Feed aggregator

The Trump administration is preparing to take the unprecedented step of removing COVID-19 vaccines from the U.S. market “within months,” according to Dr. Aseem Malhotra, a close ally of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Malhotra, a British cardiologist and outspoken vaccine skeptic, told The Daily Beast that the move is under serious consideration among Kennedy’s circle and “influential” members of President Donald Trump’s family. Neither Kennedy nor the Trumps hold scientific credentials. The prediction, if borne out, would mark a seismic break from established public-health policy. The COVID-19 vaccines remain widely endorsed by the medical community as safe and effective, despite arguments by Kennedy and his advisers that they pose a greater risk than the virus itself. Malhotra said the administration’s decision could come in one sweeping action or in stages, pending a review of so-called “vaccine injuries” by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. “It could also come with one clean decision,” he added, even while acknowledging fears it would unleash “chaos” and invite legal challenges. Kennedy, long a leading figure in the anti-vaccine movement, has already slashed $500 million in federal funding for mRNA vaccine development. He has repeatedly referred to the COVID shot as “the deadliest vaccine ever made,” despite no credible evidence supporting the claim. Kennedy’s advisers, including Malhotra, often cite a 2022 paper in the journal Vaccine that argued recipients of mRNA vaccines faced a higher risk of “serious adverse events.” The study has been widely criticized as methodologically flawed and misleading. Mainstream experts say it grossly underestimates the overwhelming benefits of vaccination. Still, Malhotra insisted the data sparked a firestorm inside Kennedy’s team when he presented it at a July meeting attended by senior HHS aides. He now plans to personally brief Trump in September. “He’s in a position to fix it,” Malhotra said, framing the move as a potential legacy issue for the president. The speculation comes at a volatile moment. Earlier this month, an anti-vaccine extremist opened fire on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, killing a police officer. Investigators believe the shooter targeted the agency over his hatred of the COVID vaccine. In response, more than 750 current and former staffers at the CDC, HHS, and NIH signed a letter accusing Kennedy of spreading dangerous misinformation and undermining the nation’s public-health infrastructure. They demanded he retract his claims and affirm the CDC’s scientific integrity. “HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is complicit in dismantling America’s public health infrastructure and endangering the nation’s health by repeatedly spreading inaccurate health information,” the letter read. The HHS defended Kennedy in a statement, insisting he “stood firmly with CDC employees” after the Atlanta shooting. The White House dismissed Malhotra’s claims. “The Administration is relying on Gold Standard Science and is committed to radical transparency to make decisions that affect all Americans,” spokesman Kush Desai said. “Unless announced by the Administration, any discussion about HHS policy should be dismissed as baseless speculation.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

By YS Gold

While tens of thousands of his fellow Satmar chassidim converged upon the tziyun of the Divrei Yoel of Satmar in Monroe for the yohrtzeit, Yoeli Landau—a healthcare tycoon who sits atop healthcare empire—jetted into the holy land for what he saw as the greatest possible tribute to his revered and beloved Rebbe: bolstering and strengthening the growing number of institutions which adhere to the shitah of the Satmar Rebbe and don’t partake of the funds offered by the Zionist state.

It is no secret that Charedi Jewry in Eretz Yisroel is experiencing a crisis the likes of which it hasn’t seen since the days of the establishment of the state of Israel. The future of the bnei haYeshiva, and indeed of the Torah lifestyle itself, hangs in the balance.

Amid all of this turmoil, Landau insisted that the quagmire is the natural outcome that the Satmar Rebbe foretold from the very beginning of the founding of the State.


During his visit, R’ Yoeli—who would leave about ten million dollars in pledges and distributions to individuals and institutions in the holy land over his tour—inaugurated a $25 million Satmar girl’s school in Yerushalayim, and attended many events in his honor. But it was his central address to a gathering of hundreds of leaders and administrators of mosdos who operate al taharas hakodesh (the way Satmar refers to those who refrain from taking government funding) that made waves in the Charedi world, and in the Israeli news media.

Standing before these hundreds of leaders of institutions—a number that is growing with every passing day, especially in light of recent events—he recalled a moment when the Satmar Rebbe arrived in Eretz Yisroel, 73 years ago, on a mission similar to his own.

On that day in 1952, the Rebbe stood in Yerushalayim with $10,000—an exorbitant sum in those days—and generously distributed it to Torah institutions who pledged not to partake in the flow of funds from the Medinah. But the Rebbe wasn’t done… he returned home $10,000 in debt—having borrowed the remainder.

“When we look around at the leaders of these mosdos, it brings to mind the moment that the Rebbe, zy”a, stood at this very place in 1952, alone, when the entire world laughed at him, and impure money flowed like water… but “echad haya Avraham,” Avraham was one and alone in declaring the truth: ‘don’t partake from these impure monies, for it will only bring destruction…’ Unfortunately, many communities did not heed his call, he intoned, referring to the drastic cuts that the government has recently made, in addition to other catastrophic decrees involving bnei haYeshiva.

“Today, we pledge to absorb any mossad that wishes to come on board, and join the ranks of adherents to the Satmar shitah,” he promised.

Almost immediately, the speech went viral—in Eretz Yisroel and beyond. The analysts, news anchors, and Charedi MK’s gave voice to what many are thinking during this pivotal moment: Was the Satmar Rebbe, his shitah, and his Torah, correct all along? Has the time come for us to join Satmar—weaning off government money and disassociating from the State?

No one knows what the future holds, but as the billionaire and his entourage returned home aboard his private plane, they left behind a growing community of tens thousands of Yidden who recognize the truth of the prophetic words of the holy Satmar Rebbe, and encouraged by the words and deeds of his loyal and devoted follower.

{Matzav.com}

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Trump administration military leaders are considering whether the U.S. should acquire equity stakes in major defense contractors like Lockheed Martin, which he described as “basically an arm of the U.S. government.” His comments came just days after Washington purchased a 10% stake in Intel in a $9 billion deal.

Dear Matzav Inbox,

I’d like to shed light on an issue quietly but deeply affecting many in our community—particularly older singles—in a place where it should never happen: the workplace.

Being in shidduchim is challenging enough, especially as one gets older. But what makes it even harder is the way people around us talk about it—often casually, often loudly, and often right within earshot of those they’re discussing. In professional settings, where we come to focus on work, it’s deeply inappropriate—and frankly hurtful—for coworkers to have open conversations about “how bad they feel for people still in shidduchim” or to describe someone’s single status as a “nebach.”

I once had a coworker say, while I was sitting right there, “Nebach, I have a friend who’s already 22 and she needs to get engaged!” I wanted to shout, “Just because you got married two years ago, struggled with infertility, and now, baruch Hashem, your tefillos have been answered—does that give you the right to talk like this?!”

These remarks may be intended as expressions of concern, but they come across as condescending, diminishing, and deeply insensitive—especially when said casually and loudly in public or semi-public spaces. What happened to basic consideration? To having a little seichel before opening one’s mouth?

Just because you were zocheh to get married at 19 doesn’t mean everyone around you has had the same journey. Open your minds and hearts and realize that not everyone’s path in shidduchim looks the same. And please, remember this: the same God Who gives you children, parnassah, and daily blessings is the very same God guiding shidduchim. It’s not in your control, and it’s certainly not your place to judge.

What’s often overlooked is that many older singles are thriving. They’re accomplished, thoughtful, and living meaningful, full lives. Yes, many want to get married—but they don’t need to be pitied, analyzed, or made into objects of chesed. They deserve dignity, privacy, and respect.

Speaking about someone’s personal challenges—especially in a professional setting—shows a lack of awareness and sensitivity. It’s often lashon hara dressed up as “concern.” And when it’s done loudly, without regard for who might be listening, it crosses a line no Torah community should tolerate.

Think before you speak. We can all do better. Let’s be mindful of the words we use, especially in public and at work. Let’s stop making someone’s single status a casual conversation topic. And above all, let’s learn the difference between empathy and pity.

I hope and pray these words awaken a little more seichel and sensitivity in our community. Older singles are all around us, and many are listening—even when we think they’re not. Let’s treat them with the same respect and consideration we’d want for ourselves: privacy, dignity, and the acknowledgment that they are whole people—not “unfinished stories.”

May we all be zocheh to greater compassion and understanding.

Name Withheld

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.

{Matzav.com}

John Bolton’s book could land him in serious legal trouble for allegedly exposing classified information, with President Donald Trump’s White House adviser Peter Navarro warning that the former national security adviser might even face prison for “profiteering off of America’s secrets.”

In an article for The Hill, Navarro referenced a 2020 decision by Judge Royce Lamberth, noting that the judge had cautioned Bolton “had ‘likely jeopardized national security by disclosing classified information in violation of his nondisclosure agreement obligations,’ ” adding that Bolton had “gambled with the national security of the United States.”

Navarro argued that Bolton’s memoir, The Room Where It Happened, went far beyond revealing personal anecdotes or gossip. Instead, he said Bolton exposed confidential Oval Office discussions, sensitive national security meetings, and even intelligence shared by America’s allies.

“That isn’t service,” Navarro wrote. “That isn’t patriotism. That’s profiteering off of America’s secrets.”

He also cited sections of the book detailing U.S. strategies on Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, talks with North Korea, and internal debates regarding Turkey’s Halkbank case — examples Navarro claimed involved material that should have remained protected.

“Such a disclosure of national-defense information without authorization can constitute a crime,” Navarro argued, adding that Bolton’s actions “humiliated our allies” and “shredded trust.”

Navarro contrasted Bolton’s behavior with the authority granted to presidents, emphasizing a key distinction in handling classified material. “Hey, John, the difference between you and a president is that presidents can take anything they want and declassify it,” Navarro wrote. “And brother, you can’t.”

Navarro, who himself served prison time for refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena, concluded by warning that Bolton could ultimately face severe consequences. He suggested that if prosecutors decide to pursue the case, the former national security adviser “may one day go to prison for shredding that Constitution, defying executive privilege, and trampling safeguards meant to protect America’s security.”

{Matzav.com}

A judge rejected former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s attempt to prolong a taxpayer-funded court battle with a woman who accused him of assault, saying it wasn’t in the public’s interest to keep litigating for the purpose of repairing the Democrat’s reputation as he runs for mayor. “Cuomo has not advanced any viable argument for why the taxpayers of this state should continue to foot the bill for his continued use of civil litigation discovery devices to further his efforts to resurrect his public image,” state Supreme Court Justice Denise Hartman wrote in a decision posted online Monday. The decision comes more than a month after New York agreed to pay $450,000 to settle a lawsuit from Brittany Commisso, an ex-aide who alleged Cuomo harassed while he was in office. Cuomo, who has denied the allegations, resigned as governor in 2021 after a report from the state attorney general determined that he had harassed at least 11 women. Cuomo, a co-defendant with the state, opposed Commisso’s request to discontinue the lawsuit. Relatedly, he sought to make public text messages produced under discovery he claims refute Commisso’s allegations. Cuomo attorney Rita Glavin had told a judge that ending the case is a matter of “enormous public interest” as Cuomo runs for mayor. Hartman allowed Commisso to drop the civil suit and denied Cuomo’s motion on the texts. Cuomo is running for mayor as a independent after losing the Democratic primary to Zohran Mamdani by more than 12 percentage points. With the race heating up this summer, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa has needled Cuomo over the harassment allegations. And incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who also is running as an independent, recently placed whistles on reporters’ chairs at a news conference. Adams explained they were for female reporters interviewing Cuomo, in case they needed to call for help. A spokesman for Cuomo said Tuesday that the public deserves to see what is in the texts. “Governor Cuomo will continue to fight for the release of all the evidence because it shows he didn’t… harass anyone and further discredits the AG’s political report. Release the evidence and let the public decide,” Rich Azzopardi said in a written statement. Commisso filed her lawsuit in late 2023, just before the expiration of the Adult Survivors Act, a law that created a yearlong suspension of the usual time limit to sue over an alleged assault. She later filed a criminal complaint with accusations against Cuomo but a local district attorney declined to prosecute, citing lack of sufficient evidence. (AP)

New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s office responded forcefully to President Donald Trump’s new executive order aimed at cutting federal funds from states that have implemented “cashless bail,” criticizing the move as “reckless” and accusing the president of having “no concept of how the law works in New York.”

The statement came shortly after NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch met with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi at NYPD headquarters. During their discussion, Tisch assured Bondi that the National Guard was unnecessary in the city and that the NYPD had the situation under control. The two also reportedly spoke about the department’s recently launched Quality of Life division and highlighted this year’s historic drop in shooting incidents.

On Monday, Trump indicated he may deploy the National Guard to additional U.S. cities to combat crime and signed an executive order that threatens to withhold or rescind federal funding from local and state governments that maintain cashless bail systems, saying they put public safety at risk.

“No cash. Come back in a couple of months, we’ll give you a trial. You never see the person again,” Trump said just before signing the order.

The directive instructs Bondi to provide a list within 30 days of jurisdictions that have “substantially eliminated cash bail as a potential condition of pretrial release from custody for crimes that pose a clear threat to public safety and order.”

New York is one of the states potentially affected, having passed legislation in 2019 eliminating cash bail for most misdemeanors and certain nonviolent felonies. Since then, the law has been revised several times following concerns that judges lacked an important tool for detaining individuals considered likely to reoffend.

“President Trump has no concept of how the law works in New York,” Hochul spokesperson Jen Goodman said in a statement.

“New York has not eliminated cash bail,” the statement continued. “His reckless threat to withhold federal funds would only undercut law enforcement and make our communities less safe. The fact is Governor Hochul changed New York’s bail laws so violent offenders are held accountable, and as a result rearrests are down. New York now has one of the lowest violent crime rates in six decades. The Governor also gave judges more discretion to keep dangerous individuals behind bars, and she encourages them to use it.”

Meanwhile, on Monday, Mayor Eric Adams — a vocal critic of bail reform — said he had reviewed Trump’s executive order and reiterated his longstanding concerns about the current system. “I’ve always made it clear that our revolving-door system of dealing with violent offenders must be addressed. I think the former governor [Cuomo] made a terrible mistake on how they did bail reform,” Adams said.

{Matzav.com}

Trump: “This slob of a governor you have in Illinois … Chicago is the worst. These places are really bad.”

Trump: “The governor of Illinois should be calling me and he should be saying, ‘Could you send over the troops please? It’s out of control.’ In New York it’s out of control.”

Trump: “The line is that I’m a dictator, but I stop crime. So a lot of people say, ‘You know, if that’s the case, I’d rather have a dictator.'”

POTUS: “We’re putting America First and we’re going to be putting the American worker first. The Republican Party has picked up 4 million new people. The Democrats have lost 2.5 million… they’re very depressed.”

The first day of the Elul Zman on Sunday at Ponavezh Yeshiva.

President Herzog visits a Chareidi Cheder in Beitar as the school year begins. He is greeted with Shofar blowing.

Hagaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch to bochur arrested by the army: “Tell your mother that with Siyata Dishmaya it will be good, we are working on this through various means.”

The Palestinian Authority condemned Jewish groups for blowing the shofar on Har HaBayis during Elul, calling it a “dangerous tool” meant to assert Israeli sovereignty in Yerushalayim and alleging that what is traditionally a millennia-old call to teshuvah has become an attempt to impose control over the Makom HaMikdash, describing the soundings as a “direct assault” on the Al-Aqsa Mosque and holding the Israeli government fully responsible for any repercussions.

President Trump has drawn criticism from some within his own support base after announcing his intention to permit 600,000 students from China to study in the United States.

“It’s a very important relationship. We’re going to get along good with China,” Trump told reporters on Monday during a meeting with the president of South Korea.

He elaborated further, saying, “I hear so many stories about, ‘We’re not going to allow their students,’” before clarifying, “We’re going to allow their students to come in. We’re going to allow it. It’s very important — 600,000 students. It’s very important.”

This approach represents a shift from the administration’s earlier stance earlier this year when Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that he intended to “aggressively” revoke visas from Chinese students, particularly those “with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.”

The president’s willingness to open the door to hundreds of thousands of Chinese students sparked frustration among some conservatives, who argued it clashed with Trump’s long-promoted “America First” philosophy.

“We should not let in 600,000 CHINESE students to attend American colleges and universities that may be loyal to the CCP,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) posted on X.

“Why are we allowing 600,000 students from China to replace our American student’s opportunities?” she added. “We should never allow that. And we need more trade school graduates.”

Laura Loomer, a vocal Trump supporter and right-wing activist who has previously influenced administration policy and staffing decisions, voiced sharp opposition to the announcement as well, posting multiple reactions online.

“Nobody, I repeat nobody, wants 600,000 more Chinese ‘students’ aka Communist spies in the United States,” Loomer wrote on X.

“China murdered 1.2 million Americans,” she added, referencing COVID-19. “Now they get to replace us? This cannot happen.”

Michael Flynn Jr., the son of Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn, also weighed in, writing online that Trump’s announcement was “Not what I voted for.”

The topic reached Fox News on Monday night, where host Laura Ingraham pressed Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on her program, The Ingraham Angle.

“Mr. Secretary, with all due respect, how is allowing 600,000 students from the communist country of China putting America first?” she asked, highlighting the long-standing concern among many conservatives.

Lutnick defended the administration’s decision, arguing that without the influx of Chinese students, American students would be able to fill spots at more competitive schools, but “the bottom 15 percent of universities and colleges would go out of business in America.”

Trump’s remarks come as he continues to highlight his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping amid ongoing trade negotiations between Washington and Beijing. Earlier this year, the two countries imposed significant tariffs on each other’s goods, though both sides have since agreed to ease rates during continued talks.

The president also revealed on Monday that he hopes to travel to China later this year or “shortly thereafter.”

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Zeida Eliezer Zev Rosenbaum zt”l, the Kretchnif-Sigeter Rebbe. The Rebbe was 75 years old.

The rebbe was niftar on Tuesday at Shaarei Tzedek Medical Center in Yerushalayim after suffering a severe stroke this past Shabbos. Despite fervent tefillos from thousands and the addition of the name Baruch as a segulah for his recovery, his neshamah ascended to Shamayim.

Born in Kiryat Ata (then Kfar Ata) on Pesach, 5710 (1950), the Rebbe was the second son of Rav Tzvi Hirsch Rosenbaum, widely known as Reb Hershele of Kretchnif, and his mother, Rebbetzin Shifra, daughter of the Dvar Chaim of Nadvorna. From his earliest years, he was steeped in the ways of kedushah and avodas Hashem, growing up under the influence of two illustrious dynasties, Kretchnif and Nadvorna.

He began his learning in the local cheder in Kiryat Ata and later continued at the Satmar cheder in Haifa. As a young bochur, he studied in his father’s yeshiva in Kfar Ata and subsequently attended Yeshivas Kochav MiYaakov-Tchebin in Yerushalayim, where he became known for his extraordinary diligence and yiras Shamayim.

He married Rebbetzin Frimet, daughter of Rav Yechezkel Shraga Meretz of the United States. Following her passing in 1998, the Rebbe remarried to a daughter of the gaon and tzaddik Rav Ephraim Fishel Brauch, Av Beis Din of Meda.

The Rebbe initially settled in Williamsburg, where he served as rov of the Kretchnif-Sighet kehillah. Upon the passing of his father, Rav Hershele, in 2006, he was crowned as Rebbe alongside his brother, the Kretchnif Rebbe of Yerushalayim. In 2009, he inaugurated a new beis medrash in Williamsburg, establishing a strong makom Torah and tefillah for his chassidim there.

In addition to leading the kehillah in the United States, the Rebbe expanded the Kretchnif-Sighet presence in Yerushalayim and Beit Shemesh, opening additional batei medrash and cultivating vibrant Torah communities. In 2016, the Rebbe returned to Yerushalayim permanently, setting up his court on Rechov Rappaport in the Beis Yisroel neighborhood. In 2018, he founded the Masmidim Yeshiva Nachlas Tzvi in memory of his father and established the Amud HaYomi initiative, promoting daily structured Gemara learning across the kehillah.

The Rebbe was renowned for his fiery avodah and uplifting tishen, following the traditions of his illustrious father. His Shabbos tishen, held deep into the night — often until after alos hashachar — drew hundreds who came to bask in the light of his Torah and kedushah. His divrei Torah, especially during seudah shlishis and the special weeks of Shovavim, were legendary, often extending for nearly an hour and inspiring his chassidim to new heights in their avodas Hashem.

His Torah was collected and published in Raza D’emuna — an acronym formed from his name — and additional weekly compilations titled Lehavos Eish included his teachings alongside those of his father.

Each year during the Nine Days, the Rebbe would travel to Ukraine to daven at the kever of Rav Mordchele of Nadvorna in Bistritz, connecting deeply to his ancestral roots.

The Rebbe is survived by a distinguished family of bnei Torah, including his sons:

• Rav Naftali Hertzkah Yitzchok Rosenbaum, Rav of Beis Medrash Kretchnif-Sighet in Beit Shemesh

• Rav Yechezkel Shraga Rosenbaum, Rav of the Kretchnif-Sighet Beis Medrash in Williamsburg

• Rav Nissan Chaim Mordechai Rosenbaum, a prominent Breslover mashpia

• Rav Meir Aryeh Leib Rosenbaum, son-in-law of the Shendishover Rebbe

• Rav Yoel Zusman Rosenbaum, son-in-law of the Bistritzer Rebbe in Canada

Among his sons-in-law are leading rabbanim and dayanim, including:
Rav Dovid Tzvi Kahn of Toldos Aharon Beis Shemesh, Rav Aharon Kahn of Toldos Aharon Monsey, Rav Chaim Eliyahu Yoel Ilowitz of Williamsburg, Rav Chaim Meir Schneiblag, Av Beis Din Strelishk, Rav Shmuel Halevi Rottenberg of Salkah Monsey, and Rav Aharon Teitelbaum.

He is also survived by his brother, the Kretchnifer Rebbe of Yerushalayim, and his sister, Rebbetzin Reitza Bracha Rabinowitz of Biala Bnei Brak, wife of the Biala Rebbe.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The IDF has released the preliminary findings from its investigation into the strike near Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, which took place on Monday, August 25, 2025. The report was presented on Tuesday to IDF Chief of Staff LTG Eyal Zamir by Southern Command leader MG Yaniv Asor.

According to the findings, soldiers from the Golani Brigade, operating in the Khan Yunis region to dismantle Hamas infrastructure, identified a camera that had been placed by Hamas close to the Nasser Hospital. The IDF determined that the camera was being used to monitor IDF troop movements in order to assist in launching attacks. The conclusion was based on both intelligence pointing to Hamas’ use of the hospital for operational purposes since the start of the war and broader documentation of hospitals being used by terror groups during the conflict.

In response, the soldiers targeted and destroyed the camera to remove the threat. The inquiry confirmed that the operation’s objective was to neutralize the surveillance device and prevent it from being used to facilitate future attacks.

After reviewing the report, LTG Zamir directed the investigation to continue and stressed that Hamas and other terror groups have repeatedly exploited civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities such as Nasser Hospital, for intelligence-gathering and operational activities.

Zamir added that six of those killed in the strike were confirmed terrorists, including one individual who had participated in the October 7th infiltration into Israeli territory. He expressed sorrow over any unintended civilian casualties resulting from the operation.

The inquiry will now move into a deeper review of two main areas: the process of approving the strike—including the authorization timeline and the type of ammunition used—and the decision-making on the ground by the troops involved.

The Chief of Staff emphasized once again that the IDF’s policy remains focused on targeting only military objectives while taking steps to minimize harm to civilians.

{Matzav.com}

Israel Police confirmed on Tuesday that a Yerushalayim resident was arrested on suspicion of spray-painting the words “There is a Holocaust in Gaza” on one of the walls of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Yerushalayim.

The incident comes just a few weeks after the same phrase was discovered spray-painted on the Kosel. Authorities believe the two events may be connected and suspect that the 27-year-old detainee could be responsible for both cases.

According to the police report, officers noticed a suspicious individual roaming near one of the Old City entrances. The man was later detained close to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where police found a can of spray paint in his possession.

Authorities added that security footage from Yerushalayim’s surveillance cameras helped confirm that the suspect was the person who had sprayed the graffiti inside the church, which read, “There is a Holocaust in Gaza.”

The suspect was taken into custody and is facing a pending court case as the investigation continues.

Initial findings from the investigation indicate that this same 27-year-old individual is also responsible for the graffiti found on the Kosel earlier this month.

During that earlier case, a judge at the Yerushalayim Magistrate’s Court denied a police request to keep the suspect in custody for an extended period in connection with the vandalism at both the Kosel and the Great Synagogue.

The judge ruled that there was no justification to delay the investigation by keeping the suspect detained.

Police had originally sought an additional five days of detention, arguing that the suspect posed a potential risk and could interfere with the inquiry. However, a statement from authorities confirmed that the 27-year-old, a Ramot resident, would instead be released under restrictive conditions.

Rav Shmuel Rabinowitz, rov of the Kosel and mekomos hakedoshim, strongly condemned the incident. “A holy place is not a place to express protests,” he said, calling on police to locate those responsible and take proper action.

{Matzav.com Israel}

One of the nation’s leading operators of automated license-plate reading systems announced Monday it has paused its operations with federal agencies because of confusion and concern — including in Illinois — about the purpose of their investigations. Flock Safety, whose cameras are mounted in more than 4,000 communities nationwide, put a hold last week on pilot programs with the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection and its law enforcement arm, Homeland Security Investigations, according to a statement by its founder and CEO, Garrett Langley. Among officials in other jurisdictions, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias raised concerns. He announced Monday that an audit found Customs and Border Protection had accessed Illinois data, although he didn’t say that the agency was seeking immigration-related information. A 2023 law the Democrat pushed bars sharing license plate data with police investigating out-of-state abortions or undocumented immigrants. “This sharing of license plate data of motorists who drive on Illinois roads is a clear violation of the state law,” Giannoulias said in a statement. “This law, passed two years ago, aimed to strengthen how data is shared and prevent this exact thing from happening,” Flock Safety’s cameras capture billions of photos of license plates each month. However, it doesn’t own that data. The local agencies in whose jurisdictions the cameras are located do, and they’re the ones who receive inquiries from other law enforcement agencies. Langley said the company had initiated pilot programs with Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations to help combat human trafficking and fentanyl distribution. The company is unaware of any immigration-related searches the agencies made, but Langley said parameters were unclear. “We clearly communicated poorly. We also didn’t create distinct permissions and protocols in the Flock system to ensure local compliance for federal agency users,” Langley said. The revelation comes two months after Giannoulias announced that police in the Chicago suburb of Mount Prospect had shared data with a Texas sheriff who was seeking a missing woman. The woman’s family was worried because she had undergone a self-administered abortion. Although the sheriff in Johnson County, Texas, said he was simply trying to help the family locate the woman, Giannoulias demanded more vigilance from Flock Safety because of the abortion connection. In addition to halting the pilot programs, Flock has tweaked its system so that federal inquiries are clearly identified as such. And federal agencies will no longer be able to make blanket national or even statewide searches, but only one-on-one searches with particular police agencies. Asked when the federal agency had accessed Illinois data, a Giannoulias spokesperson said the investigation was ongoing. After the June incident, Flock Safety responded to Giannoulias’ request that its system reject searches that includes terms such as “abortion,” “immigration” or “ICE” (for Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Those flag terms have been in effect since late June, a Flock Safety spokesperson said. (AP)