Matzav

Prominent election analyst Nate Silver described the upcoming presidential race as a “pure toss-up” on Sunday, suggesting that former President Donald Trump holds a slight advantage over Vice President Kamala Harris in his latest projections.

According to Silver’s model, Trump has a 51.5% likelihood of securing the Electoral College, while Harris stands at 48.1%, as detailed in a Substack post on Sunday morning, according to Mediate.

Silver tweeted on Sunday, “[New York Times] swing state polls good for Harris but not great. Morning Consult swing state polls good for Trump but not great.” He concluded with, “It’s a pure toss-up.”

The Times/Siena College swing state poll indicated that the two candidates are neck and neck in the seven battleground states just two days before Election Day.

Harris holds narrow leads in Nevada, North Carolina, Georgia, and Wisconsin, while Trump has a more noticeable advantage in Arizona. The two candidates are effectively tied in Michigan and Pennsylvania.

The Morning Consult poll indicates that Trump has very slight leads in North Carolina, Georgia, and Wisconsin, with a tie in both Arizona and Pennsylvania, as reported by Forbes.

This latest round of polling follows the Des Moines Register’s revelation of surprising data from renowned pollster J. Ann Selzer, showing Harris leading Trump in Iowa by 47% to 44% in a state that typically leans Republican.

Silver remarked that the Selzer poll “probably won’t matter” in influencing the ultimate outcome of the presidency. However, he did acknowledge that supporters of Harris might find the unexpected result encouraging.

“I think Harris voters are reasonable in rejoicing over the Selzer survey,” Silver noted, according to Mediaite.

“At the very least, it clinches the case that there will be plenty of numbers from high-quality pollsters in the final batch of polls that support a Harris victory — along with roughly as many that imply a Trump win.”

He added, “If Trump had ‘momentum’ in October, it has now petered out in November. And we will very likely go into Tuesday night with the race being truly a toss-up, not leaning or tilting toward Trump.”

In the national polling average that Silver released on Sunday morning, Harris was ahead of Trump, 48.5% to 47.6%. However, he cautioned that his model places less emphasis on national polls at this point.

In swing states such as Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada, Silver’s polling average gives a slight advantage to Trump, while Harris maintains a narrow lead in Michigan and Wisconsin.

{Matzav.com}

Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris reaffirmed her stance on advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza and a deal for the release of hostages, along with her support for a two-state solution.

Harris made these statements during a campaign event in Michigan, just two days ahead of the upcoming election on Tuesday. She remarked, “On the subject of Gaza, I have been very clear, the level of death of innocent Palestinians is unconscionable.”

She continued, “We need to end the war, and we need to get the hostages out. And as president of the United States, I will do everything in my power to achieve that end, and a two-state solution where Palestinians will have the right to self-determination and security and stability in the region.”

The Vice President has consistently emphasized her belief that the conflict in Gaza must conclude, and that a resolution for the safe return of hostages is necessary.

In prior negotiation attempts, the United States had been advocating for a framework concerning a ceasefire and a hostage release agreement, which President Joe Biden initially proposed in May. However, Hamas has continually rejected this framework as well as other suggestions put forward.

Recently, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri reiterated that any potential agreement must encompass a complete withdrawal of Israeli military forces from Gaza.

{Matzav.com}

In a unique development just days before the U.S. presidential election, the zekan roshei hayeshivos in America, Maran Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva of Philadelphia and senior member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel of America, extended his bracha for the re-election of President Donald Trump.

In a recording obtained by Matzav.com, Rav Shmuel is heard offering his bracha during a conversation with his close talmid and gabbai, Rav Leizer Weinman.

“Blessing to President Trump that he’ll win the election,” Rav Shmuel is heard saying.

“Who?”

“President Trump.”

Listen to the recording here:

This rare public endorsement reflects the vested interest of many in the Torah community regarding the outcome of the election and its implications.

Despite the rosh yeshiva’s notable recovery from various health challenges, tefillos continue for Shmuel ben Itta Ettil, as the Torah world davens for his continued strength and full return to health.

{Matzav.com}

On Sunday, a court partially lifted a gag order on a high-profile case involving suspected leaks of classified information by someone linked to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, revealing the identity of the main suspect and some other details.

Eli Feldstein, who has been working closely with the Prime Minister’s Office, is now accused of sharing sensitive national security information with European media outlets. This information was disclosed in a ruling by Menahem Mizrahi, the head of the Rishon Lezion Magistrate Court.

While the identities of three additional suspects are still under wraps, the court did confirm their ties to the defense sector.

The court stated, “The investigation began after significant suspicions arose in the Shin Bet and IDF — including as a result of media publications — that secret and sensitive intelligence information was taken from the IDF and removed illegally, sparking concerns of serious harm to national security and a danger to the sources of the information.” The court added, “As a result, damage could have been done to the ability of defense bodies to achieve the goal of freeing the hostages [held in Gaza].”

Prime Minister Netanyahu, in recent days, has sought to distance himself from this scandal. He has publicly claimed that no one from his office was arrested or being investigated, pushing back against critics who accused him of politically benefiting from the leaks. Despite this, he had called for the gag order to be lifted.

Multiple reports indicate that Feldstein had been effectively functioning as a PMO employee for the past year, frequently appearing in Netanyahu’s inner circle. Although technically employed by the PMO’s director-general, he lacked the necessary security clearance due to failing a polygraph test. Nonetheless, he maintained close contact with Netanyahu, as reported by Kan news.

The leaked materials were said to have been used in an article by the London-based Jewish Chronicle, which was later discredited and retracted. The article alleged Hamas had a plan to move hostages from Gaza into Egypt. Another report by Germany’s Bild claimed that Hamas was using hostage negotiations to psychologically manipulate Israel.

Israeli media and analysts viewed these articles with skepticism, suggesting they aligned too conveniently with Netanyahu’s negotiating stance, seemingly absolving him of blame for the stalled talks.

The case became public knowledge on Friday, four days after Feldstein’s early morning arrest during a police raid. He remains in custody, with a court hearing scheduled for Tuesday.

According to Ynet, investigators are exploring several aspects: the leak of classified documents, unauthorized access by an adviser without security clearance, mishandling of classified materials, and the use of such documents to sway public opinion on a potential hostage deal.

If proven guilty, some suspects could face up to 15 years in prison. Feldstein, aged 32, previously served as an officer in the IDF’s spokesperson unit, handling communications for the religious Netzah Yehuda battalion and the West Bank Division. He was also the first Orthodox operations officer in the IDF Spokesman’s unit, gaining recognition for his groundbreaking role.

After leaving the military, Feldstein briefly worked for Itamar Ben Gvir, head of Otzma Yehudit and now the national security minister.

While the PMO did not deny that a document was leaked, it distanced Netanyahu from the affair, claiming, “The spokesperson never participated in security discussions, was not exposed to or receive classified information, and did not take part in secret visits.”

“The published document never came to the Prime Minister’s Office from the IDF Military Intelligence Directorate, and the prime minister learned about it from the media,” the PMO stated.

In early September, Bild published a report citing a document allegedly captured in Gaza, suggesting Hamas prioritized rebuilding its military over easing civilian suffering during ceasefire negotiations. The document, dated spring 2024, was reportedly found on a computer linked to then-Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

The IDF initiated an investigation, clarifying that the document was discovered months earlier in Gaza and was authored by a mid-level Hamas officer, not Sinwar.

The PMO dismissed allegations that the Bild article had compromised Israel’s security or the hostage negotiations, calling them “ridiculous.”

Regarding a debunked Jewish Chronicle article from September 5 titled “Sinwar’s secret plan to ‘smuggle hostages to Iran,’” the IDF refuted claims of such a document’s existence.

Following concerns over the article’s accuracy, the Jewish Chronicle announced it had terminated the writer responsible and removed his articles from its website.

Reacting to the gag order’s partial lifting, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid accused Netanyahu of either incompetence or complicity in a grave security breach. “Netanyahu’s defense is that he has no influence or control over the bodies he leads. If that’s true, he’s ineligible, he’s not qualified to lead the State of Israel in the most difficult war in its history,” Lapid declared, suggesting the investigation should probe whether Netanyahu had a direct role in the leaks.

“If he did not know that his close aides were stealing documents, operating spies within the IDF, forging documents, exposing intelligence sources and passing secret documents to foreign newspapers in order to stop the hostage deal, then what does he know?” he asked.

Benny Gantz, leader of the National Unity party and a former war cabinet member, said the incident substantiated his earlier claims that political motives were interfering with security discussions. “Contrary to the impression they are trying to create in the Prime Minister’s Office, this is not suspicion of a leak, but of state secrets being profiteered for political purposes,” he said.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum criticized those close to Netanyahu for allegedly endangering national security to derail the hostage recovery efforts. Their statement accused the government of abandoning citizens held hostage and attempting to manipulate public opinion against their return.

On social media, Feldstein’s sister defended him, portraying him as a dedicated worker with a “pure heart,” and revealing his week-long detention by the Shin Bet.

A source close to Feldstein told Channel 12 that Feldstein had been loyal to Netanyahu but felt betrayed. “He worked for Netanyahu and was an adviser to him over the past year and a half. He has dedicated his life to the prime minister and would endanger himself for him. The moment [the scandal] erupted, Netanyahu threw him under the bus and is even lying, saying he doesn’t work for him,” the source said.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Attorney Nathan Lewin, recognized as one of the top lawyers in Washington for three decades, shared his insights with Arutz Sheva regarding the forthcoming US elections and his backing of former President Donald Trump.

In a statement, Attorney Lewin expressed his aspiration for a significant victory for Trump in the upcoming elections, stating, “Donald Trump will win a landslide election in the United States and that’s going to make a big difference in terms of what Israel can do. I personally am a great believer and supporter of Bibi Netanyahu, whom I represented when they were first talking about accusing him criminally. I presented the argument on behalf of Netanyahu to the prosecutor, but he and his group of almost 30 supporters decided to prosecute Netanyahu. It was a really false prosecution and now the court in Israel has told the prosecution that they should drop that case, exactly because it is ridiculous to charge a politician with being bribed by getting favorable publicity.”

Lewin further stated, “A Netanyahu fan even before then and I think he has done a very good job and is very powerful in terms of making sure that Israel can not only survive but be victorious. I think that would be magnificent, and in addition to Donald Trump and Bibi Netanyahu, I would like to see David Friedman as part of the team, because he was very much involved in efforts that I made in litigation to get the rights of an American citizen born in Jerusalem to get an American passport that says that that person was born in Israel and not in some international city, which is not part of Israel. Donald Trump, at the urging of various people, but also using his own instincts, recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, moved the embassy to Jerusalem, with David Friedman being very much involved in that.”

Having spent six decades in Washington, Lewin believes that the current state of Israel-US relations stems largely from former President Barack Obama’s policies. He remarked, “The current Israel-US relations are basically the fault of Barack Obama, who decided that he there was too close an alliance between the US and Israel and when he was elected he personally made it publicly clear that the US did not have a Judeo-Christian tradition but was equally Muslim-Christian. I think Barack Obama was a disaster to the US. I think he still controls very much of what goes on in the US, through a man by the name of Joe Biden and the people around Biden.”

Lewin emphasized the importance of voting for the right candidate for Israel, asserting, “It is critical to vote the right candidate for Israel. I think and I hope that Trump will repeat the totally pro-Israel positions he took in his first term. Harris will be not only personally supportive of Palestinian causes, but she will surround herself with a host of people who are enemies of Israel and who want to see Israel essentially destroyed or obliterated. So I think it is an existential duty of every US citizen, certainly those who are Jewish and those who just want to see America survive, to vote for Trump.”

Addressing the issue of antisemitism, Lewin noted, “I feel antisemitism in the US every time I open the newspaper or turn on the television. When I lived in the suburbs of Washington there was an occasion or two when walking in the street, that a neighbor would yell out some antisemitic curses, but I have not encountered any physical disability or attack in the suburbs of Washington. Generally, I wear a hat. I brought a very important lawsuit on behalf of a psychologist in the Air Force who was ordered to remove his kippa [head covering]. That lawsuit in Washington went up to the Supreme Court of the United States, I lost that case in the Supreme Court, but because there was a legislative effort headed by a very important and magnificent Congressman called Steven Solarz, who spearheaded a bill that recognizes the right to wear a neat and conservative article of clothing with a military uniform and that’s now federal law.”

In closing, Lewin reflected on his connection to Israel, saying, “I come to Israel, I enjoy Jerusalem. Now because of my age I am much more limited than I used to be. I have a grandson learning in Yeshiva in Gush Etzion and a granddaughter in the army. I am trying to get to the Gush to enjoy some of the shiurim.”

Foreign Minister Yisroel Katz officially declared on Monday morning that Israel is ending the 1967 agreement with UNRWA, the United Nations agency responsible for “Palestinian refugees.” This agreement had previously governed the relationship between Israel and UNRWA.

This decision follows the Knesset’s recent approval of legislation to cease UNRWA’s operations in Israel.

Minister Katz stated, “UNRWA – the organization whose employees participated in the October 7 massacre and many of whose employees are Hamas operatives – is part of the problem in the Gaza Strip and not part of the solution.”

He further explained, “The UN received countless reports detailing how Hamas operatives were employed by UNRWA and how its facilities were exploited for terrorist activities, yet no action was taken. Additionally, UNRWA disregarded the UN’s own recommendations from the Colonna report.”

Katz also argued against the notion that UNRWA is indispensable, saying, “Don’t believe those who tell you that there is no substitute for UNRWA. The vast majority of humanitarian aid is already provided through other organizations, with only 13 percent routed through UNRWA. Israel will comply with international law and continue to facilitate humanitarian aid to Gaza in a manner that ensures the safety of Israeli citizens.”

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, commented on the matter, stating, “Following the legislation on UNRWA, we officially informed the President of the General Assembly about the termination of cooperation with the organization. Despite clear evidence we presented to the UN about Hamas’s infiltration into UNRWA, no measures were taken.”

Danon reiterated, “As I have emphasized several times, UNRWA is controlled by Hamas in Gaza. Israel will collaborate with humanitarian organizations, but not with those that support terrorism against the State of Israel.”

The legislation to ban UNRWA’s activities in Israel passed in the Knesset with a significant majority, with 92 out of 120 Members of Knesset voting in favor. Only 10 MKs opposed the bills, while opposition parties such as National Unity, Yisrael Beytenu, and Yesh Atid supported the legislation. The Democrats party chose to abstain.

The initial approval for these bills was granted in July.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini responded to the Knesset’s decision, describing it as “unprecedented and setting a dangerous precedent.” He claimed it “opposes the UN Charter and violates the State of Israel’s obligations under international law.”

Lazzarini further accused Israel of conducting an ongoing campaign to undermine UNRWA’s role in providing assistance and services to Palestinian refugees.

UNRWA has faced long-standing criticism for its ties to Hamas, with scrutiny intensifying after it was revealed that its workers were directly involved in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.

In January, Israel disclosed that UNRWA personnel were implicated in the October 7 attacks, presenting evidence of their involvement in the assault on Kibbutz Be’eri, where 97 people were killed. The dossier showed that UNRWA staff participated in the massacre, distributed ammunition, and kidnapped a woman.

{Matzav.com}

New York City’s mayor is encouraging residents to shorten their showers, repair leaking faucets, and adopt other water-saving practices. This call for conservation comes as the city declared a drought watch today following an unusually dry October, which has affected much of the United States.

A drought watch is the initial of three potential levels for implementing water-saving measures. Mayor Eric Adams emphasized this in a social media video, framing it as a proactive measure to prevent a more serious water shortage in the nation’s largest city. “Mother Nature is in charge, and so we must make sure we adjust,” said Adams, a Democrat.

He directed all city agencies to prepare for the execution of their water conservation strategies. The mayor urged the public to contribute by, for instance, shutting off water while brushing their teeth and opting to sweep sidewalks rather than using a hose.

Additionally, the mayor called on residents to report any open fire hydrants and leaks in the streets. This plea follows the recent repair of a leaking hydrant in Brooklyn that was supplying water to a makeshift goldfish pond on the sidewalk.

Last month, only 0.01 inches (0.02 cm) of rain fell in Central Park, which typically averages about 4.4 inches (11.2 cm) of rain in October, according to National Weather Service data. Rohit Aggarwala, the City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner, stated that it was the driest October recorded in over 150 years.

Adding to the city’s water issues, repairs are being conducted on a significant, leaking aqueduct that delivers water from the Catskill region, forcing residents to depend more on reservoirs located in the northern suburbs. The northern suburbs received only 0.81 inches (2 cm) of rain last month, roughly one-fifth of the typical rainfall for October, as noted in a release from the mayor’s office.

On average, New York City consumes about 1.1 billion gallons (4.2 billion liters) of water each day, which is approximately 35% less than the peak usage recorded in 1979. The city credits this reduction to advancements in leak detection and repair.

Nearly half of the United States was experiencing flash drought conditions last month, characterized by rapid drying due to low precipitation and unusually high temperatures. The Northeast region ended the month with a notably warm Halloween, as temperatures soared into the high 70s and low 80s (24 to 28 Celsius) from New York to Maine.

Experts linked the flash drought to a weather pattern that prevented moisture from migrating northward from the Gulf of Mexico. The dry spell also led to shipping restrictions on the Mississippi River and contributed to wildfires across the Midwest and the East Coast.

Yesterday, the National Weather Service maintained warnings about heightened fire risks in various areas, including Connecticut, where a firefighter tragically lost their life last month while combating a prolonged brush fire that was reportedly ignited by an inadequately extinguished campfire.

{Matzav.com}

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Arvin Nathaniel Ghahremani, a 20-year-old Jewish Iranian, has been executed by Iran despite extensive efforts to save him.

Ghahremani had been sentenced to death under Iran’s retributive justice system, known as “Qisas,” after being convicted of killing Amir Shokri in a brawl two years ago. Ghahremani csaid that he acted in self-defense when Shokri attacked him with a knife.

His execution had been postponed following a last-minute stay. This temporary reprieve came after significant efforts from his family, international human rights organizations, and Jewish-Iranian lawyers in the U.S., who worked tirelessly to have his sentence commuted.

Appeals were made to Shokri’s family to forgive Ghahremani, which under Iranian law could have spared him from execution.

The Iranian legal system allows the family of the deceased to forgive the perpetrator, often in exchange for a substantial monetary settlement. However, this forgiveness was not granted in Ghahremani’s case.

Despite widespread advocacy, including international pleas to countries like Germany and Russia, Ghahremani was ultimately executed.

His execution underscores ongoing concerns about the application of the death penalty in Iran, particularly its discriminatory aspects. According to Iranian law, Qisas is enforced if a non-Muslim kills a Muslim, but if a Muslim kills a non-Muslim, the law does not impose the death penalty. This has been criticized as discriminatory against minority groups.

Iran has executed hundreds of people this year alone, with Amnesty International reporting 853 executions in 2023—the highest total since 2015.

{Matzav.com}

In defiance of American cautions against retaliation on Israel following its recent strikes on Iran, Iranian authorities are indicating plans for a multifaceted counterattack using enhanced weaponry, according to Iranian and Arab sources familiar with the strategy, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Iran has informed Arab representatives that its regular military forces will participate in the response since four soldiers and one civilian were killed in the Israeli attacks, as noted by Iranian and Arab officials.

Though this does not imply an immediate deployment of ground forces, the involvement of Iran’s conventional military suggests the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) may not be the sole entity involved in these plans.

An Egyptian official stated that Iran privately communicated its intent to deliver a “strong and complex” response.

“Our military lost people, so they need to respond,” said an Iranian official cited by The Wall Street Journal. He hinted that Iran might leverage Iraqi territory in its retaliation and is anticipated to target Israeli military sites “but much more aggressively than last time.”

Iran reportedly does not plan to rely solely on missiles and drones, as it has in past incidents. Any missiles deployed in this response would carry significantly more powerful warheads, according to Iranian and Arab officials. In its last confrontation with Israel on October 1, Iran mainly used Emad and Ghadr missiles, alongside its more sophisticated Kheibar Shekan and Fattah missiles.

The upcoming US election is another factor Iran is considering, as noted by an Iranian official. Iran seeks to avoid directly affecting the election and is timing its response to occur after Tuesday’s voting but before the inauguration of a new president in January.

Officials from Egypt, Bahrain, and Oman shared that Iranian diplomats briefed them on these plans following both public and private US warnings aimed at deterring escalation.

Reports last week stated that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has directed the Supreme National Security Council to prepare an attack on Israel.

According to The New York Times, Khamenei’s decision to act followed his review of a comprehensive report from top military officials detailing the damage inflicted on Iran’s missile manufacturing sites, air defense systems near Tehran, essential energy facilities, and a significant southern port.

An Israeli military source subsequently told CNN that Israel is maintaining a “high level of readiness” for any Iranian retaliation.

On Thursday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin communicated with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, “reaffirming that the United States remains fully prepared to defend US personnel, Israel, and partners across the region against threats from Iran and Iran-backed proxy groups,” as stated by the Pentagon.

Yesterday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the arrival of B-52 Stratofortress bombers from the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base to the Middle East.

This announcement from CENTCOM followed the Pentagon’s statement on Friday that Secretary Austin would be deploying additional bomber aircraft, fighter jets, and more Navy vessels to the Middle East to reinforce the American presence in the area.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Watch former President Trump’s full remarks at his North Carolina rally, ahead of election day on Tuesday.

With the US Presidential Election coming up on Tuesday, the rosh yeshiva of the Kissei Rachamim Yeshiva, Rav Meir Mazuz, called for Tefillos for a victory for former President Trump.

During his weekly shiur, Rav Mazuz said: “We must daven that Trump wins these elections. Even though Trump is from Germany, he has good attributes and he loves Israel.”

Rav Mazuz mentioned Trump’s Jewish family members, saying: “He has a grandson or granddaughter who’s Jewish. And there’s a picture of him taking his grandson on Shabbat to the Beit Knesset before Mincha, and he encourages and blesses him.”

{Matzav.com} 

A Lebanese terrorist with Canadian citizenship, Dr. Hassan Diab, who was convicted for his role in a bombing attack on a French synagogue which killed 4, accepted a lecture position at a prestigious Canadian university.

Diab was sentenced to life in prison by a French court over his role in the terrorist attack. In the attack, a bomb exploded outside the Rue Copernic synagogue in Paris. Four people were murdered in the attack, including Israeli TV presenter Aliza Shagrir. Twenty others were injured.

Diab fled to Canada following the attack, after being considered the main suspect. In 2008, Diab was arrested in Canada at France’s request. In 2014, following a lengthy legal battle, Diab was extradited to France, but was released to house arrest by the investigating judge. Diab used the opportunity to immediately flee back to Canada.

The trial was then held in absentia, and a court of six judges unanimously found Diab guilty, and sentenced him to life imprisonment.  While an international arrest warrant was issued against him, Diab has not been extradited back to France for a second time.

Despite all of this, Carleton University in Ottawa has invited the terrorist to teach this year, as a lecturer in sociology.

Chagai and Oron Shagrir, the sons of one of Diab’s victims, Aliza Shagrir, called the university’s decision “outrageous.” In a statement, Shagrir’s sons said: “It is outrageous that an academic institution that is supposed to promote values ​​of equality and justice decided to employ a cold-blooded murderer, who was unanimously convicted in a court in France. Apparently carrying out a murderous terrorist act against a Jewish target does not go against the values ​​of Carleton University.”

Israel’s consulate general in Toronto, Canada, Idit Shamir, called the hiring “unconscionable,” writing on X: “Hassan Diab, the terrorist who murdered my friend’s mother, Aliza Shagrir, before his eyes in the 1980 Paris synagogue bombing still lectures at Canada’s @Carleton_U. A French court gave him LIFE for murdering 4 souls & maiming 46. Yet Carlton University rewards him with a teaching position? Every class this convicted terrorist teaches dishonors the lives he destroyed. This isn’t just a failure of justice – it’s spitting on the graves of Jewish victims. Shame on those who enable this.”

{Matzav.com}

A large group of technology employees at the troubled New York Times may opt to stage a walkout on Tuesday if their employment demands are not met by the company.

The potential strike on Election Day could severely disrupt the newspaper’s reporting on the presidential election, following stalled discussions between the involved parties, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

The union’s negotiating team communicated to the Times’ board of directors, urging them to step in, stating, “We have made it clear that we need to reach an agreement before the election in order to avert a strike.”

This action by the Guild, which represents software developers, data scientists, and design professionals at the renowned newspaper, represents a significant test of the union’s strength since its establishment in 2022, according to the report.

As per the union’s information, its members indicated a 95% support for a walkout in September if their demands are not addressed. These demands include job security amidst advancements in AI technology and equitable pay for female and minority union members.

Election Day, especially during a presidential election cycle, typically sees a dramatic increase in readership for news organizations, and a similar trend is anticipated on Tuesday due to the competitive race between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

A representative for the Times expressed dissatisfaction to the Journal, criticizing the union’s deadline as “arbitrary” and suggesting that choosing Election Day “feels both unnecessary and at odds with our mission.”

Nevertheless, the spokesperson assured that the newspaper has “robust plans in place to ensure that we are able to fulfill our mission and serve our readers.”

Since its inception, the Guild has yet to secure a contract, though newspaper officials point out that its members are among the highest earners within the organization, with most enjoying six-figure incomes—averaging about $190,000 in compensation and stock options.

A spokesperson for the Times stated in an email on Sunday, “We look forward to continuing to work with the Tech Guild to reach a fair contract, that takes into account that they are already among the highest paid individual contributors in the Company and journalism is our top priority.”

They added, “We’re in one of the most consequential periods of coverage for our readers.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin is seeking to advance a bill that would criminalize calls by Israeli citizens for international sanctions against the Jewish state, the country’s Ynet news outlet reported over the weekend.

Under the proposed law, which is currently being considered by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara prior to being tabled in the Knesset, offenders could face up to 20 years in prison for public calls for sanctions against “Israel, its leaders, members of the security forces and Israeli citizens.”

The move came after Amos Schocken, the publisher of the Haaretz daily, called Hamas terrorists “freedom fighters” and called for a boycott as a pressure tactic to force the creation of a Palestinian state, in what Levin said was “not the first time that Israeli citizens have acted in this way.”

Several Israeli government ministries and agencies cut their ties with Haaretz following the remarks, vowing not to publish ads in the paper.

Currently, Israeli law allows for the deportation of foreigners who support boycotting the country and denying their entry, while calls for sanctions by citizens of the Jewish state are merely considered a civil offense.

Requesting a memo on the draft law from Baharav-Miara in a letter on Thursday, Levin noted that the Israel Defense Forces “has been at war on several fronts for more than a year, against murderous terrorism, including against the Hamas organization.

“A call to impose sanctions on Israel, its leaders, members of the security forces and Israeli citizens is a blatant violation of a citizen’s most basic duty of loyalty towards his country,” he wrote.

According to the justice minister, calls for boycotts are “tantamount to encouraging and promoting a move whose actual purpose is the denial of Israel’s right to self-defense. This act is all the more serious when committed during an existential war, and while our daughters and sons are being held in inhumane conditions by a murderous terrorist group.”

Levin said he seeks to punish those who “promote or encourage” the imposition of sanctions with ten years in jail, with the possibility of doubling the sentence if the offense was committed during wartime.

Last year, Levin vowed to criminalize the denial of Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 atrocities amid claims by an Arab Israeli lawmaker that the Palestinian terrorist organization didn’t murder Israeli children or rape women.

“I directed officials at the Justice Ministry to formulate a bill that would ban the denial of the massacre and institute severe punishment for those who do so,” the ruling Likud Party minister told local media at the time.

Thousands of Hamas-led terrorists invaded southern Israel from the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 Israelis and wounding thousands more. Terrorists abducted 251 Israelis and foreigners to the Strip as hostages.

(JNS)

The Israel Defense Forces will push the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terror group north of Lebanon’s Litani River even without a ceasefire deal, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu vowed on Sunday night.

“With or without an agreement, the key to restoring peace and security in the north, to return our northern residents to their homes in safety, is to distance Hezbollah beyond the Litani, to strike any attempt to rearm it, and to respond firmly against any action against us,” the prime minister said during a visit to IDF soldiers serving on the Lebanese border.

“Simply put: Enforcement, enforcement, enforcement,” Netanyahu said following a meeting with reservists of the IDF’s 228th Brigade, known as the Northern Nahal. “And cutting off Hezbollah’s oxygen pipeline from Iran through Syria. We are committed to all of this,” the premier added.

On the Jewish state’s northern border, “you see and hear the change in reality—planes in the sky and our heroic fighters on the ground, across the border, eliminating the entire underground terror array that Hezbollah prepared for the invasion of the Galilee and an even larger massacre” than the one in southern communities on Oct. 7, 2023, according to Netanyahu.

“It won’t happen anymore,” Netanyahu vowed.

Israel’s war with Hezbollah could continue for months, Reuters news agency reported on Friday, citing a Lebanese political source linked to the terror group, as well as diplomats familiar with ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire.

A truce proposal drafted by the Biden administration in Washington was shelved due to being “unrealistic,” according to Reuters’ sources. Last week, two U.S. officials were cited as saying on two separate occasions that recent diplomatic talks had yielded “substantive” and “constructive” results.

A leaked draft deal published by Israel’s Kan News public broadcaster on Oct. 30 called for a pullout of all IDF forces from southern Lebanon within seven days, while Hezbollah and other local terrorist organizations are to withdraw from the border area within 60 days after signing.

The leaked draft agreement stated that “Israel and Lebanon recognize the importance of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 to achieving lasting peace and security and commit to taking steps toward its full implementation.”

(JNS)

New York has declared a citywide drought watch as it experiences one of the longest dry streaks on record.

Last month was the driest October since recordkeeping began in 1869, with minimal rain to replenish reservoirs, according to the city’s Department of Environmental Protection.

Mayor Eric Adams is urging New Yorkers to fix leaks, take shorter showers, turn off the tap while brushing teeth and only flush the toilet when necessary amid the historic lack of rain.

“Mother Nature is in charge, and so we must make sure we adjust based on the lack of water and rain we have received,” Adams said in a video message posted on social media Saturday.

A watch is the first of three levels of New York City drought advisories, followed by warning, and emergency. It’s declared when a drought is first developing.

Other water-saving tips called for by city officials include sweeping sidewalks and driveways rather than using a hose; reporting leaky fire hydrants and street leaks; and installing low-flow toilets and shower heads.

An open hydrant can release more than 1,000 gallons per minute, wasting around 1.4 million gallons of drinking water in 24 hours, Adams said. Older-model toilets can use as much as 6 gallons of water per flush.

Many locations in the eastern United States are experiencing dry weather, which is causing drought warnings to expand and creating conditions favorable for wildfires. Washington’s dry streak – among the four longest on record – has reached four weeks. Parts of New York state are in a drought watch, according to the state’s department of environmental conservation.

The need to reduce water usage in New York City is made even more important because of repair work being undertaken on the Delaware Aqueduct to prevent a decades-old, 35-million-gallon-per-day leak under the Hudson River, city officials said Saturday.

During the final phase of construction, increasing amounts of drinking water are being drawn from the Croton Watershed, the city’s oldest upstate water supply.

Just 0.81 inches of rain fell in the watershed area in October, compared with historical averages of 3.81 inches of rain for the month.

New York, America’s most populous city, uses about 1.1 billion gallons of water a day on average, and slightly less during the winter months.

“When every New Yorker makes even small changes, like turning off the tap when washing hands, brushing teeth, and doing dishes, we save millions of gallons by the minute,” Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi said in a Saturday statement.

(c) Washington Post

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pledged yesterday that a future Trump administration would seek to remove fluoride from drinking water as a Day 1 goal, reversing a decades-old intervention widely credited for boosting public health.

“On January 20, the Trump White House will advise all U.S​. water systems to remove fluoride from public water,” Kennedy wrote Saturday on social media, adding a list of medical conditions that he said were associated with fluoride consumption, such as bone fractures and neurodevelopmental disorders. Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, has pledged that Kennedy will be empowered to play a major role overseeing health policy if he is elected.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has long recommended putting fluoride in Americans’ drinking water, hailing it as one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century and citing data that the practice reduces cavities by about 25 percent in children and adults.

“Decades of research and practical experience indicate that fluoride is safe and beneficial to oral health,” Linda Edgar, president of the American Dental Association, said in a statement in August.

The Trump campaign declined to comment on Kennedy’s pledge on fluoride.

“While President Trump has received a variety of policy ideas, he is focused on Tuesday’s election,” spokeswoman Danielle Alvarez said in a statement.

Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The practice of putting fluoride in Americans’ water began in 1945 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. More than 200 million Americans are on fluoridated water systems, according to a 2022 CDC summary.

In 1962, the U.S. Public Health Service recommended adding small amounts of fluoride, a naturally occurring mineral, to drinking water to strengthen teeth and replace minerals lost to routine wear and tear – a decision that helped fuel wild, often baseless allegations about public health officials’ motivations. That resistance was lampooned in the 1964 satirical film, “Dr. Strangelove,” in which the film’s antagonist – a paranoid general – justifies his decision to spark nuclear war by blaming fluoridation, saying it is “the most monstrously conceived and dangerous Communist plot we have ever had to face.”

But it has long been a bipartisan priority on Capitol Hill and around the country.

Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) and Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) introduced legislation in January to further fund the CDC’s oral health agenda, including state fluoridation efforts.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) endorsed fluoride in April as part of her declaration of a statewide “drinking water week.”

“When communities invest in community water fluoridation, there is an average estimated return on investment of $20 in dental treatment costs for every one dollar in most cities,” Ivey wrote in a proclamation.

Some researchers have raised concerns about fluoride’s effects, such as whether the mineral has a harmful effect on developing brains. A study led by researchers at the University of Southern California and published in JAMA Network Open in May suggested that fluoride exposure during pregnancy was linked to an increased risk of childhood neurobehavioral problems.

“[M]ore studies are urgently needed to understand and mitigate the impacts in the entire U.S. population,” Tracy Bastain, a USC associate professor and author of the study, said in a statement in May. Bastain did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Kennedy’s comments.

Other researchers have dismissed the USC study, and public health officials have frequently played down worries about fluoridation of water, saying that some Americans wrongly believe in myths and conspiracy theories about its risks.

Some local lawmakers and communities around the country continue to push back against the practice of putting fluoride in water, and anti-fluoride activists have turned to the courts. In September, a federal judge ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to further regulate fluoride in drinking water, saying there was potential risk to children’s developing brains. The judge noted that his finding “does not conclude with certainty that fluoridated water is injurious to public health.”

Kennedy, who is skeptical of vaccines, pledged to remove fluoride from drinking water as part of his long-shot independent campaign for president. Kennedy suspended his campaign in August and endorsed Trump, becoming one of his top surrogates on the campaign trail.

The Washington Post reported on Thursday that Kennedy is poised to take a major role overseeing food and health agencies in a possible Trump administration, potentially as a White House czar.

Trump has said he is committed to including Kennedy in his administration and will empower him on public health.

“I said focus on health, you can do whatever you want,” Trump told podcaster Joe Rogan last month, reiterating his pledge when speaking to supporters in New York City two days later.

“I’m gonna let him go wild on health. I’m gonna let him go wild on the food. I’m gonna let him go wild on medicines,” Trump said.

(c) Washington Post

On Sunday, former hostage Agam Goldstein released photos from her time in Hamas captivity, along with a message calling to free the remaining hostages.

Goldstein, who was abuducted along with her brother, said:

“Sitting there in the tunnel in Gaza, we were photographed asking to go home. With weary, frightened eyes that had seen the worst the day before and were afraid of what they would see next. Today is 3.11.24, and on this date last year I did not know that in three weeks I would be released, I did not know if I would survive, if I would meet more hostages. I was afraid of what my eyes would see. I did not want to see any more disasters.

Those eyes, which I will never be able to speak all that they have seen. Those eyes which looked every day at the clock, waited, not knowing for what. Those eyes which looked closely at the hostages there. I looked into your eyes and did not know that it would take so long. How can we ever look into your eyes again? What can we say to you? What do you see there? What are they doing to you from the day we parted? Today in my eyes I see you, and then I see people who you are not first in their priorities.

I see you, and then I see your mother fighting for you everywhere she can. I see two worlds and know what you see there. Look me in the eye, the lost and weary ones in the picture, and tell me I’ll have to survive like this for another 51 days. I wouldn’t believe it. And I am angry, for if they had released me a week before, I would have been spared so much. Even a day before.

So what do I say to them? Another 400 days and how much we could have spared them from what their eyes will see. And how much more are we adding to them with every moment of delay and postponement? Look them in the eye, and for how much longer will you ask them to survive like this?” Goldstein concluded.

The photo released was found by the IDF.

{Matzav.com}