Israeli Opposition Leader Yair Lapid launched a sharp attack Tuesday evening against the government’s reported efforts to enable yeshiva students without legal status to travel to Uman for Rosh Hashanah. In a strongly worded letter to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, Lapid demanded that she block any attempt to advance such a plan, calling it a direct violation of the law.
According to Lapid, the proposed arrangement would enable individuals who are considered draft evaders to bypass legal restrictions. “These are deserters against whom criminal enforcement measures have been taken for violating the draft law. Any attempt to allow them to leave the country, circumventing the law, constitutes improper interference with enforcement,” he wrote.
Lapid warned that if the government moves forward with the plan, he will personally petition the High Court of Justice. “The attempts to grant privileges to those who do not uphold the law endanger the rule of law itself,” he added.
The letter comes amid growing pressure from chareidi representatives on the prime minister to secure permission for yeshiva students and avreichim who lack legal status to travel to Uman for the annual Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage.
{Matzav.com Israel}[COMMUNICATED]
Reb Baruch Ber Lebowitz’s prophetic foresight regarding Reb Aharon Leib Steinman when he was a bochur! Kamenitz, 1936Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Tuesday that the United States has gone three consecutive months without any illegal immigrants entering the country and that 1.6 million individuals who were in the country illegally have chosen to leave on their own.
Speaking during a Cabinet meeting, Noem expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump for his backing and said her department is delivering on his promise to restore safety and security for American citizens.
“Today, the average family and individual that lives in this country is safer than they’ve been in years because of what you’ve done,” Noem said. “We’ve gone three months in a row now with zero illegal aliens coming into this country.”
She also praised Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for his department’s role in strengthening border security.
“They’re down at the border with us, still helping us keep that border secure and make sure we know who’s coming into this country,” she said. “You’ve arrested and brought to justice hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens, criminals that have perpetuated violence against American people. Sir, you’ve had 1.6 million people voluntarily go home to their home countries that were here in this country illegally. Because of your strong message and you enforcing the law, they decided to go home on their own so that they could come back the right way someday and be American citizens.”
Noem pointed out the economic differences between the Trump administration and the previous one, emphasizing the shift in job opportunities.
“But what I think is one of the most remarkable statistics is that under Joe Biden’s administration, 88% of new jobs went to foreign born individuals. Under your administration, 2.5 [million] Americans have jobs today that they didn’t under the previous administration. And they have those jobs because you created opportunities.
“You made this country safe. You opened up the economy. You enforced the law. Now people can get up and provide for their families and go to work every day and be confident in that.”
She also highlighted the significant financial impact of the administration’s immigration enforcement policies, noting the cost savings for American taxpayers.
“You saved this country billions of dollars, about $15 billion just in what those illegal aliens were costing us in social programs,” Noem said. “I’ve cut over 450 different contracts at the Department of Homeland Security. We’re getting rid of corrupt ones, ones that were not efficient for taxpayers, weren’t focused on our mission of keeping us safe. And we’ve also renegotiated and brought in our biggest vendors and said, you have to do better.
“And we’ve saved the taxpayers over $13 billion doing that, as well. So, we’re continuing to be accountable with taxpayer dollars [and] focused on doing the mission of what you’ve committed, and that’s to keep us safe and to make sure we put Americans first.”
President Trump responded warmly to Noem’s report, commending her and others involved in the administration’s immigration efforts, including Hegseth and Tom Homan, his lead advisor on border security and deportation policy.
“Great job and great job on the border,” he said. “We had millions and millions of people coming in. To think three months in a row, zero. Incredible. That’s some job.”
{Matzav.com}
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated on Tuesday that the administration plans to reveal next month what he called major findings about “interventions” that are “almost certainly” linked to the rise in autism cases.
Kennedy made the announcement during President Donald Trump’s cabinet meeting at the White House, which was broadcast live on Newsmax. Back in April, Kennedy had pledged that by September, the administration would pinpoint the primary causes behind the growing autism rates.
“We are doing very well. We will have announcements as promised in September,” RFK Jr. said when responding to a question from Trump. “We’re finding interventions, certain interventions now that are clearly almost certainly causing autism, and we’re going to be able to address those in September.”
According to data released in April from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, autism diagnoses in the U.S. have risen significantly. The latest report, part of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, showed that the rate had jumped from one in 36 children to one in 31.
Kennedy also revealed that a “massive testing and research effort” was underway and assured the public that findings would be shared by September.
“At your direction, we are going to know by September. We’ve launched a massive testing and research effort that’s going to involve hundreds of scientists from around the world,” Kennedy said during an April 10 cabinet meeting.
“By September, we will know what has caused the autism epidemic and we’ll be able to eliminate those exposures.”
{Matzav.com}
President Donald Trump is insisting that Harvard University pay a significant financial penalty for what he described as its “very bad” conduct.
During a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Trump directly addressed Education Secretary Linda McMahon and made his position clear. “We want nothing less than $500 million from Harvard. Don’t negotiate, Linda. They’ve been very bad,” Trump stated.
Earlier reports indicated that Harvard and the Trump administration were nearing an agreement on a groundbreaking settlement. The proposal would require Harvard to provide $500 million while, in return, the government would restore billions of dollars in federal funding previously withheld.
According to sources who spoke with The New York Times, Harvard’s contribution would be allocated toward vocational programs, educational initiatives, and research. The university has reportedly requested that the payment not be made directly to the federal government. In exchange, the administration would reinstate Harvard’s research funding and drop its demand for a federal monitor — a key condition Harvard emphasized to maintain its academic independence.
Part of the settlement would also require Harvard to continue strengthening its policies and efforts aimed at combating antisemitism on campus.
Additionally, the deal would bring an end to the government’s growing list of investigations into the university. It would also lift restrictions that had prevented Harvard from admitting international students, according to the Times.
The structure of the settlement is expected to share similarities with Brown University’s recent agreement with the White House, finalized last month. Under that arrangement, Brown committed to paying $50 million over a ten-year period.
The White House is also reportedly seeking a clause requiring Harvard to provide the government with extensive admissions data, including detailed information on applicants’ race, gender, GPAs, and standardized test scores, the Times reported.
{Matzav.com}
Yossi Cohen, the former head of the Mossad, revealed that he intends to run for the position of Prime Minister in the future.
Speaking on the podcast “Salon Shel Yasmin,” Cohen explained: “In the past, they always told me, ‘Don’t go near politics’ because of the heavy price it entails. Today, to a large extent, there’s no choice. If you want real change, I need to be Prime Minister.”
When asked why he hasn’t entered the political arena until now, Cohen replied: “I’m not going into politics at the moment since nothing’s going on in politics.”
He further clarified that he views his path differently than traditional politics. “I also don’t see this as politics. I see it differently, and I think this needs to be classified differently. In my opinion, this is a leadership position and not necessarily a political one, especially after October 7th. It is the leadership that I’m going to try to sell when there are elections, we will speak about national leadership, which is mostly unity and security,” Cohen added.
{Matzav.com Israel}
French President Emmanuel Macron sent a strongly worded letter to Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on Monday, warning that Israel could lose a “historic opportunity” for peace if it continues its military operations in Gaza and maintains its current settlement policies in the West Bank.
The letter, dated August 26 and published by the Élysée Palace, was written in response to a message from Netanyahu accusing France of promoting antisemitism by recognizing a Palestinian state. Macron firmly rejected the claim, calling it “unacceptable” and “an offence to France as a whole.”
Macron argued that Israel’s current policies — including its presence in Gaza, the displacement and suffering of Palestinians, divisive rhetoric, and moves to annex parts of the West Bank — will not bring the country closer to security or victory. “On the contrary, these actions will only make your country more isolated, embolden those who use them as a pretext for anti-Semitism and endanger Jewish communities around the world,” he wrote.
“I solemnly appeal to you to end the desperate race of a murderous and illegal permanent war in Gaza, causing indignity for your country and placing your people in a deadlock,” the president added.
Macron used a significant part of his letter to defend France’s record in fighting antisemitism. He highlighted his government’s adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition in 2017, the passing of legislation addressing antisemitism on university campuses, and the deployment of 15,000 security personnel to safeguard Jewish institutions following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 massacre.
“The fight against antisemitism must not be weaponized and will not fuel any discord between Israel and France,” Macron wrote. “Accusations of inaction are unacceptable and an offence to France as a whole.”
He emphasized that antisemitism in France stems from both extremes of the political spectrum — the far right and far left — and cautioned against connecting its rise to France’s diplomatic stance on the Palestinians, calling such claims misleading and dangerous.
Central to Macron’s message was his insistence that Israel’s lasting security depends on the establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian state alongside it. “We are convinced, after nearly two years of Israeli operations in Gaza, that this is today the only way to truly eradicate Hamas and ensure Israel’s young people are not consumed by a permanent war,” Macron declared.
He pointed to France’s collaboration with Saudi Arabia and other international partners at the United Nations in July, where they pushed for a “Day After” strategy for Gaza. The proposal calls for placing the territory under temporary international security supervision, dismantling terrorist groups, and rebuilding Gaza under new Palestinian leadership.
“This commitment is unprecedented,” Macron said. “It stems from our indignation in the face of the terrible humanitarian disaster in Gaza that nothing can justify.”
“Your government has decided on a new phase of the offensive leading to the reoccupation of Gaza. I am convinced such a measure would impact the lives of the people of Israel for decades to come,” Macron warned.
The French leader also stressed the urgent need for a ceasefire to secure the release of all remaining hostages. He noted that France lost more than 50 of its citizens in the October 7 attacks, and that three French hostages died while in captivity.
“The barbaric images of Israeli hostage Evyatar David served as a reminder to the world that Hamas must never again be a threat to Israel, nor play any role in the future governance of Gaza,” Macron wrote.
While making clear his condemnation of Hamas, Macron urged Netanyahu to resist what he described as the group’s strategy of provoking irreversible decisions that would prolong the conflict indefinitely.
In closing, Macron reaffirmed France’s dual role as a supporter and critic of Israel. “France will always be a friend of Israel and the Palestinians. I solemnly appeal to you to end the desperate race of a murderous and illegal permanent war in Gaza, and to take the outstretched hand of international partners ready to work towards peace.”
{Matzav.com}
United Torah Judaism MK Yitzchok Goldknopf spoke this evening about the painful arrests of bochurim learning in yeshivos and about his party’s dramatic decision to pull out of the government. In his remarks, he shared new and previously unknown details about what unfolded in the tense hours leading up to his withdrawal on the night of the Iranian attack.
Addressing the arrests of yeshiva bochurim, Goldknopf expressed his deep anguish. “It’s hard to see this and it was hard to predict that this would happen in the Jewish land.”
At the same time, he noted the remarkable chizuk within the Torah world despite the situation. “On the other hand, we see an overflow of students in yeshiva halls, but no one says, ‘it’s overcrowded here.’ They started the school year as if nothing happened, as if there was no decree, because we all trust that God will not abandon His people.”
Goldknopf then revealed what took place behind the scenes on the night his party chose to resign from the coalition, coinciding with the night of the Iranian attack. “We knew at the time about the expected attack in Iran, but my assistant Motti Babchik was at the Gerrer Rebbe in the US to raise money for the yeshiva.”
He described the moment the directive from the Rebbe came. “They called Babchik and told him to go into the Rebbe’s office and tell him about the upcoming attack and prevent the resignation. The Rebbe said: They are crying wolf; I don’t believe them anymore. Every time it’s something different to do with security. You have my explicit order to resign immediately,’ and that’s what I did.”
Goldknopf also shared how tirelessly his team worked to protect the interests of the bochurim throughout the process. “When I call Babchik at 6 a.m. to ask what happened with Gallant and Netanyahu, it turns out he had fallen asleep on the floor there waiting outside the offices so they could sort out the status of the yeshiva students.”
Finally, the United Torah Judaism chairman directed criticism toward political figures who have been vocal against the yeshiva exemptions. “On the other hand, we see Amichai Chikli and others shouting against this,” he said, referring to those opposing the protection of bnei Torah.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu delivered a speech this evening at a special gathering organized by the Binyamin Council, where he addressed ongoing developments in the war in Gaza.
“The heroism of the warriors, the sacrifice, the giving and the price. The price is very high and the heroism shown by the boys is supreme. The spirit is tested in the War of Rebirth in which we are defeating our enemy. I have come from the cabinet meeting and can only say – ‘it started in Gaza and will end in Gaza. We will defeat our enemy and bring our hostages home,” Netanyahu said.
During his remarks, the Prime Minister spoke emotionally about his personal bond with the communities in Judea and Samaria.
“A few days ago I visited Ofra. I was invited after 25 years to see the tree that I planted then. I came and saw the tree. There was a huge cedar there that had grown and flourished. This is what happened with the communities. I want to congratulate the ministry and the ministers, the MKs who believed in the vision. Ofra has grown a lot and so have all the other towns and villages.”
Netanyahu also reminded the audience of commitments he made years ago regarding the land.
“Twenty-five years ago I promised that we would deepen our roots. We will prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, and we are doing it. I said we would hold on to parts of our land and we are doing it,” Netanyahu said.
Turning to Binyamin Council Chairman Israel Ganz, the Prime Minister addressed his comments about sovereignty and expressed confidence about the future.
“You are no longer stepchildren and you feel it. I heard you Ganz (speaking about sovereignty). Over the years, we have faced many and difficult pressures and a bright future lies ahead of us.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
A controversial new book titled “How to Defeat Israel” is now being sold in bookstores across Russia and is attributed to Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, one of the masterminds behind the October 7th massacre.
The book, released in 2025 by Rodina Publishing House, received official authorization from Russian authorities for both publication and nationwide distribution, in compliance with a law that requires state approval before any new book can be released in the country.
Descriptions of the book on online retail platforms label Sinwar as the “Palestinian Che Guevara.” The summary further portrays him as “one of the amazing Arab generals of the new generation. He is the one who initiated Operation ‘Al-Aqsa Flood’ (the murderous massacre of October 7th) and led the operation to defend Gaza.”
One particularly inflammatory passage claims, “Despite the Israeli advantage in weapons, Israel has been unable to conquer all of Gaza. Over 80,000 tons of bombs have been dropped on little Gaza, but the city survived. In many ways, this is thanks to Sinwar. In this book, the great commander, the ‘General of the Free People,’ tells of his life dedicated to a tense struggle for the liberation of Palestinians and all Arab peoples.”
The book is being sold for $46. Rodina Publishing House has a long history of producing publications with overtly antisemitic content.
{Matzav.com}
