Matzav

Amid escalating political and legal tensions, a newly released recording captures a blistering attack by Rav Tzemach Mazuz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Kisei Rachamim, directed at Israel’s judicial system and its handling of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s ongoing trial.

The remarks came shortly after reports revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump had sent a formal letter to Israeli President Yitzchak Herzog, urging him to grant Netanyahu a full pardon. In his letter, Trump wrote: “I call upon you to fully pardon Binyamin Netanyahu, who was a decisive and determined Prime Minister during wartime and is now leading Israel into a period of peace. Netanyahu’s focus should not be needlessly diverted. I believe this is a political and unjust case. It’s time to allow Bibi to unite Israel through his pardon and put an end to this legal persecution once and for all.”

In an audio recording aired Sunday night, Rav Mazuz responded to Trump’s plea and strongly criticized what he described as the relentless pursuit of the Prime Minister by Israel’s justice system. “Trump tells them: ‘Leave it, nonsense!’ But they won’t leave it. They won’t leave it, because they have a goal,” he declared. “And, baruch Hashem, until today they haven’t achieved it. And they’re being dragged along from day to day—more investigators, and more investigations, and more investigations.”

The rosh yeshiva continued with a forceful denunciation of the courts and the judges overseeing Netanyahu’s case, quoting the late Rav Ovadia Yosef zt”l: “I read last week the words of Maran Rav Ovadia Yosef zt”l,” he said. “He said: People go to the courts. Who sits there in those courts? People who have no Torah, no religion, no faith, nothing. If it seems right to him to convict someone, he convicts him. If it seems right to acquit someone, he acquits him. That’s it.”

Addressing the Netanyahu trial and Trump’s intervention, Rav Mazuz reiterated: “They publicize that the prosecution has written thousands—tens of thousands—of pages about Netanyahu. Every day he wastes hours there, being told to testify on this and on that. Trump told them: ‘Leave it, nonsense!’ But they won’t leave it. They won’t leave it! They won’t leave it because they have a goal. And, b’chasdei Hashem, they haven’t reached that goal. They’re getting swept up, day by day—more investigators and more investigations.”

Rav Mazuz went on to sharply criticize Israel’s secular court system, arguing that it functions outside the framework of Torah law. “Someone who goes to court,” he said, “is not acting according to Torah. They accept the testimony of a single witness, they accept the testimony of a woman. According to their view, one witness can be interrogated and from him they can extract both truth and lies. That’s how it is. And the Torah? It’s left sitting in the corner.”

He concluded with a passionate statement on emunah and Torah values, referring to Israeli inheritance law: “According to the law of the state, a daughter inherits. But Maran Rav Ovadia said: Someone who arranges that his wife—who is someone’s daughter—should inherit, it’s theft! His strong expression was: that money they took will leave them, but it will leave through sickness, suffering, and other terrible things. My friend! Emunah. Emunah. Emunah. That’s what the Torah says! He wrote it himself,” Rav Mazuz concluded.

{Matzav.com}

Tensions between Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz continued to escalate on Sunday, with Netanyahu and his associates openly ridiculing Katz’s frequent activity on social media.

According to a report on Channel 13 News, sources close to the Prime Minister took a jab at Katz, who often posts bold security-related statements on the social media platform X, calling him a “Chief Tweeter.” The quip, a play on the term “Commander-in-Chief,” reflects growing frustration within Netanyahu’s circle over Katz’s online self-promotion in areas relating to defense policy and national security.

Earlier in the day, Netanyahu appeared to rebuke Katz more directly during the weekly cabinet meeting. “We’re in an election year,” Netanyahu said. “The elections will take place by the end of the year — we know that. And during an election year, we see a ‘primary season assault,’ both from within Likud and from outside it. The issues being discussed in this barrage of tweets — I don’t remember ever seeing such things about security matters before.”

The Prime Minister went on to mock the tone of Katz’s posts, saying: “‘I said, I did, I updated,’ — even on matters related to our national security. I remind everyone that these issues are decided in coordination with the Prime Minister, who bears responsibility for them.”

The sharp remarks come amid ongoing internal friction within Likud, as Netanyahu’s top ministers vie for public visibility ahead of the upcoming elections. Katz’s assertive public statements, often made without prior coordination, have reportedly irritated the Prime Minister’s team, who view them as attempts to claim credit for sensitive defense decisions.

Despite the mounting criticism, Katz has continued to post on X regularly, drawing both attention and controversy — and prompting Netanyahu’s allies to coin the biting new title: “Chief Tweeter.”

{Matzav.com}

A devastating tragedy struck the Rockland community this morning with the untimely petirah of Reb Yisroel Meir Freeman z”l, a 29-year-old yungerman and devoted father of three, who was niftar after a horrific accident while on his way to kollel.

Yisroel Meir, originally from Boro Park, was the beloved son of longtime East Side Hatzolah volunteer Reb Yaakov Freeman.

The tragic incident took place near 445 South Pascack Road in Chestnut Ridge, when a large tree fell onto his car as he was driving. The impact caused the vehicle to lose control and crash, leaving Yisroel Meir critically injured.

Rockland Hatzolah Paramedics administered advanced life support at the scene and quickly transported him to Westchester Medical Center. Despite the tireless and heroic efforts of the Hatzolah members, trauma surgeons, and hospital staff, Reb Yisroel Meir tragically succumbed to his injuries.

The levayah will take place this evening at 6:15 p.m. at 445 South Pascack Road, followed by kevurah at Har Sholom Beis HaChaim in Airmont.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Even as diplomatic negotiations continue over Hamas’s disarmament, intelligence sources say the terrorist group is taking steps in the opposite direction—preparing for its next round of violence. A Kan News report on Sunday exposed that Hamas has begun secretly stockpiling advanced weaponry far beyond Gaza’s borders, ensuring its arsenal will be ready when needed.

The network of storage sites reportedly stretches across Africa, Yemen, and other sympathetic nations. These stockpiles are being quietly built up with the intention of moving the weapons into key operational zones, including the Gaza Strip itself, when the timing allows.

According to Kan’s report, these efforts coincide directly with growing international discussions about stripping Hamas of its weapons. Intelligence officials view this as a clear sign that Hamas is determined to safeguard and rebuild its military infrastructure after the war—part of a long-term plan to reestablish its power.

The revelation follows a recent discovery in Europe that underscored Hamas’s expanding global reach. Just over a week ago, Austrian authorities uncovered a cache of weapons in Vienna believed to be connected to Hamas and allegedly meant for terror attacks on European soil.

In connection with the find, “Israeli or Jewish institutions in Europe were likely the targets of these planned attacks,” the Austrian Interior Ministry stated. The announcement came as part of a broader international investigation into Hamas-linked operations.

That same investigation led to the arrest of a 39-year-old British national named Mohammed in London. Officials confirmed he was detained on suspicion of involvement with the Vienna weapons cache, and the United Kingdom has already begun extradition proceedings.

The probe was conducted jointly by Austria’s State Security Directorate and various intelligence agencies tracking Hamas’s foreign activities. Investigators suspect a small circle of operatives or sympathizers had smuggled weapons into Austria for potential use in terrorist plots.

Germany’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office, which also took part in the operation, reported that Mohammed had twice met with an individual named Abed—arrested in Germany last month for allegedly planning attacks on Israeli and Jewish institutions in the country.

Inside a rented storage unit in Vienna, authorities found a suitcase containing five handguns and ten magazines. Austrian security officials believe the cache was part of a broader Hamas-directed effort to stage or support further attacks, though specific details remain classified.

As thousands of Satmar chassidim prepare to accompany their Rebbe, the Satmar Rebbe, on his upcoming ten-day visit to Eretz Yisroel, an intricate halachic question has arisen concerning the proper recital of V’sen Tal U’Matar in Shemoneh Esrei.

The issue was presented by the Rebbe to Rav Elyakim Getzel Berkowitz, dayan of Kiryas Yoel in Monroe.

As is well known, in Eretz Yisroel the custom is to begin saying V’sen Tal U’Matar on the seventh of Cheshvan. In contrast, Jews in the Diaspora begin reciting it only sixty days after Tekufas Tishrei—this year, that will be on the night of the fifteenth of Kislev, following Parshas Vayishlach.

This calendar overlap created a unique question for the Satmar chassidim traveling from America, where the season for saying V’sen Tal U’Matar has not yet arrived, to Eretz Yisroel, where it is already being recited.

In response, Rav Berkowitz composed a comprehensive and detailed halachic ruling analyzing the matter thoroughly. His responsum examines the issue according to the various local customs and provides clear guidance on how to conduct oneself both as an individual and as a shaliach tzibbur—including those leading the tefillah due to aveilus or a yahrtzeit—in both the silent Shemoneh Esrei and the chazaras hashatz.

The teshuvah also addresses distinctions between travelers who intend to return to America shortly and those who have left most of their families abroad, clarifying how each group should proceed in prayer during the trip.

Rav Berkowitz’s written psak halacha is expected to be published and distributed to the thousands of chassidim joining the Rebbe’s journey in the coming days, ensuring uniform practice and avoiding confusion or error during the historic visit.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu spoke out forcefully on Sunday against the surge of violence by Jewish extremists in Judea and Samaria, marking his first direct comments on the matter in months. Addressing the cabinet, he stated that Israel “will take very forceful action against the riots against IDF soldiers — against Palestinians, and against IDF soldiers — because we are a nation of laws, and a nation of laws acts in accordance with the law.” He made clear that such actions run counter to the values of the majority of settlers, calling the perpetrators “a minority that goes into Judea and Samaria [the West Bank] and does not represent the large community of law-abiding, loyal settlers.”

Hours after Netanyahu’s remarks, police detained three settlers who had entered a closed military zone armed with improvised weapons as they made their way toward a Palestinian village. One of the suspects, a minor, was placed under house arrest, while the other two were kept in custody. The arrests followed months of near-daily reports of settler violence, which often go unchecked.

The incidents have drawn harsh condemnation from military and civilian leaders alike. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said last week that he “strongly condemns” the growing wave of attacks. “We are aware of the recent violent incidents in which Israeli civilians attacked Palestinians and Israelis. I strongly condemn them. The IDF will not tolerate phenomena of a criminal minority that besmirches a law-abiding public,” he said in a statement. Zamir added that such acts “cross a red line and divert the attention of our forces from fulfilling their mission, defending the communities, and conducting offensive operations. We are determined to stop this phenomenon and will act on this matter severely until justice is done.”

According to data released by the United Nations, October saw a record number of settler assaults — the highest since the UN began documenting them in 2006. The organization reported at least 264 attacks against Palestinians that month and roughly 1,500 since the start of 2025. Israeli defense authorities reported lower totals but confirmed a sharp rise: 86 “nationalistic crime” incidents in October compared to 25 the previous year, with 704 such cases since January.

The violence has intensified during the annual olive-picking season, a time that historically sees friction between settlers and Palestinians. Volunteers — including Israelis and foreigners — have also been targeted. In recent weeks, arson attacks have destroyed farmland and factories near Nablus and Tulkarem, and a mosque was vandalized and set ablaze in a nearby village.

President Isaac Herzog denounced the acts, describing them as “shocking and grave.” He warned that the actions of “a handful” of individuals “crosses a red line,” urging that “all state authorities must act decisively to eradicate the phenomenon and to strengthen the IDF fighters and security forces who protect us day and night.”

International concern has also mounted. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that Washington was closely monitoring “events in the West Bank spilling over and creating an effect that could undermine what we’re doing in Gaza.”

Despite tough rhetoric from Israeli leaders, accountability has remained elusive. Three of the four suspects arrested over a major arson incident last week were released within a day. Channel 12 reported that police investigations into nationalist violence have fallen dramatically in recent years, with only 60 inquiries opened in 2025 compared to 150 in 2024 and 235 in 2023. The network also revealed that the commander of the police’s West Bank division is under investigation for allegedly downplaying such violence to maintain good relations with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

According to the Israeli rights organization Yesh Din, law enforcement outcomes remain bleak. Between 2005 and 2024, roughly 94 percent of investigations into settler violence were closed without indictments, and just 3 percent resulted in convictions, either full or partial — a record that critics say underscores the culture of impunity surrounding these crimes.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Health Ministry has issued a public alert after confirming that an individual diagnosed with measles attended an event last Tuesday night at the Keter Harimon hall, located at 10 Aharonowitz Street in Bnei Brak.

According to the Ministry, the event began around 11:00 p.m., and anyone who was present at that time is urged to confirm that their measles vaccinations are current and meet the latest national guidelines.

Health officials instructed those who attended the event to immediately contact the Kol Habriut hotline for personalized advice on vaccination updates and to assess whether they may have been exposed.

“Measles is a disease that can be prevented through a safe and effective vaccine,” the Ministry emphasized. “Early medical evaluation in the case of symptoms or suspected exposure may save lives.”

Measles inoculations are typically administered to children when they turn one year old and again at age six. However, due to the current outbreak, the Health Ministry has temporarily advanced the second dose to 18 months. In addition, babies between six and eleven months old can now receive an early preventive shot if they live in outbreak zones or are traveling to affected areas. This additional shot is not considered one of the routine doses.

Several cities have been designated as outbreak zones, including Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, Bnei Brak, Charish, Modi’in Illit, Nof Hagalil, Kiryat Gat, Ashdod, Tzefas, Netivot, Haifa, Tiveriah, Tekoa, and the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council region.

In these localities, residents can get vaccinated without scheduling an appointment at Tipat Halav (Mother and Child) centers, HMO branches, and designated vaccination sites.

The Health Ministry further advised unvaccinated individuals, along with parents of infants who have received only one dose, to steer clear of crowded events in outbreak cities to reduce the likelihood of infection.

{Matzav.com}

IDF Chief of Staff LTG Eyal Zamir spent Sunday with senior military leadership conducting a situational assessment in the Gaza Division. Among those joining him were Southern Command head MG Yaniv Asor, Gaza Division Commander BG Barak Hiram, 252nd Division Commander BG Yehuda Vach, brigade leaders from across the sector, and other key officers.

Following the meeting, Zamir led a tour of the Rafah region, where he examined current conditions on the ground and assessed the army’s readiness for potential operational shifts. The visit included a detailed review of the latest security developments across multiple fronts, with a focus on maintaining defensive strength, neutralizing remaining threats, and sustaining preparedness for rapid offensive maneuvers if needed.

“The IDF operates in a changing reality and is contending with challenges across various arenas. In the Gaza Strip, we maintain operational control of more than 50% of the area, without controlling the civilian population. The Yellow Line serves as a security line, and we continue operating to prevent Hamas’ resurgence by holding key areas as well as the entrances to the Gaza Strip,” Zamir stated.

The Chief of Staff emphasized that flexibility and readiness remain key. He said, “Simultaneously with the current operational process, we must be prepared for a rapid transition to a large-scale activity to establish operational control of areas in the Gaza Strip, if required. Our troops continue operating along the Yellow Line to clear the area and eliminate terrorist strongholds.”

Reinforcing the Southern Command’s mandate, Zamir added that “the Southern Command will continue operating decisively to carry out the mission of eliminating terrorists and dismantling underground terrorist infrastructure sites, while strictly maintaining security for our troops.”

Zamir reiterated the IDF’s strategic objective of fully dismantling Hamas’s military and governing capabilities. “We will continue to insist that the Hamas regime will not exist on the other side of the border. Even if this requires time, we will persist in the mission of dismantling Hamas and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, achieving this either through an agreement or through military means,” he declared.

Addressing the ongoing investigations into the October 7th atrocities, Zamir said, “In the past week, we have focused on the inquiries into the events of October 7th. I established the expert committee upon entering my position as Chief of the General Staff out of full commitment to the truth and a desire to lead a deep process of learning and implementation of lessons. We owe this to the IDF, and I owe this to you – the commanders. We will not fear the implications; everything is for advancing the IDF toward growth, learning, and progress.”

He concluded by saluting the dedication of IDF personnel throughout the war effort. “We will remember the events of October 7th for eternity, but also the significant achievements in all arenas. Ahead of us is still the mission of conducting the inquiry of the entire war. This is a heroic war, and its achievements are yours and thanks to you. I, and the entire people of Israel, appreciate you for your actions and for the achievements throughout the war.”

{Matzav.com}

Security forces from the Judea and Samaria District, alongside IDF and Border Police units, concluded their post-event review following the Chayei Sarah weekend gatherings in Chevron and at the Meoras Hamachpeilah.

Authorities estimated that roughly 26,000 visitors came to the holy city over Shabbos, prompting a large-scale security deployment. Forces worked around the clock to ensure order, regulate traffic, and swiftly handle any security-related incidents, operating in close coordination with local municipalities and national agencies.

Shabbos saw a brief security scare when gunfire was reported within Chevron. A volunteer from a rapid response unit discharged a warning shot into the air, after which police, IDF soldiers, and Border Police personnel quickly secured the area. Officers from the Yehuda district later tracked down the vehicles suspected of involvement and apprehended two individuals connected to the incident.

Over the course of the weekend, security forces detained 13 more people suspected of various offenses, including assault, violence, trespassing, disorderly conduct, and harassment. Investigators later released some of the detainees under limited conditions based on case-specific considerations.

In addition to maintaining order, police implemented preventive measures, conducting approximately 150 enforcement operations to prevent alcohol-related disturbances and protect public safety throughout the event.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshiva of Slabodka, ruled that it is permissible to use kosher computers inside a beis medrash for the purpose of writing divrei Torah under specific conditions.

The ruling came during a visit last week by the mashgiach ruchani of Yeshivos Be’er Yaakov and Mishkenos HaTorah, Rav Moshe Dovid Lefkowitz, who came to the home of Rav Hirsch to discuss several matters currently relevant to the yeshiva world.

During the meeting, Rav Lefkowitz raised the question of using computers in a beis medrash, referencing an earlier takkanah that had prohibited their use. That policy had been instituted in his own bais medrash, Heichal Moshe, under the direction of Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman and Rav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, his father.

Given technological changes in recent years — and the fact that computers have become the primary tool for many avreichim to record their Torah insights — the mashgiach asked whether the takkanah could be modified to allow limited use of kosher devices for Torah purposes only.

Rav Lefkowitz emphasized that such a change could only be made with the approval of the gadol hador, telling Rav Hirsch, “To alter a takkanah established by gedolim requires the authority of the Rosh Yeshiva himself.”

After careful deliberation, Rav Hirsch responded clearly: computers that are used solely for writing chiddushei Torah, and that bear a visible and distinctive label confirming they are entirely disconnected from any form of internet access, may indeed be used within the beis haknesses or beis medrash.

Following the decision, Rav Lefkowitz drafted the updated takkanah in writing. Rav Hirsch then signed it alongside him, formally authorizing the new policy for the community.

President Trump said that the much-anticipated $2,000 “tariff dividend” checks for American citizens will indeed arrive — just not yet. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he explained that the payments won’t be distributed in time for the upcoming holiday season, but are instead planned for next year as part of his broader 2026 agenda.

“It will be next year. The tariffs allow us to give a dividend. We’re going to do a dividend and we’re also going to be reducing debt,” Trump said while en route to Mar-a-Lago, emphasizing that the funds collected through his sweeping trade tariffs will directly benefit American families.

However, the timeline and execution of the program remain uncertain. The administration faces multiple hurdles — both legal and legislative — before the checks can become reality. Several Republicans in Congress have voiced reservations, urging the president to prioritize deficit reduction rather than rebate payments.

Adding to the complications is an ongoing Supreme Court case that could derail the initiative. The justices recently heard oral arguments questioning whether Trump’s “trafficking” and “reciprocal” tariffs, enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), were legally justified. If the Court rules against him, Trump hinted that his team would explore other options. “Then I’d have to do something else,” he said.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently offered some insight into how the rebates might be structured. “Well, there are a lot of options here that the president’s talking about a $2,000 rebate and those — that would be for families making less than, say, $100,000,” Bessent told “Fox & Friends.” But he quickly walked back the figure, clarifying that “it’s in discussion” and “we haven’t” set any firm limits yet.

The proposal, first unveiled earlier this month, included Trump’s pledge to exclude “high income people” from the benefit, though he has not yet defined where that income cutoff will fall.

Trump introduced the idea shortly after a majority of Supreme Court justices expressed deep skepticism over his use of IEEPA to impose tariffs — a law that no prior president has used for that purpose. Since early in his second term, Trump has invoked IEEPA to levy targeted tariffs on nations across the globe, despite the statute’s lack of explicit mention of duties.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol data, IEEPA-related tariffs have generated about $90 billion in revenue between their introduction and September 23. When combined with other tariffs not being challenged in court, the total intake reached nearly $196 billion for fiscal year 2025 through the end of August.

Since many of these tariffs were not in place at the start of the fiscal year, administration officials believe the total revenue could climb even higher if they remain active for a full year.

Yet distributing the proposed $2,000 checks would be expensive. Erica York, vice president of federal tax policy at the Tax Foundation, estimated that if eligibility were capped at individuals earning under $100,000, the plan would cost about $300 billion. For comparison, pandemic-era relief proposals offering similar payments were projected to cost roughly $464 billion, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

If the Supreme Court ultimately overturns the IEEPA tariffs, Trump could be forced to refund billions in collected duties — a scenario that would complicate both his financial and political plans heading into 2026. How such a refund would be implemented, however, remains unclear.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump announced plans to file a massive lawsuit against the BBC, accusing the network of twisting his words from January 6, 2021, in a documentary that he says defamed him. Speaking aboard Air Force One on Friday, Trump told reporters that the suit will likely be filed “probably sometime next week” and could seek damages “anywhere between a billion and 5 billion dollars.”

The president made the remarks during a flight to Florida, with Reuters correspondent Nandita Bose and BBC journalists reporting the conversation. According to Trump, the publicly funded broadcaster manipulated a portion of his January 6 speech in a way that falsely portrayed him as encouraging violence — a claim he says he will bring up personally with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the weekend.

“The BBC’s conduct was so severe,” Trump said, emphasizing that the edit amounted to an intentional distortion of his words. He noted that the broadcaster’s public explanation fell far short of accountability for the harm caused to his reputation.

The BBC admitted that the way it edited Trump’s speech “created the mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action.” The corporation released a statement through its press office saying it “regrets the error” and extended a personal apology to Trump. However, despite acknowledging the mistake, the BBC said through Reuters that it sees “no legal basis for a lawsuit” and will neither retract the documentary beyond its correction nor pay damages.

Trump’s attorneys had given the network until 5 p.m. Eastern time Friday to comply with three demands: a full retraction, a formal apology, and at least $1 billion in compensation. Those terms were laid out in a letter obtained earlier in the week by multiple outlets, including The Times and The Daily Telegraph, citing sources close to Trump’s legal team.

After receiving the BBC’s official reply, Trump’s advisers said the response left no option but to proceed with litigation. Senior campaign officials confirmed that lawyers have been preparing filings in both federal and state courts in Florida for several days.

The controversy surrounding the BBC’s “Panorama” program has already shaken the organization’s top leadership. On Sunday, BBC Director General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness resigned, admitting that the incident had damaged public confidence in the broadcaster’s editorial integrity.

Trump said those resignations prove the magnitude of the wrongdoing and reinforce his case. “It shows how serious this was,” he said, adding that accountability at the highest level strengthens his argument for damages.

{Matzav.com}

Fifteen years after a horrific assault on a young chareidi girl in Yerushalayim, a breakthrough in DNA evidence has led to the indictment of a 42-year-old man from the Shuafat refugee camp. The suspect, Shwaki Shamasna, was charged in the Yerushalayim District Court on Sunday with two separate incidents of serious offenses against minors — one from 2010 and another from 2025.

The indictment, filed by Attorney Mirit Levy-Hasson of the Yerushalayim District Attorney’s Office, details that in April 2010, a six-and-a-half-year-old girl was playing outside her home with a friend when the suspect approached them in his car. He asked the child questions about her friend’s family and then followed the two girls as they entered the building’s stairwell. There, he allegedly grabbed the young girl from behind, lifted her, and committed a grave act of abuse. The case went unsolved for more than a decade.

In September 2025, prosecutors say the same man assaulted another minor, a 15-year-old girl walking in Beit Shemesh with her baby brother. The suspect reportedly exited his vehicle, grabbed her forcefully, and fled only after she screamed for help, prompting nearby passersby to rush to her aid.

During the investigation into the Beit Shemesh attack, forensic samples linked the suspect to the earlier Yerushalayim case. According to the prosecutor, “The child’s clothing was examined in a forensic laboratory, where cells matching a single male profile were identified. After the suspect was recently investigated for other serious offenses against minors and his DNA was added to the database, a match was immediately found to the sample taken from the victim’s clothing in the 2010 incident.”

The indictment accuses the defendant of committing indecent acts under aggravated circumstances. The prosecution has requested that he remain in custody until the end of legal proceedings.

A court-ordered gag prohibits publication of any details that could identify the victims.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s government voted on Sunday to push forward the establishment of what it described as an “independent” commission of inquiry into the catastrophic events of October 7. The panel will reportedly be granted full authority to investigate and is expected to be structured in a way that, according to officials, will reflect the “broadest possible public consensus.”

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu will head the ministerial team tasked with defining the commission’s mandate, a process that must be completed within 45 days. Once the committee’s framework is finalized, it will begin examining the failures that led to the deadly Hamas assault.

The decision immediately sparked outrage among opposition figures. Gadi Eisenkot, the Yashar party leader and former minister, lashed out at the move, declaring, “The October 7th government, whose leaders are the only ones who refuse to take responsibility for the worst disaster in Israel’s history and are unfit to serve in any leadership role, is establishing a whitewashing and backroom-deal committee. It is unacceptable that those responsible for the failure are the ones deciding its makeup and mandate under the pretense of broad consensus. It is clear that all of this stems from fear and panic over the results of a real, independent investigation. Establishing a state commission of inquiry according to the law is the first step toward healing and repair – and we will make it happen. We will not give up. Our very future depends on it.”

Tensions also surfaced inside the cabinet room. As ministers debated how the inquiry should be structured, Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs told Minister Orit Strock, “In the end, there will be a commission, and we need to think about how to approach it.” Strock voiced her agreement, saying she backed the establishment of an investigative body.

Echoing that sentiment, Minister Gideon Sa’ar argued that the political echelon should not be part of the commission. He emphasized that “the composition should exclude the political echelon, to create a model that earns public trust.”

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir pressed for the inclusion of legal officials among those scrutinized. “Those being investigated should not become the investigators,” he warned, insisting that figures within Israel’s legal establishment must also face questioning.

Ben-Gvir reminded the cabinet that before the Hamas assault, intelligence leaders—including the heads of the Shin Bet and Military Intelligence—believed Hamas was sufficiently deterred. He also pointed to the Attorney General’s refusal to approve tougher conditions for detained terrorists, arguing, “She must also be investigated. No one should be immune.”

Education Minister Yoav Kish added his support for ensuring that any commission ultimately formed would be one that enjoys the confidence of the Israeli public, stating that the inquiry must be structured “to secure broad public support.”

{Matzav.com}

Tensions flared at Sunday’s cabinet meeting when Minister Orit Strock confronted Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu over the ongoing ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza.

“How much longer will the ceasefire last?” Strock pressed. Netanyahu’s reply — “I don’t know” — drew an incredulous reaction. “What do you mean, ‘I don’t know’?” she shot back. The Prime Minister then explained, “At the moment, we are working to end the first phase; we have three more hostages to return.”

Unappeased, Strock responded sharply, insisting, “We did not go to war just to bring back the hostages.” Netanyahu countered, outlining the broader objectives of the campaign. “We have to ensure that the Gaza Strip is being demilitarized and (Hamas) is being disarmed, including the tunnels; for this purpose, we agreed to the creation of an international force, but countries are not excited to join. We can not give up on this stage. Hamas seemingly agrees; we will hold the rest of the discussion in the cabinet.”

Strock pushed further, asking, “About how long will this take? Weeks?” Netanyahu refused to commit to a timeline. “You can’t ignore the fact that we conducted an intense war on seven fronts. You can’t quantify how much time is left,” he said.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich later weighed in with a pointed question of his own, challenging the Prime Minister: “If you return to fight in Gaza in two months, how will you have a commission of inquiry?”

The exchange highlighted growing frustration within parts of the coalition over what some see as a lack of clarity and direction regarding Israel’s next steps in Gaza.

New York City and state political leaders condemned antisemitic graffiti found scrawled on a sidewalk in Brooklyn Friday night.

The words “[Curse] Jews” appeared along Atlantic Avenue near Smith Street. The New York City Department of Sanitation removed the graffiti overnight.

New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani called the incident “another horrific act of antisemitism on our streets,” in an X post, sharing visual documentation by District 33 NYC Council Member Lincoln Restler before and after it was removed and thanking Restler and the Sanitation Department “for your quick response.”

Restler also thanked the Sanitation Department for cleaning up the graffiti along with pictures he said were shared by a neighbor.

“Anti-Semitic incidents are a majority of the hate crimes in NYC. All NYers—including Jewish NYers—must feel safe,” Restler wrote. In another X post, he added: “There is no space or tolerance for hate in our community. I will continue to do whatever I can to condemn and combat anti-Semitism in every possible way.”

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called it “a disgusting, cowardly act of antisemitism that has no place in New York. We stand with our Jewish communities today and always.”

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) said that it was “another vile act of antisemitism in New York. The criminal cowards responsible must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

The StopAntisemitism organization warned of an increase in these types once Mandami is sworn in to office as the city’s 111th mayor just after midnight on Jan. 1, 2026.

“Now imagine how much worse this is going to get once Mamdani takes office,” the non-profit advocacy group wrote on X.

November’s election of the Democratic Socialist Muslim who holds strongly critical and anti-Zionist views on Israel and supports the BDS movement against the Jewish state has sparked deep concern in the city’s Jewish population, which is the largest outside of Israel.

Nearly half of Israelis plan to avoid travel to New York in the wake of Mamdani‘s election, whom they overwhelmingly perceive as antisemitic, according to recent polling.

Stefanik filed to run for governor on Nov. 7 in next year’s elections, blasting Hochul for backing Mamdani.

“When New Yorkers were looking for leadership the most, Kathy Hochul bent the knee to the raging defund-the-police, tax-hiking, antisemite communist who will destroy New York,” she said. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Today, more than 6,500 Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries and guests will gather for the annual Chabad Kinnus Hashluchim, the closing gala of the International Conference of Chabad Emissaries. This year’s program will showcase powerful stories of resilience and outreach under extreme circumstances.

A Sefer Torah will be completed and dedicated in memory of Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky z”l, the beloved Vice-Chairman of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch and Chairman of The International Conference of Shluchim.

The banquet will culminate with the iconic International Roll Call, in which representatives from every continent rise as their countries are named.

WATCH LIVE:

Ukraine is making a strong effort to revive prisoner exchanges with Russia that could see 1,200 Ukrainian captives return home, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Sunday. His comments came one day after the country’s national security chief reported progress in mediated talks.

“We are … counting on the resumption of POW exchanges,” Zelenskyy wrote on X. “Many meetings, negotiations and calls are currently taking place to ensure this.”

Rustem Umerov, who heads Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, said Saturday that he had held consultations facilitated by Turkey and the United Arab Emirates to renew the stalled process.

According to Umerov, the sides agreed to reactivate prisoner-swap mechanisms arranged in Istanbul that could free 1,200 Ukrainians. Moscow has yet to issue any official response to his statement.

The Istanbul accords, signed in 2022 through Turkish mediation, outlined the framework for organized and large-scale exchanges of prisoners between the two nations. Over the past two years, thousands have been swapped under those agreements, though the operations have frequently stalled amid renewed hostilities.

Umerov noted that technical meetings would soon take place to finalize the logistics and protocols needed for the next exchange. He voiced hope that the freed Ukrainians might “celebrate the New Year and Christmas holidays at home — at the family table and next to their relatives.”

Meanwhile, Ukraine endured another night of Russian drone attacks, which struck energy infrastructure in the Odesa region, according to the State Emergency Service. Among the sites damaged was a solar power facility.

The latest barrage underscores Ukraine’s struggle to defend against constant aerial assaults that have crippled its power grid and triggered widespread blackouts as the winter cold sets in.

These attacks on the energy sector coincide with ongoing fighting in the east, where Russian troops are pushing to seize the key city of Pokrovsk.

Ukraine’s air force reported Sunday that Russia launched 176 drones and one missile overnight, claiming Ukrainian forces managed to shoot down or disable 139 of the drones. Russia’s defense ministry, for its part, said its own forces destroyed 57 Ukrainian drones during the same period.

At today’s cabinet meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu delivered a pointed rebuke to those airing political and security disputes in public, warning that such behavior undermines national unity and responsible governance. He said that with Israel heading toward elections, political rivals have intensified what he described as a “primary season assault” — an internal and external campaign designed to sow division. Netanyahu emphasized that “security matters discussed in tweets and public statements are determined only in coordination with the Prime Minister,” reminding his colleagues that such issues demand confidentiality and unity of purpose.

Turning to Israel’s ongoing campaign against Hamas, Netanyahu made clear that the terrorist organization’s military capabilities would be completely dismantled. “This territory will be demilitarized and Hamas will be stripped of its weapons. It will happen either the easy way or the hard way. That’s what I’ve said, and that’s what President Trump has said as well,” he declared, underscoring that Israel’s security objectives remain firm and non-negotiable.

Netanyahu also revisited a long-standing pillar of his foreign policy: absolute opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state west of the Jordan River. “Our opposition to a Palestinian state on any part of this territory has not changed in the slightest,” he said, reiterating that he has maintained this stance consistently for decades despite heavy diplomatic pressure. He added pointedly, “I do not need affirmations, tweets, or lectures from anyone,” making it clear that his convictions on this issue are not swayed by public commentary or political maneuvering.

The prime minister went on to denounce two recent acts of violence that have stirred national outrage. He condemned the assault on MK Yoav Ben Tzur, describing the perpetrators as “a small minority that does not represent the ultra-Orthodox public,” and called on authorities to respond “with full force.” Netanyahu also addressed violence carried out by a fringe group in Judea and Samaria, stressing that their actions “do not represent the settler community” and warning against collective judgment.

Concluding his remarks, Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to order and justice, saying simply yet firmly: “We are a state of law, and a state of law acts according to the law.”

WATCH: