Matzav

Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as the U.S. Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism, appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for an intense and often contentious confirmation hearing. He was joined by five other nominees scheduled for ambassador-level posts under the new administration. The process, standard for high-level government appointments, involved several hours of probing questions from senators in both parties.

Kaploun arrived at the Senate with several symbolic personal items. Among them were a booklet containing a chassidic discourse titled “Blessed Is He Who Performed a Miracle for Me” and a single U.S. dollar bill he personally received from the Lubavitcher Rebbe 35 years ago. He placed these items inside the binder of briefing materials used for the hearing. According to sources, after the session ended, White House officials reached out to tell him they were pleased with his performance, despite the confrontational tone of parts of the hearing.

The public hearing followed many months of rigorous vetting conducted by the U.S. government, a standard examination of a nominee’s background, integrity, and positions on a wide array of issues.

At the start of his remarks, Kaploun described his firsthand experiences with antisemitism in the United States, recalling childhood memories of being taunted with slurs while walking to synagogue in Connecticut. He also spoke of losing his cousin in the October 7 massacre.

Kaploun told the committee: “This is not an easy task. Antisemitism is a symbol of much greater hatred. History has proven that when a nation begins to allow antisemitism, the results are not good for that country, because antisemitism is anti-American. Those who shout ‘Death to the Jews’ too often also shout ‘Death to America’.”

Photographs from the hearing showed Kaploun displaying the chassidic booklet and the dollar he received from the Rebbe, items he said were sources of strength and blessing.

Despite the significance of the position, Democratic lawmakers launched a coordinated effort to derail the nomination. Representative Jerry Nadler authored a sharply worded letter opposing Kaploun’s appointment, signed by 17 other Democratic members of Congress. Nadler and his colleagues argued that Kaploun, a longtime ally of President Trump, was a partisan choice who, in their view, overlooked antisemitism within the Republican camp. They further claimed they could not trust him because he had previously criticized Democratic support for what he described as Hamas-aligned positions.

The Democrats pointed to an English-language Jewish newspaper interview in which Kaploun had urged American Jewish leaders to vote for Trump because “the Democrats refuse even to recognize the women-raping, child-kidnapping terrorists as terrorists,” calling these comments “highly partisan statements.”

Ignoring the urgency of filling the role of special envoy to fight antisemitism, the lawmakers wrote: “Such a sweeping and false charge against those entrusted with Mr. Kaploun’s judgment raises serious concerns about his judgment, temperament, and ability to work effectively across party lines.” Rather than addressing the substantive issue of rising antisemitism in the United States and abroad, they claimed Kaploun was “Trump’s antisemitic scapegoat.” Kaploun declined to respond to their accusations during the hearing.

Kaploun was born in Kfar Chabad and immigrated to the United States as a toddler. His family settled in Crown Heights, close to the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s study hall. Over the years he emerged as a prominent Jewish supporter of Donald Trump, developing ties during Trump’s New York years. His relationship with the Trump political orbit strengthened through Kaploun’s business partner, Ed Russo, who served as an environmental adviser to Trump, as well as through connections with major Jewish philanthropists, including the Adelson family.

During Trump’s campaign last year, Kaploun served as a key figure in Jewish voter outreach. He coordinated meetings between Trump and leading rabbis and communal figures. About six months ago, Trump rewarded Kaploun’s efforts by offering him the special envoy position.

The period for submitting letters of support or opposition to Kaploun and the other nominees remains open until Thursday morning. Expectations are that Kaploun will be sworn in by the end of the week. The State Department has already prepared a dedicated office for him and is awaiting final Senate approval so he can begin his work combating the surge in antisemitism.

Trump announced his intention to appoint Kaploun shortly after winning the election. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu publicly welcomed the nomination, writing: “I am confident Yehuda will serve America and the Jewish people well. I look forward to working together with Yehuda to confront this growing threat to Jews and free societies everywhere.”

Israeli President Herzog also congratulated Kaploun. In a post on X he wrote: “Mazal tov to Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun on his appointment as the United States Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Antisemitism. With a long record of success across varied fields, Rabbi Kaploun is uniquely suited to lead this sacred mission.”

Herzog added: “Antisemitism is not just a threat to Jews around the world – it is a stain on the moral fabric of every society. The fight against this ancient hatred must be a global effort – for the sake of the Jewish people and for the soul of humanity.”

According to Herzog, Kaploun’s appointment “reflects the profound commitment” of the current U.S. administration and President Trump “to the American Jewish community, to its security, freedom, dignity, and well-being, and to the ongoing efforts to secure the release of the hostages held by Hamas – in which Rabbi Kaploun has also played an important role.”

He concluded: “As the Jewish people prepare to mark the seventh day of Pesach – commemorating the miraculous splitting of the sea and the triumph of faith over fear – we are reminded that the journey to freedom continues in every generation. Rabbi Kaploun’s leadership is now an inseparable part of that sacred journey. May he go from strength to strength.”

{Matzav.com}

Against the backdrop of escalating tensions inside the governing coalition, the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) faction announced Monday that it will oppose the dairy sector reform being advanced by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. According to the faction, the plan endangers Israeli dairy farmers and will ultimately lead to higher consumer costs.

The announcement comes as coalition parties are maneuvering around the contentious conscription bill, with UTJ lawmakers increasingly skeptical that Smotrich and his party will support its passage for political reasons. Feeling little obligation toward the finance minister under these circumstances, UTJ parliamentarians have chosen to publicly back the dairy farmers instead of the proposed reform.

In a joint statement issued by all UTJ members, the faction declared: “The United Torah Judaism faction in the Knesset supports the dairy farmers and opposes the dairy-sector reform proposed by the Ministry of Finance in the 2026 Arrangements Law, and demands its removal from the legislation.”

According to the statement, faction members expressed deep concern during their internal meeting about the threat the reform poses to the livelihoods of dairy farmers and agricultural communities. They warned that shifting the industry toward heavy dependence on imports would ultimately harm Israeli consumers as well.

“A sector dependent entirely on imports becomes subject to the control of foreign actors and could be disrupted at any moment,” the faction said.

UTJ lawmakers added that the proposed reform “will harm local production, raise the cost of living, and further weaken already vulnerable populations.” They called for the reform to be removed immediately from the Arrangements Law and for the government to hold a thorough professional and public discussion in the near future, including consideration of the alternative plans submitted by the Ministry of Agriculture.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has called an urgent clarification meeting with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and Defense Minister Yisroel Katz, following a high-profile and increasingly bitter dispute between the two senior officials.

The confrontation erupted after Katz sharply criticized Zamir over the chief of staff’s internal conclusions regarding IDF failures during the October 7 attacks. According to reporting by journalist Yaron Avraham, Katz’s office accused Zamir of basing key personnel conclusions on investigative material that, in their view, was not yet fully validated.

Sources close to the defense minister argued that the chief of staff relied on interviews and assessments they considered “unfit” to serve as the basis for personal conclusions. They further charged that Zamir had failed to thoroughly review the “Yericho Wall” contingency plan and insisted that any sanctions issued should also apply to senior officers who served prior to October 7.

According to Channel 12 News, associates of the chief of staff rejected Katz’s accusations. They said that although the minister was not notified in advance about the publication of the findings, he received the full Turjeman Committee report ahead of time. The reason he was not brought into the process directly, they claimed, was to ensure that the investigation remained free of political involvement and external pressure.

Separately, Kan News reported that Zamir fears Katz’s public criticism could have serious political repercussions, potentially even paving the way for steps to dismiss him.

The tensions escalated sharply earlier in the day when Zamir issued an extraordinary public statement responding to Katz’s remarks. He said that he learned only Monday morning—via media reports—about changes the defense minister planned to make to the review team he established upon assuming office, even as the chief of staff was leading a surprise general-staff exercise on the Golan Heights.

Zamir emphasized that the Turjeman Committee’s report was created solely for professional military use, describing it as a seven-month effort involving 12 current and former senior officers. He argued that questioning the report’s integrity was unwarranted and that a 30-day review by the Defense Ministry comptroller could not replace the depth or scope of the committee’s work.

The chief of staff also noted that one of his first decisions following the report was to order an in-depth reassessment of the “Jericho Wall” defensive plan. He stressed that the IDF is the only state body that has deeply investigated its failures surrounding the October 7 attack and taken responsibility for them. If any additional review is deemed necessary, he added, it should be conducted by an independent external commission rather than by entities tied to the political echelon.

Regarding personal recommendations made in the report, Zamir said these were internal IDF command decisions that do not require ministerial approval. He rejected suggestions that the criteria for these decisions were uneven or politically influenced.

Zamir warned that freezing IDF senior appointments for another month would damage the military’s readiness. He vowed to continue holding placement discussions as planned and to forward them to the defense minister for approval as required. He also highlighted ongoing IDF operational successes, noting that in the past 48 hours alone, the military had eliminated Hezbollah’s chief of staff and dozens of militants in Gaza.

He concluded by emphasizing that the large-scale surprise drill initiated Monday on the Golan Heights was part of the IDF’s broader effort to internalize lessons, restore readiness, and strengthen operational preparedness.

About an hour later, Katz issued a brief, restrained response, saying: “I value the chief of staff, who is well aware that he is subordinate to the prime minister, the defense minister, and the government of Israel. I do not intend to conduct a media debate. The Defense Ministry comptroller will present his findings within 30 days, and only afterward will I formulate my decisions on appointments, as required by my role and authority.”

The prime minister is expected to meet both men soon in an effort to resolve the dispute and restore calm at the top of Israel’s defense establishment.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump revealed Monday that he has agreed to travel to Beijing in April at the invitation of Chinese leader Xi Jinping — and that he, in turn, invited Xi for a state visit to the United States later next year.

The announcement followed a phone conversation between the two leaders earlier in the day, their first extended discussion since meeting last month in Busan, South Korea. Trump said the call ranged across topics including Ukraine, fentanyl, and agricultural trade. “Our relationship with China is extremely strong!” Trump said.

China, which disclosed the call before the U.S. did, issued its own readout that mentioned nothing about state visits. Beijing said the conversation touched on Taiwan, trade, and the war in Ukraine.

During the call, Xi reiterated China’s stance on Taiwan, saying the island’s reunification with the mainland is “an integral part of the post-war international order.” He also said he hopes to see “a fair, lasting, and binding peace agreement” for Ukraine, according to China’s foreign ministry.

The exchange came on the heels of pointed remarks from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who suggested Japan’s military might intervene if China were to use force against Taiwan — a statement that infuriated Beijing and further strained relations between the two Asian powers. Japan is a key U.S. ally in the region.

The timing of the Trump–Xi call also aligned with the latest diplomatic push from Washington to bring an end to the war in Ukraine.

Interestingly, China departed from its usual language, which often notes that its leader spoke “upon request.” This time, it did not. “That means China called Trump,” said Sun Yun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center in Washington.

Sun suggested Beijing’s motive is linked to escalating tensions with Tokyo. “My best guess is China is worried about the escalation (in tensions) with Japan. The reference to Taiwan and the post-WWII order directly points to the spat with Japan over Taiwan,” she said. Sun added, “They also talked about Ukraine. That is an issue China is interested in due to the new peace negotiation.”

The China–Japan rift deepened after Takaichi’s comments, prompting harsh denunciations from Beijing. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi declared over the weekend that Japan “crossed a red line that should not have been touched.”

In his call with Trump, Xi emphasized historical ties, noting that China and the United States fought as allies in World War II and must “jointly safeguard the victory of World War II.”

U.S. policy on Taiwan remains one of strategic ambiguity — Washington recognizes no sovereignty claim but opposes any effort to seize the island by force and is required by law to supply Taiwan with the weaponry needed for self-defense.

Trump has kept his own ambiguity about whether he would send American troops in a Taiwan Strait conflict. His administration has nonetheless pressed Taiwan to bolster its defense spending.

Earlier this month, Taiwan announced it had been notified that Washington approved a $330 million package of fighter jet parts and other equipment. Beijing sharply objected to the sale, calling it a violation of its one-China principle. “China deplores and opposes that,” foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said.

According to China’s summary of the call, the two leaders also discussed Ukraine, with Xi saying the conflict must be resolved “at its root” and voicing support for “all efforts that are conducive to peace.” Western governments, meanwhile, accuse China of fueling the war through industrial and economic support to Russia.

Trump said he also spoke with Xi about “fentanyl, soybeans and other farm products, etc.” He added, “We have done a good, and very important, deal for our great farmers — and it will only get better.”

Trump noted that since the Busan summit, “there has been significant progress on both sides in keeping our agreements current and accurate.”

For his part, Xi said the relationship between the two nations has “generally maintained a steady and positive trajectory” since their meeting in South Korea, and urged both sides to work toward “more positive progress,” the Chinese foreign ministry said.

However, China’s statement offered no specifics about new trade commitments, including purchases of U.S. soybeans.

{Matzav.com}

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir delivered a sweeping series of disciplinary actions, announcing that a number of senior officers would be dismissed and others formally censured for their part in the catastrophic failures of October 7, 2023.

Earlier in the day, Zamir called in the senior commanders for individual meetings, following through on his recent pledge to make “personal decisions” based on the findings of an independent expert panel. Lower-ranking officers were summoned separately by Deputy IDF Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Tamir Yadai.

Many of the officers whose dismissals were announced had already stepped away from the military, meaning the action is largely symbolic. Those who were censured will remain in their positions until their current terms end, with some expected to stay on for years.

In a video message explaining his decisions, Zamir said: “It is not easy to make decisions that impact people I value and who have dedicated their lives to the security of the state, people with whom I have fought for decades. Alongside this, before my eyes stands the obligation to draw a clear line for command responsibility. This is not a responsibility we choose to take upon ourselves, but one we bear by virtue of being commanders in the IDF,” he continued.

He warned that without restoring a culture of consequence, public faith in the army would crumble. “If we do not sharpen the meaning of responsibility, trust in the system will erode, and that trust is the foundation of our ability to fight, to win, and to defend the State of Israel,” Zamir said.

Zamir emphasized that the officers now penalized “are among our finest commanders.”

“All of them have dedicated most of their lives to the IDF and the State of Israel. The vast majority of them have had a direct part in the operational successes the IDF has achieved over the past two years,” he said.

One of the most senior officers sanctioned is Maj. Gen. (res.) Aharon Haliva, the former head of the Military Intelligence Directorate. Haliva stepped down in April 2024 and was replaced several months later; he will now be removed from reserve service and barred from returning to the IDF.

Maj. Gen. Oded Basiuk, who headed the Operations Directorate until his resignation after completing his tenure in July, will also be dismissed from reserve duty.

Former Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, who stepped down in January and was replaced in March, will likewise be removed from reserve service.

Current Military Intelligence Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder — who was the Operations Division chief on October 7 — received a formal censure. He will remain in his post until his four-year term ends in 2028, after which he plans to leave the army.

Israeli Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar will also be censured for the Air Force’s inability to intercept Hamas’s drones and paragliders during the attack. Even so, he will continue leading the IAF until his term concludes in April 2026.

Navy commander Vice Adm. David Sa’ar Salama will be reprimanded for the Navy’s failure to prevent Hamas’s maritime infiltration on October 7, but he will finish his tenure, which ends in the coming months.

Another officer who will be pushed out is Brig. Gen. “Gimmel,” the head of the Military Intelligence Directorate’s Operational Division on October 7, who has since transferred to a different position.

Brig. Gen. (res.) Yossi Sariel, who led Unit 8200 until announcing his resignation in September 2024, will be dismissed from reserve duty.

Former Gaza Division commander Brig. Gen. (res.) Avi Rosenfeld — who left the army in June 2024 and was replaced that September — will also be stripped of reserve responsibilities.

Col. (res.) Ariel Lubovski, previously the intelligence chief of Southern Command and later reassigned after being removed in March 2024 for an improper but consensual relationship with a subordinate, will no longer serve in reserve duty.

Col. (res.) Haim Cohen, who oversaw the Northern Brigade of the Gaza Division during the attack and resigned in March, will also be dismissed from reserve service.

Another officer being removed is Lt. Col. “Alef,” who worked in the Gaza Division’s intelligence branch before and during the assault and moved to a different MI post in early 2025.

In contrast, Zamir ruled that three senior officers — Brig. Gen. Eliad Moati, Brig. Gen. Manor Yanai, and Col. Ephraim Avni — could be promoted, overruling Defense Minister Israel Katz, who had frozen their appointments over suspected involvement in the October 7 breakdown. Moati, who had just begun leading the Border Defense Corps days before the massacre, was not considered responsible. Yanai’s Southern Command chief-of-staff role is primarily administrative. Avni served as operations chief for Southern Command during the attack.

One notable omission from the list of those summoned: Maj. Gen. Eliezer Toledano, who served as the head of Southern Command until mid-2023 and previously led the Gaza Division.

Most of the officers met Zamir face-to-face to receive their determinations, though Haliva and Sariel were unable to attend.

Speaking Sunday night, Zamir reiterated the army’s commitment to full accountability. He said the IDF was “committed to a thorough, professional, and in-depth inquiry of everything that occurred on that terrible day.”

He added: “Out of this commitment, I carried out a series of steps to advance the matter, including the establishment of an independent review team to examine the inquiries and their quality.”

His bottom line was blunt. “My conclusions present an unequivocal picture: The IDF failed in its principal mission on October 7 — to protect the citizens of the State of Israel,” he said.

“This is a severe, resounding, and systemic failure that relates to decisions and conduct before and during the event. The lessons of that day are many and important, and they must serve as our compass for the future, toward which I intend to lead the army,” he said.

Zamir underscored that the disciplinary actions were driven by duty, not politics. “Accordingly, I decided, after careful consideration, to take personal decisions regarding certain officials who served on October 7. This decision is complex and derives from my responsibility to balance systemic and command considerations with the needs of the IDF in a volatile period with threats on all fronts,” he said.

He closed with a pledge of resolve. “I will continue to lead the IDF in the light of truth, and out of responsibility and devotion to the mission,” Zamir added.

{Matzav.com}

A White House draft circulating among senior officials lays out a plan that would keep Affordable Care Act subsidies in place for an additional two years, an effort aimed at shielding millions of Americans from sharp premium hikes when the current tax credits expire at year’s end.

The proposal indicates that President Donald Trump is considering extending a key piece of Obamacare even as Republicans continue searching for a long-term health care overhaul — an issue that has stumped the party for more than a decade. The administration emphasizes that nothing is final until Trump himself unveils a decision.

The subsidies, central to the Democrats’ stance during the recent shutdown standoff, were a major sticking point earlier this month. Many Democrat lawmakers refused to back any deal to keep the government running unless the existing tax credits were renewed without changes.

Under the working draft, eligibility for the expanded COVID-era subsidies would continue but with a ceiling of 700% of the federal poverty level, according to two individuals familiar with the discussions who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The original Affordable Care Act capped eligibility at 400%, a limit suspended during the pandemic to widen access to middle- and upper-middle-income households.

The White House is also eyeing a universal premium requirement for anyone enrolled in an Obamacare plan. Every participant — even those on the lowest-tier plans — would need to contribute something toward monthly coverage. One idea being considered is a 2% income contribution or a minimum charge of $5 per month, a move Republicans argue is necessary to prevent abuse in a system that currently permits zero-premium plans for some low-income enrollees.

The possibility of maintaining any piece of President Barack Obama’s landmark law is expected to infuriate segments of the conservative base, which has spent years pushing to scrap the Affordable Care Act entirely.

“Until President Trump makes an announcement himself, any reporting about the administration’s health care positions is mere speculation,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said Monday.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt added that Trump “is very much involved in these talks” and is “focused on unveiling a health care proposal that will fix the system and will bring down costs for consumers.”

Despite early conservative frustration, initial signs point to potential bipartisan traction. Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire — one of the Democrats who voted to reopen the government in the recent shutdown episode — said the emerging White House framework “represents a starting point for serious negotiations.”

She argued that Trump’s willingness to consider an extension reflects the stakes. “The fact that President Trump is putting forward any offer at all to extend the Affordable Care Act’s tax credits shows that there is a broad understanding that inaction in this regard will cause serious harm to the American people,” Hassan said.

Back in 2017, Trump came up short in a high-profile attempt to dismantle Obamacare, exposing deep divisions among Republicans who otherwise controlled Washington. The party has not agreed on a cohesive replacement plan since, but the looming deadline for the pandemic-era subsidies gives Trump a fresh opening to reshape the health care landscape.

While the White House has been developing its proposal behind the scenes through the Domestic Policy Council, lawmakers have begun crafting alternatives of their own. Senators Rick Scott of Florida and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana are among those floating ideas to shift federal subsidy dollars into health savings accounts that consumers could use to purchase plans or cover medical expenses.

The administration’s draft would allow people enrolled in bronze-level or catastrophic plans to make contributions to health savings accounts, expanding an option typically restricted to higher-deductible insurance.

Another element under consideration is formally adopting the “program integrity rule,” an enforcement tool designed to better target fraud and misuse in the system.

The urgency behind negotiations is rising as Americans shopping for coverage are already confronting steep price increases. Open enrollment for next year began on November 1, and without new action from Congress, subsidized consumers are expected to see their premiums more than double, according to an analysis by the nonprofit health research group KFF.

Voters have made clear that health care affordability remains a top concern. Recent polls show it ranking alongside broader cost-of-living issues — themes that helped propel Democrats to victories in this month’s elections as they capitalized on economic frustrations nationwide.

{Matzav.com}

UNRWA, the UN body dedicated to servicing so-called Palestinian refugees—and barred from operating in Israel under Israeli law—continues to expand its activities inside Gaza, reinstating multiple programs and reopening facilities across the Strip.

Its spokesman, Adnan Abu Hasna, announced new initiatives underway, saying: “UNRWA is currently working to open additional clinics and medical centers in various areas of the Strip. Three new clinics have been opened inside Gaza City, as well as a medical center in Jabalia in the northern part of the Strip, despite the complex situation on the ground.”

He further highlighted new developments in the education system, noting that the agency has brought back a functioning school structure for roughly 300,000 children. Of those, about 50,000 have already returned to physical classrooms spread across 124 learning locations.

Turning to health services, Abu Hasna underscored the scale of daily medical operations, stating: “UNRWA currently operates seven central clinics—four owned by the agency and three rented—in addition to 35 medical points, which receive about 15,000 patients daily.”

These announcements come as the agency faces ever-intensifying criticism over its conduct and its long-documented entanglement with Hamas. That criticism escalated dramatically after Israel disclosed in 2024 that UNRWA staff members took part in the October 7, 2023 Hamas atrocities.

Israeli officials later released a detailed file alleging that UNRWA employees directly assisted the terrorists—kidnapping a woman, distributing ammunition, and participating in the brutal rampage at Kibbutz Be’eri, where 97 Israelis were slaughtered.

In response to those revelations, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres convened an investigative panel led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna to examine the accusations. The panel’s report acknowledged “neutrality-related issues” within the agency, while simultaneously claiming that Israel had not yet provided proof that a substantial portion of UNRWA’s workforce belonged to terrorist factions.

Amid all this, personal testimony has added fuel to the fire. Emily Damari, freed after 470 harrowing days as a Hamas captive, revealed that she was imprisoned at an UNRWA-run site.

The concerns only deepened in April 2025 when USAID disclosed that the United Nations blocked an American probe into links between UNRWA staffers in Gaza and Hamas operatives.

Despite this extensive trail of evidence and allegations, the International Court of Justice recently ordered Israel to allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza via UN channels—including through UNRWA. That decision prompted sharp objections from both Israel and the United States.

{Matzav.com}

The White House underscored on Monday that President Donald Trump continues to stand firmly behind Israel’s right to act against security threats, following the IDF’s targeted strike in Beirut that killed Hezbollah’s Chief of General Staff. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt conveyed the administration’s position while fielding questions from reporters.

When asked by Walla News correspondent Idan Kweller whether the president specifically supported the Beirut operation and Israel’s broader efforts to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding, Leavitt noted she had not yet discussed that particular strike with him. Even so, she emphasized the administration’s consistent stance, saying, “I haven’t spoken to the President about that strike specifically, but of course the President supports Israel’s right to defend itself and to take out any terrorist threats.”

Israel’s military confirmed on Sunday that, with guidance from the Intelligence Directorate, it carried out an operation in the Beirut area that resulted in the elimination of Haytham Ali Tabataba’i. The longtime operative, who served as Hezbollah’s Chief of General Staff, had been deeply involved in the terror group’s structure for decades.

According to Israeli assessments, Tabataba’i’s involvement stretched back to the 1980s. Over the years, he took on major leadership roles, including commanding the “Radwan Force” Unit and overseeing Hezbollah’s operations in Syria. During his tenure there, he played a key role in strengthening the organization’s foothold and enhancing its military capabilities within Syrian territory.

As the conflict evolved, he was elevated to oversee the organization’s operations framework, where he managed force development and coordinated the wider combat landscape. After much of Hezbollah’s senior military leadership was taken out during Operation “Northern Arrows,” Tabataba’i effectively became responsible for directing the group’s battle strategy against Israel.

The targeted strike occurred against the backdrop of ongoing friction along Israel’s northern border, despite a year having passed since the U.S.– and French-mediated ceasefire. Israeli officials say Beirut has failed to meet its obligations to disarm Hezbollah, which remains classified by the U.S. as a terrorist organization.

Israel has conducted multiple operations against Hezbollah sites in Lebanon as the group continues pursuing military reconstruction and maintains a substantial armed presence close to the Israeli frontier. In response to mounting international pressure, Lebanon’s cabinet has instructed its army to craft a plan for disarming Hezbollah by the end of 2025.

Hezbollah’s leadership, however, has already rejected that possibility. The group’s deputy leader, Naim Qassem, harshly criticized the government’s proposal and has maintained a consistent pledge that Hezbollah will not relinquish its weapons under any circumstances.

{Matzav.com}

Washington intensified its pressure campaign against the Muslim Brotherhood on Monday, as President Donald Trump signed an executive order instructing federal agencies to begin the formal process of labeling select chapters as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists. His directive requires both the State Department and Treasury to prepare a comprehensive review within 45 days to determine which branches meet the legal standards for such classifications.

According to the administration, the potential designations carry serious consequences. Once approved, they would lead to sanctions, the freezing of assets, and restrictions on financial movement—steps that could drastically hinder the ability of these groups to operate across borders.

In outlining the rationale behind the policy shift, White House officials pointed to recent events that heightened their concerns. They stated, “In the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attack, the military wing of the Lebanese chapter of the Muslim Brotherhood helped terror groups launch multiple rocket attacks against both civilian and military targets within Israel.” Officials also highlighted other alleged activities, noting, “A senior Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood leader encouraged violent attacks against U.S. partners and equities in the Middle East on the same day that Hamas perpetrated the October 7 attack.”

Administration aides further asserted that the organization’s influence extends beyond those incidents. As the White House put it, “Reports indicate Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood leaders have long provided material support to the militant wing of Hamas.”

The new federal initiative follows actions taken at the state level. Just days earlier, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced his own designations of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations as foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations. Those designations enable Texas authorities to impose tougher enforcement measures on the groups, and they bar them from acquiring or holding property within the state.

Momentum has also been building in Congress. Senator Ted Cruz has pushed legislation that would compel the federal government to identify the Muslim Brotherhood as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, a step that could strike at the financial underpinnings of the movement worldwide.

Several countries in the Middle East have already classified the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, underscoring the group’s controversial standing in the region.

{Matzav.com}

A wave of joy swept through Beis Medrash Elyon in Bnei Brak in recent weeks, after one of the yeshiva’s distinguished students, Yoel Aharon Tzarfati of France, experienced a miraculous recovery from a life-threatening illness and returned to his place in the beis medrash.

During the past summer, doctors discovered that the young man was suffering from a severe and dangerous disease. He was forced to leave the yeshiva for an extended period and travel back to France for a complex surgery followed by a series of difficult treatments.

Throughout his ordeal, the entire yeshiva cried out and prayed for the recovery of Yoel Aharon ben Rus, as doctors had given grim predictions regarding his chances of healing.

Seeking additional merit on his behalf, a group of students traveled to the home of the renowned posek, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein. They asked him to bless the young man and to guide them in taking on something meaningful for his recovery.

Rav Zilberstein instructed them to strengthen themselves in uninterrupted learning and to refrain from idle conversation in the beis medrash. Such an undertaking, he told them, would serve as a powerful and proven source of merit.

A few days later, the yeshiva received a special letter of encouragement from Rav Zilberstein. In it, he wrote that many people in this generation suffer from terrible illnesses, and that one who influences others not to speak during davening, during krias haTorah, or in the middle of learning, merits “supreme protection and safeguarding.”

He explained further by citing the teaching from the Yerushalmi: “Honor your physician before you need him.” The message, he wrote, is that one must honor Hashem — the Healer of all flesh — in advance, before trouble arrives. Whoever honors Heaven by refraining from talking during prayer and during learning in the beis medrash, he wrote, is granted protection from distress, harm, and illness.

Rav Zilberstein concluded with a clear promise: that in the merit of strengthening themselves not to speak idle words during prayer and learning, Hashem would send His word and heal “all 248 limbs and 365 sinews,” together with all those in Klal Yisroel who are ill.

The letter was joined by Rosh Yeshiva Rav Yerachmiel Ungarischer, who added his tefillah that Hashem remove illness from among them, especially on behalf of the young man from their group.

The yeshiva’s mashgiach, Rav Shmuel Schulman, also joined, writing that one cannot fathom the great merit in strengthening themselves in this area for their friend’s healing, and that all who do so will be blessed from Above.

Then, during the Tishrei season, the astonishing news arrived: the illness had vanished completely. Doctors were stunned by the dramatic turnaround. By the mercy of Heaven, Yoel Aharon recovered fully and returned from France to Israel at the start of the winter zman, where his fellow students greeted him with tremendous emotion.

A deeply moving scene took place when Yoel Aharon visited Rav Zilberstein to thank him for his blessings and his letter of encouragement, and to receive a new blessing for continued health.

Rav Zilberstein was overjoyed to see the young man healed, yet in his humility he refused to attribute the recovery to his own promise. Instead, he told him:

“Since you live in France — the home of the Baalei Tosafos — I am afraid that it was they who intervened on your behalf. You immerse yourself all day in Gemara, Rashi, and Tosafos, and since you live in their land, it seems they advocated for you Above. Through that merit you were granted complete healing.”

Rav Zilberstein then bentched him warmly that he continue to grow in Torah, merit strong and enduring health, and in the right time build a faithful home filled with joy and happiness.

{Matzav.com}

Ponovezh Yeshiva has submitted a formal request to the Tel Aviv District Court seeking judicial approval of the recent arbitration ruling issued by retired judge Dovid Cheshin. The move sets in motion a 15-day window for Rav Shmuel Markowitz to respond, either consenting to the ruling or filing an objection.

According to last week’s arbitration decision, ownership of the entire Ponovezh Yeshiva was awarded fully to its nosi, Rav Eliezer Kahaneman. The ruling further directs Rav Shmuel Markowitz and the Masores HaTorah Yeshiva to vacate the yeshiva’s hilltop campus by the end of the academic year, in the month of Av. In addition, Rav Markowitz and his yeshiva were ordered to pay 10 million shekels in damages to the Ponovezh corporation owned by Rav Kahaneman.

Today, Ponovezh Yeshiva filed its request for confirmation of the arbitration award through attorneys Ehud Artzi, Ran Feldman, and Rivka Ariel. Under Israel’s Arbitration Law, submitting such a request is a standard legal step intended to grant the ruling the enforceability of a formal court judgment.

Rav Markowitz and Masores HaTorah now have 15 days to respond. Their options include opposing the confirmation, submitting a formal motion to annul the arbitration ruling, or informing the court that they accept it.

The coming two weeks will therefore clarify Rav Shmuel Markowitz’s position and whether he intends to challenge the decision. Legally, courts rarely overturn arbitration awards; annulment is considered an exceptional measure, granted only when a severe and fundamental flaw is demonstrated in the arbitration process.

A revamped peace initiative crafted jointly by the United States and Ukraine emerged Monday, replacing the uproar-inducing 28-point outline circulated days earlier with a far more balanced 19-point framework, according to multiple reports. The newly drafted proposal sharply departs from the earlier document that had sparked intense criticism for tilting heavily toward Moscow’s demands.

Ukrainian First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya said that negotiators on both sides came away “positive” after reshaping the proposal. This latest draft drops the suggestion of capping Ukraine’s troop levels and removes language offering sweeping amnesty for atrocities committed during Russia’s invasion, the Financial Times reported.

Kyslytsya emphasized that the new version bears virtually no resemblance to the earlier leaked text, which had placed lopsided burdens on Kyiv while asking little of Moscow. The details remain mostly under wraps, but Ukrainian officials made clear that the reworked plan drastically shifts the balance.

“Very few things are left from the original version,” Kyslytsya told the outlet about the revised document. “We developed a solid body of convergence, and a few things we can compromise on.”

The abandoned 28-point draft had insisted Ukraine shrink its armed forces from roughly 900,000 service members to 600,000, and even required Kyiv to surrender the entire Donbas region—territory Russia has repeatedly tried and failed to seize for over a decade.

That earlier proposal also demanded that Ukraine permanently forfeit aspirations for NATO membership, offering in return only ambiguous security assurances that critics warned would do nothing to deter another potential Russian onslaught.

Following Sunday’s discussions in Geneva between Ukrainian representatives and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Kyslytsya confirmed that any plan to slash Ukraine’s military strength “was no longer on the table.”

US and Ukrainian officials similarly agreed to remove the blanket amnesty provision for Russian war crimes. The updated framework, according to the FT, would instead aim to address “the grievances of those who suffered in the war.”

Still, major questions remain unresolved. Russia’s territorial demands—and its insistence that Ukraine be permanently barred from joining NATO—have yet to be negotiated. Those thorny issues, Kyslytsya noted, will ultimately require direct talks between Trump and Zelensky, with Washington preparing to present the revised document to Moscow in the coming days.

“It’s on the Russians to show if they are genuinely interested in peace or will find a thousand reasons not to engage,” Kyslytsya said.

Earlier Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the original 28-point outline as something that could “form the basis for a final peace settlement” with Ukraine. He remarked that its terms largely reflected discussions he held with Trump during their Alaska summit earlier this year, signaling Moscow’s readiness to continue negotiating.

Whether the Kremlin will view the updated plan as acceptable remains an open question. Kyiv’s input has significantly reshaped the contours of the agreement, leaving Moscow to decide how far it is willing to bend.

Trump, who has repeatedly said that the initial 28-point plan was not a “final offer,” characterized the Geneva meetings as encouraging—hinting that “something good just may be happening” as his administration presses ahead in pursuit of an elusive peace.

{Matzav.com}

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir made a deeply personal appearance last night at a wedding in Kfar Chabad — the wedding of a young man whose life he saved as an infant more than two decades ago.

Zamir attended the wedding of Menachem Kirshenzhaft, a resident of the village. Twenty-two years earlier, during Zamir’s tenure as commander of the IDF’s 7th Armored Brigade, he thwarted a terror attack and eliminated the gunman, an encounter that saved the life of baby Menachem and his family.

The original attack occurred on October 24, 2003. The family of Rabbi Yigal Kirshenzhaft, a Chabad shliach, was driving near the community of Neve Dekalim when, at around 9:30 p.m., a terrorist opened fire on their vehicle from the side of the road.

Rabbi Kirshenzhaft later described the frightening moments in an interview with Arutz Sheva. The car was carrying his family and several hitchhikers when suddenly, “about a hundred meters after entering the Gush, gunfire erupted toward the vehicle from the shoulder of the road. We heard the shots and bullets started flying inside the car. The windows shattered and I yelled to my wife,” he recalled.

The family continued driving for another hundred meters as the barrage continued. The rabbi’s wife was lightly injured, as were three of their children. Their one-year-old son was struck lightly by shrapnel. “The entire baby seat next to the window that shattered was filled with fragments,” the rabbi said at the time.

Ynet reported that Zamir raced to the scene in a military jeep with additional soldiers, located the terrorist hiding behind a bush, and fatally shot him. Since that night, Zamir has remained in contact with the Kirshenzhaft family.

At the wedding, Zamir told the family emotionally: “I’ve had many encounters with terrorists, but this was a miracle from Heaven. The entire vehicle was riddled with bullets while the whole family — including the baby who is now the groom — was inside, and no one was hurt. So that today we can stand here and celebrate Menachem’s wedding.”

{Matzav.com}

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Four years after the deadly terror attack near the community of Chomesh, a military court has convicted one of the terrorists involved in the murder of Yehuda Dimentman Hy”d as part of a plea bargain arranged with the Military Prosecution.

As outlined in the agreement, the defendant admitted to murdering Dimentman and to trafficking in military equipment. In return, prosecutors removed the charges relating to the attempted murder of Dimentman’s two friends, who were wounded during the shooting.

The December 2021 ambush occurred just outside Chomesh in the northern Shomron. Dimentman, a resident of Shavei Shomron, was heading home from yeshiva with two fellow students when terrorists lying in wait opened fire at close range. He was killed instantly, and his two companions were injured.

According to the indictment, the attackers had prepared an ambush for the car carrying Dimentman and his friends, firing from close range into the vehicle. The document also reveals that the terrorists planned to abduct Dimentman’s body and hide it along a side trail near the village of Burka, a plot that security forces ultimately prevented.

Dimentman leaves behind his parents, eleven siblings, his wife Atia, and their nine-month-old son, David.

The shooting also wounded two other Israelis — Avia Antman and Neriya Shlomo Feldman — one moderately and the other lightly.

Attorney Chaim Bleicher of the Honenu legal organization, who represents the Dimentman family, issued a forceful statement condemning the attacker:

“This is a vile terrorist who acted to harm the existence of the Jewish people in the Land of Israel. The terrorist did not act in a vacuum but came from a society of murderers. It is time to expel the Islamic enemy from the land to prevent any possibility of the terrorist’s release in the future. We will demand in court that he be required to pay substantial compensation, thereby deterring future attackers.”

{Matzav.com}

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that a central element of President Donald Trump’s peace blueprint — the requirement that Ukraine and the world formally accept Russia’s control over some of the land it seized in the east — is stopping the negotiations cold. Addressing Sweden’s Parliament, he said that one portion of the plan essentially asks Ukraine to sign away part of its sovereign territory.

Zelenskyy emphasized that Russian President Vladimir Putin “wants legal recognition to what he has stolen, to break the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty,” adding that “that’s the main problem. You all understand what that means.” The Ukrainians’ refusal to bless any territorial carve-outs remains their largest sticking point with the U.S. proposal.

The dispute comes after U.S. and Ukrainian officials spent the weekend in Switzerland examining the full 28-point framework and even explored whether Zelenskyy should head to the U.S. this week as Trump aims — roughly — for a Thanksgiving-time breakthrough. Trump has insisted that the timeline is adjustable, noting that the proposal was “not my final” version.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio — who traveled to Geneva for the talks — painted a cautiously upbeat picture, saying “very, very meaningful” progress was made with both the Ukrainian and European representatives. He described the day as “probably the most productive day we have had on this issue” since Trump returned to the White House in January, while warning that he didn’t want to “declare victory or finality” yet. Negotiators, he said, still have unresolved points to hammer out.

European leaders echoed that mix of optimism and lingering concern. Finland’s President Alexander Stubb said there were still “major issues which remain to be resolved” even as he praised the headway made in Geneva.

According to a Sunday night statement from the White House, American and Ukrainian officials have “drafted an updated and refined peace framework,” though Moscow complained Monday that the new draft had not yet been shared with them. Putin said late last week that the American plan could form the basis for a settlement, but cautioned that if Kyiv rejected it, Russian troops would continue pushing forward.

The blueprint, which U.S. officials say holds Trump’s full support, triggered sharp anxiety among several of Washington’s European partners, who view the document as tilting too far in Russia’s direction.

Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S., Olga Stefanishyna, underscored that point during an interview on CBS News’ “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” saying her government had not signed on to all portions of the proposal.

{Matzav.com}

Palestinian Islamic Jihad announced Monday that its operatives had come across the body of a hostage while conducting excavation work in an area north of Nuseirat in central Gaza. The group said it “found” the remains earlier in the day, echoing details first reported by Al Jazeera. Despite the claim, neither Islamic Jihad nor Hamas issued any immediate statement about transferring the body back to Israel.

According to Israeli authorities, three murdered hostages are still being held somewhere in the Gaza Strip: Dror Or, Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, and Thai citizen Sudthisak Rinthalak. Their remains have been unaccounted for since the terror groups seized them, and Israel has been pressing for their return.

Over the weekend, Arabic-language outlets reported that Hamas and Islamic Jihad had launched renewed efforts to track down the final three bodies. The reports indicated that both organizations were scrambling to locate them, and that the process had accelerated in recent days.

Video circulating online showed Islamic Jihad fighters overseeing digging operations in Nuseirat, with excavators — some marked with Egyptian flags — working near them. Those images underscored the scope of the search efforts underway in the center of the Strip.

Al Jazeera said the searches began Friday, with teams expanding into multiple locations after earlier attempts failed to yield results. The operations have reportedly grown more urgent as pressure mounts to fulfill commitments made in negotiations.

Meanwhile, the Saudi outlet Asharq al-Awsat reported that Hamas was conducting an additional search in the Zeitoun area, south of Gaza City, focused on recovering another body believed to be held there. The group has been combing through several neighborhoods as part of its efforts.

Under the terms of the current ceasefire framework, the terror groups are obligated to return all bodies they are holding. They have claimed that repeated searches have not yet succeeded in locating the last of the remains — assertions Israeli officials have openly questioned.

The most recently recovered slain hostage was Meny Godard, who was murdered and taken captive from Kibbutz Be’eri. His body was returned on November 13, marking the last confirmed transfer prior to this latest announcement.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon used today’s Security Council session on the Middle East to deliver a forceful message directly to Palestinian Authority envoy Riyad Mansour. Danon confronted him across the table, arguing that the PA’s security establishment has failed to rein in violence in Judea and Samaria.

While speaking in the chamber, Danon charged that the PA’s sizable armed forces have done little to curb militancy. He pointed out that armed cells continue to flourish under the Authority’s watch and that its security apparatus has allowed dangerous networks to expand without interference. “The Palestinian Authority is unable to stop terrorism even in Judea and Samaria. It has more than 32,000 armed operatives. The PA has proven incapable of confronting radicals. Terror groups operate openly. Iranian weapons slip in unchecked. Extremists grow stronger because no one stops them,” Danon told the PA representative.

Danon said that Israel is consistently forced to step in where the Authority refuses to act. He argued that Israeli forces are compelled to dismantle what the PA ignores and to seize caches of weapons that pass through unchecked. “Israel has to step in to seize the weapons the PA ignores to dismantle the cells it won’t confront and to disarm the terrorists it refuses to challenge,” he declared.

The ambassador stressed that any entity that rewards extremists rather than dismantling them cannot be considered a legitimate governing option for the future. He reiterated that such conduct disqualifies the PA from any role in Gaza’s next chapter. “Those who are unable to confront terrorists and continue to reward them are the problem, not the solution, and they will certainly not rule Gaza,” Danon concluded.

{Matzav.com}

The Pentagon has launched a formal inquiry into Sen. Mark Kelly after President Donald Trump blasted him for what he labeled seditious conduct, thrusting a previously obscure video into the center of a high-stakes military-political clash. Officials signaled that the review could escalate into court-martial proceedings, an extraordinary step for a sitting senator with a military career.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth pointed directly to a video released days earlier by Kelly (D-Ariz.) and five other Democratic veterans, where they urged service members to “refuse illegal orders.” That message ignited outrage within the administration and drew Trump’s furious condemnation.

In responding to the uproar, the Department of War stressed in a written statement that the process will remain grounded in military law. “This matter will be handled in compliance with military law, ensuring due process and impartiality,” the department said, reminding personnel that “All servicemembers are reminded that they have a legal obligation under the UCMJ [Uniform Code of Military Justice] to obey lawful orders and that orders are presumed to be lawful.”

The statement went further, underscoring a long-standing principle: “A servicemember’s personal philosophy does not justify or excuse the disobedience of an otherwise lawful order.”

Hegseth later clarified that most of the Democrats in the video fall outside his jurisdiction because they either served in agencies like the CIA or did not retire from military service. Kelly, however, did retire, making him subject to the UCMJ.

On social media, Hegseth excoriated the group. “The video made by the ‘Seditious Six’ was despicable, reckless, and false,” he wrote on X. “Encouraging our warriors to ignore the orders of their Commanders undermines every aspect of ‘good order and discipline.’ Their foolish screed sows doubt and confusion — which only puts our warriors in danger.”

He added that investigators are evaluating Kelly’s conduct specifically because the senator addressed “all troops while explicitly using his rank and service affiliation—lending the appearance of authority to his words.” According to Hegseth, “Kelly’s conduct brings discredit upon the armed forces and will be addressed appropriately.”

Kelly said he first learned of the probe from Hegseth’s public post. He rejected the implication that he was trying to stir insubordination and said he would not be intimidated. “If this is meant to intimidate me and other members of Congress from doing our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it won’t work,” Kelly declared.

“I’ve given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies who care more about their own power than protecting the Constitution,” he added.

The disputed video—featuring Kelly, Sen. Elissa Slotkin, and Reps. Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander, Chris Deluzio, and Chrissy Houlahan—urged troops to remain loyal to the Constitution and resist “illegal orders.” None of the six cited any specific directive they believed warranted refusal.

Reaction from Trump and his allies was swift and blistering. “It’s called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL,” Trump thundered on Truth Social. He demanded severe consequences: “Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL. Their words cannot be allowed to stand – We won’t have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST BE SET.” At one moment, he even reposted, “Hang them George Washington would.”

Democratic leaders quickly urged heightened protection for the targeted lawmakers, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warning of potential threats.

By the weekend, Trump dialed back his language slightly—though still insisting the six Democrats belonged in jail. Despite the controversy, all six lawmakers have refused to retract or walk back the video.

A federal judge has abruptly shut down the criminal proceedings targeting James Comey and Letitia James, ruling that the Justice Department had no legal basis to install the prosecutor who brought the charges at President Donald Trump’s demand. The decision instantly halted the prosecutions and signaled a major judicial rebuke of the administration’s attempt to handpick an inexperienced loyalist to helm a premier federal office.

U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie’s ruling concluded that Lindsey Halligan’s appointment was unlawful, making her the latest Trump-backed prosecutor removed for the same reason. Though both defendants pleaded for the cases to be dismissed with prejudice, which would have permanently blocked any future prosecution, the judge opted for dismissal without prejudice. For now, there is no clear indication of whether the Justice Department will attempt to resurrect the indictments.

The dispute over Halligan’s appointment was only one front in a broader attack by both Comey and James. Each has accused the Justice Department of mounting politically driven prosecutions, and Comey’s team separately flagged significant issues in the grand jury process. Those arguments, still unresolved, have not yet been addressed by the court.

Monday’s ruling focused solely on the way the Trump administration installed Halligan—who previously served as a White House aide and had never worked as a prosecutor—to run an elite U.S. attorney’s office. Her elevation occurred after Erik Siebert, then interim U.S. attorney, was effectively pushed out following pressure from the administration to bring charges against Trump’s adversaries.

Comey’s lawyers argued that once Siebert resigned, the judges of the district alone had authority to name a replacement. Instead, Trump tapped Halligan while openly urging Bondi on social media to move against his critics, posting, “JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!” Just days later, prosecutors indicted Comey on obstruction of Congress and false-statement charges, and James was soon accused of mortgage-related wrongdoing.

Reacting to the dismissal, James said, “I am heartened by today’s victory and grateful for the prayers and support I have received from around the country.” She added, “I remain fearless in the face of these baseless charges as I continue fighting for New Yorkers every single day.”

Federal judges in multiple districts—including New Jersey, Los Angeles, and Nevada—have also ruled that interim U.S. attorneys appointed under similar circumstances were improperly installed, though cases in those jurisdictions were allowed to continue. Attorneys for Comey and James insisted that the situation here was more extreme, as Halligan alone signed and propelled the indictments.

Comey has long been one of Trump’s most persistent foes. Appointed in 2013 during President Barack Obama’s administration, he was leading the FBI’s probe into potential coordination between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia. Trump removed him in May 2017, triggering years of public friction and political combat between the two men.

{Matzav.com}