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A reservist who refused a summons to serve in Yehudah and Shomron was sentenced to five days in military prison, Kan News reported on Monday. Reserve soldier Daniel Yahalom, 32, from Haifa, currently a master’s student at Hebrew University, announced to his commanders that he “refuses to serve the occupation in the occupied West Bank and the ongoing war in Gaza.” During his trial, Yahalom said: “I refuse because I am no longer willing to take part in the IDF’s activity in Yehuda and Shomron, and because I see the current campaign in Gaza as clearly illegal. Therefore, I have a moral obligation to refuse.” About six months ago, a reservist was sentenced to two weeks’ suspended imprisonment for refusing to serve for similar reasons but Yahalom is the first reservist to sit in prison for refusal since the war in Gaza began. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

In a deeply moving and joyful event that has stirred the Erlauer Chassidic community, a 60-year-old ger tzedek, Rav Yehuda Rahav, celebrated the bris of his firstborn son last week, thanks, he says, to the heartfelt bracha he received from the Erlauer Rebbe a year and a half ago.

The story began on Erev Rosh Hashanah a year and a half ago, when Rabbi Rahav and his wife visited the Rebbe of Erlau to receive a bracha. The couple, childless after decades of marriage, tearfully asked for a blessing to be granted zera shel kayama.

The Rebbe inquired about their ages. When they told him that the husband was 60 and the wife 51, the Rebbe responded by referencing Avraham Avinu, who had a son at an advanced age. “If Avraham had a child in his later years,” the Rebbe told them, “you too will merit to have a son b’shaah tovah.”

To their great joy, that brocha was fulfilled. Last week, the couple welcomed a healthy baby boy—their first child.

The bris milah took place in the home of the Erlauer Rebbe, who served as sandek. The baby was given the name Shraga Yaakov.

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Donald Trump announced his endorsement of Jack Ciattarelli for the Republican nomination for governor of New Jersey on Monday, a move that political analysts say effectively ends the competitive phase of the GOP primary race. Ciattarelli, a former assemblyman and the 2021 Republican gubernatorial nominee, was already leading his closest challenger, conservative radio host Bill Spadea, by approximately 30 percentage points in recent polls. In a post on X, Ciattarelli expressed gratitude for the endorsement, stating, “Truly humbled and honored to receive President Trump’s very strong endorsement today. It’s time to unite our party, win big in November, and make New Jersey affordable and safe again.” The endorsement, which comes less than a month before the June 10 primary, is seen as a decisive blow to Spadea and other candidates vying for the nomination. Trump’s backing carries significant weight in New Jersey’s Republican primary, particularly following his strong performance in the state during the 2024 presidential election, where he narrowed the Democratic margin to just six points, a 10-point improvement from 2020. Political insiders have long speculated that Trump’s endorsement could be a kingmaker in the race, given his influence over the party’s base. Ciattarelli’s commanding lead in the primary has been bolstered by his high name recognition, earned through his near-upset of Democratic Governor Phil Murphy in 2021, where he lost by just three percentage points. His campaign has focused on uniting the party, appealing to both moderate Republicans and the MAGA base, while emphasizing issues like affordability, public safety, and education reform. Ciattarelli’s meeting with Trump at his Bedminster golf club in March, followed by public displays of their interaction, including photos with Trump and Elon Musk, had already fueled speculation of an impending endorsement. Spadea, who has positioned himself as an “unapologetically pro-Trump” candidate, has struggled to close the gap despite his own meeting with Trump in Bedminster and a campaign centered on appealing to the MAGA base. His team has accused Ciattarelli of inconsistent loyalty to Trump, pointing to Ciattarelli’s past criticisms of the former president in 2016 and his donation to Chris Christie’s 2024 presidential campaign. However, Ciattarelli’s endorsement of Trump in 2024 and his strategic outreach to Trump voters have evidently swayed the former president. With Trump’s endorsement, Ciattarelli is now positioned as the overwhelming favorite to secure the Republican nomination. The primary winner will face the Democratic nominee in November, in a state where Republicans are optimistic about their chances following Trump’s 2024 gains and historical trends favoring the party out of power in gubernatorial elections. Ciattarelli’s campaign is already pivoting toward the general election, emphasizing a message of unity and electability. “My job is to make the case that I’m the only one that provides the only opportunity to win in November,” Ciattarelli said in a recent interview. Meanwhile, all eyes are now turning to the Democratic primary, where six viable candidates are vying for the nomination in a race that remains a total tossup. With no clear frontrunner and few reliable polls to provide insight, the Democratic contest is marked by uncertainty. The candidates, including a mix of state legislators, local officials, and prominent activists, have been aggressively campaigning across the state, but none have yet emerged as a dominant force. Political observers note that the lack of a standout […]

President Donald Trump’s agreement with China to temporarily slash tariffs for 90 days offered the world a bit of welcome relief. But what persists is a sense of uncertainty and the possibility that some damage from the trade war could already be done. The Trump administration agreed after talks this weekend in Switzerland to pare back its 145% in tariffs charged on imports from China to 30%. The Chinese government chose to reduce its retaliatory import taxes on U.S. goods from 125% to 10% while the sides continue to negotiate. Trump declared the de-escalation of the trade war a victory, saying he would soon chat with Chinese President Xi Jinping about how to preserve the financial relationship between the world’s two largest economies. Regardless, the tariffs are now elevated from when Trump took office and the scramble to respond to the White House’s mix of threats and olive branches might leave CEOs, investors and consumers uneasy and unwilling to take risks. Trump is going to keep tariffing The global economy is not going to back to January 19, 2025, the day before Trump became president. Even if he routinely changes the tariff rates, the U.S. president and his aides have made it clear that most imports will be taxed at a minimum of roughly 10%. The 10% figure has been Trump’s baseline. He gave it to most countries for a 90-day negotiating period after his April 2 “Liberation Day” tariff rollout caused a panic in the financial markets. He kept the 10% rate as part of the framework with the United Kingdom announced last week. And Trump’s new 30% tariff on Chinese goods includes 20% tied to China’s role in fentanyl and the 10% baseline applied elsewhere. “We have many deals coming down the line,” Trump said on Friday. “But we always have a baseline of 10%.” But Trump has also hinted that there could be exceptions. Sectoral tariffs of 25% on autos, steel and aluminum are still in place, with Trump stressing that pharmaceutical drugs will also soon face import taxes. Trump said Monday that he told House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune to include tariff revenues when looking at how to pay for their planned income tax cuts. Reality can now anchor negotiations Taisu Zhang, a law professor who studies comparative legal and economic history at Yale University, said the chaos from last month probably was not for nothing. Both countries were testing their strengths, with Trump stressing the importance that foreign companies placed on accessing U.S. consumers and China emphasizing its resilience to an external shock. “As recently as February, both sides probably harbored unrealistic assumptions about each other’s economic or political weaknesses or intents,” Zhang said. “The Americans had an exaggerated sense of their own bargaining power to begin with, and the Chinese may have had an exaggerated sense of their security from American economic pressure.” “The best thing to come out of this agreement, therefore, seems to be a stronger sense of reality on both sides,” Zhang said. In that, Zhang said, it looks like the goals of the two countries align, with China consuming more and the U.S. manufacturing more. The stock market loved the news and could shape what happens next The world has seen that Trump remains wary […]

Lior Suchard, the world’s best mentalist and one of the world’s most famous Israelis, brings his dramatic sell-out show to Los Angeles on June 18. World-renowned master mentalist Lior Suchard, whose inexplicable feats have astounded sold-out audiences from India, and Russia to Australia and New York City, is preparing to unveil dramatic new material at his first-ever West Coast shows—at Los Angeles’ Saban Theatre on June 18 and San Francisco’s San Mateo Performing Arts Center on June 16. As one of the world’s most famous living Israelis, Suchard has never been shy about his roots. But since October 7th, he’s stood even taller. Appearing on the world’s premier late-night shows and television sitcoms, Lior used his international presence to advocate for Israel in the tragedy’s aftermath. In live performances worldwide, he wears his identity with pride. He’s taken celebrity leaders to visit patients at Tel Hashomer’s Sheba Medical Center, advocated for Israel with influential friends, and brought much-needed positivity, laughter, and motivation to Israel’s frontline soldiers. This one-night-only event on June 18th in Los Angeles will feature Lior’s classic feats of mind-reading and prediction, alongside material he’s spent years preparing for this night. “It’ll pull in the whole audience,” he says. “You’ll be thrilled and surprised.” Tickets are available now at https: https://liorsuchard.com/cal/ VIP and group ticket sales are available through Hatzolair.org/suchard, a volunteer network that provides emergency medical transportation to individuals in urgent need.

Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey expressed profound relief and happiness following the return of Edan Alexander, a hostage from his home state who was held by Hamas for 583 (584) days.

Taking to X to share his reaction, Booker wrote that he was “overjoyed” by the news and emphasized the urgency of freeing all the other hostages, “living or dead.” He also called for renewed efforts toward a ceasefire in Gaza and a ramp-up of humanitarian support for those affected.

Reiterating his stance on the broader conflict, Booker voiced continued backing for a two-state framework. He highlighted the importance of preserving Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, while also ensuring that Palestinians can achieve self-governance. Booker encouraged the Trump administration to actively pursue these objectives during the president’s forthcoming trip to the region.

{Matzav.com}

Eden Alexander’s grandmother, Varda Ben Baruch, fought tirelessly for his release, both via diplomatic means and spiritual means, constantly davening, reciting Tehillim, and visiting the homes of Gedolim. She visited the home of HaGaon HaRav Berel Povarsky several times and the Rebbetzin spoke words of chizzuk and also told her that in one moment, Hakadosh Baruch Hu can make a neis and Eden can return. And sure enough, Eden’s release came as a shock to his parents when it was announced. On Monday, before Edan was released, she spoke to the press, during which she said: “Today is Pesach Sheini,” she said. “Edan was redeemed on Pesach Sheini.” She also opened her Sefer Tehillim and said: “This Tehillim is my weapon. I’m with my Tehillim all the time, day and night, and I daven. I’ll read to you now: “”מזמור לתודה, הריעו לה’ כל הארץ, עבדו את ה’ בשמחה, בואו לפניו ברננה…” She added,” I thank Hakadosh Baruch Hu on the good He granted us today. Thank you Hashem.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

This past Motzei Shabbos, a historic Melava Malka asifa brought together nearly 350 Roshei Chaburah from Beth Medrash Govoha (BMG) in Lakewood, representing over 300 chaburos across the yeshiva’s six campuses, 21 buildings, and 22 batei medrash. These roshei chaburos, pivotal in shaping the growth of the yeshiva’s talmidim, gathered for chizzuk under the guidance of BMG’s Roshei Yeshiva. The event featured powerful divrei chizuk from Rav Avraham Berenbaum shlit”a, son of Mir Yeshiva’s late Rosh Yeshiva, HaGaon Rav Shmuel Berenbaum zt”l, and son-in-law of BMG Rosh Yeshiva HaGaon Rav Yisroel Neuman shlit”a. Rav Birnbaum spoke passionately about the unique shlichus and responsibility of a Rosh Chaburah. Chairman R’ Yosef Heineman delivered a special address on behalf of Adirei HaTorah, further illuminating the collective mission of upholding Torah. The evening concluded with inspiring divrei bracha from Rosh Yeshiva HaGaon Rav Yerucham Olshin shlit”a, followed by HaGaon Rav Chaim Ginzburg shlit”a, who was mechubad with leading Birchas Hamazon.

A well-known Sephardic rov from Netivot is working to launch a new chareidi political movement that would rival Shas on a national scale, following his success in challenging the party’s influence on the local level, according to a report aired Sunday on Israeli television.

Channel 13 reported that Rav Chaim Yosef Abergel is forming a party called “Mayim Chaim,” which will advocate for including general education in chareidi schools and support military enlistment for members of the chareidi community.

Rav Chaim Yosef Abergel is a son of Rav Yoram Abergel, a beloved figure in the Sephardic community who distanced himself from Shas in 2015.

Rav Abergel’s separation from Shas became evident last year when he withdrew his Bnei Yosef network from the party-affiliated Maayan HaChinuch HaTorani system and shifted it to the state-chareidi educational framework, introducing the core curriculum required by the government.

This step triggered a strong backlash from Shas. According to a report by Haaretz, the party’s newspaper printed letters that accused the newly independent schools of spreading a “broken and corrupt education” and warned that such changes would cause “the children of Israel to transgress their religion.”

In a video published in February, Rav Abergel addressed the issue of army enlistment among chareidim not studying full-time, urging them to serve in the IDF.

“The entire Jewish people are one family [and] it is impossible to ignore the needs of the Jewish people,” he said. “It is impossible to denigrate, God forbid, those holy warriors who gave their lives for the sanctification of God’s name.”

“A person who goes out to earn a living, instead of working in a pizzeria or a butcher shop or a garage, let him go in the army,” Abergel added — asserting that there are service tracks in the military which are compatible with maintaining a chareidi lifestyle.

His statements stand in sharp contrast to those of many senior rabbinic leaders in both the Sephardic and Ashkenazi worlds. Rav Moshe Maya said on Kol Baramah Radio last year that it was “forbidden [even] for those who don’t study [full-time] to go to the army” because they would “end up violating the Shabbos.”

Although some ministers affiliated with Shas have at times expressed views that echo Rav Abergel’s on limited chareidi conscription, the party itself has distanced itself from such remarks.

The military has indicated that it is short roughly 12,000 soldiers to fill its current operational needs amid the ongoing war. Of that number, 7,000 are expected to serve in combat roles.

Today, about 80,000 chareidi men aged 18 to 24 are eligible to be drafted but have not joined the military. Since July 2024, the IDF has distributed 18,915 initial draft notices to chareidi men, but by late April, only 232 had responded by enlisting — and just 57 of them were assigned to combat units.

A 2024 report by the Israel Democracy Institute found that, as of last summer, at least 22 percent of chareidi yeshiva students under 26 were employed, which technically violated the rules of their now-nullified draft exemption.

Previously, chareidim of enlistment age could defer army service by studying in yeshiva and renewing their deferments annually until they reached an age where they were no longer required to serve. That changed in June of last year, when the High Court of Justice ruled there was no legal foundation for the long-standing exemption system.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has signed a first-in-the-nation executive order to block the federal government from collecting personal health data related to autism, a direct rebuke to the Trump administration. Democrat Pritzker, who has been one of the more vocal critics of Trump’s second administration, signed the order last week, saying he wanted to protect “dignity, privacy, and the freedom to live without fear of surveillance or discrimination.” It came two days after U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a plan to use data maintained by the National Institutes of Health, and claims submitted for Medicare and Medicaid coverage, to determine the causes of autism. While the agency did not release details of the plan, Kennedy promised it would follow “applicable privacy laws to protect Americans’ sensitive health information.” Prior to his rise to health secretary, Kennedy joined anti-vaccine advocates in claiming childhood vaccines are responsible for autism, but studies by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others have ruled that out. Pritzker’s executive order bans state agencies from disclosing “personally identifiable autism-related data” outside of state government unless the person or their guardian gives consent, it’s required by legal action, it’s necessary to provide services such as employment or housing or is otherwise required by law. State contractors, vendors and grant recipients are also covered. “We are taking steps to ensure that our state remains a leader in protecting the rights of individuals with autism and all people with disabilities,” Pritzker said. Andy Shih, chief science officer for Autism Speaks, a national advocacy group funding research and services, said he’s unaware of a similar declaration elsewhere. And while Kennedy promises to abide by privacy guidelines, Shih said with advances in computational power and algorithmic thinking, what’s private data today might not be tomorrow. Government investigators could use some techniques to get more information than what is previously disclosed. In the wrong hands, it could be used against patients to deny them constitutionally protected rights. “There’s always that concern,” Shih said. “Being proactive to protect privacy, which is something we value as a society, this should be applauded.” Kennedy has previously said he wants to be able to announce by September some of the causes of autism, a complex brain disorder better known as autism spectrum disorder because it affects people differently. For some people, profound autism means being nonverbal or having intellectual disabilities, while milder cases might mean difficulty with social and emotional skills. Experts say Kennedy’s planned database isn’t appropriate to uncover autism’s causes in part because there’s no information about genetics. However, Shih noted that Health and Human Services’ announcement was about creating a platform to help understand a range of chronic illnesses, which he said could be useful. Shih added that linking data sets is a proven way of studying issues of health. He pointed to a study published earlier this year in the Journal of the American Medical Association that found dementia in significantly higher numbers among autistic adults over age 65 than the general population. It was achieved by linking numerical identifiers from two different data sets. (AP)

The moment you’ve been waiting for is here—ArtScroll’s Once-a-Year Set Sale is officially on! Now is the perfect time to expand your personal collection, upgrade your shul’s library, or stock up on meaningful gifts that will inspire all year long. Save 25% on Over 100 Popular Sets! + FREE SHIPPING ON ALL SETS! No Minimum! From classic texts to contemporary must-haves, this sale includes a wide range of favorites:

• Talmud Bavli & Yerushalmi
• Mishnah & Chumash Commentaries
• Midrash & Book of Mitzvos
• Nevi’im/Kesuvim
• Youth Titles & Jewish History
• Halachah, Siddurim, Tehillim, and Machzorim
• Pirkei Avos, Bentchers, and Jewish Thought
• And our Signature Leather Collection

Whether you’re building your own Torah library, enhancing your community’s resources, or selecting meaningful gifts, this is your golden opportunity. Customers in the USA and Canada enjoy free shipping on all orders—no minimum required—when shopping at ArtScroll.com. But hurry—Sale Ends May 27th so don’t wait—take advantage of this once-a-year opportunity to save big and elevate your learning. BONUS! Enter Our First-Ever “Shul Set-a-Thon” Raffle! Your purchases during the sale could win you a complete shul library for your shul! Click here to learn more & enter. Shop now at artscroll.com/setsale or call 1-800-MESORAH (637-6724). Also available at your local Hebrew bookseller. {Matzav.com}

Israeli National Defense Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Monday urged the Israeli government to “unleash the gates of hell” in the ongoing war against Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip.

“We really need to implement what Trump told us to do,” Ben-Gvir told JNS during the faction meeting of his Otzma Yehudit Party, responding to reports that U.S. President Donald Trump is planning to meet with Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas during his current Mideast trip.

“He told us to unleash the gates of hell. Let’s unleash the gates of hell on them. That’s our mission,” the minister said.

Trump “fully supports” Israel’s decision to resume its offensive against Hamas in Gaza in an effort to free the remaining hostages, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on March 20.

“The president made it very clear to Hamas that if they did not release all of the hostages, there would be all hell to pay,” the spokeswoman said. “Unfortunately, Hamas chose to play games in the media with lives.”

“This situation, let’s not forget, is completely the fault of Hamas when they launched that brutal attack on Israel on Oct. 7,” Leavitt continued, saying that the Trump administration “fully supports Israel and the IDF and the actions that they’ve taken in recent days.”

On Feb. 10, Trump vowed that “all hell is going to break out” if Hamas did not release the remaining hostages within five days.

“As far as I’m concerned, if all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12 o’clock—I think it’s an appropriate time—I would say, cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out,” the president told reporters at the White House as he was signing a round of executive orders.

“I’d say they ought to be returned by 12 o’clock on Saturday,” Trump said. “And if they’re not returned—all of them, not in drips and drabs, not two and one and three and four and two–by Saturday at 12 o’clock. And after that, I would say, all hell is going to break out.”

In recent weeks, the White House has sought to relaunch talks with Hamas for a deal that would end the war and free the remaining 59 captives held by terrorists in the Gaza Strip for almost 600 days. JNS

{Matzav.com Israel}

A year and seven months after they were evacuated in the wake of the October 7 assault, former residents of Gaza border communities up to four kilometers from the border were told not to return to their homes in the near future, Channel 12 News reported on Sunday evening. According to the report, security officials in the Gaza border area were recently told that due to the current preparations to expand the war in Gaza, the commander of the Southern Command, Maj.-Gen. Yaniv Asor has recommended against the return of residents to border communities at this stage. Some of these residents were slated to return to their homes at the beginning of this month, after an extended stay outside their communities since the beginning of the war. The Tkuma Directorate, which is overseeing the rehabilitation of southern and northern Israel, has even been fast-tracking the necessary infrastructure work to enable their return. However, due to Israel’s decision to expand the war, security officials made the decision that it would not be safe for the residents to return. As of now, a decision was made to delay the return of the residents until the end of June, but security officials estimate that if a broader war is launched, their return will be delayed again. However, Maj.-Gen. Yasor said that the residents who have already returned to their homes will not be evacuated again, even if the fighting intensifies, and the IDF is prepared to protect them. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

The moment you’ve been waiting for is here—ArtScroll’s Once-a-Year Set Sale is officially on! Now is the perfect time to expand your personal collection, upgrade your shul’s library, or stock up on meaningful gifts that will inspire all year long. Save 25% on Over 100 Popular Sets! + FREE SHIPPING ON ALL SETS! No Minimum! From classic texts to contemporary must-haves, this sale includes a wide range of favorites: Talmud Bavli & Yerushalmi Mishnah & Chumash Commentaries Midrash & Book of Mitzvos Nevi’im/Kesuvim Youth Titles & Jewish History Halachah, Siddurim, Tehillim, and Machzorim Pirkei Avos, Bentchers, and Jewish Thought And our Signature Leather Collection Whether you’re building your own Torah library, enhancing your community’s resources, or selecting meaningful gifts, this is your golden opportunity. Customers in the USA and Canada enjoy free shipping on all orders—no minimum required—when shopping at ArtScroll.com. But hurry—Sale Ends May 27th so don’t wait—take advantage of this once-a-year opportunity to save big and elevate your learning. BONUS! Enter Our First-Ever “Shul Set-a-Thon” Raffle! Your purchases during the sale could win you a complete shul library for your shul! Click here to learn more & enter. Shop now at artscroll.com/setsale or call 1-800-MESORAH (637-6724). Also available at your local Hebrew bookseller.

Avigdor Lieberman, leader of Israel’s opposition Yisrael Beiteinu Party, on Monday denounced the Trump administration’s plan to let aid supplies into the Gaza Strip as a “very, very negative development.”

“In my opinion, humanitarian aid—of any kind—should not have been allowed to enter since the start of the war, as long as our hostages are rotting in Hamas’s tunnels,” Liberman stated in response to a question from JNS at his party’s faction meeting at the Knesset in Yerushalayim.

“We just need to say it out loud to everyone and stand by it,” Lieberman said. “You want humanitarian aid? First, return the hostages, then we’ll talk. And therefore, for me, this is a very, very negative development.”

Fifty-nine abductees remain captive in Gaza, according to official Israel Defense Forces figures. It is believed that up to 24 of them are still alive, with heavy question marks over one Israeli and two foreign nationals.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Sunday stressed the government’s full backing of the American-led humanitarian plan for the Strip, which was announced on Friday by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.

“Humanitarian aid will be facilitated by a private fund—based on the principles laid out by the U.S. administration,” Sa’ar said, adding that the plan will enable aid “directly to the people” and not to Hamas terrorists.

Washington’s plan is “based on international humanitarian law and its principles, which we are committed to. And we would like to cooperate with as many countries and NGOs as possible on the matter,” he added. JNS

{Matzav.com Israel}

The federal agency tasked with protecting workers’ civil rights has moved to terminate a New York administrative judge who has resisted compliance with directives from the White House, including President Donald Trump’s executive order decreeing male and female as two “immutable” sexes. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in response to Trump’s order has moved to drop at least seven of its own pending cases representing transgender workers alleging discrimination, and is classifying all new gender identity-related discrimination cases as its lowest priority, signaling a major departure from its prior interpretation of civil rights law. EEOC Administrative Judge Karen Ortiz, who in February criticized the agency’s Trump-appointed head, Acting Chair Andrea Lucas, in an email copied to more than 1,000 colleagues, on Wednesday was placed on administrative leave. She also received notice that the EEOC leadership sought to fire her, accusing her of “profoundly unprofessional” conduct. “Of particular concern, your February email was ultimately circulated to multiple press outlets, potentially resulting in significant reputational harm to the agency,” according to the notice, which included a PDF of a March 10 article by The Associated Press on Ortiz along with other materials. An EEOC spokesperson said on Monday that the agency had no comment on Ortiz’s termination proceedings. Ortiz may reply to the dismissal notice within 15 days, and has the right to request a time extension, an attorney, a union representative, or another representative of her choosing, according to the document, which was acquired by The AP. “This proposed action does not pertain to the content of your disagreement with the Agency policy, but rather the disrespectful and disparaging manner in which you have conveyed your message,” the notice reads. A final decision will be issued after the reply period has passed. In her February mass-email criticizing the agency’s efforts to comply with Trump’s order, Ortiz wrote to Lucas that “You are not fit to be our chair much less hold a license to practice law,” adding: “I will not compromise my ethics and my duty to uphold the law.” The letter was leaked on Reddit, where it gained more than 10,000 “upvotes.” Many users cheered its author. The EEOC subsequently revoked her email privileges for about a week and issued her a written reprimand for “discourteous conduct.” Ortiz’s actions were cited in an April 18 White House proposal aimed to make it easier to fire some federal workers. It listed Ortiz as an example of bureaucrats who “use the protections the system gives them to oppose presidential policies and impose their own preferences.” Ortiz said she was unfazed after being called out by the nation’s highest office. Trump “just gave me an even bigger platform,” she said in an April 19 message to The AP. Since February, Ortiz said she has continued to “raise the alarm” and convey her opposition to the agency’s actions, including in an April 24 email to Lucas and several other internal email groups with the subject line, “If You’re Seeking Power, Here’s Power” and a link to Tears for Fears’ 1985 hit “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.” “Take in the lyrics,” Ortiz wrote to Lucas. “Ponder what you’re allowing yourself to be a part of.” Her ability to send emails was again promptly revoked. Ortiz said she plans to fight the termination, and […]

A 19-year-old from Yerushalayim has been taken into custody and formally charged with intentionally damaging vital emergency and security infrastructure in the vicinity of the kever of Rav Shimon Bar Yochai in Meron.

The arrest took place just days ahead of the Lag Ba’omer gathering, an annual pilgrimage expected to bring in hundreds of thousands of attendees.

The indictment accuses the young man of purposefully sabotaging essential systems designed to ensure the safety of visitors making the trip to Meron.

In recent weeks, Northern District police received several reports of deliberate destruction to safety-related installations around the Meron area.

The accused is said to have spray-painted black paint on multiple security cameras, vandalized walls along the derech hakohanim with inflammatory messages, and in a separate incident, cut important wires and inflicted significant harm to monitoring equipment—causing damages estimated in the tens of thousands of shekels.

Following these reports, law enforcement launched a focused investigation, which eventually led them to the suspect. He was located at the end of last month hiding inside a storage area in Tzefas, where officers apprehended him.

Police have now filed a formal indictment with serious charges and have petitioned the court to keep the suspect behind bars throughout the legal process.

Along with the charges, authorities have submitted a request for the suspect’s detention to be extended until the trial reaches its conclusion.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The Times is reporting that President Trump is expected to meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa during his visit this week to Saudi Arabia, with discussions expected to include the lifting of sanctions imposed against Syria during the Assad Regime.

Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said today that the Biden administration is to blame for the ongoing air traffic control failures at New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport.