Matzav

A newly revealed report from the House Intelligence Committee has found that, despite lacking any concrete intelligence confirming Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to help Donald Trump win the 2016 election, the Obama administration promoted unsubstantiated claims to the contrary, Fox News reports. The committee determined that this move came under the “unusual” direction of President Barack Obama and involved promoting intelligence that was either flawed, skewed, or lacked credibility.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard declassified a report originally compiled in 2020 by the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

The findings were the result of a probe initiated by Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., who chaired the committee at the time. Though the document was finalized on September 18, 2020, it remained classified while Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., served as chairman of the committee.

Until now, the report had not been made available to the public and had been held in a secure compartment inside the intelligence community’s archives.

Fox News Digital acquired a version of the report that had been kept in a secure vault at CIA headquarters. Though some information remains redacted, the document is heavily sourced.

The focus of the investigation was the development of the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA). The committee found that then-CIA Director John Brennan insisted on inserting information derived from the widely debunked anti-Trump Steele dossier, even though he knew much of it came from unreliable internet chatter.

The report explains that the ICA was created by just five analysts at the CIA, under the leadership of a single lead drafter, and was driven by directives from top intelligence agency heads under Obama’s orders.

According to the findings, “Production of the ICA was subject to unusual directives from the President and senior political appointees, and particularly DCIA,” adding that the draft bypassed standard vetting processes across the CIA and other intelligence agencies, leaving its conclusions largely uncontested.

The committee said that the assessment was expedited by the analysts in order to publish the document ahead of Trump’s inauguration.

The accelerated timeline limited the opportunity for broader review, which the report said contributed to errors, misrepresentations, and failures to detect flawed sourcing.

Brennan, the committee revealed, instructed that 15 pre-existing intelligence reports be released after the 2016 election, three of which were later determined to be of poor quality, ambiguous in origin, or lacking credibility. Nonetheless, these reports served as the main basis for the claim that Putin supported Trump’s campaign over Clinton’s.

The committee said, “The ICA misrepresented these reports as reliable, without mentioning their significant underlying flaws.”

The report also pointed out that just one vague, unverifiable portion of a single sentence from one of those poor-quality reports served as the lone piece of classified evidence suggesting Putin aimed to help Trump. The ICA also “ignored or selectively quoted reliable intelligence reports that challenged—and in some cases undermined—judgments that Putin sought to elect Trump.”

Further, the committee said that the ICA did not even explore other legitimate explanations for Putin’s actions, which had been outlined in trustworthy intelligence as well as observed conduct by the Russian government.

Two senior CIA officials reportedly warned Brennan directly, telling him, “we don’t have direct information that Putin wanted to get Trump elected.”

Still, the report notes, the Obama administration pressed forward with the ICA’s publication.

The assessment itself contained no sourcing or intelligence indicating that Putin had personally expressed a desire for Trump to win the race.

The investigation found that essential intelligence was either excluded or deliberately misrepresented, all in an effort to push the idea of Trump colluding with Russia.

One of the key testimonies in the report came from a longtime associate of Putin, who told investigators that “Putin told him he did not care who won the election,” and that Putin “had often outlined the weaknesses of both major candidates.”

The report concluded that had the ICA included proper context, the notion that Putin preferred Trump would have been seen as “implausible—if not ridiculous.”

Another striking finding was that intelligence suggesting the Kremlin had been gearing up for a Clinton presidency was suppressed. The reasoning, the committee wrote, was because Russia “knew where (she) stood” and considered her more predictable, if not easier to deal with.

The report also criticized the ICA for failing to explain why, if Putin truly wanted Trump to win, he didn’t unleash more damaging information about Clinton as the election neared its final stretch.

The investigation revealed that not only was Putin largely indifferent to the election outcome, but that there was compelling intelligence indicating he may have favored Clinton, anticipating she would be more easily influenced as president.

Gabbard’s declassification of the report follows the recent release of other documents, which, she said, provided “overwhelming evidence” that Obama and his national security team orchestrated the early framework for what would become the prolonged Trump-Russia collusion investigation.

Back in 2020, Fox News Digital also published declassified transcripts showing that national security officials from Obama’s administration admitted, under oath, that they had no “empirical evidence” of a Trump-Russia conspiracy during the 2016 election, even as they promoted the narrative publicly.

The House Intelligence Committee began questioning Obama officials in 2017. Among those interviewed were James Clapper, Susan Rice, and Loretta Lynch, along with other top national security and intelligence figures.

Their testimony, as recorded in the transcripts, echoed the conclusions of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, which found no proof of criminal coordination between Trump’s team and the Russian government. Mueller declined to make a conclusion regarding obstruction.

During those interviews in 2017 and 2018, lawmakers asked these officials repeatedly whether they possessed or had seen evidence of coordination, conspiracy, or collusion—the central accusation that had fueled the FBI’s investigation and the special counsel’s probe.

“I never saw any direct empirical evidence that the Trump campaign or someone in it was plotting/conspiring with the Russians to meddle with the election,” Clapper testified. “That’s not to say that there weren’t concerns about the evidence we were seeing, anecdotal evidence…. But I do not recall any instance where I had direct evidence.”

Lynch likewise stated she did “not recall that being briefed up to me.”

“I can’t say that it existed or not,” Lynch added when pressed on whether any such evidence of coordination or conspiracy was ever presented to her.

Yet Clapper, Lynch, and then-Vice President Joe Biden were all reportedly present in a July 28, 2016 Oval Office meeting when Brennan briefed President Obama and then-FBI Director James Comey. During that meeting, Brennan shared intelligence from a Hillary Clinton campaign aide outlining a plan “to vilify Donald Trump by stirring up a scandal claiming interference by the Russian security service.”

In Brennan’s handwritten notes from the meeting, released in 2020 by Fox News Digital, he wrote, “We’re getting additional insight into Russian activities from (REDACTED),” adding, “CITE (summarizing) alleged approved by Hillary Clinton a proposal from one of her foreign policy advisers to vilify Donald Trump by stirring up a scandal claiming interference by the [Russian security service].”

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power was also questioned by the House Intelligence Committee and said she had not seen any proof of collusion or conspiracy.

“I am not in possession of anything — I am not in possession and didn’t read or absorb information that came from out of the intelligence community,” Power testified.

Asked again, she responded: “I am not.”

Susan Rice was questioned along the same lines.

“To the best of my recollection, there wasn’t anything smoking, but there were some things that gave me pause,” Rice testified. “I don’t recall intelligence that I would consider evidence to that effect that I saw… conspiracy prior to my departure.”

When asked specifically about any “coordination,” Rice replied: “I don’t recall any intelligence or evidence to that effect.”

Pressed about the broader idea of collusion, Rice said: “Same answer.”

Ben Rhodes, who served as Deputy National Security Advisor, was also asked whether he had seen any evidence during his time in the White House.

“I wouldn’t have received any information on any criminal or counterintelligence investigations into what the Trump campaign was doing, so I would not have seen that information,” Rhodes said.

He added later, “I saw indications of potential coordination, but I did not see, you know, the specific evidence of the actions of the Trump campaign.”

Andrew McCabe, the former FBI Deputy Director, was interviewed in 2017 and asked about the infamous Steele dossier, which contained a number of explosive allegations against Trump.

When asked what he believed was the most “damning or important piece of evidence in the dossier that” he “now knows is true,” McCabe responded, “We have not been able to prove the accuracy of all the information.”

When a House investigator asked, “You don’t know if it’s true or not?” McCabe replied, “That’s correct.”

During the transition after the 2016 election, Comey personally briefed Trump on the Steele dossier, which was filled with salacious and unverified claims about his ties to Russia. Brennan was also reportedly present during the January 2017 meeting at Trump Tower.

The dossier, authored by ex-British spy Christopher Steele, was funded by Hillary Clinton’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee via the law firm Perkins Coie.

Despite this, Brennan and Comey allegedly had access to intelligence indicating Clinton’s team was actively working to associate Trump with Russia as part of a broader political strategy. It’s still unclear whether the intelligence community knew, at the time, who had paid for the dossier.

Both Brennan and Comey are now under FBI criminal investigation following a referral from CIA Director John Ratcliffe to FBI Director Kash Patel related to their role in the origins of the Russia investigation.

Gabbard has also referred individuals to the Justice Department for criminal investigation for their role in generating what she described as “manufactured” and “politicized” intelligence to fuel the Trump-Russia narrative.

While most of the Obama-era officials have remained silent about the new findings, Obama’s spokesman broke with precedent to respond.

“Out of respect for the office of the presidency, our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response,” said Patrick Rodenbush. “But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one.”

He added, “These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction. Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes.”

Rodenbush also stated: “These findings were affirmed in a 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then-Chairman Marco Rubio.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump’s administration has made public a massive trove of government records related to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., providing new context and information surrounding the tragic loss of one of America’s most prominent civil rights leaders.

The collection includes over 6,300 documents along with a single audio recording featuring an interview with the brother of James Earl Ray, the man convicted of killing Dr. King. Altogether, the files contain nearly a quarter of a million pages of material. Below are seven notable revelations from the documents.

One individual from Texas, identified as Joseph Meyer, informed authorities that he might have encountered the man who would later murder Dr. King. The sighting allegedly occurred in Mississippi about two weeks before the assassination.

According to the report, Meyer recounted that while fishing with his son, they saw a man shooting a rifle into a tree.

“He and his son went fishing near Picayune on a Sunday morning between about 8:00 AM and 9:30 AM. They were approaching a small fishing lake on Ridge Road when they noticed a man laying behind a light colored Ford Mustang shooting a rifle into a target on a tree about 40 yards away,” the report reads. “He and his son parked their car at the small lake nearby and began fishing. The man with the rifle, which he observed to be a lever action and either new or very well taken care of, came up to them and started talking to him. The man said he was bore sighting the rifle, but he wished his brother was there because he was more experienced at this. They talked of fishing, hunting and general topics. The man did not talk with an accent and gave the impression of not being from that area.

“The man was dressed in canvas field hunting clothes. He was about 5’10” to 11″ tall, 175 pounds, dark wavy hair well groomed. Meyer has observed photographs of James Earl Ray and he stated that some of the photographs definitely do not look like the man he saw, but one of the photographs he recently saw in Look Magazine, the one without glasses, in some ways resembles the man he saw firing the rifle. He said he does not believe he would be able to identify the man he saw even if he saw him again,” the report continued.

The report went on to say:

“Meyer thought nothing of the incident until he heard of the shooting of Martin Luther King. Then he thought there might possibly be some connection, but he did not report the matter to the local police because he was afraid they would only laugh at him. He said he went back to the area [where] the man was firing and was unable to find any cartridges. He looked at the tree that had been shot at and noted that the places where the bullets hit indicated that a high-powered cartridge was used,” the report said.

Among the materials is a CIA report examining Cuba’s reaction to the assassination, spanning five pages and incorporating both independent and state-controlled media from the island nation.

The Cuban Communist Party’s newspaper, Granma, emphasized the upheaval that followed MLK’s killing, particularly the widespread violence and unrest in American cities.

“Twenty-seven persons have been killed in the U.S. as a result of the fighting which has been going on since the assassination of Martin Luther King. In Washington alone there are 750 wounded and 4,186 persons arrested. Snipers continue to be active in different cities in the U.S. The White House and the Capitol are under heavy guard,” the paper wrote, according to the CIA report.

The CIA file also noted how Cuban radio stations broadcast incendiary messages from “black power” leaders. Among them was Stokely Carmichael, who made a call to arms for Black Americans: “arm ourselves with rifles and pistols and launch an assault on the streets of the cities of the United States.”

Carmichael also allegedly predicted, according to Radio Liberacion, that there would be “executions in the streets.”

A separate FBI file revealed a threat made against King months before his death during a public appearance in Wisconsin in May 1967.

The Bureau was contacted by an unidentified caller who said he intended to “put a bullet through KING’s head.” The man was later identified as Theodore Adank, who local police categorized as a potential threat with apparent mental instability.

“At the news conference held by King on 5/12/67 the area was sealed off by police to ensure that only newsmen were admitted,” the FBI reported. “Theodore Adank showed up on that occasion posing as a newsman, but was evicted by local police.”

Following King’s assassination, federal agents visited Adank to determine whether he had any role in the killing but found no evidence linking him to the crime.

“Adank was interviewed by [special agents] Kenna and Walker on 4/8/68 and impressed interviewing agents as being somewhat of a mental case,” the report read. “Adank advised he has been in Wausau during the entire recent 2-week period except for one occasion when he traveled to Milwaukee, Wis. for treatment at a Wood, Wis. VA Center in connection with his medical disability pension.”

The FBI also detailed how Ray, the man ultimately convicted of the assassination, operated under several assumed names leading up to the murder.

He used different aliases when buying firearms at a Birmingham gun shop on March 29 and 30. Although he introduced himself as “Harvey Lowmeyer,” he used the car and address associated with another pseudonym, “Eric Galt.”

The connection was made when store employees were shown a photo of “Galt” and confirmed it matched the man who had claimed to be “Lowmeyer.”

“Galt first visited Aeromarine Supply Company on two occasions: Friday, 3/29/68, when be purchased a .243 caliber Remington rifle, Model 700, which was equipped with Redfield scope. On following day, Saturday, 3/30/68, same individual returned after telephonic contact and exchanged this rifle for the murder weapon, a Remington Model 760, 30.06 caliber, to which scope was attached,” the FBI report reads.

Among the more personal elements of the release was a recorded conversation with Ray’s younger brother, Jerry Ray, who speculated that his brother might have been a pawn in a broader plot.

Jerry claimed not to have seen James for several years and believed he had been manipulated or hired for the crime.

“I don’t think he was involved. I think he was used as a–he was used some way in it, though. I think that because, you know, of the money he spent and all that. I think his name was used, and because he couldn’t turn himself in because he had so much time to do in Missouri. I think he was implicated in some way, more likely used,” Jerry said.

“Are you saying that someone paid him to pretend to be King’s murderer?” the interviewer asked.

“Well they have two Eric Starvo Galts within about two miles of each other, and every time he went some place there would be another guy like him, and it seems kind of strange,” Jerry responded.

Jerry went on to suggest that James Ray might have viewed silence about possible co-conspirators as a matter of personal integrity. He said he planned to visit his brother in custody once he arrived in Memphis.

“If he definitely didn’t do it, he’ll tell me that, but he won’t tell me the other things, how come he was used or what,” Jerry predicted of talking with Ray. “But he’ll tell me if he did or if he didn’t do it, but he won’t implicate anybody else.”

“So, Jerry, your whole theory is that Ray was paid to implicate himself?” the interviewer pressed.

“That’s what my theory is,” he responded. “I figure he was paid for his name being used. That’s as far as I think he’s involved in it.”

The intelligence files also include Chinese Communist propaganda denouncing the U.S. and encouraging revolution. One such booklet was titled “Statement by Comrade Mao Tse-Tung, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, in Support of the Afro-American Struggle Against Violent Repression.”

Released shortly after King’s death, the publication, available in English and Spanish, labeled the civil rights struggle as part of a global fight against “yankee imperialists,” and called for international unity to defeat this “common enemy,” according to the FBI summary.

Another item found among the documents is a CIA draft titled “Talking Points for Interview with Dan Rather,” dated October 29, 1975.

“The CIA was in no way involved in the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King,” the proposed talking points begin. “In addition, I would like again to deny categorically that there was any CIA like involvement in the assassinations of President Kennedy or Senator Robert Kennedy, or the attempted assassination of Governor Wallace.”

The draft does not specify the intended speaker. CBS journalist Dan Rather conducted an interview with then-CIA Director William Colby in late November 1975. That interview focused on alleged CIA links to Lee Harvey Oswald and did not touch on King’s assassination.

Rather’s televised report on King that month did not include any appearance or statements from a CIA official.

{Matzav.com}

Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky stated during an appearance on “The Charlie Kirk Show” that the Department of Justice ought to prosecute Anthony Fauci for allegedly lying under oath to Congress. According to Paul, such a prosecution would test the legal strength of President Joe Biden’s pardon of Fauci. “I do believe Anthony Fauci committed a felony by lying to Congress. So you have to charge him with a felony; take him to court, and then the court will decide whether or not the pardon is upheld.”

Speaking as chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Paul explained that while debates can be made over whether Biden used an autopen or knew about the pardon’s execution, the only definitive way to test its legitimacy is through the legal system. “You can argue until you’re blue in the face that you can’t do autopens and that maybe the president wasn’t aware of it. But the only way to actually do this is you have to charge someone who has been pardoned.”

Paul argued that of all the potential individuals who could be prosecuted, Fauci remains the most suitable case. He suggested that others, such as Hunter Biden, could also be prosecuted, but emphasized the importance of taking action. “I think Anthony Fauci is the most likely to be chargeable. There are other people — Hunter Biden could be charged as well — but someone has to be charged,” said Paul.

The senator pointed to Fauci’s previous testimony before Congress, where he denied that the National Institutes of Health had funded gain-of-function research in Wuhan. Paul asserted that Fauci’s claims are at odds with evidence from those directly tied to the research. “Fauci testified before Congress in a very vigorous and heated and animated way that the National Institutes of Health never funded gain-of-function virus research in Wuhan,” Paul said. “This is directly contradicted by the actual people who were involved in the funding.”

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Moshe Chaim Dinner zt”l, who served as the mahgiach of Yeshivas Tiferes Yaakov in Gateshead. Rav Dinner passed away in the United States after a yearlong battle with illness. He was just 48 years old.

His passing has plunged his students and the broader Torah community into deep grief. Rav Dinner was not only a guide but a true father figure to the bochurim in his care, nurturing them with wisdom, heart, and a profound sense of mission.

As his condition worsened, many across the world davened fervently for his recovery, adding the name Refoel. He had traveled to the U.S. for treatments in recent months, but was now niftar.

Rav Dinner was born in England, a son of Rav Shlomo Dinner, who passed away when Moshe Chaim was still a child. His grandfather was the renowned gaon Rav Yosef Tzvi HaLevi Dinner zt”l, Raavad of London, a towering figure in Anglo-Jewry.

As a bochur, he learned in Yeshivas Beis Yosef Tzvi in Gateshead and later in the Yeshivas Ponovezh in Bnei Brak, where he distinguished himself among the elite talmidim, known for his hasmadah and depth in learning.

He married the daughter of Rav Binyomin Carlebach, one of the roshei yeshiva of Mir Yerushalayim, and granddaughter of Rav Binyomin Beinush Finkel, rosh yeshiva of Mir. After his marriage, he continued learning in the Mir before eventually returning to England.

Upon his return, he was appointed mashgiach of Yeshivas Tiferes Yaakov in Gateshead, where he became a beloved and guiding presence for generations of talmidim.

Rav Dinner leaves behind his devoted wife and six young children.

His aron will arrive in England from the U.S. on Thursday for burial in Gateshead.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com}

During a Tuesday appearance on CBS News, Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH) accused the Trump administration of fabricating favorable economic data, casting doubt on the reliability of reports regarding the stock market, job growth, and inflation. She claimed, “what they’re reporting are just numbers and we don’t know how much accuracy [there] is.”

CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent Major Garrett pressed Beatty with a question: “Congresswoman, the White House says, repeatedly, and there are some numbers that back them up on this, the stock market is up, investment in this country is up, employment is up or stable, inflation is down or stable. Most of the economic indices they point to are on the upswing. And yet, you sound so glum, why?”

Beatty pushed back, questioning the credibility of the data being shared by the administration. “Well, because what they’re reporting are just numbers and we don’t know how much accuracy [there] is. Maybe there’s a reason why he’s also been on the attack against Jay Powell with the Federal Reserve and wanting to remove him.” She continued, “So, here’s what we do know: When you go into the grocery store, prices are up. Here’s what you do know: The things that the American people pay for that [help] them live their lives, put a roof over their head, those things aren’t applicable, it’s not happening.”

She went further, accusing the president and his administration of deliberately spreading falsehoods to obscure cuts to vital programs. “I think they make up numbers. I have no trust in this president or the administration, because what they say is counter to what we’re doing in government. They would tell you that Medicaid and Medicare [are] okay. They would tell you that they’re not dismantling the Department of Education. They would tell you all of those things while we know the fact is, they’re cutting billions of dollars from those needed services.”

WATCH:

Hundreds of members of the Peleg Yerushalmi took to the streets on Wednesday afternoon, staging large-scale protests in Bnei Brak and Yerushalayim in response to the arrest and military imprisonment of three avreichim for alleged draft evasion.

The demonstrators blocked major roads, including Route 4 near the entrance to Bnei Brak, causing significant traffic disruptions. Simultaneous protests were also reported near the Chords Bridge at the entrance to Yerushalayim and at Kikar HaShabbat.

According to police statements, the protests are unauthorized, and officers on the scene were met with chants of “Nazis” and “terrorists” from participants. A senior police official declared the demonstration illegal, and forces began dispersing the crowds and working to extract vehicles stuck at the blocked junction.

Police outlined major traffic disruptions due to the demonstrations:

• Route 4 is closed from the Aluf Sadeh interchange heading northbound, with traffic redirected to Route 471.

• Southbound traffic from Em HaMoshavot is being diverted toward Petach Tikvah.

• Heavy congestion is reported at the Jabotinsky-Gehah junction and on surrounding roads.

In Jerusalem, police confirmed that protesters had blocked both incoming and outgoing lanes at the city’s entrance, creating severe traffic jams. Officers were deployed to restore order and direct vehicles to alternate routes.

Authorities have urged the public to avoid the affected areas and make use of detour roads. Traffic police units are on the ground managing vehicle flow and attempting to minimize delays.

{Matzav.com Israel}

In a dramatic political shift, Likud MK Boaz Bismuth was overwhelmingly elected chairman of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Tuesday, replacing MK Yuli Edelstein, who was ousted after failing to deliver on the coalition’s draft law. The vote in the Likud faction saw Bismuth defeat Edelstein by a wide margin, 29 to 4.

Those voting in favor of Edelstein included Edelstein himself, along with MKs David Bitan, Eli Dallal, and Shalom Danino.

Addressing the committee ahead of the vote, Edelstein defended his record and values: “The truth is clear. From then until today, I have remained loyal to my values and the principles for which I have fought. Since my days in the Soviet Union, I have paid a price for my ideology — for my fight for the Land of Israel, the People of Israel, and the Torah of Israel.”

“I was not afraid then, and I am not afraid today,” he continued. “That same sense of mission still drives me, and my goal remains the same — to secure the future of our children in our homeland.”

The appointment triggered sharp backlash from opposition leaders.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid blasted the move, saying, “A black day for the State of Israel and for the people of Israel. Bismuth was chosen to promote draft evasion, and this is a slap in the face to our soldiers, reservists, and their families. It’s also a black day for the Likud party, which has turned into a branch of the chareidim and the draft dodgers.”

National Unity party chairman Benny Gantz also slammed the decision: “In the midst of a war, Likud members, led by Netanyahu, decided to turn one of the most critical Knesset committees into a decorative body whose only purpose is to exempt the chareidim from military service.”

He added, “To all Likud MKs I say – you’ve lost touch with the people and with your path. This is not Begin’s Likud, and it certainly isn’t Jabotinsky’s legacy. Anyone who thinks the battle is over, that the draft exemption law will pass – is wrong. We will continue to fight. We will not give up. Those who serve will not surrender to the corrupt, no matter how long it takes.”

Sources inside Likud said that several MKs and ministers had encouraged Prime Minister Netanyahu to back Bismuth’s appointment, arguing that it would be less publicly controversial than naming MK Tally Gotliv. Others, however, warned that Bismuth might buckle under pressure just as Edelstein did.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz delivered a forceful statement on Wednesday, condemning the Hamas leadership for bringing ruin to Gaza and warning of dire consequences if the hostages are not returned in the near future.

Katz declared, “The Sinwar brothers have destroyed Gaza. Az Ad-Din Al-Haddad is turning it into a heap of rubble. Senior Hamas officials abroad are celebrating in palaces and luxury hotels while refusing to release the hostages. If they are not released soon, the gates of h— will open.”

These comments follow increasing frustration over Hamas’s continued resistance during negotiations aimed at reaching a deal to free the hostages — efforts that have so far failed to yield any tangible results.

Finance Minister and Security Cabinet member Bezalel Smotrich weighed in as well, saying: “Mr. Prime Minister, in light of Hamas’s apparent refusal, the time has come to close the door definitively on a partial deal and to instruct the IDF to storm Gaza and implement the humanitarian separation plan until Hamas is defeated and all hostages are released unconditionally or Hamas is completely destroyed. It is time for victory!”

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir also expressed frustration, saying: “Mr. Prime Minister, when we keep giving in to Hamas, when humanitarian aid is flowing in every direction, and when ‘negotiations’ have long turned into concessions, Hamas feels comfortable continuing to extort Israel and force more and more capitulations. Continuing down this path will not lead us to complete victory. We should not be talking to Hamas. Hamas must be destroyed. No humanitarian aid, and no surrender deals.”

Earlier in the day, reports from Palestinian Arab sources indicated that Hamas had issued an initial reply to the latest ceasefire and hostage release proposal — a response that was firmly rejected by the mediators.

In light of that, the mediators delivered a sharp rebuke to Hamas, demanding that the group make urgent and substantial adjustments to its stance in order to salvage the chances of reaching an agreement.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The Knesset convened on Wednesday afternoon and passed a resolution recognizing Israel’s inherent, historical, and legal claim to the entirety of the Land of Israel, with particular attention given to Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley.

The measure was approved with the support of 71 Knesset members. Opposing votes came solely from the Arab factions and the “Democrats” party under Yair Golan. The Blue and White and Yesh Atid parties chose not to participate in the vote at all.

According to the resolution, the areas in question form a foundational part of the Jewish people’s ancestral homeland, deeply tied to their religious, cultural, and historical identity. Cities like Hebron, Shechem, Shiloh, and Beit El are cited as tangible markers of the Jewish nation’s unbroken presence in the land.

The text also referenced the events of October 7, which it said underscored the dangers of a Palestinian state, arguing that such an entity would endanger Israel’s survival and compromise regional peace. The resolution reaffirms the position that the notion of establishing a Palestinian state is no longer under consideration.

In its next clause, the Knesset urged the Israeli government to move swiftly to implement Israeli sovereignty over all Jewish communities in Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley by extending Israeli law and administrative authority to those regions.

Supporters of the measure argued that applying full sovereignty would “strengthen the Jewish state and its security and will prevent any challenge to the Jewish people’s basic right to peace and security in its land.”

The resolution concluded with an appeal to Israel’s international allies, asking them to “support the return of Zion and the vision of the prophets,” and to stand behind Israel’s right to assert full sovereignty over the mentioned territories.

This legislative initiative was brought forward by Members of Knesset Simcha Rothman, Oded Forer, Dan Illouz, and Limor Son Har-Melech.

Reacting to the vote, Yisrael Ganz, who heads both the Binyamin Regional Council and the Yesha Council, remarked: “I thank the ministers and Members of Knesset from both the coalition and the opposition who voted for this important proposal to advance Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria. The approval of the proposal, by a large majority of Zionist MKs, once again proves the broad support of the people of Israel for Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria. It is clear and undeniable evidence of the national will to realize our values and our right to our land. This vote is a significant milestone on the path toward advancing the strategic step that will fortify the security of the entire State of Israel. I now call on the Government of Israel: Turn this decision into reality on the ground. We are at a critical and historic juncture. We must not miss this opportunity. The Yesha Council will continue to work tirelessly until Israeli sovereignty is applied in Judea and Samaria.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

As Israeli airstrikes continue to pound Gaza and ceasefire negotiations drag on with no resolution in sight, anger is mounting among the population over revelations that relatives of top Hamas figures have managed to flee, even as ordinary civilians remain buried beneath the rubble.

Ynet reported, based on local testimony, that top Hamas leaders had arranged for their families to be evacuated before the current conflict erupted. This information has stirred frustration among Gazans, who are questioning why the relatives of those responsible for triggering the war are no longer present in the besieged enclave.

One such case involves Samar Abu Zamer, the wife of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar. She is said to have escaped to Turkey with her children prior to the outbreak of war, allegedly using a falsified passport issued in another woman’s name. “It demanded a high level of coordination, logistical aid, and a lot of money which the average Gaza resident doesn’t have,” a local source told the outlet.

The same source claims that once in Turkey, Abu Zamer remarried, with the arrangement facilitated by Hamas political bureau member Fathi Hamad, who has reportedly been involved in past efforts to evacuate Hamas operatives and their families from Gaza.

In a similar case, Najawa, the wife of Mohammed Sinwar, also left Gaza with her children before her husband was killed. She, too, is believed to be living in Turkey now.

Israeli security officials have verified the claims, noting that both women exited Gaza via the Rafah Crossing prior to the targeted killings of their husbands.

{Matzav.com Israel}

A woman in her seventies from central Israel, known for her left-wing political leanings, was taken into custody by the Shin Bet security service over allegations that she was involved in a plot with others to target Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu with an explosive device.

Her detention occurred approximately two weeks ago. She has since been released, though she remains under strict limitations, including being barred from coming near government buildings or anywhere near the prime minister.

According to a report from Kan News, prosecutors plan to bring formal charges against her on Thursday. The expected indictment includes allegations of conspiring to carry out a criminal act and planning a terror-related offense.

In a separate incident last year, a demonstration against the government took place on Kaplan Street, during which a protester aligned with leftist groups was caught on video openly calling for the assassination of Prime Minister Netanyahu.

During that protest, a man identified as a right-wing passerby questioned the demonstrators, asking, “What if Bibi doesn’t want to resign, he was elected in democratic elections, and he is prime minister, he doesn’t want to resign.”

“We will see to it that they kill him,” one protester replied. The clip went viral on social media, sparking public outrage and demands for law enforcement to launch an investigation and arrest the individual responsible for making the threat.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid issued a forceful denunciation of the incident, declaring, “Anyone who has tried or will try to harm him must be brought to justice in the fullest severity.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Hamas delivered its preliminary response to the current ceasefire and hostage deal proposal on Tuesday, according to Palestinian Arab sources. The message was relayed to the intermediaries who have been working to broker an agreement.

Reports indicate that the reply did not meet the expectations of the mediators, prompting them to issue a forceful warning to Hamas. They insisted that Hamas must demonstrate “immediate and significant flexibility” if there is to be progress toward an agreement.

Kan News previously reported that one of Hamas’ conditions is that the Rafah Crossing with Egypt be reopened as part of the ongoing negotiations over the hostages. Sources within the Palestinian Arab community believe that Israel is likely to agree to this point.

If this stipulation is granted, it would mark the first time since the outbreak of the war that Palestinian Arabs would be permitted to reenter Gaza via the Rafah Crossing.

Israeli officials have made clear that they have no intention of making further concessions to Hamas following the series of compromises already extended.

{Matzav.com Israel}

In a sharply worded kol korei released Wednesday morning, the Chassidise Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel called for a special day of tefillah in response to the desecration of ancient Jewish graves in the city of Yehud, where recent excavation and construction work has disrupted burial sites. The letter, signed by the leading chassidishe rebbes, designates this Thursday — Erev Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av — as a day of tefillah and spiritual awakening.

The Gedolim expressed their profound anguish over what they described as a grave affront to the dignity of shochnei afar, the deceased who lie buried in the area. The desecration, they said, constitutes not only a violation of kavod hameis but also a serious spiritual breach with dire implications for the Jewish people.

“It is a horrific reality,” the Gedolim wrote, “especially during days when Klal Yisroel is in desperate need of Heavenly mercy. This is undoubtedly something that evokes severe kitrug—Heavenly accusations.”

The letter denounces the developer Aura, whose construction project on the ancient burial site has led to the destruction of graves and the removal of bones. “For the sake of monetary gain,” they write, “they disturb the eternal rest of our ancestors, demolish their graves, and desecrate the sanctity of their burial grounds.”

In preparation for the unified declaration, Rabbi Yaakov Veltzer, secretary of the Moetzes, consulted with various admorim to draft a message that would reflect the pain and outcry of the Torah world with one clear voice.

The upcoming yom tefillah will include the recitation of specific chapters of Tehillim, selichos, and gatherings for chizuk across Jewish communities worldwide, with the goal of arousing Divine compassion and bringing an immediate end to the grave desecrations.

In their letter, the Gedolim quote the words of Chazal in Yevamos: “Because of the sins of the living, the dead are disturbed,” pointing to this event as a modern-day manifestation of that reality.

As the Nine Days approach, the Moetzes calls on every Jew to introspect, return to Hashem, and beg for the speedy rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdash. “Let our cry rise from the depths of our hearts on this Thursday,” the letter concludes. “Let us restore the honor of the dead and their eternal rest. May our tefillos bring healing, redemption, and comfort to all of Klal Yisroel.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

A woman regularly introduced on CNN as a medical expert warning about President Donald Trump’s health is reportedly not a practicing physician and instead holds a position at the NAACP related to health equity, according to a recent report.

Chris Pernell, who frequently appears on television in a medical advisory capacity, currently works to “drive equitable health outcomes and transform healthcare systems through a comprehensive socioeconomic approach valuing the whole person,” as described in a Free Beacon investigation.

Although Pernell holds a medical degree, there is no public record of her practicing medicine after completing her residency. Her professional career has largely focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work within the healthcare sector. Despite this, she raised concerns last week on CNN about President Donald Trump’s diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).

Last Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt disclosed that President Trump had been diagnosed with CVI, which she described as “a benign and common condition.”

Nonetheless, Pernell went on CNN and painted a dire portrait of the president’s health. Pernell, who is also affiliated with a church whose spiritual leader referred to Trump as the “antichrist” and labeled white Evangelicals as “agents of Satan,” appeared to exaggerate the seriousness of the diagnosis, even though the Cleveland Clinic notes that CVI frequently occurs in older individuals.

Pernell earned her M.D. from Duke University School of Medicine and completed her residency at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. However, according to Free Beacon, her LinkedIn profile makes no reference to any hands-on clinical practice treating patients.

She currently leads the NAACP’s Center for Health Equity and previously held the position of Chief Strategic Integration and Health Equity Officer at University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey. Her work there included launching the hospital’s first comprehensive “equity and inclusion strategy,” recruiting a director to oversee equity initiatives, and implementing required training programs on implicit bias and structural racism.

In a 2022 appearance on the Karen Hunter Show, Pernell stated that she had been investigated several times by hospital administrators, attributing these probes to her outspoken criticism of President Trump and members of the Republican Party.

The previous year, during a segment on MSNBC, Pernell controversially equated vaccine hesitancy regarding the Chinese coronavirus to white supremacy.

Pernell has since left her position at the hospital. In her interview with Hunter, she claimed she was “forced out” of her role and attributed her departure to racism.

{Matzav.com}

Federal immigration authorities have taken into custody an undocumented immigrant with an extensive history of criminal convictions — totaling more than 20 offenses.

On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported the recent apprehension of several individuals residing in the country illegally, including 52-year-old Federico Fong-Nunez, a Mexican national.

According to DHS, Fong-Nunez has racked up 21 convictions in Boulder, Colorado. His criminal history includes serious offenses such as aggravated assault, felony menacing, and burglary.

“President Trump and Secretary Noem have unleashed ICE to target the worst of the worst. Our brave law enforcement is facing an 830% increase in assaults against them and yet they continue to arrest violent criminals and drug traffickers every single day,” stated Tricia McLaughlin of the Department of Homeland Security.

“We will not allow sanctuary politicians, activist hacks, or rioters to stand in our way of protecting the American people. Our message is clear: criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the United States.”

Another arrest occurred in Los Angeles, California — a sanctuary city — where 34-year-old Luis Alberto Leonardo Cortes-Rivera of Mexico was detained by ICE officers. His criminal record includes nine convictions for crimes such as burglary, grand theft, and vehicle tampering.

Further south, ICE agents in Texas apprehended two individuals. One was 46-year-old Rureiro Falkao from Honduras, who had previously been convicted for methamphetamine possession. The other was 21-year-old Jhon Jervis Chavez-De La Rosa, also from Honduras, who had been convicted of assault resulting in bodily injury.

In Maryland, which also holds sanctuary policies, ICE agents arrested 21-year-old Guatemalan national Olinda Micaela Gonzalez-Ortiz. Her record includes a conviction for a hit-and-run offense.

{Matzav.com}

Senate Banking Committee Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) joined ‘Squawk box’ to discuss the escalating feud between President Trump and Fed Chair Powell, the importance of Fed independence, her thoughts on Zohran Mamdani’s politics, and more.

WATCH:

With just hours remaining before the Likud party votes on its next Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman, tensions within the ruling party are escalating. In a surprising political move revealed Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu reportedly offered MK Boaz Bismuth a prestigious diplomatic post in exchange for dropping out of the race — an offer Bismuth turned down.

According to a report by journalist Amit Segal on Channel 12, Netanyahu approached Bismuth with a proposal: withdraw your candidacy for the chairmanship of the influential committee, and in return, you’ll be appointed as an ambassador to one of Israel’s most prominent foreign missions. Bismuth, however, declined the offer and informed Netanyahu of his decision to stay in the race.

The Prime Minister’s maneuver was seen as an attempt to consolidate support behind a single candidate ahead of the internal party vote. Currently, the role is held by MK Yuli Edelstein, who has announced he will seek re-election in Wednesday’s Likud faction vote.

Meanwhile, discussions are also taking place within the chareidi parties. According to a report on Kan News, representatives of the chareidi factions spoke with several of the candidates and expressed a preference for MK Hanoch Milwidsky to be chosen for the position. However, United Torah Judaism later released a statement denying involvement, saying: “We have no connection to and do not interfere in the internal decisions of other factions regarding the chairmanship of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.”

The upcoming vote has drawn an unusually large field of candidates. In addition to Milwidsky and Bismuth, MKs Nissim Vaturi, Eli Dallal, and Avichay Buaron have all declared their candidacy.

Adding to the drama, despite MK Edelstein’s request for a secret ballot, Likud’s legal advisors ruled that the vote will be conducted openly unless the faction leader decides otherwise.

Wednesday’s vote will determine who takes the helm of one of the most sensitive and strategically important committees in the Knesset — a decision that could have ripple effects throughout the coalition.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu held a late-night security assessment on Tuesday night with the Israeli negotiation team currently stationed in Doha, Qatar, amid ongoing talks aimed at securing a hostage release agreement and ceasefire with Hamas.

During the meeting, Netanyahu was given a detailed update on the status of negotiations. A senior Israeli official noted that Hamas’s upcoming response will serve as a key indicator of whether the terror group is genuinely interested in reaching a deal. “From Hamas’s reply, we will understand if they truly want a hostage deal — and if so, what the gaps are between our positions,” the official said.

Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department confirmed that President Biden’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is on his way to the Middle East in a renewed attempt to help bridge those gaps and bring the sides closer to a signed agreement.

Witkoff’s arrival is seen by some as a sign of possible progress in the talks. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated, “Witkoff is traveling with strong hopes that we can reach another ceasefire, as well as a humanitarian corridor for the delivery of aid, which both sides have essentially agreed upon.”

In a parallel development, the Hamas terror group announced that it expects to deliver its formal response to most of the items in the proposed agreement within the coming days.

Negotiators remain cautiously optimistic as both Israeli and American officials monitor developments closely, hoping to overcome lingering obstacles and secure the release of hostages held in Gaza since October 7.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The Peleg Yerushalmi faction has returned to the streets in force following the arrest of three yeshiva students from the Eidah Hachareidis who were protesting against the desecration of graves in Yehud. The detainees were later handed over to military authorities for failing to report to the draft office.

In response, Va’ad Hatzalas Olam HaTorah, Peleg’s leadership body, gathered Tuesday in the Beit Vagan home of Rav Azriel Auerbach, who instructed them to organize large-scale demonstrations, echoing the guidance of Rav Asher Deutsch. That evening, a gathering was held at the home of Rav Yonah Zelushinsky in Bnei Brak, where the rosh yeshiva delivered a fiery speech urging a loud, public outcry.

“When there’s such confusion and people are being handed over to destruction, rachmana litzlan, we must stand strong,” Rav Zelushinsky declared. “Silence and inaction are the greatest harm. At best, they signal weakness. At worst, they show agreement and complacency.”

He continued, “We must cry out and warn anyone who still has a shred of yiras Shamayim. It doesn’t matter whether one is in yeshiva or not — we all stood at Sinai, and we are all servants of Hashem.”

Describing the government’s actions as intentional and malicious attempts to uproot Torah from its foundation, Rav Zelushinsky emphasized, “This is all being done with the cooperation of so-called religious Jews. Do we stop resisting just because Rav Asher and Rav Shmuel are no longer with us? Are we supposed to act as if it doesn’t concern us? Are we afraid of them and their allies? No! We are not afraid.”

“The Ribbono Shel Olam wants us to stand strong and do our part,” he said. “He will save His children from being handed over to resha’im whose goal is to erase every trace of Am Yisroel. The Torah will never change. We are avdei Hashem. That is our reality.”

Rav Zelushinsky issued a rallying cry: “In a time of shmad, there is no room for calculations! This is a war for Hashem against Amalek. We must fight for ruchniyus, for Torah. That’s what the Torah commands us in every generation.”

“There’s no such thing as staying silent,” he insisted. “No matter what happens, our duty is to act. And when we do what’s in our hands, Hashem will do His. We have a promise from the Master of All: ‘Atem Bnei Yisroel lo sichlu’. Torah will never be forgotten, and in the end, Torah and Klal Yisroel will triumph.”

Rav Zelushinsky concluded by calling on every individual and organization: “These are moments of truth. Whether you’re part of one of the sacred organizations that save lives, or just a private citizen — stand up and cry out! How can we accept the arrest and imprisonment of bnei aliyah? Is there no Torah in Israel? No Klal Yisroel? Has it all been handed over to askanim and a wicked government? It will not stand. But only if we cry out — not lip service, but a true cry from the heart — will it leave an impact, down here and in Shamayim. Hashem will be at our side.”

This marks the first arrest made by Israeli authorities since tens of thousands of yeshiva students were reclassified as draft dodgers. Peleg leaders say the arrest will serve as a turning point, and they anticipate the active involvement of Chassidishe groups and communities that had previously refrained from participating in their protests.

Following the arrest, Va’ad Hatzalas Olam HaTorah issued a statement: “Together with the Eidah Hachareidis communities, tens of thousands of bnei Torah will now take to the streets in massive demonstrations across the country. Today saw the arrest of three prisoners of Olam HaTorah — the distinguished avreichim Rabbi Elazar Kaufman, Rabbi Dovid Menachem Mintzberg, and Rabbi Dov Aryeh Mordechai Rabinowitz — who were handed over to military prison for refusing to report to the draft offices, in accordance with the rulings of our great leaders, the late Roshei Yeshiva HaGaon Rav Shmuel Auerbach zt”l, HaGaon Rav Asher Deutsch zt”l, and yibadlu l’chaim the current Gedolei Yisroel.”

Peleg announced that mass protests and large-scale demonstrations are expected to continue across the country.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Senator Bernie Sanders held a meeting with Mahmoud Khalil, the pro-Palestinian activist leading anti-Israel demonstrations at Columbia University, and who is currently facing deportation efforts by the Trump administration over his alleged support for Hamas.

Posting a photo of their meeting on X, Sanders wrote that Khalil was “imprisoned for 104 days by the Trump administration for opposing Netanyahu’s illegal & horrific war in Gaza. Outrageous.”

“We must not allow Trump to destroy the First Amendment and freedom to dissent,” Sanders added in the same post.

Their meeting coincided with Khalil’s appearance in a CNN interview, where he was pressed on whether he would clearly denounce Hamas—not just for the group’s actions on October 7, but more broadly, given its classification as a terrorist organization under U.S. law.

Khalil replied that he condemns “the killing of all civilians,” leading one of the hosts to repeat the question twice more, pointing out that the Trump administration accuses him of being aligned with the Palestinian terrorist group.

“I simply asked and protested the war in Palestine. That’s what I did. That’s my duty as a Palestinian, as a human being right now, is to ask for the stop of the killing in my home country,” Khalil responded, calling the demand for a direct denunciation of Hamas “disingenuous and absurd.”

“That’s why I wouldn’t really engage much into such questions on condemnation or not. Because selective condemnations is not, wouldn’t get us anywhere. It’s just like hypocrite, to be honest,” Khalil said.

{Matzav.com}