Matzav

As his long tenure at City Hall comes to an end, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop has moved to lock in policies he believes will help safeguard the city’s Jewish residents, issuing executive actions intended to outlast his administration, JTA reports.

After nearly 13 years as mayor, Fulop signed two executive orders on December 22. One bars Jersey City from taking part in initiatives that seek to “boycott, divest from, and sanction the State of Israel,” while the other establishes protections for houses of worship and those attending them against protests.

In explaining the move, Fulop said the goal was to ensure continuity after his departure and to prevent policy shifts he believes could harm certain communities. He said the measures were designed so that the “next administration doesn’t go in a direction that I think is adverse to some of the communities in Jersey City.”

James Solomon, who won the mayoral election in November and is scheduled to be sworn in on Wednesday, has not publicly staked out positions on Israel or the Gaza war. Fulop said, however, that he expects the incoming mayor will soon encounter “pressures from a lot of different people, including the city council.”

Those pressures could be amplified by the makeup of the new city council. Among the members elected last month are Jake Ephros and Joel Brooks, both affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America, an organization that has been sharply critical of Israel. Ephros, who is Jewish, has been an outspoken pro-Palestinian activist and helped organize an October 2023 letter titled “Not in Our Name! Jewish Socialists Say No to Apartheid and Genocide,” which drew attention for likening Israel to Nazi Germany.

Fulop said his intent was to set a clear direction regardless of shifting political dynamics. “For me, it was important to set Jersey City in a place that, even with a new council coming in, that it was set on a path to protect a large and growing Jewish community in Jersey City so that they do not feel that there’s any discrimination,” he told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

The executive orders mirror steps taken in New York City by then-Mayor Eric Adams, who issued similar directives banning BDS activity and regulating protests near synagogues shortly before leaving office, anticipating that his successor, Zohran Mamdani, would take a more adversarial stance toward Israel. Mamdani overturned Adams’ orders within hours of assuming office earlier this month.

Fulop said he remains unsure where Solomon stands on the issue. “There isn’t a lot that he said on it, so how he views this, and if he views it as something that he’s going to engage in in Jersey City, is unclear,” he said. “But it doesn’t change the fact that you see a trend nationally that definitely is leaning more into antisemitic rhetoric, and I think we need to be conscious of that.”

Solomon did not reply to requests for comment. In a 2021 interview, he described his background as being raised “half-Catholic, half-Jewish, and mostly confused,” noting that his family observes Easter, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Passover.

Fulop opted not to seek a fourth term as mayor last year. Earlier this year, he pursued the Democratic nomination for governor of New Jersey but was defeated in June by Mikie Sherrill, who went on to win the general election in November.

Jersey City, which has a population of roughly 300,000 and sits just across the Hudson River from Manhattan, is home to an estimated 6,000 Jewish residents, according to a 2018 study by the Berman Jewish DataBank. The city includes about seven synagogues and several kosher restaurants, and its Jewish population has expanded over the past decade, partly as Orthodox families look for more affordable housing options outside New York City.

Fulop gained national prominence in 2019 when he was among the first state and local officials to publicly characterize a fatal shooting at a kosher supermarket in Jersey City as an antisemitic attack.

“The governor and attorney general were reluctant to call it an antisemitic attack, and I pushed publicly,” Fulop said. “I got criticized for it, but I thought it was important at the time to recognize what it was while the world and the country was watching how we respond to make sure that it is clear that it was an antisemitic attack because we can’t be dismissive of these sort of things.”

That period also coincided with rising tensions tied to demographic changes in the city, as an increasing Jewish presence fueled debates over gentrification. Fulop said his administration focused on outreach to ease friction among communities.

“There was a lot of strain between the African American community and the Jewish community, a lot of misunderstanding between the two communities,” he said. “We did our best to facilitate conversations between leadership in both those communities in order to build bridges. I think we did a good job.”

Fulop’s approach to combating antisemitism has sometimes diverged from the views of other Jewish leaders in New Jersey. Last year, he announced his opposition to adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism at the state level, arguing that New Jersey already has robust hate-crime laws and that safeguarding free expression is essential. Critics of the IHRA definition have objected to its inclusion of certain forms of criticism of Israel.

“I think that specific definition is counter productive,” Fulop said at the time, as lawmakers debated whether to adopt it statewide. He added, “I say this in the context of someone who is Jewish, as someone who has a Jewish education, as someone who is a descendent of Holocaust survivors. as someone who is continued supporter of the NJ-Israel Commission and someone that opposes BDS legislation.”

The New Jersey Legislature declined last week to move forward with a bill adopting the IHRA definition, prompting criticism from the state’s five Jewish federations, including the federation that serves Jersey City.

While Fulop said Jersey City has not seen the same level of synagogue protests or BDS-related activity that has occurred recently in New York, he believes proactive steps are still warranted and described the executive orders as protective “guardrails.”

“Historically, antisemitism kind of creeps up in a lot of different places when it’s unexpected, and from my standpoint, even when you’ve seen it in other cities across the country, even though it hasn’t been in Jersey City, putting those guardrails in place and those protections were important,” he said.

As he prepares to take on his next role as president and CEO of the Partnership for New York City, Fulop said he hopes the measures will ultimately assist the incoming administration rather than constrain it.

“I view this as helpful for him, ultimately, that it sets up principles that protect everybody, and you’re not going to discriminate against anybody,” he said. “That was how we looked at it.”

{Matzav.com}

As Verizon grappled with a sweeping nationwide service outage on Wednesday, rival carrier T-Mobile seized the moment to reassure its own customers that its network was functioning normally, while openly attributing connectivity issues to Verizon’s problems.

“T-Mobile’s network is keeping our customers connected, and we’ve confirmed that our network is operating normally and as expected. However due to Verizon’s reported outage, our customers may not be able to reach someone with Verizon service at this time,” the company posted on X as Verizon’s network melted down.

At the same time, Verizon subscribers across the country turned to Downdetector in droves, registering a surge of complaints describing prolonged service disruptions. Many reported their phones stuck in SOS mode for hours, with calls failing to connect and mobile data entirely unavailable.

“I have been in and out of SOS mode for 3 hours now…my family was all fine but now they are getting outages/SOS mode too,” one Maryland customer wrote.

Anger and frustration mounted among affected users, with at least one Verizon customer in Mobile, Alabama, declaring that the situation was “getting ridiculous” and saying the outage had pushed them to consider switching carriers.

Reports also poured in from major population centers and smaller cities alike, pointing to the broad scope of the disruption.

“Down in Dallas TX. Almost 2 hours now. Ugh!!!!” one user posted, while another in Waco, Texas, put it more simply: “Waco TX down.”

Several customers said the outage was intermittent, with brief flashes of restored service followed by another collapse.

“Still down (2 hrs now). Came on for a few mins and then back to SOS,” a user in Chesapeake, Virginia, wrote, while a customer in Southern New Hampshire complained their phone was “going in and out of SOS every few mins” without allowing calls to go through.

The problems were not confined to any single region, with users reporting outages in Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, Arkansas, Maine, New Jersey, and Colorado. One customer in South Texas contrasted the situation by noting, “My AT&T mobile is working fine,” as Verizon service remained unavailable.

At the height of the outage, Downdetector logged more than 175,000 reports nationwide. The disruption was serious enough to trigger emergency alerts in New York City and Washington, DC, cautioning that some Verizon customers might have difficulty contacting 911.

Verizon acknowledged the ongoing service failure but stopped short of providing specific details about the cause or a timeline for full restoration.

“Verizon engineering teams are continuing to address today’s service interruptions,” a company rep told The Post.

“Our teams remain fully deployed and are focused on the issue. We understand the impact this has on your day and remain committed to resolving this as quickly as possible.”

While isolated reports suggested that service was beginning to return for some customers, many others continued to report outages as the situation remained unresolved.

{Matzav.com}

A 45-minute meeting took place this evening at the Slabodka Yeshiva complex, where rebbes met with the roshei yeshiva to discuss a united response to Israel’s proposed draft law.

Participating in the discussion were the Sanzer Rebbe and the Modzitzer Rebbe, who met with Rav Dov Landau and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch.

The talks followed a recent session of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisrael, which ended without a definitive decision on how to proceed regarding the draft legislation. In the aftermath, it was decided to coordinate positions with the leading Litvishe gedolim, a move first reported by Matzav.com.

To that end, the Sanzer and Modzitzer Rebbes were selected to conduct the consultations. The two had already held a preliminary meeting earlier in the week, and the Modzitzer Rebbe also met separately with the Gerrer Rebbe. Tonight, the rebbes arrived at Slabodka to continue those efforts.

The meeting was described as focused and substantive. During the 45-minute discussion, the gedolim addressed the need for a unified front in confronting the draft law and aligning approaches across the chareidi spectrum.

Matzav.com will continue to follow developments and provide updates as they emerge.

{Matzav.com}

A widespread outage has disrupted Verizon’s wireless network this afternoon, leaving tens of thousands of customers without voice, text, or data service and causing many phones to display an “SOS” indicator instead of normal signal bars.

Reports of service failures began climbing shortly before 12:30 p.m. ET, according to outage tracking site Down Detector, with complaints quickly surging into the tens of thousands. Affected users across multiple states reported losing cellular connectivity entirely, with iPhones and other devices defaulting to emergency or satellite-based modes.

Verizon confirmed the issue shortly after 1 p.m. ET, acknowledging that its network was experiencing a significant disruption. In a statement, the company said, “We are aware of an issue impacting wireless voice and data services for some customers. Our engineers are engaged and are working to identify and solve the issue quickly. We understand how important reliable connectivity is and apologize for the inconvenience.” The carrier did not provide an estimated time for full service restoration or disclose the cause of the outage.

The disruption appeared to affect major regions including New York and New Jersey, the Carolinas, Texas, Florida, Nevada, and parts of the Midwest and Southeast. Customers reported that phones showed an SOS icon even in areas with normally strong coverage, indicating an inability to connect to Verizon’s core network despite being within range of cell towers.

New York City officials warned that the outage could interfere with emergency calls for customers on Verizon. The city’s emergency notification system advised residents experiencing difficulties dialing 911 to use a landline, another mobile carrier, or go directly to a police precinct if urgent assistance is needed.

Some customers reported brief signs of recovery, with service intermittently returning before dropping again. In New York City, a small number of users saw limited bars and 5G service after restarting their phones, though connections were described as unstable and short-lived.

The outage did not appear to impact other major carriers. T-Mobile said its network was operating normally but cautioned that customers might have trouble reaching Verizon subscribers. In a post on social media, the carrier said its systems were functioning as expected despite the reported Verizon disruption.

Verizon-owned Visible, a mobile virtual network operator that uses Verizon’s infrastructure, continued to show service for some users, adding to confusion about the scope and technical nature of the outage.

Down Detector reports peaked at nearly 180,000 complaints before gradually declining, though numbers remained far above normal levels as of mid-afternoon. Verizon’s own network status checker did not initially reflect widespread issues, and some users reported difficulty accessing the tool.

As of the latest update, Verizon said its engineers were still investigating and working to restore full service. Customers continued to report inconsistent connectivity, with many phones remaining stuck in SOS mode hours after the outage began.

{Matzav.com}

With just days remaining before leaving office, the Murphy administration is moving to place the troubled Lakewood, NJ public school district under state control, a sweeping intervention that would remove authority from the elected local school board and place the system under a state-appointed Superintendent with broad governing powers, according to a report in the New Jersey Globe.

State officials point to long-standing financial instability as the driving force behind the action, citing persistent budget shortfalls, soaring transportation and special-education expenses, and a cycle of state financial assistance that the district has been unable to pay back. They argue that the district’s underlying financial structure has deteriorated to the point where the existing leadership framework can no longer function.

Lakewood’s political makeup contrasts sharply with the statewide picture. In the 2024 general election, Republican Jack Ciattarelli won roughly 90% of the vote in the township, carrying it by nearly 33,000 votes. That overwhelming local support, however, did little to affect Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill’s decisive fourteen-point victory across New Jersey.

The formal process is expected to begin today, when New Jersey Commissioner of Education Kevin Dehmer is anticipated to file an Order to Show Cause. With only six days remaining in Governor Phil Murphy’s term, the timing appears designed to spare Sherrill from having to initiate the takeover herself once she assumes office.

Lakewood’s educational landscape is unique within the state. More than 40,000 students attend over 180 private schools, the vast majority of them frum institutions, while the public school system serves approximately 5,000 students. No other district in New Jersey comes close to that imbalance, as the statewide average for private-school enrollment is about 14%.

The local Board of Education allocates more funding to transporting private-school students than it does to instruction within public school classrooms. Critics argue that this arrangement has left public school students—largely from communities of color—at a disadvantage, pointing to overcrowded classrooms and weaker academic performance as symptoms of a system misaligned with their needs.

For more than ten years, Lakewood’s district has posted annual deficits running into the millions. Each year, continued operation depends on repeated state “loan” bailouts, many of which officials acknowledge are unlikely ever to be repaid.

Opponents of the current structure describe the district as effectively insolvent, contending that there is no viable long-term solution under existing governance and that the financial model is destined to fail under the burden of legally mandated private-school transportation.

Compounding the problem, Lakewood places a significant number of special-education students in private programs, including many outside the district and at substantial expense. A state investigation conducted in 2014 flagged concerns over weak oversight of special-education contractors, questionable approval practices for private providers, and possible conflicts of interest. At that time, Governor Chris Christie opted against a state takeover.

Governor-elect Sherrill has previously expressed support for state oversight measures, including the appointment of a state monitor in Montclair, her hometown, where officials are dealing with severe fiscal challenges.

New Jersey has a history of state takeovers of school districts. Camden was placed under state control in 2013 during Christie’s administration, while Newark and Paterson underwent similar interventions in the 1990s, and Jersey City did so in 1989. In each case, restoring full local governance took more than a decade.

Should the Murphy administration’s effort succeed, Lakewood could be headed for a similarly extended period of state supervision.

{Matzav.com}

Some personnel stationed at a major U.S. military installation in Qatar have been told to leave the base by Wednesday evening, according to a U.S. official, as tensions rise following renewed Iranian threats referencing a past missile strike on the facility.

Speaking to The Associated Press on Wednesday on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, the official said the guidance issued at Al Udeid Air Base was meant as a precaution.

The official declined to provide specifics, including whether the departure was mandatory or voluntary, whether it applied to military members or civilian staff, or how many people were affected, citing operational security concerns.

Qatar acknowledged the development later Wednesday, saying the steps were being taken “undertaken in response to the current regional tensions.”

“The IMO reaffirms that the State of Qatar continues to implement all necessary measures to safeguard the security and safety of its citizens and residents as a top priority, including actions related to the protection of critical infrastructure and military facilities,” Qatar’s media office said in a post on X.

U.S. Central Command declined to answer questions about the situation or the advisory at the base.

The move comes as anti-government demonstrations continue across Iran and as President Donald Trump has publicly warned that he is prepared to carry out military action if Iranian authorities persist in violently suppressing protesters.

Al Udeid Air Base, which houses thousands of U.S. troops, was struck by Iranian missiles in June in response to U.S. attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites.

Referencing that strike, Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, wrote on X, “the #US President, who repeatedly talks about the futile aggression against #Iran’s nuclear facilities, would do well to also mention the destruction of the US base in #Al-Udeid by Iranian missiles.”

“It would certainly help create a real understanding of Iran’s will and ability to respond to any aggression,” he added.

Against this backdrop, Iranian and Qatari officials were in contact Tuesday as Tehran’s crackdown intensified and U.S. warnings of possible intervention escalated.

Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, spoke by phone with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s prime minister.

Following the call, Al Thani said in a statement on X that he “reaffirmed the State of Qatar’s backing of all de-escalation efforts, as well as peaceful solutions to enhance security and stability in the region.”

Iran’s decision in June to retaliate against U.S. strikes by launching missiles at the large desert base outside Doha briefly strained relations between Iran and Qatar, rare friction between the two neighboring states. Qatari officials said at the time that the attack caught them off guard.

No U.S. or Qatari personnel were injured in the strike, according to U.S. Central Command, which said American and Qatari forces jointly defended the installation. A Qatari military official said one of the 19 missiles fired by Iran was not intercepted and struck the base, though Trump wrote in a social media post at the time that “hardly any damage was done.”

{Matzav.com}

An investigative report claims that the Dar Al-Salam Center, based in the village of Kafr Qara, pursued a coordinated effort to promote Islamic proselytizing among Jews and shape Israeli public perception by presenting a façade of Muslim moderation, including through organized activity on Wikipedia. The findings were published by Hakol Hayehudi.

According to the investigation, a substantial portion of the funding behind Dar Al-Salam’s initiatives originated with the Zakat Al-Quds Foundation, an organization identified in a 2022 indictment as Hamas’ financial arm in Yerushalayim. Additional financial backing reportedly came from Muslim Hands, an entity that has been banned over alleged links to Hamas.

The report further alleges that the group organized a training program for converts in Turkey, where participants were instructed by internationally known antisemites on how to conduct dawah—Islamic missionary outreach—specifically aimed at Jews.

As part of these activities, members of the Muslim center took part in a 2018 course organized by Wikimedia Israel. During three workshops held at the Dar Al-Salam facility in Kafr Qara, participants created 42 new Wikipedia entries dealing with Islamic subjects.

The Wikipedia page describing the course highlights the scope of the project, noting the volume of articles produced in a single month and stating that participants also made edits to more than 100 existing entries.

On the course page itself, the “Dar Al-Salam Center” is presented in benign terms, described as “a center for understanding the religion of Islam, for Muslims and members of other religions. Its purpose is to teach the scriptures of Islam and its true principles, according to the understanding of the local people, which include: tolerance, moderation, openness, modest and spiritual living, exploring the surrounding world, developing curiosity and intellectual talent. Another goal is mutual acquaintance among the various cultures living in Israel, to promote peaceful coexistence and mutual respect for each other’s culture.”

The investigation, however, points to internal correspondence that paints a different picture. In a document sent by Dar Al-Salam to Ali Arbash, head of Turkey’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and a figure known for anti-Israel positions, the organization explicitly labeled its online efforts as “electronic dawah.”

The letter, which details the group’s activities and seeks Arbash’s assistance in establishing a dawah center in the Old City of Yerushalayim, states: “Electronic dawah via Facebook and Hebrew Wikipedia: Praise and thanks to God, a contract was signed with the Israeli Wikipedia in Hebrew to add and edit content on Islam in this encyclopedia, which serves as the main source of information on Islam in Hebrew. 58 new entries were added, and 500 entries were edited. The views of the new and edited entries exceed 82,000.”

Wikimedia Israel responded to the findings by clarifying its role, saying: “In the past, Wikimedia Israel held editing workshops upon request by various organizations, but currently, the organization focuses on initiatives for training editors in educational and academic settings. It is important to emphasize that the training activities of the organization are entirely separate from Wikipedia’s content control mechanisms: every article is reviewed by the editing community according to uniform standards, regardless of whether the writer is a volunteer or a graduate of the organization’s training. The organization’s training has no effect on editorial judgment or preferential treatment in the community.”

{Matzav.com}

Itzik Bonzel, whose son Sgt. Amit Bonzel Hy”d was killed in combat, spoke at the Arutz Sheva studio inside the Knesset during the “Gaza – The Day After” conference, where he voiced grave concern about Israel’s current security posture, Arutz Sheva reports.

Bonzel said the present reality echoes the period preceding the IDF’s entry into Rafah, warning that Hamas is regaining strength. “Hamas is strengthening, recruiting masses into its ranks, rebuilding the tunnels, preparing for the days ahead. We will pay a very heavy price in human lives for this,” he said, adding that Israel has no alternative but to resume fighting “in order to disarm Hamas.”

Responding to claims that the Israeli public is growing weary of the war, Bonzel dismissed the idea, saying, “You don’t want another October 7. I am not threatening or intimidating anyone. We know there will be another war someday. The Gaza issue must be resolved militarily. There is no other way.”

Turning to the situation in Gaza’s education system, he warned of long-term consequences. “Every child growing up today in Gaza is part of a generation that is still being brainwashed with the idea that Israel is the enemy and that Israelis are occupiers who want to kill us,” he said.

Asked about US President Donald Trump, Bonzel cautioned against overreliance on external leadership. “I do not see him as a great savior. We need to rely only on ourselves,” he said, while noting that coordination may still be possible. “The message is that we must rely on ourselves, only on ourselves.”

Bonzel was also asked whether Prime Minister Netanyahu has lived up to expectations. “Unequivocally. The Prime Minister has stood by all the commitments he made to us as the ‘Gvura Forum.’ We need patience. I absolutely trust him as the leader of the state,” he said, stressing that Netanyahu remains committed to the war’s goals. “He has not started wavering, he is not telling stories.”

On the question of establishing a commission of inquiry into the October 7 attacks, Bonzel said the structure of such a body is secondary to accountability. “The debate is not about which committee will be established. My mission is to bring to criminal justice anyone who is found responsible and guilty in this failed event of October 7,” he said.

He emphasized that his primary focus is on the military leadership. “There was a failure here in the IDF and Shin Bet, first and foremost,” Bonzel said. Addressing the public directly, he added, “I say to the people of Israel: I am not acting out of revenge, but if there are no personal conclusions and punishment for those responsible – you are next.”

Bonzel closed with a blunt warning, saying, “If they are not punished – you are next. You will lose your loved ones just as I lost my son Amit. There is no way this will not happen.”

Iran delivered a stark and disturbing warning aimed at President Trump on Wednesday, airing an image of the commander in chief taken during the 2024 assassination attempt at the Butler campaign rally, accompanied by the message, “This time it will not miss the target.”

According to a report by Agence France Presse, the broadcast appeared on Iran’s state-controlled television network, underscoring the seriousness of the message and the regime’s willingness to publicly escalate its rhetoric.

The broadcast represents Tehran’s most explicit threat to date against President Trump and comes amid heightened tensions after his repeated warnings that the United States would take military action if Iran continues its violent suppression of anti-government protests.

The United States announced on Wednesday that it is proceeding with the next stage of the Trump Administration’s Gaza peace initiative, formally launching the plan’s second phase, according to US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

“Today, on behalf of President Trump, we are announcing the launch of Phase Two of the President’s 20-Point Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, moving from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction,” Witkoff said in a public statement.

He explained that the new phase calls for the establishment of an interim governing body and a comprehensive security overhaul. “Phase Two establishes a transitional technocratic Palestinian administration in Gaza, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), and begins the full demilitarization and reconstruction of Gaza, primarily the disarmament of all unauthorized personnel. The US expects Hamas to comply fully with its obligations, including the immediate return of the final deceased hostage. Failure to do so will bring serious consequences,” Witkoff warned.

Reflecting on the achievements of the earlier stage of the agreement, Witkoff said the initial phase produced unprecedented humanitarian and diplomatic outcomes. “Importantly, Phase One delivered historic humanitarian aid, maintained the ceasefire, returned all living hostages and the remains of twenty-seven of the twenty-eight deceased hostages. We are deeply grateful to Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar for their indispensable mediation efforts that made all progress to date possible,” he said.

The announcement comes as the remains of Ran Gvili, the final hostage, are still being held in Gaza, despite provisions in the agreement requiring that all hostages be returned during the first phase. Israeli officials have continued to object to advancing to the second phase before Hamas fulfills every obligation from the initial stage, including the return of Gvili.

{Matzav.com}

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday voiced criticism of Iran’s leadership over its violent response to anti-government demonstrations, addressing the issue after days of mounting pressure and accusations that he had avoided commenting as the unrest escalated.

The remarks came amid growing criticism from observers who said the mayor had remained conspicuously quiet while protests spread across Iran and reports of deadly force by the regime multiplied.

Mamdani raised the issue only after fielding an unrelated question during a Tuesday night press conference, stating, “I absolutely do not support the way the Iranian government has responded to that.”

He went on to say that Iran’s authorities should “respect the right of people to express their political opinions” without fear of harm.

The timing of the statement drew heightened attention because Mamdani has frequently spoken out on Middle East matters, particularly when Israel is involved.

The New York Post reported that critics pointed to a stark contrast between his delayed response to Iran and his earlier, forceful commentary on the Israel-Hamas war, including rhetoric sharply critical of Israeli leadership.

Online reaction was swift, with critics using social media to deride the mayor’s hesitation and accuse him of selective indignation, arguing that he is quick to denounce U.S. allies but reluctant to challenge a radical Islamist government accused of violently suppressing dissent.

The demonstrations in Iran are being characterized as some of the most significant in years.

According to Reuters, the crackdown has been brutal, with an Iranian official estimating that about 2,000 people have been killed, including members of the country’s security forces.

The crisis has also spilled onto the global stage, with President Donald Trump publicly urging demonstrators to continue and declaring that “help is on its way,” though he offered no details on what form that assistance might take.

Trump has simultaneously pushed to intensify economic pressure on Tehran, including threatening new tariffs on countries that maintain trade ties with Iran.

Mamdani’s comments on Iran surfaced as his initial actions at City Hall continue to provoke controversy.

Within his first days in office, he defended his decision to rescind several executive orders enacted by former Mayor Eric Adams.

Those orders included measures Adams had promoted as tools to combat antisemitism, as well as directives connected to Israel-related divestment policies.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry publicly rebuked Mamdani over the reversal of an International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance-linked definition of antisemitism, describing the move as inflammatory.

At the same time, Mamdani’s swearing-in ceremony highlighted the cultural and political symbolism surrounding his ascent.

He took the oath of office using multiple Qurans, among them a centuries-old volume associated with the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center collection.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump escalated his push for U.S. control of Greenland on Wednesday, arguing that acquiring the Arctic island is essential to American national security and setting a confrontational tone ahead of high-level meetings with Danish and Greenlandic leaders.

In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump said the United States “needs” Greenland “for the purpose of National Security,” adding that “[a]nything less than that is unacceptable.” He warned that failure to act would open the door to rival powers.

“NATO should be leading the way for us to get it,” Trump wrote, referring to Greenland. “IF WE DON’T, RUSSIA OR CHINA WILL, AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!

“Militarily, without the vast power of the United States, much of which I built during my first term, and am now bringing to a new and even higher level, NATO would not be an effective force or deterrent – Not even close! They know that, and so do I. NATO becomes far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the UNITED STATES.”

The comments came just hours before Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were scheduled to sit down with Denmark’s foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, and Greenland’s foreign minister, Vivian Motzfeldt. The talks are aimed at defusing tensions sparked by the White House’s renewed insistence that the United States should annex Greenland, a territory governed by Denmark for centuries.

On Tuesday, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen publicly rejected the idea during a joint press conference with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, drawing a clear line on Greenland’s loyalties. “If we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark. We choose NATO. We choose the Kingdom of Denmark. We choose the EU.”

Nielsen’s office went further, stating that Greenland would not agree to a U.S. takeover under “any circumstance” and calling on NATO to ensure the island’s defense if it were threatened.

The United States already maintains a military footprint on Greenland, and Danish officials have said Washington is free to expand that presence if needed to counter potential moves by Russia or China. Still, Greenland’s leadership has stressed that cooperation does not equate to surrendering sovereignty.

“Greenland does not want to be owned by the United States. Greenland does not want to be governed by the United States. Greenland does not want to be part of the United States,” Nielsen said Tuesday.

The administration has not backed away from its hard line. Last week, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that “utilizing the US military is always an option,” while Trump declared separately that “we are going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not.”

After Nielsen’s remarks, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told The NY Post that the president “believes that Greenland is a strategically important location that is critical from the standpoint of national security.”

“He is confident Greenlanders would be better served if protected by the United States from modern threats in the Arctic region,” Kelly said. “The President is committed to establishing long-term peace at home and abroad.”

{Matzav.com}

The Israel Defense Forces overnight on Tuesday demolished the northern Samaria home of Ahmad al-Rub, the Palestinian terrorist who murdered two Israelis on Dec. 26.

Al-Rub, from Qabatiya near Jenin, killed Shimshon Mordechai, 68, and Aviv Maor, 19, while injuring two others, in a series of terror attacks in and around the northern Israeli city of Beit She’an late last month.

The military said on Wednesday that it demolished the Qabatiya home “after an immediate sealing of the terrorist’s house was done some 2.5 weeks ago, during IDF soldiers’ activity in the village after the attack.”

The security establishment believes that the demolition of Palestinian terrorists’ homes bolsters deterrence and reduces further terrorism.

In 2023, the demolitions all but stopped, according to an Yisroel Hayom probe carried out with Israeli NGO Im Tirtzu. However, following the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, massacre, the army has picked up the pace, issuing orders for the demolition of a significant number of homes.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

I don’t usually write letters, but at some point some things become to much even for me.

There is a certain breed of fellow or gal in our communities who cannot take one step in life without informing the entire world about it on WhatsApp status. Every move. Every stop. Every simcha. Every coffee. Every restaurant. Every time he (or she) leaves his house, you can be sure we’ll all know about it within minutes.

Bar mitzvah? Status. Vort? Status. Wedding? Ten statuses. First the selfie in the car. Then the walking-into-the-hall shot. Then the “standing under the chandelier pretending to look thoughtful” pose. Then the forced grin with the baal simcha — who, by the way, often has no interest in this embarrassment. Then the table shot. Then the dessert shot. Then the selfie with the singer shot. Then the drive-home shot, like we were all sitting in the backseat waiting.

One word: pathetic.

And it’s always the same ridiculous poses. The chin slightly up, like he’s some kind of choshuve personality. The arm half-extended selfie, angled just enough so you can see the hall name in the background, in case anyone missed where he was. The “caught mid-conversation” look, as if someone just interrupted him while he was saying something profound. Or the classic: staring off to the side, pretending he didn’t notice the camera — even though he’s the one holding it.

Let’s be honest: you look stupid.

Nobody is impressed. Nobody thinks you’re living some incredible life because you managed to attend another bar mitzvah in a mirrored hall with gold chairs. We’ve all been there. It’s not Versailles. It’s a simcha. Mazel tov. Move on.

And what exactly are you trying to show? That you know people? That you were invited? That you eat out? That you leave your house? This isn’t high society. This is not chashivus. This is not confidence. This is insecurity with a front-facing camera.

There was a time when people went to a simcha, shook hands, wished mazel tov, sat down like a normal human being, and went home. No performance. No documentation. No need to prove to the world that he exists. No need to post a status with the singer and band.

Today, some people can’t even say mazel tov properly because they’re too busy angling the phone so the chandelier and some celebrity gvir is centered behind their head.

And don’t get me started on the restaurant statuses. The plate shot. The drink shot. The “casually holding the fork” shot. As if anyone is sitting there thinking, Wow, he ordered chicken and rice — what a life. Or the inevitable captionless selfie, because apparently the image of his face next to a steak is supposed to speak for itself.

Is this really how you want people to remember you? As the guy who documented every dopey thing he did? As the one who thought that being constantly seen meant being important? As the fellow whose entire identity is a series of statuses that disappear after 24 hours — which is fitting, because that’s about how much substance there is to it.

You are not building a reputation. You are not creating memories.

You are advertising emptiness.

Not even hashkafically, there is something very empty about this obsession with being seen. About turning life into a running show. About confusing presence with purpose. A little privacy, a little dignity, a little self-respect used to be normal. Now it seems like if it wasn’t posted, it didn’t happen.

Here’s a suggestion: put the phone away. Live the moment. Let a simcha be a simcha, not a photo shoot. Let people wonder where you were. Let your life speak quietly for itself.

And if you absolutely must take a selfie, at least spare us the chandelier.

S. M. R.

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MK Moshe Gafni, chairman of Degel HaTorah, delivered sharp and wide-ranging remarks in a heated interview aired Tuesday evening on Kol Chai Radio’s main news edition, addressing the draft law, the Supreme Court, tensions within the chareidi political camp, and what he described as deep-rooted hostility toward the chareidi public.

“There is no long-term solution to the draft saga,” Gafni said. “Right now we are working on the law. Iit’s not the joy of our lives, but this is what exists at the moment. I trust my colleagues to do the maximum, and every step will be asked of the Gedolei Torah.”

Asked what would happen if the Supreme Court intervenes in the draft legislation, Gafni responded, “We need to hope that the Supreme Court does not intervene, but if it does intervene we will once again ask the Gedolei Torah what to do next. Without Torah learning, the Jewish people have no right to exist in Eretz Yisrael, and we will continue to fight and we will not let up.”

Gafni pointed to what he described as unprecedented developments in recent days. “Today a letter was issued by the heads of the coalition against obeying the Supreme Court regarding Ben Gvir. These are things that did not exist 40 years ago,” he said. “There are people who tell me — because you went with Binyomin Netanyahu, we will do everything to harm you and we will not allow you to live here.”

During the interview, host Avi Mimran pressed Gafni on the possibility of new elections. “What would be gained by going to elections?” Mimran asked. Gafni replied, “There are things we do not do for gain. We cannot sit in the Knesset when Torah learners are being harmed like this. Apparently, if we had gone with the left, we would have received more.”

Gafni went on to accuse key institutions of harboring animosity toward the chareidi community. “There is hatred toward the chareidi public, mainly in the judicial system, in the media, and among the senior bureaucracy,” he said. “The people are not with them. The people are moving to the right. Justice Wilner delayed with tweezers — only the money intended for the chareidi public. Even though the funds for state education and even judges’ salaries passed in the same way. This is clear hatred. The attorney general is acting out of hatred toward the chareidi public, not out of integrity and not for any other reason.”

He warned that failure to pass the draft law would bring down the government. “If the draft law does not pass, then the budget will not pass and we will go to elections,” Gafni emphasized. “We will not give this up, because this is what the Gedolei Yisrael told us. They say we do nothing in the Knesset — that is simply not true. We passed a billion and a half shekels, which is now facing Supreme Court petitions. It didn’t come out of nowhere. Work was done, but there is abyssal hatred. I’m not going to say what else we advanced, because petitions will be filed against it.”

Gafni also said Degel HaTorah is actively fighting economic reforms that could harm vulnerable sectors. “The reforms that are supposed to hurt farmers, industrialists, and others we are meant to protect — we are fighting those as well,” he said.

Turning to internal chareidi politics, Gafni expressed open frustration over relations with Shas, particularly in Yerushalayim. “I cannot tolerate this reality, where one person takes control of the entire chareidi system — religious councils, rabbis, and everything that comes with it,” he said. “I hope he comes to his senses and understands that he is not alone in the world. When I asked in the Finance Committee to delay a vote by one day, he refused. He is not helping chareidi Jewry, and he is not helping all of us.”

Gafni concluded by pointing to the balance of power in the capital. “In Yerushalayim, United Torah Judaism has nine seats, Shas has six,” he said. “So what is this — everything has to belong to them?”

{Matzav.com}

One week after the harrowing bus-ramming incident in Yerushalayim that claimed the life of habochur Yosef Eisenthal z”l, new details have emerged about the extraordinary rescue of a second yeshiva bochur who was seen clinging to the front of the bus and survived against all odds.

In an emotional interview aired Tuesday evening on Kol Chai’s radio program, the father of the survivor, Moshe Anshin, spoke with host Nati Kalish and described the terrifying moments and the miracle that spared his 14-year-old son’s life.

At the outset of the interview, Anshin paused to express his condolences to the Eisenthal family. “It’s important for me to stop for a moment and truly express my participation in the immense pain of the Eisenthal family,” he said. “It’s impossible to forget that there is a family here whose lives came to a sudden halt. My heart is with them in this enormous pain that they have gone through and are still going through.”

Anshin then recounted the sequence of events as told to him by his son, a yeshiva bochur who learns at a Breslover yeshiva in Beit Shemesh. According to the father, the boy made his way to Rechov Yirmiyahu after the demonstration and heard shouting. Amid the chaos, he suddenly found himself in a situation he could not comprehend. “He doesn’t remember that part — when he got stuck on the bus, how it happened,” Anshin said. “One thing he told me is that suddenly he realized he couldn’t run — not to the right and not to the left — and he found himself on the bus, and that’s how he was dragged until the point where he fell.”

The chilling account highlights the split-second helplessness the teen experienced as the bus sped forward, and how, driven by instinct alone, he managed to cling to the vehicle’s front.

During the interview, Anshin revealed the critical detail that made the difference between life and death. He explained that his son “grabbed onto some kind of plastic… I think it was the hood cover… literally a piece of plastic that was open, and that’s what he held onto.” That fragile grip kept the boy attached long enough for the bus to slow, allowing him to disengage and fall onto the roadway in a relatively safer spot.

Medical professionals, Anshin said, were stunned by the outcome. “The medical teams — everyone I spoke to, both in the police and in the medical field — told me there is no logical explanation for this,” he said. “A fraction of a second and it could have been missed, and everything would have looked completely different.”

Although his son’s physical condition was described as relatively good, Anshin stressed the deep emotional toll of the ordeal. “He went through an extreme experience,” he said. “He saw his death in front of his eyes and he was saved by rachamei Shomayim.” For now, Anshin explained, his sole focus is on his son’s recovery. “My first and highest goal right now is to protect the child and take care of him. We still haven’t been exposed to what he testified. It’s investigative material, and I don’t want to get into that.”

Asked about the driver’s motive and whether the incident constituted a nationalist terror attack, Anshin chose a measured tone. While acknowledging the widespread public belief that it was an attack, he said he prefers to leave the matter to authorities. “I trust that the relevant bodies, the police and the prosecution, are handling this in the best possible way,” he said. “I hope their conclusions will align with the facts, because there is certainly the prevailing view that it was an attack, and there is evidence to that effect.”

Anshin concluded the interview with a deeply emotional expression of gratitude to Hashem for the neis that occurred amid the broader tragedy. “In the end, we were left with a child, with a son who is precious to me,” he said. “And I thank Hakadosh Boruch Hu, who protected him in such an incredible way, that I received him back home.” He added that he will spend his entire life giving thanks for the miracle, and expressed hope that his son will soon return to the beis medrash, healthy and whole in body and spirit.

President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani have been quietly communicating by text message over the past several weeks, according to two people familiar with the exchanges who spoke with Axios, revealing a private line of contact that contrasts sharply with their long record of public sparring.

The existence of this ongoing backchannel — between a president who once dismissed Mamdani as a “communist” and a mayor who built his profile in part by attacking Trump — suggests their interactions have extended well beyond what was previously understood. It also points to a continued relationship following Mamdani’s postelection visit to the Oval Office in November, which appeared unusually friendly given their prior rhetoric.

According to the sources, the texting began soon after that White House meeting, when the two men exchanged phone numbers.

Their congenial interaction during the Oval Office visit caught many off guard, coming after months of sharp attacks in public. Trump had warned voters that electing Mamdani would “ruin the city, while Mamdani had called Trump a fascist. Yet when they met face-to-face, the atmosphere shifted noticeably.

Trump even commented on Mamdani’s looks. “Wow, you are even better-looking in person than you are on TV,” he remarked as Mamdani entered the Oval Office, according to New York magazine. Mamdani, meanwhile, attempted to build rapport by chatting about New York City neighborhoods and mentioning a local pharmacy once patronized by Trump’s father.

What the two have discussed in their private messages, and how often they have been in touch, remains unknown.

Representatives for both Trump and Mamdani declined to discuss the matter.

Axios reported that the relationship may have cooled recently. At a press conference earlier this month, Mamdani said he had called Trump to voice objections to U.S. strikes on Venezuela and the capture of Nicolas Maduro. Trump later told The New York Times that he was “surprised” by Mamdani’s criticism and said he “thought it was awfully quick for him to be criticizing.”

Reflecting on the situation afterward, Trump said: “I did” have a good relationship with Mamdani, but added that “he hit me sooner than I thought.”

A senior administration official also said the call from Mamdani was unexpected and suggested the mayor had overstepped.

Mamdani, however, has played down any rift, saying that “the President and I have always been honest and direct with each other about places of disagreement.”

{Matzav.com}

Hamas is preparing to appoint a new leader later this month, according to two members of the terror organization who spoke with Reuters on Tuesday, as the group looks to fill the top post left empty since Israel eliminated Yahya Sinwar in 2024 — even as concerns persist that any successor could quickly face the same outcome.

Reuters reported that Khalil Al Hayya and Khaled Mashaal are widely regarded within the group as the leading candidates for the role.

Both men are based in Qatar and serve on the five-member leadership council that has guided Hamas since Sinwar was killed. Sinwar, who played a central role in planning the October 7, 2023 terror assault on Israel, had himself taken over the organization’s leadership after Ismail Haniyeh was eliminated by Israel during a trip to Iran in 2024.

According to the sources cited by Reuters, the internal selection process is already in motion. The new leader is expected to be chosen through a secret vote by Hamas’ 50-member Shoura Council, which includes representatives from Gaza, Judea and Samaria, and Hamas officials operating outside the territory. A Hamas spokesperson declined to comment on the matter.

In addition to selecting a new overall leader, Hamas is also expected to appoint a deputy to replace Saleh Al Arouri, who was eliminated in an Israeli strike in Lebanon in 2024. While some figures within the organization have argued for continuing with a collective leadership structure, sources familiar with Hamas’ internal deliberations said the group is intent on completing the election process.

The leadership vote is taking place against the backdrop of President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire framework. The first phase of that plan, which took effect in October, calls for Hamas to disarm and envisions Gaza being governed by a technocratic Palestinian Arab administration under the supervision of an international body known as the Board of Peace.

Hamas has rejected the demand to give up its weapons, maintaining that the issue must be discussed among Palestinian Arab factions and asserting that it would only relinquish arms as part of a future Palestinian state. Western governments, including the United States, formally designate Hamas as a terrorist organization.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli and Arab officials have quietly warned the Trump administration in recent days that Iran’s ruling regime may not yet be vulnerable enough for U.S. military strikes to deliver a decisive outcome, according to a report published Tuesday by NBC News.

The outlet said its reporting was based on information from a current U.S. official, a former U.S. official briefed on the conversations, a source familiar with Israeli leadership assessments, and two Arab officials.

According to those sources, the officials have advised President Donald Trump — who is considering military action in response to Tehran’s violent suppression of protests — to delay large-scale strikes for the time being. Some of those consulted believe it would be wiser to wait until the regime shows clearer signs of collapse, stressing that Iran’s internal situation is fluid and could shift sharply in either direction.

The behind-the-scenes discussions, which have included senior American political and military figures, underscore the difficult choices facing Trump as he weighs how the United States should respond. The President, who had been expected to meet Tuesday with members of his national security team, has warned that Iran could face U.S. military action if the government continues killing protesters.

One Arab official told NBC News there is a “lack of enthusiasm from the neighborhood” for U.S. strikes at this stage. Another cautioned that “any attack or escalation by Israel or the US will unite Iranians,” pointing to the rally-around-the-flag effect that followed the American and Israeli strike in June.

Israeli officials, while firmly backing the goal of regime change in Iran, have reportedly expressed concern that outside military intervention now could undermine the momentum of the protest movement. They have conveyed to Washington that premature strikes might interrupt what demonstrators inside Iran have already set in motion.

Instead, Israeli officials have proposed alternative steps aimed at further weakening the regime while strengthening the protest movement before resorting to broader military action. These measures include expanding internet access so Iranians can bypass government-imposed blackouts, intensifying economic sanctions, carrying out cyber operations, or conducting narrowly focused military actions against specific Iranian leaders, according to the sources.

A spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in Washington declined to comment on the report.

A White House official said in a statement that “All options are at President Trump’s disposal to address the situation in Iran. The president listens to a host of opinions on any given issue, but ultimately makes the decision he feels is best.”

The official added that Trump “means what he says,” referencing the military action he ordered against Iran in June as well as the recent operation targeting Venezuela’s leader.

Separately, two Defense Department officials told CBS News on Monday night that Trump has been briefed on a wide range of military and covert tools that could be used against Iran, extending well beyond traditional airstrikes.

Multiple sources familiar with the matter said the President’s national security team is scheduled to meet at the White House today to review updated options regarding Iran. It remains uncertain whether Trump himself will take part in the session.

In a separate report, The New York Times cited a senior U.S. source who said the Pentagon has presented Trump with an extensive menu of potential strike options, including attacks on elements of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

That source emphasized, however, that more limited actions — such as cyber operations or strikes against Iran’s internal security forces — are considered more likely at this stage.

Trump reiterated his warning on Tuesday during an interview with CBS News, saying the United States is prepared to “take very strong action” if Iran begins executing anti-government protesters.

The President also acknowledged the mounting death toll from the unrest, saying he is aware that a “pretty substantial number” of demonstrators have already been killed during more than two weeks of protests. CBS News sources estimate that at least 12,000 people — and possibly as many as 20,000 — may have died.

Later, speaking to reporters after a visit to Detroit, Trump said, “I’m going back to the White House now, we’re going to look at the whole situation that’s going on in Iran… We’ll get some accurate numbers as to what’s happening with regard to the killing.”

{Matzav.com}

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned Israel that he could take the country to the International Court of Justice if it does not roll back newly enacted laws aimed at UNRWA, the United Nations agency for “Palestinian refugees,” and restore property taken from the organization, according to a Reuters report.

The warning appeared in a letter dated January 8 and addressed to Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, which was publicly released on Tuesday.

In the letter, Guterres said the United Nations cannot overlook “actions taken by Israel, which are in direct contravention of the obligations of Israel under international law. They must be reversed without delay.”

Israel’s Knesset approved legislation in October 2024 that barred UNRWA from operating within the country and forbade Israeli officials from engaging with the agency. The law was expanded last month to cut off electricity and water services to UNRWA sites, and Israeli authorities also took control of the agency’s offices in eastern Jerusalem.

UNRWA has faced longstanding criticism for its ties to the Hamas terrorist organization, criticism that intensified after Israel presented evidence in 2024 alleging that UNRWA employees took part in the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks.

In response to those claims, the United Nations established an independent review panel led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna to examine Israel’s allegations.

The panel reported that it identified “neutrality-related issues” within UNRWA but also said Israel had not yet substantiated claims that a large number of the agency’s employees belonged to terrorist organizations.

Emily Damari, a former Hamas hostage who was released after 470 days in captivity, later stated that she had been held inside an UNRWA facility.

In April 2025, USAID disclosed that the United Nations had interfered with a U.S. government investigation into connections between UNRWA staff in Gaza and the Hamas terrorist organization.

Despite the mounting evidence cited by Israel regarding UNRWA’s links to Hamas, the International Court of Justice recently ruled that Israel must enable the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip through UN bodies, including UNRWA. Israel and the United States both criticized that decision.

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, forcefully dismissed Guterres’ threat. “The UN Secretary-General is trying to intimidate Israel,” he said. “In a letter he sent to Prime Minister Netanyahu, he threatened to file a complaint with the International Court of Justice in The Hague against the State of Israel.”

Danon added: “Instead of addressing the serious issue of UNRWA employees being involved in terrorism, he is trying to whitewash crimes committed by UNRWA, which acts as a subsidiary of Hamas. We are done with UNRWA!”