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President Barack Hussein Obama expressed doubts about Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s approach to Iran, saying the Israeli leader has consistently pushed for a more aggressive military posture on the issue.

In a wide-ranging interview with The New Yorker, Obama said Netanyahu made similar arguments to him during his time in office as those later presented to President Donald Trump. “I think my prognosis was accurate,” Obama stated. He added that Netanyahu may have “gotten what he wanted,” but questioned whether the outcome serves Israel or the United States. “Whether that’s what is ultimately best for the Israeli people, I would question that. Whether I think it’s what is good for the United States and America, I would question that,” he said, noting “an ample record” of disagreements with Netanyahu.

Shifting to broader international issues, Obama spoke about the ongoing conflict involving Iran and the evolving global order, warning that repairing relationships with allies could prove more difficult than resolving internal challenges. He pointed to the system established after World War II as a major achievement, highlighting institutions like NATO and the World Bank as part of a structure that, despite its flaws, helped foster global stability and economic growth.

Obama said the United States played a leading role in building that framework by choosing cooperation rather than force. At the same time, he cautioned that recent developments have weakened those alliances. He stated that US partners “can no longer count on us being the hub of that international order,” citing policy decisions and rhetoric that have unsettled traditional allies.

He warned that a reduced American presence on the world stage could have far-reaching consequences. “If we don’t talk about human rights, human rights don’t get talked about that much,” he said, adding that US leadership remains critical, though it may increasingly depend on example rather than directive influence.

Responding to comments made by President Trump regarding Iran, Obama stressed the need for moral clarity in leadership. He said that American leadership must reflect “a basic regard for human dignity and decency,” warning that without such principles, “the world can break in very bad ways.”

Obama also pushed back on the idea that Trump’s presidency signals a rejection of his own policies, saying most Americans still support his positions.

{Matzav.com}

Rudy Giuliani was still in the hospital Monday after being diagnosed with pneumonia, as a close associate said the day could be significant for his recovery.

Giuliani, 81, was admitted over the weekend after falling ill with pneumonia, according to his business associate Tom von Essen, who served as New York City’s fire commissioner during the Sept. 11 attacks.

“Rudy had a tough weekend. He had pneumonia,” von Essen said.

“Today is an important day,” he said.

A representative for Giuliani said Sunday that the longtime ally of President Trump was in critical but stable condition due to an unspecified illness, sparking concern and an outpouring of support.

Von Essen said again Monday morning that Giuliani’s condition had not worsened.

“He seems to be doing OK,” added Giuliani spokesman Ted Goodman.

WATCH:

House Democrats’ campaign arm has broadened its list of competitive congressional districts ahead of the midterm elections, adding eight new seats in its first expansion of the current election cycle.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) announced Monday that it updated its “Red to Blue” program, bringing in additional candidates from across the country, including a mix of backgrounds such as Grammy-winning performers, law enforcement officials, and first responders.

“As the American people reject House Republicans’ disastrous, cost-spiking agenda, House Democrats have the momentum to take back the majority,” DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene said in a statement.

“These latest additions to our Red to Blue program represent the strength of our people-first message and the broad appeal of our top-tier candidates,” DelBene added. “These candidates will win because they are authentic, independent-minded leaders who are rooted in their communities.”

The latest group of candidates added to the program, which was first introduced in February, includes Marlene Galan-Woods (Ariz.-1), Jasmeet Bains (Calif.-22), Jessica Killin (Col-5), Joe Baldacci (Maine-2), Bob Harvie (Pa.-1), Bob Brooks (Pa.-07), Bobby Pulido (Texas-15), and Johnny Garcia (Texas-35).

The update comes shortly after the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) unveiled revisions to its own candidate support initiative, known as the “MAGA Majority” program.

Both parties’ programs focus on a mix of districts considered vulnerable due to retirements as well as seats seen as realistic pickup opportunities.

Among the newly added Democrats is Baldacci, who is running to replace retiring Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District.

Despite being held by a Democrat, that district favored President Trump over former Vice President Kamala Harris by a margin of 53.8% to 44.2%, underscoring its Republican-leaning tendencies.

Many of the candidates added to the list are challenging Republican incumbents.

One example is Bob Harvie, who is competing against Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) in Pennsylvania’s 1st Congressional District.

Fitzpatrick, who serves as the GOP co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers’ Caucus, is widely viewed as one of the more moderate voices within the House Republican Conference.

With the new additions, the “Red to Blue” program now includes 20 candidates, up from the previous 12.

Candidates selected for the program receive key support from the DCCC, including strategic guidance, fundraising help, and campaign training resources.

Being chosen for the list signals confidence from party leadership in those running in closely contested races.

To qualify, candidates must meet specific benchmarks related to grassroots organizing and fundraising.

Looking ahead to November, historical trends suggest challenges for the party in control of the White House, which has typically lost House seats in nearly every election cycle since 1938, with only two exceptions.

Still, recent polling compiled by RealClearPolitics shows Democrats holding a 5.7-point advantage over Republicans on the generic congressional ballot.

{Matzav.com}

Iran claims on Monday that it opened fire on a US naval vessel as Washington began efforts to ensure the free passage of global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, marking a sharp escalation in the standoff between the two countries.

Iran’s semiofficial Fars News Agency, which is closely aligned with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), initially reported that an unidentified American ship had been struck by two missiles near the port of Jask, located southeast of the strategic waterway, after the vessel allegedly failed to heed orders to stop.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) rejected the report, stating on social media platform X: “No US Navy ships have been struck. US forces are supporting Project Freedom and enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports.”

A senior Iranian official later told Reuters that the incident involved a warning shot rather than a confirmed strike, adding that it remained uncertain whether any damage had been inflicted on the vessel.

Tehran has repeatedly claimed to have targeted US naval assets since hostilities began on Feb. 28, including an assertion in March that the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier had been hit. CENTCOM dismissed that claim at the time, saying “the missiles launched didn’t even come close.”

President Trump said Sunday on Truth Social that the United States would “guide” vessels through the strait as part of an operation dubbed Project Freedom, cautioning that Iranian attempts to obstruct maritime traffic “will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully.”

Iran responded with a warning that all vessels seeking to traverse the strait must first coordinate with its authorities, and vowed to confront any attempt to bypass its control of the waterway.

“We warn that any foreign military force — especially the aggressive US military — that intends to approach or enter the Strait of Hormuz will be targeted,” Maj. Gen. Pilot Ali Abdollahi told state broadcaster IRIB.

At the same time, the US has cautioned shipping firms that payments to Iran in exchange for passage through the strait could trigger sanctions, while continuing a naval blockade of Iranian ports that has been in place since April 13.

According to CENTCOM, 49 commercial vessels had already been turned back by the restrictions as of Sunday.

US officials have indicated that the blockade is intended to pressure Iran into renewed negotiations. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that Tehran was “going to have to start shutting in wells, which we think could be in the next week,” citing concerns that the country’s oil storage capacity is nearing its limit.

With tensions mounting, many ships caught in the region have chosen to remain stationary rather than risk passage through the contested waters.

The International Maritime Organization reported that roughly 2,000 vessels — including oil tankers, cargo ships, and cruise liners — have been immobilized in the strait since the launch of Operation Epic Fury, leaving as many as 20,000 crew members stranded.

“There is no precedent for the stranding of so many seafarers in the modern age,” Damien Chevallier, director of the IMO’s maritime safety division, told reporters March 31.

On Monday, the US-led Joint Maritime Information Center advised ships to travel through Oman’s territorial waters, noting the establishment of an “enhanced security area” to reduce risks.

The center also cautioned that navigating traditional shipping lanes “should be considered extremely hazardous due to the presence of mines that have not been fully surveyed and mitigated.”

US military officials have said the operation could involve guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft, and approximately 15,000 personnel, though details regarding the exact nature of escorts or support for commercial vessels have not been fully disclosed.

{Matzav.com}

A long-standing historical question surrounding the burial place of the navi Amos may be nearing resolution, as new research indicates that the kever is not located in ancient Tekoa, as traditionally believed, but rather at a nearby site known as “Khirbet Qasr Antar,” approximately two kilometers away.

For generations, it was accepted that the kever of Amos—one of the last nevi’im among Trei Asar—was in Tekoa. However, the new findings suggest that the location may instead be at this alternate site, which for centuries served as a makom aliyah l’regel for Yidden, before its precise location was lost in the 17th century due to instability in the region.

The research, conducted by archaeologist Michael Tchernin together with Shay Halevi of the Israel Antiquities Authority, brings together accounts of early oleh regel, aerial imaging, and physical findings uncovered at the site. Among the key sources are descriptions from 15th-century Jewish travelers, Rav Yitzchak ben Alfra and Yitzchak Latif, who wrote of a structure built above a burial cave—details that closely correspond with what has been found at Khirbet Qasr Antar.

According to the study, the site functioned as a major makom kadosh for visitors from the 4th century until the early 17th century, after which it was abandoned and gradually forgotten. Although the research effort began about a decade ago, it has recently taken on new urgency due to significant destruction caused at the site by antiquities looters.

The full findings, revealing the identification process and supporting evidence, will be presented at the upcoming “Tenth Judean Region Research Conference,” scheduled for Tuesday, the 18th of Iyar, in memory of Dr. David and Chana Amit. The conference is being held in collaboration with the Kfar Etzion Field School, KKL-JNF, the Israel Antiquities Authority, the David Yellin Foundation, the Eastern Regional R&D Center, and Bar-Ilan University.

Following the conference, a special guided visit is planned to the proposed kever of navi Amos, as well as to Tel Tekoa, subject to security clearance, allowing participants to see the intriguing findings firsthand.

A senior Russian government official has reportedly fled the country and made his way to the United States after evading Russian security forces, marking what appears to be the first known case of a high-ranking Kremlin figure escaping the regime, The Sun reports.

Denis Butsaev, 49, who recently served as Russia’s Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, is said to have left the country shortly after being dismissed from his position. According to reports, he was removed from his post on April 22 and went into hiding the same day, though some accounts suggest he may have departed Russia even earlier.

His route out of the country reportedly took him through Minsk, Belarus, then to Tbilisi, Georgia, before ultimately arriving in the United States. During his departure, he is believed to have avoided detection by the FSB, Russia’s powerful internal security service.

Butsaev’s exit comes as authorities are reportedly examining allegations of high-level corruption tied to the Russian Environmental Operator, a state agency he previously headed until 2025. The investigation is said to involve multiple senior figures, though it remains unclear whether formal charges had been filed against him.

His departure is being viewed as a rare and notable development, as officials of his rank have not previously been known to flee Russia under such circumstances.

The reported defection comes at a time of growing internal strain within Russia, as the country continues its war in Ukraine while facing economic challenges and increasing restrictions on information. Internet outages in major cities have fueled frustration, and some figures who once supported the government have begun voicing criticism.

In recent weeks, a pro-government commentator publicly called for President Vladimir Putin to step down and face prosecution over the war. “It’s Vladimir Putin. It’s obvious. Everyone knows it,” he said.

Other voices have also warned of rising tensions between the public and the government. “A wall of mistrust and misunderstanding is growing between the people and the government,” one commentator said.

{Matzav.com}