Matzav

A Toronto public school teacher has been placed on suspension after allegedly playing a video of Charlie Kirk’s assassination for a class of fifth and sixth graders, according to a report in the New York Post.

In addition to showing the disturbing footage, the teacher is accused of telling the children that Kirk deserved his fate and using the classroom to give a talk about anti-fascism and transgender issues.

“Several students from his class went home and complained to their parents, traumatized at witnessing the on-camera death, which they were forced to witness numerous times over,” a source told the Toronto Sun. “Parents subsequently reached out to school administrators,” leading officials to remove the teacher from duty on Friday while an investigation proceeds.

Later that day, a letter was distributed to families of the students involved, describing the alleged actions as “extremely troubling and completely disturbing,” the Toronto Sun reported.

“During class, students were said to have been shown a portion of a violent video in response to questions being asked about a recent tragic event in the United States,” the letter stated. It explained that the footage was presented by a staff member overseeing a French immersion class and not the regular teacher of that group.

The communication further added that “the teacher has been relieved of all teaching responsibilities pending the outcome of the investigation and will not be at the school. Assistance is being offered to any children traumatized by the incident.”

{Matzav.com}

The Yerushalayim Magistrate’s Court has overturned the criminal conviction of Beitar Illit Mayor Meir Rubinstein in an environmental pollution case.

Instead of a criminal record, Judge Shmuel Herbst ruled that Rubinstein must complete 420 hours of community service and pay a fine of 36,000 shekels. The municipality itself was also ordered to pay a penalty of 200,000 shekels.

The charges stemmed from incidents beginning in 2011, when city sewage stations malfunctioned, causing raw sewage to spill into agricultural land and streams. Despite repeated warnings from the Environmental Protection Ministry, the pollution persisted for nearly four years.

In his ruling, Judge Herbst stated: “The defendant did not commit the offenses for his personal benefit but acted in a manner he believed was in line with his responsibility to the city’s residents.”

He noted that the issue was eventually resolved with the aid of 30 million shekels in government funding to upgrade the infrastructure.

The Environmental Protection Ministry opposed the cancellation of the conviction, arguing that serious environmental crimes must not be treated lightly and that a criminal conviction is vital for transparency with the public.

Meanwhile, the Haifa District Court sentenced a 27-year-old resident of Beit Jann to 28 months in prison for attacking Israel Nature and Parks Authority inspectors on Mount Meron in 2020.

The man admitted to throwing stones at inspectors who arrived to post demolition orders during enforcement against illegal construction. Protesters also set fire to the inspectors’ vehicle, forcing them to flee for safety.

Two inspectors injured in the attack were reassigned to office work due to trauma. One said the incident was more difficult for him than what he had experienced as a reserve soldier during the “Iron Swords” war.

The defendant expressed remorse, admitted his actions, and attempted to reach out to the inspectors to apologize. In addition to his prison sentence, he was ordered to pay 100,000 shekels in compensation to the two victims.

Shai Peretz, chief prosecutor for the Nature and Parks Authority, welcomed the ruling, saying: “The verdict is a clear statement against any attempt to harm Nature and Parks Authority employees who are carrying out their mission in the field.”

President Donald Trump on Sunday referred to Qatar as a “great ally” while urging Israel to “be careful” after the recent strike in Doha that was aimed at Hamas leaders.

When asked by reporters what message he wished to convey to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the attack in Qatar, Trump said, “They have to be very, very careful. They have to do something about Hamas, but Qatar has been a great ally to the United States. A lot of people don’t know that.”

He went on to say, “I told the Emir, who I think is a wonderful person, actually, I said, ‘You need better public relations because you don’t really get the public relations.’”

Trump emphasized, “People talk of [Qatar] so badly, and they shouldn’t be. Qatar has been a very great ally. So Israel and everybody else, we have to be careful. When we attack people, we have to be careful.”

On the day of the strike, Trump acknowledged he was “not thrilled” by the operation, while at the same time pointing to the ongoing importance of working toward the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

That same evening, Netanyahu hinted that Israel’s mission to eliminate Hamas figures in Qatar had not been successful.

In a statement posted in English on X, Netanyahu wrote that those Hamas officials “blocked all ceasefire attempts,” and argued that “getting rid of them” would remove the “main obstacle” to bringing the conflict to an end.

“The Hamas terrorists chiefs living in Qatar don’t care about the people in Gaza,” Netanyahu wrote. He continued, “They blocked all ceasefire attempts in order to endlessly drag out the war. Getting rid of them would rid the main obstacle to releasing all our hostages and ending the war.”

On Friday, Hamas announced that Khalil al-Hayya, one of its senior leaders who was the focus of the strike in Doha, had survived the attack.

According to a statement cited by Channel 13 News, Hamas said al-Hayya “carried out the funeral prayer for his martyred son who was killed in the strike and for those killed in the assassination attempt, under special security arrangements.”

The group did not provide pictures or any other proof to verify its account.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump is taking credit for reducing crime in Democratic-led sanctuary cities, insisting that only he can deliver what he called “no crime miracles.”

“The only reason crime is somewhat down in Memphis is because the FBI, and others in the federal government, at my direction, have been working there for 5 months — on the absolutely terrible crime numbers; likewise, in Chicago and Los Angeles!” Trump posted on Truth Social, pointing to recent federal involvement in the city just a day after he announced on television that “we’re coming” to Memphis next.

“But the real work by us has barely begun. That happens after we make the official announcement that WE’RE COMING, and when we do that, as we did in now VERY SAFE WASHINGTON, D.C., the no crime ‘miracle’ begins.
“ONLY I CAN SAVE THEM!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DJT”

Trump has pledged to take on violent crime but continues to clash with Democratic leaders in states like Illinois and California. In places such as Tennessee, he faces fewer political obstacles. On the campaign trail, he has repeatedly argued that cities governed by Democrats are plagued with lawlessness.

Memphis Mayor Paul Young, a Democrat, said that Trump’s televised statement the previous evening was the first time he received clear confirmation that the National Guard would be sent to the city to help fight crime.

Young explained to CNN that he first became aware the deployment was being considered when Republican Governor Bill Lee’s office notified him earlier in the week. He added that discussions continued throughout the following days, including talks about reinforcing law enforcement through federal agencies such as the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

During a Friday morning television interview, Trump described Memphis as “deeply troubled” and promised, “we’re going to fix that just like we did Washington,” referencing his earlier move to send in the National Guard and expand the federal law enforcement presence in the nation’s capital.

When asked directly if he had “hard confirmation” before Trump’s public declaration, Mayor Young answered: “No, that was the confirmation.”

Memphis police had reported earlier in the week that every major crime category showed declines in the first eight months of 2025 compared to previous years. According to the department, overall crime had dropped to a 25-year low, with murders falling to their lowest point in six years.

Still, the city has long struggled with gun-related violence. In 2023, Memphis experienced a record-setting 390 homicides.

Governor Lee has said details about how the Guard will be integrated into anti-crime efforts are still under discussion. His spokeswoman, Elizabeth Lane Johnson, noted that Lee spoke with Trump on Friday and will continue discussions in the coming week. Lee emphasized that the Guard’s involvement would add to the momentum of an existing FBI-led crackdown that has “already arrested hundreds of the most violent offenders.”

Mayor Young said that questions remain about the number of troops, their duties, and the timeline for their arrival. He expects more clarity in the days ahead.

Young also rejected Trump’s claim that he was “happy” about the National Guard coming in. The mayor said he neither requested the deployment nor believes it will bring down crime. Nonetheless, he conceded that Memphis continues to appear on too many “bad lists” and, since the decision has already been made, he intends to “drive how they engage in our city.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s upcoming trip to the United States aboard the Wing of Zion will carry a smaller group than usual, according to sources cited by The Jerusalem Post. The change comes as officials prepare for possible flight path complications tied to international airspace restrictions.

The plane, scheduled to head to New York next week, is expected to take a longer route than originally planned. Officials explained that the adjustment was made after concerns were raised that certain European nations may choose not to authorize overflight.

Because the alternative path demands extra fuel, planners decided to lighten the overall load of the aircraft. That meant reducing both the number of passengers permitted on board and the amount of equipment being carried.

Last week, the Prime Minister’s Office revealed that members of the press, along with some aides, would not be traveling on the plane to the United Nations General Assembly.

“Due to technical arrangements related to seating and security, it has been decided to limit the number of passengers on the upcoming Wing of Zion flight, including journalists and members of the prime minister’s entourage,” the office said in a statement.

Later, officials clarified that the decision was driven primarily by the extended flight path rather than logistical or security concerns alone.

The altered route stems from political tensions surrounding the war in Gaza, along with speculation that states affiliated with the International Criminal Court might block airspace to individuals facing legal proceedings.

Governor Kathy Hochul has now thrown her support behind Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, after keeping her distance for nearly two months.

Her endorsement appeared in The New York Times on Sunday, making her the latest senior Democrat to publicly back the 33-year-old nominee. The move adds to the pressure on other party leaders such as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who so far have declined to endorse him.

Hochul had initially avoided offering her support after Mamdani’s unexpected primary win over former Governor Andrew Cuomo in June.

Explaining her decision, Hochul said, “In the past few months, I’ve had frank conversations with him. We’ve had our disagreements. But in our conversations, I heard a leader who shares my commitment to a New York where children can grow up safe in their neighborhoods and where opportunity is within reach for every family. I heard a leader who is focused on making New York City affordable — a goal I enthusiastically support.”

She also praised Mamdani’s qualities, noting that he showed “courage, urgency and optimism.”

Hochul added that she had spoken to him about “the need to combat the rise of antisemitism urgently and unequivocally. I’ve been glad to see him meet with Jewish leaders across the city, listening and addressing their concerns directly. I look forward to working together to make sure New Yorkers of all faiths feel safe and welcome in New York City.”

Mamdani has drawn criticism over his anti-Israel positions, including refusing to denounce the phrase “globalize the intifada” and condemning Israel the day after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

Hochul had previously remarked that she told Mamdani he must repair his relationship with the city’s Jewish community.

In a related development, Jeffries said in July that he intends to meet with Mamdani, stressing that the candidate’s refusal to disavow the phrase “globalize the intifada” will “be part of our discussion.”

Jeffries further stated that it is important for Mamdani “to reassure” Jewish New Yorkers and others that “he’s going to stand up for their safety and security.”

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Vice President JD Vance revealed that on Monday he will be stepping in to host “The Charlie Kirk Show” live from the White House, saying he wanted to “pay tribute” to his fallen friend.

The broadcast is scheduled to go on the air at noon, just days after Kirk was gunned down while appearing on a college campus in Utah.

Vance and Kirk had shared a deep friendship stretching back many years, long before Vance had ever entered the political arena.

In a heartfelt letter addressed to Kirk that was released following his murder at Utah Valley University, Vance recounted memories of their relationship.

He recalled how Kirk was one of the very first people he confided in when he chose to run for the U.S. Senate in 2021, and how Kirk played a pivotal role in connecting him with influential figures such as Donald Trump Jr. who helped build his campaign.

Vance also wrote that Kirk had remained one of his most loyal allies throughout his career, and had even influenced the process that eventually led to Vance being chosen as Trump’s running mate.

News of Kirk’s shooting reached the vice president in the middle of a West Wing meeting through a flurry of text messages. Some of the group chats included Kirk himself, while many others poured in expressing that they were praying for him.

“God didn’t answer those prayers, and that’s OK. He had other plans. And now that Charlie is in heaven, I’ll ask him to talk to big man directly on behalf of his family, his friends, and the country he loved so dearly,” Vance wrote.

Vance then accompanied Kirk’s remains as they were brought back from Utah to his home state of Arizona.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump sharply criticized “the left” on Sunday, blaming it for spreading the kind of venom that led to Charlie Kirk’s assassination. He also revealed that “major investigations” are already underway into various groups as authorities press forward with the case.

When questioned about possible ties between left-wing organizations and Tyler Robinson, the man accused of shooting Kirk during his appearance at Utah Valley University last Wednesday, Trump condemned the ideology as a whole.

“The problem? Is on the left, it’s not on the right, like some people like to say on the right. The problem we have is on the left,” he told members of the press while speaking at Morristown Airport in New Jersey.

“And when you look at the agitators, you look at the scum that speak so badly of our country, the American flag burnings all over the place, that’s the left. That’s not the right,” he said.

Trump emphasized that investigators are zeroing in on “a lot of people that you would traditionally say are on the left” as the FBI works to uncover the shooter’s motive.

He also pointed out that many on the left have responded to Kirk’s murder in a grotesque way, openly applauding the killing on social media.

“We wouldn’t celebrate if something happened on their side, and we don’t. These are sick people. These are really deranged people,” he said.

In the aftermath, a number of individuals who publicly celebrated the assassination online have faced serious consequences, including being fired or forced out of influential roles.

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration has submitted a $58 million request to Congress for expanded security measures for both the executive and judicial branches, according to several individuals briefed on the plan who spoke with CBS News.

A White House official explained that the funding would bolster the U.S. Marshals Service and provide heightened security for the justices of the Supreme Court.

Officials also voiced support for additional resources to safeguard members of Congress, though the administration suggested that final decisions on that funding would likely remain in the hands of lawmakers themselves.

The proposal is being pushed forward as Congress faces a September 30 deadline to avoid a government shutdown.

Last month, CBS News reported on the launch of a new pilot program for House lawmakers. That initiative gives members a special allowance to pay for personal bodyguards or to install new safety features at their residences.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said late in the week that the pilot is under a “deliberate” and comprehensive review. In the Senate, members are also weighing further steps to improve protection.

“We’ve got to protect people who run for public office or no one will, and that’s heavy on our hearts and minds, as we also, you know, work through the trauma of what happened,” Johnson said Thursday when speaking to reporters.

U.S. Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan told CBS News that by the end of this year, the department expects to track more than 14,000 threats aimed at lawmakers, a pace that far exceeds recent years. He noted that the force will continue to operate at a “heightened posture” for the foreseeable future.

“We’re prepared to continue to react and keep the members of Congress safe,” Sullivan said.

{Matzav.com}

Elon Musk, the billionaire behind Tesla and SpaceX, lashed out at the political left during a virtual address to a massive freedom rally in London, labeling them “the party of murder.”

The remark was highlighted Sunday morning by the Elon Clips account on X.

“…You see how much violence there’s on the left with our friend Charlie Kirk getting murdered in cold blood this week and people on the left celebrating it openly, the left is the party of murder and celebrating murder,” Musk said in his exchange with British activist Tommy Robinson.

“Let that sink in for a minute,” Musk continued. “That’s who we’re dealing with here. That is who we’re dealing with.”

His appearance came via video link on Shabbos, broadcast to the crowds attending Robinson’s “Unite the Kingdom” rally and march. The demonstration drew more than 110,000 participants who were protesting immigration policies and speech restrictions.

Musk warned the audience that more unrest could be expected from the left.

“Violence is coming,” he declared. “You either fight back or you die.”

Coverage of Musk’s words in The Hill cast doubt on his assertion that people aligned with the left were “openly” celebrating Kirk’s killing in Utah.

Still, Breitbart News has pointed to multiple cases of such celebratory reactions, some of which have led to individuals losing their jobs across different industries in the United States.

Robinson, whose legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has long been a controversial figure in Britain. Frequently described by critics as “far right,” he has spent years leading activist campaigns and has been incarcerated on numerous occasions for offenses tied to his political activity.

Throughout his video appearance, Musk’s commentary repeatedly sparked cheers. He railed against the “woke mind virus,” denouncing its impact on speech and immigration policies.

He did not hold back in criticizing Britain’s leadership.

“I really think that there’s got to be a change of government in Britain,” Musk asserted. “We don’t have another four years, or whenever the next election is — it’s too long. There’s got to be a dissolution of parliament and a new vote held.”

The Guardian, reporting on the gathering, described it as “one of the largest nationalist events in decades.”

{Matzav.com}

Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania said on Sunday that Democrats will need to shift their strategy now that President Donald Trump is back in the White House and Republicans hold both chambers of Congress. He warned that if the party leans further to the left, it risks remaining in the minority.

“They have forgotten one of the reasons why we lost in 2024,” Fetterman told CNN’s “Inside Politics Sunday.”

“Some people think now we have to double down on those things or we must become more progressive or more extreme. That’s absolutely not true. The seven or eight states that are going to determine who’s going to be our next president, you know, we have to win in those states, and I understand what that takes.”

Fetterman argued that Democrats’ reliance on framing Trump and Republicans as a “threat to democracy” has fallen flat. He said voters simply aren’t convinced, and the message has cost the party.

“We’ve really lost our connection with American voters in ways,” he said, adding, “We have to turn the temperature down.”

He added that Trump’s win was a legitimate outcome of the democratic process.

“This is not an autocrat; this is a product of a democratic election,” he said. “It’s like I participated in that. It was safe and it was secure. We lost, and the American people put us in the minority. That’s democracy.

“I revere democracy. I may not like the outcome, but I have to respect that.”

He also spoke out against Democrats who are floating the idea of shutting down the government during budget negotiations, saying such a move would “harm millions of Americans.” He further distanced himself from his party by backing Trump’s push to tackle violent crime at the federal level, saying cities need help curbing lawlessness.

When the topic turned to global affairs, Fetterman strongly supported Israel’s military campaign against Hamas and Iran. He dismissed criticism from some Democrats accusing Israel of deliberately starving Palestinians in Gaza.

“It is hell on earth, but I blame Hamas and Iran for that,” Fetterman concluded.

Though he often clashes with party leadership and does not attend caucus lunches, Fetterman said he still identifies as a Democrat and continues to back the party on major legislation. He did not commit, however, to running for another Senate term in 2028.

{Matzav.com}

Utah Governor Spencer Cox said Sunday that investigators are not yet ready to publicly identify a motive in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. However, he noted that the 22-year-old suspect held left-wing political views and harbored animosity toward Kirk. “Clearly a leftist ideology,” Cox told NBC’s “Meet the Press.” On CNN’s “State of the Union,” he added, “That information comes from the people around him, his family members and friends.”

Cox explained that Robinson is “not cooperating” with authorities and that those who knew him described a young man who had been radicalized through fringe online spaces. “Clearly there was a lot of gaming going on,” Cox said on NBC. “Friends have confirmed that there was kind of that deep, dark internet, the Reddit culture, and these other dark places of the internet where this person was going deep.”

The governor, a Republican who has urged Americans across the political spectrum to lower the intensity of their rhetoric after the killing, emphasized his stance on Sunday. “I really don’t have a dog in this fight. If this was a radicalized MAGA person, I’d be saying that as well.”

Still, Cox stressed in his media appearances that authorities are continuing to investigate what drove the attack on Kirk, a father of two and a close ally of President Donald Trump. Kirk was gunned down Wednesday while delivering one of his well-known campus speeches at Utah Valley University. Cox noted that further details may surface once the suspect, Tyler Robinson, is brought before a judge on Tuesday.

Cox also mentioned that Robinson’s partner is transgender, a detail that some commentators have tied to speculation about Kirk being singled out for his outspoken opposition to transgender ideology. Authorities, however, have not indicated whether that connection is significant. “The roommate was a romantic partner, a male transitioning to female,” Cox said. “I can say that he has been incredibly cooperative, this partner has been very cooperative, had no idea that this was happening.”

Investigators have already interviewed Robinson’s family and executed a search warrant at their home in Washington, a city roughly 240 miles (390 kilometers) southwest of the site of the shooting at Utah Valley University.

According to state election records, Robinson is listed as a registered voter but not affiliated with any political party and currently marked inactive, meaning he has not voted in the last two general elections. His parents, by contrast, are registered Republicans.

Court filings show that the ammunition used in the attack carried engravings mocking Kirk, drawn from antifascist and meme-based online culture. One recovered shell casing bore the words, “Hey, fascist! Catch!”

Robinson spent his childhood in the St. George area of southern Utah, near Las Vegas and close to well-known parks like Zion and Bryce Canyon.

A spokesman for The Church of Latter-day Saints, Doug Andersen, confirmed that Robinson joined the Mormon faith when he was still very young.

Robinson has two younger brothers, and his parents have been married for about 25 years, according to posts on family social media pages. The family’s online presence shows a household that enjoyed vacations together, traveling to Disneyland, Hawaii, Alaska, and the Caribbean.

Like many residents of that region, they also engaged heavily in outdoor recreation—boating, fishing, ATV riding, zip-lining, and shooting. A photo from 2017 depicts the family at a military installation posing with rifles, including a smiling Robinson gripping a .50-caliber machine gun.

Academically, Robinson excelled in high school, consistently making the honor roll and scoring in the 99th percentile nationally on standardized exams. He earned a prestigious scholarship to Utah State University in 2021, with a video of his acceptance letter later shared online by relatives.

Despite that achievement, university officials confirmed that he only completed one semester there. He later transitioned to Dixie Technical College in St. George, where he is now listed as a third-year student in an electrical apprenticeship program.

Nissim Bouaron, who lost his young daughter Chaya Mushka z”l in a tragic incident this past Friday when she was forgotten in a car during the afternoon hours, published an emotional post Sunday evening recounting the harrowing experience and the waves of public reaction that followed. He began his post with the words: “I am the father who forgot the child in the car.”

Bouaron noted the harsh criticism he has received, quoting comments such as: “Who gave them a license? If they sit in jail this won’t happen. The child, yes, but not the phone. These are parents of many children. Pay attention amidst all the pressure and stress.”

He rejected the notion that the tragedy happened under stress: “There was no moment of pressure,” he wrote. He described arriving home Friday with three of his little ones whom he had picked up from kindergarten, while Chaya Mushka sat beside him in the car. “We arrived home, the children went upstairs. My wife also came home from work. And then the two older ones came back from school. I always check the car, just to make sure I didn’t miss anything. I peek, I look, I search. But that day, for three hours, maybe even more, it disappeared from me. A part of the brain was simply erased.”

He shared personal memories of his daughter, recalling the moments he now treasures: “I want to thank the Creator of the world and Chaya Mushka. Thank You for every moment I fed you with a spoon and felt your lips close around it to take the food. Thank You for every cry and scream in the middle of the night, and for every extra minute I didn’t sleep because of you.”

He described the heartbreak upon reaching the hospital: “The crying… when we arrived at Soroka, I knew that this was it, it was over, and I heard the cries of other children. The crying of a baby his mother was holding. And it gave me a little warmth in my heart. It was the most beautiful melody in the world. I knew for a mother it’s the greatest pain in the world, but I also knew it was the sweetest sound, sweeter than any melody of angels in heaven. It’s a different kind of song, one that only someone who has silence inside can understand.”

Addressing those who had blamed him, Bouaron wrote: “It’s okay if we fight, if we shout, even if we place blame. I will deal with that no less than you deal with your own accusations toward yourselves. I am made of different material. I’ve been through things in life.

“But let’s not forget those quiet ones, the ones you don’t notice with a post full of responses. Anyone who truly wants to change things should maybe reach out to a soldier friend who just came back from battle and talk to him. Just be there for him. You know, Bibi is guilty. The attorney general is guilty. The media is guilty. But why am I guilty if everyone is guilty? What is my role in this world?”

He continued with a heartfelt plea: “So, my dear ones, I really do love each and every Jew. No! Let’s love, let’s embrace. No! Let’s pay attention to those who are not heard, who don’t write a post on Facebook.”

Finally, Bouaron confronted the accusations against him head-on: “On Friday I lost Chaya Mushka. And I am not guilty! Explode if you want, I am not ashamed to say I am not guilty. You go live your lives with guilt if you want. I will continue living despite guilt. I will continue to illuminate the world, continue to see the invisible teens in Dimona that no one sees, not their parents and not their teachers. And they are not guilty either.

“I will continue to bring life and light into the world, continue making mistakes, continue pushing through the stormy waves of life. I will continue to smile and laugh even though I lost a daughter. And you? You will continue to blame.”

{Matzav.com}

Qatar’s prime minister leveled harsh accusations at Israel on Sunday, charging it with “state terrorism” and calling last week’s strike in Doha targeting Hamas leaders “an attack on the principle of mediation itself.” Despite his criticism, he pledged that Qatar would press forward with efforts to secure a ceasefire.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who also serves as Qatar’s foreign minister, delivered the remarks at a preparatory session ahead of Monday’s emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Doha, convened in response to the September 9 bombing. Israel has defended the operation, while Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu suggested the strike had not succeeded in eliminating its intended targets.

At the Sunday gathering, foreign ministers from participating nations worked on a draft resolution to present the next day. Al-Thani, whose country has played a central role mediating between Israel and Hamas, argued that the time had come to hold Israel accountable for its actions across the Middle East.

“This attack can only be described as state terrorism, an approach pursued by the current extremist Israeli government, which flouts international law,” he said. “The reckless and treacherous Israeli aggression was committed while the state of Qatar was hosting official and public negotiations, with the knowledge of the Israeli side itself, and with the aim of achieving a ceasefire in Gaza.”

Even so, he insisted that Israel’s “practices” would not derail Doha’s efforts, working with Egypt and the US, to secure an end to the war in Gaza.

He went on to add, in video later released from the closed-door talks, “It is time for the international community to stop applying double standards and punish Israel for all the crimes it has committed.”

The draft resolution that emerged from Sunday’s deliberations, reviewed by Reuters, stopped short of recommending concrete diplomatic or economic reprisals against Israel. Instead, it warned that Israeli conduct endangered ongoing normalization efforts. The text was still subject to revision ahead of Monday’s summit.

One section of the draft stated that “the brutal Israeli attack on Qatar and the continuation of Israel’s hostile acts, including genocide, ethnic cleansing, starvation, siege and colonizing activities and expansion policies threaten prospects of peace and coexistence in the region.”

It further cautioned that such behavior threatens “everything that has been achieved on the path of normalizing ties with Israel including current agreements and future ones.”

The debate comes five years after Israel signed the Abraham Accords with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, later extending agreements to Morocco and Sudan. Israel has been seeking normalization with Saudi Arabia as well, though that effort has not yet borne fruit.

On the eve of the summit, Israeli President Isaac Herzog urged that ties with regional partners must not be neglected. Speaking at the national memorial ceremony for deceased Israeli leaders, he said:

“There are many countries, with whom, alongside disagreements, sometimes very deep disagreements, and even positions I strongly reject, Israel has extensive and significant ties with these countries, including important economic ties.”

Herzog emphasized that Israel “must act diplomatically and with public diplomacy, with purpose and determination, not neglecting any arena, speaking with everyone, and being proactive. We must not forsake our ties. We must not burn our bridges.”

He warned that Israel must not “accept the isolation our enemies seek to impose upon us,” while conceding that “Israel has never experienced such hostility. Certainly not in the most strategic and influential arenas. The hatred of Israel is rearing its ugly head with full force.”

Although Herzog did not specify which states he was referencing, a source from his office clarified that he was primarily pointing to the UAE.

The September 9 strike was condemned by a range of international leaders, including US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is currently visiting Israel. Hamas has said the attack killed five of its members, though none from its senior leadership, while the incident has spurred Gulf states allied with Washington to align more closely with adversaries of the US and Israel.

The summit in Doha, organized by the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, aims to project unity. “Qatar is not alone… and that Arab and Islamic states stand by it,” Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit told Asharq al-Awsat.

Those expected to attend include Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who arrived Sunday. It was unclear whether Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman would attend, though he visited Doha earlier in the week to signal support.

Hamas politburo official Bassem Naim said the group hoped the summit would deliver “a decisive and unified Arab-Islamic position” and “clear and specific measures” on Israel and the conflict.

Qatar, an energy-rich state that hosted the 2022 World Cup and is home to a major American military base, has long positioned itself as a mediator in regional disputes. At Washington’s request, it has hosted Hamas’s political bureau for years, providing a conduit for indirect talks with Israel.

Israel has no official diplomatic relations with Qatar, but its focus has been on the UAE, which reacted strongly to the attack. On Friday, the UAE summoned Israel’s deputy ambassador to protest both the strike and Netanyahu’s subsequent remarks, which it described as hostile.

The UAE also called Qatar’s security “an inseparable part of the security and stability of the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council,” which includes Saudi Arabia. In recent days, the UAE barred Israel from the Dubai Airshow and reportedly considered shuttering its embassy in Tel Aviv.

It has also signaled frustration with Israel on other fronts. The UAE previously threatened to reassess its ties over potential annexation of parts of the West Bank. An Emirati envoy told The Times of Israel that such a move would cross a “red line” that would “end regional integration.”

The Trump administration has opened another round of discussions with both Israeli and Qatari representatives, seeking to revive the stalled negotiations for a hostage release agreement, The Jerusalem Post reports.

During the weekend, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani traveled to Washington, where he held meetings with US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. Two sources with knowledge of the talks said that American officials emphasized the importance of finding a way forward to restart the process, urging all sides to “find a proper path” to resume negotiations.

Al Thani, speaking after his return to the Gulf, affirmed that despite a recent Israeli strike in Doha, Qatar would not abandon its role as mediator.

“The Israeli attack is a grave precedent that must be addressed with strength and determination,” Al Thani said. “We will continue our efforts, alongside the US and Egypt, to bring an end to the war.”

At the same time, Washington has maintained direct dialogue with Israeli officials. Rubio, who arrived in Israel on Sunday, is expected to confer with senior figures in the government regarding possible terms for re-engaging in the talks.

One diplomatic official told the Post that the administration may soon unveil a new proposal designed to break the current stalemate in the hostage negotiations.

Amid these efforts, and amid reports that Washington was not notified beforehand of Israel’s strike in Qatar, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu joined Rubio at the Western Wall during the secretary of state’s visit to Yerushalayim.

“I believe the secretary of state’s visit is a testament to the resilience and strength of the US–Israel alliance, which is as steadfast as the stones of the Western Wall we just touched,” Netanyahu said.

Before his departure for Israel, Rubio confirmed that the Trump administration had voiced its displeasure about the Israeli action.

“I am going to get a much clearer understanding of their plans going forward,” he said. “What happened, happened. Obviously, we were not pleased by it. The president was not pleased.”

Rubio also underscored that the administration’s overriding concern is the fate of the captives still being held in Gaza.

“Now we need to move forward and determine the next step. Because at the end of the day, when all is said and done, there is still a group called Hamas, and there are still 48 hostages who deserve to be freed immediately, all of them, together.”

{Matzav.com}

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Hundreds of chassidim gathered under the leadership of the Gerer Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Shaul Alter, for the first Selichos. Before the Selichos began, Rav Shaul addressed the crowd with words of inspiration, preparing them for the Yamim Nora’im. The gathering took place at the Pnei Menachem beis medrash.

In his remarks, the Rosh Yeshiva focused on the opening tefillah of Selichos, Ashrei yoshvei veisecha, and asked a penetrating question on one of its central pesukim. “‘Karov Hashem lechol kor’av, lechol asher yikra’uhu be’emes’ — ‘Hashem is close to all who call Him, to all who call Him in truth.’ Chazal explain: ‘Karov Hashem lechol kor’av — one might think this means to everyone. Therefore the pasuk concludes: ‘lechol asher yikra’uhu be’emes,’ only to those who call Him in truth.’ So how can we begin the solemn Selichos with such a verse? Can we really consider ourselves as those who ‘call Him in truth’? Truth is the seal of the Ribono Shel Olam.”

Rav Shaul then quoted the interpretation of his grandfather, the Chiddushei HaRim. “If the pasuk applies only to those who call in truth, why does it begin with the phrase, ‘Karov Hashem lechol kor’av’? The Chiddushei HaRim explained: through those few who indeed call upon Hashem with absolute truth, the merit extends upward for all, granting an elevation and acceptance to everyone. That is why it says ‘lechol kor’av’ — their sincerity uplifts the tefillos of the entire tzibbur.”

He went on to cite the Sfas Emes, who understood the phrase “those who call in truth” as referring to the dor hamidbar led by Moshe Rabbeinu. “Their role,” explained Rav Shaul, “was to establish the path of teshuvah for the generations. Moshe Rabbeinu was the true ‘korei be’emes,’ and in every generation there is a ‘Moshe sheb’doro.’ When we connect ourselves to that, our tefillos can be elevated and accepted Above.”

The Rosh Yeshiva concluded with a practical charge: “But we must also be ‘kor’av’ — those who call upon the Ribono Shel Olam. Not to seek Him only for our needs or desires, but to truly call to Him, to yearn for closeness and connection. ‘Bechol koreinu eilav’ — to call out with the desire to draw near to Him. May Hashem help us at the very least to be among ‘all those who call upon Him,’ to merit that ‘Karov Hashem lechol kor’av,’ and may our prayers be accepted with a kesivah v’chasimah tovah.”

{Matzav.com Israel}