Matzav

California-based chipmaker Nvidia has officially become the most valuable company in the world, beating Silicon Valley rivals Microsoft, Apple, and Google to become the first company valued at over $4 trillion. The tech giant is the first company to ever achieve this market value, beating Apple’s previous record-setting market cap in December, reported the Associated Press.

Founded in 1993, Nvidia achieved a $2 trillion valuation in just over a decade before hitting $3 trillion in June 2024. Its 1999 invention of the graphics processing unit (GPU) revolutionized PC gaming and modern computing. Its valuation has skyrocketed in recent years however after it cemented itself as the decisive market leader in creating the chips which artificial intelligence (AI) and other large language models such as ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini depend on. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has hailed AI as “the next industrial revolution.”

Tech giants have since begun aggressively stockpiling Nvidia’s chips in order to advance self-driving cars, AI-generated content, and more. Nvidia’s shares rose by 2.5 percent Wednesday morning, trading at $164 each. Just two years ago, they were valued at $14. Last quarter saw the company’s revenue surge by 69 percent to $44.1 billion. Read more.

{Matzav.com}

Knesset member Ofer Cassif of the Hadash-Ta’al party was suspended from parliamentary activity for two months by the Knesset Ethics Committee on Wednesday. The decision came after a wave of complaints were submitted regarding Cassif’s statements criticizing Israeli military actions in Gaza. His suspension covers attendance at both plenum sessions and committee meetings from October 19 to December 19, and his salary will be reduced for two weeks. One major source of contention was his public call for the International Criminal Court to investigate Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu for alleged war crimes.

In its ruling, the committee accused Cassif of engaging in an ongoing pattern of inflammatory statements that, explicitly or implicitly, accuse Israeli soldiers of carrying out war crimes. The committee emphasized that this conduct has been consistent and deliberate.

According to the committee, Cassif’s remarks damage the dignity of the Knesset and erode the public’s confidence in the institution. It also claimed his rhetoric lends strength to Israel’s enemies during a time of war.

Due to the summer recess and the fact that Hadash-Ta’al chairman Ayman Odeh is already serving a suspension, the committee opted to delay Cassif’s penalty until October.

Cassif clarified that the sanctions do not include stripping him of his right to vote in the plenum.

The committee pointed out that most of the 12 complaints were filed during a six-month window when Cassif was already suspended from participating in Knesset sessions for making similar remarks. Complainants included MKs from Likud such as Tally Gotliv and Ofir Katz, as well as members of the public.

That earlier suspension came after Cassif added his name to a public letter in support of South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. In another controversial moment, he described Palestinian gunmen clashing with Israeli forces in Jenin as “freedom fighters.”

The newest round of complaints centered on more recent comments Cassif made regarding the conflict in Gaza. Among them were statements likening the war to the Holocaust, allegations that Israel is committing genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza and the West Bank, and comparing Palestinian inmates in Israeli jails to Israeli hostages held by Hamas. He also called Netanyahu a “psychopathic murderer” and asked ICC prosecutor Karim Khan to investigate Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and other ministers for war crimes.

Cassif strongly condemned the Ethics Committee’s actions, framing them as an attempt to erase Arab voices from the Israeli legislature. He pledged not to “bow before this harassment.”

Although Cassif is Jewish, he is part of Hadash-Ta’al, a predominantly Arab party.

“It’s not a matter of parliamentary ethics, but of political censorship and persecution as well as terrorization (“chilling effect”) of the entire leftist camp, Arabs and Jews alike,” Cassif wrote in English on his X account. “The real end behind this suspension is to thwart our faction from any parliamentary activity altogether, and, in the longer run, to eliminate any representation of the Arab and the democratic Jewish citizens. My repeated suspensions are merely the appetizer, as it were.”

One complaint submitted by MKs Oded Forer of Yisrael Beytenu and Almog Cohen of Otzma Yehudit was dismissed by the committee, which ruled that Cassif had not violated ethical standards in that case.

The complaint referenced a February post by Cassif, in which he shared an image of Jews queuing outside a migration office in Vienna in 1938. In the post, he noted: “this month, exactly 86 years ago, the ‘Central Bureau for Jewish Emigration’ was established in Berlin with the aim of encouraging voluntary emigration of German Jews.”

Meanwhile, the committee reprimanded MK Almog Cohen for his verbal attack on Cassif, where he labeled him a “traitor” who “represents the interests of Hamas and the BDS movement and serves as a fifth column among us.” Cohen was not suspended.

In a prior incident in 2023, Cohen was banned from speaking in the plenum or in committee meetings for five days after making racially charged comments about members of the opposition.

A separate effort to expel Cassif from the Knesset failed in February 2024, as the vote garnered only 85 supporters — five short of the 90 required for expulsion.

That effort stemmed from Cassif’s vocal support of South Africa’s case against Israel in the International Court of Justice, which critics denounced as “treasonous.”

Instead of being removed from office, Cassif was issued another six-month suspension by the Ethics Committee in November 2024 over similar conduct.

In 2019, Cassif had been disqualified from seeking election to the Knesset by the Central Elections Committee over incendiary remarks, including calling then-Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked “neo-Nazi scum.” That disqualification was later overturned by the Supreme Court.

Last week, the Knesset House Committee largely sided with Hadash-Ta’al’s Ayman Odeh over comments he made comparing Palestinian prisoners in Israel to Israeli captives held by Hamas in Gaza. A formal vote on whether to remove Odeh is scheduled for Monday.

Odeh is currently serving a two-week suspension, which lasts until July 22, for an incident in March 2024 when he was forcibly removed from the podium after accusing Israeli troops in Gaza of committing “murder” and carrying out a “massacre.”

{Matzav.com}

Israel has reportedly been informed by Qatari intermediaries that Hamas is actively gearing up for a possible truce. According to Channel 12, these preparations include not only strategic military adjustments but also steps toward freeing the hostages, as part of a broader push for an agreement currently underway in Doha.

Qatar believes that an accord is within reach, with only one remaining obstacle to be resolved — namely, the location and extent of Israel Defense Forces redeployments, Channel 12 further notes.

Despite these developments, Hamas is publicly disputing the notion that meaningful progress is being made. The group claims that it is Israel, not Hamas, that is impeding the negotiations.

A high-ranking Hamas figure told Channel 12: “The problem is not the details [of the talks]. The problem is in the seriousness of the Israelis. Their delegation in Qatar is unreliable and works slowly. Netanyahu is fronting a positive atmosphere that doesn’t reflect the reality in negotiations.”

{Matzav.com}

Although there has been some movement in the indirect talks between Israel and Hamas, insiders familiar with the discussions say major obstacles still remain that could prevent an agreement.

Roughly 80% of the points under negotiation have been settled in principle, according to those involved. However, the remaining disputes involve the most sensitive and potentially deal-breaking issues. Chief among them are disagreements over how humanitarian aid will be distributed during the ceasefire, and where the IDF will be positioned throughout the planned 60-day halt in combat.

The Lebanese outlet al-Akhbar, citing officials from countries involved in mediating the talks, reported that Israel continues to take a narrowly focused security-first stance, without engaging in broader or longer-term solutions. The article stated that Israel “strives to create new crises,” particularly in reference to the reopening of the Rafah Crossing. According to the report, Israel is only willing to permit humanitarian cases through the crossing and is blocking the return of Gazans to the area.

The sources further noted that Israel is firmly against what they describe as the “symbolic” release of high-profile prisoners associated with Palestinian terror factions. This includes figures such as Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Sa’adat, whose release Hamas considers a key demand in any deal.

Talks are continuing via indirect channels, with all parties proceeding carefully but still maintaining cautious optimism.

{Matzav.com}

While in Washington, DC, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu addressed the press corps traveling with him and emphasized that he and President Donald Trump are closely aligned in their objectives regarding the situation in Gaza. “The release of the hostages and the end of Hamas rule in Gaza,” he stated, are mutual priorities.

Netanyahu elaborated on the nature of their collaboration, saying, “We have a shared strategy and shared tactics for this. This includes full coordination. President Trump wants a deal, and I want a deal, but not at any cost.”

For his part, President Trump expressed cautious optimism during his remarks. “There is a chance we will announce a deal in Gaza either this week or next week, but nothing is certain,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday that the United States is placing sanctions on UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, citing her attempts to bring charges against American and Israeli officials at the International Criminal Court.

“Today, I am imposing sanctions on UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese for her illegitimate and shameful efforts to prompt the International Criminal Court action against US and Israeli officials, companies, and executives,” Rubio declared.

He condemned Albanese’s efforts as a form of targeted aggression, stating, “Albanese’s campaign of political and economic warfare against the United States and Israel will no longer be tolerated. We will always stand by our partners in their right to self-defense.”

Rubio emphasized that Washington remains fully committed to countering what he called “lawfare,” vowing to protect national interests and those of America’s allies. “The United States will continue to take whatever actions we deem necessary to respond to lawfare and protect our sovereignty and that of our allies,” he stated.

Reacting to the announcement, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar applauded the move, calling it “a clear message. Time for the UN to pay attention!”

Albanese has long been accused of harboring an anti-Israel agenda. Concerns about her impartiality first surfaced in 2022, when she posted statements on social media suggesting that the “Jewish lobby” controls U.S. policy—a comment widely condemned as antisemitic.

In December 2023, controversy intensified when Albanese called it “unacceptable” to demand the release of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, among them infants and small children, including 9-month-old Kfir Bibas. While she has never issued a call for Hamas to free the hostages—approximately 50 of whom are still held—she has publicly advocated for the release of a Gaza hospital director accused of being a Hamas operative.

In the aftermath of the October 7 massacre, Albanese released a book titled J’Accuse, borrowing the name of a historic essay that once decried antisemitism in the Dreyfus Affair. In her version, however, she sought to redirect blame away from Hamas and onto Israel.

Even after the horrors of October 7, Albanese has continued to assert that Israel does not have the right to defend itself against Hamas.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump voiced strong support for the newly launched Justice Department inquiries into James Comey and John Brennan, describing the two men as “crooked as h—.”

During an exchange with Fox News reporter Peter Doocy, Trump was asked whether he believed Comey and Brennan should be imprisoned.

“Well, I know nothing about it, other than what I read today, but I will tell you, I think they’re very dishonest people. I think they’re crooked as h—, and maybe they have to pay a price for that,” Trump said.

He continued by emphasizing his opinion of the two officials: “I believe they are truly bad people and dishonest people. So whatever happens, happens.”

Brennan, who led the CIA during President Barack Obama’s administration, is reportedly being investigated for potentially giving false testimony to Congress regarding the Steele dossier, which included unverified claims tying Trump to Russia.

Details surrounding the investigation into Comey remain vague. However, it’s known that he was questioned by the Secret Service in May after sharing an image online that some interpreted as threatening toward Trump.

Trump dismissed Comey from his position as FBI director in May 2017. While the official reasoning cited his handling of information related to Hillary Clinton during the campaign, many connected the dismissal to Trump’s frustration with the probe into alleged ties between his campaign and Russian officials.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of R’ Chaim Tzvi Hershy Treitel z”l of Flatbush. He was 70 years old.

R’ Chaim Tzvi was born in Eretz Yisroel on the 16th of Elul in 1954 to his father, R’ Mordechai Yitzchok Treitel, and his mother, Rebbetzin Chana.

He married the daughter of R’ Yisroel Shimon Kirshenbaum and was a grandson of the mekubal and Breslover mashpia R’ Binyomin Zev (Velvel) Cheshen.

Those who knew R’ Chaim Tzvi describe him as a man of grace, dignity, and warmth, a person beloved by all who encountered him. His home was a haven of hospitality, always open to guests. He personified compassion and kindness, always pursuing acts of tzedakah and chesed.

He made his livelihood through his air conditioning business, conducting his work with honesty and integrity, always viewing his profession as secondary to his mission in life.

Every year, he made the journey to Uman for Rosh Hashanah to spend the Yomim Nora’im near the kever of Reb Nachman of Breslov zt”l. On those days, he would sit in the kloiz beside his uncle, the renowned gaon Rav Tzvi Cheshen.

The levayah took place this morning at Shomrei Hadas Chapels in Boro Park, Brooklyn. Kevurah followed at the Moses Mt. Hope Cemetery in Long Island.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu appeared on Fox Business Wednesday, where he addressed a range of pressing regional issues and highlighted the strength of his partnership with President Donald Trump.

During the interview, Netanyahu said that negotiations for the release of hostages were progressing and expressed confidence that every individual held captive would ultimately be brought home. He also made a stark comparison, warning that allowing Hamas to continue ruling Gaza would be akin to permitting the Nazi SS to remain in control of Germany following World War II.

He went on to speak highly of the recent operation inside Iran, calling it a coordinated mission between Israel and the United States. Netanyahu credited Trump’s unwavering support for Israel, calling him “the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House.”

Turning to recent threats against Trump, Netanyahu issued a grave warning about Iran’s intentions. “I think this is very serious. They mean it. They are threatening to murder him and murder me – but this is the kind of people we are dealing with. They are enemies of America. They’re enemies of everything we stand for,” he said. He added that the Iranian population is suffering under a regime that does not represent their best interests.

On the topic of sanctions, Netanyahu said he would only support lifting them if a truly beneficial agreement with Iran were reached. However, he made clear that he does not see such a possibility as long as the current regime remains in charge.

The prime minister also spoke about his recommendation of Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. He said Trump had earned the recognition due to his work on the Abraham Accords—a diplomatic breakthrough that required three years of intensive effort—and his role in brokering peace agreements between India and Pakistan, as well as Rwanda and the Congo.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

Avraham Azoulai, a resident of Shaked Farm in the hills near Yitzhar, was killed while operating engineering equipment in Gaza, just three months after marrying. The Shomron Regional Council confirmed his passing on Wednesday.

Azoulai becomes the third individual from Yitzhar to be killed during the ongoing conflict. Like many from his community, he had volunteered to assist the IDF by working with heavy machinery in the Gaza Strip.

Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, delivered a heartfelt tribute: “Avraham was a hero, a true pioneer, one of the builders of the hilltops and farms. He worked on the preparation and development of farms and road construction in Samaria, fully dedicated to the settlement of the Land of Israel and its defense. He came to Samaria as a young man to build Samaria and was one of our finest who built the hilltops with courage and love. Avraham is the 31st from the region to fall in the Swords of Iron War. He gave his life for the people and the land when he did what he loved and believed in — building the land. The Samaria Regional Council family will support Ruth with everything she needs. The Samaria settlement family and the entire Itamar community are grieving and embracing the Azoulai and Yogev families.”

Golan Avgi, who heads the Yitzhar local council, also mourned the loss: “Avraham was a pioneer. He established a Jewish labor business. He enlisted in the reserves together with a large group of friends from the Itamar settlement, and they worked with heavy machinery in Gaza. I knew him as a man of integrity, talented, with good character traits, and beloved by everyone, by all who knew him and by all his friends.”

As previously reported, Azoulai is the third casualty from Yitzhar in this war. About eighteen months ago, Sergeant Yehonatan Luber was killed in combat in southern Gaza. Eight months later, Sergeant Shneur Zalman Cohen fell while fighting in the northern part of the Strip.

{Matzav.com Israel}

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Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu sat down on Wednesday with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon for a significant conversation focused on military collaboration and strategic stability in the region. The dialogue underscored a strong bond rooted in shared values and mutual defense, and looked ahead to greater prospects built on that alliance.

As the meeting began, Netanyahu recalled his long history of visits to the Pentagon. “Do you know how many times I’ve been in this room?” he asked. When Hegseth encouraged him to guess, Netanyahu replied, “I’d say 40, 50 times.”

Throughout the meeting, both leaders spoke with deep appreciation for the United States Armed Forces, especially the contributions of US Central Command (CENTCOM) to Israel’s defense posture. Netanyahu voiced his admiration, saying, “Thank you, absolute thanks, gratitude and admiration for CENTCOM, for the US military, for the Secretary of Defense, and the President of the United States. Magnificent. You have the gratitude of the people of Israel and the State of Israel, and I think of many, many others around the world.”

Hegseth echoed that sentiment, pointing out the extraordinary professionalism and valor of American troops involved in missions that support Israel’s safety. “The skill and the bravery and the courage of US forces involved in that operation, including in the defense of Israel, whether it was in the Mediterranean or with THAAD batteries or others, was incredible,” he said. “And so, CENTCOM played a — he did it in his own quiet way, but just incredibly effective.”

Their exchange also covered the impact of Operation Rising Lion, which came to fruition after two months of behind-the-scenes planning. Hegseth commended the careful coordination between Israeli and American forces and their remarkable precision during the mission. “The precision with which you went at the nuclear capabilities and then the opportunity we had through those B-2 pilots, the F-35, F-22, F-15 pilots that accompanied the refuelers to help put the finishing touches, you might say, on those facilities, it was an honor to be a part of it.”

Netanyahu responded with strong affirmation, highlighting the significance of the strike and how it resonated across the globe. “I think the entire world took note. I think Iran took note. I think everybody in the Middle East took note of American resolve and of the strength of our alliance. I think it was a — frankly, it was like the roar of two lions, and it was heard around the world.”

The meeting naturally moved into a discussion about diplomacy rooted in strength. Netanyahu referred to his ongoing conversations with President Trump, remarking, “President Trump and I always talk about peace through strength, first comes strength, then comes the peace. And we hope we’ll realize the fruits of strength very soon in peace.”

Hegseth affirmed that idea, agreeing that military power can pave the way for diplomatic breakthroughs. “It does start with strength, but it always goes to peace, and we have that opportunity in the region because of your efforts and the efforts of our president.”

As their discussion concluded, Netanyahu reflected on the unique alliance between the US and Israel, describing it as one of the defining partnerships of our time. “We are blessed with two great free societies that have joined together.” Hegseth wrapped up the meeting with praise for Israel’s role as a dependable and courageous partner. “Thank you for being a friend, a model ally, and showing leadership and strength,” he said, reaffirming the enduring strength of the US-Israel relationship.

{Matzav.com}

New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has come under scrutiny after attending Friday services in January at a Brooklyn mosque long linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. Some Muslim critics are now urging voters to reexamine Mamdani’s alignment with the Brotherhood, a movement known for backing various terrorist groups and advocating for a global Islamic rule. The Brotherhood, which was recently outlawed in Jordan for destabilizing activities, has consistently shifted toward authoritarian rule wherever it gained power. Its vision includes the revival of an Islamic caliphate reminiscent of the pre-1924 era.

Mamdani’s alignment with the Muslim Brotherhood is not new. In 2013, as widespread demonstrations broke out in Egypt against then-President Mohamed Morsi, Mamdani publicly sided with Morsi’s Brotherhood-led administration. That same June, he took to Twitter to defend the group’s record in Egypt, publishing a lengthy thread titled “Unpacking Anti-Muslim Brotherhood Discourse.”

The Islamic Society of Bay Ridge, the mosque Mamdani visited, has a controversial past. The former imam once hailed Reem Al-Riyashi, a Hamas suicide bomber who blew herself up in 2004, as a “martyr” and rejected the notion that Hamas commits terrorism. The mosque’s association with extremism traces back to 1994, when a Jewish student was murdered near the Brooklyn Bridge in a retaliatory attack tied to the group, following the massacre of Palestinians in Hebron by an Israeli gunman.

President Donald Trump criticized Mamdani over his far-left economic views, declaring him “a communist” for advocating government control over industries and food distribution. Mamdani himself once joked on X (formerly Twitter), “the commie routine is cover for Sharia law” and added, “communism IS Sharia law.”

Zuhdi Jasser, who leads the American Islamic Forum for Democracy, voiced his concern over Mamdani’s dual ideological leanings. “This is a primary example of the red-green axis where you have a trained progressivist and Marxist promoting Socialism and also Islamism,” Jasser said.

The mosque’s imam, Sheikh Mohamed Elbar, who hosted Mamdani during the January visit, is affiliated with the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), a Qatari-financed group known for opposing normalization with Israel. Elbar has publicly denounced Muslim leaders willing to make peace with Israel and condemned those who called on Palestinians to lay down their weapons in 2018.

IUMS, largely led by Muslim Brotherhood members, has a history of supporting Hamas and harboring extremists, including individuals linked to al-Qaida. The group’s founder, Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, once gave his blessing to suicide bombings and declared that Islam would conquer the West—not by war, but through missionary work and immigration. “Islam will prevail and overcome all the religions,” Qaradawi said at a 1995 convention in Ohio. “Conquest through dawah, that is what we hope for. We will conquer Europe, we will conquer America! Not through the sword but through dawah.”

The IUMS’s platform aligns with the Muslim Brotherhood’s charter, which defines it as a global religious-political movement working to establish Islamic rule and ultimately a theocratic state.

Elbar has also made openly antisemitic remarks. In a 2014 protest in New York against Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, he accused Saudi Arabia of being “dirtier than the Jews” and accused them of selling out Egypt to Jewish interests. His hostility toward Israel is not confined to politics—it clearly crosses into hatred of Jews as a whole.

The New York Post revealed last August that Elbar prayed for the destruction of Israel and praised Hamas fighters. “Oh Allah, annihilate those who occupied their lands, and those who betrayed and deserted them, and those who spilled their blood,” he said. “The mujahideen [Hamas fighters] in Gaza are achieving more than our Arab armies could in 1967 and 1973.”

After the fall of the Brotherhood regime in Egypt, Elbar became a leading voice for Egyptian Americans for Democracy and Human Rights (EADHR), a group filled with Muslim Brotherhood loyalists. Egyptian officials have linked the group to fundraising for terrorist activities and promoting violent rhetoric. Elbar himself once expressed hope that President El-Sisi would be executed. “[O]nce people pledge allegiance to a Muslim ruler, it is forbidden to struggle against him and remove him, and if anyone removes him, he should be beheaded,” he said in Arabic at a 2016 rally. “Do you know who ought to be beheaded? Who should be stricken with the sword or hanged or detained? He who came to fight, and not the legitimate president [Morsi].”

At that same 2016 conference, which his organization co-hosted, Elbar appeared alongside Gamal Heshmat, a senior leader of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Guidance Bureau, revealing Elbar’s connections to the Brotherhood’s upper ranks.

Elbar’s veneration of the late Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mahdi Akef, who lauded Osama bin Laden as a “mujahid,” raises further concerns. When Akef died in prison in 2017, Elbar declared, “We ask Almighty Allah to elevate Mahdi Akef to the ranks of the martyrs … Oh Allah, he died as a Mujahid for your cause, so grant him the status of the Mujahideen.” A memorial for Akef was also held at the Bay Ridge mosque—an event only Brotherhood insiders would organize.

Zahack Tanvir, an Indian Muslim writer critical of Islamist ideology, said Mamdani’s engagement with Elbar and the Bay Ridge mosque reflects troubling priorities. “Zohran Mamdani’s visit to the Bay Ridge mosque and meeting with Imam Sheikh Mohamed Elbar, linked to Qatar and the Muslim Brotherhood, raises concerns about his priorities,” Tanvir told Newsmax. “While Mamdani champions progressive causes like Pride rallies, the imam’s views reportedly clash with those values, including harsh stances on issues like socialism and LGBTQ rights based on his interpretation of Islamic law.”

Tanvir added, “This Ilhan Omar league, supports the Islamists and empower them come what may. Quran speaks against Socialism, and the Imam is well-aware of it, and would be teaching his followers about how communism, socialism are the tools of Satan and Muslims eventually have to eliminate all Isms and establish Shariah.”

Mamdani’s supporters have dismissed the controversy, attributing it to anti-Muslim bigotry. Defenders include prominent Democrats and Islamist-leaning activists, as well as organizations such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). “Many of the trends we are seeing mirror common Islamophobic content — Muslims as other and as a threat,” said CAIR’s Corey Saylor in a statement to The Guardian.

But CAIR’s roots raise their own questions. The organization was established in 1994 by figures tied to Hamas leader Mousa Abu Marzook and the Muslim Brotherhood’s Palestine Committee, according to federal court documents. The Palestine Committee’s mission, per internal records, was to build support for Hamas in the U.S. In 2009, Judge Jorge Solis ruled in the Holy Land Foundation terror funding case that prosecutors presented “prima facie evidence” linking CAIR to a plot to back Hamas.

Mamdani’s admiration for the five men convicted in that 2008 case was publicly expressed in a rap he released in 2017, in which he declared his “love” for the “Holy Land Five.” The charity at the center of that case, the Holy Land Foundation, was founded by Marzook in 1990 and operated under the Brotherhood’s umbrella.

“He seems to be comfortable with … Islamist groups and speaks to the demagoguery,” Jasser observed. “Ideologically, he is obviously … because of his aspirations he stays silent on the theology, but that’s pretty typical of the political Islamists … Even though they don’t say it publicly, they are part of the political Islamist movement represented by the Muslim Brotherhood and the Khomenists that want to achieve the global caliphate.”

{Matzav.com}

President Trump issued a fresh series of tariff warnings on Wednesday, notifying six nations that they’ll face steep duties on their exports to the U.S. unless new trade deals are finalized by August 1.

The Philippines was told it would be hit with a 20% tariff rate. Brunei and Moldova were warned of a 25% duty, while Algeria, Iraq, and Libya are now staring down the possibility of a 30% tariff unless negotiations succeed.

“It is a Great Honor for me to send you this letter in that it demonstrates the strength and commitment of our Trading Relationship,” Trump wrote in each of the letters sent to the respective countries.

The letters emphasized the justification for these proposed levies, with Trump stating, “Please understand that these Tariffs are necessary to correct the many years of Tariff, and Non-Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers, causing these unsustainable Trade Deficits against the United States.”

He further argued that the consequences of these trade imbalances were not limited to the economy. “This [trade] Deficit is a major threat to our Economy and, indeed, our National Security!”

The proposed rates largely aligned with those Trump introduced back on April 2 during his so-called “Liberation Day” announcement, where he outlined a sweeping plan of tailored tariffs targeting nations around the globe.

Although originally scheduled to go into effect shortly after that announcement, the tariff rollout was postponed for 90 days. Trump later pushed the implementation date to August 1, giving countries a final window to negotiate and avoid the penalties.

{Matzav.com}

Kamala Harris once recorded an interview ahead of the presidential election that was ultimately deemed too bizarre to release, according to a social media host who recently disclosed the incident.

The then-candidate participated in a taping of “Subway Takes,” an internet-based show hosted by Kareem Rahma, where guests reveal controversial or unexpected opinions. The segment, filmed during the summer of 2024, never made it online. Rahma explained the situation in an interview with Forbes reporter Steven Bertoni, which was posted to TikTok on Monday.

“Her take was really confusing and weird, not good, and so [we] mutually agreed we shouldn’t publish it,” Rahma told Bertoni during their conversation.

Rahma admitted the taping had gone so poorly that he genuinely worried the backlash could have been pinned on him if Harris lost the election. He shared how unsettling the exchange felt at the time.

“Her take was that bad?” Bertoni asked.

“It was really, really bad,” Rahma responded. “It didn’t make any sense.”

Trying to recall the strange moment, Rahma described Harris’s “hot take” with visible discomfort: “Bacon as a spice.”

According to Rahma, Harris’s team had initially informed the show’s producers that her chosen opinion would be a stance against people removing their shoes during flights.

However, when the cameras started rolling, Harris unexpectedly pivoted to an entirely different statement.

“Bacon is a spice,” Harris declared, as reported by The New York Times, which obtained a copy of the unreleased video.

Rahma, who follows a Muslim diet and refrains from eating pork, seemed startled and replied uncertainly, “I don’t know.” But Harris stuck with her position.

“Think about it, it’s pure flavor,” she elaborated, explaining that crispy bacon bits could function like a seasoning to enhance dishes.

Rahma then asked if an alternative like turkey or beef bacon could be used instead. He paused to clarify to Harris that he doesn’t consume bacon at all.

He suggested returning to the original plan — a segment about airline etiquette involving shoe removal.

Instead, Harris pivoted once again. After a brief exchange with one of her advisers, she launched into an unexpected endorsement of anchovies as a pizza topping.

The conversation rapidly deteriorated into awkwardness, prompting Rahma to bring it to a close.

“Well, I’m 100 percent unsure on both of those,” he said, ending the segment with an uneasy laugh.

{Matzav.com}

Dr. Kevin O’Connor, who previously served as the White House physician, chose not to respond to questions on Wednesday regarding Joe Biden’s cognitive health. Instead, he invoked the Fifth Amendment and left a high-stakes congressional deposition without offering any insight.

O’Connor, who has been closely connected to the Biden family for years, departed from the House Oversight Committee session after roughly an hour. As he left, his attorney, David Schertler, addressed reporters with a brief statement: “No comments to press.”

“Dr. O’Connor pleaded the Fifth Amendment,” stated Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer of Kentucky shortly after O’Connor’s exit. “I’m gonna read the first two questions that were asked.”

“‘Were you ever told to lie about the president’s health?’ He pleaded the Fifth Amendment,” Comer recounted. “‘Did you ever believe President Biden was unfit to execute his duties?’ Again, President Biden’s White House physician pleaded the Fifth Amendment.”

An Oversight Committee spokesperson confirmed that the only answer O’Connor gave was stating his name. The spokesperson also noted that doctor-patient confidentiality would not have prevented him from addressing many of the questions posed.

Calling the situation “unprecedented,” Comer asserted that the physician’s refusal to answer only intensified suspicions of a coordinated attempt to hide the president’s mental deterioration.

In a press release following the deposition, Comer further alleged there had been “a conspiracy to cover up” the mental state of the nation’s 46th president.

“Congress must assess legislative solutions to prevent such a coverup from happening again,” he continued. “We will continue to interview more Biden White House aides to get the answers Americans deserve.”

The committee has already scheduled its next conversation for Friday with Ashley Williams, who once served as Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Oval Office Operations.

Annie Tomasini, who previously held the title of Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff, is slated for an interview on July 18.

According to Comer, O’Connor’s decision to take the Fifth lent further weight to the claims made in the book Original Sin, published in May by journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, which portrays a group of Biden aides — dubbed the “Politburo” — as the true power brokers within the administration.

The group described in the book included Tomasini, along with several other senior staffers who are also expected to appear before the committee. These include Ron Klain, former White House chief of staff (scheduled for July 24); Steve Ricchetti, who served as counselor to the president (July 30); Mike Donilon, another longtime adviser (July 31); and Bruce Reed, the former deputy chief of staff for policy (August 5).

Anita Dunn, who stepped down from her role as senior communications adviser in August 2024, has agreed to appear for a transcribed interview on August 7.

One of the central questions O’Connor declined to answer was whether he had ever been directed to lie about Biden’s condition — a refusal that has become a flashpoint for critics.

The Trump White House, according to sources, opted not to exercise executive privilege to block any of O’Connor’s responses.

“There’s more and more evidence that comes out every day that would suggest that the president was in a pretty severe mental decline, so we’re going to ask about that,” Comer said ahead of the hearing.

“We can’t have the physician’s office not being truthful about the health condition of the president,” he added, noting that this inquiry is part of a broader probe into who within the administration was permitted to use an autopen for official signatures, including executive orders and pardons.

Schertler, who accompanied O’Connor at the deposition, is a well-known criminal defense attorney who also represented Dr. Anthony Fauci during his testimony before a separate Oversight subcommittee last year focused on the coronavirus pandemic.

{Matzav.com}

The United States has reached its highest annual measles case tally in 33 years, hitting at least 1,277 confirmed cases across 38 states and the District of Columbia.

The milestone marks a public health reversal in defeating a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease as the anti-vaccine movement gains strength.

The nation surpassed infections reported in 2019, reaching the largest number of cases since 1992, when officials recorded more than 2,100 infections, according to data published Friday from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Outbreak Response Innovation (CORI).

“It’s devastating,” said Claire Hannan, executive director of the Association of Immunization Managers, a national organization of state and local immunization officials. “We worked so hard to eliminate the threat of measles and to keep it at bay.”

Authorities said at least 155 people have been hospitalized and three people have died of measles-related complications this year. The dead include two otherwise healthy children in Texas and a man in New Mexico, all of who were unvaccinated. In contrast, only three measles deaths were reported between 2001 and 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

About 92 percent of measles cases in 2025 were in people who were either unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown, according to the CDC.

Data from the CDC does not yet reflect the record as it is updated weekly on Wednesdays, while the Johns Hopkins’ site validates data every weekday.

The largest outbreak has been in West Texas, where officials have recorded more than 750 cases since late January and believe the true toll is much higher. Data shows that outbreak has slowed, but that it has spread to surrounding states.

Unrelated clusters of cases emerged elsewhere, usually originating with an unvaccinated person who traveled abroad.

Measles was officially eliminated from the U.S. in 2000 with high vaccination coverage and rapid outbreak response. Cases still popped up periodically. But in recent years, large outbreaks with 50 or more cases have become more frequent, especially in close-knit communities with low vaccination coverage.

Public health experts say the U.S. is on track to lose the elimination status if there is continuous spread of linked measles cases for more than 12 months.

“It’s a harbinger of things to come,” said Eric Ball, a pediatrician who heads the California chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “Once we see a resurgence of measles, we know that other diseases are going to come behind it.”

– – –

Consequences of vaccine distrust

Misinformation about the safety and effectiveness of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine fueled the 1,274 cases recorded in 2019, according to public health officials and researchers.

The outbreaks that year were concentrated in ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities in New York, highlighting the risks in tight-knit communities where vaccine distrust takes hold.

Confidence in public health measures, especially vaccines, has fallen since then, and is sharply divided along political lines.

The national rate for MMR vaccination among kindergartners was slightly above 95 percent in 2019, the level of community protection scientists say is needed to prevent measles outbreaks. But that rate is now under 93 percent and falling, according to the CDC.

Even in states with high vaccination coverage, pockets of unvaccinated people tend to cluster together. Measles is so contagious that a person without immunity exposed to the virus is highly likely to be infected and to spread it days before they develop symptoms.

A recent study showed that if U.S. vaccination rates continue to decline, the nation could face millions of cases over the next 25 years.

A poll conducted in March by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the de Beaumont Foundation found that 79 percent of adults say parents should be required to have children vaccinated against preventable diseases such as measles, mumps and rubella to attend school. Support was stronger among Democrats, 90 percent, than among Republicans, 68 percent.

Five years after the start of the coronavirus pandemic, less than half the public says it has at least some confidence in federal health agencies to carry out core public health responsibilities, according to a poll conducted in April by the health care think tank KFF.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine activist who ascended to be the top U.S. health official, has offered mixed messages about measles and the vaccine to prevent it.

He initially downplayed the seriousness of the Texas outbreak after the first child died, saying: “We have measles outbreaks every year.” He accompanied his calls for vaccination with caveats, raising concerns about the shots that public health experts called unfounded.

Kennedy has responded to the measles outbreak “with clear guidance that vaccines are the most effective way to prevent measles,” HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said in a statement. “At the same time, we recognize that some individuals and communities across the U.S. may choose not to vaccinate. Our commitment is to support all families – regardless of their vaccination status – in avoiding hospitalization and serious complications from measles, including death.”

To help achieve this shared goal, Nixon said the CDC has developed a measles tool kit that is regularly updated and designed to offer options “tailored meet communities where they are.”

Unlike previous large measles outbreaks, the CDC has not held any media briefings.

Nola Jean Ernest, a pediatrician in rural southeastern Alabama, said many of her patients trust others who share their political views more than her when it comes to vaccination.

She now sees patients who vaccinated older children refuse to vaccinate their infants.

“I’ve had several conversations in the last few months where they will say, ‘We still trust you, we just don’t trust the vaccines,’” Ernest said recently. “That really breaks my heart.”

– – –

Anatomy of an outbreak

In Texas, infections in late January spread quickly within Gaines County’s Mennonite community, some of whom educate their children at home or at private schools without vaccine mandates. The county had among the lowest kindergarten MMR vaccination rates in Texas, about 82 percent, according to state immunization data.

Public health officials said they faced challenges in controlling the outbreak because many people were not getting tested or vaccinated for measles.

Anti-vaccine groups mobilized quickly on the ground. Many Mennonite families turned to a prominent anti-vaccine doctor who offered unproven alternative treatments. Kennedy praised that doctor and his methods in a visit to the region.

Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine group founded by Kennedy, interviewed the parents of a 6-year-old girl who died of measles, blaming her death on medical error rather than vaccination status. The organization did not immediately return a request for comment.

Eventually, 36 Texas counties reported measles cases.

Young adults from El Paso who work in oil fields close to Gaines County were among those infected this spring.

El Paso went from five cases to 53 in a month, said Hector Ocaranza, director of the city and county health authority. Ocaranza said his community was vulnerable because a growing number of young adults, listening to what they see and hear on social media, are not getting vaccinated.

Lara Anton, a spokeswoman for the Texas Health Department, said last week that the reporting of new measles cases has slowed, crediting rising population immunity from infections and increased vaccination.

But the outbreak is not over.

Transmission is continuing in Gaines County, as well as Lamar County, in northeast Texas bordering Oklahoma, according to health department data.

In Chihuahua, Mexico, which borders Texas and New Mexico, a child who visited Texas in February started a large measles outbreak that now exceeds 2,400 cases and eight deaths as of last week, according to data from the Pan American Health Organization.

– – –

A costly disease

Measles outbreaks require vast personnel, time, dollars and messaging, public health experts say.

The 2019 outbreak cost New York City $8.4 million with 550 staff involved in the response, according to a 2020 report in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Funding for state and local public health agencies, including immunization programs, has been slashed after increasing during the pandemic. Public health workers have been laid off because of widespread budget cuts across the federal health agencies.

Because of the decreased funding, Texas had to pull resources and staff from other parts of its health department to respond to the outbreak, David Sugerman, a senior CDC scientist, told a committee of agency vaccine advisers in April.

In Dallas, which has had one measles case this year, health officials had to lay off 16 immunization staff because of federal cuts, said Philip Huang, director of the county’s health and human services department.

“The fact that this is occurring at the same time that we are seeing more measles cases in Texas than we have seen in more than 30 years makes absolutely no sense,” Huang said.

(c) 2025, The Washington Post 

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson declared on Tuesday that his administration would never cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, stating plainly that “will not ever cooperate with ICE.”

During a press conference, Johnson sharply criticized the federal government’s actions under President Trump, saying, “You know, again, it’s unconscionable at a time in which so many working people and poor people need government to show up for them, that this administration, the Trump administration, has caused so much consternation and division.”

The mayor was replying to a question about whether city police would be deployed to surround schools and block federal immigration officers from accessing them without legal warrants.

“Look, we are welcoming city ordinance,” Johnson stated. “Our local police department will not ever cooperate with ICE, whatever their constitutional authority is. That is obviously relegated to the Trump administration. All of our sister agencies, city departments have been thoroughly briefed by a corporate counsel, and I’ll pass it over to her in a second about what they can and cannot do.”

Johnson has repeatedly taken aim at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, often denouncing its actions and leadership.

In remarks last month, he took House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to task, demanding that he “speak up” against what the mayor labeled as ICE’s “terrorism.”

He also encouraged residents of Chicago to take a stand, declaring that they should “rise up” against the federal immigration agency.

Since August 31, 2022, Chicago has received more than 51,000 migrants who crossed the southern border, as part of ongoing waves of immigration that have strained city services and sparked political debate.

The mayor’s previous comments calling on Speaker Mike Johnson to condemn ICE’s enforcement tactics, labeling them “terrorism,” and urging locals to “rise up,” have been a consistent part of his public messaging in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, last week, Trump’s border policy advisor Tom Homan appeared on “The Will Cain Show,” where he condemned escalating attacks on immigration agents and slammed a controversial app known as ICEBlock, which allegedly tracks agent movements.

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

Homan’s warning came as concerns mount over the safety of ICE personnel amid intensifying anti-enforcement sentiment and digital tools that potentially expose agent locations.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson responded to the controversy in a statement to Fox News Digital, saying, “Democrat politicians are desperate to defend violent criminal illegal aliens over American citizens. It’s wrong. And it’s why the American people rejected the Democrats in November and sent President Trump back to the White House.”

“No matter how much Democrats try to defend criminal illegal aliens, President Trump and his Administration will always fight to protect the American people,” Jackson continued. “President Trump is committed to carrying out the largest mass deportation operation in history by specifically targeting dangerous sanctuary cities that provide safe harbor to criminal illegals.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump made it clear Tuesday that there will be no delay in implementing the new round of tariffs set to begin August 1, emphasizing that countries hoping to avoid them must act quickly to negotiate reduced rates.

“TARIFFS WILL START BEING PAID ON AUGUST 1, 2025.,” Trump posted Tuesday on Truth Social. “There has been no change to this date, and there will be no change. In other words, all money will be due and payable starting AUGUST 1, 2025 – No extensions will be granted.”

During a Cabinet meeting later that day, Trump doubled down, saying that come August 1, the new “reciprocal” tariffs will be enforced across the board.

“The big money will start coming in on Aug. 1, I think that was made clear today,” Trump said to reporters. He turned to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who predicted that the U.S. could bring in over $300 billion from tariffs by year’s end—triple the $100 billion collected so far this year.

While Trump said he was open to individual trade agreements being finalized with some countries, he noted that his preferred method is to assign a tariff rate to a country and inform them directly, as he did with Japan, South Korea, and a dozen others earlier in the week.

As for the European Union, Trump suggested things could still go either direction.

“They’re very tough, but now they’re being very nice to us, and we’ll see what happens. We’re probably two days off from sending them a letter,” Trump said. “We are talking to them.”

Trump also maintained that sending a country its tariff notice is as good as having a formal trade deal in place, arguing that crafting official agreements can often be too drawn out and complex.

In April, Trump announced a sweeping plan to impose reciprocal tariffs—some reaching as high as 50 percent—on nearly 60 nations. He initially delayed implementation until July 9 to give countries a window to renegotiate their trade terms.

However, when asked Tuesday about pushing the start date to August 1, Trump claimed that was always the intended timeline.

“It’s always been Aug. 1. That’s all, paying it. A statement was being put out today, and I put it out just to make it clear. It wasn’t a change. It was Aug. 1,” Trump said, even though he had signed an executive order the day before to shift the deadline from July 9 to August 1.

Trump has previously issued multiple tariff deadlines as part of his broader trade strategy, only to walk some of them back at the last moment.

In fact, on Monday, Trump hinted to reporters that the August 1 date could still have a degree of flexibility.

“Because if they call up and say ‘we’d like to do it a different way,’ I’d be open to that,” he said.

The administration began distributing tariff notifications on Monday to various trading partners—copies of which were shared on Truth Social. In the messages, Trump signaled there might still be room for maneuvering.

“These Tariffs may be modified, upward or downward, depending on our relationship with your Country,” he wrote in the letter. “You will never be disappointed with the United States of America.”

On Monday, 14 countries received these letters. Trump said more would follow and warned that any nation imposing retaliatory tariffs would likely face even harsher penalties.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump’s top immigration adviser, Tom Homan, issued a forceful rebuke to Democrats on Tuesday, urging them to stop vilifying Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and instead work through Congress to address policy disagreements.

Appearing on the “Cats & Cosby Show” with hosts John Catsimatidis and Rita Cosby, Homan voiced serious concern over escalating hostility toward ICE agents and linked some of the blame to inflammatory political rhetoric. He said that left-wing extremists were being emboldened by these attacks.

“I’ve seen this film before, and I said, with this rhetoric, comparing ICE to Nazis and racists and terrorist groups, I said, the nuts on the left, it’s going to embolden them to do something stupid, and we’ve seen it,” Homan said. “So, I don’t think it’s over, unless Democrats, you know, shut the hell up and stop attacking ICE.”

He emphasized that ICE officers are simply upholding laws passed by Congress and urged critics to focus their frustration on legislation rather than law enforcement personnel. “They need to remember ICE is enforcing the laws that they wrote,” Homan continued. “If they don’t like what ICE is doing, then change the law.”

His remarks came just one day after a shooting incident at a U.S. Border Patrol facility in McAllen, Texas, where a gunman opened fire and was ultimately shot by federal agents. Just days earlier, another violent episode unfolded outside an ICE detention center in Alvarado, Texas, where a police officer was shot.

“I said over two months ago, if this rhetoric continues, that someone’s going to lose their life,” Homan said in the interview, “either a protester who is turning criminal or violent or it’s going to be an officer.”

{Matzav.com}