Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich made clear on Monday that Israel’s fight is far from finished, declaring that “the war is not yet over.” Speaking at his Religious Zionism Party meeting, he said that while diplomatic discussions are underway, what matters is not talk, but action on the ground.
“There are agreements and attempts to stabilize the situation, but the real test lies in implementation,” Smotrich said. “The State of Israel will not allow the reconstruction of Gaza as long as Hamas is not completely dismantled – militarily, politically, and administratively.”
He was adamant that humanitarian narratives cannot be used as a cover to reestablish terrorist control. “We will not allow the creation of a renewed terrorist entity under the guise of ‘humanitarian reconstruction.’ Genuine demilitarization is a fundamental condition for rebuilding, and any attempt to bypass this will be categorically rejected. The security of Israel’s citizens comes first.”
Reflecting on the broader meaning of the conflict, Smotrich noted that its impact went far beyond the battlefield. “This war was not only a military test – it was a national, social, and economic one. Those who carried the main burden were Israel’s middle class – in the reserves, at work, in business, with mortgages, and under financial strain. They brought us victory, and now they should be the first to benefit from its fruits.”
To that end, Smotrich said his ministry is moving forward with economic measures aimed at easing the pressure on working families. He announced plans for income tax reductions designed to promote employment and growth while supporting those who bore the brunt of the crisis. He also unveiled new initiatives to encourage aliyah, explaining, “This is not just an economic policy – it’s a national statement.”
On the matter of regional diplomacy, Smotrich reaffirmed Israel’s approach to the Abraham Accords and ongoing efforts by the Trump Administration to expand them. “We believe in peace – but not at any price. We will expand the agreements, deepen cooperation, but insist on a fundamental principle: peace for peace. True peace built on truth, not on the falsehood of establishing a terrorist state that would endanger our future and our existence. No one – and I emphasize, no one – is doing us a favor by normalizing relations with us or joining the Abraham Accords. We have always extended a hand in peace and continue to do so, but we will not agree to any country imposing conditions on us involving partition of the land, relinquishing parts of our homeland, or denying our heritage and roots.”
Closing his remarks, Smotrich addressed Israel’s defense spending, emphasizing fiscal responsibility alongside security needs. “The defense establishment will be required to become more efficient and return to a reasonable budget. Yes, the budget will remain higher than it was before the war – that’s natural – but it cannot continue to grow without limit. Economic security is an inseparable part of national security,” he said.
{Matzav.com}Widespread outrage erupted today after a yeshiva bochur who arrived at a police station to file a complaint was instead arrested and handed over to military police — a move that prominent chareidi figures are calling a severe blow to the community’s trust in law enforcement.
Yaakov Yisroel Gil, a talmid at Yeshivas Nachlas Shlomo in Bnei Brak, was detained Monday afternoon by the Military Police after arriving at the Be’er Sheva police station to lodge a formal complaint. According to his family, officers checked his identification, discovered that he was listed as an army deserter, and immediately transferred him to military custody.
Chareidi leaders and relatives of the student sharply condemned the incident, describing it as a dangerous precedent. “This is a serious violation of the chareidi public’s trust in the Israel Police,” said one family member. “If a yeshiva bochur who walks into a station to submit a complaint ends up in a military jail, who will dare go to the police if they’re victimized? This completely severs the connection between the chareidi community and the police.”
An askan told Matzav.com, “This is an infuriating act that directly undermines the already fragile cooperation between the chareidi public and law enforcement. The police should have maintained the long-standing status quo and refrained from targeting yeshiva students. Instead, they have acted with total insensitivity and a complete lack of judgment.”
The Ezram UMaginam organization released a statement saying, “The Israel Police violated the status quo once again by transferring a yeshiva student to military detention after summoning him for questioning. The young man, who was called to appear at the Be’er Sheva station, is now being held in a military facility in southern Israel. He and his family are receiving legal assistance from Ezram UMaginam’s legal department and attorney Shlomo Haddad. The public is urged to continue following guidelines and not to go to police stations without first consulting with advocacy organizations.”
{Matzav.com}
At a special Mishmeres HaShalom ceremony in Bnei Brak honoring the Chasan HaShalom, the Slabodka Rosh Yeshiva Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch delivered the keynote address and extended heartfelt brachos to Los Angeles philanthropist Reb Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz, lauding his dedication to Torah and Klal Yisroel.
Although Rav Hirsch was unable to travel to Los Angeles for the Keren Olam HaTorah event there and the wedding of Shlomo Yehuda’s daughter due to the start of the winter zeman, he conveyed his deep appreciation and brocha during the event.
Speaking to the large gathering, Rav Hirsch emphasized the importance of studying the sefer Chofetz Chaim and the obligation to live with constant awareness of Hashem’s presence. “A person must always strive to live with ‘Shivisi Hashem lenegdi samid’. It is a very lofty level. Yet one who guards his tongue, pausing before every word to consider whether it is lashon hara or not, naturally lives with constant awareness of Hashem’s will — and thereby fulfills ‘Shivisi Hashem lenegdi samid’ in practice.”
Rav Hirsch turned to express his admiration and brocha for Shlomo Yehuda, renowned for his remarkable support of Torah institutions across Eretz Yisroel and the world. “May he continue to help and spread good throughout Klal Yisroel,” said the Rosh Yeshiva.
“I find it fitting, at this elevated event, to express my blessing and appreciation to this extraordinary ish chesed who supports the Torah world wherever it flourishes.”
He concluded with a personal brocha for Shlomo Yehuda: “May he merit abundant nachas from all his descendants, and continue to support the Torah world with blessing, good health, and great success in all his endeavors.”
{Matzav.com}
Hamas announced on Monday that it plans to transfer the body of an Israeli hostage it murdered back to Israel later in the evening. The handover is scheduled for 9:00 p.m., according to the terror group’s statement.
Israeli authorities are preparing to receive the remains once the casket arrives. Teams will be on site to perform identification procedures and confirm the hostage’s identity following the return.
{Matzav.com}
To submit a letter to appear on Matzav.com, email MatzavInbox@gmail.com
DON’T MISS OUT! Join the Matzav Status by CLICKING HERE. Join the Matzav WhatsApp Groups by CLICKING HERE.
The opinions expressed in letters on Matzav.com do not necessarily reflect the stance of the Matzav Media Network.
Mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani is brushing aside doubts about whether NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch would align herself with his sweeping criminal-justice overhaul, declaring that as mayor, “everyone will follow” his direction.
During an appearance on the Hell Gate podcast, the 34-year-old left-wing lawmaker was pressed by host Christopher Robbins about his promise to retain Tisch, despite her history of resisting the kind of reforms Mamdani and his Democratic Socialist supporters have long championed. Robbins noted, “Lots of people who support your candidacy care about criminal-justice reform and reforming the NYPD, and for the past year, she has stood to thwart that.” He asked why Mamdani would keep her on board if elected.
Mamdani pushed back, arguing that Tisch had already demonstrated progress toward some of his goals, pointing to her involvement in preliminary discussions about a new Department of Public Safety — one of his central campaign proposals.
Even so, skepticism lingered. Robbins reminded Mamdani that Tisch has been outspoken in opposing major reform measures, including those passed under ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, whom she recently blamed for a surge in crime following his criminal-justice changes.
Tisch has also maintained strong support for the city’s contentious gang database, backed crackdowns on so-called minor offenses, and resisted bail and judicial-discovery reforms — stances that seem far removed from Mamdani’s vision of policing. “So she’s going to reverse her position on all those things?” Robbins asked pointedly. “She’s going to follow your lead in City Hall?”
“I think everyone will follow my lead,” Mamdani responded confidently. “I’ll be the mayor.”
The candidate dismissed fears of a repeat of the tense dynamic between former Mayor Bill de Blasio and ex-Commissioner Bill Bratton, whose disagreements over policing philosophies ended in Bratton’s resignation. Mamdani said his relationship with Tisch would be one of unity and cooperation rather than conflict.
Still, Mamdani conceded that he has not yet spoken to Tisch directly about whether she would remain in her post under his administration. “I haven’t had a private conversation with her on that,” he acknowledged in an interview with CNN on Sunday, noting that the two have not spoken one-on-one since July.
For her part, Tisch has stayed silent throughout the mayoral campaign, avoiding public remarks about any candidate.
{Matzav.com}
WATCH:
As the winter zeman begins, Yeshiva Ateres Yisroel has unveiled a remarkable restoration: the yeshiva’s centuries-old Aron Kodesh, originally crafted in Italy more than 200 years ago, has been meticulously refurbished and magnificently refinished.
The Aron Kodesh, estimated to be around 250 years old, was built in Galicia by a Jewish artisan named Cohen. Just before the outbreak of World War II, it was transferred to the United States, where it served a Jewish congregation that later became Reform. Eventually, the Aron found its way into a local church, until, years later, the priest of the church discarded it.
At that very moment, a Jewish woman happened to see the discarded Aron and rescued it from the trash. She safeguarded the dismantled structure for decades, preserving each piece with care. About ten years ago, the late rosh yeshiva, Rav Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi zt”l, had the Aron brought to Eretz Yisroel. Skilled craftsmen from the Israel Museum dedicated half a year to restoring it, reviving its splendor before it was installed in the yeshiva’s bais medrash in Bayit Vegan.
When the yeshiva relocated to Modiin Illit about seven years ago, the antique Aron was moved as well. Now, for the winter zeman, the Aron Kodesh has once again undergone a careful renovation, preserving its historical charm while renewing its beauty for the next generation of bnei Torah.
{Matzav.com}
