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Marine One lands at Haneda Airport in Tokyo as President Trump prepares to depart Japan.

Four vacant homes collapsed into the ocean Tuesday along North Carolina’s Outer Banks, the National Park Service said, bringing the total to eight this month and 26 since 2020.

The political battle over immigration and ideology has found a new flashpoint — and this time, it’s not about the border. It’s about the front-runner in New York City’s mayoral race. Two House Republicans are demanding that the Justice Department investigate and potentially strip Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani of his U.S. citizenship — a move […]

WATCH: Prof. Michael Ben-Gad, a native Israeli whose economics lecture at City St George’s, University of London was disrupted a week ago by anti-Israel thugs who threatened to behead him, issued an apology for his “IDF service.” In an appearance on GB News, Ben-Gad said that the thugs “are now offering terms. I can have […]

With early voting underway in New York, Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani is facing renewed scrutiny over his campaign’s fundraising practices. The Coolidge Reagan Foundation, a conservative campaign-finance watchdog, filed two criminal referrals Tuesday alleging Mamdani accepted donations from foreign nationals — a violation of both federal and city election laws. The foundation’s president, Dan […]

A senior Agudas Yisroel party official sharply criticized the newly revealed draft of the government’s proposed conscription law on Tuesday night, deriding it as “Atias’s nonsense.”

Speaking to B’Chadrei Chareidim, the senior figure said, “This isn’t a draft law — it’s nonsense. Atias wrote a draft for Bismuth just to create the illusion that there’s progress, but in practice, it’s an extremely problematic proposal we can’t possibly accept.”

He accused the move of being politically motivated: “The goal of publishing this draft is to bring Shas back into the government. The law imposes sanctions on yeshiva students and sets unrealistic enlistment targets. It doesn’t even have the attorney general’s approval and will end up being canceled within three years. So what will we have accomplished? They want us to lend our support to a bad law, only for an even worse one to replace it in a few years. Netanyahu must fulfill his commitment and present the version he promised us.”

Backlash Across the Political Spectrum

Criticism of the bill was not limited to the chareidi parties. Likud MK Yuli Edelstein, a former chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, quipped: “When I look at this law, I realize those who dismissed me were right — I don’t have the talent to invent a draft-dodging scam in the middle of a war for our survival while our reservists are collapsing.”

Likud MK Dan Illouz also blasted the proposal: “This isn’t a Likud law — it’s a Shas law. It won’t draft chareidim, it will alienate the serving public that votes for us, and it will hurt Likud heading into the next elections. The only law we should be promoting is simple: whoever serves gets benefits from the state; whoever doesn’t — doesn’t. Across all sectors, from day one, for life. Period. I still hope Bismuth will present a true Likud law on Monday, not one that caves to chareidi politicians.”

Opposition leader Yair Lapid was even harsher: “This isn’t a draft law — it’s a disgraceful draft-dodging law in full. If this draft moves forward, not one chareidi will enlist. It’s a slap in the face to soldiers, families, the wounded, and the fallen. If they continue pushing this through, in the next government every chareidi who doesn’t show up at the induction center won’t get a single shekel from the state.”

Details of the Controversial Proposal

The draft law, prepared by Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Boaz Bismuth (Likud), includes a system of personal and gradual sanctions for those who receive a draft order and fail to report. Under the proposal, those who evade service would immediately lose state benefits, be barred from obtaining a driver’s license until age 23, and be prohibited from leaving the country. They would also lose eligibility for academic scholarships, government employment, housing subsidies, and other benefits if annual enlistment targets are not met.

The committee’s legal adviser, Attorney Miri Frenkel-Shor, sent Bismuth initial feedback, including a recommendation to raise the first-year enlistment target from 4,800 to 5,760 recruits, arguing that the previous target was outdated.

The draft outlines increasing recruitment benchmarks — 5,760 in the second year, 6,840 in the third, 7,920 in the fourth, and ultimately half of each chareidi age cohort after five years.

While the clause setting quotas for combat roles was removed, the bill expands recognition of “civil-security national service,” such as volunteering with rescue organizations, as part of the annual service targets.

The definition of “chareidi” was also narrowed: anyone who studied in a yeshiva for at least two years would be counted within the chareidi population under the law — a move intended to include dropouts still associated with the community.

Restrictions such as the driving license ban would apply only to new draft evaders, not retroactively. Travel restrictions abroad would also end at age 26, to address legal objections to a broader ban.

Debate Delayed Amid Mass Rally Plans

The public debate on the law was postponed to next week — officially at the request of Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu, who asked for more time to review the draft, but also due to a request from the chareidi parties not to hold the discussion alongside the massive “Million Man Rally” scheduled for Thursday in Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, the IDF is expected to establish a special committee to oversee implementation of the new draft law, composed of a retired rabbinical court judge, a former IDF Chief Rabbi, and several senior army officers. The committee will review whether the army is meeting its obligations to create appropriate service tracks for chareidim and to reach the targets established in the law.

The law specifies that biometric fingerprint enforcement will not be used.

{Matzav.com}

A sobering new report from the Knesset Research and Information Center has found that nearly 280 Israel Defense Forces soldiers attempted to take their own lives between January 2024 and July 2025, underscoring growing mental health concerns within Israel’s military amid the prolonged war against Hamas. The report — prepared at the request of Hadash-Ta’al […]

United Parcel Service posted third-quarter results that handily beat Wall Street’s expectations and gave details about its turnaround efforts, including approximately 48,000 job cuts. Shares rose more than 7% in afternoon trading on Tuesday. UPS earned $1.31 billion, or $1.55 per share, for the three months ended Sept. 30. The Atlanta-based company earned $1.99 billion, […]

In a rare gesture, President Donald Trump sent a personal letter of bracha to the Rebbe of Bobov-45 in honor of the inauguration of the Chassidus’s massive new bais medrash in Boro Park, which was dedicated just before the Yamim Noraim.

The letter, which reached the Rebbe during Chol Hamoed but was only revealed publicly this week, was delivered through Rabbi Dovid Katz, a close associate of the president.

In his message, President Trump extended warm congratulations to the Rebbe and his chassidim upon the milestone inauguration, noting that the new bais medrash stands as a continuation of the legacy of the Rebbe’s illustrious grandfather, Rav Shlomo of Bobov zt”l. The president praised the enduring impact of Rav Shlomo’s efforts in rebuilding chareidi Judaism in America after the devastation of the Holocaust.

{Matzav.com}

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) issued an exceedingly rare rebuke of Hamas on Tuesday after the terror group was caught staging the recovery of an Israeli hostage’s remains in Gaza — an incident the Red Cross said amounted to a “fake recovery” that undermined trust in the fragile agreements governing hostage exchanges. […]

Prof. Michael Ben-Gad, a native Israeli whose economics lecture at City St George’s, University of London was disrupted a week ago by anti-Israel thugs who threatened to behead him, issued an apology for his “IDF service.” In an appearance on GB News, Ben-Gad said that the thugs “are now offering terms. I can have my […]

While recounting his harrowing months in Hamas captivity, released hostage Bar Kuperstein revealed a chilling yet extraordinary exchange between his mother and one of his captors, an encounter that left the terrorist speechless.

Kuperstein held up a bracelet his mother had worn throughout his imprisonment — engraved with the words, “My son is always in the hands of the Creator.” He explained that during his captivity, “one of the terrorists called my mother and told her she was not doing enough to free me and that if she wanted to see me again she needed to go out, file complaints at The Hague and really fight.”

The militant’s attempt to terrify her failed completely. “He tried to frighten her with psychological warfare and expected her to answer stammering or in fear,” Kuperstein said. “And she simply told him the following sentence: ‘My son is not in your hands but always in the hands of the Creator – and you are also in the hands of the Creator.’”

According to Kuperstein, the Hamas member was caught off guard. “There was a moment of silence because the terrorist did not know what to answer and then he replied, ‘Well done, madam.’ Since then that has been the slogan that accompanies us.”

{Matzav.com}

Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, accused of fatally shooting former Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, admitted to murder in the first hearing of the case. He was arrested at the scene of the shooting in July 2022 after allegedly firing at Abe with a homemade gun.

The Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel, the Moetzes of Degel HaTorah, and the Moetzes Chachmei Hatorah of Shas release joint Kol Koreh calling on everyone to attend the “Million-Man Rally” this Thursday in Yerushalyim.

Consumer confidence weakened slightly in October as Americans remain anxious about their future financial prospects. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index fell by 1 point to 94.6 in October from an upwardly revised September reading of 95.6. Economists were expecting the reading to come in unchanged from the previous month. One […]

A broadcast debate turned explosive after the Israel Police released a controversial video likening rowdy soccer fans to Palestinian rioters, igniting sharp reactions and a fiery exchange between journalist Josh Breiner and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Breiner accused the police of intentionally inflaming tensions with the video, calling it “provocative.” His remarks quickly drew a direct and angry response from Ben-Gvir, who joined the live discussion to defend his policies and blast what he viewed as distorted reporting.

Tensions escalated when Breiner cited comments made by released hostages who had said, “We were beaten because of Minister Ben-Gvir.” Ben-Gvir immediately fired back, charging that “Josh isn’t the only one adopting the Hamas narrative,” before shouting, “I’m not willing to let Hamas spokesmen go on air.” Moments later, the live segment was abruptly cut off.

Defending his approach to managing security prisoners, Ben-Gvir scoffed at the suggestion that his policies had hardened Hamas’s stance. “There’s a narrative that because of me Hamas became tougher. Really? Without me, they’d be giving the hostages manicures and pedicures, and the terrorists would be swimming in a swimming pool all day. Give me a break.” He added emphatically, “Terrorists were treated in prisons like it was a five-star hotel – I changed the rules.”

When the discussion turned to racist chants at soccer matches, the minister brushed off the criticism. “I’ve heard Beitar Jerusalem fans chant against Ahmad Tibi – and they’re right. What’s racist about that? Ahmad Tibi – it’s good that fans shout against him. I’m not saying to attack anyone, but if they shout ‘This is Eretz Yisrael’ at Ahmad Tibi, there’s no problem. That’s not racism.”

Outraged panelists accused him of fueling division and incitement, but Ben-Gvir refused to back down. “Absolutely not. I stand by what I said. Ayman Odeh supports terror – period. I would expect the Attorney General to indict them, and personally, I’d send them to Syria.”

Addressing the uproar over the police video that started the controversy, Ben-Gvir claimed ignorance of its content but defended the force. “I haven’t seen the video. Don’t hate the police – they work day and night for you, for me, for all our children. The police are allowed to release a video against those who throw flares and fireworks at them.”

As the debate wound down, Ben-Gvir offered a message aimed at unity — albeit on his own terms. “Come to the soccer games, come enjoy yourselves. In the end, we are all brothers – religious, secular, right-wing, left-wing – we’re all brothers. Ayman Odeh is not my brother; he’s a terror supporter, I’m sorry.”

{Matzav.com}

The federal agent had a daring pitch for Nicolás Maduro’s chief pilot: All he had to do was surreptitiously divert the Venezuelan president’s plane to a place where U.S. authorities could nab the strongman. In exchange, the agent told the pilot in a clandestine meeting, the aviator would be made a very rich man. The […]

Mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani is facing fierce backlash after a resurfaced video showed him making a shocking, conspiracy-laden comparison between the New York Police Department and the Israeli military. “We have to make clear that when the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it’s been laced by the IDF,” Mamdani declared during the […]

A draft version of MK Boaz Bismuth’s proposed Chok HaGiyus (Conscription Law) has been revealed, unveiling sweeping revisions to earlier proposals. The bill, backed by Shas and Degel HaTorah, formally enshrines the status of yeshiva students and significantly eases both recruitment expectations and punitive measures.

Bismuth, chairman of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, was slated to present the bill this week but postponed the hearing after Prime Minister Netanyahu requested additional time to review the draft. According to the leaked document, the new version diverges sharply from the version submitted by ousted committee chairman MK Yoav “Yuli” Edelstein.

The committee’s legal adviser, Miri Frenkel-Shor, is reportedly opposed to several of the bill’s clauses and is expected to present her objections in the coming days.

Key Provisions of the Bismuth Draft

Formal Recognition of Yeshiva Students

The opening clause of the bill represents a major ideological shift. While Edelstein’s version emphasized equality in military service, Bismuth’s explicitly recognizes Torah study as a vital national value. The law’s stated purpose is “to establish arrangements that will regulate the status of yeshiva students whose Torah is their profession, in recognition of the importance of Torah study.”

Alternative Service Options

The proposed legislation allows chareidi men to fulfill their national duty through security-oriented national service rather than exclusively through the IDF. However, such service will count for only 10% of the overall recruitment targets, ensuring that most quotas are still tied to the army.

Terminology Change: “Yeshiva Students” Deleted

Where Edelstein’s draft spoke of recruiting “yeshiva students,” Bismuth’s bill replaces this with “graduates of chareidi educational institutions.” The clause now reads: “The government shall act to recruit those designated for military service from among graduates of chareidi educational institutions, for regular military service or security-related civilian service.”

Reduced Sanctions

Unlike Edelstein’s version, which imposed sweeping sanctions even when recruitment goals were met, Bismuth’s draft applies financial penalties—namely, cuts to yeshiva budgets—only if the community fails to meet targets after one year. The law would therefore protect funding for compliant institutions.

Combat Quotas Removed

Edelstein’s proposal required that 35% of recruits from the chareidi sector serve in combat or combat-support roles. Bismuth’s version eliminates that clause entirely, stating only that quotas will pertain to overall enlistment figures, regardless of service type.

Redefining “Chareidi” Eligibility

Edelstein’s law defined a chareidi recruit as one who studied in a religious institution for three years between ages 14 and 18. Bismuth’s bill lowers that threshold to just two years.

Surveillance and Oversight Relaxed

A further modification removes Edelstein’s controversial fingerprint attendance-tracking requirement. Instead, the bill substitutes periodic audits in place of biometric monitoring. The text specifies that inspections will be conducted “by a supervisor” rather than “through biometric attendance registration.”

If passed, the Bismuth bill would mark a historic milestone in legally safeguarding the status of Torah learners, reshaping the debate over military service exemptions and redefining the government’s approach to the chareidi community’s integration into national frameworks.

{Matzav.com}

Amazon will cut about 14,000 corporate jobs as the online retail giant ramps up spending on artificial intelligence while cutting costs elsewhere. Teams and individuals impacted by the job cuts will be notified on Tuesday. Most workers will be given 90 days to look for a new position internally, Beth Galetti, Senior Vice President of […]