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Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu told President Donald Trump that Israel must retain full operational freedom against threats in Lebanon during a phone conversation centered on the emerging diplomatic framework between Washington and Iran, according to an Israeli source familiar with the discussion.

The call came as expectations mounted that a potential breakthrough could be nearing in the three-month conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

Trump announced over the weekend that Washington and Tehran had “largely negotiated” a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the fighting and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route that has effectively remained shut since the U.S. and Israel launched military operations against Iran in February.

According to the Israeli source, Netanyahu made clear during the conversation that Jerusalem would not accept restrictions on Israeli military activity against threats emanating from Lebanon.

“In last night’s conversation with President Trump, the Prime Minister emphasized that Israel will maintain freedom of action against threats in all ⁠arenas, including Lebanon, and President Trump reiterated and supported this principle,” the Israeli political source told Reuters on Sunday, asking not to be named.

The developing agreement reportedly is being brokered in part through Pakistani mediation efforts, and Trump suggested that reopening the Strait of Hormuz could become one of the central achievements of the deal.

Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency reported that the draft framework includes provisions under which the United States and its allies would agree not to attack Iran or its regional proxies, while Tehran would pledge not to carry out preemptive strikes against them.

The emerging framework has already sparked concern inside Israel.

Benny Gantz warned that it would ⁠be a strategic mistake for Israel to accept a ceasefire arrangement in Lebanon while Israeli forces remain engaged in operations against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terror group.

According to the Israeli source, Washington has continued updating Israeli officials on the status of the negotiations with Iran as talks advance.

The source added that Trump remains firm on his central demands regarding Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.

“President Trump made it clear that he will stand firm in negotiations on his consistent demand for the dismantling of the Iranian nuclear program and the removal of all enriched uranium from its territory,” the source said, “and that he will not sign a final agreement without these conditions being met.”

Following the conversation, Trump posted briefly on Truth Social, writing that his discussion with Netanyahu had gone “very well.”

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] House Speaker Mike Johnson publicly defended President Donald Trump on Sunday as a fierce Republican backlash erupted over the administration’s emerging agreement with Iran, a framework that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and extend the current ceasefire for 60 days while postponing final negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program.

The developing proposal has already triggered sharp criticism from Republican hawks and skepticism from Iranian officials, with opponents warning the agreement could strengthen the Islamic Republic and alter the balance of power across the Gulf region.

Speaking from the Indianapolis 500 during an appearance on “Fox & Friends Weekend,” Johnson said he spoke with Trump Saturday night and insisted the president remains firmly committed to preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear power.

Johnson described Trump as “resolute as he’s been from the beginning.”

The House speaker said the administration intends to successfully address the nuclear issue while reopening the strait to commercial shipping, arguing the move would calm international energy markets and reduce gasoline prices in the United States.

Johnson added that lower fuel prices could help Republicans expand their congressional majority in the upcoming midterm elections.

The framework Trump outlined Saturday in a social media post calls for extending the ceasefire by 60 days, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and launching follow-up negotiations focused on Iran’s nuclear program.

Trump said he discussed the proposal with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, and Israel, describing the developing package as a “Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE” that still requires final approval.

Iranian officials, however, appeared to dispute portions of the proposed framework, with a spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry telling state media that nuclear matters are not currently part of the negotiations.

The proposal has created deep divisions within Republican ranks, pitting traditional Iran hawks against Trump allies defending the president’s diplomatic push.

Ted Cruz voiced alarm over reports suggesting Iran could retain influence over the Strait of Hormuz while continuing uranium enrichment activities.

He warned such an outcome would amount to a “disastrous mistake.”

Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, argued that a 60-day ceasefire “would be a disaster” and claimed the military gains achieved during Operation Epic Fury could ultimately be squandered.

Lindsey Graham also criticized the framework, warning it could shift the regional balance of power and become “a nightmare for Israel.”

Cruz later became involved in a public online clash with Trump adviser Alex Bruesewitz, who mocked the senator for criticizing the president.

“Cool, Ted. No one asked you, bro,” Bruesewitz wrote, accusing Cruz of attempting to undermine Trump politically.

Cruz responded moments later with his own sharp rebuke.

“Hush, child. The adults are talking. I’m not your ‘bro.’ And young political grifters pushing Iran appeasement are not remotely helping the President.”

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also attacked the proposal, dismissing it as “Not remotely America First.”

That criticism drew an aggressive response from White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, who reportedly fired back on social media by saying Pompeo did not understand the issue and should “shut his stupid mouth.”

The immediate question now facing the administration is whether the fragile framework can survive long enough to become a finalized agreement.

Trump has repeatedly insisted that the U.S. blockade surrounding the Strait of Hormuz will remain in place “until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed.”

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{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump reportedly urged leaders from several Arab and Muslim nations to establish diplomatic ties with Israel if an agreement is reached to end the conflict with Iran, according to an Axios report citing two U.S. officials familiar with the conversation.

The report said Trump views expanding the Abraham Accords as one of his administration’s top strategic goals once the Iran conflict concludes. His central objective is reportedly a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia, though officials acknowledge that regional tensions and Israel’s approaching elections could complicate those efforts.

Trump reportedly held a conference call with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain to discuss the emerging diplomatic framework involving Iran.

One U.S. official said multiple leaders on the call voiced support for Trump’s handling of the negotiations.

“They all said we are with you on this deal. And if it doesn’t work, we will be with you too,” the official said.

According to another U.S. official familiar with the discussion, Trump informed the regional leaders that he intended to speak afterward with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and expressed hope that Netanyahu would eventually participate in a similar multinational call.

The officials added that Trump directly encouraged countries that still do not maintain diplomatic ties with Israel to join the Abraham Accords once the Iran war ends.

According to the report, leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Pakistan appeared caught off guard by the request, leading to a moment of silence on the call before Trump jokingly asked whether everyone was still on the line.

Trump reportedly told participants that his senior envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, would continue discussions on the issue in the coming weeks.

On Sunday, Trump posted on Truth Social thanking Middle Eastern countries for their “support and cooperation,” while signaling that future regional relations could deepen through additional participation in the Abraham Accords.

The president also floated the possibility that Iran itself could eventually join the accords — a dramatic step that would require Tehran to formally recognize Israel.

Lindsey Graham publicly backed Trump’s proposal Sunday in a post on X, arguing that a broader normalization effort tied to ending the Iran conflict could reshape the Middle East.

Graham said that if Arab and Muslim nations joined the Abraham Accords as part of the diplomatic process, the agreement could become one of the most significant geopolitical breakthroughs in the region’s modern history.

He also urged Saudi Arabia and other regional powers to support Trump’s initiative, warning that rejecting the proposal could carry consequences for their future ties with Washington.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had previously signaled openness toward normalization with Israel, though reports indicate his stance has become more cautious over the past year.

According to Axios, Trump personally raised the issue during a White House meeting with bin Salman last November, but the Saudi leader reportedly pushed back against immediate progress.

Saudi officials continue insisting that Israel commit to what they describe as an irreversible and time-limited path toward the establishment of a Palestinian state before normalization can proceed — a condition strongly opposed by Israel’s current government.

Israeli and American officials reportedly believe Saudi Arabia is unlikely to make major moves toward normalization before Israel’s September elections and the formation of a new government afterward.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump appeared to deliver another pointed warning to Iran on Sunday, posting a dramatic image on Truth Social showing a bomb mounted beneath a fighter jet alongside the message, “THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!”

The post was widely interpreted as a signal from the White House that Tehran should not test Washington’s patience as negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program continue.

The image came shortly after Trump defended the developing negotiations with Iran in a separate Truth Social post, insisting that any agreement reached under his administration would be far tougher than the Obama-era nuclear deal.

“If I make a deal with Iran, it will be a good and proper one, not like the one made by Obama, which gave Iran massive amounts of CASH, and a clear and open path to a Nuclear Weapon. Our deal is the exact opposite, but nobody has seen it or knows what it is. It isn’t even fully negotiated yet,” the President claimed.

Trump also lashed out at critics attacking the still-unfinished negotiations.

“So don’t listen to the losers, who are critical about something they know nothing about.”

The president concluded the post by drawing a sharp contrast between his approach and that of previous administrations.

“Unlike those before me who should have solved this problem many years ago, I don’t make bad deals.”

Trump’s comments echoed another lengthy statement he issued earlier Sunday in which he blasted the Obama administration’s Iran nuclear agreement while praising the current negotiations being conducted by his administration.

“One of the worst deals ever made by our Country was the Iran Nuclear Deal, put forth and signed into existence by Barack Hussein Obama and the rank amateurs of the Obama Administration. It was a direct path to Iran developing a Nuclear Weapon. Not so with the transaction currently being negotiated with Iran by the Trump Administration – THE EXACT OPPOSITE, in fact!”

Trump said negotiations with Tehran were advancing steadily and emphasized that American negotiators had been instructed not to rush toward a final agreement.

“The negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner, and I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal in that time is on our side.”

He also made clear that U.S. pressure on Iran would remain fully intact unless and until a finalized agreement is formally completed.

The president noted that the blockade of Iran will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is “reached, certified, and signed.”

Trump announced Saturday that the final details of a potential agreement with Iran would be unveiled “shortly.”

According to a Reuters report, the emerging framework could unfold in three phases: formally ending the current conflict, resolving tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, and opening a 30-day negotiation window aimed at securing a broader long-term agreement, with the possibility of extending talks if necessary.

Meanwhile, The New York Times reported that one of the central pillars of the proposed agreement involves Iran surrendering its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

According to two U.S. officials cited in the report, Tehran has already indicated a willingness to relinquish the dangerous nuclear material as part of a final arrangement with Washington.

{Matzav.com}

A major political dispute erupted within Israel’s coalition Sunday night after Degel HaTorah reportedly informed Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu that it does not intend to move forward with the controversial draft law before the next elections.

The message deepens the ongoing crisis surrounding one of the most explosive issues facing both the government and the chareidi public.

Sources close to Netanyahu reacted angrily to the development, accusing Degel HaTorah of never having truly wanted a draft law agreement in the first place.

“From the beginning they did not want a draft law,” figures in Netanyahu’s circle charged, while also claiming that Degel HaTorah attempted to “shift the responsibility onto the prime minister.”

Senior Likud officials reportedly expressed frustration over the conduct of the chareidi party, insisting that repeated efforts had been made to reach mutually acceptable language for the legislation, but that parts of the chareidi leadership refused to cooperate.

Political observers believe the decision is tied in part to the position of Hagaon Rav Dov Landau, who reportedly is unwilling to approve the current version of the law — viewed by many in the chareidi world as especially harsh — without the full agreement and partnership of Hagaon Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch.

The standoff now threatens to further destabilize coalition negotiations over the highly sensitive issue of military conscription for bnei yeshiva.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli President Isaac Herzog sharply condemned nationalist violence in Yehuda and Shomron on Sunday, while also taking aim at controversial footage recently circulated by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Speaking at the Yerushalayim Unity Prize ceremony, Herzog warned of what he described as a dangerous wave of lawlessness and extremism.

“We are witnessing a terrible wave of violence carried out by an anarchistic mob — acts that defile and violate every basic moral, legal, and Jewish norm,” Herzog declared.

The president continued with an unusually forceful rebuke, saying, “We must not accept the brutality emerging from the fringes of society that threatens all of us. Our nation is a magnificent people with tremendous strengths, but we must establish red lines. I stand here and say clearly: unity begins with humanity.”

Herzog also revealed details of recent conversations he held with senior IDF commanders serving in Yehuda and Shomron.

“I heard from a group of senior commanders in Yehuda and Shomron — who are thwarting terror in the region with tremendous success — that there are days when they are forced to spend most of their time dealing with criminal anarchists,” he said.

Later in his remarks, Herzog appeared to reference the public uproar surrounding footage distributed by Ben-Gvir concerning the treatment of activists from the Gaza flotilla.

“We are being exposed to barbaric actions by a handful of people who think that detainees, suspects, or those under investigation have no human rights whatsoever. Our sources teach us: beloved is man, for he was created in the image of God,” Herzog stated.

Ben-Gvir quickly fired back at the president’s comments.

“A president who calls hundreds of thousands of citizens of the State of Israel beasts is not worthy of being president. Period,” the minister responded.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu said Sunday that he held a conversation the previous night with President Donald Trump regarding the developing memorandum of understanding aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, as well as the broader negotiations surrounding a permanent agreement on Iran’s nuclear program.

Netanyahu said the discussion focused on the emerging diplomatic framework with Iran and ongoing coordination between Washington and Israel.

According to the prime minister, he conveyed his “deep appreciation to President Trump for his unwavering commitment to Israel’s security, including during Operation Roaring Lion and Epic Fury, when American and Israeli forces fought shoulder to shoulder against the Iranian threat.”

Netanyahu said he and Trump were in full agreement regarding the core objective of any future arrangement with Tehran.

“President Trump and I agreed that any final agreement with Iran must eliminate the nuclear danger. That means dismantling Iran’s nuclear enrichment sites and removing its enriched nuclear material from its territory.”

The Israeli premier added that Trump also reiterated support for Israel’s freedom of military action throughout the region.

“President Trump also reaffirmed Israel’s right to defend itself against threats on every front, including Lebanon.”

Netanyahu emphasized what he described as the growing strategic alliance between Israel and the United States.

“the partnership between us and our two countries has been proven on the battlefield and has never been stronger.”

He concluded with a blunt declaration mirroring Trump’s longstanding position on Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

“My policy, like President Trump’s, remains unchanged: Iran will not have nuclear weapons.”

Netanyahu’s remarks came only minutes after Trump published a forceful statement defending the negotiations currently underway with Iran and contrasting them sharply with the Obama-era nuclear agreement.

“One of the worst deals ever made by our Country was the Iran Nuclear Deal, put forth and signed into existence by Barack Hussein Obama and the rank amateurs of the Obama Administration. It was a direct path to Iran developing a Nuclear Weapon. Not so with the transaction currently being negotiated with Iran by the Trump Administration – THE EXACT OPPOSITE, in fact!” Trump wrote.

Trump said negotiations with Tehran were advancing steadily and insisted there was no need for the United States to rush into a final agreement.

“The negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner, and I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal in that time is on our side.”

The president also stressed that U.S. pressure on Iran would remain firmly in place until a final agreement is completed and formally approved.

He noted that the blockade of Iran will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is “reached, certified, and signed.”

Trump further warned that both Washington and Tehran must proceed cautiously in order to avoid strategic mistakes.

“both sides must take their time and get it right. There can be no mistakes! Our relationship with Iran is becoming a much more professional and productive one. They must understand, however, that they cannot develop or procure a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb.”

{Matzav.com}

Senior figures close to Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu are reportedly working behind the scenes on a dramatic political and legal effort aimed at preventing the United Arab List (Ra’am) from participating in Israel’s next election, according to a report aired Sunday by Channel 13.

The reported initiative centers on attempts to have Ra’am’s parent body — the Southern Faction of the Islamic Movement in Israel — officially designated as a terrorist organization.

According to the report, the proposed justification for such a designation would be allegations that the movement transferred donations and aid into the Gaza Strip during the ongoing war.

The effort is reportedly still in its early stages but comes as Israel’s political system faces growing uncertainty over the timing of the next national elections.

Sources close to Netanyahu reportedly argue that aid and financial transfers made to Gaza during wartime effectively constituted support for terrorist-linked entities operating inside the enclave.

Turning the proposal into reality, however, would require overcoming major legal and security obstacles.

Any move to classify the Southern Faction as a terrorist organization would reportedly necessitate changes to Israeli legislation, including amendments in the Knesset and revisions to definitions contained within Israel’s Counterterrorism Law.

The process would also require formal recommendations and legal opinions from Israeli security agencies, particularly the Shin Bet.

{Matzav.com}

Veteran Shas lawmaker Yaakov Margi has informed party chairman Aryeh Deri that he does not intend to run in the next Knesset election, bringing an end to a lengthy political career that included more than two decades in the Knesset and senior government positions.

Margi has long been considered one of the most experienced and influential figures within the Shas movement, having served in a variety of key parliamentary and ministerial roles over the years.

In a statement issued following reports about his departure, Margi stressed that he is not severing ties with the party.

“The reports about my leaving the Shas movement are not correct. In recent days I spoke with the movement’s chairman, Rabbi Aryeh Deri, and expressed my desire not to be placed on the list for the next Knesset, after 23 years in which I served as a member of Knesset, director-general of the movement and Minister of Religious Affairs and Welfare. The movement chairman asked me to wait on the decision. I wish to clarify: I am not leaving the Shas movement. The Shas movement is my home. Any position assigned to me by the Council of Torah Sages and the movement chairman, I will fulfill with dedication and a sense of mission.”

Margi becomes the second Shas MK in recent days to announce plans to leave political life.

Just one week earlier, Moshe Arbel submitted his resignation from the Knesset.

In his resignation letter, Arbel explained that his decision was tied to the approaching end of the current Knesset term. He said he hopes to dedicate more time to his family, continue Torah learning, and complete a doctorate in law at Reichman University.

Shortly afterward, Arbel was appointed chairman of the Mehadrin company.

{Matzav.com}

Lieutenant Colonel (Res.) Yuval Inbar, a former Israeli Air Force fighter pilot and squadron commander, was identified as one of the two people killed in Sunday’s deadly light aircraft crash in the Jezreel Valley. He was 50 years old.

Inbar, a resident of Hagor, leaves behind his wife and three children and was still actively serving in the reserves at the time of his death. Authorities have not yet released the identity of the second victim.

The Southern Sharon Regional Council paid tribute to Inbar, stating: “Yuval, married to Lou, and father of Liah, Shalev, and Nevo, worked for years with dedication, responsibility, and a sense of mission for the security of the State of Israel and its citizens.”

Southern Sharon Regional Council head Oshrat Gani Gonen also mourned his passing, saying: “My heart is with the Inbar family and with the Hagor community at this difficult time. Yuval was a man of values, a true citizen, a beloved and dedicated family man who, for many years, dedicated himself to significant and extraordinary work for the security of the State of Israel. This is a huge loss to his family, friends, and the entire community.”

The fatal crash took place Sunday morning when the light aircraft went down in an open area near Tel Adashim in the Afula region.

Emergency teams evacuated both victims from the wreckage in critical condition to Emek Hospital, where doctors later pronounced them dead.

MDA paramedic Maor Atedagi described the scene upon arrival.

“This is a serious incident. We arrived at the scene with ambulances, intensive care vehicles and immediate response motorcycles. They led us through the field to the plane that crashed. The plane had severe damage to the fuselage and two men were lying nearby.”

Atedagi said medics immediately discovered the victims were in critical condition.

“They were unconscious, without a pulse and not breathing. We immediately began performing advanced CPR and evacuated them in MDA intensive care units to the hospital in critical condition.”

{Matzav.com}

The United States and Iran are reportedly moving closer to a broad interim agreement that could dramatically lower tensions in the Middle East, reopen the Strait of Hormuz to global shipping, and restart negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, according to details emerging from ongoing diplomatic talks.

Sources familiar with the negotiations said the developing memorandum of understanding would create a 60-day cease-fire arrangement aimed at freezing military escalation while both sides work toward a longer-term deal. The proposal would also pave the way for Iran to resume oil exports and broader international trade in exchange for nuclear-related concessions and regional de-escalation.

The negotiations gained urgency amid reports that the United States had recently been preparing possible military strike options against Iran before diplomatic momentum accelerated over the weekend.

President Donald Trump had reportedly been weighing a military response against a negotiated settlement but shifted toward diplomacy by last night, according to officials cited in the report.

Another significant element emerging from the talks is Trump’s reported effort to persuade Arab states involved in the mediation process to join the Abraham Accords as part of a broader regional realignment.

Sources indicated that Saudi Arabia and Qatar were among the nations encouraged to participate in a wider normalization framework connected to the negotiations. It remains uncertain whether any governments have formally accepted those conditions.

Officials familiar with the discussions stressed that the proposed arrangement is intended as a temporary framework rather than a final peace agreement.

Under the current proposal, Iran would receive meaningful economic relief, but American officials emphasized that the strategy remains based on what they described as “relief for performance,” meaning sanctions relief would continue only if Tehran complies with its obligations.

One of the central provisions of the draft agreement is a 60-day cease-fire period that could later be extended if both sides agree. During that time, military operations and direct escalation would reportedly pause while negotiations continue.

The framework also calls for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to unrestricted international shipping. Iran would reportedly agree to remove naval mines believed to have been deployed in the waterway and permit free commercial passage without tolls or interference.

In exchange, the United States would reportedly loosen restrictions on Iranian ports and issue sanctions waivers allowing Tehran to resume oil exports on a broader scale.

The agreement would also restart negotiations surrounding Iran’s nuclear program. Iran would reportedly pledge not to pursue nuclear weapons and would enter discussions regarding limits on uranium enrichment and reductions to its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

According to U.S. officials, Iranian representatives have already delivered verbal assurances through mediators regarding possible concessions.

Despite the cease-fire arrangement, the United States would reportedly maintain its current military posture in the region throughout the negotiation period. Any major reduction of American forces would occur only if a permanent agreement is ultimately finalized.

Another complicated issue in the negotiations involves the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Sources said the proposed framework contains language aimed at ending the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah along the northern border.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly expressed concerns about parts of the developing agreement during a recent conversation with Trump.

Officials said representatives from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Turkey, and Pakistan participated in discussions supporting the framework.

Despite growing optimism surrounding the talks, negotiators acknowledged that major disagreements remain unresolved.

Iran reportedly pushed for immediate access to frozen assets and permanent sanctions relief, but the United States rejected those demands, insisting broader economic relief would depend on verified Iranian compliance.

There were also indications that Iranian officials may not yet fully support every provision outlined by American negotiators.

Questions additionally remain over whether Tehran would ultimately uphold commitments related to the Strait of Hormuz and whether it would agree to meaningful nuclear limitations.

The White House is reportedly hoping to announce the framework as early as Sunday, though officials cautioned that negotiations remain fragile and the deal could still unravel before any agreement is formally implemented.

{Matzav.com}