Matzav

President-elect Donald Trump announced that the “great public servant, governor, and leader in faith for many years” and “highly respected” Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor, will be the U.S. ambassador to Israel during the next administration.

Huckabee “loves Israel and the people of Israel and likewise, the people of Israel love him,” Trump stated. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.”

A Southern Baptist pastor and governor for more than a decade, Huckabee sought the Republican nomination for president in 2008 and 2016.

A staunch supporter of the Jewish state on biblical beliefs, the former governor has visited Israel many times and led thousands of U.S. Christians on solidarity tours over the past half-century. His first trip to Israel right out of high school was just before the 1973 Yom Kippur war.

Huckabee backed the relocation of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and has worked to fight attempts by the BDS movement to isolate Israel.

In the wake of Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border terrorist massacre in southern Israeli towns, Huckabee led evangelical leaders on a visit to the hard-hit communities along the border with the Gaza Strip.

“After 50 years of coming here, nothing has prepared me for this visit,” he said after walking through the charred remains of a border kibbutz.

He told JNS at the time that the ignorance so many Americans display about the war was a searing indictment of the educational system, which indoctrinates college students with a warped worldview.

In August 2018, Huckabee laid a ceremonial brick at the Israeli city of Efrat in Yehuda and said he might one day buy a “holiday home” there.

“If President Trump could be here today, he’d be a very happy man,” he stated at the time, standing in front of a red sign that said “Build Israel Great Again.”

The Republican Jewish Coalition is “thrilled” with the nomination.

“As a man of deep faith, we know Gov. Huckabee’s abounding love of Israel and its people is second to none,” the RJC said. “As the Jewish state continues to fight an existential war for survival against Iran and its terrorist proxies, Gov. Huckabee will represent America’s ironclad commitment to Israel’s security with distinction.”

David Friedman, who served as the U.S. envoy to Israel during Trump’s first presidency and was reportedly under consideration for the role again, stated that Huckabee is “a dear friend and he will have my full support.

“Congrats Mike on getting the best job in the world,” Friedman wrote.

“It speaks volumes to the importance and priority that President Trump places on the U.S.-Israel relationship that he selected his ambassador to Israel within one week of his election,” Friedman added. “The selection itself—Mike Huckabee is one of Israel’s greatest friends—tells us that the days of public daylight between the U.S. and Israel are about to end.”

(JNS)

Amid mounting concerns over what a second Trump presidency holds in store for the fight against climate change, it seems tee time with foreign leaders might well promise to be the only kind of “green” diplomacy the Republican president-elect has any interest in. Perhaps with that in mind, Reuters reports South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is polishing up his golf game to prepare for potential future meetings with the incoming U.S. leader, after not picking up a putt in more than eight years.

If nothing else it’ll provide the South Korean president with a fair spread of opportunities to bend Trump’s ear, given the president-elect was estimated to have played more than 260 rounds of golf, or one round every 5.6 days, during his first term. Read more.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s soccer match with host France this Thursday will be played under heavy security in the aftermath of the attacks against Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters in Amsterdam on Nov. 7.

Authorities said on Tuesday that the upcoming UEFA Nations League game, set to kick off at 8:45 p.m. local time, is classified as an “increased security risk.” Earlier in the week it was announced that 4,000 officers and 1,600 stadium staff will be deployed in and around the Stade de France, the national stadium of France, located just north of Paris in the commune of Saint-Denis, and on public transportation.

While the stadium capacity is 80,000, the number of fans allowed in will be limited to just 20,000.

French President Emmanuel Macron will attend the game “to show his full support for the French national team, but also to send a message of fraternity and solidarity after the unbearable antisemitic attacks following the football game in Amsterdam this week.”

Israel’s National Security Council (NSC) on Sunday issued an alert warning Israeli travelers to avoid sporting and cultural events in Europe, with an emphasis on the upcoming Israeli national team game in Paris.

Despite the NSC warning, thousands of French Jews are planning to attend the match.

“I don’t want to gift an empty stadium to haters and antisemites,” Yonathan Arfi, president of France’s Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions (CRIF), told Ynet. “The worst thing we can do is abandon the field and leave it to antisemites,” he added.

“We understand the NSC’s position, but this game has important symbolic significance: The stands must be full, including with French people who reject antisemitism.”

Arfi stressed however that attendees must “be cautious and pay attention to what’s happening. We aren’t diminishing the threat at all but we need to be there.”

Knesset member Yosef Taieb from the Shas Party told the Knesset’s Education, Culture and Sports Committee on Monday, as quoted by Channel 12, that “the entire Jewish community in France is currently rallying by the thousands to buy tickets and come to the Stade de France with Israeli and French flags together on Thursday. We don’t need to hide from anyone, and we should support our team.”

Greece boosts security ahead of Maccabi basketball match

Security is being beefed up ahead of other sporting events in Europe involving Israeli teams in the wake of the attacks in Amsterdam, which followed a game against Ajax in the Europa League. Ten Israeli citizens were injured in the attacks.

AFP reported that Greece has heightened security measures for a Euroleague basketball game between Panathinaikos and Maccabi Tel Aviv on Tuesday.

A police source told the news agency that around 1,500 police would be deployed for the game at the Athens Olympic indoor hall. Part of the force will be assigned to Maccabi fans and anti-terror officers will escort the team bus. The Israeli embassy in Athens will also be assigned additional security.

Meanwhile, UEFA announced on Monday that the Nov. 28 Europa League match between Besiktas and Maccabi Tel Aviv has been moved from Istanbul to Debrecen in Hungary.

“The match will be played behind closed doors, following a decision of the local Hungarian authorities,” the governing body of European soccer said in a statement.

(JNS)

The Israeli government this week approved a series of measures that will vastly expand the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip ahead of a deadline set by the Biden administration to implement 15 policy changes or risk a possible arms embargo, according to media reports on Tuesday.

Among the list of steps approved by the Security Cabinet on Sunday was an unspecified increase in the amount of aid entering the Palestinian coastal enclave.

Ministers also agreed to provide the Biden administration with a written pledge that Israel is not seeking to deport Palestinians from combat zones in Gaza, Channel 13 News reported. Another step approved by the Cabinet is the inland widening of the Al-Muwasi humanitarian zone on Gaza’s coast.

On Tuesday, the Defense Ministry’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories announced that, “in accordance with the directive of the political echelon,” it reopened the Kissufim Crossing to transfer additional humanitarian aid from Israel to the southern Strip.

The border crossing, which served as the main route for traffic to Israeli communities in Gaza before Yerushalayim’s withdrawal from the Strip, was closed as part of the disengagement from the territory on Aug. 15, 2005.

Meanwhile, Channel 13 reported the Cabinet voted not to yield to the U.S. demand for representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross to be allowed to visit Hamas terrorists in Israeli jails. Hamas has refused to allow the Red Cross to see the 101 hostages it still holds captive.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu reportedly warned fellow ministers that while President-elect Donald Trump was unlikely to slap an arms embargo on Israel, U.S. President Joe Biden could still take steps against the Jewish state in his last two-plus months in office.

In an Oct. 13 missive addressed to then-Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged Jerusalem to implement more than a dozen policy changes within 30 days or risk “implications” for U.S. policy, including an arms embargo.

Among other measures, the Biden administration called on the Jewish state to allow at least 350 aid trucks to pass daily through existing border crossings with Gaza and to immediately open a fifth crossing.

An Israeli official told Ynet that Yerushalayim was unable to meet the demand for that number of trucks.

Israel was also instructed to announce “adequate humanitarian pauses across Gaza” for at least four months, rescind evacuation orders, remove a ban on the entry of “container and closed trucks,” authorize certain items with dual military use to enter and declare that there will be no “policy of forced evacuation of civilians from northern to southern Gaza.”

Citing reports of alleged abuses against Palestinian terrorists captured during Hamas’s Oct. 7 massacre and the Gaza war, the letter urged Israel to immediately allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit all “individuals detained in connection with this conflict.”

The Biden administration confirmed the contents of a letter, with John Kirby, the White House national security communications adviser, telling reporters that Washington’s criticism was prompted by a “recent decrease in humanitarian assistance reaching the people of Gaza.”

The Israel Defense Forces has been fighting to defeat Hamas in Gaza since the terror group led a mass invasion of southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, murdering 1,200 people, mainly Jewish civilians, while wounding thousands more and kidnapping 251 people to Gaza, where 101 remain.

Yerushalayim has rejected any accusation that the IDF does not comply with international law or is interfering with aid efforts, and has accused Hamas of stealing most of the aid. At times, the White House and State Department have admitted that the terror group is known to seize aid.

(JNS)

Judge Andrew Napolitano, in an appearance on Newsmax’s “Carl Higbie FRONTLINE,” offered his perspective on the likely timeline and potential outcomes of President-elect Donald Trump’s various legal challenges. Napolitano suggested that sentencing in Trump’s New York case might be postponed until 2029 and indicated that Trump’s Georgia case has a better chance for dismissal.

Napolitano, a senior judicial analyst and former judge, addressed Trump’s motion to dismiss the New York charges, though he predicted it would not succeed. “Trump’s people made an application to Judge [Juan] Merchan saying, look, the Supreme Court granted immunity, and some of the testimony about Donald Trump’s behavior was checks that he signed in the White House,” Napolitano explained. “Those checks were inextricably connected to things he did before he was in the White House, in running his Trump Organization. And therefore, you got to throw the whole thing out.”

He elaborated that the government’s counterargument is based on actions Trump took before his presidency, which they argue are not protected by Supreme Court immunity. “The other half of what he did, the actual signing of those checks to Michael Cohen, who gave the money to Stormy Daniels’ lawyer, was done in the White House,” Napolitano noted. “But it was personal behavior, not official behavior. And personal behavior is not covered under the Supreme Court’s immunity decision.”

Currently, Trump awaits sentencing after being convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records in New York. Napolitano speculated that Judge Merchan would likely reject Trump’s motion to dismiss the charges but could hold off on sentencing for an extended period. “I don’t think he’ll impose sentence in two weeks. I think he’s going to delay sentencing… for four and a half years until Donald Trump, who knows what the world will be like in four and a half years… will be out of office.”

Looking further ahead, Napolitano projected that any potential sentence could be deferred until after Trump’s anticipated second presidential term. “It is inconceivable to me that the president-elect of the United States could be the recipient of a criminal sentence at this time in American history,” he said.

Napolitano also analyzed Trump’s legal issues in Georgia, where Trump faces allegations of election interference, pointing to stronger grounds for dismissal there than in New York. “They have a much stronger case for dismissal in Georgia than they do… the one we were just talking about in New York,” Napolitano argued, suggesting Trump could assert that his actions were part of “official presidential behavior,” potentially shielding him from prosecution.

However, Napolitano warned that even if Trump is not dismissed as a defendant in Georgia, he may still avoid attending trial. “That case is scheduled for trial in the spring. I think it’s going to proceed without him as a defendant. He can’t be a defendant in a criminal case while he’s in the White House,” Napolitano stated, noting that although Trump might sidestep appearing as a defendant, “he can be called to testify… and that’s something he has to try and avoid.”

{Matzav.com}

A Hezbollah drone exploded in the yard of a kindergarten in the Chaifa suburb of Nesher on Tuesday, with no injuries reported and the impact causing minor damage to the structure, according to the Israel Police.

The Israel Defense Forces reported that, although warning alerts for a hostile aircraft infiltration were sounded in Chaifa Bay, the Western and Upper Galil, no sirens were activated in the city. They added that the incident is under investigation.

The IDF confirmed that the event had concluded after one UAV that crossed from Lebanon crashed into the Nesher area.

Channel 12 reported that despite no sirens sounding in Nesher, teachers decided to evacuate the children to a protected area anyway, thereby saving their lives.

Footage from the scene shows extensive damage to the yard, with the person taking video of the aftermath saying, “What destruction; it was a miracle.”

Nesher Mayor Roey Levi stated, “There was an impact near the kindergarten, but no alert was sounded, and we are working with the Home Front Command to understand why. Thankfully, there were no physical injuries. We contacted the children’s parents and moved them to another kindergarten.”

Meanwhile, Lebanese media reported Israeli strikes in Beirut after the IDF issued evacuation orders for 11 buildings in the capital’s southern suburbs.

(JNS)

A rocket fired by Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorists scored a direct hit in the northern Israeli city of Nahariya on Tuesday afternoon, killing two people, the Magen David Adom emergency response group said.

Air-raid sirens were also activated in Israel’s densely-populated central region, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed.

“Following the alerts that were activated in several areas in the center of the country, the Air Force intercepted three launches that crossed [into Israel] from Lebanon,” the military subsequently announced on X.

Rocket alerts were activated in the central Israeli cities of Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Petach Tikvah, as well as in major population centers in the Sharon region, including Herzliya, Ra’anana and Kfar Saba, sending millions running for shelter, according to the IDF Home Front Command.

This is a developing story.

A judge has decided to delay his ruling on whether to overturn President-elect Donald Trump’s conviction in his hush-money case, citing a U.S. Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity.

New York Judge Juan M. Merchan was initially scheduled to make a decision on Tuesday. However, he informed Trump’s attorneys on that day that he would postpone the ruling until November 19.

In court documents, it was revealed that Trump’s legal team requested the delay over the weekend, stating that there are “strong reasons for the requested stay, and eventually dismissal of the case in the interests of justice.”

{Matzav.com}

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as his nominee for Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, according to two sources familiar with the decision.

Noem is set to take the helm of the department at a time when two staunch immigration hardliners—Stephen Miller and Tom Homan—are expected to play prominent roles within the agency. This move indicates that Trump is committed to fulfilling his immigration crackdown promises. By selecting Noem, Trump ensures that a trusted ally will lead an agency central to his domestic policy priorities.

The Department of Homeland Security experienced significant upheaval during Trump’s previous tenure, with five different leaders at the agency, two of whom were confirmed by the Senate. DHS, with its substantial $60 billion budget and vast workforce of hundreds of thousands, struggled to maintain stability.

Noem, a former representative from South Dakota, now faces the responsibility of managing an extensive agency that oversees a wide range of operations, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the U.S. Secret Service.

Although she was once considered for Trump’s vice-presidential ticket, Noem’s relationship with him soured after the controversial release of her book, No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward. In the book, Noem disclosed that she had once killed her 14-month-old wirehair pointer, Cricket, because the dog did not meet her expectations as a hunting companion.

In the book, she described the dog as “untrainable,” according to excerpts first reported by The Guardian. Noem later clarified that these stories were meant to demonstrate her willingness to take on tough, sometimes unpleasant tasks when necessary.

{Matzav.com}

Dutch authorities report that young people coordinated the attack on Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam using messaging apps mere hours before the game, according to The Wall Street Journal.

In the wake of the assault, which was condemned as antisemitic by officials in Amsterdam, Israel, and across Europe, five people required hospital care, and authorities detained more than 60 people before and after the incident.

Since the onset of the Gaza conflict, Europe has seen a spike in antisemitic acts, including hate speech, vandalism, and violence. These rising tensions were evident in Amsterdam as Thursday evening’s match approached, pitting the Dutch team Ajax against Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The Journal reported that a pro-Palestinian WhatsApp group chat initiated a call for a “Jew Hunt” on Thursday.

“They knew everything,” said 30-year-old Maccabi fan Shachar Bitton. “They knew exactly where we stayed. They knew exactly which hotels, which street we were going to take. It was all well-organized, well-prepared.”

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu issued a statement describing the incident as “horrifying” and “of utmost gravity.” He urged the Dutch government to take “vigorous and swift action” against those responsible.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

I would like to address the trend of publicly sharing photos of the cars of people who park in handicapped spaces without visibly valid permits.

While it may be frustrating to witness the misuse of parking spaces designated for those with physical limitations, sharing these photos publicly can present significant halachic concerns, particularly regarding lashon hara and public busha.

According to the halachic framework established by the Chafetz Chaim, negative information should only be publicized if it fulfills a constructive purpose, or to’eles, and only when specific criteria are met. In Hilchos Lashon Hara, Chapter 10, he outlines these guidelines as follows:

1. Truth and Verification: The information shared must be true and confirmed. In this context, it is vital to ensure that the person parked there is indeed misusing the spot, as disabilities are sometimes not visible. We risk misjudging someone who has a legitimate need for that space but does not appear outwardly disabled.
2. Constructive Purpose: Publicizing negative information must aim to prevent harm or rectify a situation in a way that cannot be achieved otherwise. If the goal is to raise awareness about handicapped parking misuse, it may be more effective—and less harmful—to report the issue directly to parking authorities or raise general awareness without singling out individuals and displaying their cars and license plates.
3. Avoiding Harm: The Chafetz Chaim cautions against actions that might harm another’s reputation beyond what is necessary to achieve a constructive goal. Public shaming, especially on social media, often escalates far beyond the original issue and can cause disproportionate harm to the person’s dignity and standing.

The Rambam in Hilchos Dei’os (7:5) similarly states that speaking negatively about someone, even truthfully, is generally forbidden unless it is the only way to prevent harm. This principle advises us to act with caution when contemplating actions that could harm someone’s reputation. Reporting the behavior to proper authorities or encouraging general vigilance without targeting individuals are usually safer and more appropriate courses.

The Tosefta (Bava Metzia 3:30) teaches us, “You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people” (Vayikra 19:16), which Rishonim, including the Rambam and Rashbam, understand as forbidding actions that might harm others’ reputations. The halacha stresses the need to exhaust private or less intrusive means of addressing wrongs before resorting to public exposure.

Additionally, in Choshen Mishpat 420:38, the Shulchan Aruch compares publicly embarrassing another to “shedding blood” (Bava Metzia 58b). By sharing someone’s photo in a context meant to shame, we risk committing this serious aveirah unless it’s necessary and cannot be avoided.

Speak to any posek and they’ll tell you that public shaming rarely aligns with halacha.

The concept of tochachah further illustrates this point. The Gemara in Bava Basra (16b) and the Mishnah Berurah (608:3) both make it clear that tochachah should be given privately, avoiding public embarrassment whenever possible. These sources collectively argue for restraint and caution, reminding us that we should first pursue options that respect others’ dignity.

Taking a picture of someone parked in a handicapped spot and publicizing it may satisfy an initial sense of frustration, but it violates our core principles, halachically and hashkafically. We can seek to educate and raise awareness about this issue through alternative methods that align with halacha and avoid potential violations of lashon hara and public embarrassment.

Thank you for reading.

Sincerely,
A Yid Who Has Never Parked in a Handicapped Spot in His Life But Still Knows That Halacha is Halacha No Matter How Good One’s Intention Is In Exposing Issues

Lakewood, NJ

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Yeshivas Zahav Mordechai – Itri, located in the Beit Safafa neighborhood of Yerushalayim, primarily enrolls talmidim from religious high schools who transitioned to the yeshiva. Recently, with the issuance of draft notices, significant efforts have been made to ensure these talmidim do not report to the recruitment offices, in line with other bochurim in the Torah world.

Monday morning, journalist Yoely Brim revealed on Galei Tzahal in a discussion with Yair Kuzin and Ariel Kahana that a major controversy has erupted within the yeshiva. According to the report, the IDF has been arranging secret, individual agreements with chareidi yeshiva bochurim, unbeknownst to the yeshivas and their rabbeim.

The agreement includes a signed commitment by the talmidim to enlist in the army upon completing their studies at the yeshiva, instead of continuing their Torah learning, in exchange for the removal of personal sanctions.

Brim disclosed that seven talmidim were expelled from Yeshivas Itri after signing this secret agreement without the knowledge of the yeshiva administration. They committed to enlist within twenty months after completing their Torah studies.

How were they discovered? The yeshiva administration received a budget allocation that was itemized by their names (since they are not classified as draft dodgers), leading the yeshiva administration to uncover the agreement. In response, the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Avrohom Ozer, expeled the talmidim to prevent legitimizing military enlistment.

The new protocol is known as “Tamid Talmid” (“Student Forever”), and it appears that the IDF is making a concerted effort to enlist talmidim who wish to continue studying Torah.

An informed source on draft issues within the yeshiva world remarked: “We’ve reached a point where the army is doing everything it can to recruit students, even though there’s no real need for it. They’re going behind the roshei yeshivos.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

The Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Asher Deutsch, was released from the hospital yesterday to his home on Rechov Wasserman in Bnei Brak after significant improvement in his condition was seen since his hospitalization a few days ago at Maayanei Hayeshua Hospital due to an infection.

Despite his weakness, the Rosh Yeshiva has already resumed his learning schedule. In the photo above, he can be seen learning at his home after he returned from the hospital.

According to the doctors, with Hashem’s help, he should be able to return to full activity in the coming days. Until then, his customary hours for receiving visitors will not be held.

A message from the Rosh Yeshiva’s household reads: “We extend our gratitude to the Maayanei Hayeshua Hospital staff and to Minister of Health Rabbi Uriel Busu for the dedicated care provided to the Rosh Yeshiva shlit”a.”

All are asked to daven for the full recovery of Rav Asher ben Leah.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Early Tuesday morning, the Knesset passed the first reading of a revised version of the “Rabbis Law,” which proposes changes to how religious councils receive funding.

The bill passed with 52 votes in favor and 38 against, and it now returns to the Knesset Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee for further review.

Under this legislation, the government would have the ability to provide additional funding to religious councils beyond their regular government budget. This extra funding would be allocated to cover salaries and hire additional staff.

The criteria for this extra funding would be established by the Minister of Religious Services, in consultation with the Minister of Finance. When a religious council meets these set criteria, the Ministry of Religious Services would be able to increase both funding and staff for that council.

The vote proceeded despite earlier criticism from MK Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism) on Monday, who expressed dissatisfaction with the coalition’s handling of this bill, which was introduced by Shas, while other bills like the Draft Law and daycare subsidy bill remain stalled. Ultimately, United Torah Judaism allowed the bill to proceed to a first reading vote after securing a promise that the bill would not advance further without their approval.

{Matzav.com Israel}

On Monday, leaders from Arab and Muslim nations gathered in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, for a high-level summit. The summit commenced with a call from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, urging the international community to “immediately halt the Israeli actions against our brothers in Palestine and Lebanon.” He described Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as “genocide,” according to reports from AFP.

The Crown Prince reiterated Saudi Arabia’s “support for the brothers in Palestine and Lebanon to overcome the disastrous humanitarian consequences of the ongoing Israeli aggression.”

A draft resolution from the summit underscored steadfast backing for Palestinian aspirations, focusing on the need for “firm support” for their “national rights,” particularly their “right to freedom and to an independent, sovereign state.”

This position stood in contrast to statements made by Israel’s new Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who dismissed the feasibility of a Palestinian state, arguing it would become a “Hamas state.”

“I don’t think this position is realistic today, and we must be realistic,” Sa’ar remarked in Jerusalem.

Crown Prince Mohammed also addressed tensions between Israel and Iran, urging Israel to avoid attacking Iran, underscoring the growing diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, a former regional adversary.

These remarks highlight the fact that Saudi-Israeli normalization appears distant.

While Saudi Arabia and Israel had been moving toward establishing formal ties before the October 7, 2023, Hamas assault on Israel, Saudi Arabia froze U.S.-backed plans to normalize relations with Israel following that attack and the ensuing conflict in Gaza.

In September, the Saudi Crown Prince reiterated that establishing an “independent Palestinian state” was a key prerequisite for normalization.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, reaffirmed this stance last month, echoing the Crown Prince’s description of the Gaza events as “genocide” and condemning what he referred to as the “complete blockade” of northern Gaza.

{Matzav.com}

The Knesset Ethics Committee has ruled that MK Ofer Cassif (Hadash-Ta’al) will be suspended from the Knesset for six months and will forfeit two weeks of his salary.

The sanction, effective Tuesday, follows Cassif’s participation in proceedings against Israel at The International Court of Justice (ICJ) and his accusations against IDF soldiers and the State of Israel, alleging acts of massacre and war crimes against Palestinian Arabs.

This decision marks the most severe penalty ever levied on an MK by the Knesset Ethics Committee. The ruling was supported unanimously by committee members MK Moshe Roth (United Torah Judaism), MK Pnina Tamano-Shata (National Unity), MK Michal Woldiger (The Religious Zionist Party), and MK Sharon Nir (Yisrael Beytenu).

Committee Chairman MK Roth explained, “The committee held a number of in-depth and lengthy discussions on the issue, out of responsibility and understanding the importance of the decision. The committee will continue to act faithfully in maintaining the honor of the Knesset and its members. The committee’s decisions were adopted unanimously. The committee’s discussions will remain confidential in accordance with accepted procedures.”

MK Almog Cohen (Otzma Yehudit) responded critically, saying, “Too little and too late. It is inconceivable that those who call our soldiers ‘Nazis’ and ‘baby killers’ and claim that the State of Israel practices apartheid—will remain here. Every step this man takes in this building is a national shame and a disgrace to our holy soldiers. I call on the Ethics Committee to punish him much more severely.”

In response, Cassif stated, “A decision of nationalist political censorship. My punishment is a continuation of the political persecution of opponents of the war and critics of Netanyahu’s bloody rule.”

Cassif, the only Jewish MK within Hadash-Ta’al, has faced repeated backlash for his anti-Israel rhetoric, including comparisons of Israeli leaders and the state itself to the Nazi regime.

Previously, in March 2023, the Ethics Committee barred Cassif from the Knesset plenary after a verbal clash where he called MK Almog Cohen names, including “stinking Nazi,” “zero,” “stupid,” and “bloodthirsty.”

Cassif also once posted on Facebook referring to then-Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked as “neo-Nazi scum.”

Back in 2017, he was recorded comparing the State of Israel to Nazi Germany in a classroom setting, cautioning that Israel was “on a slippery slope” toward fascism.

Earlier this year, the Knesset held a vote on removing Cassif from his position. However, while impeachment of an MK requires at least 90 votes, only 85 MKs voted in favor, and 11 opposed the motion.

{Matzav.com}

Newsmax reports that it predicts that after a lengthy vote count and competition between the parties, Republicans will maintain a narrow majority in the House.

According to Newsmax’s projections, incumbent Republican Juan Ciscomani managed to fend off Democratic challenger Kirsten Engel in Arizona’s District 6, securing the 218th seat necessary for a GOP majority. There are still a few unresolved races that could widen the Republicans’ lead in the House.

Democrats had hoped to regain control of the House to limit Republican influence, especially with the GOP’s hold on the presidency and the Senate. In last week’s election, Donald Trump won the presidential race, and the GOP secured a Senate majority of 52 to 47, with one remaining race in Pennsylvania yet to be called by Newsmax.

With control of both chambers, Republicans will likely find it easier to pass major items on Trump’s new agenda, including large-scale deportations of undocumented immigrants and tariffs on products from certain countries.

Trump is also expected to submit numerous judicial nominations, with a GOP-controlled Congress likely to ease the confirmation process. These appointments could include one or more Supreme Court justices.

This outcome represents a significant win for Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who rose to prominence in the House, steering its legislative priorities and advocating for Trump’s reelection, as reported by The Hill.

Notable Democratic incumbents, such as Pennsylvania’s Susan Wild and Matt Cartwright, were unseated, though Republicans faced losses as well. Freshman GOP Representatives Anthony D’Esposito, Marc Molinaro, and Brandon Williams from New York did not win re-election.

The final composition of the House remains uncertain, as some California races are still pending. According to The Hill, the final margin could influence Johnson’s leadership approach and his capacity to advance the GOP’s agenda.

Republicans in both the House and Senate have been drafting a legislative plan for Trump’s first 100 days under full Republican control, Johnson told Newsmax on Election Night.

These plans, according to The Hill, include extending tax cuts from Trump’s first term, increasing funding for the border wall, repealing climate-related policies, and promoting school choice.

Another key issue for the GOP is whether to continue supporting Ukraine in its defense against Russia. Many Republicans have raised concerns over the ongoing allocation of resources to this foreign conflict.

{Matzav.com}

President-elect Donald Trump has appointed former ICE Director Tom Homan as the new ‘Border Czar,’ signaling a tough, approach to immigration. Homan, known for his fiery confrontations with Democrats and his unwavering stance on deportation, is set to lead Trump’s aggressive immigration plan, which aims to deport millions of undocumented migrants.

WATCH THIS:

Fourteen years ago, Klal Yisroel was plunged into sadness with the sudden passing of Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Mir Yerushalayim, following a heart attack. Rav Finkel was 69 years old.

Rav Finkel was born on March 12, 1943, in Chicago, Illinois, to his parents, Reb Eliyohu Meir and Mrs. Finkel, and was named after his elte-zaida, the Alter of Slabodka, Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel.  Rav Nosson Tzvi later married a daughter of Rav Beinish Finkel, a son of Rav Eliezer Yehudah Finkel, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Mir. Rav Nosson Tzvi’s wife was a second cousin of his.

Rav Nosson Tzvi became rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Mir-Yerushalayim in 1990 following the petirah of his father-in-law, Rav Beinish. He also served as a member of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah in Eretz Yisroel.

In his later years, Rav Nosson Tzvi suffered from Parkinson’s disease and demonstrated inspiring levels of bitachon and strength. He once remarked that he didn’t take certain medicines for his illness, because his doctor had told him that it would have an effect on his memory. “I’d rather be ill my whole life than to forget even one word of the Torah hakedosha,” he said.

The loss was a devastating one for the entire Olam Hatorah, for which Rav Nosson Tzvi was a living example of mesirus nefesh for Torah and the Ribono Shel Olam. Books have been written about Rav Nosson Tzvi’s devotion to his talmidim and to Yeshivas Mir, whose budget of millions of dollars was shouldered by Rav Nosson Tzvi, who undertook yearly trips abroad to raise funds for the yeshiva, despite his debilitating condition. There were few individuals of our dor who inspired as many people as Rav Nosson Tzvi did with his mere presence, his smile, his emunah and bitachon, and his astonishing gevurah in light of his circumstances.

Just as inspiring to many of his talmidim and others in the Torah world was Rav Nosson Tzvi’s humble upbringing. He grew up as a child in Chicago, an American kid – backpack, baseball cap, and all – and went on to become one of the most venerated roshei yeshivos of our generation, garnering the respect of the gedolei hador and the masses for his yedios haTorah, his ahavas haTorah, his hasmadah, his ahavas Hashem, his ahavas Yisroel, and his boundless love and dedication for the thousands of talmidim of Yeshivas Mir-Yerushalayim, which, under his stewardship, grew into one of the largest – if not the largest – makom Torah in the world. Also, under his leadership, Yeshivas Mir opened branches in various locations, including Brachfeld in Modiin Illit.

On the yahrtzeit of Rochel Imeinu, Klal Yisroel lost an unparalleled individual, a diamond that Klal Yisroel was blessed to have as a leader, as a rosh yeshiva, as a gadol baTorah, and as a living example of the way the Ribono Shel Olam wants each of us to conduct our lives.

Chaval al de’avdin velo mishtakchin.

Rav Nosson Tzvi was survived by his mother and his children, including Rav Avrohom Yeshaya Finkel, Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, Rav Shmaryahu Yosef Finkel, Rav Yitzchok Finkel and Rav Shmuel Finkel.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

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