Matzav

House Republicans successfully pushed through President Donald Trump’s sweeping $4.5 trillion legislative package on Thursday, securing final approval for a sprawling combination of tax reductions and spending cuts just in time for the July 4 deadline the president had set for himself.

The vote, which narrowly passed by a margin of 218-214, saw two Republican lawmakers break ranks to side with the unified Democratic opposition. Overnight negotiations and last-minute calls from President Trump himself persuaded several hesitant GOP members to shift their stance and clear the way for the legislation to reach his desk.

This marks a major legislative victory for both the president and congressional Republicans, as they managed to bundle a wide range of conservative goals into what they dubbed “one big beautiful bill,” a massive piece of legislation spanning over 800 pages. With no support from Democrats, the measure is now set to become a cornerstone of Trump’s agenda as he reasserts leadership with full Republican control of the legislative branch.

Clocking in at 887 pages, the bill combines numerous initiatives: tax cuts, significant reductions in federal spending, the removal of incentives for solar energy projects, increased funding for defense, and expanded deportation programs.

House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the legislation in strong terms, saying it would “make this country stronger, safer and more prosperous than ever before,” while Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries mounted a marathon speech lasting 8 hours and 44 minutes, declaring it “a crime scene, going after the health, and the safety, and the well-being of the American people.”

{Matzav.com}

According to a report published Thursday evening by Reuters, citing an Israeli official, Israel is preparing for a potential agreement that would bring about a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The official indicated that Israel expects Hamas to provide a formal reply by Friday.

Should Hamas respond favorably, Israeli officials are expected to participate in indirect negotiations aimed at finalizing the deal.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to convene a meeting of the security cabinet tonight at his Jerusalem office to discuss the proposed hostage arrangement and the broader developments in Gaza.

The New York Times reported late Wednesday that the proposed agreement with Hamas includes the release of 10 hostages who are still alive and the return of 18 bodies, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Both an Israeli official and a Hamas-linked source told the paper that the plan envisions the transfer of hostages and remains over five phases, spanning 60 days under a temporary truce.

This marks a departure from Washington’s earlier offer in May, which had called for the release of all hostages within the first week of a ceasefire.

The current proposal also stipulates that Hamas must avoid organizing publicized “release ceremonies” with media attention, like those that occurred during the previous temporary ceasefire, which drew global criticism.

Three Israeli sources indicated that the updated plan includes assurances to Hamas that the ceasefire will transition into a full end to the conflict.

Reuters reported that Hamas is expected to give its response to international mediators no later than Friday evening.

According to the same sources, US President Donald Trump will be the one to publicly announce the deal if both parties give their approval. He is also expected to serve as the main guarantor of the ceasefire’s enforcement. Meanwhile, a Hamas-affiliated figure insisted the current draft contains only slight adjustments compared to a prior proposal put forward by mediator Witkoff.

The agreement includes written assurances from intermediaries that fighting will not resume as long as negotiations are active. It also commits the parties to begin discussions during the 60-day truce with the goal of securing a permanent ceasefire and a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

IDF Spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, also known as Effie Defrin, provided an operational update on Thursday, detailing the current phase of Israel’s military campaign targeting the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza.

“Hamas’s governing hold is cracking, its stability is shaken day by day,” Defrin stated during the briefing.

He emphasized that Israeli ground forces are conducting broad operations across multiple areas, with five separate divisions currently operating inside the Gaza Strip. “IDF soldiers are intensely maneuvering in an extensive area. Five divisions are maneuvering in Gaza. We will present plans for the future to the political echelon so we can achieve the war’s objectives: the return of the hostages and the collapse of Hamas rule.”

Defrin said the IDF is moving toward predefined targets, adding, “We will soon reach lines that were set and approved as part of Operation Gideon’s Chariots, from there, there will be several options.”

He also addressed the delivery of humanitarian assistance, pushing back against negative reports: “So far, nearly one million food packages have been distributed at the distribution centers. The reports of killings are Hamas propaganda; unfortunately, the lies echo through the news.”

{Matzav.com}

Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries took to the House floor Thursday and held it for an extraordinary eight and a half hours, delivering the longest speech in the chamber’s history in an attempt to delay Republican efforts to pass a sweeping domestic policy package.

The speech, delivered under the House rule granting party leaders virtually unlimited speaking time — known informally as the “magic minute” — surpassed the previous record set by Republican Kevin McCarthy in 2021. That, in turn, had broken the earlier record held by Democrat Nancy Pelosi in 2018. Each of them was the minority leader when they spoke.

Jeffries began speaking at 4:52 a.m., using the early morning hours and much of the day to read aloud messages from constituents, particularly those who could suffer from the GOP’s proposed reductions to social programs. He also called out Republicans from politically competitive districts who are backing the measure — districts that Democrats are eyeing closely ahead of next year’s elections.

This marathon speech was the final tactic available to Democrats to hold up progress on the legislation, which was still expected to pass later in the day — just in time to meet a July 4 deadline Republicans set for themselves.

“I’m here today to make it clear that I’m going to take my time and ensure that the American people fully understand how damaging this bill will be to their quality of life,” Jeffries said during the speech. He added, “Donald Trump’s deadline may be Independence Day. That ain’t my deadline.”

Republicans didn’t seem fazed by the long-winded effort. Jeffries officially set a new record at 1:25 p.m. after speaking for eight hours and 33 minutes, and he tacked on another 12 minutes before wrapping up. House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed the effort, saying it was “an utter waste of everyone’s time, but that’s part of the system here.”

In contrast to the Senate, where filibusters are a common part of legislative maneuvering, the House usually enforces strict limits on debate. However, under longstanding tradition, the floor is open indefinitely to party leaders who wish to speak.

Jeffries’ filibuster-style delay was not the only holdup the bill encountered. Conservative Republicans objected to Senate revisions in the legislation, triggering a procedural vote that remained open for over nine hours on Wednesday — a record in itself, according to Democrats. In response, GOP leaders worked overnight, lobbying reluctant members, and finally secured the necessary votes by around 3:30 a.m., setting the stage for Jeffries to launch his historic speech.

{Matzav.com}

In a strategic effort to stall a Republican push to pass Donald Trump’s signature “one, big, beautiful bill,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries took over the House floor in the early hours of Thursday morning, exercising a leadership privilege known as “magic minutes” to speak for an unlimited amount of time.

This rarely used procedural tool allows congressional leaders to hold the floor without time restrictions, giving Jeffries the ability to delay proceedings for as long as he chooses without being interrupted.

The House had just passed a procedural hurdle with a 219-213 vote, clearing the way for a final vote later in the day on the sweeping tax and spending legislation championed by Trump.

Shortly before 5 a.m. ET, Jeffries posted on X, “Just took to the House Floor to speak in support of a country where everyone can afford to live the good life.” He added, “And in strong opposition to Trump’s One Big Ugly Bill that is devastating to everyday Americans. We will not be silenced.”

Unlike most House members who are restricted by time limits, Jeffries used his floor time to deliver an extended critique of the bill, continuing uninterrupted for hours.

By 7:30 a.m. ET, Jeffries had already spoken for over two and a half hours and showed no signs of stopping.

In his remarks, Jeffries urged his colleagues across the aisle to remember moments of bipartisan courage, citing the example of the late Senator John McCain of Arizona, who famously broke ranks with his party to preserve Obamacare. “All we need are four Republicans to join us in support of their constituents. Have John McCain-level courage, and stand up in defense of the healthcare of the American people,” he declared, while criticizing the proposed changes to Medicaid included in the bill.

{Matzav.com}

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman has shifted gears just a week after announcing his willingness to contribute “hundreds of millions of dollars” to support an alternative to New York City mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani. Late Thursday night, Ackman declared that current Mayor Eric Adams is best positioned to defeat Mamdani in the upcoming race and suggested that Andrew Cuomo should exit the contest.

In a series of posts on X, Ackman revealed that he sat down for separate one-hour meetings on Wednesday with both Adams and Cuomo. He came away convinced that Adams stands the best chance of winning and that Cuomo’s continued presence in the race would hinder that. “My takeaway is that Adams can win the upcoming election and that the Governor should step aside to maximize Adams’ probability of success,” he wrote.

Ackman expressed respect for Cuomo and acknowledged the former governor’s service to New York. However, he felt that Cuomo lacked the passion and vigor needed to wage a tough campaign against Mamdani. “It is abundantly clear in his body language, his subdued energy, and his proposals to beat Mamdani, that he is not up for the fight,” Ackman wrote.

In contrast, he portrayed Adams as full of determination and energy, ready to take on the challenge directly. He praised the mayor’s willingness to confront Mamdani’s radical positions. Adams, a onetime NYPD officer, is “ready to go to battle, guns blazing with enormous energy and clarity on why Mamdani and his socialist/communist (‘We must seize the means of production’) and anti-NYPD policies would be catastrophic for NYC,” Ackman said.

He also lauded Adams’ campaign abilities, describing him as someone who can galvanize support from everyday New Yorkers. While admitting that Adams’ first term had its blemishes, he still found it commendable overall. “He relied too much on friends of Adams to staff his administration; however, when one looks at his record in totality, he has had a strong first term,” Ackman noted.

Ackman pointed out that Mamdani’s far-left platform has had an unexpected effect: it’s motivated numerous skilled professionals to back Adams. He claimed the mayor is attracting “many of our talented citizens with relevant experience” and is dedicated to recruiting the “best and brightest” to help steer both his campaign and the city’s administration forward.

He also emphasized several of Adams’ achievements in public safety, economic growth, and everyday livability in the city. “Under the leadership of the Mayor and Police Commissioner Tisch, major crime is down by double-digit percentages this year,” Ackman stated. “Shootings are down to their lowest level in recorded City history, and murders are down to record lows we haven’t seen since the 1960s. Subway crime is also down by double-digit percentages this year.”

The rebound in employment since the pandemic was another point of pride. Ackman said the city has not only regained the one million jobs lost during the COVID-19 crisis but surpassed previous employment records, with more than 4.86 million residents now working.

He added that New York is experiencing an unprecedented boom in small business growth. “NYC now has a record number of small businesses — more than 183,000 — with 20 percent of those opening during this administration,” he said. Ackman warned, though, that this upward trend could be reversed under Mamdani’s leadership.

Affordability was also part of Adams’ record, Ackman said, noting that the mayor has made significant strides to ease financial pressure on working families. “429,600 of whom had their city income taxes eliminated, and another 152,500 whose taxes were reduced,” he said.

Ackman also praised Adams for preserving critical social support systems. He highlighted the protection of the child care voucher program and the creation of a special 1,500-member NYPD unit dedicated to addressing quality-of-life issues, a move that he said has already yielded “excellent results” and has since been expanded across the city.

He noted that the latest city budget has allocated increased resources for arts, culture, and libraries, as well as initiatives to keep public spaces clean and inviting.

Ackman ended his post with a personal endorsement of Adams’ authenticity, contrasting him with his political rival. “Adams is also always authentically himself — his smile is real unlike the other guy’s — and in my experience, the more authentic candidate always wins.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu paid a visit to Mossad headquarters on Wednesday evening, meeting with Mossad Director David Barnea and the organization’s senior leadership team.

During the meeting, Netanyahu voiced his gratitude to the Mossad personnel for their critical and exceptional role in Operation Rising Lion, as well as for their longstanding work in intelligence and operational activities aimed at countering Iran’s ambitions.

Netanyahu said, “The Mossad operation with the pagers set in motion everything that happened afterward – the elimination of Nasrallah, the collapse of Assad and our subsequent joint action in removing the immediate existential threat.”

He continued, “Your contribution was immense. Under the leadership of Mossad Director David Barnea, the agency proved its deep commitment to eliminating the leading minds and striking the Iranian nuclear program. Your phenomenal achievements combined very well with the great achievements of the IDF. This was a very great force multiplier. I commend you for your major and ongoing contribution to the security of Israel.”

David Barnea, head of the Mossad, addressed the team as well, emphasizing that Israel currently stands in a strategically strong position as a result of close collaboration with the military. He praised both the IDF’s exceptional performance and Mossad’s years of covert preparation against Iran’s threat.

Barnea stated, “Today, the State of Israel is in a powerful and strategic position, thanks to the outstanding cooperation with the military, which showed astounding capabilities, alongside the Mossad, which worked for years, preparing special and intelligence operations against the Iranian threat.”

He added, “There has been throughout responsible military leadership, outstanding civilian leadership, and – of course – diplomatic leadership by you, Mr. Prime Minister.

“I personally thank you for the trust you have placed in the men and women of the Mossad, and its commanders. Without this trust, we would not have achieved what we have to date, or the significant damage we inflicted in the recent campaign.”

Barnea concluded with a note of resolve, saying, “Our mission is not over. We are committed to continuing our efforts with determination in order to prevent future Iranian threats to the State of Israel, and to striving to fully utilize the strategic opportunities before us.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis exposes Zohran Mamdani’s radical record and touts the layout of ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ on ‘Hannity.’

WATCH:

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Over the last 16 years, a new approach and method of limud Hashas has been nurtured and developed in Eretz Yisroel at Reshet Kollelei Shas Yiden. This phenomenon has captured the imagination and electrified lomdei Hatorah throughout the world, and has earned the avid support of Gedolim across the Torah spectrum. 

Shas Yiden in UK & USA

Shas Yiden not only grew from 6 avreichim metzuyonim to 126 avreichim geonim in five kollelim across Eretz Yisroel but, in response to repeated requests from abroad, a Shas Yiden kollel was first established in the UK, in Stamford Hill, London. The Shas Yiden reputation soared in this location and their first Annual Siyum Hashas with Gedolei Torah in attendance reflected the grandeur of those in Yerushalayim.

This foray into Chutz La’aretz has been followed by a long-awaited opening of a Shas Yiden kollel in Flatbush, NY. The Eretz Yisroeldike bren of learning the entire Shas has already had a significant local impact and is a source of inspiration to the local Flatbush kollelim. The incredible devotion to limud gantz Shas and its completion within a year by each avreich at Shas Yiden has encouraged many others to try and emulate this broader study of Shas.

This elevated level of Torah study at Shas Yiden and the ability of the avreichim geonim to face public oral farheren by world recognized Gedolei Torah, together with monthly tests on 225 blatt, is nothing short of remarkable. Shas Yiden has truly raised the bar in the study of Shas. Our unique system of learning, the tight demanding regimen and the motivation emanating from Eretz Yisroel has truly placed Shas Yiden in a Torah league of its own. 

In the Words of Maranan Hageonim

Sar Hatorah, רשכבה”ג Maran Hagadol Harav Chaim Kanievsky, זצ”ל – Nasi, Shas Yiden
I tested them, I know them throughout Shas – a Yissachar-Zevulun pact with Shas Yiden is the most mehudar partnership 

Rosh Hayeshiva, רשכבה”ג Maran Hagadol Harav Gershon Edelstein, זצ”ל
Shas Yiden has raised the bar of Torah learning in both depth and clarity, and its unique method of ameilus in Torah

The Sanzer Rebbe, שליט”א
A first in 2000 years of Jewish history – never before a Torah institution where ALL the avreichim know kol Hashas kulo, Rashi and Tosfos b’al peh

Over 1.6 Million Blatt at Shas Yiden
This Year Alone!

With each of the 122 avreichim geonim at Shas Yiden required to complete a minimum of 13,555 blatt per year, you are helping support some 1,654,000 blatt! 

At the most recent farheren, the reaction of the Gedolei Torah conducting the testing to the prowess of the Shas Yiden was simply one of amazement at the breadth and detailed knowledge and all-encompassing mastery of Shas – remarking: “They know it like others know Ashrei Yoshvei!” The joy of the avreichim geonim and their clear love of Torah electrifies each farher. (To see the different farheren in action, please click on our website: www.shasyiden.com.) It is no wonder that the overall reaction to the Shas Yiden Network is that in its 15 years it has certainly revolutionized and raised the bar in the learning and mastery of Shas. 

Caring for the Avreichim Families

Despite the difficulties of these last few years, Covid etc., Shas Yiden has made sure to keep our commitment to each of the Shas Yiden families to ensure their menuchas hanefesh to be free to focus on Shas.  Each month their salaries have been paid on time. Further, in Tishrei and, now again, for Nissan, they are all paid full extra salary checks to help them meet the extra Yom Tov expenses. 

That we are able to do so, a big ‘thank you‘ is due to you all. You have an eternal stake in the incredible learning of Shas Yiden. Your on-going interest and support in this unique ‘Entire-Shas’ Torah-learning venture is most sincerely appreciated. Collectively and individually, you are singular partners in changing the way the Torah world views the ability to both learn and master the entire Shas. Whatever you can do to help in defraying their extra Yom Tov expenses will be a great chesed to these Bnei Torah who are true bnei aliyah.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., defended her controversial remarks describing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as a “terrorist force,” following sharp criticism from the White House and others.

In a Wednesday interview on CNN’s News Central with Brianna Keilar, Jayapal was asked to explain an Instagram post she had shared a day earlier. In that post, Jayapal claimed, “ICE is acting like a terrorist force. People across the country of all legal statuses — including U.S. citizens — are being kidnapped and disappeared off the street by masked men. No oversight, no accountability. Completely lawless.”

Keilar questioned Jayapal specifically about a statement issued by White House press secretary Abigail Jackson, which was provided to Fox News Digital.

Jackson responded forcefully to Jayapal’s accusations, writing, “Jayapal’s disgusting comments warrant an immediate apology. Heroic ICE officers are simply doing their jobs and enforcing federal immigration law, with the utmost professionalism.”

She added, “Dangerous smears by deranged leftists like Jayapal radicalize their supporters to violently attack and obstruct federal law enforcement. Because of comments like Jayapal’s, assaults against ICE agents have increased by 500% this year. And that number will go even higher if Jayapal doesn’t stop with her smears.”

Jayapal rejected those assertions, stating, “What is deranged and cruel and outrageous is that, literally, we are seeing ICE agents, I assume they‘re ICE agents. They say they are. They don‘t have any identification. They‘re wearing masks. They‘re in plain clothes. They are coming and kidnapping and disappearing people on the streets of the United States.”

She continued by saying, “I never in a million years thought that that is something that I would see here in America. And so I think it is the administration that has to apologize to U.S. citizens that have been rounded up to legal, permanent residents, to people with legal statuses across the country who are getting swept up, people who have been here for 20 years and committed no crimes, getting swept up by masked men who are kidnaping them and deporting them.”

Jayapal doubled down on her critique, labeling ICE enforcement operations as “outrageous,” “unconstitutional,” and “illegal.”

She further stated, “It is absolutely terrorizing people, including small businesses, farmers. The round table I had in Spokane was with people from the Growers League, farmers who are terrified, restaurant owners who can‘t have, you know, who are seeing their sales go down because nobody wants to come out and eat. Literally. People are so afraid, Brianna. It‘s never something I thought I would see in the United States of America. The White House owes an apology to the American people for what they are doing.”

Meanwhile, concerns about safety for ICE officers continue to grow. Tom Homan, a key border policy figure, addressed the surge in violence against agents on Monday during an interview on The Will Cain Show. He also spoke out against a new tracking app reportedly called ICEBlock, which alerts users to ICE operations.

“Assault against ICE is up over 500%,” Homan said. “Now you’ve got an app that’s going to tell where ICE operations are going to. It’s only a matter of time before ICE agents are ambushed by some nut, like what happened in L.A., throwing them out a cocktail, throwing bricks at these officers. This is just disgusting at every level.”

{Matzav.com}

Claire Shipman, who now serves as Columbia University’s acting president, allegedly pushed to add an Arab representative to the school’s board of trustees and privately expressed opposition to keeping a Jewish trustee due to her pro-Israel views, according to internal communications reviewed by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

“We need to get somebody from the middle east [sic] or who is Arab on our board,” Shipman wrote in a WhatsApp message on January 17, 2024. “Quickly I think. Somehow.”

A week later, she criticized trustee Shoshana Shendelman, a vocal opponent of anti-Israel protests on campus, telling colleagues she had been “extraordinarily unhelpful.” Shipman added, “I just don’t think she should be on the board.”

These conversations were revealed in a letter sent Tuesday by Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) to Shipman, obtained first by The Washington Free Beacon. The lawmakers asked Shipman to explain the exchanges, which they said “raise troubling questions regarding Columbia’s priorities just months after the October 7th attack, which was the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust,” and flagged possible violations of civil rights law.

The letter noted that if Columbia were to appoint someone to the board “specifically because of their national origin,” the action could “implicate Title VI concerns.”

The documents also detail how, during the pro-Palestinian encampment on Columbia’s campus in 2024, Shipman warned vice-chair Wanda Greene not to engage with Shendelman, whom she claimed was probing for information. “Do you believe that she is a mole?” Greene asked on April 22. “A Fox in the henhouse?” Shipman responded, “I do.”

The Free Beacon reported that Shendelman was among the trustees who urged university leadership to restore order by bringing in law enforcement. Columbia ultimately delayed police involvement until after protesters occupied a building and allegedly held a janitor hostage, leading to dozens of arrests.

During the crisis, Shendelman went to campus to retrieve her daughters and their friends, who were unable to leave Butler Library because of the protest. In a subsequent trustees call, she described the ordeal, but her concerns were allegedly brushed aside. Shipman appeared to reference the incident when writing, “And like driving to campus and loading people into a suv. I just don’t know.”

Other messages revealed further disdain for Shendelman. Greene wrote, “I’m tired of her.” To which Shipman replied, “So so tired.” Shendelman is a biotech CEO whose family escaped Iran during the 1979 revolution.

Lawmakers homed in on the comments about Shendelman, questioning why Shipman appeared eager to oust “one of the board’s most outspoken Jewish advocates at a time when Columbia students were facing a shocking level of fear and hostility.”

A Columbia University spokesperson told Breitbart News the correspondence was being taken out of context. “These communications were provided to the Committee in the fall of 2024 and reflect communications from more than a year ago. They are now being published out of context and reflect a particularly difficult moment in time for the University when leaders across Columbia were intensely focused on addressing significant challenges,” the statement said.

The spokesperson added, “This work is ongoing, and to be clear: Columbia is deeply committed to combating antisemitism and working with the federal government on this very serious issue, including our ongoing discussions to reach an agreement with the Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism. Acting President Claire Shipman has been vocally and visibly committed to eradicating antisemitism on campus; the work underway at the university to create a safe and welcoming environment for all community members makes that plain.”

Following publication of the committee’s findings, The New York Post obtained an email Shipman reportedly sent to close contacts, in which she took responsibility for her words. “Let me be clear: The things I said in a moment of frustration and stress were wrong,” Shipman wrote. “They do not reflect how I feel… It was a moment of immense pressure, over a year and a half ago, as we navigated some deeply turbulent times. But that doesn’t change the fact that I made a mistake.”

She also claimed to have offered a personal apology to Shendelman: “I have tremendous respect and appreciation for that board member, whose voice on behalf of Columbia’s Jewish community is critically important. I should not have written those things, and I am sorry.”

In response, Shendelman told Breitbart News, “The cavalier attitude towards student safety and the casual cruelty that is captured within the texts don’t leave much to interpretation and is understandably alarming to parents of college students nationwide. I can’t control what others do, but I will do my best to change things in a positive way for the sake of our students, our universities and our nation. I will continue to lead by example – to work hard and to do the right thing with moral clarity.”

The committee also included a December 2023 message in which Shipman dismissed congressional scrutiny. Writing to then-president Minouche Shafik, she referred to “the capital [sic] hill nonsense”—presumably referencing Shafik’s testimony before lawmakers investigating campus antisemitism.

“Your reference to ‘capital [sic] hill nonsense’ is disturbing given Congress’s role in conducting oversight to ensure universities are fulfilling their obligations to protect Jewish students,” the committee wrote. “Congress’s efforts to ensure the safety and security of Jewish students—who make up almost a quarter of your campus population—is not ‘capital [sic] hill nonsense.’”

In another exchange dated October 30, 2023, Shipman acknowledged concerns from the Jewish community but seemed to downplay their validity: “people are really frustrated and scared about antisemitism on our campus and they feel somehow betrayed by it. Which is not necessarily a rational feeling but it’s deep and it is quite threatening.”

The committee criticized this description as dismissive, especially “considering the violence and harassment against Jewish and Israeli students already occurring on Columbia’s campus at the time.”

Reacting to Columbia’s claim that the messages were taken out of context, Rep. Walberg pushed back forcefully. “Two years ago, college and university administrators famously stated ‘it depends on the context’ to defend their lack of response to antisemitism on their campuses. Now, Columbia University is using this tired practice of blaming ‘context’ for their acting president’s questionable texts and emails,” he told Breitbart News. “Americans are smarter than these institutions seem to think and can see through this overused line.”

The disclosures come as Columbia tries to recover from a loss of $400 million in federal funding, which the Trump administration revoked in March, citing the university’s failure to protect Jewish students from harassment. In June, federal officials also alleged that Columbia was out of compliance with accreditation requirements and in violation of anti-discrimination laws.

Shipman has reportedly accepted some of the administration’s conditions to restore funding, including a campus mask ban and authorization for university police to detain and remove students as needed, according to The New York Post.

In a private letter, Shipman wrote that Columbia is “committed to restoring our critical partnership with the federal government as quickly as possible, so that thousands of our faculty and researchers and students can get back to the essential work they do on behalf of humanity.”

{Matzav.com}

In a significant step toward ensuring equal enforcement of protest-related laws across all sectors of Israeli society, the Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved a bill on Wednesday aimed at eliminating selective law enforcement against certain populations, including the chareidi community.

The proposed legislation, sponsored by MK Moshe Roth, is designed to establish a clear and equal standard of enforcement for public protests, regardless of the protesters’ background. It seeks to enshrine the principle that the basic right to demonstrate must be upheld fairly for all citizens.

“There is nothing more corrosive to a society than when its citizens feel they are being treated unequally,” the bill states, citing a 1987 Supreme Court ruling. “The feeling of inequality is one of the most damaging. It undermines the forces that unite society and harms an individual’s sense of identity.”

The proposal comes against a backdrop of years-long claims of systemic bias by law enforcement authorities—especially the police, state prosecution, and attorney general’s office—toward certain communities. These include chareidim, residents of the yishuvim (settlements), and members of the Ethiopian-Israeli community.

One case cited in the bill is a February 2025 ruling by Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court Judge Avital Mold, who dismissed charges against a chareidi minor due to what she called “selective enforcement.” The judge noted that similar charges were not brought against non-chareidi youth involved in passive protests.

The bill further claims that protests involving visibly chareidi demonstrators were met with harsher police tactics—such as water cannons laced with foul-smelling “skunk” liquid—while protests on Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv, despite road blockages and violent behavior, did not face the same response.

MK Roth’s bill affirms that all protestors must be treated equally, including in matters such as road blockages, demonstrations near the homes of public officials, the use of crowd control tools, and decisions involving detentions, investigations, arrests, or indictments for disorderly conduct.

To enhance transparency and oversight, the proposal requires law enforcement agencies to report twice a year to the Knesset’s National Security Committee. These reports must include detailed statistics on investigations, arrests, case closures, and indictments related to protests—broken down by demographic group and protest location.

Additionally, the attorney general will be obligated to appear before the committee annually to report on enforcement policies related to protests and to answer lawmakers’ questions.

“This bill sets a fundamental principle: the right to protest belongs equally to everyone, and law enforcement must act accordingly,” said MK Roth. “The law will require regular reporting to the Knesset and allow for real oversight. Selective enforcement is an injustice that must be eliminated.”

{Matzav.com}

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When Akiva Zuravin set out to develop Jerusalem Estates, he wasn’t simply building luxury apartments—he was making a statement. Tucked into the historic Schneller compound in the heart of the frum neighborhoods and within walking distance of prominent Chassidic centers, Jerusalem Estates became more than just a sought-after address. It became a symbol of what’s possible when vision, values, and execution align.

“We weren’t just creating buildings,” Zuravin reflects. “We were shaping something that felt deeply connected to its surroundings—authentic, beautiful, and thoughtfully done.”

It was that mindset that set Jerusalem Estates apart—and that continues to define Zuravin’s approach today. With Ir Olam, his most ambitious development yet, the goal is even broader: not just to build homes, but to shape the rhythm of modern life in Jerusalem.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Located adjacent to Givat Shaul, Kiryat Moshe, and Beit Hakerem, and minutes away from Har Nof, Ir Olam rises from the grounds of the old flour mill—once an industrial area and now envisioned as one of Jerusalem’s most forward-looking quarters for living, working, and gathering.

Where Jerusalem Estates was a residential landmark, Ir Olam is a full-scale quarter, featuring three luxury residential towers, two LEED Platinum-certified office buildings, a boutique shopping boulevard, green rooftops, shuls, co-working areas, a school, and a central piazza designed to foster everyday connection.

But beyond design and functionality lies a deeper intention: community. At Jerusalem Estates, Zuravin prioritized buyers who shared common values—people who could not only live alongside one another but thrive together. That same care is being applied at Ir Olam.

“When people share the same rhythm of life,” Zuravin explains, “the entire experience becomes more meaningful. The gym, the shul, the party room—they’re not just amenities. They’re points of connection.”

In Ir Olam, where residents will share workspaces, rooftops, lounges, and lifestyle services, community isn’t just a feature—it’s part of the architecture. The goal is a natural, respectful cohesion that allows for privacy and belonging to coexist.

The project was conceived by Yashar Architects, whose signature blends functionality with elegance, and is being built to international standards of environmental sustainability and urban planning. Every detail has been thoughtfully considered, with user experience at the core.

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Despite increasing pressure to introduce new draft legislation in the coming days, the chareidi parties are expected to oppose the proposed bill, but without threatening the stability of the coalition government, according to a report by Kan News.

With a ticking political clock, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s inner circle is under mounting pressure to present a draft of the new giyus (IDF draft) law to avoid a coalition crisis and fulfill promises made to the chareidi factions. A failure to bring a bill forward by next Wednesday could escalate tensions, as chareidi representatives have warned of taking stronger action if no legislative progress is seen.

According to Kan, a draft version of the law is expected to be submitted in the coming days and presented to the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Negotiations with the chareidi parties are in their final stages and are expected to continue tomorrow as part of the process of presenting an initial draft.

One significant change reportedly included in the bill is a clause mandating the enlistment of over 4,800 chareidi men in the first year of implementation, a point of concern within the chareidi community.

While there has been vocal opposition from United Torah Judaism and Shas regarding any legislation that would require thousands of bochurim to enlist in the IDF, senior chareidi sources told Kan that they do not intend to leave the coalition over the introduction of the bill, signaling a pragmatic approach despite ideological objections.

This political development comes as Netanyahu appointed MK Yisrael Eichler as Minister of Housing, under pressure from Agudas Yisrael to return control of the ministry to the party. Eichler will serve in this role until Minister Yitzchak Goldknopf, who stepped down temporarily, is able to resume his position.

Officials in the Prime Minister’s Office have expressed hope that Goldknopf will soon return to his ministerial duties, a move that would further stabilize the coalition and reinforce the government’s efforts to advance the draft law before the looming deadline next Wednesday.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The Knesset’s State Control Committee, chaired by MK Mickey Levy, convened yesterday for the ninth time to discuss the enforcement of core curriculum studies in chareidi educational institutions, amid ongoing tensions between government oversight bodies and the chareidi school system.

The hearing was initiated by MK Moshe Kinley Tur-Paz, who opened with strong criticism: “The State of Israel transferred funds to the chareidi education system, yet a report submitted to the High Court reveals that core curriculum subjects were not taught. Specifically, 616 standardized hours were allocated to the Chinuch Atzmai network and not returned. A review showed that 9 out of 42 schools in the network did not teach the core subjects, despite receiving funding for them.”

According to MK Tur-Paz, representatives from the school network responded by saying, “It depends on the gedolei Yisrael — if they approve, we will make the correction.” He continued, “This implies that funds taken from the state for these studies will only be properly used if permitted by rabbinic authorities — irrespective of state funding guidelines.”

He added that while the chareidi education network submitted its portion of the report to the High Court this past Sunday, the legislative branch itself has yet to receive it. “In nine schools, it is explicitly written that any correction will be made only with the approval of the gedolim. In other words — we took the money, didn’t do what was required, and now say we’ll only comply if the rabbis agree,” Tur-Paz said.

MK Avraham Betzalel pushed back against the tone of the discussion. “There are people with no real connection or understanding of the chareidi education system who are using a professional discussion as an excuse to repeatedly bash the chareidi public,” he said. “Over the past 70 years, others far more sophisticated have tried to change the chareidi community — and failed. What we saw here today was a thorough and professional presentation from the chareidi education division.”

Despite repeated requests from the committee, the Ministry of Education has refused to transfer the full report detailing compliance with core curriculum standards in primary chareidi schools. Committee Chairman MK Mickey Levy condemned the ministry’s silence: “The failure to submit the report is a serious violation of the Knesset’s role and its oversight authority. If the report is not delivered within the coming week, I will file a petition with the High Court.”

In response to the concerns raised, the head of the chareidi education division within the Ministry of Education pledged a dramatic shift starting in the upcoming school year, including stricter enforcement and oversight mechanisms to ensure compliance with national education standards. He noted that institutions failing to uphold their commitments would face sanctions.

{Matzav.com Israel}

As optimism grows in Israel over the possibility of a breakthrough in ceasefire talks and a hostage release deal, key details of the proposal currently on the table have been revealed. Under the plan, Hamas would release 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 others in five separate phases. In return, Israel would agree to a two-month ceasefire and to the release of high-level Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli officials said Thursday morning that a sense of cautious optimism surrounds the negotiations. According to those close to the process, Hamas appears to be showing signs of “flexibility,” and should the terror group respond positively to the revised proposal, an Israeli delegation is expected to travel to Qatar by the weekend to begin direct negotiations.

Senior American officials, led by special envoy Steve Witkoff, are working urgently to finalize the deal ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming visit to the White House next week.

The proposed framework includes a two-month suspension of Israeli military activity in Gaza. If serious negotiations on ending the war are underway at the end of that period, the ceasefire would continue. President Donald Trump has pledged to serve as guarantor of the agreement, ensuring that Israel extends the ceasefire as long as meaningful talks toward a permanent end to the conflict are ongoing.

According to the new terms, Hamas would release eight of the living hostages during the first week of the ceasefire. The remaining two would be freed on the 50th day. Meanwhile, the bodies of 18 fallen hostages would be returned in three separate batches throughout the 60-day truce.

In a significant concession, Israel would release a number of convicted Palestinian terrorists with blood on their hands—prisoners it had previously refused to free.

Reports in Arab media overnight stated that Hamas is “satisfied” with the revised proposal and is expected to deliver its official response by Friday.

In an official statement issued late Wednesday night, Hamas said, “Mediators are making intensive efforts to bridge the gaps between the parties and reach a framework agreement by opening a serious round of negotiations.”

The statement added, “We are acting with the utmost responsibility and are consulting with the Palestinian factions regarding the proposals forwarded by the mediators, in the hope of reaching an agreement that will bring an end to Israeli aggression, ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and secure the flow of supplies to Gaza residents.”

U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the talks Wednesday, saying, “My representatives held a long and productive meeting today with the Israelis about Gaza. Israel has agreed to the terms necessary to implement a 60-day ceasefire, during which we will work with all parties to bring an end to the war.”

He added a warning directed at Hamas: “The Qataris and Egyptians, who have worked hard to advance peace, will convey this final offer. I hope, for the sake of the Middle East, that Hamas will accept the deal, because the situation will not get better—it will only get worse. Thank you for your attention to this important matter!”

{Matzav.com Israel}

A French couple, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who have been detained in Iran for more than three years, are now facing new charges of espionage on behalf of Israel and conspiring to overthrow the regime, according to reports by the AFP news agency citing a Western diplomatic source. The source emphasized there is “no basis” for the allegations.

The French Foreign Ministry issued a swift and strong condemnation, calling the couple’s detention “completely arbitrary” and demanding their release.

This development comes on the heels of recent reports that a group of Jews residing in Iran had also been arrested by the regime and cut off from contact with family and acquaintances. Rumors spread suggesting they were accused of spying for Israel and maintaining ties with Israeli agents, against the backdrop of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

The reports have sparked serious concern among Iran’s Jewish community, which fears the regime’s notorious record of false accusations and summary executions. However, Homayoun Sameh, the Jewish community’s representative in the Iranian parliament, dismissed the claims.

Sameh stated that the detained individuals were not arrested for espionage, but rather for holding unauthorized family celebrations, and that their release is expected shortly. “Their arrest has nothing to do with spying,” he said.

He added that during the recent “12-day war,” several Iranian Jews were killed and referred to as “martyrs of Zionist aggression,” asserting that this fact demonstrates the local Jewish community’s loyalty and support for Iran.

{Matzav.com}

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz

After parshiyos that discussed the tragic accounts of the meraglim and Korach, this week’s parsha begins with an elevated vision of life steeped in Torah. “Zos chukas haTorah, adam ki yomus ba’ohel.” This is the way of Torah: spiritual living demands sacrifice. Those who seek to bind themselves to Torah shed the layers of material life, dedicating themselves to growth, meaning, and eternity. Their lives revolve around Torah, and they steer away from pursuits that distract from their spiritual ascent.

Rashi, quoting the Medrash Tanchuma, tells us that the Soton and the nations of the world mock this mitzvah. They ask: What sense is there in the Parah Adumah? What logic can justify it? The Torah anticipates this, so it emphasizes that this command is a chok, a Divine decree beyond human understanding. We follow it because it comes from Hashem.

We are not expected to explain the Torah to those who mock it. We do not owe the world rationales for our practices. We follow the chok, the word of Hashem, with humility and resolve, and through that, we survive and flourish in a world saturated with falsehood.

A story is told of a lion that encountered a chicken and began to choke it. “Why are you doing this to me?” the chicken cried. “I never harmed you.”

The lion answered plainly, “Because I can.”

For much of our history, that was the attitude of the world toward the Jewish people. For centuries, we were tormented without reason, our loyalty and intelligence questioned, our very existence scorned. The Torah teaches us not to justify ourselves to those who wish only to ridicule. Engaging with them is fruitless. Their questions are not sincere. Their aim is not clarity, but derision.

Torah, the ultimate wisdom, does not conform to conventional logic. Its truths are not confined to what the human mind can grasp. We accept the chukim alongside the mishpotim, with the understanding that our bond to Hashem transcends reason. Torah living is not a matter of intellect alone. It is a covenant rooted in submission, in faith, in eternity.

Greatness in Torah is not achieved through brilliance, but through purity, diligence, and humility. Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach would often recount the story of Rashi, who, before writing his timeless commentary, traveled extensively to ensure that no greater peirush already existed. Only after his search proved fruitless did he begin his monumental work. As he wrote, he fasted hundreds of times, begging that his words would reflect Divine truth and help propel people to the truth.

Rav Shach would become emotional as he retold this story. To him, it represented the essence of Torah greatness: not ego or intellectual conquest, but deep humility, responsibility, and fidelity to mesorah.

Rav Aharon Kotler, in Mishnas Rav Aharon on Parshas Korach, explores the unique role of shevet Levi, the shevet set apart from all the rest to serve in the Mishkon and rule on matters of halacha. They were not given a portion in the land, which would have encumbered them with caring for it, planting and harvesting for their sustenance. Instead, they relied on terumos and maaseros from the rest of the nation.

Rav Aharon asks: If their service was so vital, why were they left financially dependent on others? Wouldn’t this create instability and pressure, especially when considering that the reason for the terumos and maaseros – and them not owning property – was so that they would not be worried about earning a livelihood?

His answer is profound: Precisely because they were spiritual leaders, they needed to be protected from arrogance. Had they been self-sufficient and financially secure, they might have grown proud and disconnected from the people. But Torah leadership demands humility. Financial dependency served as a safeguard against conceit. For without humility, a person cannot merit siyata diShmaya, Divine assistance. Hashem detests arrogance, as the posuk says, “Toavas Hashem kol gevah lev.” Someone who is conceited cannot properly understand Torah and arrive at the proper p’sak halacha. Someone who is conceited will be lacking the siyata diShmaya necessary to pasken correctly.

To grow in Torah, intelligence alone is not enough. Torah is unlike any other form of knowledge. It is a Divine gift, granted to those who approach it with reverence and self-effacement. This principle holds true for communal leadership as well.

A group of askonim devised a solution to a communal issue. Before implementing it, they consulted with a senior communal leader, who told them that he favored their approach but must first consult with Rav Shach before signing off on it. When the plan was presented to Rav Shach, he rejected it outright, saying that he saw from the Chofetz Chaim that their approach is wrong.

The group was convinced that they had thoroughly analyzed the issue and arrived at a perfect solution. Convinced that Rav Shach rejected it because the plan wasn’t properly explained to him, they went themselves to meet Rav Shach to discuss with him their solution to the pressing communal crisis.

Rav Shach told them, “I will not debate your arguments, and for all I know, your thoughts might be correct. But Klal Yisroel is not led by conclusions and thoughts of smart people. Klal Yisroel is led by mesorah, tradition. If the mesorah from the Chofetz Chaim is that we don’t engage in something like that, then we don’t do it, no matter how smart it seems, for following our mesorah is the proper course of action.”

This is a vital truth in every generation. Too often, people believe that they know better than the Torah. They view themselves as visionaries, convinced that their solutions are superior to those passed down through generations. But such confidence often stems from arrogance, not insight. And without humility and mesorah, even the most well-intentioned leader can lead others astray.

We see people who are consumed by a problem and believe that they have the perfect solution. They fail to properly consider it, as they are convinced of their intelligence and leadership abilities, but due to their conceit, they lack the siyata diShmaya required to arrive at proper decisions.

They think that their reasoning is impeccable, but they fail to consider the mesorah—namely, how gedolim who came before them thought and acted.

No one, as smart as he thinks he is and as pressing as the problem he faces is, has a right to present plans that differ from our mesorah. Doing so causes mayhem and fails to solve problems. The logic may be compelling, but it is still wrong.

People in our day are led astray by those who claim to understand the reasoning for different halachos and temper them to mesh with the times.

History has shown us the dangers of this path. The Conservative and Reform movements arose from attempts to modernize halacha—to “rationalize” it, to make it more palatable. The result was a tragedy of assimilation and spiritual confusion, as they caused many to deviate from halacha and mesorah, leading millions of Jews astray.

To us, it sounds ridiculous that they maintain institutions that they refer to as “yeshivos” and have halachic decisors who write so-called teshuvos, as if they are following the Torah. Through the implementation of what they refer to as logic, they have so dramatically twisted halacha as to make it meaningless for their millions of followers.

Once mitzvos are rationalized and twisted to conform to someone’s human understanding of them and their concepts, the halachos become compromised and eventually are totally lost.

Those who study Torah while lacking yiras Shomayim, respect for mesorah and humility ultimately destroy instead of build, obscure instead of reveal, and cause others to repel the Torah instead of drawing closer to it.

When they first began, we regularly reported on the actions and teachings of those in the Open Orthodoxy movement, who follow in the path of the founders of the Conservative movement. Their hypocrisy, true intentions and the sad path they have followed have become obvious to all. We should never cease to remind all that the leaders and clergy of this group are not Orthodox in thought, practice, attitude or approach.

Their teshuvos and drashos mock tradition and halacha, and are fanciful attempts to have the Torah conform with current progressive thought, bearing little relation to the reality of Torah thought and interpretation. Though they claim to uphold the Torah, their reinterpretations and institutions consistently erode its foundations.

Rav Elchonon Wasserman explained the posuk of “Tzidkoscha tzedek le’olam” (Tehillim 119:142) to mean that man cannot fathom the depths of Hashem’s justice, for society and its concepts are ever changing. What is considered just in one generation is viewed as unjust in the next. But “veSorascha emes,” the truth of Torah is everlasting. It neither changes for the times nor conforms to them.

Zos chukas haTorah. Torah is a chok. Torah is neither about impressive dissertations nor social welfare and contracting with a good marketing firm. It is about following the will of the Creator as expressed in Torah Shebiksav and Torah Shebaal Peh.

Chazal say (Taanis 30, et al), “Kol hamisabel al Yerushalayim zocheh veroeh besimchosah.” In order to merit enjoying the rebuilding of Yerushalayim, one must mourn its destruction.

When justice is man-made, there is always going to be inequality, mistakes, and feelings of division, for the system is inherently only as good as the mortals who formulate the laws and enforce and adjudicate them.

What society considers just is ever-changing. But the truth of Torah is eternal.

So when the parsha begins with the words “Zos chukas haTorah,” it is telling us that Torah is not a philosophy, nor is it a social framework or a platform for pontification. Torah represents the Divine truth through which the world was created and which we must follow to exist successfully in the world that was created through it and for it.

The lesson for us is that we cause the flame of Torah to burn brightly within us as a steady blaze that warms everything in its path. Let mitzvos be more than obligations. Let them be the song of our lives. Let us dance to the rhythm of halacha, not out of habit or pressure, but out of deep joy and knowledge that this is the correct way to live our lives.

Let us endeavor for our tefillah to carry the urgency of someone who knows he is speaking to the One who created heaven, earth and us. Let our learning feel like a reunion with eternity. When we sit down to learn, no matter the time of day or night, let the pages of the Gemara pulse in our hands, like living breath, providing us the very oxygen we need to survive.

Let us ensure that our homes and shuls shine with sincerity, the glowing warmth of love and authenticity. Let us raise our children so they see Torah as the heartbeat of life. Let our neighbors feel kindness radiating from us. Let us uplift people and not put people down. Let us be warm and not cold, friendly and not distant.

We are students of Torah, its bearers, its heirs. We are the link in a chain that stretches back to Har Sinai, a chain forged by brilliance and by fire—the fire of bitachon, sacrifice, and unwavering loyalty to Torah, halacha and mesorah.

The fire of Torah that brings life to everything.

The summer sun stretches long across our days, casting a softer light and a slower rhythm upon our lives. With the burdens of routine temporarily lifted, we instinctively breathe a little deeper, hoping to recharge, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

But the Torah doesn’t go on vacation. The weekly parshiyos continue to echo through our lives, each one a reminder of who we are and what we’re here for.

As we review Israel’s miraculous military triumphs that defied logic and revealed the Hand of Hashem, we are reminded that Jewish survival is never natural. It is always supernatural. At the same time, we begin to approach the somber days of Tammuz, entering the shadowed corridor of the Three Weeks, when we mourn not only the loss of the physical Bais Hamikdosh, but also the resulting spiritual distance that has become part of our lives.

And so, this calm season offers more than leisure. It offers clarity. It is a time to pause and ask ourselves the questions we so often silence during the year’s noise: Where am I really headed? Am I living deliberately, or drifting gently in the current? What can I be doing better and how can I accomplish that?

We sit on porches and benches, feeling the stillness, while inside something stirs. A whisper. A nudge. A subtle call to return. To reflect. To realign. Because even as the world seems to slow, the neshomah does not rest. It seeks direction, meaning, and connection. It seeks the fire of purpose, even in the warmth of summer.

This is the time to look inward, to look upward, and to let the sunlight not only warm our skin, but also awaken our hearts and help us prepare for the great day when the new light will shine with the coming of Moshiach very soon.

{Matzav.com}

Ongoing friction between justices on Israel’s Supreme Court has exposed deep ideological divides and is creating mounting pressure for reform within the court’s ranks. The growing tension, particularly over how cases with high public profiles are handled, has placed conservative Justice Noam Sohlberg at odds with Supreme Court President Yitzchak Amit, who is known for his judicial activism.

Recent rulings and hearings have drawn criticism from both legal experts and the media, with many alleging that the court is projecting a one-sided tone and failing to maintain the objectivity and balance expected in major legal decisions.

These concerns were amplified last week as the court deliberated on several sensitive cases, including the outgoing Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, the appointment of General Zini, and matters relating to the Civil Service Commission. During these proceedings, sharp disagreements emerged between the justices, with Chief Justice Amit adopting an assertive, activist stance.

In one notable exchange during the debate over General Zini’s appointment, Justice Alex Stein responded to the Attorney General’s representative by asserting that a prime minister has the right to disagree with the legal opinion of the attorney general. Justice Amit sharply opposed this, stating, “I do not agree. If every minister makes up his own law, we’ll be meeting here every day.”

Tensions reached a new level when Justice Stein accused the attorney general’s position of contradicting a previous Supreme Court ruling, a claim Justice Amit rejected outright. The dispute highlighted not only ideological differences but also a growing frustration within the court’s leadership.

Against this backdrop, legal affairs journalist Netael Bendel of Ynet reported that Justice Sohlberg has held several private discussions with Chief Justice Amit, advocating for more diversity in judicial panels—both ideologically and numerically—when hearing cases of major public importance. Sohlberg reportedly believes that expanding the number of justices and varying their perspectives would bolster the court’s professional integrity and public trust.

However, this proposal presents a serious dilemma for Justice Amit. Agreeing to broader and more ideologically diverse panels could dilute the court’s activist orientation, particularly as some of the newer judges, like Justices Mintz and Elron, lean toward a more conservative judicial philosophy than judges such as Amit or Barak-Erez.

Moreover, moving away from the traditional seniority-based system Amit uses for appointing justices to panels could erode his influence. This was seen clearly during the recent debate on Zini’s appointment, where Amit found himself at odds with Justices Stein and Canfy Steinitz.

Ultimately, the situation poses a fundamental question about the role of the Chief Justice. If Yitzchak Amit cannot effectively guide the outcomes of the court’s most critical discussions, then what added value does his leadership truly bring?

{Matzav.com Israel}

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