Feed aggregator

A growing number of injuries—and now fatalities—during rocket attacks have intensified scrutiny of Israel’s Home Front Command alert system, with critics asking whether earlier warnings could give civilians more time to reach safety.

In recent years, hundreds of Israelis have been harmed after failing to make it to shelters in time during incoming rocket fire. The incidents have led to renewed debate over whether the current warning system provides sufficient notice, or if it could be adjusted to allow for a longer response window.

Israel’s detection systems are capable of identifying launches from Lebanon anywhere from about 15 seconds to 90 seconds before sirens are triggered, depending on the region. Despite that capability, alerts are not issued immediately upon detection, meaning civilians do not receive the earliest possible warning—unlike the faster alerts typically issued during missile launches from Iran.

A Channel 12 report indicated that extending warning times may be feasible. Communities near the Lebanese border could potentially gain an additional 15 seconds to respond, while residents in central Israel might see their warning window increased from roughly a minute and a half to as much as two and a half minutes.

Even so, the Home Front Command continues to rely on a system that divides the country into fixed protection zones, each with a predetermined warning time that does not change based on when a launch is detected.

Israeli journalist Almog Boker, who lives in the south, voiced frustration shared by many, asking: “Why wait until it costs human lives?”

Officials explain that the delay in sounding sirens is deliberate. One reason is to allow time to more accurately determine the rocket’s trajectory, reducing the likelihood of unnecessary alerts in areas not actually under threat.

Another factor, according to the military, is the importance of consistency. If residents know they have a set amount of time—such as 90 seconds—they can react accordingly. Constantly shifting warning times could lead to confusion and panic.

However, these strategic considerations stand in contrast to the realities faced by civilians, particularly the elderly, individuals with physical limitations, and families with small children, for whom even a few extra seconds can make a life-or-death difference.

That reality was underscored this week when Yaron Moshe and his wife Ilana were killed after an Iranian missile struck their apartment in Ramat Gan. The couple, both in their seventies, were unable to reach their safe room before impact. Initial assessments suggest that the husband’s disability slowed their ability to get to shelter in time.

The missile struck the living room directly, causing extensive destruction throughout the apartment. The protected room, however, remained intact despite the severe damage elsewhere in the home.

{Matzav.com}

A newly surfaced report claims that Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, previously shared social media content expressing support for Palestinian terrorists, drawing renewed attention to her past online activity.

According to material reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon, Duwaji — who serves as New York City’s first lady — used a Tumblr account years ago to post favorable content about figures associated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, including well-known hijacker Leila Khaled.

The report states that Duwaji, now 28, operated the since-deleted account while living in the Middle East. The outlet said it linked the account to her in part through facial recognition analysis.

In one post dated September 2017, she uploaded an image of Khaled, who participated in airplane hijackings in 1969 and 1970, alongside a quote attributed to her: “If it does good for my cause, I’d be happy to accept death.”

In another post, she shared a photograph of a Bangladeshi stamp bearing the message, “We salute the valiant freedom fighters of Palestine,” according to the report.

The Beacon also reported that in 2015, Duwaji reposted a strongly worded message criticizing American military personnel, stating that U.S. troops “fightin in imperialist wars are not brave nor are they fighting for anyone’s freedom.”

That same post accused the military of “mercilessly slaughtering 3rd world civilians” in order to uphold “American hegemony.”

Another repost from December 2015 attributed responsibility for the creation of al Qaeda to white individuals.

“You can’t blame muslims for terrorism because they didn’t construct, fund nor train Al-Qaeda,” the post said. “White People did that too.”

Additional posts from that period included statements about Israel, including one in which she wrote that Tel Aviv “shouldn’t exist in the first place,” referring to its residents as “occupiers.” The report also noted that she used a racial slur in a 2013 tweet when she was reportedly 15.

The resurfaced material follows earlier reports indicating that Duwaji had interacted with controversial content more recently, including liking an Instagram post on October 7, 2023, that marked Hamas’ attack on Israel with celebratory imagery.

She was also reported to have liked another post that described claims of Hamas committing immoral violence during the attack as a “mass hoax.”

In response to the scrutiny, Mamdani — who has been outspoken in his criticism of Israel — said that his wife has not played any official role in his political activities. He stated that she “has held no formal position on my campaign or in my City Hall” and argued that her past social media activity should not be a focus of public attention.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump is considering whether to deploy additional American forces to the Middle East, including the possibility of sending troops into Iran for operations on the ground, according to a new report.

Officials have examined scenarios that would involve U.S. forces landing on Iranian territory, including efforts to secure strategic locations such as the Strait of Hormuz and Kharg Island, Reuters reported Wednesday.

Another option under discussion includes using American troops to take control of Iran’s reserves of highly enriched uranium, the report said.

Despite those deliberations, sources emphasized that no immediate move to insert ground forces into Iran is expected at this time.

Officials acknowledged that any such operation would carry significant danger, as American troops would be exposed to Iran’s missile systems and drone capabilities.

“There has been no decision to send ground troops at this time, but President Trump wisely keeps all options at his disposal,” a White House official told Reuters.

“The president is focused on achieving all of the defined objectives of Operation Epic Fury: destroy Iran’s ballistic missile capacity, annihilate their navy, ensure their terrorist proxies cannot destabilize the region, and guarantee that Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon,” the official added.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon has already taken steps to bolster U.S. military presence in the region. According to a Wall Street Journal report last week, additional Marines and naval assets have been approved for deployment as Iran continues targeting commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth is said to have approved the movement of “an element of an amphibious ready group and attached Marine expeditionary unit, typically consisting of several warships and 5,000 Marines and sailors,” according to the report, which cited U.S. officials.

The USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship similar in appearance to an aircraft carrier but designed for operations closer to shore, is reportedly making its way from Japan toward the Middle East.

Iran’s continued assaults on ships in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz have effectively choked off much of the traffic through the vital oil route, driving up global energy prices.

Last week, Trump authorized airstrikes on Kharg Island, located roughly 16 miles off Iran’s coastline and responsible for handling about 90% of the country’s crude oil exports.

Trump said military targets were “totally obliterated” in the strikes, which spared the island’s oil infrastructure.

U.S. and Israeli officials are also believed to be exploring the possibility of eventually taking control of Kharg Island as part of the broader campaign, according to prior reporting.

A new analysis has found that fewer than 2% of the most prominent stories on Apple News last month came from right-leaning outlets, a slight uptick from zero the month before that critics say reflects little more than a response to mounting scrutiny over alleged bias.

The findings follow earlier reporting that Apple faced backlash after a Media Research Center review revealed that in January, not a single top story on the platform came from a conservative source.

That criticism escalated when FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson sent a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook on Feb. 11, cautioning that the company’s practices could potentially run afoul of federal laws prohibiting “unfair or deceptive acts or practices.” The very next day, Apple News highlighted its first conservative-sourced article in over three months—a Fox News report covering the death of actor James Van Der Beek.

In a follow-up review conducted by the Media Research Center in February, researchers tracked 560 top stories and found that just eight—1.4%—originated from conservative outlets. By contrast, 400 articles, or 75%, were attributed to sources considered left-leaning. The remaining 152 pieces came from either centrist organizations or outlets that had not been categorized, such as smaller local publications.

“2% is not progress. It’s damage control,” MRC president David Bozell said in a statement. “If public exposure and a federal inquiry only yield a modest adjustment, that suggests the bias we documented was deeply embedded.”

“Apple News should not require public pressure to reflect viewpoint diversity,” Bozell added. “This is not about token inclusion. It’s about whether one of the most powerful information gatekeepers in the country operates fairly.”

The Media Research Center based its classifications on ratings from AllSides, a nonpartisan group that evaluates media bias using panels made up of individuals from across the political spectrum. These panels, composed of representatives from the left, center, and right, are trained to assess bias. The organization also conducts blind surveys of everyday Americans and combines those results to determine overall ratings. AllSides itself did not participate in the MRC’s analysis.

“Apple would need to make much more substantial changes to help reduce news polarization and give Americans a broader, more balanced view,” said Julie Mastrine, director of AllSides’ media bias rating system.

The issue has drawn attention at the highest levels, with President Trump sharing The Post’s earlier report on Truth Social, amplifying concerns about the data.

Critics argue that Apple News wields significant influence because it is preloaded on millions of devices, including iPhones, and is marketed by the company as the leading news app in the United States.

Since 2017, the platform’s editorial direction has been overseen by editor-in-chief Lauren Kern, who previously held positions at New York Magazine and The New York Times Magazine. In 2018, The New York Times described her as having “quietly become one of the most powerful figures in English-language media,” citing the app’s vast reach.

Another study released last month by AllSides examined only the manually curated sections of Apple News. During a two-week period in October included in that review, editors did not feature a single article from a conservative outlet in the app’s “top news” section.

For its February report, the Media Research Center reviewed the top 20 stories displayed each day at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time from Feb. 1 through Feb. 28. The feed includes a combination of stories selected by Apple’s editorial staff and others generated through algorithmic recommendations.

Among the most frequently featured sources in February were the Associated Press with 57 articles, The Washington Post with 44, and NBC News with 38—all categorized as left-leaning. Among centrist outlets, The Wall Street Journal appeared 46 times, while Reuters was featured 40 times.

Of the eight conservative-sourced articles identified, seven were from Fox News and covered topics including a delayed NASA launch, U.S. operations against drug smuggling vessels, and former President Bill Clinton’s deposition related to the Jeffrey Epstein files. The remaining article came from the British publication The Telegraph and focused on the arrest of the former Prince Andrew.

In his letter, Ferguson called on Cook to “conduct a comprehensive review of Apple’s terms of service and ensure that Apple News’ curation of articles is consistent with those terms and representations made to consumers and, if it is not, to take corrective action swiftly.”

Separately, Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee pressed Cook for answers, asking whether Apple had “systematically suppressed” conservative perspectives.

“The American public increasingly relies on services like Apple News to provide them with information, and they deserve to have access to perspectives across the political spectrum,” Blackburn wrote in a letter on Feb. 19.

{Matzav.com}

A new survey indicates that Republican voters remain firmly behind President Trump’s decision to launch military action against Iran, pushing back on claims of significant divisions within the party.

According to polling conducted by J.L. Partners and shared with The New York Post, overwhelming support exists among likely Republican voters for Operation Epic Fury. The data shows that 83% either “strongly” or “somewhat” back the military campaign, while only 9% express opposition.

The survey also found that most respondents favor continuing the offensive. Nearly three-quarters—74%—said the United States should press forward until Iran’s military strength is fully dismantled, compared to 16% who believe the war should end immediately.

When asked whom they trust more on matters related to the conflict, Republican voters overwhelmingly sided with Trump over media personalities who have voiced criticism. While figures like Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly have taken issue with the war, 83% of respondents said they trust Trump’s judgment more, while just 6% indicated greater confidence in the former Fox News hosts.

Similarly, 84% said they align more closely with Trump’s approach to foreign policy, compared to 6% who favor the views of Carlson and Kelly. Another 85% reported taking the president more seriously on global affairs than commentators and podcast hosts, with only 6% saying otherwise.

Trump has mostly avoided directly addressing criticism from Carlson and Kelly, though he did publicly defend talk radio host Mark Levin, who has strongly supported the war and recently clashed with Kelly.

“Mark Levin, a truly Great American Patriot, is somewhat under siege by other people with far less Intellect, Capability, and Love for our Country,” the president wrote on Truth Social on the evening of March 15.

“He is a true Conservative, and Intellect, far smarter than those who criticize him but, above all, he is a man of Great Wisdom and Common Sense who truly loves our Country,” Trump went on. “When you hear others unfairly attack Mark, remember that they are jealous and angry Human Beings, whose ‘sway’ is much less than the Public understands, and will, now that they know where I stand, rapidly diminish.”

“Those that speak ill of Mark will quickly fall by the wayside, as do the people whose ideas, policies, and footings are not sound. THEY ARE NOT MAGA, I AM, and MAGA includes not allowing Iran, a Sick, Demented, and Violent Terrorist Regime, to have a Nuclear Weapon to blow up the United States of America, the Middle East and, ultimately, the rest of the World. MAGA is about stopping them cold, and that is exactly what we are doing.”

The poll further suggests that Trump’s position on Iran could play a major role in upcoming elections. A significant 78% of Republican voters said they would be more inclined to support a congressional candidate who backs the military campaign, while just 10% said they would favor a candidate opposed to it.

On the other hand, candidates aligned with critics like Carlson and Kelly could face resistance within the party. A majority of respondents—55%—said they would be less likely to vote for such candidates, while only 19% said they would be more likely to support them.

The survey was conducted between March 17 and March 18 among 1,018 likely Republican voters and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

WATCH:

Israeli national security officials are casting doubt on the authority of Iran’s newly installed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, describing him as largely symbolic and lacking real control over a regime they say is increasingly unstable.

Mojtaba, the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Feb. 28, has been elevated to the top position but is viewed by analysts as presiding over a weakened and disorganized leadership structure.

“The new leader is an empty entity,” Kobi Michael, a defense analyst at the Institute for National Security Studies and the Misgav Institute, told Fox News Digital.

“Mojtaba Khamenei does not appear in public, but we also have reliable information that he does not control or lead the regime or what has been left of the regime.

“The current Iranian leadership is broken, confused and is almost misfunctioning.”

Reports indicate that Mojtaba narrowly avoided being killed in the same strike that claimed his father’s life, having stepped out of the compound shortly before the missile hit. Details of the incident emerged from leaked audio said to be from a March 12 internal meeting, first reported by The Telegraph.

The recording allegedly includes remarks from Mazaher Hosseini, who serves as head of protocol in Khamenei’s office, informing senior officials that Mojtaba suffered “a minor injury to his leg” during the incident.

Since assuming leadership, Mojtaba has yet to appear publicly. Instead, a statement attributed to him was broadcast on Iranian state television, warning of continued attacks and calling on Gulf states to shut down American military bases in the region.

Conflicting reports have circulated regarding his condition, with some suggesting he was critically injured or even in a coma, while Iranian officials have insisted he remains in good health.

Mojtaba Khamenei vowed retaliation Wednesday following the killing of senior Iranian official Ali Larijani in an Israeli strike.

“Such acts of terror only reflect the enemies’ hostility and will strengthen the resolve of the Islamic nation. Undoubtedly, justice will be served,” the statement said.

Larijani, considered one of Iran’s top security figures, was reportedly targeted and killed after Israeli intelligence tracked his location near Tehran.

Additional senior figures have also been eliminated in recent operations, including Basij militia leader Gholamreza Soleimani, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

“This is not a new phase, but a continuing effort and a very successful and impressive one and a crucial component of the strategy meant to weaken the Iranian regime,” Michael said of the continued strikes at regime figures.

“This is to the degree that it will not be able to reconstitute itself and/or to become again a severe threat and destabilizing player in the broader Middle East.”

Following the initial wave of joint U.S.-Israeli strikes, President Donald Trump addressed the Iranian public, signaling support for potential internal change.

“When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take,” Trump said, suggesting the U.S. would help bring down the Iranian regime.

“At the very same time, by weakening the regime and paralyzing its capacities generally speaking and its domestic control specifically, the U.S. and Israel are facilitating the required conditions for the Iranian people to topple the regime,” Michael added.

“This is the ultimate victory in their eyes, and the route to this destination is that they are trying to increase any damage wherever they can.”

{Matzav.com}

A former New York City Council employee is facing deportation after an immigration judge ruled he must be removed from the United States, a decision that has drawn sharp backlash from city leaders who say they will challenge the outcome.

City Council Speaker Julie Menin announced the ruling on Wednesday, calling it a “miscarriage of justice and wholly deplorable” and confirming that an appeal will be filed in an effort to reverse the decision.

The case centers on Rafael Andres Rubio Bohorquez, 53, who was taken into custody two months ago during a scheduled immigration appointment. At the time, the Department of Homeland Security identified him as a Venezuelan national who had overstayed his visa and described him as a “criminal illegal alien” with a prior assault arrest.

Federal authorities have also stated that Rubio Bohorquez worked for about a year as a data analyst for the New York City Council despite lacking formal authorization to be employed.

City officials, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Menin, have strongly pushed back on those claims, insisting that Rubio Bohorquez was legally permitted to remain in the United States and had the right to work.

“Today, Judge Conroy ordered the removal of Rafael Rubio, our City Council employee, from the United States,” Menin said. “We are outraged and will continue to pursue every legal avenue to secure his release and ensure his case is properly heard on appeal.”

“This is an affront to justice,” Mamdani added in a post on X. “A dedicated public servant with legal authorization to remain in the country, Rafael showed up for a routine immigration appointment and, despite following the rules, he was detained and has now been held for months.”

According to DHS, Rubio Bohorquez entered the United States in 2017 on a B2 tourist visa and was required to leave that same year. Menin, however, said he had been granted permission to remain in the country through October 2026.

Menin further argued that the deportation ruling stemmed from what she described as a procedural issue tied to his asylum case. She said the problem involved a missing signature on paperwork and that he was not given a chance to correct it—something his attorney reportedly said could have been resolved within an hour.

“Today’s ruling appears to hinge on a procedural issue related to his asylum application,” Menin added. “That is extremely troubling. A technical error should not determine the fate of a man who has done everything right and poses no risk to anyone.”

Local officials said they intend to move quickly to appeal the decision and are calling for Rubio Bohorquez to be released while the legal process continues.

“Let me be clear: Rafael should not continue to be detained while this is sorted out,” Menin said. “An appeal will be filed, and we demand that Rafael’s case be properly heard by the deadline on April 17. At a minimum, he should be released pending that appeal. There is no justification for continuing to hold him under these circumstances.”

Dozens of Israeli passengers who flew in recent days from Mumbai to Amman on Royal Jordanian say they arrived without their luggage, in a highly unusual situation that has left many frustrated and demanding answers.

According to the passengers, a decision was made even before departure not to load their checked baggage onto the aircraft. When they landed in Amman, they were told the suitcases would be sent on a later flight—but only within Jordan, with no option to forward them to Israel.

The incident involves dozens of travelers, with some reporting that a similar situation occurred on another flight that same day. Passengers say the airline’s demand that they return to Jordan in order to collect their belongings is unreasonable, particularly given the current security situation and the complications involved in such travel.

Beyond the safety concerns, passengers say the requirement would impose significant financial costs, including visa fees, transportation expenses, and lost work time.

“We flew from Amman to Aqaba and from there entered Israel without our luggage. Now they expect us to go back to Jordan to get it,” said Miron Karlik, one of the passengers, in a conversation with Ynet. “I have a feeling this is something anti-Israeli—there’s no reason this should happen only to us.”

Other passengers on the same flight reportedly did not encounter the issue, raising further questions about how the situation was handled. Meanwhile, travel industry sources have begun offering private transport options to deliver the luggage to a border crossing, at an estimated cost of about $1,000 per group.

The passengers have turned to the Israeli embassy in Jordan, asking officials to intervene with the airline and ensure that the luggage is transferred to Israel without requiring them to return to Jordan.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

It’s that time of year again. Matzav readers, you know what I’m talking about.

The doors swing open, and suddenly—almost overnight—the quiet, orderly rhythm of our neighborhoods is replaced by a familiar and unmistakable presence: the bochurim are back.

Yes, those same acne-faced, growth-spurted, slightly sleep-deprived teenagers who disappeared months ago into the holy confines of their yeshivos have returned, hats slightly askew, suit jackets that may or may not still fit, and an uncanny ability to travel in packs of no fewer than six at a time.

Our shuls are suddenly fuller. Much fuller. The aisles at the local grocery store now require strategic navigation. The pizza shops are…well, let’s just say they’re doing fine. And the noise level? Baruch Hashem, it’s alive and well.

And so begins the annual murmuring.

“They’re everywhere.”
“They’re loud.”
“They take over the place.”
“Why are they standing in the middle of the aisle like that?”

To which I would like to respond, with all due respect: What exactly were we expecting?

These are our bochurim. Our sons. Our future talmidei chachomim, our future baalei batim, our future leaders. They have spent months immersed in Torah, pushing themselves, growing, struggling, and yes, occasionally surviving on questionable dormitory schedules.

And now they’re home.

So yes, they walk into shul like they own the place, because, in a sense, they do. They fill the seats, they crowd the shtenders, they bring a certain electricity that you simply cannot manufacture. A weekday minyan that was once a quiet affair suddenly feels like a small yeshiva.

That’s not a nuisance. That’s a brachah.

Yes, they linger in stores, debating life’s most pressing issues, like whether to get pizza or sushi, and whether they should get a Borsalino or Bollini. They stand around, they laugh too loudly, they block the aisle. It’s true.

But let’s pause for a moment and consider the alternative.

Empty shuls. Silent streets. A generation that has nothing better to do than scroll endlessly or drift aimlessly.

Instead, we have bochurim who still wear their hats, who still come to daven, who still gather with friends in ways that are wholesome, spirited, and deeply rooted in who they are.

So perhaps instead of rolling our eyes, we can smile a little.

Instead of seeing a nuisance, we can see a living, breathing yeshiva that has spilled out into our neighborhoods.

Instead of complaining about the noise, we can appreciate that it is the sound of Torah’s future.

Yes, they may be a little messy. A little loud. A little in the way.

But they are ours.

And frankly, if our biggest problem is that our shuls are too full and our stores are too crowded with bochurim during bein hazemanim, then I’d say we’re doing just fine.

Sincerely,
A grateful (and slightly displaced in the grocery aisle) neighbor

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.

A devastating house fire in Bloomingburg, New York, claimed the life of 64-year-old R’ Yitzchok Dovid Vann z”l late Wednesday night, as emergency responders battled the flames and community volunteers worked to preserve items from the home.

R’ Yitzchok Dovid was a resident of Bloomingburg in Sullivan County.

Despite the efforts of emergency medical personnel who arrived at the scene, he could not be saved.

The fire broke out at a residence on Linda Lane and quickly escalated into a second-alarm blaze, prompting a large-scale response. Fire departments from Bullville, Mechanicstown, Circleville, Silver Lake, Howells, Otisville, Washington Heights, and Pine Bush all assisted in bringing the fire under control.

Hatzolah members were among the first on the scene and undertook efforts to remove several Sifrei Torah from the burning home. The Sifrei Torah remained undamaged despite the intensity of the fire.

Volunteers from Misaskim and Chesed Shel Emes also responded, ensuring that proper kavod hameis was maintained at the scene throughout the night.

Authorities have not yet determined what caused the fire, and the incident remains under active investigation.

R’ Yitzchok Dovid had previously served as president of Congregation Ahavat Achim in Fair Lawn, New Jersey.

He was a son of Avrom and Shirley Vann, longtime members of the Ahavat Achim shul.

Community members noted his longstanding commitment to Torah learning, particularly his dedication to Daf Yomi with the shiur of R’ Eli Stefansky. Acquaintances describe him as “the sweetest Yid you could meet.”

He is survived by his daughter, Malka Miriam Vann.

The levayah will be held at 12:00 noon at Robert Schoem’s Menorah Chapel, located at 150 Route 4 in Paramus, New Jersey.

Yehi zichro boruch.