Matzav

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Chizkiyahu Moshe Salomon zt”l, mashgiach ruchani of the Sunderland Yeshiva in Gateshead, England. He was just 59 years old.

A beloved mechanech and mashpiah, Rav Salomon was known for his warmth, depth, and the unwavering emunah and bitachon that carried him through even the most trying times.

After succeeding Rav Yaakov Abenson as mashgiach, Rav Salomon dedicated himself fully to the talmidim, guiding them with chochmah, sensitivity, and an open heart.

In 2023, Rav Salomon was diagnosed with cancer, a nisayon he faced with remarkable strength and acceptance of Hashem’s will. Even as he battled illness, his thoughts remained with his talmidim, and he continued to inspire those around him with his steadfast emunah.

Rav Salomon leaves behind a grieving family and countless talmidim whose lives were uplifted by his guidance and care.

The levayah will take place on Motzoei Shabbos at 11:00 p.m. at the Bendheim (Yoshon) Bais Medrash of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, New Jersey. The aron will then be flown to Gateshead for kevurah there.

Rav Salomon is survived by his devoted wife and their family.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino found himself in a tense confrontation earlier this week with Attorney General Pam Bondi regarding the Trump administration’s approach to the Jeffrey Epstein case — especially over the so-called “client list,” which officials now insist never actually existed.

Sources told The NY Post that the clash was so intense that Bongino opted to take Friday off and is seriously weighing whether to step down from his position, which he’s held for under four months. The working relationship between him and Bondi appears to have broken down entirely.

“I don’t think Dan comes back if Pam stays,” one insider remarked. This, despite both Bongino and Bondi having publicly acknowledged that their review of Epstein-related documents revealed no groundbreaking information about his death, his inner circle, or his criminal activity.

The conflict intensified after the Justice Department wrapped up its investigation into Epstein’s death at the Metropolitan Correctional Center on August 10, 2019 — just weeks after he faced charges.

That probe involved a collection of materials that Bondi, during a February appearance on Fox News, claimed were physically on her desk awaiting inspection, implying they might include Epstein’s infamous “client list.”

“In February, I did an interview on Fox, and it’s been getting a lot of attention because I said — I was asked a question about the client list, and my response was, ‘it’s sitting on my desk to be reviewed,’ meaning the [Epstein] file along with the JFK and MLK files as well,” Bondi said Tuesday at a Cabinet meeting.

Over the years, Epstein was connected to numerous high-profile figures, including Bill Gates, Bill Clinton, and Prince Andrew.

Trump, too, had socialized with Epstein in the 1990s before entering politics. However, he reportedly kicked Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago in 2007 over an incident.

Earlier this year, the Justice Department released several records from its review, including Epstein’s contact list and flight logs from before his 2019 arrest. Most of the contents had already come out during the 2021 prosecution of Ghislaine Maxwell, his longtime associate.

In a gesture that was intended to demonstrate openness but ended up being widely mocked, conservative social media personalities were invited to the White House and given binders labeled “The Epstein Files: Phase 1,” though no new revelations emerged.

During his 2024 campaign, Trump pledged transparency if elected, saying he’d be fine with releasing the full trove of Epstein documents, including the supposed “client list.” He added, “not involved” and emphasized that he “never went to his island” — a reference to Epstein’s infamous Little St. James.

Bondi had also alluded to the existence of extensive materials held by the FBI’s New York office, suggesting earlier this year that thousands of documents tied to Epstein’s indictment and broader investigation were in their possession.

However, her office issued a brief two-page statement on Monday, summarizing that a thorough review had concluded Epstein hanged himself and that he had abused “over one thousand victims,” but no concrete “client list” had ever been found.

“There was also no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions,” the memo noted.

“We did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties.”

When asked on Tuesday whether Epstein may have operated as an intelligence operative — a theory floated due to the leniency of his 2008 plea deal — Bondi replied, “To him being an [intelligence] agent, I have no knowledge about that. We can get back to you on that.”

That plea deal had been brokered by Alex Acosta, the then-U.S. Attorney in Miami. Acosta had reportedly said while being vetted for a position in Trump’s first administration: “I was told Epstein ‘belonged to intelligence’ and to leave it alone.”

Bondi also addressed questions about the missing 60 seconds in the 10-hour surveillance video released by DOJ, which was meant to show that no one entered Epstein’s cell the night he died. She attributed the gap to outdated video systems in federal prisons.

“What we learned from the Bureau of Prisons was, every year, every night, they redo that video. It’s old, from like 1999, so every night the video is reset, and every night should have the same minute missing,” she said.

“So we’re looking for that video to release that as well, showing that a minute is missing every night.”

Back in June, Bongino had gone on Fox News to reiterate that nothing in the Epstein files pointed to foul play.

“The evidence we have in our files clearly indicates that it was, in fact, a suicide. We do have video,” the former Fox News personality stated. “It’s not the greatest video in the world.”

{Matzav.com}

Efforts to broker a ceasefire and arrange the release of hostages in Gaza have stalled over the past 24 hours, according to a Friday evening report by Kan 11. Negotiations underway in Doha have failed to produce movement on several central points, putting the process at an impasse.

While the discussions haven’t broken down entirely, they have hit a deadlock over crucial matters, including where the IDF would withdraw to within Gaza, which hostages and terrorists would be exchanged, and what kind of assurances could be given to end the conflict altogether. Despite the gridlock, there have been no major setbacks or breakdowns either.

One area showing slight improvement involves the coordination of humanitarian assistance entering Gaza. However, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff has not yet traveled to Doha to take part in the talks. Reports say he is holding off until the negotiations reach a more mature stage.

Meanwhile, Al Jazeera released what it said was a proposed map from the Israeli delegation outlining the IDF’s deployment during a possible ceasefire. According to the report, Israel wants to maintain control over the Morag Axis, a move that would place the entire Rafah region under Israeli military presence.

Unnamed sources quoted by the network alleged that this strategy is part of a larger Israeli plan to push Gaza’s residents into the Rafah area in preparation for a potential mass transfer to Egypt or relocation by sea.

These same sources also claimed that Israel intends to remain in control of roughly 40% of Gaza, thereby blocking an estimated 700,000 Palestinians from going back to their homes and instead forcing them into Israeli-controlled territory in Rafah.

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu returned to Israel on Friday afternoon after spending four days in Washington. Before his departure, in an interview with Newsmax, Netanyahu shared guarded optimism about the possibility of securing the release of ten more Israeli hostages currently being held by Hamas.

“We have 50 left; 20 definitely alive, and some 30 that are not alive, and I want to take them all out,” he told Newsmax. “We now have a deal that supposedly we’ll get half of the living and half of the dead out, and so we’ll have 10 living left and about 12 deceased hostages. But I’ll get them out, too. I hope we can complete in a few days.”

The framework reportedly includes a proposed 60-day halt in fighting, during which hostages would be released in phases, followed by renewed negotiations aimed at achieving a permanent cessation of hostilities. Netanyahu reiterated that the war could end immediately “if Hamas lays down its arms.”

During his visit to Washington, Netanyahu met on Wednesday with relatives of the hostages. In that meeting, he made it clear that a deal to secure the release of every hostage is currently not in reach.

“We can’t get a comprehensive deal. There was no such option on the table,” Netanyahu told the families.

When asked to clarify which hostages would be released under the proposed deal, he responded: “Hamas is the one that decides this.”

The Prime Minister’s Office later stated that Netanyahu emphasized the hostage situation in his discussions with President Trump and his team and that “great efforts are made continuously to bring about the release of all of our hostages, both the living and the deceased.”

{Matzav.com}

A heartbreaking tragedy came to a close last night with the passing of a two-year-old girl who had been left for an extended period inside a closed vehicle in Chadeira last week.

The toddler was initially found in critical condition on July 3 after spending a prolonged time in the car. Emergency medical responders from United Hatzalah administered lifesaving care at the scene before she was transported in serious condition to Hillel Yaffe Medical Center. She was later transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit at Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa.

Despite the efforts of medical teams, doctors at Rambam pronounced her death overnight. A hospital spokesperson stated: “The toddler was brought to us in critical condition, and tragically, she passed away.”

United Hatzalah volunteer medic Shmuel Mori, who responded to the scene, recounted, “We were told at the scene that the child had been in the car for a long time. We performed initial resuscitation and emergency care, and she was then transported to the hospital in critical condition.”

Following the incident, United Hatzalah once again urged the public to remain vigilant and never leave children unattended in vehicles—even for a moment. They also advised the public to routinely check parked cars, especially during the hot summer months, to ensure that no children or toddlers have been accidentally left behind.

{Matzav.com}

As summer brings crowds outdoors and vacations into full swing, health experts are reminding the public that illness doesn’t take a break—even with sunshine and warm weather. This includes the emergence of two new COVID variants making the rounds.

Dr. Paul Richardson from Conway Medical Center in Conway, South Carolina, spoke to Nexstar’s WBTW, noting that although the recently identified nimbus and stratus strains are circulating, he hasn’t observed a noticeable uptick in COVID-related hospital visits or admissions during the summer months.

According to Dr. Richardson, both strains appear to cause less severe illness compared to previous variants.

“If you look at the way a lot of viruses evolve, that’s not uncommon,” he said. “A lot of viruses evolve to be less virulent. They may be more contagious, but they’re less virulent.”

The World Health Organization recently confirmed that while the nimbus variant has been reported in various countries, it has not been linked to a rise in serious illness or hospitalizations.

Despite this, the symptoms themselves can still be unpleasant. Dr. Richardson told WBTW that recent patients often present with signs typical of upper respiratory infections.

“I read about, ‘Oh, you’ve been having a lot of sore throats,’” he said. “I think one of them has even had the nickname ‘razor blade throat,’ or something of that nature. But if you think about that, a lot of upper respiratory infections do that same thing.”

He emphasized that most individuals likely won’t need another COVID booster in response to these variants, though those with underlying health concerns should consult their physician.

“With any infection, I worry about patients who are susceptible to worsening,” he said. “You think about the elderly. You think about people with chronic lung disease, any type of immune issues, and cancers.”

Even with the busy travel season and large-scale events, Dr. Richardson isn’t overly alarmed about widespread transmission of these new variants. While he doesn’t believe mask use will make much of a difference in this case, he said the fact that many events are held outside is a helpful mitigating factor.

Although medical facilities aren’t equipped to determine the exact strain of COVID a person has, Richardson explained that this doesn’t alter treatment decisions, since all variants are managed the same way.

“We would just know positive or negative for COVID,” Richardson explained. “We will treat absolutely the same, regardless of what type, whether it be nimbus or stratus or whatever the next one is.”

To lower your risk of catching or spreading illness, Dr. Richardson stressed one timeless recommendation: frequent handwashing remains one of the best defenses.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced President Donald Trump’s shared “disappointment and frustration at the lack of progress” in efforts to halt the war in Ukraine during a direct conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

The two met in person during the ASEAN Regional Forum in Malaysia, a gathering that provided a rare opportunity for dialogue amid increasing hostilities between the United States and Russia. Trump’s attempts to secure a peace deal, a campaign promise he vowed to fulfill quickly once in office, have been stymied by the Kremlin’s continued aggression in Ukraine.

“Our strategy is to continue to engage all parties involved in finding an outcome to this conflict,” Rubio told reporters after his talk with Lavrov. “We will engage any time that we have an opportunity to do so, like we did today. I echoed what the president said — both disappointment and frustration at the lack of progress.”

Trump’s recent interactions with Russian President Vladimir Putin have left him visibly irritated, particularly after a phone call earlier this week yielded no tangible steps toward ending the conflict. “No progress” was made, Trump said.

Although Trump had previously taken a more conciliatory tone toward Putin early in his second term, that posture shifted sharply this week. During a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Trump accused Putin of feeding the United States “bullshit.”

In the same meeting, Trump indicated he was giving serious thought to endorsing legislation that would slap Russia with tough sanctions aimed at forcing Moscow to reconsider its position.

Rubio’s statements also came shortly after the Trump administration restarted arms deliveries to Ukraine. These had been temporarily suspended due to concerns about dwindling American munitions reserves.

On the ground, Russian forces intensified their assault on Ukraine with a relentless attack Wednesday night that lasted nearly ten hours. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the bombardment as a “clear escalation of terror by Russia.”

{Matzav.com}

California Governor Gavin Newsom stirred controversy after criticizing a federal immigration operation at a large cannabis site in Southern California that escalated into chaos, with demonstrators clashing with officers and tear gas being deployed.

“Trump calls me ‘Newscum’ — but he’s the real scum,” Newsom posted on X, responding to a KTLA video clip showing individuals — both protesters and apparent raid targets — fleeing clouds of tear gas released by law enforcement in Camarillo, California.

Officials within the Trump administration swiftly responded to the governor’s incendiary remarks.

“Why are there children working at a marijuana facility, Gavin?” the Department of Homeland Security’s official X account retorted.

Rodney Scott, Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, said authorities discovered ten underage individuals who were in the U.S. unlawfully at the site, adding that the facility “now [is] under investigation for child labor violations.”

“This is Newsom’s California,” Scott wrote.

The cannabis business involved issued a public statement acknowledging its cooperation with the federal warrants but firmly denied any employment of minors. The company insisted it “has never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices.”

The scene in Camarillo grew tense as hundreds gathered in protest, resulting in heated altercations with law enforcement personnel, some of whom were joined by National Guard units.

This raid and the resulting clashes mark the latest immigration-related showdown in California, a state that has frequently found itself at odds with the Trump administration’s aggressive deportation agenda.

Earlier in the week, federal immigration agents and troops made a highly visible show of strength in Los Angeles’s MacArthur Park, sparking criticism from local officials. Mayor Karen Bass (D) called the action “outrageous.”

Newsom has become increasingly vocal in recent weeks, launching a new podcast where he interviews conservative media figures, and doubling down on attacks against the Trump administration.

A Politico review of his activity on X revealed that his anti-Trump posts have generated audience engagement at three times his usual rate.

With speculation swirling about a potential presidential bid in 2028, Newsom has been making national appearances — including a recent visit to South Carolina, a key Democratic primary battleground. While there, he criticized Trump but didn’t heavily focus on immigration during his remarks.

On social media, Newsom has also responded directly to conservative figures, including Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) and the popular right-wing “Libs of TikTok” account, which shared a video allegedly showing a protester in Camarillo firing a weapon at federal officers.

“Of course I condemn any assault on law enforcement, you s poster,” Newsom replied. “Now do Jan 6.”

{Matzav.com}

A new poll reported by The Hill indicates that public trust in the Democratic Party has further deteriorated since the 2024 election, raising serious concerns for its leaders as they attempt to regroup ahead of the midterm contests and the next presidential race.

Conducted between May and June by Unite the Country, a Democratic-aligned super PAC, the survey shows the party being characterized by voters as “out of touch,” “woke,” and “weak.”

Support has dwindled especially among white men, Hispanic men, and blue-collar voters, with approval ratings in these demographics falling below 35 percent. The data also shows a decline in enthusiasm among party loyalists following the 2024 defeat.

“This is the reality of the perception of us as a party, and until we accept that, it’s going to be hard to move forward,” said Democratic strategist Rodell Mollineau, a senior adviser to the super PAC. “There’s a perception out there, outside of Democratic elites, and it’s taken hold in not just the MAGA crowd but people that should be with us.”

“Democrats need to realize that in order to improve and get better to not only win in 2028 but to win in 2030 and 2032 and beyond,” Mollineau added.

Since losing the White House to President Trump in 2024 — along with both chambers of Congress — Democrats have been struggling to find a path forward.

In the aftermath of their loss, party leaders have turned to a series of assessments, including polling and focus groups, to try to make sense of what went wrong and how to move forward.

However, early signs in the new political landscape under Trump have not been encouraging. A May AP-NORC survey found only 35 percent of Democrats are hopeful about their party’s future — a steep drop from 57 percent just ten months prior. The same poll also indicated that many feel there is a leadership vacuum at the top.

Major donors and fundraising organizers have been hesitant to support Democratic candidates, pointing to a lack of clear messaging and momentum.

According to the latest findings from Unite the Country, which surveyed voters across 21 key counties in 10 battleground states, perceptions of the party have remained frozen since the 2024 loss.

While there have been chances to critique the Trump administration on policies like immigration, tariffs, and the so-called “big, beautiful bill,” analysts say Democrats squandered those openings.

“I was frustrated during the ‘one big beautiful bill’ stuff,” said Steve Schale, a Democratic strategist and the CEO of Unite the Country. “We missed an opportunity to really define a different kind of vision.”

The poll shows that Democrats’ central rallying cry of defending democracy still resonates among their base, but fails to win over broader swaths of the electorate. Meanwhile, policies viewed as overly lenient on immigration have turned off many swing voters.

Mollineau stressed the need to reevaluate how the party communicates its principles and priorities.

“It’s not about abandoning who we are. It’s not about leaving people behind. We are a big tent party. But it is about prioritizing the messages and starting where the majority of the people are,” Mollineau said.

“We do better when we first meet voters where they are and then bring them along on other issues. … And nine times out of 10, what they really care about is whether or not they’re going to be able to afford health care, whether or not their kids are going to be able to go to a good school, … housing, living paycheck to paycheck.”

Mollineau suggested Democrats would benefit from emphasizing pocketbook issues first, allowing them to build trust and then pivot to broader policy matters.

Still, the survey made clear that if Democrats want to win back the voters they’ve lost, they need to restore trust — and that may require fresh faces in leadership, ones unassociated with the Washington status quo.

“They want us to have different leaders,” Schale said. “There was this segment of voters … who said, ‘I voted for Barack Obama and I voted for Donald Trump because I thought they were going to stand up to Washington. … They have very different views on the world, but I … believed they would go to Washington and fight for me and not fight for Washington.’”

“It’s a good argument for more outside voices right now,” he continued. “If I could wave a magic wand, I’d love to see the money that gets spent on things like studying podcasts for young guys being spent on electing mayors and downballot city council members and nonpartisan Democrats and even state legislators … to begin the process of rebuilding that trust with voters.”

The poll also highlighted a desire among voters for straightforward, commonsense solutions — something they feel Democrats are failing to offer.

“We as a party oftentimes are getting nuanced in the way that we look at the world, and I don’t think voters are looking for nuance,” Mollineau said. “They’re looking for straightforward communication on identifying the problem and then fixing the problem.”

“Whether you’re talking about the New York mayor’s race or AOC or Trump or Bernie Sanders, the thing that all those folks have in common is voters know where they stand on issues,” Mollineau added. “There is no nuance there. … People know where they stand, and when they say something, voters believe it.”

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the tragic petirah of R’ Yitzchok Tzvi Klein z”l, who succumbed to critical injuries sustained earlier this week in a horrific elevator accident at Hatzlacha Grocery in Spring Valley, New York. He was just 28 years old.

Despite the heroic efforts of Rockland County Hatzolah volunteers and medical teams, as well as the heartfelt tefillos of Jews around the world, R’ Yitzchok Tzvi was niftar Friday morning from the severe wounds he sustained.

R’ Yitzchok Tzvi was the son of Rabbi Shmuel Zanvil Klein and Mrs. Reizel Miriam, daughter of the renowned Rav Eliyahu Tabak zt”l, patriarch of the prominent Tabak family.

Just two years ago, he got married. He worked faithfully in the prepared foods department at Hatzlacha Grocery, where he was known for his dedication and integrity.

Warm and personable, he carried a gentle and uplifting spirit, always greeting others with a kind word. He made it a point never to miss the Daf Yomi shiur given by Reb Eli Stefansky, which he listened to daily.

At a family simcha just last week, he told a cousin who learns full-time, “I envy you. I work and can’t learn all day, but when I prepare food at the store, I have in mind that people who are learning will eat and have strength to continue their learning.”

Yitzchok Tzvi leaves behind his parents and his wife. As he did not leave behind children, all are asked to learn l’ilui nishmas R’ Yitzchok Tzvi ben R’ Shmuel Zanvil.

The levayah is taking place now at Monsey Bais Hachaim on Brick Church Road.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

A sharply divided federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., ruled Friday to invalidate a plea agreement that would have permitted Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind behind the September 11 attacks, to avoid the death penalty by admitting guilt.

This ruling overturns a proposed resolution to the long-delayed military proceedings that have stretched over twenty years, burdened by legal setbacks and procedural difficulties. With the court’s decision, the complex and drawn-out process to prosecute the architect of one of the most horrific terror attacks on American soil remains far from over.

The plea arrangement—hammered out over a two-year period and formally endorsed by military prosecutors and the Pentagon’s lead Guantanamo official in 2023—would have sentenced Mohammed and two fellow defendants to life imprisonment without any chance of parole.

Mohammed faces charges for orchestrating the plan that led to hijacked commercial jets being flown into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, with a fourth crashing into a Pennsylvania field after passengers intervened.

As part of the proposed deal, the accused were expected to provide answers to unresolved questions that continue to haunt the victims’ families even decades after the attacks.

However, then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin rejected the agreement, asserting that the gravity of the September 11 attacks required that any decision about whether the death penalty should be pursued fall under the direct responsibility of the defense secretary himself.

Defense lawyers maintained that the agreement had already gone into effect and that Austin, serving in the Biden administration at the time, acted beyond the appropriate window to rescind it. Their position was supported by both the military judge overseeing the case at Guantanamo and a military appeals body.

Despite that, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, in a 2-1 decision, determined that Austin was within his legal rights and criticized the military judge for an erroneous interpretation of the law.

The court had earlier issued a temporary freeze on the agreement while it reviewed the appeal—a case initiated by the Biden administration and later continued under President Donald Trump.

“Having properly assumed the convening authority, the Secretary determined that the ‘families and the American public deserve the opportunity to see military commission trials carried out.’ The Secretary acted within the bounds of his legal authority, and we decline to second-guess his judgment,” Judges Patricia Millett and Neomi Rao wrote.

Judge Millett was nominated by Barack Obama, while Judge Rao received her appointment from Trump.

Dissenting from the majority, Judge Robert Wilkins—also appointed by Obama—argued, “The government has not come within a country mile of proving clearly and indisputably that the Military Judge erred.”

{Matzav.com}

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir voiced sharp disapproval Thursday over the ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.

“As the negotiations for reckless deals intensify, so does the motivation of Hamas terrorists to carry out more kidnappings,” he said. “Last night, it cost us the life of an IDF soldier,” he added.

Ben-Gvir was referring to the death of Staff-Sergeant-Major Abraham Azulay, who was killed in action Wednesday in Khan Yunis. The incident occurred during a mission when Hamas terrorists emerged from a tunnel and attempted to capture him.

Calling for an end to the talks, Ben-Gvir urged Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu—currently in Washington for meetings with President Donald Trump concerning the proposed ceasefire—to abandon negotiations altogether.

“Enough of negotiating with a murderous terror organization and pursuing a deal that will strengthen and sustain it,” he stated.

“The lives of our soldiers and the residents of the South are more important than any normalization and economic agreements,” he added.

“Give the order to crush Hamas to the end. We do not have unnecessary soldiers to lose in reckless deals,” he concluded.

Ben-Gvir has persistently pushed for halting the negotiations, reiterating his stance this past Saturday with a post on X/Twitter, where he urged Netanyahu to scrap the proposed agreement, which is backed by the United States.

Withdraw from the “surrender framework,” and “return to a framework of decisive victory,” Ben-Gvir wrote.

“The only path to decisive victory and the secure return of our hostages is the full conquest of the Gaza Strip, a complete halt to so-called ‘humanitarian aid,’ and the encouragement of emigration,” he added.

While an agreement over hostages and a ceasefire is reportedly nearing finalization, a central sticking point remains unresolved: the positioning of IDF forces inside Gaza during the expected 60-day pause in fighting. A source with knowledge of the matter told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday that negotiations between Hamas and Israel, currently taking place in Doha, Qatar, are still underway.

According to that source, Israel’s team submitted an updated offer featuring detailed military deployment maps covering the entire ceasefire period. The new plan focuses primarily on areas located south of the Morag Corridor.

Hamas, however, is insisting on a total pullout of IDF troops during the 60-day timeframe, similar to what occurred during the truce in January. But Israeli officials are holding firm on maintaining control in certain zones, especially around the Morag Corridor. Two government sources explained that this revised map proposal reflects a significant Israeli concession compared to earlier terms—hence its introduction into the talks.

{Matzav.com Israel}

A bombshell report published Friday by The New York Times alleges that Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu disclosed top-secret details of a planned military strike on Iran to MK Moshe Gafni three days before it occurred. Despite Gafni not holding the appropriate security clearance, Netanyahu is said to have summoned him to the Kirya military headquarters on June 9 and briefed him on the classified operation.

This revelation took place amid a tense standoff between Netanyahu and the chareidi political factions, who were threatening to bring down the ruling coalition over proposed legislation on the military draft of yeshiva students. The timing and nature of the disclosure raise serious questions about the use of sensitive intelligence as a political bargaining chip.

The article further claims that half a year after the October 7 attacks, Netanyahu was open to ending the war with Hamas through negotiation. It states that in April 2024, he sent a representative to engage with Egyptian mediators, signaling a willingness to reach a compromise.

During one cabinet session, Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich confronted Netanyahu over whispers of an imminent ceasefire deal. “I want you to know that if you advance a capitulation agreement in Gaza, you no longer have a government. The government is finished,” Smotrich told the prime minister. Netanyahu reportedly assured him, “No, no, that’s not going to happen.”

The investigation also provides a detailed account of the chaotic early moments of October 7. At 6:29 a.m., Netanyahu received a WhatsApp message from a high-ranking IDF official alerting him that Hamas had launched a rocket assault. Moments later, in a secure phone call that was recorded, Netanyahu gave a direct order to eliminate Hamas’s leadership. “Can we take down their leadership?” he asked. Upon hearing that the IDF had hit 1,000 targets in Gaza, Netanyahu was unimpressed. “A thousand? I want five thousand,” he replied.

{Matzav.com}

Against the backdrop of ongoing, complex fighting and the onset of the traditional period of mourning known as the Three Weeks, the IDF’s Military Rabbinate has issued a series of special halachic rulings tailored for soldiers during this time.

Among the rulings is a permit to listen to music in order to maintain alertness. Combat soldiers are also permitted to eat meat during the Nine Days if it is necessary to preserve operational readiness.

The Military Rabbinate acknowledged the challenging circumstances faced by soldiers throughout the war, noting the toll on their mental resilience. The rulings include provisions allowing soldiers experiencing emotional distress or psychological difficulty due to combat – particularly those wounded – to listen to music during the Nine Days if it aids in their recovery and return to full functioning. The allowance, however, is contingent on avoiding public listening or attendance at musical performances.

The booklet outlines various practical scenarios in which soldiers may eat or drink during training or in preparation for operational missions. It also includes schedules, summary charts of the halachic rulings, and contact information for the Military Rabbinate’s open hotline.

These rulings reflect the halachic approach consistently maintained by the Military Rabbinate throughout the months of war, emphasizing on-the-ground needs and basing decisions on a precise understanding of the operational reality and the morale of both commanders and troops.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) delivered a sharp rebuke against Zohran Mamdani, the leading candidate in New York City’s mayoral race, dismissing him as someone who doesn’t even belong to the Democratic Party and whose views he strongly opposes.

“Everything that I’ve read on him, I don’t really agree with virtually any of it, politically,” Fetterman told Fox News in a candid assessment of the Queens assemblyman’s platform.

“That’s just where I’m at as a Democrat. He’s not even a Democrat, honestly,” Fetterman added, making clear he sees a fundamental divide between Mamdani and the Democratic Party.

The Pennsylvania senator also criticized Mamdani’s primary victory over Andrew Cuomo, calling it a political win for Republicans. “Christmas in July for the GOP,” he said of the upset.

“[It] provided an opportunity for the GOP to brand our party,” Fetterman said, warning that Mamdani’s far-left agenda could damage Democrats’ national image.

Throughout his campaign, Mamdani has backed progressive ideas such as free city bus service, tuition-free CUNY education, a citywide rent freeze, and government-funded childcare and grocery stores.

But Fetterman downplayed the broader significance of Mamdani’s victory, suggesting it has no bearing on the political realities of key swing states. “It’s definitely not Pennsylvania. It’s not Wisconsin. It’s not Nevada. If you look at any of the battleground states, New York City has no actual relevance to the kinds of states and the kind of races which determine that in 2028,” he argued.

“Is it going to be useful for attack campaigns? Absolutely,” he continued. “He’s a gift to the Republicans in that way, but there’s no lessons to be learned.”

“There’s no special kind of insight. For New York City, politically, that’s a circus mirror of the reality of politics and the politics of our country,” Fetterman concluded, painting Mamdani’s campaign as unrepresentative of the broader electorate.

The upcoming general election could feature a chaotic lineup, with Mamdani potentially facing independent challenger Jim Walden, current Mayor Eric Adams—who’s also running as an independent—and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who’s looking to reclaim political ground.

Meanwhile, Republican Curtis Sliwa, co-founder of the Guardian Angels, is positioned as the GOP’s candidate for the city’s top office.

President Donald Trump announced during an interview with NBC News that he intends to deliver a “major statement” concerning Russia this coming Monday, though he offered no additional information on the nature of the announcement.

Over the past several days, Trump has voiced growing displeasure with Russian President Vladimir Putin, particularly over the continued conflict in Ukraine and what Trump perceives as Putin’s reluctance to earnestly engage in negotiations for peace.

“I think I’ll have a major statement to make on Russia on Monday,” Trump said in his comments to NBC News, stopping short of providing any further clarification.

Meanwhile, lawmakers in Washington, D.C., are actively working on new proposals for sanctions targeting Putin’s regime, as the diplomatic efforts to end the war continue to stall.

{Matzav.com}

A recent nationwide poll conducted by Cygnal in early July reveals that most voters heading into the general election are in favor of removing illegal immigrants and sending them back to their native countries.

Participants were asked, “Do you support or oppose deporting those illegally in the United States back to their country of origin?” Of all respondents, 61.3 percent said they back such a policy. Nearly 41 percent said they “strongly” support it. On the other side, 34.7 percent expressed opposition, including almost 17 percent who said they “strongly” oppose the idea.

The results displayed deep partisan divides. Among Republicans, a resounding 94 percent were in favor of deportation, with just four percent against it. Conversely, a majority of Democrats—68 percent—opposed deporting illegal immigrants, while only 26 percent supported the measure.

Independent voters leaned more in favor than against, with 59 percent supporting deportations and 37 percent standing against them.

One noteworthy finding was that among Hispanic respondents, half supported deporting illegal immigrants with criminal backgrounds, while 48 percent were opposed.

Overall, the numbers marked a slight shift from May, with support for deportation dipping by two percentage points.

The survey also gauged public sentiment on the use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. A plurality, 49.5 percent, expressed support for ICE operations, while 47.5 percent opposed them. Another three percent said they were unsure. Republican support was again overwhelming—89 percent approved of ICE raids—while 86 percent of Democrats opposed them.

Among independents, more opposed ICE raids than supported them: 52 percent disapproved, compared to 42 percent who voiced support.

The poll, conducted July 1–2, surveyed 1,500 likely voters in the general election and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 2.51 percent.

These findings come at a time when federal authorities are ramping up deportation efforts, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) emphasizing that most of those detained have criminal histories or pending criminal cases.

In a statement tied to the bust of a child exploitation ring run by illegal immigrants in Minneapolis, DHS stated, “70% of ICE arrests are of criminal illegal aliens with convictions or pending charges.”

The agency further clarified that many individuals who are classified as “non-criminals” may in fact pose serious threats. “Additionally, many illegal aliens categorized as ‘non-criminals’ are actually terrorists, human rights abusers, gang members and more—they just don’t have a rap sheet in the U.S.,” DHS explained, adding, “This deceptive ‘non-criminal’ categorization is devoid of reality and misleads the American public.”

{Matzav.com}

Dear Hanhala,

You can take away our UGGs and sneakers, change the logo, or even rename the school—but the essence of this place remains. When you focus only on the external, you’re repeating the same mistakes so many other schools have made. You’re trying to mold us all into a picture-perfect Bais Yisroel, but it’s suffocating. When will you stop obsessing over how we look and start paying attention to what we’re going through inside? Because the truth is, we’re all struggling—whether you see it or not.

You’ve created rigid rules around phones and technology. The minute someone is caught breaking them, she’s punished—sometimes even expelled. “She broke a rule, she gets a consequence,” right? But what if you paused and asked why she broke that rule? What if you tried seeing it from her perspective? Our lives aren’t confined to the walls of your school. We live in a world saturated with technology—our siblings, cousins, friends, and neighbors all have it. It’s in our homes, yet you expect us to function without even a flip phone? Let’s be honest: many of your students have iPhones, smartwatches, and access to things that would devastate you—things that would break your heart—and you’re worried about sneakers? Please, get your priorities straight.

Why is it that being honest about our struggles automatically brands us as “off the derech” or “at-risk”? Struggles don’t always come in the form of tznius. Even the girl you proudly call your valedictorian, the one you think has it all together—she’s hurting too. But you’re so focused on maintaining an image that you’re ignoring our neshamos. We want to be good. We want connection. But we need space to be honest with you—without the fear that honesty will get us thrown out for not fitting into your narrow definition of what a “good girl” looks like.

You can’t keep saying, “This never would’ve flown in my generation,” because we didn’t grow up in your generation. We were born into a different world—one filled with challenges and influences you might not understand, but that are very real to us. Before you judge, ask: “How is she feeling? Why is she acting this way?” If a girl wears crew socks under her skirt, is she suddenly a bad person? If that’s what you believe, what hope is left for any of us?

Help us understand. Explain with compassion why certain things are considered wrong. Show us how to navigate this world with strength. Don’t just ban things or pretend they don’t exist. Technology, challenges, and pain are part of our reality, whether you acknowledge them or not. And if we don’t start being honest—if we don’t create a safe space for truth—I fear for what the future will look like. The world feels scary, and many of us are carrying so much inside. To survive, we reach for distractions—some of them harmful. Isn’t the school system supposed to help us grow into our best selves? But how can we, if we can’t even show you our true selves?

If you opened the door to real conversations about the hard stuff, girls would start to trust you. They’d come to you with their pain. You could change lives. I know this isn’t easy to hear, but it has to be said—because too many girls are slipping through the cracks. You’re shaping the next generation: our future teachers, principals, friends, shadchanim, bosses, and mothers. If we don’t start showing the world that struggling is normal, that it’s okay to talk about it and ask for help, then we’re just pretending. We’re building on a lie.

Your system teaches us that externals matter most. In class, the girl who takes notes and raises her hand is praised as “an amazing student.” But the one sitting quietly, listening intently, searching for meaning—she’s labeled as someone who doesn’t fit in. You don’t see a neshamah yearning for more; you just see someone who isn’t meeting your expectations.

Please, see us for who we are. We’re trying. We’re hurting. And we’re begging you to care.

Sincerely,
A Teenager

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{Matzav.com}

Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) appeared on MSNBC’s “The Briefing” Thursday, declaring that not even the threat of jail from President Donald Trump would deter him from continuing his efforts to speak out and fight back.

During the segment, host Jen Psaki brought up recent attacks from Trump, noting that both Booker and others in public office had been targeted. She asked Booker what message he had for whistleblowers and those with critical stories to share during such a tense political climate. “Trump attacked you today, I believe, of being of Trump and people from the administration going after you. You’re in elected office. You accept that I know. What do you say to people? What is your message to whistleblowers or people whose stories are so important to tell about why they should do it now, and what impact it could have.”

Booker responded with a firm call to action. “Stand up and fight.”

He continued, emphasizing his own resolve in the face of personal attacks and threats. “I’m going to continue to fight. I don’t care if this president calls me out every day, mean tweets me, threatens me. We know I’ve had open conversations with senators I never thought I would have because we saw what they’ve done with a congressperson. My Congresswoman LaMonica McIver arresting her, my mayor they’ve arrested, they’re picking off, it seems, people that live in Newark that are in elected positions. But I don’t care throw me in jail. Do what you have to do. I’m going to continue to stand up for what’s right.”

In his closing remarks, Booker expressed hope that his stance would motivate others to act with courage and conviction. “I’m hoping that when one person stands up and calls this out, it ignites the courage of another person and another person and another person. We have to at a time that our fundamental rights and freedoms, that the very democracy that we that we know is precious, is under attack by this president. We’ve got to have more people willing to stand up and fight and take him on.”

{Matzav.com}

Thousands of Chareidi seminary students across Israel are voicing outrage over what they say is blatant discrimination and neglect by the Ministry of Education after the ministry failed to extend the same wartime exam leniencies to them as it did to students in the secular and religious school systems.

In the wake of the recent “Am KeLavi” war between Israel and Iran, the Education Ministry announced a broad policy allowing high school students across the country to forgo external Bagrut exams and instead receive internal grades in recognition of the nationwide trauma and instability caused by the conflict. However, this policy was not applied to seminary girls in the Chareidi system, leaving them to sit for full external exams under unchanged conditions.

Seminary students describe feeling silenced, overlooked, and pushed aside. One student related with frustration, “The pressure, expectations, and demands didn’t change—as if nothing happened, as if we didn’t go through a frightening and chaotic time. The sense of discrimination is overwhelming. Why did students in the secular and national-religious schools get support, while we were abandoned? Why aren’t Chareidi girls, who suffered just as much, if not more, given the same compassion?”

Another student echoed these sentiments: “We have no one to turn to. There’s no official body that speaks on our behalf. We’re trapped in a closed system that often prefers to stay silent to avoid ‘unnecessary drama.’ But that silence comes at a cost—emotional, academic, and personal.”

A senior teacher in the Chareidi school system sided with the students, placing the blame squarely on the ministry and its inspectors. “We’re not asking for easy outs,” she said. “We want basic fairness. Recognize that this year has not been normal, and that these exams—under current conditions—do not reflect our students’ real abilities. We want equal treatment. We want the system to care about our future the way it cares about other students.”

When the Ministry of Education was asked about this, officials insisted that the wartime leniencies applied equally to all sectors, including Chareidim. However, when confronted with reports that school heads and exam supervisors in the Chareidi system had not implemented the policy, the ministry said it would investigate.

One student recounted, “I asked my teacher, who said that many had submitted requests to cancel the exams or at least receive some leniency. But the answer that came back was always the same—‘no changes to external exams despite the war.’ My teacher spoke directly with the official who deals with the ministry, and she was cold and unresponsive. She said, ‘That’s the policy from the ministry,’ and admitted there’s no one to appeal to. They’re just blocking us out.”

She added, “Another coordinator told us that they’ve received dozens, maybe hundreds, of requests from girls and parents. But they said there’s nothing to be done, and it’s not even worth trying. They don’t respond because they don’t see us as important. The teachers are defeated—there’s nowhere to turn, and every path leads to a dead end.”

In response, students have launched an online petition demanding equal treatment and urging the Education Ministry to extend the same Bagrut exemptions to Chareidi girls as to the rest of the population. They’ve also filed a direct appeal to MeravD, the department responsible for external exams.

The Ministry of Education issued a formal response: “The Ministry of Education clarifies that in the summer session of 5785, following the ‘Am KeLavi’ war, all students in all sectors—including the Chareidi sector—were granted the option of receiving an internal grade in all exams. As for the second sessions in math, English, and Hebrew grammar, those exams are being administered as external exams, and this decision applies equally to all sectors.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

[Video below.] Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu concluded his four-day trip to Washington on Thursday night, boarding the “Wing of Zion” aircraft to return to Israel after meeting twice with President Donald Trump at the White House.

Following the visit, the Prime Minister’s Office released a statement declaring, “All the goals Netanyahu sought to achieve during the visit were accomplished.”

In an interview with Newsmax before departing, Netanyahu shared a guarded sense of hope about the possible return of ten more Israeli hostages who remain in Hamas captivity.

During the conversation, Netanyahu spoke about the current diplomatic efforts to broker a temporary pause in fighting in order to facilitate the release of hostages who were seized during the October 7, 2023, attacks.

He described the suffering endured by the 255 hostages as “hell,” calling Hamas “monsters” for their treatment of those taken.

“Well, they’re monsters. I mean what they do to them and the stories we get are horrible,” Netanyahu stated. “So it’s not easy for us when we’re doing it.”

Netanyahu stressed that Israel is resolute in its mission to recover every last hostage still being held.

“We have 50 left; 20 definitely alive, and some 30 that are not alive, and I want to take them all out,” he told Newsmax. “We now have a deal that supposedly we’ll get half of the living and half of the dead out, and so we’ll have 10 living left and about 12 deceased hostages. But I’ll get them out, too. I hope we can complete in a few days.”

The potential agreement being discussed includes a 60-day pause in hostilities. During that time, some hostages would be released, and talks would continue in pursuit of a broader end to the war. Netanyahu reiterated that peace could happen immediately “if Hamas lays down its arms.”

Shifting focus to the wider humanitarian crisis, Netanyahu condemned Hamas for its treatment of Palestinian Arabs in Gaza, accusing the terror group of hiding behind civilians and turning them into pawns in the conflict.

“It is a fighting force and a governing force in Gaza that oppresses its people, targets our people, our civilians, and uses their civilians as human shields. And then they complain that the civilian losses are because of us,” he told Newsmax. “No, we say to the civilians, ‘Leave. Leave the war zone.’ … And Hamas says, ‘You don’t go. You try to leave the war zone, we’ll shoot you.’ And they shoot them because they want the pictures of dead civilians that they are causing put on Israel’s head. And that’s what you get in TikTok and the social media: ‘Israel is deliberately killing civilians’; no, we’re not. Hamas is deliberately killing its own people, preventing them from escaping the war zone. So they’re monsters.”

Netanyahu also pointed to a significant and unusual development unfolding within Gaza: Palestinian Arabs themselves are beginning to rise up against Hamas’s iron grip.

“There are Palestinians fighting Hamas because we weaken them to this point,” Netanyahu told Newsmax. “We see something that never happened before. Palestinians in Gaza are fighting Hamas. Palestinians in Gaza are defying Hamas. Palestinians in Gaza are saying, ‘We don’t want them. We don’t want to be tyrannized and subjugated by these monsters.'”

He ended the interview with a firm message of determination: “Well, that didn’t happen before, and we think we can bring it to completion. So I wouldn’t tell you that we have a war goal that is unachievable. We’re going to defeat these monsters and get our hostages back.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}