Matzav

Ahead of Yom Ha’atzmaut, the Central Bureau of Statistics released new data on Tuesday showing that Israel’s population has climbed to nearly 10.1 million — a dramatic twelvefold rise since the state’s founding in 1948.

The latest population count reflects an annual growth of approximately 135,000 people, or 1.4%. Of that number, around 7.7 million — making up 77.6% of the population — are classified as Jewish or “other.” The “other” group, previously categorized separately, includes individuals such as non-Arab Christians and those without an official listed ethnicity, many of whom are eligible for Israeli residency due to Jewish ancestry or family ties, according to the CBS.

The data also shows that roughly 2.1 million people in Israel, accounting for 20.9% of the population, are Arab citizens — whether Muslim, Christian, or Druze. An additional 250,000 individuals (2.5%) fall outside both the Jewish and Arab classifications. These include foreign nationals like students, laborers, and undocumented residents.

According to the statistics bureau, in the past year Israel saw the birth of approximately 174,000 babies, the arrival of 28,000 new immigrants, and the deaths of about 50,000 citizens. The demographics point to a relatively youthful nation, with 27% of the population under the age of 18, while only 13% are aged 65 and older.

When compared with global population trends, Israel’s growth remains high. The world’s population expanded by roughly 0.9% to reach just over 8 billion in 2023, based on World Bank figures. However, Israel’s pace of growth has slightly tapered off from the prior year’s 1.9% increase, which brought the population close to 9.9 million.

A factor contributing to the slowdown is a notable drop in immigration. A report issued Monday by the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration highlighted a 24% decrease in new arrivals over the last year.

The CBS also noted that around 56,000 Israeli citizens currently live abroad. While this figure has declined, the report did not specify by how much.

Since the country’s establishment, approximately 3.5 million people have made aliyah to Israel, the bureau said. Nearly half — 47.6% — came beginning in 1990, during the large wave of immigration from the former Soviet Union. By the end of 2023, Israel was home to about 45% of the world’s Jewish population, and 80% of Jewish Israelis were born in the country.

Israel is preparing to mark its 77th Independence Day on Wednesday evening, in line with the Jewish calendar. Commemorations will begin the night before with Memorial Day, which honors fallen soldiers and victims of terror. The day will open with a nationwide siren and a moment of silence at 8:00 p.m. Tuesday.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is actively considering advanced tools, including artificial intelligence, as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance safety across the subway network, officials revealed during a Monday briefing.

Michael Kemper, the MTA’s Chief Security Officer, explained that the agency is experimenting with technology such as AI to detect potentially dangerous behavior before it escalates into a crisis. “We’re studying and piloting technology like AI to sense potential trouble or problematic behavior on our subway platforms,” he said.

At a recent safety committee meeting, Kemper elaborated on how the new system might operate, describing scenarios where erratic or aggressive behavior would automatically trigger alerts. “If someone is acting out, irrational, it could potentially—and again this is what we’re exploring—it could potentially trigger an alert that would trigger a response from either security and or the police department beforehand, proactively,” he said.

The MTA is collaborating with several tech firms to test “predictive tools” that evaluate surveillance footage in real time. The aim is to spot warning signs and allow authorities to intervene before any unlawful activity occurs.

But not everyone is on board. Albert Fox Cahn, who leads the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, expressed deep skepticism about the use of AI in public surveillance. “This sort of surveillance is pseudoscience. It’s creepy, it’s invasive and I just am really outraged that the MTA is going to give our data to a private company like this, in such a dubious way,” he said.

Cahn warned that AI might misinterpret benign behavior—such as expressive talking or dancing—as threatening, potentially resulting in wrongful suspicion. He also voiced unease about privacy violations, possible racial profiling, and the vague boundaries around how long the data is retained and who has access to it. “I don’t know how long they’re allowed to keep it or what they’re allowed to do with it,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s allowed to be sent overseas or if it’s sold to third parties. It’s a real violation of trust.”

The MTA’s AI initiative is part of a broader strategy to bolster rider confidence and demonstrate to both New Yorkers and federal authorities that public transit remains secure. Governor Kathy Hochul has backed the increased focus on subway safety.

A string of alarming incidents, such as last week’s fatal stabbing at the Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall/Chambers Street station and numerous unprovoked platform attacks in recent years, has intensified public concern. These events have painted the subway as increasingly unpredictable.

New York Police Department statistics show that 573 felony assaults were reported in the subway system in 2024—the highest figure in more than 25 years. Ten individuals were killed on the subway last year.

This latest push for AI implementation follows pressure from the Trump administration, which warned the MTA that it risked losing federal funding unless it presented a comprehensive plan to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy outlining how it intends to curb crime. In response, the MTA submitted detailed information about its security proposals.

{Matzav.com}

In the wake of the public uproar surrounding the World Zionist Organization (WZO) elections — and amid recent shocking revelations that the Conservative movement covertly ran a campaign within the chareidi community to undermine the Eretz HaKodesh slate — a recording has now surfaced documenting Rav Gershon Edelstein’s explicit directive encouraging American talmidim to vote for Eretz HaKodesh. Matzav.com has obtained this exclusive recording.

The publication of this recording comes just as the window to vote in the WZO elections is closing. Its release also follows revelations that Conservative figures Yizhar Hess and his assistant Eyal Ostrinsky financed a large-scale operation, allegedly compensating chareidi go-betweens to stir opposition to the Eretz HaKodesh slate within the chareidi world.

The individual who had been in possession of the recording told Matzav.com, “All this time, I chose not to share the recording, even as tensions around the issue escalated,” he said. “I kept it to myself out of deference to the directive from the gedolim that any encouragement to support Eretz HaKodesh be handled privately — passed discreetly from one person to the next, rather than promoted through public campaigning. But now that it’s evident that outside players have intentionally created turmoil and dragged this into the public arena to harm our efforts, I was given direct instruction, rooted in daas Torah, to release the recording openly.”

The recording opens with a brief introduction by Rav Gershon’s grandson, Motty Paley, who presents the matter to his grandfather.

Here is the full audio with sub-titles, followed by a transcription:

Grandson: “There’s a question — there’s this matter of the World Zionist Organization in America.”

The rosh yeshiva expresses surprise at the very existence of this body, which for years was not publicized and operated far from public view, and asks: “There is still such a thing?”

The grandson answers and explains why the issue is significant despite the fact that the body itself is almost irrelevant to any public matter.

Grandson: “There is still such a thing. It’s not active in anything significant, but there’s one thing — there is a lot of money there. Their annual budget is a billion dollars.”

Rav Gershon: “What do they do with it?”

The grandson answers and explains in detail all sides of the issue.

Grandson: “Over time, control over this body and its money lies in the hands of 250 people who are elected once every five years. It is divided — 150 of these people are from America. According to the rules, that’s how it’s set up. Anyone who wants can vote online — just one click, and he votes. Now, what’s happening is that Reform Jews have taken over this body, and they are taking this money and channeling it into battles over issues like giyur, the Kosel, and various matters against Yiddishkeit. They are investing the money for these purposes.

“Now, this issue came up among the American rabbanim because there are elections for this body, and there’s an opportunity to get our people into it. It’s simply a matter of two parts — there’s the sur meira [turning away from evil], and there might also be an aseh tov [doing good].
It involves several organizations — there’s the Jewish Agency, Keren Kayemet L’Yisroel, various bodies that are involved. And of the 150 people, they form the majority of the American representatives. Every American citizen can vote. Now, the question is like this: that’s on one hand. On the other hand, it’s the Zionist Organization — are we telling our people to vote for the Zionist Organization? They have to pay membership dues — five dollars — and become members of the Zionist Organization, and then they can vote. That’s how it works.

“This question was actually brought to the rabbanim in America — whether to do it or not to do it. And they said very clear words — that it’s halacha v’ein morin kein [the halacha is yes, but it should not be publicly disseminated]. They would not issue a public letter to the public to go and vote, but they themselves send emissaries — including Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky — all of them quietly send people to vote and act on it.”

The grandson continues: “There was someone here a year ago — Yisrael Friedman (editor of Yated Ne’eman in Eretz Yisroel) — who came to speak to Saba [grandfather] about the issue, regarding the many Americans here in Eretz Yisroel, what to do with them, whether to tell them to vote or not to tell them, to remain silent or not. In practice, Saba said that it is forbidden for an official instruction to come out from the gedolim of Eretz Yisroel on the matter. Because we… Saba and Rav Chaim [Kanievsky] are not in favor of the Zionist Organization, to become members in the Zionist Organization? Even though it doesn’t have real significance for anything nowadays, nevertheless, the Zionist Organization was once a problematic body. I don’t know exactly what it was — Saba surely knows it from many years ago — the Zionist Organization and what it represented.”

The grandson then poses the immediate question: “Now the question is like this: They are avreichim, he [Rabbi Nechemia Malinowitz] is managing all the English-language advocacy for Degel HaTorah. They are asking whether they really need to help and act in this matter quietly — without a real formal instruction — quietly to work on it. Is it permissible for them?”

Rav Gershon: “Do they have a ruling (hora’ah) from America?”

Grandson: “Yes.”

Rav Gerson: “So what’s the problem? They are Americans.”

Another speaker participating in the conversation details and explains that the talmidim in Eretz Yisroel are asking for an answer from the gedolim in Eretz Yisroel and not to rely solely on the ruling from the gedolim in America, since this is Eretz Yisroel and there are American bochurim learning in yeshivos like Mir and Brisk.

To this, Rav Gershon responds: “There is benefit (to’eles) in this. There is benefit in this.” (He repeats this a number of times.)

The grandson tries to summarize the response.

Grandson: “The rosh yeshiva is saying that since they have an instruction from their rabbanim in America, that is sufficient.”

Rav Gershon: “And there is benefit in this. There is spiritual benefit in this.”

Rav Malinowitz: “Indeed there is benefit — one can save the Kosel, and save giyur, and save other things…”

The Rosh Yeshiva again repeats (in a soft voice): “There is benefit in this. There is benefit.”

The grandson requests a bracha for success for their activities in the election campaign.

Grandson: “They want a brachah.”

Rav Gershon: “Amein.”

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Memorial Day, Yom Hazikaron, opened this afternoon with a solemn ceremony at Yad Labanim, honoring fallen soldiers and victims of terror.

During the event, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu addressed the audience, stating: “My brothers and sisters, members of the family of the bereaved, this is also my family, close to the anniversary of my brother’s death. Each fallen person was a unique personality that we remember on this sacred day. How do we get through the day? How do we breathe? Because at the moment we receive the news, the most bitter of all, there is no air left. Everything is empty. And this is the great meaning of the embrace of the people. The people and the country for which our heroes fell. It is only thanks to our standing together, shoulder to shoulder, that we learn to walk again, and we walk in the path of our loved ones to ensure the eternity of Israel.”

Netanyahu shared the moving story of Shaul Moyal, saying: “Six months ago, Shaul Moyal, 47, a reserve soldier in the Alon Brigade, went on operational activity. His wife Smadar stayed behind, as did their 10 children. Shaul was asked many times, ‘Why are you doing this? At your age and your family situation – 10 children – you can be exempted.’ He would reply: ‘I have a mission to complete. I was called to duty on October 7th for the most just war possible. To return the residents of the north safely to their homes. So said Shaul, a wonderful educator, who fell in the operation to destroy a Hezbollah terror compound,” Netanyahu said.

He continued by recounting the powerful message Smadar Moyal shared with her children after the mourning period: “At the end of the shiva, Smadar gathered their 10 children and told them this: ‘We will rise from the crisis, we will live with the crisis. Right now, there is a deep hole in our lives, but we will build bridges over it. We will continue to give of ourselves to the state and the people because this is a huge privilege. It is the spirit of the 25,000 fallen soldiers of Israel. Jews, Druze, Christians, Circassians, Muslims, Bedouins. We have been given a historic opportunity to renew our national independence, and I tell you – we will not get another chance. Therefore, we must guard the State of Israel with all our might, and that is what we are doing.”

The prime minister also praised the younger generation for rising to the challenge in these difficult times, saying: “We have learned that the screen generation, the TikTok generation as they called it, this generation knows how to step away from the screen and connect with reality. After the October 7 massacre, the IDF soldiers revealed themselves in their full glory. They are attacking those who seek to meet us on all fronts, fighting like lions to achieve victory. They are giving their lives to create the conditions for the return of our precious hostages, who are constantly before our eyes. Bringing them home is a sacred mission and one that we will not relent from. We all understand who we are fighting against and what we are fighting for.”

{Matzav.com}

A newly released medical report from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum issued a grave warning on Tuesday, stating that the bodies of many deceased hostages could soon be lost forever, eliminating the possibility of recovering them for burial.

The document highlights two central dangers. The first is a critical loss of knowledge: many of the deceased hostages’ burial sites are known to only a handful of people who may die or vanish amid the fighting, leaving behind no trace or record. With each day that passes, this gap in intelligence grows, making it increasingly unlikely that reliable, first-hand information can be secured to support recovery missions.

The second danger involves physical degradation: the extreme environmental conditions in Gaza—such as intense heat, flooding, and structural collapses—are rapidly destroying the condition of the bodies. This damage makes it harder not only to retrieve the remains but also to identify them and determine how these individuals died, a step that may be necessary in any future investigative efforts.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum emphasized that this situation is especially poignant on Israel’s Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism, a day set aside to remember the nation’s lost lives. They said the occasion should reinforce the national responsibility to ensure that even the deceased hostages are brought back and laid to rest with honor.

The report stresses that time is not on Israel’s side. The longer action is delayed, the more evidence disappears, the fewer clues remain, and the lower the chances become of recovering the bodies. This delay, the Forum argues, not only harms the grieving families but also obstructs a broader process of healing and reconciliation. The authors call on leaders to act swiftly to recover all 59 hostages still held in Gaza, including the 35 confirmed dead.

Prof. Hagai Levine, who heads the Health Team within the Forum, said: “There is a real danger to the deceased hostages, one that could impair the ability to return them for proper burial. The dignified return of the fallen hostages for burial, alongside the return of the living for rehabilitation, is a fundamental condition for healing the personal, social, and national wound. It is a moral and national obligation of the State of Israel toward its citizens, part of the unwritten covenant upon which Israeli society rests. Without the return of the deceased hostages and in the absence of certainty, the families become the living-dead, and the fallen remain the dead-alive. This wound undermines the very trust upon which the social fabric relies.”

{Matzav.com}

The Israeli military is reportedly preparing to ramp up its ground operations in Gaza, according to a report from Kan News on Tuesday.

This escalation comes as a result of ongoing frustration over stalled efforts to reach a deal for the release of hostages, prompting both military and government leaders to chart a more aggressive course of action.

Thousands of reservists have already received advance notice of impending activation. Most of those contacted are part of infantry and armored divisions expected to take part in new combat deployments. However, this is not being classified as an emergency mobilization.

In addition, part of the operational expansion reportedly includes an overhaul of how humanitarian aid is distributed within Gaza. Under the updated plan, the IDF will assume control over the aid process.

While actual distribution will still be handled by civilian contractors, the logistics and organization will now take place under military coordination, with the infrastructure managed by the army.

Israeli officials reportedly believe that Hamas may choose to avoid conflict with the civilian population by refraining from interfering with the new aid system, thereby reducing the likelihood of direct clashes over the supplies.

{Matzav.com Israel}

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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt lashed out at Amazon on Tuesday, accusing the online retail giant of siding with Beijing after it was reported that the company plans to mark items with a surcharge label due to new tariffs. She condemned the decision as politically motivated and confrontational.

“This is a hostile and political act by Amazon,” Leavitt stated during a White House press briefing, as reported by Fox News. “Why didn’t Amazon do this when the Biden administration hiked inflation to the highest level in 40 years?”

Leavitt mentioned that she had “just got off the phone” with President Trump regarding Amazon’s latest move, though she declined to discuss his personal dealings with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, saying, “I will not speak to the president’s relationships with [company founder] Jeff Bezos.”

The proposed label, which would notify shoppers that certain product prices include surcharges stemming from the newly announced tariffs on Chinese goods, has stirred debate amid a fresh wave of trade friction between Washington and Beijing.

Leavitt’s pointed remarks follow President Trump’s early April announcement of a sweeping tariff package targeting Chinese imports, which the administration described as a correction of long-standing trade disparities.

In the aftermath of that decision, many third-party Amazon sellers have responded by increasing the prices of popular consumer products — ranging from household items to gadgets and clothing.

According to tracking data, almost 1,000 items listed on Amazon have experienced price increases since the middle of April, as the new tariff structure reverberates across the marketplace.

The analytics company SmartScout reported that the average hike among affected items is close to 30%, reflecting a broad and immediate impact.

These price jumps have touched numerous categories, with notable brands such as Anker — a major supplier of charging gear — adjusting prices on about 25% of its product listings.

“It’s one of the first concerted efforts I’ve seen where nothing explains the price hikes other than tariffs,” said SmartScout CEO Scott Needham, speaking to CBS MoneyWatch.

This clash with Amazon comes shortly after President Trump offered unexpected praise for Jeff Bezos, marking a dramatic shift from their previously combative dynamic.

In a conversation with The Atlantic, Trump described how his once-contentious relationships with Bezos and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg have turned into ones rooted in “respect.”

He credited both tech leaders for realigning their companies’ internal policies to better reflect the principles of his administration.

“They’ve been great,” Trump said of the tech moguls.

“It’s just a higher level of respect. I don’t know. Maybe they didn’t know me at the beginning, and they know me now.”

{Matzav.com}

Rabbi Moshe Azman, the chief rabbi of Ukraine, has composed a song addressed to President Donald Trump, urging him to take action to help end the war between Russia and Ukraine. His message calls on Trump to become a champion of peace, encouraging him to “fight in the name of light.”

In a post on X published Monday, Rabbi Azman wrote, “My appeal to @POTUS Donald Trump President of the United States of America to help Ukraine achieve a just and lasting peace.” He paired the message with video footage showing Russian missile attacks on Kyiv on April 24, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of 12 people, according to RBC-Ukraine.

The chorus of Rabbi Azman’s composition delivers a pointed plea: “Donald Trump, it’s time to fight in the name of light.”

The lyrics continue with an emotional appeal: “You are the one; the world is watching you; with every step, with everything you do. Don’t let the lines of right and wrong grow thin. The light will always rise; the dark won’t win.

“All eyes on you, it’s time to stop this pain. We pray for peace here under missile rain. You hold the key; the page is yours to write. And God bless you for bringing peace and light.

“Donald Trump, it’s time to fight in the name of light. Donald Trump, it’s time to fight in the name of light.”

Another verse takes direct aim at Russia’s leadership and motivations: “They always lie, they always hide the blade. The throne of tsar is built on fear and hate. They don’t want peace, they want just blood and fire. It is time to crush the evil empire.”

Rabbi Azman serves as the head of the Brodsky Shul in Kyiv and leads the All-Ukrainian Congress of Jewish Chassidic Religious Communities, RBC-Ukraine noted.

{Matzav.com}

During the initial 100 days of President Trump’s administration, only nine illegal immigrants were permitted entry into the United States, according to border enforcement leader Tom Homan. In stark contrast, under then-President Biden during the same timeframe the previous year, that number skyrocketed to 184,000.

These eye-opening statistics were released as the administration touted a virtually complete elimination of “gotaways” — migrants who evaded capture at the border — which the White House described as “the top threat to public safety.”

“In that same time frame that we released nine, [the Biden administration] released 184,000 illegal aliens in the country,” Homan stated during an appearance Tuesday morning on “Fox and Friends.”

“President Trump is a game changer,” Homan declared.

“What’s happening on the border, he did in seven weeks what Joe Biden couldn’t — or wouldn’t — do in four years.”

Homan explained that each of the nine individuals who were released under President Trump’s watch had specific and serious justifications. Four were key witnesses involved in active criminal investigations, another four required urgent medical care, and the final individual was released for undisclosed humanitarian reasons.

By comparison, Homan said that under Biden’s administration, the border saw as many as 15,000 illegal crossings daily. But now, he noted, the figures have dropped dramatically.

“You know what the number was yesterday? 178 … 178 across 2,000 miles of border,” Homan said, citing the steep plunge in illegal border activity. According to the White House, illegal crossings have decreased by 95%.

Homan, speaking during a Monday press briefing, announced that the Trump administration has removed around 139,000 individuals from the country since the president assumed office again. “The numbers are good,” he added.

He estimated that over 20 million undocumented immigrants currently reside in the U.S., but said the administration is honing in on the approximately 700,000 with criminal charges or convictions.

“That’s who we’re looking for now, that’s [what we’re] prioritizing, them and national security threats,” Homan explained.

In March, illegal crossings at the southern border totaled just 11,000 — the lowest ever recorded — surpassing the prior record low set the previous month.

The White House hailed the statistics as evidence that President Trump has “ushered in the most secure border in modern American history.”

“President Trump has made good on the promises he made on the campaign trail to usher in an unprecedented era of homeland security.”

A newly released White House memo reveals that President Donald Trump’s economic performance in the early days of his second administration has been overshadowed by the ongoing conversation around tariffs. According to the administration, robust job creation and falling prices across key industries have marked the first 100 days since his inauguration on January 20.

In an economic progress report issued by the Council of Economic Advisers, the Trump administration highlighted several indicators that they say demonstrate a strengthening economy. “345,000 jobs created, including 188,000 (54%) neither government nor government-adjacent,” the memo states, listing a breakdown of employment growth across multiple sectors.

Gains include 2,000 new positions in mining and logging, 27,000 in construction, and 9,000 in manufacturing — a stark turnaround from the monthly loss of 6,000 factory jobs seen between January 2023 and December 2024. Meanwhile, 15,000 federal government positions have been eliminated.

Labor participation among individuals without a high school diploma has seen a 0.7% rise, and the unemployment rate among veterans dropped from 4.2% in January to 3.8% in March.

March alone saw 228,000 jobs added, exceeding forecasts and ranking as the fourth-highest month for private sector employment gains in two years. The number of federal workers engaging in remote work has dropped more than 16 percentage points compared to the same time last year.

The cost of prescription drugs has declined over 2%, including what the memo notes as the largest monthly drop on record. Gasoline prices fell 7% based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), while energy costs dropped 2%, and wholesale egg prices plunged by about half.

February inflation figures revealed the smallest annual rise in core inflation since March 2021. CPI data from both February and March came in lower than predicted, with March showing only the second monthly decline in inflation in two and a half years.

These positive trends are contrasted with economic conditions under President Joe Biden. The memo states that during Biden’s term, Americans endured the highest annual inflation rate in four decades. “On Biden’s watch, grocery prices rose 23%, and energy prices rose 34%.” The memo adds that real wages dropped about 2.4% over that period.

More recently, the prices of airfare, used vehicles, and car insurance have all declined. Wholesale prices also trended downward last month, with goods falling nearly 1% and services dropping 0.2%, changes expected to lower consumer costs in the near future.

The report also notes that retail egg price inflation has continued to slow. For middle- and lower-income earners, real average hourly wages have risen by 0.4%, while workers in the manufacturing industry have seen a 1% increase.

Auto sales posted their most significant monthly jump in over a year this March, with the administration pointing to this as further proof of economic vitality.

Mortgage rates have eased by approximately 0.4 percentage points. For someone purchasing a home at today’s median price with a standard 20% down payment and a 30-year mortgage, that translates to savings of around $32,400 over the life of the loan, or about $1,080 per year.

Industrial production was recorded at its seventh-highest level ever in March, with only six months — all under Trump’s previous term or this one — registering higher outputs.

New commitments for investment in the U.S. since Trump returned to office have surpassed $5 trillion, stemming from both foreign governments and private companies, according to the report.

One of Trump’s earliest acts was to cancel all pending regulations from the previous administration, a move that the memo claims saved American households over $180 billion, or roughly $2,100 for a family of four over ten years. The administration also launched a wide-ranging regulatory rollback to slash costs across the board. Notable among these efforts are changes to EPA vehicle emissions standards, projected to save $667 billion, and adjustments to the Department of Transportation’s fuel efficiency rules, expected to save another $88 billion.

Combined, these actions amount to $755 billion in projected savings — over $8,800 for a typical family of four — with overall deregulatory efforts estimated to bring in $935 billion in total relief over the next decade, equating to nearly $11,000 per family of four.

To enforce these initiatives, the Trump administration is applying a 10-to-1 deregulatory ratio: for each new rule or guidance introduced, ten existing ones must be rescinded. This approach builds on the policy from Trump’s first term, which required at least two regulations to be repealed for every new one, although the actual average then was 5.5 rules removed per major new rule.

So far, over 20 major deregulatory actions — in the form of executive orders, proclamations, and memoranda — have been signed by President Trump, underscoring his commitment to reshaping the federal regulatory landscape.

{Matzav.com}

Michelle Obama voiced deep concern about President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement policies during her appearance on the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast.

Speaking alongside her brother, Craig Robinson, Obama reflected on the challenges they faced regarding racial issues growing up. When asked about the most difficult recent moment tied to those fears, she pointed directly to the current climate surrounding immigration.

“In this current climate, for me it’s, you know, what’s happening to immigrants,” she said, noting that while her own safety is less of a concern today due to her public profile, she remains worried for those without such protection.

“I drive around in a four-car motorcade with a police escort. I’m Michelle Obama. I do still worry about my daughters in the world even though they are somewhat recognizable,” she shared. “So, my fears are for what I know is happening out there in streets all over the city.”

Obama went on to accuse the Trump administration of unfairly deciding “who belongs and who doesn’t” based on subjective criteria.

“And we know that those decisions aren’t being made with courts and with due process,” she said, suggesting that appearances, rather than legality or criminal background, have become the deciding factor for immigration authorities.

“And you know that it’s being made like this cop that pulled my brother over when he was twelve. You don’t look like somebody that belongs. I can determine just by looking at you that you’re a good person or you’re not a good person,” she claimed.

She also warned that “so much bias and so much racism and so much ignorance that fuels those kinds of choices” plays a role in shaping these outcomes, adding that she fears for the safety of “people of color all over this country.”

“And I don’t know that we will have the advocates to protect everybody,” Obama said. “And that makes me, that frightens me. It keeps me up at night.”

She described often scanning the faces of strangers while traveling through Los Angeles, contemplating the fear many must experience. “And I know that there are, and I see that when I’m driving around L.A. I’m just looking in the faces of folks who could be victim, and I’m wondering, how are you feeling? How do you feel standing on the bus stop? Do you how do you feel comfortable going to work, going to school when you know that there could be people out here judging you and who could up end your life in a second?” Obama asked. “You know, that’s who I worry for right now.”

Meanwhile, the reality on the ground reflects that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has mainly focused on arresting illegal immigrants with criminal records. To highlight its efforts, the White House displayed around 100 mugshots of individuals ICE had detained, with offenses ranging from child sexual assault to murder and rape, committed by nationals from Mexico, El Salvador, and Laos.

It is worth noting that during President Barack Obama’s time in office, estimates indicate that approximately 5.3 million deportations took place, combining removals from the interior of the country and at the border.

{Matzav.com}

A young chareidi man who had been classified as a deserter for the past two years recently showed up at an IDF draft office seeking to enlist, but instead of being inducted, the IDF placed him under arrest and sent him to a military prison.

According to a report by journalist Yinon Shalom Yitach for i24news, the young man comes from a community where the idea of joining the IDF is virtually unimaginable. Nevertheless, when he voluntarily presented himself at the draft office in an attempt to enlist, the IDF refused to immediately process his induction and insisted that standard procedures be followed.

For now, the young man has been serving his sentence in a military prison for nearly a week and is expected to remain in detention for at least another 12 days before his case is reviewed again.

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit confirmed the details, stating: “The draft-age individual has been held in detention at the incarceration base since April 23, 2025, due to his unauthorized absence from military service for over 650 days. His detention has been extended by the District Military Court until May 4, 2025.”

The IDF further explained, “On April 24, 2025, at his request, he was referred for an evaluation to determine his suitability for integration into service and to assign him a medical profile. If he is found suitable, he will be released from custody under conditions that include a commitment to serve in the IDF. Should he meet the conditions for one year, he will avoid a criminal record and will not face additional imprisonment. The IDF encourages the return of deserters to military service and gives significant consideration to this in determining the appropriate course of action in each case.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI) has formally introduced articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, who was decisively reelected by the American people to advance his platform, accusing him of a series of offenses ranging from obstruction of justice to abuse of power.

On Monday, Thanedar announced via a post on X that he had officially submitted a resolution seeking the impeachment of President Trump.

Fox News Senior Congressional Correspondent Chad Pergram shared on X that one of his colleagues had verified Thanedar’s submission of the impeachment articles.

The charges outlined in the impeachment resolution reportedly include “obstruction of justice/violation of due process, usurpation of appropriations power, abuse of trade powers and international aggression, violations of the First Amendment, creation of an unlawful office, bribery and corruption, and tyranny.”

Thanedar’s move to introduce impeachment articles comes just as President Trump nears the milestone of completing his first 100 days in office during his historic second nonconsecutive term, following his overwhelming victory in November 2024, when he carried the Electoral College, the popular vote, and swept all battleground states.

Since returning to the White House, President Trump has prioritized immigration enforcement, invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expedite the deportation of migrants, leading to the removal of several alleged gang affiliates to prisons in El Salvador, even as courts have attempted to push back against his efforts.

In a related development, the FBI last week arrested Judge Hannah Dugan of Wisconsin, who stands accused of helping an illegal immigrant evade detention.

“No one is above the law,” stated FBI Director Kash Patel in a post Friday on X.

Democrats expressed outrage following the FBI’s unexpected arrest of the liberal judge, prompting White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller to highlight that Democrats “spent the last 8 years stripping Americans of due process to jail them for protected political activity” and were “illegally spying on the Trump Campaign.”

Miller continued by alleging that Democrats had “using the FBI and intelligence apparatus to pursue political enemies” and “launching a coup against President Trump and his Administration,” among other serious accusations.

He went further, accusing Democrats of orchestrating “a mass invasion of the United States by foreign cartels and enemy terrorists, resulting in immense casualties and suffering across the nation.”

“And now these same Democrats howl with rage when the invasion is returned and those who criminally harbor the invaders and feloniously obstruct their removal are held accountable under law,” Miller declared.

Meanwhile, Tom Homan, who serves as Trump’s border czar, issued a stern warning on Monday, cautioning that any official or judge found sheltering illegal migrants would face prosecution.

“Protest all you want, but when you cross that line — I’ve said this one thousand times — when you cross that line to impediment or knowingly harboring or concealing an illegal alien migrant, you will be prosecuted, judge or not,” Homan said.

In his first few months back in the Oval Office, President Trump has also been aggressively reshaping America’s trade policies to secure more advantageous deals for the country.

Earlier this month, President Trump introduced a broad range of tariffs that targeted almost every nation exporting goods to the United States, including a significant 34 percent tariff on Chinese imports.

Shortly after the announcement, every targeted nation except China entered negotiations with the U.S., leading the administration to delay tariffs on those negotiating countries for a 90-day period, according to the White House.

While talks with other countries moved forward, the Trump administration raised tariffs on Chinese imports to 145 percent and eliminated a long-standing loophole that Chinese businesses had been using to bypass American trade laws.

Last week, President Trump revealed in an interview with Time magazine that China’s leader Xi Jinping, often criticized for his brutal rule, reached out to him to initiate discussions over trade.

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On the yahrtzeit of the tzaddik Rav Nesanel Weil zt”l, author of the Korban Nesanel commentary on the Rosh, Jews from various communities gathered at his gravesite in Karlsruhe, Germany to offer tefillos.

Organizers of the event described the atmosphere as deeply emotional and spiritually uplifting.

“The pilgrimage to the kever was filled with excitement and a unique sense of kedusha. The participants recited tefillos and words of hodaah, thanking Hashem for blessing Klal Yisroel with the light of Rav Nesanel’s Torah, and they pleaded that his great merit serve as a protection for all of Klal Yisroel. Many candles were lit and the heartfelt recitation of Tehillim could be heard from the assembled crowd,” organizers said.

One participant noted that the tefillos included special supplications for the success of Israel’s security forces “until the complete victory and the release of all the hostages.”

Throughout the gathering, rabbonim spoke about the towering stature of the Korban Nesanel — his greatness in Torah, his humility, and his unwavering dedication to Klal Yisroel. They described how he authored his profound commentary on the Rosh, illuminating the path of Torah learning for generations of talmidei chachomim.

Chabad emissary Rabbi Mordechai Mendelson, who serves in Karlsruhe, welcomed the visitors, many of whom had traveled from across Europe and from Eretz Yisroel. Among the groups was a large contingent of bochurim from the Satmar Yeshiva of Antwerp.

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President Trump indicated he is open to backing Ukraine in its ongoing war against Russia, despite his personal misgivings about President Volodymyr Zelensky, while Vice President JD Vance offered a stark assessment that Ukraine is unlikely to win the conflict if it continues along its current path.

During an extensive interview with the Atlantic magazine, Trump, 78, was asked if there was anything Russian leader Vladimir Putin could do that would push him to support Zelensky’s cause.

“Not necessarily on Zelensky’s side, but on Ukraine’s side, yes,” Trump responded, according to the transcript. “But not necessarily on Zelensky’s side. I’ve had a hard time with Zelensky. You saw that over here [Feb. 28] when he was sitting right in that chair, when he just couldn’t get it.”

Pressed on whether he would ever offer Ukraine full-throated support through additional arms shipments, Trump left the door open but remained noncommittal.

“Doesn’t have to be weapons. There are many forms of weapons,” Trump said. “It can be weapons with sanctions. It can be weapons with banking. It can be many other weapons.”

Trump and Zelensky recently had a brief 15-minute meeting at St. Peter’s Basilica before the funeral of Pope Francis, their first encounter since the Oval Office clash years earlier that had ended with a blowup involving Vance.

Following that encounter, Trump turned his ire on Putin, criticizing Russia’s recent bombardments.

“There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

“It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions?’ Too many people are dying!!!”

Meanwhile, Vice President Vance, 40, defended Trump’s recent diplomatic efforts during an interview with Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, arguing that Trump has made more headway toward ending the war than previous administrations.

“Have the Russians and Ukrainians stopped fighting? No, but have we made more progress in three months than we made the previous three years? Absolutely,” Vance said.

“And you have even the Ukrainians, the Europeans, the Russians, all sort of simultaneously admitting, sometimes begrudgingly, that Donald Trump’s diplomacy has advanced the ball there.”

Vance warned, however, that although he couldn’t guarantee a peaceful resolution, he was confident that Ukraine is not on track to win if the fighting drags on.

“I think there’s this weird idea among the mainstream media that if this thing goes on for just another few years, the Russians will collapse, the Ukrainians will take their territory back, and everything will go back to the way it was before the war,” he said. “That is not the reality we live in.”

He also cautioned that if the war continues, both Russia and Ukraine could face a devastating demographic crisis, and the world could be pushed closer to the brink of nuclear conflict.

Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have both floated the idea that the White House might eventually pull back from the Russia-Ukraine war, though Trump himself has not set a hard deadline.

“We’ll have to see what happens over the next period of pretty much a week,” Trump told the Atlantic. “We’re down to final strokes. And again, this is [former President Joe] Biden’s war. I’m not gonna get saddled — I don’t wanna be saddled with it. It’s a terrible war. Should have never happened. It would’ve never happened, as sure as you’re sitting there.”

In the meantime, Putin declared a temporary three-day ceasefire beginning May 8 to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe.

“For some reason everyone is supposed to wait until May 8 before ceasing fire — just to provide Putin with silence for his parade,” Zelensky said angrily on Monday. “We value human lives, not parades. That’s why we believe — and the world believes — that there is no reason to wait until May 8.”

“[A cease-fire] must be immediate, full, and unconditional — for at least 30 days to ensure it is secure and guaranteed. This is the foundation that could lead to real diplomacy. We reaffirm this proposal,” he continued. “The American proposal also remains on the table.”

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During a gathering with this year’s Independence Day torchlighters, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu stated that “there are up to 24 hostages alive.” In a moment captured on video and released Tuesday, his wife, Sara Netanyahu, appeared to quietly mouth the word “fewer” in Hebrew as he made the remark.

Netanyahu then clarified, “I say up to. The rest, of course, are unfortunately no longer alive.”

The tragic backdrop to these statements dates back to the horrific events of October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists stormed communities in southern Israel, abducting more than 250 individuals and taking them into Gaza. As of now, 59 people are still believed to be held by Hamas.

“Until today, we have returned 196 of our hostages, 147 alive,” Netanyahu stated, referencing the total number of captives released or recovered so far.

An Israeli official engaged in the ongoing negotiations confirmed that Netanyahu’s estimate was accurate. “The number of living hostages mentioned by the Prime Minister during the meeting with the torchlighters is indeed the correct official number, and it is also the official number submitted by the Coordinator for the Hostage and Missing Persons Affairs to the mediators during the negotiations,” the source said.

Meanwhile, conflicting reports about the state of negotiations with Hamas have added to the public confusion. On Tuesday, an Israeli official denied claims that progress had been made in the talks, contradicting a report from the previous day suggesting discussions were heading in a more pessimistic direction.

Sara Netanyahu’s offhand remark has sparked a firestorm, especially among the families of hostages. Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is among those still unaccounted for, took to social media to demand answers. “If the prime minister’s wife has new information about kidnapped people who were killed, I demand to know whether my Matan is still alive or was he murdered in captivity because your husband refuses to end the war,” she wrote on X/Twitter.

The Hostage Families’ Forum also issued a sharply worded response, accusing Sara Netanyahu of stoking fear during a particularly emotional time for families. “Do you know something we don’t? We demand that the Prime Minister clarify his and his wife’s statements. If there is intelligence or new information regarding the condition of our loved ones, we demand full disclosure,” the forum stated.

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Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz convened a meeting with members of the IDF’s General Command Forum, delivering a firm warning that Israel will not permit Iran to become a nuclear power.

The gathering, which also included IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, took place in advance of Israel’s Memorial Day.

“The security of the State of Israel and the Jewish nation rests on your shoulders,” Katz began. “On this Memorial Day eve as well, we are in the midst of a war. We remember the fallen, we thank them for their sacrifice, for their dedication, and for all of their action, bravery, and dedication with which they commanded and command us to continue life in this Land.”

Katz spoke about the ongoing war efforts, highlighting the courage and perseverance shown by enlisted troops, career soldiers, and reservists fighting across multiple fronts. He emphasized Israel’s highest priority, stating, “We are at the peak of a war with heroic actions, determination, and dedication, and with the enlisted, career, and reservist soldiers who fight on all fronts. The central task – first and foremost – is to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Israel will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon, and we are preparing – obviously in close coordination with the US.”

He continued by outlining Israel’s immediate goals: “Secondly, right now, foremost in the action and fighting, are the return of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas in Gaza. We will act to ensure that a murderous terror group like Hamas does not exist from the other side [of the border] – this is a situation which cannot continue.”

In addition, Katz reiterated Israel’s broader defensive strategy: “Alongside this, we have a policy of protecting the borders and the towns in Lebanon, Syria, Judea and Samaria, and obviously, Gaza. We will not allow enemies of this type to stand opposite our towns and opposite our residents. The IDF will stand and act as a barrier between any threat from these types of bodies, extremists, whose goal is to destroy the State of Israel and the Jewish nation. We will never leave the towns in the western Negev standing alone and facing an enemy on the other side [of the border].”

He made it clear that Israel is prepared to act decisively when necessary: “We know that we have those who we can rely on, and we know that when we are asked later to make decisions, we know that there are those who will carry them out. That is how it is in every place, and when fighting Iran as well. If we need to act – we have those who will do it. I am convinced that with the help of G-d, we will win, with the help of our amazing soldiers and commanders, and I see a better future for this region.”

Wrapping up his address, Katz paid tribute to Israel’s fallen heroes and expressed gratitude to the IDF’s forces: “I respect and bow my head in honor of the memory of those who fell, and I express my appreciation and praise the commanders and soldiers of the IDF for all of their actions for the sake of the State of Israel’s security.”

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Negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire and the release of hostages between Israel and Hamas in Gaza are reportedly making headway, two Egyptian security sources told Reuters.

The Egyptian officials said that talks currently taking place in Cairo appear to be moving toward a “significant breakthrough.”

According to the officials, while a broad agreement has been reached on the framework for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, several critical issues remain unresolved, particularly regarding what will happen to Hamas’ arsenal.

Israeli sources, however, disputed the claims, telling Kan 11 News that “there is no real progress at this time.”

At the same time, Egypt’s Al Qahera News TV, which is tied to the government, reported that General Hassan Mahmoud Rashad, Egypt’s top intelligence official, is slated to meet with an Israeli delegation headed by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.

On Shabbos, Asharq Al-Awsat revealed that Egypt and Qatar have put forward a new initiative proposing a six-month truce in Gaza, the release of all hostages being held, and the freeing of convicted terrorists.

Previously, Hamas informed AFP that the group is ready to agree to a deal that would see the release of all 59 remaining hostages at once, along with a five-year ceasefire agreement with Israel.

Just last week, Hamas turned down an Israeli offer that demanded the terror group disarm in exchange for a six-week ceasefire.

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Speaking at the JNS International Policy Summit on Monday at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Jerusalem, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer discussed the ongoing threats to Israel’s security and prospects for future peace.

During his remarks, Dermer proclaimed, “In 12 months, the war on seven fronts will be over, and Israel will have won. I think you will see many peace agreements that either have been forged or will be forged in the coming years, but the key to that is victory. In the Middle East, when you win, when you’re strong, that’s what attracts others.”

Dermer further elaborated at the event, emphasizing, “The reason I believed in the ceasefire in Lebanon is that we maintained freedom of action in Lebanon. We will ensure that Hezbollah does not rebuild its strength.”

He asserted that Hezbollah has remained weakened since the death of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and similarly pointed out that Iran has been unable to fully recover after the loss of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also addressed the gathering. Answering a reporter’s question, Huckabee remarked, “Hamas is stealing aid to Gaza; that is the tragedy of what is happening in Gaza. I don’t blame Israel; I blame Hamas.”

{Matzav.com Israel}