Matzav

Sky News hosts James Macpherson, Caleb Bond and Liz Storer look at the front pages of the newspapers following Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 US presidential elections.

WATCH:

Sky News host James Morrow lambasted Kamala Harris after she failed to address her supporters at the Democrat headquarters, where she faced an election loss. Instead, the vice president’s supporters were addressed by Harris’ campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond.

“I mean, this was just a shocking performance by the Vice President this evening. I mean, truly, she was like school on… Sunday, no class,” Mr Morrow told Sky News host Rita Panahi.

“If she doesn’t this morning, I think call publicly Donald Trump to graciously concede and publicly address her followers. I think this will condemn her legacy, whatever legacy she had, as just ending out of this complete fizzle.”

WATCH:

President-elect Donald Trump has promised that his upcoming presidency will mark “the golden age of America.” Speaking to a full crowd at the West Palm Beach Convention Center, Trump attributed his victory to divine providence. “God spared my life for a reason,” he remarked, following Newsmax’s projection of his win over Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. He emphasized the unprecedented nature of his triumph: “It’s a political victory that our country has never seen before, nothing like this.”

Trump expressed his gratitude to Americans for entrusting him once again, both as the 45th and now the 47th president. “So I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president, and your 45th president. Every citizen, I will fight for you, for your family and your future every single day,” he vowed. His commitment, he said, is unwavering, promising, “I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe, and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve. This will truly be the golden age of America – that’s what we have to do. This is a magnificent victory for the American people that will allow us to make America great again.”

Arriving on stage at 2:26 a.m. ET to the song “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood, Trump was met with chants of “USA, USA, USA” from an enthusiastic audience. He then appealed to Americans nationwide, calling for unity in what he described as a noble cause. “I ask every citizen all across our land to join me in this noble and righteous endeavor,” he said, urging a move beyond past divisions. “It’s time to put the divisions of the past four years behind us. It’s time to unite, and we’re going to try, we’re going to try, we have to try. And it’s going to happen. Success will bring us together. I’ve seen that. I’ve seen that. I saw that in the first term when we became more and more successful.”

Trump also commended Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, describing him as a “feisty guy.” Recalling how he urged Vance to confront adversarial media networks, he joked, “You know the enemy camp is certain networks. A lot of people are like ‘sir, do I have to do that?’ He just goes ‘OK, which one? CNN? MSNBC?’ He’s like the only guy who really looks forward to it, and then just goes in and absolutely obliterates them.”

Newsmax called the election for Trump at 1:23 a.m. ET, ahead of other major news outlets, after projecting a Trump victory in Pennsylvania. This state gave Trump the necessary 270 electoral votes to secure his position as the 47th President of the United States. Other networks soon followed suit, with Fox News declaring Trump the winner about 30 minutes later.

Once a core part of the Democratic “blue wall” alongside Michigan and Wisconsin, Pennsylvania had supported Trump in 2016 but reverted to the Democrats in 2020. This time, Trump managed to reclaim Pennsylvania and Georgia, while also retaining North Carolina, which was highly competitive.

Calling for unity, Trump urged Americans to move beyond recent divisions. “It’s time to put the divisions of the past four years behind us,” he repeated. “It’s time to unite.” He further stressed the importance of prioritizing the nation’s well-being: “We have to put our country first for at least a period of time. We have to fix it.”

Many of Trump’s close friends, family members, and political allies joined him on stage in West Palm Beach, Florida. First Lady Melania Trump stood beside him, along with Barron, their youngest son. His older children—Don Jr., Eric, Ivanka, and Tiffany—were also there to show their support. Notable political figures, including key campaign strategists Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita, joined Trump on stage as well, alongside allies like House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Among the attendees were celebrities who came to show their support. Dana White, the CEO of UFC, shared the stage with Trump, while golfer Bryson DeChambeau and billionaire Elon Musk were also highlighted. “We have a new star. A star is born: Elon,” Trump declared, acknowledging Musk’s support.

In his speech, Trump celebrated the GOP’s gains in down-ballot races. “The number of victories in the Senate was absolutely incredible,” he said, pointing out that Republicans had secured 51 seats, with more results pending in Montana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Nevada. He anticipated further victories, remarking on the party’s potential to expand its majority. Trump also predicted that Republicans would retain control of the House, praising Speaker Mike Johnson, even as dozens of House races across the country remained undecided.

Trump assured supporters of his dedication to their interests, promising, “Every single day, I will be fighting for you with every breath in my body,” and reiterated his vision of a “strong, safe, and prosperous America.”

The atmosphere at Trump’s election night watch party was electric as supporters celebrated each new result, sharing hugs, making calls, and tossing MAGA hats into the air.

Trump 2024 national press secretary Karoline Leavitt reacted to the former president’s projected victory in the 2024 presidential election during ‘Fox & Friends,’ and how his policies will benefit the lives of all Americans.

WATCH:

The dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant by Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on Tuesday led to a battle of narratives as the Prime Minister’s Office said Gallant was fired over disagreements connected to the war’s conduct while the opposition tried to frame the move as petty politics.

Four opposition leaders held a joint press conference at the Knesset in Jerusalem on Wednesday, accusing Netanyahu of dismissing Gallant in order to pass a “draft-dodger bill” needed to placate his chareidi coalition partners and keep his government from toppling.

Yair Lapid of the Yesh Atid Party led off the press conference, saying Netanyahu fired the man responsible for all the war’s successes. (Netanyahu sources said most of the achievements that Gallant boasted of in his speech were decisions he opposed at the time they took place.)

“What happened yesterday is not normal,” Lapid said. “You cannot trust the prime minister or the Cabinet. The only person who could be trusted was fired yesterday. Netanyahu is not qualified. He cannot lead Israel in a time of war. The fighters cannot trust him. He had a choice—and he chose dishonor.”

Joining Lapid at the press conference were Benny Gantz of National Unity, Avigdor Liberman of Yisrael Beiteinu and Yair Golan of The Democrats (a merger of the Labor and Meretz parties).

The most extreme criticism came from Golan, who said of Netanyahu, “His heart is coarse, cruel and evil.”

The High Court

Earlier on Wednesday, the High Court of Justice ordered Netanyahu to respond to petitions against Gallant’s firing by noon on Thursday. The Attorney General’s Office, though often opposed to the government’s positions, is reportedly planning to defend the prime minister against the petitions.

The Likud Party issued a statement criticizing the opposition leaders.

“Just two years ago, the four of them formed a government together with the ‘Muslim Brotherhood party’ [Ra’am, aka the United Arab List] and reached a surrender agreement with Hezbollah [the U.S.-brokered maritime deal with Lebanon]—and they still dare to talk about security?” the Likud said.

Sources close to the prime minister told Ynet that Gallant had bucked Netanyahu on a host of key military decisions, including refusing to support the prime minister’s demand to assassinate Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, opposing an IDF presence on the Philadelphi Corridor on the Gaza Strip’s border with Egypt, and refusing to let the IDF take charge of the distribution of humanitarian aid to the Strip, which the sources say perpetuates Hamas rule.

Gallant conducted himself in an adversarial matter, they added, frequently holding meetings with heads of organizations subordinate to the prime minister without his presence.

And up until two weeks ago, Gallant avoided coming to Cabinet meetings to which Netanyahu had summoned him.

In a statement released by his office on Tuesday, Netanyahu said that over the past several months, the trust between himself and Gallant had “begun to crack,” resulting in an “increasingly wide crisis of confidence.”

“Defense Minister Gallant and I had substantial disagreements on the management of the military campaign, disagreements which were accompanied by public statements and actions that contravened the decisions of the Cabinet and the Security Cabinet,” Netanyahu said.

The prime minister said that he had made “multiple attempts to resolve these disagreements,” but they only grew and became public knowledge. “[W]hat is even worse, they have reached the knowledge of the enemy; our enemies have taken great delight in these disagreements and have derived much benefit from them,” Netanyahu said.

Their disputes interfered with the military campaign, said the prime minister, an opinion shared by the majority of the Cabinet—”virtually all members share the feeling that this state of affairs cannot continue.”

Three major disagreements

Gallant, for his part, said in a statement to the press on Tuesday, that there were three major disagreements between himself and Netanyahu, revolving around the issues of ultra-Orthodox recruitment, a hostage deal and an investigation into the failures of Oct. 7, 2023, which Netanyahu opposed.

Gallant was appointed defense minister on Dec. 29, 2022. The first dramatic public break with Netanyahu came three months into his tenure, during the crisis over the government’s judicial reform effort.

As protests spread across the country, Gallant called for an immediate halt to the process in a televised speech on March 25, 2023, saying “the societal rift was a clear danger.”

Netanyahu fired Gallant, but when mass protests erupted, he reinstalled Gallant 10 days later. Large protests also followed Tuesday’s dismissal.

Following the disaster of Oct. 7 13 months ago, the two men publicly disagreed on several occasions. In May, Gallant criticized the prime minister for not having a clear post-war vision for the Gaza Strip.

“Since October, I have been raising this issue consistently in the cabinet, and have received no response,” Gallant said during a televised address on May 15.

In July, a JNS/Direct Polls survey found that a majority of Likud voters had lost faith in Gallant and wanted him fired.

In August, after Gallant referred to the government’s slogan of “absolute victory” as gibberish, Netanyahu’s office accused the defense minister of adopting “the anti-Israel narrative.”

In September, it was reported that Netanyahu intended to fire Gallant and replace him with Gideon Sa’ar of the New Hope Party, who had just joined the coalition. Gallant shortly afterward apologized to the prime minister in an effort to prevent his dismissal.

Israel Katz, currently foreign minister, will take over the Defense portfolio. Gideon Sa’ar will become foreign minister. JNS

{Matzav.com}

A Hezbollah rocket attack triggered sirens in Trump Heights in the Golan Heights on Wednesday, shortly after the town’s namesake delivered his victory speech in Florida following the U.S. presidential election.

A short time later, the Lebanese terrorist group launched a 10-rocket barrage at central Israel, temporarily halting flights at Ben-Gurion International Airport.

No injuries were reported in either attack.

The community on the strategic plateau was re-named Ramat Trump in 2019 after then-President Trump recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

It was the second Israeli community to be named after a sitting U.S. president after Moshav Kfar Truman, which is located east of Ben-Gurion International Airport.

On July 24, a Hezbollah rocket hit a soccer field in Majdal Shams, one of four Druze communities in the Israeli Golan Heights, killing 12 children.

Hezbollah has fired more than 16,000 projectiles at Israel since Oct. 8, 2023, the day after the Hamas-led invasion of the northwestern Negev. JNS

{Matzav.com}

The Empire State Building lit up in vivid red overnight to mark Donald Trump’s victories in pivotal swing states, including North Carolina and Georgia. This decision stirred an intense backlash from Democrats, who accused the iconic New York City landmark of “celebrating the end of democracy.”

The well-known New York skyscraper first glowed red between 11:22 p.m. and 11:27 p.m., after Trump’s win in North Carolina was officially announced.

“We will be sparkling red for the next 5 minutes,” stated the Empire State Building’s official X account.

At 1 a.m., the landmark turned red once more as news broke of Trump’s success in Georgia.

In posts on social media, the Empire State Building clarified that it would alternate between blue and red for five minutes each time one of the seven key swing states declared a winner up until 2 a.m.

Although the building only illuminated twice—once for each win in North Carolina and Georgia—by 5:30 a.m. when the election results became more conclusive, some Democrats, already troubled by Vice President Kamala Harris’ lackluster showing in New York City, voiced their disapproval of the display.

“Celebrating the end to Democracy. Wow,” one person scoffed.

Another Twitter user angrily wrote, “THIS STUPID F—ING ACCOUNT YOU’RE LITERALLY IN NEW YORK.”

A third added, “May Zeus himself strike this building down.”

The landmark received additional criticism, with one individual stating, “Wow, now I even hate the Empire State Building.”

The Empire State Building’s account later issued a reminder to address the outrage, emphasizing that the light displays were pre-scheduled to reflect the swing states’ results.

“As a reminder, we will be sparkling for all battleground state calls from the Associated Press,” the account clarified in a follow-up message.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on Wednesday morning congratulated Donald Trump after Fox News declared the Republican the victor in the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

“Dear Donald and Melania Trump, Congratulations on history’s greatest comeback!” the premier tweeted.

“Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory! In true friendship, yours, Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu,” he continued.

The post was accompanied by a recent picture of Netanyahu and his wife with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate and resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog also congratulated Trump, calling him “a true and dear friend of Israel, and a champion of peace and cooperation in our region.”

“I look forward to working with you to strengthen the ironclad bond between our peoples, to build a future of peace and security for the Middle East, and to uphold our shared values. On behalf of the Jewish and democratic State of Israel, and all our people, I wish you much success,” tweeted Herzog.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich weighed in early Wednesday morning on the U.S. presidential election, with the former declaring explicit support for Trump.

Ben-Gvir retweeted his own post from July 14 stating, “God Bless Trump,” with the fresh caption “Yessss,” accompanied by images of the Israeli and American flags.

Smotrich tweeted on Wednesday: “God bless Israel, God bless America.”

Foreign Minister Israel Katz tweeted, “Congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump on his historic victory. Together, we’ll strengthen the U.S.-Israel alliance, bring back the hostages, and stand firm to defeat the axis of evil led by Iran.”

Minister-without-portfolio Gideon Sa’ar praised Trump’s “historic victory.”

“As a true friend of Israel with a proven commitment to Israel’s security, we welcome your strong and dedicated leadership as we work to build a better future of security and cooperation for the Middle East,” he tweeted.

Benny Gantz, leader of the opposition National Unity Party, called Trump ”a true friend of Israel – demonstrated through not only his words but actions.”

Gantz went on to state that, “Throughout his former tenure, he brokered the Abraham Accords, officially recognized the Golan Heights as part of Israel, and moved the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.”

He added: “Against the backdrop of emboldened Iranian aggression in the region, its race to nuclear capabilities, and the paramount efforts to return the hostages home, President Trump’s leadership will not only ensure the U.S. continues to be a special friend and ally to the State of Israel but a vital beacon of moral clarity to the Middle East and the world, Thank you, and congratulations, Mr. President.”

Education Minister Yoav Kisch tweeted: “Welcome back Mr. President.”

Added Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar: “Congratulations to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. We’re already looking forward to the next four years.”

JNS

Former President Donald Trump delivered remarks from Mar-a-Lago following the results of the 2024 presidential election.

WATCH:

Chants of “USA!” greeted Donald Trump as he took to the podium on Wednesday morning to deliver a victory speech after Fox News called the 2024 presidential race for the Republican candidate.

“This is a movement like nobody has ever seen before. Frankly, this I believe is the greatest political movement of all time … and now it will reach a new level of importance because we are going to help our country heal,” Trump said at the Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.

“Look what happened. Is this crazy?” he said to applause.

Trump thanked the American people for electing him as the 47th president, and vowed to fight for all American citizens while in the White House.

“Truly it will be the golden age of America,” he said. “America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate.”

Trump thanked his wife, Melania Trump, and his family, who were with him on stage.

He then introduced his running mate, J.D. Vance.

“We just witnessed the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America,” said Vance.

“Under Trump’s leadership will never stop fighting for you … we will lead the greatest economic comeback in American history,” he added. JNS

Israeli President Isaac Herzog congratulated Donald Trump on Wednesday morning after Fox News declared the Republican the victor in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, calling him “a true and dear friend of Israel, and a champion of peace and cooperation in our region.”

“I look forward to working with you to strengthen the ironclad bond between our peoples, to build a future of peace and security for the Middle East, and to uphold our shared values. On behalf of the Jewish and democratic State of Israel, and all our people, I wish you much success,” tweeted Herzog.

JNS

Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon on Wednesday fired two barrages of rockets toward central Israel, setting off sirens in several cities, including Tel Aviv.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that at least 10 rockets were launched in the first barrage on Wednesday morning, some of which were intercepted by air defenses. According to the news channel, it was the largest barrage fired by the Iranian terrorist proxy at central Israel since the start of the war more than a year ago.

A direct impact was reported in a parking lot at Ben-Gurion Airport, while a large rocket fragment damaged a parked car in Ra’anana, north of Tel Aviv. Flights from Ben-Gurion were briefly halted following the attack.

There were no immediate reports of injuries in the attack.

Shortly afterwards, another Hezbollah barrage triggered alerts in the central Galilee.

Less than an hour before the barrage on central Israel, rocket sirens were activated in Ramat Trump (Trump Heights) and nearby areas in the northwestern Golan Heights. The new community is named after the 45th president of the United States, who about two hours before Wednesday’s attack clinched his electoral victory ahead of becoming the 47th president.

On Wednesday afternoon, more air-raid sirens were activated across central Israel, including in areas near the airport, warning of additional aerial attacks from Lebanon. One rocket was intercepted, the IDF said.

Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency response group said it did not receive any reports of casualties following the Hezbollah attack.

Two weeks ago, a Hezbollah rocket attack on the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, the second in as many days, sent millions of Israelis running to bomb shelters.

The military confirmed that two rockets headed toward central Israel were intercepted by air defenses. There were no injuries in that attack, either, though rocket shrapnel damaged a car in the coastal city of Herzliya.

Hezbollah took responsibility, claiming it had targeted the “Glilot base of the Military Intelligence Unit 8200 in the suburbs of Tel Aviv with a qualitative missile salvo.”

More than 26,000 rockets, missiles and drones have been launched at Israel by Iran and its regional terrorist proxies since the Hamas massacre on Oct. 7, 2023, according to IDF data.

The numbers were published on the first anniversary of the terrorist invasion. There have been some 13,200 launches from the Gaza Strip, 12,400 from Lebanon, 400 from Iran, 180 from Yemen and 60 from Syria. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Craig Goldman, a businessman and Texas state legislator, has secured a decisive victory in his congressional bid for North Texas, increasing the count of Jewish Republicans in the U.S. Congress to three for the first time in over a decade.

Goldman defeated Democrat Trey Hunt with a commanding 64% to 36% margin, taking over the seat from Rep. Kay Granger in the 12th District, which extends westward from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Granger, a veteran Republican lawmaker with strong ties to the pro-Israel community, is stepping down from her long-held position.

Joining Goldman in Congress are Reps. David Kustoff from Tennessee and Max Miller from Ohio, forming the Republican Jewish delegation in the House. The GOP hasn’t had three Jewish members in Congress since the early 2000s, during the tenure of Rep. Eric Cantor from Virginia, alongside Senators Norm Coleman from Minnesota and Arlen Specter from Pennsylvania. The number dwindled to just one in 2009 when Coleman lost his seat and Specter switched to the Democratic Party.

Currently, there are 24 Jewish Democrats serving in the House and nine in the Senate.

At 56, Goldman is a seasoned real estate entrepreneur and a 12-year veteran of the Texas legislature, where he rose to become the majority leader in the state House of Representatives. He has also been actively involved with the Republican Jewish Coalition, contributing as both a member and a fundraiser.

“Congressman-Elect Goldman’s victory expands Jewish Republican representation with @HouseGOP!” the RJC tweeted, congratulating him on his success.

As noted in a May profile by Jewish Insider, Goldman distinguishes himself within his party by opposing the isolationist stance gaining traction among some Republicans. He advocates for continued support to U.S. allies, including Israel and Ukraine.

{Matzav.com}

Josh Stein, a Democrat serving as North Carolina’s attorney general, is anticipated to make history as the state’s first Jewish governor after defeating Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who once referred to himself as a “Black Nazi.”

This election drew significant attention, not only due to Robinson’s controversial remarks targeting Jews and other groups but also because North Carolina is a pivotal swing state with the potential to influence the presidential race.

At 58 years old, Stein is a moderate Democrat with a background as a high school educator, a state senator, and a member of the state’s Justice Department. He is also the son of a well-known civil rights attorney.

“Tonight the people of North Carolina resoundingly embraced a vision that’s optimistic, forward-looking and welcoming, a vision that’s about creating opportunity for every North Carolinian,” Stein said in his victory speech on Tuesday. “We chose hope over hate, competence over chaos, decency over division.”

A committed member of Temple Beth Or, a Reform synagogue in Raleigh, Stein has openly shared his Jewish faith. He has also been involved in the local Jewish community, including coaching a children’s soccer team at the JCC.

“Our Jewish faith obliges us to do our part to make the world a better place, better than we found it,” he tweeted to mark Rosh Hashanah in 2022. “This principle guides me as your attorney general.”

By 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time, Stein held a decisive lead with 54% of the vote compared to Robinson’s 42%. This margin was significantly larger than the tight presidential race in the state, where Kamala Harris and Donald Trump were in a close contest. While The Associated Press later called North Carolina for Trump, Democrats were optimistic that Stein’s victory might help Harris carry the state, following Joe Biden’s narrow loss there in 2020.

Stein was endorsed by outgoing Democratic Governor Roy Cooper, who was unable to seek another term. Meanwhile, Robinson enjoyed the support of Donald Trump.

For Jewish Democrats in the state, Stein’s win was not just a cause for celebration but also a relief due to Robinson’s defeat. Robinson, who entered politics in 2020 as a newcomer, has faced a barrage of scandals, including offensive comments and posts on adult websites that surfaced over the past year.

In one inflammatory post, he claimed the popular movie “Black Panther” was “created by an agnostic Jew and put to film by satanic marxist,” adding that its purpose was “only created to pull the shekels out of your Schvartze pockets.”

Robinson, who once labeled himself a “Nazi,” has also trivialized the atrocities of the Nazi regime, writing on Facebook in 2017, “I am so sick of seeing and hearing people STILL talk about Nazis and Hitler and how evil and manipulative they were. NEWS FLASH PEOPLE, THE NAZIS (National Socialist) ARE GONE! We did away with them.”

After assuming political office, Robinson attempted to soften his public persona and reportedly apologized to local Jewish leaders, though not in a public forum. His remarks were strongly condemned by the Republican Jewish Coalition as “clearly antisemitic.”

On Tuesday, Robinson admitted defeat.

“I can tell you this: I’m not going to stop here, folks. We don’t stop here,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of work still to do for the people of North Carolina.”

{Matzav.com}

Bernie Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont who has long been favored by progressive circles, secured a fourth six-year term in the U.S. Senate after his reelection on Tuesday.

Sanders triumphed over his Republican opponent, Gerald Malloy, a U.S. Army veteran and entrepreneur. Other candidates on the ballot included independent Steve Berry and minor party contenders Mark Stewart Greenstein, Matt Hill, and Justin Schoville.

At 83 years old, Sanders identifies as a democratic socialist and aligns with the Democratic Party. He has previously made strong bids for the Democratic presidential nomination, falling just short on two occasions. In recent years, he has played a key role alongside the Biden administration in shaping policy priorities related to health care, education, child care, and labor rights. Sanders holds the record as the longest-serving independent member of Congress.

During his victory speech, Sanders expressed heartfelt thanks for the overwhelming support from Vermonters. He and his wife Jane were both moved by the generosity they had experienced throughout the campaign.

“So, Vermont, thank you very, very much and I pledge to you to work as hard as I can to protect the best interests of our state and our country,” Sanders remarked, according to WCAX-TV.

Sanders explained that his decision to run for another term was driven by the pressing challenges facing the nation. He highlighted threats to the country’s democratic institutions, the widening wealth gap, the dangers posed by climate change, and the ongoing battles over women’s reproductive rights.

Sanders has been outspoken in his criticism of Israel, particularly regarding its treatment of Palestinians and its policies toward Gaza and the West Bank. Some of his notable statements and actions include:

1. Opposition to the Gaza Conflict and Military Action: Sanders has repeatedly criticized Israeli military operations in Gaza. He has called for a reevaluation of U.S. military aid to Israel, particularly in light of its actions in Gaza, which he argues have resulted in significant Palestinian civilian casualties. During the Israel-Gaza conflict, Sanders called the Israeli military’s airstrikes “disproportionate.”
2. Human Rights Concerns: Sanders has been an advocate for Palestinian human rights and has pointed to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories as a source of ongoing suffering for Palestinians. He has also been critical of Israeli policies in the West Bank, including the expansion of settlements, which he views as an obstacle to peace.
3. Two-State Solution: Sanders has supported a two-state solution as the path to peace but has critiqued Israel’s actions that he believes undermine that goal. For instance, he has spoken against the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, arguing that it makes a two-state solution more difficult to achieve.
4. U.S. Military Aid to Israel: Sanders has advocated for conditions on U.S. military aid to Israel. He has suggested that American support should be contingent on Israel’s actions regarding Palestinian rights and peace negotiations.
5. AIPAC and Criticism of Lobbying Groups: Sanders has been critical of the influence of pro-Israel lobbying groups, particularly AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee), on U.S. foreign policy. He has suggested that the U.S. needs to distance itself from groups that may exert undue influence on policymakers to maintain a more balanced approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

{Matzav.com}

LISTEN:

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Bitachon4Life-Shiur-1346-Tikvah-Part-141.mp3

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

LISTEN:

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Tefila4Life-Shiur-871-Think.mp3

Matzav.com: Donald Trump is now expected to secure a second term as president, with his victory in Pennsylvania now projected.

In a fiercely contested and closely watched election, Trump went head-to-head with Democratic candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris.

With this projected win, the Republican Party is set to reclaim the White House, marking a return four years after Trump was defeated by President Joe Biden in 2020.

At 78, Trump will set a new record as the oldest person elected to the presidency. Previously, Joe Biden held this distinction, having been elected at age 77.

The forecasted victory also indicates that Trump will begin his term with Republicans holding the Senate majority.

Trump showed an early advantage as East Coast polls closed, with what analysts refer to as a “red mirage.” His victories in crucial battleground states such as Georgia and North Carolina set the stage, but it was Pennsylvania that ultimately delivered the decisive electoral votes, pushing him past the required 270.

To secure this outcome, Trump won in a slew of states, including Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Alaska, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Wyoming, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, West Virginia, Montana, Idaho, and Utah.

This triumph comes on the heels of Harris joining the presidential race in late July, after Biden withdrew his re-election bid.

Throughout the campaign, Trump faced significant personal risks, surviving two assassination attempts. In July, he was shot during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The Secret Service responded by fatally shooting the attacker, Thomas Crooks.

A second incident occurred in September, when Ryan Routh was intercepted near one of Trump’s golf courses. After a confrontation, Secret Service agents fired on Routh, who later pleaded not guilty to charges related to the assassination attempt.

Despite enduring these threats and contending with multiple indictments, Trump pressed forward with his campaign, unwavering in his pursuit of another term.

“Four months from now, we will have an incredible victory, and we will begin the four greatest years in the history of our country,” Trump declared during his 93-minute acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. This speech took place just days after the rally in Pennsylvania. “Together, we will launch a new era of safety, prosperity, and freedom for citizens of every race, religion, color, and creed.”

On the campaign trail, Trump prioritized issues such as border security and economic stability, often criticizing the Biden-Harris administration for the increase in illegal immigration since 2021.

He specifically attacked Harris for her performance as the administration’s “border czar,” blaming her for failing to control immigration and accusing the current leadership of mismanaging the economy, leading to rampant inflation.

The two candidates engaged in only one debate, which saw them clash over several major policy issues.

Although Harris urged Trump to participate in a second debate, he declined, stating that he had already engaged in two debates, referencing his earlier debate with Biden in Atlanta. Trump justified his refusal by pointing out that early voting had already started in many states, rendering another debate untimely.

Trump is set to assume office in January after Biden’s term concludes. He has already committed to addressing the ongoing border crisis, vowing to initiate widespread deportations of undocumented immigrants.

{Matzav.com}

Former President Donald Trump delivers remarks from Mar-a-Lago as Americans await the results of the 2024 presidential election.

WATCH:

Courtesy of Breitbart News:

UPDATE 12:37 a.m. ET:

CNN has now joined others in projecting Donald Trump has won Georgia. That puts Trump on the cusp of the presidency.

UPDATE 12:36 a.m. ET:

While Republicans have taken the U.S. Senate and Donald Trump is likely to win the presidency, the U.S. House majority hangs in the balance. Based on Associated Press and New York Times race calls so far and where Republicans lead close races that have yet to be called, Republicans are likely to take at least 215 seats in the House. There are several close House races beyond those, more than a dozen or so, so Republicans could very well hold their slim House majority and possibly even add to it. It’s unclear if that picture will come together fully this evening, but House Speaker Mike Johnson is reportedly en route from his home in Louisiana to West Palm Beach to join Trump’s party and has reportedly told people the House majority will expand.

UPDATE 12:23 a.m. ET:

In Montana’s U.S. Senate race, with 16 percent reporting, Republican Tim Sheehy leads huge–59 percent to 39 percent–over Democrat Sen. Jon Tester. It’s early there, but it’s hard to see Tester hang on in this one.

UPDATE 12:09 a.m. ET:

With 77 percent reporting in Wisconsin, Trump leads by about 100,000 votes and has 51 percent to Harris’s 47 percent. With 48 percent reporting in Michigan, Trump leads by well more than 130,000 votes and has 52 percent to Harris’s 47 percent. In Pennsylvania, with 85 percent reporting Trump leads by more than 150,000 votes and has 51 percent to Harris’s 48 percent.

It’s beginning to look very tough for Harris to have a path back to leads in any of these states. Trump, if he locks in Arizona where he also leads, only needs one of them.

UPDATE 12:02 a.m. ET:

Kamala Harris and her campaign are coming to terms with the likelihood she has lost the election:

UPDATE 11:59 p.m. ET:

The GOP has won control of the United States Senate.

Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) came back and won against her challenger, putting the GOP over the top to 51 seats. GOP candidates have good shots in several more seats. This could get really bad for Democrats tonight.

UPDATE 11:58 p.m. ET:

The New York Times reports that the Harris campaign HQ shut off the sound on the televisions at her watch party:

The Harris campaign just shut off the sound on the TVs at her watch party and replaced it with music after a guest on CNN said tonight felt “more like 2016 than 2020.” The crowd has significantly thinned here and the mood feels seriously downcast.

UPDATE 11:57 p.m. ET:

Donald Trump has won Maine’s second congressional district:

UPDATE 11:48 p.m. ET:

Donald Trump has won the battleground state of Georgia:

But Kamala Harris, per the AP, has won the state of Virginia:

UPDATE 11:33 p.m. ET:

Republican Bernie Moreno has ousted Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown in Ohio. Assuming Republicans take one more, or hold Nebraska’s seat that Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) represents which is surprisingly close tonight, they will retake the U.S. Senate majority.

UPDATE 11:32 p.m. ET:

The Harris campaign is in shambles:

UPDATE 11:20 p.m. ET:

AP and NYT call North Carolina for Trump. By AP’s count, he has secured 230 electoral votes to Harris’s 179.

UPDATE 11:17 p.m. ET:

Democrats flip a New York House seat. Incumbent Rep. Brandon Williams was caught on tape threatening a former staffer in 2023.

UPDATE 11:15 p.m. ET:

Detroit Free Press reporter says Kamala is struggling in an area of Dearborn that Biden overwhelmingly won in 2020.

UPDATE 11:11 p.m. ET:

NYT reports that Harris’s campaign is telling staff to “get some sleep” and check back on the results in “Blue Wall” swing states in the early morning hours:

In a memo sent to the Harris campaign staff and forwarded to The Times, Jen O’Malley Dillon, the campaign chief, said that the race will not come into focus until the early morning hours, when several states in the so-called Blue Wall, including Wisconsin and Michigan, share more complete voter data. She also suggested that staffers get some rest. “This is what we’ve been built for, so let’s finish up what we have in front of us tonight, get some sleep, and get ready to close out strong tomorrow,” she wrote. This is certainly a contrast with the bullish mood emanating from the Trump team.

UPDATE 11:09 p.m. ET:

ABC’s Jon Karl drops a massive wet blanket on hopeful Harris fans: “I’m hearing from several Democrats invested in this campaign that things are looking very bad for Kamala.”

UPDATE 11:07 p.m. ET:

Polls have closed in all states except for Alaska and Hawaii. AP has already called Idaho for Trump, California and Washington for Harris. AP has also called the California Senate race for Democrat Adam Schiff.

UPDATE 10:53 p.m. ET:

CNN is reporting that “silence” is coming from Kamala Harris’s campaign, “looking for bright spots.” But there is not much to find there. Kamala Harris is in very big trouble.

UPDATE 10:52 p.m. ET:

It’s early still in all three states, but Republican Senate candidates Tim Sheehy, Mike Rogers, and David McCormick lead Montana, Michigan, and Pennsylvania respectively.

UPDATE 10:45 p.m. ET:

Donald Trump has now taken the lead in Michigan. With 26 percent reporting according to the New York Times, Trump has a 16,000 vote lead over Harris. He’s at 49.8 percent and she’s at 48.5 percent. This is getting bad for Harris.

UPDATE 10:35 p.m. ET:

It’s early in Minnesota with just 4 percent reporting, but Donald Trump is currently leading Kamala Harris by more than 20,000 votes–59 percent to 38 percent. This will tighten, but this could get really embarrassing for Harris because her running mate Tim Walz is the governor of Minnesota.

UPDATE 10:34 p.m. ET:

In all-important Pennsylvania, Donald Trump has extended his lead to a full 3 percent–he’s at 51 percent and Harris is down at 48 percent–and more than 100,000 votes. Things are beginning to look very gloomy for Harris.

UPDATE 10:33 p.m. ET:

With 74 percent reporting in Virginia now, Kamala Harris has retaken a very slight 0.2 percent lead over Trump. It’s definitely not over there. Watch Virginia closely.

UPDATE 10:30 p.m. ET:

With 91 percent reporting in Georgia per the New York Times, Trump leads 51 percent to 48 percent–and he’s up by more than 150,000 votes. It’s becoming time that it may be mathematically impossible for Harris to win Georgia. Expect networks to begin calling it soon.

UPDATE 10:28 p.m. ET:

Trump is performing VERY strongly in New York, particularly in certain boroughs in the city but also among Jewish voters:

UPDATE 10:25 p.m. ET:

NBC News and Decision Desk HQ have now formally called Iowa for Trump. That’s six electoral votes, and egg all over the face of “gold standard” pollster Ann Selzer. We’ll see what the final margin there is when all the votes are in, but she was projecting a Harris victory there and that did not happen.

UPDATE 10:13 p.m. ET:

Republicans have actually flipped the governor’s mansion in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.

UPDATE 10:12 p.m. ET:

The first results in Arizona are in, and with 36 percent reporting Trump has a lead of less than 100 votes. It’s early there, but things look strong for Trump.

UPDATE 10:09 p.m. ET:

With 48 percent reporting per the New York Times in Pennsylvania, Trump has taken a clear lead over Harris. Trump is up by more than a full percent, 50.1 percent to 48.9 percent, and by about 40,000 votes.

UPDATE 10:06 p.m. ET:

With 66 percent reporting in Virginia, Trump continues to lead by more than 50,000 votes–50 percent to 48 percent. This is five alarm fire territory for Harris. Rumor has it that Gov. Glenn Youngkin is telling people Trump might be able to win it.

UPDATE 10:02 p.m. ET:

Donald Trump has taken the lead now in Wisconsin over Harris, with 36 percent reporting, according to the Times. Trump leads by more than a full percent about 14,000 votes.

UPDATE 10:00 p.m. ET:

Polls have now closed in Montana, Nevada, and Utah.

UPDATE 9:38 p.m. ET:

Decision Desk HQ has called North Carolina for Trump:

That’s a massive boost for him. No network has called it yet, and the Associated Press has not yet either. But it seems likely to be formally called and soon. The first battleground state is likely to go to Trump.

UPDATE 9:35 p.m. ET:

With 55 percent reporting in North Carolina now per the Times, Trump has taken a nearly 100,000 vote lead over Harris. He’s up 51 percent to 48 percent there.

UPDATE 9:33 p.m. ET:

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has won reelection in Texas, defeating Democrat Collin Allred, per Fox News. Also per Fox News, former Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) has won New Hampshire’s governor race, holding that office for the GOP.

What’s more, in Pennsylvania amazingly, exit polls show Trump actually leading among those who believe there is a threat to democracy–but Harris leads among those who believe democracy is secure? Talk about backwards expectations:

UPDATE 9:29 p.m. ET:

With 76 percent in in Georgia per the Times, Trump has an approximately 190,000 vote lead–and is up 5 percent–with 52 percent to Harris’s 47 percent. Things are looking dire for Harris in the Peach State.

UPDATE 9:19 p.m. ET:

With just 3 percent reporting in Wisconsin, Trump has a lead over Harris by about 20,000 votes. He’s at 61 percent to her 38 percent. It’s really early there this will tighten, but strong start off the bat for Trump.

UPDATE 9:16 p.m. ET:

Exit polls are looking horrible for Harris in both Wisconsin and Michigan:

UPDATE 9:10 p.m. ET:

Donald Trump has won the state of Ohio, per the Associated Press. That’s a massive victory.
UPDATE 9:09 p.m. ET:

With 49 percent reporting in Ohio’s U.S. Senate race, Republican Bernie Moreno has taken a lead over Democrat incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown–leading by about 30,000 votes or so. Moreno’s 49.3 percent is more than a full percent better than Brown’s 47.9 percent.

UPDATE 9:04 p.m. ET:

According to the New York Times, in Virginia, with 51 percent reporting, Trump has taken a slightly less than 30,000 vote lead over Harris. It’s still a state leaning to the Democrats per the Times but the fact Trump is up right now–49.8 percent to 48.5 percent–probably has the Harris campaign uneasy.

UPDATE 9:02 p.m. ET:

Trump has won Texas per many network projections including CNN and Fox News, and Cruz continues to extend his lead in the Lone Star State Senate race.

UPDATE 9:00 p.m. ET:

Polls have now closed in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

UPDATE 8:53 p.m. ET:

In Texas, with 52 percent reporting in the U.S. Senate race between Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Democrat Rep. Collin Allred, Cruz has a comfortable and growing lead of more than 200,000 votes–51 percent to 48 percent. This is the next step for Republicans to retake the Senate majority, for Cruz to win.

UPDATE 8:44 p.m. ET:

With 21 percent reporting in North Carolina now, Trump has blown open a big lead there and is up by 7 points–53 percent to 46 percent.

UPDATE 8:42 p.m. ET:

With 44 percent reporting in Virginia, Trump is less than 8,000 votes behind Harris. Harris is at 49.3 percent and Trump is at 49 percent. The Times says this is a lean Democrat state, but that’s way closer than Harris would like at this point.

UPDATE 8:40 p.m. ET:

The Harris campaign is frantically using celebrities to urge emergency turnout efforts among college students in battlegrounds–even having them FaceTime call college kids in line, and in some cases show up there:

UPDATE 8:36 p.m. ET:

With 14 percent reporting now in North Carolina, Trump has moved ahead of Harris by less than 20 votes. They’re both at 49.5 percent, and the Times still rates it as a tossup. It’s early here, but Trump’s team believes they have the edge.

UPDATE 8:31 p.m. ET:

With 54 percent reporting in Georgia, the New York Times says that it is now leaning Republican. Trump has an 11 percent lead–55 percent to 44 percent–with nearly 300,000 more votes than Harris.

UPDATE 8:30 p.m. ET:

Polls have closed in Arkansas.

UPDATE 8:28 p.m. ET:

Trump won independents in Pennsylvania, per NBC exit polls:

UPDATE 8:15 p.m. ET:

Hispanic men are going for Trump by double digits according to exit polling, a massive, massive swing from 2020:

UPDATE 8:11 p.m. ET:

Marijuana and abortion amendments have now formally failed in Florida, a massive win for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis:

UPDATE 8:09 p.m. ET:

Donald Trump now has a 70 percent chance of winning the entire election, per Decision Desk HQ:

UPDATE 8:07 p.m. ET:

Republicans have made absolutely historic gains in Hispanic stronghold Miami:

UPDATE 8:02 p.m. ET:

Trump, as expected, has won the state of Florida as well as several red states that were just called for Trump in addition. This is massive.

UPDATE 8:00 p.m. ET:

Polls have now closed in all of Florida, and most importantly in Pennsylvania. They have also closed in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Tennessee.

UPDATE 7:59 p.m. ET:

There are majorly positive signs for Trump in parts of Virginia:

UPDATE 7:57 p.m. ET:

While North Carolina’s presidential results are far too early to call still with just 3 percent reporting, Fox News has called North Carolina’s governor race for Democrat Josh Stein. This is not a surprise and totally expected given the major problems that plagued Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s campaign.

UPDATE 7:53 p.m. ET:

This is a major issue for Harris and a boon for Trump in Georgia:

UPDATE 7:48 p.m. ET:

Trump’s Georgia chances just went up yet again:

UPDATE 7:45 p.m. ET:

While it’s still early, Georgia is beginning to look very strong for Donald Trump and it’s becoming harder and harder to see Harris winning the state:

UPDATE 7:42 p.m. ET:

In Florida’s U.S. Senate race, Republican Sen. Rick Scott is like Trump putting up dominant numbers and viewers should expect a formal call as soon as the polls close in the western part of the state. That’s an important development as taking the U.S. Senate majority for Republicans means holding Florida and Texas, and flipping West Virginia plus either Ohio or Montana. In Ohio, with just 1 percent reporting, Republican Bernie Moreno has a lead over incumbent Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown.

UPDATE 7:36 p.m. ET:

The AP has called West Virginia’s U.S. Senate race for Republican Gov. Jim Justice, and the governor’s race for GOP Attorney General Patrick Morrisey. That’s a U.S. Senate pickup, as expected, for Republicans.

UPDATE 7:33 p.m. ET:

With 71 percent reporting in Florida, Trump has a more than 600,000 vote lead–and is up by 9 percent. It’s very likely this state gets called right at 8 p.m. ET when the polls close in the western part of the state.

UPDATE 7:30 p.m. ET:

Polls have just closed in West Virginia, Ohio, and North Carolina.

CNN projects West Virginia goes to Trump.

UPDATE 7:25 p.m. ET:

With 1 percent in in Virginia now, Harris has moved in front. Long way to go there.

UPDATE 7:23 p.m. ET:

This is an absolutely abysmal number for Kamala Harris:

UPDATE 7:18 p.m. ET:

Trump has opened an early lead over Harris in Georgia 51 percent to 49 percent with 3 percent reporting. It’s early there.

But, in Indiana, the AP just called the U.S. Senate race for Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN), who will be the next U.S. Senator from Indiana:

UPDATE 7:16 p.m. ET:

With 42 percent reporting in Florida, Trump has a massive lead–52 percent to Harris’s 47 percent. Remember, the extremely red panhandle still has polls open for another 45 minutes. Florida, while not formally called yet, is shaping up to be a bloodbath for Democrats.

Meanwhile, just a few votes are in in Virginia and Trump has the lead there too with just over 5 thousand votes to Harris’s just over 3,400 votes. Less than 1 percent is in there so this will dramatically change. But the energy is clearly there for Trump this evening and lagging for Harris.

UPDATE 7:12 p.m. ET:

Donald Trump big time won independent voters in Georgia according to exit polling:

CNN’s panel led by Chris Wallace was flabbergasted at this result, since Biden won independents there last time. This is bad news for Harris.

UPDATE 7:08 p.m. ET:

The early numbers out of Duval County, FL, usually a good tell for how Georgia will go, is very strong for Trump and weak for Harris:

With election day numbers, Trump’s number here will likely rise. Duval tends to be a little left of Georgia in the end.

UPDATE 7:03 p.m. ET:

AP has called Indiana for Trump though so that’s a lock:

This means according to AP, Trump has 19 electoral votes and Harris has just 3. More race calls are likely coming soon. More results are coming soon in key states.

UPDATE 7:00 p.m. ET:

CNN projects Trump wins Kentucky and that Harris wins Vermont. That puts Trump in the lead over Harris. CNN says Indiana is still too close to call but Trump has a more than 20 percent lead there.

UPDATE 7:00 p.m. ET:

Polls are now closed in Georgia, Virginia, South Carolina, Vermont, parts of Florida, and the rest of Indiana and Kentucky. Expect results from each soon.

There are issues at several Georgia precincts where alleged un-credible “bomb threats,” according to CNN, has forced a handful of precincts to remain open for anywhere from 20 extra minutes to less than an hour extra.

UPDATE 6:56 p.m. ET:

There’s a “lid” at the White House, meaning Biden is done making planned public appearances for the day:

The Republican Party is on the verge of capturing the U.S. Senate after flipping critical seats in West Virginia and Ohio on Tuesday, while easily defending their incumbents in Florida and Texas.

Early in the evening, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice secured a decisive win over Democrat Glenn Elliott, setting the stage for Republicans to seize another seat needed for a Senate majority. That seat came from Ohio, where businessman Bernie Moreno unseated long-time Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown, a veteran of 50 years in Congress.

Before the election, the Senate balance leaned slightly in favor of the Democrats, who, along with two independents, held a narrow 51-49 majority. The Democrats faced a challenging election cycle, needing to defend 23 out of the 34 seats up for grabs. With several pivotal races still unresolved in battleground states like Arizona, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, the path to retaining control remained precarious. In Montana, early voter polls indicated a lead for Republican Tim Sheehy over incumbent Democrat Jon Tester.

Democrats had hoped to gain ground in traditionally Republican strongholds such as Florida and Texas. In Florida, incumbent Rick Scott was seen as vulnerable, having narrowly won his previous election by just 10,000 votes. In Texas, Ted Cruz faced off against Colin Allred, a former NFL player and popular Democratic House member. Despite these hopes, Scott cruised to a comfortable victory, and Cruz was re-elected with a substantial margin, further consolidating Republican dominance in both states.

Jim Justice’s entry into the Senate adds a unique personality to the chamber. Known as a coal magnate in a state heavily reliant on the fossil fuel industry, Justice is frequently accompanied by his English bulldog, Babydog. His appearance at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he spoke alongside his beloved pet, captured national attention. Justice takes over from Joe Manchin, who retired after leaving the Democratic Party to become an independent earlier this year. Manchin had thrown his support behind Glenn Elliott, a former mayor and lawyer from Wheeling.

Bernie Moreno, a 57-year-old Colombian immigrant endorsed by Donald Trump, made history by becoming the first person of color to represent Ohio in the Senate. His victory not only shifts the balance of power in the Senate but also highlights the growing influence of diverse voices within the Republican ranks.

A Republican-controlled Senate would significantly enhance Donald Trump’s legislative power if he returns to the presidency. However, the Democrats retained hope of maintaining control of the House of Representatives, which would lead to a divided Congress. Such a split would pose significant challenges for either Trump or Kamala Harris, complicating efforts to push through their respective legislative agendas.

{Matzav.com}