Matzav

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich launched a fierce attack on Shas and its leader Aryeh Deri on Thursday, blasting their decision to quit the coalition while continuing to influence government ministries “from afar.” His remarks came just hours after Shas announced it would withdraw from all coalition roles, following weeks of escalating tension over the government’s handling of yeshiva students’ draft status.

Speaking in an interview with Kalman Liebskind at the Makor Rishon and Tzomet Institute conference, Smotrich expressed open frustration with the chareidi factions’ tactics. “I lost patience for these games a long time ago,” he said. “I think we can still complete this coalition’s term, but there’s no such thing as being both in the coalition and not in it. The coalition has to function and pass laws. The country needs to be governed. You can’t keep running ministries by remote control through your associates while pretending to be outside.”

The finance minister revealed that he had discussed the crisis with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, urging him to go to elections if no immediate solution could be reached. “I told the prime minister: either we fix the draft issue with a real law and end this absurd situation where the chareidim don’t participate in army service or we go to elections. This story has to end quickly,” Smotrich declared.

Earlier in the day, Shas officially announced its resignation from all coalition posts, citing the government’s failure to meet the deadline set by the Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah to pass legislation regulating the draft status of yeshiva students. “In accordance with the directive of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah from Tammuz 5785… Shas hereby announces its resignation from coalition roles in the Knesset,” the statement read.

The party confirmed that MK Yossi Taieb, chairman of the Education Committee, and MK Yoni Mashriki, chairman of the Health Committee, had submitted their resignation letters to the Knesset speaker. Shas vowed to “continue working with all its strength to secure the status of yeshiva students and Torah learners, who are the spiritual and historical foundation of the Jewish people,” and to “lead the fight against the political and cruel persecution campaign being waged against them.”

According to the statement, Shas will return to the coalition “once the status of yeshiva students is properly established.” Until then, the party said, it will coordinate closely with the other chareidi factions and consult regularly with the Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah on all Knesset votes.

{Matzav.com}

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As the next Knesset elections draw closer, tensions inside the right-wing bloc are intensifying, particularly between National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich.

The two, who only recently ran together on a joint list, have since clashed over their shared voter base. On Thursday evening, Ben Gvir took a pointed swipe at his former political partner while discussing the coalition’s proposed bill to lower the electoral threshold.

“I’m considering supporting the reduction of the threshold,” Ben Gvir told Kan News. “I want to help him,” he added with a smirk, alluding to polls showing Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party hovering dangerously close to failing to cross the minimum vote percentage needed to enter the next Knesset.

Ben Gvir also criticized Smotrich’s recent remarks about Saudi Arabia, in which the finance minister quipped that the Saudis should “keep riding camels” if they demand a Palestinian state as a condition for normalization.

“I wouldn’t speak that way about camels or the desert,” Ben Gvir said. “We must speak respectfully about every person. I don’t like those kinds of statements about people.”

In the last election, the two right-wing leaders were pressured by Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to unite out of fear that separate runs would waste right-wing votes and jeopardize the bloc’s majority. Whether the coalition will now move forward with lowering the electoral threshold — potentially allowing them to part ways without risk — remains to be seen.

{Matzav.com}

An inspiring encounter took place in Yerushalayim when the Rebbe of Sanz paid a visit to the home of the Slonimer Rebbe on Rechov Salant. The meeting between the two rebbes centered on reflections about the recent war, the miracles that Klal Yisroel has witnessed, and the extraordinary flourishing of Torah learning across the nation.

The two rebbes spoke at length about what the Jewish people have endured over the past two years. The Sanzer Rebbe expressed deep gratitude to Hashem “for the chassodim gedolim and open miracles experienced during this difficult period.”

The Slonimer Rebbe, filled with wonder, noted that baruch Hashem, “the number of benches in the batei medrash has multiplied to a degree never before seen in Jewish history.” In response, the Sanzer Rebbe remarked that “perhaps this very growth explains why there is such fierce opposition to the Torah hakdosha today.”

The visit concluded with the Rebbes sharing a lechaim and parting with warm brachos for peace and continued hatzlacha in spreading Torah throughout Klal Yisroel.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli security officials informed Vice President JD Vance on Thursday that Hamas is capable of handing over the bodies of most of the hostages who were murdered and remain in Gaza.

During a meeting attended by Defense Minister Yisroel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, and other senior defense figures, the Israeli delegation presented Vance with the latest intelligence assessment on the situation in Gaza. According to Kan public broadcaster, the officials “stated unequivocally” that Hamas can return the remains of at least 10 of the 13 hostages who are confirmed to have been killed, even before international recovery teams arrive in the Strip.

Israel has long been aware that Hamas might not be able to locate every body. Previous reports have suggested that several of the deceased hostages may never be found. An Israeli official quoted by CNN earlier this month said that between seven and nine bodies may be unrecoverable, while another assessment placed that number between 10 and 15.

Before the recent ceasefire, Hamas was holding the bodies of 28 hostages who were killed on or after October 7. Since then, the terror group has returned 15 of those bodies, in addition to releasing 20 hostages who survived captivity.

{Matzav.com}

During Wednesday night’s heated mayoral debate, socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani argued that New York City should prioritize mental health professionals rather than police officers when handling certain crises, signaling a sharp policy shift from the current administration.

When asked whether he would retain Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch if elected, Mamdani said he would, insisting that his government would be “relentless in its pursuit of safety and affordability for every New Yorker.” He praised Tisch for breaking from what he described as a corrupt leadership structure within the NYPD, saying, “Eric Adams stacked the upper echelons of the NYPD with corruption and incompetence. Commissioner Tisch took on a broken status quo, started to deliver accountability, rooting out corruption, and reducing crime across the five boroughs.”

Mamdani continued, “I have said time and again that my litmus test for that position will be excellence and the alignment will be of that position and I am confident that under a Mamdani administration we would continue to deliver on that same mission.” He explained that this vision includes launching a new “Department of Community Safety to ensure that mental health experts were the ones responding to the mental health crisis.”

He added, “Because safety and justice is at the cornerstone of our pursuit of public safety and in doing so we will also be able to deliver our agenda for affordability.”

Mamdani’s approach aligns with previous comments he made rejecting the use of police officers in cases such as domestic disputes or minor offenses. On the “Immigrantly” podcast in July 2020, he said: “Police do not create safety… there are so many responsibilities we’ve given to police that, frankly, should have nothing to do with their departments… if somebody is jaywalking, if somebody is surviving, going through domestic violence — there are so many different, different situations that would be far better handled by people trained to deal with those specific situations, as opposed to an individual with a gun.”

Republican contender Curtis Sliwa also voiced support for Tisch remaining commissioner but cast doubt that she would agree to serve under Mamdani or Andrew Cuomo. “She has railed against no cash bail,” Sliwa said, calling the policy a root cause of rising crime. “Cuomo, the architect of no cash bail, Zohran, the apprentice of no cash bail. That’s why criminals are running in the street.”

Cuomo, for his part, said he would ask Tisch to stay on as well, but he was skeptical that Mamdani’s words matched his true agenda. “The DSA’s position, his position has been to defund, disband the police. She wouldn’t take that. His current position, today’s position, was freeze the budget. That would cause a reduction in police. She has called for more police. I’ve called for more police. Mayor Adams has called for more police… DSA calls for eliminating misdemeanors. He wants to decriminalize prostitution,” Cuomo said. “I don’t think she would support any of that.”

The mayoral election is scheduled for November 4, 2025, setting the stage for a fierce ideological showdown over the future of law enforcement and public safety in New York City.

{Matzav.com}

A US official warned that Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu risks serious consequences if he undermines the Gaza cease-fire deal with Donald Trump. According to a report on Channel 12 reported by Times of Israel, the official put it bluntly: “Netanyahu is walking a fine line with President Trump. If he keeps going, he’ll [profanity] up the Gaza deal. And if he [profanity] up the deal, Donald Trump will [profanity] him.”

This sharp commentary comes amid mounting frustration in Washington over recent developments in Israel. In particular, the Knesset voted to advance two bills that would annex parts of the West Bank, a move that reportedly caught US officials off guard.

The source said that JD Vance, visiting Israel as Vice President at the time, was taken aback by the Knesset’s decision and felt that Israel was acting in an “unsupervised” way. Netanyahu briefed Vance during the visit on the vote, describing it as just a “preliminary vote” that would “go nowhere,” according to public broadcaster Kan.

Reacting to the update, Vance declared: “This cannot happen while I am visiting here.”

The Channel 12 piece adds that American officials had warned Netanyahu the vote had the potential to trigger backlash and destabilize the ongoing negotiations surrounding the cease-fire.

{Matzav.com}

In an unusual and noteworthy encounter, Rav Yoshiyahu Pinto met Thursday morning with Palestinian-American billionaire Bashar al-Masri, a prominent businessman known for his involvement in regional peace efforts. The two discussed the importance of pursuing understanding and unity between peoples.

Al-Masri, a native of Shechem who holds American citizenship, is the founder of Massar International, a company established in 1994 to strengthen the Palestinian private sector. He is best known for founding Rawabi, the first privately planned city in Judea and Samaria, a project estimated to have cost over one billion dollars.

During their conversation, Rav Pinto expressed appreciation for al-Masri’s ongoing work to encourage peace and kindness. “We must continue to work for global and regional peace. This is the time for connection and unity,” said Rav Pinto.

The rov later emphasized that lasting peace cannot be achieved through politics alone, but through human decency and moral strength. “Peace begins from one person to another, from small acts of kindness to major efforts of building and repair,” he said. “There is no longer room for division in the world.”

Rav Pinto has recently been involved in numerous high-level meetings with Israeli government figures. Among those he met with in recent days were Defense Minister Yisroel Katz, Finance Ministry Minister Ze’ev Elkin—who heads the National Renewal Directorate—Transportation Minister Miri Regev, Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar, and Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman.

A few months ago, Rav Pinto traveled to Washington, D.C., where he met with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu during Netanyahu’s diplomatic visit to the United States and his meeting with President Donald Trump. While there, Rav Pinto also conferred with Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer regarding ongoing regional challenges and opportunities for cooperation.

{Matzav.com}

Stepping in for the late Charlie Kirk, Tucker Carlson headlined a Turning Point USA event, which reportedly drew about 3,000 people, at Indiana University Bloomington.

The former Fox News host with a more recent history of antisemitic remarks told attendees that the Republican coalition is “fracturing over foreign policy, Israel specifically.”

Carlson said that he is hated for his views and that Israel is “the only thing its advocates care about.”

“You don’t have to hate people just because they don’t worship Bibi or something,” he said, of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Asked why Christianity should guide the moral framework of the United States, Carlson pivoted to Israel. “Collective punishment is immoral. It’s why what’s happening in Gaza is disgusting,” he said.

When discussing parenting, he noted in passing that “kids are every bit as entitled as Netanyahu.”

At Kirk’s funeral last month, Carlson drew widespread criticism for echoing centuries-old antisemitic tropes when he said that the man who assassinated Kirk was like the “guys sitting around eating hummus” who killed Jesus.

Before his assassination, Kirk faced pressure from donors to disinvite Carlson from Turning Point events. “Just lost another huge Jewish donor. $2 million a year because we won’t cancel Tucker,” he reportedly wrote in a message that was leaked to reporters. In the message attributed to him, Kirk reportedly added that he was thinking of inviting Candace Owens, a commentator who also circulates Jew-hatred regularly, as a speaker.

Carlson is listed as a speaker at Turning Point’s AmFest conference, slated to be held from Dec. 18 to 21 in Phoenix. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Michael Smuss, one of the last remaining fighters from the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, passed away this week at the age of 99.

Born in 1926 in Gdańsk, Poland, Smuss later moved to Łódź and then Warsaw. In 1940, he was among the hundreds of thousands of Jews imprisoned within the walls of the Warsaw Ghetto. Initially home to about 380,000 Jews, the population eventually swelled to nearly half a million, crowded into inhumane conditions. Disease and starvation were rampant, and bodies were often seen lying in the streets, Ynet reported.

Smuss joined the Jewish underground resistance in the ghetto, becoming part of a fighting group led by Mordechai Anielewicz. While working refurbishing helmets of German soldiers returning from the front, he gained access to a thinning chemical that could be used to make Molotov cocktails. Smuss stole as much as he could and secretly delivered it to the underground.

“We filled bottles and placed them on the rooftops near the ghetto entrance,” Smuss recalled in a 2022 video for the Sumter County Museum in South Carolina, which showcased his artwork. “We hoped that when they came in, we’d be able to throw them down.”

When the Nazis stormed the ghetto on April 19, 1943, with the intention of destroying it completely, hundreds of Jewish fighters rose up in resistance. That day, Smuss himself hurled Molotov cocktails at Nazi soldiers from the rooftops, according to his relative Paul Diederich, who lives in Germany and spent several months with Smuss in Israel earlier this year.

He was among the few fighters to survive nearly a month of fierce combat. Captured by the Nazis, Smuss was sent toward Treblinka, but, according to Diederich, the guards sent him back because they needed laborers. He was later transferred between several concentration camps and ultimately survived the death march in the spring of 1945.

In a January interview with Israel’s Ministry of Welfare and Social Services, Smuss recounted:

“In April 1945, they took us on a death march that lasted seven days and nights… in the rain, without food. When we reached the village of Stammsried, a few of us escaped to a farm. The old German farmer gave us milk to drink — after seven days and nights of nothing but rainwater. I drank the milk, fainted, and woke up in an American army ambulance. That was my second birth — once in Danzig, and once in Stammsried.”

After the war, Smuss immigrated to the United States, where he built a family. Years later, he moved to Israel, where he began a profound journey of processing his Holocaust experiences through art. There, he met his second wife, Ruti, who became his partner in life and inspiration.

“From that moment, Michael began to express his experiences through art and traveled to schools in Germany to show the descendants of his persecutors the unimaginable,” Diederich said. “Despite everything he endured, he kept his unmistakable sense of humor. Even at 99, he smiled and laughed with me.”

In recent years, Smuss lived in Ramat Gan.

At the powerful protest outside Prison 10 last night, Ateres Shlomo Rosh Yeshiva Rav Chaim Feinstein delivered a thunderous address, declaring that the Torah world would never surrender to the government’s draft decrees, even at great personal cost. The rally followed the arrest of Ariel Shamai, a bochur from Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo and a close talmid of the Rosh Yeshiva.

Standing before thousands of students gathered at the gates, Rav Feinstein called out emotionally, “Ariel, you tasted the sweetness of Torah — that’s why the yetzer hara is chasing you! It’s hard for him to see someone like you immersed in Torah. What do you think, that we’re afraid of you? You commanders, you judges of the High Court — you think we fear you? You’re mistaken! We will not bow, we will learn Torah with mesirus nefesh!”

Before the opening shiur by Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rav Feinstein’s passionate speech electrified the crowd. “Ariel, wherever you are, we’re with you! All of Ateres Shlomo stands behind you — the roshei yeshiva, avreichim, bochurim, thousands of bnei Torah! Hashem is with you! Learn Torah like Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in the cave. Laugh at the yetzer hara and tell him, ‘I’m not afraid of you!’”

He told the assembled students that they are the heart of Klal Yisroel: “You who toil in Gemara, Rashi, Tosafos, and Rabbi Akiva Eiger — you are the heartbeat of the nation! The entire existence of Eretz Yisroel, every soldier and officer, depends on your Torah!”

Rav Feinstein reminded them that Torah study has survived all persecutions: “We learned Torah under the Romans, under the Greeks, in Babylon, in the Holocaust camps, in exile and suffering — and we’ll continue to learn in any situation. What do you think — that we’re afraid of you? We’re not! We’ll keep learning no matter the cost!”

Citing the Gemara in Maseches Sotah, he thundered, “‘Do not let your heart tremble at the sound of horses and swords,’ because ‘Hashem your G-d goes with you!’ They come with human power, but we come with the strength of Heaven! Eleh varechev ve’eleh basusim va’anachnu b’shem Hashem Elokeinu nazkir!”

He concluded with a message of unwavering faith and strength: “We are not afraid of prison, not afraid of financial decrees, and not afraid of anything worse. You started a battle you can’t win — because we hold the Torah of Moshe and we cling to the Ribbono Shel Olam! Ariel, we’re waiting for you! Write twenty kashyos while you’re there — and when you return to the beis medrash, we’ll all listen and not know how to answer. You’re a true hero, bound to Torah and to Hashem. Chazak ve’ematz!”

{Matzav.com}

Saudi Arabia will become part of the Abraham Accords, normalizing ties with Israel by the end of the year, U.S. President Donald Trump predicted in an interview about the Gaza ceasefire with Time magazine, the full transcript of which was published on Thursday.

“I think Saudi Arabia will lead the way toward the Abraham Accords,” said Trump in the interview, which was conducted on Oct. 15.

Removing the Iranian threat was the linchpin, he stressed, and now more countries will join the accords, signed initially between four Muslim states and Israel during his first term. “I think that the Abraham Accords are going to start filling up very quickly. I actually know it,” Trump said.

Part of the reason Riyadh was willing to become part of the Gaza ceasefire deal was that the threat from Tehran had been eliminated thanks to the attack by Israel on Iran, which America joined in its later stages, to knock out that country’s nuclear and missile capabilities.

Saudi Arabia and the other countries that have backed the Gaza truce would not have done so if Iran was still at the height of its power, Trump said. But now the Islamic Republic has gone from threatening the region to “fighting for survival.”

The president said the deal might not have come about if not for Israel’s “tactical mistake” in attacking the Hamas compound in Qatar on Sept. 9. “I actually told the emir [of Qatar], this was one of the things that brought us all together, because it was so out of joint that it sort of got everybody to do what they have to do,” the American leader said.

Trump, in convincing Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to go along with the ceasefire plan, told him: “Bibi, you can’t fight the world. You can fight individual battles, but the world’s against you. And Israel is a very small place compared to the world.”

The president warned that If Hamas reneges on the deal, it will be in “big trouble.”

‘The people of Israel wanted the hostages’

He said the “big thing” was the return of the hostages, though he expressed surprise at the importance Israelis placed on it.

“You would have thought they would have sacrificed the hostages in order to keep going, right? The people of Israel wanted the hostages more than they wanted anything else. … Nothing to do with winning the war. … We just want our hostages back,” Trump said.

Although elements within Netanyahu’s coalition support the annexation of Judea and Samaria, Trump said that Israel would not dare annex the region as it would cost it America’s support.

“It won’t happen, because I gave my word to the Arab countries it will not happen. Israel would lose all of its support from the United States if that happened,” he said

On Wednesday, the Knesset passed in a preliminary vote a bill to annex Judea and Samaria, despite Netanyahu’s opposition. Vice President JD Vance, in Israel for a visit, said in response, “The policy of the Trump administration is that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel. That will continue to be our policy.”

Likud MK Ofir Katz, parliamentary whip for the coalition, announced on Thursday that the prime minister had instructed him not to advance proposals regarding the application of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria until further notice.

“Israel’s been very respectful of this country. And they let me know everything. And sometimes I’d say no, and they’d be respectful of that,” Trump said.

Asked whether the changes the Middle East has seen will stand the test of time, he said it depends.

“[I]t’s now just growing in a beautiful manner. So the question is what happens later? But I can say this, I have more than three years left. That’s a long time. While I’m there, it’s going to only get better and stronger, and it’s going to be perfect,” Trump said.

“If a bad president comes in, it could end very easily. … The most important thing is they have to respect the president of the United States. The Middle East has to understand that. And they do. If you go to Qatar, if you go to Saudi Arabia, if you go to UAE, who are the three big ones, in that sense, they all respect the president,” he said.

“If they don’t respect the president, and if the president doesn’t know what he’s doing, it could break apart. If they do respect the president, it’s going to be long-term beautiful peace.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

The Trump Organization executive vice president Donald Trump Jr. joins ‘Fox & Friends’ to discuss President Donald Trump’s White House renovations and the New York City mayoral race after the final debate.

WATCH:

Israel is standing firm against the International Court of Justice’s directive to permit UNRWA to resume its activities in Gaza, with senior officials making clear that there will be no reversal of current policy.

Speaking to Kan Reshet Bet, a senior Israeli official made the government’s stance unmistakable: “From our perspective, UNRWA will not set foot in Gaza again. Israel’s experience with UN agencies in Gaza has shown that they have either completely failed in their mission or were effectively influenced and operated by Hamas.”

The official added that Israel’s position has been made known to Washington as well. “We hope the United States will see eye to eye with Israel on this issue,” he said.

The International Court of Justice issued its ruling Wednesday, responding to a request from the United Nations. The court determined that Israel had not presented adequate proof that a substantial number of UNRWA employees were acting on behalf of Hamas, nor did it demonstrate that the agency lacked neutrality.

However, Israeli officials and intelligence sources maintain that the evidence against UNRWA is overwhelming. A January 2024 Wall Street Journal investigation revealed that roughly ten percent of the agency’s employees in Gaza had direct connections to terrorist organizations.

That report detailed that at least 12 UNRWA workers personally took part in the October 7 massacre—six joined the terrorists who stormed through the border fence, two assisted in the abduction of Israelis, two were tracked to sites where mass killings took place, and others coordinated weapons transfers and logistics for the assault.

In addition, intelligence indicated that a thirteenth employee, though not confirmed as affiliated with any specific terror group, also crossed into Israel on October 7.

The Wall Street Journal further cited intelligence findings that “around 1,200 of UNRWA’s roughly 12,000 employees in Gaza have links to Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and about half have close relatives” connected to these terror organizations.

A senior Israeli official told the paper that “UNRWA’s problem is not just ‘a few bad apples’ involved in the October 7 massacre. The institution as a whole is a haven for Hamas’ radical ideology.” An UNRWA spokesperson declined to comment on the report.

{Matzav.com}

The Shas Party announced on Thursday that it is withdrawing from all coalition roles in the Knesset, following the government’s continued failure to advance legislation protecting the status of bnei yeshivos who dedicate their lives to Torah study.

The move, which came on the instruction of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah, marks a new stage in the party’s protest against what it called the government’s “neglect of the Torah world.” Shas emphasized that the decision was made because the long-promised draft law—meant to formally recognize full-time Torah study as a legitimate exemption from army service—was not brought to a vote by the opening of the Knesset’s winter session earlier this week.

In its statement, Shas declared that it “will continue to fight with all its strength against the cruel campaign being waged against lomdei Torah, who learn day and night for the sake of Klal Yisroel and for the success and protection of our soldiers.”

The party affirmed that once the rightful status of bnei yeshivos is secured, it will return to its positions in the government and the Knesset. “Until then,” the statement said, “Shas will act in full coordination with the other chareidi parties and under the guidance of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah in all matters relating to Knesset votes.”

Sources close to Likud MK Boaz Bismuth, chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, called the move “surprising and unnecessary,” telling Channel 12 News that “threats at a stage when there is already an agreed-upon draft proposal do not help—they may actually delay progress rather than advance it.”

The winter session of the Knesset opened this week with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s coalition already weakened, following the earlier resignation of both Shas and United Torah Judaism over the same issue. The exemption of chareidim from military service has become one of the most contentious topics on the political agenda, with the potential to further destabilize the coalition.

In his address at the opening of the session, Netanyahu announced his government’s intention to introduce a plan to enlist 10,000 chareidi yeshivah students over the next two years, describing it as “a genuine revolution.” He cited the “Hasmonean Brigade” as a model, saying: “These bold fighters enlisted in the IDF as chareidim and will be discharged as chareidim, and we will add more tracks that will make this possible.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

In what could prove to be a major turning point in the investigation, French authorities have detected traces of DNA on a helmet and glove left behind by the thieves who executed the $102 million jewelry robbery at the Louvre. Police say the evidence is now being examined in hopes that it will reveal the identities of the culprits behind Sunday’s audacious daylight theft from the museum’s renowned Apollo Gallery, according to ABC News.

Officials suspect that the heist bears the hallmarks of organized crime but have stopped short of dismissing the theory that someone inside the museum may have played a role.

The discovery of genetic material comes as Louvre President Laurence des Cars appeared before France’s Senate Culture Committee on Wednesday to address the shocking breach. She disclosed that she had offered to resign after the theft but that her resignation had been turned down. “This tragedy deeply shocked museum staff, fellow citizens, and admirers of the Louvre around the world,” des Cars told the committee. “This is an immense wound that has been inflicted on us.”

Des Cars insisted that the museum’s alarm systems and internal surveillance were all in proper working order at the time of the break-in. However, she admitted that the Louvre has long struggled with a vulnerability along its outer perimeter. “The weakness of the Louvre is its perimeter security, which has been a problem for a long time … certainly due to underinvestment,” she said.

The museum’s president went on to explain that the ongoing “Grand Louvre renovation project,” initiated four decades ago, has so far modernized only about half of the museum’s facilities. She revealed that the only outdoor camera near the Apollo Gallery was pointed west, leaving the window through which the robbers entered completely out of view.

“The security system, as installed in the Apollo Gallery, worked perfectly,” she said. “The question that arises is how to adapt this system to a new type of attack and modus operandi that we could not have foreseen.”

While defending the integrity of the museum’s internal systems, des Cars nonetheless admitted the magnitude of the lapse. “Today we are witnessing a terrible failure at the Louvre,” she acknowledged. She noted that when she first assumed her role in 2021, she was alarmed by the state of the museum’s protective measures. “The security of the Louvre is one of my top priorities during my term of office, and I repeat that I was appalled by the museum’s security situation when I arrived in 2021,” she said.

Des Cars explained that the Louvre’s “aging infrastructure,” dating back over two centuries, has made it difficult to install advanced surveillance systems and other modern security technologies.

After remaining closed for several days amid the investigation, the Louvre reopened its doors to visitors on Wednesday morning, as law enforcement continues to pursue the high-profile thieves who stunned the art world.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu met Thursday evening in Yerushalayim with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as part of an ongoing series of high-level visits marking a new phase in American-Israeli cooperation.

Welcoming Rubio warmly, Netanyahu highlighted the significance of the recent American presence in Israel. “We’ve had incredible visits, first by President Trump in the Knesset, something that will be etched in our history. We had the Vice President yesterday. We had you today.”

Netanyahu emphasized the strength of the relationship between the two countries and the shared goals for the future. “This is a circle of trust and partnership. You have been an extraordinary friend of Israel, and now we face days of destiny. We want advanced peace. We still have security challenges. But I think that we can work together and address the challenges and seize the opportunities, and there are plenty of both.”

Rubio expressed optimism about the direction of current diplomatic efforts and the progress that has been made in recent days. “We’re back here just about over a week after a very historic day, when President Trump’s work with our partners led to this very historic breakthrough. Now there’s more work ahead of us. We feel very positive about it. We’re making good progress. It’s amazing that just in seven or eight days, the kinds of things that were set up.”

Reflecting on the pace and scope of these developments, Rubio noted the significance of continued collaboration. “Don’t have any illusions, we’ve already done the impossible once, and we intend to keep doing that. We can, and we have good partners who are working on this.”

He concluded by reaffirming the administration’s commitment to advancing the peace process. “The President has made this a top priority. I think it’s evident by the fact that both Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were here for much of the week. And the Vice President just left, we crossed on the way. I am here now because this is a priority, it’s a very important achievement, but there’s more to be done, and bigger achievements that lie ahead.”

Israel’s security forces have confirmed the elimination of eight Hamas terrorists directly involved in the October 7th atrocities, including those who infiltrated Israeli communities, murdered civilians, and abducted hostages into Gaza. The coordinated effort between the IDF, the Shin Bet, and the Israeli Air Force was led by the Southern Command in partnership with the Intelligence Directorate.

Following extensive intelligence work, the IDF and Shin Bet announced Thursday that four of the eliminated terrorists were responsible for kidnappings during the October 7th attacks. Among them was Ahmad Ibrahim Rajab Sha’er — killed on August 22, 2025 — who played a central role in the abduction of Noa Argamani and Avinatan Or from the Nova music festival. Ahmad Abu Marhil, neutralized on March 26, 2025, was also involved in the abduction of Avinatan Or. Arafat Dib, eliminated on May 30, 2025, took part in kidnapping Eitan Mor and holding him captive under Hamas. Odeh Alyan Ahmad Qaware’a, killed on August 26, 2025, was likewise responsible for detaining Israeli hostages in Hamas custody.

In addition to those directly tied to abductions, four more Hamas operatives who breached Israeli territory on that horrific day were taken out. Bakr Mujida, eliminated on July 13, 2025, broke through the border fence using a tractor during the invasion. Firas Gharir Suilem al-Hadaf, killed on August 23, 2025, participated in the assault on Kibbutz Kissufim. Ibrahim Salah Rajab Bakhit, neutralized on July 6, 2025, and Muaid Mahmoud Muhammad Nofal, eliminated on March 27, 2025, both crossed into Israel on October 7 and took part in the massacre.

In the aftermath of the Hamas invasion, the Shin Bet and IDF’s Southern Command established a special operations unit known as NILI, tasked with identifying and hunting down every terrorist who participated in the attacks and kidnappings. Staffed by seasoned intelligence operatives—both active-duty and reservists—the unit fuses intelligence gathering, field surveillance, and precision strikes to target those responsible for the atrocities.

Thousands of Hamas militants, including senior field commanders and participants in the October 7th assault, have been eliminated since the war began. These ongoing counterterror efforts rely on close coordination between the Intelligence Directorate, air and ground units, and fire-support centers working under the Southern Command.

The mission remains clear: to locate every infiltrator who entered Israel, returned to Gaza, and continues to hide among Hamas ranks. The operation has achieved significant results, including the elimination of senior Nukhba commanders directly involved in the mass killings across the Gaza-envelope communities and those who orchestrated the Nova festival abductions and held Israeli captives in Gaza.

{Matzav.com}

Eric Adams is throwing his support behind Andrew Cuomo in the heated New York City mayoral race — a stunning about-face from the same mayor who just weeks ago called his onetime rival “a snake and a liar.”

The endorsement, first reported by the New York Times, comes as Cuomo scrambles to gain ground on frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, with less than two weeks before voters head to the polls. Adams and Cuomo were spotted sitting courtside together at Wednesday night’s Knicks game, fueling speculation that a truce had been reached after months of hostility.

Adams confirmed to the Times that he plans to actively campaign with Cuomo, emphasizing the need to reach minority neighborhoods he once represented. “It is imperative to really wake up the Black and brown communities that have suffered from gentrification on how important this race is,” he said.

Whether Adams’ backing can change the trajectory of the race remains uncertain. Cuomo, running as an independent, is trailing Mamdani by double digits in most polls. Adams, who exited the race in late September after a stagnant campaign, had consistently ranked last among major candidates.

The two men’s relationship had grown toxic during the campaign, culminating in Adams labeling Cuomo “a snake and a liar.” Adams had also accused the ex-governor of undermining his fundraising efforts by spreading rumors that he was preparing to bow out.

Todd Shapiro, who previously served as Adams’ campaign spokesperson, declined to respond to questions about the endorsement. When pressed about Adams and Cuomo being seen together at Madison Square Garden, Shapiro quipped that “the only endorsement Andrew Cuomo and Eric Adams made that night was for the Knicks,” adding, “when the mayor makes a mayoral campaign endorsement, he’ll announce it.”

Cuomo, 67, launched his independent run after losing to Mamdani, 34, in the Democratic primary by more than twelve points. According to a recent Fox News poll, Mamdani holds 49% of the vote among registered voters, with Cuomo at 28% and Republican Curtis Sliwa trailing at 13%. Prediction markets also reflect those odds, with Polymarket giving Mamdani a 93% chance of victory compared to just 6% for Cuomo.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump pardoned cryptocurrency titan Changpeng Zhao, whom the U.S. government convicted of violating anti-money-laundering laws in connection with his crypto exchange Binance, the White House said Wednesday.

“President Trump exercised his constitutional authority by issuing a pardon for Mr. Zhao, who was prosecuted by the Biden administration in their war on cryptocurrency,” White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in an email. “In their desire to punish the cryptocurrency industry, the Biden administration pursued Mr. Zhao despite no allegations of fraud or identifiable victims.”

In November 2023, Zhao pleaded guilty to violating anti-money-laundering guidelines – and agreed to step down as chief executive of Binance as part of plea deal. Binance also agreed to pay a $4.3 billion fine, which at that time was among the largest ever levied against a corporation. It’s unclear what the pardon means for payment of the fine and Zhao’s ability to lead his company again.

(c) 2025, The Washington Post · Julian Mark 

{Matzav.com}