Matzav

An Israeli district court has rejected Sara Netanyahu’s attempt to have a multimillion-shekel defamation lawsuit filed against her by opposition politician Yair Golan dismissed, ruling that the prime minister’s wife cannot avoid potential responsibility for statements she made during a televised interview simply because a television station broadcast them.

The lawsuit, filed by Golan, chairman of Israel’s Democrats party and a retired IDF major general, seeks 2.55 million shekels, approximately $800,000, in damages over remarks Netanyahu made during an interview with Channel 14 concerning the October 7 Hamas massacre.

In its decision, the court rejected Netanyahu’s arguments for dismissing the case at the preliminary stage and ordered her to pay Golan 2,000 shekels in legal expenses.

The ruling allows the lawsuit to proceed but does not determine whether Netanyahu’s statements were defamatory or whether Golan is entitled to compensation.

At the center of the dispute are comments Netanyahu made during a Channel 14 interview that Golan alleges insinuated he had advance knowledge of the October 7 attack.

During the interview, Netanyahu stated, “Yair Golan was dressed and ready on the morning of October 7 when the prime minister did not know.”

Golan maintains that the remark suggested he possessed information about the impending Hamas assault before Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu or other Israeli officials were aware of what was unfolding.

His attorneys argue that the insinuation was false and seriously damaging to his reputation, particularly given the sensitivity surrounding the events of October 7.

The lawsuit was filed through attorneys Giora Erdinast, Almog Gil-Or, and Yarden Shochat of the EBN law firm after Netanyahu allegedly refused to apologize for her statements or retract them.

In seeking dismissal, Netanyahu argued that she had merely participated in an interview and that legal responsibility for publishing and distributing her remarks rested with third parties, including Channel 14, which aired the interview.

Her attorneys sought to distinguish between the individual who makes a statement during an interview and the media organization responsible for transmitting that statement to the public.

The district court rejected that distinction.

The judge determined that Netanyahu had agreed to be interviewed with the knowledge and understanding that her statements would be broadcast to a broad audience. Under those circumstances, the court found no basis for treating the interviewee’s participation and the broadcaster’s transmission as entirely separate acts for purposes of dismissing the lawsuit.

“There is no justification for an artificial separation between the aspect of ‘publication’ by the interviewee and the ‘publication’ by the interviewing and broadcasting body. These are two sides of the same coin and constitute a single publication,” the judge wrote in the decision.

The ruling addresses an important legal question concerning responsibility for statements made in media interviews. It establishes, at this preliminary stage, that an interviewee cannot obtain dismissal of a defamation claim solely by arguing that the broadcaster, rather than the speaker, was responsible for making the remarks public.

However, the court did not decide whether the specific statements attributed to Netanyahu meet the legal definition of defamation. That issue, along with the question of any damages, remains to be examined as the proceedings continue.

The lawsuit also extends beyond the allegations of defamation.

Golan is seeking civil compensation based on an additional claim involving an alleged violation of the criminal-law provision dealing with incitement to violence.

His legal team argues that Netanyahu’s statements should be examined in the context of their potential consequences and the public atmosphere surrounding the accusations.

The lawsuit further alleges that one of Netanyahu’s advisers viewed the Channel 14 interview before it was broadcast. Golan’s attorneys intend to rely on that allegation as part of their arguments concerning the circumstances in which the remarks were published.

Those assertions remain allegations presented by the plaintiffs. The court has not established that Netanyahu committed defamation or incitement, nor has it made findings concerning the alleged advance review of the interview.

Following the decision, Golan issued a sharply worded statement welcoming the rejection of Netanyahu’s dismissal request.

“Once again, it has been proven that the poison machine will stop at nothing — neither lies about the heroes of October 7 nor attempts to undermine public confidence in the judicial system. Today’s ruling is further proof that truth will triumph over lies. Those who incite violence and spread false accusations will not succeed in escaping responsibility. We will continue until justice is fully pursued in court, and we will defend the fighters for Israeli democracy with our own bodies,” Golan said.

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Israeli health and environmental authorities have ordered the suspension of classes at two schools in Kiryat Ata, near Haifa, following the detection of exceptionally high concentrations of benzene in the air surrounding the Haifa Bay oil refineries. Residents living near the industrial complex have been advised to remain indoors whenever possible, close their windows, and limit unnecessary outdoor activity.

The emergency precautions were announced Sunday after air-monitoring stations recorded unusually elevated levels of the hazardous chemical over several days, raising concerns about potential exposure among residents, schoolchildren, and workers in the surrounding communities.

In coordination with the Kiryat Ata Municipality, the Health Ministry and Environmental Protection Ministry decided that regular classes would not take place at the Social High School and the Erezim School during the following 24 hours. Both institutions are located near the refinery complex, and arrangements were made to relocate their students to alternative facilities.

The ministries issued special guidance for people living or working within approximately one kilometer, or about six-tenths of a mile, of the refineries. Residents were urged to avoid spending time outdoors unless necessary, with particular emphasis on protecting children and pregnant women.

Employees at nearby industrial facilities were also advised to keep windows closed and operate air-conditioning systems to reduce the amount of outdoor air entering their workplaces.

The warnings followed troubling readings recorded over the weekend of October 9 and 10, when monitoring equipment near the Deshanim industrial area in Kiryat Ata detected exceptionally high benzene concentrations.

Additional elevated readings were recorded Sunday at a monitoring station in Haifa near the former vehicle licensing office, indicating that the problem was affecting more than one monitoring location in the Haifa Bay area.

Although measurements showed some improvement Sunday morning, benzene concentrations began climbing again during the afternoon, prompting authorities to maintain precautionary measures and issue public warnings.

Benzene is a hazardous chemical found in petroleum and other industrial products. Exposure to elevated concentrations can pose health risks, and prolonged exposure has been associated with serious illnesses, including certain blood cancers. The level of danger in any particular incident depends on the concentration of the chemical and the duration of exposure.

In response to the monitoring results, the Environmental Protection Ministry ordered an immediate halt to maintenance operations at the Bazan refinery complex.

The maintenance activities had been taking place in recent days alongside repair work intended to restore damage sustained by the facilities during the war.

Environmental officials instructed the refinery operator to investigate the incident and determine the circumstances responsible for the abnormal benzene readings.

The ministry also demanded that the company submit a detailed plan outlining its intended work procedures and the safeguards it would implement to prevent further violations of air-quality standards.

Approval to resume the suspended operations will depend on the ministry’s review of those plans and the measures proposed to prevent additional hazardous emissions.

The situation has renewed attention to the environmental concerns surrounding the Haifa Bay industrial zone, where large petrochemical facilities operate near populated residential neighborhoods, schools, and commercial areas.

Officials from the Health Ministry and Environmental Protection Ministry are expected to conduct another assessment Monday, October 12, using updated air-monitoring results to determine whether the restrictions can be eased or whether further precautions are necessary.

Residents have been advised to follow official instructions as authorities continue monitoring air quality in the affected areas.

{Matzav.com}

A Jewish comedian in London was expelled from a creative writing group after identifying himself as a Zionist, prompting a legal dispute over allegations that he was discriminated against because of his beliefs and Jewish identity.

Harry Deansway, who had participated in the group for approximately six months, says he was informed that he was no longer welcome after the woman running the group questioned him about his political views concerning Israel.

According to Deansway, the confrontation began when the group’s organizer sought clarification about his position on Zionism and the Jewish state. After he confirmed that he considered himself a Zionist, she allegedly told him that his beliefs “support the massacre of an entire population.”

The organizer then made clear that he could no longer participate in the group’s activities, telling him, “You have no place in the group.”

Deansway’s removal brought an abrupt end to his involvement in the writing circle, where he had been a member for half a year. The repercussions reportedly extended beyond the group itself, with a literary evening that he had organized subsequently being canceled.

The incident drew the attention of UK Lawyers for Israel, a legal advocacy organization that sent a formal warning letter to the group’s management challenging the circumstances of Deansway’s exclusion.

The organization contends that removing the Jewish comedian because of his views on Zionism and his identity may constitute unlawful discrimination under Britain’s Equality Act 2010.

The group at the center of the dispute is the Offbeat Writers’ Group in north London, organized by Ruby Sullivan. Deansway had attended its sessions for six months without any reported difficulties before Sullivan raised the issue of his views on Israel.

According to correspondence described by UK Lawyers for Israel, Sullivan told Deansway that she was “very strongly pro-Palestine” and believed their differing political positions would interfere with their ability to work together.

Deansway responded that he was “Jewish and a Zionist,” while explaining that he also supported Palestinian rights. He described his understanding of Zionism as support for the Jewish people’s right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland and said that this did not mean endorsing actions that caused suffering to Palestinians.

Sullivan nevertheless rejected his explanation, writing, “I really can’t align with your beliefs as they support the massacre of an entire population.”

She went on to state, “I don’t think there is a place in the Offbeat Writers’ Group for you because of this.”

The organizer also reportedly disclosed plans to introduce an ideological declaration for prospective members, including an “antiapartheid free zone commitment,” raising further concerns about whether participation in the group would depend on applicants’ political positions concerning Israel.

The dispute took another turn when Sullivan referred to the suffering endured by Jews throughout history, stating that “because of the horrific past the Jewish people have endured, they should not want to inflict the same suffering on others”.

UK Lawyers for Israel objected to that statement, arguing that it improperly associated Jews collectively with the actions of the Israeli government. The organization pointed to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism, which identifies holding Jews collectively responsible for Israel’s actions as a potential manifestation of antisemitism.

The legal organization maintains that Deansway’s exclusion may violate protections under the Equality Act 2010, which prohibits discrimination on grounds including race, religion, and certain protected philosophical beliefs.

Its legal warning argues that Deansway may be protected under several provisions of the legislation, including those concerning his Jewish ethnicity, religious identity, and belief in Jewish national self-determination.

The controversy also affected a ticketed literary event Deansway had arranged for October 13 at Bar Gemišt, a London venue.

After Sullivan withdrew from the event and other performers also pulled out, the venue canceled the booking. Management explained that its original agreement to host the gathering had been based on its existing relationship with Sullivan and the writing group.

UK Lawyers for Israel subsequently contacted the venue’s owners, warning that the cancellation could also raise questions under Britain’s antidiscrimination legislation.

However, the bar’s directors, Marion Zoelle and Uroš Dezutelj, rejected the allegations in a response dated October 10.

They maintained that their decision resulted from changes to the event and communication problems rather than Deansway’s Jewish identity or Zionist beliefs.

The owners said Deansway remained welcome at the establishment but declined to restore the canceled event. They also indicated that they would defend themselves against allegations they regarded as unfounded.

UK Lawyers for Israel condemned the treatment of Deansway, describing the incident as an example of ideological discrimination against Jewish artists in Britain’s cultural community.

“This is McCarthyism dressed up as progressive politics. A Jewish writer has been subjected to an ideological loyalty test and excluded because he believes in Jewish self-determination.

“People are entitled to oppose Zionism, but they cannot lawfully exclude Jews from cultural activities because they refuse to renounce their beliefs.

“Jewish artists should not have to pass a political purity test to participate in London’s cultural life.”

The dispute comes amid heightened tensions over Zionism within British political and cultural organizations. Earlier this month, Britain’s Green Party adopted a controversial motion declaring that Zionism is racism, prompting criticism from Jewish communal leaders and concerns about the implications for Jewish members who identify as Zionists.

A recently published study by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research found that the proportion of British Jews identifying as Zionists increased from 2022 to 2025, reaching 66 percent, underscoring the significance of the issue within Britain’s Jewish community.

No court ruling has been reported in Deansway’s case, and the legal allegations against the writing group and the venue remain disputed.

{Matzav.com}

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that President Donald Trump’s surprise announcement of an immediate energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine came without his knowledge, raising serious questions about whether an agreement had actually been reached between the warring countries.

Speaking to Axios reporter Barak Ravid shortly after Trump’s announcement, Zelensky said the supposed agreement was news to him, although he emphasized that Ukraine would be willing to accept such an arrangement if Russia agreed to halt its attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

“The ceasefire announcement was news for me. But if Russians agree to an energy ceasefire, Ukraine will agree,” Zelensky told Ravid.

The Ukrainian leader also asked Washington to clarify precisely what had been negotiated with Russian President Vladimir Putin and when the proposed cessation of attacks was supposed to begin.

“If President Trump negotiated it with Putin, please tell us when the ceasefire begins. We are ready, and we will accept it,” Zelensky said.

The extraordinary exchange followed a declaration by Trump on Truth Social earlier Sunday that Moscow and Kyiv had reached an agreement to immediately suspend attacks on each other’s energy facilities.

“Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!” Trump wrote.

The president did not provide details about the agreement, including its precise terms, how compliance would be monitored or whether Russia had formally committed to stopping its strikes.

Zelensky’s response immediately cast uncertainty over the announcement, particularly because Ukraine, one of the two countries supposedly party to the agreement, appeared to have received no advance notification that a deal had been finalized.

The Ukrainian president subsequently issued a more formal statement expressing support for an energy ceasefire while emphasizing that Kyiv was still waiting for information from the United States.

“Ukraine supports the ceasefire, and it is important that Russia support it as well. We are awaiting details from the American side,” Zelensky said.

He added that Ukraine supports measures aimed at reducing hostilities, protecting civilian lives and ultimately bringing the war to an end.

The announcement came amid sharply deteriorating relations between Washington and Kyiv over Ukraine’s continuing attacks on Russian oil refineries.

Trump has increasingly criticized the Ukrainian military’s strikes against Russian energy facilities, arguing that the attacks are contributing to rising international fuel prices and harming American consumers.

The dispute intensified Friday when Trump announced an agreement with Putin to ease American sanctions on Russian diesel exports in an effort to increase global fuel supplies and bring down prices.

Zelensky strongly criticized that decision, arguing that allowing Russia to generate additional revenue from energy exports would provide Moscow with more resources to finance its military campaign against Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president described the sanctions relief as “not fair and not honest” during an interview with Axios, expressing frustration that Washington had negotiated the arrangement with Moscow while Ukrainian representatives were engaged in discussions with American officials.

Those discussions were taking place in Miami, where Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had been meeting with Ukrainian representatives and senior diplomats from European countries and NATO.

The negotiations were intended to explore possible arrangements for reducing hostilities and advancing efforts to end the war.

The disagreement escalated further Saturday when Trump publicly criticized Zelensky and suggested that Ukraine needed different leadership capable of reaching an agreement with Russia.

Zelensky responded by maintaining that decisions about Ukraine’s leadership belong to the Ukrainian people.

The energy ceasefire announcement appeared to offer a possible diplomatic opening after several days of confrontation, but the lack of a confirmed Russian commitment quickly complicated the situation.

According to subsequent reporting by Axios, a White House official said the administration was discussing a narrower arrangement under which Russia and Ukraine would stop attacking each other’s oil refineries.

The official indicated that a broader agreement protecting power plants and electricity networks could follow if the initial arrangement succeeded.

That distinction is significant for Ukraine, whose electricity infrastructure has repeatedly been targeted by Russian missiles and drones.

A Ukrainian official told Axios that the proposed refinery-focused arrangement would be unequal because Ukraine has only one oil refinery, which has already sustained repeated Russian attacks and is not fully operational, while Russia maintains a much larger network of refineries.

Ukraine’s immediate priority, the official explained, is securing an end to Russian strikes on its electricity grid.

The White House official also acknowledged that Russia had not yet formally accepted the proposed arrangement and was still considering it.

Meanwhile, Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure continued Sunday despite Trump’s declaration that a ceasefire had already taken effect.

Zelensky reported that Russian strikes had targeted energy facilities, including a power plant in Kyiv and a combined heat-and-power facility in Kharkiv.

In his evening address, the Ukrainian president described continued drone and aerial bomb attacks against Ukrainian targets, underscoring the absence of an observable halt in hostilities.

The latest developments follow a similar announcement by Trump in September, when he declared that an energy ceasefire had been arranged between Russia and Ukraine. Neither country subsequently confirmed that a binding agreement had been reached, and attacks on energy facilities continued.

With winter approaching, the protection of Ukraine’s power generation and heating infrastructure remains a central concern for Kyiv, particularly after repeated Russian strikes have damaged facilities serving civilian populations.

Zelensky said he had discussed the latest ceasefire proposal with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

For now, Ukraine has publicly committed itself to accepting a reciprocal energy ceasefire, while the status of any Russian agreement remains uncertain and the attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure continue.

{Matzav.com}

The city of Acco, Israel, is mourning the passing of Rav Amram Azarzar zt”l, one of its longtime and highly respected Torah personalities, who devoted his life to spreading Torah, strengthening Yiddishkeit, and bringing fellow Jews closer to Hashem. He passed away Sunday surrounded by members of his family and loved ones.

Rav Azarzar zt”l was a beloved and widely admired figure in Acco, where he spent decades working tirelessly on behalf of the city’s Jewish community. He was known for his exceptional dedication to Torah learning, his devotion to the needs of others, and his efforts to strengthen Torah observance among Jews from all backgrounds.

Throughout his life, Rav Azarzar was among the first to arrive at shul in the morning and among the last to leave at night. He delivered Torah shiurim to the public and invested tremendous effort in inspiring Jews to strengthen their connection to Torah and mitzvos.

He was especially devoted to raising his children in the ways of Torah and yiras Shomayim, while setting a personal example of selflessness and concern for others. His commitment to chesed extended to performing the mitzvah of chesed shel emes, caring for those who had passed away and ensuring that they received a proper Jewish burial.

For many years, Rav Azarzar headed the Chevra Kadisha in Acco, dedicating himself to the sacred responsibility of tending to the deceased with dignity and respect.

He was also instrumental in establishing and strengthening Torah institutions and outreach activities throughout the city, helping build Acco’s Torah community and inspiring numerous Jews to return to a life of Torah observance.

Rav Azarzar maintained close ties with the illustrious Abuchatzeira family, particularly Rav Dovid Abuchatzeira of Nahariya.

Despite his extensive communal responsibilities, he remained deeply committed to his own learning, devoting countless hours to the study of both the revealed and hidden dimensions of Torah.

He was also among the founders of the Shas movement in Acco, playing an important role in strengthening Torah representation and serving the religious needs of the city’s residents.

Rav Azarzar leaves behind his wife and a distinguished family of children and descendants who continue his legacy of Torah and good deeds.

His sons include Rav Chaim Azarzar, executive director of the institutions of the Admor Rav Yekusiel Abuchatzeira; Rav Meir Azarzar, a community rov in Hong Kong; Rav Eliyahu Azarzar, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Mishkan Evyatar; Rav Shimon Azarzar, a registrar in the yeshiva world; and Rav Yosef Noam Azarzar, a businessman and noted baal chesed.

Approximately ten months ago, Rav Azarzar suffered a devastating personal loss with the passing of his daughter, Mrs. Ilana Yael Levy a”h, of Zichron Yaakov, who passed away at a young age following an illness.

Mrs. Levy was a devoted mechaneches who followed in her father’s footsteps, dedicating herself to instilling Torah values and yiras Shomayim in her students.

The levayah took place Sunday night departing from the Sephardic funeral chapel at Har Hamenuchos in the Givat Shaul neighborhood of Yerushalayim, where Rav Azarzar was laid to rest.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Two additional Flydubai copilots have been arrested in the United Arab Emirates as authorities expand their investigation into the attempted hijacking of a passenger aircraft bound for Israel, during which a suspected terrorist allegedly planned to crash the plane at Ben Gurion Airport.

The two pilots, both citizens of the Maldives, reportedly knew the principal suspect, identified as Al-Hamami, through their employment with Flydubai. Investigators are examining their possible connections to the alleged plot, although authorities have not disclosed the specific suspicions against them.

The arrests were reported Sunday evening by journalist Lee Ayash of i24NEWS, citing information concerning the ongoing investigation in the Emirates.

According to the report, the Maldivian Embassy in the UAE notified the families of the two pilots in recent days that their relatives had been taken into custody in connection with the investigation into the attempted attack.

Both men reportedly worked alongside Al-Hamami at Flydubai and were personally acquainted with him through their professional activities. They are also believed to have lived in the same residential building as the main suspect.

Investigators have additionally established, according to the report, that both detained pilots had previously flown to Israel while working for the airline.

Their arrests represent a further development in the investigation into the attempted attack aboard the Flydubai flight, which authorities in the Emirates have described as a plot to seize control of the aircraft and crash it at Ben Gurion Airport.

According to findings previously released by UAE authorities, Al-Hamami, who was serving as a copilot on the flight, allegedly intended to take over the aircraft and carry out a deliberate crash at Israel’s main international airport.

During the incident, the suspect reportedly attacked the aircraft’s captain inside the cockpit using an emergency axe. Passengers and crew members subsequently managed to overpower him, preventing him from gaining control of the plane and thwarting the alleged attack.

The latest arrests have raised questions about whether the suspected hijacking attempt involved additional individuals or whether Al-Hamami acted independently.

However, there has been no public confirmation that either of the two Maldivian pilots participated in planning the attack, assisted in its execution, or possessed advance knowledge of the suspect’s intentions.

Authorities have also not specified whether the men are being investigated as potential accomplices or are being held for questioning because of their personal and professional connections to Al-Hamami.

The investigation remains ongoing, with Emirati authorities examining the possibility that other individuals may have been involved in the alleged plot against the Israel-bound aircraft.

{Matzav.com}

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani escalated his attacks on federal immigration enforcement Sunday, comparing the appearance of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer involved in a Bronx shooting to that of a “mass shooter” and accusing ICE of terrorizing New Yorkers.

The mayor’s remarks came days after federal immigration officers shot and wounded Oscar Belgal, a 28-year-old Dominican national, during an attempted arrest in the Bronx. The incident has triggered a confrontation between City Hall and the Trump administration over the conduct of federal immigration agents and the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

The confrontation began Thursday when ICE officers attempted to apprehend Belgal while he was inside his vehicle. Federal agents positioned their vehicles to prevent him from driving away, but the encounter escalated into a shooting.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, Belgal ignored lawful instructions to get out of his vehicle and attempted to escape by accelerating into two government vehicles before driving toward additional officers.

DHS maintains that the officers discharged their weapons because they believed Belgal’s actions posed an immediate threat to their safety and the safety of others. Belgal sustained what federal officials described as a superficial wound to his neck.

Following the shooting, agents took Belgal into custody, provided medical assistance, and arranged for his transportation to a hospital.

Authorities subsequently disclosed that Belgal’s 5-year-old son had been sitting in the back seat of the vehicle during the confrontation. DHS said the officers did not know the child was inside when the shooting occurred.

After receiving medical treatment, Belgal was moved to an immigration detention facility outside New York City. Investigators are continuing to examine the events leading up to the use of deadly force.

In an interview with MS Now on Sunday, Mamdani accused federal immigration officers of disregarding established law enforcement procedures and operating without appropriate accountability.

“What they have shown time and again is that they view the law as a suggestion,” Mamdani told MS Now. “There is a reason why the NYPD would not be shooting at a moving vehicle. There is a reason why law enforcement agents are supposed to wear identifiable information and uniforms.

“What you could see in that video and in the videos that have been released since is people, bystanders outside unsure as to what they were even seeing. Because in that imagery, it feels as if you’re almost looking at a mass shooter as opposed to seeing someone who’s purportedly representing a federal agency. And that is why so many are so deeply concerned by what ICE does. And the fact that what we’re talking about is but a microcosm of what they do across this country every single day.”

The mayor’s comparison followed an unusually lengthy round of discussions with President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin concerning Belgal’s detention and the possibility of transferring him out of federal custody.

Mamdani spent nearly two hours Thursday engaged in conversations with the president and the homeland security secretary in an effort to secure Belgal’s release from federal detention.

According to CNN, the negotiations included a three-way discussion during which Trump and Mullin proposed transferring Belgal into the custody of the New York Police Department. The parties ultimately failed to reach an agreement, and Belgal remained in federal custody.

Immediately after the shooting, Mamdani publicly condemned the federal operation, describing it as “unconscionable and incredibly serious” and demanding that President Trump halt ICE enforcement activities in New York City.

He also renewed his longstanding demand to abolish the agency, arguing that its officers’ tactics have frightened residents and undermined public safety.

“The city is still dealing with having been terrorized by a rogue federal agency,” Mamdani told MS Now. “And again, just to the points that you laid out, we are talking about a federal agency that shot at a moving vehicle in broad daylight while its agents were wearing construction vests, using long guns and left New Yorkers in terror. That is, as you said, the same experience that so many have had anywhere across this country whenever it comes to ICE.”

The Department of Homeland Security has strongly defended its officers, maintaining that Belgal was a criminal suspect whose actions during the attempted arrest created a dangerous situation.

Federal officials said Belgal was convicted of fourth-degree grand larceny in April 2025 and sentenced to five years of probation. DHS also cited previous arrests involving allegations of robbery, drug offenses, and assault.

The department further alleged that Belgal has connections to the Trinitarios gang and had been investigated in connection with the shooting of a Customs and Border Protection officer. Those allegations were presented by federal authorities as part of their explanation for why Belgal had been targeted for arrest.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin responded Friday by accusing politicians who support sanctuary-city policies of creating conditions that allow criminals to remain in communities and place law enforcement personnel at risk.

“Sanctuary politicians create an environment for criminal activity to thrive, not for American citizens to be safe,” Mullin said Friday. “President Trump made it clear that he would restore law and order in our cities and in our states. When you have sanctuary cities and politicians, you endanger the safety of the public.”

Additional reporting has revealed that the shooting took place in Marble Hill, a Manhattan neighborhood adjacent to the Bronx. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said city police were not involved in the federal arrest operation and arrived only after reports of gunfire.

The NYPD subsequently released body-camera footage showing responding officers at the scene and their efforts to get Belgal to a hospital. Other video recordings of the confrontation have also emerged, although the precise sequence of events and whether the officers’ use of force was justified remain disputed.

A federal judge has also temporarily blocked Belgal’s deportation while legal proceedings continue.

Meanwhile, Mamdani has announced plans for a city investigation into the incident, including the conduct of federal agents and their reported use of a commercial parking lot as a staging area.
WATCH:

A new Israeli election poll released Sunday evening shows the right-wing bloc holding a narrow advantage over parties opposed to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, even as Yashar emerges as the country’s largest individual party.

The survey, conducted by the Kantar Institute and broadcast by Kan News, projects 53 Knesset seats for the right-wing bloc, compared with 50 for the anti-Netanyahu camp. The three-seat advantage leaves the right-wing parties ahead of their political rivals, although neither bloc reaches the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-member Knesset.

According to the findings, Yashar would lead the field with 22 seats if elections were held today, while Netanyahu’s Likud would finish second with 20 seats. Beyachad would secure 12 mandates, placing it third.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit party would capture nine seats, making it the fourth-largest faction in the Knesset under the poll’s projections.

Four parties would each receive eight seats: the Democrats, United Torah Judaism, the Joint List, and Yisrael Beytenu. Shas would follow with seven seats.

Further down the standings, Religious Zionism-Identity and Ra’am would each receive five mandates. The Reservists-Economic party and Amcha Yisrael would each secure four seats, the minimum required to enter the Knesset under Israel’s electoral threshold.

The latest findings reflect a modest shift toward Netanyahu’s camp compared with the previous Kan survey. The right-wing bloc has gained two seats, rising from 51 to 53, while the principal opposition bloc has slipped from 52 to 50. The Arab parties retain a combined 13 seats.

One significant development is the projected entry of Amcha Yisrael, led by former IDF commander Ofer Winter, into the Knesset. The party had fallen below the electoral threshold in the previous Kan poll but now receives four seats, potentially giving Netanyahu another coalition partner.

The poll also indicates continued strength for Ben Gvir, whose Otzma Yehudit party rises from eight seats in the previous survey to nine. Meanwhile, Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party remains in first place, although its projected representation falls from 23 seats to 22.

Shas MK Yinon Azoulay has called for Jewish schools throughout Israel to employ only Jewish teachers, arguing that Arab educators should teach in Arab schools and that Jewish children should receive their education from teachers who share their religious and cultural heritage.

Speaking Sunday in an interview with Kan Reshet Bet, Azoulay advocated separating the country’s Jewish and Arab educational systems when it comes to hiring teachers. He expressed concern that non-Jewish educators working in Jewish classrooms could expose children to religious beliefs and ideological perspectives inconsistent with Jewish values.

When questioned about his objections to Arab teachers instructing Jewish students, the Shas lawmaker pointed to what he described as the danger of educators using their positions to advance personal ideological agendas.

He drew a comparison to university professors whom he accused of promoting their own political and ideological views in the classroom. Azoulay argued that similar concerns could arise in elementary and secondary schools, suggesting that Christian educators might present Christianity according to their beliefs, while Muslim Arab teachers might introduce students to Islamic teachings.

Azoulay maintained that Israel has no shortage of capable Jewish educators and that the country’s schools should prioritize teachers whose backgrounds correspond to the communities they serve.

“I maintain that Jewish schools have plenty of very good Jewish educators. Arab schools should have Arab teachers, and Jewish schools should have Jewish teachers,” he said. “There is enough heritage to teach, and those who come from that background can teach it. There are enough teachers. What is the problem? We don’t pay these good teachers enough, so they leave for other places.”

His remarks also touched on the difficulties facing Israel’s teaching profession, including salaries that he said are insufficient to retain qualified educators. Rather than relying on non-Jewish teachers to fill positions in Jewish schools, he argued, the government should address the conditions driving Jewish teachers to seek employment elsewhere.

The interviewer also challenged Azoulay with a comparison involving Jewish teachers in Europe, asking how he would react if a European parliamentarian demanded that Jewish educators be excluded from schools.

Azoulay rejected the analogy, insisting that Israel’s identity as a Jewish state makes the situation fundamentally different.

“That doesn’t happen, and it isn’t the case. When it happens there, ask me. We are here in our Jewish state. We have a problem with non-Jewish teachers coming to teach our children. It shouldn’t happen.”

The controversy comes amid a broader debate in Israel over the growing number of Arab educators employed in Hebrew-language schools. Figures presented to a Knesset Education Committee hearing in February 2026 indicated that nearly 4,000 Arab women were employed as teachers in the Hebrew education system during the preceding year.

According to data presented at that hearing, the number and proportion of Arab teachers in Hebrew education had doubled over the previous five years, making the issue an increasingly significant subject of discussion among lawmakers and education officials.

Israel’s Jewish and Arab school systems already operate largely as separate educational frameworks, although Arab teachers are employed in Jewish schools, including in subjects such as mathematics, English, science, and Arabic.

Azoulay denied that his position was motivated by racism. He maintained that his concern was preserving the religious and cultural identity of Jewish students by ensuring that those responsible for educating them had themselves been raised with the traditions they were expected to transmit.

Israel has blocked a German journalist from becoming a permanent correspondent in the country after determining that her published calls for economic and military sanctions against Israel fall under legislation permitting authorities to deny entry to individuals who advocate boycotts of the Jewish state.

The decision affects Serena Bilanceri, a 43-year-old German journalist of Italian background who had sought authorization to work in Israel as the permanent correspondent for the German newspaper Die Tageszeitung, commonly known as taz.

The Population and Immigration Authority approved a recommendation from Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism to refuse her entry, effectively preventing her from assuming the position.

Bilanceri had approached the Government Press Office to secure the recommendation required for an Israeli work visa. However, her application came under scrutiny after officials reviewed articles she had written advocating punitive international measures against Israel.

Avi Cohen Scali, director general of the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, recommended rejecting her entry request under Amendment 40 to Israel’s Entry into Israel Law, which addresses entry by foreign nationals involved in promoting boycotts against Israel.

Immigration authorities subsequently adopted the ministry’s recommendation, leaving Bilanceri unable to obtain the authorization necessary to serve as the newspaper’s Israel-based correspondent.

Bilanceri has reported on the Israeli-Arab conflict from several countries in the region, including Jordan, Syria, and Israel. According to the ministry, two opinion pieces she published during 2025 provided the basis for the decision.

The first, published by taz on November 17, 2025, carried the title “Sanctions Against Israel.” In that article, Bilanceri endorsed Amnesty International’s description of Israel as an “apartheid state” and urged Western governments to impose economic and military penalties.

“Settler violence is not an isolated incident, but part of a radical strategy of expulsion. The pressure must come from the international community. The United States, as well as Germany and Europe, must impose economic and military sanctions,” she wrote.

Israeli officials cited the article as an explicit appeal for international action against the country, rather than simply an expression of criticism regarding government policy.

A second article, dated September 1, 2025, criticized the German government’s resistance to a European Commission initiative proposing sanctions against Israel over the Gaza war.

In that piece, Bilanceri urged European governments to act collectively and indicated that initial sanctions should be followed by additional measures if they failed to achieve the desired results.

“The European Union must now act together,” she wrote.

She continued by calling for a stronger European response and the implementation of measures already under consideration.

“Europe must now take a firm stand. And if this step proves ineffective, further sanctions must be imposed. Proposals for such measures already exist, including at the European level. All that is needed is the willingness to implement them.”

The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs concluded that these published statements constituted advocacy for sanctions of the kind covered by Israel’s entry restrictions. Officials therefore determined that her application should be denied under the relevant provisions of the law.

Israel’s restrictions on foreign boycott advocates date back to March 2017, when the Knesset approved legislation authorizing the denial of visas and residency permits to noncitizens who publicly call for boycotts against Israel or act on behalf of organizations promoting such campaigns.

The legislation was subsequently expanded in February 2025 through Amendment 40, which added further grounds for refusing entry, including public denial of the Holocaust or the October 7 massacre and support for international prosecution of Israeli security personnel over actions performed in the course of their duties.

The law also permits the interior minister to authorize exceptions under special circumstances, although no such exception was reported in Bilanceri’s case.

The restrictions have generated debate over the distinction between legitimate criticism of Israeli government policy and organized efforts to impose economic or diplomatic penalties on the country. Supporters argue that Israel has the right to deny entry to foreign nationals who actively campaign for measures against it, while civil liberties organizations have criticized the legislation as a restriction on freedom of expression.

In announcing the decision involving Bilanceri, Cohen Scali delivered a forceful warning to foreign journalists and activists who advocate punitive measures against Israel.

“Anti-Israel elements and those who defame Israel should not set foot in the country.”

He further argued that journalists should not use their professional credentials to advance campaigns intended to damage Israel.

“We will not tolerate calls to boycott Israel under the guise of professional journalism. Professional journalism should not take sides in the conflict it covers, and certainly should not exploit the country’s platforms to advance agendas that harm it.”

The ruling leaves Bilanceri without the Israeli work visa she sought for her permanent posting with taz. There was no indication in the initial announcement that the newspaper had selected a replacement correspondent or that Bilanceri had filed an appeal against the decision.

The left-wing Israeli newspaper Haaretz has launched a blistering attack on Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir over the treatment of Palestinian security prisoners, accusing Israel of operating what it described as torture facilities and invoking the imprisonment of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann to condemn the government’s policies.

In an editorial published Sunday, Haaretz accused Ben Gvir and the Israel Prison Service of imposing increasingly harsh conditions on Palestinian detainees since the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023. The newspaper alleged that prisoners have been subjected to inadequate food, physical mistreatment, and degrading treatment by prison personnel.

The editorial’s criticism centered on the case of Hiba Alawi, a 38-year-old Palestinian mother of five from Yehuda and Shomron, whose experience in Israeli custody was presented as an example of the conditions the newspaper was denouncing.

Describing the circumstances of her incarceration, Haaretz wrote:

“She was convicted of two attempts to enter Israel illegally after trying to provide for her children. She was held in Damon Prison for five and a half months.”

The newspaper claimed that Alawi received extremely limited food portions throughout her imprisonment, alleging that the meals provided by prison authorities were insufficient and, on some occasions, unfit to eat.

“Throughout her imprisonment, Alawi suffered from hunger. On most days of her incarceration, the daily food provided to her by the Israel Prison Service consisted of six slices of bread for the entire day, sometimes wet bread and sometimes stale; breakfast consisted of one tablespoon of white cheese and a quarter tablespoon of jam; lunch consisted of two tablespoons of lentils, two tablespoons of chickpeas, and two tablespoons of partially cooked rice; and for dinner she was given one tablespoon of tahini, one tablespoon of hummus, and a hard-boiled egg, which she usually threw away because of its foul smell.”

Haaretz also leveled allegations of physical abuse against prison guards, claiming that Alawi had experienced repeated violence, painful restraints, and humiliating searches during her five-and-a-half-month detention.

The editorial presented a lengthy account of the alleged mistreatment:

“In addition to being starved, Alawi suffered severe, arbitrary violence and humiliation at the hands of Israel Prison Service guards. Guards painfully shackled her, beat her, pulled her hair, and dragged her. One guard stepped on her fingers, causing a fingernail to be torn off. Guards threw tear gas and stun grenades near her, shocked her with a Taser, sprayed her with pepper spray, broke her teeth, and female guards subjected her and other prisoners to humiliating strip searches. Like other prisoners, she also suffered from scabies.”

These allegations were presented by Haaretz as evidence of a broader deterioration in the treatment of Palestinian prisoners. The account provided in the editorial did not establish that the individual allegations had been independently verified, and no response from the Israel Prison Service was included in the report.

In one of its harshest passages, the newspaper accused Ben Gvir of overseeing a prison system that had abandoned acceptable standards of treatment. It also drew a comparison to Adolf Eichmann, the Nazi official responsible for organizing the deportation of millions of Jews to extermination camps, who was captured by Israel, tried in Yerushalayim, and executed in 1962.

“Since October 7, Israel’s security prisons have become torture facilities. When Israel abducted the Nazi monster Adolf Eichmann, no one even considered starving or beating him in prison. But under Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, led in this matter by the Kahanist minister Itamar Ben Gvir, there is no red line that has not been crossed.”

The attack comes amid a continuing political and legal battle over Ben Gvir’s overhaul of conditions for security prisoners, a policy he has repeatedly defended as necessary to eliminate privileges previously enjoyed by convicted terrorists and strengthen deterrence against future attacks.

Since taking office, Ben Gvir has promoted sweeping changes in Israeli prisons, including restrictions on canteen purchases, reductions in shower and exercise time, changes to prison menus, and the elimination of certain privileges previously available to security inmates.

Israeli security officials have previously reported that the tougher conditions have contributed to deterring potential terrorists, alongside intensified counterterrorism operations in Yehuda and Shomron. According to those assessments, the prospect of imprisonment under the new policies has become an additional consideration for individuals contemplating attacks.

Ben Gvir has repeatedly maintained that terrorists should receive only the minimum conditions required by law, arguing that Israeli prisons must cease offering privileges that could make incarceration less of a deterrent.

The issue has also generated controversy over access by the International Committee of the Red Cross to security prisoners. In June, Israel’s Supreme Court ordered the resumption of such visits, but subsequent restrictions imposed by the Israel Prison Service prompted further objections from civil rights advocates.

Under procedures introduced by prison authorities, visits were subject to advance authorization, intelligence screening, and limitations on the categories of prisoners who could receive them. Critics argued that the restrictions undermined the court’s ruling, while prison officials maintained that security considerations required strict oversight.

The latest Haaretz editorial followed a major security operation conducted at five Israeli prisons on October 7, the third anniversary of the Hamas massacre. The operation began at 6:29 a.m., the precise time the terrorist invasion began in 2023.

Prison officers, including personnel from specialized units, searched security wings and cells for prohibited items and potential threats. The Israel Prison Service said the operation was part of its continuing effort to maintain order and prevent security incidents inside correctional facilities.

Against that backdrop, Haaretz concluded its editorial by accusing Ben Gvir of turning the treatment of Palestinian prisoners into a central political issue and faulting senior prison officials for implementing his policies.

“Indeed, the cruelty of the Israel Prison Service is at the center of Ben Gvir’s election campaign, with the disgraceful cooperation of the Prison Service’s leadership.”

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Rav Dovid Ben Pinchas, a longtime Torah educator who suffered the devastating loss of his daughter in a traffic accident and later lost his son in battle against Hamas in Gaza, has spoken movingly about the enduring pain of losing two children, the extraordinary courage displayed by his son, and the emunah that has sustained his family through unimaginable tragedy.

In an emotional interview with Arutz Sheva, Rav Ben Pinchas, who heads the bais medrash at the Bat Yam Yeshiva, described how his family’s suffering has become a permanent part of their lives, even as they continue to find strength in their connection to Hashem and Klal Yisroel.

His daughter, Efrat, was killed in a road accident just five months after her wedding. Years later, his son Avraham, an IDF tank officer who had devoted himself to both Torah learning and defending the Jewish people, was killed during combat operations in Rafah.

Reflecting on the support that has helped his family endure these tragedies, Rav Ben Pinchas emphasized the importance of recognizing that even the most overwhelming suffering need not be faced alone.

“If you are alone, you will not hold up,” he says. “Only when you feel that all of Israel is with you, and of course that the Almighty is with you, can you begin to open your eyes.”

He explained that the posuk describing the Jewish people as children of Hashem assumes an especially profound meaning when a person experiences terrible loss.

“The most natural feeling when disaster strikes is that you are no longer a child, that the Almighty has forgotten you. Yet it is precisely at such a moment that the Torah commands a person to feel that he is a child of God.”

The rav stressed that maintaining emunah does not mean that grief disappears or that the passage of time necessarily makes the pain easier to bear.

“You think that after a year or two you will finally be able to lift your head, but that is not how it works. Suddenly, something takes you back to the events and the moments.”

The memories, he explained, remain present even as life continues, and moments of sadness can return without warning.

“We will always carry it with us, always remember, and it will always be difficult. But that has absolutely nothing to do with the question of faith.”

Avraham Ben Pinchas served as an officer in the IDF’s 46th Armored Battalion after spending years immersed in Torah learning at Yeshivat Ro’eh Yisrael. According to his father, Avraham regarded his responsibilities as a soldier and his dedication to Torah as expressions of the same lifelong commitment to serving Hashem.

“Serving God in the army and serving God in the yeshiva were two aspects of the same thing,” he says.

That outlook was so central to Avraham’s identity that his family chose to commemorate it on his matzeivah, describing his service to Hashem “through Torah and through war.”

Those who served under Avraham encountered a commander who combined determination on the battlefield with unusual sensitivity toward the soldiers entrusted to his care.

One particularly difficult episode came when his close friend, Itai Fogel, was killed in combat. Despite the personal devastation, Avraham understood that his soldiers were looking to him for direction and reassurance.

“His best friend had been killed, and he had to hold everything together,” the rabbi recalls.

Avraham himself narrowly escaped death months before he was ultimately killed.

During a combat operation, an anti-tank missile struck his tank, leaving him seriously wounded. A piece of shrapnel entered his head but stopped short of penetrating his brain.

He underwent surgery and recovered sufficiently to insist on returning to active combat duty.

Only after his death did his family discover that he had continued experiencing headaches following the injury, suffering he had chosen not to disclose to them.

His bravery was also evident during a Hamas ambush in which another soldier was wounded.

Without hesitating, Avraham climbed out of his tank carrying two tourniquets and made his way toward the injured soldier, exposing himself to danger in order to administer lifesaving assistance.

His intervention helped save the soldier’s life.

Afterward, Avraham used the incident as an opportunity to strengthen his soldiers’ confidence, explaining that their actions during the emergency had been appropriate despite the extraordinary pressure they had faced.

His father recalled another practice that reflected Avraham’s approach to leadership.

Avraham had made a personal commitment to tell at least one soldier each week that the soldier had been correct about something. He wanted the men under his command to feel comfortable expressing their opinions, questioning decisions, and pointing out mistakes.

Rav Ben Pinchas said the idea made such an impression on him that he subsequently incorporated the same principle into his own work in chinuch.

The family’s ordeal deepened on Shabbos, December 7, 2024, when Avraham was killed during fighting in Rafah. He was 24 years old and served as a platoon commander in the 401st Armored Brigade’s 46th Battalion. His tank was struck by Hamas anti-tank fire during an operation in southern Gaza.

Avraham had spoken with his family on Friday, informing them that he was about to participate in an offensive operation and expected to contact them again after Shabbos.

It would be their final conversation.

When military representatives arrived at the Ben Pinchas home in Haresha on Shabbos afternoon, Rav Ben Pinchas and his wife understood that something terrible had happened.

They asked the representatives to return after Shabbos and continued observing the holy day together with their children, who had not yet been informed of their brother’s death.

Following the tragedy, the family began working to preserve Avraham’s legacy through the publication of booklets containing his Torah teachings, personal recollections, and accounts of his character. A Sefer Torah was also dedicated in his memory.

“Our main effort to preserve his memory is through education – preserving the spirit, the character traits and the personality we need to build,” his father says.

The family’s earlier loss had profoundly influenced Avraham’s own outlook on life.

His older sister, Efrat Brener, was killed in a traffic accident near Yitzhar in 2020, only five months after her marriage. She was 19 years old.

Avraham, approximately a year and a half younger than Efrat, had shared a particularly close relationship with her, and her sudden death left a lasting impression on him.

During his military officers’ training, he wrote about how the loss of his sister, together with his childhood experiences in Haresha, had shaped his understanding of suffering, responsibility, and personal sacrifice.

The Ben Pinchas family had been among the earliest residents of Haresha, a community in the Binyamin region that experienced years of legal disputes and public controversy surrounding its establishment and future.

Growing up in that environment, Avraham developed a strong attachment to Eretz Yisroel and a determination to contribute to the security and future of the Jewish people.

His years in yeshiva reinforced those convictions. His father believes that the combination of Torah learning, family tragedy, and the challenges surrounding his community helped produce the remarkable sense of responsibility that characterized Avraham’s military service.

Additional accounts of Avraham’s life reveal that his commitment to learning extended well beyond the bais medrash. Family members and friends recalled a young man with an unusually broad range of interests, who studied everything from technology and economics to military systems and practical engineering.

After joining the armored corps, he devoted himself to understanding the workings of his tank and its equipment, studying technical manuals that other soldiers rarely opened.

He was equally determined to understand the personalities and needs of the men under his command.

According to accounts shared by those who knew him, Avraham even sought advice from his grandmother, a therapist, to improve his interpersonal skills as an officer. He recognized that technical expertise alone would not make him the kind of commander his soldiers deserved.

His concern for others was remembered particularly vividly by an American soldier who served under him. Despite the language barrier between them, Avraham made a special effort to communicate with the soldier and help him feel comfortable and supported.

Avraham also arranged for the soldier to travel home to visit his family, demonstrating the same personal concern that characterized his leadership throughout his military service.

His family has continued hearing such stories from soldiers who served alongside him, many of whom described his willingness to assume difficult responsibilities and place the welfare of others ahead of his own comfort.

Rav Ben Pinchas, who has spent more than twenty years teaching Torah at the Bat Yam Yeshiva, said his own educational outlook has been shaped by the teachings of his rebbi, Rav Dovid Chai HaKohen.

That approach emphasizes the profound connection between Torah, Klal Yisroel, and Eretz Yisroel, a worldview that Avraham embraced throughout his life.

“There is one great Torah,” he says. “The Land of Israel, the people of Israel and the Torah of God – everything comes together as one.”

For Rav Ben Pinchas, continuing to teach and inspire others has become an important part of carrying forward the values that his son lived by.

Yet he emphasized that the ability to speak about tragedy with conviction and emunah should never be mistaken for an absence of suffering.

“When we speak with strength, it does not mean the pain has disappeared,” he says. “Strength exists in one place, while the pain and the struggle continue every day.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump is publicly urging Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman to leave the Democratic Party and become a Republican, making a direct appeal to the increasingly independent-minded senator as both parties prepare for a closely contested battle over control of the Senate in November’s midterm elections.

Speaking with reporters Saturday at Joint Base Andrews after returning from a campaign rally in Tennessee, Trump suggested that Fetterman would be more comfortable politically as a member of the Republican Party.

“I’d love to see him as a Republican,” Trump told reporters. “He does better as a Republican than he does as a Democrat.”

Trump’s remarks represent one of his clearest public attempts to persuade Fetterman to change his party affiliation. The possibility has attracted growing attention as the Pennsylvania Democrat has repeatedly broken with members of his own party on several high-profile issues, including immigration enforcement and support for Israel.

Fetterman entered the Senate in 2023 after winning a closely watched election in 2022, when he was widely regarded as an emerging Democratic political figure whose unconventional style and blue-collar image appealed to working-class voters.

Since arriving in Washington, however, he has increasingly distanced himself from the Democratic Party’s progressive wing, taking positions that have drawn praise from Republicans and criticism from fellow Democrats.

Despite the speculation surrounding his political future, Fetterman has consistently maintained that he has no intention of joining the GOP.

In a Washington Post opinion piece published in May, he dismissed the idea of changing parties, describing himself as a “terrible Republican who still votes overwhelmingly with Democrats.”

His relationship with Democratic colleagues became particularly strained last month after he appeared in a video prepared for a Republican midterm convention, offering praise for Pennsylvania’s other senator, Republican Dave McCormick, while criticizing what he characterized as extremist elements within his own party.

“I’m always going to stand with America,” Fetterman declared in the recording. “I’m always going to reject the extremes and socialism and that anti-American way of life.”

The appearance intensified questions about Fetterman’s long-term political future, particularly whether his increasingly public disagreements with Democratic activists could create difficulties if he seeks the party’s nomination for another Senate term.

Trump appeared to allude to those potential political complications during his Saturday remarks, presenting a move to the Republican Party as an alternative for the Pennsylvania senator.

Fetterman’s office did not immediately provide a response to a request for comment regarding Trump’s latest invitation.

The president’s appeal comes at a particularly sensitive moment for Senate Republicans, who are defending their majority in an election increasingly shaped by voter concerns about the economy and the consequences of the war with Iran.

Democrats must gain a net four Senate seats to regain control of the chamber, an objective that remains difficult but has become more plausible as Republicans confront an increasingly challenging political environment.

A shift in party affiliation by Fetterman could have major implications for the balance of power in Washington, particularly if the election produces a closely divided Senate.

At the same time, Democratic gains sufficient to give the party a 51-seat majority could place Fetterman in an influential position within his existing party, potentially reducing any incentive to become a Republican.

Additional reporting has highlighted the extent of Fetterman’s growing independence. Although he has historically sided with Democrats on roughly 90% of Senate votes since taking office, his alignment with the party has reportedly fallen below 81% during the current congressional session.

Trump has also praised Fetterman personally, describing him as a “great guy” with “great common sense,” while suggesting that his political outlook and popularity could make him a valuable addition to the Republican Party.

The Pennsylvania senator has maintained relationships with prominent Republican lawmakers, including McCormick, and has demonstrated a willingness to cooperate with GOP figures even when doing so draws criticism from Democratic activists.

During a public discussion at the Texas Tribune Festival in September, Fetterman also inadvertently referred to himself as a “lifelong Republican,” a slip that attracted additional attention amid the continuing speculation about his political allegiance.

Although party switches are relatively rare in the modern Senate, several previous defections have dramatically altered the chamber’s political balance.

In 2001, Vermont Sen. Jim Jeffords left the Republican Party and became an independent, a decision that transferred control of the Senate to Democrats.

Eight years later, Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter abandoned the GOP and joined the Democrats, helping the party secure a filibuster-proof majority during President Barack Obama’s administration.

Fetterman has not indicated that he is reconsidering his Democratic affiliation, and there has been no announcement of any formal discussions about changing parties.

{Matzav.com}

The fruits and vegetables Americans eat today may contain substantially fewer essential vitamins and minerals than the same foods consumed by their parents and grandparents, according to new research suggesting that decades of modern agricultural practices have quietly diminished the nutritional quality of everyday foods.

A new analysis by researchers at Deep Science Ventures, a science and technology investment organization, found that certain fruits, vegetables and grains contain between 20% and 50% less of several important nutrients than they did approximately 60 years ago.

The findings suggest that consumers may need to eat considerably larger quantities of some foods to obtain the same amounts of minerals such as potassium, magnesium and copper that previous generations received from smaller servings.

Among the foods identified in the research were carrots, apples, peas, wheat, cereals and bread, all staples of diets around the world.

Researchers say the problem stems largely from the way modern agriculture has developed, with farmers and crop scientists concentrating on producing greater quantities of food while giving comparatively little attention to the nutritional content of what they grow.

The result, according to the report, is a food supply that has become extraordinarily efficient at producing calories but has not necessarily maintained the same concentrations of essential nutrients.

“For sixty years we’ve measured food security in calories and tonnes per hectare, and on those measures we’ve done remarkably well. But we’ve been quietly hollowing out what’s inside our food,” said Will Summers, senior associate for climate at Deep Science Ventures.

The findings, reported Thursday by The Independent, raise questions about the nutritional consequences of agricultural advances that have dramatically increased food production and helped feed a growing global population.

Since the 1960s, cereal yields per hectare have increased by approximately 215%, allowing farmers to harvest more than three times as much grain from the same amount of land.

Those advances have contributed to a substantial reduction in undernutrition in developing countries, where the proportion of people experiencing insufficient food consumption has fallen from approximately 35% to 12%, according to figures cited by the researchers.

However, the report argues that agricultural success has come with an overlooked trade-off: some crops have become less concentrated sources of the minerals and vitamins needed to maintain good health.

Scientists refer to part of this phenomenon as the dilution effect.

When crops are bred to grow faster, produce larger harvests or accumulate more carbohydrates, their uptake of minerals does not always increase at the same rate. Consequently, the nutritional concentration of the harvested food may decline even as overall production rises.

The researchers also point to declining soil health as an important concern, arguing that farming practices and the condition of agricultural land can influence how effectively crops obtain nutrients.

Intensive cultivation, changes in soil management and the selection of crop varieties primarily for yield may all contribute to differences in nutritional content.

The problem is particularly troubling because many people already consume diets that provide sufficient calories but inadequate quantities of essential micronutrients.

Worldwide, more than 2 billion people are estimated to experience at least one micronutrient deficiency, according to figures cited in the report.

These deficiencies are not confined to poorer countries. Researchers warn that inadequate intake of nutrients such as zinc, selenium and folate also occurs in wealthier nations, including the United States and Britain.

One particularly striking finding concerns wheat, a fundamental ingredient in bread and numerous other foods.

According to the report, fewer than one-third of bread-wheat varieties introduced since the 1960s meet the researchers’ recommended zinc target.

Zinc plays an important role in immune function, wound healing and maintaining healthy skin and hair. Inadequate zinc intake can interfere with these processes, particularly among people whose diets are already deficient.

The researchers also examined selenium, a mineral needed for normal immune function and thyroid health.

Their analysis suggests that a woman would need to consume approximately four slices of wholemeal bread to obtain just one-third of her recommended daily selenium intake.

Selenium is found in foods including whole grains and Brazil nuts, although the amount present in plant foods can vary considerably depending on growing conditions.

Iron is another major concern. Insufficient iron intake can lead to anemia, fatigue and difficulties with concentration, while inadequate potassium consumption is associated with increased cardiovascular risks.

The report cites research suggesting that low potassium intake may be associated with a substantially greater risk of stroke, a condition that already imposes enormous medical and economic costs.

The findings have taken on added urgency because of the rapid growth in the use of weight-loss medications, including Ozempic and Mounjaro.

These drugs, which are part of a class of medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists or related therapies, can significantly reduce appetite and the amount of food people consume.

Researchers warn that if individuals eat substantially less food while the nutritional concentration of that food is also declining, they may face an increased risk of failing to obtain sufficient vitamins and minerals.

The Deep Science Ventures analysis suggests that the combination of reduced food consumption and declining crop nutrient density could leave approximately 5 million working-age adults in Britain below recommended intake levels for essential nutrients.

That figure represents a projected risk rather than a confirmed count of people who have developed deficiencies.

“As weight-loss drugs mean people eat less, the nutritional quality of every bite starts to matter much more. The good news is that we already have the tools to fix this, in breeding, soil health, markets and policy. What’s been missing is the recognition that this problem is worth measuring and solving at its source,” Summers said.

The new findings add to a growing body of research examining changes in the nutritional composition of food over time.

In a widely cited 2004 study, researchers at the University of Texas examined U.S. Department of Agriculture nutritional records for 43 garden crops between 1950 and 1999.

They identified statistically significant declines in six nutrients, including protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, riboflavin and vitamin C.

The reductions ranged from approximately 6% for protein to 38% for riboflavin, although other nutrients showed no statistically reliable decline.

A separate British study examining food composition records between 1940 and 2019 reported decreases of approximately 50% in iron, 49% in copper and 10% in magnesium across the fruits and vegetables studied.

Scientists have also identified rising atmospheric carbon dioxide as a potential contributor to declining nutritional quality.

Research indicates that elevated carbon dioxide concentrations can stimulate plant growth and carbohydrate production while reducing the concentration of certain minerals and proteins in edible crops.

A large scientific analysis published in 2025 examined thousands of observations involving 43 food crops and found that higher carbon dioxide levels were associated with changes in nutrient concentrations, particularly for zinc, iron and protein.

Nevertheless, researchers caution that the evidence does not mean every fruit or vegetable sold today contains half the nutrients it once did.

Some historical comparisons are complicated by changes in crop varieties, geographic growing locations, laboratory testing methods and the way nutritional data were collected decades ago.

A 2017 scientific review challenged the conclusion that agricultural soil depletion has caused a universal decline in food nutrients, arguing that some reported changes fall within natural variations and that differences in crop varieties and measurement methods can distort historical comparisons.

The research therefore points to significant declines in certain nutrients and foods rather than proving that the entire modern produce supply has lost half its nutritional value.

Scientists studying the issue are increasingly examining ways to improve nutritional quality without sacrificing the productivity needed to feed billions of people.

One approach involves breeding crop varieties specifically selected for higher concentrations of essential minerals and vitamins, rather than focusing almost exclusively on yield, appearance and resistance to pests.

Another involves improving soil health through agricultural practices that preserve organic matter, encourage beneficial soil organisms and support the availability of nutrients to growing plants.

Researchers are also investigating biofortification, a process in which crops are developed or cultivated to contain higher levels of particular nutrients.

Such efforts have already produced varieties of staple crops with increased concentrations of iron, zinc and other micronutrients, particularly for use in regions where deficiencies are widespread.

Sian Ferguson, a trust executive at the Mark Leonard Trust, said the findings demonstrate the importance of restoring and maintaining healthy agricultural soils.

“Healthy soil is the foundation of healthy food. This report shows that rebuilding soil health is one of the few measures that can improve nutrient density, yields and climate resilience all at once, and farmers can do it profitably today.”

{Matzav.com}

Millions of Americans will once again be forced to turn their clocks back an hour next month after a congressional effort to permanently eliminate the twice-yearly time changes stalled in the Senate, despite overwhelming approval in the House of Representatives and strong backing from President Donald Trump.

Daylight saving time is scheduled to end on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 2 a.m., when clocks will move backward one hour to 1 a.m., giving Americans an additional hour of sleep while bringing earlier sunsets and darker evenings for the months ahead.

The change will take place despite a major legislative push in Washington to make daylight saving time permanent, which would eliminate the longstanding practice of changing clocks every spring and fall.

In July, the House passed the Sunshine Protection Act by a bipartisan vote of 308 to 117, raising hopes that the United States was finally approaching the end of its twice-annual clock adjustments.

However, the legislation has encountered substantial opposition in the Senate, where lawmakers adjourned without bringing the measure to a vote before the November 3 midterm elections.

With senators not scheduled to return until after Election Day, there is virtually no possibility that the legislation will take effect before this year’s scheduled clock change.

The proposal, introduced in the House by Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan of Florida, would establish daylight saving time as the permanent national standard, allowing Americans to retain the additional hour of evening daylight throughout the winter.

Under the legislation, states that already observe standard time year-round would be permitted to continue doing so, while other states would no longer have to adjust their clocks twice annually.

President Trump has become one of the most prominent advocates for the change, repeatedly arguing that the current system is outdated, disruptive and unnecessarily costly.

In a recent Truth Social post, Trump described the practice of changing clocks twice a year as “ridiculous” and said it “costs our country a fortune, is bad for crime, stress on people, sports, and just about everything else you can imagine.”

“People are sick and tired of having to change their Clocks twice a year,” Trump wrote. “This is an issue that Republicans, Democrats, and Independents can unite behind!”

Despite the president’s lobbying, several Republican senators remain opposed to permanent daylight saving time, warning that the change would create serious problems during winter mornings.

Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas has emerged as a leading opponent, arguing that maintaining daylight saving time throughout the year would force millions of Americans, particularly schoolchildren, to begin their days in darkness.

Trump publicly criticized Cotton earlier this month and urged Arkansas residents to pressure their senator into supporting the legislation, even sharing what appeared to be Cotton’s personal cellphone number.

Other lawmakers have expressed similar reservations, arguing that the benefits of additional evening sunlight must be weighed against the consequences of significantly later sunrises during the winter.

Sen. John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, offered a particularly pessimistic assessment of the bill’s prospects.

“It’s dead as disco,” Kennedy told Reuters.

“My sense is it would have trouble passing … I don’t think the leader is going to bring it up.”

Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, one of the legislation’s leading Senate supporters, has nevertheless expressed confidence that the measure could eventually win approval.

Supporters argue that eliminating seasonal clock changes would provide greater consistency for businesses, families and schools while allowing Americans to enjoy more daylight after work and school.

They contend that brighter evenings could encourage outdoor activities, benefit restaurants and tourism businesses, and potentially reduce certain types of accidents and criminal activity.

Rep. Gus Bilirakis, a Florida Republican who supports the legislation, has argued that permanent daylight saving time would be particularly beneficial to states whose economies depend heavily on tourism.

“In a state like Florida, my home state of Florida, where tourism is a cornerstone of our economy, having more predictable daylight hours is a practical improvement that benefits workers, businesses, and visitors alike,” Bilirakis said during congressional debate in July.

Opponents counter that the legislation would shift daylight away from the early morning hours, creating conditions in which children would wait for school buses and commuters would travel to work before sunrise.

In some northern and western portions of American time zones, permanent daylight saving time could push winter sunrises close to 9 a.m.

“Millions of Americans will wake up during the winter months in complete darkness with the sun not rising until long after people get up and travel to school or work or have to go about their days,” Democratic Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon of Pennsylvania warned.

The debate has also divided health experts. Many sleep researchers support eliminating the twice-yearly clock changes but favor permanent standard time rather than permanent daylight saving time, arguing that morning sunlight is important for regulating the body’s internal clock.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has previously endorsed permanent standard time as the arrangement most closely aligned with natural sleep and wake cycles.

The United States has experimented with permanent daylight saving time before, with controversial results.

During the energy crisis of the 1970s, Congress approved year-round daylight saving time in an effort to reduce energy consumption.

However, public support declined after families complained about children traveling to school in darkness, and Congress reversed the arrangement in 1974.

An earlier attempt to make daylight saving time permanent also advanced in Congress in 2022, when the Senate approved the Sunshine Protection Act without opposition through a unanimous-consent procedure.

That measure ultimately died after the House failed to take it up, illustrating the difficulty of reaching agreement even on an issue that has attracted bipartisan support.

Under current federal law, daylight saving time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.

The modern system was standardized under the Uniform Time Act of 1966, although Congress has modified the dates several times over the decades.

The current schedule, established in 2007, places Americans on daylight saving time for approximately eight months each year, with standard time observed during the remaining four months.

Not every part of the United States participates in the seasonal adjustments.

Hawaii and most of Arizona remain on standard time throughout the year, as do Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Navajo Nation, which extends into portions of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, does observe daylight saving time.

Numerous state legislatures have approved or considered measures supporting permanent daylight saving time, but federal law generally prevents states from adopting that arrangement independently without congressional authorization.

States may choose to remain on standard time year-round, but they cannot unilaterally establish permanent daylight saving time under the existing federal system.

For now, the stalled legislation means Americans in most of the country will continue following the familiar schedule.

Clocks will move back one hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2026, and daylight saving time is scheduled to return on Sunday, March 14, 2027.

The Sunshine Protection Act remains pending in the Senate, where lawmakers will have another opportunity to consider it after the midterm elections. Whether the measure can overcome opposition from senators concerned about dark winter mornings remains unresolved.

{Matzav.com}

In a powerful declaration during a meeting at his home in Yerushalayim, Rav Moshe Sternbuch sharply criticized the practice of referring to Jews who have returned to Torah observance as baalei teshuvah, insisting that such individuals must be regarded as full and equal members of the Torah community, without any distinction whatsoever.

Rav Sternbuch made the remarks during a visit last week by Rav Yaakov Dovid Nakash, the rov of the Keter Torah community in Mexico, one of the country’s most prominent Torah communities.

The meeting took place at Rav Sternbuch’s residence in the Har Nof neighborhood of Yerushalayim, where the two rabbonim discussed the condition of Jewish communities throughout the world, the continued growth of Torah life, and the remarkable movement of Jews returning to their heritage.

Among the subjects discussed was the ongoing success of kiruv rechokim, both in Eretz Yisroel and in Jewish communities across the globe, including Mexico, where increasing numbers of Jews have been strengthening their connection to Torah and mitzvos.

During the conversation, one of those present used the familiar expression baalei teshuvah to describe Jews who had embraced a Torah-observant lifestyle.

Rav Sternbuch immediately objected to the terminology, explaining that he considers the very designation inappropriate because it creates an artificial distinction between Jews who grew up observant and those who found their way back to Torah later in life.

“In my eyes, there is no such title as ‘baalei teshuvah,’ because by using it, you place them in a separate category. In my eyes, they are equal to everyone else!” Rav Sternbuch declared.

The posek hador continued, making clear that once a Jew has returned to a life of Torah, there is no justification for treating him as belonging to a separate group.

“I don’t want to hear the term ‘baalei teshuvah.’ To me, there is no such designation, because the moment a person returns to Torah, he is exactly like us,” Rav Sternbuch said.

Expanding on his position, Rav Sternbuch explained that even when the expression is used without any negative intention, it can convey the impression that a Jew who became observant later in life remains somehow different from the rest of the community.

“When someone is referred to by the title ‘baal teshuvah,’ it is chutzpah and brazenness, as though he is distant from us, when the truth is that he is completely one of us. The moment you call someone a ‘baal teshuvah,’ you create a division between these people and others, and that is not good,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

Nearly one-third of secular Israelis believe that Hashgacha Pratis played a role in the extraordinary rescue of the Flydubai passengers, according to a new survey revealing that belief in Divine Providence extends well beyond Israel’s religious communities.

The poll found that virtually every chareidi respondent attributed the passengers’ survival to Divine Providence, along with 94% of religious Jews and 84% of traditional Jews. Even among Israelis who identify as secular, approximately 32% acknowledged a Divine role in the rescue.

The findings, released Sunday by Arutz Sheva, come in the aftermath of the dramatic attempted hijacking of a Flydubai aircraft traveling from Dubai to Israel, during which passengers and crew intervened to prevent a potentially catastrophic crash.

The survey was conducted by the Mesaker-Rovadim Research Institute as part of the Israel Barometer project, examining how Israelis from different religious backgrounds interpreted the remarkable sequence of events that saved those aboard the aircraft.

Beyond measuring how many people believe Hashem intervened, the researchers uncovered another striking finding: Israelis differed considerably in how they described the relationship between Divine Providence and the courageous actions of the people who saved the plane.

Participants were presented with several possible explanations for the rescue, including two that explicitly recognized Divine Providence and another that attributed the outcome to human intervention and an unusual combination of circumstances.

The two religiously oriented responses were deliberately phrased differently, allowing researchers to examine whether respondents regarded Divine Providence as the primary force behind the rescue or viewed it as one element operating alongside human decisions and actions.

The first formulation described the rescue as “Divine Providence, acting through people and unique circumstances.”

The second characterized it as “A combination of human actions and unique circumstances with Divine Providence.”

Although both explanations recognize Hashem’s involvement, the distinction between them produced substantial differences across Israel’s religious communities.

Among secular Israelis, 21% selected the explanation emphasizing the combination of human efforts, circumstances and Divine Providence. Another 11% chose the formulation placing Divine Providence at the center of the rescue.

Together, those responses accounted for approximately one-third of secular participants, a notable finding given that these respondents do not identify themselves as religious.

Traditional Israelis expressed considerably greater belief in Divine intervention, with 84% selecting one of the two responses recognizing Divine Providence.

Within that group, 50% preferred the explanation emphasizing the combination of human actions and Divine Providence, while 34% selected the formulation describing Hashem’s Providence as operating through the people and circumstances involved.

A similar pattern emerged among respondents identifying with the more liberal religious community. In that category, 53% favored the combined explanation, compared with 32% who placed Divine Providence at the forefront.

Among more traditionally observant religious Israelis, however, the balance began to shift.

In the mainstream religious category, 51% chose the explanation emphasizing Divine Providence working through people and circumstances, while 44% preferred the formulation describing the rescue as a combination of human efforts and Divine intervention.

The difference became considerably more pronounced among Torah-oriented religious respondents, 75% of whom selected the explanation placing Divine Providence at the center. The remaining 25% preferred the alternative formulation, which gave greater prominence to the combination of human actions and circumstances.

The strongest preference emerged among chareidi respondents.

An overwhelming 93% of chareidim selected the explanation describing the rescue as Divine Providence operating through human actions and unusual circumstances. Only approximately 7% preferred the wording that presented Divine Providence alongside human intervention.

Taken together, the results indicate that all chareidi respondents recognized Hashgacha Pratis in the rescue, although they differed slightly in how they expressed that belief.

The survey also found that the same patterns appeared among men and women, suggesting that the differences were associated primarily with religious identification rather than gender.

Across both male and female respondents, the proportion attributing the rescue to Divine Providence increased consistently from secular Israelis through traditional and religious communities to the chareidi population.

The preference for particular wording also remained consistent. Secular and traditional respondents generally favored an explanation highlighting human actions together with Divine Providence, while more observant groups increasingly preferred language identifying Hashem’s Providence as the central force behind the outcome.

The difference is significant because both explanations recognize Divine Providence. What separates them is the emphasis placed on the actions of the people involved.

The first presents the rescue as an expression of Hashgacha Pratis, with the passengers, pilots and unusual circumstances serving as the means through which Hashem brought about their salvation.

The second gives more prominence to the courage and decisions of those aboard, while still acknowledging Divine involvement in the outcome.

{Matzav.com}

Israel has permitted Qatar to channel more than $100 million in humanitarian assistance into the Gaza Strip throughout the war against Hamas, including extensive fuel shipments and reconstruction initiatives involving institutions affiliated with the terrorist organization, according to information released by Qatari authorities.

The figures, published Sunday by Yisroel Hayom, reveal the scale of Doha’s continuing financial involvement in Gaza even as Israel has sought to dismantle Hamas’s military capabilities and prevent the organization from rebuilding its infrastructure.

Qatar, which has maintained longstanding ties with Hamas and played a central role in negotiations for the release of Israeli hostages, continued financing a wide range of activities inside Gaza during the fighting and subsequent ceasefire arrangements. The assistance included fuel deliveries, food supplies, medical equipment, water infrastructure and projects to remove debris from damaged neighborhoods.

The arrangements have raised concerns about whether Hamas has benefited from assistance intended for Gaza’s civilian population, particularly when projects are conducted through local bodies connected to the terrorist organization.

According to the Qatari figures, approximately 30 million liters of fuel were delivered to Gaza between the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023, and the end of March 2026. An additional shipment of more than 1.3 million liters entered the territory by truck in September.

The fuel deliveries were coordinated through an arrangement between Qatar and the United Nations, with the stated purpose of maintaining essential services, including hospitals, humanitarian organizations and critical civilian infrastructure.

However, the substantial volume of fuel entering Gaza has prompted questions about whether Hamas could have obtained access to some of those resources or benefited indirectly from their distribution.

Fuel has been a particularly sensitive issue throughout the conflict because of its importance to civilian services as well as its potential use in transportation, generators and other activities that could support Hamas’s operations.

Israeli concerns extend beyond the fuel shipments to Qatar’s involvement in reconstruction and infrastructure projects carried out with organizations associated with Hamas.

During the summer, Qatar reportedly organized an initiative to remove rubble from hundreds of damaged residential buildings across Gaza. The work was undertaken in cooperation with institutions linked to Hamas, despite Israel’s declared objective of preventing the terrorist organization from reestablishing its governing capabilities.

Another Qatari-funded initiative involved drilling and maintenance work at more than 30 water wells, intended to restore access to water in areas affected by the fighting.

In February 2026, Doha announced an additional project to clear debris from roads throughout the Strip. That initiative was coordinated with local authorities identified as having affiliations with Hamas.

The involvement of such bodies has intensified questions about whether humanitarian projects could help preserve Hamas’s administrative networks, even when the assistance itself is designated for civilian purposes.

The latest revelations also revive longstanding concerns about Qatar’s financial relationship with Gaza’s Hamas-run administration, which predates the current war.

For years before the October 7 massacre, Qatar provided substantial financial assistance to Gaza with Israeli approval, including monthly payments intended to support impoverished families, civil servants and electricity generation.

Under earlier arrangements, Qatari money was delivered through a combination of direct payments, fuel supplies and internationally supervised mechanisms. Israel permitted many of those transfers as part of efforts to maintain stability in Gaza and prevent humanitarian conditions from deteriorating.

However, Israeli officials and security analysts have repeatedly warned that assistance directed toward civilian needs can also strengthen Hamas indirectly by allowing the organization to devote other resources to its military infrastructure.

Previous arrangements demonstrated how complicated that distinction can become. In 2021, Qatar and Egypt discussed a mechanism under which fuel supplied to Gaza would be sold locally, with the proceeds used to pay public-sector salaries, including employees working under the Hamas administration.

The current report raises similar concerns about the relationship between humanitarian assistance and the financial resources available to Hamas, although it does not establish that the entire $100 million was diverted to terrorist activity.

The central question is whether sufficient oversight exists to ensure that Qatari-funded projects benefit civilians without enabling Hamas to retain control over essential services or strengthen its governing institutions.

Despite those concerns, Israel has continued allowing Qatari humanitarian activities in Gaza, including deliveries coordinated through international organizations and infrastructure projects involving local authorities.

The Omani co-pilot accused of attempting to crash a Flydubai passenger aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport began planning the terrorist attack as far back as 2017, according to new information released by prosecutors in the United Arab Emirates, as an official familiar with the country’s leadership indicated that the suspect faces an exceptionally severe punishment.

The suspect, identified as Hammam al-Hamami, allegedly intended to carry out a September 11-style attack by deliberately flying the passenger jet into the terminal at Ben Gurion Airport, potentially killing hundreds of passengers and airport personnel.

A source close to the Emirati government told Israel’s Kan News on Motzoei Shabbos that the authorities intend to treat the attempted attack with the utmost seriousness.

“The punishment imposed on him will not be minor, but extremely significant,” the source said.

The warning came as the UAE’s attorney general issued a third public update on the investigation, revealing new details about the suspect’s preparations and the security failures that allowed him to continue working as a commercial airline pilot.

According to prosecutors, al-Hamami told investigators that he first began developing his plans in 2017, when he was living in Australia. The disclosure indicates that the alleged attack was the culmination of years of planning rather than a spontaneous decision made during the flight.

Investigators also confirmed that the intended target was the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport, with the suspect seeking to replicate the devastation of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States.

The investigation found that al-Hamami had previously operated two flights to Israel and allegedly used those assignments to gather information about the flight route and the airport he intended to attack.

Those earlier flights provided him with opportunities to familiarize himself with the approach to Ben Gurion Airport and other operational details that could have assisted in carrying out the attack.

The new findings also shed light on the suspect’s earlier exposure to extremist ideology. UAE prosecutors say al-Hamami became radicalized while studying in Melbourne, Australia, where he attended RMIT University between 2015 and 2017. Investigators believe he consumed extremist propaganda and became increasingly fascinated with the September 11 attacks.

The 29-year-old reportedly underwent physical training, including boxing, as part of his preparations. Australian authorities are now examining his activities and contacts during his time in the country, with the Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation participating in the investigation.

The investigation has also raised questions about how the suspect was permitted to serve as a pilot on flights to Israel despite earlier indications of extremist views.

Omani aviation authorities had previously prevented al-Hamami from operating passenger aircraft because of concerns about his radicalization. Reports indicate that he was removed from flying duties at Oman Air and transferred to an administrative position.

Nevertheless, he subsequently obtained employment with Flydubai, joining the airline in January 2026. According to Emirati authorities, he satisfied the company’s required professional qualifications and security screening procedures, which failed to identify the threat he allegedly posed.

The incident has exposed serious questions about the effectiveness of aviation security checks and the sharing of information between airlines and national authorities.

During the September 30 flight from Dubai to Israel, al-Hamami allegedly attacked the Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, with an emergency axe and attempted to seize control of the aircraft. The plane entered a dangerous descent before passengers and crew intervened and subdued the attacker.

The aircraft, carrying 174 passengers, was ultimately diverted to Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.

The UAE investigation is examining whether al-Hamami received assistance or instructions from anyone else. During questioning, the suspect reportedly insisted that he acted independently and that no organization or outside individual directed the operation.

Prosecutors have not accepted that claim as the final word on the matter and are continuing to investigate possible accomplices or other connections.

The frequent public announcements from Emirati prosecutors have themselves attracted attention, with officials releasing several detailed updates while the investigation remains underway.

An Emirati source familiar with the thinking of senior government figures, although not speaking in an official capacity, explained to Kan News that the disclosures are intended to demonstrate the country’s commitment to transparency and the rule of law.

“The message from our perspective is that the Emirates operates transparently and that we are a country of justice and law,” the source said.

The investigation has also prompted Israeli authorities to examine how a pilot from Oman, a country that does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Israel, was permitted to operate a flight to Ben Gurion Airport.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has ordered a review of the security arrangements governing foreign airlines flying to Israel, including the procedures used to screen flight crews.

With investigators now tracing the suspect’s alleged terrorist intentions back nearly a decade, attention is increasingly focused on how numerous warning signs went undetected or failed to prevent him from entering the cockpit of an aircraft bound for Israel.

{Matzav.com}