Matzav

MK Simcha Rothman, head of the Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, delivered strong words against Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, urging the chareidi parties to back a proposal to divide her position into separate roles.

“I am submitting, in the first week of the winter session, a bill to split the Attorney General’s position,” he told Kol Chai Radio. “If the chareidim do not support it, they are giving power to persecution. This must pass — the Attorney General blocks policy and disrespects ministers. The Supreme Court will examine the chareidi representatives — they do not represent their voters if they do not support this.”

Turning to Israel’s actions in Qatar and Egypt, Rothman remarked: “Qatar is a kingdom of terror, funding incitement on campuses and in mosques. Al Jazeera has blackened our name for years. The operation in Qatar — the elimination of senior Hamas leaders — is an important message: Hamas is not safe anywhere. Whether or not the specific target was eliminated, the message is victory.”

On the spread of antisemitism worldwide, Rothman commented: “Israel speaks the truth loudly, but the machine of lies is being amplified — antisemitism, money, media. The Haaretz newspaper is quoted by antisemites. [Former Prime Minister Ehud] Olmert laments harm to Hamas — this is what we are creating. There are some Jews who are fueling the lie.”

He also cautioned about the danger of political violence in Eretz Yisroel, stating: “Yes [it happens], and Gali Baharav-Miara enables incitement. She assists incitement against the Right, comparing it to so-called ‘effective’ protest. This is crossing a red line — the Supreme Court is releasing Yolanda Yavor from incitement to murder. I have seen threats, but the complaints are closed.”

Reflecting on recent clashes, Rothman added: “This is violence meant to silence opinions. At Tel Aviv [University] campus I was attacked, and professors supported it — there must be enforcement. This could lead to internal destruction.”

When it came to the widespread animosity against chareidim, Rothman was unequivocal: “This hatred unites communists, anti-religious, Islamists, and soft Right. They agree on nothing except hating the chareidim. It is a sin — the chareidim are the punching bag of society.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Trump revealed on Monday that the United States military had conducted a second strike against what were described as Venezuelan drug traffickers operating in international waters.

The president shared that three “male terrorists” had been eliminated, making the announcement on his Truth Social platform.

“The Strike occurred while these confirmed narcoterrorists from Venezuela were in International Waters transporting illegal narcotics (A DEADLY WEAPON POISONING AMERICANS!) headed to the U.S,” Trump wrote.

“These extremely violent drug trafficking cartels POSE A THREAT to U.S. National Security, Foreign Policy, and vital U.S. Interests,” he continued.

The president clarified that no American forces were injured during the operation.

In recent weeks, the Trump administration has increased its campaign against Venezuela, announcing a $50 million reward for information leading to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and authorizing an earlier airstrike on September 2 that left 11 suspected traffickers dead.

“BE WARNED — IF YOU ARE TRANSPORTING DRUGS THAT CAN KILL AMERICANS, WE ARE HUNTING YOU!” Trump declared.

{Matzav.com}

Sen. Ted Cruz wants you to know how he spent his weekend. The GOP lawmaker shared photos and videos of himself Sunday painting over freeway graffiti in Houston that read “[Curse] Charlie Kirk.” Kirk, a conservative activist, was shot and killed during a campus event in Utah on Wednesday.

“Erasing evil,” Cruz captioned a video showing himself armed with a roller and white paint.

In another post on X, Cruz said the Texas Department of Transportation had been notified and would also assist in removing the graffiti. “Some deranged [mamzer] put this graffiti on the 59 freeway in Houston,” he wrote. “TXDOT has been notified & I’m sure sure they will remove it expeditiously. But, in the meantime, Texans don’t have to look at this hateful garbage anymore.“

The videos, which have racked up over 3 million views on X, were mocked by some liberal, leftist social media users. “The form of a man who’s never had a hard job in his life,” independent journalist Talia Jane quipped in a post that drew thousands of likes.

Read more at CBS News Texas.

Heavy bombing was reported Monday evening in the northwestern neighborhoods of Gaza City, coming just before the IDF’s expected ground operation to secure the city.

According to security estimates, close to 320,000 Gazans have already evacuated toward the designated humanitarian areas in the southern part of the Strip.

A senior security figure told Channel 12 News, “The number of Gazans who have moved so far allows the maneuver to begin.”

Military officials assess that by intensifying the aerial campaign, more residents will continue relocating to the south, reducing the civilian presence in Gaza City, similar to what has taken place in other regions where the IDF has advanced.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Tyler Robinson is believed to have admitted to the murder of conservative leader Charlie Kirk in an online chat the day after the shocking shooting.

“Hey guys, I have bad news for you all,” read a message that investigators say Robinson, 22, sent through the chat platform Discord, according to the Washington Post.

“It was me at UVU yesterday. i’m sorry for all of this,” the message concluded.

The post was made Thursday night, only a couple of hours before Robinson was taken into custody, from a Discord account tied to him.

The Washington Post reported that it obtained a screenshot of the exchange from an anonymous member of the online group. The authenticity of the screenshot has not been independently confirmed by the New York Post.

After its own review, Discord previously stated that it had uncovered “no evidence that the suspect planned this incident or promoted violence on Discord.”

Robinson’s supposed acknowledgment of guilt surfaces just as federal investigators said Monday they are expanding their probe into whether pro-trans or other online groups had knowledge of the September 10 assassination of the 31-year-old Turning Point USA founder.

{Matzav.com}

UTJ chairman Yitzchok Goldknopf sent a strong letter to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on Monday, urging him to immediately free the young bnei Torah who were taken into custody at Ben Gurion Airport the day before, as they were on their way to spend Rosh Hashanah in Uman.

In his appeal, Goldknopf stressed that these young men must be given the ability to be with their families for Yom Tov and to daven in the shuls where they are accustomed to.

“I am deeply saddened that this has happened in our time, and in the Jewish state, bnei Torah are being arrested and their families harassed,” he wrote with anguish.

He pointed to precedents from past generations, saying, “From stories of Jewish communities in foreign lands many years ago, we have learned how they used to lobby prior to the Tishrei chagim in order to release prisoners so that they could pray in public on the days of judgment and celebrate the holidays with their families.”

The UTJ leader concluded his heartfelt plea with the words: “I hope, I very much hope that you, Prime Minister, will help release these people, and at least give them the opportunity to pray properly on Rosh Hashanah.”

His demand triggered sharp pushback, particularly in light of the charged atmosphere around the ongoing draft debate. Yair Weigler, who heads the National Religious Reservists Forum, lashed out: “We, the reservists, have not celebrated chagim at home for two years and have not been able to pray in the synagogue with our families. Throughout this time, you have been silent. Your Torah is silent.”

Weigler further remarked with criticism: “While IDF soldiers are fighting and giving their lives, there are those who seek to protect those who are not carrying the burden. We will pray in the field, on bases, and in the reserves. But we will not accept a reality in which there are first-class citizens and second-class citizens.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

In a joint announcement Monday night, the IDF and the Shin Bet revealed that hundreds of operatives belonging to the Islamic Jihad terror group have been eliminated during the past six months of fighting in Gaza.

“The IDF and the ISA, led by the Southern Command and in cooperation with the Intelligence Directorate and the Israeli Air Force, continue to strike terrorists and military infrastructure of the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip,” the statement said. “Following intelligence analysis, it can now be revealed that 21 key terrorists from the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization were eliminated by the IDF and the ISA.”

Among those targeted were several senior figures who held command roles in different brigades and sectors of the Strip: Mohammad Radwan Ramadan Mushtaha, who oversaw the military armament in northern Gaza; Amir al-Shaam Faiz Wadi, responsible for the Khan Younis Brigade’s sniper units; Jamal Mahmoud Salem Ma’amar, a Rafah battalion commander in charge of artillery; Fazel Zakariya Ahmad Abu al-Ata, a Gaza Brigade sector commander; Abdallah Ibrahim Mohammad Abu-Tir, commander of Khan Younis’ eastern sector; Wa’am Hassan Jamil Abu-Hajaj, head of the eastern sector in northern Gaza; and Samir Suleiman Ali Abu-Shaweesh, who commanded the Yibna sector in Rafah.

Other Islamic Jihad operatives taken out were tied to weapons manufacturing, including Mansour Mahmoud Mohammad Salah, Ahmad Ziyad Qasem Qadi, Fuad Shaker Diab Ghanam, Khaled Mousa Ramadan Bana, and Saeed Samir Nimer Masharawi.

In addition, several men who carried out direct attacks on IDF forces were eliminated. Among them: Ihab Bassam Yousef Abu al-Kheir, who led sniper squads; Yousef Saleh Younes Kassab, deputy commander of Rafah’s eastern sector; and Murad Nasser Mousa Abu Jarad, deputy commander in the Beit Hanoun sector of northern Gaza.

“The IDF and the ISA will continue to act decisively against all terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip,” the military concluded.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Dovid Yosef, the Sefardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, sent a heartfelt message of comfort to the family of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was brutally assassinated.

“To the dear family members of Charlie Kirk obm,” Rav Yosef wrote. “With deep sorrow and great pain, I received the devastating news of the murder of Charlie solely because he was a clear and unwavering voice of truth.”

He continued by describing Kirk’s qualities: “Charlie was a true friend of the Jewish people and of the state of Israel. His great deeds and noble character made him a remarkable figure. In his modest yet firm way, he always chose to stand by truth and justice,” he said.

Turning his words directly to the grieving family, the Chief Rabbi expressed, “To Erika, and the two young children—it is hard for me to find words of comfort in such a difficult moment, a moment when the loss is felt at every instant. Yet the greatest consolation lies in the immense legacy Charlie left behind.”

Rav Yosef noted the impact Kirk had achieved during his lifetime. “I have heard much about his great work, and I regret that I did not merit to know him personally,” he added. “This vile and cruel murder deserves condemnation from every single person. From here, in Jerusalem, we send you our condolences and seek to strengthen you in these painful times. You are not alone in your mourning—many among the Jewish people grieve with you, and remember Charlie as a man who devoted his full heart and soul to making the world a better and more just place.”

He closed his letter with a final blessing: “May G-d grant you and your family the strength to overcome this great tragedy and to continue his legacy for future generations,” Rav Yosef concluded.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to bring forward a government decision to apply sovereignty over Judea and Samaria before departing for the United Nations.

Speaking at a sovereignty conference hosted by Arutz Sheva and the Samaria Council, Smotrich declared, “If a Palestinian state is not established – then why not apply sovereignty? It’s zero or one. Whoever does not apply sovereignty is essentially admitting that it is not ours, and God forbid leaves the door open for the handover of the land and an existential threat.”

He stressed that Israel already exercises “de facto sovereignty” through settlement construction, regulation, and ongoing development. Still, he argued, “this bleeding issue cannot be left open. It is the one that is eroding our international standing. As soon as we impose sovereignty, the world will get used to it, just as it got used to the Golan and Yerushalayim.”

Addressing the international pressure being pushed especially by French President Emmanuel Macron, Smotrich said: “What Macron is doing is a political October 7th. On the eve of October 7th, they did not wake the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is criticizing this, and rightly so. Why didn’t you wake me up? If you had woken me up, the whole reality might have looked different.

I tell the Prime Minister, what Macron is doing is an October 7th and now we are all waking you up. We are all ringing the bells. We are all saying, ‘What a pity that such a political attack should pass without a response of full sovereignty in Judea and Samaria.’ Just as it is clear to everyone that it would have been terrible if October 7th had passed without a response.”

Smotrich, who sits in the cabinet, also turned his remarks toward Gaza, saying that the time has come to capture Gaza City and bring home the hostages held by Hamas. “We currently want to launch a quick occupation, lay siege on Gaza, and then advance to the central camps and lay siege on them as well. We believe that this stage is collapsing Hamas. We want to hope that much earlier, Hamas will surrender, return the hostages, leave Gaza and allow us to demobilize it on our own terms. If that does not happen, we will go for a quick occupation. The Prime Minister has set a deadline for this until the end of the year.

This is the only way to return the hostages: defeat Hamas. There is one more way, to surrender to Hamas. Those who call for surrender are actually willing to bring Israel to a dangerous defeat. No country in the world has surrendered to terrorism of taking hostages, and Israel will not be the first. Victory in Gaza means the destruction of Hamas. But we must prevail in Judea and Samaria too: apply sovereignty, continue building Jewish communities, and obliterate the idea of a Palestinian state once and for all. This is not only right from a Zionist and security perspective – it is also right politically.”

{Matzav.com}

Presented by Agudas Yisroel and Chazaq
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{Matzav.com}

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has a “more than 50% chance” of winning the city’s November mayoral race in a head–to-head race with front-runner Zohran Mamdani, American hedge-fund billionaire Bill Ackman said on Sunday.

The prominent New York investor made the remarks in Israel following a lecture he gave at the University of Haifa, where he and his wife Neri are being awarded an honorary doctorate.

He predicted that New York Mayor Eric Adams, who is running fourth in a four-way race for City Hall according to the polls, will pull out of the race in the coming week, while the Republican nominee, Curtis Sliwa, is likely to follow him out.

The latest polls give Cuomo a theoretical path to victory, but only in a two-way race against Mamdani.

The Democratic nominee for Mayor of New York City, who has refused to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” has repeatedly pledged that, if elected, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be arrested if he enters the city.

“He’s never run anything,” Ackman said of Mamdani when the question of the New York race came up after the investor spoke out against the ills of socialism. “He was a rapper, but not a successful one,” noting the Assemblyman benefited from a weak field of candidates and being a good speaker.

Ackman, 59, one of the most prominent and influential figures in the U.S. capital market, has been a staunch and vocal supporter of the Jewish state in the nearly two-year-old war against Hamas in Gaza. He has also been a leading voice against the antisemitism on U.S. college campuses, including his alma mater, Harvard.

U.S. President Donald Trump had said on Friday that it appeared Mamdani was headed to victory.

“I call him my little communist, he’s my little communist mayor, you look at the other candidates, maybe one-on-one somebody could beat him, and I’m not looking at the polls too carefully, but it would look like he’s going to win. And that’s a rebellion,” Trump said on Fox and Friends. JNS

{Matzav.com}

FBI Director Kash Patel announced Monday that forensic testing confirmed Tyler Robinson’s DNA on items connected to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, debunking conspiracy claims and even Robinson’s own mocking comments on Discord.

“I can report today that the DNA hits from the towel that was wrapped around the firearm, and the DNA on the screwdriver are positively processed for the suspect in custody,” Patel said during a televised appearance.

Authorities located the towel-wrapped rifle in the woods where surveillance cameras tracked the gunman escaping after jumping from a campus rooftop. The screwdriver was discovered in the sniper’s position at Utah Valley University, where the deadly shot into Kirk’s neck was fired.

Investigators are continuing analysis on the bolt-action hunting rifle that is believed to have been the murder weapon.

Patel also disclosed that a handwritten note from Robinson was recovered, in which he pledged to “take out Charlie Kirk” and declared he was “going to take it.”

The FBI chief commended the pace of the probe, pointing out Robinson’s arrest came just 33 hours after the shooting. He highlighted the contrast with prior lengthy manhunts and stressed the bureau’s “transparent and open” handling of the case.

According to Utah Governor Spencer Cox, Robinson has refused to cooperate since being taken into custody.

The 22-year-old suspect displayed no remorse and instead left mocking posts on Discord — a gaming-oriented platform often used by antifa-linked cells — suggesting he was following coverage of the manhunt closing in on him.

The timing of his online comments also hinted that the FBI’s $100,000 reward spurred acquaintances to interact with him.

“Wya?” one Discord user asked with a skull emoji, tagging Robinson’s handle just after the FBI released enhanced surveillance photos Thursday morning and unveiled the reward, according to The New York Times.

Within a minute, Robinson’s account replied that his “doppelgänger” was trying to “get me in trouble,” the report said.

“Tyler killed Charlie!!!!” another user responded in the chat.

The Times noted that screenshots of those exchanges were provided by a former classmate of Robinson’s.

Formal charges against Robinson are expected Tuesday. Officials have not officially stated a motive, but an affidavit indicated he recently told a relative he was considering killing Kirk.

Other posts attributed to Robinson, now facing potential capital punishment in Utah and in federal court, include:

• “My doppelganger trying to get me in trouble.”
• “Only if I get a cut” — when someone suggested turning him in for the FBI’s $100,000 bounty.
• “Better also get rid of this manifesto and exact copy rifle I have lying around,” he wrote after being warned, “Whatever you do, don’t go to a McDonalds anytime soon,” in reference to another charged assassin, Luigi Mangione.
• “In a red state??? nah CLEARLY the shooter was from California,” he quipped when a user speculated Trump would deploy the National Guard to Utah.
• “I heard the ammo had somethin about trans stuff on it, but they aren’t releasing photos or exact quotes,” Robinson wrote as media outlets reported about markings tied to transgender ideology. He added, “and also the claim wasn’t backed by the official FBI, just some dude in the briefing room,” indicating he was following press briefings closely.
• Minutes later, Robinson joked: “I’m actually Charlie Kirk, wanted to get outta politics so I faked my death, now I can live out my dream life in Kansas.”

{Matzav.com}

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard joined mourners in Washington, DC, on Sunday evening for a vigil honoring Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist who was assassinated last week.

Holding back emotion, Gabbard described Kirk’s murder as the “definition of terrorism.”

“Ultimately, for every one of us, the time that we have in this world is temporary. Our time will come sooner or later. And so the critical question that we have for ourselves is, whatever time we have, what are we doing with it? How are we making the most of every day that we have?” she continued. “Charlie Kirk, every single day, carried out his mission motivated by his faith … and his unwavering dedication to defending our God-given freedoms enshrined in our Constitution and Bill of Rights.”

Gabbard emphasized that the attack was meant to suppress Kirk’s voice and those who shared his worldview, again calling it the “definition of terrorism.”

“They feel that their only recourse is to commit an act of violence, to silence those who oppose them, and to intimidate and terrorize others into silence. This is the definition of terrorism,” she said. “We cannot allow ourselves to be terrorized into silence.”

Kirk, 31, was shot and killed while addressing a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. He leaves behind his wife and two children. President Donald Trump paid tribute to him shortly after the tragedy.

“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” Trump wrote. “No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

The tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk has been seared into the public consciousness. It is an act so violent, so brazen, that it forces every decent human being to pause and reflect.

And it got me thinking: Baruch Hashem, in our frum community, we do not see physical assassinations. Guns are not drawn. Shots are not fired.

But let us not fool ourselves. We are not free of blood on our hands. We have our own form of assassination, and it is one that is all too common.

I am talking about character assassination.

It is a plague that has infected certain corners of our community. If we don’t like a person, if their hashkafah doesn’t align neatly with ours, if their psak isn’t the one we’d prefer, if their bais din doesn’t rule in our favor, we don’t simply disagree. We assassinate. We take a scalpel to their reputation. We whisper in the shadows, we spread sly insinuations, we post venom under the cover of anonymity, and we slash apart another Jew’s dignity with the same cruelty as a bullet.

Let us be honest: in some ways, this kind of murder is even more insidious. A physical assassination is obvious, horrific, undeniable. But a character assassination is slow, corrosive, and often justified under the guise of “concern for the community” or “l’sheim Shomayim.” Lashon hara is dressed up as responsibility, rechilus parades as truth-seeking, and before long, good people’s names are lying in tatters on the floor.

I cannot count how many times I have seen this play out. Someone stands for a different approach in chinuch, and suddenly he is a “dangerous innovator.” A rov rules a certain way in halacha, and within hours, the “knowledgeable” chatterers have branded him “ignorant” or “reckless.” A member of a bais din issues an unpopular decision, and people act as though they are now licensed to destroy his reputation for life. We pounce with glee. We circulate half-truths and innuendo until the victim is crushed beneath the weight of communal disdain.

And all of it is done, of course, in the name of frumkeit. Of course.

This, my friends, is nothing less than assassination. The Torah teaches us that malbin pnei chaveiro b’rabim—to shame someone in public—is akin to spilling blood. The comparison is not poetic; it is precise. When you kill a man’s character, when you erase his reputation, you may leave him walking, but you have bled his soul dry.

So no, baruch Hashem, we don’t have assassins lurking with rifles in our shuls. But make no mistake, we have assassinations. We allow it, we tolerate it, and sometimes we allow people in our own communities to even cheer it on. And the damage is no less devastating. Families are shattered. Careers are destroyed. Talmidei chachomim are defamed. Rabbonim, even gedolim, are humiliated. And Klal Yisroel is weakened.

And I must ask: How did we get here? When did our community become so quick to destroy? When did our zeal for the emes morph into a license for cruelty? When did the ruach hatumah of cancel culture seep into our own ranks, turning every minor disagreement into an excuse for major character destruction?

We cry out when outsiders speak against us. We rally when the world mocks our way of life. But inside our own walls, we commit the very violence we decry. The assassination of character has become a national pastime, and it is tearing us apart from within.

It is time to call this out for what it is. It is time for us to stop excusing it, stop cloaking it in noble language, stop pretending it’s anything less than spiritual murder. And it is time for each of us to take responsibility.

Because every time a Yid indulges in character assassination, they desecrate Hashem’s Name. And every time they hold back, every time they protect another Yid’s dignity, they bring kavod Shamayim into this world.

So let us not congratulate ourselves that in our circles, boruch Hashem, there are no assassinations. There are. They just don’t leave bodies in the street. They leave hearts crushed, reputations obliterated, and neshamos broken.

The murder of Charlie Kirk is a reminder of the depths to which society can sink when hatred takes over. But it should also be a mirror for us to look into, honestly and painfully, at the kind of assassination that we have normalized. And perhaps this Elul and these Yomim Noraim, we can commit ourselves to ending this plague, before it claims its next victim.

Signed,

A. S.

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{Matzav.com}

On the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the Abraham Accords, President Isaac Herzog welcomed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Yerushalayim today. Rubio arrived in Israel as part of a diplomatic visit, and the two leaders met at the President’s Residence in Yerushalayim.

During their discussions, Herzog emphasized the urgent matter of securing the return of the hostages and highlighted the need to continue striving for stability and peace across the region.

Following their private talks, Herzog and Rubio made short statements to the press before moving on to a broader bilateral session with their teams.

President Herzog expressed his appreciation, telling Rubio: “Mr. Secretary, we’re very happy to have you in Israel. I especially want to mention that today, exactly today is five years to the signing of the Abraham Accords on the White House Lawn. That was a very important historic moment in the history of the Middle East, when agreements that were brokered under the auspices of President Donald Trump, as part of his great legacy to bring peace to the Middle East and to the world, were signed between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the representatives of the Kingdom of Morocco, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. Mr. Secretary, we bless those agreements every day. They’ve brought enormous change to everybody’s lives in the Middle East, and these allies that signed the agreement, despite all the storms of the Middle East, have kept these agreements going, and it is very important to upgrade and enhance and foster and bring more partners to these agreements.”

He went on to add, “I want to thank all the partners of the agreements and of course, we are most grateful to the United States of America for being there always in times of war and in times of peace, thank you.”

Secretary Rubio, in turn, reflected on the timing of his visit, saying: “Thank you, Mr. President, I think it’s appropriate we’re here on the fifth anniversary of that historic accord. Imagine, despite the difficulties the region has confronted over the last few years, how much more difficult they would have been had the Abraham Accords not been in place, and we’re obviously incredibly grateful as well just from the perspective of the United States to Morocco and Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. They’re also strong partners of ours on a bilateral basis, not to mention as part of this agreement.”

He continued, “As you said, not only does this agreement with these existing partners need to continue to be strengthened and built upon, but it needs to be expanded. There are other countries that have expressed an interest in being a part of this — and one of the great promises of the era is the ability, under President Trump’s second term, to be able to build upon the foundation of the Abraham Accords and expand it to more countries who want to join in something like this. And so it’s also part of our focus. But we are very grateful to our partners and to those who are part of those accords now and grateful to be here today on the fifth anniversary of it to remind us the progress that was made and the opportunities that lie ahead.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio stood together this afternoon at the Prime Minister’s Office in Yerushalayim, issuing a joint statement after their high-level discussions. Their talks focused on the ongoing war in Gaza, the fate of the hostages, and the continued confrontation with Iran.

Netanyahu began by welcoming Rubio, saying: “Your visit to the eternal capital is a strong demonstration of the strength of the bond between our countries. Iran continues to shout ‘Death to America’ and ‘Death to Israel,’ but these threats are neutralized thanks to our joint determination and Trump’s decision to strike its nuclear facilities. It was a message to the entire world that America acts to protect its interests and those of its allies.” He further declared, “Israel has no better ally than America.”

The prime minister went on: “President Trump told me: ‘Remember October 7th,’ and we remember. We remember the hostages, are committed to bringing them all back, and appreciate your help. We remember Hamas and know we must defeat them. They don’t belong there. Your visit is a message that the U.S. stands with Israel, against medieval lies, the rise of antisemitism in the world, and weak governments that increase pressure on us because they crumble under pressure themselves.”

Addressing reports about Israel’s recent actions in Doha, Netanyahu stressed that the move was entirely Israeli-led. “The decision to strike the terrorist leadership there was completely independent. It was made by us, managed by us, and we take full responsibility—because terrorists cannot have safe haven. We did it ourselves. We sent a message to the terrorists: you can flee, but you cannot hide. The strike did not fail; the message was clear: we stripped them of immunity. I do not accept the claim that the operation failed.”

Speaking about the current battles in Gaza, Netanyahu explained: “We do not demolish buildings to frighten people; these are Hamas strongholds. We tell civilians to evacuate, but Hamas shoots them in the legs to keep them there as human shields. The world condemns Israel incorrectly, but we will continue to do everything possible to remove civilians from danger zones, free all the hostages, and ensure Hamas is destroyed.”

Rubio also addressed the Gaza crisis and Qatar’s involvement: “We are focused on the role Qatar can play now to help release the hostages and create a better future for the residents of Gaza, as long as Hamas and the hostages remain there. At the end of the day, Hamas exists, there are 48 hostages, and we remain focused on what can be done next. We have good relations with our partners in the Gulf, and we are talking to them.”

The senator was clear about the hostage issue: “Every hostage needs to be home immediately,” he said, insisting that “Hamas cannot threaten the security of Israel or the world.”

When it came to Iran, Rubio laid out the dangers: “We discussed Iran and its desire to acquire nuclear weapons and missiles, which pose a threat to Israel, the United States, the Gulf states, and Europe. A nuclear Iran with missiles is an unacceptable risk to the entire world. We encourage the snap-back process initiated by the Europeans and urge them to continue; that is what is needed.”

Netanyahu also paused to honor Charlie Kirk, the American activist who was murdered: “Kirk was an extraordinary friend of Israel. He saw our struggle as a partner and believed in freedoms and shared values. There were assassination attempts against Trump, attempts against me—this is a shared problem for America and Israel, challenged by extreme violence.”

Concluding the press event, Netanyahu was asked how Israel would respond if the United Nations were to push forward unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. His answer was straightforward: “If unilateral steps are taken, we will respond with unilateral steps of our own.”

{Matzav.com}

Hamas is reportedly bracing itself for the IDF’s anticipated ground entry into Gaza City, moving some hostages out of underground tunnels and into above-ground locations in an attempt to complicate the battle, Kan Reshet Bet reported Monday morning.

Arab sources inside Gaza indicated that certain captives are being kept inside civilian residences, while others have been placed in makeshift tents.

Additional reports said Hamas has tapped a group of high-ranking operatives to direct the fighting once the IDF pushes deeper. According to those sources, the four men given authority are Az al-Din Haddad, who commands the group’s military wing; Raed Saad, responsible for operations; Mohammed Odeh, overseeing intelligence; and Mahanad Rajab, a key commander in the Gaza Brigade tied to a powerful clan with deep Hamas loyalties in both Shejaiya and Tuffah.

Earlier in the day, Merav, the mother of captive Guy Gilboa-Dalal, told Galei Tzahal (IDF Radio) that her son is currently being kept on the surface in Gaza and is being exploited as a “human shield.”

“I was informed that Guy is being held alone above ground in Gaza, serving as a human shield,” she said. “Don’t try to question me further – there are many things I want to say, but I’m holding back out of concern for my son’s safety. When he comes home, maybe I’ll scream louder, maybe I’ll shake things up more.”

{Matzav.com}

The BBC has ruled that one of its presenters violated editorial guidelines by calling Hamas a “terror group” during a June 15 broadcast.

British newspaper The Telegraph reported on Sept. 11 that the corporation’s executive complaints unit (ECU) ruled that it was wrong to use the phrase to describe the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. Hamas is responsible for leading the Oct. 7, 2023 cross-border invasion of southern Israel and many other acts of violence against Israeli civilians over decades.

According to the ECU, the British public broadcaster does not brand organizations as “terror” or “terrorist” groups because of “due accuracy and impartiality” and instead reports that they are designated as such by third parties.

BBC external sign, London, England. Photo by Peter Dazeley/Getty Images.
Hamas is a proscribed terrorist organization under U.K. law.

The ECU added that the incident was “reported to the management of BBC News and discussed with the editorial team responsible.”

Less than two weeks after the Oct. 7 attack, Israeli President Isaac Herzog and then-British prime minister Rishi Sunak agreed that the BBC should label Hamas as terrorists.

“We are dealing with one of the worst terrorist organizations in the world,” the president told Sunak in Jerusalem, calling the broadcaster’s policy “a distortion of facts.”

“I know that in modern democracies, like ours and yours, you can’t interfere per se, but since the BBC has a certain linkage and is known as British all over the world, there has to be an outcry for it to be corrected, and that Hamas will be defined as a terrorist organization there as well,” said Herzog. “What else do they need to see to understand that this is an atrocious terror organization?”

Sunak responded that “we should call it what it is—an act of terrorism perpetrated by an evil terrorist organization, Hamas.”

A prominent media watchdog two week ago accused BBC Arabic of being “sloppy, reckless” and lacking in judgment after it platformed a Palestinian pundit who the broadcaster knew had celebrated Adolf Hitler and the killing of Jews.

The Telegraph on Sept. 6 quoted a spokesperson for the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis (CAMERA) saying this in connection with a July broadcast on BBC Arabic where the journalist, Samer Elzaenen, was quoted as an eyewitness from Gaza.

He is quoted as saying that Israel has a “starvation” policy aimed at “genocide and takeover,” according to the report.

A BBC spokesperson told the Telegraph that the BBC “should not have used” Elzaenen as a source. JNS

{Matzav.com}

President Trump warned on Monday morning that New York could lose federal dollars following Governor Kathy Hochul’s unexpected decision to throw her support behind socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani for mayor.

“Governor Kathy Hochul of New York has Endorsed [sic] the ‘Liddle Communist,’ Zohran Mamdani, running for Mayor of New York,” Trump posted online. “This is a rather shocking development, and a very bad one for New York City.”

“How can such a thing happen?” he continued. “Washington will be watching this situation very closely. No reason to be sending good money after bad!”

Hochul’s dramatic endorsement — after staying silent for months about the mayoral race — came to light Sunday night in The Post, just before her opinion piece appeared in the New York Times explaining her choice.

“In the past few months, I’ve had frank conversations with him. We’ve had our disagreements,” Hochul admitted.

“But in our conversations, I heard a leader who shares my commitment to a New York where children can grow up safe in their neighborhoods and where opportunity is within reach for every family. I heard a leader who is focused on making New York City affordable — a goal I enthusiastically support,” she wrote.

Her support represents a significant breakthrough for Mamdani, who has battled to win over the Democratic establishment despite capturing the party’s nomination back in June.

Even now, top figures like State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have not announced any endorsement of the Queens legislator.

It remains to be seen whether Hochul’s backing will open the door for those leaders to rally around Mamdani.

Trump’s reaction arrived only days after he remarked that Mamdani, the proudly DSA-backed candidate, seemed poised to dominate the contest against former Governor Andrew Cuomo, current Mayor Eric Adams, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa.

“I’m not looking at the polls too carefully, but it would look like he’s going to win,” Trump told “Fox & Friends” last Friday. “And that’s a rebellion.”

{Matzav.com}

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