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Two Israelis were lightly wounded in a suicide drone attack on the southern port city of Eilat on Wednesday night, authorities said.

The Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency response group confirmed that its medics were on the scene and treated the two male victims, 68 and 28, who were both said to have suffered “very minor” wounds.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed in a post on X that at least two explosive-laden drones were launched at the Jewish state “from the east.

“A Navy missile ship of the ‘Sa’ar 5’ type intercepted one unmanned aircraft, and the fall of another unmanned aircraft was detected in the area of ​​the city of Eilat,” the military stated.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed Shi’ite militias, issued a statement claiming responsibility for the drone attack.

(JNS)

California avocado growers are fuming this week about a U.S. decision to hand over pest inspections of Mexican orchards to the Mexican government. Inspectors hired by the U.S. Department of Agriculture have been guarding against imports of avocados infected with insects and diseases since 1997, but they have also been threatened in Mexico for refusing to certify deceptive shipments in recent years. Threats and violence against inspectors have caused the U.S. to suspend inspections in the past, and California growers question whether Mexico’s own inspectors would be better equipped to withstand such pressure. “This action reverses the long-established inspection process designed to prevent invasions of known pests in Mexico that would devastate our industry,” the California Avocado Commission wrote in an open letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on Monday. At present, inspectors work for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, known as APHIS. Because the United States also grows avocados, U.S. inspectors observe orchards and packing houses in Mexico to ensure exported avocados don’t carry pests that could hurt U.S. crops. “It is well known that their physical presence greatly reduces the opportunity of others to game the system,” the avocado commission wrote. ”What assurances can APHIS provide us that its unilateral reversal of the process will be equal to or better than what has protected us?” The letter added, “We are looking for specifics as to why you have concluded that substituting APHIS inspectors with Mexican government inspectors is in our best interest.” The decision was announced last week in a short statement by Mexico’s Agriculture Department, which claimed that “with this agreement, the U.S. health safety agency is recognizing the commitment of Mexican growers, who in more than 27 years have not had any sanitary problems in exports.” The idea that there have been no problems is far from the truth. In 2022, inspections were halted after one of the U.S. inspectors was threatened in the western state of Michoacan, where growers are routinely subject to extortion by drug cartels. Only the states of Michoacan and Jalisco are certified to export avocados to the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said at the time that the inspector had received a threat “against him and his family.” The inspector had “questioned the integrity of a certain shipment, and refused to certify it based on concrete issues,” according to the USDA statement. Some packers in Mexico buy avocados from other, non-certified states, and try to pass them off as being from Michoacan. Sources at the time said the 2022 threat involved a grower demanding the inspector certify more avocados than his orchard was physically capable of producing, suggesting that at least some had been smuggled in from elsewhere. And in June, two USDA employees were assaulted and temporarily held by assailants in Michoacan. That led the U.S. to suspend inspections in Mexico’s biggest avocado-producing state. The U.S. Department of Agriculture did not immediately respond to questions about why the decision was made, or whether it was related to the threats. Mexico currently supplies about 80% of U.S. imports of the fruit. Growers in the U.S. can’t supply the country’s whole demand, nor provide fruit year-round. (AP)

Footage captured the impact of an explosive-laden drone that hit Eilat this evening, causing damage at the port and lightly injuring two civilians. The attack, carried out by the Iran-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq, involved two drones. One was intercepted by an Israeli Navy Sa’ar 5-class corvette, while the second drone successfully struck the port. The injured civilians did not require hospitalization.

Helene grew to hurricane strength Wednesday morning, and was predicted to rapidly intensify to a dangerous Category 3 storm on approach to Florida’s Gulf Coast on Thursday. Forecasters warned that the powerful and unusually large storm could bring severe impacts to not only Florida but also many other parts of the southeast United States as it moves swiftly inland through Friday.

The National Hurricane Center warned of a “life-threatening” storm surge – or rise in ocean water above normally dry land – in Florida’s Big Bend area and along the entire west coast of the peninsula. The agency is calling for a surge of up to 10 to 15 feet of inundation in the Big Bend area, where the storm is forecast to make landfall Thursday evening, while Tampa Bay could see a 5 to 8 foot storm surge.

Damaging to destructive winds will also accompany Helene’s arrival with gusts over 115 mph probable in the eyewall, the ring of violent thunderstorms surrounding the storm center. Several major Florida cities, such as Tampa, Orlando, Ocala and Jacksonville, could see gusts of 65 to 80 mph and even southern parts of the peninsula are in line for tropical storm-force winds.

Hurricane warnings are in effect from just north of Tampa to southeast of Panama City, Fla. Storm surge warnings cover the Florida Gulf Coast from the southern tip of the Everglades to near Apalachicola in the Panhandle.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) declared a state of emergency in 61 of the state’s 67 counties ahead of the storm; only six counties in southeast Florida were not included. Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for parts or all of at least 12 coastal counties between the Panhandle and the peninsula’s west coast. Florida State University in Tallahassee said it will close its campus through Sunday, among other school closures in the state.

Helene will be an exceptionally large storm with a broad wind field. In fact, its size could be in the top 10 percent of hurricanes observed in the region according to the Hurricane Center. That means its surge and wind impacts will be both greater and more wide-reaching than typical. Tropical-force winds could extend more than 200 miles from the center, and tropical storm warnings even extend into Miami, far from where Helene will come ashore. Tropical storm watches also stretch into coastal Georgia and South Carolina.

Helene is forecast to barrel inland at high speeds, allowing severe winds to penetrate much farther inland than typical for a hurricane across eastern Georgia. It could be Georgia’s most serious weather event in quite a while, with gusts of 80 to 90 mph possible over southeastern portions of the state.

Downed trees and power outages will probably be widespread in both northern Florida and Georgia.

Flooding rains will also affect portions of the Southeast and Tennessee Valleys. The southern Appalachians, where the National Weather Service has declared a rare “high risk” of excessive rainfall, could see 10 to 15 inches. “This rainfall will likely result in areas of considerable flash and urban flooding, with areas of significant river flooding,” the Hurricane Center wrote. “Landslides are possible in areas of steep terrain in the southern Appalachians.”

In addition to probably becoming the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the United States this year, Helene is also poised to become the sixth hurricane to hit Florida since 2022 and potentially the ninth major hurricane, rated Category 3 or higher, to make landfall along the Gulf Coast since 2016.

– – –

Where is the storm now and what’s the outlook into Thursday?

As of 11 a.m. Eastern time, the center of Helene was 500 miles south-southwest of Tampa. It winds had increased to 80 mph – a 35 mph leap in 24 hours – making it a Category 1 hurricane. Motion was to the northwest at 10 mph. The storm, 85 miles north-northeast of Cozumel, Mexico, recently produced gusts of 55 to 61 mph on Isla Mujeres.

The storm’s center is on a path to stay over the Yucatán Channel, or the open waters between Cancún and Cuba. Remaining over the warm waters should allow for unimpeded strengthening.

Into Thursday, gusty winds and downpours will surge north over the Florida Peninsula and toward the Panhandle. The wind will become more biting throughout the day, especially in northern Florida. The surge will increase by late morning, with conditions deteriorating more rapidly in the early afternoon. When the eyewall hits the Big Bend during the afternoon or evening, destructive winds will plow ashore.

– – –

Where and when will the storm make landfall and how strong will it be?

The storm is most likely to make landfall in the Florida Big Bend sometime late Thursday. While there remains an outside chance of a small path deviation west or east, which could pose more direct threats to the eastern Panhandle or areas closer to Tampa, confidence is reasonably high in the projected landfall location.

Helene still has another roughly 30 to 36 hours over the exceptionally warm waters of the eastern Gulf of Mexico, which contain near-record oceanic heat content – or hurricane fuel. Rapid intensification could ensue right until the point of landfall. That’s why a Category 3 is likely, and a Category 4 landfall cannot be ruled out.

The Hurricane Center predicts Helene will make landfall with winds of 125 mph, but said “upward adjustments to the forecast intensity could be required in subsequent advisories if Helene rapidly intensifies more than forecast.”

– – –

What impacts should Florida expect?

— Winds: Within the eyewall, gusts over 115 mph are possible within a few miles of the coastline. The National Weather Service will probably issue extreme wind warnings, or special alerts for the immediate onset of tornado-like wind speeds found in the eyewall. Outside the eyewall, gusts of 75 to 95 mph are still probable across extreme northern Florida and central/eastern parts of the Panhandle. Gusts of 60 to 80 mph are likely in Tampa, Orlando, Ocala and Jacksonville.

— Surge: The greatest surge will be found where onshore winds are the strongest – so near the storm’s core and to the immediate north and east. That’s where 10 to 15 feet of water will be pushed ashore, inundating ordinarily-dry ground. A 5- to 8-foot surge is probable in Tampa Bay, potentially bringing the worst inundation to the area since the 1980s. The storm surge will arrive abruptly and build quickly because of Helene’s exceptional forward speed, which could be close to record-setting.

— Flooding rains: A general 4 to 8 inches of rain, with some 10- to 12-inch totals, is expected. Rainfall amounts will be tempered by Helene’s swift forward speed. Still, inland flooding is possible in spots.

— Tornadoes: An isolated tornado is possible Thursday across the Peninsula.

– – –

What impacts should the southeast, southern Appalachians and Tennessee Valley expect?

— Winds: A serious windstorm is possible in Georgia, especially in the south. This may be among the greatest wind threat for years in southeast Georgia. Widespread winds gusting 75 to perhaps 90 mph are possible in southeast Georgia, with gusts up to 80 mph possible for the remainder of eastern Georgia. There’s even a chance the winds hold together into southwest South Carolina. Otherwise, the remainder of Georgia and South Carolina could see gusts over 60 mph. Tropical storm-force winds are probable elsewhere in the southern Appalachians and Tennessee Valley.

— Flooding: There is a high risk for flash flooding and excessive rainfall in the southern Appalachians, particularly in the mountains of northeast Georgia, northwest South Carolina and southwest North Carolina. That’s where terrain may focus rainfall and lead to totals over 10 inches. Otherwise, widespread amounts of 5 to 10 inches are probable throughout much of Georgia, South Carolina, eastern Alabama, the Cumberland Plateau and Middle Tennessee. Atlanta could see half a foot or more of rain.

— Tornadoes: Helene’s spin will probably result in a few tornadoes in the system’s spiral rain bands Thursday, particularly in the northern half of the Florida Peninsula, eastern Georgia and eastern South Carolina. All those regions are included in a Level 2 out of 5 risk of severe weather drawn by the Storm Prediction Center, but a Level 3 risk is up for Savannah, Ga., and surrounding areas.

– – –

(c) Washington Post

The tzibur is requested to daven for Hatzadik HaRav Mordechai Steiner Shlita of Monsey, who was admitted to the hospital a few weeks ago for a surgery and has now been placed on a respirator. The Rebbe was admitted to the Cleveland Clinic Hospital in Ohio a few weeks ago where he underwent a heart procedure. On Tuesday afternoon the doctors had some concerns about his breathing and eating and was placed on a respirator as a precaution. he is reported to be in stable condition, but is currently on a respirator. The Rebbe’s name for Tehillim is HaRav Mordechai Tzvi Ben Mindel Esther Leah for a Refuah Shelaima. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Yisroel G, a 34-year-old Lubavitch father of three, has been involuntarily incarcerated for four years due to untreated mental illness. Once a beloved entertainer, he now urgently needs funds for medical care, legal representation, and essential support. Without assistance, Yisroel’s health and chances for recovery may decline further. CLICK HERE TO DONATE Prominent Rabbonim, including Rabbi Aron Lankry and Rabbi Ariel Mekaiten, recognize this situation as a case of piydon shvuyim, highlighting the importance of this mitzvah. Your generous support can help Yisroel reclaim his life and reunite with his family.CLICK HERE TO DONATE

A gathering has been scheduled for this Sunday, September 29, in Lakewood, New Jersey. Titled “Zaa’kas HaGolah” (Cry of the Exile), the event calls upon Yidden from around the globe to unite and stand up for the future of Torah learning and yeshiva bochurim in Eretz Yisroel.

A flyer for the event, posted above, warns of an immediate and critical threat to the yeshiva bochurim of Eretz Yisroel, stating that this issue is far more than a mere concern—it’s a battle for the future of Klal Yisroel itself, the flyer says. The situation centers around what the flyer says is growing dangers faced by bochurim, particularly the pressure and threats of being drafted into the Israeli military.

The urgent call to action emphasizes that this is a time of extreme danger and distress for yeshiva students. Klal Yisroel is being asked to respond with an outpouring of tefillah and solidarity. The gathering will take place in the heart of Lakewood, NJ, at 1:30 p.m., with Mincha scheduled as part of the event. Both men and women are called to demonstrate their support.

The flyer concludes with a question: “Will you be there to save the future of Torah?”

{Matzav.com}

Ukraine’s president dismissed the notion of peace talks with Moscow on Tuesday, calling instead for unspecified global “action” to force Russia into peace for invading his country and to comply with the U.N. Charter’s requirement that every country respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all other nations. Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the U.N. Security Council that Russian President Vladimir Putin is committing “an international crime” and has broken so many international rules that he won’t stop on his own. “And that’s why this war can’t simply fade away. That’s why this war can’t be calmed by talks,” Zelenskyy said at a meeting on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders at the General Assembly. “Russia can only be forced into peace, and that is exactly what’s needed — forcing Russia into peace as the sole aggressor in this war, the sole violator of the U.N. Charter.” The high-level meeting on the more than 2½-year war in Ukraine was attended by ministers from 14 of the council’s 15 member nations. Russia chose to send its lower-level U.N. ambassador. Vassily Nebenzia opened the meeting protesting that Zelenskyy was being given the U.N. spotlight again. He also criticized Slovenia — which holds the rotating council presidency this month — for allowing the Ukrainian leader’s “chorus” to speak. He meant about 10 European Union and NATO members who aren’t on the council but march “in lockstep” every time they come to the council “to malign the Russian Federation.” “When it comes to listening to these hackneyed statements, and these cookie-cutter statements, we have no intention of wasting time on that,” Nebenzia said. Ukraine’s sovereignty is defended U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres briefed the council, reiterating the United Nations’ strong support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity under the U.N. Charter. “Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 – following the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and city of Sevastopol a decade ago – is a clear violation of these principles,” the U.N. chief said. Zelenskyy said Ukraine knows some countries want to talk to Putin. But, he asked, “What could they possibly hear from him — that he’s upset because we are exercising our right to defend our people, or that he wants to keep the war and terror going just so no one thinks he was wrong?” China has repeatedly called for talks between Ukraine and Russia. Its foreign minister, Wang Yi, told the council that the suffering and destruction and increasing volatility in the region “must be turned around.” Wang stressed that Chinese President Xi Jinping believes “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected.” China is pursuing peace talks and conducting shuttle diplomacy, Wang said, and its efforts have received wide international support. He pointed to a joint China-Brazil peace plan issued earlier this year. Zelenskyy also went after countries that supply weapons and ammunition to Russia, telling the council Moscow has no legitimate reason to make Iran and North Korea “de facto accomplices.” The U.S. includes China, Iran and North Korea in its accusations U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised similar issues but also accused China, which has close ties to Russia, of providing Russia with machine tools, microelectronics and other items it is using “to rebuild, restock and ramp up its war machine and sustain […]

On Wednesday, the IDF announced it is calling up two reserve brigades for operations in the north.

Speaking at a training exercise in the north, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi said: “We are not stopping. The Air Force is striking all day, and we are preparing for an operation.”

By calling up an additional two brigades, the IDF says this will allow it’s fight against Hezbollah to continue. While this reserve mobilization is significant, the number of soldiers called up so far falls below what many would expect for a ground invasion of Lebanon. Prior to the ground invasion in Gaza, hundreds of thousands of IDF reservists were called into action.

The IDF emphasized it’s operations were aimed at achieving the conditions for a safe return of northern Israeli residents to their homes.

{Matzav.com}

Multiple Secret Service failures ahead of the July rally for former President Donald Trump where a gunman opened fire were “foreseeable, preventable, and directly related to the events resulting in the assassination attempt that day,” according to a bipartisan Senate investigation released Wednesday. Similar to the agency’s own internal investigation and an ongoing bipartisan House probe, the interim report from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee found multiple failures on almost every level ahead of the Butler, Pennsylvania shooting, including in planning, communications, security and allocation of resources. “The consequences of those failures were dire,” said Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, the Democratic chairman of the Homeland panel. Investigators found that there was no clear chain of command among the Secret Service and other security agencies and no plan for coverage of the building where the shooter climbed up to fire the shots. Officials were operating on multiple, separate radio channels, leading to missed communications, and an inexperienced drone operator was stuck on a help line after his equipment wasn’t working correctly. Communications among security officials were a “multi-step game of telephone,” Peters said. The report found the Secret Service was notified about an individual on the roof of the building approximately two minutes before shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire, firing eight rounds in Trump’s direction less than 150 yards from where the former president was speaking. Trump, the 2024 Republican presidential nominee, was struck in the ear by a bullet or a bullet fragment in the assassination attempt, one rallygoer was killed and two others were injured before the gunman was killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper. Approximately 22 seconds before Crooks fired, the report found, a local officer sent a radio alert that there was an armed individual on the building. But that information was not relayed to key Secret Service personnel who were interviewed by Senate investigators. The panel also interviewed a Secret Service counter-sniper who reported seeing officers with their guns drawn running toward the building where the shooter was perched, but the person said they did not think to notify anyone to get Trump off the stage. The Senate report comes just days after the Secret Service released a five-page document summarizing the key conclusions of a yet-to-be finalized Secret Service report on what went wrong, and ahead of a Thursday hearing that will be held by a bipartisan House task force investigating the shooting. The House panel is also investigating a second assassination attempt on Trump earlier this month when Secret Service agents arrested a man with a rifle hiding on the golf course at Trump’s Florida club. In a statement Wednesday, U.S. Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the agency had already implemented some of the committee’s suggestions and vowed to work transparently with Congress and other oversight bodies investigating the July 13th shooting. He said the agency had already raised Trump’s security to the “highest level of protection that the U.S. Secret Service can provide.” “We are also diligently examining long-term solutions to challenges such as enhancing communications and interoperability with our federal, state and local partners to make sure our coordinated efforts during protective events are seamless,” he said. Each investigation has found new details that reflect a massive breakdown in the former president’s security, and lawmakers say there […]

A drone infiltration alert triggered sirens in Israel’s southernmost city, Eilat, earlier today, followed by reports of an impact at the city’s port. Eyewitness footage captures smoke billowing from the port area, with significant damage visible to a hangar. According to initial reports, the drone strike targeted the port’s facilities, causing unspecified damage. Eilat’s port is a critical hub for trade and tourism. “Following the sirens that sounded in the area of the city of Eilat, two UAVs were identified approaching the area of Eilat from the East,” the IDF said in a statement. “An Israeli Navy’s Sa’ar 5 class corvette missile ship intercepted one UAV and a fallen UAV was identified in the area of Eilat.” Magen David Adom said its personnel are treating 2 patients – a man in his 60’s and a 28-year-old – for minor injuries sustained in the attack. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Gulf nation of Qatar on Tuesday became just the second Muslim-majority country to be admitted into a program that allows its citizens to travel to the United States without first obtaining a U.S. visa. The departments of State and Homeland Security jointly announced that Qatar had met stringent eligibility requirements to join the visa waiver program. Those requirements include a low visa refusal rate, a low rate of visa overstays and a demand of reciprocal treatment of American travelers, who are already allowed to visit Qatar without a visa for up to 30 days. “Qatar has been an exceptional partner for the United States, and our strategic relationship has only grown stronger over the past few years,” the departments said in a statement. “This is further evidence of our strategic partnership and our shared commitment to security and stability.” Qatar, which has played a key role in trying to negotiate a cease-fire deal in Gaza and was an instrumental U.S. partner before and during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan, is the 42nd country to be admitted to the program. The decision is truly mind-boggling as Qatar is as close to a terror group as a legitimate state can be. It harbors and finances mass-murderer Hamas leaders and other terrorists, including the Muslim Brotherhood; its propaganda wing Al Jazeera, the leading anti-West propaganda machine in the world, is nothing more than a terror front, spreading virulent antisemitism and lies, and even aiding terror causes, prompting Israel to shut down its operations in the country. Qatar is also one of the leading sponsors of the anti-Israel drivel in US universities – a catalyst of the anti-Israel and antisemitic protests following October 7. A think tank even published a report that Qatar’s funding led directly the October 7 assault. In May, Prof. Judea Pearl, a Chancellor’s Professor of Computer Science and Statistics at UCLA, [and the father of slain Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, H’yd] said that the anti-Israel protests on campus are allowed to continue due to the large amount of money the university receives from Qatar. Qatar’s Emir Hamad Al Thani just called Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza “a genocide” in his speech on Tuesday to the UN General Assembly. He also slammed Israel for its actions against Hezbollah, which included the elimination of Ibrahim Akil, who had a US-imposed $7 million bounty on his head for his involvement in the murder of 63 people in the bombing of the US Embassy in Beirut in 1983 as well as the abduction of US and German hostages. Most countries whose citizens can visit the U.S. without a visa are longstanding allies in Europe and Asia. The only other Muslim-majority country in the program is the tiny Southeast Asian nation of Brunei. Although Qatar’s population is just over 3 million people, only a small percentage of those — about 320,000 — are actually Qataris who would be eligible for the program if they hold valid passports. The vast majority of people who live in Qatar are foreign workers and other expatriates who do not hold Qatari passports. The program allows citizens of qualifying nations to enter the U.S. for business or tourism without a visa for up to 90 days, although they must still obtain approval through the Electronic System […]

In the Eilat area, interceptor missiles have reportedly been launched in response to a potential threat. Sirens warning of a suspected drone infiltration are currently sounding throughout the city as security forces remain on high alert. Further details on the situation are developing.

Alessi Allaman went to one of the largest Orthodox Jewish communities in the country, Lakewood, NJ, to ask this voter block who they are voting for in the upcoming 2024 election.

WATCH:

Caroline Ellison, a former top executive in Sam Bankman-Fried ’s fallen FTX cryptocurrency empire, was sentenced to two years in prison on Tuesday after she apologized to everyone hurt by a fraud that stole billions of dollars from investors, lenders and customers. Ellison, 29, could have faced a much tougher sentence, but both the judge and prosecutors said she deserved credit for talking extensively with federal investigators, pleading guilty and ultimately testifying against Bankman-Fried for three days at his trial last November. U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan said Ellison’s cooperation was “very, very substantial” and “remarkable.” But he said a prison sentence was necessary because she had participated in what might be the “greatest financial fraud ever perpetrated in this country and probably anywhere else” or at least close to it. Ellison was ordered to report to prison Nov. 7. FTX was one of the world’s most popular cryptocurrency exchanges, known for its Superbowl TV ad and its extensive lobbying campaign in Washington, before it collapsed in 2022. U.S. prosecutors accused Bankman-Fried and other top executives of looting customer accounts on the exchange to make risky investments, make millions of dollars of illegal political donations, bribe Chinese officials and buy luxury real estate in the Caribbean. Ellison was chief executive at Alameda Research, a cryptocurrency hedge fund controlled by Bankman-Fried. “I’m deeply ashamed with what I’ve done,” she said at the sentencing hearing, fighting through tears to say she was “so so sorry” to everyone she had harmed directly or indirectly. She did not speak as she left Manhattan federal court, surrounded by lawyers. In court Tuesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon called for leniency, saying Ellison’s testimony was “devastating and powerful proof” against Bankman-Fried, 32, who was found guilty of fraud and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Attorney Anjan Sahni asked the judge to spare his client from prison, citing “unusual circumstances,” including her off-and-on romantic relationship with Bankman-Fried and the damage caused when her “whole professional and personal life came to revolve” around him. Judge Kaplan agreed that Ellison’s willingness to work with prosecutors was extraordinary. “I’ve seen a lot of cooperators in 30 years here. I’ve never seen one quite like Ms. Ellison,” he said. But he said that in such a serious case, he could not let cooperation be a get-out-of-jail-free card, even when it was clear that Bankman-Fried had become “your kryptonite.” Bankman-Fried also testified at the trial, portraying himself to the jury as inexperienced and bumbling but not a criminal. He acknowledged making mistakes, but said he didn’t defraud anyone and wasn’t aware that Alameda Research had amassed billions of dollars in debt. Sassoon, the prosecutor, described that testimony in court Tuesday as “evasive, even contemptuous.” As the business began to falter, Ellison divulged the massive fraud to employees who worked for her even before FTX filed for bankruptcy, trial evidence showed. Ultimately, she also spoke extensively with criminal and civil U.S. investigators. Sassoon said prosecutors were impressed that Ellison did not “jump into the lifeboat” to escape her crimes but instead spent nearly two years fully cooperating. Since testifying at Bankman-Fried’s trial, Ellison has engaged in extensive charity work, written a novel and worked with her parents on a math enrichment textbook for advanced high school students, according to her lawyers. […]

Chabad of Greater Orlando Launches Emergency Campaign After Devastating Fire A devastating fire has destroyed the Chabad of Greater Orlando, leaving the community without its beloved Shul, school, Mikvah, and programs just weeks before the High Holidays. The destruction is severe, and the estimated insurance payout of $650,000 barely scratches the surface of the damage. CLICK HERE TO HELP In response, Chabad has launched an urgent campaign to raise funds for a temporary venue and the eventual rebuilding of their center. With over 200 people relying on the center for services and programs, the need is immediate and crucial. The community is calling on supporters to help restore what was lost and ensure that Jewish life in Orlando continues to thrive. “Though the flames took our building, they cannot extinguish the spirit of our community,” a spokesperson said. Contributions will aid in rebuilding, securing a temporary space, and ensuring the Chabad’s vital programs can resume. To support the effort, visit the official campaign page or contact Chabad directly. Every donation makes a difference in helping this resilient community rebuild. CLICK HERE TO HELP

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Help Us Reach our $10 Million Goal CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO

With Agudah, a Jew is never alone. 

We are fighting for you – in government halls, in hospital rooms, or in courtrooms. 

We are aiding you – through tuition relief, government programs, and career assistance. 

We are directing you – in accordance with the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah. 

We are here for you. 

        

No matter how bleak it may seem, and no matter how significant the mountain you need to scale… Just remember: A Jew is never alone. Agudath Israel of America is standing right there with you, every step of the way.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN

An IDF strike on a home in Lebanon today shows the massive secondary explosions due to missiles and rockets stored inside the home.

Hezbollah’s adaptable leadership structure, along with its sophisticated tunnel systems and stockpile of missiles, is providing significant defense against Israeli strikes, according to a Reuters report that cites three sources familiar with the militant group’s activities.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry reports that over 560 people, including 50 children, have lost their lives in Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) attacks targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon. The strikes have prompted thousands of people to flee their homes, as Israel continues to issue warnings in an effort to minimize civilian casualties.

Two of the sources mentioned that new recruits had already stepped in to replace Hezbollah militants who were killed during an Israeli airstrike on Beirut last Friday.

In contrast, a fourth source, identified as a Hezbollah official, told Reuters that last week’s explosions involving pagers and radios incapacitated about 1,500 fighters due to injuries. He added that many suffered severe injuries, including blindness and loss of hands.

A separate report submitted to the US Congress on Friday estimated Hezbollah’s force size to be between 40,000 and 50,000 fighters, although Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah claims the group has a strength of 100,000 members.

Reuters also highlighted Hezbollah’s redeployment of fighters, including some from Syria, to southern Lebanon’s frontline areas. The group is reportedly accelerating the transport of rockets into Lebanon in anticipation of a prolonged conflict.

Hezbollah’s arsenal includes weapons sourced from Iran, Russia, and China, though the exact details of these arms and their origins remain unclear, according to the sources.

Dr. Andreas Krieg, a senior lecturer in the School of Security Studies at King’s College London, told Reuters that despite the disruptions caused by last week’s blasts, Hezbollah’s organizational design renders it “extremely durable” and “Israel’s toughest adversary to date.”

Krieg also explained that Hezbollah’s tunnel network in Lebanon, unlike Hamas’ tunnels in Gaza, is built deep into mountain rock, making them “much harder to reach or destroy” compared to Gaza’s tunnels. He added that Hezbollah’s most powerful long-range ballistic missiles are also stored underground.

The US Congress report further noted that Hezbollah’s cache includes approximately 150,000 rockets.

A senior security official informed Reuters that Hezbollah’s ongoing missile assaults are a result of its command structure remaining functional despite Israeli strikes. In addition, the group’s fixed-line telephone network has remained operational, confirmed by the three sources.

Should Hezbollah’s leadership chain be compromised, its frontline fighters are trained to operate in smaller, autonomous units, according to a senior source. These groups are equipped to engage Israeli forces for prolonged durations.

Furthermore, many Hezbollah members still use older pager models, which were unaffected by the recent blasts.

Boaz Shapira, a researcher with the Israeli think tank “Alma,” remarked that Israel has yet to target Hezbollah’s most critical strategic assets, such as drone facilities or long-range missile sites. He told Reuters, “I don’t believe we are close to the end of this.”

Both the IDF and Hezbollah’s media wing declined to comment on Reuters’ inquiries. The information provided could not be independently verified by Reuters.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Hezbollah has reportedly urged Iran to launch a direct attack against Israel as hostilities intensify, but Iran has so far refused, according to two Israeli officials and one Western diplomat who spoke with Axios. A direct Iranian strike would significantly escalate the already volatile situation in the region and could potentially draw the U.S. into the conflict. Israeli officials disclosed that Iranian authorities told Hezbollah that “the timing isn’t right” for such an attack due to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s presence in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. During a briefing with reporters in New York on Monday, Pezeshkian accused Israel of seeking a broader regional war and emphasized that Iran does not wish to fall into this “trap.” A senior Israeli official said that Israel’s security cabinet has instructed the IDF)to avoid actions that could provide Iran with a pretext to enter the conflict. The fighting between Israel and Hezbollah over the past two weeks has been the most intense since the 2006 Lebanon war.  On Tuesday, the IDF conducted an airstrike in Beirut, which the IDF said killed Ibrahim Qabisi, the head of Hezbollah’s rocket and missile force. Lebanese media reported that five people were killed in the strike. Meanwhile, over one million Israelis, particularly in northern Israel, have endured widespread rocket and drone attacks from Hezbollah, with many of the projectiles intercepted, though several injuries have been reported. Hezbollah has suffered significant losses, including the deaths of several top military commanders and the destruction of a substantial portion of its rocket and missile arsenal, according to Israeli officials. The group’s communications systems have also been compromised, as evidenced in explosive fashion last week. Behind the scenes, Israeli and U.S. intelligence suggests that Hezbollah reached out to Iran in recent days, requesting an Iranian retaliation in response to the Israeli assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran two months ago. While Iran had previously vowed to retaliate, it has yet to act. Conversations between Hezbollah and Iran in recent days revealed Iranian hesitation, with no positive response given to Hezbollah’s request for support. The possibility of direct Iranian involvement in the Lebanon conflict was a topic of discussion between U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant during a phone call on Sunday. According to Israeli officials, Austin reiterated that the U.S. is prepared to protect its forces and deter any attempts to exploit the situation or expand the conflict. In an interview with CNN, Pezeshkian expressed support for Hezbollah but stressed that Iran does not want Lebanon to turn into another Gaza. “Hezbollah cannot stand alone against a country that is being defended and supplied by Western countries, by European countries and the United States,” he said. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)