Matzav

The Food and Drug Administration has declined to review Moderna’s application for the first mRNA-based flu vaccine, a decision that shocked the company and that comes as the agency plans to tighten federal vaccine approvals.

The nation’s top vaccine regulator, Vinay Prasad, told Moderna that it lacked an “adequate and well-controlled” study, the company said in a news release Tuesday. In a large clinical trial, the vaccine was compared with Fluarix, an approved standard-dose flu vaccine. Prasad’s letter did not detail concerns with the safety or efficacy of the vaccine, which Moderna was aiming to target for adults ages 50 and older.

Moderna President Stephen Hoge said that the company had previously engaged with the FDA on the trial design and that the agency had indicated it would be acceptable.

“We’re trying right now to reach out to the FDA and understand what would be necessary for them to start reviewing the submission,” Hoge said in an interview.

Companies conduct clinical trials with the oversight of the FDA, which offers feedback on the design of the trials. Moderna indicated that in April 2024, the FDA provided feedback saying the agency agreed Moderna’s trial design was “acceptable,” though it recommended that the investigational drug be compared against a higher-dose flu shot for those 65 and older.

Andrew Nixon, a spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement Wednesday that the application was rejected because “the company refused to follow very clear FDA guidance from 2024.”

“Moderna exposed participants aged 65 and over to increased risk of severe illness by giving them a substandard of care against the recommendation of FDA career scientists,” Nixon said. “The most protective flu shots for seniors are a subset of high dose flu shots.”

Last fall, Prasad laid out a stricter approach for federal vaccine approvals, alarming a dozen former FDA leaders who said the change risks undermining the nation’s ability to fight diseases. In a November internal email, Prasad urged the agency to rethink its framework for annual flu shots, examine whether Americans should receive multiple vaccines at the same time and require larger studies to net approval for certain shots.

Moderna has requested a formal meeting with the agency. It said the vaccine has been accepted for review in the European Union, Canada and Australia.

Several vaccine experts said the decision raises questions for vaccine-makers about shifting guidance from the FDA, which could deter future investments in expensive clinical trials.

Jesse Goodman, one of Prasad’s predecessors as head of the agency’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said Moderna’s vaccine appeared “promising.” He questioned why the FDA would not go forward with a full review, identify any gaps in the data and have a public discussion about the vaccines.

MRNA technology was lauded during the covid-19 pandemic for being developed at record speed and saving millions of lives. President Donald Trump in his first term called mRNA vaccines a “modern-day miracle.”

Leaders in the Trump administration’s second term, however, have expressed broader skepticism of mRNA technology, chilling the vaccine industry that has been researching the technology’s possible use for cancer, other diseases and future pandemics. In August, HHS announced the “wind-down” of $500 million in mRNA projects supported by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), the government’s biodefense agency. Last May, the agency pulled funds for Moderna to develop a vaccine against bird flu.

“We’re moving beyond the limitations of mRNA and investing in better solutions,” Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a statement when the mass termination of mRNA projects was announced in August.

A senior FDA official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under ground rules set by HHS, told reporters that Kennedy was not involved in, nor was he informed in advance, of the Moderna decision. The official declined to predict the next steps.

In January, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Moderna’s chief executive, Stéphane Bancel, told Bloomberg TV that the company would stop investing in late-stage vaccine trials that are a crucial part of the approval process.

“You cannot ‍make a return on investment if you don’t have access to the U.S. market,” Bancel said.

Moderna conducted two late-stage, “Phase 3” trials (one of the final steps before seeking drug approval) designed to test the safety and effectiveness of its mRNA flu vaccine, enrolling more than 43,000 adults age 50 or older. In one trial, more than 40,000 participants received either a dose of the experimental mRNA flu vaccine or a standard dose of an existing flu shot. In another, participants received a dose of the mRNA vaccine, a standard shot or a high-dose influenza shot recommended for adults 65 and older.

Moderna said the FDA notified the company of its decision on Feb. 3 in a “refusal to file” letter stating that the company’s application was, “on its face, inadequate for review.”

Refuse-to-file letters are infrequently used by U.S. regulators, according to a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Over a decade, that study found, only 4 percent of nearly 2,500 applications received such letters.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post 

Six Republicans joined Wednesday night with Democrats in the House in voting to end President Donald Trump’s stepped-up tariffs on Canada, rebuking the president in the first of what could be several congressional challenges to his trade policies.

The measure is largely symbolic and is not likely to succeed in overturning tariffs on the major U.S. trading partner, because Trump could veto the resolution if it clears the Senate as well. It would require a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers to override his veto.

But the action showcases the long-standing frustration some congressional Republicans have with Trump’s controversial trade policies, and it’s the latest evidence of the difficulties House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) is having managing his razor-thin majority.

The resolution from Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-New York) would end the “national emergency” underpinning Trump’s tariffs on Canada, which were first announced in February 2025. Wednesday was the first time that the House has considered a challenge to Trump’s tariffs. The Republican-controlled chamber had used procedural moves to preemptively muzzle opposition to the administration’s trade policy since March.

“Will you vote to lower the cost of living for the American families? Or will you keep prices high out of loyalty to one person?” Meeks said in a floor speech ahead of the vote Wednesday afternoon, arguing that the tariffs have pushed costs up for consumers.

The latest prohibition on voting on legislation to challenge Trump’s tariffs expired at the end of January, and Johnson attempted to renew it through July as part of a procedural vote Tuesday night. The House rejected that attempt, opening the controversial policy up for reversals for the first time in nearly a year.

Sixty percent of Americans disapprove of Trump’s increased tariffs, while 37 percent say they approve, according to a February survey from the Pew Research Center.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the House’s action, but the administration has argued that the tariffs are necessary to rebalance trade deficits and incentivize U.S.-based manufacturing, though manufacturing employment has declined since April.

Three House Republicans – Thomas Massie (Kentucky), Don Bacon (Nebraska) and Kevin Kiley (California) – voted with all of the chamber’s Democrats to block the prohibition Tuesday.

The Senate has previously voted to end the administration’s tariffs on multiple occasions, but those efforts couldn’t move forward under the House’s ban on considering such measures.

Most Canadian products that do not qualify for tariff-free treatment under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which Trump signed in his first term, are subject to a 35 percent tariff.

Trump imposed the tariffs that the House disapproved Wednesday in response to what he described as Canada’s failure to prevent the flow of illicit opioids and other drugs into the United States.

But the president’s broader objective with his tariff campaign is boosting domestic manufacturing production and hiring.

The results so far are mixed. Factory output is up about 2.5 percent since Trump returned to the White House, but it remains below levels reached under President Joe Biden.

The number of factory jobs increased in January for the first time in more than a year. But the 5,000-person increase did little to offset the earlier manufacturing shrinkage that defied the president’s “America First” ambitions.

Manufacturing now employs 313,000 fewer Americans than it did three years ago, at the Biden-era peak of 12.9 million in early 2023. Since April, when Trump declared a national emergency over the trade deficit and imposed his historic import taxes, 72,000 factory positions have vanished.

Administration officials insist that the economy this year will surge. Trump has said that tariffs are the key to his promised “Golden Age,” saying they will encourage new investment in manufacturing and provide the federal government with more revenue.

Importers have paid more than $133 billion in Trump’s emergency tariffs, including $2.4 billion on products from Canada, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The president claims that foreigners pay these costs, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claims that overseas manufacturers are absorbing tariff costs to maintain their foothold in the U.S. market.

Most independent assessments disagree, finding that American companies and consumers are paying the price.

“Higher tariffs directly increase the cost of imported goods, raising prices for U.S. consumers and businesses,” the Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday in its latest assessment of the U.S. economy.

Americans are paying 95 percent of the tariffs, while foreign companies swallow the remainder, the independent budget office said.

The CBO analysis echoed the findings of a December study by economists at Harvard University and the University of Chicago, which concluded that 94 percent of the tariffs imposed last year were passed on to U.S. importers.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post 

The Internal Revenue Service improperly shared confidential tax information of thousands of individuals with immigration enforcement officials, according to three people familiar with the situation, appearing to breach a legal fire wall intended to protect taxpayer data.

The erroneous disclosure was only recently discovered, the people said. The IRS is working with officials from the Treasury Department, Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security on the administration’s response.

The IRS confirmed The Washington Post’s reporting in a court filing Wednesday afternoon. Dottie Romo, the tax agency’s chief risk and control officer, wrote in a sworn declaration that the IRS provided confidential taxpayer information even when DHS officials could not provide sufficient data to positively identify a specific individual.

The erroneous disclosure was only recently discovered, the people said. The IRS is working with officials from the Treasury Department, Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security on the administration’s response.

The IRS confirmed The Washington Post’s reporting in a court filing Wednesday afternoon. Dottie Romo, the tax agency’s chief risk and control officer, wrote in a sworn declaration that the IRS provided confidential taxpayer information even when DHS officials could not provide sufficient data to positively identify a specific individual.

But in a controversial decision, Treasury, which oversees the IRS, in April agreed to provide DHS with the names and addresses of individuals the Trump administration believed to be in the country illegally, pursuant to DHS requests.

Federal courts have since blocked the data-sharing arrangement, holding that it violates taxpayers’ rights, though the government appealed those rulings.

Before the agreement was struck down, DHS requested the addresses of 1.2 million individuals from the IRS. The tax agency responded with data on 47,000 individuals, according to court records.

When the IRS shared the addresses with DHS, it also inadvertently disclosed private information for thousands of taxpayers erroneously, a mistake only recently discovered, said the people familiar, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution.

Romo, in her declaration, did not state when the IRS learned of its error. She said the agency notified DHS on Jan. 23, to begin taking steps to “prevent the disclosure or dissemination, and to ensure appropriate disposal, of any data provided to ICE by IRS based on incomplete or insufficient address information.”

She declined to state if the IRS would inform people whose data was illegally disclosed to immigration officials, and said DHS and ICE had agreed to “not inspect, view, use, copy, distribute, rely on, or otherwise act on any return information that has been obtained from or disclosed by IRS” because of the pending litigation.

The affected individuals could be entitled to financial compensation for each time their information was improperly shared. And government officials can personally face stiff civil and criminal penalties for sharing confidential tax information.

Charles Littlejohn, an IRS contractor, pleaded guilty in 2023 to leaking the tax returns of President Donald Trump and other wealthy individuals.

Littlejohn was sentenced to five years in prison. Trump in January sued the IRS for $10 billion in damages related to the Littlejohn leak.

In a statement, a DHS spokesperson said that under the data-sharing agreement, “the government is finally doing what it should have all along.”

“Information sharing across agencies is essential to identify who is in our country, including violent criminals, determine what public safety and terror threats may exist so we can neutralize them, scrub these individuals from voter rolls, and identify what public benefits these aliens are using at taxpayer expense,” the spokesperson said.

There is little evidence that undocumented immigrants have attempted to participate in U.S. elections, nor is there a link between undocumented immigrants and higher levels of crime.

“With the IRS information specifically, DHS plans to focus on enforcing long-neglected criminal laws that apply to illegal aliens,” the DHS spokesperson said.

Treasury and Justice Department spokespeople declined to comment, citing agency policies not to comment on active litigation. The Office of the Deputy Attorney General is monitoring the ongoing litigation, but the office is not making any decisions on the matter, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment publicly.

When the IRS began conversations with DHS over data sharing shortly after Trump returned to the White House, senior IRS employees warned administration officials that the program was likely illegal and could sweep up misidentified people, The Post has reported.

During early meetings on the project, one agency staffer asked immigration authorities how many people with the same name may live in the same state, according to one of the people, illustrating how easy it would be for the Trump administration to inadvertently breach taxpayers’ privacy, including those who are not targets of immigration investigations.

The IRS’s privacy department was largely sidelined from the talks, two of the people said, and its IT department took over implementing the data sharing. That team had largely been taken over by officials from Trump’s U.S. DOGE Service, the White House’s “efficiency” office charged with shrinking the federal government.

Treasury officials justified the data-sharing agreement by arguing immigration enforcement was pursuing individuals who had violated criminal statutes, though immigration violations are generally civil, not criminal.

Under the arrangement, DHS would provide the IRS with the name and address of a taxpayer. The IRS would then cross-reference that information with its confidential databases and confirm the taxpayers’ last known address.

Immigration officials said the procedure was necessary because DHS lacked reliable information to locate individuals the Trump administration wanted to detain and deport, according to numerous IRS and DHS officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter.

“This allegedly unauthorized viewing involves personal information that taxpayers provided to the IRS pursuant to a promise that the IRS would prioritize keeping the information confidential,” Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia wrote in a November order. “A reasonable taxpayer would likely find it highly offensive to discover that the IRS now intends to share that information permissively because it has replaced its promise of confidentiality with a policy of disclosure.”

(c) 2026, The Washington Post 

A senior official connected to US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace initiative said Wednesday that the effort to dismantle Hamas’s military infrastructure in Gaza is moving forward as planned, even as questions persist about the durability of the ceasefire, Ynet reported.

According to the official, claims that the ceasefire is unraveling are unfounded. He pointed to several milestones that have already been achieved, including the release of hostages, the reopening and functioning of the Rafah crossing, and the formation of a technocratic administrative committee that is expected to enter Gaza in the near future.

The next phase, the official explained, centers on completing arrangements for Hamas’s disarmament, a process scheduled to begin in March. Once that stage gets underway, an international stabilization force is anticipated to broaden its footprint inside Gaza.

Addressing a report in The New York Times suggesting that Washington may permit Hamas to keep light weapons, the official clarified that the disarmament plan is structured in phases, with small arms to be handled last. He said Hamas has objected to surrendering its entire arsenal immediately, contending that competing clans in Gaza could attack its members if it disarms all at once.

Under the framework currently taking shape, the first step would involve neutralizing and dismantling tunnels. That would be followed by eliminating weapons production sites, then removing rocket-propelled grenades and mortars, and only afterward addressing small arms, according to Ynet.

The official said the aim is to implement the process through broad agreement in order to balance effectiveness with sustainability. He noted the difficulty of the task, observing that even the Israeli military has not yet succeeded in destroying every tunnel in areas under its control.

On the question of the proposed international stabilization force, the official confirmed that Indonesia has publicly stated it is prepared to send up to 8,000 troops. Several other nations have signaled general support for participating as well. Still, he added, many governments are conditioning their involvement on a clear and binding agreement regarding Hamas’s disarmament before any deployment takes place.

Hamas has consistently rejected calls to lay down its arms, despite Trump’s peace proposal requiring the organization to do so. The group maintains that its weapons serve what it describes as “self-defense against the occupation.”

This week, senior Hamas figure Khaled Mashaal reiterated the organization’s opposition to disarmament, declaring, “As long as our people are under occupation, talk of disarmament is an attempt to turn our people into victims, to make their elimination easier and to facilitate their destruction at the hands of the Israeli side, which is armed with every international means of warfare.”

Trump said last week that Hamas must relinquish its weapons, cautioning that failure to do so would lead to its destruction.

“Now [that the war has ended] they have to disarm,” Trump stated. “Some people say they won’t, but they will, and if they don’t, they’re gonna not be around any longer. But they agreed to disarm.”

Federal investigators have recovered a black glove from a roadside not far from Nancy Guthrie’s residence, a development that could mark a significant turn in the investigation into the disappearance of the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, according to The NY Post.

Law enforcement officials located the glove roughly a mile and a half from the victim’s home. The item appears similar to gloves worn by the masked, armed individual captured on surveillance footage near the property.

Images and video from the scene show a member of the FBI’s Evidence Response team retrieving the glove from sparse desert brush in the quiet Tucson-area neighborhood where Guthrie lives.

Authorities have yet to name a suspect in what they believe was a violent abduction. Investigators have indicated that Guthrie may have been forcibly removed from her home, where blood was reportedly left behind.

On Tuesday, the FBI released video showing a man wearing black gloves, a ski mask, and a holstered firearm vandalizing the security camera mounted on Guthrie’s front door.

The newly released footage represents the first substantial update shared publicly since the investigation began 10 days ago.

Also Tuesday, agents detained a person of interest near the U.S.-Mexico border for questioning. That individual was released early Wednesday morning without any charges filed.

The glove was recovered during what the FBI described as an “extensive search” of the surrounding area, with agents canvassing nearby roads and desert terrain.

“We appreciate the assistance and support we have received from the Tucson community,” the FBI said in a statement reminding the public of the $50,000 reward for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery.

Investigators declined to provide additional details when asked about the evidentiary significance of the glove.

The individual briefly taken into custody Tuesday was identified as Carlos Palazuelos, a delivery driver from Rio Rico, a border town south of Tucson. He was handcuffed following a traffic stop in the area.

After being released, Palazuelos denied any involvement in the disappearance. According to WDBJ, he said he had never heard of Guthrie and called on authorities to apologize.

In a separate development, TMZ received a new letter Wednesday morning demanding a Bitcoin payment in exchange for information about Guthrie’s alleged captor.

TMZ reported that the $67,000 payment would be in exchange for the “name of the individual involved.”

The message is reportedly the third note sent since Nancy was last seen on Jan. 31. TMZ host Harvey Levin said during an appearance on Fox News’ “America Newsroom” that the letter included details for an active Bitcoin address.

That address differs from the one included in an earlier ransom message sent last week to two Tucson television stations and TMZ.

In that earlier communication, individuals claiming responsibility for the kidnapping demanded millions of dollars in cryptocurrency and set a deadline of Monday, Feb. 9.

To date, however, those claiming involvement have not offered proof that Nancy Guthrie is alive or provided additional substantiating information, despite Savannah Guthrie publicly stating that her family would comply with payment demands if it ensured her mother’s safe return.

Attorney General Pam Bondi combatively defended her leadership at the Justice Department to House lawmakers on Wednesday amid sharp criticism that she botched the release of the Epstein files and has wielded the nation’s most powerful law enforcement agency to heed President Donald Trump’s calls to prosecute his political foes.

In exchange after exchange, Bondi lobbed brash insults when Democratic lawmakers questioned her decisions and repeatedly portrayed the expansive Justice Department as unfairly maligned by Democrats and those who dislike Trump.

In her opening remarks before the House Judiciary Committee, Bondi – highlighting her allegiance to the president – thanked Trump for his investment in fighting violent crime and said the Justice Department is working to advance the president’s priorities. The attorney general blamed the Biden administration for politicizing the department and, echoing claims from conservative activists, said it is fighting against “liberal activist judges” working to stymie the president’s agenda.

“America has never seen this level of coordinated judicial opposition to a presidential administration,” Bondi said.

Wednesday’s hearing played out at a pivotal moment for the Justice Department, which in recent months has drawn criticism from Democrats and others over its handling of the congressionally compelled release of millions of documents from its investigation of Jeffrey Epstein, its deployment of thousands of agents across the country to assist in immigration enforcement and its continued efforts to prosecute Trump’s perceived political adversaries.

The attorney general did not buckle in her defense of the department and frequently attempted to shift attention to its efforts to reduce violent crime, a topic that earned her praise from Republicans.

Bondi came armed with scripted insults for Democrats.

“I’m not going to get in the gutter with these people,” Bondi said repeatedly in response to pointed questions. She lashed out when the committee’s top Democrat, Rep. Jamie Raskin, directed her to respond to the panel’s inquiries.

“You don’t tell me anything, you washed-up loser lawyer,” she said. “You’re not even a lawyer.”

Raskin, a lawmaker from Maryland, denounced Bondi for her handling of the Epstein files, the department’s response to deadly shootings by federal personnel in Minneapolis and her oversight of cases involving people whom Trump has publicly called to prosecute.

“Trump orders up prosecutions like pizza, and you deliver every time,” Raskin said. “You replace real prosecutors with counterfeit stooges. Nothing in American history comes close to this complete corruption of the justice function and contamination of federal law enforcement.”

Just hours before Bondi addressed the committee, the department had sought to secure an indictment against six Democratic lawmakers who produced a video urging military service members not to follow “illegal orders.” But a federal grand jury in Washington refused to back those charges – a remarkable rebuke of the department’s efforts.

“You’ve turned the people’s Department of Justice into Trump’s instrument of revenge,” Raskin said.

The committee’s Republicans, led by Chairman Jim Jordan (Ohio), largely praised Bondi for the work of her first year in office. They credited her and FBI Director Kash Patel with reducing violent crime across the country, a trend that began under the final years of the Biden administration and has continued under Trump.

“What a difference a year makes,” Jordan said at the top of the proceedings. “Under Attorney General Bondi, the DOJ has returned to its core missions – upholding the rule of law, going after the bad guys and keeping Americans safe.”

Tension erupted almost immediately as Democrats repeatedly pressed Bondi on the Justice Department’s failure to fully redact the names and identifications of Epstein’s victims from the files it released last month. More than a dozen of his victims were at the hearing and, when prompted by a Democratic lawmaker, raised their hands to indicate that they had never spoken to representatives of Bondi’s Justice Department.

As Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Washington) asked Bondi to apologize to the victims in the audience for her handling of the investigation, the attorney general deflected and asked why former attorney general Merrick Garland didn’t apologize.

“I’m not going to get in the gutter for her theatrics,” Bondi said. She defended her career fighting for victims as a prosecutor.

“I am deeply sorry for what any victim has been through, especially as a result of that monster,” she said. “I want you to know that any accusation of criminal wrongdoing will be taken seriously and investigated.”

Bondi said that Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell “hopefully will die in prison.” Maxwell’s attorney has said that the defendant, who was convicted in 2021 on trafficking charges, is seeking clemency from the president.

Bondi also said that she was unaware that Maxwell was being transferred to a minimum-security prison camp until after the transfer occurred in August. The Justice Department has faced pushback over that move, with critics saying that it is an example of the Trump administration being lenient to people involved in the Epstein case.

In an effort to pivot the conversation away from Epstein, Bondi said that instead of focusing on Maxwell, the lawmakers should be asking about Iryna Zarutska – the 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee who was brutally killed by a homeless man with mental illness while riding public transit in North Carolina.

Bondi took heat from Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky), a frequent Trump critic, who asked why more men with ties to Epstein weren’t under investigation. Justice Department officials have said that the files do not contain information that would lead to other people being charged.

She dodged Massie’s question and said he was only focused on the Epstein files because Trump is named in them, accusing him of having “Trump derangement syndrome.”

Bondi, likewise, refused to engage in second-guessing of the Justice Department’s handling of the recent fatal shootings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti by federal personnel amid the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown in Minneapolis.

She hinted of further investigations of Trump critics in the works.

Asked by Republicans whether John Brennan, CIA director during the Obama administration, would soon be indicted as part of an investigation into the intelligence community’s assessment of Russian efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, Bondi declined to confirm an investigation – then added: “No one is above the law.”

Brennan’s lawyers said in December they had been informed that he is the target of an criminal probe underway in Florida. He has denied any wrongdoing.

At every turn, Bondi never missed an opportunity to praise Trump for his leadership.

“That’s why today, the other side sits here, they yell, cut me off,” she said. “They want to yell. They want to ask a question and don’t want answers, because they want to distract from all the great things that this president and this administration are doing.”

When Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-California) cited a conspiracy theory that Trump has pushed about a federal investigation and asked Bondi whether she thinks the president is honest, the attorney general responded: “Of course I do. He is the commander in chief.”

(c) 2026, The Washington Post 

[COMMUNICATED]

On the hills of Givat Ze’ev, Givat Hashalvah is being developed around a goal many frum families feel strongly about. Life in Eretz Yisroel should come with dignity, pride, and a standard that reflects who we are and what we value. That mindset guides the project from the quality of construction to the shared spaces designed to support real Torah living and a steady community rhythm.

Community is a central priority here. The aim is a genuine kehilla where families who share a way of life build something together, and where everyday living naturally turns neighbors into relationships. Early buyers are already shaping the character of the neighborhood through the values they bring and the standards they expect.

This vision is supported by the builder behind the work. Solel Boneh is Israel’s most recognized construction name, with more than a century of experience and a track record tied to the country’s most significant national projects. For buyers, that translates into something simple: execution you can trust, quality that lasts, and delivery you can rely on.

Givat Ze’ev also offers a distinct lifestyle and a strong value proposition. From the outset, the developers spared no effort to deliver the highest possible standard, so the same budget can go further here through higher-end finishes, larger layouts, and a plan built for daily ease. Parking is moved underground, freeing the surface level for families, greenery, and a calmer streetscape. The masterplan includes 18 residential buildings in three clusters, connected by a promenade that runs through parks and gardens from end to end.

Between the clusters sit 7 dedicated multi-story residential lounges, totaling 26,000 square feet of community amenities planned for real daily use, including children’s gymborees, simcha halls,  mother’s meeting lounges, shared workspaces, and Torah libraries. Fountains and seating areas are woven into the walkways, with a bike path looping around the project.

To round out the living experience, the plan also includes a multilevel shopping mall, protected living, a 54,000 square foot fitness center, a pool, and ten shuls. The result is a neighborhood designed to support a fuller way of living, both inside the home and together beyond it.

Explore Givat Hashalvah 

Israel’s Security Agency and the National Cyber Directorate revealed Wednesday that they have stopped hundreds of attempted cyberattacks over the last year that were orchestrated by Iranian intelligence operatives.

The agencies said the operations were directed at high-ranking government and defense officials, academics, journalists, and personnel within the defense sector. In a joint announcement, they reported a significant increase in hostile online activity that began around the time of Operation Rising Lion.

According to the statement, the objective behind the cyber efforts was to obtain both personal and professional information that could be used for terrorism, espionage, and influence campaigns. Investigators determined that the attackers mainly relied on “targeted phishing” methods, sending customized messages while posing as trusted or recognizable contacts.

Those targeted were prompted to click on links or download attachments, which allowed the attackers to capture login details and authentication codes for services including Google, Telegram, and WhatsApp. Gaining such information would grant access to private correspondence and stored data.

Over recent months, the ISA and the National Cyber Directorate said they worked to counter these efforts by delivering focused warnings, blocking harmful activity, and providing guidance to potential targets on reinforcing their account protections. They also launched public awareness initiatives aimed at communities considered vulnerable.

The agencies called on the public — especially individuals with access to sensitive material — to activate two-factor authentication, exercise caution when approached by unknown contacts, and refrain from sharing personal information or opening suspicious links. They further advised users to enroll in the enhanced security programs recently made available by Google and WhatsApp.

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu wrapped up a White House meeting that lasted close to three hours, with Iran and broader Middle East developments high on the agenda.

Following the talks, President Trump shared a statement on his Truth Social platform describing the meeting and the tone of discussions.

“I have just finished meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, of Israel, and various of his Representatives. It was a very good meeting, the tremendous relationship between our two Countries continues.”

Iran was a primary focus of the conversation, and the president addressed the subject directly in his post.

“There was nothing definitive reached other than I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a Deal can be consummated. If it can, I let the Prime Minister know that will be a preference. If it cannot, we will just have to see what the outcome will be.”

Trump also referenced a previous confrontation with Tehran, warning of potential consequences if diplomacy fails.

“last time Iran decided that they were better off not making a Deal, and they were hit with Midnight Hammer – That did not work well for them. Hopefully this time they will be more reasonable and responsible. Additionally, we discussed the tremendous progress being made in Gaza, and the Region in general. There is truly PEACE in the Middle East. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Before entering his meeting with President Trump, Prime Minister Netanyahu formally joined the Board of Peace in a signing ceremony held at the White House in the presence of Secretary of State Rubio.

A small Bitcoin transaction tied to the ransom demand in the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case may have shifted momentum in favor of investigators, according to a cryptocurrency forensics specialist who says digital currency is far more traceable than many criminals realize.

Bezalel Eithan Raviv, CEO and founder of Lionsgate Network, a crypto recovery firm specializing in blockchain forensics, told Page Six that a modest deposit made late Tuesday into the Bitcoin wallet listed in the ransom note could signal a strategic investigative move.

“If the reported $150 transaction to the alleged ransom Bitcoin wallet is accurate, it aligns with a known investigative tactic,” Raviv said. “A small ‘test’ transfer can sometimes be used to confirm that the wallet is active and to trigger blockchain monitoring tools.”

Raviv, an Israeli technology entrepreneur, emphasized that Bitcoin transactions are not invisible, despite popular belief.

“The moment funds move, they leave a permanent digital footprint,” Raviv said. “That activity can provide investigators with valuable intelligence, especially if the wallet interacts with exchanges or custodial services where identity verification is required.”

When tracking illicit cryptocurrency activity, Raviv explained that his company employs what it refers to as a “cow’s bell” method.

“Once a wallet is identified and tagged, every movement can trigger alerts, no matter how many times the funds split, consolidate, or hop across wallets. Every step leaves a signal,” he said.

According to Raviv, once money enters the account, the balance of control may change.

“If this wallet has now received funds, the dynamic shifts,” Raviv explained. “The person demanding ransom may believe they are in control, but once a transaction is made, they become the one being watched.

“The ransom actor is no longer just making demands. They are now the target of forensic tracking.”

Still, Raviv noted that law enforcement agencies follow established procedures in handling ransom situations.

“That said, ransom strategy decisions should always be directed by law enforcement and professional negotiators,” Raviv said. “The critical phase now is real-time monitoring, because movement is where mistakes happen.”

Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen alive at her home near Tucson on Jan. 31. She was reported missing the following day after the Pima County Sheriff’s Department concluded that she had been forcibly removed from the residence.

Multiple media organizations later received what authorities believe to be a ransom message demanding $6 million in Bitcoin in exchange for her freedom. The note listed two deadlines — Feb. 5 at 5 p.m. EST and another this past Monday at the same hour.

Savannah Guthrie and her siblings issued a public statement indicating they were prepared to meet the demand but required proof that their mother was alive before transferring any money.

As of Tuesday morning, Page Six confirmed that the Bitcoin wallet’s balance remained at zero. By Tuesday night, however, approximately $152 in Bitcoin had been deposited into the account.

It remains unclear whether the FBI or another entity initiated the transaction. Earlier in the week, Raviv told Page Six that sending a minimal amount of cryptocurrency can sometimes be part of a broader investigative approach.

“This is a very simple tactic among many that we utilize when we want to be able to intercept criminal network crypto assets,” Raviv said. “That’s from our perspective based on previous cases that have been incredibly successful.”

Raviv also suggested that the individual behind the ransom demand may have exposed himself the moment he shared the wallet address.

“He showed his Achilles to everyone who understands blockchain forensics,” Raviv said.

Authorities have yet to announce any arrests directly connected to the abduction, though they did release alarming surveillance footage showing an armed and masked individual outside Nancy’s home on the night she vanished.

In the hours following the footage’s release, a man identified as Carlos was taken into custody in connection with the probe but was later released.

On Wednesday, TMZ reported receiving a third Bitcoin-related demand — this time offering information about the alleged kidnapper in exchange for cryptocurrency.

Meanwhile, FBI Phoenix announced that agents are “conducting an extensive search along multiple roadways in the Catalina Foothills area related to the Nancy Guthrie investigation.”

Shas chairman MK Aryeh Deri has withdrawn from public and political life for a full week, undertaking a continuous taanis (fast) and transferring key parliamentary responsibilities to fellow members of his party as the traditional Shovavim period draws to a close.

Deri was notably absent Monday from the party’s weekly faction meeting in the Knesset. Lawmakers convened around the table and conducted the session without their chairman — an occurrence considered highly unusual within the party.

Only a small number of MKs were aware of the reason for his disappearance. Some were told he had traveled abroad for a family event. Others knew that Deri remained in Israel but had chosen to step away from public activity for several days.

According to party sources, Deri accepted upon himself a consecutive seven-day fast, abstaining from both food and speech from the conclusion of Shabbos until the onset of the following Shabbos. The fast comes in anticipation of the conclusion of the Shovavim period, traditionally observed as days of spiritual strengthening and introspection.

Due to the nature of the fast, Deri has refrained from speaking with anyone. In exceptional circumstances involving security matters, he has received updates and responded only in writing.

With significant political matters pending — including legislation concerning the military draft law and the state budget — Deri delegated authority on these issues to Shas Knesset members. They were the ones who ultimately decided to support the split of the Arrangements Law.

As for Deri’s current location, speculation within Shas circles remains divided. Some claim he is staying in Peki’in, while others believe he is presently in the city of Netivot.

The fast is expected to conclude at the onset of Shabbos later this week. After nightfall on Motzaei Shabbos, Deri is anticipated to resume his regular public and political schedule.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Sen. Bernie Sanders sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s glowing assessment of the U.S. economy during a Tuesday appearance on MSNBC’s “All In,” accusing the president of being “completely crazy and delusional, or just a pathological liar” for portraying current conditions as historic.

The remarks came after Trump, speaking on the Fox Business Network, praised the nation’s economic performance in sweeping terms.

“This is the greatest period of anything that we’ve ever seen. We had the greatest economy in the history of our country in my first term. I think we’re blowing it away. Now I think we have the greatest economy, actually, ever in history,” Trump said.

Responding to that clip, Sanders told host Chris Hayes that broader concerns about the country’s direction extend beyond the economy alone.

“Well, look, Chris, I think the American people understand with what’s going on in Minneapolis, Trump’s attacks on the media, universities. He is going after political opponents and through criminal actions, that we are moving into an authoritarian society,” Sanders said.

The Vermont independent then questioned Trump’s characterization of economic conditions, arguing that many Americans are struggling financially despite the president’s claims.

“In terms of I got to tell you, though, I seen that tape you just scrolled. You wonder whether Trump is completely crazy and delusional, or just a pathological liar. But the idea that anybody would believe that this is a great economy when 60% of our people are living paycheck to paycheck, when the cost of health care is going up, people can’t afford housing, people can’t afford their basic groceries, childcare system is dysfunctional, people can’t afford to go to college. And if this is the greatest economy in the history of the world, God help us.”

Significant unanswered questions still surround the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, according to Sen. Dave McCormick, who says the public has not received a full accounting of what went wrong that day.

In an interview with New York Post columnist Miranda Devine on the Post’s “Pod Force One” podcast, McCormick said he remains troubled by how a 20-year-old gunman was able to position himself and fire on Trump during the July 13, 2024 rally at the Butler Farm Show grounds. He told Devine he is “not satisfied” with the explanations that have been provided so far.

Reflecting on the proximity of the shooter to the stage — “less than 150 yards” — McCormick described the lapse as “hard to imagine,” calling it both “a breach in security” and “a breach in protocol.” He questioned how such a vulnerability could have existed at a presidential campaign event.

McCormick said he had been seated in the front row of the rally after Trump briefly weighed inviting him onto the stage. When gunfire erupted, he immediately recognized the sound from his military background, he told Devine.

He described watching Trump reach for his ear as Secret Service agents rushed to shield him. McCormick also recalled the widely circulated moment when Trump stood up, raised his fist, and shouted, “Fight, fight, fight,” before being escorted from the stage.

The attack left one rally attendee dead and two others injured. Corey Comperatore was killed while protecting his family, and two additional rallygoers were wounded. The suspected gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot and killed at the scene.

Although federal authorities have concluded that Crooks acted alone, the incident has continued to spark skepticism and concern among members of the public. McCormick argued that restoring trust will require complete transparency from Washington.

Drawing on his experience at Bridgewater Associates, McCormick said he believes in a culture of “radical truth, radical transparency,” adding that “the American people, they can take the truth,” even in highly charged political situations. He said information should be disclosed in all but the rare instances where doing so would truly jeopardize national security, according to the transcript.

The New York Post highlighted what it described as a noticeable difference between the gradual release of details in the Butler case and the rapid public discussion of possible ideological motives following the later assassination of conservative leader Charlie Kirk. The comparison, the paper noted, may resonate with Americans who perceive that institutions are quick to frame certain acts of violence through a political lens while moving more cautiously when facts do not align as neatly.

Subsequent reporting has focused on lingering questions about accountability. Families of victims connected to the Butler rally have publicly demanded clarity regarding security breakdowns and whether any officials will face consequences.

Media reports have also detailed disciplinary measures within the Secret Service after internal reviews reportedly uncovered serious failures in coordination and threat response related to the rally.

For McCormick, the core issue is public trust. He told Devine that when the government appears to “stonewall,” even if officials believe they have “legitimate answers,” it ultimately “breeds mistrust.”

{Matzav.com}

The IDF and the Shin Bet announced that they eliminated Basam Hashem al-Fatah Himouni in a joint operation last week, removing a longtime Hamas operative who had been involved in attacks against Israel for more than 20 years.

Himouni, a native of Chevron, was considered a key player in Hamas’ terror infrastructure and maintained an active role in directing operations targeting Israel over the course of two decades.

He was responsible for dispatching the suicide bombers who carried out the coordinated double bombing of two buses in Be’er Sheva in August 2004. That attack claimed the lives of 16 people and wounded roughly 100 others. Israeli security forces apprehended him soon afterward, in October 2004, and he was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment.

In 2011, as part of the “Shalit Deal,” Himouni was freed from prison and expelled to Gaza. After his release, he resumed involvement in terrorist activity, enlisting operatives and overseeing attacks.

Security officials said that amid the ongoing war, Himouni played a role in manufacturing and deploying explosive devices intended to target IDF troops operating in Gaza.

“His elimination represents an important and meaningful closure,” a joint statement read. “The IDF and Shin Bet will continue to operate against any terrorist who attempts to advance and execute terror plans against IDF forces and the State of Israel’s citizens.”

{Matzav.com}

Even after Shas and Degel HaTorah signaled a willingness to accept the full slate of demands presented by the Knesset’s legal advisers regarding the draft law, the legal counsel to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee is now pushing for additional and more far-reaching sanctions on yeshiva students.

Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee legal adviser Miri Frenkel-Shor is seeking to incorporate new, significant penalties into the current version of the conscription legislation, according to new information.

Senior officials within Degel HaTorah say that after the chareidi factions indicated they were prepared to meet all of the Knesset legal advisory team’s requirements — including raising enlistment targets and agreeing that sanctions would take effect immediately and only be lifted after a full year of compliance — they were taken aback to learn that further penalties were being demanded.

“She asked to add another basket of sanctions, ones that would apply to Torah students even in a situation where enlistment targets are met. She sent us back to the Edelstein document. We’re in trouble,” a senior Degel figure involved in drafting the legislation admitted.

The same official added that additional disputes remain unresolved, including the status of yeshiva students who have been classified as draft evaders. “In the end, the ones who will decide are the Gedolei Yisrael,” he said.

As previously reported, representatives from Shas and Degel HaTorah acknowledged that negotiations have reached an impasse, with no apparent path to bridging the gap between the legal advisory demands and the agreements the chareidi factions are prepared to accept.

Senior chareidi officials related that an understanding with the legal advisers now appears unlikely. In the immediate term, they said, Gedolei Yisrael will need to determine how the factions proceed regarding both the draft law and the state budget.

“We are in the worst position we’ve been in so far,” a senior chareidi figure involved in the draft law discussions said. “We will have to make decisions. In the immediate timeframe, we will present the matter to the Gedolei Yisrael to receive their ruling on how to continue the legislative process.”

According to party insiders, Degel HaTorah is weighing several possible courses of action. One option under consideration is agreeing to the primary demands of the Knesset’s legal advisory team, including immediate implementation of sanctions and higher enlistment targets, in line with the position of committee legal adviser Attorney Miri Frenkel-Shor.

Another scenario being discussed is advancing the draft legislation — known as the Bismuth Law — even without the support of the legal advisory establishment, fully aware that the High Court of Justice is likely to issue an interim injunction and could ultimately strike the law down.

A third possibility, described by senior officials as less realistic, would involve dissolving the Knesset and heading to immediate elections. “That’s the least realistic option, because you don’t dismantle a government in an election year and shoot ourselves in the other foot. We would be the first to be harmed if there is no budget,” one senior official said.

“There isn’t much time,” the officials added. “We will likely need to make decisions before the end of the week. Gedolei Yisrael will make the decision — not us.”

{Matzav.com}

A new twist has emerged in the ongoing and perplexing case involving the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, as TMZ reports it has received another letter demanding payment in cryptocurrency in exchange for information about her alleged abductor.

According to TMZ, the message calls for a transfer of one bitcoin — roughly $66,000 — in return for what it describes as the “name of the individual involved” in the kidnapping of the mother of “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie.

The letter is said to be the third communication sent since Nancy was last seen on Jan. 31. During an appearance Wednesday on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom,” TMZ founder Harvey Levin shared additional details about the contents of the note.

“They said they want one bitcoin sent to a bitcoin address that we have confirmed is active. It’s a real bitcoin address, and as they put it, time is more than relevant,” Levin said. “So we have no idea whether this is real or not. But they are making a demand.”

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Tuesday that the Department of Homeland Security could face a shutdown by the end of the week if significant changes are not made to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, declaring that ICE must be “reined in” before Democrats will support further funding.

Appearing on MSNBC’s “Katy Tur Reports,” the New York Democrat placed responsibility on Republicans to resolve the standoff, arguing that taxpayer money should not support what he described as abusive enforcement tactics.

“The ball is in the Republican’s court right now. We’ve made clear that taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for the American people, not brutalize or kill them. That shouldn’t be a controversial proposition. We know that Ice is completely and totally out of control. They’ve gone way too far, and they need to be reined in so that immigration enforcement in this country is fair, it’s just and it’s humane. And the only way to bring that about right now is for there to be dramatic changes in the way in which DHS conducts itself before any funding bill moves forward on Friday,” Jeffries said.

He continued by accusing the administration of failing to follow through on its pledge to focus enforcement efforts on violent offenders.

“They promised that immigration enforcement was going to target violent felons who are here illegally. That’s not what’s taking place. That targeting American citizens, law abiding immigrant families and American communities, which is why the American people are so horrified. And so, again, we need dramatic change on the one hand or listen, Republicans are going to make the decision to shut down FEMA, shut down the Coast Guard and shut down TSA. And that would be very unfortunate,” he said.

Host Katy Tur pressed Jeffries on whether any common ground had been reached.

“So there’s nothing there that you guys can agree on. As of now?” Tur asked.

Jeffries responded that discussions remain limited, pointing to one area where the White House has signaled possible flexibility, though he said it falls short of what Democrats are demanding.

“Well, the White House has indicated that there’s some openness, to mandating body cameras. That’s important. But that can’t be the only thing that is done moving forward. That’s not dramatic change. And the White House has not even gone as far as saying we agree mandatory body cameras, no exceptions. Their response, even in that area, has been ambiguous. ”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

After weeks of relentless cold and lingering snow, New York City is finally poised for a meaningful thaw, with meteorologists predicting that remaining snow and ice could disappear by late next week.

Temperatures began climbing Tuesday, signaling an end to the deep freeze that gripped the five boroughs for much of early February. Forecasters say readings will now stay consistently above freezing for the near future, accelerating the melting process across the city.

“The two most significant factors that lead to the fastest snowmelt include a warm wind over the snowpack and fog, with temperatures above freezing,” AccuWeather meteorologist Chad Merrill told The NY Post.

A stretch of milder, breezy conditions is expected to help erode the accumulated snow, including the towering piles left behind by plows.

“We will see a period of breezy wind with above freezing temperatures into Wednesday, so that will help with the melting,” he said. “The current snow depth in NYC is 5 inches, but of course there are snow-plowed piles that in some spots are quite tall.

“We will likely see all the snow and ice completely melt in the city late next week.”

According to AccuWeather, daytime highs are forecast to hover in the upper 30s and low 40s through the end of next week, offering steady relief from the frigid pattern that dominated the start of the month.

Forecasters indicate that temperatures could climb to 46 degrees on Shabbos and reach 45 next Thursday. Aside from the chance of a light wintry mix on Sunday and again next Wednesday, conditions are expected to remain largely calm.

Even overnight lows are projected to be relatively moderate, settling in the low to mid-30s most nights, with only a few dips into the 20s anticipated during the week.

While highs in the 30s might still feel brisk elsewhere, city residents who endured early February’s punishing stretch — including sub-zero wind chills over the weekend — are welcoming the change.

Meteorologists caution that one additional cooler spell is possible later this month, though it is not expected to rival the severity of the cold already experienced.

“Another period of colder than average temperatures return the final week of the month into early March, but even so, it will not be the same in magnitude to the cold weather we experienced,” Merril said.

The incoming milder air should finally eliminate the snow that has blanketed the city since Winter Storm Fern dropped more than a foot on Jan. 25, leaving streets and sidewalks buried for more than two weeks.

{Matzav.com}

A heavy pall has descended upon Yeshivas Kol Torah L’Tze’irim in Yerushalayim and upon the broader Torah world with the petirah of Rav Aviezer Asher Zelig Shapira zt”l, longtime mashgiach of the yeshiva. Rav Shapira was niftar in the early morning hours at the age of 81.

In recent months, his health had fluctuated. The mashgiach was hospitalized for a period and experienced improvement and was able to return to the yeshiva. In recent days, however, his condition deteriorated once again, and before dawn he was niftar.

Rav Aviezer was born in Kfar Chassidim on 5 Adar 5704 to his father, Rav Shlomo Aharon Shapira zt”l, and his mother, Rachel a”h.

In his youth, he learned in Yeshivas Kol Torah and later continued his studies in Yeshivas Chevron, where he absorbed the teachings of his revered rabbeim and developed into a distinguished talmid chacham.

Upon reaching marriageable age, he wed the daughter of Rav Meir Ephraim Winkler zt”l, who served as rav of the Machzikei HaDas kehillah in Copenhagen and later as a R”M at Yeshivas Torah Ore in Yerushalayim. His father-in-law was a son of Rav Michael Shalom Winkler zt”l, rav of Machzikei HaDas in Copenhagen and a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah in Europe.

In 5730, Rav Shapira was appointed rav of the Ohr HaChaim beis haknesses in the Geulah neighborhood of Yerushalayim. The shul had been established in 5690 by a cousin of his grandfather, Rav Avraham Yaakov Shapira zt”l. From that time, he also served as the Rebbe of the Drohobycz chassidus, continuing the legacy of its founder, Rav Chaim Meir Yechiel Shapira zt”l.

His grandfather, Rav Aviezri Zelig Shapira zt”l, was a son of the Gavadzitzer Rebbe, Rav Yitzchak Mordechai Shapira zt”l, and the son-in-law of his uncle, the founder of the Drohobycz dynasty, Rav Chaim Meir Yechiel Shapira. Rav Shapira was a descendant of the Kozhnitzer dynasty on his great-grandfather’s side and of the Ruzhiner dynasty through his grandmother.

In 5738, he was appointed mashgiach of Yeshivas Kol Torah L’Tze’irim. For decades thereafter, he became the central spiritual figure of what is widely regarded as the premier mesivta in Yerushalayim, guiding and nurturing thousands of talmidim.

Rav Aviezer was the living spirit of the yeshiva, deeply involved both in the acceptance of new talmidim and in shaping the ruchniyus of the beis medrash. The talmidim loved him dearly, and he returned that ahavah in kind, embodying “k’mayim panim el panim.”

Every night, he would make his way to the Kosel HaMa’aravi. Over the years, he was among those who established the custom of reciting Nishmas at the Kosel at chatzos, a practice that became widely known and regarded as a powerful segulah.

Rav Shapira also served as chairman of the executive committee of Chevra Kadisha Chassidim in Yerushalayim and was a member of the board of Kollel Chibas Yerushalayim.

He merited to see doros yesharim u’mevorachim, sons and daughters and many descendants following in the path of Torah and yiras Shamayim. One of his sons, Reb Menachem Shapira, serves as deputy mayor of Bnei Brak and was especially devoted to his father.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu was provided with intelligence assessments as far back as 2018 outlining Hamas’s detailed plans for a large-scale invasion of southern Israel, according to a report published Tuesday based on classified documents and testimony from senior officials.

The Ynet news outlet reported that between 2018 and 2022, Hamas formulated an extensive operational strategy for a coordinated, multi-front assault targeting Israeli military installations and civilian communities near Gaza. The blueprint, later compiled into a file referred to as “Jericho’s Walls,” envisioned breaching the border fence at numerous locations and sending thousands of armed operatives into Israeli territory.

That strategy ultimately materialized on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a brutal cross-border attack that left approximately 1,200 people dead, resulted in the abduction of 251 hostages, and ignited a prolonged war in Gaza lasting two years.

According to Ynet, Netanyahu — who has held the premiership since 2009, aside from an 18-month interval in 2021-2022 — was shown intelligence connected to the “Jericho’s Walls” framework on multiple occasions over the years. This stands in contrast to his public statements after October 7 in which he denied having prior knowledge of such a plan.

The first documented instance cited in the report dates to April 2018. At that time, the Research Division of the Military Intelligence Directorate circulated a classified assessment to high-level officials. Recipients reportedly included the military secretaries to the prime minister and defense minister, the National Security Council, the chiefs of Shin Bet and Mossad, and the office of the IDF chief of staff.

One of the intelligence documents referenced by Ynet carried a subheading posing the question: “Is Hamas’s military wing building up its force for a broad attack deep into our territory?”

The 2018 assessment warned that Hamas was crafting “a plan for an initiated offensive maneuver with a broad order of [troops in] battle (six reserve battalions; approximately 3,000 fighters)” designed to overrun IDF positions while simultaneously striking civilian communities “in the border communities and deep inside Israel.”

The report underscored the gravity of the threat, stating that “the scope of the plan and its complexity are exceptional.” Although some intelligence analysts questioned whether Hamas possessed the immediate capacity to execute the entire operation, they cautioned that “the plan illustrates a new and broader threat scenario than before.”

The existence of the 2018 “Jericho’s Walls” document cited by Ynet was confirmed last year by the IDF in an internal Military Intelligence Directorate review examining the intelligence breakdown preceding October 7.

That internal review, which anticipated several elements later seen in the October 7 assault, cited the Hamas plan as declaring that “forces from five [elite] Nukhba companies should attack and destroy the posts belonging to the [IDF] Gaza Division… everything will be done above ground… with [rocket] fire… attack the kibbutzim in order to take hostages… focus on critical sites… livestream from the posts and kibbutzim.”

According to the military probe, what began as a conceptual idea within Hamas evolved over time into a formalized strategy and received official internal authorization in 2019.

Netanyahu has consistently rejected claims that he was warned of an impending large-scale Hamas attack in the years prior to October 7. In response to questions from State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman during a review of the failures surrounding the assault, the Prime Minister’s Office stated that “the prime minister never received and was never briefed on the ‘Jericho’s Walls’ document” before the war began, and that he was “never presented with any Hamas plan for a mass raid into Israeli territory.”

However, materials released by Netanyahu himself appear to complicate that position. In a 55-page document submitted to the State Comptroller last week and later made public, Netanyahu acknowledged that he had received the April 2018 intelligence assessment. In that submission, he quoted a restrained portion of the evaluation noting that Hamas had “a basic capability to carry out several simultaneous raids,” but that under existing conditions, “it is not likely at this time.”

The published version did not include the paragraph’s final sentence, which warned that the document reflected Hamas’s long-term intentions and its plans to significantly expand its military capabilities.

A former senior intelligence official cited by Ynet said Netanyahu’s duty “was to ensure there [was] no repetition of the Military Intelligence assessment on the eve of Yom Kippur 1973,” referencing the well-known intelligence misjudgments preceding the Egyptian-Syrian surprise attack that triggered the Yom Kippur War.

“Back then, intelligence said ‘low probability,’ and the political echelon simply accepted it as a binding assessment without asking questions or checking on its own,” the official added. “Any serious leader would say in this situation: You received the plan in 2018, and even if Hamas is currently far from operational capability, this must be taken into account.”

Ynet further reported that in 2018, Unit 8200 obtained an Arabic Hamas document laying out a sweeping assault plan. It called for “launching a comprehensive offensive operation against the Zionist entity with the aim of subduing the enemy,” including attacks on the Re’im base, numerous communities along the Gaza border, and more distant targets such as Ashdod, Ashkelon, and strategic infrastructure. The document specified that “the attack will be carried out by six battalions,” with the “main effort” occurring above ground.

The Shin Bet also reviewed the Hamas plan and drafted its own analysis, describing the document’s “unusual and troubling characteristics.” That assessment was distributed to several entities, including the National Security Council, which operates under the prime minister’s authority.

One source quoted by Ynet said the Shin Bet’s findings were transmitted directly to Netanyahu.

In May 2022, Military Intelligence obtained an additional version of the Hamas invasion blueprint, dated August 2021, which was incorporated into the “Jericho’s Walls” file. That iteration likewise described large numbers of Nukhba Force operatives breaching the Gaza Division’s defenses and advancing into cities in southern Israel.

The document was presented to senior IDF intelligence officials, who at the time judged the scenario to be implausible. During a November 2022 Southern Command meeting reviewing potential conflict scenarios in Gaza, the “Jericho’s Walls” plan appeared at the bottom of a list of assessments.

Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid were serving as prime ministers for most of 2022, including in May and November, while Netanyahu was then leader of the opposition.

In 2023, after Netanyahu returned to office, the Intelligence Directorate collected new intelligence regarding Hamas training exercises simulating a cross-border invasion in the months leading up to October 7. Some personnel within Unit 8200 concluded that Hamas’s invasion concept had evolved into an actionable and concrete plan.

According to the IDF’s internal investigations, these conclusions were conveyed through emails and meetings to intelligence officers at Southern Command and to regional 8200 officers stationed in southern Israel. However, the updated assessments did not reach senior decision-makers, including top intelligence leadership.

Although Netanyahu was not personally briefed on the 2022 and 2023 updates to the “Jericho’s Walls” file, a senior intelligence source told Ynet, “Even if the army commanders failed to [connect the dots] themselves, the obligation of the prime minister is to demand answers regarding Hamas’s intentions.” “Netanyahu did nothing,” the source said.

Despite documentary evidence indicating that Netanyahu was exposed to Hamas invasion planning as early as 2018, he has maintained that the “Jericho’s Walls” file refers only to the 2022 version presented during the year he was not in office. Critics argue that this interpretation is intended to distance him from responsibility for the failure to prevent the October 7 attack.

{Matzav.com}