A day after Yisrael Hayom reported that Israel is considering closing the French consulate in Jerusalem in response to France’s move to recognize a Palestinian state, the French Foreign Ministry denied the reports and claimed that it was unaware of any intention by Israel to advance the move. “We have not received any notification from the Israeli authorities about such a step, which would particularly harm our bilateral relations and provoke a strong response,” a spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry said. The French consulate, located near the Old City of Jerusalem, also provides services to Palestinians and maintains contact with the Palestinian Authority. Yisrael Hayom reported on Sunday evening that during Sunday morning’s cabinet meeting, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar recommended to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to close the French Consulate in Jerusalem in response to France’s move to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state. During the meeting, Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli demanded that Israel respond harshly to France, saying, “Macron’s move caused severe harm to the hostages and Israel, and no statement from us on the matter is sufficient. Drastic measures are required against France, primarily the nationalization of its assets in Jerusalem, and first and foremost the closure of the consulate.” Sa’ar responded by confirming that the closure of the consulate is under review and he had recommended that Netanyahu advance the move. According to the report, Netanyahu seemed to be in favor of the move. An official decision on the matter is expected soon. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
It started with a phone call. In January 2022, a young bochur in shidduchim reached out. He wasn’t looking for a shadchan—he already had suggestions. What he didn’t have was clarity. Where should he take a girl for a first date? How should the evening be planned so it’s appropriate yet pleasant? How do you avoid the awkwardness of not knowing what’s expected? That one call turned into dozens. Then hundreds. It quickly became clear: the practical side of dating was being overlooked. So, we launched the Dating Resources Network—a simple hotline where bochurim could get hadrachah for planning dates, advice on what’s appropriate, and help thinking through the details. Today, that hotline supports and coaches bochurim through more than 4,000 dates every single year—offering guidance, reassurance, and practical direction at a stage when many feel lost. But the calls also revealed another challenge. Sometimes, a bochur knew exactly where he wanted to go—he just didn’t have the tools to make the date run smoothly. A Waze device for navigation, an umbrella for a rainy night, a board game for a relaxed activity—small things that can make a big difference. We began stocking a few shelves and boxes with these items. Today, those shelves have grown into 16 dating gemach locations across the country, accessed over 20,000 times a year. But then, a deeper issue emerged. Parents began to reach out. Shadchanim quietly shared that promising suggestions weren’t moving forward. The reason? Money. By the time you factor in a car rental, tolls, gas, and parking, a first date can easily cost over $165. And that’s before you calculate the costs of activities and dining on later dates. Multiply that across several dates, and for many families—especially those already managing tight budgets—the expense was simply out of reach. Dates were being improperly planned, others were too busy calculating costs to properly focus on the actual date, and yet others were simply not giving yeses at all. That’s when we launched our Financial Aid Program—a discreet, dignified way to ensure that no one is held back from building a future because of money. Every application is carefully reviewed by rabbanim, and once approved, the bochur receives direct support to cover his dating expenses. To ensure every penny is well spent, we set clear maximum reimbursement amounts—no open checks. In just the past year, over $240,000 has been distributed—quietly enabling hundreds of young men to date without shame or hesitation. And remarkably, the entire initiative is 100% volunteer-run. We have no payroll, no salaries—every dollar donated goes directly to helping bochurim move forward. It’s quiet work. No headlines. No fanfare. But week after week, more couples begin their journey that might never have happened without a small amount of guidance—and a little bit of help. Partner with us today in writing the future of Klal Yisrael one date at a time. CLICK HERE and Donate Now
President Donald Trump said Monday during talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders that a potential ceasefire and who gets Ukrainian territory seized by Russia should be hashed out during a face-to-face meeting between the warring countries’ two leaders. The talks at the White House came days after Trump hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin for a summit at a U.S. military base in Alaska in which he tilted toward Putin’s demands that Ukraine make concessions over land seized by Russia, which now controls roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory. “We’re going to let the president go over and talk to the president and we’ll see how that works out,” Trump said during his meeting with Zelenskyy and the European leaders. Trump and Zelenskyy also expressed hope of soon holding three-way talks among the U.S., Russian and Ukrainian leaders. Trump also said he would back European security guarantees for Ukraine as he met with Zelenskyy and the leaders of France, Britain, Germany, Italy and Finland, as well as the president of the European Commission and the head of NATO. Trump stopped short of committing U.S. troops to a collective effort to bolster Ukraine’s security. He said instead that there would be a “NATO-like” security presence and that all those details would be hashed out with EU leaders. “They want to give protection and they feel very strongly about it and we’ll help them out with that,” Trump said. “I think its very important to get the deal done.” Speaking Monday before the White House meetings took place, Russia’s Foreign Ministry rejected the idea of a possible NATO peacekeeping force in Ukraine. Such a scenario could see further escalation and “unpredictable consequences,” ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned. Trump’s engagement with Zelenskyy had a strikingly different feel to their last Oval Office meeting in February. It was a disastrous moment that led to Trump abruptly ending talks with the Ukrainian delegation, and temporarily pausing some aid for Kyiv, after he and Vice President JD Vance complained that Zelenskyy had shown insufficient gratitude for U.S. military assistance. Zelenskyy at the start of the meeting presented a letter from his wife, Olena Zelenska, for Trump’s wife, Melania. Trump hand-delivered a letter to Putin from the U.S. first lady urging him to consider the children impacted by the conflict and bring an end to the brutal 3 1/2 year war. Trump at one point needled Zelenskyy over Ukraine delaying elections. They had been scheduled for last year but were delayed because of the ongoing Russian invasion. Ukrainian law does not allow presidential elections to be held when martial law is in effect. Trump joked that a similar circumstance wouldn’t play well in the U.S. Zelenskyy faced criticism during his February meeting from a conservative journalist for appearing in the Oval Office in a long sleeve T-shirt. This time he appeared in dark jacket and buttoned-shirt. Zelenskyy has said his typically less formal attire since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022 is to show solidarity with Ukrainian soldiers. Monday’s hastily assembled meeting came after Trump met in Alaska on Friday with Putin. After that meeting, Trump said the onus is now on Zelenskyy to agree to concessions of land that he said could end the war. Trump said he plans to talk to […]
JUST IN: Woman traveling from New York to Washington, D.C. ARRESTED and charged with two federal crimes after allegedly threatening to kill President Trump. Yet another example of the Democrat Party’s culture of hate and violence.
AG Pam Bondi on demanding sanctuary jurisdictions end their reckless policies: “We are going to send in law enforcement… If they’re not going to keep their citizens safe, Donald Trump will keep them safe.”
A federal judge has issued an injunction preventing the Trump administration’s Federal Trade Commission from investigating Media Matters for America, the liberal media watchdog group that had alleged the spread of hate speech on X since Elon Musk acquired the social media platform. U.S. District Court Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan ruled Friday that the FTC’s probe of Media Matters, “purportedly to investigate an advertiser boycott concerning social media platforms,” represents a clear violation of the group’s freedom of speech. “It should alarm all Americans when the government retaliates against individuals or organizations for engaging in constitutionally protected public debate,” Sooknanan wrote. Even before the FTC got involved, Media Matters has been defending itself against a lawsuit by Musk following the organization’s November 2023 story that, following Musk’s purchase of the social media site once known as Twitter, antisemitic posts and other offensive content were appearing next to advertisements there. Sooknanan said the injunction halting any FTC probe was merited because Media Matters is likely to succeed on its claim that the FTC is being used to retaliate against it for a critical article on a Trump supporter. “The court’s ruling demonstrates the importance of fighting over folding, which far too many are doing when confronted with intimidation from the Trump administration,” said Angelo Carusone, chairman and president of Media Matters. There was no immediate comment from an FTC spokesman. (AP)
Israel’s Foreign Ministry on Monday morning published a photo as part of its public relations campaign hitting back at Hamas’s libelous propaganda that Israel is causing mass starvation in the Gaza Strip. The photo features Hima Barbakh, a popular Gaza Tiktoker, whose photos since June 2024 prove that perhaps he may have been indulging too much at local Gazan restaurants. Yes, restaurants in Gaza are open, packed with customers, and serving expensive delicacies and rich desserts—a fact that can easily be verified on Gazan social media accounts and other sources online. Perhaps Barbakh will soon partner with Ozempic to tackle the obesity problem in Gaza. A YouTube video entitled Top 5 Restaurants in Gaza—Summer 2025 (Genocide Never Tasted So Good) features numerous images of Gazans indulging in expensive meat, seafood, and fancy desserts in crowded Gazan restaurants. The caption to the video states, “This is not satire. Not AI. Every restaurant shown in this video is currently open and active in Gaza—summer 2025. All footage comes from their real Instagram accounts, linked below.” “But the real story here isn’t about food. It’s about the narrative — what you’re being shown (and what you’re not). Because this is not what famine looks like. And it’s not what genocide looks like.” “Meanwhile, real famine is happening in Yemen, and real genocide is being carried out against Christians in the Middle East—but those stories don’t fit the script.” The same YouTuber published another video entitled No, Gaza Isn’t Starving – Here’s Proof in Under 60 Seconds: (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
The Gur Chassidus – the largest Chassidus in Israel – has launched a new fundraising initiative to cover the costs of maintaining its central Beis Medrash in Yerushalauim: the sale of permanent seats, with some going for as much as one million shekel. The move marks a departure from the longstanding practice in the chassidus of renting seats and auctioning kibbudim, which have traditionally been a key source of revenue for shuls facing mounting operational expenses. According to the plan, prime seats near the Rebbe’s seat in the Beis Medrash will be sold for sums exceeding one million shekel, while others will start at 100,000 shekel. In addition, members of the kehilla at large are being encouraged to contribute through monthly pledges beginning at 230 shekel. Organizers project that the initiative could generate roughly 23 million shekel annually to sustain Ger’s headquarters in Yerushalayim, which serves as the global center of the chassidus. Despite the high sums being raised, the seats themselves are far from luxurious. Even those who pay the most will receive a place on a simple wooden bench without a backrest. (YWN World Headqwuarters – NYC)
President Donald Trump on Monday pledged new changes to the nation’s election system, promising to eliminate mail voting and voting machines, though the Constitution gives the president little authority over how elections are conducted. In a post on his social media site, Trump said he intends to issue another executive order “to help bring HONESTY to the 2026 Midterm elections.” He has previously directed his administration to explore measures such as requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration. The remarks repeat claims of widespread election fraud that Trump has promoted since his 2020 loss, though numerous reviews, audits, and court rulings have found no evidence of significant irregularities. An Associated Press investigation after the 2020 election identified fewer than 475 potential fraud cases in six battleground states—far below the margin needed to alter results. Trump also claimed that the United States is the only country that uses mail voting, though nations such as Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom have long employed it. Mail balloting remains common in the U.S. and is used by about one-third of voters. On voting machines, Trump argued for replacing them with paper ballots featuring watermarks. Election experts note that most Americans already vote on paper ballots, which provide a paper trail for audits, while watermarks alone cannot substitute for tabulating machines. Legal experts emphasize that elections in the U.S. are run by states and local jurisdictions, with Congress having the authority to set federal election rules. The Constitution does not grant the president any direct role. Courts have already blocked parts of Trump’s earlier executive order on elections, ruling that only Congress can establish national standards. “It’s very limited to zero authority that the president has over election conduct,” said Rick Hasen, a UCLA election law professor. Trump’s comments came after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office and shortly after he told Fox News that Russian President Vladimir Putin had echoed his concerns about U.S. voting practices during their meeting in Alaska. Even with Republican control of Congress, major changes such as eliminating voting machines or mail voting face steep hurdles. Many GOP-led states—including Arizona, Florida and Utah—rely on mail ballots, and military personnel stationed overseas also vote by mail. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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A coalition of attorneys general from 20 states and Washington, D.C., is asking a federal judge to stop the U.S. Department of Justice from withholding federal funds earmarked for crime victims if states don’t cooperate with the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts. The lawsuit filed Monday in Rhode Island federal court seeks to block the Justice Department from enforcing conditions that would cut funding to a state or subgrantee if it refuses to honor civil immigration enforcement requests, denies U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers access to facilities or fails to provide advance notice of release dates of individuals possibly wanted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement because of their immigration status. The lawsuit asks that the conditions be thrown out, arguing that the administration and the agency are overstepping their constitutional and administrative authority. The lawsuit also argues that the requirements are not permitted or outlined in the Victims of Crime Act, known as VOCA, and would interfere with policies created to ensure victims and witnesses report crimes without fear of deportation. “These people did not ask for this status as a crime victim. They don’t breakdown neatly across partisan lines, but they share one common trait, which is that they’ve suffered an unimaginable trauma,” New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said during a video news conference Monday, calling the administration’s threat to withhold funds “the most heinous act” he’s seen in politics. The federal conditions were placed on VOCA funding, which provides more than a billion dollars annually to states for victims compensation programs and grants that fund victims assistance organizations. VOCA funding comes entirely from fines and penalties in federal court cases, not from tax dollars. Every state and territory has a victims compensation program that follows federal guidelines, but largely is set up under state law to provide financial help to crime victims, including medical expense reimbursement, paying for crime scene cleanup, counseling or helping with funeral costs for homicide victims. VOCA covers the cost of about 75% of state compensation program awards. The funds are also used to pay for other services, including testing rape kits, funding grants to domestic violence recovery organizations, trauma recovery centers and more. Advocates and others argue that the system needs to protect victims regardless of their immigration status and ensure that reporting a crime does not lead to deportation threats. They also say that marginalized communities, such as newly arrived immigrants, are more likely to be crime targets. “The federal government is attempting to use crime victim funds as a bargaining chip to force states into doing its bidding on immigration enforcement,” New York Attorney General Letitia James, who also joined the lawsuit, said in a statement Monday. “These grants were created to help survivors heal and recover, and we will fight to ensure they continue to serve that purpose … We will not be bullied into abandoning any of our residents.” The Associated Press left a message seeking comment from a DOJ spokesperson Monday afternoon. President Donald Trump’s administration has sought to withhold or pull back other federal funding or grant funding midstream, saying awardees and programs no longer agree with its priorities. In April, it canceled about $800 million in DOJ grants, some of which were awarded to victims service and survivor organizations. And in June, […]
A federal agent fired at a moving vehicle in Southern California after the driver refused to roll down his window during an immigration stop and sped off, the Department of Homeland Security said. A DHS statement said the driver struck two U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents as he drove away Saturday, prompting one agent to fire his weapon “in self-defense.” No one was hit by the bullets. The department provided no other details about how or where the vehicle struck the agents and whether they were injured. DHS said the agents were conducting a “targeted enforcement operation” but provided no details about why they were targeting the unidentified man. The incident occurred just before 9 a.m. in San Bernardino County, east of Los Angeles. Javier Hernandez, executive director of the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, spoke to the man’s family and provided their account of the incident, a portion of which was captured on video by the driver’s son and son-in-law who were in the vehicle. Hernandez did not disclose the 43-year-old driver’s name, and DHS did not identify him. Hernandez said the man is from Mexico, has been in the U.S. for 23 years and does not have legal status. The 18-year-old son and 23-year-old son-in-law are U.S. citizens, Hernandez said. On the videos, the uniformed officers are wearing masks and have “police” written on vests. At least one is wearing a hat labeled CBP, for Customs and Border Protection. They approach the vehicle and tell the driver to roll down his window. The driver refuses and one of the others in the vehicle says, “What do you want?” The agents then smash windows on both sides. The driver immediately drove away, and three shots can be heard in the video. The video doesn’t show either officer being struck by the vehicle. The driver called the San Bernardino Police Department and reported that masked men had pulled him over, broke his car window and shot at him, the police department said in a statement. Police officers went to the family’s home and spoke with the driver. They left without taking him into custody because California law prohibits local police agencies from assisting federal officials with immigration enforcement, the department said. Federal agents later arrived at the man’s home, but the family did not allow them to enter because they didn’t have a warrant, Hernandez said. DHS did not respond to questions about whether they had a warrant and were still seeking the man’s arrest. A crowd gathered outside the family’s home in response to the presence of federal agents. The San Bernardino police returned to assist with crowd control, the department said. The man and his family declined an interview request from The Associated Press. DHS criticized the police department for not arresting the man. “This reckless decision came despite the subject’s outright refusal to comply and his wounding of two federal officers,” DHS said in a statement. “It is yet another tragic example of California’s pro-sanctuary policies that shield criminals instead of protecting communities.” There is no clear definition of sanctuary jurisdictions, but the term is generally applied to state and local governments that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration has spread across Southern California, where local officials say federal […]
Dear Friends, It is with heavy hearts that we share the devastating news of a tragedy that has shaken our community: 13‑year‑old Rachel Aliza Nisanov of Queens has passed away in a jet‐ski accident while visiting Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Her beloved sister, 16‑year‑old Aviva Bracha Nisanov, remains in critical condition after undergoing major surgery for internal injuries and broken bones, with an uncertain recovery ahead. The sisters had traveled to Florida to celebrate Rachel’s graduation when their personal watercraft crashed into a dock on August 12, around 3:30 p.m. Both were rushed to Broward Health Medical Center; sadly, Rachel did not survive. Their father—unable to swim—courageously dove in to save them, sustaining injuries himself. The family’s grief is compounded by mounting medical expenses, funeral arrangements, and the costs involved in bringing Rachel home for burial in Jerusalem. The Nisanov family, pillars of the Queens Bukharian Jewish community—known for their compassion, leadership, and service—now needs us more than ever. We have established a crowdfunding fund to help cover: Medical bills for Aviva’s ongoing treatment and recovery Funeral and repatriation costs for Rachel Family support during this unimaginable time How You Can Help Donate whatever you can—no amount is too smallClick here to donate Share this message widely to raise awareness Keep Aviva in your prayers for a full and healing recovery Thank you for standing with the Nisanov family. Your kindness can bring light in their darkest hour. Click here to donate With gratitude and hope, The Nisanov Family
UK Prime Minister Starmer”I think today will be seen as a very important day in recent years in relation to a conflict which has gone on for three and a bit years, and so far nobody has been able to bring it to this point — so I thank you for that.”
Finnish President Alexander Stubb: “I think in the past two weeks, we’ve probably had more progress in ending this war than we have in the past three and a half years.”
POTUS: “All of us would obviously prefer an immediate ceasefire while we work on a lasting peace… President Zelensky and President Putin can talk a little bit more about that… But I believe a peace agreement at the end of all of this is something that’s very attainable…”
President Trump holds a multilateral meeting with European Leaders: “We’ve had a very successful day thus far… We’re all working for the same goal. We want to stop the killing, get this settled.”
The Texas measles outbreak that sickened 762 people since late January is over, state health officials said Monday. Health officials have not confirmed a new case in the affected counties in more than 42 days, passing the threshold used to declare measles outbreaks over. The last outbreak-related case in Texas was on July 1, according to state data. Two young Texas children died of the virus earlier this year and 100 people were hospitalized throughout the outbreak. The cases were linked to outbreaks in Canada and Mexico and jumped to other states in the U.S. The U.S. is having its worst year for measles in more than three decades, with 1,356 cases as of Aug. 5. Nationwide, childhood vaccination rates against the virus are declining as more parents claim exemptions from school requirements. West Texas was the nation’s measles epicenter for months. The virus started spreading there in close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite communities in Gaines County. State officials say they will keep monitoring for new cases. Before the outbreak, most doctors in the state had never seen a measles case because of how uncommon it has become, said Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner Jennifer Shuford. She credited testing, vaccination, monitoring and education with helping to end the outbreak. “I want to highlight the tireless work of the public health professionals across the state who contributed to the containment of one of the most contagious viruses,” Shuford said in a statement. Measles causes a rash and respiratory symptoms that can lead to severe complications or death. It is prevented by the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, which is recommended for young kids before they start school. (AP)
Before closed-door talks between Trump and Zelensky in the Oval Office, a large map of Ukraine was set up opposite the negotiation table, with the eastern regions under Russian control highlighted in pink.
