Matzav

After more than 30 years in circulation, the MetroCard is approaching the end of its run, joining the subway token as a relic of New York transit history. The familiar gold card, once a symbol of modernization, is being phased out as the city completes its move to a contactless fare system.

Beginning Wednesday, riders will no longer be able to purchase or add value to a MetroCard. The transition clears the way for OMNY, the tap-to-pay system that allows fares to be paid with a credit card, phone, or other smart device. According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, more than 90 percent of subway and bus trips are already paid through the system, which debuted in 2019.

Cities across the globe adopted similar technology years ago. London and Singapore have relied on contactless transit payments for some time, while U.S. cities including Chicago and San Francisco have followed suit, with San Francisco launching its system earlier this year.

Even as it fades from daily use, the MetroCard is being reexamined as a cultural artifact. At the New York Transit Museum, an exhibit opened this month chronicling the card’s impact. Museum curator Jodi Shapiro says the MetroCard fundamentally changed how New Yorkers thought about getting around the city.

“There was a resistance to change from tokens to something else because tokens work,” Shapiro said during a recent visit to the museum, located in a former subway station. “MetroCards introduced a whole other level of thinking for New Yorkers.”

Before the MetroCard arrived in 1994, riders paid with brass tokens first issued in 1953, or, earlier still, with paper tickets that cost just five cents when the subway opened in 1904. To ease the transition, transit officials launched public campaigns demonstrating the proper swipe technique and even briefly considered a mascot known as the Cardvaark before abandoning the idea.

Over time, the card became a canvas for the city itself. Special editions marked major moments, including the 2000 World Series “Subway Series” between the Mets and Yankees, when a ride cost $1.50. Musicians such as David Bowie and Olivia Rodrigo, hip-hop legends like the Wu-Tang Clan, the Notorious B.I.G., and LL Cool J, and television staples including Seinfeld and Law & Order all appeared on commemorative cards.

Collectors took notice. Lev Radin of the Bronx said the most meaningful designs captured the spirit of the city rather than just its skyline.

“For me, the most special cards are cards which present New York City to the world,” Radin said. “Not only photos of landmarks, skylines, but also about people who live and make New York special.”

Mastering the MetroCard swipe even became a quiet badge of authenticity. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton struggled through several attempts at a Bronx turnstile. Her Democratic rival at the time, Bernie Sanders, a Brooklyn native, appeared unaware that tokens had already been retired.

Unlike the MetroCard’s debut, the OMNY rollout has been relatively seamless. Riders who prefer not to use personal devices can still buy reloadable OMNY cards, and existing MetroCards will remain valid through 2026 so balances can be used up. The MTA says the shift saves at least $20 million a year in costs tied to the old system.

The new platform also introduces fare capping, allowing unlimited rides within a seven-day period once 12 trips are taken. When fares rise to $3 in January, weekly spending will be capped at $35. Still, some critics have voiced concerns about data collection and surveillance tied to digital payments.

{Matzav.com}

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By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld In the beginning of  Parshas Vayechi, Yaakov Avinu blessed his grandchildren, Ephraim and Menashe. He told them that Yisroel will bless their children to be like Ephraim and Menashe. The posuk uses the words “on that day” referring to when Yaakov bentched them.      The Targum Yonoson writes that this bracha shall be given to each child on the day he is circumcised.      The Pirush Yonoson explains the specificity of the day of milah as the time of this bracha since the posuk uses the term “on that day.” He adds that the word Yisroel seems to be unnecessary in the posuk since it is obvious that a Yisroel (not a goy) will bentch his child in this way. By using the word Yisroel, the posuk is teaching us that the day the child becomes a Yisroel is the day he receives this bracha.      The Moshav Zekeinim Le’Baalei Tosfos explain that the Sefardim who say the following upon completion of the Bris carry out this tradition. “It should be the will of Hashem that the baby should be “Ach l’Shiva and also l’shmona.” This is saying that the baby should be like Ephraim and Menashe who were numbers seven and eight when the Nesiyim brought the korbanos at the inauguration of the Mishkan.      The question arises; why is it important to give this Bracha on the day of a Bris over any other day?      The first answer is that there is a great ayin hora on the day of the Bris Milah. (We learn that Bilam tried harming Bnei Yisroel when they were in the midbar on the day of the milah.) We therefore bless the child that he should be like Ephraim and Menashe who were from Shevet Yosef, and therefore an ayin hora has no effect on them.       Secondly, we want to give a child the bracha as early as possible since it might be too late once the child is grown up, so we bracha is said as soon as he enters into the covenant of being a Jew.      The last answer is that we know that when a child cries at the bris all tefillos go up to shomayim without any hindrance. That is why we pick that opportune time to give the baby this bracha.      Let us hope that all these tefillos and brachos will be mekuyam.

The venerable gaon Rav Meir Greineman was released Monday afternoon from Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer after successfully undergoing a pacemaker implantation, b’chasdei Shamayim.

As previously reported here on Matzav, Rav Greineman was rushed to the hospital late Friday night after losing consciousness while learning with his grandson. Following the arrival of his eldest son, the decision was made to evacuate him to the hospital, where he was admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit.

Rav Greineman, the last living nephew of the Chazon Ish and known for his lifelong stringency of not eating food prepared outside his home, declined to eat the meals served by the hospital, despite their mehadrin kashrus. It was also learned that he did not allow food to be brought from his home, as he did not want anyone transporting food for him on Shabbos from Bnei Brak to Tel Hashomer, even though an eiruv could have been relied upon.

As a result, from approximately 2:00 a.m. on Friday night until noon on Shabbos day, Rav Greineman consumed only water, despite his advanced age and delicate medical condition. Only at around 12:00 p.m. did a non-Jew arrive with food brought from his home.

Rav Greineman has now returned to his residence in Bnei Brak, where he will continue resting and resume his regular learning schedule.

All are asked to continue davening for the complete recovery of Rav Meir ben Tzivia.

{Matzav.com}

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Fox News interview tonight that while negotiations toward a peace framework with Russia have made significant progress, surrendering Ukrainian territory remains a red line that would derail any agreement.

Zelensky said that roughly “90%” of the proposed framework has already been settled, but stressed that the remaining dispute over land is the most difficult issue still unresolved.

Speaking about the eastern Donbas region, which Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeking to seize, Zelensky warned that withdrawal would carry grave consequences. “All the parties have to understand that the worst way is to go out from the Donbas,” he told Fox News “Special Report” host Bret Baier.

According to Zelensky, any deal brokered with Putin — with President Trump acting as the intermediary — would ultimately require approval by the Ukrainian public through a national vote. He emphasized that moving forward with concessions he knows would be rejected makes no sense. “Of course, referendum — if we will go to referendum — is very important, but if we are not stupid, we can’t go to referendum after signing with President Trump … we can’t go to referendum knowing that the referendum will fail.”

He underscored that point bluntly, adding, “I mean, I think it’s stupid.”

Zelensky said handing the Donbas region to Moscow would be unacceptable to the public and dangerous for the country. “It will be a big risk for Ukraine,” he said of ceding the territory to Putin, calling such a move “not acceptable for Ukrainians.”

Summing up his position, the Ukrainian president argued that any agreement must reflect the will of the nation and lead to a lasting resolution. “We have to find real peace,” he said, “a real way to peace which is acceptable by the Ukrainian nation.”

{Matzav.com}

U.S. forces have now killed at least 106 suspected terrorist-linked drug traffickers in strikes aimed at smuggling vessels operating in the Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Pacific Ocean, according to military figures released this week.

The latest operation is believed to be the first conducted under “Operation Southern Spear” since December 22, and marks the 30th such strike since September 2.

U.S. Southern Command said Monday that another suspected drug-running vessel was destroyed in the Eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of two individuals described as “narco-terrorists.”

“On Dec. 29, at the direction of [War Secretary] Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters,” Southern Command posted on X.

According to the command, the target had been under surveillance and was moving through a well-known trafficking corridor. “Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” the post continued. “Two male narco-terrorists were killed. No U.S. military forces were harmed.”

{Matzav.com}

A milestone was marked this week in the rapidly growing chareidi community of Charish, with the formal appointment of a rav for the kehillah in the Choreish neighborhood.

Rav Reuven Miron was named rav of Kehillas Beis Hashem in Choreish during a ceremony attended by leading rabbonim and members of the community. Rav Miron is a close talmid of Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch and a son-in-law of Rav Tzvi Weber, rav of the Neve Yaakov neighborhood in Yerushalayim. He has also served for many years as one of the rabbonim of Kollel Ahavas Shalom.

The first ceremony took place at the home of Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch as part of a series of gatherings held in the homes of gedolei Torah. The event was attended by members of the Charish community, Rav Weber, and rabbonim from other kehillos.

Rav Hirsch, who has accompanied and guided the Charish community since its founding, spoke at length in praise of Rav Miron, highlighting his personal qualities and his suitability to lead a kehillah. He recalled his long-standing personal connection with Rav Miron, noting that Rav Miron transcribed his shiurim during his years in yeshiva. Rav Hirsch offered heartfelt brachos to the newly appointed rav and to the community, expressing his hope that they will continue to strengthen and expand Torah.

At the home of Rav Dov Landau, the rosh yeshiva joined in extending warm brachos, wishing Rav Miron great siyata diShmaya in his leadership role and success to all members of the community.

Charish in general, and the Choreish neighborhood in particular, is widely viewed as having tremendous potential for Torah growth. The city’s rapid chareidization, relatively affordable housing, proximity to central Israel, strong mosdos, quality kollelim, employment opportunities, and convenient transportation to major chareidi centers have made it an increasingly attractive destination for young families seeking a strong Torah environment.

{Matzav.com}

Voluntary departures from the United States have surged during President Donald Trump’s second term, with the Department of Homeland Security reporting that close to 2 million illegal migrants left the country on their own initiative this year.

In a year-end summary of DHS activity released in mid-December, the department said 1.9 million people departed voluntarily between January and December 2025, a figure officials say reflects the administration’s intensified approach to immigration enforcement and deterrence.

According to the Washington Examiner, the numbers are being cited by the White House as proof that its strategy of encouraging illegal migrants to leave without formal removal proceedings is having an impact, despite sharp criticism from Democrats and activist organizations who argue the approach relies on intimidation.

Administration officials counter that the policy restores order while saving taxpayer dollars after what Republicans characterize as years of lax border enforcement. “President Trump is delivering on his promise to make America safe again and deport criminal illegal aliens,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told the Examiner, describing the effort as the “largest mass deportation operation of criminal illegal aliens in history.”

Beyond voluntary departures, the Examiner reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has removed an additional 600,000 illegal migrants, most of whom had criminal records. Together, the figures point to a dual-track strategy combining arrests with pressure for migrants to exit the country on their own.

Analysts quoted by the outlet said ICE’s limited staffing — roughly 6,500 deportation officers nationwide — makes large-scale arrests impractical, increasing reliance on self-deportation as a release valve for a system strained during the Biden administration. Former immigration judge Andrew Arthur said consistent enforcement sends a signal that many migrants understand. When the law is applied steadily, he said, people “get the message and leave on their own.”

That message, according to the report, has been reinforced through frequent social media posts and high-profile arrests. The Examiner pointed to a White House post highlighting the apprehension of an illegal migrant previously deported and later convicted of fentanyl trafficking, emphasizing the administration’s focus on criminal offenders.

Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks dismissed claims that the campaign is designed to instill fear, saying the goal is clarity. “Do not come,” he said, summarizing the administration’s warning to would-be migrants.

CBS News reported last week that DHS has also expanded incentives for voluntary departure, tripling the so-called exit bonus from $1,000 to $3,000 for undocumented migrants who enroll through the revamped CBP Home app and leave the country by Dec. 31. Those who participate may also qualify for free airfare and relief from certain civil penalties related to unlawful presence.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told CBS that migrants who decline the program will be “found,” “arrested,” and “never [allowed to] return” to the United States. DHS has said the initiative significantly reduces costs, with ICE estimating that a full arrest, detention, and deportation process averages about $17,000 per migrant — far more than airfare and a stipend.

While DHS said “tens of thousands” have used CBP Home to coordinate departures, officials have not released detailed figures showing how many received government assistance versus those who left independently.

Some analysts remain skeptical of the headline number. The Examiner reported that Cato Institute researcher David Bier cautioned the 1.9 million total could include some legal residents leaving voluntarily and may be influenced by incomplete survey data.

Even critics, however, acknowledge the underlying trend. As enforcement intensifies, departures — voluntary or otherwise — continue to climb.

{Matzav.com}

As the city prepares to welcome a new administration in 2026, NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will quietly take office just after midnight in a closed ceremony held far below the streets of Lower Manhattan, his transition team said Monday.

The oath will be administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James at the long-abandoned Old City Hall subway station, with members of Mamdani’s family present. The underground setting will mark the official transfer of power as the new mayor enters office at the start of the New Year.

“When I take my oath from the station at the dawn of the New Year, I will do so humbled by the opportunity to lead millions of New Yorkers into a new era of opportunity, and honored to carry forward our city’s legacy of greatness,” Mamdani said.

The Old City Hall station, situated beneath City Hall Park, opened in 1904 as part of the city’s original subway system. Though it was taken out of service in 1945 amid system upgrades, the ornate station later gained recognition as a New York City landmark in 1979 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.

Reflecting on the choice of location, Mamdani said, “It was a physical monument to a city that dared to be both beautiful and build great things that would transform working peoples’ lives.” He added, “That ambition need not be a memory confined only to our past, nor must it be isolated only to the tunnels beneath City Hall: it will be the purpose of the administration fortunate enough to serve New Yorkers from the building above.”

Later that day, Mamdani will take part in a public ceremony he has titled the “Inauguration of a New Era,” to be held on the steps of City Hall. The event will include a Broadway block party with designated viewing areas, allowing residents from across the city to attend.

The public swearing-in is scheduled for 1 p.m. on New Year’s Day, with Sen. Bernie Sanders set to administer the oath.

{Matzav.com}

Amid growing anger over a sweeping fraud scandal in Minnesota, a conservative watchdog group said it was reviewing the personal finances of Rep. Ilhan Omar, citing questions about her sudden rise in wealth.

Peter Flaherty, chairman of the National Legal and Policy Center, said his organization had begun examining the Minnesota Democrat’s financial disclosures and related business ties. He told The NY Post that his team was “certainly looking” at Omar (D-Minn.).

The scrutiny followed recent reporting that highlighted a dramatic increase in Omar’s net worth. According to her financial filings, her wealth climbed to roughly $30 million within about a year — an increase of approximately 3,500% compared to 2023.

Much of that increase appeared tied to the business interests of her husband, Tim Mynett. His ventures included a California-based winery and Rose Lake Capital, a venture capital firm based in Washington, DC.

Rose Lake Capital’s reported value surged from nearly nothing in 2023 to somewhere between $5 million and $25 million a year later, according to previous reporting by The Post. The firm had also promoted the claim that its officers had overseen some $60 billion in “previous” assets.

More recently, the company removed the names and biographies of its nine officers from LinkedIn, prompting further questions about the firm’s operations and leadership.

Mynett’s winery, which had faced fraud-related allegations in the past, also saw a sharp jump in its estimated value. Omar’s disclosures placed the winery’s worth at between $1 million and $5 million in 2024.

The questions surrounding Omar’s finances emerged against the backdrop of the Feeding Our Future scandal in Minnesota, where hundreds of millions of dollars in public funds were siphoned off through a sprawling fraud scheme tied to pandemic-era food programs.

Omar had previously pointed to flaws in how COVID-era relief programs were rolled out, arguing that speed took precedence over oversight.

“I just think that a lot of the COVID programs were set up so quickly that a lot of the guardrails did not get created,” she told CNN earlier this month.

Republican critics said the situation demanded broader scrutiny, including a closer look at how Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Omar handled the unfolding fraud.

“On Walz’s watch, Minnesota became a fraud factory, aided and defended by allies like Ilhan Omar. Investigate everything,” Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas) wrote on X.

“Prosecute everyone involved.”

{Matzav.com}

Against the backdrop of escalating tensions within the coalition, Knesset Members Meir Porush and Yisroel Eichler of the Agudah faction of UTJ declined both a meeting and a phone conversation with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu after he sought to speak with them over the weekend.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the prime minister’s outreach followed the two lawmakers’ decision last week to abstain from a Knesset vote on the establishment of a parliamentary commission of inquiry headed by MK Ariel Kallner.

Despite repeated efforts by the Prime Minister’s Office to arrange a meeting at Netanyahu’s office, Porush and Eichler turned down the request. They later made clear that they were also not interested in holding a phone call with him.

Until recently, Porush and Eichler were viewed as the more flexible figures within the Agudas Yisrael faction, particularly in comparison to the party’s other representatives, former minister Yitzchak Goldknopf and MK Yaakov Tessler.

{Matzav.com}

More than two months after his release, Elkana Bohbot said he is still living “from hour to hour,” describing the lingering impact of more than two years in captivity and the difficulty of returning to ordinary life.

“I live from hour to hour, I have no routine,” he said. “I manage to enjoy myself and see the good, but it’s still not complete. There’s always a feeling that something is missing.”

In an interview published Monday, Bohbot said reconnecting with his family has been painful and slow. “I take care of myself, but it has not been easy connecting with my son, Re’em, again, after he didn’t have a father figure for two years,” he said. “It’s a process and it will be a long one.” He added that his family continues to face serious challenges. “My mother is sick and this is another battle, we’re fighting here for many things. I want to bring Re’em a brother or sister, and for them to have a safe home here in Israel to sleep in,” he said. “That’s all we want.”

Bohbot, 34, was kidnapped on October 7, 2023, from the Nova music festival and held by Hamas until his release during the opening days of the October ceasefire. He said most of his captivity was spent chained inside underground tunnels, enduring starvation and repeated abuse.

“As hard as it was physically, it was even harder mentally,” he said. “The last six months were the hardest, since they starved us.”

He described the tunnels in stark terms. “[In the tunnels], there is no difference between you and a dead person; both of you are buried without air, with the worms,” he said. “The only difference is that your heart is beating. Besides that, you are a corpse.”

Among the most disturbing revelations, Bohbot said his captors staged a fake suicide attempt for propaganda purposes, filming him and another hostage in a fabricated scene that was never released. “They drew blood from our hands and beat us so that we would be injured, to simulate a suicide scene,” he said.

He also said his captors used psychological torment, feeding him false information about his family. “They told me that my mother died and that my wife had left me,” he said.

Bohbot recounted that during his first days in Gaza, he and other hostages discussed a desperate escape plan. “The plan was that we would overpower the terrorists while they were praying, draw a Magein Dovid on a white sheet, go up to the roof and try to signal the helicopter with a flashlight,” he said.

The attempt never materialized. “From this apartment, they took us down to a tunnel, and underground, there is no way out,” he said.

He described the routine violence and humiliation inflicted on him, particularly when he asked for food. “You’re barefoot, thrown away like a garbage bag, they beat you, they play with you. It’s sickening,” he said, adding that he was forced to watch Hamas propaganda videos showing Israeli soldiers being killed.

Bohbot also revisited the moment of his abduction at the Nova festival, describing the attack as a calculated slaughter. “People lay on the floor in panic, and then the chaos began,” he said.

“It was a hunting trip, a massacre,” he said. “Suddenly, 70 terrorists were all around us, passing by with weapons, breaking windows of vehicles, verifying their kills.”

“Human animals, shooting dead people,” he said.

After being seized, he said, the fear of what awaited him intensified. “They loaded us into a van, and from there to Gaza,” he said, adding that he was terrified of being attacked by civilians once inside the Strip.

“I talked to God, I said: Free me from this suffering, give me a bullet in the head, just don’t let them lynch me,” he said.

Now free, Bohbot said survival has given way to another kind of struggle: rebuilding a life forever marked by captivity, loss, and the hope of restoring what was taken from him and his family.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said he had discussed Hamas and the issue of disarmament during talks with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, describing the subject as a central focus of their conversation.

According to Trump, the expectation was clear that Hamas would move quickly to lay down its weapons. “They have to disarm within a fairly short period of time,” Trump said.

Trump said Hamas “will be given a very short period of time to disarm,” adding that the process would be overseen from the American side by senior White House envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

He warned that the consequences of noncompliance would be severe. “If they don’t disarm, as they agreed to do, they agreed to it, then there will be —- to pay for them.”

In summarizing the discussions with the Israeli leader, Trump reiterated that the topic had been addressed directly and firmly. “Talked about Hamas and we talked about disarmament,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump on Monday issued a blunt warning to Tehran, saying the United States would not tolerate Iran attempting to restore military capabilities damaged during last month’s fighting, and signaling support for Israeli action if Iran pushes ahead with missile or nuclear development.

Speaking during a joint appearance with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu in Florida, Trump said Washington is closely tracking Iranian activity following the June conflict and would respond forcefully if Iran tries to regroup. “I’m hearing that Iran is trying to recover—if that happens, we’ll have to hit them hard,” he said.

Later in the day, Trump expanded on that message at a press conference with Netanyahu, saying he hopes Iran is not attempting to rearm. He warned that if Tehran is rebuilding its capabilities, the United States would move quickly to shut it down. “I hope Iran is not trying to build up again, because if they are, we’re going to have no choice, but very quickly to eradicate that buildup,” he said.

Trump also addressed whether he would support Israeli strikes should Iran continue advancing its weapons programs. “If they will continue with the missiles, yes. The nuclear, fast. Okay? One will be yes, absolutely. The other was, we’ll do it immediately,” he said when pressed on the issue.

In further remarks, Trump suggested the United States is aware of alternative sites Iran may be using, following the destruction of previous facilities. “I hope Iran is not trying to build up, as I’ve been reading, that they’re building up weapons and other things. And if they are, they’re not using the sites that we obliterated, but they’re using possibly different sites. We know exactly where they’re going, what they’re doing, and I hope they’re not doing it, because we don’t want to waste the fuel on B-2, it’s a 37-hour trip both ways. I don’t want to waste a lot of fuel,” he said.

Earlier this year, the United States and Iran held five rounds of talks focused on Tehran’s nuclear program, after Trump imposed a 60-day deadline for reaching an agreement. When no deal was secured by the 61st day, Israel launched a surprise military operation on June 13, followed by U.S. strikes on June 22 that targeted nuclear facilities in Isfahan, Natanz, and Fordow.

Those attacks killed several Iranian nuclear scientists as well as hundreds of military personnel and civilians, according to reports. Iranian retaliatory strikes later killed 32 Israeli civilians and one off-duty soldier.

Iran continues to deny that it is seeking nuclear weapons, insisting its nuclear activities are for civilian purposes. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has dismissed engagement with Trump as beneath Iran’s dignity, and Iranian officials have rejected U.S. demands to halt uranium enrichment and limit missile development.

Diplomatic contacts continued in parallel on Monday, as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a phone call with Oman’s foreign minister. Oman has previously served as a mediator between Tehran and Washington during periods of negotiation.

Ahead of his meeting with Netanyahu, Trump also turned his attention to past U.S. policy toward Iran. On his Truth Social account, he shared an older post from X alleging that the Obama and Biden administrations provided Iran with funding that enabled its nuclear ambitions. The post originated from an account using the name Chris Bjornberg and was tied to promotion of his 2023 book, “The Night Rider and the Warrior Queen.”

“One of Obama’s most treasonous policies was to fund Iran’s nuclear program,” the post shared by Trump said, accompanied by an image depicting a nuclear explosion over New York City and criticism of Democratic administrations’ Iran policy.

“Biden and Obama gave Iran over $220 billion to research and build nukes. Iran nearly had 6 nuclear bombs and Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM’s) that would have destroyed Israel and 5 cities in the US,” the post said.

The Obama administration reached the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which placed limits on Iran’s nuclear activity in exchange for sanctions relief. Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement in 2018, after which Iran expanded its nuclear program beyond the deal’s restrictions, leaving the accord effectively dormant.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump addressed questions during his Florida meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu regarding a previously reported request that Israeli President Isaac Herzog grant a pardon to Netanyahu, saying: “I asked President Herzog about a pardon for Netanyahu, he replied that it is on the way.”

Shortly afterward, President Herzog’s office issued a detailed response disputing that characterization. The statement said: “There has not been a conversation between President Herzog and President Trump since the pardon request was submitted. Several weeks ago, a conversation took place between President Herzog and a representative on behalf of President Trump, who inquired about the U.S. President’s letter. During that conversation, an explanation was provided regarding the stage of the process in which the request currently stands, and that any decision on the matter will be made in accordance with the established procedures. This was conveyed to President Trump’s representative, exactly as President Herzog stated publicly in Israel.”

The discussion took place amid a broader meeting between Trump and Netanyahu in Florida earlier Monday, which included developments unrelated to the pardon issue.

During the meeting, a phone call was placed with Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kisch, who announced that Trump would be awarded the Israel Peace Prize.

In response to the announcement, Trump said he would consider traveling to Israel to attend the ceremony and receive the award. He thanked Kisch for the update and again said he would consider coming to Israel for the event.

{Matzav.com}

North Korea’s state media reported Monday that Kim Jong-un personally oversaw the launch of multiple long-range cruise missiles, a test the regime says was designed to reinforce its ability to deliver nuclear strikes. The report framed the exercise as part of Pyongyang’s broader effort to demonstrate the readiness of its strategic forces.

According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim expressed approval of the missile drill. “The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un expressed great satisfaction,” KCNA stated, “saying that the result of the launching drill is a practical verification and clear demonstration of the absolute reliability and combat readiness of our strategic counterattack capability.”

KCNA further said Kim emphasized that the test was required to ensure “the reliability… of the components of the DPRK’s [North Korea’s] nuclear deterrent,” arguing that the country was “facing various security threats” that made such demonstrations necessary.

South Korea confirmed the activity shortly afterward. Yonhap News Agency reported that authorities detected “the launch of multiple missiles from the Sunan area near Pyongyang at around 8 a.m. the previous day [Sunday],” noting that the missiles flew over the Yellow Sea.

Seoul responded with pointed criticism. Yonhap quoted a South Korean government official, spokesperson Chung Binna, urging Pyongyang to change course. “North Korea should respond to South Korea’s efforts to resume dialogue that are being made in good faith to promote peace and coexistence on the peninsula and join efforts to maintain the stable situation,” Chung said.

The missile test followed another high-profile appearance by Kim, this time at a shipyard where North Korea claims it is building what it calls “an 8,700-tonnage nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine.” KCNA said Kim “guided” the project “on the spot,” despite no public evidence that he has technical expertise in nuclear submarine construction.

State media praised the workers involved, reporting that they went “all out in the glorious struggle for implementing the WPK’s [Workers’ Party of Korea] policy of modernizing the navy” by “pushing ahead with the building of a strategic nuclear attack submarine.”

KCNA added that the workforce greeted Kim with “inexhaustible patriotic enthusiasm,” while Kim asserted that the country’s nuclear forces — described as “the super-powerful offensive capability” — represented “the best shield for national security in developing the armed forces.”

Kim was also quoted as saying, “The strategic nuclear attack submarine to be considered as an important component of the nuclear war deterrent will constitute the greatest immortal feats of the working class, defense scientists and technicians, the driving force of the DPRK, for the times and history.”

KCNA announced the submarine project on Christmas Day. The timing was notable, given Pyongyang’s history with the holiday. Once known as the “Jerusalem of the East” because of its large Christian community, North Korea outlawed Christianity under Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-un’s grandfather, mandating worship of the ruling family instead. Today, possessing a Bible is illegal, and Christians face severe punishment, including torture and death, if discovered.

Kim’s visit to the submarine site also came days after the United States and South Korea confirmed the arrival of a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine in Busan. Chosun Ilbo reported that the USS Greenville docked there on December 23, marking the first such visit during the Lee Jae-myung administration.

North Korea’s Ministry of National Defense sharply condemned the deployment in a statement released Wednesday. “The repeated emergence of the U.S. strategic asset 46 days after the entry of the nuclear carrier George Washington strike group belonging to the U.S. Seventh Fleet into the ROK on November 7 constitutes a grave act of causing instability and escalating military tensions in the Korean peninsula and the region,” a Defense Ministry spokesperson said.

The statement continued with another warning: “This is a warning that the U.S. is getting closer to the critical level in its attempt to gain strategic advantage in the region by making its military alliance with the ROK [South Korea] more surely evolve into a nuclear confrontation bloc sharing its nuclear weapons.”

It concluded with a defiant message from Pyongyang. “The DPRK remains unchanged in its practical will to strongly propel the development of the defense capabilities for ensuring its prospective interests and defending security at present and in the future.” The statement added, “Nothing will change no matter how frequently the U.S. brings its nuclear submarine to highlight the visibility of its nuclear attack forces.”

Despite shifts in leadership and policy in Seoul, including efforts by President Lee Jae-myung to pursue engagement, North Korea has continued to emphasize military development as a core element of its national strategy, keeping nuclear deterrence at the center of its messaging to the region and beyond.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu met today at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where the two leaders discussed Gaza, Iran, and the broader regional situation.

Trump addressed Iran early in the discussion, warning that renewed activity by Tehran would draw an immediate response. “Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again. And if they are, we’re gonna have to knock them down. We’ll knock the hell out of them. But hopefully that’s not happening.”

Asked directly whether he would back Israeli military action should Iran refuse a deal and continue advancing its nuclear and missile programs, Trump replied “yes.” He elaborated, saying, “Missiles, yes, the nuclear, fast,” and added, “We’ll do it immediately.”

Turning to Gaza, Trump said he wanted to advance the next stage of the peace framework without delay, while emphasizing a key precondition. He said he hoped to move to Phase 2 “as quickly as possible,” but stressed that “there must be a disarming” of the Hamas terrorist organization.

Trump was also asked about the timing of the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire in relation to the fate of the final remaining hostage, Ran Gvili. Referring to him as a “wonderful young man,” Trump noted the presence of his “wonderful parents” at the meeting. “He’s the only one left, and we’re doing everything we can to get his body back,” Trump said.

The US president repeatedly praised Netanyahu’s leadership during the war, calling him “a war-time prime minister” who has “done a phenomenal job.” Trump said Netanyahu “has taken Israel through a very dangerous period of trauma,” adding that “Israel, with other people, might not exist right now.” He continued, “If you had the wrong prime minister, Israel right now would not exist,” and concluded, “We worked together and we were extremely victorious.”

Netanyahu, for his part, returned the praise, emphasizing the strength of the relationship between the two leaders. “We’ve never had a friend like President Trump in the White House. It’s not even close … I think Israel is very blessed to have President Trump leading the United States and leading the free world at this time. I think it’s not merely Israel’s great fortune. I think it’s the world’s great fortune.”

Netanyahu arrived earlier Monday at Mar-a-Lago for the high-level meeting, which comes amid ongoing efforts to shape the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire and rising concern over Iran’s regional ambitions.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

For the first time in a quarter century, Jews will be permitted to enter Kever Yosef in Shechem during daylight hours, following an announcement made Monday by Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz.

Under the updated arrangement, visitors will be allowed to remain inside the compound until 8:00 a.m., replacing the long-standing requirement to exit by 4:00 a.m. The extended window will also make it possible to hold Shacharis at the site. Officials said that the possibility of allowing Jews to stay for even longer periods during the day will be reviewed at a later stage.

Until now, all Jewish access to Kever Yosef has been restricted to nighttime visits only, and solely under the coordination and protection of Israeli security forces.

The move represents a major shift from policy in place since 2000, when the Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva was evacuated from the compound. Since that time, no organized Jewish visits during daylight hours had been permitted.

The Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva welcomed the announcement, issuing a statement that read: “We praise the Defense Minister’s decision, which is correct from a moral, historical, and security standpoint. It is time that Jews be allowed to stay at Kever Yosef in daylight, proudly, and not [only] as thieves in the night. This is the first step towards the full return of Jews to Shechem and to the kever of Yosef Hatzaddik.”

The statement continued with a broader message of hope tied to the weekly Torah reading: “This past Shabbos, we read in the Torah about the reunion between Yosef Hatzaddik and his brothers, and we hope that soon, the entire nation of Israel will be able to reunite, with Kever Yosef under full and permanent Jewish control.”

{Matzav.com}