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A key inflation gauge moved higher in May in the latest sign that prices remain stubbornly elevated while Americans also cut back on their spending last month. Prices rose 2.3% in May compared with a year ago, up from just 2.1% in April, the Commerce Department said Friday. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices rose 2.7% from a year earlier, an increase from 2.5% the previous month. Both figures are modestly above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. The Fed tracks core inflation because it typically provides a better guide to where inflation is headed. At the same time, Americans cut back on spending for the first time since January, as overall spending fell 0.1%. Incomes dropped a sharp 0.4%. Both figures were distorted by one-time changes: Spending on cars plunged, pulling down overall spending, because Americans had moved more quickly to buy vehicles in the spring to get ahead of tariffs. And incomes dropped after a one-time adjustment to Social Security benefits had boosted payments in March and April. Social Security payments were raised for some retirees who had worked for state and local governments. The inflation figures suggest that President Donald Trump’s broad-based tariffs are still having only a modest effect on prices. The costs of some goods, such as toys and sporting goods, have risen, but those increases have been partly offset by falling prices for new cars, airline fares, and apartment rentals, among other items. On a monthly basis, in fact, inflation was mostly tame. Prices rose just 0.1% in May from April, according to the Commerce Department, the same as the previous month. Core prices climbed 0.2% in May, more than economists expected and above last month’s 0.1%. Economists point to several reasons for why Trump’s tariffs have yet to accelerate inflation, as many analysts expected. Like American consumers, companies imported billions of dollars of goods in the spring before the duties took full affect, and many items currently on store shelves were imported without paying higher levies. There are early indications that that is beginning to change. Nike announced this week that it expects U.S. tariffs will cost the company $1 billion this year. It will institute “surgical” price increases in the fall. It’s not the first retailer to warn of price hikes when students are heading back to school. Walmart said last month that that its customers will start to see higher prices this month and next as back-to-school shopping goes into high gear. Also, much of what the U.S. imports is made up of raw materials and parts that are used to make goods in the U.S. It can take time for those higher input costs to show up in consumer prices. Economists at JPMorgan have argued that many companies are absorbing the cost of the tariffs, for now. Doing so can reduce their profit margins, which could weigh on hiring. Cooling inflation has put more of a spotlight on the Federal Reserve and its chair, Jerome Powell. The Fed ramped up its short-term interest rate in 2022 and 2023 to slow the economy and combat inflation, which jumped to a four-decade high nearly three years ago. With price increases now nearly back to the Fed’s target, some economists — and some Fed officials — say that the central bank […]

Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican candidate for governor in New Jersey, issued a call this week to New York City residents and entrepreneurs, urging them to consider relocating across the Hudson River in light of Zohran Mamdani’s win in the city’s Democratic primary.

“To all the residents and business owners of New York City who don’t want a socialist, defund the police, antisemitic mayor representing them, I encourage you to move to New Jersey,” Ciattarelli declared in a social media post, as Mamdani’s victory appeared inevitable, according to Politico.

He went on to promise significant policy reforms if he wins the governorship this fall. “When I win the governorship in 4+ months, we’re going to transform NJ into a beacon of commonsense, affordability, economic opportunity, and law and order,” he said, describing Mamdani’s win as “proof that the modern Democratic Party has lost its mind.”

Ciattarelli also warned that should Mamdani eventually secure the governor’s seat in New York, the ripple effects could be felt in neighboring states. He pledged to take a firm approach if elected: “Proactive” measures, he said, would be necessary to prevent “the lawlessness and chaos that will ensue” under Mamdani’s leadership.

Highlighting the contrast between his own agenda and that of progressive Democrats, Ciattarelli criticized the policies he associates with the far left. “While NJ Democrats roll over to their extreme far-left base, I will take action to protect New Jersey,” he wrote. He also slammed Mamdani and his allies, saying, “While Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, and his far-left allies push socialist handouts paid for with massive tax increases on working people, I will overhaul NJ’s tax system – lowering and capping property taxes, reducing income & biz taxes, and making NJ affordable.”

Addressing foreign policy from a state-level perspective, Ciattarelli drew a sharp line on Israel. “As Mamdani and his allies attack Israel and push the BDS [Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions] movement, I will expand NJ’s economic collaboration and partnership with Israel’s government and the business community,” he promised.

Others in the GOP also weighed in following Mamdani’s win. Billy Prempeh, a frequent Republican congressional candidate, even joked that Staten Island should break away from New York and join New Jersey instead.

Meanwhile, the Republican Governors Association issued a statement challenging Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Rep. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey. The group questioned her stance on the rise of Democratic Socialists, stating that she “must decide if she is jumping on board with the Democratic Socialist movement. Voters across the tri-state area are begging to know.”

Sherrill responded by distancing herself from Mamdani while still aligning herself with his supporters’ concerns. “Plenty of disagreements with Mr. Mamdani,” she noted, adding that she does share “his voters’ goals of making life more affordable.”

Refocusing attention on her Republican opponent, Sherrill said, “I’m focused on my race and bringing costs down in New Jersey, while Jack Ciattarelli represents politics as usual: a 100% MAGA lackey who has voted to raise taxes at every level of government, and has been running for office since before my kids were born.”

{Matzav.com}

A divided Supreme Court on Friday ruled that individual judges lack the authority to grant nationwide injunctions, but the decision left unclear the fate of President Donald Trump’s restrictions on birthright citizenship. The outcome was a victory for the Republican president, who has complained about individual judges throwing up obstacles to his agenda. But a conservative majority left open the possibility that the birthright citizenship changes could remain blocked nationwide. Trump’s order would deny citizenship to U.S.-born children of people who are in the country illegally. The cases now return to lower courts, where judges will have to decide how to tailor their orders to comply with the high court ruling, Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote in the majority opinion. The justices agreed with the Trump administration, as well as President Joe Biden’s Democratic administration before it, that judges are overreaching by issuing orders that apply to everyone instead of just the parties before the court. In dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote, “The court’s decision is nothing less than an open invitation for the government to bypass the Constitution.” This is so, Sotomayor said, because the administration may be able to enforce a policy even when it has been challenged and found to be unconstitutional by a lower court. Birthright citizenship automatically makes anyone born in the United States an American citizen, including children born to mothers in the country illegally. The right was enshrined soon after the Civil War in the Constitution’s 14th Amendment. In a notable Supreme Court decision from 1898, United States v. Wong Kim Ark, the court held that the only children who did not automatically receive U.S. citizenship upon being born on U.S. soil were the children of diplomats, who have allegiance to another government; enemies present in the U.S. during hostile occupation; those born on foreign ships; and those born to members of sovereign Native American tribes. The U.S. is among about 30 countries where birthright citizenship — the principle of jus soli or “right of the soil” — is applied. Most are in the Americas, and Canada and Mexico are among them. Trump and his supporters have argued that there should be tougher standards for becoming an American citizen, which he called “a priceless and profound gift” in the executive order he signed on his first day in office. The Trump administration has asserted that children of noncitizens are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States, a phrase used in the amendment, and therefore are not entitled to citizenship. But states, immigrants and rights groups that have sued to block the executive order have accused the administration of trying to unsettle the broader understanding of birthright citizenship that has been accepted since the amendment’s adoption. Judges have uniformly ruled against the administration. The Justice Department had argued that individual judges lack the power to give nationwide effect to their rulings. The Trump administration instead wanted the justices to allow Trump’s plan to go into effect for everyone except the handful of people and groups that sued. Failing that, the administration argued that the plan could remain blocked for now in the 22 states that sued. New Hampshire is covered by a separate order that is not at issue in this case. As a further fallback, the administration asked “at a minimum” […]

State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate for mayor of New York City, should not be labeled antisemitic, said former Mayor Bill de Blasio during an appearance on Newsmax. De Blasio defended Mamdani, stating that the assemblyman had clearly spoken out against the atrocities committed on October 7.

“He disagrees with the government of Israel, and you can debate that all you want, but we’ve got to be clear about the facts,” de Blasio emphasized on the program American Agenda.

“Don’t say someone supported Hamas when they didn’t support Hamas. He has condemned those attacks very, very clearly,” he continued, pushing back on claims made against Mamdani in the political discourse.

De Blasio also pointed out that “many Israelis believe there should be, for example, a two-state solution and that Palestinians have rights, too. There’s nothing shocking about that. I think we have to really get clear,” he said.

Insisting that criticism of Israeli policy does not automatically equate to antisemitism, de Blasio asserted, “He’s not an antisemite. I’m really sick of people throwing antisemitism around so lightly. Look, I was mayor of the city with the largest Jewish population on earth. I am a strong supporter of the state of Israel. I believe that Israel is important in this world.”

He added that his opposition to Israel’s current leadership doesn’t diminish his support for the state itself. “I disagree fundamentally with the Netanyahu government. I’m not an antisemite because I disagree with Benjamin Netanyahu. I think the point is, and there are people who are Zionists, I subscribe to that, but there are also people who have real problems with the Israeli government. That doesn’t make them antisemitic.”

{Matzav.com}

Apple has revamped its app store policies in the European Union with hopes of fending off escalating fines under the 27-nation bloc’s digital competition regulations. It’s a last-minute bid by the iPhone maker to avoid further charges following a 500 million euro ($585 million) penalty in April. The bloc’s executive Commission punished Apple for preventing app makers from pointing users to cheaper options outside its App Store, and gave it a 60-day deadline, which expired Thursday, to avoid additional, periodic fines. The changes made by Apple will make it easier for app makers to point users to better deals on digital products and options to pay for them outside of Apple’s own App Store, including other websites, apps or alternative app stores. The California company is also rolling out a two-tier system of fees to accommodate app developers that want to use alternative payments. “The European Commission is requiring Apple to make a series of additional changes to the App Store,” Apple said in a statement. “We disagree with this outcome and plan to appeal.” The commission noted Apple’s announcement and “will now assess these new business terms for DMA compliance,” referring to the EU’s Digital Markets Act. The rulebook was designed to rein in the power of big tech companies under threat of hefty fines worth up to 10% of a company’s global annual revenue. Among the DMA’s provisions are requirements that developers inform customers of cheaper purchasing options, and direct them to those offers. Apple’s restrictions preventing developers from steering users to outside payment channels had been fiercely opposed by some companies. It’s the reason, for example, Spotify removed the in-app payment option to avoid having to pay a commission of up to 30% on digital subscriptions bought through iOS. (AP)

El Al Israel Airlines Ltd. has announced that it is reopening ticket sales for both inbound and outbound flights to Israel. Over the past few days, the airline has been primarily focused on rescheduling trips for passengers whose flights were canceled during the course of the military campaign against Iran. Full flight operations to all regular destinations are set to restart this Sunday, June 29. Sun D’or, El Al’s low-cost subsidiary, will resume flying again on Tuesday, July 1.

El Al is offering a special fixed pricing structure for travelers booking flights that depart before the end of June. These prices will remain in effect until next Tuesday, providing some certainty for passengers planning immediate travel.

The airline confirmed that any customer holding tickets from either El Al or Sun D’or for flights that were canceled amid the Iran operation can now rebook without paying extra. The new flight must originate from the same region as the original. Travelers can process rebookings by contacting El Al’s service center or through the travel agent they originally used.

In another customer-oriented measure, El Al stated that passengers holding tickets for flights leaving before July 15 who no longer want to fly may cancel their bookings and request a travel voucher instead. This must be done at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled departure. “The vouchers are valid for two years and can be issued independently on the company’s website,” the airline noted.

Arkia also confirmed it will resume its Tel Aviv to New York route this week, gradually reinstating its seasonal summer schedule. This week, Arkia will operate two flights on the route using aircraft leased from the Bulgarian airline GullivAir. Passengers with tickets from previously canceled flights during the Iran conflict will be able to use them on the upcoming flights, provided there is availability and their ticket terms allow it. Departures on June 26 and 28 from Israel will include a technical stop in Larnaca for a crew swap, though passengers will remain onboard. A one-way seat from New York to Tel Aviv next week is priced starting at $1,000.

Several international airlines are also beginning to return to Israel. flyDubai resumed flights last night, while both TUS Airlines and Blue Bird are scheduled to restart service today. Cyprus Airways will relaunch its operations tomorrow, and Hainan Airlines from China is expected to resume flights next week. Air Europa is targeting a mid-July return to Tel Aviv.

Tourism wholesalers are gradually reactivating their travel offerings from Ben Gurion Airport as well. Companies such as Flying Carpet and Aviation Links are resuming trips to Mediterranean and Eastern European destinations in early July by chartering planes from European carriers.

Nevertheless, only a limited number of foreign airlines are anticipated to resume flying to Israel in the short term. Transport Minister Miri Regev acknowledged that “this summer, most of the activity at Ben Gurion Airport will be by Israeli airlines.” She noted that many international carriers have already redirected their aircraft to other destinations and are unlikely to return quickly. This will lead to fewer available flights during the high-demand summer travel season, pushing ticket prices higher.

According to pricing data gathered by Globes, ticket costs for one-way flights to Israel in the coming weeks vary considerably. For example, flyDubai is offering seats from Dubai starting at $374. On TUS Airlines, low-cost fares from Larnaca are available until July 1, after which ticket prices rise to $352. Blue Bird lists flights from Athens beginning at $349.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Amid Israel’s ongoing transition back to routine following its recent war with Iran, the legal and political standoff over the chareidi draft issue remains at the forefront of national debate.

Late Thursday night, the Attorney General’s office submitted a formal request to Israel’s Supreme Court for a 16-day extension to respond to a petition demanding clarity on the government’s position regarding the enlistment of yeshiva students.

The request was submitted in light of an earlier Supreme Court directive requiring the state to explain why the IDF is not currently conscripting chareidi youth, despite the absence of a binding legal framework regulating draft deferments for full-time Torah students.

The Attorney General cited Operation Am KeLavi, Israel’s preemptive military campaign against Iran, as the reason for the delay. According to the government, key decision-makers responsible for addressing the draft issue were occupied with immediate national security concerns throughout the operation.

The draft law crisis has intensified in recent weeks, as no updated legislation has been enacted to formally define the status of yeshiva students in the national service structure. Over a month ago, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi instructed the head of the IDF’s Human Resources Directorate, Maj. Gen. Dudu Bar Kalifa, to prepare a comprehensive plan addressing the future of chareidi enlistment.

Lt. Gen. Halevi reportedly called for a plan that would both expand and accelerate the issuance of draft notices to chareidi men, while simultaneously increasing the army’s capacity to integrate and absorb them. Sources say the IDF is preparing to send out over 60,000 draft orders. Any chareidi male of draft age who has not yet turned 26 and does not respond to the notice could face legal consequences, including arrest.

Military officials emphasized at the time: “In light of operational realities and the evolving conflict, the Chief of Staff directed the Human Resources Directorate to urgently present a strategy to widen and maximize draft orders for the chareidi population, along with preparing the army to accommodate them effectively.”

According to reports from officials close to the IDF’s leadership, plans are underway to promote voluntary enlistment among chareidim while simultaneously enforcing compliance. A separate outline for stricter enforcement measures against draft dodgers is also expected to be released soon, aimed at boosting IDF manpower.

{Matzav.com Israel}

British counter terrorism police said Friday that they have arrested four people in connection with a break-in at a military base last week, during which two planes were vandalised. Counter Terrorism Policing South East said in a statement that two men, 24 and 36, from London were arrested Thursday along with a 29-year-old woman of no fixed address “on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.” A 41-year-old woman, of no fixed address, was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. They remain in police custody. The arrests relate to a break-in at the Royal Air Force base in Brize Norton, during which two planes were damaged with red paint. The pro-Palestinian activist group Palestine Action subsequently released video footage appearing to show one of the two activists who entered the base spraying the paint into a jet’s turbine engines. The group alleged that Britain was continuing to “send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza and refuel U.S./Israeli fighter jets,” and condemned the country as “an active participant in the Gaza genocide and war crimes across the Middle East.” Earlier this week, the British government said it will ban Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws. The measure means it will be a criminal offense to belong to or support the group, with a maximum of 14 years in prison. The group has sought to press its point with high-profile direct action, perhaps most notably in March when it targeted one of U.S. President Donald Trump’s golf resorts in Scotland, painting “Gaza is Not For Sale” in giant letters on the lawn in response to his proposal to empty the Gaza Strip of its Palestinian population. The government said a draft order for the ban will be laid in Parliament next week. Lawmakers still need to approve it. Britain’s government has proscribed about 80 organizations, including Hamas and al-Qaida, and far-right groups such as National Action. (AP)

[COMMUNICATED]

Our sweet Chaya, just 3 and a half years old, was born with severe brain damage. She can’t walk. She can’t talk. She can’t even eat on her own. Every day is a struggle, every moment a battle.

Our sweet Chaya, just 3 and a half years old, was born with severe brain damage. She can’t walk. She can’t talk. She can’t even eat on her own. Every day is a struggle, every moment a battle.

Early Friday, the IDF published its formal assessment of Operation Rising Lion, the military campaign launched on June 13 to counter Iran’s rapidly advancing nuclear and missile initiatives. The strike was described as a proactive measure taken to eliminate what Israeli officials considered an imminent and existential danger.

The report details how, in the months before the operation, Israeli Military Intelligence compiled compelling evidence showing that Iran had begun enriching uranium to 60% purity—enough to quickly assemble multiple nuclear weapons. Intelligence services also uncovered clandestine activity involving sophisticated weapons development across several sensitive domains.

At the same time, Iran was accelerating plans to increase production of precision-guided missiles, aiming to expand its stockpile from 2,500 to 8,000. This military buildup was part of a comprehensive plan that included a wide-scale assault on Israel, combining long-range missile attacks—directly from Iran and via its regional allies—with an eventual ground incursion on multiple fronts.

Faced with a shrinking window to act, Israeli forces, closely aligned with the United States, pinpointed critical weaknesses in Iran’s infrastructure. A coordinated and unexpected assault was launched to halt Iran’s momentum before it crossed a point of no return.

Operational planning intensified in October 2024, while the IDF was engaged in significant clashes with Hezbollah. The military effort zeroed in on essential Iranian assets including nuclear installations, leadership centers, missile production facilities, strategic air defenses, and government institutions.

The initial wave of attacks caught the Iranian military completely off-guard, giving the Israeli Air Force immediate control of the airspace. Flying over 2,000 kilometers into hostile territory, Israeli pilots carried out over 1,500 missions, hitting in excess of 900 targets. Roughly 80 out of 100 Iranian anti-aircraft batteries were neutralized. The IAF conducted 370 airstrikes, some over 2,400 kilometers away, supported by more than 600 mid-air refueling operations.

Concurrently, Israeli forces managed to dismantle roughly half of Iran’s surface-to-surface missile platforms. In addition, 80 anti-aircraft batteries, 70 radar installations, six military airbases, and more than 35 weapons manufacturing sites were destroyed. The offensive involved full cooperation across Israel’s military branches—air, ground, naval, and intelligence—with thousands of soldiers, including reserves, participating.

Throughout the conflict, over 30 top-ranking Iranian defense figures were killed, including the country’s three highest military officials. Numerous Iranian troops were also eliminated. Israel hit crucial nuclear development locations in Natanz, Arak, and Isfahan, wiping out thousands of uranium centrifuges. According to the IDF, this cut Iran’s enrichment capabilities by about 90%, greatly delaying its ability to construct a nuclear core.

Israel’s defensive systems were also put to the test. Air defense units successfully intercepted hundreds of incoming rockets and drones, with a success rate surpassing 99%. The Israeli Navy took out more than 30 aerial threats. Meanwhile, the Home Front Command played a critical role, issuing over one million alerts to the public, deploying 100+ mobile shelters, and managing operations at more than 170 emergency sites.

In its final summary, the IDF stated that Operation Rising Lion fulfilled its core mission: dismantling the existential nuclear threat, crippling Iran’s missile capabilities, exposing the vulnerability of the regime’s defenses, and asserting clear Israeli aerial superiority in Iranian airspace.

{Matzav.com Israel}

In a conversation published Thursday by Makor Rishon, retired Supreme Court President Judge Aharon Barak expressed his approval of a negotiated resolution that would put an end to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s ongoing trial.

“I am in favor of an agreement with Netanyahu. It doesn’t matter if it’s a pardon or a plea bargain, the important thing is that we reach an agreement. This could lead to calm. I don’t know why this isn’t happening. If it were up to me, I would make an effort to reach an agreement,” Barak stated, emphasizing that his priority is national stability rather than the specific legal mechanism.

Barak also voiced concern over President Donald Trump’s recent remarks urging Israel to dismiss the case against Netanyahu, calling the intervention inappropriate. He said Trump’s involvement was “very troubling.”

Meanwhile, individuals close to President Isaac Herzog revealed that he, too, had previously advocated for resolving Netanyahu’s legal issues through a plea deal.

The sources added that Herzog believes time is of the essence and that serious discussions should begin immediately to find a solution that prioritizes the nation’s well-being, in line with what the judiciary has recommended. They further noted that any move toward a presidential pardon would have to be initiated by Netanyahu himself.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Flash floods triggered by pre-monsoon rains swept away dozens of tourists in northwest Pakistan on Friday, killing at least eight people. The nationwide death toll from rain-related incidents rose to 18 over the past 24 hours, officials said. Nearly 100 rescuers in various groups rescued a total of 58 people and were searching for the missing tourists who were swept away while picnicking along the Swat River in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said Shah Fahad, a spokesman for the provincial emergency service. He said only 3 people belonging to an extended family of 16 could be rescued and others are still missing. Fahad said divers had so far recovered eight bodies after hours-long efforts and the search continued for the remaining 10 victims. Videos circulating on social media showed about a dozen people stranded on a slightly elevated spot in the middle of the Swat River, crying for help amid rapidly rising floodwaters. Fahad urged the public to adhere strictly to earlier government warnings about possible flash flooding in the Swat River, which runs through the scenic Swat Valley — a popular summer destination for tens of thousands of tourists who visit the region in summer and winter alike. Elsewhere, at least 10 people were killed in rain-related incidents in eastern Punjab and southern Sindh provinces over the past 24 hours, according to rescue officials. Weather forecasters say rains will continue this week. Pakistan’s annual monsoon season runs from July through September. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his deep sorrow and grief over the deaths of the tourists swept away by the floods in the Swat River. In a statement, he directed authorities to strengthen safety measures near rivers and streams. Heavy rains have battered parts of Pakistan since earlier this week, blocking highways and damaging homes. Still, weather forecasters say the country will receive less rain compared with 2022 when the climate-induced downpour swelled rivers and inundated one-third of Pakistan at one point , killing 1,739. (AP)

President Donald Trump’s privately owned Trump Organization held preliminary talks this spring with Israeli real estate giant Nitsba Holdings to explore branding and managing a massive new hotel in Tel Aviv, the New York Times reported. According to the report, Eric Trump, the president’s son, met with Nitsba executives about a potential partnership involving the under-construction Sarona Hotel, which is slated to become Israel’s tallest hotel upon completion. If finalized, the deal would see the Trump name prominently displayed on the Tel Aviv skyline. The discussions reportedly took place just weeks before Israel, with U.S. support under Trump’s orders, launched its preemptive strikes on Iran’s Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities. Critics have sharply questioned whether Trump is exploiting his presidency for personal financial gain, warning that a Trump-branded property in Israel could complicate American diplomacy in the region and potentially become a magnet for terror threats. Since taking office, Trump’s company has also finalized hotel and branding deals in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, the report noted. In a statement to the New York Times, Eric Trump confirmed the conversations with Nitsba but emphasized that no agreement had been signed. “Israel has always been a market we would love to explore, but we have no plans at this time, and any discussions have been strictly preliminary,” he said. Efforts to reach Nitsba for comment were unsuccessful. Still, the report noted that Eric Trump has hinted at wanting to close at least one deal in Israel by year’s end, describing the 47-story Sarona Hotel as having “the feel of a Trump property.” Planned with striking “Trumpian extravagance,” the hotel is expected to feature 800 rooms and suites, luxury restaurants, spas, pools, and lounges — making it the largest hotel in Israel by room count. The project, designed by MYS Architects, had stalled for years but resumed construction earlier this year. A completion date has yet to be announced. Nitsba chairman Haim Tsuff told the New York Times that adding the Trump brand could bolster his efforts to secure approvals for an extra 12 stories of luxury residential units atop the hotel. That expansion, however, might require zoning changes, since the tower is located along a flight path to Ben Gurion Airport. Last October, before Trump’s reelection, the Times reported that Eric Trump had also explored branding opportunities at Jerusalem’s under-construction Haleom Hotel, and had toured Eilat’s Princess Hotel before passing on that project. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israeli prosecutors have filed an indictment against a 23-year-old resident of Beitar Illit, accusing him of carrying out a deeply disturbing arson attack against the Or Habib shul in the Sanhedria neighborhood of Yerushalayim — a shul regularly attended by HaRav Yitzchak Yosef, former Rishon LeTzion and member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Shas. According to the charges, the defendant — whose name remains under gag order — tried to ignite two separate fires on the night of June 8, in what was initially investigated by the Shin Bet as a possible terrorist or hate-related attack. In the first incident, he targeted an apartment building next to the shul, spray-painting residents’ doors, then pouring flammable liquid on an entrance and an elevator and setting it alight. Thankfully, residents managed to extinguish the flames before significant damage or injuries occurred. But later, at approximately 4 a.m., prosecutors say the suspect entered the Or Habib shul itself and doused the seat of Rav Yosef with flammable liquid, setting it aflame. The fire spread to nearby sifrei kodesh, burning them, and caused serious damage to the shul’s air conditioning and electrical systems. Footage from security cameras showed the suspect wandering through the darkened beis knesses before the fire broke out, then fleeing the scene. The incident drew strong condemnation across the political and religious spectrum. Many Chareidi leaders blamed the current environment of anti-bnei Torah incitement, especially in connection with the harsh decrees over yeshiva bochurim’s draft exemptions, and initially labeled the arson a hate crime. However, the suspect’s identity — a young man from Beitar Illit, a Chareidi yishuv — has cast doubt on those early theories, and his motives remain unclear as of this writing. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The commander of Israel’s Air Force Squadron 107, identified as Lt. Col. A, has revealed details about the intense preparation and high-stakes execution of a massive air operation over Iran. Speaking after the mission, Lt. Col. A described how, toward the end of 2024, senior military leadership decided to take the fight directly to Iranian territory with a large-scale offensive. But only hours before the green light was issued did he fully grasp what lay ahead. “We’ve been preparing for missions over Iran for the past 30 years,” he explained. “This particular operation, though, we trained for over the past month.” In the final days before the attack, pilots sensed something significant was coming but did not know the details until Thursday morning, when Air Force Chief Tomer Bar gathered squadron commanders for an advanced briefing. The final go-ahead, however, came late that night. “There was a lot of tension,” Lt. Col. A recalled. “The technical teams prepared the aircraft and the bombs, while the flight crews reviewed the operational plans and the possible scenarios.” The crews also faced the sobering prospect of being shot down and captured. “Those are some of the risks,” Lt. Col. A acknowledged. The massive air assault began at 2:55 a.m. on June 13, with most of the Israeli Air Force participating. Carefully targeted strikes on Iranian air defenses and ballistic missile infrastructure left Tehran unable to mount an effective response for several hours. “We didn’t know if we could carry out our full mission undetected,” the squadron commander said. “We were pleasantly surprised that we could — thanks to the massive attack on the enemy’s vulnerabilities.” Following the ceasefire, the squadron has returned its focus to Gaza, where Lt. Col. A said the mission remains unchanged: “Destroying Hamas, returning the hostages, and ensuring the security of border-area communities.” He noted that even during the 12 days of combat over Iran, strikes continued against Hamas targets in Gaza, and assured that there is no shortage of munitions to finish the job. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei renewed his threats toward Israel on Thursday, just hours after declaring that Iran had emerged victorious from the recent conflict.

“The Zionist regime must know that attacking the Islamic Republic of Iran will result in a heavy cost for them,” Khamenei warned in a statement posted to his X (formerly Twitter) account.

His comments came after breaking a prolonged public silence during which Israel, backed by the United States, launched strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

“I find it appropriate to congratulate the great Iranian nation, first and foremost, on the victory over the fake Zionist regime,” Khamenei proclaimed in his first public address since the conflict escalated.

“With all the noise, with all the claims, the Zionist regime was nearly crushed under the blows of the Islamic Republic,” the Iranian leader declared, portraying Iran’s response as overwhelming.

He also accused the United States of stepping in to prevent Israel’s complete collapse, saying, “The American regime entered the war directly because it felt that if it didn’t, the Zionist regime would be completely annihilated. Here too, Iran was victorious and in return delivered a harsh slap to America.”

Khamenei concluded by asserting that Washington walked away from the confrontation empty-handed: “The American regime gained nothing from this war,” he claimed.

{Matzav.com}

Russian forces launched 363 Shahed and decoy drones as well as eight missiles at Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian air force said Friday, claiming that air defenses stopped all but four of the drones and downed six cruise missiles. Russia’s Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said 39 Ukrainian drones were downed in several regions overnight, including 19 over the Rostov region and 13 over the Volgograd region. Both regions lie east of Ukraine. Long-range drone strikes have been a hallmark of the war, now in its fourth year. The race by both sides to develop increasingly sophisticated and deadlier drones has turned the war into a testing ground for new weaponry. The Ukrainian air force said that 359 incoming drones were either intercepted or electronically jammed. Ukraine is employing new countermeasures against Russia’s escalation of combined missile and drone attacks, officials say. Instead of relying on ground-based mobile teams to shoot down Shaheds, Ukraine is deploying interceptor drones it has developed. The Ukrainian attack forced three Russian airports to briefly suspend flights, officials said. The authorities also briefly closed the Crimean Bridge overnight as drones targeted Crimea. Neither Russia nor Ukraine reported any major damage or casualties in the attacks. Russia manufactures Shahed drones based on an original Iranian model, churning out thousands of them at a plant in the Tatarstan region. It has upgraded the Shaheds with its own innovations, including bigger warheads. They are known as suicide drones because they nosedive into targets and explode on impact, like a missile. The incessant buzzing of the propeller-driven Shahed drones is unnerving for anyone under its flight path because no one on the ground knows exactly when or where the weapon will hit. Being outgunned and outnumbered in the war against its bigger neighbor, Ukraine also has developed its own cutting-edge drone technology, including long-range sea drones, and has trained thousands of drone pilots. Smaller, short-range drones are used by both sides on the battlefield and in areas close to the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line. Those drones, fitted with onboard cameras that give their operators a real-time view of possible targets, have also struck civilian areas. The U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said in a report published Thursday that short-range drone attacks killed at least 395 civilians and injured 2,635 between the start of the war and last April. Almost 90% of the attacks were by the Russian armed forces, it reported. The strikes not only spread fear among civilians but also severely disrupt daily life by restricting movement and limiting access to food and medical services, the report said. (AP)

WATCH:

In the days following the end of Operation Rising Lion, reports are surfacing worldwide about a wave of arrests in Jewish kehillos in Iran on suspicion of collaborating with Israel. The information comes from an opposition organization reporting that Rabbanim, community leaders, and other Jews have been arrested in Tehran and Shiraz. In several reported cases, Jews who have resided in Iran for many years—sometimes multiple members of the same family—have been taken into custody and their cell phones and laptops were confiscated on suspicion of cooperating with or supporting Israeli elements. Relatives of a number of families inside Iran have lost contact with their loved ones. One source said that the women have been released, but the men, including Rabbanim, remain in custody. The number of Jews in detention is unclear, but the names of dozens, including entire families, have been published. It should be noted that on Thursday, the Jewish kehilla in Tehran held a special ceremony praising the regime. Among others, the Chief Rabbi of Tehran, Rav Yehuda Gerami, spoke in support of the regime. The event was also attended by Jewish-Iranian soldiers. Photos of the event were published in Iranian media outlets. Ynet reported that Naz, an Iranian activist living in the US, raised the alarm, saying that she was informed by a friend in Iran that security forces were raiding Jews’ homes and taking them away to an unknown location. Naz said that when the regime is under threat, it takes it out on minorities, and asked to spread the word that the Jews in Iran need help. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)