Matzav

In a powerful and impassioned Shabbos Hagadol drasha delivered this past Thursday night, Hagaon Rav Moshe Sternbuch issued a strong call to action regarding the growing public chillul Shabbos in Eretz Yisroel, particularly in connection with shopping centers operating on Shabbos in various cities.

Speaking at the central beis medrash of the Dushinsky chassidus on Rechov Shmuel Hanavi in Yerushalayim, Rav Sternbuch addressed thousands of attendees, including admorim, rabbanim, and members of the wider Torah community.

After a detailed halachic discussion, the senior posek turned to the painful reality of widespread Shabbos desecration.

“The chillul Shabbos has reached terrible proportions,” he stated. “A major shopping center recently opened on Shabbos in one of the cities, and we must be extremely careful not to lend them our support. We should make our purchases only from businesses that honor Shabbos, and not from those who publicly violate it. This is how we fight for the sanctity of Shabbos.”

Rav Sternbuch explained that the chareidi community wields significant economic power, and unity in where and how we spend our money is a key tool in influencing society.

“Those who distance themselves from our community and choose to buy from those who are mechallel Shabbos are weakening our ability to wage this battle. Unfortunately, we have limited influence to compel others to keep Shabbos. Our main power lies in our unified buying strength. When people break off from this unity and shop in such places, they rob us of the only real leverage we have.”

Rav Sternbuch then turned his attention to the mounting pressure on yeshiva students from government authorities pushing for military conscription.

“We are in a terrible situation,” he warned. “The heads of the government are seeking to uproot the Torah and destroy Yiddishkeit, chas v’shalom. They are demanding that chareidim enlist in the army in the name of so-called ‘equality,’ but we tell them clearly: We will never go to the army—not even for a single day.”

He emphasized that no incentives or offers could tempt the Torah community. “All the sweets and promises they offer won’t help them. We are already enlisted in Hashem’s army. Their real intention is to uproot emunah, just as the rosh hakofrim, Ben Gurion, sheim resha’im yirkav, said—that their army is not like any other army. It is a melting pot, meant to educate young people to reject belief in Hashem and convince them they don’t need Heavenly assistance.”

Rav Sternbuch concluded with a heartfelt plea to the tzibbur: “We must strengthen our commitment to Shabbos. Establish shiurim in hilchos Shabbos. There is great benefit in this. Rav Yonasan Eibeshitz zt”l already wrote in Ya’aros Devash that ‘it is impossible for a person to avoid violating Shabbos unless he learns all the laws thoroughly.’ Great reward awaits anyone who takes this seriously and establishes regular Torah learning in hilchos Shabbos.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Iran has issued a strong rebuke to the United States over demands for direct negotiations concerning its nuclear ambitions, warning that any countries in the region hosting American military assets could find themselves caught in the crossfire, according to a high-ranking Iranian source.

While Tehran has made clear it has no interest in entering direct talks with President Donald Trump’s administration, it remains open to indirect discussions facilitated by Oman, a country historically used to pass messages between the two adversaries, the source told Reuters under condition of anonymity.

“Indirect talks offer a chance to evaluate Washington’s seriousness about a political solution with Iran,” said the official.

Though this method is expected to come with its own complications, the source noted that talks could potentially begin soon, provided Washington signals willingness to pursue this route.

Iran has delivered stern warnings to Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, and Bahrain, cautioning that any cooperation with a potential U.S. military assault—including allowing American forces to utilize their territory or airspace—would be interpreted as direct aggression.

Such cooperation, the official emphasized, “will have severe consequences for them,” and noted that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has already placed the Iranian military on high alert in preparation.

The rhetoric from Washington hinting at possible military strikes has only added to the volatility in the region, already strained by conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, ongoing operations in Yemen, upheaval in Syria, and repeated clashes between Israeli and Iranian forces.

The specter of a wider regional conflict looms large, particularly for the Gulf states that share the waters with Iran and serve as key nodes for global oil transportation, many of which are aligned with the United States.

Officials from Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain did not immediately issue any statements when asked for comment. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry reported it hadn’t received such a warning but suggested these types of messages might be conveyed via alternative diplomatic channels.

Iranian state media reported Wednesday that Kuwait had provided assurances to Tehran, stating it would not permit any attacks to be launched from its territory against other nations.

Meanwhile, Russia, an ally of Iran, voiced its disapproval on Thursday of Washington’s threats and called for a de-escalation of tensions on Friday.

Despite their alliance, Iran is uncertain about Russia’s true level of support, according to a second Iranian official. “This depends on the dynamics” between President Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, the official said.

Trump has maintained that his preference is a diplomatic resolution rather than military conflict and revealed on March 7 that he had sent a letter to Ayatollah Khamenei proposing talks.

According to the senior Iranian official, an initial phase of indirect negotiations could take place with Omani intermediaries acting as go-betweens for Iranian and American representatives. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi or his deputy Majid Takht-e Ravanchi would be authorized by Khamenei to participate in such discussions in Muscat.

The Omani government did not respond to a request for comment on the matter.

The official warned, however, that there may only be a limited opportunity—around two months—to reach an agreement. Any longer, they cautioned, and Israel could intervene with its own military action, or international sanctions could rapidly be reinstated to prevent Iran from moving closer to developing a nuclear weapon.

Iran insists that it does not seek to build a nuclear arsenal, but the U.N. nuclear agency has expressed concern over Tehran’s significant acceleration of uranium enrichment, with levels approaching 60% purity—just shy of weapons-grade status.

Western powers argue that such high levels of enrichment have no place in civilian energy programs and that historically, no country has reached such levels without ultimately pursuing nuclear weapons.

Tehran has stated that it is open to negotiations with the U.S. as long as they focus on nuclear issues alone. However, it has rejected direct engagement as long as threats persist and has firmly excluded its missile program from any discussion.

Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps signaled on Monday that U.S. bases in the region could be targets in any future conflict.

That warning echoed Iran’s actions in 2020, when it struck American military installations in Iraq in retaliation for the U.S. drone killing of General Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force, in Baghdad.

{Matzav.com}

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and the Israeli government submitted a formal response to the High Court of Justice, dismissing the petitions against the dismissal of Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar as baseless and unfounded. They characterized the legal efforts to block Bar’s removal as “nonsense” and said the challenges lacked “legal foundation, an appropriate cause, and a factual basis.”

Representing the government was attorney Zion Amir, appointed to the role independently, as Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara declined to defend the firing, having publicly opposed it.

In his legal filing, Amir argued that the petitions represented an inappropriate judicial overreach into executive authority, stating they were “an attempt to expropriate from the hands of the government of Israel, and by extension from the hands of the public which elected it, its authority and most foundational obligation for the security of the State of Israel and its citizens.”

Amir asserted that the legal challenge was not aimed at ensuring due process but rather at reshaping the balance of power between branches of government. He warned that the move sought to “overturn governmental arrangements” by enabling “the judicial branch to take the reins of government from the executive branch,” especially in a manner that contradicts the 2002 statute granting the prime minister and cabinet authority over appointments and dismissals at Shin Bet.

“The court is not the forum to determine who heads the Shin Bet. It does not have the authority, it does not have the tools, and it does not have the responsibility which stems from these decisions, which are all in the hands of the public through its elected officials,” wrote Amir.

Those challenging Bar’s removal maintain that, while the government does hold the formal right to appoint or dismiss the Shin Bet chief, the act must still adhere to accepted principles of administrative law and remain open to judicial scrutiny.

The petitioners allege that the decision to terminate Bar’s tenure was driven not by professional judgment but by political motives. They claim Netanyahu was angered by Bar for personal reasons, noting that the Shin Bet is currently investigating allegations that close associates of Netanyahu worked on behalf of Qatar while also serving as his media advisers.

Bar, in a letter to the High Court on Friday, asserted that Netanyahu repeatedly pressured him to inform judges in the prime minister’s corruption trial that Netanyahu couldn’t consistently appear in court because of ongoing national security responsibilities.

Bar stated that his refusal to comply with those demands led to the breakdown in trust between himself and Netanyahu.

In his letter, Bar emphasized that his loyalty lay with his professional duties, not to any political leader. He wrote that he upheld “professional independence” rather than showing “personal loyalty” to the prime minister.

“The head of the Shin Bet is not the trusted servant of the prime minister or any other diplomatic or political figure,” Bar wrote.

Reports suggest that Netanyahu made those requests last year during heightened conflict with Hezbollah, which had joined the fray following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, assault. That month, a Hezbollah drone shattered a window at Netanyahu’s home in Caesarea.

At the time, Netanyahu sought to indefinitely postpone his corruption trial, citing fears that Hezbollah could target the Yerushalayim District Court, where he was expected to testify regularly. Ultimately, the court transferred the trial to Tel Aviv’s fortified courthouse basement instead.

Bar also indicated in his letter that he had refused directives to use Shin Bet resources against Israeli citizens, hinting that the agency was being pressured to surveil anti-government demonstrators.

He further expressed concern over the implications of his dismissal, warning that it could harm the Shin Bet’s future integrity. He asked the High Court to intervene and reverse the decision, suggesting that proceeding with the dismissal during the so-called “Qatargate” investigation would send a “clear message.”

In a rebuttal, Netanyahu’s office harshly criticized Bar’s claims, calling them “tainted with severe conflict of interest” and accusing him of spreading falsehoods. The statement specifically denied Bar’s suggestion that Netanyahu asked the agency to target Israeli citizens, calling it “something that never happened.”

Netanyahu has said his trust in Bar was shattered in the aftermath of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack.

{Matzav.com Israel}

On Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz paid a visit to the Technical Intelligence and Spoils Collection Unit, where he received a detailed overview from unit leaders regarding the group’s work in gathering intelligence and operational data.

During his visit, Katz disclosed a significant document that links Iran to the atrocities committed on October 7. “I am here visiting the Technical Intelligence and Spoils Collection Unit, a special unit created during the Swords of Iron War and based on reservists who bring extensive knowlage from their civilian fields and developed a national ability that didn’t exist before – an intelligiance capability that currently holds critical matireials that were physically collected from deep in the field: the archives of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other senisitive intelligiance materials.”

He continued by unveiling new findings that suggest Tehran’s direct involvement in supporting Hamas leaders Yahyeh Sinwar and Mohammed Deif. “Today, for the first time, I present a call log that was found in the Hamas tunnels in Gaza, which proves a direct connection between Iran and Yahyeh Sinwar and Mohammed Deif, showing Iran’s support for Hamas’s plan to destroy Israel. In the document, they demand that the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp’s Quds Force transfer 500 million dollars for the destruction of Israel,” Katz stated.

The defense minister noted that the Iranian leadership responded to Hamas’s appeal despite internal hardships. “The head of the Palestinian wing in the IRGC, Ezadi, complied with the request and answered that, despite Iran’s tough economic state and the Iranian population’s distress, it will continue to transfer funds to Hamas since the fight against Israel and the US is the Iranian regime’s top priority.”

In closing, Katz delivered a sharp warning about Iran’s central role in regional instability. “The conclusion is clear: Iran is the head of the snake and despite all its denials in recent days, even now, it sponsors and advances terror on all fronts, from Gaza, through Lebanon, Judea, and Samaria, and now with the Houthis in Yemen as well under the flag of destroying Israel. Israel will do everything to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and will continue to hit its agents in the area until the Iranian axis of evil is crushed and collapsed.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

In a joint operation, the Central Unit of the Yerushalayim District Police, in coordination with the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), successfully thwarted a detailed terror plan that was set to unfold in the capital. The would-be attacker, an Arab resident of Yerushalayim, had constructed pipe bombs and obtained knives, with the intention of striking during the month of Ramadan.

Over the past several weeks, the Shin Bet and the Yerushalayim Central Police Unit investigated the suspect, suspecting that he was preparing for multiple types of assaults. These included pipe bomb attacks at various sites around Yerushalayim, as well as car-ramming and stabbing attempts targeting Jewish civilians and security personnel.

Last month, investigators from the Yerushalayim District, under the guidance of the Shin Bet, apprehended a man in his twenties from the Shuafat “Refugee” Camp located in the northeastern part of the city. During interrogation, he confessed that he was plotting to plant explosive devices on the city’s light rail, inside buses, and in eateries in Yerushalayim’s southern neighborhoods. He had already taken steps toward realizing those plans and had begun learning how to manufacture explosive devices. He reportedly acquired materials such as pipes, matchboxes, fireworks, and other components necessary for assembling pipe bombs.

At a certain point in his planning, the individual expanded his ambitions to include a combined vehicle-ramming and knife attack. He began taking driving lessons and purchased large knives, which he stored at his residence in preparation for the attack.

As Ramadan approached, the terrorist finalized his plans to carry out the attack at a prominent intersection in Yerushalayim. In addition to continuing his driving practice, he sought to obtain a vehicle specifically for use in the assault, after which he planned to proceed with stabbing his victims.

Investigators discovered that the suspect aspired to die as a martyr, saying he wanted to be a “Shaheed,” and that he would listen to Quranic verses in order to motivate himself to carry out deadly assaults against Jews.

Following the investigation, authorities were able to compile sufficient evidence against the suspect. His detention has been extended as required, and the Yerushalayim District Prosecutor is preparing to file a formal indictment in the case.

Elon Musk appeared to diverge sharply from the Trump administration’s latest moves on trade policy, taking direct aim at White House trade adviser Peter Navarro and voicing support for a no-tariff arrangement between the United States and Europe.

Musk’s remarks came on the heels of President Trump’s broad announcement of new tariffs targeting nearly all of America’s trading allies, a move that triggered a major market downturn.

As a result of the stock selloff, Musk’s own fortune took a hit, dropping by an estimated $11 billion.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO took to social media yesterday to issue blunt criticism of Navarro, who has been a key player in crafting Trump’s protectionist economic policies.

“A PhD in Econ from Harvard is a bad thing, not a good thing. Results in the ego/brains>>1 problem,” Musk posted on X, replying to someone who had praised Navarro’s tariff arguments.

Speaking remotely to an event hosted by Italy’s right-leaning League Party in Florence, Musk, whose temporary government advisory role is slated to end next month, went on to express his preference for unfettered trade between Europe and the US.

“At the end of the day, I hope it’s agreed that both Europe and the United States should move ideally, in my view, to a zero tariff situation, effectively creating a free trade zone between Europe and North America,” Musk said.

Last Wednesday, President Trump declared a new round of trade restrictions, including a flat 10% tariff on most imports from countries with trade surpluses with the US. The European Union was singled out for a 20% general tariff.

“If people wish to work in Europe or wish to work in North America, they should be allowed to do so in my view,” Musk told League chief Matteo Salvini during their exchange, adding that this “has certainly been my advice to the president.”

Musk has met with Salvini and other conservative leaders in Europe in the past and has voiced alignment with some of their views, including those promoted by the League Party.

In response to Trump’s tariff rollout, Italian Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, another League member, cautioned against retaliatory measures, urging a lowering of tensions with Washington.

The implementation of Trump’s tariffs — including the across-the-board 10% import duty already in place and additional levies set to take effect midweek — has sent shockwaves through global markets.

In just five trading days, the Dow Jones has fallen by 3,068 points, the S&P 500 has dropped 454 points, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq has plummeted 1,458 points, marking one of the most turbulent weeks for Wall Street in recent memory.

Tesla, which does a sizable portion of its business in Europe, has not been immune to the effects of rising political tensions and growing competition from Chinese automakers. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, Tesla’s European sales slumped by 42.6% during the first two months of the year.

Musk has long cautioned against aggressive trade barriers, reiterating his stance in a podcast appearance last year.

“I think you need to be careful with tariffs,” Musk told Joe Rogan. “I deal a lot with supply chain issues like the global automotive supply chain for Tesla is incredibly complex. So when there are sudden changes in tariffs … it messes everything up.”

“You want to have tariffs be predictable so that tariffs can adjust their supply chain,” he added. “I think companies are more than happy to increase manufacturing in America, it’s just that you can’t do it instantly.”

In recent years, Musk’s political posture has leaned more openly toward free-market conservatism, aligning himself with the economic philosophies of Milton Friedman and other vocal critics of trade restrictions.

{Matzav.com}

Yesterday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed that the United States is immediately halting the issuance of visas to individuals holding South Sudanese passports and canceling any existing ones.

Rubio explained that the decision was made due to “the failure of South Sudan’s transitional government to accept the return of its repatriated citizens in a timely manner,” as he wrote in a post on X.

In a formal statement issued the same day, the U.S. State Department criticized South Sudan’s interim leadership, asserting it was time for the government to “stop taking advantage” of American support and leniency.

“Enforcing our nation’s immigration laws is critically important to the national security and public safety of the United States,” the statement read. “Every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when another country, including the United States, seeks to remove them.”

Officials added that the restrictions could be reassessed if South Sudan shows full cooperation going forward. The department noted it “will be prepared to review these actions when South Sudan is in full cooperation.”

The timing of this announcement coincides with escalating turmoil in South Sudan. The country is teetering on the edge of another civil war, with rising violence, widespread displacement, and deepening hunger.

This policy shift also follows the closure of the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, last April. As of April 22, 2023, all consular services there, including visas and passports, have been suspended.

The announcement follows other significant immigration policy changes. In February, the Trump administration ended protections that had shielded hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans from deportation.

Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security announced plans to revoke temporary protected status for over 300,000 individuals from various nations who had been permitted to stay in the U.S. under that classification.

According to reporting by the New York Post, more than 100,000 undocumented immigrants have been deported by the Trump administration since it assumed office, citing information from a DHS official.

{Matzav.com}

Zvika Klein, editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post, sat down for a televised interview to share his account of the distressing experience he underwent earlier in the week when he was questioned by police as a suspect in the unfolding Qatargate scandal. During the interview, he spoke candidly about his ties to three associates — past and present — of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, all of whom are reportedly at the center of the investigation.

In his conversation with Channel 12 aired overnight, Klein became visibly emotional as he recounted the grueling twelve-hour police interrogation on Monday, during which authorities confiscated his phone. He described returning home around midnight to an empty house — his wife was overseas — only to face his confused children the next morning, asking where he had been.

Klein expressed skepticism that Netanyahu is even aware of what is happening among his closest advisers, appearing to refer to accusations that members of the prime minister’s inner circle were working covertly on behalf of Qatar. He also voiced unease over possible consequences he might face for sharing sensitive information about his communications with people linked to the case.

The case, dubbed Qatargate, centers on allegations that Netanyahu advisers Jonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein engaged in illicit activities while reportedly working for a Qatari lobbying organization. These include suspicions of communicating with a foreign agent and being involved in corruption schemes with lobbyists and businessmen. Urich is currently behind bars, while Feldstein is confined to his home. A third figure, Yisrael Einhorn, is also wanted for questioning and is currently residing in Serbia.

Klein was brought in for questioning on Monday and was subsequently designated a suspect. While other members of the press have been questioned in connection to the probe, none have been classified as suspects. Though initially placed under house arrest, Klein was released from that restriction by Thursday. He has denied all allegations and criticized the way authorities handled his detention.

During the interview, which was filmed prior to Shabbos and aired Saturday night, Klein was asked about his journalistic work concerning Qatar.

He explained that his involvement with the matter began in the lead-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, when he published a report stating that kosher food could not be brought into the country. That article prompted a message from Urich, a longtime Netanyahu aide.

Klein noted that he and Urich had a longstanding friendship, adding, “I love him.” He also pointed out that at the time, Netanyahu was serving as leader of the opposition.

Urich told him he had a friend — seemingly referring to someone linked to the Qataris — who was unhappy with the article and found it “problematic.” In response, Klein invited them to submit a rebuttal or further information, saying, “send me other things… I want the truth.”

According to Klein, that friend turned out to be Einhorn, whom he described as “a very talented guy.” (Einhorn had been featured in a Jerusalem Post ranking in October 2024 as one of the 50 most influential Jews, lauded as “The strategic mastermind behind Netanyahu’s success.”)

Klein said he developed a growing interest in Qatar due to its rising influence in the region, particularly after the Hamas-led massacre on October 7, 2023, and the hostage deal negotiated in November of that year, in which Qatar played a significant role.

Once he became editor of The Jerusalem Post, Klein said he intensified his efforts to gain direct access to Qatari officials. Einhorn, who had contacts with powerful individuals, was instrumental in facilitating those connections.

As part of the buildup to a Jerusalem Post event in Germany in early 2024, Einhorn mentioned to Klein that although he didn’t have a direct line to the Qataris, he had a contact named “Ryan” based in the UK who did.

Through that intermediary, an interview between Klein and the Qatari ambassador to Germany was arranged for the conference stage. Klein said he declined a request to present the ambassador with an award. Instead, he insisted on receiving a public commitment from the ambassador to work toward the return of all hostages. That promise was made, he said, both to him and directly to Meirav Leshem Gonen, the mother of Romi, a hostage recently freed by Hamas.

“As far as I’m concerned, what I was doing was work [on behalf of the hostages] that sanctified God,” Klein told Channel 12.

He described his 2024 trip to Qatar — during which he interviewed the Qatari prime minister — as the result of persistent lobbying via Einhorn, who eventually connected him to Jay Footlik, a U.S. lobbyist now at the heart of the Qatargate case. Klein said he met with Footlik in Tel Aviv to explore the possibility of visiting Qatar, and eventually traveled there for a three-day visit. Footlik, whom Klein called “a wonderful man,” accompanied him throughout the trip, acting as his “babysitter.”

After publishing reports about the trip in The Jerusalem Post and in the Hebrew outlets Walla! and Maariv, Klein said some of his colleagues wrote critical pieces about the visit. Although Einhorn encouraged him to appear on television to discuss the trip, Klein said he declined because he didn’t want to be seen as self-promoting during wartime.

Einhorn then mentioned “a guy called Eli Feldstein” who might be able to help him.

“I said, who is he, a PR guy? They said, ‘He’ll help you,’” Klein recalled. He said Einhorn instructed him not to tell Feldstein that Einhorn was the one who had connected them.

Klein remembered that he had once messaged Feldstein years ago when Feldstein worked for far-right politician Itamar Ben Gvir, but Feldstein had never responded.

Klein said he told Einhorn he didn’t have funds to organize media appearances, and Einhorn suggested telling Feldstein that someone in the U.S. would cover the cost. Klein said the call with Feldstein was brief — “I understand today that apparently he knew all about this” — and Feldstein said he didn’t want any money. Klein then gave interviews about the Qatar trip to both Channel 12 and Channel 13.

Asked how he ended up under police investigation, Klein implied that the reaction might have been much more intense had he been leading one of the major Hebrew-language outlets.

He added that police took his phone on Monday, and that it still had not been returned. In the meantime, he said he was borrowing a phone from his neighbor’s daughter.

“By speaking to you, I have burned a lot of journalistic connections. I’ll pay a price — people will want to get back at me,” he told the interviewer.

“I want the truth to come out,” he added. “And as time passes, I realize I don’t know all the truth.”

He repeated what he has previously emphasized: “I got no benefits,” from the Qatar visit. “Nobody offered me any benefits.”

Asked who financed his flight to Qatar, Klein replied, “They paid for the flight,” referring to the Qataris. He said he had clearly noted in his articles that the Qatari government invited him to Doha, and that he was not compensated for any of the resulting publications.

At the time he was called in for questioning, Klein said his wife was away dealing with the death of her mother, leaving him to manage their children’s daily routine. Expecting to be home after a short testimony, he instead got back close to midnight.

In his absence, neighbors watched the children. The next morning, when the kids wanted to know where he had been, Klein said, choking up, that he simply told them, “I was helping the police.”

Reflecting on his life in Israel, Klein said he has no regrets about immigrating with his family from Chicago at the age of three. He praised the people of Israel, saying he had received messages of support from individuals across the societal spectrum.

At that point, interviewer Ben Caspit addressed Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara directly through the camera, stating, “if there’s nothing here that we don’t know,” she owes Klein an apology.

When asked to summarize the Qatargate story in his capacity as a journalist, Klein responded, “I don’t know all the facts… I want to be careful… I can’t expose testimonies that I saw.”

He said that during his initial questioning — before being formally cautioned and before his phone was taken — he had offered to let police look through the contents. “I offered to show them everything in my phone… I thought I knew everything.”

But now, with more insight into the case, he said, “….God almighty… There’s a problem here. It’s not [a question of] right and left.”

Asked whether Netanyahu is aware of what’s happening in his own office, Klein responded, “I don’t have enough information. In my opinion, no.”

And what about Urich? “I really hope not. I truly don’t know… I really love him… He’s a complicated guy… Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but truly, since 2022, [as regards my journalistic interactions on Qatar,] his name did not come up with me.”

{Matzav.com}

A Member of Parliament from Britain’s Liberal Democrats sparked outrage during a House of Commons session on April 2, when he referred to the Israel Defense Forces as “murderous” and accused them of effectively detaining Gaza’s entire population.

Andrew George, who represents the constituency of St Ives, said, “We all want the hostages to be freed, just as we want the 2 million hostages in Gaza being held hostage by the murderous IDF, which is treating them with disdain and starving them, to be freed.”

George directed harsh criticism at Minister of State for the Middle East Hamish Falconer, expressing frustration over what he viewed as a weak response to Israel’s actions. “If the Minister is not prepared to make the statement that many of us wish for him to make, will he at least admit that the actions of the far-right Israeli Government can no longer be described as self-defense?”

In his reply, Falconer indicated that the UK government is seriously evaluating whether Israel may be violating international humanitarian law. He stated, “a serious risk of breaches of international humanitarian law, that is the same as saying that we think there is a serious risk that Israel is not simply acting in its own legitimate self-defense.”

George has a history of making inflammatory claims against Israel. He has repeatedly accused the country of engaging in ethnic cleansing in Gaza and has used provocative language to describe its military operations.

Back in January, George had said, “The Netanyahu regime continues to seek to justify its cold-blooded slaughter of Palestinian people behind the dishonest façade of self-defense.”

A source within the Jewish Labour movement condemned George’s remarks, telling Jewish News that the comments from the Liberal Democrat MP were “shamefully simplistic.”

{Matzav.com}

During a swift visit to Eretz Yisroel, the Rebbe of Vizhnitz Yerushalayim, who currently resides in the United States, made a special stop at the home of the Belzer Rebbe.

Upon his arrival, the Belzer Rebbe warmly welcomed his guest and inquired about the purpose of his brief trip to Eretz Yisroel. The Vizhnitz-Yerushalayim Rebbe responded with deep emotion, explaining that he had traveled especially in honor of the upcoming yahrtzeit of his grandfather, the Imrei Chaim of Vizhnitz zt”l, which will be marked this coming Monday.

“I came,” the Rebbe said, “to seek a yeshuah at the kever of the Imrei Chaim.”

The two Rebbes shared an animated and warm conversation, exchanging memories and customs related to Pesach as observed in both Belz and Vizhnitz, with particular focus on the practices of the Imrei Chaim, who was known to speak about the Seder night and Pesach throughout the entire year.

After being served a cup of tea, the Belzer Rebbe extended his heartfelt brachos for a joyous and uplifting Pesach and offered special brachos to the grandchildren of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe who had accompanied him on this trip.

Over Shabbos, the Vizhnitz-Yerushalayim Rebbe spent time with bochurim of his chassidus in the moshav of Beit Chilkiya, where they held a spirited Shabbos hisachdus in preparation for the approaching Yom Tov of Pesach.

A unique moment occurred during the opening shiur of the yeshivas bein hazmanim program in Ashkelon, delivered by the Ateres Shlomo rosh yeshiva HaGaon Rav Chaim Feinstein to all the local yeshiva bochurim gathered from the various branches across the city.

Rav Feinstein, who made a rare visit to Ashkelon to inaugurate the day for the hundreds of organizers of Igud Bnei HaYeshivos, first delivered words of chiuzk to the program leaders. He then proceeded to the central bais medrash, Orah Shel Torah, where dozens of yeshiva bochurim participating in the bein hazmanim program had gathered for the opening shiur.

Upon entering the beis medrash and seeing that the program included the learning of a sugya d’kallah—a unified topic of study learned by all the bochurim—Rav Feinstein expressed his admiration for the effort and noted that although he had initially intended to speak on a different sugya, he would deviate from his original plan and, on the spot, instead delivered a shiur on the sugya d’kallah, focusing specifically on the halachos of haseibah, reclining at the Seder.

Following the shiur, Rav Feinstein offered words of chizuk and hachanah ahead of Pesach. He praised the inspiring sight of so many bochurim immersed in their learning even during bein hazmanim. He encouraged them to write and develop their own Torah insights during this time and to consider publishing a collective sefer of their writings at the end of bein hazmanim.

{Matzav.com Israel}

[COMMUNICATED]

Medical crises don’t take a break for Yom Tov. This Pesach, hundreds of families in our community will face the overwhelming challenge of navigating hospital stays and medical treatments while trying to maintain the simcha of Pesach.

Lev Rochel Bikur Cholim of Lakewood (LRBC) has been a lifeline for these families, providing comprehensive support through their network of essential services.

The Need Is Urgent

As Pesach approaches, LRBC faces a critical funding shortage to provide essential Yom Tov support for families experiencing medical crises. Your donation directly enables:

$1,440: Yom Tov seudos for a large family for the entire Yom Tov

$720: Yom Tov seudos for a small family for the entire Yom Tov

$1,000: Stock a hospital pantry for Yom Tov

$360: Yom Tov seuda for a large family

$180: Yom Tov seder for a small family

“Dealing with unfamiliar hospitals, doctors, and treatments while alone is an extremely overwhelming and isolating experience,” shares an LRBC representative. 

“When coupled with Yom Tov preparations, the burden becomes unbearable for many families. Your donation ensures that no one in our community faces these daunting medical challenges alone.”

When you support LRBC, you directly enable their comprehensive network of services:

Patient advocacy and medical referrals

Kosher food services for patients and families

Medical equipment loans

Transportation to medical appointments

Friendship House accommodations near hospitals

Join LRBC in this vital mission today. To donate: 855.905.3020 or visit lrbcol.org

For donor advised funds, tax ID: 223251871

We’re in this together. This Pesach, be there for those who need you most.

Donate here this Pesach by clicking HERE

Yesterday, the Egyptian government revealed plans for a high-level summit set to take place in Cairo on Monday, bringing together Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, and French President Emmanuel Macron.

According to the formal announcement, the gathering will center on strategies to implement an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and explore renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at stabilizing the region.

During a recent telephone conversation between President Al-Sisi and President Macron, the two leaders stressed “the importance of de-escalation through an immediate ceasefire in Gaza” and called for the swift and unhindered delivery of humanitarian supplies.

The statement further noted that President Macron will travel to El-Arish, a city in northern Sinai, where he plans to meet with humanitarian groups and personally monitor the coordination of aid being sent into the Gaza Strip.

{Matzav.com}

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy delivered a stern condemnation of the Israeli government yesterday after two Labour Members of Parliament were denied entry and deported, according to a report in The Guardian.

The MPs in question, Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed, were stopped at the border and turned away later that day amid concerns over the nature of their visit and suspected ulterior motives.

During interrogation by Israeli officials, the two parliamentarians claimed to be part of a sanctioned British parliamentary delegation. However, Israeli authorities quickly determined that this claim was baseless, as no governmental body in Israel had been informed of any such official visit.

Further investigation revealed that the true objective behind their visit was allegedly to gather material against Israeli defense personnel and promote damaging falsehoods about the country. Consequently, Interior Minister Moshe Arbel of Shas exercised his legal authority to bar the MPs and their team from entering, instructing that they be expelled from the country.

In response to the developments, Lammy issued a public statement Saturday night, saying, “It is unacceptable, counterproductive, and deeply concerning that two British MPs on a parliamentary delegation to Israel have been detained and refused entry by the Israeli authorities.”

He went on to say, “I have made clear to my counterparts in the Israeli government that this is no way to treat British parliamentarians, and we have been in contact with both MPs tonight to offer our support.”

Lammy also reiterated the UK’s diplomatic priorities in the region, with a focus on restoring calm and facilitating negotiations in Gaza. “The UK government’s focus remains securing a return to the ceasefire and negotiations to stop the bloodshed, free the hostages and end the conflict in Gaza,” he stated.

{Matzav.com}

The United Nations Human Rights Council has chosen to renew Francesca Albanese’s mandate as special rapporteur on human rights in what it refers to as the “Palestinian territories,” extending her term for another three years. This decision comes despite ongoing backlash over her consistent record of anti-Israel rhetoric and conduct.

Albanese, who was originally appointed in 2022, had her role reaffirmed after it passed the necessary procedural vote among the 47 member states. Israel strongly opposed the extension, and efforts to block the reappointment were backed by Hungary and Argentina, but those attempts did not succeed, as reported by Ynet.

Within both international diplomacy and human rights advocacy, Albanese has drawn significant controversy. Israeli officials and numerous advocacy groups have persistently accused her of being overtly hostile to Israel and of allowing her personal bias to dominate her professional assessments.

Concerns about Albanese’s stance were first spotlighted in 2022, when she made social media posts asserting that the “Jewish lobby” exerts control over the United States government.

At the time, Albanese denied that these remarks were antisemitic. She insisted they had been “mischaracterized,” though accusations of bias have only intensified since then.

Her antagonism toward Israel has escalated notably following the Hamas-led massacre on October 7, 2023, during which more than 1,200 Israelis were murdered and 250 taken hostage. Albanese referred to the atrocity as something that must be seen in “context” and described it as a response to supposed Israeli “aggression.”

In subsequent months, Albanese has gone even further, accusing Israel of perpetrating genocide. She has publicly drawn parallels between the Israeli government and the “Third Reich,” and even compared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler.

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

Get smart with Smarty and check out our Pesach In A Box packages! 

Stop trying to fit disposable products into your suitcases, and don’t worry about calculating exactly how many napkins and cups you need. When you buy direct, you can save up to 50% on all your disposable products by ordering at wholesale prices, and have it delivered wherever you are for Pesach!

Check out the massive selection HERE, or take a look at the brilliant Pesach In A Box package HERE.

Make Pesach incredibly easy and beautiful this year, with Smarty Had A Party! 

USE CODE PESACH20 FOR 20% off.

LISTEN:

​​For more info, email bitachon4life@gmail.com.

LISTEN:

WATCH:

New York state officials have pushed back against the Trump administration’s directive to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives from public schools, making it clear they won’t comply—even with the threat of losing federal education dollars.

In a letter sent Friday to the U.S. Department of Education, Daniel Morton-Bentley, legal counsel and deputy commissioner at the New York State Education Department, expressed strong objections, questioning the federal agency’s legal basis for such an ultimatum.

“We understand that the current administration seeks to censor anything it deems ‘diversity, equity & inclusion,’” he wrote. “But there are no federal or State laws prohibiting the principles of DEI.”

Morton-Bentley also emphasized that state officials do not recognize any legitimate authority the federal education department has to dictate how states interpret legal rulings or to cut off funding without following a formal process.

As of now, the U.S. Department of Education has not issued a public response to inquiries about the state’s position.

On Thursday, the Trump administration instructed all K-12 schools across the country to submit certifications within 10 days confirming that they comply with civil rights laws and have dismantled what it terms discriminatory DEI programs. These certifications are now a condition for receiving federal education funds, which account for roughly 6% of New York’s overall K-12 school funding.

“Federal financial assistance is a privilege, not a right,” said Craig Trainor, the acting assistant secretary for civil rights, when announcing the requirement. He argued that numerous educational institutions have disregarded their legal duties, “including by using DEI programs to discriminate against one group of Americans to favor another.”

The certification form requires education leaders to acknowledge that continued access to federal aid hinges on adherence to federal civil rights statutes. It also includes several pages of legal interpretation provided by the administration.

At the heart of the threat is Title I funding, a major source of federal financial support aimed at assisting schools in low-income communities.

In his letter, Morton-Bentley noted that the state has repeatedly affirmed to the federal government its compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, with the most recent assurance sent in January. He maintained that the federal government’s current approach rests on a misreading of the law.

“Given the fact that you are already in possession of guarantees by NYSED that it has and will comply with Title VI, no further certification will be forthcoming,” he wrote.

Morton-Bentley also highlighted the administration’s apparent reversal on this issue, pointing out that the previous Trump administration took a very different view. In 2020, then-Education Secretary Betsy DeVos stated that diversity and inclusion were “cornerstones of high organizational performance.” He said no rationale has been given for this sudden change in policy.

Opponents of the certification order argue that it contradicts Trump’s oft-repeated pledge to return control of education to states and local communities.

The federal government’s current threat mirrors actions taken against colleges in recent months, where funding has been wielded as leverage to suppress protests related to Israel that the administration has categorized as antisemitic.

This isn’t the only directive New York has defied. The state has also resisted a federal push to block a congestion pricing plan that would impose higher tolls on vehicles entering Manhattan, a strategy designed to support the city’s mass transit system.

{Matzav.com}