Matzav

Israel’s High Court of Justice on Tuesday issued a conditional order requiring the state to explain within two months why it continues to fully fund chareidi schools that do not teach the complete core curriculum as required by law, and why it has not imposed sanctions or taken corrective action, including budget cuts for noncompliant institutions.

The order was issued in response to a petition filed in March 2025 by the Chiddush association, which called on the government to enforce mandatory core studies and apply financial penalties to schools in education networks affiliated with chareidi political parties.

During court hearings on the petition, significant deficiencies were revealed regarding implementation of the core curriculum in the chareidi networks. At a hearing held in January, a state representative acknowledged substantial gaps, including shortcomings in teacher training, institutional reporting, and non-participation in Meitzav standardized testing. It also emerged that the Education Ministry did not attend that hearing and failed to provide requested data.

Subsequently, and following a directive from the court, official data was disclosed for the first time indicating that 92 percent of schools in chareidi networks lack teachers trained to deliver the core curriculum at a level that meets regulatory standards. The findings further showed that the Education Ministry does not require these institutions to provide the full number of core-study hours mandated in state schools, and that most teachers in the networks do not hold academic degrees, despite receiving salaries accordingly.

The panel of justices — Daphne Barak-Erez, David Mintz, and Ruth Ronen — demanded that the Education Ministry clarify why, in light of these findings, it continues to fully fund the institutions; why it does not require the full core curriculum hours; why teacher training has not been properly regulated; why oversight relies largely on self-reporting and pre-coordinated visits; and why most schools do not participate in Meitzav exams or international assessments that evaluate student performance in core subjects.

The case also follows directives issued in September 2024 by Deputy Attorney General Avital Sompolinsky, who instructed the Education Ministry to tighten enforcement, strengthen supervision and oversight mechanisms, train teachers, and consider budget reductions where necessary. According to the petitioners, those directives were not implemented, prompting the current petition.

Degel HaTorah chairman Moshe Gafni responded sharply to the court’s order, stating: “It is clear to anyone with understanding the hatred of the High Court judges toward the chareidi public and chareidi education. Most of the students in the networks, the majority of whom are girls, study all subjects in the spirit of our forefathers and they are the most outstanding in the exams.”

“There is no logic in issuing orders against the chareidi networks, which as stated are the best in the education system. There is only one professional explanation — hatred and envy. Nothing more!”

{Matzav.com}

A political uproar erupted after Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) responded to remarks by a New York-based Muslim activist about dogs, prompting sharp denunciations from Democratic lawmakers who accused him of bigotry and Islamophobia.

The controversy began with a February 12 social media post from Nerdeen Kiswani, who referenced the November election of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and wrote, “NYC is coming to Islam.” In the same exchange, she added that while dogs have a role in society, they should not be kept as indoor pets, stating that in Islamic tradition they are considered unclean.

“Dogs definitely have a place in society, just not as indoor pets. Like we [Muslims have] said all along, they are unclean [‘najis’].”

As criticism mounted online, Kiswani responded to detractors, writing: “[Laughing] at the Zionists frothing at the mouth at this, thinking they’re doing something. It’s obviously a joke I don’t care if you have a dog, I do care if your dog is … everywhere and you’re not cleaning it.”

Three days later, on February 15, Fine reacted to the exchange with a post of his own: “If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one.”

Democratic lawmakers quickly condemned the Florida congressman. “We must call this what it is. Disgusting bigotry,” Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) reacted. “Fine must be censured.”

After social media users argued that Khanna had overlooked the broader context of the exchange, he clarified his position: “Taking an alleged comment by one person and attributing it to everyone who shares that person’s faith is the definition of bigotry,” he stated.

Fine responded by mocking Khanna’s use of the phrase “an alleged comment,” noting that the activist’s remarks had been publicly posted. “Perhaps you should have read it before spouting off like an idiot,” the Congressman quipped.

Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) criticized Fine’s statement as harmful, saying the “Islamophobic” comment is “incredibly damaging to Jews trying to combat antisemitism.”

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) wrote, “America is BETTER because of our Muslim community,” adding, “And we are WORSE when ….like this guy spout hate.”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) also rebuked Fine, stating, “This is genuinely one of the most disgusting statements I have ever seen issued by an American official. Fine should be censured & stripped of committees.”

Jennifer Jenkins, who previously ran against Fine in November, weighed in as well: “I’m running to kick that bigot out of Washington.”

Rep. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) accused Fine of exploiting controversy for political gain. “This is what it looks like when Islamophobia and outrage are the only two items on your political agenda,” he complained.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom added his voice to the criticism, posting: “Resign now, you racist slob.”

Prominent media figures joined the backlash. CNN’s Jake Tapper described Fine’s remarks as “Disgusting bigotry.” New York Times columnist David French wrote: “Absolutely evil.”

Within Republican circles, reactions were more muted. Some GOP figures, already critical of Fine’s campaign style and political decisions, have avoided publicly defending him, preferring instead to focus attention on advancing President Donald Trump’s populist policy agenda.

“This is a drain-the-swamp presidency,” said Mark Mitchell, polling director at Rasmussen Reports. He noted that swing voters are focused on tangible outcomes, adding that “anything that distracts from it at this point is not helpful,” he told Breitbart News.

At the same time, some conservative activists who view Islam as politically assertive and expansionist have rallied behind Fine’s stance.

Despite the widespread condemnation, Fine has not backed down. In response to critics, he posted “Don’t Tread on Me” posters featuring puppies.

Appearing on Newsmax, Fine defended his comments, arguing that broader cultural issues are at stake. “It’s not enough for Democrats to think anyone who wants to come here illegally should be able to do that. They also think they should be able to get whatever free stuff they want. Now they’re demanding that we change our values and how we live as Americans.”

Many Muslims and commentators have interpreted Fine’s remarks as equating observant Muslims with dogs in a derogatory way.

Kiswani called the statement “genocidal.”

Egyptian-born journalist Mehdi Hassan likewise condemned the post, describing it as “genocidal Rwandan rhetoric” and asserting that it suggested “Muslims are lower than dogs.”

The controversy has also drawn renewed attention to longstanding debates over Islamic teachings regarding dogs. Certain traditional interpretations hold that dogs are ritually impure and should not be kept inside the home except for specific purposes such as guarding property. Some Islamic texts state that the presence of dogs can affect spiritual standing, and historical accounts attributed to Islam’s founder, Mohammed (c. 570–632), include statements discouraging the keeping of dogs as household pets.

{Matzav.com}

Today, in the court of Vizhnitz, the chassidim mark the yahrzeit of the Rebbetzin, Rebbetzin Leah Esther Hager a”h, first wife of the Rebbe, the Yeshuos Moshe of Vizhnitz zt”l. This year, however, the day carries an especially stirring weight, following the revelation of a heart-rending story that closed a painful circle more than three decades after her passing.

As the chassidim reflect upon the memory of the Rebbetzin, known as an emblem of nobility and refinement, a powerful phone call from overseas came to light — one that reopened the raw emotions of the night of her histalkus 33 years ago and revealed a breathtaking moment of forgiveness by her son, the present Vizhnitzer Rebbe.

It was Motzaei Shabbos Kodesh, the 29th of Shevat, 5753. The corridors of Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer were heavy with grief following the Rebbetzin’s passing on leil Shabbos. In the room, near her bed, ten individuals stood guard to preserve kavod hameis before the levayah. Among them was a young man who, to this day, carries the scar of that night.

“I need to ask mechilah from the Rebbe for something that has troubled me for more than thirty years,” the man, now living in the United States, said in an emotional phone call to the Rebbe’s gabbai. “I was one of the ten who stood by the bed on Motzaei Shabbos. The Rebbe came to part from his mother one final time, but the door had been locked from inside, following instructions given to us by another family member. The Rebbe knocked on the door, identified himself in a broken voice: ‘It’s Yisroel Hager, the son of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe,’ and pleaded that we allow him to enter to bid farewell to his mother.”

The caller continued through tears: “I was the closest one to the door. I felt the pressure around me, heard the warnings not to open it for anyone — and I remained silent. The Rebbe stood outside for long minutes, begging to part from his mother a”h, and we did not open. I have never forgiven myself for that moment.”

The gabbai, shaken by the testimony of those agonizing minutes, entered to relay the request to the Rebbe. The pain of that terrible night — when a son was prevented from paying final respects to his mother — resurfaced. Yet the Rebbe’s response left those present stunned.

Without a trace of resentment, with serene composure and extraordinary calm, the Rebbe replied: “I forgive him with a full heart, and he should be well.”

The gabbaim, who understood how deeply that episode had cut — an open wound for a son denied his final farewell — attempted to press further. “But this is anguish beyond description. A son comes to part from his mother and the door is shut in his face?”

The Rebbe, in his remarkable humility and boundless compassion, looked at them almost in wonder. “But he asked forgiveness… Of course I forgive him!”

The story, revealed on the yahrzeit, has stirred hearts within Vizhnitz and far beyond. It is not merely a tale of a painful episode from years past, but a living testimony to the power of true mechilah and to the greatness of a leader who bears no grudge, even when the hurt touches the most sensitive fibers of the soul.

President Donald Trump said Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are both “fantastic,” but fell short of saying if he would support either one of them to lead the Republican presidential ticket in the 2028 election.

“It’s something I don’t have to worry about now. I’ve got three years to go,” Trump told reporters Monday when asked if he would support Vance or Rubio in 2028.

“JD is fantastic. And Marco – they’re both fantastic,” Trump said aboard Air Force One. “I think Marco did a great job in Munich.”

The president has been coy about who he would like to see lead the Republican Party after his second term in the White House ends. But Trump has repeatedly named both his vice president and his secretary of state when asked who he’d like to succeed him as president.

Trump last year said that Vance is “most likely” the heir-apparent to the Make America Great Again movement, but has also said that Rubio would make a great nominee.

The question comes after Rubio received positive reviews at the Munich Security Conference where he sketched out a shared heritage with Europe and asserted a common path ahead, while still focusing on the Trump administration’s stance on western dominance, immigration and climate skepticism. He struck a markedly softer tone than Vance did at the event a year earlier.

In that speech last year, Vance lambasted European allies and focused on cultural divides in a speech that was widely seen as inflaming rifts between the US and the EU. Rubio, in an interview with Bloomberg News, said he was not turning away from Vance’s speech, but wanted to explain the Trump administration’s reasoning.

Rubio, 54, a longtime anti-communist hawk, has embraced Trump’s aggressive approach while seeking ways to make deals in private. Vance, 41, a relative newcomer to politics best known for a memoir about life in small-town Ohio and Kentucky, embodies the MAGA movement’s anti-elite sensibilities, and Trump’s penchant for disruptive and unpredictable dealmaking.

Trump has spent months privately – and at times publicly – teasing a rivalry between the two, suggesting at turns that one, then the other, is best positioned to take the torch from him.

(c) 2026, Bloomberg 

The KCL of Lakewood, NJ has issued a public kashrus alert cautioning the community about the growing use of Instacart for purchases from kosher supermarkets.

In a notice obtained by Matzav.com, the KCL says it is calling attention to concerns that have arisen due to the increasing reliance on the Instacart service for grocery shopping at kosher establishments. According to the alert, orders placed through Instacart are fulfilled by third-party shoppers who may not have sufficient knowledge or training in matters of kashrus. In many cases, the kosher supermarket itself may not even be aware that the order is being processed through Instacart.

The KCL explained that this situation creates a particular concern when orders include fresh meat, fresh fish, deli items, or prepared foods. In such cases, there is no reliable assurance that the required chosamos (halachic seals) will be properly affixed by the kosher establishment. As a result, these items could potentially be delivered without the necessary halachic safeguards in place.

The KCL emphasized that it is currently exploring ways to address the issue. However, in the interim, it is strongly recommending that food items requiring chosamos not be purchased through Instacart. Instead, the Vaad advises that such items be ordered directly from the kosher supermarket, which is aware of the relevant halachic requirements and can ensure that appropriate seals are affixed prior to delivery.

{Matzav.com}

MK Yulia Malinovsky of Yisrael Beiteinu delivered an uncompromising message during an interview in the Kikar HaShabbat studio, making clear she was not seeking compromise over the proposed draft law but instead presenting what she described as an ultimatum. In the wide-ranging interview, she sharply criticized Chareidi leadership, argued that Torah study alone was not sufficient in the face of security threats, and signaled that state funding for the Chareidi sector would be her next target. “We’ve reached the limit — there will no longer be an option of only receiving,” she declared.

Malinovsky, known for her confrontational style, did not soften her tone. Addressing her relationship with the Chareidi community, she said, “My personal relationships with people are excellent, but I know how to distinguish between what is essential and what is secondary.”

Responding to claims that her stance on the draft law is driven by cheap populism, Malinovsky outlined what she called a simple principle — “the family equation.” In her view, the state functions like an extended household in which rights and responsibilities go hand in hand. “In a family there are rights and duties. Like a mother tells her children: ‘Sweetie, if you don’t do A, B, C — you don’t get this.’ You can’t just be on the receiving end. This is all of our home, and everyone has to defend it. There is no other option anymore.”

One of the most contentious points in the conversation centered on the tension between Torah study and military necessity. Malinovsky said she recognizes the historical value of Torah learning but rejects the notion that it conflicts with army service. “On October 7 everyone prayed, including secular people, but in the end what helped was an M16 rifle in someone’s hand,” she said.

She continued, “The Torah says that in wartime ‘a groom leaves his wedding canopy.’ Great rabbis throughout history both worked and served. The mitzvah is to provide for your family, and the concept of ‘Toraso Umnaso’ has become a political tool that keeps the public poor and weak.”

Malinovsky dismissed arguments that the IDF is not prepared to integrate Chareidim or that a gradual process is required. “The stories about ‘gradually’ are over,” she stated. “The IDF needs 13,000 soldiers now. When I see the young men in Bnei Brak — strong and healthy — they’re material for Sayeret Matkal. If they don’t defend the home, then who will?”

At one point, she invoked the historical example of the “Cantonists” under Czarist Russia, when Jewish children were forcibly conscripted. This time, however, she directed her criticism inward. “In 1818 the elite and the wealthy would hide their own children and send the children of the poor and widows to the army. I see that happening today as well. The Chareidi leadership wants to preserve its power and keep the public in yeshivot, while the weaker layers pay the price. I call on the young people: don’t be the Cantonists of the political operatives.”

Her criticism expanded beyond the draft issue to governance and public spending. She linked what she described as weak enforcement in the Negev to broader government conduct. “It’s all a matter of money and enforcement,” she argued. “We have a government of likes on Twitter, but there is no ‘governance’ on the ground. When you distribute 36 billion shekels in ‘extras’ to the sector without conditions — that’s economic suicide. Money leaves a trail, and we will follow it to bring order.”

Malinovsky concluded on a personal note, recalling her own journey as a new immigrant who arrived in Israel with just $200 and worked cleaning jobs before entering politics. She said her experience proves that there are no handouts in life. “No one received anything for free,” she said. “The sky is the limit for those who want to contribute, but the responsibility to defend our home belongs to all of us together. Without that — it’s either partnership or collapse.”

{Matzav.com}

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir launched a forceful attack on Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, accusing her of obstructing efforts to combat violent crime in the Arab sector and asserting that her actions have cost lives.

Ben Gvir argued that initiatives he proposed years ago to address organized crime were rejected by the attorney general. “The blood of those murdered in the Arab sector is on the hands of Gali Baharav-Miara. Because when I came to her three years ago and said, ‘Take a list, these are a hundred families, let’s arrest them administratively,’ she told me no,” Ben Gvir claimed.

He said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has since come around to his position regarding the attorney general’s removal. “Two and a half years ago, I went to the Prime Minister and told him, ‘Let’s fire her, let’s send her home.’ He said to me, ‘You’re a young minister, you don’t understand, it doesn’t work like that.’ Today, he admits that I was right. She needs to be sent home, and we need a legal reform.”

The national security minister also addressed his broader role within the coalition, saying he and his allies have shaped key policy decisions. “We have influenced many things. There were those who didn’t want to engage in maneuvering, but we were there in the government, and we influenced the maneuver and ensured that we would go in and do a good job.”

Turning to legislation that would impose the death penalty on terrorists, Ben Gvir said he anticipates progress on the measure. “I have a promise from Prime Minister Netanyahu that he will push it forward.”

{Matzav.com}

A total of 25,274 children have been officially classified as victims of terrorist attacks since October 7, according to figures released Tuesday by the National Insurance Institute. The overwhelming majority—more than 97 percent—received that recognition during the initial months of the war, between October and December 2023.

The data paints a devastating picture of the toll on Israel’s youngest citizens. Sixty-three children have been killed since the outbreak of the war. Thirty-five children were left without either parent, and 316 minors lost brothers or sisters in the violence.

Beyond those fatalities and family losses, 5,659 children have been acknowledged by the National Insurance Institute as suffering from physical injuries or psychological trauma connected to the attacks.

A closer look at the age distribution shows that the largest number of affected children falls within the 5 to 9 age group, totaling 8,123. The next largest group is toddlers and preschoolers between ages 0 and 4, with 7,356 children recognized.

Among older children, 6,532 between the ages of 10 and 14 were listed as victims, along with 3,263 teenagers aged 15 to 17.

In its statement, the National Insurance Institute emphasized that it is focused on safeguarding the rights and long-term welfare of these children. Assistance includes monthly financial benefits, social services, and access to emotional and therapeutic care.

“The National Insurance Institute views the rehabilitation of the future generation impacted by terrorism as a paramount national and moral mission, and it will continue to provide the necessary support to every child, as much as it can, from now and throughout their lives.”

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei publicly ridiculed President Donald Trump and warned that American military forces could be struck down, escalating rhetoric as U.S. and Iranian representatives met in Geneva to discuss Tehran’s nuclear program and mounting tensions between the two nations.

The 86-year-old cleric’s comments came against the backdrop of an increased U.S. naval presence in the region and renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at addressing Iran’s nuclear activities and broader hostilities.

“The U.S. President says their army is the world’s strongest, but the strongest army in the world can sometimes be slapped so hard it cannot get up,” Khamenei said, according to remarks carried by Iranian media.

Khamenei, whose regime faced widespread condemnation following a sweeping crackdown on nationwide protests last month that human rights organizations say left at least 7,000 people dead, also issued a warning about American naval forces through his English-language X account.

“The Americans constantly say that they’ve sent a warship toward Iran,” Khamenei’s team posted on his English X account. “Of course, a warship is a dangerous piece of military hardware. However, more dangerous than that warship is the weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea.”

At the same time, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard launched military exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, underscoring the growing friction with Washington in a region critical to global energy supplies.

Trump has declined to rule out military action against Iran’s ruling establishment, and the recent buildup of American forces in the area mirrors the deployment he assembled near Venezuela prior to the Jan. 3 raid that resulted in the capture of strongman Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

“It seems like that would be the best thing that could happen,” Trump told reporters Friday when asked about the prospect of regime change in Iran.

When questioned about whether the United States might once again strike Iran’s nuclear facilities, Trump responded, “If we do it, that would be the least of the mission.”

The exchange of threats and sharp rhetoric highlights the fragile moment between diplomacy and confrontation, as negotiations move forward even while both sides signal their readiness for escalation.

For decades, regulations required citizens of Israel – including those who also held another nationality – to use an Israeli passport when entering or leaving the country.

When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted government services worldwide, passport offices and Israeli missions abroad operated at limited capacity or were closed altogether. This created significant challenges for many citizens who were unable to obtain or renew Israeli travel documents. In response, the Interior Ministry introduced a temporary policy allowing dual citizens to travel using their non-Israeli passports. Since then, the arrangement has been renewed repeatedly due to ongoing demand and practical need, most recently in December 2025.

Chaim V’Chessed has actively lobbied on behalf of the community to help ensure the continuation of this important exception.

The Interior Ministry has now announced that this accommodation will remain in place through September 30, 2026. Dual citizens will therefore continue to be permitted to enter and depart Israel using a valid foreign passport during this period.

Chaim V’Chessed will continue to share updates with the community on travel rules, requirements, and any changes as they occur.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump declared Monday that Washington will not pay a single cent beyond the approved budget for the massive Gateway rail tunnel linking New York and New Jersey, warning that taxpayers will not absorb any unexpected cost increases tied to the multibillion-dollar project.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticized the $16 billion effort to build new rail tunnels beneath the Hudson River, describing it as a potential financial debacle and cautioning that it could mirror the ballooning expenses associated with California’s high-speed rail project.

“I am opposed to the future boondoggle known as ‘Gateway,’ in New York/New Jersey, because it will cost many BILLIONS OF DOLLARS more than projected or anticipated,” Trump wrote. “Under no circumstances, will the Federal Government be responsible for ANY COST OVERRUNS — NOT ONE DOLLAR!”

Trump indicated that federal officials are open to discussions with leaders from New York and New Jersey to ensure the project proceeds with tighter oversight and better preparation. However, he emphasized that federal taxpayers will not shoulder expenses that exceed the authorized amount, stressing that “hard work and proper planning is done, NOW.”

The Gateway initiative is widely viewed as one of the most consequential infrastructure undertakings in the country. It calls for constructing two additional rail tunnels beneath the Hudson River, a vital transit corridor used by roughly 200,000 commuters each day traveling between the two states.

Lawmakers have approved $16 billion for the undertaking, with the federal government committing more than $11 billion of that total.

Funding for the project was placed on hold for over four months while the administration reviewed contracts to ensure they complied with updated regulatory requirements.

Reports from The New York Times and Politico indicated that approximately $205 million in reimbursements were withheld during that period, prompting a halt in certain construction activities and leading to the temporary layoff of about 1,000 union laborers.

After a federal court intervened last week, the administration resumed disbursing funds, transferring $30 million to the Gateway Development Commission. Additional payments are expected in the coming weeks. Transportation Department officials have said they are acting in accordance with the court’s order.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, both Democrats, sharply criticized the funding interruption and called for the immediate and complete restoration of federal support.

Attorneys general from New York and New Jersey filed suit against the administration, contending that the funding suspension negatively affected workers and delayed essential progress on the project.

Trump cast his position as a matter of prudent budgeting, citing what he described as California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s “Railroad to nowhere” as an example of runaway costs and poor management that he said must not be repeated.

He also rejected claims that he had sought to tie federal funding to renaming Penn Station in his honor, calling those reports “FAKE NEWS” and asserting that the suggestion came from others, not from him.

The dispute highlights ongoing friction between the federal government and Democrat-led states over infrastructure spending, regulatory oversight, and fiscal controls.

Although construction work remains limited while full reimbursement is pending, Trump’s message was clear: the federal government is prepared to back major infrastructure improvements, but it will not provide unlimited financial guarantees.

With billions of taxpayer dollars involved, the Gateway project has emerged as a focal point in the administration’s effort to curb what it considers excessive spending while still moving forward with critical national infrastructure investments.

Three Israeli tourists were violently attacked overnight between Monday and Tuesday on the Thai island of Ko Samui in what their family says was an antisemitic assault. The victims were reportedly beaten without provocation by a group of men described as having Arabic accents.

The sister of one of the injured men, speaking to N12, described the severity of the attack. “He broke ribs, teeth, and a vertebra. Efforts are being made with the embassy and insurance company to fly him back to Israel as fast as possible.”

The victim, an Israeli in his twenties who had traveled to Thailand with friends for a vacation, managed to reach his mother during the ordeal. According to his sister, he initiated a video call while trying to escape through a rear exit. “He ran toward the exit. There were security guards who joined the attack and beat them without reason. My mother saw everything.”

She said that two Israeli women who witnessed the assault stepped in to help, alerted authorities, and have remained by the victims’ side at the hospital. “They are angels, we are in contact with them, and they are helping my brother and his friend in the hospital. In addition, they helped them go to the police station to submit a report as they were asked.”

The sister emphasized that the attackers targeted the group after hearing them speak Hebrew. “We do not doubt that it was antisemitic. The assailants also yelled that they would murder them, ‘Itbah al-Yehud’ (kill the Jew), ‘You’re IDF,’ and expletives.”

Tensions flared Tuesday morning in the Knesset Finance Committee as iSRAELI Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich told Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni that he would likely remain in the opposition “for many years,” prompting sharp reactions from other lawmakers in the room.

The clash unfolded during a discussion on the state budget bill, specifically the section dealing with property tax. Gafni argued that the proposal represented an unprecedented injustice.

“When you come and say, I’m submitting a law that also applies to farmers, but I’ll remove them — I don’t understand how you’ll remove them. What, people will come to you and say, ‘Just a second, why were the farmers excluded and why weren’t other factories excluded?’ What will you say? That you have sympathy for farmers? You put it in the law. You put it there — you’re the finance minister. I don’t know which officials helped you put it there.”

At that point, a direct exchange broke out between Gafni and Smotrich. The minister shot back: “Have you never amended laws here as chairman of the Finance Committee?”

Gafni responded, “Of course I changed things, but I never said, ‘The Justice Ministry won’t let me, I went against them.’ You’re not going against it.”

Smotrich replied, “No, I’m not going…”

Gafni answered, “Fine, it doesn’t matter, everything’s fine. What difference does it make? I’m in the opposition, I’m allowed to say what I see.”

Smotrich then remarked, “Right, right. I have a feeling you’re going to remain in the opposition for many years, apparently.”

Several MKs reacted immediately. “Whoa, whoa,” some lawmakers called out in response to Smotrich’s comment.

One member shot back, “My friend, in four and a half minutes he can bring your entire building down. You probably don’t understand who you’re talking to.”

Another MK added, “You’re lucky he hasn’t decided to be in the opposition yet.”

“Gafni, I wouldn’t skip over the agenda,” one lawmaker cautioned.

MK Naor Shiri also weighed in, saying: “You’re going to spend years in the opposition, said the finance minister — who, by the way, according to the coalition agreement, isn’t even supposed to be serving as finance minister. It’s a historic mishap.”

{Matzav.com}

The commander of the Dan District, Chief Superintendent Elad Klein, said police responded with unusually strong force during this week’s unrest in Bnei Brak, explaining that officers acted decisively after what he described as a lack of coordination with the military that led to the violent escalation.

In an interview with Kan News, Klein detailed the chain of events from the police perspective following clashes in the city’s streets and the subsequent exchange of accusations between Israel Police and the IDF. The dispute centers on whether there had been prior coordination before female soldiers entered the city to conduct outreach activities with potential recruits.

“When you are not updated about such an incident and you receive it from zero to one hundred, you first deploy whatever forces you have on the ground,” Klein said, describing the rapid response once the situation became known to police.

According to Klein, officers had to act quickly to extract the soldiers from the scene. “The rescue operation led to the torching of a scooter and the overturning of a patrol car. We concentrated all available forces and entered with very strong force, even disproportionate, in order to respond decisively.”

Klein pushed back against criticism attributed to the IDF chief of staff, who reportedly said that a situation in which soldiers cannot move freely anywhere in the country is unacceptable. “They are trying to portray it as though special approval is required to enter Bnei Brak. That is not the case,” Klein said. “Hundreds of soldiers in uniform walk around here daily. They sit in restaurants and eat in the city without any problem. Just last week I was sitting in a restaurant alongside soldiers and police officers in uniform.”

At the same time, Klein acknowledged a distinction between routine presence and organized outreach activity in sensitive neighborhoods. While the military described the visit as a “home visit” to potential recruits, police maintain it involved the distribution of flyers in the heart of areas identified with extremist factions.

Concluding his remarks, Klein addressed what he described as the broader context behind the outbreak of violence. “Let’s not be naive. You cannot disconnect this incident from the context of the draft law,” he said. According to Klein, entering what he called a stronghold of extremist groups in the city prompted what, from their perspective, was a predictable reaction. “From their standpoint, it is seen as a legitimate response to the struggle they are waging.”

{Matzav.com}

A heated confrontation erupted Tuesday morning during a Knesset Finance Committee meeting, as Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich clashed with Arab MK Iman Khatib-Yassin over rising crime in Arab communities. The exchange came amid broader tensions in the committee, with additional sparring between Smotrich and opposition lawmakers.

The debate, which focused on budget allocations and government policy, turned sharply contentious when Khatib-Yassin criticized the government’s handling of escalating violence in Arab society. In response, Smotrich fired back with a remark that quickly drew attention: “Are we to blame that you’re killing each other?”

Earlier in the session, Smotrich was also involved in a pointed exchange with former Finance Committee chairman Moshe Gafni. During their back-and-forth, the minister told Gafni, “You’re in the opposition — I have a feeling you’re going to remain in the opposition for years to come.”

Gafni responded in kind, as tensions in the committee room continued to rise and the discussion grew increasingly combative.

Opposition MK Naor Shiri later joined the fray, directing his comments toward Gafni and referencing coalition agreements. “Let me remind you that according to the coalition agreements, he’s not even supposed to be serving as finance minister.”

{Matzav.com}

Police arrested five people overnight, including four minors, on suspicion of throwing objects and stones at members of the Vizhnitzer center on King Shlomo Street in Bnei Brak in incidents authorities say posed a real danger to lives.

According to a police statement, officers from the Bnei Brak–Ramat Gan station, assisted by riot police and Border Police units, were deployed across the city following a series of disturbances. During operations in the area, officers identified several suspects allegedly hurling objects at members of the Chassidishe community.

Police moved in swiftly and detained five suspects — ages 13, 16, 17, 18, and 31 — all residents of Bnei Brak. The suspects were taken in for questioning at the local police station and are expected to be brought before a court later today for a hearing.

Law enforcement officials described the incident as part of repeated attempts by various groups to disrupt public order in the city. Police emphasized that they will continue to act decisively against any outbreak of violence.

Authorities also noted that members of the Vizhnitzer kehillah exercised restraint during the incident and complied with instructions from security forces on the scene, conduct that police said helped prevent further escalation.

As reported last night, dozens of fringe youths clashed for hours with police forces on Rechov Ezra in the city. During the unrest, fires were set, drivers were assaulted, and major traffic arteries experienced heavy congestion.

The disturbances began in the early afternoon as a protest near the Vizhnitzer Bais Medrash but quickly spiraled out of control. As the afternoon and evening progressed, dozens more youths arrived at the scene, and the protest evolved into a prolonged riot that included the burning of garbage bins, road blockages, and confrontations with police.

NBA superstar LeBron James drew sharp criticism online after speaking favorably about Israeli basketball player Deni Avdija and offering warm remarks about Israel during media availability ahead of Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game in Inglewood, California.

When approached by an Israeli reporter before the game and asked about Avdija, James responded enthusiastically about the forward’s performance. “I said I believe he was an All-Star. He’s playing exceptional basketball. So that’s that.”

James then broadened his comments to address fans in Israel. “If I have fans over there – I’ve never been there – I hope you’ve been following my career. I hope I inspire people over there to not only want to be great at sports but be better in general in life. Hopefully someday I could make it over there. Like I said, I’ve never been over there, but I heard nothing but great things.”

The remarks quickly spread across social media platforms, where they were met with harsh reactions from critics. British-American commentator Mehdi Hasan condemned the statements, writing, “What a disgrace LeBron is,” as he shared a post from Al Jazeera journalist Laila Al-Arian that read, “The entire human rights community: Israel is an apartheid state committing genocide and ethnic cleansing. LeBron James: ‘I’ve heard great things about Israel.’”

American online personality Hasan Piker also attacked James, posting, “He said hope I inspire Israel to be great (at killing children). My goat is WASHED.” Other users accused the NBA star of ignoring “Palestinian Arab suffering” and argued that praising Israel in the midst of the ongoing conflict was inappropriate.

James has not publicly addressed the criticism as of this writing.

Avdija, meanwhile, marked a milestone on Sunday by becoming the first Israeli player to appear in an NBA All-Star Game.

Now in his sixth NBA season and second with the Portland Trail Blazers, Avdija entered the league as the ninth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards. He spent four seasons in Washington before being dealt to Portland ahead of the 2024–25 campaign.

The Lod Central District Court on Tuesday reversed a lower court’s decision in the case of Tzachi Braverman, chief of staff to the prime minister and Israel’s ambassador-designate to the United Kingdom, siding with police and restoring a series of restrictions against him.

Judge Michael Kershen of the District Court ruled in favor of the police appeal, reimposing the limitations that had previously been lifted. These include a prohibition on leaving the country, suspension from his position at the Prime Minister’s Office, and a ban on communicating with a wide range of officials connected to the office.

In explaining his decision, Kershen said that after examining the investigative materials, he concluded that the level of reasonable suspicion against Braverman had increased. He wrote that this conclusion should already have been reached when the matter was first considered by the Magistrate’s Court, and that in the days since that ruling, the suspicions had only deepened.

Kershen also criticized the earlier decision by Magistrate’s Court President Menachem Mizrahi, rejecting the notion that concerns about obstruction were merely theoretical. He stated that the danger of interference with the investigation was significant. The judge cautioned that permitting Braverman to remain overseas—particularly in the capacity of ambassador to the United Kingdom—given his knowledge of internal government systems, could severely undermine the ongoing probe.

The District Court further noted that giving advance notice to a suspect before questioning may open the door to potential interference. Kershen wrote that the risk of such actions at a sensitive stage of the investigation could not be dismissed.

In their appeal, police maintained that the actions attributed to Braverman, as well as the circumstances surrounding them, required his removal from both the Prime Minister’s Office and the Kirya. They argued that fears of obstruction are central to the case and justify the restrictive measures now reinstated by the court.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a figure in the American civil rights movement, Baptist minister, and two-time Democratic presidential candidate, died today at the age of 84, his family announced.

“Our father was a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,” the Jackson family said in a statement. “We shared him with the world, and in return, the world became part of our extended family. His unwavering belief in justice, equality, and love uplifted millions, and we ask you to honor his memory by continuing the fight for the values he lived by.”

No immediate cause of death was released.

Jackson had faced serious health challenges in recent years. He was hospitalized in November and had lived for more than a decade with progressive supranuclear palsy, a neurological condition that affects movement, balance, and swallowing and can lead to life-threatening complications. In 2017, he publicly disclosed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson emerged as a national voice during the civil rights era, working closely with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and participating in major demonstrations.

In 1971, after a dispute that led to his suspension from the SCLC over allegations that he had used the organization for personal gain, Jackson founded People United to Save Humanity, known as PUSH. The organization focused on improving economic conditions in Black communities and later broadened its activities to include political advocacy. In 1996, PUSH merged with the National Rainbow Coalition, which Jackson had launched during his first presidential campaign, forming the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.

Jackson sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and again in 1988. In his first run, he secured more than 18% of the primary vote and won several contests. A 1984 New York Times profile noted, “Merely by being black and forcing other candidates to consider his very real potential to garner black votes, which they need, Jackson has had an impact.” In 1988, he expanded on that performance, winning 11 primaries and caucuses and cementing his status as a significant national political figure.

Reflecting on his 1984 campaign years later, Jackson said in a PBS interview, “The great responsibility that we have today is to put the poor and the near-poor back on front of the American agenda. This is a dangerous mission, and yet it’s a necessary mission!”

Yet his 1984 presidential bid was also shadowed by controversy, particularly over remarks and associations that many viewed as anti-Semitic. During an off-the-record conversation with a reporter that year, Jackson referred to Jews as “hymies” and called New York City “hymietown.” When the comments became public, he initially denied making them and accused Jewish critics of targeting his campaign. He later acknowledged using the slur and issued an emotional apology at a synagogue shortly before the New Hampshire primary.

Tensions intensified when Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan defended Jackson and issued his own inflammatory statements, including warning that if Jews harmed Jackson, it would be the “last ‘black brother’ they would harm.” Jackson’s hesitation at the time to fully repudiate Farrakhan drew sharp criticism from Jewish leaders and organizations.

Jackson was also criticized for comments regarding Jewish history and Israel. He faced backlash for statements suggesting he was “sick and tired of hearing about the Holocaust,” asserting that it was no worse than the suffering endured by Black Americans during slavery, and claiming that Jews had a “persecution complex.” His approach to Middle East politics, including a 1979 public embrace of PLO chairman Yasir Arafat, angered many American Jews who viewed the PLO as hostile to Israel.

Additional controversy arose from a 1979 column in which Jackson wrote that Jews “dominate the leadership at the top” of the labor movement and blamed “Jewish promoters” for arranging a particular boxing match. The Anti-Defamation League accused him at the time of exhibiting an “anti-Semitic streak,” a charge that lingered in public debate for years.

Despite these disputes, Jackson continued to wield influence in American politics. In 1991, he was elected as one of Washington, D.C.’s “shadow senators,” advocating for D.C. statehood and serving a single term.

He also played a role in negotiating the release of detained Americans abroad. In 1984, he secured the freedom of a U.S. Navy pilot captured by Syria and facilitated the release of at least 16 Americans held in Cuba. In 1990, he helped obtain the release of 700 women and children from Iraq, and in 1999 he negotiated the release of three U.S. soldiers held in Yugoslavia. In recognition of these efforts, President Bill Clinton awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000. Years later, he assisted in the release of two Gambian Americans imprisoned in The Gambia.

In more recent years, Jackson remained active in public life. He was a vocal supporter of progressive causes and politicians, including endorsing Sen. Bernie Sanders in the 2020 presidential race. Sanders said at the time, “It is one of the honors of my life to be supported by a man who has put his life on the line for the last 50 years fighting for justice.”

Jackson also commented frequently on national politics, condemning Donald Trump’s presidency and warning that “Fifty years of civil rights have been threatened.”

He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Brown, whom he married in 1962, and their five children, including former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.

{Matzav.com}

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