Matzav

In the aftermath of the deadly attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, new details have emerged about the condition and actions of Ahmed al-Ahmed, an Australian citizen of Syrian origin who intervened during the violence and was seriously wounded.

According to his attorney, Sam Issa, al-Ahmed was struck by gunfire four times while attempting to stop the attackers. Issa told Kan that his client remains hospitalized and faces a long road to recovery. “His condition is serious but stable. He is suffering from pain,” Issa said in an interview, adding, “Ahmed was shot four times in his left arm and lost sensation. He is due to undergo several operations, one of them today. Despite the pain, his spirits are good.”

Issa said that al-Ahmed has shown no regret for his actions, despite the injuries and repeated surgeries ahead. “Despite the pain and despite everything he is going through and the many surgeries he must undergo, he would do it again, because he knows he saved many lives,” Issa quoted his client as saying.

Recounting how al-Ahmed came to be at the scene, Issa explained that his client had arrived at Bondi Beach by chance. “He went to Bondi Beach to have an afternoon coffee. When he arrived he heard music and saw families enjoying themselves. He asked one of the security staff about the event and was told it was Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday. He was given permission to watch, went to buy a coffee, then he heard gunfire, and the drama began.”

Issa described the moment that prompted al-Ahmed to act. “He saw one of the attackers, the father, walking with a gun toward a group of Jews and trying to get as close as possible to kill as many as he could. That is the moment Ahmed decided he had to save those people, and he did it, thank God,” he said.

The lawyer stressed that al-Ahmed’s decision was driven by basic humanity, not ideology. “He knew they were Jews. He is simply a human being. He does not care about their religion or nationality. He only wanted to save lives,” Issa said.

Since the attack, Issa noted, al-Ahmed has received an outpouring of support from across Australia’s communities. “A representative of the Jewish community in Australia came to the hospital and thanked him. The Muslim community in Australia is also proud of his bravery – we all want to live in a place without violence,” he said.

Issa also shared background about al-Ahmed’s journey to Australia, explaining that he fled conflict in Syria. “He came to Australia to live in a country that loves peace. Unfortunately, we have seen violence and hatred, and it is shocking. But Ahmed gives a glimmer of hope, an example that it is possible to live together. We hope Ahmed’s actions will advance coexistence, love, and tolerance. He sends his love, his wishes for recovery to the wounded, and his condolences to the families of the murdered. He has only love for the Jewish community in Australia and elsewhere, and he hopes for peace.”

{Matzav.com}

A new investigative film produced jointly by The Washington Post and PBS Frontline examines Israel’s June military offensive against Iran, concluding that the operation delayed Tehran’s nuclear ambitions by several years but did not erase them entirely. Israeli, American, and International Atomic Energy Agency officials interviewed for the documentary said Iran still retains nuclear expertise and some enriched material, even after the strikes.

Drawing on interviews with current and former officials from Israel, Iran, the United States, and several Arab countries — many of whom spoke anonymously — the filmmakers report that assessments across governments largely agree the damage to Iran’s nuclear program was substantial but incomplete. This view contrasts with claims by President Donald Trump that Iran’s nuclear capabilities had been completely destroyed.

The documentary describes extensive intelligence groundwork leading up to the campaign, including years of surveillance, the cultivation of operatives inside Iran, and close coordination between Israel and the US. It also explores diplomatic maneuvering and disinformation efforts that took place before the first strikes, alongside conflicting intelligence evaluations about how close Iran was to nuclear weapons capability.

According to the report, Israel carried out a wide-ranging assault targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, missile systems, and air defenses. Israeli officials portrayed the operation as a synchronized effort combining air power, intelligence assets, and covert actions, with a particular focus on dismantling the leadership of Iran’s nuclear research apparatus.

During the opening phase of the conflict, Israeli strikes killed several senior Iranian nuclear scientists, the documentary says, including Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi and former atomic energy chief Fereydoun Abbasi. Israel stated that a total of 11 leading scientists were eliminated over the course of the operation.

The investigation also addresses the human toll of the campaign. Citing independent verification by The Washington Post and outside researchers, the documentary reports civilian casualties from some of the strikes. Israeli officials told the filmmakers that significant precautions were taken to limit harm to civilians, while Iranian authorities claimed that hundreds of civilians were killed during the fighting.

Together, the findings present a detailed account of how the operation was planned and executed, highlighting both the military and intelligence dimensions of the campaign and the ongoing debate over its long-term impact on Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

As the investigation into the deadly shooting involving a Brown University gunman continues, Providence police say they are now attempting to identify an additional individual seen near the suspect shortly before the attack that left two students dead and seven others wounded.

Authorities released new surveillance images showing a person wearing a blue jacket with a green hood, dark-colored pants, and what appears to be a light-colored satchel worn over the right shoulder. The images are described as grainy but are believed to show someone who was close to the suspected shooter prior to the violence.

“Investigators are asking for the public’s help in identifying and speaking to the individual shown in these photos who was in proximity of the person of interest,” the Providence Police Department wrote on X while sharing the photographs.

Police believe the same individual appears in surveillance footage previously made public by FBI Boston. That video shows the suspected shooter walking along a residential street in Providence less than two hours before the shooting occurred.

According to investigators, the footage shows the gunman glancing to his right and noticing the backpack-carrying individual before suddenly running down a side street at approximately 2:16 p.m. on December 13.

Moments later, the person with the backpack follows, turning onto the same street and beginning to run after walking for roughly 15 to 20 feet.

“Anyone with information is urged to contact the tip line at 401-272-3121.”

Providence police emphasized that the case remains active and that multiple agencies are involved in the investigation. The department said it is coordinating closely with the Rhode Island State Police, the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, the FBI, ATF, IRS, DEA, US Secret Service, US Department of Homeland Security, and the US Marshals Service as efforts continue to track down those connected to the incident.

{Matzav.com}

At the White House’s Chanukah celebration on Tuesday, President Donald Trump spoke about the recent hostage developments involving Gaza, praising what he described as their return. In his remarks, however, the President inaccurately suggested that the process was fully complete, stating, “We got back all of the hostages, and all of the dead young people that were dead.”

That assertion overlooked one critical case. The remains of Ran Gvili have not been returned and are still being held by Hamas, an omission that carries significance as negotiations over the next phase of Trump’s peace plan remain stalled in part because of the terrorist group’s failure to release the final hostage.

Moments later in the program, Trump invited Orna and Ronen Neutra to join him. The couple are the parents of Captain Omer Neutra, an American-Israeli soldier whose body was recently recovered from captivity in Gaza.

Speaking from the stage, Ronen Neutra expressed gratitude to the President for his efforts on behalf of their family, the Jewish people, and Israel, but he also addressed the inaccuracy directly. “Your amazing leadership brought us to the point where we got our kid back, but there is still one left: Ran Gvili. He’s still there.”

Ronen concluded with confidence in the President’s resolve, adding, “we know you’re going to bring him back.”

The audience responded with sustained applause as Trump acknowledged the correction with a nod, bringing the exchange to a close.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] President Donald Trump used remarks at the White House Chanukah reception on Tuesday to touch on domestic politics, foreign policy, and his long-standing ties with major political donors, drawing attention for comments that mixed humor, fundraising, and speculation.

During the event, Trump reflected on conversations involving Israeli-American philanthropist Miriam Adelson, who was standing beside him as he addressed the crowd. At one point, chants of “four more years” could be heard in the background, though the response was muted.

Adelson, speaking publicly at the reception, told Trump about a recent discussion she had with constitutional lawyer Alan Dershowitz, noting that he spoke “about four more years.” She encouraged the president to consider the idea, saying, “I said, ‘Alan, I agree with you.’ So, we can do it! Think about it!” As she spoke, the audience briefly echoed the chant, “Four more years!”

Moments later, Adelson leaned in and quietly said something to Trump. The president then shared the exchange aloud, telling attendees, “She said, ‘Think about it, I’ll give you another $250 million.’” Adelson immediately responded, “I will give.”

Trump went on to reminisce about Adelson’s late husband, Sheldon Adelson, describing him as a formidable presence. “But her husband Sheldon was an amazing guy, and he’d come up to the office, and there was nobody more aggressive than Sheldon,” Trump said. He recalled Sheldon Adelson’s persistence, adding, “He’d call and say, ‘Can I come over please?’ I’d say, ‘Sheldon, I’m president of the United States, it doesn’t work that way anymore.’”

Sheldon Adelson and Miriam Adelson were among the most prominent Republican megadonors over recent election cycles. Sheldon Adelson played a major role in financing Trump’s early presidential campaigns, and following his death, Miriam Adelson continued to be heavily involved in political giving.

In 2024, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on Adelson’s political priorities, writing, “Adelson, a resident of Herzliya and a megadonor for settlement development in the West Bank, did not wish to hear Trump yearning for peace,” and adding that what Adelson “really wants from Trump’s second term is an Israeli annexation of the West Bank and a US recognition of Israeli sovereignty in all the regions of the land.”

Beyond donor-related remarks, Trump also used the Chanukah reception to comment on the political climate in Washington, including tensions in Congress and what he described as a growing problem of antisemitism among certain lawmakers.

He further reflected on the influence of pro-Israel advocacy in U.S. politics, suggesting it has diminished over time while reiterating his own support for Israel. “My father would tell me, the most powerful lobby that there is in this country is the Jewish Lobby. It’s the Israeli lobby. It’s not that way anymore,” Trump said.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

The roshei yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoah in Lakewood have issued a formal letter prohibiting a concert that had been scheduled to take place in Jackson, New Jersey.

In the letter, the roshei yeshiva state that they were informed of plans to hold a concert event in Jackson and felt compelled to express their firm opposition.

The concert they refer to is a performance by the Miami Boys Choir.

The letter emphasizes concerns about the spiritual and communal implications of such an event, noting that similar gatherings have, in the past, led to outcomes that were not in keeping with the standards and values of the Torah community. The roshei yeshiva stress that the decision was made after careful consideration and with a sense of responsibility for the broader ציבור, particularly given the proximity of the event to large concentrations of bnei Torah.

The letter bans the concert even if there’s only separate seating.

The letter is signed by Rav Malkiel Kotler, Rav Yisroel Neuman, Rav Dovid Schustal and Rav Yeruchem Olshin.

The concert has since been cancelled.

{Matzav.com}

Newly released internal communications have renewed scrutiny of the FBI’s 2022 search of President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, with senior officials and lawmakers pointing to evidence that agents questioned whether the legal threshold for the raid had been met.

FBI Director Kash Patel addressed the issue Tuesday, confirming that the operation proceeded despite internal reservations. “It’s true – we just turned over documents to Capitol Hill to be made public showing the FBI told DOJ they did not have probable cause for raiding President Trump’s home in Mar-a-Lago but DOJ ‘didn’t give a …..’ and did it anyway,” Patel wrote on X.

Earlier in the day, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley of Iowa released newly declassified emails and memoranda detailing exchanges between the FBI and the Justice Department in the weeks leading up to the August 8, 2022 search. According to the records, FBI officials repeatedly questioned whether they had sufficient grounds to seek a warrant.

In one document, the FBI’s Washington Field Office stated that it “does not believe” that “we have established probable cause for the search warrant for classified records” at Mar-a-Lago. Another passage noted, “DOJ has opined that they do have probable cause, requesting a wide scope including residence, office, storage space.”

The internal correspondence also reflected frustration within the bureau over the direction of the investigation. “The 6 weeks spent fixated on probable cause for a search warrant have been counterproductive,” the document quotes the FBI as saying. It further added, “Continued investigation and additional interviews have not found any witness who has reported seeing classified records at Mar-a-Lago since the return of records via compliance on June 3, 2022,” and suggested that “WFO suggests alternative, less intrusive and likelier quick options for resolution.”

Grassley summarized his reaction to the disclosures in a post on X, writing, “Received shocking new docs today from DOJ & FBI showing FBI DID NOT BELIEVE IT HAD PROBABLE CAUSE to raid Pres Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home but Biden DOJ pushed for it anyway.” He added, “Based on the records Mar-a-Lago raid was a miscarriage of justice.”

Late Tuesday night, President Trump weighed in forcefully on the revelations, denouncing the search in a Truth Social post. “Unreasonable Search and Seizure!!! That was the FBI’s CRIMINAL RAID on Mar-a-Lago. This can never be allowed to happen again!!!,” he wrote.

Trump also responded to a supporter calling for accountability over the raid. After a user posted that “Someone should be arrested. Wray & Garland,” Trump replied, “and many others!!!”

{Matzav.com}

A group of Iranian hackers is claiming responsibility for a cyber intrusion targeting the cellphone of Naftali Bennett, according to reports in Hebrew-language media.

The allegation surfaced after the hackers, identifying themselves as “Handala,” announced what they described as a successful breach of Bennett’s device, an operation they named “Operation Octopus,” Ynet reported.

In a statement cited by Ynet, the group mocked Bennett’s professional background in the cyber field. “You once prided yourself on being a leading light of cybersecurity, and displayed your expertise to the world,” the hackers said, referring to Bennett’s role as a co-founder of a cybersecurity company.

The message continued with further derision. “And even so, how ironic that your iPhone 13 fell so easily into the hands of Handala,” the statement said. “Despite all of your pride and boasting, your digital fortress is nothing more than a paper wall waiting to be broken.”

Bennett has previously used the phrase “the head of the octopus” when describing Iran’s role in orchestrating threats against Israel throughout the region.

The incident comes as Bennett, who previously served as Israel’s prime minister, is widely viewed as the most serious political rival to Prime Minister Bibi Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of elections expected next year.

Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons has flatly denied allegations circulating online that ICE officers stopped Rep. Ilhan Omar’s son after a routine shopping trip, saying the agency has no record of such an encounter.

According to Lyons, ICE databases show no instance in which officers or agents detained or questioned the Minnesota congresswoman’s son. “ICE has absolutely zero record of its officers or agents pulling over Congresswoman Omar’s son,” Lyons told Fox News Digital. He added that the accusation was made without any substantiating evidence. “It speaks volumes that Congresswoman Omar is leveling this accusation with absolutely zero proof,” Lyons said, arguing that the claim fits a broader effort to portray ICE negatively.

The controversy began after Omar described the alleged incident during a media interview, asserting that her son was stopped by ICE agents and released only after producing identification. “He did get pulled over by ICE agents and once he was able to produce his passport ID they did let him go,” she said.

During the exchange, the interviewer sought clarification about the unusual circumstance. “So your son went to Target last night with his passport,” the WCCO interviewer asked. Omar responded, “He always carries it with him.” The interviewer pressed further, saying, “In case he gets pulled over,” and added, “which he did by ICE.” Omar replied, “Yes.”

Despite ICE’s denial, Omar’s office has stood by her account. Spokesperson Jacklyn Rogers said the congresswoman maintains that the stop took place and characterized it as discriminatory. Rogers said in part, “The congresswoman’s son and others were pulled over by ICE, racially profiled, and forced to prove their citizenship with a passport.”

Rogers went on to sharply criticize the agency, accusing it of misconduct and poor recordkeeping. “ICE has long operated as a rogue agency beyond reform. It’s no surprise that an agency known for disappearing people also can’t keep its records straight. ICE now claims it has records of all the stops, and our office would welcome the opportunity to review them,” she added.

The dispute comes amid ongoing criticism of Omar over her views on immigration enforcement and her defense of Somali migrants in Minnesota who have been implicated in large-scale fraud cases, as previously reported by Breitbart News. One of the most prominent cases involved “Feeding Our Future,” an organization run by Minneapolis-area Somali migrants that prosecutors say fraudulently obtained $250 million in state child nutrition funds.

Additional cases cited by prosecutors include tens of millions of dollars allegedly stolen from Minnesota’s autism treatment program, as well as more than $550 million taken from pandemic-era coronavirus relief funds, with Somali migrants again at the center of the investigations.

Omar has dismissed scrutiny of these cases as politically motivated. She has described such criticism as nothing more than “hate and fearmongering.”

Republican lawmakers, however, have continued to publicly challenge Omar over both her rhetoric and her record. Speaking on Breitbart News Daily, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer accused her of fostering hostility on campus. “Oh, this gal is an anti-Semite. She’s hateful. She’s a racist. She goes to the University of Minnesota campus and essentially encourages violence against Jewish students,” Emmer said.

Emmer also tied Omar to the Feeding Our Future scandal, disputing her distance from the matter. “Ilhan Omar, she is not — she doesn’t have clean hands on this at all,” he said, asserting that she was responsible for creating the program, which he described as “the largest Somali fraud case in a pandemic case in the country.”

He continued by highlighting the scope of the indictments. “Ninety percent of the people — there’s over 80 people, were indicted in that $250 million fraud scheme — 90 percent of those indicted were from her Somali community,” Emmer said.

Emmer concluded with a blistering assessment of the congresswoman and the media’s treatment of her. “So she’s she’s as dirty as they come, and she is a con artist. But the national news media will not hold that gal accountable for anything. Who knows why? But the American public are smarter than that, and they agree with Donald Trump,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

An unusual security failure was revealed at Ben Gurion Airport after an 18-year-old passenger managed to board an international flight without a boarding pass and flew to Vienna, where authorities only discovered the problem upon his arrival. The young man was subsequently returned to Israel.

According to the report, the passenger succeeded in boarding the aircraft despite not having a valid boarding pass. Austrian officials uncovered the irregularity only after the plane landed in Vienna, when it became clear that he was not listed as a ticketed passenger.

The incident comes just two months after another serious breach at Ben Gurion Airport, in which a 13-year-old boy managed to board an El Al flight to the United States without a ticket or passport. In that case, the cabin crew identified the boy moments before takeoff, preventing what officials later described as a potentially dangerous situation.

In light of the recent series of incidents, Transportation Minister Miri Regev instructed the director general of the Ministry of Transportation to convene an urgent discussion with all relevant authorities, including the head of the Population and Immigration Authority and other aviation and security officials.

The Israel Airports Authority said in a statement that after receiving information from the airline about the exceptional incident involving an Israeli passenger who boarded a flight without a boarding pass, an internal review was conducted. The authority confirmed that the passenger underwent security screening but did not complete the border control process. An immediate examination was carried out with the responsible bodies, including the Population and Immigration Authority and the airline. The Airports Authority added that the airline and the Population Authority will conduct a full investigation and debrief in order to strengthen oversight and control mechanisms throughout the process.

Austrian Airlines said in Vienna that an internal investigation into the incident is underway and that, at this stage, no further details can be provided. The airline also noted that the aircraft underwent a comprehensive safety inspection after the flight.

The earlier incident involving the 13-year-old boy raised significant concern among authorities. Initial questioning at the time indicated that the boy entered the airport’s secured area by accompanying another passenger, bypassing security screening, passport control, and boarding supervision. He was immediately transferred for further questioning by security forces and police, while El Al and the Israel Airports Authority launched an urgent investigation into the circumstances of the breach.

{Matzav.com}

UTJ chairman MK Yitzchak Goldknopf issued some of his sharpest criticism yet of proposed draft legislation in Israel, warning in a radio interview that the bill would severely damage the Torah world and place tens of thousands of yeshiva students at immediate risk.

Speaking Tuesday evening with Avi Mimran on Kol Chai’s flagship program, Goldknopf broke a lengthy public silence and framed the debate in the context of Chanukah. He said that current efforts in Israel to undermine Torah learning were having repercussions far beyond the country’s borders. “Today they are trying to ‘make us forget Your Torah’ in Eretz Yisroel, and this affects the entire world and causes harm to Jews. We need unity,” he said, adding that former Supreme Court president Aharon Barak himself had recently stated that those for whom Torah learning is their profession must be allowed to continue without limitation.

Goldknopf made clear that he would not support the draft bill being advanced by MK Boaz Bismuth, arguing that it fundamentally redefines the status of Torah learners. “The proposal that Bismuth is bringing to the table harms existing Torah learners. Someone who says he wants to learn Torah is harmed in at least eight areas — no travel abroad, no eligibility for housing programs, no daycare subsidies. He becomes a third-class citizen, worse than terrorists,” he said.

Addressing enforcement concerns, Goldknopf warned of a dramatic escalation if the law is passed. “If the law passes, the situation will be much worse than it is today. How many arrests are there now? Thirty? Here we are talking about tens of thousands of Torah learners who will be harmed severely and immediately,” he said.

Goldknopf continued his criticism without restraint, calling on the entire chareidi public to stand united against the legislation. “We must insist that Torah learners cannot be harmed — the entire chareidi community with one voice. The current law is a disaster. A rav is supposed to be placed in the mizrach, and here they are harming Torah learners in the most severe way,” he said.

Toward the end of the interview, Goldknopf also addressed other issues he has been involved with in recent years. He praised Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu for intervening to prevent road construction on Shabbos, saying the prime minister deserved recognition for that step. At the same time, he said attention was now turning to air travel. “Many people from abroad want to come to Israel on flights that do not desecrate Shabbos, and therefore we want to summon the CEOs of Arkia and Israir for clarification. We are not talking about a boycott, only about clarification,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

In remarks following Sunday’s deadly attack on a Jewish Hanukkah gathering at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, Vice President-elect JD Vance addressed the broader debate over antisemitism, particularly among younger generations and within American politics.

Vance has rejected claims that antisemitism is surging within Republican circles, saying he has not witnessed such attitudes in his own interactions. Speaking last week to NBC News, he stated: “Judging anybody based on their skin color or immutable characteristics, I think, is fundamentally anti-American and anti-Christian.”

He said he does not hesitate to confront bigotry when it appears, but stressed that his experience tells a different story. “I do think it’s important to call this stuff out when I see it,” Vance said, adding that in his conversations with young conservatives, “I don’t see some simmering antisemitism that’s exploding.”

The vice president-elect also weighed in online late Monday, responding to excerpts from an Atlantic article that examined what it described as rising antisemitism among younger demographics. Vance dismissed the framing of the piece, arguing that it missed critical context.

“Mainstream journalism is just profoundly uninteresting and lame, consumed by its own pieties,” he wrote, criticizing what he described as shallow analysis.

He took particular issue with how generational trends were discussed, saying: “To write an article about the ‘generational divide’ in anti-semitism without discussing the demographics of the various generations is mind boggling.”

Vance went on to argue that public policy plays a central role in addressing ethnic hatred more broadly. “The most significant single thing you could do to eliminate anti-semitism and any other kind of ethnic hatred is to support our efforts to lower immigration and promote assimilation,” he said. “But these guys won’t do that, because they all lack curiosity and introspection.”

As part of his argument, Vance shared an analysis cited by Manhattan Institute fellow Charles Fain Lehman, which concluded that “foreign-origin is a much better predictor of antisemitism than ideology or age.”

At the core of Vance’s comments was a distinction he said is often ignored in public discourse — the difference between criticism of Israeli government actions and animus toward Jews. “I would say there’s a difference between not liking Israel (or disagreeing with a given Israeli policy) and anti-semitism,” Vance said in a reply to his post on the US social media company X.

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration has denied a request by former President Joe Biden to invoke executive privilege in connection with ongoing congressional investigations into his administration’s use of the autopen, Fox News Digital reports.

White House Counsel David Warrington formally rejected the request in a letter sent to the National Archives and Records Administration, arguing that Congress has a compelling need to review the records at issue and that executive privilege should not be used to block scrutiny of serious allegations surrounding Biden’s presidency.

“As President Trump has stated, the abuse of the autopen that took place during the Biden Presidency, and the extraordinary efforts to shield President Biden’s diminished faculties from the public, must be subject to a full accounting to ensure nothing similar ever happens again,” Warrington wrote.

He added that other actions by the Biden administration also warrant full examination. “Similarly, President Biden’s repeated abuses of the rights of American citizens during the pandemic and his politically motivated efforts to investigate Members of Congress must also be subject to a full accounting to ensure nothing similar ever happens again. Congress has a compelling need in service of its legislative functions to understand the circumstances that led to all these horrific events,” the letter continued.

Warrington further pointed to concerns about the authenticity of Biden’s signature on the privilege request itself, noting discrepancies when compared with signatures used on other documents. “Remarkably, that letter demonstrates the importance of these congressional investigations. President Biden’s signature does not match the one he used to pardon his family or his son,” Warrington wrote, attaching images showing three different signatures.

Biden’s request for executive privilege was made in a letter dated Oct. 1, 2025, addressed to the Archival Operations Division of NARA. In that letter, Biden argued that releasing the records would undermine the presidency as an institution. “I am concerned that disclosure of these materials would damage important institutional interests of the Presidency, including by impairing the ability of future Presidents to receive robust, candid advice from their close advisers. For these reasons, I hereby assert executive privilege over the documents listed,” Biden wrote.

He also claimed cooperation with prior congressional requests, while drawing a line at the current demand. “I have raised no objections to multiple requests for Presidential records from my Administration, and hundreds of documents have already been provided to Congress pursuant to those requests, but the records now proposed for release include documents reflecting presidential decisionmaking and deliberations and other materials that are protected by executive privilege,” Biden wrote.

An autopen is a mechanical device designed to replicate a person’s signature and has been used by U.S. presidents for decades. However, the practice became a focal point of controversy after Biden left 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, as lawmakers launched investigations into whether the machine was used to sign official documents without his direct approval.

Biden has denied those allegations, dismissing them outright. “Let me be clear: I made the decisions during my presidency. I made the decisions about the pardons, executive orders, legislation, and proclamations,” Biden said in a statement issued in June. “Any suggestion that I didn’t is ridiculous and false.”

The controversy gained momentum earlier in 2025, when the Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project reported that the same signature appeared on numerous executive orders and official documents, while Biden’s signature on the document announcing his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race appeared noticeably different. Those findings fueled speculation that aides, rather than Biden himself, may have approved sweeping executive actions and pardons.

President Trump repeatedly cited the findings, warning publicly that “whoever controlled the autopen controlled the presidency,” and later declaring, “I think it’s the biggest scandal maybe of the last 100 years in this country.”

In December, Trump announced that he would invalidate documents allegedly signed by the autopen. “The Autopen is not allowed to be used if approval is not specifically given by the President of the United States,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, asserting that roughly 92% of Biden-era documents bore the machine-generated signature. “The Radical Left Lunatics circling Biden around the beautiful Resolute Desk in the Oval Office took the Presidency away from him.”

Congressional scrutiny has unfolded on parallel tracks in both chambers. In the House, Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., spearheaded an investigation, while the Senate Judiciary Committee held a June hearing titled “Unfit to Serve: How the Biden Cover-Up Endangered America and Undermined the Constitution.”

In October, Comer released a report summarizing the House investigation and urged the Department of Justice to review all executive actions signed during Biden’s presidency. The probe focused on whether aides concealed signs of mental decline and whether the autopen was used to authorize actions without Biden’s knowledge.

Investigators interviewed several figures from Biden’s inner circle, including former White House physician Kevin O’Connor, former White House staff secretary Neera Tanden, former White House chief of staff Ron Klain, and others.

The committee’s report concluded: “Faced with the cognitive decline of President Joe Biden, White House aides — at the direction of the inner circle — hid the truth about the former president’s condition and fitness for office.”

Comer expanded on those findings in an October statement. “The Biden Autopen Presidency will go down as one of the biggest political scandals in U.S. history. As Americans saw President Biden’s decline with their own eyes, Biden’s inner circle sought to deceive the public, cover-up his decline, and took unauthorized executive actions with the autopen that are now invalid,” he said.

House Democrats issued a rebuttal, rejecting the conclusions and saying the investigation uncovered no misconduct. “Following more than a year of inquiry, extensive witness interviews, and significant time and effort expended by both Republican and Democratic staff, the Oversight Majority has failed to produce any evidence to support their allegations against President Biden,” Democrats said in their response.

Warrington countered that argument in his letter, writing that “the available evidence to date establishes a sufficient factual predicate for Congress’ investigations.” He also criticized the media, stating, “Any American, save for those paid to cover the President as ‘reporters’, could see that President Biden struggled to perform his duties.”

He concluded that the situation warrants extraordinary transparency. “These are unique and extraordinary circumstances. Congress is examining an assault on the President’s constitutional duties, the civil liberties the Constitution provides all Americans, and the democratic institution of Congress itself. The constitutional protections of executive privilege should not be used to shield, from Congress or the public, information that reflects a clear and apparent effort to subvert the Constitution itself,” Warrington wrote.

Concerns about Biden’s mental acuity had circulated for years among conservatives, intensifying dramatically after his poor debate performance against Trump in June 2024. Pressure from within the Democratic Party mounted soon afterward, culminating in Biden’s decision to exit the race.

Biden formally ended his 2024 campaign in a Sunday afternoon post in July, endorsing then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris went on to lose the general election to Trump after a campaign lasting just over 100 days.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump opened his remarks at the White House Chanukah celebration by addressing the deadly terror attack against Jews at a Chanukah gathering in Australia earlier in the week.

“All nations must stand together against the evil forces of radical Islamic terrorism, and we’re doing that,” Trump said.

As he continued, the president turned his attention to what he described as a troubling shift on Capitol Hill, telling guests that Congress “is becoming antisemitic” and arguing that Jewish political influence in Washington has diminished. While he initially spoke broadly, Trump then focused his criticism on progressive Democrats known as the Squad, even as the White House has sought to minimize growing skepticism toward Israel among some Republicans.

“My father would tell me, the most powerful lobby that there is in this country is the Jewish Lobby. It’s the Israeli lobby. It’s not that way anymore,” Trump reflected, reprising a theme he has raised in past comments.

Trump assured attendees of his continued support for the Jewish community, drawing applause from a crowd that was noticeably smaller than in previous years due to ongoing construction in the White House East Room.

“I will always be a friend and a champion to the Jewish people,” Trump said.

During the evening, Trump invited several guests to take part in the program, offering shoutouts to supporters and calling some to the podium. Conservative radio host Mark Levin introduced himself by praising Trump as “the first Jewish president.”

Trump also invited Republican megadonor Miriam Adelson to speak, joking about the scale of her political contributions.

“$250 million doesn’t buy what it used to,” he quipped.

Adelson told the audience that she had recently spoken with attorney Alan Dershowitz, who, she said, told her it would be legal for Trump to seek a third term.

Later in his remarks, Trump highlighted what he described as his record of support for Israel while in office, including recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

“I sold the rights to the Golan Heights to Israel… It could be worth trillions of dollars,” he said.

U.S. military operations targeting drug trafficking near Venezuela have intensified in recent months, with officials confirming a series of strikes aimed at disrupting narcotics smuggling routes. Since September, there have been at least 22 strikes on suspected trafficking boats operating in waters near Venezuela, resulting in 87 deaths, according to U.S. officials.

American officials view these maritime actions as part of a broader pressure campaign directed at Caracas, intended not only to stem the flow of illegal drugs into the United States but also to weaken the grip of Nicolás Maduro on the oil-rich country.

That campaign escalated sharply this week after President Donald Trump announced that U.S. authorities had seized an oil tanker known as the “Skipper” off Venezuela’s coast. The move significantly raised tensions between Washington and Caracas. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the vessel was confiscated for allegedly transporting sanctioned oil linked to both Venezuela and Iran.

According to the administration, the “Skipper” is part of a shadow network of roughly 1,000 vessels that move oil from countries under international sanctions, including Russia, Iran, and Venezuela. These tankers operate covertly, often avoiding detection as they traverse major shipping lanes.

Officials say such so-called “ghost ships” typically sail under foreign flags to disguise their origins, frequently change names, cycle ownership through shell companies, shut off tracking transponders, and conduct ship-to-ship transfers at sea to conceal the source of their cargo.

Reuters reported that the “Skipper” had taken on approximately 1.8 million barrels of oil earlier in December and transferred an estimated 200,000 barrels shortly before U.S. authorities seized the vessel.

Based on prevailing oil prices, the value of the cargo was estimated to range from several million dollars to more than $100 million. Fox News Digital contacted the White House seeking further clarification on the valuation but did not receive an immediate response.

Against this backdrop, President Trump announced sweeping new measures against Venezuela, ordering a complete shutdown of oil tanker traffic tied to the country and formally designating the Maduro government as a foreign terrorist organization. He accused the regime of profiting from assets he said were stolen from the United States and using them to bankroll criminal enterprises.

“Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America,” Trump said on Truth Social. “It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before – Until such time as they return to the United States of America all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us.”

He went on to accuse Caracas of using oil revenues to fuel violent and illicit activity. “The illegitimate Maduro Regime is using Oil from these stolen Oil Fields to finance themselves, Drug Terrorism, Human Trafficking, Murder, and Kidnapping,” he continued. “For the theft of our Assets, and many other reasons, including Terrorism, Drug Smuggling, and Human Trafficking, the Venezuelan Regime has been designated a FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.”

Trump then formally announced the blockade, tying it to broader immigration and national security efforts. “Therefore, today, I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela,” Trump added. “The Illegal Aliens and Criminals that the Maduro Regime has sent into the United States during the weak and inept Biden Administration, are being returned to Venezuela at a rapid pace. America will not allow Criminals, Terrorists, or other Countries, to rob, threaten, or harm our Nation and, likewise, will not allow a Hostile Regime to take our Oil, Land, or any other Assets, all of which must be returned to the United States, IMMEDIATELY.”

{Matzav.com}

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What was meant to be a holiday gift from Bloomingdale’s instead sparked outrage online after a customer alleged a store employee placed a handwritten “free Palestine” note into the package of Chanukah pajamas, prompting an internal investigation by the retailer.

“Yesterday, on the first night of Chanukah, my …friend gave me a gift he ordered from Bloomingdale’s. Holiday pajamas covered in Jewish stars from P.J. Salvage,” Arielle Harris said in a social media video shared on Dec. 15. The note, seemingly written on a store-branded card, was tucked into the clothing on top of a receipt, she said.

“This never should have happened, and Bloomingdale’s needs to answer for their employees,” Harris said.

She added that her boyfriend, Andrew Jones, had not opened the package before giving it to her.

“Craziest part is how many commenters think I faked this,” Jones wrote. “Typical denials of antisemitism. My heart dropped when this happened. Totally twisted a nice night of celebrating.”

Jones and Harris told JNS that a senior Bloomingdale’s executive contacted them with a “preliminary apology” and invited the couple to speak further.

Jennifer Chadroff, director of brand communications for Bloomingdale’s, confirmed that the brand had connected with the customers and that the “matter is currently under investigation.”

“This was an unauthorized and unacceptable act,” she told JNS.

“Antisemitism, or discrimination in any form, has absolutely no place in our business and does not align with our values or our care for our customers,” Chadroff said. “Please know we are treating this with the utmost seriousness.

Jewish leaders condemned the alleged incident after it spread online.

“A ‘free Palestine’ note in a Bloomingdale’s Chanukah gift. No limits. No shame,” stated Deborah Lipstadt, former U.S. special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism.

Joan Leslie McGill, executive director of the U.S. Israel Education Association, stated, “Jewish identity does not require permission, and it will not be intimidated.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

A Israeli media investigation has revealed that a public campaign backing the Israeli government’s controversial milk reform was in fact a fictitious initiative financed by the Religious Zionism party, headed by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

The disclosure comes amid an ongoing public battle over the proposed dairy reform, which has drawn sharp opposition from various quarters. While Smotrich has been actively confronting critics of the reform on social media, it now appears that behind the scenes additional efforts were underway to manufacture public support.

According to a report aired by Channel 12 News, the group presenting itself as a civic organization advocating for the milk reform is not an independent body at all. Instead, it is allegedly a fabricated entity funded through party money from Religious Zionism.

In recent weeks, advertisements praising the reform appeared across social media platforms, on websites serving the religious public, and in Shabbos leaflets distributed in shuls. Smotrich himself amplified some of these promotional messages, lending them further visibility.

The campaign was reportedly advanced by right-wing media consultant and political activist Berel’e Crombie, who is closely associated with the current governing coalition.

The Religious Zionism party did not deny the report, stating that it is “committed to and actively engaged in lowering the cost of living for all citizens of Israel.” Smotrich declined to comment personally.

Crombie, for his part, said in response: “Just like countless social initiatives and campaigns I have led in recent years, I also initiated and am leading this campaign as a private citizen and activist.”

{Matzav.com}

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