Israeli forces, including the elite Yamam unit, Shin Bet agents, and IDF troops, killed Nour Bitawi, a senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad operative allegedly planning imminent terror attacks, along with another operative, during an operation in a Nablus home in the West Bank earlier today.
During recent operations in southern Gaza’s Rafah, the IDF says two Hamas operatives surrendered to troops and provided intelligence on a major tunnel in the area, which was demolished.
In the White House’s East Room on a rainy Thursday, first lady Melania Trump and members of the Bush family gathered to unveil a U.S postage stamp bearing the portrait of former first lady Barbara Bush. Amid the anticipation of the unveiling, Trump, Bush’s daughter Dorothy “Doro” Bush Koch and Judy de Torok, a vice president at U.S. Postal Service, took turns sharing stories chronicling the former first lady’s life and achievements. Bush Koch held back tears recalling moments from her mother’s early life. “Mom was never one to shy away from speaking the truth or taking a stand,” she said. “With her signature white hair and pearls, she became an icon in her own right, and yet, even as a former first lady, she remained humble and humorous.” The image on the stamp is Barbara Bush’s official White House portrait, which currently hangs in the entrance to the East Wing. She is depicted in a black suit and purple blouse, wearing her hallmark triple strand of pearls. After a commemoration ceremony in Kennebunkport, Maine, where the Bush family compound is located, the stamp will go on sale June 10th. Bush notably championed literacy programs and helped destigmatized people with AIDS and HIV when she cradled an infant during a 1989 visit to a hospice for children with the disease. Trump said Bush “changed the national conversation on AIDS and took a stand supporting gay rights.” Trump also said she appreciated how Bush inspired people to pursue their personal dreams and was ahead of her time when she made the call for a female American president. “Who knows?” Trump said. “Somewhere out in this audience may even be someone who will one day follow in my footsteps and preside over the White House, and I wish him well,” she said to laughs. Barbara Bush died in 2018 at 92 years-old. She was married to President George H. W. Bush. She is the mother of former President George W. Bush. She was one of only two first ladies who had a child who was elected president. The other was Abigail Adams, wife of President John Adams and mother of President John Quincy Adams. And in 2016 — at 90 years-old — Barbara Bush campaigned for her son, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush when he vied for the Republican presidential nomination, according to the George H. W. Bush library. She had strong words for Donald Trump — back in 2016 she said in a joint CNN interview with Jeb Bush that she was “sick” of the current president. “He’s said terrible things about women, terrible things about the military. I don’t understand why people are for him, for that reason,” she said at the time. Melania Trump attended Bush’s funeral in 2018 while Donald Trump did not attend. The White House said he stayed away to avoid security disruptions. Bush is the eighth first lady to be honored with a U.S. postage stamp. Bush Koch said “it’s unlikely that mom ever pictured herself on the postage stamp, and it’s very likely that she would be wondering what all this fuss is about.” (AP)
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told The Associated Press “you cannot spy against an ally” after reports that the United States has stepped up intelligence gathering on Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory coveted by U.S. President Donald Trump. Frederiksen’s comments Friday are the latest in the spat between Denmark, Greenland and the United States because Trump seeks to annex the strategic Arctic island. Denmark and Greenland insist that the mineral-rich island is not for sale, while Trump has not ruled out taking it by military force even though Denmark is a NATO ally. The Danish prime minister spoke to the AP the day after Denmark summoned the top American diplomat in the country for an explanation following a Wall Street Journal report which said several high-ranking officials under the U.S. director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, had directed intelligence agency heads to learn more about Greenland’s independence movement and sentiment about U.S. resource extraction there. Jennifer Hall Godfrey, acting head of the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen, met with high-ranking Danish diplomat Jeppe Tranholm-Mikkelsen at the Danish Foreign Ministry, the ministry said in an email. It provided no further details. The embassy declined to comment. Frederiksen said Friday the report was “rumors” in an international newspaper. The Journal cited two people familiar with the U.S. effort which it did not identify. “Cooperation about defense and deterrence and security in the northern part of Europe is getting more and more important,” Frederiksen said. “Of course, you cannot spy against an ally.” Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, in comments to Greenland newspaper Sermitsiaq, said the reports of espionage are unacceptable and disrespectful. In response to questions about the Journal’s report, Gabbard’s office released a statement noting that she had made three “criminal” referrals to the Justice Department over intelligence community leaks. “The Wall Street Journal should be ashamed of aiding deep state actors who seek to undermine the President by politicizing and leaking classified information,” Gabbard wrote. “They are breaking the law and undermining our nation’s security and democracy. Those who leak classified information will be found and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.” Greenland’s prime minister said last month that U.S. statements about the island have been disrespectful and it “will never, ever be a piece of property that can be bought by just anyone.” Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre on Friday said those who believe there is “another kind of legal regime in the Arctic” should be told that “this is not the case.” Speaking ahead of a Joint Expeditionary Force leaders’ meeting in Oslo, Gahr Støre said there seemed to be suggestions that “in the Arctic, there is some kind of terra nullius, law doesn’t apply.” “It applies, sovereignty applies. And Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark,” he said ahead of the meeting with the leaders of the U.K., Nordic and Baltic nations. (AP)
Yeshiva University (YU) announced that it is suspending the Hareni toeiva student club, saying that it has operated in a manner inconsistent with the university’s religious mission and the terms of a recent settlement agreement. The decision was outlined in a statement from the Roshei Yeshiva of YU’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), who directed the Office of Student Life to suspend the club’s activities. The Hareni club was established following a March settlement that resolved a nearly four-year legal dispute with the YU Pride Alliance, a student group advocating for official recognition of an LGBTQ+ club. The lawsuit, initiated in 2021, challenged YU’s initial refusal to grant club status to the Pride Alliance, citing the university’s commitment to Orthodox Jewish principles. After escalating to the U.S. Supreme Court, the settlement permitted the formation of Hareni, a club intended to support students “striving to live authentic, uncompromising halachic lives” under the oversight of YU’s rabbinic leadership. According to the Roshei Yeshiva, the settlement required Hareni to adhere to guidelines aligned with traditional Orthodox Jewish values. However, the university determined that the club’s recent activities and statements suggested it was functioning as a pride club, which the Roshei Yeshiva stated was “antithetical to the Torah values of our yeshiva” and in violation of the settlement’s terms. The statement concluded that such a club could not continue at YU, emphasizing the university’s commitment to guiding students in accordance with halacha. The decision follows months of debate within and beyond YU’s campus. The settlement had initially been presented as a compromise, with YU President Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman clarifying that Hareni was distinct from a pride club and built on a 2022 proposal for a halachically compliant student group. However, Hareni’s leadership described the club as a step toward greater LGBTQ+ inclusion, highlighting its ability to use “LGBTQ+” in public communications. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
China’s exports to the United States tumbled in April while its trade with other economies surged, suggesting that President Donald Trump’s tariffs offensive is hastening a shakeup in global supply chains. Total exports from China rose 8.1% last month from a year earlier, much faster than the 2% pace most economists had been expecting. That was much slower than the 12.4% year-on-year increase in March. Imports fell 0.2% in April from the year before. Shipments to the U.S. sank 21% in dollar terms as Trump’s tariffs on most Chinese exports rose to as high as 145%. With Chinese tariffs on U.S. goods at 125%, business between the two biggest economies has grown increasingly uncertain. China’s imports from the U.S. dropped more than 13% from a year earlier, while its politically sensitive trade surplus with the United States was nearly $20.5 billion in April, down from about $27.2 billion a year earlier. In the first four months of the year, China’s exports to the United States fell 2.5% from a year earlier, while imports from the U.S. fell 4.7%. A potential break in the tariffs stalemate could come as soon as this weekend. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and other senior trade officials are due to meet with Chinese officials in Geneva on Saturday. But Beijing and Washington are at odds over a raft of issues, including colliding strategic interests that will may impede progress in the talks. Some of the punitive tariffs, including Beijing’s retaliatory 125% tariffs on U.S. exports, could be rolled back, but a full reversal is unlikely, Zichun Huang of Capital Economics said in a report. “This means China’s exports to the U.S. are set for further declines over the coming months, not all of which will be offset by increased trade with other countries. We still expect export growth to turn negative later this year,” Huang said. Whatever the outcome of those discussions, the rapid increase in Chinese exports to other countries reflects a restructuring that began years ago but has gained momentum as Trump has raised barriers to exporting to the U.S. Global manufacturers have been looking for alternatives to a near total reliance on manufacturing in China after disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for more diverse options. The need for more versatile supply chains grew more apparent as Trump hiked tariffs on Chinese exports during his first term in office. Most of those remained during former President Joe Biden’s term. Exports to the United States accounted for about a tenth of China’s total exports in April and the U.S. is still China’s largest single-country market. But the European Union and Southeast Asia are larger regional export markets. Trade with a broader grouping, the 15-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which does not include the United States, is still bigger. And exports to countries participating in China’s “Belt and Road Initiative,” a vast network of Beijing-supported infrastructure projects, are bigger still. In the first four months of the year, exports to the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations rose 11.5% from a year earlier, and those to Latin America also climbed 11.5%. Shipments to India jumped nearly 16% by value, and exports to Africa surged 15%. Some of the fastest growth was in Asia, reflecting moves by Chinese and other manufacturers to diversify […]
Retired Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter, who was appointed by Republican president George H.W. Bush but became an extreme liberal once on the court, has died at 85. He retired in 2009, giving President Obama his first Supreme Court vacancy, which he filled with Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
Friends of Yishai Elyakim Auerbach hy”d, murdered in Gaza on Thursday, sing “V’yihyu Rachamecha” at his levaya – taking place just weeks after he got married r”l.
The IDF and Shin Bet release a joint statement stating that a terrorist cell responsible for a Molotov cocktail and stone-throwing attack that injured anIsraeli civilian was apprehended after multiple counterterrorism operations in Judea and Samaria.
Russia marks the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II with a massive military parade, attended by President Vladimir Putin and a slew of foreign leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The IDF has successfully intercepted a ballistic missile this morning fired by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen targeting Israel, the military announced. No injuries or damage were reported. Sirens blared across central Israel, preceded by a three-minute early warning push notification sent to residents’ phones, alerting them of the incoming long-range missile. Since the IDF’s renewed offensive against Hamas in Gaza on March 18, the Houthis have launched 28 ballistic missiles and numerous drones at Israel.
President Donald Trump abruptly fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden on Thursday as the White House continues to purge the federal government of those perceived to oppose the president and his agenda. Hayden was notified in an email late Thursday from the White House’s Presidential Personnel Office, according to an email obtained by The Associated Press. Confirmed by the Senate to the job in 2016, Hayden was the first woman and the first African American to be librarian of Congress. “Carla,” the email began. “On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately. Thank you for your service.” A spokesperson for the Library of Congress confirmed that the White House told Hayden she was dismissed. Hayden, whose 10-year term was set to expire next year, had come under backlash from a conservative advocacy group that had vowed to root out those standing in the way of Trump’s agenda. The group, American Accountability Foundation, accused her and other library leaders of promoting children’s books with “radical” content and literary material authored by Trump opponents. “The current #LibrarianOfCongress Carla Hayden is woke, anti-Trump, and promotes trans-ing kids,” AAF said on its X account earlier Thursday, just hours before the firing was made public. “It’s time to get her OUT and hire a new guy for the job!” All around the government, Trump has been weeding out officials who he believes don’t align with his agenda, from the Justice Department to the Pentagon and beyond. At times, the firings come after conservative voices single out officials for criticism. Earlier Thursday, the acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency was pushed out one day after he had testified that he did not agree with proposals to dismantle the organization. Trump has suggested that individual states, not FEMA, should take the lead on responding to hurricanes, tornadoes and other crises. At the Pentagon, more than a half-dozen top general officers have been fired since January, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. CQ Brown Jr. The only two women serving as four-star officers, as well as a disproportionate number of other senior female officers, have also been fired. The unexpected move Thursday against Hayden infuriated congressional Democrats, who initially disclosed the firing. “Enough is enough,” said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, who called Hayden “a “trailblazer, a scholar, and a public servant of the highest order.” Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said Hayden was “callously fired” by Trump and demanded an explanation from the administration as to why she was dismissed. “Hayden, has spent her entire career serving people — from helping kids learn to read to protecting some of our nation’s most precious treasures,” said Rep. Joseph Morelle of New York, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee that oversees the Library. “She is an American hero,” he said. The Library of Congress, with its stately buildings across from the U.S. Capitol, holds a vast collection of the nation’s books and history, which it makes available to the public and lawmakers. It houses the papers of nearly two dozen presidents and more than three dozen Supreme Court justices. It also has collections of […]
Brig. Gen. Shay Tayeb briefed officials on data regarding Chareidi recruitment in a meeting of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Wednesday. During the meeting, Labor MK Efrat Rayten asked Tayeb: “Why hasn’t the IDF Chief of Staff met with women’s organizations regarding the recruitment of Chareidim? Tayeb responded: “Women are not a target population in the process.” But Rayten wasn’t referring to the recruitment of Chareidi women; she was referring to secular women whom she claims will be discriminated against due to Chareidi recruitment. She responded to Tayeb: “In other words, female soldiers, who are excluded and harmed by the demands for separate-gender spaces, are not even being considered.” Tal Hochman, the head of the Women’s Lobby, quoted Tayeb’s statement on X, adding: “The Women’s Lobby understands the security challenges facing the IDF, and certainly at this time, and supports the recruitment of Chareidim to the IDF as part of it being the people’s army. However, we warn against a serious danger to the equality of female soldiers and commanders. Women have proven their courage and contribution in the war and their significant role in the army. It is absurd that these women, who defended the borders of the country with their bodies, will now be excluded and discriminated against simply because they are women.” “We have turned to the Chief of Staff with an unequivocal demand to ensure that the recruitment of Chareidim does not lead to the creation of separate gender spaces—a situation that will take the IDF backwards and severely damage the principles of equality in the IDF.” Labor MK Merav Michaeli wrote: “The more Chareidim who enlist, the more built-in discrimination in the advancement of women there will be. Separation between women and men in academia has caused discrimination against women,” she falsely claimed. “It has spilled over into the public space, into dress codes, in the library. It harmed lecturers who cannot teach men. This is the process I fear will happen in the army. It’s already happening under the radar.” “The marking of women as something that men can say, ‘I won’t be where that creature is’ is destructive to any society. It legitimizes continuing to exclude women. This is a great danger to the IDF,” she concluded. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
The Israeli government confirmed there are no signs of life from three of the 59 remaining hostages held by Hamas, sparking a new wave of grief and frustration among families. Two of the captives are foreign nationals—Bipin Joshi of Nepal and Pinta Nattapong of Thailand—and one is an Israeli soldier, Tamir Nimrodi. An Israeli official speaking Thursday said, “No signs of life have been received from them since shortly after the outbreak of the war.” The confirmation came just a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that, while 21 hostages are definitively alive, the status of three others is now in serious doubt. The statement, following remarks by both Netanyahu and President Donald Trump, shattered the fragile hope held by many families. Trump, speaking from the Oval Office earlier this week, remarked that three hostages had died—appearing to contradict Israel’s official count. At a press briefing Thursday, the Prime Minister’s Office reiterated that “Israel will never give up” on retrieving all its citizens. Yet families say the government’s rhetoric does not match its priorities. A leaked IDF document ranking the return of the hostages last among six military goals in Gaza has only intensified public outcry. For Cherut Nimrodi, mother of captive IDF soldier Tamir Nimrodi, the silence has been unbearable. “There’s no new information,” she said. “But now, after Sara Netanyahu and Trump both raised the issue, the fear is back in full force. I’m very worried. I can’t even describe what that means to me.” Hostage families have called on Netanyahu to pause the military offensive until all hostages are released, labeling their return as Israel’s “most urgent national mission.” But the IDF is pressing ahead with a large-scale ground campaign in Gaza, having received cabinet approval to fully conquer and hold the Strip. Meanwhile, diplomatic channels remain active. Arab nations, including Jordan, are reportedly pressuring Hamas to accept a deal, and Israeli officials hope U.S. President Trump’s upcoming visit to the region will tip the balance. “We are saying: take this deal now,” an official told The Times of Israel. “Because if war resumes, the terms will be far worse.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
In a late-night vote, New York lawmakers passed the FY2026 state budget, delivering a win for yeshivos and nonpublic schools across the state. The budget includes significant increases in funding and expands key programs that support thousands of students in Jewish day schools and other nonpublic institutions. One of the most significant achievements is a $10 million increase to the state’s innovative STEM reimbursement program, bringing the total allocation to $85.5 million. This boost will enable more nonpublic school students to access high-quality instruction in science, technology, engineering, and math. Additionally, nonpublic schools will now be included in the state’s newly created Universal Free Meals program. This landmark policy ensures that all students, regardless of the school they attend, will receive free, nutritious meals each day—a long-standing goal of education advocates who have fought for equal treatment. Security funding for nonpublic schools was also renewed and expanded, with $70 million allocated for the Nonpublic School Safety Equipment (NPSE) program and $35 million set aside for the Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes (SCAHC) initiative. The state also maintained funding for other vital programs, including $230 million for mandated services reimbursement (CAP/MSR) and $5 million to support arts and music instruction in nonpublic schools. “This is a monumental moment,” said Sydney Altfield, Executive Director of Teach NYS. “It proves that when our community advocates loudly and clearly on behalf of our children, our leaders respond.” Teach NYS extended its gratitude to Governor Hochul, the State Senate, and the Assembly for recognizing the needs of nonpublic school students. The organization also acknowledged its coalition partners—Agudath Israel of America, the Catholic Conference, the Islamic School Association, and the UJA Federation of New York—for their collaboration in securing this funding. But the biggest thanks, Altfield emphasized, goes to the families, students, and member schools who rallied, spoke out, and helped shape the outcome. “Your advocacy made this possible. Now it’s time to thank our elected officials and let them know this support is noticed—and deeply appreciated.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has confirmed that American military action against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels will hinge not on attacks against Israel, but on whether American citizens are harmed. Speaking to Israel’s Channel 12 News, Huckabee defended the recent surprise ceasefire agreement between the United States and the Houthis—brokered without Israeli input—just days after a Houthi ballistic missile struck the grounds of Ben Gurion Airport, injuring six and prompting international flight suspensions. “The United States isn’t required to get permission from Israel to make arrangements to stop Houthi fire on our ships,” he said, brushing aside concerns of coordination with America’s key Middle East ally. Ambassador Huckabee emphasized that U.S. retaliation would only come into play “if they hurt an American.” With approximately 700,000 U.S. citizens living in Israel, the ambassador acknowledged the risk but drew a stark line: attacks on Israel alone do not automatically warrant American military response. The ceasefire, announced by President Donald Trump earlier this week, caught Israeli officials off guard and drew fierce criticism in Jerusalem. The Houthis, undeterred, declared their campaign against Israel would continue—an assertion Trump dismissed with indifference: “I’ll discuss that if something happens.” The developments come amid a fresh wave of Houthi hostilities, including a drone attack intercepted over Israel and a missile strike on Ben Gurion Airport. In response, Israel launched a punishing series of airstrikes against Houthi assets in Yemen, culminating in what the IDF called the complete disabling of Sanaa International Airport. The Houthis, whose slogan includes “Death to America, Death to Israel,” have vowed to escalate retaliation for the Israeli strikes. Meanwhile, their continued aggression—paired with America’s calculated detachment—has sparked alarm among Israeli defense officials who fear a dangerous new chapter of strategic divergence between the longtime allies. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Back in November, Yeshiva World News published a controversial mailbag article titled “Why I’m Voting For Kamala Harris Over Donald Trump, And Why You Should Too.” Many of you will remember it—not necessarily for its content, but for the uproar it caused. The writer made a compelling, if unpopular, case: that Kamala Harris represents a steadier and more principled approach to foreign policy, while Donald Trump’s decisions are more impulsive, more ego-driven, and more transactional than ideological. He warned that Trump’s alliance with Israel wasn’t based on shared values, mutual respect, or any enduring strategy—but rather on whether leaders “like him” or not. And he concluded, quite boldly, that this type of relationship was risky and unsustainable. The backlash was instant and brutal. The comments flooded in: “What did you smoke before writing this article?” … “Utter fool” … “Trash” … “I can’t believe YWN published this.” The outrage was deafening. The reaction wasn’t just disagreement—it was dismissal. Condescension. Derision. As if the very possibility of Trump being anything other than Israel’s best friend was laughable. And yet, here we are. Today, Yeshiva World News reported that Trump’s relationship with Prime Minister Netanyahu has reached a low point. Trump has reportedly “run out of patience,” and is moving ahead with his Middle East agenda without Israel. The shocker? He’s now pushing a deal with Saudi Arabia—even if it means leaving Israel out of the picture entirely. Let that sink in. Trump, the supposed “best friend Israel ever had,” is now ready to cut a nuclear deal with Riyadh—even if it doesn’t include normalization with Israel. Under Biden, those nuclear talks were tied to a broader package that required Saudi recognition of Israel. Trump? He’s done waiting. He wants the deal, Israel or no Israel. Now let’s be honest: this should not be shocking. It’s exactly what that November mailbag writer predicted. His warning was never that Trump was anti-Israel—it was that Trump is pro-Trump, and that our community’s trust in him is built more on emotion and campaign slogans than any stable, ethical framework. That writer was mocked for saying Trump’s foreign policy was based on personal loyalty rather than democratic values or long-term vision. Today’s news proves his point. And it forces us to ask hard questions: Did we put our trust in someone who saw our support as a tool to be used and discarded? Were we seduced by slogans and photo ops, while ignoring the real risks of hitching ourselves to a man with no consistent principles? It’s time we recognize that short-sighted loyalty can be dangerous. Trump knew how to speak our language. He gave us embassy moves and peace deals that felt good. But now, when the politics shift, he walks away—and expects us to follow anyway. This isn’t about Kamala Harris anymore. It’s not even about left or right. It’s about learning to distinguish between performative friendship and real strategic alliance. In hindsight, that “ridiculous” mailbag article might’ve been one of the most prescient pieces published on this site in a long time. Maybe we owe that anonymous writer an apology. Or at least… a second read. Signed, Shlomo Zalman Rabinowitz The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you […]
