of a unity government.

Respondents chose Netanyahu over Gantz as better suited for the job of prime minister by 43% to 27%. In a matchup with Yair Lapid of the Yesh Atid Party, Netanyahu was deemed more suitable by 45% to 29%.

The Likud Party has held 32 seats in the Knesset since the 2022 general election, in addition to the 32 seats held by his right-wing and religious allies. The next Israeli national vote is scheduled for 2026 unless the Netanyahu-led government collapses and early elections are called.

Last week’s poll recorded the largest projected number of Likud seats since Yerushalayim launched a defensive war against the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip following the Oct. 7 cross-border attacks.

(JNS)

A history podcaster interviewed by right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson and boosted by billionaire X owner Elon Musk has received condemnation from the Yad Vashem Holocaust: the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Yerushalayim.

“Recently, Darryl Cooper, in a podcast with Tucker Carlson, made statements that grossly misrepresent the German Nazi regime’s actions during Operation Barbarossa in 1941,” Yad Vashem said in a statement about the video released earlier this week.

“Cooper claimed that the Nazis were ‘unprepared’ to handle millions of prisoners of war and political dissidents, suggesting their brutality was a result of poor planning,” per the museum.

Yad Vashem called the claim “patently false,” responding that “the German invasion of the Soviet Union was long-planned and included genocidal strategies of dealing with the local Jewish population not as a response to logistical challenges, but as an ideological one.”

Dani Dayan, chairman of Yad Vashem, said “Tucker Carlson and his guest Darryl Cooper engaged in one of the most repugnant forms of Holocaust denial of recent years. These far-fetched conspiracy theories are not only dangerous and malevolent, they are antisemitic.”

In the interview, Cooper described Winston Churchill as the “the chief villain of the Second World War.”

Dan Michman, a professor and the head of Yad Vashem’s International Institute for Holocaust Research, said “Mr. Cooper isn’t known for having done any scholarly research on Nazism and the Holocaust, and his statements in this interview clearly demonstrate his ignorance.”

Musk deleted his X posting promoting the Carlson-Cooper interview, which he had initially described as “very interesting” and “worth watching.”

(JNS)

The 14-year-old boy accused of fatally shooting four people and wounding nine others at his Georgia high school made his first court appearance Friday morning – just hours after his father was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with the attack.

The alleged shooter, Colt Gray, faces four counts of felony murder in connection with Wednesday’s shooting at Apalachee High School, which left two fellow students and two teachers dead. Barrow County District Attorney Brad Smith, whose office is prosecuting the case, said Friday that more charges could be filed against Gray but did not give a timeline.

Gray was brought into Barrow County Superior Court shortly after 8:30 a.m. through a side door, dressed in a green shirt and khaki pants, his long, bleached blond hair shaggy, and shackled at his wrists and feet. He did not look around the courtroom but quickly took a seat and identified himself for Piedmont Judicial Circuit Judge Currie M. Mingledorff II.

Mingledorff initially told Gray that the potential penalties included capital punishment. He later brought Gray back into court to amend that and told Gray that the penalties would not include death because he is under age 18. A preliminary hearing was set for Dec. 4.

Gray’s attorney, public defender Zane Harmon, said he was not requesting bond at this time.

Gray’s father, Colin Gray, appeared a short time later, dressed in striped gray jail attire and handcuffed and shackled as well. Asked to state his name, Colin Gray replied in a hoarse voice, so quietly that the judge ordered him to speak more loudly into a microphone.

The judge read through Colin Gray’s charges and informed him he faced a maximum 180 years in prison if convicted – including a 30-year maximum sentence on each of the second-degree murder charges. As the judge read through the charges, Colin Gray rocked back and forth in his chair.

The elder Gray’s attorney, public defender Donna Seagraves, told the judge she was not seeking bond “at this time.” She said she was representing Colin Gray temporarily and that, like his son, he planned to obtain “alternate” counsel later Friday. His preliminary hearing was also set for Dec. 4.

Several dozen friends and family members of the victims were seated in the first two rows of the third-floor courtroom. Court staff distributed boxes of tissues along the rows ahead of the hearing. Many sat quietly, staring at a rear entry door to the courtroom, as they awaited the suspect’s arrival.

Some family members wore sunglasses and wiped at tears, as victim-support staffers with the district attorney’s office consoled them. Others sat with their arms crossed, showing little emotion, as they silently stared at Colt Gray and his father as they were shuffled in and out of court.

Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith and more than a dozen armed deputies lined the walls of the third-floor courtroom at the Barrow County Courthouse, which was under heavy security Friday.

The younger Gray, a high school freshman, was arrested Wednesday after a brief confrontation at the school and is being held at a juvenile detention center in nearby Gainesville, Ga. State officials have said they plan to try the teen as an adult. Arrest warrants filed Thursday in the case accused Gray of using a “black, semiautomatic AR-15 style rifle” in the fatal attack.

Colin Gray, 54, was taken into custody Thursday on four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of cruelty to children in connection with the deadly shooting.

Chris Hosey, director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, said at a Thursday evening news conference that the elder Gray’s arrest was “directly connected with the actions of his son and allowing him to possess a weapon.” Arrest warrants filed against Colin Gray and obtained by The Post accused him of “providing a firearm to Colt Gray with knowledge that he was a threat to himself and others.”

The charges against Colin Gray came a day after the FBI’s Atlanta office and the sheriff’s office in Jackson County, Ga., a neighboring county to Barrow, revealed that they had investigated Colt Gray and questioned him and his father in May 2023 after being tipped off about menacing social media posts threatening a school shooting.

Colt Gray denied writing the posts and told officers he was concerned that anyone would suggest he would threaten to “shoot up a school, stating that he would never say such a thing, even in a joking manner,” according to records of the investigation obtained by The Washington Post.

According to the records, Colin Gray acknowledged having rifles and other guns in the home, but he told officers that his son was not allowed to use guns without supervision and that the boy did not have “unfettered access” to them.

Both father and son have been charged in the deaths of students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, and teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53. The nine others injured by gunfire in the attack are expected to survive, Smith, the sheriff, said Thursday.

– – –

(c) Washington Post

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu joins Fox & Friends to discuss the state of the negotiations with Hamas.

NEW YORK – A judge on Friday delayed Donald Trump’s hush money sentencing until after the November election, which means voters will cast ballots without knowing whether the Republican nominee could face jail time for his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records.

Prosecutors did not object to a request from Trump’s attorneys to delay the sentencing, which had been scheduled for Sept. 18. New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan said it will instead happen on Nov. 26.

Trump was found guilty in May of trying to cover up the nature of a $130,000 payment  made weeks before the 2016 election. A Manhattan jury claimed that Trump broke the law when he misclassified his reimbursements for the payment as routine legal fees in an effort to hide the information from the public.

Trump faces up to four years in prison, but as a first-time offender he could receive a sentence that does not involve incarceration.

He is seeking to toss the guilty verdict altogether, based in part on a July 1 Supreme Court decision giving presidents broad protection for conduct carried out while in office. The case is one of four criminal indictments brought against Trump as he makes his third run for the White House.

While the Supreme Court immunity ruling stemmed from defense claims in Trump’s federal election obstruction case in D.C., his lawyers were quick to argue that it also applied to his case in New York state court. They said the decision meant some evidence should have been excluded from the trial and from the grand jury presentation.

Trump’s legal team has said it will also appeal the conviction on more traditional grounds, calling the verdict the result of flawed testimony from a chronic liar recruited by an overly zealous prosecutor.

(c) 2024, The Washington Post · Shayna Jacobs 

Research funded by the Jim Joseph Foundation, based on multiple years of surveys, suggests that a sizable cohort of students oppose the Jewish state and seek to socially ostracize their peers who disagree with them.

The 65-page report “A Year of Campus Conflict and Growth: An Over-Time Study of the Impact of the Israel-Hamas War on U.S. College Students,” released on Sept. 3, analyzes Jewish students’ experiences on campus in comparison to non-Jewish students. College Pulse, a survey research and analytics company, conducted the surveys, which included hour-long focus group sessions with dozens of students.

The study uses survey responses from the same group of students in April 2022; November and December 2023; and in March and April 2024. It found that one in five non-Jewish respondents did not want to be friends with supporters of Israel. The report also showed recognition of this trend with more than half of Jewish students saying those openly supporting Israel would pay a social price.

“This study, conducted over three years, reveals extraordinary detail about the experience of American college students during a historic period of tensions on campus,” said co-author Eitan Hersh, a political science professor Eitan Hersh at Tufts University and College Pulse.

Hersh said the study’s focus groups “give voice to students from wildly different backgrounds about what they think of Jewish students, Israel, and the protest movements at their schools.”

He added that “the survey analysis shows how differently Jewish and non-Jewish students experienced the last year on campus and hints at what can be expected in the future.”

(JNS)

While the death toll on Israel’s roads continues to climb, with 358 people killed in 2023 due to motor vehicle accidents, the ability to deter Palestinian drivers from violating the rules of the road continues to deteriorate.

Even in cases where Palestinians are issued tickets for life-threatening traffic infringements such as speeding or driving through red lights, there is little to no incentive for them to pay their fines, and Israeli police have no way to enforce them.

During a meeting this week of the Knesset Subcommittee for Yehuda and Shomron, the topic of law enforcement on roads in Yehuda and Shomron was discussed. The meeting, which was initiated by subcommittee chairman Tzvi Sukkot, revealed a troubling phenomenon.

Police representatives said during the Knesset discussion that 79% of tickets issued to Arabs in the region go unpaid. The police representatives added that there are almost no tools to enforce the payment of these tickets.

Out of 52,000 traffic tickets issued in Yehuda and Shomron annually, 70% go to Palestinian violators. Eighty percent of these tickets go paid. Some vehicles accumulate 20 or 30 tickets, and Palestinians disregard them.

The police representative at the meeting added that there is no monitoring system to track whether Palestinians pay for their tickets. A senior official in the Yehuda and Shomron District described the situation: “The police are working at full throttle but going nowhere.”

Pushing back against the police’s claim, the head of transportation at the Civil Administration revealed that there is an order that allows for the confiscation of vehicles 120 days after a fine is issued. This regulation has been in place since the 1990s but has not been enforced.

The police representative responded by saying that vehicle seizure operations in Yehuda and Shomron are effective but limited in scope. This year, 1,800 Palestinian vehicles that committed life-threatening violations were confiscated, but due to a shortage of manpower, only a portion of the required operations can be carried out.

The police also said that they have a difficult time enforcing the tickets against Palestinian drivers as there is no civil jurisdiction over them. In the past, Israel offered the Palestinian Authority the opportunity to enforce the tickets and keep the money collected, to make the fines effective, but that was refused.

Sukkot said, “The police are expanding enforcement, but it is far from enough. Even after the police issue fines, there is almost no incentive for Palestinians to pay them. When the roads of Yehuda and Shomron become a breeding ground for traffic violators, it costs us lives. This is the fourth discussion I’ve held in my committee on this issue and I intend to lead more discussions until the desired change is achieved.”
The Ministry of Transport and Road Safety has also recognized the dangers in Yehuda and Shomron and has therefore decided to push forward with plans to expand Route 60, the primary north-south artery that runs throughout the entirety of Yehuda and Shomron and beyond.

“Expanding the roads in this area is not only a basic need but also an important step security-wise,” said Transport Minister Miri Regev.

“During the previous [government] period, the necessary steps of developing the roads were not taken here, and we are rectifying this,” Regev said. “The road from Yerushalayim northwards will be expanded and doubled along its entire length; together, we are making history.”

Route 60 is currently being expanded from one lane to two in each direction from Yerushalayim southward through all of Gush Etzion, and eventually to Chevron.

To the north, construction is underway to expand the road to two lanes in each direction from Yerushalayim to Sha’ar Binyamin. Recently, a tender was issued to continue the expansion up to the British Police (HaMishtara HaBritit) Junction just north of Ofra. Plans are being developed to continue the expansion past Shiloh and Eli and then to the Tapuach Junction.

Minister Regev did not explain how the law of induced demand won’t inevitably result in the road widening project creating more traffic over time.

(JNS)

“The army is now seriously turning its attention to Yehuda and Shomron. The terrorists have raised their heads,” a regional Yehuda and Shomron security chief, who simultaneously is serving in the IDF reserves as part of the “Operation Summer Camp” anti-terror campaign in the territories that began on Aug. 28, told JNS on Wednesday.

“It could be that until now they [the terrorists] didn’t have the finances, since Hamas in Gaza was funding all attacks in Yehuda and Shomron, [including those carried out by Palestinian Islamic Jihad], but it is possible they have now gotten together the funding,” he added. “The army realizes that it must deal with this now, and quickly, especially before the Jewish holidays.”

Israel’s security establishment has indicated its intention to intensify the offensive in Yehuda and Shomron, following a sharp increase in attempted terrorist attacks in recent days.

The current operation is the largest in the region since 2002’s “Operation Defensive Shield” during the Second Intifada.

Last Friday night, terrorists from the Chevron area attempted coordinated car-bombing attacks in Gush Etzion, while on Monday a car laden with 49 kilograms of explosives was neutralized outside the Binyamin region community of Ateret.

In addition, three Israeli police officers were killed in a drive-by terrorist shooting on Sunday morning on Route 35 near Hebron. The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an arm of Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah faction, took responsibility for the attack.

“As the army proceeds in its missions, you are going to have Palestinians who want to be ‘martyrs,’ and their deaths are going to cause a whirlpool of responses, including others who will attempt attacks,” the security chief told JNS.

“I think that in order to try and show the army that it is not effective, there will be attempts [at attacks] here, there and everywhere. Maybe even a terrorist attempt per day, like in the 2015 ‘knife intifada,’ over the next couple of months. From the army’s assessment, we know that just like the attempted suicide bombing in Tel Aviv a few weeks ago, they are going to try to infiltrate [Green Line] Israel and try to carry out attacks as well,” he added.

National Religious Party MK Simcha Rothman, who lives in the Gush Etzion community of Pnei Kedem, told JNS, “I think the operation in Tulkarem and Jenin is a start, but it is far from being enough. The main problem is the Palestinian Authority, which pays the terrorists—some of the terrorists themselves are employed by the P.A. in its security forces, with some trained by the U.S. They are behind many of the terrorist attacks we see in Yehuda and Shomron.

“Until we understand that the IDF must be responsible for security, and stop thinking the P.A. is an ally, we will sadly see more and more terrorist attacks. The current operations might solve small problems, but it won’t create a new reality in Yehuda and Shomron,” added Rothman.

“Sadly, residents of Yehuda and Shomron are used to terrorist attacks, but when you see bombings, booby-trapped cars and attempted infiltrations, it creates great worry. We all understand now [since Oct. 7] that the difference between Yehuda and Shomron and the rest of the country has become indistinguishable.

“[Kibbutz] Be’eri and [Kibbutz] Kfar Aza, weren’t so-called ‘settlements,’” Rothman continued. “Citizens of Israel in Sderot and Ofakim and all around are dealing with the same jihadist powers from Iran, Gaza, Yehuda and Shomron, the Houthis [in Yemen], etc. And sadly, you can find those same forces from Iran and Qatar in the mosques of New Jersey, New York, Los Angeles and Florida, because those are the same ideologies and the driving force behind terror.”

Binyamin Regional Council head and Yesha Council chairman Israel Ganz told JNS, “I demand a simple, principled approach to match the [military] actions with the threats. The army is working hard; soldiers and commanders are working tirelessly, for which we are all deeply grateful. However, if you don’t align the campaign with the threats, then you’re just chasing mosquitoes instead of draining the swamp.

“Therefore, my demand is clear: If we don’t act here as if we are in war, then war will catch up with us. The State of Israel needs to operate in Jenin as it does in Gaza, and in Chevron as in Rafah. We need to evacuate the [Palestinian] population and conduct a ‘mow the grass’ approach in the city centers and terror capitals, including razing terrorist neighborhoods and infrastructure to the ground,” he said.

Ganz noted that the IDF operation is having a strong impact on residents’ lives. “We feel the rise in terrorism on a daily basis and security is a lot tighter. That being said, the residents of Yehuda and Shomron are stronger now than ever before and are showing resilience. We have strong communities and value-driven families, and we say to the state leadership and the army: go full steam ahead towards victory on all fronts, we are behind you.’”

Religious Zionism Party MK Ohad Tal, who lives in Efrat, agreed with Rothman that the current military operation is insufficient.

“It’s definitely not enough; it’s just the beginning. The IDF plans to expand its activity against the terrorists, especially in northern Samaria. Israel understands that combating the terror cells in Yehuda and Shomron is inevitable. We know that Iran is smuggling enormous amounts of weapons through the border with Jordan, especially since the beginning of the war. These weapons are used to target innocent Israelis. We will not stand by and allow this to happen,” Tal said.

“The goal of the operation must be to wipe out the terror cells of Jenin, Tulkarem, Chevron and every place necessary, so that they won’t be able to harm and threaten Israeli lives. These terror attacks endanger not only residents of Yehuda and Shomron, but all Israelis,” he added. “As we saw only two weeks ago, a terrorist from Hebron carrying a bomb got to Tel Aviv—and only luck prevented a horrific result.”

(JNS)

Secretary of State Antony Blinken made clear Thursday that he does not intend to continue into another Democratic administration, saying that he looks forward to having a lot more time with his kids very soon.

The acknowledgment – not a surprise, but still the first public acknowledgment of his plans – is another indicator that a Kamala Harris presidency would probably have a different foreign policy team from that of President Joe Biden. Harris has indicated she would generally continue Biden’s approach to international affairs, but she has also struck a more critical tone toward the Israeli government and civilian deaths in Gaza.

Asked at a news conference whether he would serve in a Harris administration if requested, Blinken said: “As to my own future, all I’m looking at right now is the balance of this administration and January. And I can tell you from having spent some time over the last week on … break with my kids, I will relish having a lot more time with them.”

Top U.S. diplomats rarely serve more than a single term, partly because of the grueling nature of the job. Blinken – who has two young children – spends about half of his time on the road, bouncing from time zone to time zone.

Although he has served in foreign policy roles across multiple Democratic administrations, Blinken has worked most closely over his career with Biden, who hired him when he was the senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and took him along when he became vice president.

(c) Washington Post

Israel has uncovered 180 tunnels under the Philadelphi Corridor, Gaza’s strategic border with Sinai. Observers say those tunnels served as 24-hour weapons supply lines for Hamas, not just under the watchful eyes of Egypt, but with its willing assistance.

The revelation of Egyptian complicity raises troubling questions about Israel’s purported ally.

“The feeling in Yerushalayim now is that Egypt is ungrateful,” Yoni Ben Menachem, Middle East intelligence analyst for the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA), said on Thursday.

Israel helped Egypt in its campaign against the Islamic State in Sinai. It allowed Cairo to double its forces in the peninsula, far more than was allowed by the 1979 Israel-Egypt peace treaty. Israel even conducted bombing raids against the Islamic State at Egypt’s request. In 2014, Israel intervened on behalf of Egypt with the U.S. to ensure American aid continued.

“Now it turns out that the Egyptians have been playing a double game,” Ben Menachem told JNS. “They’ve been letting Hamas smuggle weapons for many years, especially after [Egyptian President] Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi came to power 10 years ago,” he said.

Smuggling isn’t only through the tunnels, he added, but through the Rafah border crossing, thanks to bribing of senior Egyptian officials.

Smuggling is big business for the Egyptians, a multibillion-dollar industry. Mahmoud el-Sisi, the president’s son and deputy head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate, is heavily involved, having partnered with businessman Ibrahim al-Organi. A Le Monde profile in May reported that al-Organi has controlled entries and exits across the border for a decade. He is nicknamed the “King of the Rafah crossing.”

Early in his regime, President El-Sisi fought smuggling. He viewed Hamas as a threat. The terrorist group, a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, which is outlawed in Egypt, had targeted Egypt at the time, sending its members into Sinai to train Islamic State terrorists. It participated in terrorist attacks in Egypt—the most well-known being the assassination of Egypt’s chief prosecutor, Hisham Barakat, in 2015—a joint attack with the Muslim Brotherhood and Islamic State, Ben Menachem said.

When current Hamas paramount leader Yahya Sinwar was elected the organization’s Gaza chief in 2017, Cairo saw an opportunity. Egyptian intelligence head Abbas Kamel visited Gaza and cut a deal with Hamas. The latter agreed to stop attacking Egypt in exchange for the opening of the Rafah crossing 24 hours a day. “Egypt opened the Arab world to them,” Ben Menachem said.

One of the reasons that the Egyptians are siding with Hamas over the group’s demand that Israel leave the Philadelphi Corridor is that they worry that Hamas will rejoin the Muslim Brotherhood and the Islamic State, he said.

“It just emphasizes that Israel can only rely on Israel and cannot rely on anybody else to secure the border,” IDF Brig. Gen. (res.) Amir Avivi, co-founder and chairman of the Israel Defense and Security Forum (IDSF), said on Thursday.

Avivi, who for two years commanded the Egyptian border from Gaza to Eilat, said he had to control a frontier with smuggling attempts taking place every night. The Gaza border is a relatively short segment of it at 14 kilometers (8.7 miles).

He said that today, with just the Caracal Battalion, a mixed infantry unit composed of men and women that had been under his command at the time, he could secure the Gaza border so that “even a mosquito wouldn’t get through.

“The Egyptians could have secured the Philadelphi Corridor relatively easily. But they don’t have the motivation to do so, quite the contrary,” he said. “The Egyptians know exactly what they are doing, the way they are weaponizing Hamas to basically undermine Israel’s security.”

More disturbing, Cairo is conducting war exercises whose clear purpose is to take on Israel. Egypt is also building a huge army, “the most powerful around us,” Avivi said.

Egypt is also constructing tunnels. They cross under the Suez Canal into Sinai. It’s also built 30 bridges spanning the canal. “The Egyptians already deploy a huge amount of tanks near the Gazan border, which is completely against the peace agreement,” Avivi said.

Ben Menachem agreed: “They can, in one night, change the whole deployment of the Egyptian army in Sinai and get ready for war with Israel so that they surprise Israel. This is very alarming.”

Both men agree that Israel needs to reassess its relationship with Egypt.

“Before the big surprise that we had on October 7 with Hamas, we lived with the conception that Hamas was deterred. Now we have to change our mind and not live with the conception that there is peace with Egypt and they’re not doing anything, because the facts on the ground indicate otherwise,” Ben Menachem said.

“We better wake up and understand that we might face a future challenge. We need to be alert and work on this relationship and prepare for a possible strategic change in the future,” Avivi said.

The Israel-Egypt peace agreement, signed between President Anwar Sadat and Prime Minister Menachem Begin, never quite lived up to its billing. While it is true there has been an absence of war, the contents of some 50 side agreements have never been made public.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry has published the text of just eight of them. They went into great detail. In an agricultural agreement, Egypt and Israel promised to “undertake joint research projects in fields of major interest, including the exchange of scientists, joint seminars and symposia, and exchange of research information.”

A cultural agreement called for “contacts and exchange of visits of experts in the cultural, artistic, technical, scientific and medical fields.” This agreement was especially important in Israel’s eyes as it dealt with changing Egyptian attitudes.

There seemed to be movement in the right direction, up until Israel finished its three-year phased withdrawal from Sinai in April 1982. At that point, relations were frozen. King Hassan II of Morocco may have provided an insight into why. In 1984, he said that Sadat’s successor, Hosni Mubarak, had told him the treaty was empty of substance since “Cairo had obtained from it what it could.”

“The way many Israelis look at it, which to me is stupid, is that just by the fact that the Egyptians have declared peace with us, this is enough. We should be content with the fact that they’re not killing us. I say that we should demand a different level of relationship,” Avivi said.

(JNS)

Delaying a previously scheduled resumption of service, Irish budget airline Ryanair on Thursday extended its cancellation of flights to and from Israel through Oct. 26.

The airline had previously stated that it would reinstitute service from the end of September.

Ryanair’s announcement came on the same day as many other airlines reopened their Tel Aviv routes after having closed them for a month due to the threat of attack from Iran and Lebanon.

On Thursday the Lufthansa Group, which consists of Lufthansa Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Swiss and Eurowings, resumed flights to and from the Jewish state. Italian flag carrier ITA Airways also resumed service as of Thursday, with one daily flight between Tel Aviv and Rome.

Ethiopian Airlines, Wizz Air, Bulgaria Air, Aegean, Air Europe, Iberia, Tarom and LOT Airlines have all reopened their flights to Israel.

In the low-cost market, airBaltic and Bluebird Airways have picked up the slack and taken over some of the routes to and from Israel that were serviced by Ryanair.

On Wednesday, French Jewish musician Esther Abrami was not allowed to bring her 200-year-old violin onto a Ryanair flight from Marseille to Berlin.

Abrami, who proudly identifies as Jewish, had booked a flight via the airline to record her third album for Sony records and nearly missed her recording session due to the difficulties she faced from Ryanair, even though her instrument fit within the size specifications for carry-on baggage.

She was forced to book a flight through a different airline even after offering to purchase an entire seat for the instrument, an offer that the airline refused. The artist took to social media and posted a scathing report of the incident on her X account.

U.S. carriers have suspended flights for a lengthy period.

Delta has suspended flights until the end of October, United has suspended flights until July 2025, and American Airlines has suspended flights until March 29, 2025.

Anyone wishing to travel between Israel and the United States has to either fly via El Al or book connecting flights on two airlines, stopping in Europe or Africa.

This has created high demand and a semi-monopoly for El Al, with a rise in prices as a result.

Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) sent a letter on Wednesday to the CEOs of American Airlines, Delta Airlines and United Airlines asking them to consider relaunching flights to and from Israel. He wrote in an effort to “prevent the appearance and the substance of discrimination against the Jewish state,” Jewish Insider reported.

(JNS)

Tim Walz, who is running alongside U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming November election, urged Israel to begin progressing toward a two-state solution.

In an interview with WCMU public radio in Michigan, Walz was questioned about how a Harris-Walz administration would approach the ongoing Gaza conflict and whether it would differ in any way from the Biden administration’s policies.

“Well, I think first and foremost, what happened on October 7th was an atrocious act of violence against the people of Israel. They certainly, and the vice president has said this, and I’ve said it as well, have the right to defend themselves. The United States will always stand by that. But we cannot allow the situation in Gaza to continue,” Walz responded.

“The Palestinian people also have the right to their own life and freedom. I believe we need to apply pressure to ensure we move toward a two-state solution. We’re at a pivotal moment right now. The Netanyahu government needs to start taking steps in that direction. And I think the people who are voicing their concerns here in Michigan are doing so for all the right reasons,” Walz added.

He continued, “It’s a humanitarian crisis, and the current situation is untenable. We need to find a way for everyone to coexist. As we’ve said, and will continue to say, achieving a ceasefire with the safe return of hostages, followed by working toward a sustainable two-state solution, is the only viable path forward.”

In a recent interview with CNN, Harris similarly emphasized the need for the war in Gaza to come to an end and made it clear that she would not alter President Joe Biden’s stance on providing military aid to Israel.

Discussing the Gaza war, Harris stated, “We need to reach a deal. This war has to end, and we must secure an agreement that includes the release of the hostages.”

When asked about the possibility of withholding arms shipments to Israel, as some progressive members of her party have urged, Harris made her position clear: “Let me be absolutely clear: I am unequivocal and unwavering in my support for Israel’s defense and its right to protect itself. That will not change.”

“October 7th saw the massacre of 1,200 people. Many were young individuals simply attending a music festival. Women were horrifically assaulted. As I said then and continue to say now: Israel has the right to defend itself — and we would do the same. But how it goes about that matters,” she added.

Just hours before the CNN interview aired, Harris addressed a pro-Palestinian protester who interrupted her during a campaign rally in Savannah, Georgia. She reassured the audience that she and President Biden were working tirelessly to secure the release of hostages and achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.

“Let me say something. Hold on for a moment. We are fighting for democracy. Everyone has a right to make their voices heard,” Harris said in response to the protester.

“I’m speaking now. But regarding this topic, the president and I are working nonstop. We need to finalize a hostage deal and a ceasefire agreement immediately,” she concluded.

{Matzav.com}

Donald Trump, former U.S. President and current Republican Presidential hopeful, delivered a speech to the Republican Jewish Coalition on Thursday.

At the outset of his address, Trump reflected on the recent killing of six Israeli hostages by Hamas in Gaza, which occurred a week earlier. “As we speak today, we are all devastated by the horrific death of our fellow American, Hersh Goldberg-Polin. And this is so sad to even say. I’ve been watching the parents, I’ve been watching everybody talking about it for so long, and it’s just so sad to see, and the five other innocent hostages slaughtered late last week by Hamas terrorists.”

“Hersh was a brother, a son, and an American citizen. After being held captive for nearly a year following the monstrous October 7th attack on Israel, Hersh was barbarically executed with a bullet to the back of his head,” Trump explained.

Offering words of solace, Trump addressed Hersh’s family and all those affected by the tragedy. “To Hersh’s family and everyone touched by these atrocities, we pray that God will grant you comfort, healing, and peace. And as for the evil savages responsible for those murders, may they never know peace or comfort ever again,” he declared.

Trump then criticized the current U.S. administration, accusing them of wrongly assigning blame to Israel for the deaths. “Unbelievably, the Harris-Biden Administration has sought to cast blame for these deaths on Israel. They have not been your friends. I don’t understand how anyone can support them,” he stated.

He reiterated a statement he had previously made, cautioning Jewish supporters of the Biden-Harris Administration. “A Jewish person who supports the Biden and Harris Administration would need to have your head examined. They’re very bad for you,” Trump emphasized.

Trump made it clear where he believes the responsibility for these acts lies. “Let me state this very clearly: The blame for these wicked murders lies with Hamas and Hamas alone. Only an evil and inhuman ideology kidnaps, murders, and tortures innocent men, women, and children. And likewise, only a deeply sick political party here in America would make common cause with those who sympathize with such evil.”

He further condemned the leadership in the White House, saying, “Only a morally rotten president and vice president would seek to blame Israel for heinous acts of terror committed against its own citizens.”

Trump asserted that, had he still been in office, the violent events of October 7 would not have occurred. He declared, “If I had been president, the October 7 massacre would never have happened.”

Looking ahead to the upcoming election, Trump urged a change in leadership, vowing, “This November, we’re going to replace weakness with strength, cowardice with courage and clarity, and war with peace.”

He warned that Israel’s future would be in jeopardy if Kamala Harris were to assume the presidency. “You’re not going to have an Israel,” he cautioned, asserting that under her leadership, “Israel will no longer exist.” He added that her administration would embolden terrorist forces, saying, “Terrorist armies will wage an unceasing war to drive Jews out of the Holy Land.”

Lastly, Trump called on Jewish Americans to mobilize for the upcoming election, urging them to increase the percentage of Jewish voters who traditionally lean Democratic but might consider voting Republican this time around.

{Matzav.com}

The levaya of Hagaon Harav Avremel Ausband zt”l, the legendary Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Telshe-Riverdale, is taking place at 10:30 AM Friday morning at the yeshiva. Despite being on a Friday, thousands are expected in attendance, giving Kavod Acharon to one of the most impactful Gedolei Torah in the last century, who served as a Rebbi and Manhig for countless individuals over the course of his decades as a Rosh Yeshiva. Following the Levaya, the Aron will be flown to Eretz Yisroel on Motzei Shabbos, with a second Levaya and Kevurah taking place on Sunday. The Levaya can be streamed live below; the call-in numbers to listen live are 712-432-4305 and 712-432-1923.

The levayah of Hagaon Rav Avrohom Ausband zt”l, rosh yeshiva of the Yeshiva of Telshe Alumni of Riverdale, will take place today at 10:45 a.m. ET at the yeshiva in Riverdale, NY. You can watch the levayah live here on Matzav.com below.

To listen to the levayah, call 712-432-4305, 612-398-0330, 712-432-4305 or 712-432-1923.

WATCH:

Dear Mother in Pain,

Please do not be ashamed that you felt it was necessary to reach out to me for help in such a difficult time in this child rearing stage. I’ve been waiting to hear from you! Hashem has been waiting to hear from you!

My dear daughter, I am looking at you and feeling your pain. I’ve been watching you and Davening for you all these years. The wonderful person you have become, growing up as part of such a beautiful community led by very special dedicated Rabbonim and Askonim. (Here we do not refer to that as a system but rather as a Kehilla). I too grew up in such an environment and treasure that zechus.

Unfortunately, I never had the zechus to feel the pain of a biological daughter who suffered the terrible feelings and emotions of rejection. However, “my girls” shared their feeling of being the social outcasts of their time and we did whatever we could to grow from those challenges. Together we shared that pain many times over, in a small way, similar to the difficulties you have been facing.

The financial challenges of providing for my “daughters” at a time that not everyone felt that our type of schooling was necessary were enormous. Knowing that money couldn’t be the protagonist that stopped the monumental achievements we looked to accomplish, we realized we needed to reach out to whoever we could to help us reach our financial goals. We understood the chinuch of our girls is priceless. We weren’t creating a luxury for anybody, rather just making sure that it was our priority to do whatever necessary to make that opportunity for proper chinuch available.

You cry for the loss at a chance for individuality. I too cried about individuality. That was a big challenge back then! Our precious daughters were watching the outside influences creeping into our insulated communities and telling them, “Get enlightened! You don’t need to be like those old people, the relics from a generation that’s gone!” Oy! The hours and kochos I put into instilling the value of emulating and replicating the ways of our ancestors. I toiled at imparting the intrinsic beauty, of a bas Yisroel specifically and Klal Yisroel as a whole, of tznius in our actions, our homes, and our attire. The more similar we are the greater the achdus and lesser material focus we have.

The beauty of a common group with a common goal! The happiness of being free of envy and the plague of endless unfulfilled wants. That is a source of our happiness! That was how I infused them with the beauty of Yiddishkiet!

How I cry for all my precious girls that have strayed. How I daven and hope for those that struggle with their Yiddiskeit. How I wish each one could find that special person who will strengthen them and show them the true beauty they are leaving behind and the horrible loneliness and sadness they will endure on that ill-fated journey they are heading for. Oh, if they could be taught to conform and fit in so that they can be comfortable and feel their true self-worth.

My dear daughter, please think open-mindedly about what I’m about to tell you.

Nobody makes a person feel useless and unworthy if they are feeling good and sure about themselves beforehand. It pains me to watch the negativity instilled in children by “do gooders” who justify a child’s feelings of rejection when they were just not being placed in a surrounding that was congruent with their home. They need to know that they were not rejected, they just went to a place where they did not belong in the first place.

Think about it! If you had heard of a place that is safe to send your dear child without needing to worry for her safety. You then went there and upon arrival you found dangers strewn all over. Rightfully so, you would be terribly disappointed. Revelations that the powers that be allowed dangerous people or items unchecked, would surely cause you to be upset with them. Worse, would be if you left your precious child under their care and only found out later about the possible dangers. Then you’d be furious.

This holds true for any Bais Yaakov that guarantees to maintain a standard and then allows families that don’t keep too to that standard join later unbeknown to others. Even if the girl herself is a wonderful precious gem it would still be inappropriate.

Let’s also try to understand; You are pained by the actions of those responsible to keep the financial stability of the Mosdos. A child should never be shamed publicly. Who caused that shame? Did the parents not know that they owe money to the school? Did they check beforehand if they had permission to send the child so that they don’t cause them embarrassment? Did those parents offer any payment plan to avoid this? Have those parents made any other efforts to help shoulder the financial responsibilities that they are not able to meet?

My dear child I know you are in pain and struggling. Know, you are not the only one. However, maybe instead of surrendering it’s time for a better frame of mind and more positive attitude. Don’t wonder what Hashem wants from you, He wants nothing from you – HE WANTS YOU! Maybe it would help to focus inside instead of out.

Hashem loves you; you are his special child. Hashem loves your children; they are his special children. Remember, He was one of the three partners in their creation. Hashem has all the means to cover their tuition responsibilities. Could it be he wants you to change something in yourself or your family to enhance and protect that partnership. Perhaps He isn’t sending a message that he needs your help to try to change others. Could it be that you are passing judgement on the wrong educator and administrator? Is it at all possible that the annihilation the He worries about is coming from a breakdown in the relationship between Him and his children and not between his children and educators or administrators who give their lives to perpetuate his Torah?

My dear daughter, I truly hope your pain is eased quickly. I daven that you should feel your strongest partner, Hashem Himself, guiding you toward the easiest possible solutions. Most of all I wish you could replace the negativity and feelings of rejection with love, hope and positivity so that your wonderful daughters will see and feel acceptance and pride in who they are.

Thank you again for reaching out to me. IY”H soon we will rejoice together when we return from the greatest rejection of all, with the coming of Moshiach.

With Love & Tears,

“Frau Schenirer”

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The Biden administration issued a strong condemnation of Tucker Carlson on Thursday, following his interview with a guest who suggested that the Holocaust was an accident. CNN reported that the administration referred to the interview as “a disgusting and sadistic insult to all Americans.”

Carlson featured Darryl Cooper, a podcaster he described as “possibly the best and most honest popular historian in the United States,” for a two-hour discussion on his show.

During the conversation, Cooper asserted that the mass killing of Jews during the Holocaust by Nazi Germany was an unintended outcome. He further claimed that Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister at the time, was the “chief villain of the Second World War” and bore significant responsibility for the war’s escalation, transforming it into something beyond just an invasion of Poland.

White House senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates, in a statement provided to CNN, responded by condemning the platforming of Cooper’s views. He called it “a disgusting and sadistic insult to all Americans, to the memory of the over 6 million Jews who were genocidally murdered by Adolf Hitler, to the service of the millions of Americans who fought to defeat Nazism, and to every subsequent victim of Antisemitism.”

The administration specifically pushed back against Cooper’s assertion that Churchill was the key figure responsible for the war. Bates clarified, “Hitler was one of the most evil figures in human history and the ‘chief villain’ of World War II, full stop. The Biden-Harris Administration believes that trafficking in this moral rot is unacceptable at any time, let alone less than one year after the deadliest massacre perpetrated against the Jewish people since the Holocaust and at a time when the cancer of Antisemitism is growing all over the world.”

Carlson, when contacted for his reaction, launched a sharp critique against the administration. Speaking to CNN, he said, “The fact that these lunatics have used the Churchill myth to bring our country closer to nuclear war than at any moment in history disgusts me, and should terrify every American. They’re warmonger freaks. They don’t get the moral high ground.”

Dani Dayan, chairman of Yad Vashem, also condemned the discussion between Carlson and Cooper. He posted on X, formerly Twitter, “Tucker Carlson and Darryl Cooper engaged in one of the most repugnant Holocaust denial displays of the last years. Antisemitic, ahistorical and deranged, an affront to the victims and to the pursuit of truth. Decent persons should condemn this display of bigotry and malevolence.”

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), expressed his outrage at Carlson’s interview, calling it “truly revolting.” He explained, “The Nazis’ extensive network of concentration, forced labor, and death camps was part of Hitler’s deliberate plan to exterminate the Jewish people. Inmates didn’t just ‘end up dead’ and they did not ‘surrender.’”

Carlson was removed from Fox News in 2023, shortly before he launched a new show on Twitter, rebranded as X. His departure from Fox followed a settlement between Fox Corp and Dominion Voting Systems, in which Fox paid $787.5 million to resolve a defamation lawsuit in which Carlson played a central role.

{Matzav.com}

Just days after former President Donald Trump narrowly escaped death during a campaign event, federal authorities questioned a suspect involved in an alleged Iran-backed plot targeting Trump, as well as two other high-profile political figures: President Joe Biden and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. According to an FBI report released on Thursday, the suspect was allegedly planning an assassination attempt.

The suspect, identified as 46-year-old Asif Merchant, a Pakistani national, provided details about his interactions with his handler, Mehardad Yousef, during his interview with investigators. This information was shared in a proffer agreement obtained by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) through law enforcement whistleblowers.

Merchant is accused of attempting to orchestrate a murder-for-hire plot. According to court documents, he transferred $5,000 to an undercover FBI agent in an effort to secure the services of a hitman. He faces a single count of murder-for-hire following his arrest on July 12.

During the investigation, it was revealed that Merchant and Yousef had met at a secure location in Iran. There, the two discussed strategies for assassinating a U.S. politician, debating whether an indoor or outdoor setting would be more effective for such an attempt.

Yousef reportedly used a whiteboard to sketch out a potential assassination plan. He illustrated an area where a crowd might gather, indicating a small box where a podium could be located, positioning the target for the attack.

The plan proposed two methods: an indoor shooting with a pistol, or a long-distance outdoor shot using a sniper rifle, according to Merchant’s account shared with authorities.

In addition to discussing these methods, Merchant provided Yousef with details about one of Trump’s rallies, including the number of cameras present, security personnel, and motorcade information.

The document stated that Merchant believed both methods had a low chance of success due to heightened security. However, he estimated that there was a 50% chance that one of the attempts could succeed.

Although Merchant denied receiving specific instructions about the target, he admitted that Yousef dropped several clues about who might be the intended victim.

The document quoted Merchant asking Yousef what explanation to give if questioned by criminal associates. Yousef allegedly responded that the target could be Donald Trump, but then suggested it might also be Joe Biden, Nikki Haley, or other politicians, military officials, or bureaucrats.

Merchant further explained that he understood the assassination was meant as retaliation for the U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, a mission authorized by Trump in January 2020.

Additional details from the investigation revealed that Merchant traveled to New York City, where he visited a Mexican club to scout for individuals who might be willing to assist the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) by conducting reconnaissance or helping with communication.

In response to the indictment, FBI Director Christopher Wray said, “This dangerous murder-for-hire plot exposed in today’s charges allegedly was orchestrated by a Pakistani national with close ties to Iran and is straight out of the Iranian playbook.”

Senator Chuck Grassley added, “Bad actors are determined to wreak havoc on our country, and American political leaders across both parties are sitting squarely in the crosshairs.”

Grassley also criticized the federal government for not doing enough to counter such threats, calling for agencies like the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration to prioritize public safety and reassure Americans that they are taking protective measures seriously.

On July 25, Trump addressed the issue on Truth Social, writing, “If they do ‘assassinate President Trump,’ which is always a possibility, I hope that America obliterates Iran, wipes it off the face of the Earth — If that does not happen, American Leaders will be considered ‘gutless’ cowards!”

Investigations are ongoing into an attempted assassination of Trump that took place on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania. The assailant, Thomas Matthew Crooks, fatally shot firefighter Corey Comperatore, 50, and injured two other rally-goers, David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74. However, Crooks is not believed to have ties to Iran.

Beyond the murder plot, Iran is also accused of hacking into Trump’s campaign, leaking sensitive internal information. While the information was shared with media outlets such as Politico and The Washington Post, it appears they chose not to publish it.

Intelligence experts have warned that Iran continues to seek ways to exploit divisions within U.S. society as part of its broader strategy.

{Matzav.com}

The levaya of Hagaon Harav Avremel Ausband zt”l, the legendary Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Telshe-Riverdale, is taking place at 10:30 AM Friday morning at the yeshiva. Despite being on a Friday, thousands are expected in attendance, giving Kavod Acharon to one of the most impactful Gedolei Torah in the last century, who served as a Rebbi and Manhig for countless individuals over the course of his decades as a Rosh Yeshiva. Following the Levaya, the Aron will be flown to Eretz Yisroel on Motzei Shabbos, with a second Levaya and Kevurah taking place on Sunday. The Levaya can be streamed live below; the call-in numbers to listen live are 712-432-4305 and 712-432-1923.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized on Thursday that both Israel and Hamas need to come to an agreement on the remaining points to finalize a ceasefire in Gaza, according to a report from Reuters.

Speaking at a press briefing in Haiti, Blinken mentioned that while “nearly 90%” of the ceasefire deal has been settled, there are still significant gaps, particularly concerning the Philadelphi corridor. “I expect in the coming days, we will share with Israel, and they (Qatar and Egypt) will share with Hamas our thoughts, the three of us, on exactly how to resolve” these unresolved matters, Blinken said, as quoted by Reuters.

Earlier this week, The Washington Post revealed that the United States has been working with Egypt and Qatar to create a final “take it or leave it” offer. This proposal is anticipated to be put forward to the parties involved in the coming weeks, with the understanding that refusal could end the US-led negotiations. It is still unclear whether the recent discovery of six hostages will increase or decrease the likelihood of reaching an agreement soon.

The US has been advocating for a ceasefire and hostage release plan, first proposed by President Joe Biden in May, though Hamas has continually dismissed every proposal to date.

On Wednesday, Hamas issued a statement reiterating its rejection of new negotiations on a ceasefire and the release of hostages, attributing the breakdown of talks to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The statement from Hamas claimed that no additional ceasefire proposals for Gaza were necessary and urged pressure on Israel to agree to the US-proposed plan, which the group insists it has already accepted.

Hamas accused Netanyahu of deliberately obstructing an agreement by insisting that Israel retain control of the Philadelphi corridor in southern Gaza. The group’s remarks followed a press conference by Netanyahu, held in English on Wednesday evening, where he underscored the importance of Israel’s control over the Philadelphi corridor.

During Thursday’s briefing, Blinken also expressed optimism about securing a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia before President Joe Biden’s term concludes in January. “I think if we can get a ceasefire in Gaza, there remains an opportunity through the balance of this administration to move forward on normalization,” he said.

Before the Hamas attack on October 7 and the subsequent conflict in Gaza, Saudi Arabia and Israel seemed to be making progress towards normalizing relations.

Not long after the fighting broke out, sources informed Reuters that Saudi Arabia had placed its US-sponsored normalization plans with Israel on hold. The Saudi Foreign Minister later suggested that establishing formal relations with Israel would require not only a cessation of hostilities in Gaza but also the creation of a Palestinian state, a long-standing prerequisite for normalization according to Saudi officials.

{Matzav.com}