Matzav

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s administration is preparing to launch a statewide online system that would allow residents to submit reports, videos, and other documentation of encounters with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, an initiative modeled on similar efforts used by activists to monitor federal immigration activity.

Sherrill, a Democrat who was sworn into office earlier this month, revealed the plan Wednesday during an interview on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show.”

“We are also going to be standing up a portal so people can upload all their cellphone videos and alert people,” Sherrill said. “If you see an ICE agent in the street, get your phone out. We want to know.”

ICE did not immediately provide a response when asked to comment on the governor’s remarks.

In addition to the reporting system, Sherrill said her administration intends to bar ICE from conducting operations on state-owned property. Several local governments, including Jersey City, have already enacted similar prohibitions at the municipal level.

“They have not been forthcoming,” Sherrill said of ICE operations. “They will pick people up. They will not tell us who they are.”

The governor, who has frequently clashed with Republican President Donald Trump, argued that ICE routinely withholds information about arrests and conducts itself in a manner comparable to a clandestine law enforcement agency.

“They’ll pick up American citizens. They picked up a 5-year-old child. We want documentation, and we’re going to make sure we get it,” Sherrill said.

Following her television appearance, the governor’s office said more information about the reporting portal would be released soon. The administration said the rollout is being coordinated with Jennifer Davenport, who was recently appointed acting attorney general of New Jersey.

“Keeping New Jerseyans safe is Gov. Sherrill’s top priority, and in the coming days she and Acting Attorney General Davenport will announce additional actions to protect New Jerseyans from federal overreach,” the governor’s office said in a statement.

New Jersey’s plan comes after comparable action in New York, where Attorney General Letitia James announced a program in October to gather photos and videos of ICE activity following a widely publicized enforcement operation on Canal Street in New York City, a neighborhood with a large immigrant population.

State officials said any submissions to New Jersey’s system would be reviewed by the Office of the Attorney General to determine whether there were potential violations of state law.

Officials elsewhere have also signaled a willingness to challenge ICE through the courts. In Pennsylvania, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has said he is prepared to pursue state-level charges against ICE agents in certain situations.

At the federal level, members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation said this week that they are organizing legal observer training sessions to teach the public how to document immigration enforcement actions.

U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey said continued scrutiny of ICE is necessary.

“Their crimes must be recorded for the day when those who have violated our rights face justice,” Watson Coleman, D-12th Dist., said. “It’s up to us to serve as witnesses now.”

{Matzav.com}

A suspect charged in a violent rock-throwing attack on a school bus on the New Jersey Turnpike that seriously injured an 8-year-old student has been taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, officials said.

Authorities identified the man as Hernando Garcia-Morales of Teaneck. The Department of Homeland Security described him as an illegal alien from Mexico with a lengthy criminal record accumulated while living in New Jersey.

According to DHS, Garcia-Morales was arrested in 2023 on burglary charges. Records also show a 2006 arrest for weapons possession and theft.

The attack occurred at about 2 p.m. on January 7 as a school bus was returning to Yeshivat Noam, a Jewish day school, after a class trip to the Liberty Science Center, officials said.

As the bus approached the area near Exit 70A-B in Teaneck, Garcia-Morales allegedly hurled a baseball-sized rock at the vehicle. The impact shattered a window and caused a fractured skull to a third-grade girl, who later required surgery, authorities said.

Two days after the incident, New Jersey State Police arrested Garcia-Morales. He was charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal mischief, resisting arrest by flight, and hindering apprehension, police said.

Investigators said Garcia-Morales was located at a makeshift campsite he had set up inside Old Croaker County Park in Bergen County following a state police-led investigation.

State police also said the investigation connected him to several other rock-throwing incidents reported in Bogota Borough, also in Bergen County.

DHS said Garcia-Morales entered the United States at an unknown time and location.

“Violently targeting a school bus full of children is extremely wicked and heinous,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. “Hernando Garcia-Morales should have never been in this country, let alone released after multiple arrests into New Jersey communities.”

The Senate reached an agreement Thursday evening to keep much of the federal government operating, finalizing a plan just one day before a looming shutdown deadline.

Under the deal, funding for the Department of Homeland Security will be carved out from a broader package that includes five other major appropriations bills. Instead of advancing DHS funding as part of that bundle, the Senate will move forward with a short-term continuing resolution that maintains DHS funding at current levels through February 13.

Negotiations over the temporary funding measure had focused on how long the stopgap should last. Democrats pushed for a two-week extension, which ultimately became part of the agreement, while Republicans had argued for a six-week continuation.

Two sources familiar with the talks confirmed the arrangement, noting that Republican leaders were still reviewing the details with rank-and-file members to determine whether changes or amendments might be required.

The remaining five appropriations bills — covering Defense, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Labor, and Education — are designed to fund those departments for the full fiscal year. If enacted, they would provide funding for roughly 96 percent of the federal government through fiscal year 2026. Senate votes on the package were expected Thursday night.

President Trump signaled support for the agreement in a post on Truth Social.

“I am working hard with Congress to ensure that we are able to fully fund the Government, without delay. Republicans and Democrats in Congress have come together to get the vast majority of the Government funded until September, while at the same time providing an extension to the Department of Homeland Security (including the very important Coast Guard, which we are expanding and rebuilding like never before),” he wrote.

“Hopefully, both Republicans and Democrats will give a very much needed Bipartisan ‘YES’ Vote,” he added.

If the Senate approves the funding measures, attention will then shift to the House, which will be responsible for taking up the bills in the coming days.

The House is not expected to reconvene until Monday, making a brief funding lapse likely. Uncertainty also remains about how smoothly the legislation will move through the chamber, as some Republicans have already called for revisions to the bills.

Democrats had previously warned they would block the entire six-bill funding package unless the DHS measure was removed, following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis on Saturday.

That backlash left Republicans on the defensive and led the administration to take steps aimed at easing tensions.

Discussions between Democratic leaders and the White House intensified Wednesday night, setting the stage for Thursday’s agreement.

“Hopefully, we won’t have a shutdown. We’re working on that right now. I think we’re getting close. The Democrats, I don’t believe want to see it either,” President Trump said during a Cabinet meeting earlier Thursday. “So we’ll work in a very bipartisan way, I believe, not to have a shutdown.”

The compromise leaves lawmakers with only a narrow window to reach a longer-term solution for DHS funding for the remainder of the year.

On Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said Democrats are pressing three conditions in renewed DHS negotiations: ending roving patrols by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and tightening warrant requirements; increasing oversight by establishing a universal code of conduct; and mandating body cameras for agents while barring them from wearing masks.

“Under President Trump, Secretary Noem and Stephen Miller, ICE has been unleashed without guardrails,” Schumer said. “They violate constitutional rights all the time and deliberately refuse to coordinate with state and local law enforcement.”

President Donald Trump sent a personal letter to Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, thanking him for advancing the decision to name a new seaside promenade in Bat Yam after the American president and expressing appreciation for the gesture.

According to a report by Ynet, the letter arrived unexpectedly in Israel and included a photograph from the groundbreaking ceremony for the promenade, personally signed by Trump. On the photo, the president wrote, “Bibi, This is so great. Thank you. Donald.”

The groundbreaking ceremony took place about four months ago and was attended by Netanyahu, Bat Yam Mayor Tzvika Brot, and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. During the event, Huckabee photographed the beachfront and informed those present that he had sent the images directly to Trump. Shortly afterward, Huckabee announced that the president had “promised to visit the promenade.”

In the photograph signed by Trump, Netanyahu and Brot are seen laying the cornerstone for the new promenade together, with Ambassador Huckabee standing alongside them. In his letter, Trump thanked the prime minister for his role in promoting the project.

Ynet further reported that construction work on the promenade is currently ongoing and is expected to be completed within the next few months. Once finished, Trump is expected to receive a formal invitation to inaugurate the promenade during one of his future visits to Israel, together with the prime minister and the mayor of Bat Yam.

{Matzav.com}

A new poll published Thursday night examines the political impact of a possible three-way alliance between Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid, and former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, indicating that such a joint list could dramatically reshape Israel’s political map.

According to a Channel 12 News survey, no political bloc currently has a clear path to forming a government without support from the Joint List or parts of it. Under the present scenario, the Likud, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, would emerge as the largest party with 27 seats. Naftali Bennett’s party would place second with 21 mandates, followed by the Joint List with 12 seats and the Democrats with 11.

Shas and Eisenkot’s party, Yashar, would each receive nine seats. Yesh Atid, Yisrael Beytenu, and Otzma Yehudit would secure eight seats apiece, while United Torah Judaism would be the smallest faction in the Knesset with seven mandates.

The survey also assessed the effect of a partial consolidation. In that scenario, the Joint List would gain two additional seats, effectively weakening the so-called “change bloc” by one mandate. The opposition would stand at 57 seats, compared to just 51 for the current coalition. Several parties would fail to cross the electoral threshold, including Religious Zionism (2.9%), Blue and White (1.8%), and the Reservists party led by Yoaz Hendel (1%).

However, the most striking results emerged when the poll examined Eisenkot’s proposal for a full merger with Bennett and Yair Lapid. In that case, the unified list would surge to 38 seats, making it the largest party in Israel by a wide margin, while Likud would remain steady at 27 seats.

In this scenario, the Joint List would retain 12 mandates and the Democrats 11. Shas would again receive nine seats, with Yisrael Beytenu and Otzma Yehudit each winning eight. United Torah Judaism would remain the smallest faction, holding seven seats.

At the same time, a separate poll released by Channel 14 painted a very different picture. That survey showed the right-wing bloc strengthening significantly, reaching 64 seats, compared to 43 for the left-wing bloc. Arab parties would collectively receive 13 mandates.

In the Channel 14 results, Likud would lead with 34 seats, followed by the Joint List with 13. Bennett’s party would receive 12 seats, and Shas would gain 10. The Democrats and United Torah Judaism would each secure nine seats, as would Yisrael Beytenu.

Otzma Yehudit and Yashar would each stand at seven mandates, while Yesh Atid would fall to six. Religious Zionism would receive four seats, and Blue and White would fail to pass the electoral threshold, polling at just 3%.

{Matzav.com}

A Russian drone struck near the residence of Rabbi Liron Edri, the rabbi of the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, on Thursday night, causing damage to his home. No injuries were reported, as Rabbi Edri and his family were away at the time of the impact.

Kryvyi Rih, home to more than 500,000 people, is among Ukraine’s largest urban centers and serves as the heart of the country’s steel industry. The city is also recognized as the birthplace of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and has an estimated Jewish population of about 5,000.

Jewish leaders in Ukraine say attacks affecting Jewish sites have become so frequent that they have stopped keeping a precise tally. In just the last six months, more than ten incidents involving synagogues, rabbis’ residences, and Jewish cemeteries have been documented, with some cases suspected of being deliberate.

Describing the broader reality facing civilians, Rabbi Edri said, “People are freezing from the cold due to Russian attacks targeting electricity and energy facilities. It is a very difficult and challenging winter, and we need a great deal of heavenly mercy, but they will not break us. I, together with my fellow Chabad emissaries throughout Ukraine, am staying here to help the communities.”

In a statement, the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine expressed support for the rabbi and those remaining in the country. The organization said, “We strengthen the hands of Rabbi Edri, who works in his city with astonishing dedication. It is very important that the world not forget the hundreds of thousands of Jews living here, as well as the hundreds of Chabad emissary families who did not leave Ukraine and remain here under constant bombardment, enduring terrible and threatening conditions, without electricity and sometimes without water. At the same time, we will continue to adhere to our mission and intensify it even further.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump has reviewed a series of potential military and non-military actions aimed at Iran, options that were jointly prepared by senior officials at the White House and the Pentagon, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Among the proposals shown to the president is an expansive air campaign known internally as “the big plan,” which would involve widespread strikes against key installations linked to Iran’s ruling clerical leadership and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Other alternatives outlined to Trump include more limited attacks on sites viewed as emblematic of the Iranian regime, paired with the possibility of widening the scope of operations if Tehran continues advancing its nuclear program. The menu of options also includes non-kinetic measures, such as cyber operations targeting Iran’s banking system, along with harsher economic penalties.

Officials in Israel have cautioned that a narrowly focused strike would likely fall short of bringing down Iran’s leadership. Sources in Jerusalem say that although Trump had previously been open to actions that might result in regime change, he now assesses that military force alone would not accomplish that objective. Instead, his current thinking is said to prioritize strikes on tangible assets, particularly nuclear-related facilities and potentially missile infrastructure.

Meanwhile, several Gulf countries — including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, and Oman — are engaged in coordinated efforts to broker dialogue between Washington and Tehran to avert a broader conflict. Despite the current diplomatic impasse, leaders in the region maintain that a negotiated off-ramp remains possible.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu convened a high-level security meeting in Yerushalayim on Thursday to address a sensitive and undisclosed issue, according to an official from the office of one of the participants, as questions mount over whether the United States is preparing for military action against Iran.

Israeli television Channel 12 reported that the closed-door discussion centered on Iran and the prospect of a US strike, an option that US President Donald Trump has raised repeatedly in recent days.

The consultation took place against the backdrop of rapid diplomatic maneuvering, public warnings, and military posturing involving Yerushalayim, Washington, Moscow, and Tehran, all linked to the potential consequences of a US attack. Iran has announced plans to display its naval strength next week, following the US deployment of what Trump described as a “massive armada” to the region.

Trump has cited Iran’s violent suppression of widespread anti-regime demonstrations earlier this month as one justification for possible military action. Human rights organizations have confirmed thousands of deaths, with overall estimates reaching into the tens of thousands. In parallel, Trump has also warned of strikes if Tehran refuses to reach an agreement curbing its nuclear ambitions.

A senior US official told Channel 12 on Thursday that a decision from Trump on whether to proceed with a strike could come in the coming days, once American military forces currently en route to the Middle East are fully positioned. Iranian leaders have repeatedly warned that any US attack would trigger retaliation against American interests and Israel.

While Trump’s precise objectives remain uncertain, reports indicate he is seeking to create conditions for “regime change.” Israeli officials are said to believe that a limited strike would not topple Iran’s leadership, an assessment that Trump reportedly shares, according to Channel 12. As a result, any US action would likely target Iran’s physical infrastructure, particularly its nuclear facilities and missile capabilities.

Channel 12 added that Israeli officials anticipate even a narrowly focused US attack would prompt a major Iranian response against Israel, which would then lead to a forceful Israeli counterstrike.

Speaking on Thursday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the American military stands ready to implement whatever course of action Trump chooses regarding Iran, with the aim of preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

“They should not pursue nuclear capabilities. We will be prepared to deliver whatever this president expects of the War Department,” Hegseth said, using the Trump administration’s informal name for the Defense Department.

As deliberations continue, senior defense and intelligence figures from Saudi Arabia and Israel are in Washington this week for discussions with the Trump administration about a possible strike on Iran, Axios reported, citing multiple US officials and other sources familiar with the talks.

According to the report, Israeli representatives, including IDF Intelligence Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder, are providing intelligence assessments and potential target information related to Iran, while Saudi officials are pressing for diplomatic efforts to prevent an escalation into war.

Two US officials said Binder met with senior figures at the Pentagon, the CIA, and the White House on Tuesday and Wednesday. Another source said he brought detailed intelligence that US officials had specifically requested.

At the same time, Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman — the younger brother of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — was scheduled to hold meetings with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff on Thursday and Friday.

Earlier this week, the Saudi crown prince informed Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that Saudi Arabia would not permit its territory or airspace to be used for military operations against Iran, according to the state-run SPA news agency.

Axios also reported that Saudi Arabia has been relaying messages between Tehran and Washington in an attempt to ease tensions and avert confrontation.

Beyond the Saudi initiative, Israel has identified what Channel 12 described as heavy pressure from Turkey, Qatar, and Oman on the White House, as those countries seek approval to mediate between the US and Iran in pursuit of a diplomatic resolution.

Turkish officials said Ankara will propose mediation during a visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday. Turkey is also reviewing additional security measures along its border in case a US strike destabilizes the region, a senior Turkish official told AFP.

Much of the 500-kilometer (310-mile) border is protected by a barrier, but “it has proven insufficient,” the official said.

Recent negotiations between Washington and Tehran, however, failed to yield progress toward an agreement dismantling Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. That stalemate has made Trump more receptive to a major intervention, CNN reported.

A US naval strike group is already operating in the Middle East, and Trump has warned it is “ready, willing and able” to strike Iran “if necessary.”

Iranian officials, for their part, have signaled readiness for a broader conflict. The country’s first vice president said Tehran must prepare for the possibility of war.

“Today, we must be prepared for a state of war. Our strategy is that we will never start a war, but if it is imposed, we will defend ourselves,” First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said, according to the official IRNA news agency.

He added that Iran remains open to talks with the United States, but emphasized that “this time we want guarantees,” without elaborating.

Separately, Iranian army spokesman Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia warned on state television that any US attack would be met immediately.

“A decisive response will be delivered instantly” if the United States strikes, he said.

“If such a miscalculation is made by the Americans, it will certainly not unfold the way Trump imagines — carrying out a quick operation and then, two hours later, tweeting that the operation is over,” Akraminia warned.

{Matzav.com}

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday that American forces stand ready to carry out a strike on Iran should President Donald Trump direct them to do so, according to a report in the New York Post.

Speaking about restoring deterrence, Hegseth emphasized the administration’s intent to reshape how adversaries view U.S. resolve. “We’re having to rebuild how our enemies perceive us. And when President Trump said, we’re not getting a nuclear Iran, you won’t have a nuclear bomb, you meant it,” he said.

Hegseth pointed to the recent capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro as an example meant to underscore why Tehran should take Washington’s warnings seriously. “They should not pursue nuclear capabilities, and we will be prepared to deliver whatever this president expects of the War Department, just like we did this month, no other military in the world could have, could have executed the most sophisticated, powerful raid, not just in American history,” he added.

The comments followed remarks made a day earlier by President Trump, who said a U.S. naval armada was heading toward the Middle East in response to Iran’s violent suppression of anti-regime demonstrations. Those protests have reportedly left thousands dead, with figures ranging from 3,000 cited by Iranian authorities to more than 36,000 according to other reports.

Trump addressed Iran directly in a post on his Truth Social account, writing: “As I told Iran once before, MAKE A DEAL! They didn’t, and there was ‘Operation Midnight Hammer,’ a major destruction of Iran. The next attack will be far worse! Don’t make that happen again.”

Israeli officials assessing the situation believe the president’s rhetoric may be intended to signal contemplation of a sweeping policy shift toward Iran, potentially including regime change, Kan News reported.

As the United States continues reinforcing its military presence across the region, sentiment in Washington increasingly favors bringing the ayatollahs’ rule to an end. At the same time, President Trump has said a diplomatic off-ramp remains available, even as he warned publicly that “time is running out” for Tehran to reach an agreement.

{Matzav.com}

Iran issued sharp warnings on Thursday that it would swiftly target U.S. military bases and aircraft carriers if attacked, escalating rhetoric after President Donald Trump cautioned that Tehran was running out of time and the European Union moved to brand Iran’s Revolutionary Guards a terrorist organization.

As the war of words intensified between Tehran, Washington, and Brussels, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged renewed diplomacy, calling for talks to “avoid a crisis that could have devastating consequences in the region”.

An Iranian military spokesman said any American strike would trigger an expansive and immediate response, far more severe than Iran’s actions last June, when U.S. forces briefly joined Israel in air operations against Iranian targets. This time, he warned, retaliation would be decisive and “delivered instantly.”

Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia told state television that U.S. aircraft carriers face “serious vulnerabilities” and that American military installations across the Gulf region are “within the range of our medium-range missiles.”

“If such a miscalculation is made by the Americans, it will certainly not unfold the way Trump imagines — carrying out a quick operation and then, two hours later, tweeting that the operation is over,” he said.

A senior Gulf official, speaking to AFP from a country that hosts U.S. military facilities, said anxiety about a possible American strike was mounting and “very clear”.

“It would bring the region into chaos, it would hurt the economy not just in the region but in the U.S. and cause oil and gas prices to skyrocket,” the official added.

Against this backdrop, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani spoke by phone with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, with both leaders discussing “efforts being made to de-escalate tensions and establish stability,” according to Qatar News Agency.

Pressure on Tehran also intensified from Europe, where the European Union formally designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, citing its role in a deadly crackdown on widespread protests.

“‘Terrorist’ is indeed how you call a regime that crushes its own people’s protests in blood,” said EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, praising what she called a long-awaited move.

Although the designation is largely symbolic, Iranian officials responded angrily, warning of consequences.

Iran’s military condemned what it described as “the illogical, irresponsible and spite-driven action of the European Union”, accusing the bloc of acting in “obedience” to Iran’s enemies, the United States and Israel.

Tehran has repeatedly blamed Washington and Israel for fueling unrest at home, alleging their agents orchestrated “riots” and a “terrorist operation” that overtook initially peaceful demonstrations rooted in economic hardship.

Human rights organizations dispute Iran’s narrative, saying security forces — including the Revolutionary Guards — killed thousands during the protests.

On the streets of Tehran, residents voiced despair and uncertainty about the future.

“I think the war is inevitable and a change must happen. It can be for worse, or better. I am not sure,” said a 29-year-old waitress, who requested anonymity out of fear of reprisals.

“I am not in favour of war. I just want something to happen that would result in something better.”

Another woman, also 29 and unemployed, living in an affluent northern Tehran neighborhood, described a sense of hopelessness. “I believe that life has highs and lows and we are now at the lowest point.

“Neither the economic situation, nor our livelihood is good. It is the lowest for me.”

Earlier, Trump had warned of military consequences if protesters were killed during the anti-government demonstrations that began in late December and reached their height on January 8 and 9.

More recently, his focus has shifted to Iran’s nuclear activities, which Western governments believe are aimed at producing an atomic weapon.

On Wednesday, Trump said “time is running out” for Tehran to reach an agreement, noting that a U.S. naval strike group that entered Middle East waters earlier in the week was “ready, willing and able” to strike Iran.

Meanwhile, the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported it had verified 6,373 deaths linked to the protests, though it said ongoing internet restrictions imposed on January 8 have hampered confirmation efforts.

Other rights groups warn the true death toll may be far higher, possibly reaching into the tens of thousands.

Iranian authorities acknowledge that thousands died but claim the number exceeds 3,000 and that most of those killed were security personnel or civilians caught in violence carried out by what they call “rioters”.

In Tehran, the government has moved to reinforce its message with public displays. New billboards and banners have appeared across the capital, including one large image depicting the destruction of an American aircraft carrier.

{Matzav.com}

A devastating tragedy struck the Skverer community of New Square, New York on Thursday morning with the death of five-year-old Mattisyahu Glick z”l, who was fatally injured in a traffic accident while on his way to cheder just two days after the birth of a new baby in his family.

According to details that emerged, the accident occurred on Ostilla Street. Mattisyahu had gone to a nearby relative’s home to wait for his school transportation. As he stood at the bus stop, a bus transporting girls passed by without stopping. Believing it to be his own bus, the child ran after it. The driver, apparently unaware of the child’s presence, struck him.

The boy was rushed to Westchester Medical Center, where he lost consciousness. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he was pronounced niftar shortly thereafter.

Only earlier this week, Mattisyahu’s mother had given birth to a baby boy.

Mattisyahu was the son of Reb Yekusiel Pinchas Glick, and a grandson of Rav Aharon Goldmintzer, the rav of the Skverer kehillah in Yerushalayim. Rav Goldmintzer, who had been planning to travel to the United States next week for a family simcha, was instructed by the Rebbe to advance his trip and arrive before Shabbos in light of the tragedy.

Baruch Dayan HaEmes.

{Matzav.com}

At a time when Klal Yisroel faces unprecedented challenges, with so many of our children being lost to the streets or worse R”L, one initiative has become a lifeline amidst the raging storm: Kesher Nafshi.

The organization, founded by R’ Gedalia Miller, has become the go-to for parents who find themselves in this impossible and gut-wrenching predicament. Kesher Nafshi equips them with perspective and guidance that helps them weather the storm with confidence. Instead of losing their child C”V, parents learn how to remain close, become a source of safety, and steer their child back ashore.

Kesher Nafshi creates inroads to reach these children by training the five pillars that surround a child’s world — Rabbanim, Mechanchim, parents, siblings, and mental health professionals. By empowering those within a child’s social and family circle, the devoted askanim at Kesher Nafshi have continued to save families and save lives, one at a time.

When such storms develop, the organization extends a hand with comprehensive support services, crisis Chinuch guidance, and innovative coping tools.

The offerings include the increasingly-popular Shabbatons that now regularly count hundreds of participants, tailored training programs, respite opportunities, support groups, immediate phone guidance and mentorship for parents, siblings, and caregivers, equipping them to face challenges with resilience and love. In the nine years since its founding, over 3,700 families around the globe benefited from one of these programs!

The costs of this mission are, of course, very prohibitive and the burden falls entirely on its leadership.

But the achrayus is one that belongs to all of Klal Yisroel, and there is no one who can say that they don’t have someone close to them that is dealing with a struggling child.

That is why Kesher Nafshi is turning to the community with a plea for help.

This week, Klal Yisroel will unite as one to support the Weathering the Storm initiative. Together, we will ensure that no child of ours is lost and that no family has to face this frightening storm alone.

Extend a hand!

https://www.charidy.com/keshernafshi

A senior Hamas official said Wednesday that the terror group never agreed to give up its weapons, challenging a central condition demanded by the United States and Israel as part of an American-backed framework for postwar Gaza.

Moussa Abu Marzouk’s remarks directly contradict repeated statements by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, both of whom have said Hamas would be required to disarm in the near term as part of the second stage of the Gaza ceasefire. Trump has said Hamas “promised” to relinquish its weapons and has warned the group about the consequences if it does not comply.

In the same interview, Abu Marzouk indicated that Hamas effectively retains decisive influence over who can participate in the newly established technocratic body meant to administer Gaza. He also underscored that Hamas continues to govern the areas of the Strip not currently under IDF control, in line with the ceasefire arrangements.

Abu Marzouk made the comments in an interview with Al Jazeera as international efforts continue to advance phase two of the US plan for Gaza, which envisions Hamas being disarmed and removed as the ruling authority. Hamas has repeatedly rejected such demands in the past.

“We haven’t discussed the weapons yet; no one has spoken to us directly about it. We haven’t spoken with the American side or the mediators on this issue, so we can’t talk about what it means or what the goal is,” Abu Marzouk told the Qatari outlet.

He went further, insisting that no such commitment was ever made, saying a Hamas agreement to hand over its weapons “never happened, not for a single moment did we talk about the surrender of weapons, or any formula about destroying, surrendering, or disarmament.”

Pointing to the prolonged fighting in Gaza, Abu Marzouk questioned how such a goal could now be achieved, asking, If Hamas was not disarmed in two years of war, “how can they obtain it through negotiations?”

At the same time, he suggested that limited discussions on weapons could take place under certain conditions, saying that in talks, “we will discuss which weapons will be removed, what will be removed, how they will be removed.”

His version of events conflicts with statements by Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, who said senior Hamas figures told him and Trump aide Jared Kushner, just hours before the ceasefire agreement was finalized in October, that the group was prepared to disarm.

Publicly, however, Hamas has never declared that it would lay down its arms.

Trump’s 20-point proposal for Gaza explicitly requires Hamas to surrender its weapons, but Hamas’s formal response to the plan included significant caveats and avoided any explicit reference to disarmament.

Instead, Hamas said at the time that “other issues mentioned in President Trump’s proposal” — widely understood as a reference to disarmament — would “be discussed within a comprehensive Palestinian national framework.”

A separate, one-page document signed by Hamas, Israel, and the mediating countries in Sharm el-Sheikh a day before the ceasefire took effect focused solely on the first phase of the Trump initiative, chiefly the exchange of hostages for prisoners. The issue of Hamas disarmament was left for the second phase.

That second phase officially began this week following the recovery of the body of Ran Gvili, the final Israeli hostage known to have been killed and held in Gaza. Under its terms, responsibility for Gaza’s day-to-day administration is to be transferred from Hamas to the newly created National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, known as the NCAG.

The 12-member technocratic committee is chaired by Ali Shaath, a former deputy minister in the Palestinian Authority. Additional governing bodies are set to oversee Gaza under the authority of the Board of Peace, an international group of leaders established by Trump last week.

Israeli defense officials believe Hamas will soon formally step aside in favor of the NCAG. Nevertheless, an Israeli security official said Thursday that in practice, Hamas is expected to retain control over the areas it currently governs, at least in the near future.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Abu Marzouk emphasized that Hamas remains in charge on the ground, apparently referring to those sections of Gaza not under Israeli control.

“The movement (Hamas) has restored order to the Gaza Strip to serve the Palestinian people and preserve their security,” he told the Qatari network.

He also suggested that Hamas holds veto power over the NCAG’s activities, stressing that no one can enter Gaza without the group’s approval. At the same time, he said Hamas would assist the committee’s efforts and “provide security.”

{Matzav.com}

Border czar Tom Homan said Thursday that he plans to remain in Minneapolis for as long as necessary as federal immigration authorities press ahead with enforcement actions in the city.

His comments came in the wake of the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, two local residents who were killed during separate encounters with federal officers, incidents that have intensified scrutiny of immigration enforcement activity in the area.

“I’ve been on the ground less than three full days,” Homan said. “The president of the United States called me Monday morning and asked me to deploy here.

“I got here Monday evening, and I’m staying until the problem’s gone.”

Speaking at a morning press conference broadcast live on Newsmax, Homan said federal authorities have already made notable strides since his arrival earlier in the week.

“We’ve made a lot of progress, a lot of progress in the last three days,” he said.

Homan said discussions with state and local officials have advanced quickly, though he emphasized that the administration’s primary objective remains restoring law and order and removing individuals considered threats to public safety and national security.

He said he has already held meetings with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and senior law enforcement officials, and that additional meetings are planned, including outreach to business and religious leaders.

“We didn’t agree on everything,” Homan said. “I didn’t expect to agree on everything. Bottom line is you can’t fix problems if you don’t have discussions.

“I didn’t come to Minnesota for photo ops or headlines. I came here to seek solutions.”

According to Homan, there was broad agreement among those involved on at least one central principle.

“One thing we all agreed on was that community safety is paramount,” Homan said. “One thing we all agreed on was that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a legitimate law enforcement agency that has a duty to enforce the laws enacted by Congress and keep this community safe.”

Homan was joined at the press conference by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott and Marcus Charles, who is overseeing Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in the region.

Despite what he described as progress on the ground, Homan warned about the long-term impact of border policies under the Biden administration, saying that more than 10 million illegal aliens entered the country during that period, including individuals who were not properly vetted.

“We can’t forget about the 2 million known got-aways,” Homan said. “That should scare the hell out of everybody.”

He said President Trump made a commitment to Americans, including Minnesotans, to prioritize public safety, and that the administration is concentrating its efforts on identifying and removing illegal aliens who present serious dangers.

Addressing concerns about the visible federal presence in Minneapolis, Homan said the deployment is driven by threats and violence targeting officers involved in enforcement operations.

He noted that ICE has long been understaffed, with fewer than 5,000 deportation officers previously responsible for tracking down millions of illegal aliens nationwide.

“Our officers need to be protected,” Homan said. “If I’m on an arrest team going into a house, I’ve got to focus on the dangerous guy inside, not keep looking over my shoulder wondering what’s happening outside.”

Homan said understandings reached with state and local officials are expected to allow federal agencies to gradually reduce their footprint as violence subsides and cooperation improves, particularly when dangerous individuals can be handled within jail facilities.

“You’re going to see a drawdown, no question,” Homan said. “The agreements alone are going to cause a significant drawdown.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States has achieved major progress in the Middle East, highlighting the return of the remains of Ran Gvili, whom he described as the final hostage held in Gaza, during remarks at a Cabinet meeting.

“We have peace in the Middle East now. Just a couple of little minor flames that we put out very easily. And very importantly, we got our last hostage back, which is incredible,” Trump stated.

Trump said the recovery of all hostages, including those who were killed, was an outcome many believed was unattainable, and he credited firm pressure on Hamas for producing results. “We did something which nobody said could be done, and I will tell you: Hamas was a big factor in getting all of the hostages back. We were not happy with them and they had to bring them back. They found the dead hostages, the bodies of hostages. Those parents wanted their sons back,” he said. “They wanted their sons back as much as people that had living hostages, that we got them back too.”

He emphasized that families of the deceased viewed the return of their children’s remains as critically important, even as efforts to free living captives continued. Trump added: “I always said getting those last 20 back was going to be very tough. We got them back, and we got all of the bodies back also, which to those parents was just as important as getting back the son that was living.”

During the meeting, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff praised the administration’s approach, telling the president: “Your policy of peace through strength, that’s what delivered them home. Without that pressure, it never happens.”

Witkoff also said Hamas would ultimately be forced to give up its weapons, asserting that the group has no alternative. Trump echoed that assessment, saying: “And now we want to get Hamas [with] no guns. There’s a good chance we’re going to get there. A lot of people said they’d never disarm. It looks like they’re going to disarm.”

{Matzav.com}

The deputy commander of the Southern Command Search Unit in the Military Rabbinate’s Combat Unit, Major A., has described the operation that led to the recovery of the remains of Ran Gvili, the last deceased hostage held in the Gaza Strip. In an interview with Arutz Sheva–Israel National News, Maj. A. detailed Operation Courageous Heart and the complex effort required to complete the mission.

According to Maj. A., preparations for the operation had been underway for some time, but a range of operational limitations delayed its execution. Despite the postponements, the unit maintained a high level of readiness until an opportunity finally emerged. “Last week they were notified of a window of opportunity to execute the mission, and we began to get ready. We called the soldiers from their homes three days before the operation, we were issued the dedicated gear, and we practiced on dummies,” he said.

Maj. A. explained that several additional units operated under his command during the mission. These included a forensic dental team responsible for identification, an explosives ordnance unit tasked with protecting the forces, terrain specialists, an IDF anthropologist, personnel from the Captives and Missing Persons Unit, and the combat soldiers who carried out the recovery itself.

Describing the work in the field, Maj. A. said the unit advanced alongside engineering forces that carefully excavated the area. “We joined an engineering unit that dug in the dirt with the excavators and pulled out the remains. This is very precise work; it demands great concentration by the troops,” he said. He noted that before entering the cemetery area, a navigation and marking team analyzed aerial imagery and flagged locations where there was a likelihood of finding Gvili’s remains.

Maj. A. emphasized that although heavy machinery was used, the approach was deliberately restrained. He described it as the most delicate work possible with the largest tools available. Prior to the operation, he addressed his soldiers about the sensitivity involved, and throughout the mission there was close coordination between a supervisor on the ground and the excavator operator to ensure precision.

Once remains were removed from the ground, they were carefully arranged to allow an initial assessment by forensic dentists. Maj. A. said the process involved exact documentation and clear marking, to confirm that every element intended to be recovered from the grave was indeed accounted for.

Reflecting on the moment the remains were located, Maj. A. said the discovery came sooner than expected. “We began on Sunday afternoon, and we were prepared for a few more days. For this, we called up a few more soldiers to allow for the constant execution of the operation, but we found Ran even before the next group of soldiers. There was a great sense of pride, the feeling of coming full circle on a biblical level,” he said. He recalled speaking to his soldiers beforehand about the biblical account of Samson, noting how scripture describes Samson’s family returning to recover his body after the collapse of the pillars. “We have the same spirit and the same heritage.”

When asked about the dangers involved, Maj. (Res.) A. acknowledged that the mission was carried out under significant risk, though he said the details could not be shared because the area remains an active combat zone. He pointed to the security perimeter provided by the Alexandroni Brigade and stressed that the threat level persisted throughout the operation.

Maj. A. also spoke about the makeup of the Military Rabbinate’s combat unit, explaining that it draws fighters from across the IDF. “These are infantry fighters from all IDF units, religious and secular alike, who are willing to carry out the mission that the people of Israel need,” he said.

He described a profound sense of completion felt by the soldiers after Gvili was recovered, connecting the moment to the unit’s earlier experiences. “Before the war, we were required to assist along the Judea and Samaria sector. We were stationed at the Lamed-Heh outpost, where we carried out operational activity for nearly a month. During that period, we conducted a drill to maintain our operational readiness, and at its conclusion, we held a formation in which we recounted the Lamed-Heh convoy incident, in which our soldiers were killed and their bodies abused until a British officer understood the importance of the matter and brought the fallen to Kfar Etzion, where the Vilna Gaon’s lottery was conducted. We pledged that we would not leave a fallen soldier behind. As a unit, we swore to bring everyone back. We held that formation on the anniversary of the fall of the Lamed-Heh platoon, and now, on the Hebrew date of the 8th of Shevat, we found Ran Gvili. For us, this is a very special closing of a circle.”

Toward the conclusion of the interview, Maj. A. addressed questions about the findings inside Gvili’s grave. He said the discoveries were consistent with the intelligence the unit had received ahead of time, including dental evidence used for identification. He added that “based on the information we received, we understood that he might be found with some of his uniform, and indeed we found those items in that same grave together with his remains.” According to Maj. A., the information guiding the operation was obtained through a combination of human intelligence and additional technological capabilities.

{Matzav.com}

A suspect who repeatedly drove a car into the entrance of Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway on Wednesday night had spent time inside the shul earlier that day and spoke with Yeshiva students, according to witnesses. Sources also said the individual had appeared at other Chabad locations in recent months.

The man, who has not been publicly identified, was arrested after he drove a gray Honda sedan bearing New Jersey license plates into an entrance of the building multiple times during the evening.

Yaacov Behrman, a spokesperson for Chabad, said a group of bochurim encountered the suspect about an hour before the crash. According to Behrman, the man approached the students near 770 and asked when the farbrengen for Yud Shevat would be held.

“The students told him that there were events both that night and the following day,” Behrman said.

Video from the scene shows the car entering the driveway at 770 Eastern Parkway and repeatedly slamming into a side doorway of the shul. Clips shared online appear to show the driver reversing and striking the entrance at least four times.

New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said officers quickly detained the driver. The NYPD has launched a hate crime investigation, Tisch said. Police reported that the suspect later claimed a mechanical malfunction caused the crash and that he made no terroristic statements after his arrest. No injuries were reported.

Several witnesses said the man had been standing outside the building before the incident. A 20-year-old student, Shlomo, said the suspect remained outside the building for 15 to 20 minutes in below-freezing temperatures, dressed only in shorts, a T-shirt, and an unzipped hoodie.

“He seemed a little not with it,” the student said, adding that the clothing was strikingly inappropriate for the weather.

Witnesses and other sources told investigators that the same individual had been spotted at other Chabad centers, including sites in New Jersey, in recent months. An undated video circulating on social media appears to show the suspect inside the shul at 770, dancing with bochurim after Shacharis.

One witness said the man frequently asked people for assistance and that police had previously been contacted about his behavior. Another source recalled seeing him at a New Jersey Chabad center in November, where he was “looking for spiritual guidance.”

“He was very learned—he knew a lot about the Bible and Judaism. He was having a hard time with life,” the source said. Others noted that the man gave inconsistent accounts of his background, at times saying his mother was Jewish and at other times claiming to be Jewish himself.

Behrman said he believes the attack was deliberate and driven by bias.

“This is a very serious incident—it’s very frightening,” Behrman said. We’re concerned about what this person intended to do. The real question is, how do we make sure this does not ever happen again?”

As a precaution, the building was evacuated after the crash. Police said the vehicle was secured and the area was cleared.

WATCH:

President Trump said he successfully persuaded Russian leader Vladimir Putin to pause attacks on Ukraine for a short period because of dangerously cold weather, describing the agreement as an unexpected but welcome outcome of their recent phone call.

According to Trump, the request focused on sparing Kyiv and other populated areas during a stretch of extreme temperatures that have created hazardous conditions for civilians.

“I personally asked President Putin not to fire on Kyiv and the cities and towns … for a week,” Trump said.

Trump emphasized that the cold gripping the region was unusually severe and a key factor behind his appeal.

“It’s extraordinary. It’s … record-setting over there.”

He added that many had doubted the request would succeed, but said Putin ultimately agreed, calling the result a positive development.

“He agreed to do that, and I have to tell you, people said, ‘Don’t waste the call, you’re not going to get that’ and he did it, and we’re very happy that he did.”

{Matzav.com}

Amir Zini, whose son Nirel was murdered on October 7, says public claims that there are no remaining hostages in Gaza ignore a painful reality: his son’s body was not returned in full. Speaking with Arutz Sheva, Zini described learning that after the burial of Ran Gvili, officials declared the matter closed, even though Nirel’s head has never been recovered or brought to burial.

Zini portrayed Nirel as someone who lived with deep responsibility for others, never abandoning anyone and always looking out for those around him. That character, he said, was evident both in civilian life and during his military service, including after a serious injury in 2015 that left lasting damage.

For nearly two years, Zini chose not to speak publicly. He felt that other families were enduring even greater anguish, with no burial place at all to visit. While Nirel had a funeral and a grave, Zini said, the knowledge that part of his son was missing weighed heavily but kept him silent.

That silence ended after encouragement from a neighbor and friend, Brigadier General (Res.) Oren Solomon, who urged him to come to the Knesset. Zini did so and later expanded on the experience in an Arutz Sheva interview. “From the very first moment, we felt something was incomplete, but we didn’t know what exactly,” he said. He added, “The media didn’t want to deal with it. They told us it was too difficult and painful to say his head was missing. I told them that I didn’t write this script…” Zini also recounted that Nirel was killed alongside Niv Raviv and had planned to propose to her two days later. The engagement was set for the anniversary of the 2015 injury that ultimately forced him to leave the IDF after six more years of service, when doctors discovered his heart was functioning at only a quarter of its capacity.

According to Zini, police investigators from Lahav 433 were aware that Nirel’s head was missing but did not pass that information along to the family or other authorities. “They were the only ones who knew that perhaps terrorists had taken the head, and this information was never passed to anyone, especially not to us as a family. Someone decided for us that they knew what was best for us to know and what not to know.”

Even when the family was summoned to Lahav 433, Zini said the issue was not raised. “Only after a few questions did I realize there was no investigation. I demanded to see pictures. They told me the pictures were too difficult and questioned why I should see them. I felt there was something they didn’t want me to see,” he recalled. After insisting and signing documents, he was shown images that confirmed his son had been buried without his head.

When Zini pressed to find out who else had been informed, he was initially told the Shin Bet had not asked for the information and therefore did not receive it. He was also told the military had not been notified, a statement later walked back with the claim that the information had been transferred. When he asked for documentation, he was told the update had been delivered verbally.

Zini went on to describe the work of the forensic identification unit led by Lt. Col. Yossi Cohen, involving roughly a thousand soldiers who collected and identified body parts after the attack. Yet, he said, once it became clear to him that Nirel was buried incomplete, he learned the unit had already been disbanded. The search for the missing remains was never defined as a formal “mission,” he said, meaning no order was issued to retrieve his son’s head, unlike in other cases. Without such a designation, he said, nothing moved forward.

He described repeated attempts to get answers, often met with silence or partial explanations. When he asked why Nirel was not considered a hostage, he was told there was no intelligence pointing in that direction. Zini challenged that logic, asking how intelligence could be found if no one was looking. He said the Shin Bet told him it does not act on civilian cases unless formally requested by police or another authority, and no such request had ever been made.

Frustrated, Zini said the family began searching on its own. Each morning at five, he would go to the area of Be’eri where Nirel’s body had been found. Alongside relatives and occasional volunteers, they combed the ground. At times, they used a tractor to lift small amounts of earth, carefully returning the soil at day’s end so as not to disrupt the lives of local residents.

Asked whether he regretted waiting so long to speak out, Zini said he did not. He noted that once his story began circulating, Lahav 433 investigators called to request a meeting. “I told them I wouldn’t come if they didn’t have anything new for me,” he said. “Only if they admit to their mistake and say they intend to begin corrective actions will I come. Now, I don’t believe I will get such a call.”

Zini said his account did reach members of the Knesset. During one search in the Gaza-border community, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana arrived at the site. The two were introduced, and Zini shared his story. Ohana contacted the police, who acknowledged it was unacceptable for a father to be searching the ground for his son’s bones and promised to address the issue. Zini said he was then referred from one officer to another until reaching one who said he had been asked to help but given no timetable. Acting on his own initiative, the officer later brought cadets on a free Friday to assist in sifting sand, though nothing was found.

“I was referred to Gal Hirsch. I went to meet him after phone calls and conversations. The meeting felt like they were doing me a favor,” Zini said. He added, “I sent a letter to the Prime Minister through his assistants. I don’t know if he received it or read it.” At this stage, Zini said he expects at least a meeting with the Prime Minister, whom he sees as the authority capable of ordering a serious, renewed search.

As for what he believes happened, Zini was blunt. “Terrorists took the head to trade it.” He said another victim, Aviad Edri, was found in a similar state just meters away, and that family also was not informed. “The Chevra Kadisha returned the bodies to honor the family. I had a feeling that Nirel’s body was being returned,” he said, as he described learning the disturbing details of Aviad Edri’s case, in which he was personally involved. Zini said the choice not to tell the families was made by a senior committee that “decided we don’t need to know.”

“No soldier should risk their lives to bring the head, but it should be a mission,” Zini stressed. He said that during the operation to locate Ran Gvili, soldiers encountered many unexamined findings, including heads. Some of those soldiers sent him photographs so he could review them independently, though nothing has yet been confirmed. “What is not ordered will not be done,” he said. Zini added that beyond his personal struggle, his goal is broader: “for us to know who we are dealing with and that Amalek exists in our generation. If terrorists can get away with it, we should name the child after him.”

{Matzav.com}

Hundreds of mispallelim davened Shacharis at Kever Yosef in Shechem early this morning, marking the first daylight davening at the site in 25 years, since the IDF withdrew from the compound and transferred responsibility to the Palestinian Authority.

The historic tefillah followed an overnight entry by hundreds of mispallelim into the Kever Yosef complex, part of the regular, coordinated visits organized by the Shomron Regional Council with IDF escort and full military authorization.

The move to allow davening in daylight is part of a broader, structured plan being advanced by Shomron Regional Council head Yossi Dagan and MK Tzvi Sukkot, together with Rav Dudu Ben Natan, the father of IDF soldier Shoval Ben Natan hy”d, who was killed in combat in southern Lebanon and had been active in efforts to restore Jewish access to the site.

The Shomron Regional Council emphasized that the initiative’s goal is to enable a permanent Jewish return to Kever Yosef and to restore the Od Yosef Chai yeshiva to the compound. According to the council, the plan was formulated in coordination with additional partners and is based on a gradual series of steps designed to reestablish a continuous Jewish presence at the makom kadosh.

Yossi Dagan described the event as a milestone moment. “This morning is a morning of historic correction. After years of entering under cover of darkness like thieves in the night, we are returning home with our heads held high and in full daylight. Kever Yosef is an important symbol, and the move to enter in daylight is a significant step within our work plan to establish a permanent and full foothold at the site.

“We will not stop until the Israeli flag is flown here on a permanent basis and the ‘Od Yosef Chai’ yeshiva returns to its place. Am Yisrael is returning to the Shomron, Am Yisrael is returning to its land.”

MK Tzvi Sukkot also hailed the development, saying: “We merited an important step forward with the fulfillment of Shacharis davening and entry to Kever Yosef in daylight. This is the beginning of a significant and historic correction, and we will continue to act until full Jewish presence is restored at Kever Yosef.”

{Matzav.com}