Matzav

Zohran Mamdani, the Muslim socialist contender for New York City mayor, is taking heat after a video clip surfaced showing him openly acknowledging that he relied on his parents’ financial backing to take time off from work.

“I worked until January, and then I took time away from my job and one of the major reasons I could do that was because I knew that if I ran out of my savings my family would be able to support me,” Mamdani said in the now-viral footage, which appears to have been taken from a Zoom call and was shared on X by a Washington Free Beacon journalist.

Critics on social media quickly seized on the comments, claiming that Mamdani’s admission undermines his socialist platform. Many argue that his ease with family money reflects a disconnect with the everyday struggles of the working class and suggests a mindset that might treat taxpayer funds with similar nonchalance.

“The one thing my parents told me: if you aren’t working, and you don’t have money, we cannot and will not support you,” posted Kirsten Fleming, a columnist for the New York Post, on X. “This guy is very comfortable with other people’s money.”

Fox News contributor Katie Pavlich chimed in by quoting Margaret Thatcher: “‘The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money,’ -Margaret Thatcher,” she posted on X.

Bryan Dean Wright, a former CIA officer, weighed in with his own take: “Classic Socialism: Once I blow through my money, I’ll take yours,” he wrote on X.

Digital strategist Greg Price didn’t hold back either, writing: “Him and every other American socialist in 2025,” also on X.

Twitchy’s Amy Curtis echoed the sentiment: “He’s privileged,” she posted.

Despite the backlash, Mamdani has built a notable following and won the Democratic mayoral primary in New York City just last month. While his campaign has faced criticism from incumbent Mayor Eric Adams—who has accused Mamdani of benefiting from a “silver spoon” upbringing—Mamdani continues to appeal to voters through a platform focused on housing issues and expanding public support programs.

In the upcoming general election this November, Mamdani will face off against both Adams and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

{Matzav.com}

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed at the Hill Nation Summit on Wednesday that her department is actively assessing how to streamline Transportation Security Administration (TSA) procedures for air travelers. During her discussion with NewsNation’s Blake Burman, Noem hinted at loosening some of the TSA’s strict rules, including the longstanding liquid container limits. She also painted a bold picture of future air travel, in which passengers could potentially breeze through airport security checkpoints.

Her comments came on the heels of a newly announced TSA policy change permitting travelers to keep their shoes on while being screened. Noem said her inclination to question TSA protocol began immediately upon taking office. “Since Day 1,” she noted, she has been “questioning everything TSA does.”

At this point, it remains uncertain what exact changes will take place or how soon any adjustments would be rolled out.

“It’s not certainly anything we’ll be announcing in the next week or two, but we’re working to see what we can do to make the traveling experience much better and more hospitable for individuals, but also still keep safety standards,” Noem told The Hill after her remarks.

Here’s a breakdown of the ideas DHS is reportedly considering.

Possible Revisions to Liquid Restrictions

Currently, travelers are allowed to bring only small liquid containers—no more than 3.4 ounces each—through TSA checkpoints, all of which must fit in a quart-sized bag. Larger volumes are only permitted in checked luggage.

“I will tell you — I mean the liquids — I’m questioning. So that may be the next big announcement is what size your liquids need to be,” Noem said at the summit.

The liquid rules, originally implemented in 2006, were introduced in response to a foiled British terror plot involving liquid explosives aimed at a U.S.-bound flight. Initially, TSA banned all liquids in carry-ons before softening the rule to its current format. The policy doesn’t only apply to water or soda—it also includes items like gels, creams, pastes, and even things like peanut butter.

Shoes-On Screening Now Allowed

One significant policy shift already went into effect on July 8, when the TSA declared travelers would no longer need to remove their shoes at security. This adjustment is expected to reduce delays at checkpoints and minimize the post-screening bottleneck where passengers often pause to put their footwear back on. Nevertheless, passengers will still have to take out electronics and remove belts.

The rule requiring shoes to be taken off had been in place since December 2001, after terrorist Richard Reid attempted to ignite explosives hidden in his shoe on a flight to Miami, just months after the 9/11 attacks.

However, a recent TSA pilot project showed that new scanning technologies could detect concealed threats without requiring passengers to go barefoot.

“Thanks to our cutting-edge technological advancements and multi-layered security approach, we are confident we can implement this change while maintaining the highest security standards. This initiative is just one of many the Trump administration is pursuing to usher in the President’s vision for a new Golden Age of American travel,” the DHS wrote in a press release.

Looking Ahead to What Could Change Next

In addition to altering current practices, Noem suggested that her department is also pursuing advanced technologies that could fundamentally reimagine how airport security works.

The DHS secretary explained that she’s partnering with multiple companies and evaluating proposals from private vendors that could provide improved systems.

According to Noem, these systems would be tested in select airports across the country before being introduced more broadly. “It is still a process that is protecting people who are traveling on our airlines. But it has to make sense. It has to actually do something to make you safer,” Noem told Burman.

She didn’t hesitate to criticize the Biden administration for failing to prioritize innovation in airport security.

“I kept wondering if we were doing things just to slow people down, or what it was, but TSA is working on the technology that we have available to us if we deploy it correctly,” Noem said.

Noem also laid out a bold vision of what flying could look like in the near future.

“The future of an airport, where I’m looking to go, is you walk in the door with your carry-on suitcase, you walk through a scanner and right to your flight. Takes you one minute,” Noem said.

{Matzav.com}

CNN’s lead data analyst Harry Enten offered a grim outlook for Democrats heading into the 2028 election, noting they are significantly trailing the benchmarks they set in past successful midterm cycles. He pointed out that the party’s performance on the generic congressional ballot is noticeably weaker than in the years leading up to their sweeping victories in 2006 and 2018.

“Their lead is less than half, less than half of where it was in either 2017 or 2005 in July both those years — the year before the midterm election,” Enten explained during a segment on CNN Wednesday.

While acknowledging that President Donald Trump is viewed unfavorably by many, Enten stressed that the Democratic Party has failed to make a compelling case to voters thus far. “Yes, Donald Trump may be unpopular, but Democrats have not come anywhere close to sealing the deal at this particular point.”

Enten also emphasized that Democrats are not just underperforming in national polling but are also falling short in individual races when compared to past cycles that saw them gain ground in Congress.

“It’s actually when it comes seat by seat, you see that at least at this particular point, Republicans have more net pickup opportunities. This doesn’t look anything like those wave elections back in 2006 or 2018,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are discussing a potential arrangement under which the United States would acquire drones from Ukraine, while Kyiv would purchase American-made weapons, Zelensky revealed in an interview with the New York Post.

According to Zelensky, the proposed “mega deal” would see Ukraine providing Washington with its advanced drone designs and combat experience gained during its extended war with Russia. American officials have acknowledged that U.S. capabilities in small drones currently trail behind those of China and Russia.

“The people of America need this technology, and you need to have it in your arsenal,” Zelensky told the Post during a conversation that took place Wednesday and was made public on Thursday.

Ukrainian unmanned aircraft have managed to reach targets nearly 800 miles inside Russian borders. One particularly noteworthy strike, dubbed Operation Spiderweb, involved 117 drones taking out several Russian bombers spread across four separate airbases.

“We will be ready to share this experience with America and other European partners,” Zelensky added, mentioning that his government is also negotiating similar deals with Denmark, Norway, and Germany.

The timing of Zelensky’s comments coincides with his Thursday announcement of future agreements with the United States, which he said would help strengthen Ukraine’s position.

Over the past three years, the Ukraine-Russia conflict has turned into a proving ground for drone warfare, with both sides deploying swarms of inexpensive UAVs, often fitted with explosives, on a daily basis. Many military analysts now view drone combat as the defining characteristic of modern warfare.

Earlier this month, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth took action to boost domestic drone manufacturing by implementing a new policy aimed at speeding up production and slashing bureaucratic obstacles.

The directive emphasized the urgency of scaling up U.S. drone capabilities as other nations rapidly expand theirs. Hegseth stressed that he wants all military personnel, regardless of branch, to receive training in drone deployment.

The Pentagon’s budget proposal for the upcoming year includes a noticeable increase in funding for small drone development, signaling a broader strategic shift in military priorities.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Interior Minister Moshe Arbel announced Thursday evening that he is retracting his resignation from the government, just one day after submitting it. Arbel informed Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu of his decision, citing pressing responsibilities within the Interior Ministry that require immediate attention and cannot be delayed without harming the public interest.

“In light of urgent administrative tasks requiring immediate action within the Interior Ministry—whose postponement could negatively impact the public interest—such as completing the recovery plan and ensuring the salaries of employees of the Nazareth municipality, which is currently under a state-appointed committee—I have informed the Prime Minister of my decision to retract my resignation, in coordination with the chairman of the Shas party, Rabbi Aryeh Deri,” Arbel wrote in a statement.

In a formal letter to the Prime Minister, Arbel emphasized: “I hereby inform you of my retraction of the resignation from my position, as 48 hours have not yet passed since the resignation letter was submitted.”

According to political sources, Arbel’s reversal was intended to allow him to finalize the appointment of Israel Ozan, a Shas member, as Director General of the Interior Ministry. It is expected that Arbel will resign again once the appointment is completed.

{Matzav.com Israel}

With less than 70 days remaining until the mass pilgrimage of Breslover chassidim to Uman for Rosh Hashanah 5786, three of the movement’s most senior rabbonim—Rav Yaakov Meir Shechter, Rav Moshe Kramer, and Rav Nosson Lieberman—convened for a summit. The meeting, joined by Rav Nosson Ben-Nun, chairman of Ichud Breslov, focused on preparations for the annual kibbutz in Uman and the growing challenges facing this gathering.

These rabbonim have guided the Breslover community for more than fifty years.

Notably, Rav Moshe Kramer attended the meeting despite his fragile health and the fact that he has barely left his home in recent months.

During the session, Rav Ben-Nun presented a comprehensive update on the planning efforts for this year’s pilgrimage. He detailed the extensive preparations that began immediately after last year’s Yom Tov season and the considerable behind-the-scenes work being undertaken to ensure that the gathering takes place smoothly.

The rabbonim also addressed the logistical and geopolitical obstacles that could hinder the trip. With the ongoing war in Ukraine, thousands of travelers are expected to enter the country through neighboring Eastern European nations with shared land borders. Coordinating passage through these borders and minimizing congestion will require significant international collaboration. In addition, the rabbonim expressed concern about external groups attempting to assert control over the kibbutz. They emphasized the critical importance of ensuring that all aspects of the gathering remain under the authorized leadership of Ichud Breslov.

After thorough deliberation, the rabbonim issued a heartfelt call to the entire Breslover community. They urged chassidim worldwide to intensify their tefillos and to establish a Yom Tefillah as well as to commit to daily tefillos from now until Rosh Hashanah for the success of the Uman pilgrimage. They cited the words of Rav Nachman: “By us, we begin with what others only do at the end.”

The gathering also included the sharing of personal memories and stories from decades ago, recalling the challenges and spiritual uplift experienced by the first generations of Breslover chassidim who made the arduous journey to Uman more than fifty years ago. The rabbonim spoke passionately about the unique spiritual power of the Rosh Hashanah kibbutz by the tziyun of Rav Nachman and the tremendous tikkunim that occur during that time.

As the meeting concluded, the senior leaders of Breslov issued a unified written statement addressed to the entire Breslover community.

{Matzav.com Israel}

A newly released image of Izz al-Din al-Haddad, now believed to be the top figure in Hamas’ military operations, was shared Thursday by IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee. In the photo, Haddad—known from previous appearances and interviews—looks markedly different, with freshly dyed black hair and a neatly groomed beard.

Lt. Col. Adraee commented on the altered appearance, saying, “The dramatic change in his facial features, as seen in the picture, reveals just one thing: deep fear and a desire to disguise himself and disappear. While Hamas promotes a narrative of ‘famine’ to the world, it appears that Haddad remains safe from it, far from the hunger and suffering experienced by the residents of Gaza.”

Adraee continued his criticism of the Hamas leader, writing, “Haddad is the last remaining leader of Hamas who led Gaza to ruin and contributed to the collapse of the entire Iranian axis. Is it shame and fear of the destruction left by Hamas-ISIS that pushed him to change his appearance and disguise himself? He tries to present himself as a ‘hero’ to the public, but what will the people of Gaza—those living in tents among the ruins of their homes—say when they see him hiding in tunnels, afraid, changing his identity? Can the man who led the Strip to devastation, who runs from responsibility and hides, truly be called a hero?”

Not long after the photograph was made public—at 3:49 p.m.—red alert sirens sounded in the city of Sderot and nearby areas along the Gaza border. The Israeli military confirmed that two rockets launched from northern Gaza were successfully intercepted. Islamic Jihad later claimed it was behind the attack.

Haddad rose to prominence following the death of Mohammed Sinwar in May. The IDF officially identified him as Hamas’ de facto leader earlier this month. Intelligence sources cited by The New York Times believe he is currently operating out of Gaza City. As negotiations continue between Hamas and Israel—mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States—the Times reported that Haddad has conveyed a dual message: he seeks either a “dignified agreement” or is ready to escalate into a “war of martyrdom.”

Known by the moniker “the Ghost of Hamas,” Haddad has managed to elude at least six assassination attempts. A senior commander within Hamas’s Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, he is now in his mid-50s. In a January broadcast on Al Jazeera, Haddad acknowledged his involvement in orchestrating the October 7 attacks. Fluent in Hebrew, he oversaw the captivity of several IDF female observers in northern Gaza—Liri Albag, Daniella Gilboa, Karina Ariev, Naama Levy, and Agam Berger—all of whom were later released. According to The Times, he remains a key figure in both the negotiations and the ongoing management of hostages.

Throughout the conflict, Israel has systematically eliminated much of Hamas’ senior military leadership. Haddad, who started the war as the brigade commander in Gaza City, is the only top official still active in his original role. Since the October 7 attacks, the IDF has taken out Mohammed Deif, head of Hamas’ military wing; his deputy Marwan Issa; northern commander Ahmed Randour; central commander Ayman Nofal; Khan Younis commander Raafah Salameh; and Rafah commander Mohammed Shabana.

Reporting from the Saudi-based outlet Al-Sharq suggests that Hamas may be showing a willingness to consider relocating some of its senior leadership outside Gaza. Sources close to the group estimate that it might agree to exile a “symbolic and limited number” of leaders as part of a broader deal to end hostilities. Nevertheless, The New York Times reported that Haddad remains unwavering in his core demands, including a full halt to the war and a complete Israeli pullout from Gaza, holding firm to the same positions as his predecessors.

Since the start of the war, Haddad is the only high-ranking Hamas figure to grant a media interview. Speaking to Al Jazeera in January, he stated: “The leadership of the occupation, which is backed by the U.S., will have to surrender to our just demands.”

He outlined those demands as follows: complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza; cessation of military operations; release of Palestinian prisoners; full-scale reconstruction of the Gaza Strip; and lifting of the blockade that restricts goods from entering and exiting the territory.

{Matzav.com Israel}

An Israeli Defense Forces soldier was officially charged on Thursday by the Military Prosecution for having contact with Iranian operatives and providing them with non-classified information in return for money.

According to a joint statement from the Israel Police and the Shin Bet, the material he provided was not considered classified or sensitive. His arrest came after a coordinated investigation conducted by the Police Investigation Department and the Lahav 433 National Crime Unit.

Investigators believe the soldier knowingly engaged with someone acting on behalf of Iran. He is now facing charges for engaging with a foreign agent and for transmitting data to a hostile entity.

Officials say he followed the agent’s instructions and sent over visuals that included video footage of Israel’s air defense systems intercepting missiles, along with images documenting missile strikes and the aftermath in various locations. This coincided with a major escalation last month when Israel and Iran exchanged missiles in a conflict that resulted in 30 Israeli fatalities, hundreds of injuries, and widespread damage to infrastructure.

During that period, the Israeli military and police implemented strict measures to curb the sharing of real-time information about where missiles had landed.

Although the clampdown applied to the general public, authorities specifically intensified enforcement against international journalists. Law enforcement was granted expanded authority to confiscate recording devices and expel journalists from the areas, as part of emergency regulations. This very issue was reviewed in a recent High Court of Justice hearing.

The security agencies clarified that the soldier did not use his military clearance or access to restricted data in his communications with the Iranian agents. A judge ordered that he remain in custody until Tuesday.

This was not the only case involving suspected Iranian collaboration that day. Earlier on Thursday, prosecutors filed charges against a 33-year-old teacher from the Negev who was allegedly working with Iranian agents for financial compensation. Since October 7, Israeli authorities have investigated over 30 such incidents.

{Matzav.com Israel}

A large rock broke off Mars’s surface when an asteroid struck the planet, sending it flying through space. The roughly 54-pound slab then traveled 140 million miles to Earth, where it breached the atmosphere and landed on a desert in northwest Africa.

On Wednesday, that rock sold for nearly $5.3 million at a New York City auction house.

The meteorite is the largest piece of Mars on Earth, Sotheby’s auction house said, and is now the highest selling meteorite ever.

“You get close to it, you can feel like you’re looking at the planet,” Cassandra Hatton, vice chairman for science and natural history at Sotheby’s, told The Washington Post. “There’s a lot of texture and ripples and ridges and such.”

The odds of the red, brown and gray meteorite even reaching Earth were minuscule, researchers said.

The meteor probably looked like a “bright fireball” when it entered the planet, Allan Treiman, principal scientist at Houston’s Lunar and Planetary Institute, said in an email to The Post. While many rocks burn up in the atmosphere before landing on Earth, ones that reach the surface intact – like the Mars one – are called meteorites, according to NASA.

A meteorite hunter discovered the more than 14-inch-long rock in November 2023 in Niger, but there was still work to be done to confirm its origins.

A lab in China successfully tested the rock for maskelynite, a glassy material that’s commonly found in meteorites. Then, the lab found that the meteorite’s chemical composition was similar to meteorites discovered during NASA’s Viking mission to Mars in 1976.

While Sotheby’s doesn’t know when the meteorite arrived on Earth, the auction house said, it probably landed recently because it’s in good condition.

Paul Asimow, professor of geology and geochemistry at the California Institute of Technology, said in an email that meteorites “carry information about the history of the Solar System that cannot be learned any other way.”

When Hatton touched the meteorite for the first time a few months ago, she said, it felt like a glossy rock.

Other meteorites from Mars have sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent years, but the new discovery is more than double the size of those, Hatton said.

“None of them have a presence that this had,” Hatton said. “I mean, this really looks like a piece of Mars, whereas pretty much every other Martian meteorite you see is going to just kind of look like a little rock.”

Hatton declined to identify the meteorite’s buyer.

Hatton said the public’s attention to the meteorite reflects a growing interest in space as scientists across the world explore the heavens for information. People teased Hatton about her interest in science two decades ago, she said, and didn’t think she could build a career selling discoveries from space.

“All of these people are coming back to me saying, ‘Oh my God, you were right all along,’” Hatton said.

So when do researchers think another large meteorite will be discovered?

“There is nothing we can do to get another,” Asimow said, “but sit around for an eternity and hope another one falls.”

(c) 2025, The Washington Post · Kyle Melnick 

{Matzav.com}

The Vizhnitzer Rebbe of London is scheduled to undergo a complicated surgical procedure this afternoon at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan.

The Rebbe, who has been in the United States for the past two months due to health concerns, is expected to remain there through the middle of Elul as he recovers from the procedure.

The surgery is seen as a critical step in his ongoing medical treatment, and chassidim across the globe are uniting in heartfelt tefillos for his full recovery.

The Beis Din Tzedek of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations in London has issued a public letter calling upon the tzibbur to daven for the Rebbe’s complete and speedy refuah.

The Rebbe’s name for Tehillim is Rav Dovid ben Sima Mirel.

{Matzav.com}

Egg prices in the United States have continued to slide, with the latest figures showing the cost of a dozen eggs now sitting at $3.77. This marks another decline after months of unusually high prices.

According to fresh data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), this is the third consecutive month that egg prices have fallen, offering some relief to shoppers at the grocery store.

Back in March, egg prices hit a peak of approximately $6.23 per dozen. Since then, prices have dropped steadily, falling to $5.12 in April, then $4.55 in May, and now settling at their current level.

The dramatic spike earlier in the year was largely blamed on widespread outbreaks of bird flu during the first two months of the year, which disrupted egg production and pushed prices upward, the BLS reported.

Now that the spread of avian flu is more contained, the seasonal surge in demand for Easter has passed, and more eggs are entering the U.S. through imports, prices have begun to normalize.

Restaurants that rely heavily on eggs, such as Denny’s and Waffle House, have taken notice of the easing costs and recently scrapped their added egg fees.

In February, Waffle House implemented a 50-cent surcharge on egg dishes at all of its 1,900 restaurants due to soaring prices. Denny’s also added surcharges, though the exact amount varied by location. Waffle House removed its fee on June 2, and Denny’s followed suit on May 21.

{Matzav.com}

Shas ministers began formally stepping down from their cabinet roles on Thursday, following a decision by the party’s Council of Torah Sages the previous evening to exit the government due to its refusal to legislate a full exemption from military service for chareidi yeshiva students.

Those submitting their resignations included Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, Welfare Minister Yaacov Margi, Health Minister Uriel Busso, Labor Minister Yoav Ben-Tzur, Religious Affairs Minister Michael Malkieli, Education Ministry Minister Haim Bitton, and Deputy Agriculture Minister Moshe Aboutboul.

Despite stepping down from their ministerial duties, all seven will remain active in the Knesset as lawmakers.

The Council of Torah Sages instructed the Shas Knesset members to stay aligned with the coalition for now. Therefore, although the ministers have left their posts, Shas leader MK Aryeh Deri—who does not hold a cabinet position—will continue to attend National Security Cabinet meetings, according to a statement from his office.

Yaacov Margi, announcing his resignation on X under the verse “You must act according to the decisions they give you” (Deuteronomy 17:10), wrote: “With sacred reverence, I have submitted my resignation from my position as Minister of Welfare and Social Affairs—a role I have fulfilled for over two and a half years.”

He added: “Together with the dedicated staff of the Ministry of Welfare, I had the privilege of serving the people of Israel during one of the most challenging periods in the country’s history, particularly in support of vulnerable populations and welfare recipients. I will continue to serve the public as a Member of Knesset and work for the benefit of all citizens of Israel,” Margi wrote.

Even though Shas has vacated its government posts, its continued presence in the coalition means Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu no longer holds a majority, but the administration is not expected to fall—at least until the Knesset returns from its summer break, which spans July 27 to October 19.

The ruling bloc now stands at 60 seats following the decision earlier in the week by United Torah Judaism, the Ashkenazi chareidi party, to withdraw from the coalition over the same dispute regarding the military draft for yeshiva students.

In an interview aired Thursday on Kol Berama Radio, Malkieli emphasized that Shas remained “a full partner of the national camp” and noted that “there was still an opportunity to pass a law and bring us back into the government.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

The Israeli military announced Thursday evening that it has eliminated several Hamas terrorists involved in the October 7 massacre, including the deputy commander of the terror group’s Jabalia Battalion.

In a statement, IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari reported that the joint operation, carried out by the IDF’s Southern Command and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), targeted Iyad Nassar, a senior Hamas terrorist who had served as the deputy commander of the Jabalia Battalion. The operation was conducted on July 10, 2025, with firepower directed by the IDF’s 282nd Fire Brigade.

Nassar was among the Hamas operatives who infiltrated Israeli territory during the Simchas Torah massacre on October 7. He was wounded during the war but later returned to his position within the battalion. According to the IDF, Nassar continued to direct terrorist activity against Israeli forces throughout the conflict, including recent weeks in which he led attacks on the IDF’s 162nd Division operating in the area.

Alongside Nassar, two additional terrorists were also eliminated. Both had participated in the brutal attacks of October 7. One of them, Hassan Mahmoud Muhammad Marai, was the commander of Hamas’s Central Jabalia Company. The other, Muhammad Zaki Shamadeh Hamad, served as deputy commander of a company in the terror group’s Beit Hanoun Battalion.

The IDF emphasized that it and the Shin Bet will continue to operate forcefully against those responsible for the October 7 atrocities, vowing to pursue and neutralize every terrorist who played a role in the massacre.

{Matzav.com Israel}

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Slovenia has announced plans to bar Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from entering the country. The declaration was made public by Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon following a government meeting held on Thursday.

Fajon said the decision to label the two officials as persona non grata stems from their alleged role in encouraging “extreme violence and serious violations of the human rights of Palestinians” and for making “genocidal statements.”

By doing so, Slovenia will mark itself as the first European Union nation to officially prohibit the two Israeli ministers from entry.

Earlier this year, in June, the United Kingdom aligned with countries like Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and others in levying sanctions against Smotrich and Ben-Gvir over remarks made about Palestinians and the situation in Gaza. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy characterized their statements as “monstrous.”

Responding to these actions, US Ambassador to the UK Warren Stephens said: “The United States stands firmly in support of Israel. The United States is deeply concerned by the recent decision to impose sanctions on democratically elected officials of the State of Israel.

“These measures impede constructive dialogue and do not advance our shared goals of supporting peace and security. The United States will continue to focus our collective efforts on defeating Hamas, securing the release of all hostages, helping to create an enduring peace, and promoting Israel’s security and regional prosperity.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

A source close to the ongoing indirect ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas in Doha, Qatar, dismissed reports claiming that Hamas had accepted the Israeli redeployment maps proposed by the Israeli team.

According to the Palestinian Arab outlet “Quds Press,” the source explained that mediators were given the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) redeployment plans and acknowledged that the maps indicate some movement toward Hamas’s stance. However, the source clarified that the proposal still falls short of Hamas’s minimum demands.

The source noted that mediators are continuing to engage with both sides, working to close the gaps and secure an understanding on the redeployment arrangements.

He further stated that the immediate focus of the negotiations is to resolve three major points: facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid, agreeing on “withdrawal maps from the Gaza Strip,” and establishing firm guarantees to enforce a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire.

The source also revealed that talks regarding the release of hostages and imprisoned militants have not started and will only take place after consensus is reached on these three essential matters.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Rav Kalman Ber, the Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi of Israel, released an urgent letter Thursday morning responding to the gruesome slaughter of Druze civilians in Syria.

In his heartfelt message, Rav Ber implored the State of Israel, as well as both religious and international leaders, to intervene and put an end to the atrocities being committed against defenseless people.

“Shocking images that horrify every soul appeared these past few days on the media’s screens,” Rav Ber wrote. “Our eyes are witness to a cruel killing spree against the Druze people, and severe assaults on the sanctity of human life. These are actions that we, and all religious leaders around the world, cannot stand by and ignore.”

Recalling the horrors broadcast in recent days, Rav Ber painted a disturbing picture of the chaos. “We have seen how predatory animals, in a fit of rage, attack innocent civilians without distinguishing between man and woman, between the elderly and children. We are reminded of the dark days of history when bloodthirsty nations carried out similar actions, and the world was silent and kept its peace!”

According to Rav Ber, the Torah‘s instruction not to remain passive in the face of bloodshed compels a strong and urgent outcry. “The Divine commandment ‘Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor’ obligates us to raise a cry and awaken the entire world against the severe harm and ethnic cleansing that is taking place at this moment against the Druze community on the Druze mountain in Syria.”

He also stressed the close bonds between the Jewish people and the Druze community. “We must also remember that some members of the [Druze] community and their relatives live among us and are bound to us by a covenant of blood, for the sake of the State of Israel’s existence.”

Rav Ber ended with a powerful call to conscience. “Indifference at this fateful hour is a disaster. I appeal with a pained heart to all who can prevent the continuation of the killing and destruction, as well as to the leaders of the free world, to join this call and immediately stop these heinous actions.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

The Senate gave its approval early Thursday morning to President Donald Trump’s proposal to slash billions in funding allocated for foreign aid and public broadcasting, marking a legislative victory for the Republican leader.

In a 51-48 vote, senators backed Trump’s initiative to cancel $9 billion in already-authorized government expenditures.

Among the 53 Republicans in the Senate, only Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine broke ranks to oppose the measure, siding with Democrats. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who earlier this week voted against bringing the bill forward—requiring a tiebreaker vote from Vice President JD Vance—ultimately supported it when it came up for a final vote.

The bulk of the proposed cuts are aimed at international assistance programs that support regions afflicted by illness, conflict, and environmental catastrophes. Additionally, the package erases the full $1.1 billion in anticipated funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting over the next two years.

Trump and many Republicans have long contended that taxpayer funding for public media is wasteful and have been critical of its editorial stance, which they say displays bias against conservative viewpoints.

It’s highly unusual for rescission bills—proposals to revoke previously authorized spending—to pass, as lawmakers are generally reluctant to relinquish their constitutional authority over the federal purse.

Though $9 billion is a minuscule fraction of the overall $6.8 trillion federal budget, the rescissions are part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to drastically scale back spending. Many of these efforts have been led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), created under billionaire Elon Musk’s direction.

According to data compiled by Democratic lawmakers monitoring budget holds, as of mid-June, the administration had frozen $425 billion in congressionally approved funds.

Nevertheless, Trump and his allies have vowed to introduce more rescission requests, arguing that pulling back previously allocated money is essential to shrinking the size of government.

Last month, the House narrowly passed the measure 214-212, with four Republicans joining all Democrats in voting against it.

In response to concerns among Senate Republicans regarding cuts to international health initiatives, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought announced earlier this week that the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)—a flagship anti-AIDS program initiated in 2003 under George W. Bush—would be spared from the cuts.

That concession reduced the total amount of the proposed rescissions from $9.4 billion to $9 billion, prompting the need for a second House vote before the package can head to Trump’s desk for final approval.

Under the law, Congress has until Friday to pass the rescissions measure. If the deadline is missed, the request will lapse, and the executive branch will be obligated to follow the existing spending framework enacted by Congress.

Senators Murkowski and Collins maintained their opposition to the bill during the final vote.

“You don’t need to gut the entire Corporation for Public Broadcasting,” Murkowski said in remarks on the Senate floor.

She voiced concern that the administration had failed to guarantee continued support for global disease eradication campaigns, citing malaria and polio. More fundamentally, Murkowski emphasized, Congress must not abandon its constitutional power over fiscal decisions.

Senate Majority Whip John Thune of South Dakota characterized the initiative as a “small, but important step toward fiscal sanity.”

Democrats disagreed sharply, highlighting that earlier this month Republicans supported a sweeping tax and spending package estimated by independent analysts to increase the national debt by more than $3 trillion, which currently stands at $36.2 trillion.

They accused the GOP of relinquishing legislative power over spending.

“Today, Senate Republicans turn this chamber into a subservient rubber stamp for the executive, at the behest of Donald Trump,” charged Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York.

“Republicans embrace the credo of cut, cut, cut now, and ask questions later,” Schumer added.

The rescissions would override recent bipartisan budget agreements, including the comprehensive funding bill passed in March. Democrats warned that this partisan maneuver could make it harder to reach consensus on the broader budget legislation that must be passed by September 30 to avert a government shutdown.

While most Senate legislation requires a 60-vote threshold to advance, rescission packages only need a simple majority—allowing Republicans to pass it even without a single Democratic vote.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox, 

I write this letter to you having firsthand knowledge. It’s something I live with every day.

It’s time we stop whispering about a crisis that’s already roaring through the hallways of our mosdos hachinuch. The financial collapse of our yeshivos and Bais Yaakovs isn’t a looming threat. It’s here. Mosdos that carry the burden of raising the next generation of bnei Torah, bnos Yisroel, and committed ovdei Hashem are suffocating under the weight of deficits, mounting debts, and impossible expectations.

Speak to any administrator off the record and you’ll hear the same grim truth: they don’t know how they’ll meet payroll the next month. Teachers are waiting on delayed checks. Office staff are fielding desperate phone calls not just from vendors, but from parents, drowning in financial anxiety. Building repairs are being deferred, programs cut, and class sizes ballooning, all because the money just isn’t there.

Let’s be honest. The vast majority of parents in our communities simply cannot pay full tuition. Many can’t even meet discounted obligations. The cost of living in the frum world continues to soar—housing, groceries, health insurance, simchos, etc.—and then comes tuition, often the largest and most relentless expense of all. Multiply that by three, five, seven or more children, and the math doesn’t work. No financial planning course in the world can make it add up.

We can’t ignore the reality that the current tuition model is broken. It is built on the unspoken assumption that a minority of full-paying families, along with heroic fundraising efforts, will somehow carry the rest. But those full-pay families are shrinking in number. The donor class is already stretched thin, being pulled in ten directions by countless communal needs. And the askanim fundraising for schools are burning out, facing rejection after rejection, year after year, while being expected to perform financial miracles.

Meanwhile, families who request discounts are often made to feel ashamed or judged, forced to disclose personal financial details to justify their need. The process is invasive, humiliating, and in many cases, completely detached from the real financial stressors families face—credit card debt, unstable income, and so on. We are expecting mothers and fathers, already overwhelmed with life, to defend their right to educate their children.

Mosdos are constantly teetering on the edge, unable to pay their rebbeim and moros adequately or on time.

We can no longer afford to treat this crisis as “someone else’s problem.” We need real solutions—and I honestly don’t know what those solutions are. And no, the ECCA bill is not the answer. It might help a bit, but it won’t solve the problem.

Don’t say you didn’t know. You heard it here. Our mosdos are drowning.

Sincerely,

S. T.

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{Matzav.com}

During a staff meeting, BBC News CEO Deborah Turness made comments distinguishing the political leadership of Hamas from its military faction, sparking criticism. Her remarks, captured on video and released by The Telegraph on Wednesday, were made in the context of ongoing fallout from a controversial documentary that aired earlier this year.

Turness made the distinction while discussing the backlash to the BBC’s documentary Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone, which faced widespread condemnation. The program aired on February 17, 2025, and was narrated by 13-year-old Abdullah Al-Yazouri, a boy living in Gaza. Soon after the broadcast, it was revealed that Abdullah’s father is Ayman Alyazouri, a deputy minister in Gaza’s Hamas-led government, prompting the BBC to launch a formal review.

The broadcaster issued its findings this week, in a report overseen by Peter Johnston, director of editorial complaints and reviews at the BBC. The investigation concluded that the network had violated its editorial standards by not disclosing Alyazouri’s official position. According to the report, “to disclose in the program the information about the narrator’s father’s position as deputy minister of agriculture in the Hamas-run government in Gaza was a breach of the BBC’s editorial guidelines.”

In her video remarks to staff, Turness stated: “I think it’s really important that we are clear that Abdullah’s father was a deputy agriculture minister, and therefore was a member of the Hamas-run government, which is different to being part of the military wing of Hamas.” She added, “Externally, it’s often simplified that he was in Hamas, and I think it’s an important point of detail that we need to continually remind people of the difference.”

However, The Telegraph emphasized that the UK government does not make such a differentiation. In the eyes of British law, Hamas is outlawed in its entirety, without distinction between its branches.

Speaking to The Jerusalem Post, Dr. Amira Halperin, an academic expert in Middle Eastern affairs, weighed in on Turness’ remarks. Referring to a section of the BBC’s internal review, Dr. Halperin noted it claimed the production company believed the father held a civilian role, not a political or militant one. “This is problematic because Hamas’ military wing, ‘Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades’, was proscribed by the UK in March 2001,” she said. “In 2021, the Home Office assessed that the distinction between Hamas’s military and political wings is artificial. The Home Office decided to ban Hamas in its entirety.”

She further clarified that under UK law, expressing support for Hamas is a criminal offense that can carry a prison sentence of up to 14 years. “A Hamas Deputy Minister of Agriculture is a minister in a government that has been banned in the UK as a terrorist organisation in its entirety,” she stressed.

Dr. Halperin also reflected on the conflicted views held by some Palestinians she has interviewed. “The Palestinians I interviewed told me that they do not always want to declare that they are affiliated with the Hamas party and consume Hamas’ websites, as the Hamas party is, on one hand, a legitimate political power – the party that won the Palestinian legislative elections, but, on the other hand, Hamas is classified as a terrorist organisation by a few Western governments,” she said.

Following the leak of Turness’ internal comments, Andrew Gilbert, Vice President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, released a public response expressing deep dismay. “I am extremely concerned that within days of the BBC’s damning report… Turness appears to be obfuscating and minimising the BBC’s failings.” He continued, “Hamas is a proscribed terrorist organization, and this so-called distinction between political and military wings has been categorically dismissed as artificial by the British government.”

Gilbert warned that Turness’ statements signaled the BBC had failed to absorb the lessons of its recent missteps.

{Matzav.com}