Matzav

After more than a month of paralysis, the Senate finally cleared the main procedural obstacle that had kept the federal government shuttered for 40 days, voting late Sunday night to advance a bipartisan compromise to restore operations.

By a 60-40 margin, lawmakers agreed to break the filibuster and move forward on a temporary spending measure funding the government through January 30, 2026, along with a “minibus” package that reinstates full food stamp benefits. Eight Democrats and one Independent who caucuses with them joined Republicans to push it past the procedural hurdle.

Those Democrats were Dick Durbin of Illinois, Tim Kaine of Virginia, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, and Independent Angus King of Maine. On the GOP side, every senator supported the measure except Rand Paul of Kentucky, who voted no.

While the procedural victory was hailed as a turning point, the end of the nation’s longest-ever shutdown isn’t immediate. Lawmakers still must navigate several potential stumbling blocks before the final vote, and the House of Representatives will have to sign off on the same legislation before federal agencies can reopen.

Paul’s objection centers on the bill’s ban on hemp sales, while some Democrats angered by the compromise have signaled they may slow things down with additional procedural motions. Still, few expect those hurdles to stop the bill altogether.

Progressives erupted in frustration over the weekend, blasting the agreement for failing to secure concrete promises on their health care priorities. “It now appears that Senate Republicans will send the House of Representatives a spending bill that fails to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), condemning the plan while carefully avoiding direct criticism of the Senate Democrats who crossed the aisle.

“We will fight the GOP bill in the House of Representatives, where Mike Johnson will be compelled to end the seven-week Republican taxpayer-funded vacation,” he added.

Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) was even more direct, declaring, “If this is the so-called ‘deal,’ then I will be a no. That’s not a deal. It’s an unconditional surrender that abandons the 24 million Americans whose health care premiums are about to double.”

Other Democrats were equally incensed. Democratic National Committee Vice Chair Malcolm Kenyatta warned, “Any ‘deal’ that ends with Dems just getting a pinky promise in return is a mistake.” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) added, “It would be a policy and political disaster for Democrats to cave!”

The months-long deadlock began in September, when Senate Democrats blocked a House-passed stopgap measure, demanding that any new funding bill include extensions of the enhanced Obamacare subsidies and a rollback of Republican-backed Medicaid reforms. Neither of those items made it into the new package advanced Sunday.

Instead, Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota offered Democrats a symbolic concession: a vote next month on extending the enhanced Obamacare tax credits. Thune had originally floated that idea more than three weeks earlier. He made clear, however, that he was not guaranteeing the measure’s passage, and House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana has not pledged to consider it in the House.

As part of the deal, Republicans also agreed to reinstate all federal employees who lost their jobs during the shutdown and provide them with full back pay — a provision meant to calm labor tensions after weeks of furloughs.

The bipartisan package consists of two major pieces: a short-term funding bill to keep the government open until the end of January 2026, and a minibus that finances programs for the military, veterans, and the Department of Agriculture.

The Agriculture funding section is especially significant, as it replenishes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which serves 42 million Americans and had exhausted its funds on November 1. The Trump administration had been using a contingency fund to sustain SNAP temporarily until Congress acted.

Each year, Congress is required to pass 12 separate appropriations bills to finance federal agencies, beginning October 1. When lawmakers fail to agree on time, they rely on temporary measures — known as continuing resolutions — to keep operations running while they negotiate.

Sunday’s deal includes three of those 12 appropriations bills. The temporary extension through January 30 is intended to buy Congress time to complete the rest, ending the historic shutdown — at least for now.

{Matzav.com}

Iran and Israel appear to be heading toward another confrontation, with Middle East intelligence sources telling The New York Times that the brief but intense 12-day war earlier this year failed to eliminate the Islamic Republic’s nuclear capabilities. Instead, they say Tehran has been rapidly rebuilding its military strength and is preparing for a much larger conflict.

“Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, enough to make 11 nuclear weapons, is either buried under rubble, as Iran claims, or has been spirited away to a safe place, as Israeli officials believe,” the report said.

Officials cited by the Times warned that both nations are actively planning for renewed hostilities, despite the heavy losses suffered in June. American and Israeli intelligence now suspect the bombing campaign may have caused far less harm to Iran’s underground facilities than initially believed.

Another flashpoint comes from the diplomatic deadlock between Washington and Tehran. Multiple attempts to revive dialogue collapsed earlier this year, and the expiration of the 2015 nuclear deal has now reimposed crippling sanctions on Iran. Combined with Tehran’s refusal to allow inspectors into its latest uranium enrichment site, many in the region fear that another Israeli strike is “almost inevitable,” according to the report.

Ali Vaez, Iran project director at the International Crisis Group, said Tehran is racing to expand its military capacity. “Fire 2,000 at once to overwhelm Israeli defenses, not 500 over 12 days,” he told the Times, describing Iran’s plan to dramatically increase its missile launch capability.

“Israel feels the job is unfinished and sees no reason not to resume the conflict, so Iran is doubling down preparedness for the next round,” Vaez added, while noting that no immediate action appears to be planned.

Efforts to rekindle nuclear talks have made little headway, and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei recently dismissed any prospect of meaningful cooperation with Washington. “The Americans sometimes say they would like to cooperate with Iran. Cooperation with Iran is not possible as long as the US continues to support the accursed Zionist regime, maintains military bases, and interferes in the region,” Khamenei said, according to Iranian state media.

“The arrogant nature of the United States accepts nothing other than submission.”

Vaez noted that Iran’s leadership remains deeply split on how to move forward. Some senior figures still favor pursuing a new nuclear deal to ease the country’s crushing economic hardships and widespread water shortages. But others argue that diplomacy is pointless after Trump withdrew from the 2015 agreement during his first term.

Despite these internal disagreements, Vaez told the Times that there is one consensus among Tehran’s decision-makers: another confrontation with Israel is unavoidable.

Israel, for its part, insists that its June offensive targeting Iranian nuclear scientists, missile engineers, and senior military figures was a necessary preemptive strike to stop what it calls Tehran’s ongoing drive toward nuclear weaponization.

While Iran continues to deny that it seeks nuclear arms, its enrichment levels, obstruction of international oversight, and acceleration of ballistic missile programs have only fueled suspicions. Israeli intelligence officials say those steps left them with no choice but to act — and warn that the next phase of the conflict may only be a matter of time.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz lashed out at Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday after Ankara announced arrest warrants for 37 Israeli officials, accusing them of genocide tied to Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.

The sweeping warrants reportedly name Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, Katz himself, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, and Navy Commander David Saar Salama among those wanted.

In a fiery response, Katz posted an AI-generated image on X depicting Erdogan peering through binoculars toward Gaza — the lenses reflecting an Israeli flag. “Erdogan, take your ridiculous arrest warrants and get out of here. They’re more fitting for the massacre you carried out against the Kurds. Israel is strong and unafraid,” Katz declared, adding, “You’ll only see Gaza through binoculars.” The message appeared in both Hebrew and Turkish.

The announcement from Turkey marks a sharp escalation in already frayed relations. Erdogan’s rhetoric toward Israel has grown increasingly belligerent since the October 7, 2023, Hamas assault that ignited the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Before the war, Israel and Turkey had been on a path toward repairing long-damaged diplomatic ties, with ambassadorial exchanges and trade cooperation signaling cautious normalization. That trajectory quickly collapsed after Hamas’s brutal attack and Israel’s subsequent counteroffensive.

In March, Erdogan denounced Israel as a “terror state” after airstrikes targeted Hamas positions. Three months later, in June, he claimed that Netanyahu’s government posed “the most significant threat to Middle East security.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump unleashed a fiery rebuke against the BBC on Sunday after the network’s Director-General, Tim Davie, and its News and Current Affairs chief, Deborah Turness, stepped down amid mounting outrage over the broadcaster’s handling of Trump’s January 6, 2021, speech.

“The TOP people in the BBC, including TIM DAVIE, the BOSS, are all quitting/FIRED, because they were caught ‘doctoring’ my very good (PERFECT!) speech of January 6th. Thank you to The Telegraph for exposing these Corrupt ‘Journalists,’” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“These are very dishonest people who tried to step on the scales of a Presidential Election. On top of everything else, they are from a Foreign Country, one that many consider our Number One Ally. What a terrible thing for Democracy!” he added.

The resignations followed weeks of backlash over revelations that the BBC had broadcast a manipulated version of Trump’s remarks from January 6. The edited footage reportedly removed his call for supporters to “act peacefully” and combined distant sections of the speech to appear as a single sequence.

Outrage over the omissions led to accusations that the BBC had intentionally distorted the footage, violating its charter-mandated commitment to impartial journalism.

The controversy escalated further after internal documents surfaced from a review led by Michael Prescott, a consultant brought in by the BBC to evaluate its editorial integrity. Prescott’s findings criticized the network’s bias not only in political coverage but also in its handling of transgender-related topics and its Arabic-language reports, which the review said exhibited anti-Israel slant.

The fallout prompted reactions abroad. Israel’s Foreign Ministry issued a strongly worded statement Sunday night, saying, “The resignation of the BBC Director-General underscores the deep-seated bias that has long characterized the BBC’s coverage of Israel. For far too long, the BBC has spread disinformation that fuels antisemitism and radicalization.”

“But the problem extends beyond the BBC – far too many news outlets are promoting politics disguised as facts, amplifying Hamas’s fake campaigns,” the statement continued.

“The time has come for real accountability to restore integrity, fair and factual journalism,” the Foreign Ministry concluded.

{Matzav.com}

After 40 days of gridlock, the Senate took its first formal steps Sunday toward ending the government shutdown, moving forward on a bipartisan plan that lacks a guaranteed extension of healthcare subsidies — a sticking point that has split Democrats and fueled frustration across Washington.

The compromise emerged from a group of moderates — Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, and Independent Senator Angus King of Maine — who agreed to reopen the government if three full-year spending bills were passed and all remaining programs were funded through late January. Senate Majority Leader John Thune backed the plan Sunday night, calling for an immediate vote. “The time to act is now,” Thune said.

Under the proposal, the Senate would vote later on the fate of the health subsidies while restoring thousands of federal workers who were dismissed since the shutdown began October 1. Appropriations Chairwoman Susan Collins, who has led efforts to bridge the divide, said she was “relieved” to see movement at last. “We must not delay any longer,” she told colleagues from the Senate floor.

Republicans need five Democrats to reach the threshold to reopen the government. Along with Shaheen, King, and Hassan, Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia said he would support the agreement, explaining, “I have long said that to earn my vote, we need to be on a path toward fixing Republicans’ healthcare mess and to protect the federal workforce.”

But Democratic leaders expressed deep dissatisfaction. Following a two-hour caucus meeting, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters he could not “in good faith” back the deal. “America is in the midst of a Republican-made healthcare crisis,” Schumer said, warning that Americans would “suffer immensely” without renewed subsidies. “Democrats have sounded the alarm,” he added, vowing they “will not give up the fight.”

Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont denounced the compromise as a “horrific mistake,” saying it surrendered leverage on healthcare reform. His comments echoed concerns voiced by progressives in both chambers that the emerging deal concedes too much without extracting concrete promises.

House Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar blasted the agreement as “a betrayal,” writing on X, “Accepting nothing but a pinky promise from Republicans isn’t a compromise — it’s capitulation. Millions of families would pay the price.” Representative Angie Craig of Minnesota dismissed the plan even more sharply, posting, “If people believe this is a ‘deal,’ I have a bridge to sell you.”

Despite Democratic objections, Republicans have praised the moderates’ efforts. The agreement would fund key areas including veterans’ programs, food aid, and the legislative branch while extending all other federal spending until January’s end. It also guarantees back pay for government workers and halts additional layoffs. The text of the deal, however, has not yet been made public.

Returning from a football game Sunday night, President Trump sounded optimistic but noncommittal. “It looks like we’re getting close to the shutdown ending,” he told reporters, without confirming whether he supported the plan.

Republican leaders also released the final versions of three long-delayed spending bills, which maintain the ban on congressional pay raises but increase security spending by $203.5 million in response to growing threats. One measure, championed by Senator Mitch McConnell, would also restrict sales of certain hemp-based products.

Still, even if the Senate advances the measure, final passage could take several days if opponents slow the process with procedural objections. The first vote could occur as early as Sunday evening, though the future of healthcare subsidies remains uncertain. House Speaker Mike Johnson has already said he will not commit to bringing a health vote to the floor.

Meanwhile, the effects of the shutdown continue to ripple nationwide. Flight cancellations surpassed 2,000 on Sunday — the highest yet — and more than 7,000 delays were reported, according to FlightAware. Treasury Secretary Sean Duffy warned that air travel could be “reduced to a trickle” ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday if the government remains closed.

Food assistance programs are also being strained. Tens of millions of Americans have seen SNAP benefits delayed amid legal disputes, while two dozen states warned of “catastrophic operational disruptions.” In Washington, the Capital Area Food Bank reported distributing eight million more meals than budgeted — nearly a 20% surge — to support unpaid federal employees and struggling families.

As pressure mounts, both sides face a narrowing window to end the standoff before further economic damage takes hold. Whether the compromise will finally bring an end to the shutdown — or merely delay another showdown — remains to be seen.

Legal commentator Avishai Grinzaig has floated an intriguing hypothesis regarding the mysterious disappearance—and later discovery—of the phone belonging to former Military Advocate General, Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi.

Grinzaig questioned why Tomer-Yerushalmi has not been accused of destroying evidence in connection with the missing phone. He then proposed a scenario that, while speculative, could explain several puzzling elements of the case.

“I have a theory,” Grinzaig wrote. “It’s only a theory, but it makes sense.”

According to his idea, police had already found the phone “a while ago,” but chose not to announce it. Instead, they allegedly planted a duplicate phone in its place to see whether Tomer-Yerushalmi or anyone close to her would act suspiciously—such as attempting to interfere with the investigation after learning about the phone’s supposed disappearance.

This, Grinzaig suggested, could explain several inconsistencies: how the phone was retrieved intact after six days in the sea without signs of corrosion, why divers failed to locate it earlier, and why police confirmed it was her phone almost simultaneously with her release from custody.

Grinzaig emphasized again that his remarks were purely speculative and not based on any concrete information. Still, he couldn’t resist a jab at law enforcement: “The problem with this theory,” he quipped, “is that it would require a level of sophistication on the part of the police.”

Police correspondent Moshe Steinmetz later added context, noting that during the first remand hearing, when the defense attorney claimed there had been no obstruction of justice, the police representative “objected” but was notably cautious about making any clear statement on the matter.

{Matzav.com}

A startling incident shook Yerushalayim’s chareidi neighborhoods this past Shabbos night when a group of teenage boys from fringe circles were caught on security cameras scattering pashkevillin and flyers attacking Shas leader MK Aryeh Deri right in the middle of Shabbos.

Residents of Meah Shearim, Geulah, and Beis Yisroel awoke to find their streets littered with political posters bearing sharp messages against Deri and the Shas leadership. “This wasn’t done before Shabbos,” said one local shopkeeper whose cameras captured the scene. “They were out there on Shabbos itself, throwing papers through the streets late at night.”

The footage, circulated among residents, shows several young men dumping piles of flyers along alleyways and sidewalks. According to local rabbonim, such actions constitute a serious issur Shabbos, not only because carrying the flyers involves muktzah but also because it appears the youths were being paid for their work, making it outright melachah. “Simply holding and distributing these political handouts on Shabbos is forbidden,” explained one rov. “If they were doing so for payment, it’s a severe violation in every respect.”

Community members described the act as part of a disturbing new pattern. “We’ve seen flyers put up close to Shabbos before, but never something like this—open, deliberate desecration of Shabbos for political purposes,” said a longtime resident. “This isn’t internal debate anymore; this is an attack on a symbol of Sephardic Torah leadership.”

A local Sephardic rov echoed that sentiment: “These are small groups of bored, disconnected youth from the margins, but what they did crosses a sacred line—against Kedushas HaShabbos and Kavod HaTorah.”

While the Shas party declined to issue an official statement, senior officials privately condemned the event as “wild incitement disguised as social protest.” One Shas activist said, “This is not only public chilul Shabbos—it’s an attempt to ignite conflict within the chareidi camp itself. This has gone beyond ideological disagreement; it’s an act of defiance against rabbinic authority.”

Observers of the chareidi world note that the incident highlights a worrying shift: some disaffected young people are now using the language of political protest even at the expense of religious principles. “In the past, even the most extreme kana’im would never take to the streets on Shabbos,” said a veteran askan from the Eidah HaChareidis. “What we’re seeing now is the erosion of internal boundaries—a generation that feels detached from traditional rabbinic leadership.”

{Matzav.com}

Harvard Law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz sharply denounced New York City’s incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, calling him “an enemy of America” and “a blatant antisemite.” Speaking on Newsmax TV’s Saturday Report, Dershowitz condemned both Mamdani’s record and the political movement he represents.

“Not only is he a critic of Israel, but he also belongs to a party whose platform includes that nobody can be a member of the Democratic Socialists of America if they believe that Israel has the right to exist at all,” Dershowitz said. “And he himself said he wouldn’t recognize Israel as a Jewish state that we recognize as dozens of Muslim states. That’s pure, blatant international antisemitism. Mamdani is a bigot, an antisemite, a Jew hater.”

The outspoken legal scholar accused Mamdani of masking his hostility toward Israel behind rhetoric of equality. “He can say all he wants about swastikas and how he will stand with the Jewish community. He is an enemy of America, he’s an enemy of decency, an enemy of the Jewish people, an enemy of Israel, an enemy of Alan Dershowitz,” he declared.

Mamdani, 34, rose to prominence as a progressive state legislator before running for mayor. His campaign focused on economic issues like housing affordability and childcare access, but his aggressive stance against Israel drew national attention. He has repeatedly characterized Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as “genocide,” a claim Israel’s government categorically rejects. Mamdani has also said he would arrest Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu if he entered New York City and has hinted at severing ties with Israeli businesses and universities.

Though Mamdani insists he supports Israel’s existence, he has stated that any government giving Jews priority status over others contradicts his commitment to universal rights. His position has alarmed many Jewish voters and pro-Israel groups who see it as an attempt to delegitimize the Jewish state.

Dershowitz pledged to fight Mamdani “in every legal, permissible way possible.” “We’ll beat him down in every legal, permissible way possible,” he said. “He is tremendous damage because his election for the first time sends a message you can be an antisemite, you can be an anti-Zionist, you can be anti-American, and you can still win in a city like New York, perhaps in Minneapolis and San Francisco, in Chicago and other cities.”

Drawing a chilling historical comparison, Dershowitz continued, “It really, to me, sounds a little bit like what was going on in Austria and in Germany in 1932. I’m not talking about Germany in 1939, when being an antisemite didn’t disqualify you from being the mayor of Vienna, Berlin, and being an antisemite, not disqualifying you from being the mayor of New York. Getting 32% of the Jewish vote shows you how dangerous this is, and how absurd and idiotic some Jews are.”

He concluded with a searing rebuke to Jewish voters who supported Mamdani. “President Trump got it exactly right when he said that any Jew who votes for Mamdani is an absolute fool, a self-hating fool. But we’ve seen that Jews supported Stalin, Jews supported Pol Pot, Jews supported Castro, even some Jews supported Mussolini, and even a handful supported Hitler. Jews can be as idiotic as anybody else, and the Jews who voted for Mamdani showed their idiocy and their self-hatred,” Dershowitz said.

{Matzav.com}

A federal grand jury has reportedly issued subpoenas to three top Obama-era intelligence and law enforcement figures involved in the U.S. government’s 2016 Russia investigation, according to CBS News sources familiar with the development.

Those subpoenaed include former CIA Director John Brennan, former FBI counterintelligence official Peter Strzok, and former FBI attorney Lisa Page. The source said that more subpoenas may follow soon as investigators widen their inquiry.

The subpoenas originate from the Southern District of Florida and are said to demand records tied to the creation of the Obama administration’s intelligence community assessment, which was released publicly in January 2017. That report alleged that Russia launched a covert influence operation aimed at helping Donald Trump win the presidency over Hillary Clinton.

It remains uncertain which federal office is steering this latest inquiry or whether any of the findings could lead to criminal charges. None of the three individuals identified have issued public statements about the subpoenas.

The investigation revisits one of Washington’s most divisive topics: how U.S. intelligence agencies handled evidence and analysis during the original probe into alleged ties between Russia and the Trump campaign. The 2017 intelligence assessment’s classified version included a summary of the “Steele dossier,” a file compiled by ex-British spy Christopher Steele containing unverified claims about Trump’s supposed Russian connections. The research had been funded by Democrats.

The dossier’s inclusion in the assessment drew sharp criticism from Trump and his supporters, who viewed it as a politically motivated move to legitimize baseless allegations.

Multiple reviews — among them bipartisan congressional probes and Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s lengthy investigation — have confirmed that Russia interfered in the 2016 election through hacking and an orchestrated social media disinformation campaign. However, Mueller’s report stated that while the Trump campaign “welcomed” Moscow’s efforts, investigators “did not establish” that Trump or his aides conspired with Russian agents.

Since reclaiming the presidency, Trump has repeatedly attacked the credibility of the Russia investigations, labeling them politically driven. His administration’s intelligence chiefs — FBI Director Kash Patel, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard — have endorsed releasing previously classified materials related to the 2016 probe.

In July, Ratcliffe made public a CIA analysis that cited “tradecraft anomalies” in how the Obama-era intelligence report was compiled. The review faulted the decision to include a summary of the Steele dossier in a classified annex, saying it “implicitly elevated unsubstantiated claims to the status of credible supporting evidence, compromising the analytical integrity of the judgment.”

It is not yet known who else may have been subpoenaed as part of this expanding federal investigation, nor what direction prosecutors intend to pursue as they revisit the origins of one of the most controversial chapters in recent U.S. political history.

{Matzav.com}

Growing concern is spreading among residents of Yerushalayim’s Ramot neighborhood over what they describe as suspicious digging, constant drilling, and rapid illegal construction coming from the nearby Arab village of Beit Iksa—activity they fear may involve tunnels rather than ordinary building work.

According to dozens of complaints sent to the Regavim movement in recent months, the noises of heavy machinery and digging are often heard late at night, including on Shabbos and Yomim Tovim. Residents have also reported gunfire and multiple break-ins, heightening fears in the community, which still bears the trauma of a recent terror attack carried out by terrorists who entered through a gap in the security line near Ramot.

Beit Iksa sits directly on the Yerushalayim security seam, just a few hundred meters from Route 1 and the Tel Aviv–Yerushalayim railway. This geographic position, Regavim warns, enables near-unrestricted access between Palestinian areas and Israeli territory. The group notes that illegal Arab construction has expanded toward Yerushalayim’s periphery, accompanied by smuggling of weapons and vehicles, all while taking advantage of the area’s ambiguous jurisdiction—classified as Area B, under Palestinian municipal control but with Israeli military authority—where enforcement is virtually nonexistent.

Regavim says it has repeatedly appealed to enforcement agencies regarding what it calls a “serious security threat,” emphasizing that many of the structures encroaching toward Ramot pose direct dangers. “The real answer is not another security fence or separation wall,” said Yehuda Noam, Regavim’s Yerushalayim coordinator. “It is unacceptable that the State of Israel allows hostile, illegal Arab construction right on the railway tracks and alongside Route 1, near residential neighborhoods.”

Noam added that “the solution is not building another multi-million-shekel fence, but increasing enforcement, strengthening Jewish presence, and restoring governance in the area. After the events of October 7, when the most advanced fence in the Middle East was breached in minutes by mobs in sandals, we must stop pretending that another fence is the answer.”

Emails shared with Regavim by worried residents paint a troubling picture. One family from Ramot A wrote, “We often hear gunfire in the evenings, especially on Friday nights. There are constant drilling and digging noises. We feel exposed and threatened by the neighboring Arab villages, especially after so many recent attacks.”

Another resident from Ramot 06 described “nonstop tractor activity, land being cleared, and new buildings and neighborhoods going up. We feel deeply unsafe. Please intervene to stop the massive illegal construction and demolish the buildings meant to surround Ramot.” She added a chilling request: “Please check if tunnels are being dug there. A security barrier could help prevent unauthorized infiltrations and protect residents before it’s too late.”

A separate email mentioned “continuous drilling and digging from the direction of the village, day and night, including on Yom Kippur. It looks like something beyond simple housing construction, with a large pit being excavated and hidden by mounds of sand.”

Regavim says these are just a few of the many messages they have received but stressed that responsibility lies with Israel’s defense establishment and Yerushalayim’s municipal and national authorities. “They must open their eyes and ears to the sound of drilling and to the public’s cry for help before tragedy strikes,” the organization warned.

The IDF has not yet issued a response.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Eliezer Meirovitz zt”l, one of the distinguished dayanim on the Vizhnitz beis din. He was 71.

Rav Meirovitz attended seudah shlishis and participated in the engagement celebration of the Rebbe’s grandson just last night. Earlier today, he underwent a medical procedure at Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital, where he was suddenly niftar. The news of his sudden petirah has left thousands of Vizhnitzer chassidim in shock and grief.

Rav Meirovitz was born on Chol Hamoed Sukkos to his father, Rav Avrohom Chaim Meirovitz z”l of Williamsburg, one of the prominent chassidim of the Ahavas Yisroel and the Imrei Chaim, and to his mother, Mrs. Golda a”h.

From a young age, he studied in Vizhnitz institutions and became deeply attached to the Rebbes of the dynasty, the Imrei Chaim, the Yeshuos Moshe zt”l, and the present rebbe.

Upon reaching marriageable age, he married the daughter of Rav Yehuda Feder, one of the elder Vizhnitz chassidim, known as the owner of “Feder Matzayim,” who passed away during Sukkos 5777.

Rav Meirovitz was a close disciple of Rav Shmuel Wosner zt”l, from whom he received extensive halachic guidance and training. He was widely recognized as a talmid chochom of great stature and served with distinction on the Vizhnitzer beis din alongside Rav Yisroel Meir Stern and Rav Menachem Shlomo Klein.

Known for his sharp mind and profound yiras Shamayim, Rav Meirovitz regularly tested bochurim and avreichim of the chassidus in areas of halacha, including Hilchos Shabbos and issur v’heter, guiding them with patience and clarity.

He leaves behind sons, daughters, and grandchildren who follow in his path of Torah and avodah. His son, Rav Shmuel Meirovitz, serves as rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Meor Vashemesh.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Turkey played a key role in bringing home the remains of IDF officer Hadar Goldin, who was killed and taken by Hamas during the 2014 Gaza conflict, according to reports from Israeli media. A senior Turkish official confirmed that Ankara is now pushing for the safe removal of Hamas fighters currently trapped in tunnels in southern Gaza.

“We are pleased to confirm that Turkey has successfully facilitated the return of Hadar Goldin’s remains to Israel after 11 years. This achievement is the outcome of intensive efforts and reflects Hamas’s clear commitment to the ceasefire,” the Turkish official told Channel 12 News.

The official further noted that “at the same time, we are working to ensure the safe passage of some 200 Gazans currently trapped in the tunnels,” referencing an underground network beneath Rafah on the Israeli-controlled side of the border. The group, estimated to include up to 200 Hamas operatives, remains the subject of tense negotiations.

Contradicting the Turkish account, a separate Channel 12 report alleged that Turkey had initially urged Hamas to withhold Goldin’s body until Israel agreed to release the trapped militants. According to the report, Israel rejected that demand outright. The Prime Minister’s Office did not respond to questions regarding these claims.

In parallel, a Palestinian source told the Kan public broadcaster that Turkey, with American support, has been the main force pressing Hamas to hand over the remains of the other hostages still held in Gaza. The source added that Hamas is struggling to locate or retrieve some of the four remaining bodies, a situation mediators reportedly acknowledge is beyond the group’s immediate control.

The remaining slain captives are Israelis Ran Gvili, Meny Godard, and Dror Or, along with Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak.

{Matzav.com}

After more than a month of deadlock, signs of movement finally emerged in Washington on Sunday as Senate Democrats appeared poised to back a bipartisan spending proposal that could bring the historic government shutdown to an end.

According to congressional aides, at least ten Democrats are prepared to join Republicans in advancing a procedural vote on a package of appropriations bills paired with a short-term funding measure to keep the government running through January. The development follows weeks of stalled negotiations between congressional leaders and the Trump administration.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota, who has kept the Senate in session throughout the weekend, suggested optimism was in the air as lawmakers continued to negotiate. “A deal is coming together,” Thune remarked while entering the chamber to open Sunday’s session.

Still, Thune cautioned that success wasn’t guaranteed. Senators wanted additional time to read and review the final text before moving forward. “We’ll see where the votes are,” he said, signaling that discussions remained fluid and could continue late into the night.

The emerging framework would mark the first tangible progress toward ending the shutdown, now in its 40th day. The tentative arrangement reportedly includes a December vote on extending Affordable Care Act tax credits—a top Democratic priority—while also offering relief to federal employees who have gone without pay.

Insiders indicated that the text of the appropriations legislation would likely be made public later in the day. The pending measure could provide much-needed funding to reopen shuttered agencies, restore federal food assistance, and address disruptions to air travel caused by the prolonged stoppage.

“The negotiations are finally moving in the right direction,” said a senior Republican staffer familiar with the talks. “Everyone understands the pressure to get this done.”

The government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, began when Democrats refused to approve a GOP-backed funding plan that excluded a one-year extension of enhanced Obamacare subsidies. President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans rejected that proposal, instead advocating that federal dollars be redirected straight to consumers through health savings accounts.

To bridge the divide, the Senate’s new plan reportedly separates the immediate funding measures from the larger health care fight, allowing both sides to declare a partial victory while reopening government operations.

“We’re at the point where something has to give,” one Democratic senator said. “We’re not there yet, but this could be the start of a real breakthrough.”

If the momentum continues, lawmakers could hold a final vote as early as Monday, potentially reopening the government just ahead of the busy Thanksgiving travel period.

{Matzav.com}

During his weekly Motzaei Shabbos shiur at the Yazdim shul in Yerushalayim, Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rav Yitzchak Yosef sharply criticized the Chabad practice encouraging every girl and woman in the home to light Shabbos candles with a brachah.

Rav Yosef stated, “There’s a new bride who’s very emotional when she lights candles for the first time. We’re not Chabadniks. That’s not our way. There was once an ad campaign printed on matchboxes that said, ‘Every woman and girl lights Shabbos candles with a brachah.’ And Maran, my father, Rav Ovadia Yosef zt”l, with the courage he had—people need to learn from Maran, though not everyone has that courage—said it’s assur according to halachah.”

He continued, “Every woman and girl lights candles with a brachah? The mother lights and fulfills the obligation for everyone in the home—sons and daughters alike. Only a married woman, who has her own separate room, lights with a brachah.”

Rav Yosef went on to recall that shortly after his father delivered a similar ruling, “He gave a shiur at Mossad Harav Kook, and a group of Chassidim upstairs began shouting and disturbing the shiur. They asked, ‘How could you dare argue with the Rebbe?’”

“What’s the connection?” Rav Yosef asked. “You can respect the Rebbe, you can admire the incredible outreach work they do around the world—there’s no question about that. But what does that have to do with halachah? Halachah is halachah. How can unmarried girls make a brachah over Shabbos candles? Let them light a candle for Lag BaOmer or whatever they want, but not for Shabbos—with a brachah, that’s not done.”

{Matzav.com}

Air travelers across the United States are facing a grim outlook as the ongoing federal shutdown continues to cripple the aviation system, leaving airports overwhelmed and airlines slashing flights. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned on Sunday that air travel could soon grind nearly to a halt as the crisis deepens.

“It’s only going to get worse… the two weeks before Thanksgiving, you’re going to see air travel be reduced to a trickle,” Duffy said on CNN’s State of the Union.

With Thanksgiving — one of America’s busiest travel seasons — approaching on November 27, millions of travelers could be stranded. “Many of them are not going to be able to get on an airplane, because there are not going to be that many flights that fly if this thing doesn’t open back up,” Duffy cautioned.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered airlines to trim daily schedules by 4% at 40 major airports starting Friday, citing mounting safety risks due to staff shortages. The agency plans to escalate those cuts to 6% on Tuesday and 10% by November 14.

By Sunday morning, the situation had worsened dramatically. As of 10:30 a.m. ET, over 1,400 flights were canceled and 2,700 delayed. The FAA confirmed staffing shortages at a dozen air traffic control towers, further compounding the chaos.

Duffy explained that retirements among controllers have surged since the shutdown began on October 1. “I paid experienced controllers to stay on the job and not retire,” he said. “I used to have about four controllers retire a day before the shutdown, … now up to 15 to 20 a day are retiring.”

The FAA now faces a shortage of between 1,000 and 2,000 air traffic controllers, a crisis that has left the agency scrambling. Airlines are reeling from the cascading effects: on Saturday alone, 1,550 flights were canceled and 6,700 delayed, up from Friday’s 1,025 cancellations and 7,000 delays.

Behind the scenes, airline executives are panicking. Several officials privately admitted that the proliferation of delay programs has made it “nearly impossible” to schedule and manage flights. Many expressed fears that the system could collapse entirely if the staffing situation deteriorates further.

Economists are warning that the damage could extend beyond airports. White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said the travel disruptions could dent national growth. “Thanksgiving time is one of the hottest times of the year for the economy… and if people aren’t traveling at that moment, then we really could be looking at a negative quarter for the fourth quarter,” he said on CBS’s Face the Nation.

According to Airlines for America, which represents major U.S. carriers, the crisis has already upended travel plans for more than 4 million passengers since the shutdown began. The group estimates that by next Friday, the economic toll could range from $285 million to $580 million each day.

The flight reductions have hit the nation’s largest airlines especially hard — about 700 canceled flights came from American, Delta, Southwest, and United combined. Meanwhile, 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 airport screeners continue to work without pay.

Duffy previously warned that if more controllers walk off the job, he may be forced to order an even steeper reduction — up to 20% of total air traffic.

Adding to safety concerns, Senator Ted Cruz revealed that pilots have reported a troubling rise in errors by fatigued air traffic controllers. “Since the shutdown started, pilots have filed more than 500 safety reports about mistakes made by air traffic controllers because of fatigue,” Cruz said, citing FAA data.

As the shutdown drags into its 40th day — the longest in U.S. history — the aviation industry faces a nightmare scenario: fewer flights, exhausted workers, frustrated travelers, and a looming economic hit that could ripple far beyond the skies.

{Matzav.com}

As the government shutdown drags on and funding for Obamacare subsidies nears its end, President Donald Trump is reigniting his campaign against the Affordable Care Act, calling it one of Washington’s biggest failures.

“OBAMACARE ‘SUCKS,’” Trump declared on Truth Social Sunday morning. “THE WORST HEALTHCARE FOR THE HIGHEST PRICE.”

Amid the ongoing budget stalemate, Trump floated a new idea over the weekend, encouraging Republicans to take the billions of dollars now flowing to health insurance companies through Obamacare and send the funds directly to citizens instead. “PAY THE PEOPLE, NOT THE INSURANCE COMPANIES!” he urged, a proposal that could find unexpected appeal across the political aisle.

Trump doubled down last night, accusing major insurers of enriching themselves off “a corrupt system of healthcare” established under President Barack Obama’s landmark legislation. “NO MORE MONEY, HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, TO THE DEMOCRAT SUPPORTED INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR REALLY BAD OBAMACARE,” Trump posted. “THE MONEY MUST NOW GO DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE, TAKING THE ‘FAT CAT’ INSURANCE COMPANIES OUT OF THE CORRUPT SYSTEM OF HEALTHCARE. THE PEOPLE CAN BUY THEIR OWN, MUCH BETTER POLICY, FOR MUCH LESS MONEY, SAVING, FOR THEMSELVES, AN ABSOLUTE FORTUNE!!! PRESIDENT DJT.”

Earlier that same day, Trump had already urged Senate Republicans to get behind his plan to redirect the funds. “I am recommending to Senate Republicans that the Hundreds of Billions of Dollars currently being sent to money sucking Insurance Companies in order to save the bad Healthcare provided by ObamaCare, BE SENT DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN PURCHASE THEIR OWN, MUCH BETTER, HEALTHCARE, and have money left over,” he wrote. “In other words, take from the BIG, BAD Insurance Companies, give it to the people, and terminate, per Dollar spent, the worst Healthcare anywhere in the World, ObamaCare. Unrelated, we must still terminate the Filibuster!”

Trump’s push to end the Senate filibuster, however, faces firm opposition from Republican lawmakers, who fear Democrats would use the same move to advance sweeping left-wing measures such as free healthcare for illegal immigrants or statehood for Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico—adding four Democratic senators.

But Trump argued that such a scenario is inevitable once Democrats regain full control of Congress, especially now that moderate obstacles like former Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin are out of the way. “Republicans Should Terminate the Filibuster (THE DEMS WILL DO IT THE FIRST CHANCE THEY GET!), End the Shutdown, Pass lots of Great ‘Things,’ and Win the Midterms,” Trump wrote. “SO EASY TO DO — Be the Smart Party, Not the Stupid Party!”

{Matzav.com}

Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s senior adviser and son-in-law, has arrived in Israel to hold discussions with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu about advancing Washington’s strategy to bring the Gaza conflict to an end, according to a person with direct knowledge of the visit.

The source, who requested anonymity because the meeting has not been publicly announced, said Kushner’s session with Netanyahu is scheduled for tomorrow. Both the White House and the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office declined to comment when approached by Reuters.

In a sign of the meeting’s urgency, Netanyahu’s court appearance in his ongoing corruption trial was called off, with officials citing a series of diplomatic engagements taking precedence.

{Matzav.com}

In remarks to Sky News Arabia, Senator Lindsey Graham said that peace in the Middle East remains unattainable while Hamas continues to wield weapons, tying any rebuilding of Gaza to the group’s disarmament.

“I hope Hamas will disarm, but I see no effort in that direction. On the contrary, they seem focused on regaining strength and rearming,” he said, underscoring his view that the militant organization shows no readiness to relinquish its military might.

Graham further declared that eventually Hamas must be disarmed, and if it does not do so voluntarily, then Israel may have to take the lead. He noted the lack of Arab forces willing to enter Gaza for such a mission and emphasized that only Israel is capable of executing it: “We can support Israel in disarming Hamas, but Israel will be the one on the ground.”

He added that reconstruction of Gaza and areas in Judea and Samaria can only begin once Hamas abandons its power. “As long as Hamas holds power, there will be no peace in the Middle East,” he declared, making clear his belief that disarmament is the gateway to normalization.

Turning to nearby Lebanon, Graham described a split sentiment among the Shiite population: many support the notion that heavy weaponry should fall exclusively under the Lebanese Armed Forces, but an armed faction within Hezbollah refuses to lay down its arms—a stance he argues blocks Lebanon from fulfilling its regional role. “Israel will not accept a fully armed Hezbollah. My advice to my Lebanese friends is to disarm Hezbollah, which could open the door to discussing border security with Israel and integrating Lebanon into the region,” he said.

Discussing regional normalization, Graham predicted additional Arab states will join the Abraham Accords and flagged an anticipated move by Saudi Arabia in the coming year, encouraging Lebanon to prepare for inclusion in the regional shift.

On Syria, he signalled willingness to ease sanctions but stressed the need to maintain the capacity to re-impose them swiftly if necessary. “They must do the right things, like protecting religious minorities and controlling the Lebanon-Syria border,” he stated, and emphasised that his focus remains on isolating and disarming Hezbollah while cautiously supporting the new government in Damascus.

After more than eleven years in captivity, Lieutenant Hadar Goldin was brought back to Israel today and laid to rest. His family, gathered at their Kfar Saba home, issued their first public message following the burial, speaking of the long struggle to retrieve his remains and the values that guided them through the ordeal.

“Eleven years ago, we stood here in August after Hadar was taken from us, and we cried out that we must not leave Gaza without bringing Hadar back. We took it for granted that the State of Israel would not leave soldiers behind. It took us 11 years to bring him home through the IDF and security forces,” Hadar’s mother, Leah, stated.

Leah emphasized the principles that sustained the family and the campaign to recover him, and she appealed to the nation to treat the fate of hostages as a moral imperative.

“The first value is friendship and comradeship, the second is burial in Israel, and the third is human dignity. These are the values we fought for. Sadly, we faced many disappointments. We cannot give up on who we are, and we will prevail through our values. I hope Hadar will continue to be the symbol he has been until now. I’m not just fighting for Hadar-I’m fighting for the next hostage. And if October 7th didn’t become a wake-up call for everyone in the State of Israel, it’s time for you to look at us and let us explain why it’s important and imperative to fight for our children. Thank you for walking with us all the way.”

Reflecting on the role of the military in bringing their son home, the family credited the IDF and reiterated a commitment to the principle of not abandoning soldiers.

Simcha Goldin, Hadar’s father, added: “We brought Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, our son, a fighter, to be buried in Israel. We achieved this because our soldiers fought to bring warriors back from the battlefield. The IDF brought Hadar back to his homeland-no one else. So we hold fast to these values: that we don’t abandon soldiers on the battlefield, because this is a value, and we don’t compromise on values. And what this war has proven is that when we fight for our soldiers, we succeed. Victory means bringing home the hostages and bringing home our soldiers to Israel.”

{Matzav.com}

The head of the BBC has stepped down today following a scandal involving the broadcaster’s use of manipulated footage of Donald Trump from January 6.

After five years at the helm of Britain’s publicly funded media institution, Tim Davie issued a statement acknowledging that he was assuming “ultimate responsibility” for the broadcaster’s recent errors.

“Overall the BBC is delivering well, but there have been some mistakes made and as Director-General I have to take ultimate responsibility,” Davie said in the statement, which conspicuously did not mention the former President by name.

His departure follows the disclosure that the BBC’s flagship investigative program, Panorama, edited two separate segments of Trump’s speech on January 6, 2021, and combined them to suggest that he had explicitly instructed supporters to attack the Capitol.