Matzav

Monday night’s Powerball drawing is set to feature a massive estimated jackpot of $1.6 billion, placing it among the biggest lottery prizes ever offered in the United States, according to Powerball officials.

Players chasing the top prize face extremely long odds. Powerball puts the chance of winning the jackpot at 1 in 292.2 million, a reflection of the game’s six-number format and the difficulty of matching every required ball.

The jackpot grew after no one claimed the top prize in Saturday’s drawing. The winning numbers that went unmatched were white balls 4, 5, 28, 52, and 69, along with the red Powerball 20. As a result, Monday’s drawing now represents the fifth-largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history and the fourth-largest ever offered by Powerball, the lottery said in a news release.

Whoever eventually wins will have a choice in how the money is paid out. The cash option is currently estimated at $735.3 million, while the annuity option totals about $1.6 billion, both figures calculated before taxes. The annuity plan includes an initial payment followed by 29 yearly payments that rise by 5% each year, Powerball explained.

Only one U.S. lottery jackpot has ever topped the current prize. That record-setting $2.04 billion jackpot was won in 2022, when a ticket purchased in California matched all the numbers. The winner chose a lump-sum payout of $997.6 million.

Powerball tickets are sold in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The game is administered by the Multi-State Lottery Association, a nonprofit organization representing state lotteries. States use proceeds from ticket sales to fund public education programs and other government services.

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IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said Sunday that Israel was prepared to take military action wherever necessary, signaling that future strikes could extend well beyond Israel’s immediate borders.

“The IDF will act against Israel’s enemies wherever required, on near and distant fronts alike,” Zamir said, speaking at a ceremony marking the transition of leadership at the IDF Planning Directorate.

Zamir placed Iran at the center of Israel’s current war effort, describing it as the primary force driving the multifront conflict that erupted following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. “At the heart of the longest and most complex war in Israel’s history stands the campaign against Iran,” he said.

He accused Tehran of orchestrating and sustaining the network of hostile forces surrounding Israel. “Iran financed and armed the ring of strangulation around Israel and stood behind the plans for its destruction,” Zamir said, referring to Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, Iraqi militias, and Iran itself.

His remarks came a day after NBC News reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to present President Donald Trump with plans for a possible renewed strike on Iran during an upcoming visit to Washington.

According to the report, Israeli officials had grown increasingly alarmed that Iran was rebuilding — and potentially expanding — its ballistic missile production following the 12-day conflict between the two countries in June. Officials cited in the report said Jerusalem viewed the missile program as a more urgent threat than Iran’s nuclear efforts.

“The nuclear weapons program is very concerning. There’s an attempt to reconstitute. [But] it’s not that immediate,” one source familiar with Israel’s thinking told NBC News.

Another source emphasized the danger posed by Iran’s missile capabilities, saying, “The threat of the missiles is very real, and we weren’t able to prevent them all last time.”

Sources with knowledge of the assessments, along with former US officials, told NBC that Israel believed Iran could increase ballistic missile production to as many as 3,000 missiles annually if no action was taken.

From Tehran, Iran’s foreign minister responded defiantly. Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that Iran had already repaired facilities damaged in Israeli strikes earlier this year and was ready for another confrontation if necessary.

“We have reconstructed everything that was damaged in the previous aggression,” Araghchi said in an interview with Russia Today, as cited by Iran’s ISNA news agency. “If they want to repeat the same failed experience, they will not achieve a better result.”

He acknowledged the extent of the damage but insisted Iran’s capabilities remained intact. “The reality is that our facilities have been damaged, and seriously so,” Araghchi said. “But there is another reality, and that is that our technology remains intact, and technology cannot be bombed.”

Araghchi added that Iran’s resolve had not weakened. “Our determination and will still exist,” he said, asserting that Iran had “a completely legitimate right to the peaceful use of nuclear technology, including enrichment.”

The foreign minister said Iran remained open to diplomacy under certain conditions. Tehran, he said, was willing to reach “a fair and balanced agreement” through negotiations, but would not accept outside pressure.

“We are prepared to provide full assurance that our program is peaceful and will remain peaceful forever,” Araghchi said. “This is exactly what we did in 2015.”

{Matzav.com}

Former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu, arguing that Israel stood at an unprecedented point of regional strength but was losing that advantage due to its current leadership.

Speaking on the Pod Saves America, Emanuel said Israel’s strategic position was stronger than at any time since the state’s founding, even as its political standing had deteriorated. “Israel has never been more strategically secure since Ben Gurion was dancing the hora in 1948 in Tel Aviv, but more politically vulnerable,” Emanuel said.

Emanuel, who previously served as chief of staff to Barack Obama and later as mayor of Chicago, went further, accusing Netanyahu of pushing Jews into isolation. “Never in my life [did I think] the prime minister of the State of Israel would lead Jews back into the ghetto, and that’s what’s happening in Israel, and that’s what’s happening in the world,” he claimed. “Jews can’t go to Europe and participate in Eurovision, while the UAE is hosting the world financially and in the F1 [Formula One racing].”

Emanuel argued that Israel’s diplomatic environment was unusually favorable, citing peace with neighboring countries and the absence of an immediate regional military threat. “This is the best strategic terrain Israel’s had since the founding. You have peace in Jordan with Israel; you have peace with Egypt; Syria and Lebanon — basically call it non-belligerence… Iran is on their back foot… You don’t really have in the near geography a strategic threat,” he said.

He maintained that Netanyahu’s conduct over time had deepened Israel’s isolation rather than capitalizing on these advantages. “He has literally — in the way he has executed pieces of the last — not just the last two years, but over his time — isolated Jews in Israel,” Emanuel said.

Turning to broader regional shifts, Emanuel said the Gulf states had evolved dramatically and now sought integration into the global economy, something he argued should have played directly to Israel’s strengths. “When we were starting in politics, the Gulf was all about just oil. Today, they want to be part of the world economy, which is what Israel’s ace is,” he said. “That is an invitation for Israel, and they’re pissing it away with this prime minister.”

{Matzav.com}

A senior State Department bureau pushed back against claims that the United States planned to bankroll a massive reconstruction effort in Gaza, flatly denying a report that Washington intended to commit $60 billion to the project, while stopping short of disputing other details of the proposal described in the report.

The response followed a report published Friday by The Wall Street Journal, which said the United States had circulated a long-term vision to prospective donor nations outlining a dramatic transformation of Gaza into a high-tech, upscale Mediterranean hub over a 20-year period, with an estimated total cost of $112 billion.

According to the Journal, the proposal envisioned the United States serving as an initial financial “anchor” by contributing $60 billion, with additional funding coming later from international donors and from Gaza itself as development progressed.

Soon after the report appeared, the X account of the State Department Near Eastern Affairs Bureau shared a link to a New York Post summary of the Journal’s reporting and issued a brief denial, writing, “This is fake news. Nowhere in the plan does it say the US will pay $60 billion.”

The post notably did not address other aspects of the Journal’s reporting, leaving open the possibility that the broader outline of the plan was accurate, even if the specific funding claim was not.

The Journal reported that it had reviewed a 32-page slideshow marked “sensitive but unclassified” that laid out a four-phase approach to clearing debris, rebuilding Gaza’s infrastructure, and lifting residents out of poverty. The presentation, the paper said, had been shared with wealthy Gulf states, as well as Turkey and Egypt.

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In the wake of growing antisemitic attacks across the globe, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called on Jews everywhere to relocate to Eretz Yisroel, warning that the situation facing Jewish communities had become increasingly dangerous.

Speaking at a Chanukah candlelighting ceremony in Rishon Lezion, Sa’ar reflected on the reality confronting Jews worldwide and the lessons of Jewish history. “Jews have the right to live in safety everywhere. But we see and fully understand what is happening, and we have a certain historical experience,” he said. “Today, Jews are being hunted across the world. Today I call on Jews in England, Jews in France, Jews in Australia, Jews in Canada, Jews in Belgium: come to the Land of Israel! Come home!”

Sa’ar emphasized that the State of Israel stood ready to receive them, stressing both the emotional and historical bond of the Jewish people to their homeland. He said Israelis “are waiting for you here with open arms. With love. In the true home of the Jewish people. Why raise your children in this atmosphere? Come with your families to the land of our forefathers, to the State of Israel, where the Jews taught the entire world what Jewish self-defense means. The time has come.”

{Matzav.com}

A surge in antisemitic incidents worldwide since Hamas launched its war against Israel on October 7, 2023, has placed Jewish communities on heightened alert, particularly during the eight days of Chanukah. Those concerns intensified further after a terror attack at a Chanukah gathering in Australia last week left 15 people dead.

Against that backdrop, a video now spreading on social media claims to capture a violent confrontation in Istanbul involving Jews on their way to a shul for Chanukah celebrations. The footage appears to show seven Jewish individuals surrounded and attacked by a large group described as pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

In the video, one assailant can be heard shouting, “We don’t want Zionists in our country.” The authenticity of the footage and the precise circumstances surrounding the incident could not be independently verified.

WATCH:

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Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has issued a blistering legal opinion rejecting a government-backed bill that would establish a new type of commission of inquiry into the failures surrounding the October 7, 2023, Hamas invasion and atrocities, warning that the proposal would undermine any serious effort to uncover the truth.

In an opinion released Sunday, Baharav-Miara argues that the legislation — a private member’s bill introduced by Likud MK Ariel Kallner — should not receive government backing due to what she describes as fundamental and far-reaching flaws. According to the attorney general, the bill would damage the integrity of any investigation and block the possibility of a future, independent inquiry conducted without political interference.

“At issue,” she writes, “is a ‘personal bill,’ that is ‘tailored to the measurements’ of the current government and coalition.”

Baharav-Miara contends that the proposed framework would inject politics directly into the heart of the investigative process. The commission envisioned by the bill, she says, would be shaped by coalition and opposition appointments with almost no standards governing members’ qualifications, creating what she describes as a serious risk that political motives would override professional judgment.

“The proposal politicizes the commission, creates a commission for which there is a real concern that political considerations will override the professional considerations essential to investigating the truth, whose investigative powers are not appropriate for such a panel in the absence of a senior judge at its head, and whose mechanism is cumbersome and will thwart the ability to investigate the truth and draw objective conclusions,” she writes.

Under the bill, the inquiry would be labeled a “state-national” commission, with members selected jointly by the coalition and opposition — a structure the opposition has already pledged to boycott. Baharav-Miara contrasts this with existing law, under which a state commission of inquiry is appointed by the president of the Supreme Court and chaired by a retired Supreme Court justice, a model she views as critical to ensuring independence and credibility.

She further criticizes the origins of the proposal, asserting that it did not emerge from professional legal analysis but from political maneuvering at the highest levels. “It is not the result of professional staff work, but rather of political discourse led by the prime minister and in cooperation with the coalition factions,” she states, warning that this approach would produce a deeply compromised investigative body.

Baharav-Miara also addresses the broader principle at stake, arguing that the scale and gravity of the October 7 catastrophe demand less government influence over an inquiry, not more. Any reform of inquiry mechanisms, she says, should aim “to reduce the dependence of a state commission on the government” in order to strengthen public confidence — not to increase that dependence through a politically constructed panel.

In another sharp criticism, she accuses the bill’s sponsors of exploiting the legislative process by advancing the proposal as a private member’s bill. The move, she says, allows the government to sidestep legal oversight, since government-sponsored legislation requires the attorney general’s approval, while private bills do not. In her view, the bill is meant to “serve the personal, political interests of the government and its members, while abusing the [legislative] pathway of a private member’s bill.”

The attorney general also takes aim at a ministerial committee set to begin discussions on the scope and mandate of the proposed commission, a body chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. She argues that the committee has no legitimate legal standing, noting that such committees operate only alongside a properly constituted state commission of inquiry under existing law.

“Therefore, there is no place for the government to support the bill,” Baharav-Miara concludes, urging the government instead to follow established legal procedures and create a standard state commission of inquiry to examine the October 7 failures.

{Matzav.com}

Following mounting criticism of its reporting on the Israel-Gaza war, the British Broadcasting Corporation has said it will conduct an extensive review of its Middle East coverage, acknowledging that serious journalistic errors were made along the way.

The decision comes in the wake of a detailed, 13-page dossier accusing the broadcaster of bias, along with the leak of an internal memo authored by independent adviser Michael Prescott. That memo argued that BBC reporting frequently presumed negative intent on Israel’s part. It also charged that BBC Arabic minimized Israeli suffering while depicting Israel as the aggressor, even though Hamas initiated the war with its October 7 terrorist attack.

Addressing the complaints, Peter Johnston, the BBC’s Director of Editorial Complaints and Reviews, issued a formal response evaluating the allegations. In his report, Johnston admitted that the corporation committed several major errors, including incorrectly stating that the International Court of Justice had determined there was a “plausible cause of genocide” in Gaza.

Johnston’s findings also pointed to serious problems in how casualty figures were presented. Among the mistakes cited was a Newsnight segment that raised alarm over claims that 14,000 babies were at risk of starvation within 48 hours — a figure the BBC later acknowledged was wrong.

Other failures outlined in the report included a televised claim that Israeli forces had buried bodies in mass graves, when in fact Hamas was responsible, as well as a story about Gaza medical workers that failed to mention allegations that Hamas was operating from the hospital in question. The BBC further conceded that it did not disclose that the narrator of a Gaza documentary was the son of a Hamas official.

According to Johnston, the BBC later issued corrections and acknowledged that it erred by relying on freelance journalists whose social media activity reflected support for Hamas and antisemitic sentiment. He also noted that the Editorial Guidance and Standards Committee had already begun rolling out additional training for BBC Arabic staff.

Looking ahead, the BBC Board, together with the Editorial Guidance and Standards Committee, plans to launch a full editorial review of the broadcaster’s Middle East reporting. Johnston said this process is intended to provide a thorough assessment of coverage on a highly complex and sensitive subject and to ensure that lessons are properly learned.

Beyond the Middle East, the report also reviewed the BBC’s approach to other contentious areas, including gender identity issues and Britain’s colonial past. In those cases as well, it acknowledged weaknesses in how criticism was handled and called for further internal scrutiny.

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Israeli defense officials disclosed new information Sunday about the intelligence campaign that led to the killing of Ra’ad Sa’ad, a senior Hamas figure who headed the terror group’s weapons production apparatus and played a central role in the October 7 massacre.

The operation, known as “Operation Last Supper,” was carried out just over a week ago and, according to officers involved, ranks among the most accurate and strategically significant strikes since the fighting began.

Sa’ad was regarded as a driving force behind Hamas’s weapons buildup and its so-called development “revolution,” overseeing the arming of terrorists while remaining deeply involved in operational planning.

Lieutenant M., who leads the Development Targets Department in the Intelligence Directorate, described Sa’ad as an especially elusive target who deliberately embedded himself among civilians. “He would make sure to stay in motion,” M. said in an interview published on the IDF’s Hebrew-language website. “He would move between hiding spots, he would stay in mosques, hospitals, and areas full of civilians, understanding that he was a top target.”

According to M., Sa’ad was not only involved in planning Hamas’s major attacks but took an active role in executing them, including the “Walls of Jericho” invasion plan aimed at Israeli communities near Gaza. “Beyond the operational coordination, he was particularly responsible for supplying weapons to the Hamas forces.”

Additional insight into the intelligence effort was provided by Lieutenant Y., head of the Enemy Activity Target Department in the Research Division, who emphasized the methodical nature of the operation. “The process was built over time. Persistent intelligence gathering, close surveillance, and early preparation, until the window of opportunity opened. When we got a clear picture, we acted precisely and swiftly.”

Y. stressed the strategic weight of the strike, describing Sa’ad as a linchpin within Hamas’s leadership structure. “The importance of the elimination is clear. This was one of the most active senior officials, a member of the original [Hamas] general staff, and a man who was directly behind smuggling and supplying weapons to attack Israel. We could not allow this to continue.”

He added that the removal of Sa’ad has already had a tangible impact on Hamas’s operational capabilities. “The damage to their ability to continue building up their capabilities is evident. Today they are operating out of necessity, with isolated attempts and a recovery capacity that is steadily diminishing.”

Despite the success, intelligence officials cautioned against complacency, underscoring that further operations remain ahead. “There is still work,” Lt. M. said. “We know who’s next in line. Each soldier and officer here understands the gravity of the mission; this elimination gives a sense of satisfaction, but there’s still a long road ahead.”

{Matzav.com}

White House border czar Tom Homan warned Sunday that violence directed at Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers will continue unless elected officials and other leaders change their tone around immigration enforcement.

Speaking during a televised interview, Homan said he has been sounding the alarm for months about the consequences of what he described as incendiary language aimed at federal agents. “I wish the hateful rhetoric from congressmen, mayors, and governors would stop, because I said back in March there’s going to be bloodshed,” Homan said. “I don’t want more bloodshed. But unless they stop doing what they’re doing, there will be more, and I worry about that every day.”

According to Homan, threats against ICE personnel have skyrocketed, rising more than 8,000%, while assaults on agents have jumped by roughly 1,300%. He said the figures are unprecedented based on his decades-long career in law enforcement.

The Trump administration, Homan said, is responding with a hardline posture toward anyone who interferes with immigration enforcement. He cited an increase in federal prosecutions under Attorney General Pam Bondi, noting that the Justice Department is pursuing record numbers of cases involving obstruction of ICE operations and physical attacks on officers.

“We’re sending a strong message,” Homan said, stressing that anyone who “puts a hand on an ICE officer” should expect to be arrested and face federal charges.

Homan tied his warning to what he described as dramatic improvements at the southern border under President Donald Trump, praising the administration’s policies as producing the most secure border in U.S. history. He pointed to sharp declines in migrant encounters, saying nationwide encounters dropped to just over 30,000 in November and are down 95% since Trump took office nearly a year ago, compared with levels during the Biden administration.

Deportations have also accelerated, Homan said, with ICE deporting more than 600,000 illegal aliens and an additional 1.9 million leaving the country voluntarily.

Despite those gains, Homan argued that resistance from certain political leaders and members of the judiciary has fueled a more dangerous climate for immigration officers. “You cross a line, you’ll be prosecuted,” he said, adding that accountability should apply “even if you’re a judge.”

As an example, Homan pointed to a Milwaukee County judge who he said was found guilty of obstructing federal immigration agents during an incident at a courthouse, describing it as emblematic of officials using their authority to block enforcement efforts.

Homan also raised alarms about unaccompanied migrant children, stating that approximately 300,000 children went missing during the Biden years. He said the current administration has located about 129,000 of those children through coordinated efforts involving the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Health and Human Services.

He urged political leaders to dial down rhetoric as enforcement operations expand nationwide, warning that continued escalation could lead to further attacks on federal officers.

The comments came as Homan traveled through Arizona, where he said he planned to speak at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest conference. He said his remarks there would focus on border security and what he views as shifting attitudes among younger Americans after recent national events.

“I look forward to talking eye to eye with them,” Homan said, explaining that he wants to directly outline the administration’s border policies and push back against what he characterized as widespread misinformation.

Homan concluded by arguing that tougher enforcement is saving lives by discouraging dangerous crossings and curbing fentanyl trafficking, while reiterating that protecting law enforcement officers remains paramount. “I don’t want more bloodshed,” he said, “but unless they stop doing what they’re doing, there will be more.”

{Matzav.com}

Russian officials moved Sunday to shut down speculation about imminent three-way negotiations with Ukraine and the United States, even as diplomats from several countries convened in Miami to explore possible paths toward ending the war.

Speaking to reporters, President Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov rejected claims that a trilateral framework was taking shape. “At present, no one has seriously discussed this initiative, and to my knowledge, it is not in preparation,” he said, according to Russian news agencies.

Ushakov added that Moscow has yet to review an updated American proposal aimed at resolving the conflict, saying he had “not seen” the revised plan. He also noted that Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who arrived in Miami over the weekend, “will return to Moscow, make his report, and we will discuss what to do next.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had revealed a day earlier that Washington had floated the idea of joint talks involving Kyiv and Moscow — a format that would mark the first direct encounter between the two sides in about six months. At the time, Zelenskyy was openly doubtful, telling reporters he was “not sure that anything new could come of it,” and urging the United States to apply greater pressure on Russia to bring the war to an end.

By Sunday, Zelenskyy struck a more cautiously hopeful tone, saying that discussions among American, European, and Ukrainian negotiators were “moving at a fairly rapid pace.” Still, he warned that “much depends on whether Russia feels the need to end the war for real.”

In a separate post on X, Zelenskyy painted a bleak picture of developments on the ground. “Unfortunately, the real signals coming from Russia remain only negative: assaults along the frontline, Russian war crimes in border areas, and continued strikes against our infrastructure,” he wrote.

He later added that “over the past week, Russia has launched approximately 1,300 attack drones, nearly 1,200 guided aerial bombs, and 9 missiles of various types against Ukraine,” saying the Odesa region and southern parts of the country had been “hit particularly hard.”

The Miami talks are being mediated by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, with the participation of President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Ukrainian and European delegations have been gathering there since Friday, alongside the Russian representative.

Washington last month surprised Kyiv and its European partners by circulating a 28-point peace framework that many viewed as accommodating Moscow’s core demands. That plan has since been revised following input from Ukraine and European governments, though details of the latest version remain scarce. Ukrainian officials are widely expected to face pressure to concede some territory in return for U.S. security guarantees — a prospect that has drawn strong resentment among many Ukrainians.

On the battlefield, Russian forces have continued to press forward in the east. Putin on Friday praised recent territorial gains by his army and warned that further advances could follow in the coming weeks. Moscow on Sunday claimed it had seized two villages in the northern Sumy region and eastern Donetsk, while Ukraine reported that it had shot down two Russian fighter jets over the occupied Crimean peninsula.

The last official direct talks between Ukrainian and Russian representatives took place in July in Istanbul, resulting in prisoner exchanges but little substantive progress toward halting the fighting. The presence of Russian and European officials together in Miami marks a shift from earlier efforts, when U.S. negotiators held separate discussions with each side in different locations.

Despite that change, hopes for face-to-face Ukraine–Russia negotiations remain dim. Relations between the two countries have been severely strained by nearly four years of the deadliest conflict Europe has seen since World War II. Moscow has also argued that European involvement complicates negotiations rather than helping them.

Still, the Kremlin signaled a limited openness to dialogue elsewhere. According to spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Putin has indicated a willingness to speak with French President Emmanuel Macron. “Putin has expressed readiness to engage in dialogue with Macron,” Peskov told RIA Novosti. “Therefore, if there is mutual political will, then this can only be assessed positively.”

Macron’s office responded that Putin’s statement was “welcome,” while stressing that any talks with Moscow would take place “in full transparency” and in close coordination with Zelenskyy and Europe’s allies.

{Matzav.com}

At a meeting held Sunday in Yerushalayim, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu received U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham at the Prime Minister’s Office, where the two discussed regional security and the path ahead.

During the conversation, the senator offered his assessment of the situation, warning about militant activity and setting his goals for the coming year. “Bibi, you look great. Happy Hanukkah to everyone! I came here with one goal – we accomplished a lot in 2025. I want to make sure that 2026 is a year of peace and victory over the bad guys. My impression is that Hamas is not disarming, but rearming. I have the impression that they are trying to consolidate their control over Gaza, not relinquish it. And I also have the impression that Hezbollah is trying to produce more weapons. That is an unacceptable outcome.”

Netanyahu responded by agreeing with Graham’s evaluation, adding a touch of humor to his reply. “You are right on both counts. You are usually right. I could even say always, but one has to leave a little room for error.”

Earlier in the meeting, the prime minister warmly welcomed the visiting lawmaker and emphasized their longstanding relationship. “I am delighted to welcome Senator Lindsey, a great friend of Israel and a very dear friend of mine, here. We have no better friends than him. Welcome,” Netanyahu said.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said that disarming Hamas is “absolutely going to happen” and that he expects to see other countries in the region join the Abraham Accords next year.

He spoke as U.S. President’s Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan is expected to move to its second stage next month following the president’s anticipated meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida after Christmas.

“The challenge of getting Hamas disarmed is not a goal that has been abandoned,” Huckabee told JNS in an exclusive interview in his Jerusalem embassy office. “The president has been very clear: They have to disarm and recognize they have no future in Gaza.”

The U.S. envoy noted that despite Hamas’s very public refusal to disarm—calling into question how the ceasefire can move forward—the Trump administration backed by the international community is determined to see it happen.

“Am I concerned? Of course. … But do I feel it won’t happen? No. In part because of the consistency of the president’s message and demand, and in part because all the Arab partners are holding firm to that same commitment on the peace plan,” Huckabee said. “No one has backed off on that. Everyone still agrees to that.”

The ambassador continued, “It is absolutely going to happen. President Trump said they can do it the easy way or the hard way. Iran didn’t take him seriously. He told them the same thing: the easy way or the hard way. They took the hard way.”

Huckabee noted that the Oct. 10 ceasefire has held despite intermittent skirmishes in Gaza, with recruitment underway of countries to take part in an international security force for the Strip, and aid supplies reaching the enclave daily.

“We are definitely in a much better place than we were two months ago,” he said, heaping praise on Trump for forging the ceasefire agreement. “It’s the first time in two years that Israelis can go to bed without anticipation of missiles.”

In the interview, Huckabee acknowledged that Israel has “somewhat of a veto role” regarding the participation of Turkey in the future international security force, which the U.S. favors, but said that some role could be found for the Anatolian nation, in comments that suggested that a compromise was likely.

“We recognize Israel has a right to say—somewhat of a veto power on certain participation,” he said. “It doesn’t mean that the Turks can’t have some role.”

Steve Witkoff, the United States envoy to the Middle East, held talks in Miami later on Friday with senior officials from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey as efforts continue to advance to phase 2 of the Gaza ceasefire.

Expansion of the Abraham Accords

The ambassador also told JNS that he expects additional countries to make peace with Israel next year as part of the Abraham Accords.

“I’m just an ambassador not a prophet …, but based on everything I’m seeing and being a part of, I do anticipate that we will see the expansion of the Abraham Accords [in 2026],” Huckabee said. “I would not be overwhelmingly surprised if you didn’t see something that would happen very close to Israel, in Syria, Lebanon.”

The ambassador said that the regional situation was “fragile to be sure,” but that neighboring countries increasingly understand that there is far more to be gained from normalization with Israel than to be at odds with the Jewish state.

“President Trump is in a very good place to help deliver that,” Huckabee said. “I don’t think anybody else could do that. He has an uncanny ability to do things that everybody said cannot be done.”

‘Journalism is for the most part dead’

The U.S. envoy said in the interview that one of his greatest frustrations in an otherwise “dream job” was to follow the hostile media coverage of Israel during the war.

“There is an enormous level of evil in the world and a lot of it gets printed on the pages of what once were respected newspapers and sites,” Huckabee said. “I think for the most part journalism is dead. What we have now is an international opinion market.”

He cited false claims, including from U.S. allies such as the U.K, that Israel deliberately prolonged the war and was starving Gazans as canards that “gullible people soaked in like poisons.

“It has been so frustrating to watch this from a front-row seat right in the middle of this,” he said.

Huckabee also blasted continuous anonymous sources and leaks—frequently highlighted in the Israeli press—reporting tensions between the governments of Israel and the U.S., saying such reporting is purely agenda-driven.

“If there was some major dustup between the U.S. or President Trump and the prime minister of Israel, don’t you think his representative in Israel would be informed of that?” Huckabee asked. “It’s absurd. Do you really think I am sitting here in the U.S. embassy … and something of that magnitude is going on and I am oblivious to it?”

At home in Israel

The 70-year-old Baptist pastor, former Arkansas governor, television host and two-time Republican presidential candidate—who bills himself as a Maccabee—visited Israel scores of times and led thousands of participants on solidarity tours since his first trip to Israel right out of high school, just before the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

From his Jerusalem embassy perch, Huckabee lived through the multi-front war for six months after taking up his position in April (“I haven’t seen this much war since the Baptist Convention in 1982”) and expressed relief and appreciation that the days of scurrying to the bomb shelter at night have passed (“my wife no longer has her ‘missile clothes’ at the foot of the bed”), even as he voiced concern that the scourge of violence against Jews around the globe continues unabated.

He blasted the atmosphere of “irrational Jew-hatred” that has spurred a blast of antisemitism, including within his own party.

“I am constantly saying to my fellow Christians that every enemy that Israel has and the Jewish people has is ultimately the enemy of the Christian people and of America because our values systems are based on the same platform,” he said. “There is a Judeo-Christian underpinning not only to Israel but to the U.S. Without the heritage of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob there would be no Israel but there would also be no America.”

Huckabee said that he feels right at home in Israel in “the assignment of a lifetime.

“We went back home to Arkansas for the first time in November for five-and-a-half days, and it was great to see the grandkids, friends and neighbors,” he said. “And as we were packing up getting ready to come back, my wife and I looked and each other and said it is time to come back home.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Finance Minister and Religious Zionism party chairman Bezalel Smotrich weighed in on the storm surrounding Israel’s draft legislation and the status of yeshiva students, declaring that he intends to lead a process that will result in the enlistment of thousands of chareidim into the Israel Defense Forces.

Speaking in an interview with Kikar HaShabbat, Smotrich said: “We will enlist thousands upon thousands of chareidim. We will make a historic change in which chareidi society takes all of its values and charges into the State of Israel. Unlike others, I am not looking for a campaign, not looking for populism, and not looking to turn them into enemies. I want them leading—in the army, in the economy, and in public service in Israel.”

According to Smotrich, many within the chareidi community want to integrate and be part of the broader society. “I believe there are enough chareidim who want to integrate,” he said. “I am determined to bring about a dramatic change in chareidi responsibility for the State of Israel.”

He added that he wants to see chareidim playing a central role in Israel’s economy and contributing their abilities. “I am working on several amendments,” Smotrich said, declining to provide details. “I’m intentionally not saying what they are, because I want to succeed.”

In a previous interview in the studio of Kikar HaShabbat, Smotrich addressed the draft law more broadly, stating: “Only a law that leads to a real process in which the chareidi public participates in the great mitzvah of defending the security of Israel and the eternity of Israel can work. This has to happen. The situation cannot remain as it is.”

He continued: “Anyone who thinks I will be a rubber stamp doesn’t understand what he’s talking about. In my worldview, there is no exemption from this mitzvah. Let’s see what kind of law is brought. I understand that this is a process and I am prepared for that patience—but I demand that it be real and fast.”

Smotrich said he is demanding “a genuine process that will enlist thousands of chareidim every year into the IDF, including combat service and other roles where they are needed.”

He also noted that he has conveyed his position directly to Prime Minister Netanyahu. “I tell the prime minister all the time that the chareidim will support it,” Smotrich said. “We will not be a ‘Shabbos goy,’ and I demand that this law be real.”

{Matzav.com}

Rav Dovid Schmidel, chairman of Asra Kadisha and head of the Tiveria–Kommemiyus Kollel, is hospitalized in serious condition and has been sedated and placed on a ventilator.

Rav Schmidel is receiving care at Maayanei Hayeshua Medical Center in Bnei Brak. He was admitted last week after developing pneumonia. Early Shabbos morning, he fell while in the hospital, after which doctors decided to sedate and intubate him.

Last night, in Bnei Brak, a tefillah gathering was held at the large beis midrash on Chiddushei HaRim Street. In Yerushalayim, tefillos were held at Beis HaKnesses Ohel Sarah on Nachum Blacher Street and at the kever of Shimon HaTzaddik.

All are asked to daven for Dovid Michoel ben Miriam.

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U.S. peace envoy Steve Witkoff is pressing ahead with efforts to move the Gaza process into its next stage, urging swift implementation of Phase 2 of President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan, including the creation of a new governing force intended to prevent Hamas from renewing attacks.

In a detailed statement published on X on Shabbos afternoon, Witkoff outlined recent diplomatic activity and the objectives now being pursued by Washington and its regional partners. He wrote that senior representatives from the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye convened in Miami to evaluate progress and lay the groundwork for the next phase of the ceasefire framework.

“We, the representatives of the United States of America, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the State of Qatar, and the Republic of Türkiye, met yesterday in Miami to review the implementation of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire and to advance preparations for the second phase.”

According to Witkoff, the initial phase has already produced tangible results on the ground, including humanitarian gains and reduced violence.

“The first phase has yielded progress, including expanded humanitarian assistance, the return of hostage bodies, partial force withdrawals, and a reduction in hostilities.”

Turning to the next stage, Witkoff said the discussions focused on establishing a governing structure inside Gaza capable of enforcing order and protecting civilians once the transition begins.

“In our discussions regarding phase two, we emphasized enabling a governing body in Gaza under a unified Gazan authority to protect civilians and maintain public order.”

He added that broader regional cooperation was also addressed as a critical component of long-term stability and recovery for Gaza.

“We also discussed regional integration measures, including trade facilitation, infrastructure development, and cooperation on energy, water, and other shared resources, as essential to Gaza’s recovery, regional stability, and long-term prosperity.”

Central to the next phase, Witkoff said, is the rapid establishment of a new transitional body tasked with overseeing civilian administration, security, and rebuilding efforts.

“In this context, we expressed our support for the near-term establishment and operationalization of the Board of Peace as a transitional administration for the civilian, security, and reconstruction tracks of the reconstruction. We reviewed next steps in the phased implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Plan for Gaza, underscoring the importance of sequencing, coordination, and effective monitoring in partnership with local Gazan institutions and international partners.”

Witkoff concluded by stressing that the parties remain committed to the full scope of President Trump’s plan and warned that cooperation and restraint will be essential as the process moves forward.

“We reaffirm our full commitment to the entirety of the President’s 20-point peace plan and call on all parties to uphold their obligations, exercise restraint, and cooperate with monitoring arrangements. Further consultations will continue in the coming weeks to advance the implementation of phase two.”

{Matzav.com}

Rav Dovid Batzri, one of the senior mekubalim and rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat HaShalom in Yerushalayim, is hospitalized in serious condition at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center, where he is sedated and on a ventilator.

Rav Batzri was admitted to the hospital several days ago, and while there had been some improvement in his condition last week, his health deteriorated sharply late Thursday night. Doctors were forced to sedate and intubate him, and he is now in need of extensive rachamei Shomayim.

Over Shabbos, several of Rav Batzri’s grandchildren remained at his side. On Motzaei Shabbos, his son, Rav Yitzchak Batzri, released a message from the entrance to the intensive care unit, making an emotional appeal to the public. Rav Yitzchak implored Klal Yisroel to daven for his father, stressing repeatedly that his condition is grave and that he urgently needs the tefillos of the Jewish people.

All are asked to daven for Dovid Shalom ben Victoria.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has brushed aside warnings from New York’s incoming mayor, signaling that a visit to the city remains firmly on his plans despite public threats of arrest.

Speaking in recent interviews, Netanyahu made clear that he is undeterred. He told the New York Times, “Yes, of course I will [come to New York],” and separately told Australian journalist Ein Molan that he is “not afraid” of Mamdani.

The comments come after mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani repeatedly claimed he would seek Netanyahu’s arrest should the Israeli leader enter New York City, pointing to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. Mamdani has accused Israel of war crimes during its military campaign against Hamas in Gaza.

In September, Mamdani articulated his position in stark terms, saying: “I think that our city should uphold the warrants that the International Criminal Court issues, whether for Benjamin Netanyahu or Vladimir Putin. Also, I am not Donald Trump. I will follow the laws as they are, not bend them to my will. We will pursue every legal avenue to make sure that accountability is present.”

US officials quickly pushed back, warning that a New York City mayor has no legal authority to detain a foreign head of government. Figures in the Trump Administration, along with New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, have cautioned that any such move would run afoul of federal law.

The latest exchange was sparked by a letter from Brooklyn Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, who invited Netanyahu to visit New York on January 1, 2026 — the day Mamdani is scheduled to take office. The New York Post described the invitation as a deliberate effort to needle the mayor-elect.

Netanyahu responded warmly to Vernikov, thanking her for the invitation and writing: “Even though I won’t be able to make it on that day, I assure you that I will visit New York soon. And I’d very much like to see you at that time.”

According to the New York Post, Netanyahu has privately indicated that a New York trip is expected in the near future, regardless of the political controversy surrounding his arrival.

{Matzav.com}

Sunday morning, during Rosh Chodesh tefillos, ushers at the Kosel plaza intercepted an effort by the Women of the Wall group to bring a Sefer Torah into the women’s section, an act prohibited under the site’s standing regulations.

According to officials on site, the Sefer Torah had been concealed inside the bag of an IDF reserve soldier accompanying the group. Security personnel asked to examine the bag, discovered the Sefer Torah, and promptly removed it from the plaza.

In response, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation sharply criticized the incident, saying: “We regret that the Women of the Wall group once again chose to exploit IDF soldiers in an attempt to violate the procedures in place at the Western Wall. As in the past, the group does not hesitate to employ provocative tactics that harm the sanctity of the site and the honor of the Torah scroll.

“The Western Wall Heritage Foundation embraces and honors IDF soldiers, both regular and reserve. The Western Wall will continue to serve as a place of prayer, strength, and comfort for them. During the recent Hanukkah holiday alone, thousands of IDF soldiers visited the Western Wall plaza to pray and give thanks at the holiest site of the Jewish people. The Foundation will continue to act to preserve the sanctity of the Western Wall, maintain proper order, and respect all visitors.”

The Women of the Wall, for its part, issued a statement pushing back against the enforcement action, declaring: “On Hanukkah, the holiday commemorating the Maccabees’ struggle for religious freedom, women are still denied religious freedom and the ability to practice their faith at the Western Wall. This situation is an absurdity under the authority of the Western Wall rabbi.”

{Matzav.com}

The brother-in-law of a man murdered in the Sydney terror attack traveled to a local hospital to personally thank the Muslim hero who stopped one of the attackers and helped save lives.

Rabbi Mendel Kastel, whose brother-in-law, Rabbi Eli Schlanger Hy”d, was murdered in the attack, visited Ahmed al-Ahmed, a Syrian-born Muslim who confronted and neutralized one of the terrorists during the assault. Also present was Sam Issa, Ahmed’s attorney.

Speaking to Ahmed as he lay in his hospital bed, his arm in a cast, Rabbi Kastel expressed deep gratitude. “Thank you, not only for saving lives, but for your courage,” he said. “The fact that you come not from a Jewish background but from a Muslim background makes this especially meaningful. Truly, thank you.”

Ahmed responded simply: “Exactly. We are all brothers. We are all human beings.”

Rabbi Kastel replied, “We have no words.”

Ahmed added that the visit itself meant a great deal to him. “The fact that you came here to visit is meaningful to me,” he said. “No matter what happens, we are all human beings. It doesn’t matter which religion. We must stand together and save lives.”

During the visit, Rabbi Kastel introduced his brother Zalman and presented Ahmed with a deeply personal gift. He explained that within the Jewish community, the Lubavitcher Rebbe would distribute a dollar to individuals every Sunday, encouraging them to give another dollar to charity. “I want to give you a dollar that the Rebbe gave me in 1988,” Rabbi Kastel said.

Ahmed responded with humility. “We are all human beings, and it is important to save lives,” he said. “I was simply walking with my cousin to buy something and get a haircut, but God sent me to save lives.”

Sam Issa, Ahmed’s attorney, provided an update on his condition. “He is stable but in pain,” Issa said. “He was shot four times in his left arm and lost sensation. He is expected to undergo several surgeries, one of them today. Despite the pain, his spirits are good.”

Issa added that Ahmed told him he would act the same way again. “He said that despite the pain, despite everything he went through and the surgeries ahead, he would do it again, because he knows he saved many lives.”

{Matzav.com}