Matzav

President Donald Trump is reportedly advancing plans to formally categorize the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization, signaling a major shift that has been under discussion since his first term.

According to Just the News, the president said the process is nearing completion. “It will be done in the strongest and most powerful terms. Final documents are being drawn,” he told the outlet.

Foreign terrorist designations fall under the authority of the U.S. Department of State, which maintains the official FTO registry on its website.

“Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) are foreign organizations that are designated by the Secretary of State in accordance with section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), as amended. FTO designations play a critical role in our fight against terrorism and are an effective means of curtailing support for terrorist activities and pressuring groups to get out of the terrorism business,” the agency said.

The current list includes a wide array of extremist movements such as ISIS, Boko Haram, Hamas, Tren de Aragua, and Antifa.

The report noted that Trump has weighed the Muslim Brotherhood designation for years, viewing the movement’s global influence as a national security concern.

“The Muslim Brotherhood is an Islamist group founded nearly a century ago in Egypt but with chapters, parties, and affiliated movements around the world,” the article explained.

Momentum for the designation grew in Congress this year. In June, Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina introduced legislation pushing for the group to be labeled an FTO, a move previously reported by Breitbart News.

“The Muslim Brotherhood doesn’t just support terrorism, it inspires it,” said Mace. “President Trump was right when he said the Muslim Brotherhood is a threat to global security, and it’s long past time we call them what they are: terrorists.”

Her bill would activate an array of national security mechanisms — including asset freezes, financial sanctions, travel restrictions, and heightened law enforcement scrutiny — aimed at crippling the organization’s operations both domestically and overseas, according to a press release from her office.

The congresswoman emphasized that the group’s affiliates have long played a role in radicalizing Islamist movements and destabilizing U.S. partners in key regions.

Separate reporting this fall highlighted the group’s ongoing international footprint. In October, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that a British journalist believed to be linked to the Muslim Brotherhood was being held by ICE and facing deportation, Breitbart News noted.

{Matzav.com}

Federal Bureau of Investigation officials announced that the gunman who attempted to assassinate President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, acted entirely on his own, concluding a sweeping investigation that spanned continents.

Fox News reported that the finding followed what authorities described as an exhaustive probe in which investigators pursued every possible angle. The network spoke with FBI Director Kash Patel, Deputy Director Dan Bongino, and another senior figure involved in the case who requested anonymity due to operational sensitivities.

Patel said investigators engaged fully from the moment they assumed command of the bureau, noting that the team had dual responsibilities: keeping the chain of communication open with the White House while ensuring Trump was recognized under the law as one of the four victims of the attack. “We not only had to maintain the chain of command to President Trump, but we had to remind the world that President Trump was the victim — one of the four victims — on that day. There are victims’ rights rules that apply to him, and they don’t get erased because he is the president,” Patel said.

He added that the investigative team delivered a full briefing at the White House. “We fully briefed the president, as a victim of this case, at the White House, providing him with all of the details of our investigation, and the president was satisfied with the results and where we left it,” Patel said.

Authorities identified the attacker as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, whose background reportedly included an affinity for “furries” and use of “they/them” pronouns.

Footage captured the moment gunfire erupted during the campaign rally, sending the crowd into chaos.

The attack left President Trump wounded, bloodied from a shot that grazed his ear. A bystander was killed, and two additional attendees were critically hurt. Secret Service agents ultimately shot and killed Crooks.

In the aftermath, Trump publicly reflected on the assassination attempt, saying he believed divine intervention spared him.

As Breitbart News highlighted, “Corey Comperatore, a husband, father, and Pennsylvania firefighter, was killed as he was trying to shield his wife and daughter after Crooks opened fire. Two other men, James Copenhaver, 74, and David Dutch, 57, were also injured as a result of the assassination attempt on Trump.”

Despite the trauma of the event, Trump later made his way back to Butler, continuing his campaign with trademark resolve.

The Fox News report noted that Patel, Bongino, and the unnamed senior official wanted their findings made public to eliminate rumors and counter widespread speculation about alternative theories.

“We have reviewed this case over and over — looked into every nugget. We have spoken to the families, the president — there is no cover-up here. There is no motive for it, there is no reason for it,” Bongino said.

With the investigation now classified as “pending, inactive,” officials say they will only reopen the case if credible new leads emerge.

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

Some singles are paralyzed by the possibilities. Others are pained by the silence.

What if there was a better way?

Meet ZUUG. ZUUG is transforming the shidduch world by tackling its biggest frustrations — the confusion of too many suggestions and the emotional burden of too few suggestions — head-on.

For years, the system has depended on shadchanim juggling names and notes. Too often, great matches are missed simply because people forget. ZUUG fixes that with precision, privacy, and purpose.

And no — it’s not a dating app. ZUUG is a discreet digital tool that blends tradition with technology, keeping the dignity of the classic shidduch process while making it far more efficient.

Here’s how ZUUG works:

Profile: Singles (or parents) complete a thoughtful, interactive questionnaire on ZUUG’s platform. Profiles stay hidden — even from shadchanim — until mutual interest is shown.

Suggestions: Based on values and preferences, ZUUG suggests potential matches. No last names, no resumes — just a meaningful, intentional suggestion.

Shadchan Step-In: When both sides are preliminarily  interested, their chosen shadchan gets full profiles and takes over in the traditional way. It’s simple. Smart. And it works.

After three years of development and $1.1 million in investment, ZUUG launched just a few months ago — and the response has been electric. Over 2,000 users (mostly under 26 from mainstream yeshivos and seminaries) have already joined. 120+ dates have been arranged, and many couples are now dating seriously.

As one user, Zev F., puts it: “We’ve gotten amazing suggestions for our son in BMG. ZUUG makes shidduchim easy, efficient, and far less stressful.” Well-known shadchan Rabbi Tzodek Katz calls the suggestions “spot on.” And Yael N. sums it up perfectly: “ZUUG keeps the shadchan process but removes bias and judgment — something every single needs.”

The numbers are growing fast — and the math is simple:More users = better matches = more opportunities for everyone.

With a $10,000 monthly upkeep and $250,000 in planned upgrades, ZUUG isn’t just a clever idea. It’s a serious investment in the future of Klal Yisroel — one that’s already making the shidduch process smoother, kinder, and more connected.

Because sometimes, the best way forward is a smarter version of what’s always worked.

Click here to make it possible!

Vice President JD Vance sharply escalated criticism of several Democratic lawmakers on Sunday, blasting their recent video telling U.S. troops to “defy illegal orders” and echoing President Donald Trump’s claim that the message borders on sedition or an attempt to undermine presidential authority.

Vance weighed in after Sen. Elissa Slotkin, appearing on ABC News’ This Week, could not point to any instance of Trump issuing unlawful commands. Her comments were highlighted in a post by RNC Research, which Vance then shared.

“If the president hasn’t issued illegal orders, then members of Congress telling the military to defy the president is by definition illegal,” Vance wrote on X, referencing Slotkin’s interview.

During her appearance, Slotkin acknowledged that she was unaware of any improper directives coming from the White House. “To my knowledge I am not aware of things that are illegal,” she said — a statement that immediately triggered Vance’s admonition online.

The exchange fueled the ongoing debate within conservative circles, with Trump and Vance both urging that the administration consider whether the lawmakers’ remarks rise to criminal calls for mutiny.

The Republican National Committee quickly amplified the moment, asserting on X that Slotkin had effectively conceded Democrats “lied” about Trump issuing unlawful military instructions.

Slotkin appeared in the video alongside other Democratic legislators — several of them veterans of the military or intelligence community — as they reminded service members of their duty under the Uniform Code of Military Justice to reject “manifestly illegal” orders.

The clip was released amid growing friction over political influence on the military chain of command, adding fresh fuel to partisan anxieties about civilian oversight.

Trump responded furiously over the weekend, posting two late-night messages on Truth Social condemning the lawmakers.

“The traitors that told the military to disobey my orders should be in jail right now, not roaming the fake news networks trying to explain that what they said was OK,” he wrote in his first post.

He continued, “It wasn’t, and never will be! It was sedition at the highest level, and sedition is a major crime. There can be no other interpretation of what they said!”

A follow-up message reinforced his position: “Many great legal scholars agree that the democrat traitors that told the military to disobey my orders, as president, have committed a crime of serious proportion!”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump ratcheted up his attacks this weekend on a group of Democrats who appeared in a video urging military and intelligence personnel to reject “illegal orders,” denouncing the lawmakers as “traitors” and insisting they “should be in jail right now.”

In two messages posted on Truth Social, Trump directed particular fury at Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and five other Democrats who participated in the video that circulated earlier in the week. The clip immediately drew fire for its repeated warning to service members to refuse undefined “illegal orders.”

“The traitors that told the military to disobey my orders should be in jail right now, not roaming the fake news networks trying to explain that what they said was OK,” Trump wrote in his first post.

He continued, “It wasn’t, and never will be! It was sedition at the highest level, and sedition is a major crime. There can be no other interpretation of what they said!”

A follow-up post carried the same theme, with Trump declaring, “Many great legal scholars agree that the democrat traitors that told the military to disobey my orders, as president, have committed a crime of serious proportion!”

The video in question featured Slotkin and Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, along with Reps. Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander, Christopher Deluzio, and Chrissy Houlahan. The lawmakers appeared on X on Tuesday, repeatedly telling service members, “You can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders,” though they did not identify any specific hypothetical commands. All six have prior military or intelligence backgrounds.

On Friday, Trump said military officials were beginning to scrutinize the matter. “I think Pete Hegseth is looking into it. I know they’re looking into it militarily,” he said, adding, “I don’t know for a fact, but I think the military is looking into it, the military courts.”

The tension escalated further when Trump wrote on Thursday that “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR” is “punishable by DEATH!”

At the White House the same day, press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that the president was not demanding the execution of lawmakers but stressed the seriousness of their message. “You have sitting members of the United States Congress … encouraging them to defy the president’s lawful orders,” she said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson also weighed in, rebuking the Democrats’ video as “wildly inappropriate” and warning that its message was “a very dangerous thing for so-called leaders in Congress” to promote. He added that he did not interpret Trump’s remarks as a call for physical harm.

Naftali Bennett hinted that his political plans may include cooperation with Arab factions, according to a Kan 11 News report aired Sunday night. The remarks emerged from a gathering of his backers in Yerushalayim, where he was pressed on whether he would pledge to shun both Arab parties and chareidi factions in any future government.

In response to that question, Bennett cautioned that rigid commitments could be dangerous. “If seats are lacking, we will have to compromise on a thousand things, and that would be very bad,” he said, warning that the entire political landscape could unravel without a strong voter turnout. “If the public does not turn out to vote, we will face collapse.”

Bennett used the event to cast himself as the only realistic challenger to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, arguing that a substantial bloc of right-leaning Israelis is ready to shift away from the current coalition. “There is a clear Jewish majority for change – 20 seats that voted for parties in the coalition but are dissatisfied. They are mainly Likud supporters and right-wingers,” he said, insisting that this group would only rally behind a candidate who reflects their worldview. “If you put at the top someone who advocates left-wing policies, they won’t accept it. That’s why we checked. These seats – if it is clear to them that it’s Bennett versus Netanyahu – they will vote Bennett.”

As he wrapped up his remarks, Bennett urged his base to signal public support, emphasizing that visible backing could influence other political leaders he is currently courting. “I am speaking with the players, with Gadi [Eisenkot] and Evet (Avigdor Lieberman), and you can help by writing online that you are with Bennett. That will encourage them to join as well.”

Sen. Rand Paul issued a blistering warning on Sunday, accusing the White House of attempting to sidestep Congress by labeling a prominent Venezuelan narcotics network as a foreign terrorist organization—an action he said could effectively place the United States on a wartime footing.

During an appearance on CBS News’ Face the Nation, the Kentucky senator argued that the administration’s move, set to take effect Monday, would hand the executive branch sweeping military latitude without the constitutionally mandated deliberation over whether the nation should enter hostilities. He cautioned that the administration’s posture suggests something far more consequential than counternarcotics enforcement.

“They are pretending as if we are at war,” Paul said. “When you have war, the rules of engagement are lessened.”

The impending designation adds “Cartel de los Soles” (“Cartel of the Suns”) to the Foreign Terrorist Organization registry, with U.S. officials asserting that the syndicate operates under the direction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the organization as responsible for “terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere,” placing it alongside Islamist factions, separatist militias, guerrilla groups, and, increasingly, major Latin American drug cartels already listed by the State Department.

Paul pushed back forcefully, saying that invoking wartime powers in the context of drug interdiction is both reckless and illegal. He noted that maritime stops often uncover no contraband despite initial suspicions.

He pointed out that roughly a quarter of vessels intercepted near U.S. shores are found to be completely free of narcotics.

“It actually would be unlawful if the Coast Guard started blowing up boats,” he said. “But for some reason, they say we are at war off the coast of Venezuela.”

Paul, who sits on both the Homeland Security and Foreign Relations committees, said he and Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia urged the administration to seek an official declaration of war if it intends to operate under wartime authorities in the region.

“The administration refused,” he said. “They want it both ways.”

The senator further complained that he has been locked out of key classified briefings, asserting that only “a few hand-selected people” have been cleared to review the underlying intelligence.

He warned that the policy’s secrecy threatens fundamental legal norms, especially because U.S. personnel have been detaining alleged traffickers without pursuing evidence or interrogating them about cartel structures.

According to Paul, several such detainees have been quietly transferred to Colombia or Ecuador without any attempt to glean information that could disrupt narcotics networks.

He also remarked that some officials have advocated military involvement in Venezuela for years, singling out Rubio, whom he said had “very much [been an] advocate of regime change” prior to joining the administration.

Paul added that aggressive action in Venezuela—or any renewed push for Ukraine funding—could strain the political coalition that helped propel Trump to power.

“A lot of people, including myself, were attracted to the president because of his desire to not get us involved in foreign wars,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

A high-ranking Hamas team headed by Khalil al-Hayya reached Cairo on Saturday night, entering negotiations with Egyptian officials as friction in Gaza intensifies. Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported that the visit focuses on the latest security events and on whether both sides can move into the next stage of the ceasefire framework.

A senior figure within the terror group told the outlet that their meetings with Egypt’s intelligence chief are expected to delve into several unresolved issues. Among them are the status of Hamas operatives stuck underground in a Rafah tunnel, Israeli actions in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect, and lingering elements of the deal that have yet to be carried out. One of Hamas’ primary demands remains the reopening of the Rafah Crossing to allow civilian travel in both directions.

The agenda, the report added, is also slated to include the search for the remaining bodies of Israeli hostages and the question of installing an international force inside Gaza as envisioned in US President Donald Trump’s peace initiative.

Hamas, meanwhile, pushed back against earlier media claims suggesting it had already informed Washington that the truce had collapsed due to Israeli military activity. Earlier reports asserted that representatives of the terror group told US envoys the ceasefire was “over” and that they were “ready to fight.”

Israel countered sharply, issuing a statement through the Prime Minister’s Office accusing Hamas of once again shattering the ceasefire. “Today, Hamas violated the ceasefire again, sending a terrorist into Israel held territory to attack IDF soldiers. In response, Israel eliminated five senior Hamas terrorists,” the statement said.

The PMO added: “Israel has fully honored the ceasefire, Hamas has not. Throughout the ceasefire, dozens of Hamas terrorists have crossed the Israeli lines to attack our troops, while they execute Palestinian civilians in Gaza.”

The statement concluded with a renewed appeal to those brokering the agreement. “We again call on the mediators to insist that Hamas fulfill its side of the Ceasefire and President Trump’s 20-point plan: Hamas must immediately return the three deceased hostages it is still holding and complete its disarmament and enable the total demilitarization of Gaza.”

Months after returning home, released hostage Segev Kalfon says the fears that gripped him in captivity have not let go. Speaking with Channel 12 News, he described life after rescue as anything but calm. “My sense of security has diminished. I still don’t feel safe. I went through two very difficult years. They know all my personal details. They were always telling us over and over that they’ll yet come for us, they’ll come for me yet,” he revealed.

Kalfon explained that the psychological burden of what he endured is something he can push away only temporarily. During daylight hours he forces himself to function, but when night falls, the flashbacks surface again, pulling him back to the tunnels where he was held.

One memory still haunts him more than most. “The most humiliating thing was when they made us dig their toilets. We dug a pit nearly two meters deep over three days so they would give us food. We did it because we were starving – but even then, we didn’t get food,” he shared. He added that even when the terrorists provided something to eat, it was barely recognizable as nourishment. “They just ground up fava beans and ‘expanded’ it with water to make it seem like more.”

He admitted that the contrast between his horrific captivity and his recent appearance in Washington is almost too much to process. “In the end, I’m Segev from Dimona,” he said. “To suddenly be in the White House with my family – it’s crazy. A lot of my return is thanks to [US President Donald] Trump, but also thanks to our country and our soldiers. Without them, I wouldn’t be here.”

What anchored him through the darkest moments, he said, was his family. Above all, he carried constant fear for the people he loved most. “Throughout the whole two years I thought about my family a lot. My biggest fear was hearing something had happened to my father, my grandfather, or my mother. That’s what weighed on me. In the end, I was blessed to kiss my grandfather, and he kissed me.”

{Matzav.com}

In a nationally broadcast statement on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu addressed Israelis just hours after the IDF confirmed the killing of Hezbollah senior commander Haytham Ali Tabataba’i. Netanyahu opened by citing the gravity of the moment, reminding the public that “a few hours ago, the IDF eliminated Haytham Ali Tabataba’i, the chief of staff of the Hezbollah terror organization.” He described Tabataba’i in searing terms, noting that “Tabataba’i was a mass murderer. His hands were full of the blood of many Israelis and Americans; it is not for no reason that the United States offered a five-million-dollar prize for his head.”

The Prime Minister explained that Tabataba’i had long been a key figure in Hezbollah’s offensive ambitions, serving as a high-ranking Radwan Force commander, a unit Netanyahu said “planned to conquer the Galilee and slaughter many of our citizens.” He emphasized that the terror figure had recently attempted to rebuild Hezbollah’s arsenal after the sizable setbacks it suffered during the Pager Operation, pointing out his efforts came despite “the heavy blows that Hezbollah was dealt… the damage to its missile supply, and, of course, the elimination of Nasrallah.” Netanyahu credited the IDF and security forces for what he called a “professional, precise, and successful operation” that removed Tabataba’i from the battlefield.

Reiterating Israel’s red lines, Netanyahu declared that “the policy I am leading is absolutely clear: Under my leadership, the State of Israel will not allow Hezbollah to rebuild its power, and we will not allow it to pose a threat to the State of Israel again.” He pressed the Lebanese government to uphold its obligations and disarm Hezbollah, asserting that “only in this way can a better future be made possible for every citizen in Lebanon, and only in this way can good and secure neighborly relations be established between Israel and Lebanon.”

Before concluding, the Prime Minister turned briefly to regional policy developments, voicing appreciation for President Trump’s move to categorize the Muslim Brotherhood as a terror organization. “On this occasion, I also want to commend President Trump on his decision to outlaw and designate the ‘Muslim Brotherhood’ organization as a terrorist organization,” he said, warning that the group threatens stability both in the Middle East and beyond. He underscored that Israel has already banned parts of the organization and is advancing steps to extend that designation further.

{Matzav.com}

The Satmar community in Williamsburg has launched the construction of two additional state-of-the-art wedding halls, dramatically expanding its ambitious low-cost wedding initiative aimed at easing the financial burden on young families.

The new project, announced in a large community notice this week, is part of the chassidus’ rapidly developing “Express Wedding Project,” a program designed to provide high-quality yet affordable wedding venues for families who adhere to the takanos, the wedding regulations instituted by the Satmar Rebbe to curb excessive spending.

The two halls are being built with elegant décor and a luxurious atmosphere, matching or surpassing the standards of New York’s premier event spaces, but at a fraction of the cost. The chassidus emphasized that the halls will be reserved exclusively for those following the Rebbe’s guidelines, ensuring that families can make a simchah with dignity while avoiding the crushing expenses that have become standard in the wider community.

The halls will bear the names of the Satmar Rebbe, the Vayoel Moshe, and his rebbetzin, who left no descendants.

These two new venues join the existing pair of halls previously opened under the same initiative, together forming a large, multi-hall wedding complex intended to completely transform the wedding landscape for the Satmar community.

The entire project is being financed by a prominent Satmar philanthropist whose identity has not been made public. Construction is moving at an accelerated pace to meet rising demand.

An announcement in Der Yid highlighted the goal of the project clearly: to ensure that every family making a wedding can do so “b’simchah u’b’nachas” without being weighed down by financial strain.

{Matzav.com}

Days after a decisive arbitration ruling handed control of Ponovezh Yeshiva to its nosi, Rav Eliezer Kahaneman, the attorneys who represented the yeshiva arrived at his home on Sunday — cake in hand — to celebrate what has been described as a landmark legal triumph.

The visit came after retired judge David Cheshin issued his long-awaited decision last week in the decades-long dispute between Rav Kahaneman and Rav Shmuel Markowitz over leadership of the storied Ponovezh Yeshiva. The ruling overwhelmingly favored Rav Kahaneman.

In the arbitration decision, the court ordered the faction led by Rav Markowitz to vacate all Ponovezh properties, to cease using the Ponovezh name, and to stop issuing official documents on the yeshiva’s letterhead. In addition, Rav Markowitz was directed to pay Ponovezh a financial penalty of ten million shekels within sixty days of the ruling.

Judge Cheshin accepted the vast majority of the arguments presented by Ponovezh’s legal team — attorneys Udi Artzi and Ran Feldman — and rejected most of the claims made by Rav Markowitz and his organization, Masores HaTorah. The arbitrator also ruled that this decision constitutes a continuation of the well-known 2000 arbitration by Rav Zimbalist, determining that those who violated the earlier arbitration agreement were Rav Markowitz and the Masores HaTorah faction.

On Sunday, attorneys Artzi and Feldman visited Rav Kahaneman at his residence to celebrate the victory. They brought a cake decorated with an image of the yeshiva’s building and thousands of talmidim dancing in its courtyard — a photograph taken recently at the yahrtzeit of the late rosh yeshiva, Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l, during a Sefer Torah dedication held in his memory.

During their meeting, participants recalled Rav Edelstein’s unwavering insistence that the yeshiva could not be jointly run by both factions. From the very beginning, he maintained that peaceful functioning required separation — to the point that he voluntarily relinquished the main heichal and moved to the Ohel Kedoshim building for the sake of harmony.

Rav Kahaneman expressed deep gratitude to the attorneys and blessed them that their efforts in securing the yeshiva’s stability and its ability to continue its Torah mission in peace and serenity should bring them continued success in the years ahead.

{Matzav.com}

Amid intensifying tensions over the national draft, the IDF chief of staff has circulated the finalized draft of new military service regulations for chareidi soldiers to three retired major generals for their review — a move insiders say signals that official approval of the long-awaited orders is only days away.

According to information obtained by sources, Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi received the final version of the Pekudot Matkal several weeks ago. The document was drafted in recent months through negotiations between representatives of Rav Dovid Leibel and senior IDF officials, headed by Brig.-Gen. Shay Taib.

After reviewing the text, the chief of staff opted not to sign immediately and instead forwarded the draft to three reserve major generals for further examination.

Sources familiar with the process say this internal review is the main reason for the delay in Halevi’s signature. The reserve officers, however, reportedly offered no significant objections to the content. As a result, officials expect the orders to be signed in the coming weeks — possibly even within days.

The new regulations represent a major shift for the IDF. For the first time, the army will formally allow external rabbinic supervision over commanders, codify restrictions on women entering bases where chareidi soldiers serve, and solidify additional guarantees aimed at preserving chareidi religious standards.

In the background of the delayed approval is ongoing friction between the IDF and Rav Dovid Leibel, who has refused to permit students who do not qualify for the status of torasam umnasam to enlist. His position, associates say, stems from a lack of confidence in the army’s commitment to safeguarding chareidi needs.

In recent weeks, Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman MK Nissim Vaturi Bismut met with Rav Leibel to discuss the hold-up and the broader implications. With coalition negotiations over a mutually acceptable draft law hinging partly on the completion of these new regulations, officials hope that the signing of the orders will clear the path for renewed progress.

{Matzav.com}

A sweeping new survey released Sunday paints a picture of a population increasingly contemplating life elsewhere. According to the findings, 27 percent of Israelis are now thinking about leaving the country, despite most respondents warning that a large-scale wave of departures would put Israel’s future at risk.

The research, compiled by the Israel Democracy Institute, surveyed 720 Jews and 187 Arabs in April. The results showed notable contrasts between communities, with 30% of Arab citizens considering emigration compared to 26% of Jewish citizens. Among Jews, respondents who described themselves as less religious — and those aligned with the political left — expressed far greater interest in leaving than religious or right-leaning counterparts.

A striking detail emerged among those contemplating relocation: 69% of Jews and 62.5% of Arabs said they were not drawn to any particular country at all, explaining that the appeal was simply “getting out of the country.”

The questionnaire was taken after a year and a half of conflict on several fronts, predating both June’s 12-day confrontation with Iran and the more recent Gaza ceasefire that facilitated the release of most hostages. Researchers acknowledged that these later developments may have shifted public attitudes, but the data does not yet reflect that.

When examining Jewish respondents by religious identity, the group least connected to religious observance showed the strongest inclination to leave. Non-religious Jews made up 39% of those considering emigration, followed by traditional but non-religious (24%), traditional religious (19%), Orthodox (14%), and just 4% among the ultra-Orthodox.

Younger, secular Jewish Israelis stood out even more. Among that demographic, 60% said they would think about moving away, and among high earners who also hold a foreign passport, the share rose to 80%.

The trend cut across both Jewish and Arab communities when education levels and income rose. Respondents in high-mobility professions — including high-tech, finance, and medicine — were the most open to relocating abroad.

Those holding a second passport unsurprisingly appeared more ready to consider leaving, but the report highlighted a more unexpected finding: 33% of Israelis born in the country were considering emigration, compared with 22% of those who had moved to Israel from abroad. The authors suggested that individuals who made the deliberate choice to immigrate are generally less inclined to reverse that decision.

Among Israeli-born Jews with dual citizenship, the likelihood of contemplating departure increased if they had previously lived abroad. The more time they had spent outside Israel, the higher the possibility they would consider doing so again.

Views on Israel’s current condition were mixed but leaned pessimistic. Forty-two percent of Jews and 33% of Arabs labeled the nation’s situation as “bad,” while 8% of Jews and 15% of Arabs described it as “good.”

Participants cited a familiar cluster of worries when explaining why they might leave: the soaring cost of living, fears over security, frustration with politics, and concerns about “the lack of a good future for my children.”

Europe emerged as the leading destination of interest among potential emigrants. Forty-three percent pointed to the European Union as their preferred option, noticeably above the 27% who chose North America or Canada.

Broader frustrations also appeared frequently, including dissatisfaction with public services, worries about global perceptions of Israel, alarm over the trajectory of democracy and free expression, and unease about the country’s identity as the Jewish state.

Yet despite the growing interest in living elsewhere, the most powerful anchor keeping both Jewish and Arab Israelis rooted remained the same: family. Many respondents said they would be far more likely to consider leaving if their relatives had already moved away.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Zohran Mamdani refused to walk back his harshest descriptions of President Trump on Sunday, reaffirming his view of the president as a “fascist” and “despot” even as he praised their unexpectedly constructive first meeting. Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” the incoming New York City mayor made clear that his opinion of Trump hasn’t budged. “That’s something that I’ve said in the past. I say it today,” Mamdani said when pressed on whether he still sees the president as a fascist.

Despite the charged language, Mamdani emphasized that he believes he can work productively with Trump. He said the two found real areas of agreement during their Oval Office conversation on Friday, particularly around the shared goal of making New York City more livable and financially accessible. “What I appreciated about the conversation that I had with the president was that we were not shy about the places of disagreement,” Mamdani said. “We also wanted to focus on what it could look like to deliver on a shared analysis of an affordable crisis for New Yorkers.”

That dynamic was on full display during their post-meeting press conference, when a reporter asked Mamdani point-blank whether he still considers Trump a fascist — a label he has applied repeatedly in the past. As Mamdani hesitated, Trump jumped in: “That’s OK. You can just say yes. It’s easier than explaining it. I don’t mind.” The moment underscored the odd blend of candor and cooperation between the two men.

Mamdani said he explained to Trump that both of them benefited electorally from the same underlying anxiety: New Yorkers’ fears about soaring living costs. He recounted conversations with voters on Fordham Road in The Bronx and Hillside Avenue in Queens, strong Democratic neighborhoods where many nonetheless cast ballots for Trump. “I shared with the president that when I asked those New Yorkers why did they vote for the president, they told me again and again it was cost of living, cost of living, cost of living,” Mamdani said.

He also welcomed Trump’s willingness to engage in a detailed discussion about the city’s immense barriers to building new housing — something Trump knows firsthand from his years developing properties in New York. Mamdani said they reviewed everything from the city’s restrictive zoning codes to the protracted ULURP approval process. “We spoke about the need to change so many of those situations such that a developer doesn’t tell you the thing more expensive than labor or materials is waiting,” he noted.

On the policy front, Mamdani reiterated his ambition to raise taxes on high earners and corporations to help finance his sweeping agenda, which includes free child care, fareless buses, and expanded affordable housing. Those changes would require signoff from Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state legislature, but Mamdani signaled flexibility on how to pay for his proposals. “And what I’ve also said is more important than how we fund something is that we fund something,” he said. “And if there are additional or alternate revenue streams to do so, I will accept them, and I will celebrate them because the most important thing is to actually deliver for the New Yorkers who, right now, can’t even conceive of having a family in New York City because of how expensive we’ve made childcare across the five bureaus.”

The incoming mayor also doubled down on his position that NYC’s police force does not need more officers, maintaining that the existing 35,000 uniformed members are sufficient. That stance contrasts with the priorities of Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch — who has agreed to stay on under Mamdani — and who has publicly advocated for expanding the NYPD’s ranks.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF announced Sunday that a targeted operation in Beirut, directed by Israel’s Intelligence Directorate, killed Haytham Ali Tabataba’i — Hezbollah’s Chief of General Staff and one of the most influential military minds inside the terror group. Israeli officials described the strike as a major blow to Hezbollah’s upper echelon and a critical disruption to its operational rebuilding efforts.

Tabataba’i’s career stretched back to the 1980s, when he first enlisted in Hezbollah’s ranks. Over the decades, he rose steadily, eventually holding some of the group’s most sensitive positions. He previously commanded the elite Radwan Force and later oversaw Hezbollah’s entire military effort in Syria, where he was credited with embedding the organization deeply into the Syrian battlefield and expanding its capabilities.

Once the Gaza–northern front war erupted, Tabataba’i was tapped to manage Hezbollah’s operational array—responsible for synthesizing intelligence, coordinating units, and shaping the group’s force structure. During Operation Northern Arrows, after Israeli strikes eliminated much of Hezbollah’s senior field command, he became the central figure running the war effort against Israel from Lebanon.

After that operation concluded, Tabataba’i was elevated to Chief of General Staff. In that role, he undertook an aggressive campaign to reconstruct the organization’s fighting units and reinforce its readiness for a future confrontation with Israel. He wielded enormous influence inside Hezbollah, using his connections and experience to expand the Radwan Unit and strengthen the terror group’s operational infrastructure.

Following the strike, the IDF emphasized that it “will act against efforts to rebuild and rearm the Hezbollah terrorist organization and will operate to remove any threat posed to Israeli civilians,” while reiterating that the military “remains committed to the understandings reached between the State of Israel and Lebanon.”

The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that the Beirut operation was aimed squarely at Tabataba’i, describing him as second only to Secretary General Naim Qassem in the organization’s hierarchy. “A short while ago, in the heart of Beirut, the IDF attacked the Hezbollah Chief of Staff, who had been leading the terrorist organization’s buildup and rearmament. Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered the attack upon the recommendation of the Defense Minister and the IDF Chief of Staff. Israel is determined to act to achieve its objectives everywhere and at all times,” the statement read.

Israeli officials noted that in recent years Tabataba’i supervised Hezbollah’s special forces and became its highest-ranking active military commander once the rest of the senior chain of command had been eliminated. His significance was well known internationally: the U.S. State Department’s Rewards for Justice program had placed a $5 million bounty on information leading to his capture.

Defense Minister Israel Katz praised the operation, issuing a sharp warning to Hezbollah’s leadership. “We will continue to act forcefully to prevent any threat to the residents of the north and the State of Israel. Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have his hand cut off. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I are determined to continue the policy of maximum enforcement in Lebanon and anywhere else. We will not allow a return to the reality of before October 7th.”

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun condemned the Israeli action, accusing Israel of escalating the conflict and ignoring international appeals. “The Israeli strike in Dahieh is further proof that Israel does not heed the repeated calls to halt its attacks. We once again call on the international community to assume its responsibility and intervene to stop the attacks in Lebanon and against its people. Israel refuses to implement international resolutions and rejects all efforts and initiatives proposed to end the escalation and restore stability.”

Inside the IDF’s senior command post in the Kirya, Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir oversaw the real-time strike alongside Operations Directorate head MG Itzik Cohen, Operations Division head BG Yisrael Shomer, Operations Brigade head BG Meni Liberty, and other commanders. Briefing after the hit, Zamir said, “We struck the most senior commander in the Hezbollah terrorist organization. The strike was intended to prevent the organization from further strengthening its capabilities and to deliver a precise blow to those who attempt to harm the State of Israel.” He added, “The IDF remains committed to the understandings agreed upon between the State of Israel and Lebanon, but we will not allow the Hezbollah terrorist organization to strengthen or rearm, and we will act to remove any threat to the civilians of the State of Israel.”

The Beirut attack followed a string of IDF operations against Hezbollah operatives. On Saturday, Israeli forces eliminated Kamel Reza Karnabsh, who had been rebuilding Hezbollah’s presence in the Meifadon region of southern Lebanon. In a separate 91st Division mission, another operative was killed near the village of Khoula; the IDF identified him as the group’s local representative who coordinated military and economic activities and facilitated the takeover of private property for terror purposes.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump launched a scathing rebuke at Ukraine on Sunday, accusing its leaders of showing “zero gratitude” toward the United States even as Washington pushes a controversial cease-fire framework now under fire for resembling a Russian “wishlist.” “UKRAINE ‘LEADERSHIP’ HAS EXPRESSED ZERO GRATITUDE FOR OUR EFFORTS, AND EUROPE CONTINUES TO BUY OIL FROM RUSSIA,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, venting frustration over what he sees as lopsided expectations placed on the U.S.

He went on to complain that America continues to shoulder most of the military burden for Ukraine’s defense. “THE USA CONTINUES TO SELL MASSIVE $AMOUNTS OF WEAPONS TO NATO, FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UKRAINE (CROOKED JOE GAVE EVERYTHING, FREE, FREE, FREE, INCLUDING ‘BIG’ MONEY!),” he added, contrasting his approach with that of his predecessor and warning that Washington’s support is being taken for granted.

The president’s outburst came as the 28-point proposal intended to wind down the war ignited political chaos in Washington and European capitals. After the document leaked last week, senators publicly claimed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had suggested the United States was not the true author of the blueprint, fueling speculation that the terms mirrored Moscow’s long-standing demands rather than a balanced diplomatic offer.

State Department officials quickly attempted to shut down that narrative, insisting the U.S. did, in fact, draft the plan. The proposal calls for dramatic changes on Ukraine’s side, including giving up the entire Donbas region—territory Russia has failed to capture outright despite years of fighting.

Other major concessions demanded of Kyiv include agreeing never to join NATO, reducing its armed forces from about 900,000 soldiers to 600,000, and granting sweeping amnesty to all participants in the conflict. That provision would ensure Russian fighters avoid prosecution for war crimes.

In contrast, the terms ask relatively little of Russia, raising alarm among Ukraine’s allies and intensifying the political storm surrounding the peace proposal.

{Matzav.com}

Years before the onslaught of October 7, Hamas was quietly assembling a broad, methodical intelligence apparatus aimed squarely at Israel’s military infrastructure. Israeli assessments now indicate that the terror group mobilized roughly 2,500 operatives to collect, refine, and analyze data in a way that would ultimately allow them to carry out one of the most devastating attacks in Israel’s history.

Military officials say the groundwork stretches back to 2018, when Hamas began monitoring Israeli soldiers on an unprecedented scale. Analysts believe the organization systematically tracked close to 100,000 servicemembers on social media, gathering digital traces and piecing together patterns of behavior, movement, and unit affiliation.

The group’s methods went far beyond scrolling through public feeds. In a report aired by military correspondent Doron Kadosh on Galai Tzahal, it was revealed that Hamas operatives deployed armies of fake “avatar” profiles—crafted through advanced social-engineering techniques—to infiltrate private accounts, conversations, and even closed WhatsApp groups used by young Israelis entering combat units.

What followed was a relentless intelligence-production cycle. Hamas assembled daily briefings on troop movements, Iron Dome placements, operational rotations, and deployments between sectors. By cross-matching thousands of snippets—everything from a parent posting pictures at a discharge ceremony to TikTok clips filmed on bases—they created an extraordinarily detailed picture of IDF installations. Their files included the placement of cameras, the angles of rear gates, the layout of barracks and armories, and the location of readiness rooms.

This mountain of intelligence was then transformed into practical training tools. Hamas constructed precise 3D models and full physical replicas of IDF posts along the Gaza border. They also obtained advanced simulation software, enabling Nukhba units to rehearse infiltration scenarios with virtual-reality headsets that mirrored the real bases down to minute details.

Israeli security officials had been aware that Hamas was experimenting with mock bases, but not of the depth or accuracy involved. One senior officer admitted, “We never imagined how accurate they were,” while an Air Force officer added, “Hamas knew the base better than I did – even though I served there for many years.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed back hard this weekend against mounting skepticism surrounding the contentious 28-point peace outline for the Ukraine War, asserting that the document originated in Washington and reflects a balance of perspectives from both Kyiv and Moscow. “The peace proposal was authored by the U.S. It is offered as a strong framework for ongoing negotiations,” Rubio said. “It is based on input from the Russian side. But it is also based on previous and ongoing input from Ukraine.”

The doubts that erupted after the plan surfaced last week only intensified when analysts pointed out that the text appeared to have been translated from Russian, prompting questions about who actually drafted it. That backdrop made Saturday’s developments especially jarring, as members of a bipartisan Senate delegation — including Sen. Mike Rounds — told reporters after meeting Rubio at the Halifax International Security Forum that the Secretary of State had indicated the document resembled a Russian wish list.

Those claims triggered a swift rebuttal from the State Department. Spokesperson Tommy Pigott rejected any suggestion that Moscow had produced the proposal, stressing that such allegations were “blatantly false,” though he offered no clarification for the contradictions coming from Capitol Hill.

The plan itself continues to stir unease. Under its terms, Ukraine would be required to relinquish the Donbas region entirely — territory Russia has been unable to conquer outright despite more than ten years of conflict. The framework also calls for Ukraine to commit to staying out of NATO, reduce its armed forces by roughly one-third, and grant sweeping amnesty to all wartime participants, which would effectively shield Russian personnel from war-crimes charges. Meanwhile, the proposal asks little from Moscow in return.

Reports have indicated that special envoy Steve Witkoff helped spearhead the initiative, working with both Ukrainian and Russian interlocutors. Once the details became public, major European powers quickly voiced misgivings. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that any legitimate accord must meet core principles. “Any credible and sustainable peace plan should first and foremost stop the killing and end the war, while not sowing the seeds for a future conflict,” she stated. She continued by laying out the fundamental conditions: “First, borders cannot be changed by force. Second, as a sovereign nation, there cannot be limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces that would leave the country vulnerable to future attack and thereby also undermining European security.” Her final point underscored Europe’s role in the region: “Third, the centrality of the European Union in securing peace for Ukraine must be fully reflected. Ukraine must have the freedom and sovereign right to choose its own destiny. They have chosen a European destiny.”

Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk added another layer of uncertainty by openly demanding clarity about authorship. “Together with the leaders of Europe, Canada and Japan, we have declared our readiness to work on the 28-point plan despite some reservations,” he wrote on X. “However, before we start our work, it would be good to know for sure who is the author of the plan and where was it created.”

The debate unfolded against the backdrop of President Trump’s recent sit-down with Volodymyr Zelensky, after which Trump suggested that ending the war along the existing battle lines could be the most realistic path forward. The White House has since defended the 28-point framework as a plausible route to cease-fire negotiations. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated that stance last week. “President Trump has made it very clear since day one, and even on the campaign trail, that he wants to see this war come to an end. He has grown increasingly frustrated with both sides of this war, Russia and Ukraine alike, for their refusal to commit to a peace agreement,” she said. She added, “It’s a good plan for both Russia and Ukraine, and we believe that it should be acceptable to both sides, and we’re working very hard to get it done.”

Kyiv, however, has publicly bristled at the steep concessions demanded of Ukraine. Zelensky, speaking through a translated statement, framed the choice as existential. “We are facing one of the most dangerous periods in Ukrainian history, a choice between losing our dignity and freedom and losing US support,” he said. “We choose dignity. My answer is my oath of office. I did not betray Ukraine in Feb 2022 and we won’t betray in now.”

{Matzav.com}

In a pointed public message, Ponovezh Rosh Yeshiva Rav Berel Povarsky told media personality Yisroel Cohen that the proper response to critics of the yeshiva community is to emphasize that Torah study serves as the true protection of the Jewish nation.

The remarks came following a special gathering at the home of Rav Povarsky, which was attended by Rav Dov Landau and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch. The meeting focused on safeguarding the status of yeshiva students amid the current political efforts surrounding the draft framework known as the “Bismuth outline,” which the Degel leadership agreed to allow to advance to the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

After the gathering concluded, Rav Povarsky spoke privately with Yisroel Cohen and articulated the full chareidi position on the issue. He stressed the principle that Torah is the spiritual protection of the Jewish people and the foundation of the nation’s survival.

During the conversation, the Rosh Yeshiva’s aide, Rabbi Yosef Strauss, introduced Cohen and noted his role in defending Torah learners in mainstream media. Rabbi Strauss asked the Rosh Yeshiva how such ideas should be conveyed to the broader public.

Rav Povarsky responded directly: “Tell them that the boys are not going to the army, but they are going to the place where they save the entire Jewish people. And that is very important.”

He went on to explain that the Jewish people, unlike nations such as the English or French, exist only through the merit of Torah, which has protected and sustained them for thousands of years.

Rav Povarsky concluded with a clear message of faith: “Hakadosh Boruch Hu loves the Jewish people, and everything is only in the merit of learning Torah.”

{Matzav.com}