Matzav

President Donald Trump, speaking Thursday, tied the current dynamics in Gaza and across the region to what he described as a transformed strategic landscape following U.S. action against Iran’s nuclear program. In his view, the stability now taking shape stems directly from the blows dealt to Tehran.

During the exchange with reporters, Trump was asked about the selection of a general to oversee stabilization efforts in Gaza. He responded by emphasizing Washington’s ongoing involvement, saying, “Well, we’re working very strongly on Gaza. Yeah, we’re working very much on Gaza.”

From there, Trump shifted to a sweeping description of regional diplomacy, arguing that unprecedented cooperation is now taking hold. “We actually do have a real piece in the Middle East,” he said. “We have 59 countries supporting it which is, you know, never happened before. We have countries that want to come in and take care of Hamas. We have countries that want to come in and take care of Hezbollah in Lebanon…we have countries that are volunteering to come in and literally take care of the whole thing. We have a great peace in the Middle East. It’s never happened before and I think it’s very strong actually.”

He linked that posture to the airstrikes in Iran, asserting that the operation fundamentally altered the balance of fear in the region. Describing the mission, he said, “When we went in with those B2s and we – and now I could use the word because it’s been confirmed by the Atomic Energy Commission – we obliterated their nuclear capability, their potential and their nuclear capability would have been there in about two months…they were very close to having massive nuclear weapons and these guys went in and they did a job and that made peace possible, because everybody was afraid of Iran and now they’re not afraid of Iran anymore.”

Trump stressed repeatedly that the United States alone could have carried out such a strike. “No other country could have done that,” he asserted. “No other country has weapons like we do. We have the best weapons in the world. We have the best military in the world, and when we took out Iran, that allowed for peace. There’s no way they could have done a deal if Iran was not really nullified. To a large extent, Iran is not the same country. Iran was a country that was feared by everybody. Now it’s a country that’s been very much downgraded.”

Looking ahead, he warned Tehran against any attempt to reconstitute its nuclear infrastructure. If Iran tried to rebuild, Trump said, “we’re going to obliterate that one [too]. You know, we can knock out their missiles very quickly. We have great power and we helped Israel a lot. We were shooting down the drones. We were doing a lot of things for Israel. We did a good job for Israel, but Israel did a good job. They fought and they all fought bravely.”

Trump then noted that he still sees room for diplomacy, insisting that Iranian leaders remain interested in talks with him. “They would love to be able to make a deal with me,” he said. “They would love to be able to make a deal with me and I’d love to make a deal with them if we could. We were reasonably there for a deal with Iran before the bombing, and they would have been much better off if they made a deal. They could have had a deal. They could have had a deal where they would have been much better off. Look at what we’ve done. Their place is blown up. Forget about the nuclear the nuclear is gone, but look at the damage they’ve suffered, the death that they’ve suffered. They could have had a deal – nobody would have died, no buildings would have been down, nothing would have happened. But they missed that opportunity, but they would like to make a deal right now. Iran would like to make a deal with me.”

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Security Cabinet signed off Thursday night on a sweeping decision to formally authorize and regulate nineteen communities throughout Judea and Samaria, moving forward with one of the most extensive expansion steps in years.

The move came in response to a joint initiative advanced by Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Israel Katz. Among the newly approved locations are Ganim and Kadim, two communities in northern Samaria that were cleared nearly two decades ago during the Disengagement and are now slated for renewed development.

The authorization package covers a mix of longstanding neighborhoods seeking formal status as well as newly emerging sites still in the early phases of construction. The breadth of the decision underscores a significant political milestone in expanding Israel’s presence across the region.

The communities included in the government’s approval are: Esh Kodesh, Allenby, Givat Harel, Ganim, Har Bezek, Ya’ar El-Keren, Yatziv, Yitav West, Kadim, Kochav HaShachar North, Kida, Mishol, Nachal Doron, Pnei Kedem, Reihanit, Rosh HaAyin East, Shalem, and Tamun.

{Matzav.com}

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In a dramatic escalation following a recent Israeli High Court ruling, officials in Israel’s Finance Ministry and Justice Ministry are now considering a complete halt to all yeshiva funding until the government can verify that none of the money is being directed—directly or indirectly—to students classified as draft-evaders.

The emerging proposal, reported by Kan News, comes days after the High Court ruled that the state may not finance, even indirectly, any yeshiva bochurim who are legally obligated to enlist and have not received deferments.

While government allocations to the Olam HaTorah have already been sharply reduced over the past year, funds are still being transferred to yeshivas under existing budget frameworks. Senior officials, however, fear that even with stipends to draft-evading students already frozen, general yeshiva funding may still ultimately benefit those individuals.

Earlier today, Kan News reporter Tamar Almog revealed on Reshet Bet that the Attorney General intervened to block an increase in funding for foreign-born avreichim for precisely that concern, arguing that until the government can prove that allocations are not “leaking” to draft-evaders, such increases cannot move forward.

Tonight, it was disclosed for the first time that ministries are weighing an across-the-board shutdown of the entire yeshiva budget unless and until the state can demonstrate clearly that no part of the funding is supporting students who are obligated to enlist.

Such a measure would freeze billions of shekels annually and would set off a major political and communal upheaval, dealing an unprecedented blow to the chareidi sector and triggering far-reaching implications in the coalition.

{Matzav.com}

Tensions rose on Thursday during a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the United Torah Judaism faction, as the continued stalemate over the draft law leaves chareidi lawmakers under growing pressure from their constituents.

The meeting, held under significant time constraints, was described as partially heated. According to remarks aired on Channel 13, Netanyahu tried to calm concerns, saying he has no intention of going to elections now and that he would lead a public campaign in support of the law to ensure it passes.

The MKs, however, expressed the strain they are experiencing on the ground.

MK Yaakov Tessler reportedly told Netanyahu, “We can’t go to the batei knesses because people shout at us over the situation.”

UTJ chairman Yitzchok Goldknopf challenged the prime minister as well, saying, “Your grandfather learned Torah and sat in the mizrach. Here they are putting Torah learners in prison.”

MK Asher added that “the rabbonim have not yet approved the wording.”

According to the leaked comments, Netanyahu reiterated that he wants to maintain the long-term partnership between Likud and UTJ and said, “I am not interested in elections at this time. The alliance between Likud and United Torah Judaism is long term. We will run a campaign explaining why this law is good. Only Edelstein and Shasha-Biton will oppose.”

After the meeting, Likud issued a statement saying: “Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu concluded a meeting with the United Torah Judaism faction, part of a series of meetings he is holding with all coalition parties. The prime minister and UTJ members discussed the issues currently on the agenda.”

{Matzav.com}

A civil lawsuit seeking 220,000 shekels in damages has been filed against an Arab bus driver who, two years ago in Yerushalayim, sprayed perfume at a group of chareidi teenagers while telling them they “stink” and ordering them to move to the back of the bus.

The incident, which occurred on Egged’s Route 19, resurfaced after the Honenu legal organization submitted a civil claim on behalf of the youths, following the closure of the police file and the rejection of an appeal against that decision.

Attorney Chaim Bleicher of Honenu, who filed the suit, said the goal is both to compensate the boys and to deter future acts of anti-Jewish harassment.

According to the lawsuit, the event took place on June 16, 2023. The victims, aged 14 and 15, boarded the bus with two friends. The teens, described in the filing as having a distinctly traditional Jewish appearance with peyos, sat quietly in a double seat near the front of the vehicle, leaving an empty row between themselves and the driver.

The claim states that the boys were behaving respectfully when the bus approached the Petach Tikva Junction. At that point, the driver allegedly stopped at a station, glared at them with clear disdain, and instructed them to move to the rear, saying they were “stinking.” He also warned that if they refused, he would spray perfume on them.

When the teens asked why he was ordering them to the back, the driver allegedly took out a bottle of perfume or air freshener and sprayed each of them at close range, directing the mist at their bodies and faces. The suit says the driver’s actions constituted an unlawful assault motivated by racism, as well as defamatory statements toward the youths.

Attorney Bleicher condemned the behavior, saying, “The lawsuit describes a disgusting antisemitic incident targeting children. This is especially serious when involving a bus driver who is responsible for the safety and security of hundreds of passengers every day. Unfortunately, law enforcement authorities declined to address this incident on the criminal level, and we are making an effort, at least in the civil sphere, to compensate the boys for the significant anguish they suffered and to create deterrence against such antisemitic acts.”

{Matzav.com}

Moments before stepping onstage this week, famed singer Avraham Fried recounted a deeply personal incident that occurred during a recent concert tour in Europe, a moment he said he will never forget. At a train station abroad, a police officer suddenly approached him with his lost wallet in hand, leading to an emotional exchange that left a strong impression on the singer.

Speaking with Dudi Kepler, Fried described the whirlwind of travel that preceded the story. “I was in France,” he said, explaining that he had been rushing from place to place: “I was running from one place to another for concerts — Belgium, France, London, Zurich.”

He recalled standing at a train gate in one of those countries, waiting for the train to arrive. “Suddenly I see a tall police officer standing in front of me. He walks over and asks me, ‘Is this yours?’ I look at his hand and see my wallet. ‘Yes,’ I told him immediately. ‘It’s mine.’”

Fried said he was completely confused as to how the wallet had ended up with the officer. “I didn’t understand. I asked the officer: Ribono Shel Olam, this is mine — where did you find it?” The officer explained that Fried had forgotten it on the counter when purchasing his ticket.

But the singer still wondered how the officer had known to whom it belonged in such a crowded station. “I still didn’t understand. I said to the officer: Wait, there are thousands of people here — how did you know this wallet is mine?”

The officer responded that he had no choice but to open it. “He said: ‘With respect, rabbi, I had no choice. I opened the wallet, and inside was a picture of your father.’

“It was a picture of the Rebbe.”

Fried concluded the story with emotion: “So on the train, on the way to the next place, I kept thinking that even a police officer, not Jewish, knows and feels that the Rebbe is a father.”

{Matzav.com}

The passing of the great mekubal and tzaddik, Chacham Moshe Chaim Aryeh zt”l, earlier this week left an immense void in the world of Torah and avodah. Yet alongside the grief emerged an extraordinary life-lesson — a story that encapsulated his unwavering faith, his boundless dedication to mitzvos, and a spiritual test that spanned twenty long years until its miraculous conclusion just hours before his soul returned to its Maker.

Family members, talmidim, and countless visitors who came during the shivah shared accounts of his hidden greatness, quiet devotion, and the radiant light he carried. But one story — the final chapter of his life — stood above all, offering a powerful lesson in emunah, love, and the absolute supremacy of kibbud av.

Among those who knew him, it was well known that Rabbi Moshe Chaim Aryeh shared an unusually deep spiritual connection with the saintly Rav Sasson Mizrachi zt”l, a bond reminiscent of “v’nafsho keshurah b’nafsho.” Their relationship was rooted entirely in Torah, yiras Shamayim, and shared holiness.

After serving for two decades as mashgiach in Yeshivas Porat Yosef–Geulah under the leadership of Chacham Yehuda Tzadka, Rav Moshe Chaim was urged by Rav Sasson to leave the yeshiva world and instead devote himself to the chinuch of bnos Yisroel, establishing schools built on deep purity and Torah values.

Rav Moshe Chaim hesitated. “What will be with my olam haba?” he asked his revered rebbi. Rav Sasson, perceiving both the need of the generation and the unique mission awaiting his talmid, persisted — and then made an extraordinary offer.

He proposed a written pact: each would grant the other “half of his World to Come,” joining their spiritual destinies forever. This rare agreement gave Rav Moshe Chaim the strength to begin the Orah v’Simchah educational network for girls in Yerushalayim.

To complete their partnership, the two purchased adjacent burial plots in the Sanhedria cemetery. When Rav Sasson passed away in 1998, he was buried in his place — while the neighboring grave meant for Rav Moshe Chaim remained empty.

But life brought an unexpected test.

About twenty years ago, Rav Moshe Chaim’s father, Rav Chaim Yitzchak Aryeh zz”l, passed away. To fulfill the mitzvah of kibbud av, he made a stunning decision: he relinquished his own burial plot, the one designated beside his revered teacher, and gave it to his father.

“Kibbud horim comes before everything,” he declared.

With that, the family began a long and grueling search for a new grave in Sanhedria — a search that repeatedly met the same response: “There is no space. It is impossible.” For two decades, their efforts led nowhere.

But Rav Moshe Chaim remained completely calm.

“Do you think Hashem doesn’t know where I’m supposed to be buried?” he told his children. “The place is already reserved. Everything is fine. Hashem forgets no one.”

His serenity stood in stark contrast to the family’s anxious attempts. Again and again he asked them, “Do you believe or not? If you believe, it will happen.”

And then — everything changed.

On Thursday, 7 Kislev, just four days before his passing, one of the sons met by chance with a friend who had once tried to help secure a plot. The son asked him to try once more, explaining that he had promised his father.

At 3:30 that afternoon came an astonishing phone call: “A spot has just now opened,” the friend said in disbelief. “They told me it’s becoming available at this very moment. Send your father’s ID immediately!”

The paperwork was arranged, and on Sunday afternoon the family finalized the purchase of the long-awaited plot.

When they informed the Rav, he did not express surprise. His expression conveyed only one message: This was always part of the plan.

That night, he ate supper as usual. But later that evening, some food entered his lungs, and he was rushed to the hospital. The doctors warned the family to prepare. Early Monday morning, 11 Kislev, Rav Moshe Chaim Aryeh returned his pure soul to Heaven — and was buried in the very plot that had been secured only days earlier.

Thursday: the discovery.
Sunday: the purchase.
Monday morning: the burial.

A sequence orchestrated with perfect precision, as though Heaven had waited for the exact moment to reveal what had been prepared all along.

1. From kibbud av, one never loses.
Rav Moshe Chaim surrendered an unparalleled spiritual privilege — being buried beside his rebbe, a partner in eternal reward — to honor his father. His choice teaches that kibbud av v’em overrides personal aspirations, even lofty spiritual ones. And in the end, he lost nothing; Heaven returned to him exactly what he needed, in miraculous fashion.

2. Everything is already decreed; our role is to trust.
For twenty years, the family faced endless refusals. Yet the Rav remained steadfast: “Hashem knows exactly where I need to be buried.” His unwavering faith opened the gates of salvation in the most dramatic way possible.

3. For tzaddikim, miracles are simply the natural order.
While the family marveled at the timing and the impossibility of the events, the Rav accepted it with calm simplicity. As the Ramban writes, everything — even what appears “natural” — is a direct expression of Hashem’s will. The Rav lived with that truth every moment of his life.

{Matzav.com}

A political storm erupted in the Knesset after Likud MK Tally Gotliv used the protection of parliamentary immunity to disclose what she described as a critical and previously concealed detail surrounding the breakdown in Israel’s security posture before the October 7 massacre. Speaking in the plenum, she claimed that the official known as Oscar, who once headed the Shin Bet’s Southern District, dispatched an operative to the Erez crossing late on the night of October 6 for a direct conversation with a senior Hamas operative roughly eight hours before the onslaught began.

Gotliv identified the meeting as highly troubling, stating, “R. from the Shin Bet, known as Oscar, I didn’t add the first letter of your last name out of courtesy, sent an officer to the Erez crossing on the night of October 6th at around 10 p.m. to meet with the cruel Izz al-Din al-Haddad.” Her remarks suggested that the rendezvous took place at a moment when multiple indicators of heightened terror activity were already emerging.

She further alleged that the purpose of the contact was to obtain information straight from the Hamas figure about unusual communications patterns, explaining that the official was seeking clarity about “SIM cards and other signs.” Gotliv fiercely criticized the very idea of relying on such a source, charging that “in your utter lunacy, you believed the bizarre story that the damned terrorist told you.”

Her dramatic intervention came as wider questions mount regarding why several senior security officials have not cooperated with the State Comptroller’s investigation into the intelligence collapse that paved the way for the October 7 attack. Reports indicate that two top Shin Bet figures have repeatedly declined to appear, even after State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman triggered an unprecedented legal mechanism to compel testimony.

Linking the refusal directly to the alleged late-night meeting, Gotliv confronted the official through her remarks, demanding, “Now I understand why you refuse to appear before the State Comptroller.” Her comments implied that the hidden encounter may be at the heart of their reluctance to cooperate.

Gotliv also highlighted the contrasting operational decisions taken in those crucial hours. She pointed to the deployment of the Tequila unit, a covert and highly trained team sent to the Gaza perimeter due to troubling intelligence indicators, while simultaneously thousands of young people attending the Nova music festival remained unprotected in an exposed field near the border. Despite the warnings, she said, reinforcements were never summoned and the Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, was not alerted to the destabilizing signs.

She ended her statement with a vow that the truth will ultimately surface, asserting, “But thankfully, we have brave and reliable people who love our nation and this country, and thanks to them, we will ultimately reach the truth.”

{Matzav.com}

The man charged with murdering conservative activist Charlie Kirk appeared in person for the first time on Thursday, entering a Provo, Utah, courtroom with a relaxed demeanor as he quietly exchanged smiles with his attorneys. At the same time, Judge Tony Graf granted a major request from Kirk’s widow, naming Erika Kirk the official victim representative for the proceedings.

Before any substantive issues were addressed, defense attorneys for 22-year-old Tyler Robinson immediately pressed the court to restrict camera access. Clad in a blue button-down shirt with an argyle tie, Robinson listened as his lawyer, Staci Visser, argued that media coverage could derail the trial by inflaming public opinion and injecting unnecessary turmoil. “We don’t want the chaos that is out in the media in this courtroom,” Visser told the court.

The dispute over transparency didn’t end there. Judge Graf was also expected to determine whether a transcript of an October phone hearing—where it was decided Robinson could appear in court dressed in civilian clothing—should be opened to the public. After closing the courtroom for more than two hours to hear arguments privately, Graf opted to delay both decisions and set a new date of Dec. 29 to finalize his rulings. “I would rather do it right and take more time, than to be rash and miss the mark,” the judge said. “It is an important issue.”

As the hearing dragged on, Robinson’s legal team intensified its objections, accusing the court’s live video feed of inadvertently broadcasting private strategy, including their on-screen documents and whispered discussions. They also protested that the feed exposed Robinson’s shackles, which had been expressly ordered concealed. “We believe this threatened my client’s right to a fair trial,” Visser said. “That’s entirely inappropriate.” She pushed to shut cameras off entirely, though Judge Graf instead instructed that they simply be repositioned to avoid the defense table.

This was the first time the public saw Robinson physically present, as all earlier sessions had been held virtually. Despite the severity of the accusations, he appeared unshaken. Prosecutors say Robinson opened fire on the 31-year-old Kirk on September 10 during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University, gunning him down in front of thousands.

Kirk, a father of two and a leading voice among young conservatives, was struck once in the neck and collapsed as horrified attendees watched. Videos from multiple angles spread online within minutes, sending shockwaves across the country and fueling public outcry.

The charges against Robinson are extensive: aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice, two counts of witness tampering, and committing a violent offense in the presence of a child. Despite defense protests, Judge Graf insisted Robinson would remain restrained during court for safety reasons, though media were instructed not to photograph the shackles.

Robinson’s effort to keep cameras out has drawn backing from the Utah County Sheriff’s Office. But Erika Kirk—now officially recognized as her late husband’s representative—has forcefully advocated for full public visibility. “There were cameras all over my husband when he was murdered,” she said in an interview with Fox News’ Jesse Watters. “There have been cameras all over me, analyzing my every move, analyzing my every smile, my every tear. We deserve to have cameras in there.”

Regardless of the judge’s ultimate decision on courtroom recording, Erika Kirk will now have a formal role in the proceedings. Granting her request, Judge Graf concluded the hearing by stating, “This court will recognize Miss Erika Kirk as the designated victim representative in this case,” before adding, “Thank you.”

{Matzav.com}

A new Channel 14 poll released Thursday night presents an updated snapshot of the Israeli political landscape, showing significant shifts across multiple blocs. While the Likud remains dominant, the survey indicates a sharp rise for Arab parties, continued stagnation for Yair Lapid, and an almost complete collapse for Benny Gantz.

According to the poll, if elections were held today, the Likud would retain its strength with 35 seats—unchanged from the previous survey. Naftali Bennett’s party gains one seat, rising to 13. Shas remains stable on 11 seats, followed by Yair Golan’s “Democrats,” which hold steady at 10.

Yisrael Beiteinu slips by one seat to 10, while United Torah Judaism remains unchanged with 8. Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party polls at 7 seats, matching the result for Otzma Yehudit. The Arab Islamist Ra’am party climbs to 6 seats, while Religious Zionism weakens, dropping to 4.

Hadash–Ta’al receives 5 seats. Yesh Atid continues to hover near the electoral threshold with only 4 seats. Blue and White polls at 1.2 seats and Balad at 2.5—both failing to cross the threshold.

Across political blocs, the right-wing camp reaches 65 seats, the left-wing bloc holds 44, and the Arab parties collectively climb to 11 seats.

In the head-to-head question of who is best suited to serve as prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu leads decisively with 53% support. He is followed by Naftali Bennett at 22%. Gadi Eisenkot registers 10%, while Yair Lapid and Avigdor Liberman each receive 7%. Benny Gantz trails far behind, with just 1% backing him for the premiership.

{Matzav.com}

Intense search efforts are underway for a 19-year-old chareidi young man from central Israel who has been missing since yesterday, with authorities expressing serious concern for his safety.

According to the emergency response organization ZAKA, the teenager was last seen near the Yarkon Stream, raising the possibility that he may have been carried out toward the Mediterranean Sea.

Search teams have been operating for several hours after all contact with the young man was lost approximately a day earlier. Given the length of time he has been missing and the severe weather conditions, officials warn that the danger to his life is significant.

Following a request from the Israel Police, volunteers from ZAKA’s missing-persons unit in Tel Aviv—together with members of the organization’s special-operations team—began sweeping large sections of the coastline, nearby parks, and other areas where clues about his whereabouts were detected.

Stormy winds and rough water conditions have heightened fears and made the search more dangerous and difficult.

Yechiel Goldman, operations coordinator for ZAKA Tel Aviv, said: “Our volunteers have been working in the field for the past several hours with the goal of locating the missing young man as quickly as possible. The storm has made the conditions extremely challenging, and every moment may be critical.”

A joint command post has been set up at the National Park in collaboration with ZAKA Tel Aviv and Israel’s emergency and security services. From there, search sectors are being assigned and coordinated, with teams continuing to comb all relevant areas as the investigation continues.

{Matzav.com}

Thousands of members of the Chassidishe community of London flooded the streets of the city in a large-scale protest against Israel’s proposed draft law. A broad coalition of Chassidic groups united publicly to oppose the legislation currently under debate in the Israeli Knesset.

The rally took place outside the Israeli Embassy and attracted participants from Satmar, Ger, Belz, Vizhnitz, Boyan, Bobov, Tchernobyl, and several other Chassidic communities.

Protesters filled both sides of the road while allowing traffic to continue moving, maintaining strict order throughout the event.

From the crowd rose a repeated chant in English: “Shame on you, Israeli government!”

The Stamford Hill neighborhood alone sent more than 70 buses, aside from those who arrived by train and other public transportation.

The event opened with remarks from Rabbi Yechezkel Weiss of Monsey, who traveled from the United States specifically to address the gathering.

He was followed by Rabbi Moshe Menachem Weiss, a Satmar leader in London, who shared a story from a recent visit to Israel. He described spending a weekend in Meron with his rebbe, during which local organizers arranged a driver for him. The driver, a chareidi man who is not currently studying in a yeshiva, revealed that he was officially considered absent without leave from the Israeli army. Rabbi Weiss told the crowd that he asked the driver why he refused to enlist if he was not engaged in full-time study. According to Rabbi Weiss, the driver told him: “I would rather be taken to prison than drafted into the army. I would not be able to keep my religious commitments the way I try to now. I know that if I go, I will come out spiritually destroyed.”

The driver went on to warn that the authorities were targeting the community’s most vulnerable young people, comparing it to going after “stragglers” and saying that even the youth who are struggling religiously must be protected.

Rabbi Leibus Padwa, son of London’s chief rabbinic authority for the chareidi community, led the assembled crowd in a recitation of Tehillim.

After him spoke Rabbi Baruch Nosson Halberstam of Satmar, followed by Rabbi Chaim Pinchos Miller of the Tchernobyl kehillah . Rabbi Marmerstein then addressed the crowd in English.

The demonstration concluded with kabbolas ohl malchus Shomayim led by the nearly 100-year-old dayan Rabbi Shalom Friedman, one of the most senior rabbonim in Europe.

At the end of the rally, Rabbi Yitzchok Meir Kopel read a formal statement calling for the draft legislation to be canceled entirely.

{Matzav.com}

Wikipedia drew criticism from Jewish leaders after the site’s editors opted to freeze discussion about the title of a page that refers to Israel committing a “massacre” in June 2024.

The decision means that no one can even discuss changing the title of the page “Nuseirat rescue and massacre” until at least August 2026. The page refers to the Jewish state’s liberation of the four hostages—Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov and Shlomi Ziv—from Gaza.

Citing “Palestinian health officials,” the Wikipedia page claims that “at least” 276 Palestinians were killed during the operation. It also says that the Israeli military recorded fewer than 100 Palestinian deaths. The Israeli media article Wikipedia cites notes that there were terrorists among the Palestinian deaths, but the encyclopedia’s page doesn’t say that.

At least as of Oct. 2, the Wikipedia page calling it a “massacre” stated that it was redirected from a page called “2024 Nuseirat rescue operation,” per an archived version of the page. Wikipedia reportedly had that page and one on “Nuseirat refugee camp massacre” as of June 18, 2024.

After some efforts were made to change the title of the current page, Wikipedia editors proposed a moratorium on changes on July 26 and put the ban in place on Dec. 8, to last until Aug. 3.

“Wikipedia, once again, seems to be misleading its readers,” Daniel S. Mariaschin, CEO of B’nai B’rith International, told JNS.

“The Nuseirat matter tells us two things about the war in Gaza,” he said. “We learned, early on, that any figures issued by the Hamas-led ‘Gaza Health Ministry’ were always highly inflated and not credible.”

Mariaschin added that Israeli hostages “being held by Palestinian civilians in apartment buildings speaks clearly to Hamas’s policy of surrounding itself, or those connected to it, with human shields.”

“The real story here should be that kidnapped Israelis were being held hostage and were successfully rescued,” he told JNS.

Vlad Khaykin, executive vice president of social impact and North American partnerships at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, told JNS that Wikipedia’s use of the word “massacre” in the title is “not a neutral descriptor.”

“It is a verdict—one that draws its authority from casualty figures and claims that remain deeply contested, often circulated by those intent on recasting Israel’s efforts at self-defense as acts of villainy,” he said.

“To enshrine such a term in a headline, absent the slow work of context and verification, is not an act of impartiality,” Khaykin told JNS. “It is the quiet rewriting of the story before the facts have even settled.”

‘Moratorium on truth’

Earlier this year, Wikipedia editors placed another moratorium on discussion on a different page—a dramatic measure that it tends to take rarely. It says that such a decision “should be used with caution,” since it runs “counter to the general practice on Wikipedia that any editor may initiate a discussion on any topic related to the operations of the encyclopedia at any time.”

On Feb. 21, editors reportedly placed a year-long ban on discussions to change the line “Zionists wanted to create a Jewish state in Palestine with as much land, as many Jews and as few Palestinian Arabs as possible” in the opening paragraph of the Wikipedia article on “Zionism.”

“Since when do relied-upon sources of information online place a moratorium on the truth?” Mariaschin told JNS. “The treatment of the story of the Jews’ return to their ancient homeland is not just given short shrift. It is given a fabricated treatment of history that is both biased and dangerous.”

“One can only imagine how many people searching for the facts will walk away with an intentionally false narrative,” he said.

Khaykin told JNS that the moratorium on the Zionism page “locked in a one-sided version of history.”

In January, Wikipedia’s arbitration committee banned eight editors from editing Arab-Israeli articles indefinitely. Six of the eight are anti-Israel. They can appeal their suspensions after one year.

“This is not a simple quarrel among volunteers,” Khaykin told JNS. “It is a case study in how determined actors can quietly seize the levers of an open system, rewriting reality while the world looks away.”

A JNS review found that moratoria have only been implemented a handful of times this year, including efforts to rename the article on the Gulf of Mexico, which U.S. President Donald Trump calls the “Gulf of America,” and discussions about the gender of an Algerian boxer. (JNS sought comment from the Wikimedia Foundation.)

In February 2024, a moratorium paused discussion for three months on efforts to rename an article then titled “Israel-Hamas war.” The title of the page was changed to “Gaza war” in January. A moratorium proposal to freeze discussion on changing the title of the “Gaza genocide” page failed in August 2024.

The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is investigating Wikipedia over concerns of “potentially systematic efforts to advance antisemitic and anti-Israel information in Wikipedia articles related to conflicts with the State of Israel.”

Holly Huffnagle, U.S. director of antisemitism policy for the American Jewish Committee, told JNS that “coordinated and manipulated Wikipedia editing campaigns are dangerous and something that the Wikimedia Foundation must take seriously.”

“These campaigns have the power to distort the public record, exploiting the trust people place in an open encyclopedia to push narratives crafted for hidden agendas,” she said. “Because Wikipedia is so widely cited, including by AI chatbots, even subtle, organized manipulations can change public opinion, shape news coverage and conceal the truth.”

“Procedures and policy must reflect and address these concerns,” she said.

Khaykin told JNS that Wikipedia “now serves as a foundational layer of the global information ecosystem.”

“Its content feeds directly into Google search results and informs Alexa and Siri responses,” he said. “Increasingly, it influences AI platforms like ChatGPT. When Wikipedia’s neutrality is compromised at the source, that distortion spreads.”

“Downstream tools then shape how students, journalists, policymakers and the public understand complex issues,” Khaykin told JNS.

Wikipedia “allows a small group to dictate what the world is permitted to know, then those who build our digital commons must ask themselves whether such a platform deserves its place of trust,” he added. “A source so easily captured should not be allowed to shape historical perspective or the truths we pass on to the next generation.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

Pomona College reached a settlement with the Anti-Defamation League, the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law and Hillel International on Wednesday, following a complaint the trio filed with the U.S. Department of Education in April 2024.

The three groups alleged in the complaint that the private liberal arts school in southern California allowed “severe discrimination and harassment of Jewish students” to occur on campus. The Education Department said in August that it was probing the matter.

Under the new agreement, the highly-ranked school will recognize that the word “Zionist” tends to be used as a code for “Jew” and will use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of Jew-hatred when investigating alleged antisemitism on campus.

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO and national director of the ADL, stated that the agreement is a “critical turning point for Pomona’s Jewish students, faculty and staff.”

“The comprehensive reforms negotiated with Pomona touch nearly every aspect of campus life, and we welcome the college’s significant, multi-faceted commitment to fighting antisemitism on its campus,” he said.

“With the reforms in this agreement, we expect meaningful and urgent strides toward Pomona’s promise of creating a safe and welcoming environment for its Jewish and Israeli students, faculty and staff,” he added.

The college commits to recognize that targeting Zionists can violate the school’s nondiscrimination policies if it’s “on the basis of their actual or perceived Jewish or Israeli shared ancestry” and that “Zionist” is “often used as a code word for ‘Jew,’” per the agreement.

The school must also appoint a coordinator to ensure compliance with Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and Pomona’s website must include an option to report Title VI incidents. Students, faculty and staff will also be required to take Title VI training, according to the agreement, which is to begin in the spring.

G. Gabrielle Starr, president of Pomona, stated that “antisemitism has persisted for thousands of years, and this settlement is not a one-size-fits-all toolkit.”

“It’ll be up to our community to put it in place and to live it,” she said.

Kenneth L. Marcus, chairman of the Brandeis Center and former U.S. assistant secretary of education for civil rights, stated that “the action steps outlined in this settlement will address the blatant and egregious antisemitism faced by Pomona’s students, therefore protecting students from facing similar treatment in the future.”

“We hope it encourages others to take legal action against those who violate our constitutional rights,” he said. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Israel will ban mobile phone use by children on elementary school grounds starting on Feb. 2, Education Minister Yoav Kish announced on Thursday.

The policy expands a 2019 ban that prohibited phones during classes. Under the new rules, students cannot use devices during breaks or before lessons. Phones will be allowed only in designated classes with staff approval for educational purposes.

The Education Ministry said the ban aims to help pupils develop social and emotional skills, improve school climate and enable better focus on learning. Officials cited studies on mobile phone impacts and global trends, including Australia’s recent ban on social media for users under 16.

The ministry will implement educational programs and work with parents to promote balanced phone use and reduce exposure to inappropriate content. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Israeli security services have uncovered new intelligence that may shed light on the burial site of Ran Gvili, according to a Channel 12 News report aired Thursday night. Officials have launched initial on-the-ground examinations over the past several days to assess the credibility of the information.

Investigators are now concentrating on a location associated with operatives from the Islamic Jihad terror organization, whose members carried out Ran Gvili’s abduction during the October 7 attack. In contrast to earlier assessments, Israeli officials now believe that the militants believed to have taken part in his burial are still alive.

Defense sources say that if Hamas demonstrates willingness, interrogating Islamic Jihad operatives could enable Israel to pinpoint the precise site where Gvili was buried. They note that cooperation on this matter is essential for any further progress in negotiations.

Channel 12 also reported that Israel has delivered a clear message in diplomatic channels: it will not advance to Phase 2 of the Trump ceasefire agreement until a resolution is reached regarding the repatriation of Ran Gvili’s body for burial in Israel.

{Matzav.com}

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is standing firmly behind a video he released over the weekend instructing immigrants on how to assert their rights if confronted by federal immigration officers. The clip, posted on X, portrayed the city as a haven for the more than 3 million immigrants who call it home and emphasized their need for protection.

Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, said the video was prompted by what he described as an attempted ICE raid near Canal Street. He told viewers that New Yorkers should understand exactly what they can do when approached by immigration agents. In the video, he reminded residents that ICE “cannot enter private spaces without a judicial warrant signed by a judge.”

He cautioned that officers may present documents that appear official but do not grant legal authority to enter a home, stressing that individuals have the absolute right to refuse consent and to remain silent. Mamdani also pointed out that New Yorkers may legally record ICE activity as long as they do not interfere with law enforcement. He urged people to stay composed and invoked their constitutional right to protest peacefully.

Following backlash from federal officials, Mamdani defended the guidance during a Wednesday interview with MS Now. He insisted that his administration will push back against President Donald Trump’s expanded enforcement efforts and emphasized that “any ICE officer who violates city law” will be held to account. He reiterated that New York’s sanctuary laws will remain fully in place and that the NYPD will not assist federal agents with immigration enforcement.

According to Mamdani, the city’s own police force is entirely capable of maintaining safety without federal involvement. He added that he told Trump during a November meeting in the Oval Office that the recent ICE raids in New York were “cruel and inhumane.” Mamdani argued that the city neither needs nor wants ICE or National Guard deployments to keep residents secure.

The clash intensified after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem condemned Mamdani’s video on Fox News, suggesting that some of his statements might violate the Constitution. She said federal officials were examining the matter with the Department of Justice.

When asked by MS Now whether he is prepared to face potential arrest for refusing to cooperate with the crackdown, Mamdani did not back down. The mayor-elect said he is fully ready to accept “any consequence” that comes with defending the people of New York.

{Matzav.com}