Fifteen Israeli fighter jets carried out massive airstrikes on the Al-Salif and Hodeidah ports in Yemen on Friday afternoon, dropping over 30 bombs. The attack came after Israel last week twice issued warnings for Yemenis to evacuate the ports. Following the attack, the IDF issued a statement saying that the ports that were attacked were used to transfer weapons to the Houthis to attack Israel. It was Israel’s eighth attack on the Houthis in Yemen in less than a year. Defense Minister Yisrael Katz on Friday threatened to assassinate Houthi leaders just like the “Sinwars” in Gaza. (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)
A terrorist stabbed a police officer at Chain Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem on Friday night. The terrorist arrived at the area shortly after 9 p.m. and charged at the police officer, stabbing him in the back with a knife Another police officer and a nearby Border Police officer quickly opened fire, neutralizing the terrorist. His death was later pronounced at the scene. The wounded police officer was evacuated to Shaare Tzedek Hospital in moderate condition. The terrorist was later identified as an Israeli-Arab from East Jerusalem. (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)
Ben Horodenker For the yeshivah students of Shtilim, the eight-day journey to Poland was a transformative experience of connection, memory, and inner awakening—designed specifically within the inclusive, nurturing framework that defines the Shtilim special education network. The group was accompanied by Rabbi Chaim Biton, a minister in the Education Ministry; Rabbi Yisrael Reisner, Shtilim’s visionary founder and chairman; Rabbi Natan Tzvi Finkel, Rosh Yeshivah of Ohalech; Rabbi Moshe Berman, Rosh Yeshivah of Shvilei HaTorah; as well as devoted educators and rabbanim from the Shtilim network. The experienced yeshivah staff provided a forum for the boys to digest and reflect on what they had seen and experienced, offering students with complex needs not only the tools for learning but opportunities for spiritual connection, pride in their Jewish identity, and personal growth. “Polish soil is soaked in Jewish tears,” declared Rabbi Finkel, addressing the students with trembling voice and uplifted hands. “Every step we take here cries out from the past, telling the story of our people.” That moment—quiet, intense, and deeply moving—set the tone for a journey that would leave no heart unchanged. Throughout the trip, students experienced a profound emotional and spiritual unfolding. “It felt like the souls of the martyrs were with us,” one participant shared. “This wasn’t just a glimpse into history,” reflected Rabbi Yehoshua Bider, Mashgiach of Yeshivat Shvilei HaTorah. “It was a journey into each boy’s soul—a reflection of who he is, and who he is capable of becoming.” At the graves of Torah giants such as Rav Chaim of Brisk, the Netziv of Volozhin, Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk, the Rema, the Bach, and many others, the boys were introduced to a legacy of greatness and resilience. Shabbat was a sanctuary of strength and serenity, and on Motzaei Shabbat, spirits soared as melodies of faith filled the air, led by singer Pini Einhorn, the Neshama choir, and the soulful clarinet of Chaim Kirshenbaum. It was a celebration of Jewish identity—accessible, inclusive, and alive. The next morning, the students received intensive words of preparation before heading to Majdanek, Treblinka, Auschwitz, and Birkenau. These visits weren’t only about remembering the past but also strengthening the inner core of each student and instilling pride in their Jewish identity. One of the most searing moments came at the Children’s Forest, the site of a mass grave of young children. There, each student received a personal letter written by his parents. Surrounded by memories of thousands of children who never had a chance to grow up, the boys opened their letters. Rabbi Chaim Biton addressed the students: “As we stand here and imagine the children who were murdered al kiddush Hashem, our hearts break—but our truth stands strong. You are their legacy. You are the continuation they were denied. With your bodies, your souls, your Torah, your faith—you are our answer. You are the living proof of Am Yisrael Chai.” Many of the boys responded instinctively—by writing letters of their own to their younger siblings. That sense of continuity, of belonging, is at the heart of what Shtilim works to cultivate every day: giving students with complex developmental needs the tools to build identity, meaning, and connection. As the trip concluded, the boys stood in a circle shoulder to shoulder, arms around one another, singing Ani Maamin—a song of hope and […]
A political firestorm erupted Thursday when former FBI Director James Comey posted a cryptic Instagram photo of seashells arranged to form the numbers “8647,” which many in conservative circles interpret as a coded call to assassinate President Donald Trump. The post, deleted after sparking outrage, has prompted investigations by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Secret Service, with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard leading calls for Comey’s arrest. The controversy stems from the phrase “86 47,” where “86” is slang for “to get rid of” or, more recently, “to kill,” and “47” refers to Trump’s status as the 47th President of the United States. Comey, a vocal Trump detractor since his 2017 firing by the then-president, likely knew exactly what he was implying, though he now denies it. “This is the guy who’s issuing a hit on President Trump,” Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said on Fox News’ Jesse Watters Primetime. “Any other person with the position of influence that he has… should be held accountable and put behind bars for this.” Comey’s post, captioned “Cool shell formation on my beach walk,” was removed after backlash from Trump allies, including Donald Trump Jr., who wrote on X, “Just James Comey casually calling for my dad to be murdered.” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote: “Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of POTUS Trump. DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately.” Trump survived two assassination attempts during his 2024 campaign—one in July in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a gunman grazed his ear, killing one attendee, and another in September at Trump International Golf Club in Florida. Gabbard noted this, saying, “The dangerousness of this cannot be underestimated… We’ve already seen assassination attempts.” Comey, who led the FBI from 2013 to 2017, has a contentious history with Trump. Fired amid the bureau’s probe into alleged Russian ties to Trump’s 2016 campaign, Comey later called Trump “morally unfit” for office and wrote a memoir critical of the former president. His defenders, including some left-leaning commentators, argue the “8647” post was a misunderstanding, with Comey claiming he thought it was merely a “political message” and was unaware of its violent connotations. “James Comey spent his career prosecuting mobsters,” Gabbard said, dismissing his ignorance claim. “He understood the dangerous lingo he posted on Instagram.” FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the agency is supporting the Secret Service’s investigation, saying, “We are in communication with Director [Sean] Curran. Primary jurisdiction is with SS on these matters, and we, the FBI, will provide all necessary support.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The United Arab Emirates’ top diplomat told Fox News that the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas is a prerequisite for any meaningful progress toward stability in the region. “First, getting the hostages out,” said Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. “We need calm in Gaza, and we need an authority that’s not Hamas that controls Gaza.” His remarks — a rare and pointed public articulation of the U.A.E.’s position on the conflict — place the Gulf nation squarely in alignment with a growing international chorus calling for Hamas to relinquish control of the besieged enclave as a condition for rebuilding and long-term peace. Since the outbreak of the war following Hamas’s October 7 attacks on Israel, the U.A.E. has emerged as one of the largest donors of humanitarian aid to Gaza. According to bin Zayed, 42 percent of all aid that has entered the territory since the war began has been funded by the Emirates. He credited the 2020 Abraham Accords — the U.S.-brokered normalization agreement between Israel and several Arab states, including the U.A.E. — with enabling that scale of assistance. Without it, he suggested, Abu Dhabi’s ability to funnel aid into Gaza would have been far more limited. The Abraham Accords, controversial in parts of the Arab world, opened diplomatic and commercial channels between Israel and its new regional partners, including the U.A.E. While the war in Gaza has tested those ties, Emirati officials have sought to leverage the relationship to push for de-escalation and greater humanitarian access. Still, bin Zayed’s call for a post-Hamas governing authority in Gaza underscores a growing consensus among Arab leaders — including Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia — that any durable solution must involve a political transformation inside the territory. Though he did not specify what form such an alternative authority should take, bin Zayed’s comments suggest the U.A.E. envisions a Gaza Strip administered either by a reformed Palestinian Authority or a transitional body backed by Arab states and international actors. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
President Donald Trump said on Friday that Iran should make a quick decision on an American proposal for a nuclear deal or “something bad will happen.” Speaking in Abu Dhabi as he capped a Gulf tour, Trump said his administration had handed Iran a proposal for an agreement, adding that “they know they have to move quickly or something bad is going to happen.” The Trump administration presented Iran with a written proposal for a nuclear deal during the fourth round of negotiations held in Oman on Sunday, according to a U.S. official and two sources with direct knowledge of the talks cited by Axios. This marks the first time since negotiations began in early April that the U.S. has provided a formal written offer to Iran, signaling a potential turning point in the high-stakes discussions. The proposal was delivered by White House envoy Steve Witkoff to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who has returned to Tehran to consult with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and other top officials. The details of the U.S. proposal remain undisclosed, but sources indicate it outlines limitations for a civilian nuclear program in Iran, along with monitoring and verification requirements. The move comes amid intense diplomatic efforts to prevent Iran from advancing its nuclear capabilities, with President Donald Trump emphasizing the urgency of the talks. Speaking in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Trump described the proposal as “an olive branch” but warned, “This is not an offer that will last forever. The time is right now for them to choose.” The presentation of a written proposal follows months of negotiations that initially focused on establishing trust and dialogue. During the first round of talks in April, Araghchi provided Witkoff with a document containing Iranian proposals, which the U.S. deemed premature. By the third round, the U.S. accepted an Iranian proposal for review, leading to an exchange of questions and clarifications that paved the way for the U.S. to draft its own plan. Witkoff’s team has faced challenges in articulating a consistent U.S. position, particularly regarding Iran’s uranium enrichment. While Witkoff previously suggested that Iran could enrich uranium at low levels (up to 3.67%) for civilian purposes, he later clarified that any deal would require Iran to “stop and eliminate” its enrichment and weaponization programs entirely. This shift has drawn criticism from hawkish voices in Washington, including Senator Tom Cotton, who insists on “zero enrichment” and has rallied Republican support for a hardline stance. Iran has signaled openness to a deal that aligns with its interests. A senior adviser to Khamenei told NBC News on Wednesday that Iran is prepared to limit enrichment to levels suitable for civilian use, surrender its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium, and allow international inspectors to verify compliance—provided all U.S. sanctions are lifted. Iranian officials have stressed that uranium enrichment remains non-negotiable, though they are willing to discuss limitations on its scope and scale for confidence-building purposes. The talks are unfolding against a backdrop of regional tensions and U.S. military buildup in the Middle East, which Trump has described as a contingency plan should diplomacy fail. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states have urged the U.S. to secure a deal to avoid a military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, which could ignite a broader regional conflict. Witkoff briefed the […]
Israeli authorities announced Friday that they have arrested a 16-year-old boy accused of collaborating with Iranian intelligence operatives in a covert campaign targeting Israel’s national security. The teenager, a resident of the Judean foothills region, allegedly carried out a series of tasks for Iranian handlers in exchange for money, according to a joint statement issued by the Israel Police and the Shin Bet. The activities included photographing sensitive locations, hiding cash, distributing incendiary political flyers, and burning papers bearing condemnations of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Officials say the teen was instructed to purchase a new mobile phone and install an encrypted messaging application through which he could receive assignments. Despite informing Israeli authorities that he had been contacted by Iranian agents, the teenager allegedly continued to cooperate with them, the statement said. At one point, while traveling abroad, the suspect was reportedly offered a face-to-face meeting with his Iranian contacts, though officials did not confirm whether such a meeting occurred. The arrest marks the latest in a growing number of alleged Iranian-backed operations targeting Israeli citizens for recruitment. Over the past year, Iranian intelligence has been linked to a range of subversive activities within Israel, including the dissemination of propaganda, acts of arson, and what officials have described as foiled attempts to assassinate senior Israeli figures. Security officials have long warned of Iran’s use of cyber channels and social media to reach out to disaffected or vulnerable individuals within Israel. While past cases have typically involved adults, the involvement of a minor adds a troubling dimension to the evolving threat. Neither the suspect’s name nor the specific locations he targeted have been released due to legal and security considerations. The teenager remains in custody as the investigation continues. Charges have not yet been formally announced. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Syria’s new government under President Ahmad al-Sharaa is reportedly considering the return of the remains of legendary Israeli spy Eli Cohen — a potential diplomatic gesture that could mark a striking departure from decades of hostile silence between the two countries. According to Arab diplomats cited by Al-Akhbar, a pro-Hezbollah Lebanese newspaper known for its deep connections in the region, Syrian officials have not ruled out the possibility of transferring Cohen’s remains to Israel, nearly 60 years after he was hanged in a Damascus public square in 1965. The report, authored by Al-Akhbar editor-in-chief Ibrahim al-Amin, claims that covert security talks between Israel and Syria have intensified in recent weeks, with a particular focus on confidence-building measures. Among those measures, according to the report, is Syria’s potential disclosure of burial sites of Israeli soldiers who went missing during the 1982 Lebanon War — a topic long considered off-limits by successive Syrian regimes. More notably, the article suggests that these contacts are not occurring in isolation. Recent meetings reportedly held in Abu Dhabi brought together senior representatives of the al-Sharaa regime, U.S. officials, and Israeli intermediaries. The agenda, according to the report, centered around a tentative understanding: Syria would take concrete steps to de-escalate tensions along its border with Israel, in exchange for American economic and humanitarian aid. The reported overtures come at a critical moment for Syria’s new leadership. President al-Sharaa, a former insurgent leader turned internationally recognized head of state, has spent the first months of his presidency attempting to rehabilitate Syria’s global standing after years of civil war and diplomatic isolation. Israeli and American officials have not publicly confirmed the Abu Dhabi talks or the details of any proposals made. Still, the potential return of Eli Cohen’s remains — long regarded as a national cause in Israel — would carry enormous symbolic weight. Cohen, who infiltrated the highest echelons of Syrian government under the alias Kamel Amin Thaabet, was credited with passing critical intelligence to Israel in the lead-up to the 1967 Six-Day War. Captured and executed in 1965, his body has never been returned, despite repeated requests by the Israeli government and multiple diplomatic efforts through third parties. His widow, Nadia Cohen, has continued to advocate for the return of his remains. “This would be a historic act of reconciliation,” she said in a statement last year, when similar rumors surfaced. While Al-Akhbar is not a neutral observer — its editorial line often mirrors that of Hezbollah and Iranian-linked factions — its reporting is considered credible within diplomatic circles when it comes to intra-Arab or regional negotiations. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
New Jersey Transit train engineers went on strike Friday, leaving an estimated 350,000 commuters in New Jersey and New York City to seek other means to reach their destinations or consider staying home. Groups of picketers gathered in front of transit headquarters in Newark and at the Hoboken Terminal, carrying signs that said “Locomotive Engineers on Strike” and “NJ Transit: Millions for Penthouse Views Nothing for Train Crews.” Friday’s rail commute into New York from New Jersey is typically the lightest of the week. In New York, some commuters from New Jersey said they could not work remotely and had to come in, taking busses to the Port Authority bus terminal in Manhattan. David Milosevich, a fashion and advertising casting director, was on his way to a photo shoot in Brooklyn. At 1 a.m. he checked his phone and saw the strike was on. “I left home very early because of it,” he said, grabbing the bus in Montclair, New Jersey, and arriving in Manhattan at 7 a.m. “I think a lot of people don’t come in on Fridays since COVID. I don’t know what’s going to happen Monday.” Strike comes after talks this week didn’t result in a deal The walkout comes after the latest round of negotiations on Thursday didn’t produce an agreement. It is the state’s first transit strike in more than 40 years and comes a month after union members overwhelmingly rejected a labor agreement with management. “We presented them the last proposal; they rejected it and walked away with two hours left on the clock,” said Tom Haas, general chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri described the situation as a “pause in the conversations.” “I certainly expect to pick back up these conversations as soon as possible,” he said late Thursday during a joint news conference with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. “If they’re willing to meet tonight, I’ll meet them again tonight. If they want to meet tomorrow morning, I’ll do it again. Because I think this is an imminently workable problem. The question is, do they have the willingness to come to a solution.” Murphy and Kolluri planned a Friday morning news conference. Tracks where NJ Transit trains usually run are quiet A few blocks from the Port Authority bus terminal, the NJ Transit train terminal was quiet, with an NJ transit worker in an orange hoody on hand to warn riders it was closed, Signs read: “service suspended.” The South Amboy train station, an express stop on the NJ Transit rail line, was vacant. But the Waterway ferry that began service only 18 months ago from a waterside launching point that’s a 10-minute walk from the train station was busier than usual for its 6:40 a.m., 55-minute nonstop trip to Manhattan. The ferry runs once an hour during the morning and evening commutes. With about three dozen people aboard, more than half the seats in the ferry’s lower deck were empty. NJ governor says deal needs to be fair to employees and affordable Murphy said it was important to “reach a final deal that is both fair to employees and at the same time affordable to New Jersey’s commuters and taxpayers.” “Again, we cannot ignore the agency’s fiscal realities,” Murphy said. The announcement came after 15 […]
Air traffic controllers in Denver lost communications with planes around that major airport for 90 seconds earlier this week and had to scramble to use backup frequencies in the latest Federal Aviation Administration equipment failure. The outage at Denver International Airport happened Monday afternoon and affected communications, not radar, the FAA’s head of air traffic control, Frank McIntosh, said during a House hearing Thursday. This communications failure follows two high-profile outages of radar and communications in the past 2 1/2 weeks at a facility that directs planes in and out of the Newark, New Jersey, airport. The FAA said in a statement that the Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center lost communications for approximately 90 seconds. McIntosh said both the primary and main backup frequencies went down, so the controllers had to turn to an emergency frequency to communicate. “Controllers used another frequency to relay instructions to pilots. Aircraft remained safely separated and there were no impacts to operations,” the FAA said. Rep. Robert Garcia of California told McIntosh during the hearing that “anytime there’s these outages which are happening now more regularly, it’s very concerning.” “We know that there are staffing and equipment problems at air traffic control,” Garcia said. “We know that the problems have gone back decades in some cases, but it’s still an absolutely shocking system failure and we need immediate solutions.” The Denver communications failure is the latest troubling equipment failure in the system that keeps planes safe. Last week, the Trump administration announced a multibillion-dollar plan to overhaul an air traffic control system that relies on antiquated equipment. The Newark airport has generally led the nation in flight cancellations and delays ever since its first radar outage on April 28 that also lasted about 90 seconds. A second outage happened on May 9. In both those instances controllers lost both radar and communications. The FAA was in the middle of a second day Thursday of meetings with the airlines that fly out of Newark about cutting flights because there aren’t enough controllers to handle all the flights on the schedule now. More than 100 flights have been canceled at Newark Thursday. Officials developed the plan to upgrade the system after a deadly midair collision in January between a passenger jet and an Army helicopter killed 67 people in the skies over Washington, D.C. Several other crashes this year also put pressure on officials to act. (AP)
White House announces AI data center campus partnership with the UAE The U.S. and United Arab Emirates are partnering on a massive artificial intelligence campus. The Abu Dhabi data center will be built by the Emirate firm G42, which will partner with several U.S. companies on the facility. The announcement comes as President Donald Trump visited the UAE as part of a broader trip to the Middle East.
When the Vermilion Valley Resort in California’s eastern Sierra shut down for the winter, the staff left cabin doors unlocked just in case a wayward hiker needed shelter during the frequent mountain snowstorms. That decision may have saved the life of Tiffany Slaton, the 27-year-old Georgia woman who was missing for nearly three weeks in remote wilderness. Owner Christopher Gutierrez spotted a cabin door ajar and a pair of shoes nearby when he arrived Wednesday morning to begin reopening the resort for spring. Suddenly, a young woman appeared in the doorway. “She pops out, didn’t say a word, just ran up and all she wanted was a hug,” Gutierrez said during a Wednesday evening news conference. “It was a pretty surreal moment, and that’s when I realized who this was.” It was Slaton, whose parents had reported her missing on April 29 after not hearing from her for more than a week. The Fresno County Sheriff’s office launched a search, and deputies and volunteers scoured more than 600 square miles (1,550 square kilometers) of the Sierra National Forest, with no luck. Searchers were hampered by heavy snow blocking many roads. On Monday, the sheriff’s office had announced it was scaling back the search effort. Two days later, she emerged from the cabin. Gutierrez gave Slaton a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and called authorities, who brought her to a hospital for evaluation. She was hungry and dehydrated, but otherwise in good condition, sheriff’s officials said. Sheriff’s spokesperson Tony Botti said it was the longest period of time he’s seen someone be missing in the wilderness and survive. “Three weeks, it’s unheard of,” he said. “It speaks to the tenacity that Tiffany has, that she’s a fighter.” Thanks to tips from the public, investigators determined that Slaton had been spotted around April 20 near Huntington Lake, more than 20 miles (32 kilometers) to the southwest through rough terrain. But authorities didn’t provide details about when or where Slaton’s trek began, what her plans were, and what route she took to end up at Vermilion Valley Resort. Botti said sheriff’s officials planned to interview Slaton to learn the details of her experience, and how she survived in icy conditions at elevations topping 6,500 feet (1,981 meters). Across the country in Jeffersonville, Georgia, her parents were out shopping when they got word that their daughter had been found. “I just grabbed somebody and I said, ‘Can I hug you?’ And I did,” said her mother, Fredrina Slaton. “I was crying and hugging.” Tiffany’s father, Bobby Slaton, said “a ton of weight has been lifted.” He thanked the search-and-rescue team and all the community members who helped in the effort to find her. Sheriff’s officials said snowplows cleared a key mountain pass earlier Wednesday, which allowed Gutierrez to access the resort on Lake Edison for the first time this year. Gutierrez said he had to spend about an hour and a half breaking up ice before he could get into the property. Slaton’s parents said Tiffany was raised with a love of the outdoors, and they always stressed the importance of being able to fend for yourself in a tough situation. “So it’s nice to know, as parents, that all the things that we’ve taught her, she actually did,” her mother said. “We believe […]
