Matzav

A potentially catastrophic collision was averted Saturday night thanks to the quick reflexes of a commercial airline pilot who took sudden evasive action to avoid a close encounter with a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber in North Dakota airspace.

The incident involved an Embraer E175, operated by SkyWest Airlines and flying on behalf of Delta Connection. The flight had departed from Minneapolis-Saint Paul and was on its way to Minot International Airport when it came dangerously close to a B-52 Stratofortress associated with Minot Air Force Base.

As the two aircraft neared each other mid-flight, the pilot of the E175 performed a sharp and urgent maneuver to steer away from the approaching bomber. According to a report by Aviation A2Z, passengers and crew seated on the right side of the regional jet were able to spot the massive B-52 outside their windows.

Despite the sudden course changes, passengers described the mood inside the cabin as oddly subdued.

“I felt like I was gaslighting myself, like maybe I was being crazy, because no one else was reacting,” passenger Monica Green told KFYR TV.

Green recalled that the sharp bank of the aircraft was followed by a cryptic message over the intercom.

“We took a really hard turn, and that’s when the pilot got on the intercom and said, ‘sorry everybody, I’ll explain everything when we land safely,’” she said.

Her impression was that the tone of the announcement hinted at just how close the call had been.

“The way he said it, it almost sounded like he was insinuating that landing safely might not be an option for a moment. We all just kind of looked at each other and stayed quiet.”

She commended the pilot for taking the time to fully inform the passengers once the situation had been resolved.

“He was very casual, if you can be casual about something like that, but you could tell he was stressed. He was almost shaking, trying to find the right words, but he was nice and detailed. It felt good that they weren’t just going to brush it off,” Green said.

Later, the pilot explained over the PA system that air traffic control had instructed him to adjust the plane’s heading due to a lack of sufficient spacing from an aircraft ahead of them during the descent.

The bomber involved in the incident, a B-52, had not been previously identified to the pilot, who said this was particularly surprising given that Minot Air Force Base is equipped with radar that should have prevented such a situation. According to the report, the pilot assessed the safest option was to maneuver the jet behind the military plane.

Passengers expressed their gratitude once the plane was safely on the ground, acknowledging the pilot’s professionalism and transparency throughout the ordeal.

Minot Air Force Base, located near the airport, is home to the 5th Bomb Wing and the 91st Missile Wing, both of which are responsible for operating and maintaining a large fleet of aircraft and military assets, including 26 B-52s.

The commercial aircraft involved was a Delta Connection regional flight, operated by SkyWest Airlines.

“SkyWest flight 3788, operating as Delta Connection from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Minot, North Dakota on July 18, landed safely in Minot after being cleared for approach by the tower but performed a go-around when another aircraft became visible in their flight path. We are investigating the incident,” SkyWest said in a statement to The NY Post Sunday.

{Matzav.com}

A man living in the United States illegally, who had been released under the Biden administration’s border policies, is accused of shooting an off-duty Border Patrol agent in the face during an attempted mugging in New York City. Despite being hit twice, the agent returned fire, injuring the suspect as he escaped on a moped.

Video footage shared by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) captures two individuals riding a moped into a park situated along the Hudson River. One of them dismounts and approaches the off-duty agent, who is seated on a rock by the water. As he nears, he appears to draw a firearm and opens fire on the agent.

In response, the agent scrambles for cover and fires back. The shootout continues for roughly 25 seconds, during which the agent lifts himself up twice to return fire while staying in motion to avoid getting hit again. Eventually, the suspect gets back to his feet and climbs onto the moped, appearing wounded as he attempts to escape. The moped takes off with both men.

According to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the man accused in the shooting has been identified as Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, a citizen of the Dominican Republic. Noem stated that he illegally re-entered the U.S. in April 2023 and was taken into custody by Border Patrol near San Luis, Arizona.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s report on land border encounters shows that Mora Nunez was among nearly 212,000 illegal immigrants who crossed into the U.S. from the southern border that same month. Because detention centers were overfilled, the Biden administration’s catch-and-release directives led to Mora Nunez being released into the country’s interior.

Secretary Noem further noted that Mora Nunez had an active kidnapping warrant out of Massachusetts. She added that he had been linked to multiple criminal incidents in the United States during the short period he had been living here.

Tricia McLaughlin, DHS Assistant Secretary, revealed that Mora Nunez had received a final deportation order back in 2003. That meant his re-entry in 2023 was considered a felony offense. She stated that his past charges included felony-level second- and third-degree assaults. Despite this record, he was released due to policies in place under Biden.

President Donald Trump responded on Truth Social, praising the wounded agent’s bravery. He wrote that the Border Patrol agent “bravely fought off his attacker, despite his wounds, demonstrating enormous Skill and Courage.” He referred to Mora Nunez as a “Monster freed into the Country under Joe Biden.”

According to a report by the New York Post, the agent was struck by two bullets—one in the face and another in the arm. After undergoing surgery, DHS officials say he is currently in stable condition.

The New York Post further reported: “At the time of his arrest for the shooting, he was wanted on kidnapping and weapons charges out of Massachusetts, sources said. He also had at least four arrests in New York City — where he was let go without bail each time, according to the sources. Morawas was nabbed twice just days apart August 2024 for allegedly assaulting a pregnant woman and threatening to kill another migrant with a machete. Then he was arrested for violating an order of protection in November 2024, and had another bench warrant out for his arrest issued in January, sources said.”

Following the exchange of gunfire, Mora Nunez reportedly walked into a hospital in the Bronx, having sustained three gunshot wounds. He is now in police custody while the NYPD continues its investigation. The individual who was operating the moped remains on the run.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has decided that the head of the United Nations’ humanitarian coordination office in Israel, Jonathan Whittall, will not have his residency permit renewed.

Sa’ar explained that this move was prompted by what he described as Whittall’s “biased and hostile conduct against Israel, which distorted reality, presented false reports, slandered Israel, and even violated the UN’s own rules regarding neutrality.”

“Whoever spreads lies about Israel – Israel will not work with him,” Sa’ar declared.

OCHA spokesperson Eri Kaneko previously noted that Israel had started issuing shorter-term visas to UN personnel and had refused entry permits for several agencies attempting to enter Gaza.

Kaneko stated, “It was indicated to us that our current Head of Office, Jonathan Whittall, won’t have his visa extended by Israeli authorities beyond August. This came immediately after remarks he made at a press briefing about starving people being killed while trying to reach food.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Tensions within the chareidi political world came to a boil on Sunday night, as senior members of United Torah Judaism sharply criticized Shas leader MK Aryeh Deri for what they described as a breach of trust and questionable political maneuvering, following Shas’s decision to remain in the government.

Speaking to Channel 12, insiders from UTJ voiced their dismay, accusing Deri of misleading both the UTJ leadership and leading gedolei Torah. They noted that while UTJ loyally followed daas Torah and immediately stepped down from all government positions, Shas kept its ministers in place and allowed its committee chairmen to remain in power.

“Deri speaks of justice, yet his actions are hypocritical. He led the call to leave the government, and now he’s mocking the very principles he claimed to uphold,” said one UTJ source.

They further alleged that Deri ignored the guidance of Shas’s own Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah. “This is the same Deri who vetoed MK Meir Porush’s appointment as Housing Minister — allegedly in the name of the draft law struggle, but in reality, out of political revenge,” the source claimed. “With Deri, it’s all about political interests.”

Shas fired back strongly, issuing a firm response dismissing the accusations as slanderous and deeply disrespectful to the gedolim.

“These so-called ‘sources’ are showing deep disrespect toward our greatest Torah leaders,” the party said in a statement. “It’s absurd to suggest that United Torah Judaism’s decision to leave the government stemmed from political pressure rather than direct rabbinic instruction.”

The statement emphasized that Shas’s actions were fully coordinated with Degel HaTorah and carried out under the explicit guidance of senior gedolei Yisroel. As for the delay in ministerial resignations, the party insisted it was purely technical, simply to allow for the completion of important responsibilities.

“The partnership and coordination between the parties continues, just as it has throughout this shared struggle,” the statement concluded.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israeli authorities believe that Hamas is likely to accept the latest plan for repositioning IDF troops in the Gaza Strip as part of a framework for a hostage release agreement.

A source with direct knowledge of the negotiations told Kan News on Sunday that “we can reach the long-awaited breakthrough for a deal within a few days.”

The updated deployment outlines provided by Israel to Hamas reportedly offer a higher level of flexibility than before. Among the adjustments proposed are modifications to the Morag Corridor route and alterations to how Israeli forces are stationed inside Gaza.

A senior IDF figure expressed optimism, saying: “I hope that this week we’ll have a deal. The IDF recommends to the political echelon to reach a deal, there is a great desire on both sides.”

The official noted that the military suggests maintaining a presence along the outer perimeter in positions that provide oversight and security for the towns and kibbutzim bordering Gaza.

{Matzav.com Israel}

In a fiery interview with Yishai Cohen in the Kikar HaShabbat studio, United Torah Judaism leader MK Yitzchak Goldknopf has broken a year-long silence to publicly slam Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, accuse the government of betraying yeshiva students, and warn of chaos if the IDF dares to arrest Torah learners.

Goldknopf, who until now had refused all media appearances—even after resigning from the government—finally opened up about what he says are broken promises, failed negotiations, and deep disappointment. He revealed that Netanyahu had personally pledged that the judicial reform would lead to legal protections for bnei yeshiva. “But we got zero,” Goldknopf declared. “Just empty words, promises that disappeared into thin air.”

Reflecting on the formation of the coalition, Goldknopf said he had approached the Gerer Rebbe to report on the government’s draft law commitment. The Rebbe’s response: “What guarantee do you have?” Goldknopf recounted that Netanyahu offered him a ministerial role in the Prime Minister’s Office in lieu of any binding guarantee. “Every time I raised the issue, Netanyahu got upset,” he said. “But I never let up. I brought it into every meeting.”

He described storming into a closed-door budget discussion when he was excluded. “I told them, ‘No draft law—no budget!’ But all we got were floating phrases and vaporous promises.”

Goldknopf revealed that Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs gave him a letter stating that a draft law would be presented by October 15, 2023. “Since then, nothing’s happened. Every day they tell me, ‘It’s coming, it’s coming.’ But we had to threaten unpleasant consequences. That’s why we left the government. We’re getting nothing—no education budgets, no welfare funding. I submitted a report: it was all zero.”

He reiterated that United Torah Judaism will not accept any draft law that includes quotas or sanctions. “We signed an agreement. It doesn’t say a word about penalties, quotas, or punishments. Why should Torah learners be beaten down? Let them learn. Bring back yeshiva budgets. Bring back daycare subsidies. They’ve hit everything except the elderly—but give them time, they’ll start evicting grandfathers whose grandsons don’t enlist.”

Goldknopf expressed full support for his aide Moti Babchik, who was recently dismissed from the Housing Ministry. “What’s the question? Every day, every moment, I stand with him. If firing him is meant to hit us hard—go ahead. Let them.”

Looking to the future, he said, “I believe the next government will also be right-wing, headed by Netanyahu or someone else. But we—and the other chareidi parties—will not join any government without a proper draft law. No quotas, no goals. That will be the condition.”

He also dismissed criticism from Yair Netanyahu, who accused him of “selling the Negev to the Arabs” the day he resigned. “What, now I should respond to his grandson too? Let him say what he wants. What does he know about what goes on in the Prime Minister’s Office? He’s not even in the country. It’s nonsense.”

Goldknopf revealed what took place behind the scenes when Netanyahu and Justice Minister Yariv Levin were securing chareidi support for judicial reform. “They told us to back it because we’d get a ‘Basic Law: Torah Study,’ and the override clause. They said, ‘This is for your benefit.’ And what did we get? Nothing. We were misled. We failed.”

With the military and attorney general signaling that arrests of bnei yeshiva could begin within weeks, Goldknopf issued a dire warning: “This is a decree no one will be able to carry out. You want to shake the state? Go ahead. There will be no quiet here—not in any form. I’m not talking about violence or blood—but this country will not rest. You cannot touch yeshiva students. You cannot arrest Torah learners. It won’t happen.”

He criticized his chareidi coalition partners for not creating a crisis earlier—particularly during state budget votes. “In the end, we all reached the same conclusion. No draft law, no cooperation. If we hadn’t voted for the budget, the law would’ve passed already. I’m telling you.”

As for drafting non-learners, Goldknopf said, “First show me where you’re sending them. Are you guaranteeing they’ll come out chareidi? I get letters every day calling those promises lies. First build a real system that supports Yavneh v’chachameha—then we’ll talk.”

He also addressed the controversy surrounding a viral wedding video in which guests sang “We’ll die before we enlist” while dancing near him. “No one saw me dancing. They were dancing around me against me. They came to provoke. And instead of defending my dignity, people poured fuel on the fire. What do you want me to do, pour water on the gasoline?”

Goldknopf emphasized that the draft law is entirely in Netanyahu’s hands. “If he wants it, it’ll pass. If he truly wants a law, there will be one. Does that mean I believe him? I’ve given my faith to Someone Else. I believe only in Hakadosh Baruch Hu.”

Concluding the interview, he made clear: “The law we want to support will have no quotas and no sanctions. There is no such thing in any law in the State of Israel. Tell me another law that has penalties? Why target these poor yeshiva guys? They’re a small part of the country—and yet everyone obsesses over them. Let them live. They’re not bothering you.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

A powerful moment unfolded this past Motzaei Shabbos at the Yazdim Shul in Yerushalayim, where Sephardic Chief Rabbi and nosi of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah, Rav Yitzchak Yosef, delivered his weekly shiur.

During the gathering, Rav Yosef turned to the elder mashgiach, the tzaddik Rav Naftali Chadash, who sat beside him, and shared a deeply personal and moving story from his younger years learning in Yeshivas Chevron—more than 50 years ago—highlighting the remarkable sensitivity of Rav Naftali’s father, the legendary mashgiach, Rav Meir Chadash.

“We had the zechus to learn under him in Yeshivas Chevron,” Rav Yosef began. “All the rabbanim in the yeshiva—Rav Chatzkel Sarna, Rav Moshe Chevroni, Rav Simcha Zissel Broide, Rav Meir Chadash—they all gave their shmuessen in Yiddish. And I didn’t know Yiddish,” he admitted in a rare moment of vulnerability.

Rav Yosef then described the hardship he and his fellow Sephardic students faced at the time. Not fluent in Yiddish, the language used for both learning and general communication in the Ashkenazi yeshiva world of the era, they felt alienated during sichos. “What would we do?” he said. “We’d run to the library, to the women’s section… looking for anywhere to go during the shmuess.”

And then came the revelation that gripped the entire room: “The only one who cared about us,” Rav Yosef declared emotionally, “the only one who cared was Rav Meir Chadash.”

He went on to recount a remarkable act of kindness and sensitivity. “On the nights when there was a shmuess in the yeshiva, afterward, in his own home—he lived downstairs in the yeshiva—he would gather us all, and he would repeat the shmuess in Hebrew.”

Rav Yosef connected the story to the broader worldview of his father, Maran Rav Ovadia Yosef, who sent his sons to both Ashkenazi and Sephardi yeshivos. “To take the good from each,” he explained. He noted that one of the strengths he saw in the Ashkenazi yeshivos was the encouragement and praise given to bochurim. “You need to encourage the boys, to strengthen them,” he emphasized.

The crowd was visibly moved by his words, especially Rav Naftali Chadash, who was hearing for the first time this rare and powerful story about his illustrious father.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The Satmar community in Yerushalayim is urging the public to daven for the complete recovery of their dayan, Rav Moshe Zev Zorger, Moshe Zev ben Sarah, who is currently hospitalized and in need of abundant rachamei Shamayim.

Rav Zorger suffered a stroke approximately two weeks ago. Although he had been discharged to a rehabilitation facility, he was readmitted to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Yerushalayim this past Friday.

In response, Satmar has put up signs in their batei medrash throughout Yerushalayim calling on the community to daven on his behalf.

Rav Zorger is the author of the seforim Vayeshev Moshe and serves as the dayan of the Satmar community in Yerushalauyim, as well as a moreh hora’ah under the Eidah HaChareidis.

All are asked to daven for a refuah sheleimah for Moshe Zev ben Sarah.

{Matzav.com}

Israel is reportedly hopeful that Hamas will respond favorably to the latest proposal for a hostage release deal, according to a report broadcast Sunday on Kan News. The optimism stems from what officials describe as substantial Israeli concessions included in the revised plan.

The new maps submitted by Israel to Hamas reflect a shift in Israel’s position, particularly in two key areas: a redrawing of the Morag corridor and a significant change in the deployment of IDF forces within Gaza. Sources close to the negotiations suggest that these modifications could help push the talks forward. “A breakthrough could be reached within days,” one source told Kan News.

A senior military official said there’s growing hope that a deal might be finalized this week. “I hope that this week we’ll have an agreement. The IDF is advising the political echelon to reach a deal—there is strong interest from both sides,” the official stated. According to him, the army has recommended keeping IDF forces stationed in positions overlooking Israeli communities surrounding Gaza, ensuring strategic oversight during the ceasefire.

The draft agreement, developed with the help of international mediators, outlines the release of 28 Israeli hostages—10 living and 18 deceased—over a 60-day ceasefire period. The plan also calls for an immediate and sufficient flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, under the supervision of the United Nations and the Red Crescent.

On the first day of the truce, eight living hostages are to be released. On the seventh day, five deceased hostages would be returned. Another five bodies would be transferred on the 30th day, followed by two more living hostages on the 50th day. On the final day of the ceasefire, eight additional bodies would be released.

Following the initial release of hostages, Israel would begin a phased military withdrawal, first from northern Gaza and later from southern areas. According to the terms of the draft deal, Hamas would be obligated on the tenth day to provide information regarding the remaining captives in Gaza. In exchange, Israel would release details about over 2,000 Palestinians from Gaza who have been held in administrative detention since the war began. Israel would also agree to a broader release of Palestinian prisoners as part of the deal.

U.S. envoy Adam Boehler told CNN on Sunday, “After Israel defeated Iran, there’s now an opportunity to secure a deal. Israel wants this. I know them. Hamas has been very rigid. They’ve been offered many deals they should have accepted, and it’s time they release the hostages. I’m more optimistic than I was before. Now I want to see Hamas take action. If they don’t—Israel will launch military operations.”

Despite the growing optimism and what officials describe as a narrowing of the gaps between the sides, Israel currently has no plans to send a high-level delegation to Doha, according to a Ynet report. Sources familiar with the situation said that the idea of dispatching such a delegation “is completely off the table for now,” and there is no specific timeline for finalizing an agreement. “There are still unresolved issues, and talks are ongoing. It’s taking time,” they added.

Channel 12 reported that top Hamas leaders in Doha are leaning toward accepting the offer. However, a firm response has yet to be received from Hamas’s military leadership in Gaza. Egyptian and Qatari mediators are reportedly pressing Hamas to provide an answer quickly, sources close to the talks said.

A separate foreign source involved in the negotiations confirmed to Channel 12 that the main obstacle now lies with senior Hamas figures, who continue to delay a response while fixating on minor, less significant issues.

“Every day they delay this deal, more Palestinians are dying—whether from hunger or Israeli airstrikes. We can’t keep waiting for a few Hamas officials to make up their minds. Who do they think they are? Hundreds of Palestinians have died just since they received this new proposal last week,” said a source involved in the negotiations.

{Matzav.com Israel}

MK Benny Gantz, head of the Blue and White Party and a past Chief of Staff of the IDF, pushed back forcefully against allegations recently made by UNRWA about conditions in Gaza.

UNRWA took to social media to declare, “The Israeli Authorities are starving civilians in #Gaza. Among them are 1 million children. Lift the siege: allow UNRWA to bring in food and medicines.”

In response, Gantz firmly dismissed the accusations. “As someone who has spent over 40 years in Israel’s Security Establishment – both as IDF Chief of Staff & Minister of Defense, I can say this unequivocally: Not only has Israel never starved or targeted civilians, but it goes above and beyond to protect civilians in the most complex of war zones like Gaza.”

He made it clear that the root of the suffering is Hamas itself. “We must be clear – culpability for harm inflicted on civilians rests on terrorist Hamas and Hamas only.”

Gantz didn’t hold back in his criticism of UNRWA either, accusing the agency of being tainted and untrustworthy. He stated that Israel is taking steps to strip Hamas of its influence over the delivery of humanitarian supplies, whether that control is exercised directly or through “compromised agencies like UNRWA.”

Turning to the international community, Gantz called on global actors to throw their support behind the American-led Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) plan and to reject what he described as “the manufactured claims of ‘genocide.'”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Last night, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu was evaluated at his residence by Professor Alon Hershko, who heads the internal medicine department at Hadassah Ein Kerem, after experiencing health issues.

Professor Hershko diagnosed the Prime Minister with an intestinal infection, which was linked to the consumption of spoiled food. Subsequent assessments also revealed that he was suffering from dehydration as a result of the condition.

According to an update from the Prime Minister’s Office, his overall health status is stable, and he is currently being treated with intravenous fluids based on medical advice.

The statement added, “Following the doctors’ instructions, the Prime Minister will rest at home for the next three days and will oversee government affairs from there.”

Reacting to the news, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said, “I wish Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu a full recovery and robust health. The people of Israel need you strong so you can continue to lead, with courage and determination, all the good things we are doing together for the nation, the state, and security — on all fronts.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Author Douglas Murray reacts to Democrat mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani vowing to arrest Bibi Netanyahu if he were to set foot in New York City.

WATCH:

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard joins ‘Fox & Friends’ to explain new findings alleging the Obama administration manufactured intelligence to frame a narrative that Russia was interfering in the 2016 election.

WATCH:

Andrew Cuomo issued a strong warning about the future of New York City if socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani comes out on top in the mayoral election—threatening that he’d pack his bags for the Sunshine State. Speaking at a breakfast event in the Hamptons on Saturday, the former governor, now running as an independent for NYC mayor, didn’t mince words. The gathering took place at 75 Main in Southampton, and according to the New York Post, Cuomo made it clear that the race has high stakes. “It’s all or nothing,” Cuomo stated. “We either win or even I will move to Florida. God forbid!”

At the same event, Cuomo criticized Mamdani’s ambitious housing proposals, especially his plan to freeze rents on stabilized apartments—ideas Cuomo dismissed as detached from economic reality. “The governor took plenty of shots at Mamdani’s pie-in-the-sky proposals to freeze rents on stabilized apartments, calling it a ‘death sentence’ for the housing market because it would likely lead to many landlords spending less money maintaining properties.”

In response to the media coverage, Cuomo’s spokesperson Rich Azzopardi clarified that the Florida remark wasn’t a literal threat to relocate. He insisted Cuomo’s commitment to the Empire State is unwavering. “Governor Cuomo would never give up on New York,” Azzopardi explained. “That said, the line underscored the stakes in the upcoming election and the risk of electing a dangerously inexperienced, hate-spewing 33-year-old socialist whose campaign consists of unrealistic bumper sticker slogans.”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis didn’t waste the opportunity to respond. He chimed in on social media, writing, “Don’t New York our Florida!”

Mamdani, who clinched the Democratic nomination for mayor, has floated controversial proposals, including a plan for municipally run grocery stores. His idea is to reroute public funding away from large chain supermarkets to a new network of city-run food stores. “We will redirect city funds from corporate supermarkets to city-owned grocery stores whose mission is to lower prices, not price gouging,” Mamdani said in a video. “These stores will operate without a profit motive, or having to pay property taxes or rent, and will pass on those savings to you.”

Mamdani’s policy record has also drawn scrutiny. Critics, including advocates and survivors of domestic violence, have condemned past remarks he made opposing police intervention in domestic abuse cases, arguing that such views are dangerous.

He’s also faced backlash over a video clip that resurfaced recently, where he voiced support for the “abolition of private property,” further fueling concerns among his opponents.

{Matzav.com}

The political world was rocked Friday after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard unveiled a trove of declassified documents exposing how top officials in the Obama administration allegedly orchestrated a false narrative of Trump-Russia collusion. According to the documents, intelligence was deliberately manipulated to suggest interference where none occurred—what one Republican described as a disinformation campaign that “makes Watergate look like amateur hour.”

Among the most damning details in the release is a December 8, 2016 Presidential Daily Brief that stated Russian operatives had not tampered with U.S. election infrastructure. Despite this assessment, the Obama administration allegedly buried the finding and instructed agencies to fabricate a new storyline that contradicted their own intelligence. The revelations sent shockwaves through Washington.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) framed the news as confirmation of long-standing conservative claims that Trump had been targeted by the intelligence establishment for political reasons.

“DISMANTLING THE DEEP STATE! New evidence from @DNIGabbard confirms what we’ve long known: The Russia hoax was a political hit job manufactured by Obama officials and weaponized by intel agencies to take down President Trump,” Johnson declared. “Accountability is long overdue!”

Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) also weighed in, warning that the intelligence community’s reputation had been severely damaged by the politicization seen during both the Obama and Biden administrations.

“It will take decades for the Intelligence Community to recover from the damage done during the Obama and Biden presidencies,” Cotton wrote. “These partisan democrats were desperate to defeat and undermine President Trump,” he added.

Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) called out both the architects of the false narrative and the media outlets that amplified it.

“Confirming what we knew all along: Russian collusion was a fabricated hoax this entire time,” Banks wrote. “The media who echoed the Democrats’ lies should be ashamed. But they won’t be,” he added.

Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) tied the revelations directly to the former administration’s intent to cripple Trump’s presidency even before it began.
“Surprise, surprise. The Obama administration laid the groundwork for the Russia Hoax that was created to thwart President Trump during his first term,” Blackburn stated.

Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY) pointed to her earlier warnings as now validated, saying the effort to portray Trump as compromised by Russia had originated from the highest levels of government.

“FLASHBACK: As I said YEARS AGO, the Russia hoax went ‘straight to the top’ with the manufactured 2016 Russian election interference hoax falsely casting @realDonaldTrump as a Russian asset,” Stefanik wrote.

Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) commended Gabbard for shining a light on what he called a massive abuse of power aimed at undermining the presidency.

“My friend @DNIGabbard brings receipts when calling the Deep State to account for what she fairly describes as a ‘years-long coup against Trump,’” Lee wrote. “Thank you, Tulsi. These tyrants are finally being called out for what they’ve done,” he added.

Representative Mike Collins (R-GA) didn’t mince words, asserting that the Obama administration colluded with intelligence agencies to fabricate the entire scandal.

“There it is. @DNIGabbard released a classified briefing that shows Obama and the intelligence community colluded to create the Russia hoax,” Collins declared. “Truth is being uncovered in the Trump Administration, and everyone responsible for this hoax should be held accountable,” he added.

Representative Pat Harrigan (R-NC) offered a historical comparison, saying the magnitude of this political manipulation dwarfed the Watergate scandal.

“Makes Watergate look like amateur hour,” Harrigan wrote. “Obama’s intel officials ran a disinformation campaign against the American people to take down a sitting president—this is absolutely disgraceful,” he added.

Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC) thanked the Trump administration for its commitment to transparency and its determination to expose deep-rooted corruption.

“Thank God for this cabinet the President assembled,” Mace wrote. “We will get to the bottom of all these hoaxes,” she added.

Representative Tom Tiffany (R-WI) went further, mapping out who he believes was involved in the deception and how the scheme unfolded.

“Joe Biden and Barack Obama knew about it. Hillary Clinton fabricated it. The FBI orchestrated it. And the mainstream media sold it,” Tiffany wrote. “Trump-Russia collusion was all a made-up HOAX. We NEED accountability,” he added.

Representative Troy Nehls (R-TX) reiterated the deep state accusations, praising the declassification as a turning point in the effort to bring justice.

“DNI Tulsi Gabbard declassified documents revealing the Obama Administration and intelligence community colluded to create the BOGUS Russia hoax,” Nehls wrote. “The corruption runs deep in the Swamp. Thank goodness we have a President and administration committed to truth and accountability,” he added.

Representative Greg Steube (R-FL), a member of the House Intelligence Committee, offered the most granular analysis of the plot. He accused Obama-era officials of deliberately removing evidence that disproved election interference before instructing agencies to craft a different narrative.

“As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I take these revelations seriously. Obama’s team pulled a Presidential Daily Briefing that disproved claims that Russia tipped the election to Trump—then told intel agencies to flip the script and push the Russiagate hoax,” Steube wrote. “That lie became the basis for Mueller’s witch hunt. The intel community may have tried to take down a duly elected president. But their efforts failed. This is only the beginning. Much more will be revealed,” he added.

DNI Tulsi Gabbard described the release of the documents as an essential step in uncovering a calculated effort to subvert democracy, pledging that all involved would be brought to justice.

“Their goal was to usurp President Trump and subvert the will of the American people. No matter how powerful, every person involved in this conspiracy must be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Gabbard wrote. “The integrity of our democratic republic depends on it. We are turning over all documents to the DOJ for criminal referral,” she added.

As Gabbard prepares to transfer the files to the Department of Justice for further action, the revelations have reignited the broader investigation into misconduct among senior intelligence officials—including former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey—while placing renewed focus on accountability and transparency within the intelligence establishment.

{Matzav.com}

Despite the political crisis that prompted their withdrawal from the government, the chareidi parties have not given up on efforts to pass a giyus (IDF draft) law and are currently engaged in negotiations with senior officials from Likud and the Religious Zionism party. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is personally involved in the discussions, which aim to reach a mutually agreed-upon law that would secure the status of yeshiva students.

According to senior chareidi figures, Netanyahu is actively working to broker an agreement that would pave the way for the chareidi parties to rejoin the coalition. Notably absent from the talks is MK Yuli Edelstein, who is widely viewed by both Likud and chareidi lawmakers as chiefly responsible for the failure to pass a draft law during the current Knesset session.

One of the proposals being considered is transferring responsibility for the legislation to a different Knesset committee, thereby removing Edelstein from the process entirely.

“We are doing everything we can to ensure that we’ve done everything possible,” a senior chareidi official said. “Our goal is to pass a law that protects the status of yeshiva students—not to go to elections. But if we fail, elections are inevitable at the start of the Knesset’s winter session.”

It was reported here on Matzav.com that Edelstein, who chairs the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, decided not to present the draft bill he had prepared for a vote in the plenum. The legislation, which he had worked on for over a year in collaboration with chareidi representatives, was ultimately abandoned after Edelstein made unilateral changes that led to the chareidi factions quitting the coalition.

Edelstein reportedly concluded that without the support of the chareidi parties, there was no realistic chance of the bill passing, and thus opted to shelve it.

In a recent interview, MK Moshe Gafni, head of Degel HaTorah, emphasized the chareidi position: “Let me say one thing, and I’ve told this to the Prime Minister as well: you need to bring a proper law. If there is no law, we will not continue with this partnership at all.”

Gafni stressed that any new draft law must be fully approved by the gedolei Torah before moving forward. “Everything until now is irrelevant. The chareidi parties never agreed to it. We were supposed to review the final draft and bring it to the gedolim for their ruling—not just accept whatever Edelstein put forward.”

“There are no agreements on anything,” Gafni added forcefully. “Especially since the entire process was deceitful. None of the so-called targets or sanctions that were discussed are relevant. What matters is what is decided now, moving forward.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

A terrifying incident shook the city of Lucerne, Switzerland, on Shabbos afternoon, when an Arab man armed with a knife attempted to stab nine yeshiva students while shouting “Pro-Palestine” slogans. The students, who were from the local yeshiva, managed to escape unharmed. The attacker fled the scene before police arrived.

The incident took place around 8:30 p.m. local time, as the bochurim were walking through the city during the long summer Shabbos before heading back to seudah shlishis in the yeshiva. One of the bochurim described the ordeal, saying that the group had stepped out to enjoy the mountain air when they were suddenly attacked near the central train station.

The attacker reportedly lunged at one of the students, attempting to stab him in the stomach, while shouting pro-Palestinian slogans and anti-Jewish slurs. The commotion drew attention from bystanders, and as a crowd began to gather, the attacker fled the scene.

Police arrived shortly afterward and began collecting security camera footage and witness testimonies. However, the bochurim declined to sign any statements or travel to the police station until after Shabbos. Authorities later informed them that since Swiss police do not operate on Sundays, they would have to wait until Monday morning to formally file the complaint. Meanwhile, the suspect remains at large and may have already fled the country.

This shocking event has caused deep concern among the Jewish community in Lucerne, especially given Switzerland’s reputation for neutrality and relative calm. “Switzerland has experienced very few terror attacks in recent years,” noted a local resident, “which is why the shock and fear in the city—and especially among the chareidi community—is so great.”

{Matzav.com}

A remarkable discovery was made in the remote Russian city of Tomsk, where workers restoring a historic wooden shul uncovered a siddur believed to be around 100 years old. The ancient siddur was found hidden in the attic of the building, where it had likely remained untouched since the shul was shuttered by Soviet authorities in 1930.

The shul, located at 15 Frunze Avenue, is currently undergoing a comprehensive renovation project funded by the Russian government. The structure, which was returned to the Jewish community in 2018, was originally constructed in 1906 by Jewish soldiers—many of them Cantonists, young boys as young as eight who were forcibly conscripted into the czar’s army for 20-year terms.

Today, the restoration of this two-story architectural landmark is well underway. The effort, spearheaded by the Kaluga-based construction firm Stroitelnaya Alyans, includes foundational reinforcement and preservation of the shul’s original design. Russia’s Ministry of Culture has allocated roughly 60 million rubles (approximately $650,000) for the project, which has designated the building as a protected historical heritage site.

The shul stands as a singular monument: the only known surviving military shul of its kind in the world. Its original woodwork, frames, and ornamental features remain largely intact. Its story begins in 1865, when the Jewish military community of Tomsk purchased a Sefer Torah and established a temporary tefillah space in a rented building. In 1872, they acquired land and built the current wooden structure. After a devastating fire in 1906 damaged the shul and surrounding buildings, Jewish soldiers funded and led its reconstruction, reopening the shul in 1907.

In 1930, the shul was seized by the Soviet government. It was repurposed as a dormitory for staff at Tomsk State University and later used as general housing.

The building was finally returned to the Jewish community in 2013, following an agreement between then-mayor Nikolai Nikolaichuk, Russia’s Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar, and the local shliach, Rabbi Levi Kaminetzky. After the building was vacated in 2017, a formal agreement was signed in January 2018 between the municipality and Rabbi Lazar to establish a museum on the site dedicated to the history of Jews in Siberia.

Today, restoration efforts are progressing rapidly, with hopes that the work will be completed by January 2027. Upon completion, the building will house a museum telling the rich and storied legacy of Siberian Jewry.

{Matzav.com}

Avigdor Lieberman, Israel’s former defense chief and leader of the Yisrael Beytenu party, warned over the weekend that Iran remains fixated on exacting revenge after the recent 12-day conflict, and that Israel should be prepared to take preemptive military action once more.

During an appearance on Channel 12’s “Meet the Press,” Lieberman emphasized that Tehran’s leadership is entirely consumed by the desire for retaliation. “I could tell you the same thing that the intelligence assessments and officials say” about Iran’s nuclear capabilities in the wake of the Israeli and US strikes, he added, saying “they all speak of around one to two years” for Iran to reconstitute its nuclear program.

Though the long-term danger posed by Iran’s nuclear ambitions remains, Lieberman cautioned that the immediate threat is Iran’s hunger for revenge. “That’s the only thing that interests them right now. A war of revenge, that’s it,” he stated.

When asked whether Israel should consider launching another strike on Iran, Lieberman didn’t hesitate. “It would be worthwhile for us to strike first again,” he responded.

“This time, Iran wants to deliver the first blow,” he explained.

Lieberman stressed that Iran’s efforts to rebuild its nuclear infrastructure are not just speculative. “It’s not just theoretical” that Iran is working to revive its nuclear program.

His greatest concern, he said, lies in Iran’s missile arsenal. “And what worries me most are the ballistic missiles,” Lieberman said. “You saw what happened here when just 26 missiles landed inside Israel and the level of damage that it caused.”

He warned that a larger barrage could be devastating. “They are preparing for a major strike,” he continued, adding that Iran has thousands of missiles. “Imagine if it wasn’t just 26 missiles that impact Israel, what if it were 260 missiles? What kind of damage would that cause?”

As a result, Lieberman insisted that Israel cannot afford to wait. “We have no other choice” but to strike Iran first, he said. If he were in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s position, that’s what he would do. “I hope that is what they are planning.”

He added that Israel’s intelligence agency should have one mission. “And I would tell the Mossad to work toward one goal: regime change,” he said, asserting that the only way to neutralize the Iranian threat is to overthrow its leadership.

The recent flare-up began on June 13, 2025, when Israel launched a surprise assault targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure. That strike triggered a 12-day war between the two nations.

Israel justified the operation by stating it was a necessary move to prevent the Iranian regime from carrying out its stated intention of eliminating the Jewish state.

Although Iran maintains that it does not seek to build nuclear weapons, it has enriched uranium far beyond civilian needs, blocked access to international nuclear inspectors, and expanded its missile capabilities. During the war, Israel accused Iran of moving even closer to actual weaponization.

In retaliation, Iran unleashed a massive barrage: more than 500 ballistic missiles and approximately 1,100 drones were fired at Israeli territory. According to Israeli health officials and hospitals, 29 people were killed and over 3,000 were injured. In addition, Iran targeted a U.S. military base in Qatar in response to America’s involvement.

Lieberman’s comments came shortly after President Donald Trump doubled down on his claim that the U.S. airstrikes had completely eliminated Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Using his Truth Social platform, Trump stated again that “all three nuclear sites in Iran were completely destroyed and/or OBLITERATED.”

He added that rebuilding the sites would take significant time and effort. It would “take years to bring them back into service and, if Iran wanted to do so, they would be much better off starting anew, in three different locations.”

The American strikes, launched on June 22, focused on three key nuclear sites: Fordo, located south of Tehran, and the facilities in Isfahan and Natanz.

These bombings were conducted alongside Israel’s military campaign and were described by Washington officials as a major setback to Iran’s nuclear weapons program.

Despite Iran’s repeated denials, it has long been suspected of using its civilian nuclear program as a cover for weaponization.

But while Trump praised the success of the attacks, several U.S. news agencies reported conflicting information from intelligence sources suggesting that the outcome was less conclusive.

NBC News, in a report published Friday, cited a classified military analysis which found that only one of the three nuclear facilities had been largely destroyed.

According to five current and former U.S. officials familiar with the assessment, the other two sites were deemed repairable and could resume operations within “the next several months.”

NBC also reported that the Pentagon had drafted an alternate strike plan that would have involved several weeks of bombing, designed to deal a more definitive blow to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. That plan was ultimately set aside.

Two officials—one currently in government and another who previously served—told NBC that Trump opted against the extended campaign due to concerns about potential casualties and getting drawn deeper into a regional war.

Meanwhile, at a meeting on Friday at the Pentagon, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz for Israel’s actions during the conflict. According to a U.S. summary of the meeting, Hegseth described Israel’s performance during the war as “remarkable.”

“Hegseth applauded Israel’s willingness to take bold action to lead in its own defense,” the readout said.

The defense secretary also reaffirmed America’s ongoing commitment to supporting Israel’s security. Hegseth told Katz that the US will “continue to enable Israel’s ability to defend itself,” the report added.

Following the meeting, Katz posted on X, saying that he and Hegseth covered a range of key regional and strategic matters. He said both sides agreed to take specific steps to promote the safety and prosperity of both nations. Katz wrote that the two “discussed a wide range of regional and strategic issues, and agreed on concrete steps to ensure that Israel thrives and the Middle East becomes a better, safer place for both Israeli and American interests.”

He also publicly thanked Trump for his leadership during the operation. “I expressed Israel’s deep gratitude for the historic Operation Midnight Hammer, which struck a devastating blow to Iran’s nuclear program,” he wrote, adding that he thanks President Trump “for his bold decision and unwavering leadership in authorizing the operation.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas has released a formal order mandating that elections for the Palestinian National Council (PNC) be conducted no later than the end of 2025, according to a report by Xinhua on Saturday.

This announcement comes in the wake of a resolution adopted last Thursday by the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which called for the initiation of the electoral process for the PNC.

As reported by WAFA, the PA’s state-run news outlet, the PLO Executive Committee resolved to hold the elections during the current year. The exact date for the vote will be determined and announced soon by the chairman of the committee.

The decree outlines that the restructured PNC will include 350 representatives. Of those, two-thirds will be selected from within the Palestinian territories, while the remaining one-third will represent Palestinians living abroad across the global diaspora.

In addition, the PLO’s Executive Committee has been assigned the responsibility of forming a preparatory body tasked with organizing the logistical framework necessary to carry out the elections.

The Palestinian National Council operates as the legislative branch of the PLO and brings together representatives from various sectors—including political parties, national movements, labor unions, and civic organizations—both inside the Palestinian territories and from abroad.

Elections within the PA were originally slated for 2021, but Abbas later announced their postponement.

While Abbas claimed that the delay was due to Israel’s refusal to allow voting in eastern Jerusalem, many observers suspect that the real motivation was his concern over potentially losing to Hamas.

Though his term was officially supposed to end in 2009, Abbas has continued to serve as PA chairman without any new elections being held.

Since 2006, no elections have taken place within the PA, and previous attempts to initiate the process have consistently failed to bring about an actual vote.

{Matzav.com Israel}