Matzav

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}

As the Knesset prepares to renew deliberations on the proposed draft law in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, a senior Chareidi official involved in the negotiations is revealing what he calls the real picture behind the emerging legislation. According to him, the current draft will not result in additional Chareidi enlistment — and is unlikely to withstand a legal challenge.

The source explained that the framework being discussed is designed to preserve the existing situation, not change it. “The current version of the law won’t bring more Chareidim into the IDF over the next two years,” he said. “Out of the target of 10,000 Chareidi recruits over two years, the requirement is only to reach 75%, and 10% of that can be national service. In other words, sanctions won’t apply unless recruitment falls below 75% of the targets.”

He noted that the proposal essentially formalizes the status quo. “The new draft law is an attempt to create wording that ensures what was is what will be. Everyone understands it won’t pass judicial review. The law will recruit the same number of Chareidim as today, when there is no law at all — around 3,000 a year.”

For that reason, the official believes the legislation is unlikely to survive scrutiny in the High Court of Justice. Its primary purpose, he said, is political: to show that efforts are being made to regulate the status of yeshiva students. “The law is very likely not going to pass, and even if it passes, it won’t survive the High Court. Attias drafted the law so he can show the rabbonim that real steps were taken to fix the situation — maybe it will even bring us back into the government, with or without actual legislation.”

He added that discussions could still take a sharp turn once the committee begins its formal debate. One scenario under consideration stems from the committee’s legal adviser, who has proposed significantly raising the first-year recruitment requirement. “If the demand increases to 7,500 in the first year, then we would really have to bring in another 1,500 Chareidim immediately,” the senior official said.

{Matzav.com}

An emotional scene unfolded during the Satmar Rebbe’s visit to the Or HaGanuz community near Meron, where he had gone to perform the mitzvah of separating terumos umaasros from the past year’s wine at the local winery. What appeared to be a routine stop on his trip revealed a hidden act of generosity that even his closest associates did not anticipate.

During the visit, the Rebbe met with members of the Badatz of the Eidah HaChareidis in Yerushalayim. At the height of the gathering, as those present watched in silence, the Rebbe unexpectedly reached into his pocket and pulled out a sealed envelope. Inside was a staggering check: one million dollars.

The Rebbe handed the envelope to Badatz member Rav Avrohom Yitzchok Ullman. The purpose of the donation was explicit — the funds were to be distributed among “mosdos al taharas hakodesh in Eretz Yisroel,” institutions that operate with strict adherence to their principles and refuse to accept any financial support from the Israeli government.

The gesture was so discreet and so sudden that even those closest to the Rebbe had been completely unaware. Only after leaving Yerushalayim did he decide to make the unprecedented gift, with no publicity, no ceremonial welcome, and none of the honorific events that typically accompany donations of such scale.

Rav Ullman, visibly shocked by the enormity of both the sum and the Rebbe’s modesty, expressed his astonishment. “In all the years that I have sat on the beis din hagadol, I have seen that anyone who gives a sum like one million dollars to mosdos al taharas hakodesh, the event itself — the ceremony — usually costs another two million dollars!”

He added, “And here, for the first time, someone gave such an amount — with no ceremony, no event, no expectation of recognition.”

The Rebbe requested that the distribution of the money take place only once he had returned to the United States, and specifically close to Chanukah, emphasizing that he did not want to be in Eretz Yisroel when the funds were handed out.

{Matzav.com}

A newly installed elevator was completed last week at the home of Rav Berel Povarsky, senior member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and rosh yeshivas Ponovezh, just hours before leading Gedolei Yisroel arrived for a late-Thursday-night gathering.

On Thursday night, Rav Dov Landau and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch convened at Rav Povarsky’s home on Ben Zakai Street in Bnei Brak. For the first time, the visiting roshei yeshiva did not need to climb the steep staircase that has long led to the apartment.

Earlier that day, a brief ceremony was held to affix a mezuzah to the entrance of the new elevator that now leads directly into Rav Povarsky’s home.

For years, Rav Povarsky was required to ascend the building’s stairs each time he returned home, a task that had become increasingly difficult. His devoted talmidim and close confidants resolved to install an elevator for the Rosh Yeshiva and the Rebbetzin, funded generously by donors.

With construction completed at the end of last week, Rav Povarsky asked his talmid, the noted posek Rav Yehuda Aryeh Dinner, rov of Central Bnei Brak, to clarify the halachic requirements regarding where to place the mezuzah. After weighing several considerations, Rav Dinner issued a ruling, and the mezuzah was affixed only a few hours before the arrival of the Gedolei Yisroel.

During the gathering at Rav Povarsky’s home, several fundraising efforts were conducted. Afterwards, the Gedolei Yisroel spoke privately, reviewing the current draft-law proposal.

Before departing, the roshei yeshiva addressed the crowd that had assembled in the apartment. They reassured the public that the new draft legislation “will not harm those who are truly devoted to learning Torah.”

{Matzav.com}

A new guide from Australian early-childhood specialists has ignited fresh controversy by proposing that parents treat diaper changes as an opportunity to practice consent — even with infants who can’t yet speak, the NY Post reports. The advice challenges long-standing assumptions about what a routine cleanup should look like.

The researchers argue that parents should announce what they’re about to do and give the baby a chance to absorb the message. As they put it: “At the start of a nappy change, ensure your child knows what is happening. Get down to their level and say, ‘You need a nappy change,’ and then pause so they can take this in.”

The recommendation is part of a November 2025 guide published by Deakin University, which urges caregivers to rethink the speed and style with which they approach this otherwise hectic task. The team suggests slowing down and treating the process as an early lesson in bodily awareness rather than something to “just get done.”

Their guidance goes beyond giving a heads-up. Parents are encouraged to frame diaper time as a dialogue — even if the child cannot respond. “Then you can say, ‘Do you want to walk [or] crawl with me to the [changing] table, or would you like me to carry you?’” the researchers advise, adding, “Observe their facial expressions and body language to check if they understand what is happening.”

From their perspective, this moment can teach fundamental ideas about autonomy. “This can be a time to help children learn about consent and how their bodies work,” they explain.

The Deakin team also proposes involving babies physically during the process, prompting them with statements like, “Can you please lift up your bottom so I can slide your nappy out?” They insist that “These habits plant the seed of the idea that a child has the right to say what happens to their body.”

Child-development professionals in the United States told The NY Post that while infants can’t converse, narrating actions is still meaningful. Yamalis Diaz, a clinical child psychologist at NYU Langone Health, says parents can use diaper changes to normalize conversations about privacy and boundaries long before children develop language. “This is more about integrating the teaching of consent into the [adult’s] parenting practices early on,” Diaz said. “It’s aimed at increasing the parents’ awareness of all the ways that the need for consent occurs in a child’s life.”

Diaz adds that starting early helps ensure such conversations remain “part of the conversations throughout early development,” making boundary-setting more natural. “Parents and kids will be more comfortable talking about and establishing boundaries,” she said.

NYC psychotherapist Lesley Koeppel echoes that sentiment. “Babies cannot verbally agree or disagree, but parents can still narrate what they are doing,” she told The Post. “This builds a foundation for bodily autonomy long before a child has language.” She stresses, though, that these exchanges should be understood symbolically: “The validity of this approach lies in its message. You matter. Your body matters. I will always tell you what I am doing.” According to her, that message “becomes the template for healthy boundaries later in life.”

The Deakin researchers warn that traditional diaper-changing habits — such as entertaining the child with toys or songs — may blur a child’s perception of what is happening to their body during an intimate task. “It’s important children notice when someone is touching their most intimate parts,” they state, encouraging parents to keep the moment grounded and consistent. “Even in early infancy, children can respond to consistent verbal cues,” they add, recommending that parents maintain familiar language and stable routines.

They also urge the use of anatomically correct terminology when cleaning or bathing a child. “Parents may feel uncomfortable doing this and think more childish names should be used,” they acknowledge. “But this keeps children safe, as it means they can then inform trusted adults about their experiences with all the people who care for them.”

Despite the criticism the advice has drawn, the authors insist the intention is to lighten, not increase, the burden on parents. “The habits we outline above may also seem to add more work to the already demanding parental load,” they concede. “So try and do them as often as possible and be kind to yourself if every nappy change isn’t a perfect moment of connection.”

“You are supporting a small child after all.”

{Matzav.com}

Iran’s intelligence establishment is escalating its rhetoric, alleging that outside powers are working to undermine the regime and even eliminate its top leader. According to an AFP dispatch, officials in Tehran say the United States and Israel are at the center of what they describe as an intensified campaign against Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In remarks carried by the ISNA news agency, intelligence minister Esmail Khatib warned, “The enemy seeks to target the supreme leader, sometimes with assassination attempts, sometimes with hostile attacks.” His comments represent one of the few times in recent years that Iranian leadership has publicly suggested a direct threat against Khamenei’s life.

Tehran frequently accuses foreign nations of covert operations, but such explicit claims about attempts on the supreme leader had rarely surfaced before the 12-day Israel–Iran conflict that erupted in June. Against that backdrop, Khatib cast a wide net of blame, insisting, “Those who act in this direction, knowingly or unknowingly, are the infiltrating agents of the enemy,” a pointed reference to both Washington and Jerusalem.

Iran’s accusations come months after the June confrontation, during which Israel carried out strikes on high-ranking Iranian military figures, nuclear scientists, infrastructure targets, and residential areas. The United States later entered the fray with attacks on several strategic nuclear sites.

In the midst of that conflict, ABC News questioned Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu about whether Israel would attempt to kill Khamenei. He replied that the assumption that eliminating Iran’s supreme leader would necessarily intensify the regional crisis was unfounded, declining to rule the possibility out.

Amid the fallout from the war, President Donald Trump later declared that he had saved Khamenei “from a very ugly death” during the hostilities — an assertion that added another layer of friction to an already volatile situation.

Khamenei, now 86, has served as Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989, maintaining ultimate control over the political, military, and religious hierarchy of the Islamic Republic.

{Matzav.com}