Matzav

An Israeli court on Wednesday moved to release the driver suspected of killing 16-year-old bochur Naftali Zvi Kramer z”l in a traffic incident near Kiryat Gat, even as police immediately challenged the decision and secured a temporary delay.

The Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court ruled that the suspect be transferred to house arrest, but prosecutors filed an appeal on the spot. The court granted a 24-hour stay of the release, meaning the driver will remain behind bars until the appeal is heard.

Investigators are examining allegations that the driver caused Kramer’s death through negligence, along with other possible offenses. In his statement to police, the driver said he never noticed the bochur before the crash. During the hearing, police argued that the suspect posed a danger to the public, with a representative telling the court, “Instead of accelerating toward a crowd of people, one should brake. That is the proper course of action.”

Judge Yariv Ben David nonetheless determined that the driver could be released to strict house arrest with supervision and limitations on his movement. While acknowledging the fatal outcome, the judge pointed to a range of considerations weighing against continued detention, including findings from the investigation, video footage shown in court, the driver’s cooperation, his decision to stop the bus immediately after the collision, and the absence of any prior criminal history.

Summarizing his reasoning, the judge wrote, “Despite the severe outcome, I find that in these specific circumstances, an alternative less harmful than detention is appropriate and proportionate to both the act and the individual involved,” referring to the incident, which took place amid demonstrations at the Komemiyus Junction.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that U.S. control of Greenland is necessary to support construction of a massive “Golden Dome” missile defense shield, arguing that the project would also safeguard Canada and underscoring his view that Ottawa relies heavily on American security.

Addressing participants at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump said the proposed defense network would automatically extend protection north of the U.S. border. “We’re building a Golden Dome that’s going to, just by its very nature, going to be defending Canada. Canada gets a lot of freebies from us, by the way. They should be grateful also,” he told the audience.

Trump went on to criticize Canada’s leadership, saying he was unimpressed by remarks delivered a day earlier by the Canadian prime minister. “But they’re not. I watched your prime minister yesterday. He wasn’t so grateful. They should be grateful to us, Canada. Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements,” he said, referring to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s appearance at the forum.

Whether Canada will ultimately join the Golden Dome initiative remains uncertain. The White House first revealed the missile defense concept in May, and while participation from allies has not been finalized, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday that the administration has formally invited Canada to take part.

Speaking in Davos during an interview with CNBC, Bessent emphasized Greenland’s central role in the plan. “Greenland is strategically important for [Trump’s] Golden Dome project to protect the U.S. and he’s invited Canada into that if they want to pay their share,” he said.

According to administration estimates, the Golden Dome system would cost about $175 billion and rely on a network of space-based sensors, interceptors, and other cutting-edge missile defense capabilities.

Those figures could climb substantially over time. In a report released in May, the Congressional Budget Office projected that deploying space-based interceptors alone could run anywhere from $161 billion to $542 billion over a 20-year period.

Carney, in his own Davos address, avoided naming Trump directly but cautioned that the global, rules-based system is eroding as “great powers” increasingly apply economic and security pressure to influence allies.

He said countries that fall into the category of “middle powers,” including Canada, should treat the moment as a “wake-up call,” arguing that cooperation alone does not ensure security. Instead, he urged nations to strengthen themselves through diversification, collective efforts, and respect for national sovereignty.

Carney also reiterated Canada’s backing of Greenland and Denmark’s right to decide the island’s future, signaling resistance to any attempt to tie security arrangements to territorial claims or economic coercion.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump on Wednesday delivered remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, outlining his views on a range of international developments, including Venezuela, Greenland, Israel, and the situation in Gaza.

Speaking about events following the recent capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro earlier this month, Trump said the country was now positioned for success and praised the cooperation his administration received. “Venezuela is going to do fantastically well. We appreciate all of the cooperation we’ve been given. We’ve been given great cooperation. Once the attack ended. The attack ended, and they said, ‘Let’s make a deal.’”

Trump also returned to the issue of Greenland, reiterating his belief that the massive Arctic island should become part of the United States. He described Greenland as strategically vital, saying, “This enormous unsecured island is actually part of North America, on the northern frontier of the Western Hemisphere. That’s our territory.”

Emphasizing security concerns, Trump argued that only the United States is capable of protecting Greenland effectively. He said the U.S. needs control of the territory to “make it so that it’s good for Europe and safe for Europe, and good for us.. And the fact is, no nation or group of nations is in any position to be able to secure Greenland other than the United States.”

At the same time, Trump stressed that he does not intend to use military force to obtain the island. “People thought I would use force. I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force,” he said, adding that he prefers diplomacy. “I’m seeking immediate negotiations to once again discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the United States, just as we have acquired many other territories,” he said.

Turning to Israel, Trump credited the United States with major contributions to its security and defense capabilities. “What we did for Israel was incredible,” he said, while pledging to pursue even more advanced missile defense technology for North America.

He recounted a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying, “We did it for Israel. And by the way, I told Bibi: ‘Bibi, stop taking credit for the dome. That’s our technology, that’s our stuff.’” Trump added that Israel’s military efforts were decisive, saying the Israelis “were good fighters and they had a lot of courage and we wiped out the Iran nuclear threat.”

After concluding his prepared remarks, Trump was asked about the creation of the Gaza Board of Peace and whether he believes the current ceasefire can last. He expressed optimism, responding, “I do. I think we have peace in the Middle East.”

He acknowledged remaining challenges, particularly regarding Hamas. “There are some little situations,” he said, “like Hamas. And Hamas has agreed to give up their weapons. They were born with a weapon in their hand, so it’s not easy to do. When they were born, they were born with a rifle in their hand. It’s not an easy thing for them, but that’s what they agreed to. They’ve got to do it. And we’re going to see over the next two or three days, certainly over the next three weeks, whether or not they’re gonna do it. If they don’t, they’re going to be blown away very quickly.”

An awe-inspiring encounter took place in Tiveriah, as the venerable mashgiach Rav Don Segal paid a special and uplifting visit to the home of the tzaddik Rav Dov Kook. The meeting revolved around yearning for the geulah and the deep spiritual chain connecting the great ones of past and present generations.

Rav Segal, who is spending time in Tiveriah for rest, made a point of going to Rav Kook’s home for a private meeting. Despite Rav Kook’s relatively young age, Rav Segal is known to accord him exceptional kavod. Conversely, those close to Rav Kook note that the rare expressions of praise he voiced regarding Rav Segal are almost never heard within his home.

A transcript of their conversation reveals fiery words concerning the pursuit of geulah and the enduring spiritual bond between generations. At the heart of the discussion stood the towering figure of the legendary mashgiach of Lakewood, Rav Nosson Wachtfogel zt”l, whose entire life was bound up with constant anticipation of Mashiach.

Rav Segal shared emotionally, saying, “He was here once, the mashgiach Rav Nosson zt”l. He lived with anticipation for Mashiach literally every moment.” Rav Segal recalled what he declared at the levayah: “When he passed away, I said at the levayah, ‘Now Mashiach can already come.’ The reason is that Mashiach comes only with hesach hadaas. As long as Rav Nosson was alive, there was no such thing in the world as distraction from Mashiach, because he thought about it every moment. Now that he has passed, there is hesach hadaas, and Mashiach can come.”

Rav Kook listened intently and asked in earnest, “Who was the mashgiach of Lakewood?” Rav Segal then continued, elaborating on the wondrous conduct and inner world of Rav Nosson Wachtfogel.

Rav Segal recounted a rare meeting between Rav Nosson and the mekubal Rav Yaakov Hillel. “I asked Rav Yaakov Hillel after their meeting what they discussed,” Rav Segal said, “and he answered me in astonishment: ‘For two hours he spoke with me about only one thing — how to bring Mashiach.’ Again and again, back and forth, constantly just that one question: how to bring the geulah.”

Rav Kook responded with a stirring statement: “And I, the small one, add that even now he continues like this in Shamayim.” Rav Segal immediately agreed, replying, “That is absolutely correct. That is why I mentioned it. I did not come here to tell stories for their own sake.”

During the visit, Rav Segal inquired with concern about Rav Kook’s health, asking, “Is the Rav feeling better now?”

Rav Kook answered with his characteristic sincerity, “Just now I received another bout of suffering.”

Rav Segal immediately responded with a warm brachah: “First and foremost, there should be a complete refuah sheleimah, and may the yissurim be separated from him.”

As the conversation neared its conclusion, the two gedolim reflected on the wondrous timing of Rav Nosson Wachtfogel’s petirah. “It was truly a פלא of ‘r’tzon yereiav ya’aseh,’” Rav Segal said. “He passed away on the very yahrtzeit of Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l. Over the years, the powerful bond between them may not always have been spoken about, but on the day of his passing, the heavenly connection was revealed — on that very same day.”

{Matzav.com}

Conservative media figure Tucker Carlson is under fire following the release of a newsletter in which he floated the idea that Iran obtaining nuclear weapons might actually calm tensions in the Middle East, comparing the scenario to North Korea’s nuclear deterrence.

In the essay, titled “Could a Nuclear Iran Stabilize the Middle East?” and published on the Tucker Carlson Network website, Carlson revisits long-standing alarms about Iran’s nuclear aspirations and casts doubt on their validity. He wrote, “Those warnings sound pretty scary, but the past 20 years have proven them unwarranted. North Korea became a known nuclear nation in October 2006, and its proliferation has yielded a total of zero nuclear strikes on America, the West, or any other country.”

Expanding on that comparison, Carlson suggested that nuclear capability may have had a pacifying effect in East Asia. “Could the Iranians obtaining The Bomb wind up being a good thing? Whether anyone in the foreign policy establishment admits it, North Korea’s nuclearization has undeniably stabilized the Korean Peninsula. The region has seen no wars, coups, or interventionist-forced regime changes since 2006,” he argued.

Carlson went on to question whether a similar outcome could occur in the Middle East, asking, “Would Iran becoming a nuclear power have the same effect on its region? Could it finally prompt America to leave the area alone, and incentivize Israel to drop its stated goal of controlling the Gaza Strip and the West Bank?”

The commentary pushes back against warnings from U.S. and Israeli officials — including Senator Lindsey Graham and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — who have repeatedly said that a nuclear-armed Iran would pose an existential danger, potentially threatening Israel or even the United States.

According to Carlson, regimes labeled part of an “Axis of Evil” have refrained from using nuclear weapons precisely because doing so would amount to “an act of suicide.” He suggested that dire predictions are overstated and are often used to build public support for a military strike against Iran.

The newsletter sparked an immediate and heated reaction on social media. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) responded on X by writing, “Unbelievable. Now @TuckerCarlson is arguing it would be ‘a GOOD thing’ if the Ayatollah had a nuclear weapon. READ it yourself. Apparently ‘Death to America’ is an ambiguous sentiment to Mr. Qatarlson. #TuckerIsAmericaLast.”

Others joined the criticism, including commentator Eyal Yakoby, who wrote, “Tucker Carlson now argues in his newsletter that Iran getting nukes would be good and that North Korea having them is good too. The mental gymnastics required to apologize for some of the world’s most brutal regimes isn’t contrarianism. It’s indefensible.”

Additional reactions focused on Iran’s internal repression. One user wrote, “Tucker’s newsletter today argues that it would actually be a good thing if The Islamic Republic, the same ones who just massacred thousands of their own citizens for simply protesting, obtained a nuke.” Another likened the argument to handing matches to arsonists, warning of catastrophic consequences.

President Donald Trump said he has no intention of resorting to military action to obtain Greenland, even as he argued that the massive Arctic landmass belongs within North America and should fall under U.S. control.

“This enormous unsecured island is actually part of North America,” Trump said. “That’s our territory.”

While outlining his view of Greenland’s strategic importance, Trump acknowledged that the United States would be unlikely to gain control of the island unless he chose to act militarily, a step he described as involving overwhelming power. The U.S., he said, “probably won’t get anything” unless he opted to “use excessive strength and force,” which he claimed would make the country “frankly unstoppable.”

He quickly dismissed that option, however. “But I won’t do that. Okay?” Trump said.

Moments later, he reinforced the point, stating, “I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.”

Trump made the remarks while addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he criticized European leaders and reiterated his belief that the United States should ultimately control Greenland.

[Video below.] President Donald Trump told an international audience on Wednesday that the strong performance of the U.S. economy one year into his second term is driving growth far beyond America’s borders, delivering benefits to countries around the world.

Addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in remarks broadcast live on Newsmax and Newsmax2, Trump argued that global prosperity is closely tied to America’s economic health. “The USA is the economic engine on the planet, and when America booms, the entire world booms,” Trump said. “It’s been the history. When it goes bad, it goes bad… when America booms, the entire world booms.”

Marking the anniversary of his inauguration, Trump portrayed an economy that he said is gaining momentum across multiple fronts, including faster growth, higher productivity, rising investment, and increasing incomes for Americans.

He asserted that inflation has been brought under control and claimed that the southern border is now shut down and effectively sealed off.

Pointing to recent figures, Trump said inflation has run at 1.6 percent over the last three months and projected that economic growth in the fourth quarter will reach 5.4 percent, calling those numbers proof of a sharp turnaround.

Trump also cited gains on Wall Street, saying markets have reached 52 record highs since the election and that retirement accounts and personal savings have grown by an estimated $9 trillion.

He contrasted the current economic environment with conditions during the previous administration, which he described as a period defined by stagnation and rising prices. “America was plagued by the nightmare of stagflation, meaning low growth and high inflation, a recipe for misery, failure, and decline,” said Trump. “But now, after just one year of my policies, we are witnessing the exact opposite: virtually no inflation and extraordinarily high economic growth.”

According to Trump, businesses and investors have pledged a combined $18 trillion in new investments, a figure he said could ultimately climb to $20 trillion, which he described as unprecedented anywhere in the world.

He added that U.S. economic expansion is now running at almost twice the pace forecast by the International Monetary Fund last spring and said additional acceleration is expected as a result of his economic and tariff agenda. “And with my growth and tariff policies, it should be much higher,” he said. “I really believe we can be much higher than that, and this is all great news, and it’s great for all nations.”

Trump concluded by stressing how quickly the shift has taken place, saying the pace of improvement exceeded his own expectations and describing the change as the most significant economic turnaround in American history.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

I recently conducted a brief, informal survey of about twenty people. No experts. No studies. Just conversations with ordinary, functioning members of our communities.

What emerged was not just troubling, it was downright disturbing.

We have people among us who are spending five, six, seven hours a day on their phones. Every day. Not once in a while. Not during a crisis. As a routine. Some knew it. Some guessed it. Others were shocked when their screen-time data forced them to confront the truth.

This is not a minor habit. This is not “just the times we live in.” This is sickness, normalized.

We have quietly trained ourselves to be incapable of silence. A free moment feels unbearable. Standing in line, sitting in a waiting room, even walking from one place to another … the reflex is immediate: reach for the phone. Not because we need it, but because we cannot tolerate being alone with our thoughts for more than a few seconds.

And then we wonder why people feel anxious. Why attention spans are shot. Why conversations feel shallow. Why we are impatient, irritable, and perpetually distracted.

We talk about chinuch nonstop. About children who can’t focus, teens who feel disconnected, families that feel fractured. But no one wants to say the obvious: We are modeling obsession. We are teaching our children that reality is something to escape from, not engage with.

We are sick!

Imagine a parent who spends seven hours a day reading magazines. Or pacing the house with a radio pressed to their ear. We would call it unhealthy. We would intervene. But scrolling? That gets a pass.

Why?

Because it looks productive? Because it’s “news”? Because it’s “work”? Because it’s “hock”? Because your checking Matzav and all the brilliant comments?

You’re sick!

Let’s be honest. Much of it is mindless consumption dressed up as necessity. Endless updates, outrage cycles, dopamine hits, and trivialities we won’t remember an hour later.

We have become a community that cannot sit through a meal without glancing down. That cannot daven without checking messages. That cannot have a conversation without half-listening, eyes darting toward a screen.

And the scariest part? We don’t even feel embarrassed anymore.

We used to worry about bittul zman. Now we carry it in our pockets and defend it aggressively. Anyone who dares question this addiction is dismissed as “out of touch.”

This isn’t about banning phones. It’s about reclaiming sanity. About asking whether five to seven hours a day glued to a device is something we want to accept as normal, or whether, at some point, we admit that something has gone very wrong.

Because if this is what adulthood looks like, what chance do our children have?

Name Withheld

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

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The opinions expressed in letters on Matzav.com do not necessarily reflect the stance of the Matzav Media Network.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Ben Zion Mutzapi, leading Sephardic posek and rosh yeshiva of Bnei Tzion, delivered a forceful message addressing what he described as mounting decrees against Torah learners, set against the backdrop of the ongoing struggle over the draft law and the legal status of yeshiva students.

Rav Mutzapi’s remarks came in response to a question from one of his talmidim, who described the severe financial pressure facing many kollel families. The avreich explained that while the men learn in kollel throughout the day and their wives work and earn limited incomes, the cost of placing infants in licensed daycare facilities has become overwhelming. For families with two young children, he said, the expenses are often impossible to meet, leaving many avreichim without a viable way to support their households.

In his response, Rav Mutzapi said the hardships are not incidental, but intentional. He stated that the aim of the authorities is to break the spirit of Torah learners, distance them from Torah study, and secularize the chareidi community. He added that those advancing these policies neither recognize nor believe in Hashem or His Torah, and he sharply criticized what he described as rampant incitement against yeshiva students who are already struggling to obtain even basic necessities.

Rav Mutzapi went on to say that the Torah community has been brought low and called on the public to cry out to their Father in Heaven. He expressed hope that Hashem will hear their voices, have mercy on them, and bring salvation. He davened for better days, asking that Hashem overturn unjust rulings and disrupt the plans and schemes directed against Torah learners.

He concluded his response with words of faith, stating that just as Hashem saved Klal Yisroel from Paroh and his forces, He will save them again in the present time as well.

{Matzav.com}

Mrs. Brochi Goloventzitz, the mother of Leah Goloventzitz a”h, one of the two toddlers who died in the tragic incident at a daycare center in the Romema neighborhood, issued a public appeal, describing the family’s anguish and pleading for restraint amid a wave of rumors and misinformation.

In a personal statement addressed directly to the public, Goloventzitz wrote that the family is grappling with a devastating loss while simultaneously being forced to confront speculation, commentary, and inaccurate information circulating online and in public discourse.

The grieving mother emphasized that aside from those directly involved, no one truly knows the full facts surrounding the circumstances that led to Leah’s passing. She noted that the family has been exposed to headlines, images, and statements taken out of context, some of which are based on partial or incorrect information that does not represent the full reality.

Mrs. Goloventzitz further explained that the public is unaware of the considerations and decisions made following the incident, including the family’s refusal to allow an autopsy. She said those decisions were reached only after in-depth consultations and careful deliberation, based on information received from both the police and medical professionals.

She added that even the family itself does not yet have a complete understanding of what occurred. “We are not sleeping, we are not eating,” she wrote, explaining that their sole focus has been trying to piece together what truly happened.

[Video below.] President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning Tuesday, saying the United States would respond with overwhelming force if Iranian authorities kill protesters or carry out assassination threats directed at him.

Speaking in an interview with NewsNation host Katie Pavlich, Trump was asked about reports alleging that Iranian officials continue to burn protesters alive, as well as about a reported assassination threat against him over the weekend.

“Well, they shouldn’t be doing it, but I’ve left notification: Anything ever happens, the whole country is going to get blown up,” Trump said.

He went on to criticize President Biden’s silence on the matter, arguing that American leadership must speak clearly when threats are made. “Biden should have said something. When they made a statement, we always said, ‘Why isn’t Biden saying anything?’ Because he didn’t. But a President has to defend a President…like if I were here and they were making that threat to somebody, even not even a President but somebody, like they did with me, I would absolutely hit them so hard. But I have very firm instructions: Anything happens, they’re going to wipe them off the face of this earth.”

Trump’s remarks come against the backdrop of escalating friction between Washington and Tehran, driven by Iran’s violent suppression of anti-regime demonstrations and Trump’s repeated warnings that the United States would retaliate if protesters were harmed.

At one point on Wednesday, the standoff appeared to be nearing a breaking point, with U.S. military action against Iran seemingly imminent. The situation later eased, however, after Trump said the reported killing of protesters had stopped.

Earlier Tuesday, Trump addressed the possibility of ordering a military strike in response to Iran’s actions against demonstrators.

“So with Iran, they were going to hang 837 people…and we let them know that if that happens that it will be a very bad day for them, and they decided not to do it,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

“I can’t tell you what’s going to happen in the future but supposedly they’ve taken that off the table,” he added. “Is the military option off the table? No.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

A new Knesset seat poll published overnight shows Bibi Netanyahu’s Likud retaining its position as Israel’s largest party, while Shas has climbed to become the country’s third-largest political force.

According to the survey conducted by the Maagar Mochot research institute and broadcast on Channel 13 News, Likud would win 25 seats if elections were held today. Close behind is the newly formed “Bennett 2026” list led by former prime minister Naftali Bennett, which places second with 23 seats, down one mandate from the previous poll.

Shas, led by Aryeh Deri, ranks third with 10 seats. Three parties are tied just behind it with nine seats each: Otzma Yehudit headed by Itamar Ben Gvir, The Democrats led by Yair Golan, and Yisrael Beiteinu under Avigdor Lieberman.

The poll shows a further decline for Yesh Atid, headed by Yair Lapid, which would receive just eight seats. Yeshar, led by Gadi Eisenkot, stands at seven seats, the same number projected for United Torah Judaism.

Among Arab parties, Hadash-Ta’al is projected to win five seats, while Ra’am, led by Mansour Abbas, would secure four seats. The poll also shows Balad crossing the electoral threshold for the first time in recent surveys, also with four seats.

Several parties are shown failing to enter the Knesset at all, including Blue and White led by Benny Gantz, Religious Zionism headed by Bezalel Smotrich, and The Reservists under Yoaz Hendel.

In terms of political blocs, the poll gives Netanyahu-aligned parties 51 seats, while parties opposed to Netanyahu total 56 seats. Arab parties collectively account for 13 seats.

The survey also examined public opinion regarding Gantz’s political future amid his party’s continued failure to cross the electoral threshold. According to the findings, 48 percent of respondents believe Gantz should retire from politics, while 29 percent say he should continue and run in the next election.

{Matzav.com}

Several members of the governing board of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum are pressing Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York to remove Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont from the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, citing years of nonparticipation and concerns about his public statements, according to a report by JNS.

Sanders, who was appointed to the council in 2007, holds a seat on the panel of presidential and congressional appointees that convenes twice annually to guide the museum’s mission, educational initiatives, and public programming. Attendance records reviewed by board members and shared with the New York Post indicate, however, that Sanders “has missed every meeting of the board since his appointment.”

In a letter dated January 13 and signed by a dozen council members, the group told Schumer that Sanders “has rarely, if ever, attended council meetings or participated meaningfully in the work of the council since his appointment.”

The letter also raised objections to Sanders’s public rhetoric regarding “contemporary genocidal conflicts, including characterizations widely viewed as inconsistent with the principles of Holocaust remembrance and genocide prevention.”

Sanders has frequently criticized Israeli government policy and, in September, accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza, marking the first time he used that term to describe the current war.

The Vermont senator also sharply condemned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington last July for a meeting with President Donald Trump.

Sanders described the occasion as “a shameful day in America,” pointing to arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against Netanyahu and then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on allegations of “war crimes.”

Although neither Israel nor the United States recognizes the ICC as a governing authority, Sanders wrote, “Today, a war criminal under indictment from the ICC will be welcomed to the White House.”

Separately, in late July, the Senate voted down a resolution introduced by Sanders that sought to block U.S. weapons transfers to Israel.

That measure failed by a 27-70 margin, marking the third unsuccessful effort by Sanders since late 2024 to stop American arms deliveries to Israel.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday sharply criticized Israel over the demolition of a UNRWA compound in Yerushalayim, prompting an immediate and pointed response from Israel’s Foreign Ministry highlighting documented links between the UN agency and Hamas terrorists.

Guterres’s deputy spokesperson, Farhan Haq, said in an official statement that the UN chief “condemns in the strongest terms the Israeli authorities’ actions to demolish the UNRWA Sheikh Jarrah compound.” Haq stressed that, as Guterres has “repeatedly and unequivocally stated, including in his letter to the Prime Minister of Israel on 8 January 2026, the Sheikh Jarrah compound remains United Nations premises, and is inviolable and immune from any form of interference.”

The statement went on to say that “The Secretary-General views as wholly unacceptable the continued escalatory actions against UNRWA, which are inconsistent with Israel’s clear obligations under international law, including under the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.”

According to Haq, Guterres also “urges the Government of Israel to immediately cease the demolition of the UNRWA Sheikh Jarrah compound, and to return and restore the compound and other UNRWA premises to the United Nations without delay.”

Israel’s response came swiftly. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein reposted the UN condemnation on social media, attaching a video showing Hamas terrorist Mohammad Marwan Abu Itiwi participating in the kidnapping of Israeli hostages during the October 7, 2023 attack. Marmorstein also included a screenshot from an UNRWA employee list identifying Itiwi as an UNRWA driver, complete with his employee number.

“Was this your UNRWA Employee of the Month?” Marmorstein wrote in his post.

The confrontation comes against the backdrop of Israeli legislation passed by the Knesset in October 2024 barring UNRWA from operating in Israel and banning Israeli officials from maintaining contact with the agency. That law was expanded last month to prohibit the supply of electricity and water to UNRWA facilities, and Israeli authorities also moved to seize the agency’s offices in eastern Yerushalayim.

Earlier this month, Guterres warned Israel that he may take the matter to the International Court of Justice if the laws targeting UNRWA are not repealed. The warning was delivered in a January 8 letter to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.

In the letter, Guterres wrote that the United Nations cannot ignore “actions taken by Israel, which are in direct contravention of the obligations of Israel under international law. They must be reversed without delay.”

UNRWA has faced longstanding criticism over its cooperation with the Hamas terrorist organization, criticism that intensified after Israel presented evidence in 2024 indicating that UNRWA staff members took part in the October 7, 2023 Hamas assault.

In response to Israel’s allegations, the United Nations established an independent review group headed by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna to examine the claims.

The group’s report acknowledged that it found “neutrality-related issues” within UNRWA, but also asserted that Israel had not yet provided evidence that a large number of UNRWA employees were members of terrorist organizations.

Separately, Emily Damari, a former Hamas hostage released after 470 days in captivity, said she had been held inside an UNRWA facility.

In April 2025, USAID disclosed that the United Nations had obstructed an American government investigation into ties between UNRWA employees in Gaza and the Hamas terrorist organization.

Despite the mounting evidence cited by Israel regarding UNRWA’s connections to Hamas, the International Court of Justice recently ruled that Israel must enable the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip through UN agencies, including UNRWA. Israel and the United States both criticized that ruling.

{Matzav.com}

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The Justice Department has widened its inquiry into Minnesota’s handling of federal immigration enforcement, issuing subpoenas to Gov. Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and other top state and local officials as part of an investigation into whether authorities interfered with federal operations during the Trump administration, according to a document reviewed by NBC News and a person familiar with the matter.

The subpoenas also target Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, the office of St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, and two county governments, the document and the person said.

NBC News contacted the offices involved seeking comment.

Frey responded with a statement blasting the Trump administration and accusing the Justice Department of abusing its authority.

“When the federal government weaponizes its power to try to intimidate local leaders for doing their jobs, every American should be concerned. We shouldn’t have to live in a country where people fear that federal law enforcement will be used to play politics or crack down on local voices they disagree with,” Frey added.

“In Minneapolis, we won’t be afraid. We know the difference between right and wrong and, as Mayor, I’ll continue doing the job I was elected to do: keeping our community safe and standing up for our values,” the Democratic mayor added.

Ellison, in his own statement, emphasized that the subpoena does not target him personally.

“Everything about this is highly irregular, especially the fact that this comes shortly after my office sued the Trump Administration to challenge their illegal actions within Minnesota,” the state attorney general said.

“Let’s be clear about why this is happening: Donald Trump is coming after the people of Minnesota and I’m standing in his way,” Ellison added. “I will not be intimidated, and I will not stop working to protect Minnesotans from Trump’s campaign of retaliation and revenge.”

The federal investigation follows the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a U.S. citizen and mother of three, by an ICE officer during an immigration enforcement action. Her death triggered protests and confrontations between demonstrators and police that have drawn national attention.

Investigators are relying on a rarely invoked federal law with origins dating back to the Civil War. That statute appeared in a memo circulated last month by Attorney General Pam Bondi, obtained by NBC News, outlining potential strategies for prosecutors to bring charges against political agitators.

In addition, federal authorities are examining the actions of Good’s partner to determine whether she may have obstructed a federal officer in the moments leading up to the shooting, according to two people familiar with the investigation.

Walz has previously criticized the focus of the probe, saying: “The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her.” He was referring to ICE officer Jonathan Ross, a military veteran who spent more than a decade working for the Department of Homeland Security.

{Matzav.com}

Air Force One reversed course and returned to the Washington, D.C., region after a technical problem arose shortly after departure on a flight bound for Switzerland, where President Donald Trump is scheduled to address the World Economic Forum, White House officials said.

According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the aircraft turned around after the flight crew detected “a minor electrical issue” soon after takeoff and opted to return as a precautionary measure.

A journalist traveling with the president reported that the lights in the press cabin briefly shut off shortly after departure, though no additional details were provided at the time.

Trump is expected to transfer to a different plane once back in the Washington area and proceed with his planned travel to Davos for the World Economic Forum.

The two aircraft currently designated as Air Force One have been in service for nearly 40 years. Boeing has been tasked with producing replacement planes, but that effort has encountered repeated setbacks and delays.

In the meantime, Trump received a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet last year from the ruling family of Qatar to be incorporated into the Air Force One fleet, a move that drew significant scrutiny. The aircraft is presently undergoing modifications to meet stringent security standards.

Leavitt quipped to reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday night that the Qatari jet was sounding “much better” at the moment.

{Matzav.com}

In the wake of the deadly incident at a children’s daycare center in Yerushalayim, the Israel Tax Authority is examining the possibility of launching audits and investigations into the financial conduct of daycare centers and toddler frameworks that have been operating without licenses and without being formally registered as businesses, according to a report by Ynet.

Officials stressed that the review is not directed at the specific daycare where the tragedy occurred. However, they emphasized that any suspicion of long-term tax evasion grants the Tax Authority full legal powers to examine the matter, demand the filing of reports, and collect back taxes retroactively, in accordance with the law.

Professional sources noted that there are numerous daycare centers that are not registered with tax authorities and do not submit annual reports, despite operating for extended periods and receiving regular payments from parents. Under Israeli law, even small frameworks or those serving economically disadvantaged populations are required to declare and report income, regardless of the amounts involved.

A tax attorney told Ynet that the Tax Authority has both civil and criminal tools to locate businesses that fail to report income. In cases where there is no cooperation, the Authority is empowered to assess income independently. He added that while many cases initially proceed on the civil level, more serious situations can escalate into criminal proceedings.

The Tax Authority further clarified that statutes of limitation apply only to those who submitted reports as required by law. In cases where no reports were filed at all, authorities may review conduct retroactively, depending on the circumstances and the severity of the findings.

Sources familiar with the matter told Ynet that the Yerushalayim incident is likely to prompt a broader review of unlicensed and unreported educational frameworks, as part of a wider effort to combat the shadow economy and enforce tax laws.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is expected to travel to the United States toward the end of February to take part in the annual AIPAC policy conference in Washington, according to reports in Israeli media. Officials in the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that the trip is being considered, and there is also a possibility of a meeting with President Donald Trump during the visit.

The AIPAC conference, organized by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, is scheduled to take place in Washington from February 22 through February 24 and is regarded as one of the most prominent pro-Israel gatherings in the United States.

According to a report by Ynet, Netanyahu may also meet with President Trump, whom he met last month. Sources in the Prime Minister’s Office said discussions are ongoing regarding the logistics and timing of the visit.

The potential trip comes amid heightened tensions with Iran and an ongoing buildup of American forces in the Middle East. Israeli officials continue to closely monitor the possibility of U.S. military action against Iran, with assessments and situation evaluations taking place in recent days. Reports indicate that the United States has been reinforcing its presence in the region while making those moves highly visible.

American officials have also pointed to continued internet shutdowns in Iran as evidence of the regime’s fear of internal unrest. A U.S. official quoted in the reports said that Washington’s “maximum pressure” campaign is aimed at the Iranian regime rather than the Iranian people, stressing that the United States will continue to support internet access for Iranians as a means of exposing the reality inside the country.