Matzav

The United States is preparing to unveil a massive arms deal for Saudi Arabia valued at over $100 billion, according to six individuals with firsthand knowledge of the negotiations, Reuters reports. The proposed agreement is expected to be officially announced during President Donald Trump’s visit to the kingdom in May.

This planned deal follows the Biden administration’s failed attempt to secure a similar agreement with Riyadh, which was intended to be part of a larger initiative that included Saudi recognition of Israel. That effort ultimately stalled and did not reach finalization.

In its earlier attempt, the Biden administration offered Riyadh access to cutting-edge U.S. military equipment in exchange for ending its weapons transactions with China and reducing Chinese economic activity in the country. Reuters has not confirmed whether those same stipulations are part of the Trump administration’s proposal.

At the time of reporting, there had been no official statements from the White House, the Pentagon, or the Saudi government. During his first term, Trump frequently touted arms sales to Saudi Arabia as beneficial for the American economy and domestic employment.

Sources said that Lockheed Martin Corp is expected to contribute heavily to the deal, with the delivery of advanced military hardware, including C-130 transport planes. One insider noted that missiles and radar systems from Lockheed would also be part of the deal.

RTX Corp, previously known as Raytheon Technologies, is also projected to play a major role, along with other American defense giants such as Boeing Co, Northrop Grumman Corp, and General Atomics. Four of the sources mentioned these companies would be key contributors.

Due to the sensitivity surrounding the negotiations, all sources requested anonymity.

Lockheed Martin, RTX, Northrop, and General Atomics declined to issue any statements when contacted. Boeing had not responded to inquiries at the time of publication.

Reuters was unable to determine how many of the proposed transactions are newly developed versus long-standing discussions. Two sources indicated that many of the items had been on the table for years, including a 2018 inquiry from Saudi Arabia about drones manufactured by General Atomics.

According to one of the sources, discussions over a $20 billion deal for MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones and other aerial equipment from General Atomics have gained momentum over the past year.

Three sources noted that executives from the defense sector are weighing whether to accompany U.S. officials on the visit to the region as part of a larger delegation.

The United States has maintained a long-standing defense relationship with Saudi Arabia. In 2017, Trump proposed arms sales totaling approximately $110 billion to the kingdom.

By 2018, only $14.5 billion of those agreements had moved forward, and congressional scrutiny intensified following the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

In response to that incident, Congress imposed a ban on the sale of offensive weaponry to Riyadh in 2021 under the Biden administration, partly to push for an end to Saudi involvement in the war in Yemen, which had caused significant civilian harm.

All major U.S. weapons exports must undergo congressional review prior to final approval, as mandated by American law.

Washington’s approach to Saudi Arabia shifted again in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which sent shockwaves through global oil markets. The restrictions on offensive arms sales were lifted in 2024, with U.S.-Saudi cooperation intensifying after Hamas’s October 7 attack, as both countries sought to coordinate plans for post-war Gaza.

There is also potential for renewed talks over Saudi Arabia’s long-standing interest in acquiring Lockheed’s F-35 fighter jets, although three sources said such a deal remains unlikely to be signed during the upcoming visit.

Despite the potential arms sales to Saudi Arabia, the U.S. maintains a commitment to preserving Israel’s strategic military superiority in the region. This doctrine, known as the “Qualitative Military Edge,” ensures that Israel continues to receive the most advanced American defense technology. Israel has operated the F-35 for nine years and has already built several squadrons.

{Matzav.com}

In a poignant message shared on social media Thursday, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee expressed the emotional toll of a recent meeting with families of American citizens still held captive in Gaza by Hamas. Drawing a sharp contrast between Israel’s defense measures and Hamas’s tactics, Huckabee condemned the terror group for its disregard for human life.

“I had the opportunity to sit down with a number of hostage families, all of whom are related to Americans still held in Gaza,” Huckabee wrote. “We want them home now. And the only reason they are not already home is because of Hamas.”

He described the heart-wrenching conversations he had with relatives—some who know their family members were murdered, and others who live in anguished uncertainty, believing their loved ones are still alive but in captivity.

“The only reason they’re not already home is because of Hamas,” he stressed.

Huckabee drew attention to the moral disparity between the two sides in the ongoing conflict. He pointed to Israel’s Iron Dome system as a tool of protection for its citizens and condemned Hamas for using its own population as human shields—a tactic he referred to as a “Flesh Dome.”

“They (Hamas) put their people in front of the military targets rather than protecting their people,” Huckabee said. “They put their people in the most vulnerable positions.”

He concluded with a forceful appeal for the return of American hostages and a decisive end to Hamas’s reign of terror. “That’s why we need to get our hostages home. They don’t care about the individuals and that is the reason this war needs to end, but first, and foremost, Hamas [needs to be] …obliterated.”

{Matzav.com}

On Holocaust Remembrance Day, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer publicly rebuked President Donald Trump, accusing him of exploiting antisemitism for political purposes in a scathing social media post. “Stop disgracefully weaponizing antisemitism to attack universities,” Schumer wrote, voicing his strong disapproval of the administration’s recent actions.

Schumer made it clear that his position was shared by other Jewish Democratic senators. Standing alongside colleagues Richard Blumenthal, Jacky Rosen, Adam Schiff, and Brian Schatz, he co-signed a letter to President Trump urging a halt to what they described as an inappropriate use of antisemitism as political cover. The letter was sent just before Schumer’s public remarks were posted.

“[Trump’s] failing to address the real problem of antisemitism—instead using this crisis as a pretext to attack those who disagree,” he wrote.

Earlier in the day, The New York Times reported that it had obtained the senators’ letter, which directly questions the Trump administration’s rationale for cutting off federal funding to universities such as Harvard. The senators are demanding a detailed account of the decision-making process behind the funding freezes.

In the letter, Schumer and his colleagues expressed alarm over what they see as a sweeping crackdown on academic institutions. They warned that Trump’s actions “seem to go far beyond combating antisemitism, using what is a real crisis as a pretext to attack people and institutions who do not agree with you,” according to the Times.

The letter argues that rather than sincerely addressing antisemitism, the administration is using it as a shield to justify political retaliation against higher education. The lawmakers posed eight pointed questions for President Trump, requesting a response by April 30.

This controversy erupted in the wake of a lawsuit filed by Harvard University, which is contesting the administration’s attempt to freeze $2 billion in federal funds. University president Alan Garber told NBC that Harvard had little alternative but to take legal action. He acknowledged the uncertainty of the case but emphasized its urgency: “the stakes are so high that we have no choice.”

Meanwhile, President Trump didn’t hold back in his own messaging. In a post on Truth Social, he condemned Harvard as “an antisemitic, far-left institution” and blasted the university’s culture. “The place is a liberal mess, allowing a certain group of crazed lunatics to enter and exit the classroom and spew fake anger and hate.”

Trump has also taken personal shots at Schumer in the past. In one inflammatory remark made in March, he questioned Schumer’s Jewish identity, saying, “Schumer is a Palestinian as far as I’m concerned. He’s become a Palestinian. He used to be Jewish. He’s not Jewish anymore. He’s a Palestinian.”

Schumer recently authored a book titled Antisemitism in America: A Warning, signaling his heightened focus on the issue and providing further backdrop to his clash with the administration.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s suggestion that Israel target food warehouses in Gaza to pressure Hamas into freeing hostages has drawn attention in Washington, where the Trump administration appears to be distancing itself from the proposal.

During a recent press briefing, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce was asked whether the Trump administration endorses the move. Ben Gvir had claimed that high-ranking Republicans he met at Mar-a-Lago supported the idea. Bruce initially refrained from addressing the matter, pointing out that the Israeli minister’s account had not been independently confirmed.

She later offered a pointed response, suggesting that such an approach conflicts with U.S. priorities. “The proposal is in complete contradiction to the nature of our commitment to getting food aid and assistance,” she said.

Bruce emphasized the intense diplomatic effort over recent months to facilitate humanitarian access to the Strip. “My goodness, the work over these 100 days to get that first ceasefire to get that aid into that area, it’s difficult,” she remarked.

It was unclear if Bruce’s comments were meant to signal an official rebuke of Ben Gvir’s position. Not long after, she appeared to walk back from further elaboration, emphasizing that she had no additional remarks on the Israeli official’s statement.

“What I will do is reiterate, certainly, our commitment to Israel, our commitment to creating a better framework in Gaza, stopping the slaughter, getting aid and food in — that has been a north star for this administration,” Bruce said, outlining the administration’s consistent policy objectives.

Pressed on whether the U.S. now aligns with the Israeli stance that humanitarian aid will only resume following a new ceasefire and hostage agreement, Bruce refused to provide a direct answer.

Instead, she turned to a clearly prepared response to affirm the administration’s broader humanitarian stance. “The United States supports the flow of humanitarian aid with safeguards to ensure assistance is not diverted, looted or misused by terrorist groups such as Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad,” Bruce said.

{Matzav.com}

Ben Shapiro traveled to Ukraine to speak with President Zelensky at an inflection point in the Russian invasion.

WATCH:

The Israel Defense Forces announced on Thursday that a soldier from the 79th Battalion of the Machatz Brigade (14th) was killed in action during a combat mission in the northern area of the Gaza Strip.

The soldier’s identity has not yet been made public, but his next of kin have been informed.

In the same encounter, an officer from the elite Yahalom Unit, along with a reservist from the 79th Battalion, sustained serious injuries.

Both wounded servicemen were transported to a hospital for emergency care, and their families have been notified of their conditions.

{Matzav.com}

Agudath Israel of America proudly celebrates a historic victory for parents and students across the Lone Star State as the Texas Legislature passes a landmark universal school choice bill.

On Thursday, the Texas Senate voted to concur with the House and pass SB2, finally giving families the educational freedom they have been asking for. SB2 is an Education Savings Account (ESA) program that would provide parents with approximately $10,000 per student to spend on a wide range of educational expenses, including private school tuition. Students with special needs could receive up to $30,000 per year. The bill allocates one billion dollars to the program. If the number of applicants exceeds available funds, low-income (see chart here) and special education students will be prioritized.

“Agudath Israel thanks Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Speaker Dustin Burrows, House Education Chairman Brad Buckley, and Senate Education Committee Chairman Brandon Creighton for their leadership,” said Rabbi Ari Weisenfeld, director of state relations for Agudath Israel of America. “More importantly, this couldn’t have happened without the countless parents and community members who have advocated alongside Agudath Israel and our coalition partners for the last two decades.”

“This ESA program will have a tangible positive impact on our families and community” said Rabbi Avi Pekier Head of School of Torah Day School of Dallas.

“I have had the privilege of joining Agudath Israel’s missions to Austin since 2007,” said Yakov Polatsek a Houston community leader. “We are grateful to Agudath Israel of America for representing our community in Texas, session after session, and for refusing to give up.”

“School choice is on the rise,” said Rabbi A. D. Motzen, Agudah’s national director of government affairs. “With Texas becoming the 16th state to enact universal school choice in the last four years, the next step is for President Trump and Congress to bring school choice to all 50 states with the federal passage of the Educational Choice for Children Act.”

{Matzav.com}

The official Trump merchandise store is now selling caps embroidered with “Trump 2028.” Retailing for $50, the cap comes in President Donald Trump’s signature “MAGA” red and also features a flag detailing on the side.

“Make a statement,” the Trump Store’s description of the product reads, advertising that it “will become your new go-to hat.”

Trump’s War Room account on X also hard-launched the cap’s release with a photo of the president’s son, Eric, wearing it.

Trump told NBC News last month that he was “not joking” about running for a third term, saying there are “methods” that would allow him to do so despite the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, which states that “no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” “I’m not joking. I’m not joking,” Trump told NBC. “But … it is far too early to think about it.” He continued, “A lot of people want me to do it … But we have—my thinking is, we have a long way to go. I’m focused on the current.”

By Tal Ariel Yakir

The complete and extraordinary story of police officer Yaakov Biskowitz was never fully revealed until now.

As a young boy, Biskowitz became one of the few people who survived for an extended period in a death camp, participated in the revolt that led to the camp’s closure, and was the last Jew to leave Sobibor alive.

He testified at the Eichmann trial, taking the stand in police uniform and presenting the camp map he drew himself, which became the most detailed documentation of the site to date. The camp map he meticulously created contributed significantly to exposing Nazi atrocities and assisted in archaeological excavations that uncovered gas chambers and crematoria that had remained buried and hidden underground for decades.

Eighty-two years after his escape from the camp and 13 years after his death, the Israel Police Heritage Center has produced a virtual reality exhibit dedicated to his work exposing the mass murder at Sobibor.

Simultaneously, an academic article titled “Reassessment Based on Archaeological Excavations and Documentation as Tools for Reconstructing Sobibor Camp: The Testimony of Yaakov Biskowitz as a Test Case” will soon be published by Chief Inspector Dr. Yossi Hemi from the History Department of the Heritage Center and archaeologist Dr. Yoram Haimi, who excavated the area for 15 years and revealed the remains of the death camp to the world.

Sobibor was one of three death camps, along with Treblinka and Belzec, established as part of “Operation Reinhard,” a comprehensive plan to exterminate Polish Jews. The camp was established in 1942, and shortly afterward, 15-year-old Biskowitz arrived there with his parents and sister Hinda. His mother and sister were immediately sent to the gas chambers, while his father was selected to work in the camp as a carpenter.

“I, being a child, was dragged by my father,” he recounted during the Eichmann trial. “From that transport, they took about 12 people. From the first day, I worked with everyone. Initially, it was building the camp and barbed wire fences, and we dragged branches running from a distance of about 1.9 miles.”

With his father in the killing valley, Biskowitz witnessed how those who didn’t work were shot or sent to gas chambers, and he worried constantly about his father, who had fallen ill with typhus. “I would carry him to work every day,” he recounted. “We worked in the Ukrainians’ casino. He sat in the corner, and I worked for him too. I did my best, but the day came when I could no longer carry him. That day, two SS men came, removed him from the barracks, and led him to the shooting pit, accompanied by beatings and shouting. They shot him in front of me. I wanted to run after him, but the workers who were with me held me back.”

Biskowitz remained in Sobibor for one year and four months, making him one of the few Jews who survived so long in a death camp, as the average life expectancy in these facilities did not exceed two months.

Revolt in Sobibor

On Oct. 14, 1943, the famous revolt broke out that was later immortalized in the film, “Escape from Sobibor,” with a screenplay written by camp survivor Thomas Blatt.

“With the cessation of frequent transports to the camp, towards spring 1943, the Jews understood that the place would be closed and all its inhabitants eliminated,” Dr. Hemi explains. “Then the Jewish underground members began to organize for the revolt, in which hundreds of prisoners participated.” The Jewish prisoners set an ingenious trap for the Nazis, inviting them to try on new leather coats, shoes, or to inspect items they had crafted for them. Every SS man who entered was attacked with axe blows or knife stabs. Sixteen camp staff members were eliminated through this strategy. Biskowitz himself stabbed one of them.

The guards eventually recovered from the shock and shot hundreds of the Jewish prisoners. Those who managed to escape to the forests were caught and executed. Only 47 camp residents survived, but Biskowitz’s survival story is truly miraculous. Due to the commotion during the revolt, he failed to reach the fence and was forced to flee toward the crematoria. He hid in a shooting pit until after midnight, when only guards remained in Sobibor. Under the cover of darkness, he managed to escape and became the last living Jew to leave the camp.

In his testimony at the Eichmann trial, he described his harrowing escape from Sobibor: “I remained in the Lazarett, the shooting pit, until after midnight. After jumping over a fence two meters high, through the yard where people undressed before the gas chamber, several shots were fired at me from the guard on the tower. Since it was already dark, no bullet hit me. Later, many SS men came and started running in my direction, but they thought no one was running and left the place. Only at night did I start to penetrate through wire fences, tearing barbed wire with my hands. The guard wasn’t there by chance. Finally, I managed to get out of the camp.”

The hardships Biskowitz endured did not weaken his resolve. At about 17 years old, he joined the partisans and later enlisted in the Polish army, working in mine clearance. About a year later, he deserted the army following an antisemitic dispute and was sentenced to death. The army ultimately decided to grant him clemency, and he served four months in prison before returning to his position. A few months later, he deserted again, joined the Betar movement, and with its help relocated to a refugee camp in Germany.

Immigration to Israel

In 1947, he boarded an immigrant ship bound for Palestine that the British intercepted and diverted to Cyprus. He immigrated to Israel two years later and enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces. In 1952, he was discharged and joined the police force. During his law enforcement career, he served as a patrol officer, traffic policeman, embassy guard, member of the prisoner escort unit, and in the national headquarters guard.

In 1959, Biskowitz was called at night to a street in Tel Aviv following a report of a man threatening to jump from his apartment window. When he arrived, the man jumped, and Biskowitz extended his hands to catch him. While the man was saved, Biskowitz suffered severe injuries that required a month of hospitalization.

The incident was reported in newspapers at the time, and much was said about the police commissioner’s commendation awarded to him, but Biskowitz deliberately concealed the fact that he was a Holocaust survivor. Only with the opening of Adolf Eichmann’s trial in May 1961 did he reveal what he had endured, describe his role in the Sobibor revolt, and disclose that a friend from the death camp had managed to save some photographs from the crematoria – the only memento of his parents and sister. On his own initiative, he also presented his drawing of the camp to the court without realizing the historical significance it would later hold.

Throughout his life, Biskowitz married twice, to Bella and Tova, and left behind two children, Aryeh and Yechiel. He retired from the police force and passed away in 2002 at the age of 76. Four years after his death, the map he had drawn became one of the key tools that exposed what had transpired in the camp. The process began when archaeologist Dr. Yoram Haimi from Kibbutz Mefalsim in the Gaza border region discovered that his uncles had been murdered in Sobibor.

“I went there to see if there was a museum or archive, but there was nothing,” Haimi recalls. “There were only three monuments and a forest. As an archaeologist, I thought it was a place worth investigating. I met with the manager of a synagogue museum in the town near Sobibor, and he said if I get funding, he would arrange the permits.”

Haimi located Biskowitz’s map in the state archives, and it guided him throughout the excavations that began in 2007 and concluded in 2021. “We found 220,000 artifacts there, including jewelry, watches, tableware, perfume bottles, and teeth,” he says. “Unfortunately, the Polish authorities placed most of them in storage and didn’t allow us to bring them to Israel. Biskowitz’s map proved remarkably accurate and was enormously helpful. Wherever he indicated barracks or gas chambers had stood, that’s precisely what we found. Everything had been buried in the ground.”

As someone who experienced Oct. 7, 2023, in Mefalsim, Haimi commented on conducting similar excavations in the Gaza border region in the future. “I need to recover from the trauma, and since that Saturday I’ve taken a break from excavations.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

Hod Hasharon Mayor Ami Kochavi sparked a political firestorm Wednesday night with remarks delivered during a Holocaust Remembrance Day event, where he appeared to link current Israeli actions to the potential for committing atrocities, warning of a “lust for revenge” as hostages remain in Gaza.

“Jewish morality dictates, ‘Never again’ — not just to us, but to all peoples, as an ethical and moral command on a just and healthy society,” Kochavi said during his address.

He continued by cautioning that moral clarity demands speaking out against abuses worldwide, regardless of who is responsible. “We must not be silent in the face of atrocities carried out against people of other nations in the world — even if they are carried out in our name,” he stated.

Drawing attention to those still in captivity, Kochavi said, “59 of our brothers and sisters are still held hostage in Gaza. Their ‘never again’ is still ongoing,” referencing the living and deceased held by terror groups. He added, “And the lust for revenge, for blood and destruction won’t bring us back the dead, or the living.”

Reflecting on history and responsibility, he said, “As the descendants of survivors of the Holocaust, who together with other pioneers founded the State of the Jews — it is incumbent on us to ensure that the memory of the Holocaust, the steps that led to it, the legal and ethical justifications that were given to it, and the silence that accompanied it — all of them will be made into warning signs to the entire world, and also to us, to remember and to warn.”

Kochavi’s speech, which lasted six minutes, included a moving quote from a Holocaust survivor who lost grandchildren in the Hamas assault on October 7, 2023. He described the country as “at war” on multiple fronts and underscored the urgent need to bring home the hostages.

Though Israel firmly rejects accusations of genocide in Gaza, the speech came amid global scrutiny and quickly gained traction in Israeli media and social platforms, igniting fierce backlash from politicians.

Culture Minister Miki Zohar condemned the speech on X, writing, “The embarrassing words of the mayor of Hod Hasharon are a spit in the face of Holocaust survivors — those who immigrated to the Land of Israel, established a state and survived the terrible massacre committed by ‘other peoples.’” He added, “I have no doubt that the vast majority of Hod Hasharon residents repudiate these outrageous statements.”

Energy Minister Eli Cohen joined the criticism online, accusing Kochavi of undermining Israel’s military. “The same hatred of Jews that led to the murder of six million Jews by the Nazis and their helpers, still flows in the blood of our enemies, whom the soldiers of the IDF are fighting at this very moment,” Cohen wrote.

Yisrael Beytenu party leader Avigdor Liberman also slammed the remarks, tweeting, “On Holocaust Remembrance Day, while 59 hostages languish in the hell of Gaza, the mayor of Hod Hasharon, Amir Kochavi, incites against the IDF and actually sides with the terrorists.” He urged Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, with whom Kochavi is politically aligned, to publicly denounce the statements.

In response to the uproar, Kochavi took to X on Thursday to defend himself, condemning what he described as political manipulation. “The ugly spin” being spread, he wrote, aims to distract from the real crisis. He stressed, “There are 59 hostages who have been held captive by Hamas for 565 days and the prime minister on whose watch they were kidnapped.”

“They must be returned now, in one fell swoop. The dead for burial and the living for rehabilitation. Anything else is a distraction,” Kochavi concluded.

{Matzav.com}

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The International Criminal Court’s Appeals Chamber has overturned a prior decision by a lower court that dismissed Israel’s objection to the court’s jurisdiction in a case involving the Jewish state. The appellate judges determined that the lower chamber mishandled the matter and have now returned it for reconsideration.

Israel initially challenged the court’s legal standing to preside over the case, asserting that the ICC lacked jurisdiction. That challenge was rejected by the Pre-Trial Chamber, which claimed it was premature to address the issue. In response, Israel filed an appeal.

On Thursday, the Appeals Chamber ruled that the Pre-Trial Chamber erred by failing to fully examine Israel’s jurisdictional claims. The appellate body overturned the earlier decision and directed the lower chamber to re-evaluate and issue a proper ruling on the ICC’s authority in the case.

Following this development, the Appeals Chamber also dismissed Israel’s separate request to freeze existing arrest warrants and other legal measures tied to the initial ruling. The chamber reasoned that with the jurisdictional question reopened, the request had become irrelevant.

Additionally, Israel had asked the court to compel the Prosecutor to issue a revised notification concerning the investigation. That motion was denied by the Pre-Trial Chamber and subsequently appealed. However, the Appeals Chamber threw out that appeal as well, stating it did not meet the threshold for consideration. Two of the judges dissented from this decision.

Reacting to the court’s ruling, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar reaffirmed Israel’s stance: “We said it from the start: The International Criminal Court in The Hague (ICC) doesn’t have, and never had jurisdiction to issue arrest warrants against Israel’s Prime Minister and its former Minister of Defense. Israel is not a member of the ICC and is not party to the ‘Rome Statute.’ The ICC Appeals Court instructed the Court today, to do what it should have done from the start: to make a determination with respect to jurisdiction. On this topic, there is only one correct answer: the Court has no jurisdiction over Israel. The warrants were issued unlawfully. They are null and void.”

{Matzav.com}

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was originally slated to deliver a speech this coming Shabbos at the Young Israel of Woodmere in Long Island, New York.

Today, the shul, which boasts more than 2,500 members, announced that the event would no longer take place.

No official explanation was issued by the shul, but individuals close to the minister indicated that the rov who was supposed to host the gathering experienced a petirah in his family, which led to the cancellation.

There has not yet been any update on what alternate plans Ben Gvir may have made for his time in the United States.

Earlier in the week, on Wednesday night, Ben Gvir spoke at Yale University, addressing an audience of students and faculty. As he exited the venue, he was confronted by demonstrators critical of Israel, who shouted slogans and threw water bottles. In response, Ben Gvir stood his ground and raised his hand in a “V” sign for victory.

“The minister is doing well and was not injured,” stated a spokesperson for Ben Gvir.

Ben Gvir’s U.S. visit began in Miami, Florida, where he was the guest of honor at a private dinner attended by numerous high-level business figures.

That gathering took place at Mar-a-Lago, the Florida estate of US President Donald Trump. During the event, Ben Gvir was asked to address Republican lawmakers, including Senators and members of Congress. He was met with a warm reception and spoke extensively.

While at Mar-a-Lago, Ben Gvir also met with Congressman Tom Emmer. In their discussion, Ben Gvir emphasized the importance of targeting Hamas’ food supply caches. Emmer replied that he is keeping up with Ben Gvir’s efforts and backs his stance.

{Matzav.com}

In a bold economic initiative aimed at crippling Hamas’ financial infrastructure in Gaza, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has formally urged Bank of Israel Governor Prof. Amir Yaron to take unprecedented action: remove the legal tender designation from specific 200 Shekel banknotes.

This dramatic proposal is part of a wider strategy to disrupt Hamas’ access to liquid funds, which Sa’ar said forms the core of its operational strength in the region. He noted that billions of shekels in physical cash fuel Hamas’ activities in Gaza.

Sa’ar emphasized that these particular bills are frequently used by Hamas to pay salaries to its operatives and to enforce financial control over the local economy by extracting “taxes” from business owners. He cited data gathered by a team of voluntary financial experts who determined that roughly 80% of the cash circulating in Gaza consists of 200 shekel notes.

“Denying the financing capacity of terrorist organizations in general and Hamas, in particular, is a vital pillar of the war effort,” Sa’ar stated in his letter.

He went on to argue that withdrawing a certain series of 200 shekel bills—especially those that were funneled into Gaza in recent years—could deliver a “strategic economic blow” to Hamas, severely impairing its administrative capabilities and its ability to recruit members.

{Matzav.com}

Egypt is reportedly preparing to unveil a fresh outline for a potential ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement between Israel and Hamas, according to a report published Thursday by Asharq News, a Saudi-owned outlet. The report, citing sources familiar with the talks, stated the new plan is expected to be formally submitted to both sides before the end of the week.

The sources indicated that this updated framework attempts to accommodate key conditions set forth by both parties. Described as a “balanced” approach, the proposal aims to lay the groundwork for a multi-year cessation of hostilities, possibly extending for a period of five to seven years.

To support the implementation of the deal, regional and international powers would provide oversight and guarantees to ensure that both Israel and Hamas adhere to the agreed terms, according to the report.

The formulation of this proposal is said to have been the result of a collaborative effort involving Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, the report added. These parties have reportedly been working in tandem to develop a package capable of stabilizing the region.

As soon as the main parameters of the agreement are finalized, all active military engagements are expected to stop, sources said. “Once a framework agreement is reached, the ground situation will be restored and all military operations will be halted.”

They further noted that aid deliveries would resume in accordance with international guidelines. “Humanitarian and relief aid will be introduced according to the international protocol,” the sources continued.

As detailed in the report, the arrangement would see the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for a negotiated number of Palestinian detainees, with both sides expected to agree on the final figures.

The report further underscored that the deal’s implementation would hinge on several key conditions: “contingent on an immediate and complete ceasefire, a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the initiation of the Gaza reconstruction process, and the lifting of the blockade imposed since 2007.”

In return, Israel would demand Hamas commit to a five-year ceasefire and relinquish its administrative control over the Gaza Strip, according to the sources cited.

The report coincides with reports that an Israeli team is slated to travel soon for negotiations aimed at securing a hostage release deal, according to information shared with The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.

Despite this development, insiders told the Post that Hamas has not altered its demands and remains firm in its position.

Mediators from Egypt and Qatar were informed by Hamas that “we will not agree to a deal that includes a temporary ceasefire.”

Israel, on the other hand, remains clear in its stance: it will only consent to a deal involving the release of 10 to 11 hostages in exchange for a 45-day truce. Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated that Israel “will not agree to cease the war,” rejecting Hamas’s demand for a permanent halt to military action.

{Matzav.com Israel}

A fast-spreading wildfire in New Jersey has sent plumes of smoke across the greater New York City region, disrupting air quality and triggering health advisories on Thursday. The fire’s suspected origin has led to the arrest of a young man accused of starting the blaze.

Authorities in Ocean County announced that 19-year-old Joseph Kling, a resident of Waretown, is facing multiple charges, including aggravated arson. Prosecutors allege that Kling ignited the fire in the vicinity of Jones Road and Bryant Road in Ocean Township, with officials pointing to a “bonfire that was not properly put out” as the cause.

“Further investigation has revealed that Kling was the individual responsible for setting wooden pallets on fire – and then leaving the area without the fire being fully extinguished,” the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said.

Kling is currently in custody at the Ocean County Jail, while fire crews continue to battle the large blaze. As of Thursday, the fire had scorched more than 15,000 acres and was only half contained, according to emergency officials.

The smoke from the wildfire has triggered elevated pollution levels across New York City and neighboring counties including Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, and Westchester. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued warnings about air quality, urging residents to take precautions.

The agency noted that staying indoors could help minimize exposure to smoke-related issues like irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, along with respiratory symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath.

On Thursday morning, a subtle smokiness hung over Midtown Manhattan, with forecasters predicting that air conditions would deteriorate as the day progressed.

Emergency Management Commissioner Zachary Iscol told 1010 WINS that Air Quality Index levels were projected to climb into the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” range, possibly reaching an AQI of 101.

“We have masks that you can pick up, which are available at local precincts and public libraries,” Iscol said. “And again, if you’re experiencing any symptoms like shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain—please make sure to seek medical attention. Don’t take any chances.”

Up-to-date AQI information is available at AirNow.gov.

The event has drawn comparisons to the Canadian wildfire smoke that blanketed New York City in June 2023, when the AQI soared to a record-setting 484, casting an eerie orange glow over the skyline.

This time, smoke is being carried in from the southeast by wind patterns, according to AccuWeather. Though not as intense as the 2023 incident, the smoke may still cause hazy skies and limited visibility, along with further deterioration in air quality.

Despite the smoky haze, forecasters said Thursday would be mostly sunny, with scattered clouds and a high temperature near 74 degrees in the city.

Officials reported that the wildfire had expanded to over 20 square miles and might continue burning for several more days. While there have been no reported injuries, around 5,000 residents had to evacuate but were later allowed to return. The fire has destroyed one commercial property and several vehicles, while a dozen structures remained at risk as of Wednesday night.

“This is still a very active fire,” said New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette. “As we continue to get this under full control the expectation is that the number of acres will grow and will grow in a place that is unpopulated.”

The Ocean County Sheriff’s Office issued a separate warning early Thursday, stating that smoky conditions would persist and that emergency teams would remain on scene for the coming days.

Meanwhile, New York State has issued a high fire danger alert for multiple regions due to dry conditions, affecting New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, the Capital Region, and parts of the North Country. Other areas are under moderate to low fire risk.

Officials say this wildfire ranks as the second most destructive in New Jersey in the past twenty years, with the largest being a 2007 inferno that consumed 26 square miles.

Acting Governor Tahesha Way signed a state of emergency declaration on Wednesday. Emergency responders have so far managed to contain about half of the wildfire’s spread.

Footage shared by the state’s fire agency revealed a dramatic scene: thick clouds of smoke billowing into the sky, flames engulfing tall pine trees, and crews working to extinguish the blaze as it consumed a heavily scorched structure.

{Matzav.com}

In a powerful reiteration of his support for Torah-oriented engagement with the World Zionist Organization (WZO), HaGaon Rav Avrohom Gurwicz, Rosh Yeshivas Gateshead, has released an updated endorsement, urging all shomrei Torah umitzvos to register and vote for the Eretz HaKodesh party in the current WZO elections.

The new statement, dated today, 26 Nissan 5785, follows and builds upon a foundational letter issued by Rav Gurwicz earlier, in which he echoed the directive of Gedolei Yisroel—Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l and Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky shlit”a—emphasizing the critical importance of Torah Jewry having a voice in decisions affecting Eretz Yisroel through the WZO.

“Now that elections have been called with the opportunity to elect representatives who will have the authority to decide the future direction of the World Zionist Organisation,” Rav Gurwicz wrote in his latest addendum today, “it is a matter of obligation to register and vote in these elections for the Eretz Hakodesh party.”

The original letter, written on Rosh Chodesh Iyar 5782 and reaffirmed in Adar II of this year, explained the immense influence wielded by the WZO over developments in Eretz Yisroel, and called on Torah Jews to take responsibility by joining the Eretz HaKodesh movement. This, Rav Gurwicz stated, would grant the Torah community “a deciding say in the appointments of the leaders of the World Zionist Organization,” thereby helping to promote kavod haTorah and “at the very least, to prevent its desecration.”

Rav Gurwicz noted that his prior letter “still retains its validity,” and with the opening of the voting period, it was necessary to reemphasize the obligation to act.

Below is the letter containing Rav Gurwicz’s latest statement, penned today:

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., encouraged President Donald Trump to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities rather than wasting time trying to negotiate with “that kind of regime.”

Trump has said repeatedly that Iran cannot acquire nuclear weapons. Late last week, he said he was in no hurry to launch an attack over the issue.

Fetterman told The Washington Free Beacon that Trump should forget trying to negotiate with Iranian leaders and take out the Middle Eastern country’s nuclear facilities.

“Waste that ….,” Fetterman told the Free Beacon on Wednesday. “You’re never going to be able to negotiate with that kind of regime that has been destabilizing the region for decades already, and now we have an incredible window, I believe, to do that, to strike and destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities.”

It was reported Wednesday that Iran has agreed to allow in an International Atomic Energy Agency technical team in the coming days to discuss restoring camera surveillance at nuclear sites, the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog said, calling it an encouraging signal of Iran’s attitude toward nuclear talks with the U.S.

Such news likely did not impress Fetterman, who dismissed the possibility that a military strike on Iran would lead to a regional war.

“And remember, all of these so-called experts were all wrong,” he said. “You know, they’ve been saying for years and years Hezbollah was the ultimate …. that kept Israel in check, and we can’t move on anything beyond that.”

However, the Iranian proxy group “couldn’t fight for ….,” he said. “And Hamas, literally, are just a bunch of tunnel rats with junkie rockets in the back of a Toyota truck. And now the Houthis have been effectively neutered as well. So what’s left? You have Iran, and they have a nuclear facility, and it’s clearly only for weapons.”

Fetterman commended Trump for pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, three years after then-President Barack Obama agreed to it.

“Years ago, I completely understood why Trump withdrew from the Obama deal,” Fetterman told the Free Beacon. “Today, I can’t understand why Trump would negotiate with this diseased regime. The negotiations should be comprised of 30,000-pound bombs and the IDF.”

Fetterman’s remarks to the Free Beacon echoed what he said last month during his second trip to Israel in the past year.

“I don’t think you can really effectively negotiate with that regime,” he said, Jewish News Syndicate reported.

Pressed further, he said, “Oh yeah. Blow it up! Blow it up! I think we should waste what’s left of their nuclear facilities.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump sharply criticized Harvard University in response to its president’s remarks defending free speech amidst accusations of unchecked antisemitism on campus. After Harvard’s president Alan Garber spoke out against the Trump administration’s move to freeze over $2 billion in federal funding, Trump responded with a blistering statement, branding the institution as a haven for radical ideologies. “Harvard is an antisemitic, far-left Institution, as are numerous others, with students being accepted from all over the world that want to rip our country apart,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “The place is a liberal mess, allowing a certain group of crazed lunatics to enter and exit the classroom and spew fake anger and hate.” He continued, “It is truly horrific!”

Garber, acknowledging the rise in antisemitic incidents at Harvard since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, nonetheless defended the university’s stance. In an interview with NBC’s Lester Holt, he said, “We are defending what I believe is one of the most important linchpins of the American economy and way of life — our universities.” Garber explained that despite recognizing the seriousness of the issue, he felt obligated to push back against what he saw as politically motivated interference in academic independence.

Trump, however, dismissed Harvard’s stance as hypocritical and dangerous. He accused the university of pretending to change only after being pressured. “Now, since our filings began, they act like they are all ‘American Apple Pie,’” he wrote. “Harvard is a threat to democracy, with a lawyer who represents me, who should therefore be forced to resign, immediately, or be fired.”

According to reporting from The Harvard Crimson, the university filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the funding freeze, with its legal team including Robert Hur and William Burck. Hur previously served in Trump’s Department of Justice, while Burck once represented The Trump Organization. Trump commented on Burck’s role in the suit with a parting shot: “He’s not that good, anyway, and I hope that my very big and beautiful company, now run by my sons, gets rid of him ASAP!”

In a detailed letter dated April 11, the Trump administration had called on Harvard to overhaul its leadership and admissions systems, conduct an internal review of its diversity programs, and cease recognition of certain student groups. The administration also demanded structural reforms as a condition for restoring frozen federal research funds.

Harvard’s lawsuit, filed Monday, challenged the legality of the freeze, arguing that there was no legitimate link between the university’s handling of antisemitism and the research projects affected by the funding suspension. “The government has not — and cannot — identify any rational connection between antisemitism concerns and the medical, scientific, technological and other research it has frozen that aims to save American lives, foster American success, preserve American security and maintain America’s position as a global leader in innovation,” the complaint stated. It further warned that halting billions in federal support could gravely damage scientific advancement and national competitiveness.

But the administration quickly issued a forceful rebuttal. In a statement Monday night, White House spokesperson Harrison Fields made it clear that the days of unchecked federal funding for elite universities were over. “The gravy train of federal assistance to institutions like Harvard, which enrich their grossly overpaid bureaucrats with tax dollars from struggling American families, is coming to an end,” Fields said. “Taxpayer funds are a privilege, and Harvard fails to meet the basic conditions required to access that privilege.”

Meanwhile, legal experts are already weighing in. Harvard Professor Emeritus Alan Dershowitz told Newsmax that the law was likely on Trump’s side in this confrontation. “Harvard’s going to lose,” he said during an appearance on “The Record With Greta Van Susteren.” “It has no obligation legally, the government, to fund a $53 billion university. I don’t understand the basis of the lawsuit.”

Dershowitz emphasized that while Harvard has the right to free speech and academic freedom, that does not entitle it to federal dollars. “They’re claiming First Amendment. But, you know, Harvard has the First Amendment right to speak and to teach and academic freedom, but it doesn’t have the right to get funding.”

He suggested the legal maneuvering might be strategic. “I think the lawsuit is designed to send a message to the administration: Come sit down and negotiate. Their two lawyers who they hired initially are negotiators; they’re close to the Trump family and Trump business. And I think this is simply a ploy to try to get a resolution.”

{Matzav.com}

On Tuesday, April 22, the Supreme Court heard arguments in Mahmoud, et. al. v. Taylor, et. al., a case about public school parents’ right to have their children “opt out” of certain curriculum that does not comport with the parents’ religious beliefs. Legal experts note that the case could have important implications for yeshivos and other nonpublic schools as well.

The Mahmoud case was filed by parents of public school students in Montgomery County, Washington, D. C. who objected to the inclusion of books and other materials that contained morally objectionable themes in the curriculum of their children’s schools. The District Court and United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit declined to allow the objecting parents the right to be notified in advance regarding the objectionable materials so that their children could opt out of participating in class when those materials were being taught. Despite these setbacks, the parents pressed on, and the Supreme Court agreed to take their case.

Agudath Israel of America, along with other religious advocacy groups, filed an amicus (“friend of the court”) brief in the Supreme Court, arguing that the lower court rulings disregard a long line of caselaw that gives parents the right to direct the upbringing – and particularly the educational upbringing — of their children.

Moreover, amici argued that the lower courts’ determination that the government is permitted to utilize its resources — in this case, the public school system — without regard to parents’ religious concerns, is contrary to recent Supreme Court decisions that require sensitivity to the Free Exercise Clause and generally prohibit government resources from being withheld from sectarian institutions.

“This case is not just about public schools,” said Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Executive Vice President of Agudath Israel of America. “In light of the ongoing efforts in certain jurisdictions to dictate what must be learned in yeshivos and other nonpublic schools, and by whom it must be taught, there is a lot riding on the outcome of this case. We look forward to a reaffirmation by the nation’s highest court that parents are the ultimate decision-makers when it comes to their children’s education.”

Agudath Israel’s general counsel, Daniel I. Kaminetsky, Esq., added: “Agudath Israel has always been vigilant to protect the rights of all individuals to freely exercise their religion. The government’s position in the Mahmoud case is yet another attempt to erode the religious rights guaranteed by our Constitution. That erosion must be stopped.”

Agudath Israel thanks Steven T. McFarland and Laura Nammo of the Center for Law and Religious Freedom, the Christian Legal Society and Eric Treene and Roman P. Storzer of Storzer and Associates, for their leading role in drafting the amicus brief.

{Matzav.com}