Matzav

A United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet was lost to the depths of the Red Sea after slipping off an aircraft carrier in a serious incident — though, fortunately, the pilot survived, according to officials.

The incident occurred Monday aboard the USS Harry S. Truman as the fighter, valued at roughly $56 million, was being hauled out of a hangar when the tractor towing it lost control.

According to Navy reports, both the Super Hornet and the towing vehicle ended up plunging into the sea.

Both the pilot and the sailor operating the towing tractor were able to jump to safety, with one of them suffering only a minor injury.

The USS Truman, along with its carrier strike group, has been on high alert due to persistent threats from the Iranian-backed Houthi terror organization in Yemen. The group remains deployed in the Red Sea, safeguarding commercial vessels that have come under repeated attack by the Houthis.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump is set to sign executive orders on Monday targeting sanctuary jurisdictions and offering strong backing to police officers and departments accused of misconduct.

Trump has advocated stripping financial support from cities and states that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, and the new orders will increase that pressure.

According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, one of the executive actions regarding sanctuary jurisdictions “direct[s] the attorney general [Pam Bondi] and also [Homeland Security Secretary] Kristi Noem… to provide a list of sanctuary cities in which local officials are not complying with this federal order and are not complying with federal immigration laws,” she said during a morning press briefing.

In addition, the order gives Bondi the authority to initiate lawsuits — both civil and criminal — against state or municipal officials who block “criminal or immigration law enforcement.”

The signing comes just three days after federal agents took Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan into custody, accusing her of obstructing justice and helping an illegal immigrant avoid capture after a court hearing related to battery charges.

The Trump team has already taken legal action against New York and Chicago over their defiance of federal immigration law.

“It’s quite simple,” Leavitt emphasized on Monday. “Obey the law, respect the law, and don’t obstruct federal immigration officials and law-enforcement officials when they are simply trying to remove public safety threats from our nation’s communities.”

Another executive order Trump will sign focuses on boosting “law and order” initiatives by empowering the federal government to “pursue legal action against state or local officials obstructing criminal or immigration law enforcement,” according to a summary of the plan.

This second directive lays out additional steps, including a Justice Department mandate to “create a mechanism to provide legal resources and indemnification for officers facing unjust expenses from official duties, including pro bono assistance.”

It also directs the federal government to “increase surplus military assets for local law enforcement” — reversing restrictions placed under Democratic leadership — and demands a comprehensive review of “federal consent decrees, out-of-court agreements, and post-judgement orders that hinder law enforcement, and make modifications as needed,” potentially reshaping police operations in cities accused of systemic racial bias.

Other initiatives in the order call for racial discrimination investigations to rely on “direct evidence, not statistical disparities,” and instruct federal prosecutors to prioritize cases involving “violent crimes, drug trafficking, and recidivists with illegal firearms.”

{Matzav.com}

The New Jersey State Department of Transportation (DOT) will begin a key new phase of road improvement work along Route 9 in Lakewood, NJ this evening, April 28th.

The current area of focus, as part of the ongoing “Indian Head Project,” will be on and around Route 9 between Route 88 and 3rd Street, in both directions. Road closures and detours in that area are expected to begin Monday evening through early morning hours. These closures will continue on a nightly basis for the duration of this project, currently estimated to last approximately six months.

This phase of improvement work will focus on improving water drainage, as well as adding a variety of lane enhancements to speed up traffic flow on that busy stretch of road.

Additionally, the State is scheduled to begin, in the near future, improvement work on Route 9 between John and Pine Streets, with southbound traffic detoured via Martin Luther King Boulevard. (The Northbound lane in this area is expected to remain open.)

South Lakewood residents will also welcome the installation of new traffic signals within two months at the intersections of Route 9 and Oak Street, and Route 9 and Broadway. Extensive infrastructure work to prepare these intersections for the signals has already been completed.

Lakewood Township officials are working closely with the State (which has jurisdiction over Route 9) to ensure that road improvement work will proceed efficiently, while minimizing inconvenience to Lakewood motorists, and properly informing residents of their plans.

While the State initially planned to close all lanes of Route 9, in both directions (between Route 88 and 3rd Street), during improvement work, the Township requested that they modify the plans, as it would have posed a major inconvenience to Lakewood residents. The State agreed to leave a minimum of one lane open in each direction at all times.

Additionally, Township officials are working with the State to avoid closures, as much as feasible, on Lag Ba’omer (Thursday, May 15th) and during the busy shopping days ahead of the Shavuos holiday. Similarly, Township officials are working with the State to schedule some of the most intense road work during the Bain Hazmanim/Summer vacation season, when fewer vehicles are on the roads.

“Route 9 traffic has for long been a major challenge for Lakewood residents and businesses,” says Mayor Ray Coles, “and we are grateful that the State is taking real action on this matter, while working with us to minimize traffic disruptions during this period. Although Route 9’s traffic issues won’t be fully solved, we anticipate that residents will see a substantial improvement once this project is completed.”

“The State recognizes the importance that improving Route 9 has for Lakewood’s safety and quality-of-life,” says Assemblyman Avi Schnall, who represents Lakewood in Trenton. “Thankfully, this longtime priority is now a reality on the ground and we will continue working to ensure that Lakewood’s needs are optimally met.”

{Matzav.com}

Agudath Israel is outraged by several ordinances recently passed and others that are being contemplated by the City of Linden designed to prevent Orthodox Jews from moving there, in line with the mayor’s recent comments to “keep our community from being taken over by guys with big hats and curls.” These discriminatory measures represent a blatant attempt to marginalize religious and minority communities under the guise of land-use regulation.

“The recent ordinances target specific populations under the guise of ‘zoning regulation,’ raising serious concerns about discrimination and exclusion and potentially violate federal and state statutes that guarantee religious liberty and equal treatment under the law,” Shlomo Schorr, Director of Legislative Affairs for Agudath Israel of America’s New Jersey office, said in a statement.

Agudath Israel calls on the Linden City Council to revoke these ordinances and to engage in an open, honest, and respectful dialogue with all community members. We also urge state and federal authorities to investigate and ensure that the rights of all residents are safeguarded.

Additionally, we are appalled by reports that members of the Orthodox Jewish community were barred from entering a recent meeting of the Linden City Council in what appears to constitute a clear violation of New Jersey’s Open Public Meetings Act that guarantees the public’s right to attend meetings of governing bodies. At the April 18, 2025 Special Meeting of the Linden City Council, which was held at the Susan Hudak Auditorium in Linden High School, dozens of residents were barred from entering the building.

“Orthodox Jews, like all New Jersey residents, have every right to engage in the democratic process. Any attempt to exclude them—or any group—from doing so is unacceptable – especially when it is committed by those who are tasked with upholding the rule of law,” Schorr added.

Agudath Israel will continue to strongly defend our communities against these discriminatory practices and will pursue all appropriate avenues — legal and otherwise — to protect the freedoms that every citizen deserves.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu testified at his criminal trial on Monday, downplaying the significance of any cigars or champagne he received, saying it was minor compared to the vast supply owned by billionaire Hollywood producer, onetime confidant, and current state’s witness Arnon Milchan.

The defense is nearing completion of testimony for Case 1000, known as the “Illegal Gifts” case. Once these testimonies conclude, proceedings for Case 2000 will commence, followed by the prosecution’s cross-examination. In Case 1000, Netanyahu is accused of promoting legislation that would have benefited Milchan, allegedly receiving cigars and champagne valued at thousands of shekels in return.

The charges also allege that Netanyahu ordered Shlomo Filber—who was the Communications Ministry’s director-general in 2015 and who later turned state’s witness—to assist Milchan with regulatory challenges, specifically regarding a merger between media outlets Reshet and Keshet, where Milchan was contemplating an investment.

During his testimony, Netanyahu said that their friendship ended after Milchan was questioned by police in December 2016. On Monday, he firmly denied being involved in linking Filber and Milchan or facilitating any conversations between them. “I had no way to influence it,” he stated.

According to the indictment, Netanyahu abruptly assigned Filber to lead the Communications Ministry and then allegedly directed him to explore ways to assist Milchan. The indictment further claims Milchan and Filber were in contact after Filber’s appointment, with Netanyahu supposedly seeking to tighten his grip over Israeli media.

Netanyahu defended his actions, saying, “What interested me at the time was introducing range into the Israeli journalism sphere. We saw this yesterday [with coverage of the affidavit against Shin Bet Ronen Bar]. It is a monolith that hides things from people and serves as a massive danger to democracy. When you provide one narrative [only], that’s dangerous,” he said.

Israeli TV’s three major networks—Channels 11, 12, and 13—extensively aired reports on Netanyahu’s affidavit throughout much of Sunday afternoon and evening.

During the hearing, defense attorney Amit Hadad questioned Netanyahu about accusations that he encouraged Milchan to buy into Israeli news companies to gain editorial control.

Netanyahu responded that while he did care about the overall issue of media influence, he did not have a specific interest in Milchan’s plans. “Personnel is policy,” Netanyahu said in English.

He also blasted any suggestion of meddling in Milchan’s financial dealings as “absurd,” punctuating his rejection by adding, “This is crazy,” in English.

“I took two meetings with him, like I would with anyone else,” Netanyahu added, brushing off any notion of impropriety.

The indictment claims that between 2011 and 2016, Netanyahu accepted cigars valued at approximately NIS 267,254 (about $75,000) and champagne worth NIS 184,448 (around $52,000).

Hadad probed Netanyahu’s cigar consumption habits to test the plausibility of the charges. Netanyahu dismissed the prosecution’s assertion that he smoked five to six cigars daily as “crazy.”

“I smoke one cigar over the course of two days… I have no time otherwise,” Netanyahu explained.

The defense highlighted Netanyahu’s earlier police statements, where he said he personally paid for cigars his staff bought for him, aiming to dismantle the prosecution’s claim that the gifts formed a “supply line” of luxury goods. “There was no supply line” of cigars and champagne, Netanyahu insisted.

Netanyahu said that when Milchan visited, two to four times per year, he would casually offer cigars. “He would bring a box of cigars, open it up, and say, ‘Take, Bibi, take one.’”

When interrogated, police challenged Netanyahu, asking why the sheer cost of these gifts hadn’t raised red flags for him.

On Monday, Netanyahu mocked the line of questioning, comparing it to trivial concerns. “Asking how many cups of coffee you drink in your life, or how long your nails get… They [the prosecution] have nothing,” he said.

Netanyahu further testified that no receipts were ever given to him, implying that the gifts were too minor to require formal documentation. Hadad also revealed that during interrogations, police claimed to have receipts but refused to show them.

“That’s convenient, isn’t it?” Netanyahu remarked, adding, “When you’re trying to incriminate an innocent man, facts don’t matter.”

Growing increasingly animated, Netanyahu exclaimed, “You blew up the numbers [of money spent on cigars]! What are we sitting here for – bribery for basic press releases, and fraud and breach-of-trust for cigars? This is what we are wasting precious time for, stealing time from both the State and the judges!”

Netanyahu insisted that Milchan’s generosity wasn’t unique to him, pointing out that others also benefited from Milchan’s cigar stash. “Milchan had cigars in his basement for everyone – guests of his even said so – not just for me… When you’re framing someone, you need to know what you’re doing,” he charged.

Hadad later presented a video from an award ceremony in 2008, where Milchan was honored with a cigar as recognition “for your extensive contribution to the cigar industry.” When asked to comment, Netanyahu said the tribute suited Milchan perfectly. “This is what he does. To come and say that what he has in his various homes is all designated for me is ridiculous and so removed from reality. How can this be believed, let alone the basis for a charge? It’s ridiculous.”

Addressing the champagne allegations, Netanyahu joked that Milchan practically “swam in champagne,” and said that his wife, Sara, only received a small portion as a gift.

While the indictment cited 160 boxes of champagne as being delivered, Netanyahu downplayed the figure. “That is not even close to what I saw; I recall one box, and it was opened,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

Chareidi demonstrators gathered on Monday outside the Tel Hashomer induction center to protest against the IDF’s efforts to enlist members of the chareidi community.

Footage shows activists sitting across the roadway, obstructing traffic, until police intervened and forcibly removed them.

The police issued a statement labeling the gathering “illegal,” although they emphasized that they “view the right to protest as a cornerstone of a democratic state and allow demonstrations as long as they are conducted within the law.”

They added, “However, the police will not allow any disturbances of public order, violations of freedom of movement, or behavior that may endanger public safety.”

Monday’s enlistment efforts were part of a special chareidi-focused day at Tel Hashomer, with the IDF attempting to draft two new companies into the Hashmonaim Brigade.

One company is set to include new draftees entering regular service, while the second will consist of reservists.

The army explained that this recruitment drive aims to offer chareidim opportunities within military service that accommodate their religious practices and lifestyle.

According to the military, the initiative will create an environment that allows soldiers to combine serious Torah learning with military responsibilities, enabling them to protect Israel while preserving their religious way of life.

Among those present to show support for the drafting of chareidim was Religious Zionist Party member Zvi Sukkot, who said, “They came to enlist and give their lives, and there are people here to humiliate and curse them.”

“I stand here on behalf of the majority of the Jewish people in the face of the disgrace that they are facing here. Shame!” Sukkot added.

Although approximately 10,000 draft notices were issued in the past two months, KAN reported that only 994 chareidim responded by presenting themselves at draft offices. Additionally, 2,491 are currently wanted on arrest warrants for failing to report, with travel bans placed against them to prevent them from leaving the country.

Nevertheless, these latest figures show some improvement compared to the previous three months, when only 367 chareidim complied with draft orders out of 7,014 notices sent, while authorities issued 2,473 arrest warrants and placed 446 travel restrictions.

Brigadier-General Shay Taib, head of the IDF Personnel Planning Branch, told Army Radio, “I would be happy if there was support from the other side [the wider chareidi community], but, unfortunately, we have yet to see any change.” He added, “We proposed imposing sanctions that affect the individual draft dodgers in their daily lives.”

On Sunday, the High Court of Justice issued a conditional order giving the government and military until June 24 to explain why more chareidim have not been summoned to enlist and why no penalties have yet been enforced against those who evade the draft.

This court action comes at a time when Israel remains embroiled in a drawn-out war, with reservists stretched thin and facing exhaustion after a year and a half of nonstop mobilization and danger.

Government officials have set a target to enlist 4,800 chareidim annually, a figure they plan to increase significantly in the coming years.

The IDF has been tasked with creating specialized pathways for chareidi soldiers to serve in sectors such as the Air Force, Intelligence Corps, and front-line units. Building the frameworks will fall to the military, but supplying the manpower will be the responsibility of the chareidi community.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Ronen Bar, head of Israel’s Shin Bet security service, announced today that he will be stepping down from his position.

Speaking during a ceremony honoring the agency’s fallen heroes, Bar said, “As the head of the organization, I took responsibility” for the events of October 7.

During his remarks, Bar shared, “And now, on this special evening, symbolizing memory, heroism and sacrifice, I have chosen to announce the implementation” of accepting this responsibility, “and decided to end my role as head of the Shin Bet.”

Bar emphasized that his choices throughout his career have always been driven by deep devotion and allegiance to Israel. “The same is true tonight,” he added.

He openly acknowledged that the Shin Bet had “failed to give a warning” ahead of the October 7, 2023 massacre, when terrorists from Gaza breached the border and launched the deadliest assault in Israel’s history, resulting in over a thousand deaths and approximately 250 kidnappings.

Bar noted that after more than three decades of service, he intends to ensure a smooth leadership transition. “After 35 years of service, in order to allow for an orderly process of appointing a permanent replacement and professional overlap, I will end my position on June 15, 2025,” he stated.

The Israeli government had previously voted to remove Bar from his role last month, a move that stirred debate over whether Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s declared justification — a loss of trust — was adequate grounds for his dismissal.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The true measure of the IDF’s worthiness in its mission to protect Israel hinges on its ability to bring back the hostages taken by Hamas, declared IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir. He delivered these remarks during a ceremony at Mount Herzl on Monday, an event dedicated to honoring Israel’s fallen security personnel as part of Remembrance Day commemorations.

“We are fighting in order to build a more secure future, and a free state. It is our ethical obligation to return our hostages [held by Hamas] to their homes – this is the test of being the Israeli Defense Forces,” stated Zamir during his address.

Gathered alongside Zamir were the heads of the Mossad, Shin Bet, IDF Intelligence, the Israel Police, and senior officials from each of these vital security branches.

Although Zamir did mention the goal of achieving “victory”—signaling the defeat of Hamas—it was clear that the central theme of his speech was the moral imperative to retrieve the hostages.

It remained uncertain whether Zamir’s choice to place such emphasis on returning the captives was intended as a subtle critique of government factions appearing more willing to prioritize the ongoing offensive against Hamas over immediate hostage recovery, or if his focus simply reflected the solemn atmosphere of Mount Herzl and the nature of the memorial.

Zamir further proclaimed, “It is our obligation in the IDF to serve as a [national] conscience, to highlight the way forward and to act at all times, without hesitation…out of a sense of steady honesty, for the sake of unity, cohesiveness, and victory.”

Amid an ongoing and deeply personal struggle with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his expected resignation, Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar was physically present at the memorial and shared thoughts with the audience through a recorded statement.

Bar was seen gazing intently at the memorial wall inscribed with the names of Shin Bet operatives who fell in the line of duty.

Reflecting on the profound losses, Bar emphasized that the sacrifices of these agents left an indelible mark both personally, given the close-knit nature of the organization, and professionally.

On the professional side, Bar explained that honoring the memories of the fallen drives Shin Bet operatives to maintain their highest level of vigilance “every day and every hour” in their battle against terrorism.

Despite his visible presence, Bar gave no outward indication of the political storm he is currently navigating—a fallout stemming from criticisms over the failure to predict Hamas’s October 7 attack and deepening rifts with Netanyahu over the prime minister’s confrontations with Israel’s judicial system.

Mossad Director David Barnea also participated in the Mount Herzl ceremony, delivering a pre-recorded message in which he affirmed the agency’s enduring bond with its fallen. As “we defend the security of our homeland” he said, “we salute our heroes, you who lost your lives for the homeland…We have pride in your and our strategic achievements…you will always be part of the family of the Mossad.”

Barnea continued, adding a note of determination: “we remember you with our [ongoing] activities and achievements…we will continue to act with cunning and with a readiness to sacrifice.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

In a strong rebuke aired Monday on 103FM, Ilan Lotan, a onetime top official within the Shin Bet, publicly criticized agency head Ronen Bar and urged him to resign immediately.

“They turned the Shin Bet into an enemy of the people, even greater than Hamas and [Palestinian] Islamic Jihad,” Lotan charged, emphasizing that “the relationship between the Shin Bet and the prime minister is critical.”

Lotan expressed serious doubt over how Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and Bar could continue collaborating, given the mutual accusations between them, asserting that the only viable way to determine the facts would be through the establishment of a state commission of inquiry.

“I greatly appreciate Bar as a person, but he needs to announce his resignation,” Lotan continued.

“The relationship with the prime minister is critical — the issues are so sensitive. Just imagine them sitting in a work meeting on such sensitive matters. This elephant in the room must be removed,” he warned, suggesting that the unresolved tension makes effective communication impossible.

Lotan also shared that he has been hearing from active Shin Bet agents who conveyed to him their profound sense of disappointment and betrayal.

“As we speak, people are working all night to thwart terrorist attacks, and they hear these headlines in the news, and it’s a very painful feeling,” he said, describing the morale crisis among the operational teams.

Meanwhile, Likud MK Amit Halevi, speaking to 103FM on Monday, echoed the call for Bar’s departure, arguing, “Unfortunately, Bar is severely harming Shin Bet because he refuses to resign, and since then he has been doing everything to leave scorched earth behind at the Shin Bet.”

Halevi elaborated on the dysfunction, noting, “There can be no government without overall responsibility. But you also can’t treat that responsibility normally when all the officials are working against you, not reporting to you, and doing everything they can to prevent you from implementing your policies.”

He also remarked on the broader erosion of confidence in national institutions, commenting, “You won’t find much trust in a High Court that seeks to impose its values on all of Israeli society. Therefore, there is a great lack of trust.”

Taking aim at Bar’s recent legal maneuvers, Halevi stated, “Ronen Bar submitted affidavits to remain in office as part of his anti-democratic battle. In any democratic country, he would have been sent home. In Israel, due to the constitutional revolution that hasn’t happened,” he charged.

Concluding his remarks, Halevi reiterated the urgent need for a full investigation, declaring, “A state commission of inquiry must be established,” and emphasizing that it must delve into systemic issues that have been building up over an extended period.

{Matzav.com}

Today, President Trump launched a fierce attack against polls that showed his approval numbers sagging as he approached his 100th day in office, accusing the media outlets behind the surveys of pushing “fake news” and demanding investigations into alleged election fraud.

Targeting recent polls by the New York Times and ABC/Washington Post, which indicated declining public support, Trump slammed the results, accusing the media of being afflicted with what he called “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

“The New York Times has only 37% Trump 2024 voters, and the ABC/Washington Post Poll has only 34% Trump Voters, unheard of numbers unless looking for a negative result, which they are,” he wrote in an irate post on Truth Social.

Trump didn’t stop there, also taking a swipe at Fox News, insisting, “These people should be investigated for ELECTION FRAUD, and add in the FoxNews Pollster while you’re at it.”

Continuing his tirade, he lambasted pollsters and news organizations, claiming, “They are Negative Criminals who apologize to their subscribers and readers after I WIN ELECTIONS BIG, much bigger than their polls showed I would win, loose a lot of credibility, and then go on cheating and lying for the next cycle, only worse,” he fumed.

He capped off his furious statement by emphasizing the media’s obsession with undermining him, declaring, “They suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome, and there is nothing that anyone, or anything, can do about it. THEY ARE SICK,” he added.

Trump’s barrage came on the heels of several polls released on Sunday that all painted a grim picture of his public approval — including one that showed he was setting records for the lowest ratings for a new presidential term in modern history.

One Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos survey reported that Trump’s approval rating after his first 100 days stood at just 39%, the lowest score recorded for a sitting president at this point in office since 1945.

Meanwhile, a separate New York Times/Siena College poll found that 42% of voters said they approved of Trump’s performance overall.

{Matzav.com}

During an exclusive interview with Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic, President Donald Trump discussed the ongoing Signal messaging app controversy involving Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Trump expressed optimism that Hegseth would recover after facing early challenges.

“I think he’s gonna get it together,” Trump said in the Oval Office discussion, published by The Atlantic Monday morning.

“I had a talk with him, a positive talk, but I had a talk with him.”

Trump also voiced continued confidence in national security adviser Mike Waltz, who was implicated in the incident that mistakenly added Goldberg to a Signal chat. Goldberg later published a series of articles accusing Trump officials of mishandling classified material.

Waltz, according to Trump, handled the situation well despite the backlash he endured for mistakenly bringing Goldberg into a private chat about planned strikes on the Houthis in Yemen.

Waltz was “fine” after being “beat up” for the mistaken addition of the reporter to the Signal chat to discuss strikes on Yemen’s Houthi terrorists, Trump told Goldberg.

In light of the mishap, Trump reportedly advised his team afterward with a simple directive:

“Maybe don’t use Signal, OK?”

Hegseth, for his part, has pushed back firmly against accusations, blaming the media for distorting the story and vehemently denying any improper handling of sensitive information.

“We talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist who’s made a profession peddling hoaxes time and time again – to including the, I don’t know, the Russia, Russia, Russia, the ‘fine people on both sides’ hoax, or ‘suckers and losers’ hoax: This is a guy that peddles in garbage,” Hegseth said in a sharp denunciation of Goldberg when the story about the Signal group first emerged this spring.

{Matzav.com}

Mugshot-style posters featuring the faces of 100 illegal migrants, along with a list of heinous crimes they are accused of committing, were placed across the White House lawn.

The posters, boldly stamped with the word “ARRESTED,” were spotted early Monday morning lining the driveway to the White House. A White House official told The NY Post that they were put up to highlight some of the most serious offenders arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the first 100 days of President Trump’s new term.

“White House lawn looks a little different this AM,” Trump administration spokesperson Kaelan Dorr posted on X.

“And they say yard signs don’t win elections…”

Each sign prominently displayed the mugshot of an illegal migrant alongside the crimes they allegedly committed, which included “first-degree murder,” “abuse of a child,” “kidnapping …,” “murder,” “[assault] of a child,” and “distribution of fentanyl.”

Every placard also featured the official White House logo at the bottom, lending it an unmistakable stamp of authority.

According to an official speaking to Axios, which was the first outlet to break the story, the posters were deliberately placed in areas where television crews typically set up for live broadcasts to ensure the images would be visible on camera.

{Matzav.com}

At a special gathering organized by the “Chelki VeTorasi” movement for working yeshiva graduates, the Slabodka Rosh Yeshiva, Maran Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, sharply criticized the classification and hierarchy that has emerged among some within the chareidi community. He stated emphatically that the label “second-class” for a working chareidi is completely incorrect.

The event, held in Rav Hirsch’s home, brought together rabbanim and organizers of Chelki VeTorasi, a group founded to support yeshiva graduates who have entered the workforce.

During the gathering, Rav Hirsch was asked: “Sometimes, the kollel community and the older shul members label the ‘Chelki’ community as second-class. Should we be concerned about this, or should we just do what is right for us without worrying about how others view us?”

The Rosh Yeshiva responded: “Look, it is not second-class. There’s a major difference between second-class and differences in status, like between a Kohein and a Levi — the Kohein gets called first, the Levi second, and the talmid chacham third. But no one views that as second-class.

“The ben Torah, the kollel yungerman, who doesn’t get the third aliyah doesn’t see himself as second-class because he didn’t get that honor. The Levi who isn’t called first isn’t second-class — he is first-class too. There are levels, yes, but everyone is first-class.”

Rav Hirsch further elaborated: “Of course, someone who learns Torah full-time is on a higher madrigah than a baal habayis (working man), but it is still a higher level within first-class. Like a Kohein and a Levi, a third and a fourth — it’s levels, not classes. The term ‘second-class’ is completely wrong; it implies something invalid. There is no second-class at all. We are all first-class, with different levels within that.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Marking the end of the shivah for the Rosh Yeshiva of Kisei Rachamim, Rav Meir Mazuz zt”l, a moving gathering took place at his gravesite for the unveiling of his matzeivah.

Admirers and talmidim, led by family rabbanim, including Rav Tzemach Mazuz and Rav Yitzchak Barda, president of Mosdos Yitzchak Yiranen, assembled for the solemn event ahead of the official hakamas matzeivah ceremony, which is scheduled to take place today.

According to the stirring wishes laid out in the Rosh Yeshiva’s will, the following deeply emotional inscription was requested to be engraved upon his matzeivah:

פ”נ

המזוכך ביסורין ר’ מאיר בן כמאסאנה והרה”ג ר’ מצליח מאזוז זצ”ל

מייסד וראש ישיבת “כסא רחמים” בתוניס

נלב”ע ביום כ”א לחודש ניסן בשנת תשפ”ה – “ואני קרבת אלקים לי טוב”

ת.נ.צ.ב.ה.

Jewish community leaders in Savannah, Georgia, acted quickly on Friday after spotting a social media post featuring a party flyer with what appeared to be an antisemitic message, JTA reports.

The flyer, which was allegedly aimed at students from the Savannah College of Art and Design, contained a list of party instructions embedded in micrographic text that spelled out the words “No Jews.”

As the flyer began circulating, Jewish leaders affiliated with both SCAD and the broader Savannah community immediately condemned it and demanded a response.

“We are proud as the Jewish community of SCAD and will not feel safe if nothing is done,” said SCAD Hillel in an Instagram statement.

Chabad of Savannah, where many Jewish SCAD students are active, also voiced outrage in a social media post, saying, “We are deeply disturbed and saddened by the antisemitic incident that occurred at SCAD where a party invitation stated that no Jews were welcome. This type of hate has no place on campus in our community or anywhere in society.”

The Savannah Jewish Federation also reacted forcefully, announcing via Instagram that it was coordinating with school authorities and local law enforcement to address the situation.

“At this juncture, our priorities are the welfare of the Jewish community,” the federation’s post read. “Appropriate disciplinary measures, and education to ensure Jewish students understand the nature and history of antisemitism and why such an invitation is beyond the pale.”

This controversy surfaced at a time when concern over antisemitism at American colleges is already running high. The Anti-Defamation League recorded record-breaking levels of antisemitic incidents last year, much of it connected to protests over Israel’s war in Gaza, and the Trump administration has been penalizing universities it believes have failed to safeguard Jewish students.

However, it was soon revealed that the person responsible for posting the image was not a student at SCAD, meaning there was no actual campus antisemitism incident in this case.

“There was no party,” said Rabbi Zalman Refson, co-director of Chabad of Savannah. “It was clearly just, obviously, just to either show his disdain for the Jewish community, or he’s going through a mental episode, and we’re not quite sure just yet.”

SCAD released a statement confirming that the person who circulated the flyer was not enrolled at the college, and that investigators found no evidence of an event or signage targeting Jewish students.

“The investigation is ongoing to confirm that no current member of the SCAD community was involved in the creation of the social media post or related activities,” the statement said. “SCAD leadership is reaching out to students, faculty, and staff who have been affected by the social media post to offer support and resources.”

Following these developments, the Savannah Jewish Federation issued a follow-up message, commending the college administration for their prompt action and acknowledging the involvement of national Jewish organizations.

“The Savannah Jewish Federation appreciates the swift action of SCAD administration and their commitment to the continued safety and security of all students,” the post read. “We also want to express our deep appreciation for the many National Jewish organizations and elected officials who have offered their support during this process.”

Since the individual who posted the offensive image had already withdrawn from SCAD back in the fall, Rabbi Refson noted that it is unclear if any consequences could be imposed.

“There’s a lot of outside parties, like a lot of outside aggravators, who are stirring up a lot of the hate, which seems to be the case in other schools as well,” he said. “We hope that he comes to his senses in some way, and nothing illegal was done. So it’s hard to penalize, but we do know that if he was at SCAD, he would have been expelled instantly.”

{Matzav.com}

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An Arab official on Sunday pushed back against Hebrew media claims suggesting that Qatar had encouraged Hamas to turn down an Egyptian-mediated hostage-ceasefire proposal as fighting continues between Hamas and Israel in Gaza.

Speaking to The Times of Israel, a source involved in the talks — though not from Qatar — said the allegations were being “manufactured” by Israeli officials trying to derail the negotiating process and shift attention away from Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, whose rigid conditions have made any deal nearly unattainable.

Netanyahu has firmly rejected any agreement that would end the war or allow Hamas to retain power over Gaza. Earlier this year, Israel also refused to initiate talks for a permanent ceasefire during a proposed three-stage hostage deal, resulting in the plan collapsing after only the first phase.

Over the past few days, several Hebrew-language news outlets published pieces — often based solely on Israeli sources or citing no sources at all — claiming that Qatar had advised Hamas to reject an Egyptian proposal by suggesting that Doha could obtain a more favorable long-term truce for the group.

Since the start of the war on October 7, 2023, Qatar has served as a central intermediary between Israel and Hamas. The terror group, backed by Iran and controlling the Gaza Strip, launched a deadly attack on Israel that day, murdering approximately 1,200 people and abducting 251 others.

Qatar provides a home base for Hamas’s political leaders and finances the pro-Hamas Al Jazeera network. With Israel’s approval, Qatar had also sent billions of dollars into Gaza in the years leading up to October 7.

Speaking Sunday, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said that Thursday’s discussions showed “some progress.”

An Israeli source told The Times of Israel that Mossad chief David Barnea, who has had a reduced role in the negotiations since Netanyahu appointed Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer to lead the Israeli team two months ago, flew to Doha last Thursday to meet with the Qatari prime minister in pursuit of an agreement.

“We have seen on Thursday a bit of progress compared to other meetings, yet we need to find an answer for the ultimate question: how to end this war. That’s the key point of the entire negotiations,” said Al-Thani at a press event alongside Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

“When you don’t have a common objective, a common goal between the parties, I believe the opportunities [to end the war] become very thin,” added the Qatari prime minister.

Fidan echoed this sentiment, noting that discussions in recent days indicated Hamas would consider a broader agreement that goes beyond a temporary ceasefire and looks toward a comprehensive resolution with Israel.

On April 19, Fidan and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin met with Hamas representatives in Ankara to review the ceasefire negotiations and assess the overall situation in Gaza.

According to Fidan, those discussions revealed that Hamas might agree to a deal that addresses broader Palestinian concerns and that the current crisis might be a stepping stone toward advancing a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In addition to the ceasefire talks, Al-Thani on Sunday criticized Israeli media coverage surrounding the so-called “Qatargate” scandal, which involves allegations against two of Netanyahu’s aides for allegedly working on behalf of a Qatar-linked lobbying group.

“What is being called ‘Qatargate’ is journalistic propaganda for political purposes that has no basis in truth. Fringe politicians in Israel are leveling accusations against Doha while forgetting its role in the release of the hostages,” said Al-Thani.

“There is a public relations campaign being waged against the State of Qatar in Israel,” he said, explaining that “Qatar’s contracts with an American communications firm were intended to counter a public relations campaign against us in Israel.”

Court documents in the Qatargate investigation reveal that two Netanyahu advisers — Jonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein — are suspected of accepting payments to plant favorable pro-Qatar coverage in the media, all while working in the prime minister’s office.

Reports indicate that American lobbyist Jay Footlik played a significant role in arranging the alleged payments to Netanyahu’s aides. Last week, it was reported that Israeli investigators are planning to travel to the United States in the near future to question Footlik as part of the ongoing probe.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism released its first full-year report on the global surge in antisemitism on Sunday, the first official review covering events through all of 2024 since the October 7 massacre. The findings were scheduled to be presented to government ministers during a cabinet meeting.

The report reveals that throughout 2024, antisemitism around the world became more structured, with financial backing from international organizations and, in some cases, national governments. It includes detailed statistics comparing antisemitism rates during the entire year of 2024 with those recorded in the first ten months of 2023, prior to the October massacre.

According to the data, Canada experienced a staggering 970% spike in antisemitic incidents, Australia saw a 320% increase along with a 260% jump in antisemitic violence, the United States recorded a 200% rise, and antisemitic incidents in France grew by 300%.

The findings also indicate that 64% of French citizens believe Jews are justified in fearing for their safety in France, 84% of Jews living in Germany feel unsafe, and 90% of Jewish residents in Britain avoid downtown areas during anti-Israel protests.

The Diaspora Ministry’s report identifies Spain and Ireland as Europe’s most antisemitic countries. France, Britain, Canada, and Australia are criticized for their “moral ambiguity” in addressing antisemitism while voicing what the report calls disproportionate criticism of Israel, thus heightening the danger to Jewish communities.

French President Emmanuel Macron is singled out in the document for statements he made about Israel’s actions during the war in Gaza, which, according to the report, “legitimized antisemitic rhetoric by the French far-left.” The report contends that Macron’s comments emboldened Luc Mélenchon, head of the far-left La France Insoumise (LFI) party, who downplayed antisemitism even after a French Interior Ministry report showed a 300% surge in antisemitic incidents in early 2024. Among far-left supporters in France, only 44% consider Hamas a terrorist organization.

In Britain, the report highlights criticism leveled by the Chief Rabbi against the Labour Party for imposing an arms embargo on Israel. Meanwhile, in Canada, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) condemned the government of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after it voted to censure Israel at the United Nations in December 2023, warning it would fuel additional hatred toward Canadian Jews.

The report brands Canada the “champion of antisemitism” in 2024, noting that antisemitic incidents there multiplied by 7.5 times over the previous year. It also found that 85% of Jewish Canadians believe the Trudeau administration failed to adequately confront the rise in antisemitism.

The United Nations and the Palestinian Authority are also heavily criticized in the report. It accuses the social media giant TikTok of being a major driver of antisemitic sentiment, noting that an Israeli executive resigned after labeling the platform “an existential threat to Israel” and exposing that key policy decision-makers were Hamas and Houthi supporters.

In the realm of higher education, the report names Columbia University as the most antisemitic campus in America, with 127 reported incidents during 2024 alone. It further notes that nearly 90% of antisemitic episodes on college campuses in September were driven by far-left ideologies.

The BBC is also faulted for its continued refusal to label Hamas a terrorist organization. A former BBC employee disclosed that the network’s leadership routinely suppressed internal complaints regarding antisemitism. Jewish leaders in Britain argued that the BBC’s actions contributed to global antisemitism and efforts to deny or downplay Hamas atrocities.

Concluding its findings, the report urges governments worldwide to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism and to enforce laws combating antisemitic hatred. It calls for action against unbalanced criticism of Israel and warns that failure to do so endangers Jewish communities everywhere.

{Matzav.com}

An Israeli restaurant, Feinberg, caused a wave of backlash this weekend after unveiling a poster that featured images of watermelons along with a lion draped in an Israeli flag. The restaurant, owned by Yorai Feinberg, had taken part in an “Israel Day” event on Friday, where it operated a booth offering items including a watermelon and vodka beverage.

Their drink, described as “chopped, crushed and cut into pieces over ice with a shot of vodka,” was marketed as an “Israeli-style watermelon” and accompanied by artwork of a lion clutching the drink alongside an Israeli flag, surrounded by images of whole and sliced watermelons.

Even before the event began, outrage erupted among pro-Palestinian activists over the marketing imagery.

Since October 7, the watermelon has been embraced as a powerful symbol of Palestinian identity and resistance, prominently featured at pro-Palestinian protests. Activists accused Feinberg of using violent imagery that mirrored Israeli military actions against Gaza.

“Chopped, crushed and cut. This is Feinberg’s violent, anti-Palestinian fantasy,” one activist posted on the X platform. “Exactly what Israel has been doing to Palestinian children for the past year and a half. Anyone promoting or buying from such a booth has lost their humanity.”

Responding to the controversy on Sunday, Feinberg said, “It was just a joke. Since the watermelon has become a Palestinian symbol, we thought to turn it into a humorous take, a sort of bridge through drinking alcohol. A sarcastic joke that we’re making juice out of anti-Israel sentiment and the new forms of antisemitism. Of course, we never intended to reference the fate of Gaza’s residents or to harm anyone. Most people who came by smiled, ordered drinks, and took photos.”

Images of the booth, along with the poster and the slogan, quickly went viral across Berlin’s social media networks, leading to a flood of insults and threats directed at Feinberg.

“Since Saturday, we’ve been receiving dozens of threatening phone calls and thousands of hateful messages,” said Feinberg, who has previously been targeted with antisemitic harassment for running a Jewish-owned Israeli restaurant in Berlin. “Today, people even came to the restaurant and threatened the staff.”

The intense backlash has underscored the deep political sensitivities surrounding anything related to Israel in Berlin. Although many other restaurants in the city serve watermelon-based food and drinks without controversy, Feinberg’s Israeli-themed poster ignited a particularly vicious response — part of a broader pattern in which businesses showing support for Israel have come under fire.

“It’s a bit scary,” Feinberg admitted. “A few months ago, we posted a photo of one of our desserts online with a small Israeli flag toothpick, and within hours we received thousands of toxic comments describing us as Jewish monsters eating Palestinians. It’s terrifying how much hatred there is, and how far people are willing to go — all over nothing. A toothpick with a flag.”

Feinberg said he has now requested renewed security measures. “So yes, there’s fear. For a long time we didn’t have police protection, but now I’ve informed the authorities that I believe they should resume guarding the place,” he said.

Reflecting on the experience, Feinberg added, “This is just not normal. People are not normal. I’m the son of a Holocaust survivor — and now people are calling me a Nazi. It’s pure poison.”

{Matzav.com}

Israir Airlines announced on Sunday that it will be adjusting its baggage and seat selection fees starting June 1.

According to the airline, passengers will soon have to pay $25 to bring a carry-on trolley per person, each way, compared to the current fee of $20. The price for checking a first suitcase weighing up to 23 kilograms (approximately 50 pounds) will be raised to $50, up from $45. The fee for checking a second suitcase of the same weight will remain unchanged at $80.

Israir also shared that there will be a special promotional offer for travelers checking two suitcases, each weighing up to 23 kilograms, at a combined rate of $90. Meanwhile, checking in a suitcase weighing up to 30 kilograms (roughly 66 pounds) will now cost $65, a $5 increase from the previous rate of $60.

Fees associated with reserving seats in advance are also climbing. The cost of selecting a standard seat will increase to $18, up from $15, while choosing a preferred seat will now cost $55 instead of $50.

The airline noted that the new pricing will be in effect for tickets booked through its website, customer support center, or travel agencies, up to nine hours before the flight’s departure.

This adjustment represents Israir’s second fare increase within half a year. On January 1, the airline had previously upped the price for a carry-on from $18 to $20, the rate for two checked bags from $70 to $75, and the fee for a heavier bag (up to 30 kilograms) from $60 to $65.

{Matzav.com Israel}