Matzav

British authorities revealed that a terror plot described as potentially catastrophic was narrowly stopped, following the conviction of two men who had spent months preparing an attack inspired by the ISIS organization.

Deputy Police Commissioner Robert Potts said the planning stretched over a long period and had reached an advanced stage, noting that the suspects were alarmingly close to putting their plans into action.

Prosecutors and police warned that the scheme, had it been carried out, could have resulted in “one of the deadliest terror attacks in the history of the UK, if not the deadliest.”

The men, identified as Walid Saadaoui, 38, and Amar Hussein, 52, were found guilty of plotting a terrorist assault in Britain. Testimony showed that they intended to launch a mass killing spree, using automatic weapons with the explicit aim of murdering as many Jews as possible.

President Donald Trump renewed his long-running feud with The New York Times early Tuesday, unleashing a blistering attack on the newspaper in a late-night post accusing it of deception, ideological extremism, and endangering the country.

Writing on Truth Social shortly after midnight, the president took aim at both the paper’s reporting and its opinion content, charging that the outlet routinely publishes false material and distorts facts for political purposes.

“The Failing New York Times, and their lies and purposeful misrepresentations, is a serious threat to the National Security of our Nation,” Trump wrote.

In the same post, Trump accused the paper of “Radical Left, Unhinged Behavior” and claimed it was “writing FAKE Articles and Opinions in a never ending way.”

He went further, asserting that the newspaper “must be dealt with and stopped,” and ended the message with the declaration, “THEY ARE A TRUE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!” The post was signed, “PRESIDENT DJT.”

The remarks represent the latest flashpoint in a public clash that stretches back nearly a decade, beginning during Trump’s first presidential campaign in 2015 and continuing through his time in office and beyond.

Throughout his first term, Trump repeatedly targeted The New York Times and other major media outlets, frequently dismissing critical coverage as “fake news” and accusing reporters and editors of entrenched political bias.

During that period, the Times published a series of high-profile investigative pieces examining Trump’s tax records, business affairs, and administration policies. Trump disputed or denied many of those reports.

In response to Trump’s criticisms over the years, the newspaper has consistently stood by its journalism, maintaining that its reporting is grounded in verified facts and serves the public interest.

A Times spokesperson has previously said the paper’s mission is to “seek the truth and help people understand the world,” stressing that coverage is not shaped to satisfy any political leader.

When Trump has labeled the paper an “enemy of the people” in the past, Times executives have rejected that claim, arguing that a free press is constitutionally protected and vital to holding those in power accountable.

The newspaper has also emphasized that its opinion section operates separately from its newsroom and represents a variety of viewpoints, a distinction it has highlighted amid criticism from Trump and his supporters.

{Matzav.com}

A sweeping audit released Tuesday by State Comptroller Matanyahu Engelman paints a troubling picture of security, management, and coordination failures along the Seam Line and the crossings surrounding Yerushalayim, shortcomings that have accumulated over many years.

The report evaluates the preparedness and performance of the authorities responsible for the barrier and crossings, with particular attention to the lessons of the October 7 massacre and the Swords of Iron War. Engelman’s findings indicate that longstanding government decisions were not properly implemented and that operational weaknesses remain unresolved.

One of the central findings concerns the physical barrier itself. According to the audit, only 61% of the several hundred kilometers comprising the seam line route are protected by a physical obstacle. In the remaining areas, wide gaps allow Palestinians to cross without inspection. In some places, including an 11-kilometer stretch on one route and a six-kilometer stretch on another, no barrier exists at all—conditions the Comptroller described as posing a significant risk of terrorist infiltration.

The report also highlights systemic problems at the crossings. It notes the lack of an approved operating framework, the failure to carry out key government decisions regarding civilian management, and what it describes as an insufficient response by the Shin Bet to professional recommendations. Despite a Prime Ministerial decision dating back to 2005, not a single crossing in the Yerushalayim perimeter sector has been transferred to civilian operation.

Further criticism is directed at the Israel Police, which, according to the audit, have been running the crossings for roughly 20 years without a formal doctrine or permanent command structure. Of the 16 crossings in the sector, only two are supervised by commanders formally authorized for the role. Engelman warned that this situation creates dangerous security gaps and weakens coordination among the IDF, police, Border Guard, and civilian security elements.

On the ground, the audit found that Border Guard units were reassigned from routine security duties in the area to other missions, diminishing the overall defensive posture along the seam line. The report also cites inconsistent and incomplete reporting between the IDF and police regarding infiltration incidents, resulting in a fragmented and uncoordinated response.

Additional deficiencies identified include aging infrastructure, manpower shortages, inadequate inspection equipment, and failures in coordination between government ministries. One example cited is the prolonged delay in opening the subsidence road at the Qalandiya crossing, which the report attributes to disputes between the Ministry of Transportation and the police.

Among the Comptroller’s recommendations are completing the civilianization of the crossings, establishing a clear police operating doctrine, improving intelligence-sharing among all relevant agencies, and immediately closing existing gaps in the barrier. The report also calls for reexamining the route of the barrier based on updated threat assessments.

Reacting to the findings, the Regavim movement issued a sharply worded response, saying: “The State Comptroller’s report addressing the October 7 scenario in the Yerushalayim area is welcome, but it focuses on marginal issues. The seam line will always be breached. Every day, dozens and hundreds of Arabs from Judea and Samaria cross the fence. Even the most expensive and fortified fence in the south was breached within minutes by terrorists wearing flip-flops.”

Regavim added that fences alone cannot prevent terrorism, arguing that the roots of the problem lie in education, territorial withdrawals, failed agreements, and weak governance. “In Yerushalayim, as elsewhere,” the organization said, “only firm control of the territory-through military and civilian presence, settlement, and governance-can address the dangerous security reality facing the State of Israel.”

{Matzav.com}

In a wide-ranging appearance on “The Shawn Ryan Show” released Monday, Hunter Biden offered unusually blunt criticism of two of the most controversial episodes of his father’s presidency, faulting both the handling of immigration at the southern border and the execution of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Discussing immigration, Hunter Biden said the approach taken during the Biden administration unraveled badly, calling the situation at the border “a disaster.” While stressing support for robust, lawful immigration, he argued that the country “doesn’t want immigrants that are coming here illegally, draining us of resources” and being “prioritized above” veterans and other Americans who are struggling.

The exchange came as host Shawn Ryan pressed him on frustrations voiced by many Americans, particularly the contrast between strained services for veterans and taxpayer-funded assistance for illegal immigrants in major U.S. cities. Hunter Biden rejected the idea that simply cutting migrant benefits would fix problems at the Department of Veterans Affairs, saying his father “cared” deeply about veterans and citing the PACT Act as evidence of that commitment.

Even so, his remarks echoed a long-standing Republican critique that the administration surrendered operational control of the border and declined to fully enforce existing laws until political pressure intensified. Government data has underscored the magnitude of the surge. The Congressional Budget Office estimated net immigration of roughly 2.4 million people per year in both 2023 and 2024 under an “other foreign nationals” category, with levels expected to decline closer to historical norms afterward.

Hunter Biden also revisited a familiar Democratic argument over a stalled bipartisan border proposal, saying a sweeping bill crafted by Sens. James Lankford of Oklahoma, Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, and Chris Murphy of Connecticut had Republican backing until Donald Trump intervened ahead of the 2024 election. Republicans, however, have maintained that the necessary enforcement tools were already in place and that then-President Joe Biden opted not to deploy them, while Trump emphasized deterrence, removals, and curbing asylum abuse through campaigns and executive actions.

Turning to Afghanistan, Hunter Biden said that ending the two-decade war was justified, describing the decision to leave as “the right thing to do.” At the same time, he acknowledged that the manner in which the withdrawal unfolded was “an obvious” failure.

He pointed to the ISIS-K suicide bombing at Kabul’s airport during the evacuation, which killed 13 U.S. service members and about 170 Afghan civilians, as emblematic of what went wrong. Reflecting on responsibility for the outcome, he said: “I think that there was a better way to do it, and … I can blame it on his generals, I can blame it on [other] people [for] the way in which we did it, but — and my dad always knew this also, is that the buck stops with him.”

Hunter Biden added that his father was “crushed” by the deaths of the troops. His candid comments, however, are likely to reignite scrutiny of the administration’s planning and the deadly consequences of the withdrawal, an episode Republicans have long cited as a symbol of weakened American credibility overseas.

{Matzav.com}

Yeshiva bochur Binyamin Kreif, who was released after three and a half months in military prison for failing to report to the draft office, spoke Monday night in a wide-ranging interview about his incarceration, including two months spent in solitary confinement, the high-profile escape attempt that drew national attention, and the message he wants fellow yeshiva students to hear: “Prison is a summer camp. Don’t be afraid.”

Kreif spoke with broadcaster Yankele Friedman, who opened the conversation by describing the emotional scenes surrounding Kreif’s release, including a celebratory reception in Modi’in Illit and what he termed a “royal welcome,” complete with a limousine. Friedman said Kreif had been jailed solely because he is a yeshiva student devoted to Torah study, adding that tefillos for his release had come from across the country. “I saw videos today of thousands celebrating together with him. He was welcomed like a king,” Friedman said.

Kreif thanked Friedman for his steady support throughout his imprisonment, calling him a “holy person” whose encouragement helped him endure months behind bars.

During the interview, Kreif described in stark detail the conditions he faced, most notably two months in solitary confinement, in a cell measuring roughly two and a half meters. “I was in solitary for two months—just a cell and a guard watching you all the time,” he said. According to Kreif, security was intentionally stringent, with guards rotating every four hours to prevent any rapport. He said the harsh treatment stemmed from the widely documented escape incident that followed his arrest. “The guards told me, ‘You shamed the IDF,’” Kreif recalled. “I answered them, ‘Fortunate are we.’”

Despite the isolation and physical strain, Kreif said he and other inmates found ways to lift their spirits and even inject humor into daily life. He described harmless antics meant to unsettle guards without being caught, such as ducking into camera-free restrooms and making animal noises. “We turned the place into a summer camp,” he said with a smile. “We’d shout, ‘Zoo—fall in!’ and keep them on edge all night.” Friedman wondered whether such behavior prolonged Kreif’s time in solitary, but Kreif insisted the goal was to retain dignity and feel like “a prince” even in prison.

One of the interview’s most striking moments involved Kreif’s encounter with an atheist inmate who was transferred into his cell just days before his release. Kreif said that over the course of four days, he shared parables and spoke about faith, sparking a profound change. “On the day I was released, he told me, ‘Binyamin, can you leave me your peyos so I can look chareidi too?’” Kreif recounted. Friedman responded that even behind bars, Kreif had merited “bringing a lost brother closer.” Kreif added that many secular inmates expressed deep respect for the chareidi yeshiva students housed alongside them.

As the conversation drew to a close, Kreif addressed yeshiva students anxious about the prospect of arrest. “There’s really nothing to fear about this prison. It truly is a summer camp,” he said confidently. He acknowledged that solitary confinement is difficult, but emphasized that conditions improve significantly once inmates are moved to the regular unit, where the atmosphere is far more social and supportive.

{Matzav.com}

A heartening and widely discussed engagement was announced yesterday, Zos Chanukah 5786, involving a 25-year-old yeshiva bochur who took part last year in a well-known Chassidishe segulah for shidduchim — and is now celebrating his engagement.

The chosson, Shmuel Aharon Chazan, is among the talmidim of Yeshiva Kiryas Melech. He became engaged yesterday to a young woman from the Gutfarb family of Kiryat Sefer less than a year after traveling to Poland to participate in the traditional segulah associated with the yahrtzeit of rav Dovid of Lelov.

Each year, on 7 Shevat, dozens of unmarried men who are awaiting their zivug travel to Poland, where the Lelover Rebbe conducts a tish at the site of the yahrtzeit. As part of a long-standing custom regarded by many as a tried and tested segulah, participants dance atop a table during the tish, davening for salvation in their personal lives.

With the upcoming yahrtzeit only weeks away, another story of yeshuah has now emerged. The chosson lives in Beit Shemesh near the center of Lelover Chassidus. After hearing about the custom, he traveled last year on 7 Shevat to the tziyun of the Lelover Rebbe in Poland, took part in the dance, and yesterday — on Zos Chanukah — celebrated his engagement.

This is not the first such case. In Adar of last year, we reported on another engagement that followed the same segulah: a 29-year-old talmid of Yeshivas Oraysa who became engaged less than a month after participating in the Lelover yahrtzeit dance. He has since married, b’shaah tovah u’mutzlachas.

A striking detail in both cases is that neither chosson is a follower of Lelover Chassidus. Nonetheless, both traveled to Poland, fulfilled the segulah with complete faith, and were subsequently zocheh to see yeshuah.

{Matzav.com}

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie sharply criticized President Trump’s recent conduct, saying the past week reflected poorly on the administration and warning that Republicans could pay a political price if voters don’t feel tangible improvements in their daily lives.

Speaking during a panel segment on ABC News’s “This Week,” Christie dismissed any suggestion that recent developments were routine. “It’s not a strange week, Jon, it’s an awful week,” he told host Jonathan Karl.

Christie argued that the president needs to refocus on governing rather than staging appearances, cautioning that symbolic gestures won’t address public concerns. “And the president better wake up to the fact that going to Rocky Mount, N.C., is not going to solve his problems,” he said. “And that he better start solving the American people’s problems, or our party is going to have a big problem.”

The former governor, who mounted unsuccessful Republican presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2024, said Trump has failed to connect with voters, pointing to surveys indicating that most Americans believe the economy has not improved under Trump compared with the Biden administration.

Christie also took aim at Trump’s conduct over the last week, criticizing what he described as a “disgraceful post” about the reported deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Reiner, in which Trump suggested the noted Hollywood director and Democratic donor died due to hostility toward the president or from “Trump derangement syndrome.”

He went on to list a series of actions he found troubling, saying, “Then he puts his name on the building named after an assassinated President. Then he gives a frenetic national TV speech filled with inaccuracies and really sounded like he was yelling at the American people that they don’t get how great he’s done so far. And then he puts these plaques up underneath the presidential pictures he’s put on the colonnade, filled with things that you could tell just from reading them that he wrote them himself,” adding that Trump “even figured out a way to get himself into the Andrew Jackson plaque, but as a martyr, worse than whatever happened to Andrew Jackson.”

Christie further faulted the president for failing to secure an agreement to end the war in Ukraine and pointed to recent votes on Capitol Hill where some Republicans broke ranks with Trump, including efforts to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies and to release documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.

Despite the criticism, polling suggests Trump’s standing has improved modestly in recent weeks. According to Decision Desk HQ’s polling aggregate, his approval rating rebounded from a second-term low of 41 percent last month, recorded during the prolonged government shutdown, to about 45 percent — roughly in line with his average since taking office.

Still, signs of vulnerability remain as Trump approaches 2026. Recent surveys show him registering some of his weakest economic approval numbers, with voters citing tariffs, high prices, and persistent cost-of-living pressures as ongoing concerns.

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{Matzav.com}

Israel’s defense minister moved quickly on Tuesday to clarify remarks he made earlier in the day regarding the northern Gaza Strip, stressing that the government is not planning to establish settlements there.

According to a statement from Yisroel Katz’s office, his earlier comments about creating military youth communities were intended “solely in a security context,” adding unequivocally that “the government has no intention of establishing settlements in the Gaza Strip.”

The statement further emphasized the government’s security doctrine, noting: “The Defense Minister emphasized the central principle of border protection in every arena: The IDF is the first and last line of defense for Israeli citizens, and the State of Israel relies for its defense only on it and the security forces.”

The clarification followed remarks Katz delivered earlier at an event in Beit El, where he spoke about plans for the security establishment to create military youth communities in northern Gaza and to restore IDF bases in northern Samaria that had been relocated in past years.

At that ceremony, Katz underscored the ideological and security importance of Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria, declaring: “The State of Israel expresses, once again, in the clearest possible way, its commitment and trust in settlement in Judea and Samaria, which guards the heart of our land, connects us to our heritage, roots, and ideology. The past few years have proven that where there is settlement, there is security. Just as the settlement protects a large portion of Israel’s citizens, so our role is to ensure that we protect the protector.”

He continued by linking settlement policy to broader security operations, saying that “Settlement is a central part of a broader operation to remove threats throughout Judea and Samaria proactively.”

Katz also used the occasion to address the government’s decision announced a day earlier to shutter the IDF’s Galei Tzahal radio station. Referring to the move, he said, “We are ending this anomaly of a civilian broadcasting station inside the IDF that attacks the IDF and its soldiers relentlessly, even during the ongoing war. After I examined the matter, and following identical positions expressed by many defense ministers and chiefs of staff in the past, I will not be deterred and will continue to advance the decision.”

He went on to accuse opponents of politicizing the issue, adding, “Today, some have changed their position out of opposition to the government, and the judicial system has also enlisted to thwart the decision, as part of its struggle against the government. The summer camp is over.”

The Beit El gathering marked a milestone agreement to remove the Binyamin Regional Brigade base from the area’s civilian government compound, where it had been located for nearly four decades. In its place, a new residential neighborhood with 1,200 housing units is planned. The development has already received approval for planning and execution from the Supreme Planning Council.

Among those attending the ceremony were Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Government Secretary Yossi Fuchs, and senior officials from the Civil Administration. Beit El mayor Shai Alon recited a Shehecheyanu to mark the occasion and led participants in a celebratory toast for the project.

Despite the subsequent clarification from Katz’s office, the Yesha Council welcomed his initial remarks, saying, “We welcome Defense Minister Yisroel Katz on his important announcement on the establishment of new military youth communities in the Gaza Strip. The uprooting of the settlements and the expulsion of the Jews was a terrible injustice, and settlement in Gaza is the rectification. Settlement in the Strip has always strengthened the security of the south of the country and of the entire State of Israel. Now it will also make clear to the enemy that they will pay for the October 7th massacre with the permanent loss of their land.”

The proposed military youth communities, referred to in Hebrew as Garinim, are typically made up of young people or young families who commit to communal living and joint work, often centered on agriculture or structured volunteer frameworks. Members of these groups usually enlist in the IDF together upon reaching draft age, serve as a cohesive unit, and later return to their community to raise families and sustain future growth. Under the current framework, the communities would be affiliated with the Nachal Brigade, though individual military roles would continue to be assigned by the IDF at enlistment.

{Matzav.com}

A decades-old photograph showing a young Elon Musk celebrating a Jewish holiday has surged across social media, igniting renewed discussion about the billionaire’s background.

The image depicts Musk as a child wearing a red outfit trimmed in white, complete with a hood that some viewers likened to a Santa Claus costume. Visible behind him is signage referencing Purim, according to the original post that shared the photo.

Musk himself weighed in on the viral post, confirming its authenticity by noting that it was taken “at Purim.”

The resurfaced image has prompted a fresh round of speculation in online comment sections about Musk’s ethnicity, with some users wondering whether the entrepreneur might be Jewish, despite his repeated statements to the contrary.

In earlier public remarks, the businessman has said that he attended Rachel Spiro Hebrew Kindergarten in Pretoria, South Africa, a detail that often resurfaces in such discussions.

Although Musk has faced criticism in the past over statements that some have labeled antisemitic, he has consistently expressed positive sentiments toward Jewish people. The SpaceX founder has even described himself as “aspirationally Jewish.”

{Matzav.com}

Jim Beam has announced that it will suspend operations at its primary bourbon-making facility in Kentucky beginning January 1, even as the broader whiskey industry grapples with slowing demand and shifting consumer habits.

In a statement sent to CBS News, the company said its Clermont, Kentucky distillery will shut down production for a limited period “while we take the opportunity to invest in site enhancements.” Despite the pause, Jim Beam noted that the James B. Beam campus will remain open to the public throughout the shutdown.

While activity at the main site will be paused, distilling will continue at other company facilities. Production will carry on at the Fred B. Noe craft distillery in Clermont as well as the Booker Noe distillery located in Boston, Kentucky.

The temporary shutdown comes during a challenging period for the spirits industry. Americans are drinking less overall, with Gallup reporting that only 54% of U.S. adults now consume alcohol — a level close to a 90-year low.

International sales have also taken a hit. According to an October report from the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, exports of American-made spirits dropped 9% in the second quarter. The report pointed to the impact of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, noting especially sharp declines in shipments to Canada. Exports to that market plunged 85% after Canadian retailers removed U.S. spirits from store shelves in response to President Trump’s trade measures.

Domestic production data reflects the slowdown as well. Through August, whiskey makers produced 55 million fewer proof gallons than during the same period last year, a decrease of 28%, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported. A proof gallon is defined as one U.S. gallon of liquid containing 50% alcohol by volume.

Even so, consumers are unlikely to see shortages anytime soon. Kentucky distilleries are currently storing a record 16.1 million barrels of aging bourbon, according to the Kentucky Distillers’ Association. Reported in October, that figure represents the highest total since Prohibition ended and marks a 27% increase compared with 2024.

Industry groups attribute the buildup to both a growing number of distillers operating in Kentucky and a recent cooling in demand. Trade uncertainty, softer export markets, and changes in drinking patterns have all contributed to the slowdown, the association said.

To qualify as bourbon, whiskey must meet specific U.S. legal standards. Among other requirements, it must be aged in new, charred oak containers and made from a grain mixture containing at least 51% corn, according to the whiskey tourism site Bourbon Country.

{Matzav.com}

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For those who crave serious Torah, total immersion, and an atmosphere charged with intensity and purpose, the announcement of the Agudah 5786 Yarchei Kallah in Yerushalayim lands like a jolt of electricity. This winter, Agudath Israel of America will once again bring together lomdei Torah from around the world for five unforgettable days of learning in Yerushalayim, from Sunday, February 15 through Thursday, February 19, 2026.

The Yarchei Kallah is a full-throttle ascent into a single sugya, treated with focus, clarity, and discipline, from the first seder to the last. In the span of one week, participants work toward real mastery, guided by a carefully structured program that pairs high-level shiurim with serious hachanah and in-depth preparation.

At the center of the week are shiurim from Gedolei Yisroel, whose presence sets the tone and elevates the entire experience.

The atmosphere is unmistakable. Hundreds of bnei Torah learning shoulder to shoulder. The hum of chavrusos locked in debate. Tables filled from early morning until late at night. A sense that every moment matters, that this is time reclaimed and used properly.

And while the learning is intense, everything around it is designed to support it. Comfortable hotel accommodations, gourmet meals, and seamless logistics allow participants to stay focused, energized, and fully present in the beis medrash, without distractions pulling them away.

The Yarchei Kallah has long been known as a place where people come to reset their learning, raise their level, and reconnect with why they learn in the first place. In Yerushalayim, during these charged winter days, that impact is felt even more sharply.

For those ready to push harder, think deeper, and experience what a week of real Torah immersion can feel like, the Yarchei Kallah 5786 is on the calendar — and it promises to be nothing short of powerful.

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Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu warned on Monday of a “very severe response” should Iran take action against Israel, while emphasizing that the Jewish state is “not seeking confrontation.”​

Speaking at a joint press conference in Yerushalayim alongside the leaders of Greece and Cyprus, the premier said that Israel is aware of recent Iranian “exercises,” referring to an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps missile drill which, according to Axios, Israel has warned the Trump administration could be a cover for a strike against Israel.

“We are following this and we are making the necessary preparations,” said Netanyahu. “I want to make it clear to Iran here, any action against Israel will be met with a very severe response.”​

Netanyahu spoke following a trilateral summit with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.

​Asked if the Islamic Republic would be on the table during his sixth meeting with President Donald Trump, scheduled for Dec. 29 at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Netanyahu affirmed that it will be discussed, saying that “we are not seeking confrontation with anyone … we seek stability, prosperity and peace.” The premier added that there were “great achievements” during the 12-day war with Iran in June, stressing that “our basic expectations from Iran have not changed,” a position that Washington shares, namely, “the level of enrichment and other activities, the ending of the proxy wars against us.”​

In a video aired on Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee responded to reports that the Islamic Republic is attempting to rebuild its nuclear and missile programs just six months after the joint Israeli-American operation, arguing that Tehran’s actions pose a threat to the entire world, not just the Jewish state.

“Iran, I don’t know if they ever took him [Trump] seriously, until the night that the B-2 bombers went to Fordow. I hope they got the message, but apparently they didn’t get the full message,” he said during an interview with the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. “They appear to be trying to reconstitute and find a new way to dig the hole deeper, secure it more,” he added.​

Huckabee stressed that Iran threatens not just Israel, but the United States and Europe, and warned that if the Europeans fail to comprehend this, “then they’re dumber than I sometimes think they are.” At the same time, he said he was pleased that snapback sanctions were recently reimposed against the regime in Tehran, calling them “very important” and saying that more of these types of actions “will help to maybe choke off Iran’s ability to do what they’re trying to do.”​

Huckabee emphasized that the Iranian regime has “threatened America for 46 consecutive years” since 1979, when the ayatollahs took power.​

“They’ve always said, ‘Death to Israel, death to America,’ in the same sentence. This was never a separation. Israel is only the appetizer because you’re closer and you’re an easier target than the vast geographical expanse that represents the United States,” said Huckabee.​

“But they’ve never hidden the fact that the real entrée, their ultimate goal, is to destroy the United States, because if you want to destroy Western civilization and move the world back to the 7th century and take us back to a place that, thank God, doesn’t exist anymore, then you cannot do that without taking the United States down,” the diplomat continued. “And that’s why they have said for all of these 46 years, ‘Death to America.’” JNS

{Matzav.com}

A head-to-head clash between Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the 2028 Republican primary is unlikely, Rep. Mike Lawler said Monday, suggesting instead that the two could ultimately join forces.

Speaking on CNN’s “The Arena” with Kasie Hunt, the New York Republican said, “frankly, I think it’s more likely that you’ll have a Vance-Rubio ticket than anything else.” While stopping short of a formal endorsement, Lawler said the vice president would enter the race with a clear advantage, calling him a “formidable candidate” who has a “leg up” should he decide to run.

Lawler also framed the next cycle as crowded and competitive. “It’s going to be a robust 2028 cycle,” he said. “I know many of the players involved and considering it, and like and respect many of them. But of course, it’s always healthy to have debate and discussion.”

Vance has not declared his intentions but has left open the possibility of a presidential bid. He received a prominent endorsement last week from Erika Kirk, the CEO of Turning Point USA and the widow of Charlie Kirk, during the organization’s AmericaFest gathering in Phoenix. “We are going to get my husband’s friend, JD Vance, elected as 48 in the most resounding way possible,” she told the crowd.

Recent polling underscores Vance’s early strength. In Race to the White House’s national polling average, the vice president holds more than 45 percent support among potential Republican contenders. He is followed by Rubio, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump Jr., and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, with support levels of 10.9 percent, 9.4 percent, 8.6 percent, and 4.2 percent, respectively.

Reports have also pointed to a cooperative relationship between the vice president and the secretary of state. Politico said last month that Rubio would support Vance if he entered the race, and Vance told the New York Post in October that Rubio is his “best friend” in the Trump administration.

Not everyone in the party is on board. Sen. Rand Paul suggested in an interview with ABC News on Sunday that Vance would not be his top choice for 2028, pointing to disagreements with the administration’s protectionist trade agenda.

Despite policy differences, Lawler praised the vice president’s abilities, describing him as “one of the smartest and most articulate” Republicans in national politics. He added that a general-election debate between Vance and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez would be a “debate for all ages.”

Ocasio-Cortez last week drew attention to a survey showing her narrowly ahead of Vance in a hypothetical 2028 matchup, with 51 percent support to his 49 percent.

{Matzav.com}

An atmosphere of excitement and uplift filled the bais medrash of Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok on Monday night during the Zos Chanukah tish held at the chassidus’ center in Yerushalayim’s Meah Shearim neighborhood. Hundreds of chassidim gathered for the tish were surprised and deeply moved when the Rebbe entered wearing the traditional kolpik hat.

While the Rebbe has worn the kolpik on isolated occasions in private settings—such as during bedikas chometz—this was the first time he donned the distinctive garment publicly for the entirety of a tish, before the assembled chassidim.

It is widely known that the Rebbe is a devoted talmid and deeply bound, heart and soul, to the Rebbes of the Vizhnitz dynasty, foremost among them the Imrei Chaim and Yeshuos Moshe. Having drawn from their wellsprings throughout his formative years, the Rebbe has consistently instilled Vizhnitzer teachings and conduct among his followers, guiding his own path in accordance with their sacred traditions.

The kolpik has long been identified as the distinctive headgear of the Vizhnitzer Rebbes throughout the generations. Seeing it worn openly by the Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Rebbe during a public tish was understood by chassidim as a powerful expression of the unbreakable bond between the Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok court and the legacy of Vizhnitz.

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A chareidi mother who was forcefully shoved along with her daughters by police officers during a protest in Bnei Brak has spoken out sharply against what she described as police brutality, following the circulation of disturbing footage from the incident.

In an interview with Yaakov Grodka on Kol Barama Radio, the woman recounted the moments shown in the video, which spread widely on social media. “Nazis! Anyone who drags a small child along the road and pushes a mother who is trying to protect her. I have no other word for him,” she said. “He violently pulled my daughter when we were standing on a traffic island into the road. She’s a small child, she started crying, and when I tried to protect her, he pushed me too, and my other daughter as well.”

The mother stressed that she and her daughters were not participants in the demonstration. “We weren’t part of the protest. We came to shop and were standing on the side with our bags,” she said. “My daughter was just filming, and suddenly a police officer appeared out of nowhere and dragged us by force.”

The footage shows the mother and her daughter attempting to cross the road amid the protest in Bnei Brak. Police officers at the scene are seen using force against them, initially striking the mother and then pushing her without apparent cause, in full view of her daughter, who was also shoved.

In response to the video, Israel Police issued a statement rejecting the characterization of the incident. “These were not innocent women, but two women who were present at an illegal protest that led to the blocking of a road and disruption of public order,” police said. According to the statement, one of the women shouted insults at officers—calling them “Nazis”—and pushed a camera into an officer’s face. “Israel Police will continue to maintain public order and prevent harm to freedom of movement for road users,” the statement added.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich used a meeting of his Religious Zionist Party faction on Monday to lay out his positions on the economy, the fighting in Gaza, and Israel’s diplomatic agenda ahead of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s expected trip to Washington, Arutz Sheva reports.

Turning first to domestic concerns, Smotrich said easing the financial burden on Israeli families remains a central priority. “The cost of living is deeply important to me. The budget now coming to the Knesset after government approval includes very significant measures to address it.”

He pointed to structural changes in the dairy sector as an example of why reform is necessary. “The dairy reform proves its necessity and urgency more with each passing day. While the public is being frightened by lies about the collapse of the dairy industry, they are being denied this basic consumer product, and some think this will convince the public that the reform is a mistake. It’s exactly the opposite – the absolute, monopolistic control you hold over the dairy market only proves how desperately it must be opened.”

According to Smotrich, more steps are imminent. “The import reform, which will be signed in the coming days, will also reduce costs for the citizens of Israel. The same goes for the deposit reform and additional steps we will soon take to address the cost of living.” He summed up his approach by saying, “The reason we are doing this is simple – I am determined to prove to everyone that things can be affordable here.”

The minister then shifted to security and diplomacy, stressing that Judea and Samaria must be central to discussions with Washington. “We are carrying out a revolution on the ground in Judea and Samaria, but in terms of security and diplomacy, we are still far from internalizing and implementing the lessons of October 7. Oslo was a mistake, the establishment of the Palestinian Authority was a mistake, and the PA is a terrorist entity that must be eradicated.”

Expanding on that point, he warned against repeating past failures. “So that Kfar Saba does not, God forbid, become Kfar Aza, and Netanya does not become Be’eri, and Nitzanei Oz does not become Nahal Oz, we must – absolutely must – dismantle the Palestinian Authority, collect the weapons, and apply Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria.”

Smotrich cited remarks by President Donald Trump to underscore his argument about Israel’s security depth. “President Trump himself compared Israel to the tiny tip of a pen on the large desk in the Oval Office, explaining better than anyone how indefensible these borders are.”

He cautioned that inaction would carry a heavy price. “If we fail to act now in these areas, we will be responsible, God forbid, for the next October 7. As a member of the government, I bear responsibility for October 7, and I have no intention of bearing responsibility for the next one.”

Addressing Gaza, Smotrich said the coming White House meeting is critical. “The Prime Minister will soon, God willing, travel to the White House to meet Israel’s friend, President Trump.” He added that the objectives of the war must remain unchanged. “The Prime Minister must ensure in that meeting that – just as we committed – we do not stop until we achieve the primary objective of the war that we defined: the destruction of Hamas. We promised total victory, and we are not there yet.”

While acknowledging delays, including the issue of the hostages, Smotrich said attention must now be on firm conditions for the future. “There will be no reconstruction without demilitarization. This is mandated by President Trump’s plan, and we must not deviate from it by even an inch. There is no such thing as partial demilitarization, fictitious demilitarization, or watered-down demilitarization. Hamas cannot exist in Gaza at the end of this war. There will be no involvement of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza – neither directly nor indirectly.”

He concluded by listing further red lines. “There will be no entry of multinational forces into our part of Gaza. International forces must dismantle Hamas and demilitarize Gaza, and they must do so in the red zone of the Strip. The State of Israel will not pay in any way for Gaza’s reconstruction. If anything, the Gazans should bear the enormous costs of the war they forced upon us in the October 7 massacre. There must be a clear and short deadline for attempts to dismantle Hamas the easy way, after which Israel will have full freedom to act on its own.”

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{Matzav.com}

A new generation of American battleships bearing President Donald Trump’s name is being planned, with the Navy outlining vessels that would carry nuclear capabilities and represent a return to a class of warship not used in combat for decades.

Speaking Monday, Trump said the ships are intended as a broad show of strength rather than a message to any single rival. “It’s a counter to everybody. It’s not China. We get along great with China,” he said. “It’s just everybody. You don’t know who comes along, but we just wanted peace through strength. Hopefully we never have to use them, but there will never be anything built like these.”

The announcement was made at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, where Navy Secretary John Phelan described the vessels as “Trump-class battleships.” He said an upcoming ship, to be known as the USS Defiant, would be “the largest, deadliest and most versatile and best-looking warship anywhere on the world’s oceans.”

According to officials, the battleships will be outfitted with a wide array of weaponry, including traditional guns and missiles alongside hypersonic weapons, electronic rail guns, and high-powered laser systems. Phelan added that the ships will also be equipped with the “nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile.”

Trump said the goal is to establish an entirely new fleet of such vessels over time. “We envision that these ships will be the first of a whole new class of battleships to be produced in the years to come,” he said, adding that the long-term plan calls for as many as 20 to 25 ships.

The president also framed the idea as a revival of an older naval concept. “These have been under design consideration for a long time, and it started with me in my first term, because I said, ‘Why aren’t we doing battleships like we used to?'” Trump said.

The Defense Department said the Navy will take the lead in designing the ships, which are expected to be completed in the early 2030s. Trump indicated he intends to be involved in the process as well, saying he would participate “because I’m a very aesthetic person.”

Battleships have been largely absent from modern U.S. combat operations. The last time the United States deployed them in active fighting was in 1991, during the first Gulf War against Iraq.

The move fits into a broader pattern of Trump’s name and image being attached to federal institutions and projects during his second term. In recent weeks, a board selected by Trump voted to rename the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as the Trump-Kennedy Center. His name was also added to the U.S. Institute of Peace headquarters, and the Interior Department last month showcased a 2026 national park pass featuring Trump’s likeness. Several of those actions are now facing legal challenges.

Despite the sweeping scope of the new naval plans, Trump emphasized that the battleships are intended to preserve stability rather than provoke conflict, portraying them as a tool to maintain U.S. dominance and deter any potential adversary that might emerge.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. regulators have authorized the first pill taken by mouth to treat obesity, opening the door to a new option for patients who until now needed injections to access GLP-1 weight-loss therapies. The Food and Drug Administration signed off on the drug Monday after studies showed meaningful weight reduction along with heart-health benefits, according to its manufacturer, Novo Nordisk.

The newly approved tablet is designed to be taken once a day and uses semaglutide, the same compound found in the company’s injectable Wegovy and Ozempic. It is the first oral GLP-1 receptor agonist approved in the United States for long-term weight management.

Approval covers adults with obesity, as well as those who are overweight and have at least one related medical condition such as heart disease, provided the medication is used alongside diet and exercise.

Clinical results played a central role in the decision. In the OASIS 4 phase 3 study, participants taking a 25-milligram daily pill shed an average of 16.6% of their body weight over 68 weeks, while those given a placebo lost 2.7%. Novo Nordisk said roughly one in three patients in the treatment group dropped at least 20% of their body weight.

The FDA’s decision was also backed by findings from the large SELECT trial, which showed that semaglutide lowered the risk of major cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke, in adults with obesity or overweight who already had cardiovascular disease.

Until this approval, all FDA-cleared GLP-1 medications for weight loss were delivered by injection. Drugs in this class work by mimicking a hormone that helps control appetite and slows digestion, allowing patients to feel full for longer periods.

“With today’s approval of the Wegovy pill, patients will have a convenient, once-daily pill that can help them lose as much weight as the original Wegovy injection,” Mike Doustdar, president and CEO of Novo Nordisk, said in a news release. “As the first oral GLP-1 treatment for people living with overweight or obesity, the Wegovy pill provides patients with a new, convenient treatment option that can help patients start or continue their weight-loss journey.”

Novo Nordisk has indicated that the drug could enter the U.S. market at an initial price of about $149 for a month’s supply, far less than many injectable GLP-1 treatments that can run uninsured patients hundreds of dollars each month.

The company has argued that pills may be easier for insurers to cover than injections, potentially broadening access for people who have avoided shots or encountered insurance barriers.

Investors responded quickly to the announcement, pushing Novo Nordisk shares up more than 9% in after-hours trading on news of the approval and the company’s first-mover advantage in oral obesity treatment.

The manufacturer said it plans to roll out the Wegovy pill in the United States in early January and has already submitted the medication for regulatory review in Europe and other regions.

The approval arrives as competitors move closer to the same space. Eli Lilly and Company is developing its own once-daily oral weight-loss drug, orforglipron, which has delivered double-digit percentage weight loss at higher doses in late-stage trials and met key study goals. The company is expected to seek FDA clearance next year, setting up a head-to-head race in what analysts see as a future multi-billion-dollar global market.

Like other semaglutide-based products, the Wegovy pill carries warnings about gastrointestinal side effects and includes a boxed warning tied to thyroid tumors observed in animal studies.

{Matzav.com}

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