Matzav

A new poll released Monday revealed a dramatic shift in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary, with Zohran Mamdani pulling ahead of Andrew Cuomo in a ranked choice scenario—marking a surprising turn in the race.

According to the Emerson College Polling/Pix 11/The Hill survey, Cuomo initially holds a narrow lead in the hypothetical first round, drawing 35% support among likely Democratic voters. Mamdani follows closely at 32%, while city Comptroller Brad Lander garners 13%. Speaker Adrienne Adams comes in at 8%, Scott Stringer at 3%, and another 5% is divided among Zellnor Myrie, Whitney Tilson, Jessica Ramos, and Michael Blake. Four percent of voters remain undecided.

Since no candidate reaches the 50% threshold needed for an outright win, the ranked choice voting system would come into play. Under this method, voters’ subsequent preferences are factored in as lower-polling candidates are eliminated, potentially reshaping the outcome with each round.

In the simulated ranked choice tally, Mamdani overtakes Cuomo in the eighth round, reaching 51.8% to Cuomo’s 48.2%.

“Over five months, Mamdani’s support has surged from 1% to 32%, while Cuomo finishes near where he began,” said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling.

“In the ranked-choice simulation, Mamdani gains 18 points compared to Cuomo’s 12, putting him ahead in the final round for the first time in an Emerson poll.”

In Emerson’s previous poll last month, Cuomo had a 12-point advantage in the first round and held onto a lead of 8 percentage points—54% to 46%—in the tenth and final round.

Mamdani’s rise appears closely tied to Lander’s voter base, who overwhelmingly favored the Queens assemblyman once Lander was eliminated.

At round seven of the ranking process, Cuomo still leads slightly—40.5% to 39.4%—when Lander exits the race with 20% of the vote. But many of Lander’s supporters then shift to Mamdani, giving him a 3.6-point edge in the following round.

Lander, who has publicly backed Mamdani as his alternate choice, has helped consolidate progressive support. The Working Families Party also urged its voters not to rank Cuomo at all.

Additional polling, including a survey conducted by the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion last week, still shows Cuomo in front—but Mamdani gaining steadily.

Emerson also asked voters whether they had already voted early or planned to vote on primary day.

Among early voters, Mamdani holds a solid 41% to 31% lead over Cuomo.

Among those waiting until Tuesday, Cuomo leads 36% to 31%.

Voter preferences diverge significantly across demographics.

Mamdani holds a two-to-one advantage among Democrats under 50. On the other hand, Cuomo wins handily among voters aged 50 to 59 with a 63% to 37% split, and he carries the over-60 demographic by a margin of 56% to 44%.

Black voters favor Cuomo 62% to 38%, while Hispanic voters prefer him 60% to 40%.

White voters, however, back Mamdani 61% to 39%, and Asian voters support him by an overwhelming margin of 79% to 21%. Mamdani, who was born in Uganda, is of Indian-American and South Asian heritage.

When sorted by education, Cuomo leads among those without a four-year college degree, 61% to 39%. In contrast, Mamdani leads among voters with college degrees, 62% to 38%.

Men favor Mamdani by a margin of 56% to 44%, while women lean slightly toward Cuomo, 52% to 48%.

The poll, which surveyed 729 likely Democratic voters, has a margin of error of ±3.6%, indicating the race could still go either way.

Emerson College conducted the poll using a combination of SMS text messages, landline robocalls, and an online voter panel.

In the final Emerson poll before the 2021 Democratic mayoral primary, Eric Adams was shown narrowly ahead of Kathryn Garcia—52% to 48%. Adams ultimately won that contest by less than one percentage point.

Cuomo’s campaign swiftly dismissed the new Emerson numbers.

“This is an outlier: Every other credible poll in this election — including two released last week — has shown Governor Cuomo with a double digit lead, which is exactly where this election will end tomorrow,” said Cuomo campaign spokesman Rich Azzopardi.

“Between now and then we will continue to fight for every vote like he will fight for every New Yorker as Mayor.”

In parallel, Fix The City, a pro-Cuomo Super PAC, released its own poll showing a completely different result. That survey had Cuomo defeating Mamdani handily in the seventh round of ranked choice voting—winning 52% of the vote, with Mamdani and Adrienne Adams earning 28% and 20%, respectively.

{Matzav.com}

Richard Hirschhaut, the Los Angeles regional director of the American Jewish Committee, told JNS on Monday that the AJC group “welcomes” an apology from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, after the department issued a statement referring to the “victims” of the strikes on Iran.

The department, under Robert Luna, the sheriff of Los Angeles County, “has been unwavering in its support and protection of the Jewish community and other vulnerable populations across Los Angeles County,” Hirschhaut said.

“While a mistake was made, it was quickly acknowledged and corrected, with a pledge to review internal protocols to prevent any future recurrence,” he told JNS. “The events of recent weeks demand that we all move forward with a focus upon keeping our communities safe and free from fear and intimidation.”

On Sunday, the day after Washington bombed key Iranian nuclear facilities, the sheriff’s department stated that “our hearts go out to the victims and families impacted by the recent bombings in Iran.”

“While this tragic event occurred overseas, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is closely monitoring the situation alongside our local, state and federal partners,” it said in the since-deleted post.

The department first amended the post by deleting the sentences referencing the “victims” and the “tragic event.” It then removed the whole post and apologized “formally” on Sunday for what it said was an “offensive and inappropriate social media post,” which it said was “unacceptable, made in error and does not reflect the views of Sheriff Robert G. Luna or the department.”

The department added that “as a law enforcement agency, we do not comment on foreign policy or military matters” and that it is launching an “internal review to determine how it was created and published.”

“Steps are being taken to strengthen our social media oversight protocols and ensure that any future communications align with our department’s standards of professionalism, respect and accountability,” it stated.

Jay Town, a former U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, wrote to the department on social media asking, “How exactly was Operation Midnight Hammer a ‘tragic event’ exactly?”

“Also, why did you delete this tweet after you edited it?” he wrote. “Finally, when did you decide to become an embarrassment to the badge?”

Alex Villanueva, former Los Angeles County sheriff, wrote that Luna, the current sheriff, needed to apologize and resign.

StopAntisemitism stated that the department “deleted their outrageous post mourning ‘victims’ of the U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear sites.”

“There were zero casualties. This was not an attack on civilians but a precision strike on the world’s top state sponsor of terror, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” it said. “We hope the investigation yields accountability for this careless and misleading post.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

A monumental and emotional event took place in Cleveland, Ohio, last night as Yeshivas Telz celebrated 150 years since its founding.

The historic maamad, was marked by grandeur and reverence, honoring a century and a half of Torah greatness.

The Munkatcher Rebbe made a rare and historic visit from New York to return to the yeshivah where he once learned in his youth. His arrival was greeted with great excitement and emotion by the roshei yeshivah, talmidim, and alumni present.

The event drew prominent rabbanim, roshei yeshivah, distinguished alumni, and members of the Cleveland Jewish community, all coming together in celebration of Telz’s contribution to the OLam HaTorah.

PHOTOS:

With great sadness, Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Nochum Pavlov zt”l at the age of 78.

A distinguished talmid chochom and devoted marbitz Torah, Rav Pavlov dedicated his life to building Torah and spreading Yiddishkeit in Eretz Yisroel.

Originally from Iowa, Rav Pavlov’s early years were marked by dedication to limud haTorah. In the 1960s, he learned in Skokie Yeshiva, where he developed into a serious ben Torah and laid the foundation for a life of avodas hakodesh.

He would eventually relocate to Eretz Yisroel, where he became a respected rov in the city of Ashkelon. There, he threw himself into kiruv rechokim and harbotzas haTorah. With warmth and dedication, Rav Pavlov impacted numerous people.

Tragically, while visiting America on behalf of his yeshiva, Rav Pavlov became ill and was niftar during his stay.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

The Dushinsky Chassidus in the United States is mourning the sudden petirah of Reb Shlomo Chaim Felsenstein z”l, a devoted chassid known for his boundless acts of tzedakah and chesed, and for his extraordinary archival work capturing decades of Jewish life through his lens. He passed away suddenly from cardiac arrest at the age of 56.

Born in the Givat Shaul neighborhood of Yerushalayim, Reb Shlomo Chaim was widely admired for his warm personality, generosity, and deep dedication to the tzibbur. He was a man of conversation, heart, and depth, who left a lasting impression on everyone he met.

From a young age, he was drawn to photography, becoming one of the most passionate and prolific documentarians of the chareidi world. With great love and reverence, he photographed gedolei Yisroel, rabbanim, admorim, and significant historical moments. His rare and expansive photo collection — particularly of Yerushalayim and its religious life over the generations — became a treasured reservoir of nostalgia for countless Jews around the world.

Reb Shlomo Chaim was among the founding members of the “Nostalgia 100 Sha’arim” group, where he generously shared hundreds of his personal photos from his private archive.

Chareidi photographer Shlomi Trachter paid tribute to him with emotion: “Shlomo Chaim was the one who pushed me to begin, who gave me the first encouragement to take up a camera. He believed in me. I can’t process this. It’s just unreal.”

The levayah will take place tomorrow.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

WATCH:

Following its June 13 military strikes on Iranian targets, Israel initiated a covert psychological warfare campaign aimed at destabilizing Iran’s leadership, The Washington Post reported Monday, citing sources with knowledge of the operation.

According to the report, the operation’s intent was to instill fear and uncertainty at the highest levels of the Iranian regime. Senior figures were directly threatened as part of the strategy to fracture the cohesion of Tehran’s ruling elite.

Israeli intelligence agents, fluent in Farsi, reportedly reached out to more than 20 Iranian officials on their private mobile phones. The purpose of the calls was clear: issue an ultimatum to abandon their allegiance to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei or face the threat of assassination.

The Washington Post reviewed both a transcript and an audio file of a call placed on June 13. In the message, an Israeli operative warned a high-ranking Iranian general, “I can advise you now, you have 12 hours to escape with your wife and child. Otherwise, you’re on our list right now.”

The agent added a chilling message underscoring Israel’s reach: “We’re closer to you than your own neck vein. Put this in your head. May God protect you.”

The general in question, a senior commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was instructed to film himself renouncing ties to the regime and submit the video via Telegram within 12 hours. While it remains unknown whether he complied, the broader aim was clear: instill fear and uncertainty within Iran’s power structure.

This psychological operation was designed to work in tandem with Israel’s physical strikes on Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure. Israeli officials confirmed that the effort was executed using intelligence operatives embedded within Iranian territory and resources positioned in advance.

The June 13 airstrikes themselves eliminated top Iranian officials, among them IRGC commander Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, armed forces chief Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, and nuclear scientist Fereydoon Abbasi-Davani. The operative heard in the recorded call reminded the targeted general of those losses, stating, “I’m calling from a country that two hours ago sent Bagheri, Salami, Shamkhani, one by one, to hell.”

The intimidation tactics reportedly extended to mid-level Iranian leadership who were either overlooked in the initial attacks or managed to survive. These follow-up threats were intended to deepen panic within the regime and impede its ability to function.

One source familiar with the details of the campaign explained, “The second-tier leadership that is supposed to inherit the positions and now fill in the places of those who have been eliminated, they are terrified.” The source further noted that this fear has made it “serious[ly] difficult” for Khamenei to appoint replacements, with some candidates declining to step into vacated roles.

{Matzav.com}

A joint operation between the Shin Bet and the Tel Aviv District Police’s Fraud Division led to the arrest of a 27-year-old man from Tel Aviv on Sunday. Authorities suspect he was acting on behalf of an Iranian intelligence organization considered hostile to Israel.

Officials from both agencies said the man had allegedly been in communication with Iranian agents for several months and is believed to have carried out a series of assignments on their behalf. These activities reportedly included taking photos of the residences of government officials, gathering visual intelligence near military installations, and vandalizing public areas with graffiti.

Investigators discovered that the suspect had received payments amounting to thousands of dollars, with the funds transferred through digital cryptocurrency platforms.

During a Sunday search of the suspect’s residence, law enforcement personnel confiscated computer equipment and electronic storage devices suspected of being used to exchange information with his Iranian contacts.

The individual appeared before the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning. The court approved the request to keep him in custody until June 26 while the investigation continues.

Officials from the Shin Bet and the police warned that Iranian-backed espionage and terror groups remain active in their efforts to enlist Israelis for covert operations. “These organizations reach out through social media platforms, and we urge all citizens and residents of Israel not to engage with foreign actors or carry out any missions on their behalf,” the agencies stated.

They further cautioned, “All security bodies will act with full force to bring anyone involved in such activity to justice and call on the public to immediately report any suspicious contact or solicitation attempts.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

High-profile Democratic contributors, including billionaires Barry Diller and Michael Bloomberg, are pulling back their financial support for the Democratic National Committee, citing what insiders describe as a growing consensus that the organization is failing to function effectively, the NY Post reports.

The DNC has struggled with internal conflict and a lack of unified leadership in the aftermath of President Trump’s defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. Disillusionment among longtime backers has led several top-tier donors to hit pause on their contributions.

“For a variety of reasons, I have no intention of donating to the DNC,” Diller told The New York Post.

In his newly released memoir Who Knew, Diller, who heads the digital conglomerate IAC, sharply criticized the Biden administration for failing to live up to its promises of restoring honor to government.

“I think the biggest crime of the Biden administration is that it came in with a pledge to restore a more civilized, selfless, and uplifting manner of governance and instead let us all down with its progressive elitism, personal ego, and cynical behavior. Such a shame,” Diller wrote.

Sources close to Bloomberg say he, too, is hesitant to contribute again to the DNC, though he hasn’t made an official statement. Other donors, including hedge fund manager Marc Lasry, are said to be similarly reluctant, with no firm commitment yet to resume giving.

Bloomberg donated $413,000 to the DNC during the 2023–24 cycle, while Diller gave $330,400 and Lasry contributed $133,400. Lasry has indicated he might donate again eventually, but he hasn’t laid out a timeline. Bloomberg’s team declined to comment.

“There is just a broad consensus that the DNC is ineffectual and not where we should be giving money,” one longtime Democratic donor said.

The donor added, “But it’s not surprising. ‘I don’t belong to an organized party, I’m a Democrat’ is a longtime joke for a reason.

“We’re so decentralized. The DNC has always been a joke. If you are a megadonor looking to shape the direction of the party, don’t give to the DNC. At this point, the shape of the DNC is just embarrassing.”

Concerns about the DNC’s solvency have escalated to the point where some insiders are questioning whether the party may soon need to borrow money. However, DNC Chairman Ken Martin has publicly dismissed the idea of resorting to loans.

A DNC spokesperson pushed back, noting that many loyal donors have already given substantial contributions this year, and touted record-breaking fundraising during Martin’s first four months as chair.

Yet another prominent donor told The Post he’s completely cut off funding to the committee, and he believes many others have quietly done the same.

“People are too embarrassed to admit this,” the source said. “I’m a lifelong Dem who raised a ton of money, and I won’t give them a nickel — and I’m not alone.

“I’m not even a Democrat anymore. The Dems should kidnap Elizabeth Warren and take her to Mexico,” the source added, referring to the progressive Massachusetts senator. “This is how Trump got [his win] — not because Trump is loved but because his ideas are popular.”

Several insiders noted that much of the party’s recent donor activity has focused on New York City’s mayoral primary, where fears are mounting among party leaders about the possibility of self-described socialist Zohran Mamdani defeating Andrew Cuomo.

The DNC’s latest campaign finance disclosures, filed last week, show that the party burned through nearly $3 million in May alone, draining its reserves to a precarious $15 million.

If Mamdani were to win, some donors worry that the party’s resources could increasingly be redirected toward socialist candidates, further alienating major contributors.

In response, the DNC rejected claims of a donor exodus and issued a statement on Friday boasting about “record fundraising” levels, which it said represent “the highest in DNC history under any chair’s first four months.”

The committee told Axios that it raised nearly $40 million between February and May 2025 — exceeding the $37 million collected under former chair Jaime Harrison over the same time frame in 2021.

But a Democratic strategist warned against repeating past mistakes. “In the early and mid 2010’s, some big-money donors already tried not funding the DNC and state parties, instead funding groups outside of the Party, which hollowed out the critical work that the Party does while putting us behind the eight-ball when it came to critical coordination during the 2016 presidential election,” the strategist said.

“We all know how that story ended — Donald Trump won the Presidency and the Democratic Party fell to an all-time low at every level of government. The Democratic Party needs a fully-funded Party to fight Donald Trump.”

Meanwhile, the Republican National Committee reported a healthy boost in its May finances, with more than $5 million in net positive cash flow. Its war chest now exceeds $72 million, giving the GOP nearly five times the cash reserves of the DNC.

Longtime Republican donor and Home Depot co-founder Ken Langone reportedly celebrated the news. “We don’t have to worry as the GOP party because the Dem positions are so stupid they’ll never raise money again,” Langone told friends, according to sources.

{Matzav.com}

Governor Kathy Hochul issued a state of emergency on Monday for New York City and large portions of the state in response to a dangerous heat wave expected to break records dating back more than a century.

Over the weekend, violent storms swept through upstate New York, triggering deadly flash floods and intense thunderstorms. Meteorologists warned that a prolonged heat wave gripping the Northeast could push thermometers past 100 degrees on at least one day this week, with oppressive humidity making it feel even hotter.

Temperatures in the five boroughs nearly reached triple digits on Monday, and Tuesday’s forecast predicted a high of 102 degrees. If that holds, it would surpass the previous record highs of 96 degrees recorded in Central Park in 1888.

Meanwhile, central New York was hit hard by fierce weather. Powerful winds and torrential rain uprooted trees and destroyed buildings, claiming at least three lives in Oneida County — among them, twin girls, according to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Department.

In response to the devastation and extreme heat, Hochul enacted a state of emergency covering New York City, Long Island, and several upstate counties, including Westchester. The move enables the deployment of additional resources to affected areas.

“Our hearts break for the tragic loss of life during last night’s storms, and my administration has been in touch with local elected officials offering support,” Hochul said in a press release.

“State emergency response personnel are already on the ground providing resources and support as we work to recover from this severe weather and restore power quickly,” she said.

“I urge all New Yorkers to stay weather aware and take precautions to stay vigilant and safe as extreme heat and severe weather are expected to continue impacting the State over the next couple of days.”

Central New York, the Southern Tier, and the North Country were all expected to face continued rainfall, exacerbating the risk of more flooding.

Officials cautioned that flash flood conditions in central parts of the state could quickly spread to the Southern Tier and the mid-Hudson Valley.

As of Monday, about 50,000 residents across New York were dealing with power outages caused by the weekend storms. Roughly 35,000 of those were in Oneida County alone, according to National Grid’s outage map.

The emergency declaration encompasses all five boroughs of New York City, Long Island, and the counties of Albany, Broome, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Dutchess, Essex, Greene, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Orange, Otsego, Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Tioga, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Westchester, and surrounding counties.

{Matzav.com}

Iran launched a missile barrage at a U.S. military installation in Qatar on Monday in what it described as retaliation for the U.S. airstrikes over the weekend that struck Iranian nuclear facilities. President Trump dismissed the action as weak and ineffective, calling it “very weak” in a social media post.

“CONGRATULATIONS WORLD, IT’S TIME FOR PEACE!” Trump proclaimed on Truth Social after the Iranian attack failed to inflict serious damage.

Reports indicated that Tehran had signaled its intentions in advance to Qatar, and 13 out of 14 missiles were intercepted mid-air before impact. Footage captured the projectiles being destroyed by Qatari air defenses over the Persian Gulf.

Later, Qatari authorities said that a total of 19 missiles were actually launched toward Al Udeid Air Base. One managed to hit the facility, but no injuries were reported.

Analysts say the restrained nature of the attack suggests Iran may be running low on its missile reserves and is possibly exploring a way to de-escalate tensions with Washington.

“I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done,” Trump wrote. “Most importantly, they’ve gotten it all out of their ‘system,’ and there will, hopefully, be no further HATE,” he continued, adding a sarcastic jab.

“I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost and nobody to be injured.”

A U.S. military source told The Post that the Pentagon does not plan to retaliate for what it described as a failed strike.

Residents in Doha reported hearing explosions overhead, and video captured defensive missile systems in action. Iran labeled the effort “Operation Blessings of Victory,” according to state media.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility, stating it had launched a “devastating and powerful missile” at the U.S. base in Qatar.

Videos circulating online, including those posted by NewsNation’s Brian Entin, showed bright trails from the missiles lighting up the skies above the Gulf.

Al Udeid Air Base, which hosts around 10,000 American personnel, serves as the forward headquarters for U.S. Central Command.

Iranian officials now say they are open to diplomacy.

“We are rational enough to start a diplomatic process after punishing the aggressor,” one official told Reuters.

Still, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei took a defiant tone in a social media post Monday, saying, “We didn’t harm anyone. And we will not accept any harassment from anyone under any circumstances. And we will not submit to anyone’s harassment,” as translated from Farsi.

A defense official confirmed that ballistic missiles, both short- and medium-range, were fired from Iran and aimed at the U.S. facility in Qatar.

“The White House and the Department of Defense are aware of, and closely monitoring, potential threats to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar,” read an official statement from Washington.

Trump was scheduled to convene with his national security team in the Situation Room at 1 p.m., according to the White House.

Qatar’s defense forces successfully intercepted the incoming missiles, the Qatari government confirmed.

Iran’s warning to Doha gave the U.S. time to relocate aircraft from vulnerable positions, Axios reported.

“At this time, there are no reports of US casualties,” a U.S. defense official stated, noting that monitoring efforts were ongoing and updates would follow.

According to The New York Times, Iranian officials said they felt compelled to respond to the U.S. strike on the Fordow nuclear site, but wanted to avoid escalating into full-scale conflict with Trump. They likened the move to the symbolic 2020 missile attack on U.S. troops in Iraq after Qasem Soleimani’s death.

That earlier strike caused no fatalities but left 110 service members with traumatic brain injuries.

U.S. intelligence had reportedly anticipated some form of retaliation following its strikes on three nuclear-related targets inside Iran.

On Monday, more than two dozen commercial flights bound for Qatar or the UAE were rerouted due to airspace safety concerns.

“The State of Qatar strongly condemns the attack that targeted Al-Udeid Air Base by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. We consider this a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar, its airspace, international law, and the United Nations Charter,” a spokesman for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted to X.

“We affirm that Qatar reserves the right to respond directly in a manner equivalent with the nature and scale of this brazen aggression, in line with international law.”

Despite the tension, Iran later emphasized it wished to maintain good relations with Qatar, stressing that the missile strikes were aimed far from populated areas. This statement came from the office of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.

Located about 40 miles southwest of Doha, Al Udeid is the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East.

The base houses more than 100 aircraft, including bombers, refueling planes, and surveillance assets critical to U.S. counterterrorism efforts in the region. It also features the longest runway in the Persian Gulf, and last month Trump announced that Qatar had agreed to invest $10 billion to upgrade the facility.

President Donald Trump announced Monday evening that both Israel and Iran have reached a consensus on a temporary halt to hostilities, with the ceasefire set to begin in six hours.

“It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE (in approximately 6 hours from now, when Israel and Iran have wound down and completed their in progress, final missions!), for 12 hours, at which point the War will be considered, ENDED!” Trump wrote in a message shared on his Truth Social platform.

He continued, “Officially, Iran will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 12th Hour, Israel will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 24th Hour, an Official END to THE 12 DAY WAR will be saluted by the World. During each CEASEFIRE, the other side will remain PEACEFUL and RESPECTFUL. On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, ‘THE 12 DAY WAR.’ This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will! God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and GOD BLESS THE WORLD!”

According to Trump’s statement, Iran will be the first to initiate the truce, with Israel following 12 hours later. Once both phases are completed, the two-week conflict will officially be declared over, with global recognition anticipated. Trump praised the leadership and resolve of both nations in reaching this point and expressed hope that peace will now prevail.

{Matzav.com}

A onetime official from the National Security Council during the Clinton administration stirred controversy over the weekend with remarks suggesting that Kamala Harris would have lacked the resolve to carry out the kind of military operation President Trump ordered against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

Jamie Metzl, a former Senate staffer and a longtime critic of Trump who openly supported Harris in past elections, wrote on X, “I’m not a blind tribalist and am perfectly comfortable praising President Trump for bold and courageous actions in support of America’s core national interests, as he took last night.”

He continued, “Although I believe electing Kamala Harris would have been better for our democracy [and] society. I also believe VP Harris would not have had the courage or fortitude to take such an essential step as the president took last night.”

On Saturday, American forces launched a high-stakes air and missile assault targeting key nuclear facilities in Iran, including Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz. The coordinated strike involved B-2 stealth bombers and Navy-launched Tomahawk missiles in a dramatic escalation aimed at preventing the Iranian regime from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

While a full official evaluation of the damage has yet to be disclosed, President Trump stated that “monumental damage” had been inflicted on the targeted sites.

Metzl, who also previously served as deputy staff director for then-Senator Joe Biden on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, underscored the severity of the Iranian threat. “Iran has been at war with the United States for 46 years. Its regime has murdered thousands of American citizens,” he said. “Its slogan, ‘Death to America,’ was not window dressing but core ideology.”

He added, “It was racing toward a nuclear weapon with every intention of using it to threaten America, our allies, and the Middle East region as a whole. No actions like this come without risks, and I imagine the story will get more complicated over time, but that’s why these types of decisions are complicated.”

Metzl’s public service also includes time as a United Nations human rights officer, and he is currently part of the World Health Organization’s advisory committee.

From the start of his first presidential campaign in 2016, Trump has consistently emphasized that the United States must not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.

During her 2024 run for the White House, Harris called Iran the “greatest adversary” of the United States and declared that every option remained available to stop Tehran from becoming a nuclear power.

The strike authorized by Trump came shortly after Israel launched its own preemptive attacks targeting Iranian military and nuclear capabilities, aiming to slow down the regime’s development of weapons of mass destruction.

Military analysts noted that neutralizing the Fordow enrichment facility — buried deep within a mountain — likely required U.S. intervention. On Shabbos, the Air Force deployed 14 Massive Ordnance Penetrators, 30,000-pound GBU-57 A/B “bunker-buster” bombs, to obliterate the fortified site.

{Matzav.com}

The Supreme Court handed the Trump administration a legal victory on Monday, allowing it to continue deporting certain migrants to countries other than their own, without requiring extensive prior notice.

In a 6–3 ruling that split the Court along ideological lines, the justices overturned a decision issued in late April by a federal judge in Boston. That earlier ruling had temporarily blocked the administration’s efforts to quickly remove individuals under the revised deportation policy.

While the majority of justices did not elaborate on their decision, Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued a forceful dissent. She was joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson in criticizing the move.

“In matters of life and death, it is best to proceed with caution,” Sotomayor wrote. “In this case, the Government took the opposite approach.”

“This Court now intervenes to grant the Government emergency relief from an order it has repeatedly defied. I cannot join so gross an abuse of the Court’s equitable discretion.”

{Matzav.com}

More Flights Expected; Application Process Still Open

The U.S. Embassy in Israel has begun operating evacuation flights for U.S. citizens and Green Card holders stranded in Israel and seeking to return to the United States.

Four flights departed Israel today, Monday, June 23, heading to Rome, Larnaca, and Athens. Chaim V’Chessed has learned that the Embassy aims to operate as many as six additional flights tomorrow, Tuesday, June 24.

These flights are available only to those who have registered in advance. Applicants must register via the U.S. State Department’s Crisis Intake Form at this link. As previously reported by Chaim V’Chessed, when completing the form, applicants must check off that they are seeking assistance leaving Israel and are requesting financial help.

After submitting the form, applicants immediately receive an email confirmation. If selected for a flight, they will receive a second email, generally within a few days, from the State Department informing them of their eligibility. When received, applicants must immediately reply, confirming their willingness to travel.

These Embassy-coordinated flights may currently be the most viable option for many Americans attempting to leave Israel. It is important to note, however, that evacuees must independently arrange and purchase onward travel from the European city to which they are flown.

Other potential exit options from Israel include land crossings into Jordan or Egypt. However, both these alternatives involve travel through areas with challenges and heightened security risks. Additionally, travelers can travel by sea to Cyprus.

Chaim V’Chessed will continue to monitor developments closely and share verified updates as they become available.

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The IDF is preparing to ask the Supreme Court for another postponement in submitting its official response to a petition concerning the Draft Law, according to a report from Galei Tzahal. The reason for the delay request is the current military campaign involving Iran, which is occupying the attention of the army’s top brass.

The military’s original deadline to respond was set for Tuesday. However, with the ongoing regional hostilities demanding the full attention of senior defense officials, the IDF is expected to seek an extension.

This comes after a planned meeting with the Attorney General to discuss the matter was already deferred at the army’s request. That meeting had been scheduled to include a detailed presentation from the Manpower Directorate on new strategies for cracking down on draft evasion—plans that have yet to be submitted.

Despite the evolving security situation and the likely delay in court proceedings, IDF officials stress that one key development remains unchanged: beginning next month, more than 50,000 draft notices will be sent to chareidi men who are of conscription age.

In a statement, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit confirmed: “There is no change in the planned issuance of the summonses in the scope and timing previously presented. In addition, the plan for enforcing draft evasion will be presented transparently through the standard channels. Due to the security situation, a request for an extension may be submitted to the Supreme Court regarding the deadline for submitting the response. The IDF will continue to operate in accordance with the law.”

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The following letter was sent by Mr. Sol Werdiger, Chairman of the Board of Agudath Israel of America and Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Executive Vice President of Agudath Israel of America, to President Donald Trump:

Dear Mr. President:

We write on behalf of Agudath Israel of America, a 103-year-old national Orthodox Jewish organization, to convey our heartfelt appreciation to you for the bold and decisive actions you took on Saturday to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb.

Iran has made no secret of its design to annihilate Israel – may it never come to pass! This has been its goal ever since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, when its leaders referred to Israel as a “cancerous tumor” that must be eliminated from the face of this earth. The threat to Israel posed by Iranian nuclear capacity would be existential.

Iran has no credibility with respect to its nuclear program. It has proceeded with impunity to violate its nuclear nonproliferation obligations, as the International Atomic Energy Agency recently detailed in a report where it described Iran’s “rapid accumulation of highly enriched uranium,” and Iran’s failure to provide “technically credible answers regarding the nuclear material at three locations.”

As you know, Mr. President, it’s not just Israel that has an interest in blocking Iran’s nefarious designs. The entire free world has a stake in a de-nuclearized Iran. As you said in your remarks on Saturday, Iran is “the world’s number one state sponsor of terror.” Your courageous actions struck a blow at the heart of global terror. Thank you.

We also thank you, Mr. President, for giving G-d such prominent mention in your moving remarks. Hashem is Master of the Universe, and we pray to Him that we will one day soon see everlasting peace in the Middle East and across the globe.

With our warmest wishes and deep appreciation,

Sol Werdiger

Chairman of the Board

Rabbi David Zwiebel

Executive Vice President

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Major General Yaniv Asor, who leads the IDF’s Southern Command, paid a visit on Monday to the troops of the 252nd Division. During his address, he spoke about the ongoing military campaign in Gaza and reiterated the central objectives of Operation Swords of Iron.

“Since October 7th, we have been at war — a war for our right to live as a free people in our country, a war to preserve the Jewish homeland. These are historic days in which we are initiating, we are surprising, we are daring, and we are striking Iran—the head of the snake,” Asor said.

He emphasized that Hamas cannot be allowed to remain in Gaza and that victory in this campaign is essential. “We cannot tolerate Hamas here — we will not end this war until the threat has been eliminated. It is this campaign which brings us closer to returning the hostages and the fallen. I fully believe that we will not stop until we bring our living brothers and sisters home. This mission lives deep within us,” he said.

Asor highlighted the determination of the IDF and the importance of holding strategic ground to defend nearby Israeli towns. “With a spirit of initiative and offense, determination and perseverance—unrelenting perseverance—we will not stop until you have taken these ridges, the ridge that overlooks Gaza and dramatically improves our ability to protect Netivot, Sderot, Ofakim, Sa’ad, Kibbutz Gaza, Alumim, and Nahal Oz.”

He concluded by describing the emotional and strategic significance of the high ground. “When civilians look up to this ridge, they see the Israeli flag, they see IDF posts, and they feel safe enough to return. We will not stop until we defeat Hamas and bring our hostages home,” the head of the Southern Command concluded.

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According to a report by Israel’s Channel 12, Israel has conveyed messages to Iran expressing its desire to bring the current exchange of missiles and aerial strikes to a conclusion within a matter of days.

High-ranking Israeli sources told the outlet that Israel believes it is on the verge of reaching its key military objectives. Nevertheless, they emphasized that Israel retains the ability to intensify its response by targeting thousands of strategic sites that could severely weaken Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s regime.

The report also noted that Israel is using its strategy in Lebanon as a blueprint to prevent Iran from reestablishing its nuclear and missile programs. Since Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in November, Israel has carried out numerous strikes against the group’s personnel and facilities, aiming to prevent the Iran-aligned organization from launching future attacks or restoring its military infrastructure.