Matzav

Israel is holding firm on its decision to bar a Turkish team of 81 rescue workers and their heavy machinery from entering Gaza until Hamas returns all the bodies of deceased hostages it is able to, a senior Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday.

“There is a group of hostages’ bodies that Hamas can return right now. Another group they know the location of, but they need equipment and assistance to retrieve them. And there are some bodies they genuinely do not know where they are,” another source explained.

“We know for certain that Hamas can easily release a significant number of hostages in accordance with the agreement. What they are doing now is a fundamental violation of that agreement,” Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said Thursday.

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu convened his top security team to evaluate Hamas’s ongoing refusal to hand over the remains of Israeli soldiers and to discuss how to proceed with the next stage of the Trump peace framework.

“I know exactly how many killed soldiers Hamas is holding, and if we do not receive them, Israel will know how to act accordingly,” Netanyahu declared.

Following that meeting, Netanyahu held a phone conversation with President Trump.

Israeli officials are reportedly giving the U.S. administration additional time to pressure international mediators, who in turn are expected to press Hamas to fulfill its commitments before Jerusalem escalates its response.

Mediators have argued that specialized equipment and rescue experts are needed to recover some of the bodies. “Some bodies are buried deep underground; others are near unexploded bombs, Hamas cannot retrieve those remains from such places,” said one individual involved in the negotiations.

“We agree with Israel that Hamas knows where some of the buried hostages are, but it simply cannot reach them without assistance,” another mediation source added.

Despite Israel’s insistence that discussions about Phase Two of the Trump plan will not move forward until every hostage is returned, Washington and other foreign governments are continuing talks on the matter.

According to two sources familiar with the situation, senior officials from the United States, Europe, and the Arab world are slated to convene in Egypt in the coming days to deliberate on the next steps.

“There must not be a vacuum that allows Hamas to grow stronger,” Western diplomats told The Jerusalem Post.

{Matzav.com}

The chairman of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Boaz Bismuth of Likud, announced Thursday that he has presented an updated outline regarding the chareidi draft issue to the committee’s legal advisor.

“Based on this document, a draft law will be formulated in the coming days to guide the committee in continuing the legislative process to regulate the issue of military conscription,” Bismuth’s office stated.

According to a report by KAN News, the proposal outlines a framework under which half of the chareidi draft-age population would be enlisted within five years. The age of exemption would be set at 26, and reductions to yeshiva budgets would only take effect after one year.

The plan also includes a gradual implementation of personal sanctions for those who fail to enlist, to be introduced over a two-year period — and only if the draft goals are not achieved.

Bismuth expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu “for his full support throughout the process.”

He also extended thanks to former MK Ariel Atias of Shas “for his cooperation and significant involvement” in shaping the proposal.

Both chareidi parties — Shas and United Torah Judaism — withdrew from the coalition in July following a breakdown in negotiations over the draft law.

Sources close to Shas leader Arye Deri told KAN News that even presenting the principles of the new proposal could be sufficient grounds for the party to return to the coalition when the Knesset reconvenes for its winter session.

The Knesset is set to return next week after its summer recess. While no legislation is passed during the break, committees continue to meet to prepare bills for future discussion.

Following the departure of the chareidi factions from the coalition, Yuli Edelstein was removed from his position as committee chair and replaced by Bismuth, who has since been leading deliberations on advancing the legislation.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid of Yesh Atid harshly criticized the proposed outline, accusing Bismuth and Netanyahu of putting politics above principle. He said the plan sends a message to IDF soldiers that “all that matters to Bismuth and Netanyahu is politics and appeasing the draft dodgers.”

Lapid added, “on this very day, the national memorial day for October 7, they’re trying in the shadows to push through a draft-dodging law, stitched together between the ultra-Orthodox MKs and Likud.”

Israel Hofsheet CEO Uri Keidar likewise condemned the move, claiming that “Bismuth is trying to fast-track the evasion legislation for which he was appointed.”

{Matzav.com}

The Israel Defense Forces released a never-before-seen picture on Thursday showing the slain body of Yahya Sinwar, marking one year since IDF soldiers killed the Hamas terrorist mastermind in the Gaza Strip.

The photo shows former IDF Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, former Operations Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Oded Basiuk and Gaza Division chief Brig. Gen. Barak Hiram standing near Sinwar’s body on Oct. 17, 2024, a day after he had been killed in southern Gaza.

The image was made public as part of a set of iconic photos taken by IDF photographers during the war, which will be displayed as part of an exhibition at the Yitzhak Rabin Center in Tel Aviv starting on Sunday.

“A year since humanity was freed from the master of the flood of evil,” tweeted Avichay Adraee, head of the Arab Media Branch in the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.

“Goodness cannot be defeated—and justice, no matter how delayed, will prevail. To hell, and what a miserable fate awaits you, Sinwar,” added the military spokesman.

Sinwar was the mastermind behind the terrorist attacks in Israel’s south on Oct. 7, 2023, during which around 1,200 people, primarily civilians, were murdered; thousands were wounded; and 251 were kidnapped.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry posted on X on Sunday a handwritten letter penned by Sinwar revealing the Oct. 7 massacre “wasn’t chaos, but choreography.”

“Terrorists were ordered to film the slaughter of civilians, soldiers and families—not for documentation, but as a psychological weapon to terrorize Israelis and inspire extremists,” the ministry stated.

“This wasn’t a ‘spontaneous uprising.’ It was a scripted campaign for the destruction of Israel—planned, rehearsed and executed,” the MFA said.

On Oct. 11, The New York Times published further details about the memo, which was found by a special unit of the IDF in May 2025.

The unit found the six-page memo on a computer in a tunnel complex used by Mohammed Sinwar, the brother of Yahya, who briefly headed Hamas after his brother’s death before being killed in October 2024.

Sinwar’s document called for Hamas terrorists to target IDF soldiers and civilian communities, as well as to broadcast the violent acts to spread fear among Israelis and destabilize the country, the Times reported.

The Hamas memo ordered Palestinian gunmen to enter civilian towns in Israel and set them on fire “with gasoline or diesel from a tanker.”

It sought maximum shock value, urging fighters to “stomp on the heads of soldiers.” It also ordered “opening fire on soldiers at point-blank range, slaughtering some of them with knives, blowing up tanks.”

The anniversary of Sinwar’s killing on Thursday coincided with Israel’s national day of mourning for the military and civilian victims of Oct. 7.

The Hamas-led massacre was “monstrous in every sense of the word,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared in remarks at a state memorial ceremony for fallen IDF soldiers, calling the Oct. 7 attacks a “merciless killing of infants, children, adults, the elderly.”

The leader of the Jewish state added that “if those killers could have done it, they would have slaughtered each and every one of us.”

The IDF’s official death toll since the Oct. 7 attacks stood on Thursday afternoon at 916, while hundreds more Israeli civilians were murdered in the massacre and subsequent attacks. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Thousands gathered in Yerushalayim for the hakafos shniyos celebration held in the beis medrash of the Gerer rosh yeshiva, Rav Shaul Alter, where an uplifting atmosphere of Simchas Torah joy filled the air. Among the distinguished participants was Yerushalayim Mayor Moshe Leon, who was honored with reciting Mizmor Lesodah, symbolizing gratitude for the return of the hostages.

Mayor Leon, who participates annually in the hakafos shniyos at Rav Alter’s court, chanted the kapitel with heartfelt emotion and a melodic voice, displaying his well-known skill as a chazzan. His participation this year carried added significance: last year, he had been called upon to recite Lamenatzeach, Ya’ancha Hashem b’yom tzara, a tefillah for salvation in times of distress. Now, following the hostages’ return to their families, he was given the honor of reciting a kappitel of thanksgiving instead.

During the hakafos, Rav Shaul delivered an impassioned address filled with spiritual depth and insight. “We were privileged to witness a ‘shmaychel’ — a smile from the Ribbono shel Olam — with the return of the captives to their homes,” he said. “We saw the fulfillment of the promise ‘v’shavu mei’eretz oyev’ — they have returned from the land of the enemy. But now we must long for the seifa of that verse: ‘v’shavu banim ligvulam’ — that we all return from captivity and do teshuvah. We are all, in truth, captives — in the hands of the yetzer hara. May we merit to be freed and return to our Creator.”

The moving celebration took place in the Heichal HaTefillah hall on Rechov Ki Tov, which had been used by Rav Alter’s kehilla during the Yamim Noraim and was graciously made available by philanthropist Rabbi Yechezkel Lev, founder of the Arzei project.

The hakafos shniyos were marked by tremendous joy, unity, and spiritual elevation, attended not only by Rav Shaul but also by his brother, Rav Yaakov Meir Alter and Rav Daniel Chaim Alter, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ner Yisrael, both of whom participated with visible simchah, with Rav Daniel Chaim also delivering words of inspiration.

The event concluded with exuberant dancing and singing, reflecting both gratitude for Divine kindness and a heartfelt yearning for the ultimate redemption, when, as Rav Shaul expressed, “we will all return home, not only from physical captivity, but from the captivity of the yetzer hara, to our Father in Heaven.”

{Matzav.com}

In anticipation of the upcoming yahrtzeit of Rav Meir Shapiro zt”l, the visionary founder of the Daf Yomi, which will be marked on 7 Cheshvan, there is already great excitement and widespread response. Following the tremendous success and overwhelming participation at last year’s hilula, which drew thousands of participants and dozens of Daf Yomi shiurim, preparations are well underway for this year’s event.

Dozens of Daf Yomi shiurim have already reserved their places for this year’s hilula, which will once again take place in large tents set up near the tziyun at Har Hamenuchos. Participants representing all segments of Klal Yisroel are expected to take part in these shiurim, which are given by maggidei shiur who teach regularly throughout the year and ascend to the tziyun on the yahrtzeit to express gratitude to the founder of Daf Yomi.

Rav Meir Shapiro, who left this world without children, famously remarked that he did, in fact, have two “children”: Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin and the Daf Yomi. The yeshiva was destroyed during the Holocaust, but the Daf Yomi lives on for generations, continuing to spread Torah and unity across the world.

Last year’s hilula left a deep impression, as people from across the religious spectrum came together to participate in the learning sessions. Visitors were awed by the sight of the main tent, the “Merkaz HaDaf HaYomi,” whose façade was designed as a replica of the historic Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin building in Poland.

The organizers of HaDaf HaOlami, who oversee the entire initiative, report that immediately after last year’s hilula, they received numerous requests from additional Daf Yomi groups wishing to deliver their shiurim at the Har Hamenuchos site on the yahrtzeit. In response, the organization has spent the entire year preparing for this expanded event, ensuring comfortable and secure accommodations for all participating shiurim.

Several new tents have been added to the complex, with careful coordination to maintain all necessary permits and safety measures. The organizers expressed their deep appreciation to the Yerushalayim Municipality for its invaluable assistance, as well as to the Cemetery Council for its ongoing support in ensuring that the entire hilula proceeds smoothly and respectfully.

{Matzav.com}

A heartbreaking tragedy struck the Toldos Aharon community in Yerushalayim with the passing of little Hindy Zelikovitz a”h, who drowned in a bucket of water at her grandmother’s home in the Batei Ungarin neighborhood.

The 18-month-old child was released for burial after intensive efforts by community activists. Her petirah marks another devastating blow for the family, as Hindy was born six months after the passing of her father, Rabbi Yisroel Aryeh Zelikovitz z”l, a young avreich from Toldos Aharon who succumbed to illness at the age of 27 this past Teves. He left behind his young widow and a five-year-old son.

Rabbi Zelikovitz’s life was one of remarkable strength and perseverance. He endured years of serious illness, frequently hospitalized, yet never ceased his learning or his devotion to his family. Even during his hospital stays, he would arrange chavrusah sessions in the hospital shul, determined to maintain his seder limud.

Several months after his passing, his widow gave birth to twins—a boy and a girl—who entered a world without their father, whom they would never know.

Earlier this evening, baby Hindy tragically drowned in a pail of water at her grandmother’s home. Following the intervention of community leader Rabbi Shimon Shisha and other Toldos Aharon activists, her body was released for burial.

The levayah is being held tonight, and she will be laid to rest on Har Hamenuchos.

Yehi zichro boruch.

A federal grand jury issued an indictment Thursday against John Bolton, who once served as President Trump’s national security adviser, accusing him of improperly handling classified material by sending highly sensitive government documents using his personal AOL email account.

According to the indictment, Bolton knowingly transmitted information pertaining to crucial foreign policy issues while corresponding with individuals outside the administration after he left his White House position.

Bolton, who is 76 years old, held the role of national security adviser under President Trump from April 2018 until September 2019, when he was dismissed from the post.

If found guilty, Bolton could be sentenced to as much as ten years in prison for each charge tied to the unauthorized sharing of classified information.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Shmuel Eliyahu on Thursday afternoon responded to the terrorists who were freed as part of the recent hostage deal, urging Israeli citizens to take lethal action if they encounter them.

In a video distributed at the rov’s instruction, Rav Eliyahu addressed his followers directly and said: “If you’re a civilian, a soldier, a police officer, a Shin Bet agent or a Mossad operative — it doesn’t matter what you are.” He continued: “If you see them (the terrorists) and you have the smallest legal pretext in the world, finish them — two magazines, not one. You save lives that way,” the rov stressed.

{Matzav.com}

NYC mayoral candidates Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa face off Thursday in their first debate of the general election.

WATCH:

President Donald Trump revealed on Thursday that he was in the middle of a live conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“I am speaking to President Putin now,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The conversation is ongoing, a lengthy one, and I will report the contents, as will President Putin, at its conclusion. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

A White House official confirmed to Newsmax that the call was indeed taking place.

Trump announced that high-level US and Russian officials will meet next week — and that he will talk face-to-face with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hungary to try again to end Moscow’s war on Ukraine.

Trump did not specify further when either meeting would take place, but did say that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would lead the US delegation at the initial sitdown.

Earlier in the day, Trump had told reporters at the White House that he was speaking with Putin about the possibility of supplying NATO — and by extension, Ukraine — with Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The discussion came just one day before Trump’s scheduled meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, where the two leaders are expected to talk about the potential transfer of Tomahawks.

Trump said last week that he had informed Zelenskyy he might present Putin with an ultimatum: to either enter serious peace negotiations or face the prospect of Ukraine being armed with Tomahawk missiles.

The back-to-back talks underscore Trump’s current approach — exerting strategic pressure on Moscow while leaving the door open for diplomacy.

When pressed by reporters last week on whether he had finalized his decision about arming Ukraine with Tomahawks, Trump offered a measured response, saying he had “sort of made a decision” but wanted more information first.

“I think I want to find out what they’re doing with them,” he said. “Where are they sending them? I guess I’d have to ask that question.”

“I would ask some questions. I’m not looking to escalate that war,” he added.

Trump has made it clear that under his administration, there will be no blanket shipments of free weapons or aid to Ukraine. Instead, he has told NATO allies they are welcome to purchase the weapons and distribute them as they see fit, while he remains focused on acting as a peace broker between Russia and Ukraine.

{Matzav.com}

A video circulating online Thursday captured Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., stumbling as he walked with an uneven gait before falling to the ground.

In the clip, a reporter who identified herself as “Stella” could be heard asking McConnell, 83, a question regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents “taking people off the streets and kidnapping them.”

As the senator moved forward, occasionally steadying himself by reaching for a nearby aide, he suddenly lost his footing and fell. Moments later, the aide and a Capitol Police officer rushed to his side and helped him stand.

After regaining his balance, McConnell turned toward the camera, gave a small smile, and waved, signaling that he was unharmed.

This is not the first public incident to raise concern about McConnell’s health. He has previously exhibited signs of frailty during his appearances in the Capitol.

In July 2023, McConnell froze mid-sentence during a press briefing, pausing his remarks and stepping away before eventually returning to the microphone.

At that time, the onetime Senate majority leader had started his scheduled comments before abruptly halting and being briefly escorted from the podium. When he came back, he reassured reporters, saying, “I’m fine,” and continued addressing other matters.

The question of who will succeed McConnell has already set off one of the most anticipated Republican contests in the nation, with the 2026 Kentucky GOP Senate primary expected to draw significant spending and attention.

Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., currently leads the fundraising race for the Republican nomination to succeed McConnell.

Newsmax has contacted Barr — who once interned for McConnell — for his reaction to the incident.

McConnell announced in February that he would not run again, with his current Senate term concluding in January 2027.

{Matzav.com}

Andrew Cuomo is preparing to go on the attack against Zohran Mamdani during Thursday night’s first general election mayoral debate in New York City, as the seasoned political figure seeks to close the gap with the current front-runner.

Political observers say Cuomo will attempt to reignite momentum for his struggling second-place campaign by directly confronting the far-left Democratic nominee.

“Cuomo will be working feverishly to throw Mamdani off balance and expose him as the radical he says he is,” said Andrew Kirtzman, a veteran communications strategist. “But I have yet to see Mamdani get tripped up on anything significant this campaign — he’s phenomenally fast on his feet.”

Still, Cuomo, a three-term Democratic governor who stepped down in 2021 amid a series of scandals, faces a difficult balancing act. To win over undecided voters and stage a political comeback, he’ll have to strike hard at his opponent without appearing condescending or combative, analysts say.

Mamdani, a state assemblyman from Queens who first won election in 2020, will take the stage at 30 Rockefeller Center under far different circumstances than during the primary season, when he was a relative unknown facing an established political heavyweight.

Since his surprise victory in June — a stunning defeat for Cuomo — the outspoken socialist has held a steady double-digit lead in polls over his rivals. However, he has yet to reach the 50% mark in any survey. Cuomo, now running as an independent, has gained support in recent weeks following Mayor Eric Adams’s withdrawal from the race late last month.

According to one political insider, Cuomo must deliver a new line of attack that resonates with voters. They expect him to focus on a controversial photo from July showing Mamdani alongside Rebecca Kadaga, a Ugandan politician who championed a harsh anti-gay law while in office.

Cuomo and Mamdani will share the debate stage with Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, the beret-wearing radio host known for his sharp wit and quick retorts. Political strategists say a temporary alignment between Cuomo and Sliwa — deliberate or not — could put Mamdani on the defensive.

“Something to watch for is can Curtis and Cuomo coordinate — intentionally or unintentionally — and put Mamdani on his back feet,” the insider said. “Curtis is a good debater, and he’s got some good one-liners. But if it’s just a slugfest between the three, it’s not going to move the needle.”

Analysts also doubt that the showdown will have a major impact on the outcome of the race, though they expect it to make for lively viewing.

“Candidate impressions are set. So the debates probably won’t move the polls,” said longtime Democratic strategist Ken Frydman. “But they will be good political theater. Cuomo will jab Mamdani, the socialist, Israel-hater, who’s old friends with an anti-gay politician in Uganda. Mamdani will counterpunch with Cuomo’s COVID failure and sexual harassment allegations.”

NBC will broadcast the debate’s first hour live on cable before switching over to its usual three-hour Law & Order programming block at 8 p.m. Viewers who wish to continue watching the candidates face off for control of America’s largest city will need to switch to NBC’s digital stream.

The debate is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Thursday at 30 Rockefeller Center.

How to Watch:
The first hour will air on NBC and Telemundo. For those without cable or an antenna, DIRECTV will offer a free trial. At 8 p.m., the debate will continue exclusively on NBC’s streaming platform, with full coverage also available via Politico and the Campaign Finance Board.

Participants:

• Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani

• Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa

• Independent candidate Andrew Cuomo

A second debate is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 22, on NY1.

There will be no live audience or press in attendance, mirroring the format used during the primary debates.

According to the latest Quinnipiac University poll released last week, Mamdani leads with 46%, Cuomo trails with 33%, and Sliwa holds 15%, while 14% of voters remain undecided.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rav Menachem Bentzion Grossman zt”l, who served for decades as a spiritual mentor within both Chabad and Breslov circles. He was 80 years old.

Rav Grossman suffered a severe stroke and, despite the efforts of the medical staff at Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah, he passed away.

The levayah will take place this evening at 10:00 p.m. in Migdal HaEmek, where he will be laid to rest.

Rav Menachem Bentzion was born in Yerushalayim on the 11th of Av, 5705 (1945), to his illustrious father, Rav Yisroel Grossman zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Pinsk-Karlin and a leader of Yeshivos Karlin, Chabad, and Migdal Ohr. His mother, Rebbetzin Gutte Perl (Pninah) a”h, was the daughter of Rav Yosef Gottfarb zt”l.

As a child, he studied in the famed Talmud Torah Etz Chaim in Yerushalayim. In his youth, he married Rebbetzin Chaya Sarah, the daughter of Rav Yerachmiel Moshe Kenig zt”l of Yerushalayim, and together they established their home in the holy city. During those early years, Rav Grossman joined the administration of Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Nachalas Har Chabad, which was then being founded.

He was privileged to be among the close associates of the Baba Sali, Rav Yisroel Abuchatzeira zt”l, and maintained close connections with numerous gedolei Yisroel across the Torah world.

Over the years, he also served as a member of the staff of Chesed L’Avraham, the institution established by the Skulener Rebbe zt”l, where he guided children of immigrant families toward a Torah-true education. Additionally, he led a special yeshiva program for rehabilitating prisoners, helping many rebuild both their spiritual and material lives.

A key figure in the founding of Migdal Ohr institutions in Migdal HaEmek, he worked hand in hand with his legendary brother, Rav Yitzchok Dovid Grossman, to strengthen and expand these vital centers of Torah and chesed.

Rav Grossman was the author of Tzintzenes Hamonn, a sefer devoted to the teachings and conduct of the Belzer Rebbe, Rav Aharon of Belz.

He was niftar on the thirtieth yahrtzeit of the Ribnitzer Rebbe zt”l, to whom he was deeply attached.

Rav Grossman leaves behind an esteemed family of sons, daughters, sonsgrandchildren, and great-grandchildren who continue his legacy. He is survived by his brothers, Rav Yitzchok Dovid Grossman, chief rabbi of Migdal HaEmek; Rav Yaakov Grossman; Rav Zalman Grossman, member of the Migdal Ohr administration; and Rav Eliezer Grossman, rosh yeshiva of Migdal Ohr for youth and a ram at the Seret Vizhnitz Yeshiva.

His brothers-in-law include Rav Naftali Nussbaum, rosh yeshiva of Chayei Moshe in Yerushalayim; Rav Shmuel Tzvi Fried, dayan in Yerushalayim; Rav Ben-Zion Leibowitz, educational director of Vizhnitz institutions in Yerushalayim; and Rav Baruch Luria, member of the faculty of the Beis Medrash L’Dayanus Be’er Mayim Chaim.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Donald Trump cautioned that the United States would take military action against Hamas should the group persist in killing civilians in Gaza — a move that would breach the widely praised cease-fire he helped arrange, which enabled the weekend release of the remaining hostages from Gaza.

“If Hamas continues the violence, “which was not the Deal, we will have no choice but to go in and kill them,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Thursday, responding to a video that surfaced showing Hamas publicly executing eight Palestinian rivals in a busy Gaza City street just days after the cease-fire took effect.

{Matzav.com}

The New York Times published a scathing critique of President Donald Trump’s plans to revamp the U.S. refugee program, describing the proposed changes as a “radical overhaul.”

Under the initiative, refugee admissions would shift toward individuals who are seen as most capable of integrating into American society — those who speak English, share American values, and are likely to adapt easily.

Documents obtained by the Times reveal that the administration is evaluating sweeping modifications intended to ensure that the long-running refugee system primarily serves the national interest.

According to the report, the plan would favor applicants from nations that share American principles — such as white South Africans and Europeans escaping political oppression — while drastically reducing the number of total admissions to record lows.

The proposal, discussed in meetings held by the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, stems from Trump’s directive that all resettlement efforts must align with U.S. security and domestic priorities.

The Times labeled the proposed program as “bare bones,” arguing that it represents a departure from what global advocates have traditionally portrayed as America’s “humanitarian duty.”

On his very first day in office, Trump had already halted refugee admissions and ordered a review to determine whether the program benefited U.S. citizens.

Officials told the Times that while no final decisions have been made, the White House is still considering all of the recommendations under discussion.

Among the changes being weighed is a stronger focus on how well prospective refugees can integrate into American life.

The administration’s concept includes mandatory lessons in American history, culture, and respect for the country’s social norms.

Applicants who demonstrate alignment with key values — such as opposition to uncontrolled immigration and adherence to traditional Western ideals — could receive preferential treatment.

Officials also advised limiting resettlement in areas already burdened by heavy immigrant populations to help promote assimilation and relieve local resource pressures.

One of the documents reviewed referenced the importance of preventing “the concentration of non-native citizens.”

The Times accused the Trump administration of favoring “white Europeans,” particularly noting Trump’s references to the persecution of Afrikaners, South Africa’s white minority population.

The paper further alleged that the president’s vision for America “values whiteness and Christianity,” citing remarks from a former refugee official who served under previous administrations.

Responding to the criticism, State Department spokesman Thomas Pigott stated, “It should come as no surprise that the State Department is implementing the priorities of the duly elected president of the United States. This administration unapologetically prioritizes the interests of the American people.”

Reports indicate that Trump is considering setting the refugee cap at 7,500 for the coming year — a dramatic reduction from the 125,000 limit under President Joe Biden.

Officials say the proposed policy would shift authority over refugee determinations from the United Nations to U.S. embassies, allowing American diplomats to play a more direct role in the process.

While The New York Times labeled the initiative discriminatory, advocates of the plan call it pragmatic — a necessary reform to protect the country’s interests and restore order to the refugee system.

{Matzav.com}

New York City Democratic mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani offered a formal apology to members of the NYPD on Wednesday, acknowledging that his earlier rhetoric — in which he labeled the department “racist,” “wicked,” and “corrupt” — was wrong.

“Absolutely, I’ll apologize to police officers right here, because this is the apology that I’ve been sharing with many rank-and-file officers,” Mamdani told Fox News host Martha MacCallum when asked if he would make his apology public.

“And I apologize because of the fact that I’m looking to work with these officers. And I know that these officers, these men and women who serve in the NYPD, they put their lives on the line every single day,” he continued.

Mamdani’s relationship with law enforcement and his changing views on policing have become a central issue in the city’s mayoral race.

In the wake of George Floyd’s death in 2020 — which sparked mass protests over racial injustice and policing nationwide — Mamdani used social media to call for defunding the NYPD and denounced the force in harsh terms.

“We don’t need an investigation to know that the NYPD is racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety. What we need is to #DefundTheNYPD,” Mamdani wrote in June 2020 in response to a now-deleted post. “But your deal with @NYCMayor uses budget tricks to keep as many cops as possible on the beat. NO to fake cuts – defund the police.”

That same year, in a series of December posts referencing a ProPublica investigation into the NYPD’s handling of sex-trade enforcement, Mamdani again urged the department’s dismantling.

“All this misery. All for money. In the last budget, the City Council tried to make the NYPD reduce its overtime budget by half. They simply refused,” he wrote in December 2020. “There is no negotiating with an institution this wicked & corrupt. Defund it. Dismantle it. End the cycle of violence.”

In recent months, Mamdani has worked to walk back those earlier declarations, telling CNN that he no longer supports defunding the police and that his prior statements were made in a moment of anger. His latest remarks mark his most direct effort yet to publicly reconcile with law enforcement.

According to a report last month in The New York Times, Mamdani has personally reached out to police officials and privately expressed regret for his past comments. In that interview, he said he felt “he owed officers an apology.”

When asked what message he shared with the two dozen officers he reportedly spoke to, Mamdani explained, “I apologized for the language that I used and I spoke to them about the fact that I want to work with them to deliver public safety because what we’re seeing in the city right now is we’re asking officers to do nearly everything we can think of.”

“We used to ask officers to focus on serious crimes. Now we’re asking them to focus also on the mental health crisis, to focus also on homelessness,” he added.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is set to convene the security cabinet and top defense officials tonight for an urgent meeting focused on Gaza, with particular attention to recovering the remains of slain hostages and fallen soldiers.

“We are determined to bring back the hostages, all of them, every last one,” the prime minister declared.

Shas leader Arye Deri demanded that Netanyahu immediately suspend all components of the agreement with Hamas, including reopening the Rafah border crossing and authorizing humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. Deri made the appeal in a post on X/Twitter on Thursday.

He insisted that no further cooperation should continue until Hamas “cooperates fully and seriously” in returning the bodies of all murdered hostages.

“We are committed to bringing all our sons to a Jewish burial,” Deri wrote.

Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli warned that the Israel Defense Forces may be forced to resume combat in Gaza if Hamas fails to surrender its weapons. Speaking to Channel 14 on Wednesday, he emphasized that the situation remains critical.

“We are not in a state of routine – this is a significant moment, and we must be precise: either they hand over the weapons, or we will have to return to fighting,” Chikli said.

{Matzav.com}

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Wednesday dismissed reports that Palestinian terrorist leader Marwan Barghouti was abused during a prison transfer, asserting that while the claims were fabricated, he was “proud Barghouti’s conditions have drastically worsened.”

Earlier in the day, the Qatari news outlet Al-Araby TV cited a Palestinian source alleging that Barghouti was “beaten and assaulted” while being moved from Ramon Prison in southern Israel to Megiddo Prison, located north of Jenin.

The same report claimed that Barghouti suffered four broken ribs and briefly lost consciousness as a result of the alleged beating.

Raed Abu al-Hummus, the head of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society, issued a statement accusing Israel of carrying out “a real, systematic, and planned execution attempt” against Barghouti. He said Barghouti was “in real danger,” adding, “his blood flowed, his ribs were broken, and he was tortured until he lost consciousness…The necessary medical intervention was not performed, and he was not taken to the hospital. They merely gave him an Acamol pill.”

Responding to these accusations, Ben-Gvir said that “arch-terrorist Marwan Barghouti’s claims are false,” yet proudly declared that “we are proud that Barghouti’s conditions have drastically worsened in my tenure.”

The minister continued, “The games are over. The murderer Barghouti now knows terrorists like him will be treated harshly, which is why he invents fake news to energize his despicable terrorist friends who left him behind.”

Barghouti, who hails from the West Bank, was a senior Fatah figure and a central organizer of the Second Intifada. He was captured by Israeli forces in April 2002 during Operation Defensive Shield in Ramallah and later convicted in a civilian court on five counts of murder and several additional charges. He is serving five consecutive life sentences plus additional years.

During a large-scale hunger strike he led between April and May 2017, the Israel Prison Service released footage purportedly showing Barghouti eating secretly in his cell, a video his supporters dismissed as fake.

Barghouti continues to enjoy widespread popularity among Palestinians and has often been cited by Hamas as a top priority for release in negotiations. He appeared on a list of high-profile prisoners Hamas demanded Israel free as part of the ceasefire deal mediated by US President Donald Trump.

However, Israeli officials have made clear that Barghouti’s release is not under consideration. Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian told reporters last week, “I can tell you at this point in time that he will not be part of this release.”

{Matzav.com}

A single-page mortgage form signed by New York Attorney General Letitia James has become the focal point of a federal criminal case that could send her to prison for up to 60 years.

The document in question — a “second home rider” attached to her mortgage and obtained by The Post — contains James’s written assurance that the property would serve as a secondary residence she would primarily occupy.

That statement, according to prosecutors, allowed James to lock in a more favorable loan rate from Old Virginia Mortgage/Annie Mac, ultimately saving her close to $19,000 in mortgage costs.

In reality, however, The New York Times reported that shortly after the deal closed, James’s grandniece, Nakia Thompson — who has a long criminal history — moved into the home and began living there.

Federal prosecutors allege that James’s actions amount to bank fraud and false statements to a financial institution. The strength of the case, they note, may depend on whether Thompson paid rent while residing there.

Thompson told a federal grand jury in June that she lived in the three-bedroom, one-bath house rent-free, according to the Times.

The mortgage rider, dated August 17, 2020, bears James’s signature and spells out detailed restrictions on how the property was to be used.

Among the clauses in the agreement was a promise that James would “occupy and use” the house as a second home and retain “exclusive control” over who could live there.

It further required that the property remain “primarily” for her personal use for at least one year following purchase.

The document explicitly barred any “shared ownership arrangement” that would require her to rent it out or grant a management firm — or anyone else — control over occupancy, reiterating that it would be used “primarily” for her own purposes.

Another clause stated that if she or anyone acting on her behalf provided “inaccurate information or statements” about the property’s use as a second home, she could be found in default on the $109,600 loan.

The government’s case appears to hinge on Thompson’s sworn claim that she did not pay rent.

According to the indictment, James submitted tax records showing she spent zero days at the house while reporting thousands of dollars in rental income, as well as deductions for property-related expenses.

Legal analysts noted that Thompson’s criminal background could complicate matters for James.

The 36-year-old grandniece is currently wanted in North Carolina, where she admitted to assaulting a police officer in 2011, and she has multiple prior convictions in Virginia for offenses including grand larceny and possession of burglary tools.

If the defense calls Thompson to testify, prosecutors are expected to highlight her criminal history to undermine her credibility, explained former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani.

“It’ll be up to the judge in the case to decide whether to allow Thompson’s criminal history to be used to impeach her,” she said.

The charges, filed last week in the Eastern District of Virginia, accuse James of falsely certifying that the home “was not occupied or used by James as a secondary residence and was instead used as a rental investment property.”

Prosecutors say her misrepresentation helped her qualify for a 3% mortgage rate — a discount that, according to U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, saved her $18,933 in interest and seller concessions.

James has publicly rejected the allegations, claiming they are politically motivated attacks orchestrated by the Trump administration.

Appearing at a rally for Democratic socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani in Washington Heights on Monday, James struck a defiant tone.

“We see powerful voices trying to silence truth and punish dissent and weaponize justice for political gain,” she told the cheering crowd.

“We are witnessing the fraying of our democracy, the erosion of our system of government,” James declared, calling the moment “a defining moment in our history.”

{Matzav.com}

Fox News contributor Hugh Hewitt warns ‘thousands’ of non-uniformed individuals are ‘complicit’ in Hamas’ terrorist activities as President Donald Trump pushes forward with the second phase of the Gaza peace agreement.

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