Matzav

The Trump administration is reportedly exerting intense pressure on Israel to allow the release of approximately 200 Hamas terrorists trapped in tunnels beneath Rafah, Israel’s Channel 12 reports tonight.

Israeli defense officials remain firm in their position that the terrorists should either be eliminated or released only in exchange for the return of hostages’ bodies.

According to reports, the pressure from Washington stems from concern that an Israeli strike on the trapped terrorists could derail ongoing ceasefire negotiations. Hamas has conveyed to Israel that if it prevents the terrorists from exiting the tunnels, Israel will not receive the remains of the hostages.

The IDF maintains that the terrorists should be neutralized or traded only if it directly leads to the return of captives. Officials believe Hamas is using the situation to stall progress and delay the next phase of the ceasefire, which would require the group to disarm.

Around 200 Hamas fighters have been captured in areas of Gaza currently under Israeli control since the ceasefire began. Israel is reportedly considering allowing their transfer back into Gaza on the condition that they lay down their weapons. Among those trapped are believed to be terrorists responsible for the killings of three IDF soldiers—Major Yaniv Kola, Lieutenant Itay Yaavetz, and Master Sergeant Effi Pelbaum—during the ceasefire period.

Security officials say the potential decision to allow the terrorists to return to Gaza is motivated by a desire to protect the lives of soldiers operating in the area and to assist in the search for additional hostages’ remains.

Reports indicate that the terrorists are trapped in several tunnels under territory now controlled by Israeli forces and cannot move without crossing areas guarded by IDF units.

A senior Israeli official emphasized that the Prime Minister “is not permitting the safe passage of 200 Hamas terrorists” and remains unwavering in his stance that Hamas must be fully disarmed and the Gaza Strip demilitarized while Israel continues to neutralize any threats to its forces.

{Matzav.com}

New York City could face an unprecedented exodus if far-left candidate Zohran Mamdani captures the mayoralty on Tuesday, according to a striking new survey that shows hundreds of thousands of residents ready to pack up and leave.

The poll, conducted by J.L. Partners and reported by the Daily Mail, found that approximately 765,000 New Yorkers — about 9% of the city’s 8.4 million residents — said they would “definitely” leave the Big Apple if Mamdani is elected the 111th mayor. Another 25%, or roughly 2.12 million, said they would “consider” relocating.

“If anywhere near that number actually left, the economic impact would be seismic,” said pollster James Johnson. “Older New Yorkers, Staten Islanders, and white voters are the most likely to say they would pack up and go.”

If even a fraction of those pledging to depart follow through, the city could lose a population equal to that of Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, or Seattle — a demographic collapse with potentially devastating consequences for its tax base and economy.

High-income residents appeared especially uneasy. Among those earning more than $250,000 annually, 7% said they would definitely leave, amplifying concerns that New York’s financial backbone could erode under a Mamdani administration.

Men were significantly more inclined to flee than women — 12% compared to 7% — though roughly a quarter of both groups said they were weighing a move. The poll found that New Yorkers between 50 and 64 were the most likely to want out, with 12% committed to leaving and another 33% considering it.

By racial breakdown, 13% of white residents and 11% of Asian New Yorkers said they would definitely leave. Staten Island residents were the most eager to escape, with 21% certain they’d go and another 54% considering it. In Brooklyn, 8% said they’d move and 18% were undecided, while in Manhattan, 6% said they’d leave and 20% were unsure.

Many respondents cited the Carolinas, Florida, and Tennessee as preferred destinations, pointing to lower income and property taxes as key motivators.

Pollster James Johnson warned that confidence in Mamdani, a 34-year-old socialist state assemblyman, remains deeply polarized. “If anywhere near that number actually left, the economic impact would be seismic,” he repeated, stressing that such an outflow would ripple far beyond city limits.

The latest data also shows an unusually high level of voter engagement. As of Sunday night, when early voting wrapped up, 735,317 New Yorkers had already cast ballots. Election officials expect as many as 1.9 million voters to participate — the city’s highest turnout since nearly 2.5 million ballots were cast in 1969, when liberal Republican John Lindsay won reelection.

With just 72 hours left before Election Day, Mamdani held a 6.6-point lead over Andrew Cuomo — his tightest margin since midsummer.

A poll released on Shabbos by AtlasIntel showed Mamdani leading with 40.6%, trailed by Cuomo at 34% and Republican Curtis Sliwa at 24.1%. However, the RealClearPolitics average still gives Mamdani a commanding 14.5-point advantage, keeping him on pace to become the next mayor of New York City.

{Matzav.com}

New York City’s mayoral race has turned into a razor-edge contest, with socialist Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani clinging to a slim lead over Andrew Cuomo on the eve of an unprecedented Election Day turnout. A late-breaking AtlasIntel poll released Monday showed Mamdani with 43.9% support and Cuomo at 39.4%, while Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa trailed at 15.5%—setting up a dramatic three-way showdown that could reshape the city’s political landscape.

The survey indicated that in a one-on-one matchup, Cuomo would overtake Mamdani with 49.7% to 44.1%. However, with Sliwa still holding onto a significant share of conservative voters, Mamdani remains narrowly ahead. “Some of the Sliwa supporters are switching to Cuomo. They’re peeling off,” said Lee Miringhoff of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion. “These are voters who prefer Cuomo to Mamdani.”

Miringhoff added that Cuomo’s late momentum has been fueled by a barrage of negative ads against Mamdani from super PACs aligned with the ex-governor, flooding airwaves across the five boroughs. Still, he cautioned that “it’s still a lot of ground for Cuomo to make up.”

As the candidates crisscrossed the city on Monday in a frenetic last-minute push—from the Brooklyn Bridge to Staten Island’s ferry docks—President Donald Trump upended the race with a full-throated endorsement of Cuomo. “Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job. He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!”

Trump’s endorsement followed Mamdani’s attempt to capitalize on the president’s “60 Minutes” interview over the weekend, in which Trump said he’d rather vote for a “bad Democrat” like Cuomo than a “communist.” Mamdani portrayed the remarks as proof that Cuomo represented the establishment. Cuomo, distancing himself from Trump’s comments, quipped in response that the president—who had boasted on CBS that he was “much better looking” than Mamdani—would “make a meal” of the socialist candidate.

Early voting figures suggested historic engagement, with more than 730,000 New Yorkers casting ballots over a nine-day stretch leading up to Election Day. Young voters, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, turned out in greater numbers in the final days—a demographic that helped power Mamdani’s primary upset earlier this year. But political analyst Stephen Graves of Gotham Polling warned that Election Day itself is likely to draw an older, more moderate electorate. “As the turnout gets larger, it leans more moderate and brings in the independents,” Graves said. “That benefits Cuomo because he was getting more independent while the vast majority of Mamdani’s voters were Democrats.”

Not all pollsters are convinced the race is as close as it seems. Alyssa Cass of Slingshot Strategies argued that Mamdani could still secure a majority outright. “When you run an error-free general election campaign … it’s a safe bet that you are on a slide path to win — and to win by more than 50 percent,” she said.

Cuomo’s team nonetheless seized on the new poll as evidence of late-breaking momentum. But others urged caution. “I think the race is getting tighter, but I don’t think it’s as close as this poll says,” said GOP pollster John McLaughlin, who noted that AtlasIntel’s sample included only 59% Democrats—far below the city’s typical composition. Miringhoff echoed that concern, pointing out that Marist’s own polling showed Democrats making up roughly two-thirds of likely voters.

According to AtlasIntel, Democrats comprised 59% of respondents, Republicans 19%, and independents nearly 22%. Early voting data tells a different story: 73% of those who already cast ballots were Democrats, compared to about 11% Republicans and 15% independents. Experts predict total turnout could reach two million voters—the highest since 1969, when liberal Republican John Lindsay won re-election.

While recent polls all show Mamdani in the lead, the margins vary dramatically—from double digits down to a handful of points. McLaughlin noted that this latest poll marks the first time Mamdani’s favorability dipped below water, with 44% viewing him negatively versus 50% positively. “Mamdani having a negative rating is a sea change,” he said. “Either the issue attacks on him are working or there are too few Democrats in the poll.”

{Matzav.com}

Just hours before voters head to the polls, a new report by the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP) is drawing intense scrutiny to socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ideological record and associations. The in-depth analysis, titled “Zohran Mamdani: From SJP to Gracie Mansion?”, was released by ISGAP Action and reviewed exclusively by Fox News Digital.

“It is incumbent on voters to understand the ideological context that Zohran Mamdani comes from and espouses,” said Charles Asher Small, ISGAP’s founding director, in an interview with Fox News Digital.

The report delves into Mamdani’s political and personal background, tracing his path from founding a Students for Justice in Palestine chapter at Bowdoin College to becoming a leading figure of the radical left in New York politics. It highlights his father’s controversial academic work at Columbia University and compiles his history of inflammatory remarks, including a list of anti-Israel activists and organizations now backing his mayoral campaign.

The authors accuse Mamdani of repeatedly refusing to denounce the violent slogan “globalize the intifada.” The report notes that “He has repeatedly declined to condemn the slogan ‘globalize the intifada,’ ignoring the fact that the word ‘intifada’ is synonymous with terror attacks, suicide bombings, and incitement to kill Jews.” Rather than condemning the phrase, Mamdani merely said he would “discourage” others from using it.

ISGAP also faults Mamdani for what it describes as his minimization of Hamas’ October 7 atrocities while labeling Israel’s defensive actions “genocide.” It criticizes his proposal to target New York-based charities that aid Israel, calling it a punitive and discriminatory measure.

One of the most controversial episodes cited in the report is Mamdani’s smiling photo alongside Imam Siraj Wahhaj — a cleric who defended the mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and has supported the legal defense of convicted terrorists. The image ignited backlash from law enforcement and political leaders alike.

The investigation further references financial links between Mamdani’s campaign and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). According to the report, Mamdani accepted a $100,000 super PAC contribution tied to CAIR “despite being named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation terror-financing trial.”

“The normalization of antisemitism and anti-democratic rhetoric is now mainstream,” Small warned. “The radical left, the extreme right and radical political Islam are attacking the democratic center, and these different political movements use antisemitism as a core element of their ideology, to scapegoat and blame the Jews for all that is wrong. It is essential to understand that words and ideas lead to action. The antisemitic discourse of Mamdani will inevitably lead to increased hate and violence.”

Last month, hundreds of rabbis issued a public letter urging voters to reject Mamdani, declaring that Jewish Americans “cannot remain silent” as open hostility toward Jews becomes normalized in political discourse.

Still, Mamdani remains the frontrunner in the mayoral race, buoyed by strong support among younger voters and some progressive Jewish figures. Despite widespread criticism and multiple viral clips showcasing his anti-Israel statements, polls suggest he is on the verge of victory.

“There are significant levels of economic, social and political marginalization in New York and throughout the nation,” Small explained. “People are frustrated as their needs are not being met. In stressful times, populism and extremism become more appealing. Mamdani appears to be addressing the disenfranchised, especially the young. He gives fantastical policies that are appealing, yet will be impossible to deliver.”

In its final analysis, ISGAP Action warns that electing Mamdani could “shatter the city’s fragile communal trust and roll back decades of hard-won progress in protecting Jewish life.”

“Zohran Mamdani’s rise is not simply the story of an ambitious local politician riding a wave of discontent over rents and inequality,” the report concludes. “It is the story of how radical anti-Zionism has been repackaged as socialist, populist, progressive politics — and how this ideology now threatens to erode the sense of security for New York’s Jewish community, the largest Jewish community outside of Israel, and whitewash and legitimize anti-Zionism, support for terrorism, and even antisemitism.”

{Matzav.com}

With less than twenty-four hours before polls open, New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani delivered a fiery pre-election rally on Monday morning, vowing to stand firm against what he described as President Donald Trump’s attempts to intimidate the city.

Flanked by Attorney General Letitia James and a cadre of progressive allies, Mamdani led a symbolic sunrise march across the Brooklyn Bridge toward City Hall. It was a theatrical gesture aimed at projecting resolve in the face of Trump’s warning that he could withhold federal funds if the socialist candidate is elected.

“What we have seen in cities and states across the country is the necessity of, not just using the bully pulpit but also the courts, to ensure that every dollar that a municipality is owed is a dollar that is paid,” Mamdani declared. “And I will take every single day, after this election, to put together my city government, my city hall, to ensure that it is prepared not only for the threats from Donald Trump, but also the threats from an affordability crisis that has put one in four New Yorkers in poverty.”

The president had told CBS’ Norah O’Donnell on “60 Minutes” Sunday that if Mamdani wins, “it is going to be hard for me, as the president, to give a lot of money to New York.” He followed that with a jab, adding, “Because if you have a communist running New York, all you’re doing is wasting the money you’re sending there.”

Trump has been relentless in ridiculing Mamdani since the candidate’s upset victory over Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary earlier this year, labeling him a “100% Communist Lunatic” and “my little communist.” Mamdani, for his part, has brushed off those attacks.

Following his primary win, Mamdani launched a week-long campaign called “Five Boroughs Against Trump,” framing himself as the only candidate willing to take on the president directly.

“I’m not a fan of Cuomo one way or the other, but if it’s going to be between a bad Democrat and a communist, I’m going to pick that bad Democrat all the time, to be honest with you,” Trump said on “60 Minutes.”

Mamdani quickly seized on those remarks, accusing Trump of effectively endorsing his opponent. “Late last night, Andrew Cuomo received Donald Trump’s endorsement,” he said Monday. “If elected as mayor, our city will only descend deeper into a darkness that has forced too many of our neighbors to flee and made it impossible for working people to live lives of dignity.”

Cuomo’s team rejected that narrative outright. Campaign spokesperson Rich Azzopardi told Fox News Digital that Mamdani is “lying” about Trump’s alleged endorsement.

“There’s only one candidate in this race who has a record of fighting for New York and battling the Trump administration when it was in New York’s best interest and winning, and that’s Andrew Cuomo. We’re not going to let him gaslight his way through Election Day,” Azzopardi said.

At his rally, Mamdani sought to present himself as the antidote to Trump-era politics, arguing that his administration would form a “movement unbowed by threats” from Washington. “We see Donald Trump make these kinds of threats to this city and to its elected officials on a regular basis,” he said. “The difference that we offer is a movement that will be unbowed by these threats, and we need not look far for an inspiration on how exactly to continue to fight for that which is correct in the city and in this state.”

Standing beside him, James—who pleaded not guilty last week to two felony counts of bank fraud and making false statements—was praised by Mamdani as a model of defiance. He said she “continues to show the courage that New Yorkers are desperate to see in elected officials, a courage to hold everyone to account to the same set of laws.”

James’ years-long legal battles against Trump have fueled both acclaim and controversy. A judge ruled last year that The Trump Organization was liable for civil fraud following her lawsuit accusing the company of inflating asset values. She has also repeatedly sued the Trump administration, seeking to block executive orders and safeguard federal funds.

“Donald Trump may speak as if it is his decision, but this is money that this city is owed. This is money that we will expect to collect,” Mamdani asserted.

As the race closes in on its final hours, Mamdani has cast himself as the candidate willing to confront Trump head-on while painting Cuomo as politically compromised. “We have long known that Andrew Cuomo is Donald Trump’s puppet in this race. What we did not quite expect is for him to become his parrot in the final days, as well,” Mamdani said.

{Matzav.com}

A newly released transcript from a tense closed-door meeting at the Defense Ministry headquarters reveals a sharp confrontation between then–Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, then–IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, and Brig. Gen. Gal Asael, deputy military advocate general, over the investigation into the leaked video from the Sde Teiman detention facility.

The meeting, which took place in October 2024, came as the Defense Ministry scrambled to determine who was behind the leak of footage showing IDF soldiers allegedly abusing a Palestinian detainee. Asael had been assigned to oversee the internal investigation.

According to the Channel 13 report that published the transcript, Gallant opened the meeting by demanding answers. “We’re in a situation where I believe we’re about to face additional attacks over this leak,” he said. “The claim is that it came from within the defense establishment.”

Asael maintained that investigators could not yet identify the source. “The team is experienced, independent, and working responsibly,” he said. “Various materials went out—videos, medical documents, reports—but no leaker has been identified so far.”

Gallant pressed on, pointing out that “the videos of the soldiers were out almost immediately after the incidents themselves.” Asael responded that the probe had begun in July and that “the first media reports came out in August.” He noted that both soldiers and civilians had access to the footage, and “dozens of investigative steps” had been taken without any clear findings.

Gallant expressed frustration: “This situation creates a perception that everyone involved is tainted, including the IDF itself. Publicly, the blame is being directed at the prosecution.”

Asael insisted that the process was being closely monitored by the attorney general’s office and the Justice Ministry. “It’s not happening in the shadows,” he said. Gallant replied curtly, “What can I say? I’m not convinced.”

At that point, Halevi interjected, asking, “What is there to be convinced about?” Gallant responded that the investigation “must be more focused—at the end, we should know who were the first people who had access to the video.”

Asael replied, “With caution, I’ll say it’s far more than three or five people. There are many circles involved, and we’re trying to narrow it down.”

When Gallant asked what authority he had in the matter, Asael said that “as long as it’s a criminal investigation, authority rests with the attorney general.” Gallant questioned why this wasn’t under the IDF’s jurisdiction, but Asael explained that “criminal authority in Israel follows the attorney general’s directive. The military advocate general isn’t involved because she’s part of the main case and must remain impartial.”

Halevi backed Asael, saying, “Because the prosecution is a party here, we turned to the attorney general to oversee the process. We were very concerned that if it went to the police or internal affairs, it would spiral out of control.” Asael agreed: “Yes, that would have lost all control.”

Gallant closed the meeting by recalling a past incident. “The last time I was in a situation like this—the Harpaz Affair—they said no one in the General Staff was involved. That turned out not to be true. That’s what my experience tells me.”

Asael has not yet issued a public response. Gallant’s office stated that he had “ordered a swift and thorough investigation immediately after the leak, given the damage it caused to IDF soldiers and to Israel.” They added that “the sentiments and quotes in the report reflect his consistent stance, though we cannot confirm the transcript.”

Associates of former Chief of Staff Halevi said he had no prior knowledge of the leak and had instructed his office to ensure there were “no obstacles to the investigation’s completion.” They added that both Halevi and Gallant “felt misled” as new revelations surfaced in recent days.

{Matzav.com}

In the latest twist surrounding the Sde Teiman affair, former IDF Military Advocate General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi told investigators she has no recollection of what happened to her cellphone — a device believed to contain potentially incriminating material.

According to a report by Channel 12 News, following her recent discovery alive after several hours of disappearance, police conducted an initial interrogation to determine her whereabouts and the events surrounding her vanishing. Investigators reportedly asked, “Where were you for three hours? The entire country was searching for you, your family was in tears with worry.”

Tomer-Yerushalmi’s response was confused and evasive: “I’m disoriented, I don’t know what’s going on with me.”

When questioned about her missing phone, she said, “I have no idea where the phone is, maybe it fell into the sea — I really don’t remember.” Police pressed further, asking whether she might have thrown the device into the water. Her answer remained the same: “I don’t remember.”

Meanwhile, Kan News reported that investigators are examining suspicions that the promotion of a senior official in the Military Prosecution — whose name remains under a gag order — was deliberately delayed. The purpose of the delay, police believe, may have been to prevent her from taking a polygraph test that could expose internal misconduct.

That same official was the one who initially uncovered Tomer-Yerushalmi’s alleged order to leak the security footage from the Sde Teiman detention facility, as well as her role in obstructing the subsequent internal investigation. The revelations reportedly came to light when the senior prosecutor herself was undergoing a routine polygraph examination as part of her own promotion process within the IDF.

Iran has unveiled what it describes as new information about the strike that killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last year. According to a spokesman for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the killing was executed with a precision missile that homed in on Haniyeh’s cellphone signal.

Haniyeh was eliminated on July 31, 2024, in the Iranian capital, only hours after attending the swearing-in ceremony of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Months later, Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz publicly acknowledged that Israel was responsible for the operation.

Conflicting reports about how the strike was carried out have circulated since the assassination. Early accounts described a missile strike, while a New York Times investigation suggested that an explosive device had been secretly planted inside Haniyeh’s guesthouse and detonated remotely once he arrived.

On Sunday, however, IRGC spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini dismissed the bomb theory outright. He maintained that there was no insider involvement or breach of Iran’s security systems. “The assassination of the martyr Ismail Haniyeh did not involve any act of sabotage,” Naini stated.

Instead, Naini said, the Hamas chief was killed when “a missile was fired from a certain distance and struck the window directly, hitting him while he was on a phone call from the same direction the missile came from.” He added that the weapon locked onto Haniyeh’s location through his mobile phone signal.

Iran’s reaction at the time was initially restrained. Although Haniyeh was killed in the heart of Tehran, the regime held off on immediate retaliation. Two months later, however, on October 1, 2024, Iran launched a barrage of roughly 80 ballistic missiles toward Israel. Tehran claimed the strike was retaliation not only for Haniyeh’s death but also for the assassinations of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and IRGC General Abbas Nilforoushan in Beirut the previous month.

According to Naini, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council reached a swift conclusion after Haniyeh’s killing that retaliation was inevitable. “The timing of the retaliation was left to the military command,” he said, noting that the delay stemmed from “difficulties” that arose following Iran’s unprecedented direct assault on Israel in April 2024—though he did not specify what those difficulties were.

Naini also said Tehran debated whether to let its regional proxies—Hezbollah, Hamas, or the Houthis—carry out the revenge strike, or to act directly. In the end, he said, “a unified decision was made” for Iran itself to take responsibility and launch the missiles from its own territory.

President Donald Trump issued a fiery Truth Social post today warning that New York City would face “complete and total economic and social disaster” if Democratic socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani wins Tuesday’s mayoral election.

Trump said he would withhold federal funding from the city—aside from the bare minimum required by law—if Mamdani takes office, calling the candidate a “Communist” whose ideology guarantees failure. “If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required, to my beloved first home,” Trump wrote.

The president described New York as “once great” but said it has “ZERO chance of success, or even survival” under Mamdani’s leadership. “It can only get worse with a Communist at the helm,” he added. “I don’t want to send, as President, good money after bad.”

Declaring it his “obligation to run the Nation,” Trump asserted that Mamdani’s economic views had “been tested for over a thousand years and never once been successful.” He warned that the city would suffer “complete and total failure” under Mamdani, whom he accused of lacking meaningful experience and achievement.

“I would much rather see a Democrat, who has had a record of success, win, than a Communist with no experience and a record of complete and total failure,” Trump wrote. He called Mamdani’s record as a state assemblyman “nothing,” claiming he “ranked at the bottom of the class” and has “no chance to bring [New York City] back to its former glory.”

Trump also took aim at Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, arguing that a vote for Sliwa would effectively benefit Mamdani. “A vote for Curtis Sliwa (who looks much better without the beret!) is a vote for Mamdani,” he said.

In the final lines of the post, Trump endorsed independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, urging New Yorkers to rally behind him. “Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job. He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!” Trump wrote.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

There’s a line being tossed around lately that’s as dishonest as it is dangerous — that Muslim socialist Zohran Mamdani is “not anti-Jewish,” only “anti-Israel.” Some in the Satmar community have even used that absurd excuse to justify endorsing him.

Let’s be clear: When someone openly supports those who chant “globalize the intifada,” refuses to condemn a call for Jewish blood, and embraces a worldview that paints Israel — and by extension the Jewish people — as evil oppressors, that person isn’t just “anti-Israel.” They’re an oyev Yisroel.

If you hate Jews who live in Israel, if you defend terrorists who murder them, if you side with those who glorify intifada and jihad, then you hate Jews, period. There’s no separating the two.

To pretend that you can despise the Jewish homeland while loving its people is a moral contortion that fools no one — except those desperate to justify a political misstep.

Supporting someone who stands with our enemies doesn’t make you principled or nuanced. It makes you blind.

The blood spilled in Israel is no different from the blood spilled in Brooklyn or Monroe or anywhere else Jews live. To claim otherwise is to abandon the most basic sense of achdus Yisroel.

Those who make excuses for a man who champions our enemies should be ashamed of themselves. When you endorse a voice that fans the flames of hatred, you don’t just endanger Jews in Israel. You endanger Jews everywhere.

Sincerely,
G. H.

Boro Park, Brooklyn

To submit a letter to appear on Matzav.com, email MatzavInbox@gmail.com

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{Matzav.com}

Agudath Israel of America is excited to announce that the highly anticipated Agudah National Action Summit will take place on Monday and Tuesday, December 1–2, 2025, at the Newark Marriott Hotel. The two-day midweek gathering will draw community leaders, rabbanim, educators, askanim, and professionals from across the country for an event that will address the most urgent and complex issues facing the Jewish world today.

“The Summit is where actions will speak loudest,” said Mr. Shloime Werdiger, chairman of Agudath Israel’s Board of Trustees. “It’s designed for the doers of Klal Yisroel — those who roll up their sleeves, who lead, teach, support, and strengthen our communities every day. This is where they come together to share ideas, collaborate, and take tangible steps forward.”

From shidduchim and chinuch to special-needs, mental health, community growth, and halachic and legal challenges, the Summit will offer both practical strategies and hashkafic guidance for leaders navigating these realities on the ground.

Featuring a slate of distinct professional and communal specialized tracks, the Summit ensures that every participant can gain relevant insights tailored to their area of influence. Tracks will include:

• Rabbanim & Morei Derech

• Community Builders

• Special Needs Leaders

• Mental Health Professionals

• Shadchanim

• Kallah Teachers

• Legal Professionals

Each track will feature expert-led panels, interactive workshops, and real-world case discussions. The sessions will spotlight collaboration between communities, sharing of successful models, and open conversations that inspire both thought and action.

The two-day format, with an overnight stay at the Newark Marriott, is designed to encourage full immersion and connection. Participants will be able to take advantage of comfortable on-site accommodations and networking opportunities that extend well beyond the sessions themselves.

A grand gala dinner, a highlight of the event, will feature uplifting keynote addresses from gedolei Torah. The dinner will celebrate those who dedicate their lives to building and strengthening Torah communities, offering words of chizuk and direction to propel their efforts forward.

“This summit is a call to action, a place for those shaping our communities to come together, to learn from one another, and to leave with new strength and clarity to continue their avodas hakodesh,” said Mr. Werdiger.

The Agudah National Action Summit continues a proud tradition of landmark gatherings that have united and galvanized Klal Yisroel. With sessions designed to translate inspiration into implementation, the event promises to be both practical and uplifting, a reflection of the Agudah’s core mission to strengthen Torah life, advocate for the needs of the community, and empower those who serve on its front lines.

Registration for the Summit is now open, and space is limited. For more information, visit AgudahAction.com, email actionsummit@agudah.org, or call 212-363-8941.

{Matzav.com}

At a Torah Umesorah meeting yesterday, Rav Avrohom Fruchthandler, esteemed president of Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin and widely respected for ensuring his own rabbeim receive the highest salaries of any mosad, delivered a fiery appeal for change in how the Torah world values and compensates its mechanchim.

Speaking with his trademark passion and bluntness, Rav Fruchthandler decried the community’s complacency toward the financial struggles of melamdim and rabbeim, urging institutions to recognize the immense responsibility placed upon these educators and to ensure they are paid with the dignity their sacred work deserves. He explained that we’ve raised the bar and level in every facet of chinuch, except for compensation for mechanchim.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

A stunning memo from a BBC whistleblower has revealed that the British broadcaster deliberately altered footage of President Donald Trump to make it appear as though he incited the Capitol protest on January 6, 2021. The manipulated video was aired on Panorama in a program titled “Trump: A Second Chance,” just one week before the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

According to the internal memo obtained by the Telegraph, the broadcast stitched together portions of Trump’s speech in a way that falsely suggested he urged violence. The edited clip made it seem that Trump said: “We’re gonna walk down to the Capitol and I’ll be with you, and we fight. We fight like hell, and if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not gonna have a country anymore.”

In reality, Trump’s full remarks painted a very different picture. He said: “We’re gonna walk down, and I’ll be there with you. We’re gonna walk down — we’re gonna walk down any one you want, but I think right here, we’re gonna walk down to the Capitol, and we’re gonna cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women.

“We’re probably not going to be cheering so much for some of them, because you’ll never take back our country with weakness; you have to show strength, and you have to be strong. … I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.”

The whistleblower, Michael Prescott, a journalist who spent three years advising the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee, accused the network of covering up the manipulation and refusing to admit wrongdoing. “The news outlet’s managers refused to accept there had been a breach of standards,” Prescott wrote in his explosive memo.

He said he personally warned BBC chairman Samir Shah of the “very, very dangerous precedent” being set by the Panorama program but never received a response.

In his letter accompanying the report, Prescott described his departure from the advisory role in June as the result of persistent ethical failures inside the organization. “I departed [from the advisory role] with profound and unresolved concerns about the BBC … my view is that the Executive repeatedly failed to implement measures to resolve highlighted problems, and in many cases simply refused to acknowledge there was an issue at all.”

Prescott singled out two senior executives — Jonathan Munro, the senior controller of news content, and Deborah Turness, chief executive of BBC News — for what he called their culture of denial and defensiveness. “I have been surprised at just how defensive Deborah and Jonathan in particular have been whenever issues are raised,” he wrote.

He concluded that systemic problems within the BBC’s leadership allow serious editorial breaches to go unaddressed. “Firm and transparent action plans to prevent the re-occurrence of problems are in short supply – and so, as you can see, errors are repeated time and again,” Prescott warned.

The revelations have sparked outrage over the BBC’s credibility, raising troubling questions about political interference and journalistic integrity at one of the world’s most influential news institutions.

{Matzav.com}

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has entered the fray of New York City’s mayoral election, throwing his full backing behind Andrew Cuomo and urging voters to rally around the former governor’s independent campaign.

Taking to X on Monday, Musk declared that New Yorkers should cast their ballots for Cuomo, who is challenging Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani and Republican contender Curtis Sliwa. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO made his position unmistakably clear, warning conservatives not to divide the vote. “Bear in mind that a vote for Curtis is really a vote for Mumdumi or whatever his name is,” Musk wrote. “VOTE CUOMO!”

Musk’s endorsement aligns him with a growing list of prominent business figures who have publicly voiced opposition to Mamdani, a state assemblyman known for his far-left platform and fierce anti-Israel rhetoric. Several high-profile billionaires have funneled significant financial support into the race in hopes of preventing a Mamdani victory.

Among those joining the anti-Mamdani camp are former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Airbnb cofounder Joe Gebbia, and hedge fund magnate Bill Ackman, each of whom has spoken out or contributed to efforts aimed at bolstering more moderate leadership for the city.

President Donald Trump also weighed in on the race, telling CBS News during a “60 Minutes” interview that “if it’s gonna be between a bad Democrat and a communist, I’m gonna pick the bad Democrat all the time, to be honest with you.”

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Mrs. Naomi Weitzner a”h, the longtime and beloved principal of Bais Kaila High School in Lakewood, NJ, who was niftar at the age of 86.

Originally from Highland Park, New Jersey, Mrs. Weitzner was the devoted wife of Rabbi Avigdor Weitzner z”l, with whom she built a home that radiated ahavas Torah, yiras Shomayim, and devotion to chinuch.

For decades, Mrs. Weitzner stood at the helm of Bais Kaila High School, where she became synonymous with uncompromising standards of chinuch and boundless care for every student. Her presence combined strength and grace — a firm guiding hand tempered by warmth, empathy, and understanding.

Generations of bnos Yisroel who passed through her doors carry her lessons in their hearts, recalling not only what she taught but how she made them feel — valued, capable, and connected to Torah and mesorah.

More than an educator, Mrs. Weitzner was a mentor, a role model, and a living example of dignity and principle. Her chochmah, insight, and unwavering dedication left an indelible imprint on her talmidos, her staff, and the wider Lakewood community.

The levayah will take place today at 5:15 p.m. at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Avenue in Lakewood, New Jersey.

Yehi zichrah boruch.

The Trump administration has announced that millions of Americans will receive reduced food stamp benefits this month, even as federal funding for the program has run dry amid the ongoing government shutdown. According to court filings made public Monday, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will continue distributing roughly half its normal benefit levels through November by dipping into a limited emergency reserve fund.

The Food and Nutrition Service confirmed in the filing that the plan came in direct response to federal court orders issued in Boston and Providence last week, which blocked the Department of Agriculture from halting benefits entirely. “Per orders issued by the United States District Courts for the Districts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, FNS [Food and Nutrition Service] intends to deplete SNAP contingency funds completely and provide reduced SNAP benefits for November 2025,” a Department of Agriculture official wrote.

SNAP’s contingency reserve currently holds about $4.65 billion—just over half of what the federal government normally spends each month to provide assistance to around 42 million Americans. Typical recipients receive an average of $190 a month in benefits, meaning this month’s reduced payments will be significantly smaller.

The Department of Agriculture stated that states will have to manage the fallout, including updating eligibility systems, notifying participants of the reduction, and responding to any appeals. “In addition to adjusting eligibility and benefit issuance files to accommodate the reduction, States must notify all SNAP households of the reduction, as well as handle any requests for fair hearings from SNAP households related to the reduction,” the department said.

The White House’s decision to authorize partial funding followed a pair of rulings by federal judges Indira Talwani in Massachusetts and John J. McConnell in Rhode Island, who rejected the administration’s claim that it lacked legal authority to keep the program afloat. Both judges said the government was obligated to continue distributing benefits, even during a funding lapse.

President Trump addressed the issue on Truth Social, explaining that his administration’s legal team was exploring ways to comply with the rulings and provide limited benefits until Congress restores full funding.

In their Monday filing, administration officials ruled out using money from the Child Nutrition Program—an idea raised by both judges—because of the uncertainty about whether Congress would replace those funds. “Section 32 Child Nutrition Program funds are not a contingency fund for SNAP,” the Agriculture Department stated. “Using billions of dollars from Child Nutrition for SNAP would leave an unprecedented gap in Child Nutrition funding that Congress has never had to fill with annual appropriations, and USDA cannot predict what Congress will do under these circumstances.”

Democratic attorneys general from 25 states and Washington, D.C., had earlier sued the administration over its initial declaration that no funds were available to continue payments beyond November 1. The new plan to provide partial benefits marks a temporary fix rather than a long-term solution.

It remains unclear how quickly states will be able to distribute the reduced payments or whether further legal challenges might delay them. The shutdown, which reached its 34th day on Monday, is now just one day short of becoming the longest government funding lapse in U.S. history—a record first set in late 2018 and early 2019 during Trump’s first term.

{Matzav.com}

At the Republican Jewish Coalition’s Annual Leadership Summit in Las Vegas, conservative icon Mark Levin unleashed a powerful, emotionally charged speech defending Israel, Judeo-Christian values, and the moral backbone of America. “If you’re a Jew hater, you’re a Christian hater,” Levin declared, setting the tone for a blistering address that drew roaring applause from the packed ballroom.

The nationally syndicated radio host and bestselling author didn’t hold back as he railed against what he called the “poison” of antisemitism creeping into both liberal circles and certain corners of the right. Levin accused public figures such as Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes of betraying the very ideals of freedom and faith that conservatives claim to uphold.

“For six months, I’ve been fighting these bastards,” Levin thundered. “And I’ve been looking over my shoulder for help — and found nothing. Nothing.”

He denounced the rise of isolationist rhetoric and those who flirt with neo-Nazi sympathies, accusing them of twisting patriotism into something dark and hateful. “They wrap their psychotic, unhinged Nazi-clan jihadism around American patriotism,” Levin warned. “You don’t get to claim you’re ‘America first’ while you line up with the Marxists, the Islamists, and Hamas. That’s not America first. That’s sick.”

Levin went on to condemn members of the conservative media world who, in his view, have lacked moral courage in confronting antisemitism. “We’re surrounded by cowards who have microphones, cameras, websites, and columns,” he said, adding that silence in the face of hate is complicity.

He urged conservatives to reject and “cancel” those who glorify tyrants or justify hatred. “We canceled David Duke. We canceled the Klan. We canceled Joseph Goebbels. And we’ll damn well cancel Hitler admirers, Stalin admirers, and Jew haters,” he proclaimed, his words met with a standing ovation.

Levin drew a direct link between antisemitism and hostility toward Christianity, saying both stem from the same rejection of faith and Western morality. “If you reject Judaism, you reject Christianity,” he said. “If you reject both, then you reject the American founding based on Judeo-Christian values.”

He turned his focus to the Middle East, praising Israel for defending religious freedom and safeguarding holy sites. “Who protects the Church of the Holy Sepulchre? The Israelis,” he said. “Who protects the Al-Aqsa Mosque? The Israelis. Who protects the Jewish and Christian sites in Israel? The Israelis.”

Levin dismissed accusations of apartheid against Israel as absurd. “Don’t tell me Israel is apartheid,” he snapped. “There are more Arabs in the Knesset than Jews in the U.S. House of Representatives.”

Celebrating what he called an “extraordinary” partnership between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Levin likened their alliance to the historic relationships between Reagan and Thatcher, or Roosevelt and Churchill. “Trump and Netanyahu — stand up!” he exclaimed as the audience erupted in cheers. “These two men have accomplished extraordinary things for freedom and security.”

In his closing remarks, Levin warned that those who target Jews and Christians are ultimately attacking the very essence of the United States. “To the people attacking America by attacking Jews and Christians — you’re not going to get what you want,” he vowed. “We’re not going anywhere. Not now. Not ever.”

He concluded with a note of defiant optimism. “Ironically, you little [] have done more to unite us — Jews, Christians, believers in freedom — than anything else. Because Americans love liberty, the Bible, and the golden rule. We’re hooked at the hip — Jew and Christian — and nothing will come between us.”

{Matzav.com}

Democrats are bracing for a major shift as Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California is widely expected to step away from Congress at the end of her current term, concluding nearly four decades representing San Francisco. Multiple Democratic officials told NBC News that her retirement will likely be announced shortly after Tuesday’s elections, marking the end of one of the longest and most consequential careers in congressional leadership.

Pelosi, who at 85 has led her party through triumphs and turmoil alike, served twice as Speaker of the House — the first woman ever to hold that gavel — and became an enduring figure of the Democratic establishment. Her exit would leave a void that reshapes the balance of power within the party, as Democrats prepare for a generational transition.

Adding to speculation, Pelosi has quietly allowed potential successors to mobilize. She has not discouraged state Sen. Scott Wiener or tech entrepreneur Saikat Chakrabarti from preparing for primary bids, even as her campaign committee still holds millions of dollars.

Close associates say she has all but acknowledged the coming change. In a recent lighthearted comment, she quipped that she hopes to be around to witness Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries “sworn in as the first Black House speaker ‘if she’s still allowed on the floor.’”

Her communications team has refused to confirm the reports. Spokesman Ian Krager said only that Pelosi remains “fully focused” on advancing Proposition 50 — the Democratic-backed ballot initiative on redistricting that the party sees as vital to reclaiming control of the House.

Speaking with the San Francisco Examiner, Pelosi emphasized that the measure remains her primary goal. “The best antidote to poison,” she said, referencing Republican-led redistricting efforts in states like Texas and their attempts to block President Donald Trump’s agenda.

{Matzav.com}

The revelations surrounding the leak of classified security footage from the Sde Teiman detention facility have snowballed into one of the most dramatic and politically explosive sagas in recent Israeli history. What began as a probe into alleged abuse by IDF reservists has spiraled into a national controversy involving high-ranking officials, criminal investigations, and accusations of systemic deceit at the highest levels of power.

When Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, Israel’s former military advocate general, finally admitted on October 31, 2025, that she authorized the release of the footage, the admission detonated like a bombshell. The video—leaked to Channel 12 journalist Guy Peleg in 2024—appeared to depict severe mistreatment of a Palestinian detainee by soldiers at Sde Teiman. Tomer-Yerushalmi claimed her intent had been to push back against mounting right-wing criticism that she was persecuting soldiers during wartime. Her confession, however, now has her facing grave criminal allegations, including obstruction of justice, breach of trust, and abuse of office.

The story stretches back more than a year, beginning in July 2024, when a Palestinian prisoner at Sde Teiman was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, including broken ribs and internal trauma. The incident sparked an investigation by the Military Police, leading to the arrest of ten reservists from “Force 100,” the unit responsible for guarding detainees. Their detention triggered an uproar among right-wing activists and politicians, who stormed the base in protest. Several Knesset members, including Amichay Eliyahu of Otzma Yehudit, joined the rioters, denouncing what they saw as an unjust crackdown on Israeli heroes.

The footage that later surfaced in August 2024 was shocking. It seemed to confirm brutal conduct by the soldiers, though the prosecution’s later indictment stopped short of alleging rape, instead citing stabbing injuries near the rectum. Even so, the release of the footage—later revealed to be unauthorized—would eventually become the scandal’s focal point. At the time, the leak was viewed as mysterious, and speculation ran wild about who inside the IDF had dared to release such sensitive evidence.

Bereaved families from the group Baharnu B’Hayim petitioned the High Court of Justice in September 2024, demanding a criminal investigation into the leak. They argued that the footage was confidential evidence in an active military case, and that any internal probe by the same institutions under suspicion would be meaningless. Yet by early 2025, the court dismissed their claims after the Attorney General’s Office assured justices that an internal review—led by Deputy State Attorney Alon Altman and Col. Gal Asael—was underway.

In February 2025, indictments were filed against five of the reservists accused in the assault, but the question of who had leaked the tape lingered. That summer, Baharnu B’Hayim returned to court, urging that the Shin Bet take over the investigation. In September, the Attorney General’s Office declared the matter closed, insisting that “all leads were exhausted” and that “no viable investigative actions remained.” Critics now call that declaration fraudulent, claiming it was meant to shield the real culprit—Tomer-Yerushalmi herself.

The walls began closing in by late October 2025. During a Shin Bet polygraph examination of a communications officer from the Military Advocate General’s Office, the officer reportedly revealed that Tomer-Yerushalmi had personally ordered her to transmit the classified footage to the media. The revelation forced Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to open a formal criminal investigation. Within days, Tomer-Yerushalmi took leave from her post and submitted her resignation, acknowledging that she had authorized the leak “to counter false propaganda against the military justice system.” She wrote, “I take full responsibility for any material released from within my office.”

The fallout was immediate. Justice Minister Yariv Levin declared that Baharav-Miara could not oversee the case because of her prior involvement in the internal investigation. Baharav-Miara rejected his demand, calling it an illegal interference in judicial authority. Their standoff has since escalated into a fierce institutional battle, with some analysts warning of a brewing constitutional crisis.

Just when the public thought the scandal had reached its peak, the story took a bizarre turn. On November 2, 2025, Tomer-Yerushalmi disappeared for several hours, prompting a massive police and military search before she was located unharmed. Investigators now believe she may have used the disappearance to discard her cell phone—potentially containing incriminating evidence—into the sea. She allegedly left a note suggesting suicidal intent, though police sources now suspect the note was staged as a ruse.

The next day, police arrested both Tomer-Yerushalmi and her onetime deputy, Col. Matan Solomosh, who is accused of helping conceal her actions. Both were arraigned TODAY before the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court on charges of obstruction of justice, fraud, and abuse of office. Their remand was extended as police investigate whether evidence was destroyed during the hours Tomer-Yerushalmi was missing.

As the legal drama unfolds, questions about accountability reverberate through Israel’s defense and justice systems. Once a respected figure in military law, Tomer-Yerushalmi now stands accused of the very misconduct she was sworn to prevent. Her downfall has not only upended Israel’s legal establishment. It has shaken public trust in the delicate balance between military discipline, justice, and politics.