Matzav

President Trump has canceled the Secret Service protection assigned to former Vice President Kamala Harris, which had been quietly extended by Joe Biden before he left office.

Typically, ex–vice presidents are entitled to six months of protection after leaving office, which would have ended Harris’ detail on July 21.

According to a senior administration official who spoke to The Post, Biden extended Harris’ coverage for a full year just before departing the White House on January 20.

Trump issued his own directive on Thursday terminating Harris’ protection effective September 1, according to sources.

CNN, which first broke the news, noted that the decision comes as Harris prepares to release a memoir recounting her unsuccessful 2024 presidential bid, in which she became the first Democrat in two decades to lose the popular vote.

“You are hereby authorized to discontinue any security-related procedures previously authorized by Executive Memorandum, beyond those required by law, for the following individual, effective September 1, 2025: Former Vice President Kamala D. Harris,” read a letter obtained by CNN.

It is still uncertain why Biden prolonged Harris’ protection, but CNN reported that considerations such as her candidacy, race, and gender may have played a role.

Earlier this year, in March, Trump also revoked Harris’ security clearance, barring her from access to classified documents. Others whose access was removed included Biden, 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

By law, the Secret Service protects the sitting president, vice president, and their families, while former presidents and their spouses are entitled to lifetime protection, along with coverage for their children until age 16.

Before leaving office, Biden signed an executive order extending protection to his own family. When Trump assumed office, he rescinded that order, stripping security from Hunter Biden and Ashley Biden.

Hunter was later photographed in South Africa in March accompanied by a large security team, raising questions about the use of government resources for the travels of a private citizen.

On August 1, 2023, Kamala Harris was photographed preparing to board Air Force Two.

Trump has also withdrawn security details from other prominent officials, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, former National Security Adviser John Bolton, and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF and Shin Bet announced on Friday that they had located and identified the body of hostage Ilan Weiss in Gaza, along with what appears to be the remains of another hostage whose identity has not yet been released.

“Together with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I send our heartfelt condolences to the dear families and share in their deep sorrow,” Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu said in a statement.

“The campaign to bring back the hostages continues without pause. We will not rest and we will not be silent until we return all our hostages home, both the living and the fallen.”

According to the military, the process of confirming the identity of the second hostage is still underway, and relatives have already been informed.

“Ilan showed courage and noble spirit when he fought the terrorists on that dark day. In his death, he gave life. And ever since, his family has shown extraordinary strength in their struggle for his return,” wrote President Isaac Herzog.

“I wish to express profound appreciation to our heroic fighters who risk their lives day and night to return all the hostages – the living and the fallen alike,” Defense Minister Israel Katz said. He emphasized that the mission of retrieving the captives is the “central goal of the approaching maneuver.”

Weiss, age 56, lived in Kibbutz Be’eri near the Gaza border and was part of the community’s emergency response team. In January 2024, the kibbutz confirmed he had been murdered during the October 7 attack, with Hamas taking his body back into Gaza.

His wife, Shiri, and daughter, Noga, were also seized by Hamas on that day but were freed in late November 2023 during a brief truce.

Two of his other daughters, Meytal and Maayan, managed to escape the terrorists by hiding and were rescued by IDF soldiers.

The family’s dog, Ketem, was also killed by the attackers during the abduction of Shiri and Noga.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, in an exclusive interview with Breitbart News, said that the antisemitism surfacing on the political right today is not only aimed at Israel, but also directed against America and against President Trump.

He spoke about what he called the “woke right,” pointing to certain conservative voices — including some who once backed Israel — that turned against Israel during the “12-Day War” with Iran and opposed American support for Israel in that conflict.

The matter came up in a conversation about antisemitism, which has long been evident on the left and is now reemerging among elements of the right.

Breitbart News asked: “Antisemitism has been rising around the world, and many of us had become used to seeing it on the extreme left, but now it does seem to be rising on the right as well — and not just from traditional sources on the right, the neo-Nazi fringe and so forth, but there are in the United States, certain popular conservative commentators who appear to have drifted in that direction. Where is that coming from? Is that based on foreign influence? Is it religiously based, somehow? Where is it coming from, in your view, and how do you stop it?”

Netanyahu answered: “There’s been a lot of foreign influence over the last two decades. There have been NGOs [non-governmental organizations] from various corners, … primarily from Europe, but also from from Qatar. That is, you know, spent billions on American universities, vilifying, vilifying Israel, vilifying Jews, and also, frankly, vilifying the United States. Because if you open Al Jazeera in Arabic, not in English, and you just track it over the years, it’s been horrible. It’s been antisemitic, anti Israeli, anti American, and all that was left to accumulate primarily in academia, you know, and from there, it sort of distributes itself elsewhere.

“But I can tell you this: look, the Jewish people have had this problem of vilification for for thousands of years, and we were accused of everything. In the Middle Ages, we were accused of killing Christian children and using their blood, okay? I mean, and these lies, these, these horrible blood libels always preceded massacres. They spread from one country to the other, and there was very little we could do about it. We were vilified, and then we were massacred, until this culminated in the worst massacre of them all — the Holocaust. The Nazis said we were spreading vermin — you know, just like in the Middle Ages. What has changed since the rise of Israel is not this vilification and not these cycles of latent antisemitism that burst forth from time to time, as it’s happening now. What has changed is that it’s not followed by massacre[s], because when they try, as they did on October 7, Hamas tried, we’re able to fend them off, defend ourselves and defeat our enemies. That’s the change that Israel has brought. But I think we have the continuous battle for truth, and I appreciate the opportunity that you have given me to tell the truth.

“And let me say one more thing — you talked about the “woke right”? Some of these people call themselves MAGA [Make America Great Again]. They’re not MAGA. If you support Iran, Iran tried to kill President Trump twice, not once, but twice. Iran has put a price on his head. … That’s Iran. Iran has murdered, has killed and wounded more Americans, thousands of them, in Iraq and in Afghanistan with their explosive devices. They killed 251 American Marines in Beirut. They bombed American embassies. They burn American flags. They chant, “Death to America.” The first thing they did when this regime took power was to take over 50 hostages in the American embassy.

“Iran wants to annihilate the United States. Israel is the best ally of the United States.

“Israel is fighting Iran, and you can’t be MAGA if you’re pro Iran, you can’t be MAGA if you’re anti-Israel. President Trump understands this, and he stands very strongly with us. And I, you know, I really appreciate the straightforward and courageous way that he he faces people, sometimes in his own constituency, because that’s what leaders, from time to time, have to do.”

{Matzav.com}

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is giving U.S. medical schools fewer than two weeks to “immediately” add comprehensive nutrition coursework to their programs.

He had previously warned that institutions risk losing federal funding if they fail to expand their nutrition offerings.

“Medical schools talk about nutrition but fail to teach it,” Kennedy said Wednesday in a release. “We demand immediate, measurable reforms to embed nutrition education across every stage of medical training, hold institutions accountable for progress, and equip every future physician with the tools to prevent disease — not just treat it.”

According to HHS, schools have until Sept. 10 to submit written plans explaining how they will satisfy Kennedy’s mandate to integrate nutrition education throughout medical training.

This initiative is a pillar of Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” platform, which emphasizes prevention over treatment and targets reductions in chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

Recent findings published last year indicate that 75% of U.S. medical schools do not require clinical nutrition courses, and only 14% of residency programs mandate a nutrition curriculum.

“U.S. medical education has not kept up with the overwhelming research on the role of nutrition in preventing and treating chronic diseases,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. “Medical schools across the country must act now to align their training with the latest research so that future physicians have the means to best help their patients stay healthy.”

“The U.S. Department of Education is proud to stand with HHS in working to lower chronic disease rates, especially in children,” she added.

To close the gap, the Trump administration wants nutrition requirements embedded across the pipeline: premed standards, medical school curricula, licensing examinations, residency program criteria, board certifications, and continuing education.

A report released earlier this month by the Association of American Medical Colleges emphasized that “nutrition plays a critical role in the prevention, management, and treatment of many chronic health conditions.”

“Few schools have implemented nutrition as a fully integrated longitudinal thread throughout their curricula, suggesting an important area for continued mapping and development,” the report stated. “Increased attention could be afforded to nutrition topics such as the environmental impact of food production and choices on health, food labels and the health impacts of ingredients, and community food resources.”

Duke University researchers note that specialists treating diet-influenced diseases — including cardiologists, endocrinologists, nephrologists, and oncologists — appear to be among the least versed in nutrition. Citing a 2017 study, they reported that 90% of subspecialists had little to no formal nutrition education during fellowship, with 59% saying the same about their residency.

{Matzav.com}

The White House confirmed that President Donald Trump will travel to New York to deliver remarks at the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced during her daily briefing.

“The president will travel to New York City on September 22 to address the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, September 23,” Leavitt said.

This appearance will be Trump’s first UNGA speech of his second term. He is expected to underscore his “America First” trade-war agenda, arguing that punitive tariffs are necessary to counter what he considers decades of unfair practices by U.S. trading partners.

Trump spoke at the UNGA multiple times between 2017 and 2021. His first address in 2017 was combative, warning he would “totally destroy North Korea” if provoked and mocking Kim Jong-un as “Rocket Man.” He also castigated Iran’s leadership and labeled the Iran nuclear agreement an “embarrassment.”

In 2018, he amplified his “America First” posture and dismissed globalism. By 2019, he again spotlighted nationalist themes, tariffs on China, and ongoing concerns about Iran and immigration. In 2020, with the COVID-19 crisis dominating global affairs, he delivered a brief prerecorded message attributing the virus’s spread to China.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also slated to speak during the UNGA’s annual high-level week, according to a PTI report earlier this month citing the UN’s provisional speakers list. The 80th session’s General Debate is scheduled for September 23–29, with Brazil customarily opening, followed by the United States.

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration has authorized an $825 million weapons package for Ukraine, which includes long-range missiles and related equipment aimed at strengthening the country’s defense as U.S.-led peace efforts with Russia remain stalled.

The State Department announced Thursday that Congress was formally notified about the planned sale, which involves 3,350 Extended-Range Attack Munition (ERAM) missiles, 3,350 GPS navigation units, spare components, replacement parts, accessories, as well as training and technical assistance.

The department stated that Ukraine will cover the costs using funds from NATO partners Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway, in addition to U.S. foreign military financing.

“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe,” the department said in a statement.

The deal was unveiled as Russia escalated its military campaign against Ukraine, despite President Donald Trump meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska earlier this month to push for a negotiated settlement in the nearly three-year conflict.

On Thursday, Russia launched one of its deadliest attacks in months, firing waves of missiles and drones into Kyiv that killed at least 21 people — including four children — and left nearly 50 others wounded, according to multiple reports.

The large-scale strike, involving more than 600 projectiles, devastated all 10 districts of the Ukrainian capital, damaging residential neighborhoods, EU diplomatic offices, and cultural institutions, including the British Council.

Although Moscow insisted its strikes were aimed at military-industrial targets, civilian zones bore the brunt of the damage. European leaders condemned the assault, summoning Russian diplomats in protest. In response, the United Nations Security Council held an emergency session, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy demanded harsher international sanctions, warning that the global community’s restrained reaction was emboldening Russia.

This arms package follows two previously announced U.S. deals in July: one worth $322 million for air defense upgrades and armored combat vehicles, and another valued at $330 million to supply air defense systems and provide maintenance and repairs for self-propelled artillery units.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, one of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s closest advisers, took on a key role during a White House meeting led by President Donald Trump on Wednesday to discuss possible plans for governing Gaza after the war, according to a report by Barak Ravid of Axios on Thursday.

Sources with direct knowledge of the session, which included senior figures such as Jared Kushner and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, said Dermer made it clear that Israel has no plans to permanently occupy Gaza and is not seeking to force the Palestinian Arab population out — despite proposals from some Israeli officials suggesting otherwise.

Instead, Dermer underscored that Israel’s priority is finding a practical and stable replacement for Hamas to manage the territory.

“Dermer’s message was: As long as our conditions are met, we will be flexible about everything else,” one source told Axios.

Dermer’s visit to Washington was aimed at presenting Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff with Israel’s operational strategy for capturing Gaza City while coordinating a significant humanitarian relief effort during the military campaign. Toward the end of the meeting, President Trump reportedly invited Dermer to share his perspective to better understand Israel’s red lines and priorities for the “day-after” phase.

Kushner and Blair, who had already shared ideas with Witkoff and other officials in previous discussions, used the meeting to outline their vision for Gaza’s future administration and rebuilding efforts. “They tried to give an idea of how Gaza could be governed and how you create an environment for investment so that reconstruction can happen,” a source explained. “The goal was to run the ideas by Trump to see if he likes them and want to move forward, so that Witkoff and Rubio can use them.”

President Trump approved continued work on the proposals by Kushner and Blair, but no binding decisions were reached. A central hurdle remains unresolved: determining who would govern Gaza and meet the stringent security and political conditions acceptable to all parties.

Sources familiar with the ongoing efforts noted that Kushner and Blair are still in the early stages of drafting a complete proposal and have not finalized their recommendations. Most importantly, there is no agreement yet on which entity or leadership structure would be responsible for Gaza’s administration and security.

“The goal is for the US to lead the effort to find an internationally accepted governance structure in Gaza that will allow Israel to pull out without deteriorating back to the old reality again from a security standpoint,” one source said.

Jewish educators and activists sharply criticized the leadership of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) for failing to properly address antisemitism within New York City’s public school system and for endorsing Zohran Mamdani, a politician known for supporting boycotts against Israel, in the mayoral race.

During the heated protest, one frustrated teacher called on colleagues to stop paying union dues, while others demanded that the UFT withdraw its support for Mamdani, the socialist Democratic nominee.

Moshe Spern, who leads the United Jewish Teachers faction within the union, condemned the UFT’s response to antisemitic incidents, particularly last year’s chaos at Hillcrest High School, where a Jewish teacher was forced to hide in a locked room during an anti-Israel riot. He described the union’s actions as inadequate and deeply disappointing.

“Where was the UFT? … It took them almost two weeks to issue a statement, and that statement didn’t even mention antisemitism or the Jewish community,” Spern said Thursday at an “End Jew Hatred” rally held outside the UFT’s downtown headquarters, which was attended by around 40 educators and Jewish civil rights advocates.

“How can we feel safe? When our teachers get attacked, our union says little and does nothing. When our protected rights are infringed upon, our union says little and does nothing. When they need us, they pretend we matter, and when they don’t, they ignore our concerns.”

Spern, himself a high school history teacher, said he was particularly upset with UFT president Michael Mulgrew. His group of Jewish teachers had supported Mulgrew during a contentious re-election battle earlier this year, expecting their backing would lead to stronger representation of Jewish members’ concerns.

Instead, Mulgrew’s leadership endorsed Mamdani — who openly supports the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel — after Mamdani defeated Andrew Cuomo and other opponents in the Democratic primary.

“His explanation was that the candidate was the best for the union, but not for its Jewish union members who voted for Mulgrew,” Spern said.

“I’m a history teacher, and this country was founded on the principle of ‘no taxation without representation.’ Guess what? I say the same thing today, on August 28, 2025: let’s make it very clear: No union representation, no union dues!,” he declared.

According to Spern, 150 teachers have already prepared letters to cancel their union membership dues, and he pledged to hand-deliver the letters directly to UFT leadership.

Other speakers at the rally echoed his frustration, saying the UFT has neglected Jewish educators and students for far too long.

“The UFT has failed the Jewish community,” said Michelle Ahdoot, director of programming and strategy at End Jew Hatred NY, which co-organized the protest.

“It seems that the UFT will support you — unless you are a Jew,” Ahdoot added.

“The UFT chose to endorse the candidate for mayor who has refused to denounce anti Semitic rhetoric. This choice is just the latest example of the pattern of neglect and indifference to the equality and inclusion of the Jewish community.”

Activists at the event demanded that the UFT adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, ban hate-filled materials from schools, require mandatory anti-bias training focused on antisemitism, and rescind endorsements for candidates who normalize slogans like “globalize the intifada.”

“We are asking that they retract their endorsement of Zohran Mamdani,” said attendee Lizzie Savetsky.

She criticized Mamdani for failing to denounce the phrase “globalize the intifada,” which many see as a dangerous incitement encouraging violence against Jews.

In response, a UFT spokesperson defended the union’s history and commitments: “The UFT has a long history of working with, listening to, and protecting the diverse Jewish community in our schools and our city, and we will continue to do so.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rav Dovid Yosef met with leading figures from Israel’s major faith communities at the Druze “Emergency Center” established by Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif in the village of Julis in the Galilee, a spokesperson for the Chief Rabbinate said.

“We have a blood covenant with the Druze community, and the state must do everything to protect the Druze wherever they are,” Rav Yosef said.

Reports indicate that roughly 780,000 Druze live in Syria’s Sweida province, which has been the scene of severe violence over the past two months. About 1,800 Druze have been killed there, including some by forces loyal to the Syrian government, according to those accounts.

“Here sit the leaders of religions from around the world, and every religion worthy of this name is obligated to sanctify life,” Rav Yosef also said. “We must raise a clear and unequivocal voice: we choose life.”

He also called on fellow religious leaders to speak out for the release of the hostages held in Gaza.

The gathering drew several Muslim clerics and Christian leaders, among them Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilus III.

“The visit of Rishon LeZion Rabbi Dovid Yosef, together with the heads of the Christian communities and Muslim religious leaders, and their solidarity with the Druze community, is an explicit statement of light against darkness, of good against evil,” Tarif said according to the Chief Rabbinate statement.

“This solidarity is encouraging and serves as a light at the end of the tunnel in the face of the evil and inhumanity that our Druze brothers in Syria have experienced during attempts at annihilation,” he adds.

{Matzav.com Israel}

On Thursday, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Tehran is prepared to restart “fair” negotiations on its nuclear program if Western governments demonstrate “goodwill”.

He relayed the message in a letter to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, dispatched just hours after the E3 — Britain, France and Germany — declared they would set the “snapback” mechanism in motion to restore UN penalties on Iran.

“Araqchi reaffirmed Iran’s readiness to resume fair and balanced diplomatic negotiations, on the condition that the other parties show seriousness and goodwill and avoid actions that harm the chances of success,” the letter stated, according to Reuters.

Earlier in the day, Britain, France and Germany opened a 30-day process to bring back United Nations sanctions on Iran, citing continuing breaches of the 2015 nuclear accord.

In a communication to the UN Security Council obtained by Reuters, the three governments said they had triggered the snapback mechanism, a procedure that revives sanctions lifted under the agreement. They acted ahead of an October cutoff that would have ended their ability to invoke it.

Their step followed several fruitless rounds with Tehran. The E3 have pushed Iran to restart inspections and substantive diplomacy, which have largely stalled since the 2015 deal unraveled. They tied any extension of the “snapback” to Iran allowing UN inspections to resume, addressing its sizable stockpile of enriched uranium, and reengaging in talks that could involve the United States. Tehran has repeatedly rejected direct talks with Washington.

This week’s discussions were described as tense, with Iranian anger still simmering over the June bombing of its nuclear facilities by the US and Israel, allies of the E3.

A source familiar with the exchanges told Axios’ Barak Ravid that the Iranians “haven’t put tangible detailed deliverables on the table.”

WATCH:

LISTEN:

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

LISTEN:

A federal judge in New York has ruled against Saudi Arabia’s most recent attempt to have civil lawsuits dismissed that accuse the kingdom of aiding the 9/11 hijackers.

In a written ruling issued Thursday, Judge George B. Daniels clarified that his decision focused on the question of jurisdiction, not on whether the allegations against Saudi Arabia are ultimately true.

Despite the kingdom’s arguments, the judge determined that the lawsuits present sufficient legal grounds to proceed. He pointed to evidence suggesting that two Saudi employees — an imam and an accountant — may have played roles in supporting two al-Qaida operatives who arrived in the U.S. in 2000 to learn English and take flying lessons.

Attorneys representing Saudi Arabia maintained that during the 1990s, the kingdom and the U.S. were aligned in their fight against terrorism, specifically against al-Qaida and its leader, Osama bin Laden.

The lawyers for the families of 9/11 victims, however, contend that a group of radical religious figures connected to Saudi Arabia helped facilitate the attacks. These lawsuits — filed by hundreds of victims’ relatives, injured survivors, insurers, and businesses — claim that Saudi government employees knowingly assisted the hijackers and contributed to al-Qaida’s growth by financing charities tied to terrorism.

Other defendants in related cases, including Iran, the Taliban, and al-Qaida itself, have already been found in default after failing to respond to the lawsuits.

During court hearings last year, Saudi Arabia’s attorney Michael Kellogg emphasized that the kingdom revoked bin Laden’s citizenship in the 1990s and took more aggressive actions against him than any other country before the September 11 attacks.

Following the ruling, Kreindler & Kreindler, the law firm representing the plaintiffs, issued a statement praising the outcome, saying the decision “ensures that the plaintiffs may continue their long pursuit of truth and justice.”

{Matzav.com}

Rep. John Larson (D-CT) took part in an anti-immigration enforcement demonstration this week in Newington, Connecticut, where he urged citizens to oppose Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and likened the agency’s officers to Nazi forces.

“This is a time for good trouble. This is a time for Americans to rise up,” Larson told attendees at the rally, drawing loud applause from the crowd.

During his remarks, Larson compared ICE agents to the secret police forces of Nazi Germany that were responsible for atrocities during the Holocaust. “This is not Germany. That’s the SS and the Gestapo,” Larson said. “This is the United States of America. Unmask yourselves.”

His comments come at a time when ICE agents are reporting a dramatic rise in attacks, with data showing an 830-percent surge in assaults connected to enforcement operations.

In June, Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons disclosed that left-wing activists have been targeting the families and children of ICE agents as part of their opposition efforts.

Separately, Cudahy, California, Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez (D) stirred controversy when she suggested that members of the violent 18th Street Gang should turn their attention toward ICE agents.

“You guys tag everything up, claiming hood, and now that your hood is being invaded by the biggest gang there is, there ain’t a peep out of you,” Gonzalez said in video footage. “It’s everyone else that’s not about the gang life and out there protesting and speaking up.”

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Transportation Minister Miri Regev has ordered the cancellation of the nighttime flight restrictions at Ben Gurion Airport to accommodate the large wave of travelers heading to Uman for Rosh Hashanah, where thousands are expected to visit the kever of Rav Nachman of Breslov in Ukraine.

According to Regev, the decision aims to ease the travel process for passengers and reduce congestion at the airport in the days leading up to the holiday. The nighttime curfew, originally imposed to limit noise from late-night departures, can only be lifted through a special ministerial order.

With this change, flights to Uman will now be permitted to take off during previously restricted hours — specifically on Sunday, September 21, and Friday, September 25, between 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. These time slots had previously been included under the departure curfew.

This update follows last week’s announcement that the government is working on a coordinated plan to prevent the arrest of yeshiva students who are classified as draft dodgers and intend to travel to Uman for Rosh Hashanah.

{Matzav.com Israel}

White House border czar Tom Homan sharply criticized California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday after the governor accused Immigration and Customs Enforcement of acting as President Trump’s “private police force.”

“Newsom is an embarrassment to the position he holds. Hard stop,” Homan told reporters. “If he had an ounce of integrity, he’d be calling President Trump and thanking him for making LA safer. He’d be calling the head of ICE and thanking them for the thousands of criminals, public safety threats they’ve taken off the streets of California.”

Homan’s remarks came in direct response to statements Newsom made Wednesday during a Politico Summit, where the governor denounced ICE’s conduct and suggested misplaced priorities. “When they’re done with this — all that funding and that ‘big beautiful betrayal’ allows more resources for this private police force that increasingly is showing a tendency not to swear an oath to the Constitution, but to the president of the United States,” Newsom said.

Tensions between Trump and Newsom have been ongoing and escalated further during June’s protests over ICE raids in Los Angeles, after Trump deployed the National Guard to restore order. Their feud intensified over the summer when Trump told reporters that, if he were in Homan’s position, he would take action against the governor. “I’d do it if I were [border czar Tom Homan]. I think it’s great. Gavin likes the publicity,” Trump said. “He’s done a terrible job. I like Gavin Newsom. He’s a nice guy but he’s grossly incompetent, everybody knows.”

In response, Newsom posted on X condemning Trump’s remarks, framing them as a dangerous precedent. “The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor,” Newsom wrote. “I don’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican this is a line we cannot cross as a nation – this is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism.”

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, spoke with CNN’s Jake Tapper in a candid interview, highlighting the extraordinary challenges facing the IDF and the complex ethical considerations shaping Israel’s military strategy.

“You got to ask yourself a question,” Leiter said. “A country that’s capable of taking out the control of all of Iranian airspace in 72 hours, allowing for the B-2s of the United States to come in and obliterate the nuclear weapons operations in Iran, is not capable of ending this war sooner? Of course we are. But it’s because we’re taking precautions that no other country has ever taken, had to face a situation of 450 miles of terror tunnels under an area that’s 24 miles long.”

Leiter described Hamas as a “ghoulish, fiendish organization,” emphasizing that it deliberately places civilians in harm’s way while exploiting them as human shields. “They enjoy this. This is a death cult. They say this. You have to read their stuff,” he said, referring to Hamas’s own words and propaganda.

The ambassador became emotional when discussing his personal loss during the conflict, revealing that his son, Moshe, was killed in the early days of the war. “We do everything we possibly can. My own son was killed because we do not kill innocent civilians. He went in on foot into Gaza and led the troops at the beginning of the war and was killed when he went into a Hamas booby trap.”

Leiter also responded to criticisms of Israel’s military tactics, suggesting that if Israel had operated without its current restrictions, fewer soldiers might have been lost. “If we were doing what we’re being accused of doing, maybe he’d be alive today. So many of our soldiers that have died would have been alive today.”

Addressing recent images of anti-war protests, Leiter stressed that the demonstrations represent a divided sentiment in Israel rather than a single prevailing view. “The demonstrations you showed are only half of the demonstrations. The other half of the demonstrations are families of soldiers who are saying to the Prime Minister, you have to end this war with the defeat of Hamas, because otherwise we’re going back to October 6th.”

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) visited the Kerem Shalom crossing on Thursday, where he was given a comprehensive briefing on the inspection and coordination process used to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. During the visit, he stressed the need to provide relief to civilians while preventing resources from strengthening Hamas.

“I visited the Kerem Shalom crossing and was briefed regarding the system in place to clear trucks to provide aid to Gaza. The goal is to feed the people of Gaza and not to empower Hamas,” Graham stated following the tour. “There have been episodes of cigarettes and other banned items included in shipments that allow Hamas to continue to make money on the black market. To some extent this is inevitable as all are operating under difficult circumstances.”

Graham dismissed claims that Israel is purposely using aid as a weapon or attempting to starve Gaza’s population.

“However, I want to make it clear I have never bought into the narrative that Israel is intentionally starving the people of Gaza as a tool of war. I blame Hamas for all the problems associated with the attack of October 7 and its aftermath,” he said.

The Senator also voiced his belief that Israel is cooperating with international relief organizations to ensure aid reaches those who need it.

“I do expect Israel to work with international organizations and I believe that they are,” he added.

As part of his visit, Graham toured a facility run by the Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF), an American-backed program focused on supplying food to civilians. He commended the work being done by GHF and its partners, including Samaritan’s Purse, led by Reverend Franklin Graham.

“I also visited a site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF), a food delivery system supported by the American government, and was impressed by what I saw. Samaritan’s Purse, Reverend Franklin Graham’s organization, is assisting GHF with food packages. I also support the World Food Program and many other organizations who are trying to provide humanitarian aid,” Graham said.

He highlighted that the GHF initiative had originally been supported by the Trump Administration and called for ongoing bipartisan backing to ensure its success.

“Supporting GHF was a decision made by the American government through the Trump Administration and I hope that decision will be respected. I’m not interested in engaging in efforts to tear one group down over the other. I found the accusations made against GHF not to be credible and I appreciate all they have done under difficult circumstances,” he concluded.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli fighter jets carried out airstrikes on Thursday against targets in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen.

The operation coincided with a speech being delivered by Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi.

According to a security source, the main objective of the strike was a high-level meeting involving senior figures within the Houthi organization, described as a cabinet-style gathering that included both top military commanders and government ministers. The official said, “We estimate that we succeeded.”

Israeli intelligence assessments indicate that among those likely killed in the strike were the Houthi Defense Minister and the group’s Chief of Staff, the latter of whom had already been injured in a previous Israeli-attributed attack. However, the organization’s leader was reportedly not at the scene.

The IDF confirmed that its forces struck a Houthi military installation in the Sanaa region.

“The Houthi terrorist organization has been operating under the Iranian direction and funding in order to harm the state and its allies since the beginning of the war, undermining regional stability and disrupting global freedom of navigation,” the IDF stated.

The statement continued: “The IDF is operating decisively against the Houthi terrorist regime, while simultaneously intensifying strikes against the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza, and will continue to act to remove any threat to the citizens of the State of Israel.”

Foreign media reports said the Israeli strike focused on safe houses where top Houthi leaders were believed to be hiding. A defense source confirmed that several high-ranking officials were inside one of the targeted locations.

Hezbollah-linked al-Mayadeen reported that more than ten separate strikes were launched across Sanaa during the operation.

Defense Minister Israel Katz, together with IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir and senior military leadership, consulted with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu before authorizing the strikes.

Katz declared: “As we warned the Houthis in Yemen, after the Plague of Darkness comes the Plague of the Firstborn. Whoever raises a hand against Israel — his hand will be cut off.”

This marks the second time in a week that Israeli forces have struck targets in Yemen.

On Sunday, Israeli warplanes conducted a large-scale assault involving 14 fighter jets that dropped around 40 munitions on multiple Houthi positions in the Sanaa area.

Those strikes targeted several key facilities, including the presidential palace complex, the Asar and Hizaz power stations, and a fuel storage depot utilized by Houthi forces.

In its statement following Sunday’s attacks, the IDF explained that “the strikes were conducted in response to repeated attacks by the Houthi terrorist regime against the State of Israel and its civilians, including the launching of surface-to-surface missiles and UAVs toward Israeli territory in recent days.”

“The presidential palace in the Sanaa area is located within a military site from which the military forces of the Houthi terrorist regime operate,” the IDF added. “In addition, the Hizaz and Asar power plants, which served as a significant electricity supply facility for military activities, were struck.”

{Matzav.com Israel}