Matzav

Billionaire Elon Musk made a bold pledge yesterday, vowing to donate $1 million every day until the November election to individuals who sign his online petition in support of the U.S. Constitution.

He acted quickly, presenting a $1 million check to a participant at his Pennsylvania event, which was designed to rally support for Republican Donald Trump. The recipient, identified as John Dreher, was announced by event organizers.

“By the way, John had no idea. So anyway, you’re welcome,” Musk remarked as he handed Dreher the check.

This financial move is another demonstration of Musk leveraging his vast wealth to shape the outcome of the closely contested presidential race between Trump and his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris.

Musk launched America PAC, a political action committee he created to back Trump’s campaign. The organization is focused on registering and energizing voters in key swing states, though there are indications it may be falling short of its objectives.

The event in Harrisburg marked Musk’s third appearance in Pennsylvania in as many days. Throughout these rallies, he has been emphasizing the significance of November’s election, urging people to vote early and motivate others to do the same.

Yesterday, Musk declared that a Harris victory would spell “the last election,” implying that the U.S. as it stands today would cease to exist.

He further claimed that the two attempts on Trump’s life are evidence that the president is challenging the establishment in a way Harris is not. He suggested this explains why Harris hasn’t faced similar threats.

“Assassinating a puppet is worthless,” Musk stated, repeating a claim he had previously made on social media.

The petition Musk is circulating includes the following message: “The First and Second Amendments guarantee freedom of speech and the right to bear arms. By signing below, I am pledging my support for the First and Second Amendments.”

Those attending the event yesterday were required to sign the petition, which allows America PAC to collect voter contact information in hopes of mobilizing more support for Trump.

According to federal filings, Musk, who tops Forbes’ list of the world’s wealthiest individuals, has already contributed over $75 million to America PAC, making the organization a key player in Trump’s effort to reclaim the presidency.

The visionary behind Tesla and SpaceX has been increasingly vocal in his backing of Republican causes, with his endorsement of Trump being especially pronounced this year.

In return, Trump has promised that, if re-elected, he would appoint Musk to lead a commission aimed at improving government efficiency.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers, Navy helicopters and the local sheriff’s office are combing the steep, heavily wooded slopes near Mount Rainier, Wash., in their search for two Navy pilots who have been missing since their jet crashed Tuesday during a training flight.

The Yakima County Sheriff’s Office said the wreckage was found at an elevation of 6,000 feet in a remote area that could not be reached by motor vehicle. Special Forces soldiers were brought in from nearby Joint Base Lewis-McChord because of their expertise in mountaineering, navigation and high-angle rescues using ropes and pulleys.

Aerial search crews found the pilots’ downed EA-18G Growler on Wednesday, crashed along a mountainside east of Mount Rainer, and some 175 miles south of the jet’s home base at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. It took until Friday for teams to reach the wreckage.

Mike Welding, a spokesman for NAS Whidbey Island, told The Washington Post on Saturday that the search for the two pilots was ongoing even after rescuers reached the crash site.

“Personnel on site are methodically searching an expansive area, evaluating debris and searching for information in the snow-covered, wilderness environment,” the Navy said in a news release Friday. “Finding the aircrew continues to be our primary focus.”

The Yakima County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to requests for comment Saturday. And Welding declined to comment further on the situation.

“Our priority is to locate our two aviators as quickly and as safely as possible,” Capt. David Ganci, commander of the Navy unit that oversees the missing pilots, said in the news release. “Adhering to Dept. of Defense procedure, we cannot identify or confirm the names of aircrew involved in a mishap until 24-hours after their next of kin have been notified of their status.”

The Navy said the status of the crew cannot be confirmed until a site assessment of the debris area is completed.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation, according to the Navy. The EA-18G Growler that the two pilots were flying is an electronic warfare variant of the well-known F-18 fighter jet, with a suite of equipment capable of jamming enemy radars and communications.

(c) Washington Post

A steady stream of “shooting stars” expected to be visible in the night sky this weekend will be one of the last opportunities of the year to see a dazzling show overhead.

The annual Orionids meteor shower is predicted to peak Sunday night into Monday morning and should be visible in both hemispheres from midnight until just before dawn. Meteorologists expect about 23 meteors to shoot across the sky every hour.

The meteor shower will close the book on a series of remarkable skywatching events this year, including an extreme solar storm, a total solar eclipse, a partial lunar eclipse and the annual Perseids meteor shower.

Here’s how to watch the Orionids.

– – –

What is the Orionids meteor shower?

NASA describes the Orionids, which peak annually in mid-October, as one of the most beautiful meteor showers of the year.

The Orionids are made of grain-size bits of ice and rocky dust from Halley’s comet, which enters the inner solar system every 76 years and was last seen in 1986. When material from Halley collides with the Earth’s atmosphere, it contributes to the Orionids every fall and the Eta Aquarid meteor shower each May.

In an average year, the Orionids produce a maximum of 10 to 20 meteors per hour – many fewer than the summertime Perseids meteor shower, which typically features 50 to 75 meteors per hour. The Orionids are named after the constellation Orion and streak through the sky at about 41 miles per second.

– – –

Where can I watch the Orionids?

Meteor showers are most visible in clear skies after dark, particularly after midnight. The Orionids should be visible across the whole sky.

But although the Orionids are known for being bright, a waning gibbous moon – a phase between a full moon and a half moon – is likely to make the meteor shower harder to observe this year.

Still, NASA said some Orionids will hopefully be visible. Bill Cooke, who leads NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office, suggested finding an area far from city or streetlights, lying on your back and looking up.

“In less than 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors,” he said in a statement.

– – –

What else can I see in the night sky this time of year?

A rarely visible comet is overhead this month and expected to travel higher in the sky, becoming dimmer, each night until roughly late October. The Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is best observed through binoculars.

Some other opportunities to see a show in the sky this year will be the Leonid and Geminid meteor showers beginning in November and the Ursid shower in mid-December.

(c) Washington Post

German police on Saturday arrested a Libyan man for allegedly plotting an attack on the country’s Israeli embassy.

Police raided an apartment in Bernau, just north of Berlin, apprehending the 28-year-old suspect, the report said.

A tip from a foreign intelligence service led to the operation, according to the Bild newspaper. The suspect was not previously on any watchlist in Germany, the report said. There were indications the man intended to target the Israeli embassy in Berlin, and he had possible links to Islamic State, according to a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office.

Der Spiegel identified the suspect as Omar A. He is expected to appear before a judge on Sunday.

Israel’s ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, thanked German authorities for protecting the embassy, commenting on social media that “Muslim anti-Semitism drives global terrorism,” and emphasizing that embassy staff are particularly vulnerable.

Germany’s domestic intelligence agencies upped their alert level following recent attacks on Israeli embassies in Copenhagen and Stockholm, amid the ongoing conflict sparked by Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 massacre in Israel. In September, Munich police officers fatally shot a gunman with extremist ties who had opened fire at the Israeli consulate.

German police had recorded over 3,200 anti-Semitic crimes by early October, nearly double last year’s figures for the same period.

Saturday’s raid included a search of a second apartment in Sankt Augustin, near Bonn, which belonged to the suspect’s uncle, who is being treated as a witness. Authorities suspect the man had planned to flee to his uncle’s residence after the attack, and then to leave Germany. The suspect had reportedly entered Germany in November 2022 and sought asylum, which was denied in September 2023.

(JNS)

Amid dissatisfaction with Harvard University’s handling of antisemitism on campus, donations to that institution this year dropped by 15% over 2023, according to a financial report released on Thursday.

The drop to $1.17 billion in 2024 from $1.38 billion the previous year constitutes the greatest decline in donations in nearly a decade for Harvard, one of the nation’s oldest and wealthiest institutions, Bloomberg reported.

“Some of the new commitments have been disappointing compared to past years,” Harvard President Alan Garber said in an interview with The Harvard Crimson.

Incidents of antisemitism at Harvard over the Israel-Hamas conflict have put the institution at the center of a national controversy.

In January, billionaire donor Ken Griffin cited these issues in announcing that he would cease donations, fearing that the university had “lost its way,” as he put it. “Until Harvard makes it clear that they’re committed to educating young leaders and tackling tough issues, I’m not interested in supporting the institution,” Griffin told CNBC.

Len Blavatnik also suspended his donations following concerns over the university’s handling of antisemitism, according to Bloomberg. His foundation has donated at least $270 million to Harvard.

Earlier this year, Claudine Gay resigned as Harvard president amid controversy over plagiarism and her testimony in a congressional hearing on antisemitism, in which she said that calls to commit genocide against Jews might not violate Harvard’s code of conduct.

Whether or not such calls constituted a violation of Harvard’s rules “depended on the context,” she said, and answer for which she later apologized.

Despite the overall decline in 2024, however, Harvard’s financial position remains robust. Donations that can be spent immediately, known as “current use donations,” reached over $525 million—the second-highest level in the university’s history.

(JNS)

The Palestine Liberation Organization on Friday mourned the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, eulogizing his “martyrdom” in Gaza.

“The Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization expresses its condolences to the Palestinian people and all national factions on the martyrdom of the great national leader Yahya Sinwar,” the committee announced in a statement.

The PLO is represented by the Palestinian Authority in Yehuda and Shomron, and is headed by Mahmoud Abbas.

Abbas’s Fatah Party, considered a more secularist movement than Hamas and which was violently ousted by the Islamist militant organization from the Gaza Strip in 2007, expressed its condolences as well, saying that Israel’s “killing and terrorism will not succeed in breaking the will of our people.”

The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, another group that comprises the PLO coalition, said: “The martyrdom of Sinwar is a further incentive that pushes the Palestinian people [to continue its fight against Israel],” Turkish media reported.

Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya hailed Sinwar as a “hero who fought the Israeli forces until his last breath.”

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan sent his condolences to Hamas representatives in person in a meeting held in Turkey on Friday.

The foreign ministry said in a statement that Turkey will “use all diplomatic means to mobilize the international community against the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.”

This is not the first time that the PLO, which is considered a more moderate Palestinian faction, has sung the praises of an arch-terrorist.

In September, Abbas conveyed his condolences to Hezbollah after Israel assassinated its leader Hassan Nasrallah in a powerful airstrike in Beirut.

“President Mahmoud Abbas has expressed his condolences to Lebanon and Hezbollah in the aftermath of Israel’s assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of the organization,” the Palestinian WAFA news agency reported at the time.

In the wake of the assassination in Tehran of Ismail Haniyeh, the former head of Hamas’s political bureau, Abbas again heaped praise on a Hamas leader, calling the killing a “crime.”

“The latest massacre, the latest oppression, was the crime against the leader martyr Ismail Haniyeh. I call upon you, my brothers and sisters, to say Al-Fatiha on his soul,” Abbas said in an address to the Turkish parliament in August.

Israeli forces eliminated Sinwar, the military-terrorist who plotted the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre, in southern Gaza on Wednesday.

Soldiers from the Israel Defense Forces’ 450th Battalion, the IDF School for Infantry Corps Professions and Squad Commanders (known by its Hebrew acronym, the Bislamach Brigade), had spotted what they thought was an ordinary three-man terror cell in Rafah and closed in on them, eliminating the entire squad.

The following morning, Oct. 17, troops tentatively identified one of the bodies as that of Sinwar. It was taken back to Israel, where it was identified via fingerprint, dental records and DNA analysis.

(JNS)

Israeli forces have accelerated work on enhancing defensive measures near the Syrian border in the Golan Heights in recent weeks, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing security sources and analysts.

Troops have cleared land mines and established new barriers on the frontier between the area in the far northeast of Israel and the demilitarized strip bordering Syria, according to the report.

The move suggests Yerushalayim could be looking to hit Hezbollah for the first time further east along its border with Lebanon, while establishing a secure zone from which IDF soldiers can monitor the Iranian-backed terrorist army and prevent infiltration into Israel, sources told the news agency.

The work at the Syrian border could also represent a bolstering of Israeli actions to prevent weapons-smuggling from Iran to Hezbollah via Syrian territory.

Reuters, citing a Syrian soldier stationed in south Syria, a Lebanese security official and a U.N. peacekeeping official, revealed that in addition to the previously reported demining activities, Israel was “moving the fence separating the DMZ [demilitarized zone] towards the Syrian side and digging more fortifications in the area.”

The sources said that Israeli tanks had at times briefly entered Syrian territory east of the U.N.-monitored buffer zone to provide security for bulldozers setting up what appears to be a new security fence in the demilitarized area.

The Syrian soldier said it appeared that Israel was establishing a “buffer zone” in the demilitarized area. A second Lebanese security source said that Israel dug a trench near the DMZ in October.

This increased activity at the Syria-Golan border zone began in early October, around the same time that an Israeli ground operation to root out Hezbollah terrorism in Southern Lebanon began. Israel has also ramped up its alleged strikes on Syria during this period, according to the report.

Reuters also reported that Russian troops left the Tal Hara outpost, a strategic overlook point.

“The Russians had left because of understandings with the Israelis to prevent a clash, a Syrian military officer said,” according to the article.

A Syrian army officer said on Tuesday morning that Syrian army commanders ordered Syrian paramilitary groups to withdraw from the southern Quneitra area within 24 hours. Two sources also said that Iraqi militias backed by Iran had also been ordered to move away from the Quneitra countryside after Israeli tanks were spotted in the zone. The Iraqi fighters were told not to engage with Israeli forces directly.

Israel’s military said it “does not comment on operational plans” and it “is currently fighting against the terrorist organization Hezbollah in order to allow for the safe return of northern residents to their homes,” in response to a Reuters question about the demining operation.

(JNS)

Former President Donald Trump is currently outpacing Vice President Kamala Harris in five crucial battleground states, as well as holding a slight national lead, according to recent polling data.

Two surveys conducted by AtlasIntel between October 12 and 17, 2024, reveal that Trump is leading Harris by almost three percentage points nationally. Trump garnered 50.8 percent support compared to Harris’s 48.1 percent. These polls also show Trump holding a lead in key swing states, including Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada.

In the national poll, which surveyed 4,180 likely voters, Trump received 50.8 percent support, while Harris was at 48.1 percent.

The poll focusing on swing states found that in Arizona, Trump secured 49.2 percent of the vote, while Harris trailed with 48.6 percent, giving Trump a narrow 0.6 percent advantage among the 1,440 likely voters surveyed.

In Georgia, Trump led by 1.4 percentage points, receiving 49.5 percent of the vote to Harris’s 48.1 percent, from a survey of 1,411 likely voters.

Trump’s lead was even more substantial in Michigan, where he garnered 49.6 percent, compared to Harris’s 46.8 percent, resulting in a 2.8 percent advantage out of a sample of 1,529 likely voters.

In Nevada, Trump led Harris by 0.3 percentage points, with 48.4 percent of support to her 48.1 percent, based on a survey of 1,171 likely voters.

In Pennsylvania, Trump also held a lead, receiving 49.8 percent of support compared to Harris’s 46.5 percent, with a 3.3 percent advantage from a survey of 2,048 likely voters.

The swing state poll also found that Harris was ahead in North Carolina, receiving 49.5 percent to Trump’s 48.8 percent, from 1,674 likely voters, giving her a 0.7 percent lead.

Similarly, Harris was also leading in Wisconsin, with 48.9 percent to Trump’s 48.2 percent, from a sample of 932 likely voters, which resulted in a 0.7 percent edge for her.

These national and swing state polling results come at a time when Trump has been gaining ground in critical states such as Pennsylvania and Michigan.

Trump’s political momentum includes his campaign events, such as his recent appearance with Hamtramck Mayor Ameer Ghalib, who endorsed Trump for president. This endorsement marks a key shift, as Trump’s popularity has risen among Arab American voters, particularly in Michigan’s Arab American communities. These voters have expressed growing frustration with the Biden administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Additional polls have shown Trump with a lead over Harris in Pennsylvania, further solidifying his standing in one of the most pivotal battleground states.

{Matzav.com}

Former Israeli ambassador to the United States Michael Oren on Sunday called for the White House to state unequivocally that Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza, after Vice President Kamala Harris appeared to equivocate on the issue.

The Democratic nominee for president appeared to suggest at a campaign event in Milwaukee that the Jewish state was committing genocide, in an incident involving an anti-Israel heckler.

Writing on X, Oren said her remarks set “a very dangerous precedent.”

“I felt deep shock when I watched the video in which Vice President Kamala Harris endorsed a serious accusation that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza,” Oren tweeted.

“This is the first time the White House has been linked to a defamation that threatens the legitimacy and security of the State of Israel. I demand that the U.S. administration issue an immediate and unequivocal denial and make it clear in no uncertain terms that there is no place for such baseless accusations, which harm not only Israel but also the relationship between the two countries.”

After a heckler interrupted the vice president at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee event on Thursday and called Israel genocidal, Harris said, “I know what you’re speaking of. I want the ceasefire. I want the war to end, and I respect your right to speak, but I am speaking right now,” according to the New York Post.

After saying “what about the genocide” and yelling “19,000 children are dead, and you won’t call it a genocide,” the keffiyeh-clad man was removed.

“Listen, what he’s talking about, it’s real,” Harris said. “That’s not the subject that I came to discuss today, but it’s real and I respect his voice.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

Israeli leaders issued stern warnings toward Iran following a drone attack by Hezbollah, the Lebanese group backed by Tehran, which targeted Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s home. While Iran sought to minimize its involvement, the Israeli government made it clear that Tehran would be held accountable for any aggression linked to its proxy.

The attack, which occurred early Shabbos morning, involved three drones launched from Lebanon. Two of the drones were intercepted over Israeli towns Rosh Hanikra and Nahariya, while the third struck a building in Caesarea, a coastal town known for its luxury villas and ancient Roman ruins. Netanyahu and his wife were not home at the time of the attack.

Axios reported that the drone successfully hit Netanyahu’s residence, marking the first direct assault on a site associated with the prime minister since the war’s outset. The Guardian also confirmed the strike, describing the damage as superficial. Following the attack, property tax officials and a gardener were seen at Netanyahu’s home, as reported by the Kan public broadcaster.

Initially confirming the strike, Netanyahu later described it as a failed assassination attempt. “The agents of Iran who tried to assassinate me and my wife today made a bitter mistake,” he stated, further emphasizing that this action would not deter Israel from its goals. His sentiment was echoed by his ministers and lawmakers, both in Israel and abroad, with many underscoring that Iran and Hezbollah would face consequences.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called the attack an assault on “the State of Israel and its government symbols.” He stressed Israel’s determination to continue its military operations, citing successful strikes against Hamas and Hezbollah. “We will continue to attack any terrorist actors and will strike with force any enemy that harmed or tries to harm the State of Israel,” Gallant declared, reinforcing Israel’s commitment to achieving its war objectives despite Hezbollah’s efforts to undermine them.

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana criticized Iran for using Hezbollah to target the prime minister. He pointed out that Israel’s strikes against terror leaders were well-known, but targeting a democratically elected prime minister crossed a line. “Doing so was a big mistake and they will pay a price,” Ohana warned, adding that Iran would regret its actions.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir voiced his full support for Netanyahu, calling for complete victory in Gaza, Lebanon, and the West Bank. Meanwhile, Miki Zohar, a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party, accused Hezbollah’s Iranian sponsors of “crossing a red line” and suggested that the Iranian regime’s end was imminent.

Despite the accusations, Iran sought to distance itself from the attack. Its UN mission issued a statement asserting that Hezbollah acted independently, a claim rejected by Israel. Foreign Minister Israel Katz refuted the statement, saying, “The primary proxy, the tentacle Iran created, funded, armed, trained, and now controls in all its operations, is suddenly portrayed as an independent entity.”

Opposition lawmaker Avigdor Liberman demanded that democratic nations condemn the attack on Netanyahu, calling it further evidence of Iran’s goal to destroy Israel. Liberman urged the Israeli government to target Iran’s strategic facilities and political elites in retaliation.

The attack on Netanyahu’s residence has prompted speculation about Israel’s future retaliation. Channel 12 news suggested that the strike could legitimize Israel’s targeting of broader Iranian assets, especially after Tehran’s missile barrage on October 1.

In response to the attack, IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari focused on Hezbollah’s involvement, warning that fighting with the group would intensify. He confirmed the drone infiltration but emphasized that the situation was under investigation. “We are fighting Hezbollah with determination. Because of this attempt, and the harm to Israeli civilians, the fighting will only intensify,” Hagari stated.

International reactions included messages of concern from the U.S. and the U.K. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed relief that Netanyahu was unharmed, while British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attack on Netanyahu’s home, offering his support.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The Israel Defense Forces released footage on Saturday showing the wife of recently deceased Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar making her way through a tunnel carrying a $32,000 Hermès Birkin bag.

She is seen walking behind her husband and children the day before the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, in which 1,200 were slaughtered and 251 taken hostage.

The footage was posted to X by Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee, head of the Arab media division of the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.

“While the people of Gaza do not have enough money for a tent or basic necessities, we see many examples of Yahya Sinwar and his wife’s special love for money,” Adraee posted in Arabic.

IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said of the footage: “For hours, they go up and down, stocking up on food, a television, and other products for a long stay. He [Sinwar] only cared for his personal survival.”

According to the post, Sinwar’s wife was carrying a Hermès Birkin 40 Black Togo Gold Hardware.

It has “tonal stitching, two straps with front toggle closure, clochette with lock and two keys and double rolled handles.

“The interior is lined in black chevre with one zip pocket with an Hermès engraved zipper pull and an open pocket on the opposite side,” according to website Madison Avenue Couture, which sells it for the $32,000 price tag the IDF noted. JNS

{Matzav.com Israel}

Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah launched approximately 100 rockets at northern Israel on Sunday, in two barrages.

The first was a salvo of 70 rockets targeting northern Israel’s Western and Upper Galilee regions late Sunday morning, the Israel Defense Forces said. Some of the projectiles were intercepted, while several impacts were detected, according to the IDF.

Israel Fire and Rescue Services were operating to extinguish multiple fires sparked by the attack. There were no immediate reports of injuries or material damage.

Just a few hours later, the Iranian terror proxy launched some 30 rockets at Safed and surrounding areas of the Upper Galilee. Sirens also sounded in Katzrin in the southern Golan Heights.

Residents of Tzefas reported multiple interceptions in the skies over the city. No injuries or direct hits were reported, but several fires were reported.

Police reported closures along Route 90 from north to south from the Rosh Pina Junction to the Amiad Junction following the launches. One rocket exploded on the road near the Elifelet interchange.

Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli Air Force intercepted a “suspicious aerial target” off the coast of Haifa. Per IDF protocol, no sirens were sounded because the threat, apparently a drone, did not make landfall.

The incident came a day after a Hezbollah drone attack on the Caesarea residents of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Shortly afterward on Sunday morning, sirens sound in the northwestern port city and the surrounding area, as well as in the Upper Galilee.

Residents reported hearing one interception; Magen David Adom emergency services said they had received no calls about impacts or casualties.

The military later confirmed that it shot down one rocket and that two projectiles fell in an open area in a second wave at northern Israel.

Sirens had sounded in Merom Golan in the northern Golan Heights at around 4:20 a.m. on Sunday due to a drone that had crossed into Israeli airspace from Syria. The threat was intercepted by the Israeli Air Force.

Another drone had triggered sirens in several communities in the southern Golan several hours earlier. That drone too was intercepted, as was another UAV approaching from the east that according to the IDF did not enter Israeli airspace.

A drone was also intercepted on last night near Eilat in southern Israel.

No injuries were reported in either the Golan and Eilat drone attacks, which were claimed by the Islamic Resistance of Iraq, a group of Iranian-backed militias. The terrorist group has conducted many drone attacks against Israel over the past year in support of Hamas in Gaza.

Alarms were also heard elsewhere in northern Israel overnight, including in the Upper Galilee area, where five projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon around midnight, according to the IDF, which said that some were intercepted while others fell in open areas.

On Shabbos morning, a Hezbollah drone impacted near Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s residence in Caesarea. The drone was one of three launched by Hezbollah, two of which were intercepted. The Lebanese terrorist group launched some 200 projectiles at Israel throughout Shabbos.

One of the rockets killed a man near Acre, who was later identified as Alexei Popov, 51, from the Haifa suburb of Kiryat Haim.

Soldier KIA in Southern Lebanon

The IDF reported last night that Sgt. Maj. (res.) Yishai (Netanel) Greenbaum had succumbed to wounds sustained during combat operations in Southern Lebanon on Oct. 9.

The 38-year-old from Lod served as a platoon sergeant in the 288 Brigade’s 5030th Battalion.

Two more soldiers were killed in battle in the northern Gaza Strip, the IDF said yesterday—Staff Sgt. Ofir Berkovich, 20, from Modi’in Maccabim Reut, and Sgt. Elishai Young, 19, from Dimona, both of the 401st Brigade’s 52nd Armored Battalion.

Their deaths bring the total military death toll during the war on all fronts to 748.

Over 65 Hezbollah terrorists killed

The IDF said on Sunday morning that the IAF had killed over 65 Hezbollah terrorists in Southern Lebanon as ground operations continued there.

In addition, the IAF struck dozens of Hezbollah targets, including terrorist cells and launchers directed at Israeli civilians, as well as terror infrastructure sites.

IAF strikes Hezbollah targets in Beirut area

The IAF last night struck several Hezbollah weapons storage facilities and a Hezbollah intelligence headquarters command center in the terror group’s stronghold of Dahiya in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Israel’s military emphasized that many steps were taken before the attack to minimize harm to civilians, including issuing advance warning.

“This strike joins the efforts to damage Hezbollah’s weapons storage and manufacturing facilities that are embedded beneath residential buildings in the heart of the city of Beirut, endangering the population in the area,” the IDF said.

Hezbollah compound in school

Furthermore, the IDF reported yesterday that 7th Brigade troops in Southern Lebanon destroyed over 120 Hezbollah targets, several tunnel shafts and more than 20 weapons stockpiles.

Soldiers from the 7th Brigade destroyed a Hezbollah compound embedded in a school in the middle of a Lebanese village. The compound included tunnel shafts and a weapons stockpile.

Additional weapons storage facilities were also destroyed.

Radwan tunnel route destroyed

Soldiers from the 8th Brigade and Yahalom Unit, under the command of the 91st Division, located and destroyed over 50 tunnel shafts and other terrorist infrastructure under mosques, schools and other civilian buildings in Southern Lebanon, the IDF said yesterday.

Engineering troops destroyed all of the tunnel routes with over 100 tons of explosive material, including an underground Hezbollah Radwan forces command center, which included an area for weapons storage, supplies for extended stays, motorbikes, living quarters and ammunition.

Dozens of weapons were found near the underground site, including land mines, anti-tank missiles, anti-aircraft missiles, grenades, RPG launchers, machine guns, AK-47 rifles, ammunition and equipment for communication, targeting and observation. JNS

{Matzav.com Israel}

Hamas confirmed on Wednesday that Yahya Sinwar, its leader, had been killed by the Israel Defense Forces. However, the terror group sought to temper Israeli hopes for a quicker hostage release, declaring that the 101 hostages still held in Gaza would not be freed until the war concludes and Israel withdraws entirely from the territory.

Despite this, both Israel and the United States expressed cautious optimism that Sinwar’s death could potentially expedite the release of the hostages.

The White House also indicated that negotiations for a truce and hostage release, which had stalled for a long period, had not been resumed yet.

An Israeli official also cautioned that Sinwar’s brother, Muhammad, a likely successor to the slain leader, was equally as hardline, and suggested that Israel might negotiate smaller hostage deals with various Hamas factions if a central leadership does not materialize quickly.

According to Channel 12, Sinwar’s nephew, who was also killed alongside him, had been carrying a significant amount of documents related to Sinwar’s activities. These documents could potentially provide valuable intelligence for Israel.

In a video statement released on Friday, Khalil al-Hayya, deputy leader of Hamas’s Qatar-based politburo, vowed that Israel would regret killing Sinwar. He claimed that Sinwar’s “martyrdom” would only bolster the group’s resolve.

The Hamas leader stated that the hostages “will not return… unless the aggression against our people in Gaza stops.”

Meanwhile, Hamas’s armed wing issued a statement, pledging to continue fighting Israel until the “liberation of Palestine,” as it mourned the death of its chief.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Former SodaStream CEO Daniel Birnbaum has issued a video message, offering a monetary reward for anyone who facilitates the return of Israeli hostages from Gaza.

In the video shared across social media, Birnbaum opens by saying, “This is a message to the residents of Gaza, I have an offer for you.”

He reflects on the difficult period, stating, “This has been a terrible year, it’s time to move on.” Birnbaum then references a recent proposal made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “A few days ago, [Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu offered free passage and protection to anyone who returns a hostage to Israel. I want to add a financial reward to the offer,” Birnbaum announced.

He specifies the incentive, declaring, “Anyone who returns a living Israeli hostage to Israel will receive one hundred thousand dollars, which will be paid in cash or in Bitcoin.”

Birnbaum urges prompt action, concluding, “Don’t wait, the offer is valid until midnight on Wednesday, October 24th.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

House Speaker Mike Johnson had a conversation with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu after Hezbollah launched a drone targeting Netanyahu’s private residence in Caesarea.

“I spoke with my friend Prime Minister Netanyahu today, and I am happy to report he is safe, in good spirits, and undeterred,” Johnson shared on the social media platform X.

He continued, “I told him America stands strong with Israel and reiterated our ongoing commitment to help counter Iran and its terrorist proxies.”

Johnson also stressed the importance of timely U.S. action, saying, “This is a crucial moment and America must deliver. It is vital that the Biden-Harris Administration stop slow-walking needed weapons to Israel and implement the sanctions on Iran that Congress enacted this spring.”

Later that evening, Netanyahu responded to the attack on his residence by addressing the threat posed by Iran’s allies.

“Iran’s proxies, who today tried to assassinate my wife and me, have made a serious mistake,” Netanyahu declared. “This will not deter me or the State of Israel from continuing the war of renewal against our enemies, in order to ensure our security for generations to come.”

Speaking directly to Iran and its allies, Netanyahu warned, “I say to the Iranians and their partners in the axis of evil: Anyone who harms the citizens of Israel will pay a very heavy price. We will continue to eliminate your terrorists, we will bring our hostages home from Gaza, we will return our residents to the north. We will achieve all of the goals which we set for the war, and we will change the security situation in our region – for generations to come.”

He concluded with a message of resolve, stating, “Together we will fight, and with G-d’s help – together, we will win.”

Neither Netanyahu nor his wife was home during the attempted drone attack.

{Matzav.com}

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris both failed to contact Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu after a drone attack on his residence orchestrated by Hezbollah on Shabbos, which was reportedly backed by Iran.

Hezbollah launched a trio of drones at Israel, with two of them being intercepted, but the third successfully reached Netanyahu’s private residence. At the time of the attack, Netanyahu and his wife were not at home, and fortunately, no one was injured.

The Times of Israel reported that former President Donald Trump had reached out to Netanyahu following the incident, as did Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA).

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also called Netanyahu, expressing his concern about the attack, describing it as “alarming.” However, sources noted that neither President Biden nor Vice President Harris made any attempt to reach out to Netanyahu.

Earlier in the week, Biden had spoken to Netanyahu following the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces during a chance encounter in Rafah. Biden and Harris had previously opposed Israeli forces entering Rafah, despite the strong possibility of locating Hamas leaders in the area.

{Matzav.com}

At a campaign event in Pennsylvania on Shabbos, former US President Donald Trump commended Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu for disregarding advice from President Joe Biden, asserting that Israel “wouldn’t be in this position” if Netanyahu had heeded Biden’s suggestions.

“Everything he said to Israel is exactly the opposite – he’s the single greatest expert on foreign policy in history: if you did the exact opposite of what he suggested every single time, you’d go down as the greatest foreign policy president in history,” Trump remarked, directly referencing Biden.

Trump, the leading Republican candidate, went on to critique Biden’s recommendations to Netanyahu, stating, “Biden is telling Bibi Netanyahu ‘don’t do that, don’t do this, don’t do any of these things.’ Bibi didn’t listen to him, and they’re in a much stronger position now than they were three months ago.”

Trump further claimed that Netanyahu informed him that Israel’s current strength was due to his refusal to follow Biden’s advice.

“Nobody’s ever seen anything like this. Bibi called me today and said ‘it’s incredible,’ but he wouldn’t listen to Biden because if he did, they wouldn’t be in this position,” Trump said.

He also criticized his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, adding, “She’s worse than [Biden]. She’s not as smart as him, and I’m not saying he’s the smartest, but she’s not as smart as him.”

{Matzav.com}

Photo: IDF commanding officer Shmulik Drillman receiving a brocha from the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak, Rav Mendel Hager, at the Vizhnitzer Simchas Bais Hashoeivah before heading back into Lebanon.

CNN has reported that the US is currently investigating the leak of highly classified intelligence documents regarding Israel’s expected retaliation against Iran, which appeared to have ended up in Iranian hands, quoting three sources familiar with the matter.

One of the sources confirmed the documents in question were authentic.

The leaked documents were posted on Telegram by a Iran-affiliated account named, “The Middle East Spectator.” The account claimed to have received the documents “from a source in the US intelligence community,” per Axios.

Dated October 15-16, the documents included details about Israel’s preparations for an attack on Iran. The highly classified documents were only supposed to be seen by the US and its “Five Eyes” allies: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK.

It is widely believed that the US uses it’s satellite network to monitor Israeli military activity, and gain insight into Israel’s plans for a retaliatory attack.

The documents in question reportedly included information regarding the happenings at Israeli Air Force bases, including the movement of munitions, air to surface missiles, and activity by Israeli drone units.

According to Axios, the leaked documents also reported on a large scale exercise conducted by the IAF, training for an attack on Iran.

According to a US official, the current investigation is examining who had access to the leaked documents.

Reacting to the leak, a former US intelligence official said: “these two documents are bad, but not horrible. The concern is if there are more.”

Speaking to Axios, a US official called the leak “extremely concerning,” but said he does not believe it would impact Israel’s operational plans.

A senior Israeli official told Axios that the defense echelon is aware of the matter, and takes it very seriously.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, speaking at his beis midrash in Ramat Elchanan, Bnei Brak, mentioned the great miracles that took place over the past year, when tens of thousands of rockets were fired from all directions, yet they did not cause many casualties.

At the same time, the rav referenced the words of the Bartenura in Maseches Megillah, who wrote: “It is a tradition passed down to us that the resurrection of the dead will occur on Pesach, and the War of Gog and Magog on Sukkos.”

“Therefore,” he said, “we must strive not to spoil things. In other words, everything depends on us, on each and every one of us. This is a time of special favor, and we must try not to spoil it, meaning to make every effort to fulfill Hashem’s will, each person according to their ability.”

Simultaneously, the rav also mentioned the mesorah passed down through generations from the Vilna Gaon and Rav Chaim Vital stating that the War of Gog and Magog will take place during three hours of Hoshanah Rabbah, and whoever wants to be saved should sit in the sukkah. Concerning this, it is said, “For He will conceal me in His sukkah on the day of evil” – the day of evil being the War of Gog and Magog – and whoever wishes to be saved should sit in the sukkah, said Rav Zilberstein.

Rav Zilberstein noted that his brother-in-law, Rav Chaim Kanievsky, said that these three hours refer to the hours before sunrise on Hoshanah Rabbah.

In the shiur, several questions were posed to Rav Zilberstein: Is it preferable to sit in the beis midrash or in the sukkah? If there is a siren during those hours, should one enter a shelter?

{Matzav.com Israel}