Matzav

it is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Yisroel Eliezer Hager zt”l, Av Beis Din of Seret Vizhnitz in Yerushalayim, who was niftar at the age of 74.

Rav Hager was born in Haifa to his father, Rav Moshe Hager, Rosh Yeshivas Seret Vizhnitz and mechaber of Birchas Moshe, and his mother, Rebbetzin Alte Perl, daughter of Rav Chaim Menachem Dovid Horowitz, the last Rebbe of the Dzhikov dynasty.

As a child he was raised under the illuminating presence of his saintly grandfather, the Mekor Baruch, who showered him with love and warmth and formed the foundation of his avodas Hashem. At his bar mitzvah, his uncle, the Imrei Chaim of Vizhnitz, placed tefillin on him for the first time while in Tzfas.

Rav Yisroel Eliezer later married his rebbetzin, shetichyeh, the daughter of Rav Shmuel Shmelke Rubin, the Solitza Rebbe in the United States.

After living for a time in Haifa, he eventually settled in Yerushalayim, where he established the Seret Vizhnitz beis medrash on Grossberg Street. There he delivered shiurim, uplifted mispalleli, and published sefarim drawn from the Torah of his holy forebears.

Despite his illustrious yichus—his brother and cousins all serving as Rebbes—Rav Yisroel Eliezer consistently declined any form of leadership or public position. Even as prominent Rebbes became his mechutanim, he continued to avoid the spotlight, choosing instead to live with sincerity, tznius, and quietness.

In recent years, despite enduring harsh yissurim, he accepted everything with love and unwavering emunah. On Rosh Hashanah, as in previous years, he stayed by the Vizhnitz Rebbe, his mechutan and shvogger, where he was accorded great kavod and honored with aliyos and other kibbudim.

Only two weeks ago, on Motzaei Shabbos Parshas Vayeira, he was still zocheh to participate in the tenaim of his grandson, the son of Rav Menachem Mendel Hager.

In the last days, his condition suddenly deteriorated. After being hospitalized in critical condition, surrounded by his family, he was niftar as they stood at his side.

Rav Yisroel Eliezer leaves behind a distinguished dor of bnei Torah. His rebbetzin survives him, as does his only brother, the Shatz Vizhnitz Rebbe. His sons are Rav Menachem Mendel, a son-in-law of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe; Rav Baruch, a son-in-law of the Kretchnifer Rebbe; Rav Yaakov, a son-in-law of the Pittsburgh Rebbe zt”l and the mashgiach ruchani of Yeshivas Vizhnitz in Ashdod; and Rav Meir Emanuel, Rav of the Ratzfert kehillah in Beit Shemesh. His sons-in-law include Rav Yehuda Aryeh Halberstam, son of the Gorlitzer Rebbe; Rav Yisroel Tzvi Lemberger, son of the Makover Rav of Ashdod; and Rav Yechiel Yehoshua Rabinowitz, son of the Biala-Yashri Lev Rebbe. He is also survived by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The levayah will take place today at 4 PM from the Seret Vizhnitz Beis Medrash in Yerushalayim, proceed to the main Seret Vizhnitz beis medrash in Ramat Vizhnitz, Haifa, and from there continue to the ancient beis hachaim in Tzefas for kevurah.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com}

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir arrived in the Bedouin town of Lakiya overnight together with a massive police force, as part of an intensified campaign aimed at restoring governance and cracking down on crime across the Negev. Hundreds of Southern District officers, special units, and dozens of patrol vehicles took part in the operation, launched under the government’s “New Order” initiative.

Ben Gvir reached the area between Sunday night and Monday morning to oversee the activity firsthand and to meet with the forces deployed on the ground. He was accompanied by Southern District commander Maj.-Gen. Chaim Bublil, Deputy Police Commissioner Maj.-Gen. Avshi Peled, and additional senior commanders involved in the effort.

As the convoy entered Lakiya, tensions flared when MK Walid Al-Hawashla and the head of the Lakiya Regional Council attempted to create a confrontation. Ben Gvir responded sharply, telling them, “Governance is returning — and we are the ones in charge here.”

Throughout the tour, small-scale clashes broke out in several areas, but police continued the operation as planned. The sweep is part of a broader push to reestablish law and order in Negev communities, an issue the minister has repeatedly placed at the top of his agenda.

Ben Gvir said during the visit, “We will not back down. We are doing what hasn’t been done for 30 years. Those who behave properly — we will be good to them, and those who don’t — will be dealt with harshly. I understand that some residents find this difficult — they’ll have to overcome it. We came to remind everyone who is the boss in the State of Israel.”

The targeted killing of Hezbollah’s military chief, Haytham Ali Tabatabai, on Sunday surprised not only the terror organization but also officials in Washington, who were not told in advance whom Israel planned to strike, when it would happen, or where the operation would take place. According to a Channel 12 News report, the Trump administration learned the key details only after the mission had already concluded.

U.S. officials had received earlier indications from Israel that the northern front was sliding toward a security escalation due to delays in Hezbollah’s disarmament. Still, while they understood the direction Israel was heading, they had no knowledge of how that would translate into specific military action.

Even so, the lack of advance warning did not dampen Washington’s approval. Senior figures in the Trump administration — described as the most supportive Israel has ever had — openly welcomed the outcome of the strike. One top American official said, “We are pleased with the elimination of Hezbollah’s number two. We think it’s an excellent development. Congratulations. Mabrouk. Mazel tov.”

Officials also noted that in conversations held after the strike between U.S. representatives and the Lebanese government, Beirut did not voice sharp objections and did not ask Washington to pressure Israel in response.

{Matzav.com}

A special peter chamor ceremony drew thousands of participants on Motzaei Shabbos in the Givat HaAntenna community of Bayit Vegan, with leading rabbonim, dayanim, and roshei yeshiva joining the event.

The ceremony, held under the leadership of Rav Shimon Zafrani and Rav Avraham Dayan, was sponsored by Reb Yitzchak Kafif of Brazil. The gathering attracted prominent Torah figures from across Eretz Yisroel and abroad.

Among those in attendance were Rav David Attiya, member of the Bais Din Hagadol and son of Chacham Ezra Attiya zt”l; Rav Nissim Harari of Yeshivas Chida; Rav David Berdugo of the Bais Din Hagadol; Dayan Rav Yisroel Zar; Rav Moshe Vaknin of Orchos Meir; Rav Shalom Pinhasi of Darkei David; Rav Yosef Ades of Maalos Yosef; Rav Avraham Nochum Vig of Torah Ohr; Rav Asher Wiener, mara d’asra of Kiryat Yovel; as well as Rav Eli Mansour, rav in the Syrian community in NY, and Rav Chaim Dishi of Brazil.

The evening opened with remarks from Rav Yosef Shushan, Av Beis Din of Mishpetei HaTorah, who spoke about the significance of the mitzvah. Rav Avraham Dayan then addressed the crowd, elaborating on the halachic foundations and principles of acquisition related to the ceremony.

Rav Zafrani led Kabbalas Ol Malchus Shamayim, with the massive crowd responding.

The actual pidyon was then performed by the kohen, Rav Yitzchak Cohen, mara d’asra of the Shmuel HaNavi neighborhood and rosh yeshiva of Torah Vodaas. Before the main ceremony, a special Avos U’Banim learning session took place in the community’s beis medrash, drawing hundreds of fathers and children.

Rav Yosef Niyazoff served as the evening’s master of ceremonies.

Photographer Yaakov Cohen captured the scenes from this uplifting gathering:

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​​For more info, email bitachon4life@gmail.com.

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At a special event in Yerushalayim on Monday night, Rav Shlomo Moshe Amar delivered an emphatic message about the closeness of the geulah, asserting that the arrival of Moshiach is imminent. His remarks came as he participated in a mezuzah-placement ceremony for the new headquarters of “Banim Atem – Genetics and Halacha,” an organization dedicated to offering halachic and medical support for couples navigating fertility issues.

During his address, Rav Amar stated with certainty, “It is clear and certain, according to all opinions, that we are very close to the coming of Moshiach.” He went on to underscore that this understanding leaves no room for hesitation, emphasizing, “We are in the days of Moshiach. It’s not a question or a matter of doubt.”

Drawing on what he heard from those close to Rav Chaim Kanievsky, Rav Amar shared a striking recollection attributed to the late gadol: “I heard from great individuals that he told them: ‘How can you travel abroad? He’s already here!’”

Rav Amar clarified that his message was not meant to be taken as poetic imagery or subtle allusion but as a literal assessment of our times. “These are decisive things. This is not politics or policy, but actual redemption. We are at the height of the birth pangs of Moshiach, and it is very near. It’s as clear as day.”

{Matzav.com}

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signaled that Ankara is weighing whether to contribute troops to the proposed multinational force being assembled for Gaza, according to remarks he delivered on Sunday and cited by Reuters. He said the matter remains under review and that a final stance will be taken only after further conversations with international partners.

Addressing reporters after the G20 gathering in South Africa, Erdogan explained that discussions would shape Turkey’s eventual decision. His government was instrumental in brokering the ceasefire agreement and was one of the signatories at the talks in Egypt, positioning itself as a watchdog over the deal’s implementation.

Turkey has repeatedly expressed eagerness to take part in the stabilization mission. Yet Israel has made clear it will not accept Turkish participation in any post-conflict arrangement in Gaza, a point Israel has reinforced even as Ankara continues to press its case publicly.

Jerusalem’s refusal is rooted in the increasingly hostile rhetoric Erdogan has leveled at Israel since the war began on October 7, 2023. The tension spiked earlier this month when Turkish authorities issued sweeping arrest warrants targeting 37 Israeli officials on accusations of genocide linked to Israel’s operations in Gaza.

Those warrants named senior figures including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, and Naval Forces Commander David Saar Salama.

At the Sunday press briefing, Erdogan doubled down on his allegation that the campaign in Gaza constitutes “genocide,” insisting once again that Netanyahu bears responsibility.

{Matzav.com}

NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s sweeping pledges of no-cost services are already colliding with fiscal reality, the NY Post reports. A new analysis from the Citizens Budget Commission warns that Mayor Eric Adams’ latest financial blueprint leaves the incoming administration staring at a shortfall that could top $8 billion — and that figure doesn’t even factor in the price tag for any of Mamdani’s proposed giveaways.

On top of that, Washington is widely expected to scale back federal support for the city, adding yet another financial strain that Mamdani will have to address almost immediately.

To plug the projected multibillion-dollar deficit, the next mayor would need to carve out deep reductions from the already-approved budget — a politically explosive task before he even begins to pitch new initiatives.

Even if Albany agrees to both of the sweeping tax increases Mamdani wants — hikes on personal income and corporate levies — and even if the state lets him keep the full $9 billion those taxes might generate instead of spreading them across statewide programs, analysts say the money still wouldn’t cover existing obligations, let alone fund ambitious new policies.

And that’s assuming those taxes actually bring in what supporters promise. Higher levies on wealthy earners and major companies risk driving many of them out of New York — wiping out the very revenue the mayor-elect is banking on.

So the big question hanging in the air: How exactly does Mamdani expect to fund his agenda of complimentary buses, free child care, and expansive housing subsidies?

The numbers are staggering. His transit proposal would cost nearly $1 billion on its own. Universal child care could swallow another $6 billion. Some iterations of his housing vision would require tens of billions — amounts that make the city’s current deficit look minor.

Does Mamdani believe money simply materializes on cue?

Nor is Albany in a position to swoop in with a bailout. Gov. Kathy Hochul may now support ideas she once dismissed — including free buses and certain tax increases — but the state itself is bracing for substantial shortfalls as federal aid drops. New York could lose roughly $8 billion a year from reductions in Medicaid and food stamp funding alone.

Meanwhile, the city’s long-term outlook is worsening. Adams’ plan projects a $12 billion cumulative gap through 2029, but the CBC warns actual expenses are understated by around $4 billion — meaning the true hole could be even deeper.

Unless Mamdani has a hidden supply of miracle cash, the enthusiasm of his supporters is likely to collide quickly with an unforgiving balance sheet.

{Matzav.com}

A newly rediscovered video from 2002 has thrust Mahmood Mamdani — father of NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani — into the spotlight, revealing a series of incendiary accusations against Israel and Holocaust survivors. In the footage, the Columbia University professor likens Israel to apartheid-era South Africa and labels Holocaust survivors as “today’s perpetrators,” igniting a fresh round of outrage.

The remarks come from a Nov. 16, 2002 lecture delivered at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, where Mahmood Mamdani framed both South Africa and Israel as examples of oppressive settler regimes targeting native populations. Speaking about white Afrikaners, he claimed they feared how Black South Africans might treat them once the system of apartheid collapsed.

“That same specter must also haunt the survivors of the Holocaust in Israel — yesterday’s victims turned today’s perpetrators,” he asserted, tying Jewish survival after the Shoah to modern political conflict with Palestinians.

During the same address, the scholar — known for his work on colonialism, anti-colonial struggles, and decolonization — went further, invoking Adolf Hitler while arguing that European outrage over Nazism was selective. “The European bourgeois cannot forgive Hitler the fact that he applied to Europe the colonial practices that had been previously applied to the Arabs in Algeria, the Koulis in India and the Negroes in Africa,” Mahmood Mamdani said. “The Holocaust was the imperial chickens come home.”

He claimed that Israel operates with unchecked authority and American backing, asserting that Israel acts “with impunity” and “without accountability.” He continued: “There is one state that stands in defiance to practically every UN resolution that affects it. That’s the state of Israel.”

Two decades later, similar talking points have become common among anti-Israel activists, particularly since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 massacre triggered the current war in Gaza — a conflict followed by a surge in antisemitic threats, protests, and harassment, including incidents targeting Jews on their way to shul.

The resurfaced recording was uncovered by Canary Mission, an organization that documents antisemitism and anti-Israel agitation on college campuses. The watchdog said, “Zohran Mamdani’s father, Mahmood, is one of the most antisemitic voices in academia by spewing lies and distortions uninterrupted.” They added, “If not for his son’s fame, we might not know that this hateful rhetoric was infecting impressionable students’ minds year after year after year @Columbia.”

The revelations arrive at a sensitive moment for Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist who has already faced criticism for backing the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement, labeling Israel an apartheid regime, and declaring that he would seek to arrest Israel Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu as a war criminal if he ever entered New York City.

{Matzav.com}

A frantic effort unfolded Sunday as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff raced to salvage the White House’s contentious 28-point proposal for ending the Ukraine war, a document blasted by critics across the political spectrum as little more than a Russian “wishlist.”

Tensions were high even before talks began in Geneva, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and multiple European states flagging deep concerns about the draft plan and its sweeping demands that Ukraine surrender large swaths of territory.

Rubio, Witkoff, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, Jared Kushner, and additional administration officials met face-to-face with Ukraine’s delegation for several hours in what insiders described as an occasionally strained session. By the end of the day, the American team accepted the need to revise parts of the plan. “I’m not going to speculate,” Rubio remarked. “I feel very optimistic that we can get something done here.” He also quipped, “Obviously, the Russians get a vote.”

Confusion over the origins of the proposal—and reports that Kyiv had been warned US aid could be cut off if it refused—continued to overshadow the negotiations.

Rubio spent part of Saturday on the phone with a bipartisan group of senators attending the Halifax International Security Forum, attempting to quell their alarm. Sen. Mike Rounds said Rubio told them, “It is not our recommendation, it is not our peace plan.” Sen. Angus King noted Rubio had implied the draft resembled a “wishlist of the Russians.” The secretary of state later shot back publicly that the document was “authored by the US,” adding, “It is based on input from the Russian side. But it is also based on previous and ongoing input from Ukraine.”

Lawmakers said Rubio offered no clarification on reports that Ukraine had been threatened with a cutoff in assistance. He indicated he was not present for such discussions. Meanwhile, President Trump has openly declared that he wants Ukraine to agree to the framework by Thanksgiving.

On Sunday, Ukraine presented its own counterproposal, and US officials were open to adjusting portions of the 28-point outline, according to Axios. Despite that apparent progress, US negotiators privately accused their Ukrainian counterparts of leaking sensitive details to the American press to spark domestic pushback.

Zelensky, who earlier described the original draft as a bleak “choice between losing our dignity and freedom and losing US support,” publicly expressed gratitude for Washington’s efforts. “Ukraine is grateful to the United States, to every American heart, and personally to President Trump,” he wrote on X, shortly after Trump complained Ukraine had shown “zero gratitude.” Zelensky added, “Thank you to everyone who is helping! Thank you, America! Thank you, Europe! I am proud of our people. Glory to Ukraine!” He has repeatedly insisted that any legitimate peace plan must protect Ukraine’s long-term security and avoid rewarding Russian aggression.

The leaked draft requires Ukraine to relinquish the entire Donbas region—territory Russia has failed to fully control despite years of war. Critics warn that giving up the rest of Donbas would leave Ukraine dangerously exposed, transferring major fortified areas to Moscow and enabling future attacks. Only weeks ago, Trump favored locking in the existing frontlines to sidestep painful territorial talks, but Moscow rejected that outright.

The proposal further demands that Ukraine abandon its pursuit of NATO membership, reduce its military from roughly 900,000 troops to 600,000, and grant sweeping amnesty to all parties involved in the war—effectively shielding Russians from accountability for atrocities. Russian commitments, by contrast, are minimal: avoiding future invasions of neighbors and offering Ukraine limited security assurances. Those assurances fall far short of NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense guarantee, leaving Ukraine vulnerable if Moscow initiates yet another assault.

The political backlash was immediate and fierce, from Democrats and pro-Ukraine Republicans alike.

“Vladimir Putin has never once kept a single promise that he has made regarding Ukraine. Not once. Ever. And he’s not about to start now,” Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick warned. “Any agreement that requires any element of trust placed in Vladimir Putin’s ‘promise’ is not worth the paper it is written on.”

European objections also poured in. A leaked EU peace outline released Sunday appeared to challenge the US draft directly, reaffirming Ukraine’s NATO prospects, preserving its territorial claims, and calling for the current lines of contact to be frozen rather than redrawn.

The result: The administration’s plan now hangs in limbo, reshaped under pressure as all sides brace for another round of negotiations.

{Matzav.com}

Whispers about the state of JD and Usha Vance’s marriage picked up speed this month, but a representative for Usha Vance stepped in to shut them down, insisting there is no truth to any talk of a split.

The frenzy began after Usha appeared at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, NC, on November 19 without her wedding band. She joined First Lady Melania Trump for the visit, and photos of her bare ring finger quickly ignited speculation online.

The explanation, her spokesperson said, is far simpler than the rumor mill would like to believe. In a statement to People, the spokesperson noted that “[Usha is] a mother of three young children, who does a lot of dishes, gives lots of baths, and forgets her ring sometimes.” The couple, who met at Yale Law School, have been married since 2014 and share three children: Ewan, 8, Vivek, 5, and Mirabel, 3.

Online chatter had already been bubbling after a Turning Point USA gathering last month, where JD Vance and Erika Kirk shared a widely circulated embrace onstage. Kirk — whose husband, conservative activist Charlie Kirk, was tragically shot and killed in September — described the moment as a genuine expression of comfort, not romance. She also told the audience, “No one will ever replace my husband. But I do see some similarities of my husband in JD — in Vice President JD Vance. I do.”

In fact, Erika Kirk has spoken warmly of Usha as well. Reflecting on a private exchange between them at Charlie’s memorial, she said, “She told me, you will get through these 15 minutes and the next 15 minutes after that. Usha, I don’t think you realized it then, but those words were exactly what I needed to hear.”

The vice president made waves of his own in October when he remarked that he hopes Usha — who grew up in a Hindu home — will one day join him in the Catholic faith, offering yet another flashpoint for scrutiny of the couple.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump is reportedly advancing plans to formally categorize the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization, signaling a major shift that has been under discussion since his first term.

According to Just the News, the president said the process is nearing completion. “It will be done in the strongest and most powerful terms. Final documents are being drawn,” he told the outlet.

Foreign terrorist designations fall under the authority of the U.S. Department of State, which maintains the official FTO registry on its website.

“Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) are foreign organizations that are designated by the Secretary of State in accordance with section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), as amended. FTO designations play a critical role in our fight against terrorism and are an effective means of curtailing support for terrorist activities and pressuring groups to get out of the terrorism business,” the agency said.

The current list includes a wide array of extremist movements such as ISIS, Boko Haram, Hamas, Tren de Aragua, and Antifa.

The report noted that Trump has weighed the Muslim Brotherhood designation for years, viewing the movement’s global influence as a national security concern.

“The Muslim Brotherhood is an Islamist group founded nearly a century ago in Egypt but with chapters, parties, and affiliated movements around the world,” the article explained.

Momentum for the designation grew in Congress this year. In June, Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina introduced legislation pushing for the group to be labeled an FTO, a move previously reported by Breitbart News.

“The Muslim Brotherhood doesn’t just support terrorism, it inspires it,” said Mace. “President Trump was right when he said the Muslim Brotherhood is a threat to global security, and it’s long past time we call them what they are: terrorists.”

Her bill would activate an array of national security mechanisms — including asset freezes, financial sanctions, travel restrictions, and heightened law enforcement scrutiny — aimed at crippling the organization’s operations both domestically and overseas, according to a press release from her office.

The congresswoman emphasized that the group’s affiliates have long played a role in radicalizing Islamist movements and destabilizing U.S. partners in key regions.

Separate reporting this fall highlighted the group’s ongoing international footprint. In October, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that a British journalist believed to be linked to the Muslim Brotherhood was being held by ICE and facing deportation, Breitbart News noted.

{Matzav.com}

Federal Bureau of Investigation officials announced that the gunman who attempted to assassinate President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, acted entirely on his own, concluding a sweeping investigation that spanned continents.

Fox News reported that the finding followed what authorities described as an exhaustive probe in which investigators pursued every possible angle. The network spoke with FBI Director Kash Patel, Deputy Director Dan Bongino, and another senior figure involved in the case who requested anonymity due to operational sensitivities.

Patel said investigators engaged fully from the moment they assumed command of the bureau, noting that the team had dual responsibilities: keeping the chain of communication open with the White House while ensuring Trump was recognized under the law as one of the four victims of the attack. “We not only had to maintain the chain of command to President Trump, but we had to remind the world that President Trump was the victim — one of the four victims — on that day. There are victims’ rights rules that apply to him, and they don’t get erased because he is the president,” Patel said.

He added that the investigative team delivered a full briefing at the White House. “We fully briefed the president, as a victim of this case, at the White House, providing him with all of the details of our investigation, and the president was satisfied with the results and where we left it,” Patel said.

Authorities identified the attacker as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, whose background reportedly included an affinity for “furries” and use of “they/them” pronouns.

Footage captured the moment gunfire erupted during the campaign rally, sending the crowd into chaos.

The attack left President Trump wounded, bloodied from a shot that grazed his ear. A bystander was killed, and two additional attendees were critically hurt. Secret Service agents ultimately shot and killed Crooks.

In the aftermath, Trump publicly reflected on the assassination attempt, saying he believed divine intervention spared him.

As Breitbart News highlighted, “Corey Comperatore, a husband, father, and Pennsylvania firefighter, was killed as he was trying to shield his wife and daughter after Crooks opened fire. Two other men, James Copenhaver, 74, and David Dutch, 57, were also injured as a result of the assassination attempt on Trump.”

Despite the trauma of the event, Trump later made his way back to Butler, continuing his campaign with trademark resolve.

The Fox News report noted that Patel, Bongino, and the unnamed senior official wanted their findings made public to eliminate rumors and counter widespread speculation about alternative theories.

“We have reviewed this case over and over — looked into every nugget. We have spoken to the families, the president — there is no cover-up here. There is no motive for it, there is no reason for it,” Bongino said.

With the investigation now classified as “pending, inactive,” officials say they will only reopen the case if credible new leads emerge.

{Matzav.com}

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Vice President JD Vance sharply escalated criticism of several Democratic lawmakers on Sunday, blasting their recent video telling U.S. troops to “defy illegal orders” and echoing President Donald Trump’s claim that the message borders on sedition or an attempt to undermine presidential authority.

Vance weighed in after Sen. Elissa Slotkin, appearing on ABC News’ This Week, could not point to any instance of Trump issuing unlawful commands. Her comments were highlighted in a post by RNC Research, which Vance then shared.

“If the president hasn’t issued illegal orders, then members of Congress telling the military to defy the president is by definition illegal,” Vance wrote on X, referencing Slotkin’s interview.

During her appearance, Slotkin acknowledged that she was unaware of any improper directives coming from the White House. “To my knowledge I am not aware of things that are illegal,” she said — a statement that immediately triggered Vance’s admonition online.

The exchange fueled the ongoing debate within conservative circles, with Trump and Vance both urging that the administration consider whether the lawmakers’ remarks rise to criminal calls for mutiny.

The Republican National Committee quickly amplified the moment, asserting on X that Slotkin had effectively conceded Democrats “lied” about Trump issuing unlawful military instructions.

Slotkin appeared in the video alongside other Democratic legislators — several of them veterans of the military or intelligence community — as they reminded service members of their duty under the Uniform Code of Military Justice to reject “manifestly illegal” orders.

The clip was released amid growing friction over political influence on the military chain of command, adding fresh fuel to partisan anxieties about civilian oversight.

Trump responded furiously over the weekend, posting two late-night messages on Truth Social condemning the lawmakers.

“The traitors that told the military to disobey my orders should be in jail right now, not roaming the fake news networks trying to explain that what they said was OK,” he wrote in his first post.

He continued, “It wasn’t, and never will be! It was sedition at the highest level, and sedition is a major crime. There can be no other interpretation of what they said!”

A follow-up message reinforced his position: “Many great legal scholars agree that the democrat traitors that told the military to disobey my orders, as president, have committed a crime of serious proportion!”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump ratcheted up his attacks this weekend on a group of Democrats who appeared in a video urging military and intelligence personnel to reject “illegal orders,” denouncing the lawmakers as “traitors” and insisting they “should be in jail right now.”

In two messages posted on Truth Social, Trump directed particular fury at Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and five other Democrats who participated in the video that circulated earlier in the week. The clip immediately drew fire for its repeated warning to service members to refuse undefined “illegal orders.”

“The traitors that told the military to disobey my orders should be in jail right now, not roaming the fake news networks trying to explain that what they said was OK,” Trump wrote in his first post.

He continued, “It wasn’t, and never will be! It was sedition at the highest level, and sedition is a major crime. There can be no other interpretation of what they said!”

A follow-up post carried the same theme, with Trump declaring, “Many great legal scholars agree that the democrat traitors that told the military to disobey my orders, as president, have committed a crime of serious proportion!”

The video in question featured Slotkin and Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, along with Reps. Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander, Christopher Deluzio, and Chrissy Houlahan. The lawmakers appeared on X on Tuesday, repeatedly telling service members, “You can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders,” though they did not identify any specific hypothetical commands. All six have prior military or intelligence backgrounds.

On Friday, Trump said military officials were beginning to scrutinize the matter. “I think Pete Hegseth is looking into it. I know they’re looking into it militarily,” he said, adding, “I don’t know for a fact, but I think the military is looking into it, the military courts.”

The tension escalated further when Trump wrote on Thursday that “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR” is “punishable by DEATH!”

At the White House the same day, press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that the president was not demanding the execution of lawmakers but stressed the seriousness of their message. “You have sitting members of the United States Congress … encouraging them to defy the president’s lawful orders,” she said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson also weighed in, rebuking the Democrats’ video as “wildly inappropriate” and warning that its message was “a very dangerous thing for so-called leaders in Congress” to promote. He added that he did not interpret Trump’s remarks as a call for physical harm.

Naftali Bennett hinted that his political plans may include cooperation with Arab factions, according to a Kan 11 News report aired Sunday night. The remarks emerged from a gathering of his backers in Yerushalayim, where he was pressed on whether he would pledge to shun both Arab parties and chareidi factions in any future government.

In response to that question, Bennett cautioned that rigid commitments could be dangerous. “If seats are lacking, we will have to compromise on a thousand things, and that would be very bad,” he said, warning that the entire political landscape could unravel without a strong voter turnout. “If the public does not turn out to vote, we will face collapse.”

Bennett used the event to cast himself as the only realistic challenger to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, arguing that a substantial bloc of right-leaning Israelis is ready to shift away from the current coalition. “There is a clear Jewish majority for change – 20 seats that voted for parties in the coalition but are dissatisfied. They are mainly Likud supporters and right-wingers,” he said, insisting that this group would only rally behind a candidate who reflects their worldview. “If you put at the top someone who advocates left-wing policies, they won’t accept it. That’s why we checked. These seats – if it is clear to them that it’s Bennett versus Netanyahu – they will vote Bennett.”

As he wrapped up his remarks, Bennett urged his base to signal public support, emphasizing that visible backing could influence other political leaders he is currently courting. “I am speaking with the players, with Gadi [Eisenkot] and Evet (Avigdor Lieberman), and you can help by writing online that you are with Bennett. That will encourage them to join as well.”

Sen. Rand Paul issued a blistering warning on Sunday, accusing the White House of attempting to sidestep Congress by labeling a prominent Venezuelan narcotics network as a foreign terrorist organization—an action he said could effectively place the United States on a wartime footing.

During an appearance on CBS News’ Face the Nation, the Kentucky senator argued that the administration’s move, set to take effect Monday, would hand the executive branch sweeping military latitude without the constitutionally mandated deliberation over whether the nation should enter hostilities. He cautioned that the administration’s posture suggests something far more consequential than counternarcotics enforcement.

“They are pretending as if we are at war,” Paul said. “When you have war, the rules of engagement are lessened.”

The impending designation adds “Cartel de los Soles” (“Cartel of the Suns”) to the Foreign Terrorist Organization registry, with U.S. officials asserting that the syndicate operates under the direction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the organization as responsible for “terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere,” placing it alongside Islamist factions, separatist militias, guerrilla groups, and, increasingly, major Latin American drug cartels already listed by the State Department.

Paul pushed back forcefully, saying that invoking wartime powers in the context of drug interdiction is both reckless and illegal. He noted that maritime stops often uncover no contraband despite initial suspicions.

He pointed out that roughly a quarter of vessels intercepted near U.S. shores are found to be completely free of narcotics.

“It actually would be unlawful if the Coast Guard started blowing up boats,” he said. “But for some reason, they say we are at war off the coast of Venezuela.”

Paul, who sits on both the Homeland Security and Foreign Relations committees, said he and Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia urged the administration to seek an official declaration of war if it intends to operate under wartime authorities in the region.

“The administration refused,” he said. “They want it both ways.”

The senator further complained that he has been locked out of key classified briefings, asserting that only “a few hand-selected people” have been cleared to review the underlying intelligence.

He warned that the policy’s secrecy threatens fundamental legal norms, especially because U.S. personnel have been detaining alleged traffickers without pursuing evidence or interrogating them about cartel structures.

According to Paul, several such detainees have been quietly transferred to Colombia or Ecuador without any attempt to glean information that could disrupt narcotics networks.

He also remarked that some officials have advocated military involvement in Venezuela for years, singling out Rubio, whom he said had “very much [been an] advocate of regime change” prior to joining the administration.

Paul added that aggressive action in Venezuela—or any renewed push for Ukraine funding—could strain the political coalition that helped propel Trump to power.

“A lot of people, including myself, were attracted to the president because of his desire to not get us involved in foreign wars,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

A high-ranking Hamas team headed by Khalil al-Hayya reached Cairo on Saturday night, entering negotiations with Egyptian officials as friction in Gaza intensifies. Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported that the visit focuses on the latest security events and on whether both sides can move into the next stage of the ceasefire framework.

A senior figure within the terror group told the outlet that their meetings with Egypt’s intelligence chief are expected to delve into several unresolved issues. Among them are the status of Hamas operatives stuck underground in a Rafah tunnel, Israeli actions in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect, and lingering elements of the deal that have yet to be carried out. One of Hamas’ primary demands remains the reopening of the Rafah Crossing to allow civilian travel in both directions.

The agenda, the report added, is also slated to include the search for the remaining bodies of Israeli hostages and the question of installing an international force inside Gaza as envisioned in US President Donald Trump’s peace initiative.

Hamas, meanwhile, pushed back against earlier media claims suggesting it had already informed Washington that the truce had collapsed due to Israeli military activity. Earlier reports asserted that representatives of the terror group told US envoys the ceasefire was “over” and that they were “ready to fight.”

Israel countered sharply, issuing a statement through the Prime Minister’s Office accusing Hamas of once again shattering the ceasefire. “Today, Hamas violated the ceasefire again, sending a terrorist into Israel held territory to attack IDF soldiers. In response, Israel eliminated five senior Hamas terrorists,” the statement said.

The PMO added: “Israel has fully honored the ceasefire, Hamas has not. Throughout the ceasefire, dozens of Hamas terrorists have crossed the Israeli lines to attack our troops, while they execute Palestinian civilians in Gaza.”

The statement concluded with a renewed appeal to those brokering the agreement. “We again call on the mediators to insist that Hamas fulfill its side of the Ceasefire and President Trump’s 20-point plan: Hamas must immediately return the three deceased hostages it is still holding and complete its disarmament and enable the total demilitarization of Gaza.”