Matzav

Amid the intense clashes that unfolded Sunday in Bnei Brak, fresh controversy erupted after footage surfaced showing a chareidi woman being forcibly arrested by police. While city residents have strongly condemned the earlier assault on two IDF female soldiers, many are now voicing anger over what they describe as excessive force used against uninvolved civilians.

The video, circulated widely over the past hour, appears to show officers detaining a woman on the street. According to eyewitnesses, she was not participating in the disturbances. The footage quickly sparked outrage on social media and among local residents, who claim the arrest involved unnecessary force.

One resident told reporters that “the woman was simply standing off to the side. She didn’t throw anything and didn’t shout. Suddenly officers came, grabbed her, and took her away by force.”

Residents stressed that their criticism of police conduct does not diminish their condemnation of violence against the soldiers. “The people of Bnei Brak do not accept violence against female soldiers — that is not our way,” said a local resident. “But what is happening now feels sweeping, as if anyone standing on the street is automatically a suspect. There’s a feeling they’re showing a heavy hand for the cameras.”

Others warned that such actions risk harming law-abiding members of the community and further fueling negative portrayals of the city. “We see how Bnei Brak is being presented as if everyone here is violent. That is simply not true and not fair. There is a large, law-abiding public here,” another resident said.

{Matzav.com}

In the aftermath of the painful upheaval in Bnei Brak, Gedolei Yisroel have spoken with clarity and firmness, issuing a strong directive to bnei yeshiva not to take part in, or even be present at, any gatherings that involve confrontation with the police.

The roshei yeshiva of Slabodka, Rav Dov Landau and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, addressed a letter to the talmidim of the yeshiva following the disturbances that erupted in the city after two IDF female soldiers entered Bnei Brak for military-related activity. During the unrest, dozens of bochurim were arrested, among them several talmidim of Slabodka.

In their letter, the roshei yeshiva wrote: “To the talmidim of the yeshiva, sheyichyu: It is strictly forbidden under any circumstances to participate or to be present among those who go to places where there is confrontation with the police. One must remain in the yeshiva for learning and for all the sedorim of the yeshiva. Chas v’shalom to be in those places where there are clashes with the police.

“Beyond the sakonoh involved, there is a great chilul Hashem, rachmana litzlan.

“With great tzaar and deep charodah, Dov Landau — and of course I join all the above, Moshe Hillel Hirsch.”

The letter comes on the heels of hours of unrest in the streets of Bnei Brak, which began shortly after two IDF soldiers were reportedly attacked by an extremist crowd on Chagai Street. Large police forces were dispatched to the scene and employed crowd-dispersal measures in an effort to restore order. More than 20 individuals were taken into custody and brought to the police station.

Israel Police Commissioner Danny Levy stated that he instructed officers to act with determination against those involved. “I instructed that the lawbreakers be arrested and brought to justice, and so far we have arrested 12 individuals involved in disorderly conduct. We will hold all those involved accountable. We are a state of law and will not permit hooligan behavior in our country,” he said.

Police officials added that forces remain deployed at several locations throughout the city and that additional arrests may follow as efforts continue to restore calm.

{Matzav.com}

Violent unrest that lasted for hours rocked Bnei Brak late tonight, leaving 26 suspects under arrest and five police officers injured, according to law enforcement officials.

The disturbances centered along Jabotinsky Street, where protesters blocked traffic, set fires, and clashed with police.

The tensions continued well into the evening, hours after an earlier incident involving an alleged assault on female soldiers sparked widespread outrage. Large numbers of police officers, along with Border Police riot control units, were deployed to the scene in an effort to restore order. Authorities said crowd-control measures were used to disperse those involved in the disturbances.

Police reported that dozens of rioters obstructed traffic along the major thoroughfare, ignited garbage bins, and hurled objects at officers. Some individuals also attempted to damage passing vehicles, actions that authorities said posed a significant threat to public safety and severely disrupted public order.

In response, substantial police reinforcements, including Yasam forces, worked for hours to disperse the crowds and reopen the road to traffic. The operation included the use of riot-dispersal measures and the arrest of individuals suspected of participating in the violence.

During the confrontations, five police officers sustained injuries and required medical treatment. Police stated that all injured officers were treated and are reported to be in good condition.

“The police will not allow harm to public safety, freedom of movement, or property, and will continue to act decisively against any display of violence or lawbreaking,” the statement concluded.

Federal investigators have obtained DNA from a glove discovered near the Tucson home of Nancy Guthrie, raising the possibility that authorities may have genetic evidence linked to the armed individual seen at the 84-year-old’s door on the night she vanished.

Law enforcement officials told The New York Post that the development could mark a significant breakthrough in the Feb. 1 disappearance of the mother of “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie, potentially providing investigators with DNA connected to their leading suspect.

“The one with the DNA profile recovered is different and appears to match the gloves of the subject in the surveillance video,” an FBI spokesperson told Fox News, which first broke the story.

The glove in question was one of 16 recovered by investigators during the course of the probe. It is believed to be the same glove that FBI evidence teams were seen collecting from the side of a road roughly two miles from Nancy Guthrie’s residence, according to observations previously reported by The Post.

Authorities told Fox News that the glove appears consistent with the black nitrile gloves worn over another pair of gloves by the masked suspect captured on Guthrie’s Nest doorbell camera. Officials emphasized, however, that there is no definitive confirmation that the glove belonged to the suspect, only that it resembles the gloves visible in the surveillance footage.

FBI forensic specialists are now in the process of verifying the DNA findings before submitting the profile to the national crime database in an effort to determine whether it matches any known individuals.

According to an FBI spokesperson, once DNA is received by the bureau, it generally takes about 24 hours to upload it into CODIS, the agency’s nationwide DNA index system.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said Sunday that testing is still underway at a private laboratory in Florida and that final DNA results have not yet been completed.

Nanos told Fox News that certain DNA samples were given priority for analysis, though he declined to provide specifics about which items were expedited or when results are expected. The FBI has indicated it will continue assisting in the investigation according to the timeline established for processing the evidence.

President Donald Trump announced that he will reveal this Thursday that member nations of the Board of Peace have pledged more than $5 billion for humanitarian relief and rebuilding efforts in Gaza, along with thousands of personnel for a U.N.-approved stabilization mission.

In a message posted Sunday on Truth Social, Trump said participating countries have agreed to fund large-scale reconstruction and to provide manpower for an international force and local policing units aimed at maintaining order in the Palestinian territory.

“On February 19th, 2026, I will again be joined by Board of Peace Members at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C., where we will announce that Member States have pledged more than $5 BILLION DOLLARS toward the Gaza Humanitarian and Reconstruction efforts, and have committed thousands of personnel to the International Stabilization Force and Local Police to maintain Security and Peace for Gazans. Very importantly, Hamas must uphold its commitment to Full and Immediate Demilitarization. The Board of Peace will prove to be the most consequential International Body in History, and it is my honor to serve as its Chairman,” Trump wrote.

In the same post, Trump highlighted what he described as the board’s rapid progress and broader aspirations beyond Gaza.

“The Board of Peace has unlimited potential. Last October, I released a Plan for the permanent end to the Conflict in Gaza, and our Vision was unanimously adopted by the United Nations Security Council. Shortly thereafter, we facilitated Humanitarian Aid at record speed, and secured the release of every living and deceased Hostage. Just last month, two dozen distinguished Founding Members joined me in Davos, Switzerland, to celebrate its official formation, and present a bold Vision for the Civilians in Gaza, and then, ultimately, far beyond Gaza — WORLD PEACE!” he said.

The establishment of the Board of Peace was backed by a United Nations Security Council resolution and forms part of the administration’s broader strategy to conclude the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Israel and Hamas signed onto the framework last year, with a ceasefire taking effect in October. Despite the agreement, each side has repeatedly accused the other of breaches. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that more than 590 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the territory since the truce began, while Israel says four of its soldiers have died in attacks by Palestinian militants during the same period.

Several key regional players — including Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Israel and Indonesia — have joined the board. However, major global powers and longstanding Western allies of the United States have shown greater reluctance.

Trump did not specify which countries are responsible for the financial pledges or which will supply troops for the stabilization mission. Indonesia’s military said Sunday that as many as 8,000 personnel could be prepared by the end of June for possible deployment to Gaza in a humanitarian and peacekeeping role, marking the first concrete troop commitment received by the administration.

Reconstruction in Gaza is expected to be an enormous undertaking. Estimates from the United Nations, World Bank and European Union place the cost of rebuilding at approximately $70 billion. After more than two years of Israeli military operations, vast sections of the territory have sustained severe damage.

Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, an armed international stabilization force would be responsible for maintaining security and ensuring the disarmament of Hamas — a central condition set by Israel. To date, only a limited number of countries have signaled willingness to participate in such a force.

The U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement reached on Oct. 10 sought to end more than two years of fighting between Israel and Hamas. While large-scale combat has diminished, Israeli forces have continued conducting airstrikes and have frequently opened fire near areas under military control.

It remains uncertain how many of the more than 20 Board of Peace members will attend Thursday’s gathering. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who met with Trump at the White House last week, is not expected to participate.

Initially viewed as a mechanism focused primarily on resolving the Gaza conflict, the Board of Peace has since evolved into what Trump describes as a platform with a broader global mission. The initiative appears to reflect a wider effort by the United States to reshape international diplomacy and operate outside traditional United Nations structures as Trump seeks to redefine the post–World War II global framework.

Many leading U.S. allies in Europe and elsewhere have declined to join the board, expressing concerns that it could serve as a parallel body to the U.N. Security Council.

Trump also confirmed that Thursday’s event will be held at the U.S. Institute of Peace, which the State Department announced in December would continue operating under the name Donald J. Trump U.S. Institute of Peace.

The institute’s headquarters has been the focus of ongoing legal disputes after the administration took control of the building last year and dismissed nearly all of its staff, prompting lawsuits from former employees and executives of the nonprofit organization.

Former chief rabbi Rav Yitzchok Yosef strongly denounced the rioters who clashed with security forces in Bnei Brak, saying their actions constitute a desecration of Hashem’s Name and have no place within the Torah community.

In a sharply worded statement responding to the disturbances that erupted in the city in recent hours, the former Rishon Letzion declared that the behavior of the violent demonstrators must be unequivocally rejected.

“We must strongly condemn the handful of rioters who are desecrating G-d’s Name. The Torah of Yisroel teaches ways of pleasantness and all its paths are peace. There is no place among us for such conduct. They must be denounced and cast out from our camp.”

The Chief Rabbi emphasized that the path of Torah is defined by dignity, restraint, and peace, and that those who engage in violence and public disorder stand in direct opposition to those values.

The unrest reportedly began after female soldiers entered Bnei Brak, leading large crowds to gather in protest. Clashes later broke out between demonstrators and police.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said the incidents were the actions of “a small extremist minority that does not represent the broader chareidi public,” while opposition leader Yair Lapid stated that “there must be a wave of arrests.”

{Matzav.com}

Rav Shlomo Moshe Amar declared during his weekly shiur that it would be preferable to dismantle the official Rabbinate altogether rather than permit women to take rabbinical certification exams, following a High Court ruling requiring their inclusion.

Speaking at his regular class at the Ner HaTorah Beis Medrash on Rechov Bar-Ilan in Yerushalayim, Rav Amar addressed the court’s decision to reopen the Rabbinate examinations after a prolonged suspension and to allow women to sit for the tests.

The renewed examinations come after a period during which they were not administered, largely due to the High Court’s directive mandating that women be integrated into the process.

Expressing deep anguish, Rav Amar said: “In the High Court sit several people who themselves are close to these Reform views, and they think that this is the correct path.

“So about twenty-something years ago, twenty-five years ago, they filed a petition to appoint a woman as a neighborhood rabbi. Since then, no neighborhood rabbis have been appointed. Even our own people who are involved, instead of finding a way to act, they refrain. Since then there are no neighborhood rabbis. Now also city rabbis — most cities do not have rabbis at all. And so it remains. Now they have invented a new invention — it is not new, only now they went to the High Court — and the High Court said that a woman has the right to be tested for the rabbinate and for judgeship. And I hear voices saying that for a long time there were no exams, so they are under pressure — what will be? If we do not hold exams, we will not have rabbis. So they say, let them have permission to be tested, but we will not appoint them.”

Rav Amar voiced strong backing for the current Chief Rabbis and urged them to remain steadfast. He said: “I say, with respect to their honor, thank God I heard that the Chief Rabbis — both the Rishon Letzion, Rav Dovid Yosef, and the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi, Rav Kalman Ber — both oppose this with all firmness. They say it is better that there be no exams than that there be exams and we allow a woman.

“But there are those around who are trying to weaken them and fight them. I come to strengthen their hands, that it should not enter their minds, Heaven forbid, even in thought — this is literally an idolatrous thought. It is an idolatrous thought. If, Heaven forbid, they allow them to be tested, in the end they will appoint them. It is better that from now they stop, and that this not come about through us. And even if it causes there to be no rabbis, and even if it causes there to be no rabbinical courts, and even if it causes there to be no Rabbinate at all in Israel. Then we will establish a private rabbinate. There will be private community rabbis, as there were abroad — every community appointed its own rabbi — until God has mercy and they understand what they are doing. I am certain we will not even reach that. We will overcome them, only we must not be afraid.”

He continued with a direct appeal to the Chief Rabbis: “I say to the Chief Rabbis: Stand firm. God has given you great and important positions. The responsibility for the people of Israel rests on your shoulders. Do not place your eyes or your hearts on anyone. Place God before your eyes. Stand firm and do not agree under any circumstances that there be exams for women — not in the rabbinate and not in anything. All matters of the rabbinate belong to men. This is not a shame and not a humiliation for women. It is the honor of a woman — each person with his banner and each person with his camp.

“We will not surrender. We will stand on guard. What the Torah preserved for five thousand years, and for two thousand years in exile we did not allow any woman — except the Reform, and they brought much destruction to the people of Israel, much destruction to the world.

“Shall we listen to them? Heaven forbid. We will try to bring them back, to draw them close as we love to do. ‘Let sins cease’ — not sinners; sinners should repent. But the sins, the transgressions, should cease.

“But to surrender, Heaven forbid — there will be no exams under any circumstances. And woe to the one who lends his hand, God save us, he destroys generations, the rabbinate for generations. This is the true destruction. It is destruction from within and from without. We must stand on guard and be careful. ‘One who comes to purify himself is assisted,’ and God assists us — I have no doubt.”

Rav Amar concluded by reiterating that, in his view, maintaining traditional Torah standards takes precedence even over the continued operation of the official Rabbinate itself.

{Matzav.com}

As part of its intensified campaign against cash transactions and the black-market economy, the Israeli government is advancing a proposal that would sharply limit the ability to exchange checks for cash, a move expected to significantly impact gemachs and other non-bank lending institutions.

During deliberations over the Arrangements Law, the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee is set to examine an amendment that would restrict the conversion or cashing of checks and promissory notes to a maximum of 6,000 shekels.

If approved, any amount above 6,000 shekels could not be paid out in cash, except for a small portion amounting to up to 10 percent of the value of the check.

According to the explanatory notes accompanying the proposal, “The practice of discounting promissory notes for cash constitutes a significant risk factor for tax evasion and money laundering through financial entities.”

In order to close what lawmakers describe as a regulatory loophole, the amendment would also revoke the full exemption that supervised financial institutions have enjoyed until now. Loans issued through check-discounting arrangements would be brought under the same strict cash limitations.

The proposed change is expected to create particular turbulence within the chareidi community, where gemachs serve as a primary financial backbone. The widely used model of providing cash in exchange for a postdated check to address urgent liquidity needs would become unlawful for sums exceeding the new threshold.

Despite the far-reaching nature of the proposal, the legal advisory team to the committee has expressed doubts about whether the broader Cash Law has achieved its original objective of curbing unreported capital.

The briefing paper also notes a lack of consistency in the framework, pointing out that while a business owner may still receive a cash loan from a regulated institution, that same individual would not be permitted to discount a check under similar conditions.

A senior Hamas official has drawn widespread condemnation after claiming in a televised interview that Israel staged the October 7 Nova music festival massacre and that Israeli forces were responsible for the killings.

The remarks were made by Osama Hamdan, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, during an interview broadcast by Norway’s NRK television network. According to summaries circulated by blogger Yehuda Teitelbaum, Hamdan denied that Hamas murdered civilians during the October 7 attacks and advanced a series of conspiracy claims about the events of that day.

Hamdan asserted that the massacre at the Nova festival was carried out by Israeli forces, claiming the attack was conducted by Israeli troops who fired from helicopters under the pretext that they were targeting Hamas gunmen. He further alleged that individuals wearing Qassam Brigade symbols at the festival should be investigated.

Throughout the interview, Hamdan insisted that Hamas never deliberately targeted civilians, hospitals, schools, or mosques. He argued that all such accusations are false and maintained that responsibility for civilian deaths lies entirely with Israel.

He also claimed Hamas holds democratic legitimacy because it won Palestinian legislative elections in 2006, while acknowledging that those were the last elections held and that a significant portion of Gaza’s current population was not yet born at the time.

Hamdan maintained that Palestinians in Gaza are free to criticize Hamas and denied the existence of fear or repression in the territory, contradicting numerous reports and testimonies from Gaza residents describing harsh internal crackdowns.

When asked what responsibility Hamas bears for the devastation in Gaza, Hamdan placed full blame on Israel and refused to acknowledge any role by Hamas in triggering the war.

He openly defended beatings, torture, and public executions of Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel, describing such actions as legal, moral, and consistent with Palestinian law, including executions carried out within 48 hours.

Hamdan categorically rejected the idea of disarmament, stating that Hamas would relinquish its weapons only after a full Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 lines, the implementation of a mass “right of return,” and international guarantees—conditions he described as non-negotiable.

Asked whether Hamas would attack Israel again despite the destruction in Gaza, Hamdan declined to rule it out, affirming that the “resistance will continue.”

In February 2025, he said Hamas would rebuild and expand its capabilities in Gaza so it could “attack Israel at any time we want.” He also stated that anyone seeking to replace Israel’s role would be treated as Israel, adding that issues related to weapons, leadership, and the resistance movement are not open for discussion.

His remarks mirror earlier statements he made in December 2023, one month after the massacre, when he told a Lebanese television channel that a “war of liberation is coming,” adding that it would not be “just another October 7” and that he did not believe it was far off. When asked whether he regretted the October 7 attacks, he responded, “Regret crushing an entire division of the occupation army?” He also claimed that all 1,200 people killed near the Gaza border “belonged to the occupation army” and said at the time, “We do not regret October 7.”

{Matzav.com}

The government on Sunday approved a landmark plan to begin formal land registration proceedings in Judea and Samaria for the first time since 1967, a move officials describe as a major shift in civilian administration in the area.

The proposal was advanced by Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Finance Minister and Minister in the Defense Ministry Bezalel Smotrich, and Defense Minister Yisroel Katz. It calls for restarting official land registry operations, commonly referred to as the “Tabu,” canceling outdated Jordanian-era laws, and unsealing land records that have remained closed for decades.

The decision is being viewed as one of the most far-reaching changes to civilian governance in Judea and Samaria since the Six-Day War. According to the government, the objective is to bring clarity to land ownership, curb fraudulent claims, and strengthen Israel’s administrative control in the region.

Under the resolution, the Land Registration and Rights Authority within the Justice Ministry will be empowered to oversee the new regulatory process. The agency will receive a dedicated budget and additional personnel to implement the plan.

Among the practical implications of the move is the formal registration of extensive tracts of land in Judea and Samaria under the state’s name.

In an official statement, the government said the renewed procedures will enable a transparent and comprehensive review of property rights, help settle legal disputes, and facilitate organized infrastructure development and land marketing. The statement also noted that the decision comes in response to land regulation efforts advanced by the Palestinian Authority in Area C.

Katz emphasized, “The renewal of the land regulation in Judea and Samaria is a vital security and governance move aimed at ensuring Israel’s control, enforcement, and full operational freedom in the area. Land regulation prevents unilateral actions, reduces attempts at illegal land seizures, and disrupts terrorist infrastructure that undermines stability and security. This is a necessary step for creating operational and legal certainty, enabling the IDF and the security forces to act decisively to protect Israeli citizens and safeguard national interests. I thank Ministers Smotrich and Levin for their cooperation.”

Smotrich added, “We continue the settlement revolution and the holding of all territories of our land. For the first time since the Six-Day War, we are restoring order and governance to land management in Judea and Samaria. Regulated land arrangements prevent disputes, create legal certainty, prevent unilateral actions, and enable lawful and responsible development. The State of Israel is taking responsibility for its land and is acting according to the law, transparently and decisively.”

Levin concluded: “The proposal that was approved represents a true revolution in Judea and Samaria. The Land of Israel belongs to the people of Israel. The Israeli government is committed to deepening its hold over all its parts, and this decision reflects that commitment. I thank my friends, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz, for advancing this proposal, and the professional staff in their offices who helped bring it to fruition.”

Authorities in Arizona are using advanced technology from the air as they continue searching for Nancy Guthrie, who vanished nearly two weeks ago. Investigators are flying over the Tucson desert with specialized equipment designed to detect a Bluetooth signal from her pacemaker, hoping it will help pinpoint her location.

A helicopter operated by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department has been moving slowly in a systematic grid pattern over the terrain near Nancy’s residence, attempting to pick up a signal from the implanted device, Fox News reported.

Residents previously noticed a helicopter flying in a comparable pattern close to her upscale home just days after she went missing. However, it remains uncertain whether that aircraft was equipped with the same Bluetooth-detecting technology at the time, according to Fox.

The effort to locate Savannah Guthrie’s mother has now stretched into its second week. Nancy Guthrie was reported missing on Feb. 1, after she was last seen at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 31. Authorities continue to focus their search in the area surrounding her Tucson home as the investigation remains active.

Sen. John Fetterman said during a weekend television appearance that elements within the Democratic Party have grown too comfortable aligning with anti-Israel activists, sharply criticizing certain colleagues and media figures while reaffirming his unwavering support for Israel.

Speaking on Fox News Channel’s “Saturday in America,” the Pennsylvania Democrat lamented what he described as a troubling trend inside his party. “There’s a rot in my party, standing with pro-Hamas” figures and antisemitic voices such as Hasan Piker, he said, singling out Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) as someone he believes has aligned herself with Piker.

Fetterman questioned why some Democrats appear quick to condemn Israel while remaining comparatively quiet about Iran’s human rights record. “Why is she so eager to criticize and find a way to criticize Israel? But I don’t really recall them saying anything as Iran was executing thousands and thousands of their protesters for that. Now, there was never any genocide in Gaza, absolutely. And there shouldn’t ever be any conditions for aid for Israel, because they were in an existential war. That’s part of the problem with the very anti-Israel part of my party. So, call that what it is. Why [can’t you] just stand — and why would you align yourself [with] raging [antisemites] and very pro-Hamas people like Hasan Piker?” he said.

The senator went on to argue that certain influential platforms have amplified voices he considers hostile to Israel. “There’s a rot in my party, standing with pro-Hamas people like that, whether it’s even in The New York Times, they’re [fascinated] with him. So, where we are — and call this is — and stand with Israel, that’s our special ally, and there was never a genocide. And when there is a genocide, where you’re executing tens of thousands of people in Iran, why not call that out too?” he added.

WATCH:

Rep. Nancy Pelosi cautioned that Democrats must remain alert ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, warning of potential “surveillance by the intelligence operation” and advising her party not to “put anything past” President Donald Trump.

Appearing Saturday on MS NOW’s The Weekend while attending the annual Munich Security Conference in Germany, Pelosi said she has been reassuring European officials that she is confident Democrats will regain control of the House of Representatives. She described having “absolute certainty” about a Democratic victory, even as she acknowledged deep worries about how the elections will unfold.

Pelosi pointed specifically to what she described as troubling involvement by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in an FBI raid on a polling station in Fulton County, Georgia, where authorities sought to retrieve ballots from the 2020 election. The California lawmaker said the situation has heightened fears both domestically and abroad about election integrity.

“I hear that all over the United States, not just in Europe, that there is concern about the election. Let me just say that surveillance by the intelligence operation of our country, surveillance in our own country is something that is absolutely not to be allowed. And now, if there’s some particular reason, there’s one thing, but for the for them, for Tulsi to be looking into elections is really not right. It’s not lawful. It’s not right. But that doesn’t seem to ever bother the president. But you know what? We don’t agonize, we organize, and we have litigation. We have lawyering in terms in addition to in the courts, but at polling places and the rest, we have legislation.”

Pelosi also made clear that Democrats intend to oppose voter identification requirements that Trump has pledged will be implemented for the midterms. The House recently approved the SAVE Act, which would mandate identification to cast a ballot, with one Democrat siding with Republicans. The measure now faces significant obstacles in the Senate.

Although Pelosi expressed strong confidence in her party’s electoral prospects, she also warned that Trump could potentially involve federal forces in ways she believes might affect the election process.

“We’re dealing with it. And the president — people are concerned they’re going to send in ICE and the National Guard or this or that,” she argued. “Don’t put anything past him. As we saw on January 6th when the president of the United States personally incited an insurrection in our country, he’s capable of any bad thing.”

WATCH:

Barack Obama addressed long-running speculation about extraterrestrial life during a recent podcast appearance, joking about aliens while dismissing the idea of a government cover-up.

Speaking on Brian Tyler Cohen’s podcast, the 44th president was asked directly whether he believes aliens exist.

“They’re real, but I haven’t seen them,” Obama answered.

He also rejected claims that extraterrestrials are being concealed at the Nevada military installation commonly known as Area 51.

“There’s no underground facility, unless there’s this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the President of the United States,” Obama continued.

Cohen followed up by asking what question first came to Obama’s mind after he entered the Oval Office. Obama said even then, the topic of aliens came up — though in jest.

“Uh, where are the aliens?” he joked.

The interview marked another occasion in which Obama has publicly discussed the possibility of life beyond Earth.

In a 2021 appearance on “The Late Late Show with James Corden,” Obama recalled that shortly after becoming president, he inquired whether the government had secret information about extraterrestrials or was studying them in a hidden facility. According to Obama, he was informed that no such program existed.

At the same time, Obama acknowledged that U.S. officials have taken seriously reports of unusual aerial objects that defy easy explanation.

“There is footage and records of objects in the skies that we don’t know exactly what they are,” he said. “We can’t explain how they moved, their trajectory. They did not have an easily explainable pattern. I think people still take seriously trying to investigate and figure out what that is.”

Following Obama’s remarks, Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy posed a question to President Joe Biden about unidentified aerial phenomena, or UAP.

“What do you think that it is?”

Biden replied, “I would ask (Obama) again.”

Interest in UAPs has grown significantly in recent years, drawing increased scrutiny from lawmakers and federal agencies. In 2023, Congress approved the Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Disclosure Act, and the Department of War established the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office to examine reports of unexplained sightings across air, land, sea, and space domains.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump is pointing to a decline in mortgage rates since his return to the White House, contrasting current figures with higher borrowing costs during Joe Biden’s administration and framing the change as a sign of economic improvement.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump shared a graphic claiming that mortgage rates now stand at 5%, compared with levels of 6%, 7%, and 8% under Biden. The source of the specific numbers cited in the post was not immediately identified.

When Biden entered office in January 2021, mortgage rates were hovering near record lows, with the average 30-year fixed loan at roughly 2.7%. Over the following two years, however, rates climbed steeply as inflation accelerated and the Federal Reserve responded with a series of sharp interest rate hikes. By 2023, mortgage rates had risen above 7%, reaching their highest point in more than 20 years.

Although rates moderated somewhat in 2024, they remained well above the historic lows seen earlier in the decade.

Since Trump took office again in January 2025, borrowing costs for home loans have edged down slightly, with average 30-year rates settling into the low-6% range in the opening weeks of 2026.

Financial analysts caution that while presidential administrations can shape broader economic policy, mortgage rates are influenced primarily by inflation expectations, movements in the bond market, and decisions made by the Federal Reserve. As a result, they are not determined by the actions of any one president alone.

“Joe Biden’s inflation crisis crushed the dream of homeownership for millions of Americans — but President Trump is bringing it back,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News.

“Thanks to the President’s successful economic policies, unnecessary red tape is being cut at a historic pace, borrowing costs are easing, and income growth is outpacing home price gains — finally making housing more affordable again.”

Leavitt added: “President Trump knows America is strongest when it’s a nation of owners, not renters, and he is determined to unlock that opportunity for as many American families as possible.”

A lapse in funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security took effect early on Shabbos morning, triggering a partial shutdown that directly affects airport security operations nationwide and raising concerns about potential travel disruptions.

The agency oversees the Transportation Security Administration, which is responsible for screening passengers and luggage at commercial airports across the country. With DHS funding now expired, TSA officers are required to report to work without pay while Congress remains at an impasse over the department’s annual budget.

Many travelers are uneasy, recalling the 43-day federal shutdown last year that caused significant flight cancellations and lengthy delays at airports nationwide.

Although TSA officers also remained on duty during the previous record-long shutdown that concluded Nov. 12, aviation analysts say this latest funding lapse could unfold differently.

Industry associations representing airlines and the broader travel sector cautioned that prolonged funding uncertainty could translate into longer security lines at airports, particularly as the spring travel season ramps up.

Homeland Security funding expired at midnight, but the remainder of the federal government continues to be funded through Sept. 30.

As a result, air traffic controllers employed by the Federal Aviation Administration will continue receiving pay, reducing the likelihood of widespread cancellations tied directly to air traffic staffing shortages.

Under DHS’ contingency plan, roughly 95% of TSA personnel are classified as essential employees and must continue working despite the funding lapse.

Democratic lawmakers in both the House and Senate have stated that they will withhold support for additional DHS funding unless new limits are imposed on federal immigration enforcement operations.

Historically, the effects of government shutdowns on air travel have intensified gradually rather than immediately.

For example, about a month into last year’s shutdown, TSA temporarily shut down two security checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport.

On that same day, federal authorities directed commercial airlines to scale back their domestic flight schedules in an extraordinary move to manage disruptions.

John Clark, who arrived at Detroit Metropolitan Airport after a business trip to Mississippi, said he experienced complications during the previous shutdown and remains concerned about the current situation.

“You might not be able to get home if you’re already out, or it might delay if you worked all week and you’re trying to get home,” said Clark, who frequently travels for his job balancing machines. “It’s really bad.”

John Rose, chief risk officer at global travel management firm Altour, warned that operational strains could surface more quickly this time, noting that TSA workers still remember the financial strain of the prior shutdown.

“It’s still fresh in their minds and potentially their pocketbooks,” Rose said.

Security bottlenecks could arise unpredictably, making it difficult to forecast when or where delays might occur.

At smaller airports with only one security checkpoint, even a small number of unexpected TSA absences could quickly result in longer lines.

For that reason, travel experts advise passengers to build extra time into their airport arrival plans.

“I tell people to do this even in good times,” Rose said.

Although air traffic controllers remain on the job, specialists say flight delays remain possible.

Airlines could opt to hold departures temporarily to allow additional time for passengers to clear security screening, said Rich Davis, senior security adviser at risk mitigation firm International SOS.

Staffing shortfalls among TSA officers may also slow the behind-the-scenes inspection of checked baggage.

Burnest R. Green, who traveled from Phoenix to Detroit to celebrate his sister’s 70th birthday, said he hopes lawmakers resolve the shutdown before his return flight next week.

“I just hope that things start to get better before they get any worse,” he said.

While most airports publish estimated security wait times on their websites, Rose cautioned travelers not to rely on last-minute checks.

“You may look online and it says two-and-a-half hours,” he said. “Now it’s two-and-a-half hours before your flight and you haven’t left for the airport yet.”

Passengers are also encouraged to be mindful when packing, as prohibited items can slow the screening process.

For carry-on luggage, travelers should avoid bringing full-size shampoo bottles, large quantities of liquids, oversized gels, aerosols, and items such as pocketknives.

TSA maintains a detailed list on its website outlining what items are permitted in both carry-on and checked baggage.

Once at the airport, Rose urged travelers to remain understanding toward security staff.

“Not only are they not getting paid,” he said of TSA agents, “they’re probably working with reduced staff and dealing with angry travelers.”

Negotiations between the White House and Democratic lawmakers continued through the week, but no agreement was reached before senators and House members were scheduled to leave Washington for a 10-day recess.

Lawmakers were advised, however, that they could be called back to the Capitol should a deal materialize.

Democrats have insisted that they will not approve additional DHS funding until new immigration enforcement restrictions are enacted following last month’s fatal shooting of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis.

In a joint statement, U.S. Travel, Airlines for America and the American Hotel & Lodging Association cautioned that the shutdown could significantly disrupt air travel as spring break approaches.

“Travelers and the U.S. economy cannot afford to have essential TSA personnel working without pay, which increases the risk of unscheduled absences and call outs, and ultimately can lead to higher wait times and missed or delayed flights,” the statement said.

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu reached an understanding during a White House meeting Wednesday that Washington will take steps aimed at cutting back Iran’s oil exports to China, according to a report by Axios citing two U.S. officials familiar with the discussions.

“We agreed that we will go full force with maximum pressure against Iran, for example, regarding Iranian oil sales to China,” Axios reports, quoting a senior U.S. official.

China purchases the vast majority of Iran’s crude oil—more than 80 percent of its total exports—making Beijing the primary source of Tehran’s oil revenue. Any significant disruption to that flow would sharply reduce the income Iran derives from its energy sector.

The renewed focus on oil sanctions comes as diplomatic contacts between Washington and Tehran quietly resumed.

Israel’s Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara said Sunday that she has not yet examined a reported pardon request for Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, clarifying that any such request would be reviewed according to standard procedures.

Her statement comes amid heightened tensions following remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who publicly criticized Israeli President Isaac Herzog over the issue of a potential pardon for Netanyahu.

In a statement issued on her behalf, Baharav-Miara said: “I have not yet examined the prime minister’s pardon request, and it will be reviewed according to the accepted working procedures. Any other publication on the matter is incorrect.”

The attorney general reportedly felt compelled to release the clarification following media reports suggesting she was expected to submit a legal opinion on the matter in the coming weeks.

The controversy erupted after Trump, speaking to reporters outside the White House, was asked whether he believed Netanyahu would receive a pardon. Trump responded affirmatively. Over the weekend, he sharply criticized Herzog, saying, “President Herzog should be ashamed,” and called on him to grant Netanyahu a pardon.

According to reports, anger flared at the President’s Residence following Trump’s remarks. Sources close to Herzog said that “if Netanyahu’s hand is involved in this — that is crossing a red line. We expect clarifications from the prime minister.” Officials at the President’s Residence reportedly view the episode not only as a personal affront to Herzog but also as a serious breach of Israel’s sovereign standing.

In response, Netanyahu’s office said overnight that “President Trump’s statement the other day regarding the pardon was solely his own initiative.”

The Prime Minister’s Office added: “The prime minister heard about it through the media and had no prior knowledge of it, just as he had no prior knowledge of the president’s remarks on the matter in his speech to the Knesset.”

During a press conference at the White House, Trump said of Herzog: “I think the man should be ashamed of himself,” referring to the absence of a pardon for Netanyahu.

Trump also asserted that “the President of Israel, the main power he has is the power to grant pardons, and he doesn’t… he doesn’t want to do it now because he will probably lose his power.”

He continued: “Bibi was a good prime minister during wartime, and I think I was the best friend Israel ever had. People say beyond other presidents they ever had.”

{Matzav.com}

Immigration and Absorption Minister Ofir Sofer of the Religious Zionism party was recorded criticizing the proposed draft law in a closed-door gathering, warning that advancing the legislation despite opposition from reservists could severely damage the political right.

The recordings were aired Sunday morning on Kan News’ program “Haboker Hazeh” on Reshet Bet. In the audio, Sofer is heard cautioning that pushing forward with the draft law against the will of reserve soldiers would carry heavy political consequences.

“If the law is advanced, against the will and despite the anger of the reservists, the right will be crushed,” Sofer said in the recording. “It will pay an electoral price for it. Certainly in the overall count, and even if you look at more specific frameworks.”

Sofer also addressed the charedi leadership, criticizing the absence of a clear public call from leading rabbis stating that those who are not engaged in full-time Torah study should enlist.

“Why can’t we expect a letter from 25 important rabbis, maybe five, maybe ten leading rabbis, saying that we call on everyone who is learning Torah to continue learning, that no one should get up from the shtender, but whoever is not learning Torah — should enlist? You can’t hear such a thing,” the minister said.

Responding to the recordings, Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, said he sees no contradiction between Torah study and military service.

“For me there is no compromise — there is no contradiction between Torah study and military service. All the great leaders of Israel served in the army. There is no contradiction between Torah study and service in the army — Religious Zionism has proven that there is no contradiction. There will not be chief rabbis calling to throw draft orders into the toilet, only rabbis who served,” Lieberman said.

{Matzav.com}

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