Matzav

A heavy pall has descended upon Yeshivas Kol Torah L’Tze’irim in Yerushalayim and upon the broader Torah world with the petirah of Rav Aviezer Asher Zelig Shapira zt”l, longtime mashgiach of the yeshiva. Rav Shapira was niftar in the early morning hours at the age of 81.

In recent months, his health had fluctuated. The mashgiach was hospitalized for a period and experienced improvement and was able to return to the yeshiva. In recent days, however, his condition deteriorated once again, and before dawn he was niftar.

Rav Aviezer was born in Kfar Chassidim on 5 Adar 5704 to his father, Rav Shlomo Aharon Shapira zt”l, and his mother, Rachel a”h.

In his youth, he learned in Yeshivas Kol Torah and later continued his studies in Yeshivas Chevron, where he absorbed the teachings of his revered rabbeim and developed into a distinguished talmid chacham.

Upon reaching marriageable age, he wed the daughter of Rav Meir Ephraim Winkler zt”l, who served as rav of the Machzikei HaDas kehillah in Copenhagen and later as a R”M at Yeshivas Torah Ore in Yerushalayim. His father-in-law was a son of Rav Michael Shalom Winkler zt”l, rav of Machzikei HaDas in Copenhagen and a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah in Europe.

In 5730, Rav Shapira was appointed rav of the Ohr HaChaim beis haknesses in the Geulah neighborhood of Yerushalayim. The shul had been established in 5690 by a cousin of his grandfather, Rav Avraham Yaakov Shapira zt”l. From that time, he also served as the Rebbe of the Drohobycz chassidus, continuing the legacy of its founder, Rav Chaim Meir Yechiel Shapira zt”l.

His grandfather, Rav Aviezri Zelig Shapira zt”l, was a son of the Gavadzitzer Rebbe, Rav Yitzchak Mordechai Shapira zt”l, and the son-in-law of his uncle, the founder of the Drohobycz dynasty, Rav Chaim Meir Yechiel Shapira. Rav Shapira was a descendant of the Kozhnitzer dynasty on his great-grandfather’s side and of the Ruzhiner dynasty through his grandmother.

In 5738, he was appointed mashgiach of Yeshivas Kol Torah L’Tze’irim. For decades thereafter, he became the central spiritual figure of what is widely regarded as the premier mesivta in Yerushalayim, guiding and nurturing thousands of talmidim.

Rav Aviezer was the living spirit of the yeshiva, deeply involved both in the acceptance of new talmidim and in shaping the ruchniyus of the beis medrash. The talmidim loved him dearly, and he returned that ahavah in kind, embodying “k’mayim panim el panim.”

Every night, he would make his way to the Kosel HaMa’aravi. Over the years, he was among those who established the custom of reciting Nishmas at the Kosel at chatzos, a practice that became widely known and regarded as a powerful segulah.

Rav Shapira also served as chairman of the executive committee of Chevra Kadisha Chassidim in Yerushalayim and was a member of the board of Kollel Chibas Yerushalayim.

He merited to see doros yesharim u’mevorachim, sons and daughters and many descendants following in the path of Torah and yiras Shamayim. One of his sons, Reb Menachem Shapira, serves as deputy mayor of Bnei Brak and was especially devoted to his father.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu was provided with intelligence assessments as far back as 2018 outlining Hamas’s detailed plans for a large-scale invasion of southern Israel, according to a report published Tuesday based on classified documents and testimony from senior officials.

The Ynet news outlet reported that between 2018 and 2022, Hamas formulated an extensive operational strategy for a coordinated, multi-front assault targeting Israeli military installations and civilian communities near Gaza. The blueprint, later compiled into a file referred to as “Jericho’s Walls,” envisioned breaching the border fence at numerous locations and sending thousands of armed operatives into Israeli territory.

That strategy ultimately materialized on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a brutal cross-border attack that left approximately 1,200 people dead, resulted in the abduction of 251 hostages, and ignited a prolonged war in Gaza lasting two years.

According to Ynet, Netanyahu — who has held the premiership since 2009, aside from an 18-month interval in 2021-2022 — was shown intelligence connected to the “Jericho’s Walls” framework on multiple occasions over the years. This stands in contrast to his public statements after October 7 in which he denied having prior knowledge of such a plan.

The first documented instance cited in the report dates to April 2018. At that time, the Research Division of the Military Intelligence Directorate circulated a classified assessment to high-level officials. Recipients reportedly included the military secretaries to the prime minister and defense minister, the National Security Council, the chiefs of Shin Bet and Mossad, and the office of the IDF chief of staff.

One of the intelligence documents referenced by Ynet carried a subheading posing the question: “Is Hamas’s military wing building up its force for a broad attack deep into our territory?”

The 2018 assessment warned that Hamas was crafting “a plan for an initiated offensive maneuver with a broad order of [troops in] battle (six reserve battalions; approximately 3,000 fighters)” designed to overrun IDF positions while simultaneously striking civilian communities “in the border communities and deep inside Israel.”

The report underscored the gravity of the threat, stating that “the scope of the plan and its complexity are exceptional.” Although some intelligence analysts questioned whether Hamas possessed the immediate capacity to execute the entire operation, they cautioned that “the plan illustrates a new and broader threat scenario than before.”

The existence of the 2018 “Jericho’s Walls” document cited by Ynet was confirmed last year by the IDF in an internal Military Intelligence Directorate review examining the intelligence breakdown preceding October 7.

That internal review, which anticipated several elements later seen in the October 7 assault, cited the Hamas plan as declaring that “forces from five [elite] Nukhba companies should attack and destroy the posts belonging to the [IDF] Gaza Division… everything will be done above ground… with [rocket] fire… attack the kibbutzim in order to take hostages… focus on critical sites… livestream from the posts and kibbutzim.”

According to the military probe, what began as a conceptual idea within Hamas evolved over time into a formalized strategy and received official internal authorization in 2019.

Netanyahu has consistently rejected claims that he was warned of an impending large-scale Hamas attack in the years prior to October 7. In response to questions from State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman during a review of the failures surrounding the assault, the Prime Minister’s Office stated that “the prime minister never received and was never briefed on the ‘Jericho’s Walls’ document” before the war began, and that he was “never presented with any Hamas plan for a mass raid into Israeli territory.”

However, materials released by Netanyahu himself appear to complicate that position. In a 55-page document submitted to the State Comptroller last week and later made public, Netanyahu acknowledged that he had received the April 2018 intelligence assessment. In that submission, he quoted a restrained portion of the evaluation noting that Hamas had “a basic capability to carry out several simultaneous raids,” but that under existing conditions, “it is not likely at this time.”

The published version did not include the paragraph’s final sentence, which warned that the document reflected Hamas’s long-term intentions and its plans to significantly expand its military capabilities.

A former senior intelligence official cited by Ynet said Netanyahu’s duty “was to ensure there [was] no repetition of the Military Intelligence assessment on the eve of Yom Kippur 1973,” referencing the well-known intelligence misjudgments preceding the Egyptian-Syrian surprise attack that triggered the Yom Kippur War.

“Back then, intelligence said ‘low probability,’ and the political echelon simply accepted it as a binding assessment without asking questions or checking on its own,” the official added. “Any serious leader would say in this situation: You received the plan in 2018, and even if Hamas is currently far from operational capability, this must be taken into account.”

Ynet further reported that in 2018, Unit 8200 obtained an Arabic Hamas document laying out a sweeping assault plan. It called for “launching a comprehensive offensive operation against the Zionist entity with the aim of subduing the enemy,” including attacks on the Re’im base, numerous communities along the Gaza border, and more distant targets such as Ashdod, Ashkelon, and strategic infrastructure. The document specified that “the attack will be carried out by six battalions,” with the “main effort” occurring above ground.

The Shin Bet also reviewed the Hamas plan and drafted its own analysis, describing the document’s “unusual and troubling characteristics.” That assessment was distributed to several entities, including the National Security Council, which operates under the prime minister’s authority.

One source quoted by Ynet said the Shin Bet’s findings were transmitted directly to Netanyahu.

In May 2022, Military Intelligence obtained an additional version of the Hamas invasion blueprint, dated August 2021, which was incorporated into the “Jericho’s Walls” file. That iteration likewise described large numbers of Nukhba Force operatives breaching the Gaza Division’s defenses and advancing into cities in southern Israel.

The document was presented to senior IDF intelligence officials, who at the time judged the scenario to be implausible. During a November 2022 Southern Command meeting reviewing potential conflict scenarios in Gaza, the “Jericho’s Walls” plan appeared at the bottom of a list of assessments.

Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid were serving as prime ministers for most of 2022, including in May and November, while Netanyahu was then leader of the opposition.

In 2023, after Netanyahu returned to office, the Intelligence Directorate collected new intelligence regarding Hamas training exercises simulating a cross-border invasion in the months leading up to October 7. Some personnel within Unit 8200 concluded that Hamas’s invasion concept had evolved into an actionable and concrete plan.

According to the IDF’s internal investigations, these conclusions were conveyed through emails and meetings to intelligence officers at Southern Command and to regional 8200 officers stationed in southern Israel. However, the updated assessments did not reach senior decision-makers, including top intelligence leadership.

Although Netanyahu was not personally briefed on the 2022 and 2023 updates to the “Jericho’s Walls” file, a senior intelligence source told Ynet, “Even if the army commanders failed to [connect the dots] themselves, the obligation of the prime minister is to demand answers regarding Hamas’s intentions.” “Netanyahu did nothing,” the source said.

Despite documentary evidence indicating that Netanyahu was exposed to Hamas invasion planning as early as 2018, he has maintained that the “Jericho’s Walls” file refers only to the 2022 version presented during the year he was not in office. Critics argue that this interpretation is intended to distance him from responsibility for the failure to prevent the October 7 attack.

{Matzav.com}

Federal authorities have made public the first images of the individual suspected in the abduction of Nancy Guthrie, ten days after the 84-year-old grandmother disappeared from her Arizona residence. The delay in releasing the footage stemmed from two critical issues: the home’s security camera had been removed, and Guthrie did not have a subscription to the cloud back-up service that would have automatically preserved the video.

The newly released footage, recovered from a missing Nest camera, shows a masked figure tampering with the device outside Guthrie’s Tucson home. According to one legal expert, the video’s recovery highlights the technological reach of Google, Nest’s parent company.

Guthrie had not enrolled in a Google Home subscription plan, which for $10 per month — or $100 annually — stores motion-activated or “event” recordings for up to 30 days, even if the physical camera is taken. Without that service, retrieving the footage required significant additional effort.

“It gives us some insight to what Google is capable of,” former prosecutor and current criminal defense lawyer John W. Day told The NY Post.

“Even without paid subscription, there is a way to go to some data center and spend a lot of time and effort to try to find that particular camera, at that particular time without a subscription,” Day said. “You can only imagine how difficult that was if it took 10 days to get there.”

Day outlined three primary paths investigators may have used to obtain the footage. Federal authorities could have secured a search warrant compelling Google to provide the data. Alternatively, Guthrie’s family may have authorized the company to search for it. A third possibility is that Google voluntarily assisted in locating the recording.

“Everyone has the same incentive, which is to find this sweet woman before too long,” Day said. “Google had every reason to cooperate. The family has got to be grateful, law enforcement has to be grateful.”

“It’s a miraculous turn of events because this could be the thing that leads to a break in the case,” the attorney added.

Guthrie was last seen on the night of Jan. 31, when her son-in-law dropped her off at her home around 9:45 p.m. On Feb. 2, the case was officially classified as a criminal investigation after media outlets received what authorities described as a $6 ransom demand. The deadline referenced in the note passed without any publicly known developments regarding her condition.

The video of the masked individual interfering with the camera appeared to strengthen suspicions that the mother of “Today” show anchor Savannah Guthrie was abducted.

“We believe she is still alive. Bring her home,” Savannah wrote in a social media post Tuesday.

New satellite imagery indicates that Iran has covered all tunnel entrances at its Isfahan nuclear facility with soil, a move that analysts say reflects deep concern in Tehran over the possibility of an American or Israeli military attack.

In a new report released this week, the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security stated that images captured on Sunday show two of the tunnel openings fully buried. The third entrance, located on the northern side of the complex, appears to have been reinforced with what the group described as “additional passive defense measures.”

According to the institute, vehicles are no longer visible near the entrances, a change that suggests Iran may be bracing for potential airstrikes or even a ground operation by US or Israeli forces targeting the site.

“Backfilling the tunnel entrances would help dampen any potential airstrike and also make ground access in a special forces raid to seize or destroy any highly enriched uranium that may be housed inside difficult,” the institute said, suggesting that Tehran may have relocated sensitive nuclear material into the tunnels for protection.

“Preparations like these were last observed in the days before Operation Midnight Hammer struck facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” the institute added, using a different spelling for the Isfahan site and referencing US strikes carried out against those facilities last June.

“It appears clear that the Iranians are seriously concerned about a US/Israeli aerial attack and/or raid against this particularly hardened nuclear facility,” the US-based institute said.

Before Israel launched a 12-day war against Iran in June, the Islamic Republic operated three primary nuclear facilities tied to its atomic program. The Isfahan site, located outside the city of the same name, was primarily known for producing uranium gas used in centrifuges for enrichment.

During the conflict last year, Israel struck Isfahan at the outset, and US forces later carried out additional attacks using bunker-buster munitions and Tomahawk cruise missiles. The White House’s National Security Strategy, published in November, said the US operation “significantly degraded Iran’s nuclear program,” though detailed assessments of the damage have not been made public.

Since those strikes, Iran has barred inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency from revisiting the targeted facilities.

Satellite photographs obtained last month showed new roofing structures at the Isfahan site. The Institute for Science and International Security assessed that the construction appeared aimed at enabling Iran to “recover any sort of remaining assets or rubble without letting us know what they are getting out of there.”

President Donald Trump has repeatedly pressed Iran to enter negotiations over its nuclear activities, warning that failure to do so could trigger American military action. His initial threats were also linked to Iran’s violent suppression of domestic protests, during which thousands were reportedly killed.

The United States has called on Iran to surrender its stockpile of uranium enriched to as much as 60 percent purity — a level that, according to last year’s estimate by the UN nuclear watchdog, totals more than 440 kilograms (970 pounds) and is only a short technical step from the 90 percent enrichment considered weapons-grade.

Iran continues to deny that it is pursuing nuclear weapons. At the same time, it has enriched uranium beyond levels needed for civilian purposes, limited access for international inspectors, and expanded its ballistic missile program. Prior to the 12-day war in June, Israeli officials asserted that Iran had recently advanced toward weaponization.

During negotiations held in Oman last week, US and Iranian representatives agreed to focus discussions on Tehran’s nuclear program. However, Washington and Israel have also sought to broaden the agenda to include Iran’s ballistic missile development and its backing of regional proxy terror groups, a proposal Tehran has rejected.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu arrived in Washington on Tuesday evening local time for a high-stakes visit that will include a White House meeting with President Donald Trump, as tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program once again take center stage.

Shortly after landing, Netanyahu went to Blair House, where he met with Trump’s special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The discussion focused on developments in the region, including the latest diplomatic efforts involving Tehran. Witkoff and Kushner briefed the prime minister on the initial round of negotiations they conducted with Iranian officials last Friday.

Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with Trump at the White House on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. Washington time (6:00 p.m. Israel time). The upcoming session will mark their seventh meeting since Trump began his second term in office, and the sixth time they have convened at the White House. Their most recent encounter took place at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.

As Netanyahu prepared for his talks, Trump spoke publicly about Iran in an interview with Fox Business Network, expressing confidence that Tehran is inclined to negotiate over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. He cautioned that failing to do so would be a serious miscalculation.

“We have a massive flotilla right now going over to Iran. I think they want to make a deal. I think they would be foolish if they didn’t. We took out their nuclear power last time and we’ll have to see if we take out more this time,” said the President.

“They want to make a deal. They wouldn’t talk to anybody else, but they’re talking to me,” he continued. “Obama and Biden, what they did in terms of creating a monster with Iran was terrible.”

.@POTUS: We have a massive flotilla right now going over to Iran. I think they want to make a deal. I think they would be foolish if they didn't. We took out their nuclear power last time and we'll have to see if we take out more this time… pic.twitter.com/q1G8qMvmHm

— Department of State (@StateDept) February 10, 2026

In separate remarks to Channel 12 News earlier in the day, Trump made clear that military options remain on the table should negotiations collapse. Referring to actions taken roughly six months ago, he indicated he would not hesitate to respond again if diplomacy fails.

Trump reiterated that his preference is for a negotiated settlement but underscored that the United States is prepared to act if necessary. “The Iranians very much want to reach a deal. Either we make a deal, or we will have to do something very tough – like last time,” he said.

At the same time, Trump revealed that he is weighing the possibility of reinforcing American naval forces in the region. “We have an armada there, and maybe another one on the way,” the President added.

According to Trump, his meeting with Netanyahu will center largely on the Iranian issue. He also stated that the Israeli prime minister is not feeling pressured by the renewed talks but shares an interest in securing a strong agreement. “I don’t think Netanyahu is pressured by the talks with Iran. He also wants a deal. He wants a good deal.”

{Matzav.com}

A federal civil rights lawsuit is challenging a large-scale October raid at a popular horse racing venue in Canyon County, Idaho, alleging that children — including U.S. citizens — were zip-tied and traumatized during a sweeping law enforcement operation, CBS News reports.

The action, carried out at La Catedral Arena, resulted in the detention of 105 undocumented immigrants and has ignited a broader debate over immigration enforcement tactics used under President Donald Trump’s administration.

Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue initially praised the operation, describing it as a successful effort that led to the apprehension of more than 100 undocumented immigrants. He also rejected claims that officers restrained children with zip ties during the raid.

However, after being shown photographs obtained by CBS News, Donahue responded differently. The images appear to show zip ties and bruising on the wrists of 14-year-old SueHey Romero, a U.S. citizen who had been caring for her younger siblings, ages 6 and 8, when officers in tactical gear swept through the event and confined attendees to the racetrack.

“God bless her. I’m sorry she went through that,” Donahue said. The sheriff, who participated in the raid on horseback, defended the broader operation. “But law enforcement is not evil because we contained everybody and detained them until we sorted it out. That’s not evil.”

The use of armored vehicles and flashbang grenades at a family recreation event has raised concerns about aggressive enforcement strategies. On Tuesday, the American Civil Liberties Union filed suit in federal court, accusing authorities of mistreating families — many of them American citizens of Hispanic heritage — who had gathered for a weekend outing.

The events in this farming community about an hour from Boise have received less national attention than similar immigration operations elsewhere, including in Minnesota. There, federal agents’ conduct involving children has drawn intense scrutiny. In one reported case, a family alleged that tear gas canisters were deployed beneath a vehicle carrying six children. Another widely circulated image showed 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos wearing a hat with bunny ears and holding a Spiderman backpack as he was taken into custody.

The ACLU argues that what happened in Idaho reflects a troubling trend in which children are exposed to forceful federal operations. According to the complaint, the physical injuries and emotional trauma inflicted during the raid could have long-term consequences.

“They have done long lasting damage to children,” said Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, the ACLU’s deputy project director on policing. “At this moment, when the United States Congress is confronted with a question of how to reign in ICE…the answer is they need to reign in ICE to protect our children.”

Federal officials have denied that minors were zip-tied during the Idaho operation.

“ICE didn’t zip tie, restrain, or arrest any children,” Homeland Security spokesperson Trisha McLaughlin told CBS News in a statement.”

She added, “ICE does not zip tie or handcuff children. This is the kind of garbage rhetoric contributing to our officers facing a 1,300% increase in assaults against them and an 8,000% increase in death threats.”

Yet several detainees have provided accounts that contradict those denials. In an interview with CBS News, SueHey described officers who, she said, refused to identify their agencies and moved her along with hundreds of others onto the racetrack before binding her hands with plastic restraints.

“I’m just like there crying, like I’m struggling to breathe,” she said. “I can’t even get the words out.”

Her mother, Anabel Romero, said she too was restrained and unable to comfort her daughter.

“I can’t hold her because you guys won’t let me go,” Romero recalled telling the agents. “I’m like, she’s only 14.”

Those attending the races said the scene shifted abruptly when a helicopter flew low overhead, followed by five armored vehicles. Video obtained by CBS News captures the arrival of roughly 200 officers who then fanned out across the property. Some children reported that firearms were pointed in their direction, while others described rubber bullets flying past.

According to the lawsuit, officers shattered vehicle windows where children had sought shelter from the rain. One 8-year-old boy later told a local news outlet that he had to remove small shards of glass from his mouth.

The complaint also details the experience of Juana Rodriguez, who says she was restrained for hours while her 3-year-old son cried beside her. Authorities refused her requests to hold him, instructing the child instead to grasp his mother’s pocket, which had been turned inside out, according to the filing.

“As a parent, nothing is more heartbreaking than hearing your child cry out in fear and being told you cannot hold or comfort them,” Rodriguez said in a statement provided to CBS News by the ACLU. “I am a proud U.S. citizen, and I didn’t do anything wrong.”

The lawsuit contends that several minors were placed in hard plastic restraints and later displayed welts and bruises. Initially, the FBI’s Boise field office characterized reports of children being zip-tied as “completely false.” That statement was later modified to clarify that no “young” children were restrained. The Caldwell Police Department subsequently acknowledged that minors had been zip-tied.

Romero attended the event with her three children, all U.S. citizens. While her two younger children were not restrained, she said she witnessed aggressive tactics firsthand.

She described the gathering as a family-oriented event with raffles, toy vendors, and traditional Mexican food. The mood shifted when a black helicopter descended over the field, and chaos followed.

“All of a sudden I just see people running and screaming,” Romero said, recalling agents in full tactical gear pointing weapons. She hid briefly in a horse stall while her children remained in the family truck. When officers began searching the stalls, she asked them to identify themselves.

“All I’m asking is for clarification, who are you and why am I being detained,” she said. According to Romero, one of the armed men responded: “I’m gonna [expletive] blow your head off”

“They kicked me, they punched me, they stepped on me,”she said.

SueHey said she saw agents in military-style uniforms “running around, opening car doors, and yelling at people to get onto the track.” When officers opened her family’s truck, she feared for her siblings’ safety. She said the officers pulled her from the vehicle by force.

“I was brave and I opened the door because I wanted to protect my sister,” 6-year-old Alfredo told CBS News.

SueHey said she broke free momentarily to avoid being separated from her siblings. Eventually, the children were directed to the racetrack, where large numbers of attendees had been gathered.

Romero, with her hands bound behind her back, was brought to the same location and reunited with her children. She said officers then restrained SueHey despite her protests.

Romero said she pleaded with them to bind her daughter’s hands in front rather than behind her back, believing it would reduce the pain. She said the officers agreed.

Hours later, ICE agents concluded that the family members were U.S. citizens. Romero said she was questioned about her children’s differing last names.

“I didn’t know I needed to carry their birth certificates around,” she said.

Eventually, the restraints were removed and the family was released. Photographs appear to show deep bruising on SueHey’s wrists. Romero said the physical marks would fade, but the emotional impact would linger.

“My parents, they came over here [from Mexico] to give us a better life,” she told CBS News. “That day, I felt like our freedom was taken away from us.”

Authorities have said the objective of the operation was to dismantle what they suspected to be an illegal gambling ring at the racetrack. The FBI secured a federal warrant to arrest five individuals believed to be running the unlicensed enterprise.

However, numerous federal and local agencies — including Immigration and Customs Enforcement — arrived in force. Witnesses said officers began detaining hundreds of predominantly Latino attendees to verify their immigration status.

The ACLU alleges that law enforcement “conspired to abuse a criminal search warrant as cover to go fishing for immigration arrests at an event where they knew they would encounter a large number of Latino individuals.”

According to the complaint, attendees were questioned about their legal status and instructed to provide documentation. By the conclusion of the operation, 105 individuals were identified as undocumented and transported to detention facilities. Roughly 375 others, determined to be U.S. citizens or lawful residents, were released.

Local immigration attorney Nikki Ramirez-Smith, who responded to the scene, said she believes authorities miscalculated the nature of the event and noted that many of those detained had lived in the country for decades without criminal records.

“My opinion is they didn’t know that most of the people there were American citizens,” Ramirez said. “I think law enforcement misjudged it because the event is in Spanish.”

Sheriff Donahue denied that the gambling warrant was used as a pretext for an immigration sweep. He described the raid as a four-year FBI investigation into suspected cartel involvement and said ICE’s role was not the primary focus.

“We knew there was cartel involvement in this operation,” the sheriff said. “We knew that to be true. [It’s] why we went in.”

He maintained that immigration enforcement was “secondary or tertiary.”

Four months after the raid, the only criminal charges filed were against the five individuals accused of operating the unlicensed gambling enterprise.

The lawsuit states that the children affected continue to struggle emotionally. One 3-year-old plaintiff, identified as Y.R., is now fearful of police, according to his mother. A 15-year-old identified as Y.L. reportedly experiences recurring nightmares about being detained at gunpoint.

“The lasting fear and emotional distress is widespread,” the complaint says.

Donahue acknowledged that trust between law enforcement and the local Latino community has been damaged. Romero agreed, saying the operation fractured relationships that had taken years to build.

SueHey said the experience has changed how she views authorities and would make her hesitant to call for help.

“How are they gonna treat me even though I’m a U.S. citizen, even if I’m not doing anything wrong, even if I’m just reporting a crime?” she said. “How are they gonna treat me?”

{Matzav.com}

A message posted Tuesday on Vice President JD Vance’s X account recognizing the Armenian genocide was later removed, prompting clarification from the White House that there has been no shift in U.S. policy following his participation in a wreath-laying ceremony in Armenia.

The now-deleted post said that Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, took part in the ceremony to commemorate the victims of the 1915 Armenian genocide. The wording stood in contrast to current Trump administration policy regarding the terminology used to describe the events.

For decades, Armenians have pressed governments around the world to formally recognize the mass killings carried out between 1915 and 1917 under the Ottoman Empire as genocide, maintaining that approximately 1.5 million Armenians were killed.

Turkey, which succeeded the Ottoman Empire, has consistently denied that the killings, arrests and forced deportations of Armenians during that period constitute genocide.

Successive U.S. administrations have generally refrained from officially labeling the events as “genocide,” citing the potential diplomatic fallout with Turkey, a strategic ally in the region. In 2021, President Joe Biden formally referred to the Ottoman Empire’s actions against Armenians as “genocide,” drawing sharp condemnation from Ankara.

A spokesperson for Vance said the post published Tuesday was the work of staff members who were not traveling as part of the official delegation.

The White House later issued a statement underscoring that there has been no change in longstanding policy, pointing to an earlier Armenian Remembrance Day message. Vance’s X account subsequently shared a revised, more measured post that included an image of the handwritten note he left in the guest book at the ceremony: “In solemn remembrance of the lives lost, we honor the resilience and enduring spirit of the Armenian people.”

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President Donald Trump is weighing the possibility of dispatching an additional U.S. aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East as renewed negotiations with Iran get underway, underscoring that Washington is maintaining a credible military option alongside diplomacy.

Speaking with Axios in an interview on Tuesday, Trump said the potential move would be part of a wider pressure campaign against Tehran as talks resume following last year’s short but fierce conflict.

“Either we will make a deal or we will have to do something very tough like last time,” Trump told Axios.

Negotiators from the United States and Iran reconvened in Oman last Friday, marking their first direct discussions since the 12-day war in June. The talks are taking place even as the Trump administration continues to reinforce U.S. military assets across the region. Trump said he anticipates another round of discussions next week.

“We have an armada that is heading there and another one might be going,” Trump said, noting that he is “thinking” about ordering a second carrier strike group to the area.

A U.S. official confirmed to Axios that internal conversations have already taken place regarding the possible deployment of another carrier.

At present, the United States has the USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying strike group stationed in the region, outfitted with fighter aircraft, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and support vessels. During much of the Gaza war, the U.S. maintained two carrier strike groups operating in the Middle East simultaneously.

Even with the heightened military posture, Trump suggested that negotiations have a real chance of succeeding, saying Iran “wants to make a deal very badly” and is engaging more seriously because of sustained U.S. pressure.

“Last time they didn’t believe I would do it,” Trump said, referencing U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in June. “They overplayed their hand.”

“This time the talks are very different,” he added.

Iranian officials have publicly stated that the discussions should be limited to the nuclear file and have insisted that Tehran will not relinquish its ability to enrich uranium. That position has raised doubts among U.S. and Israeli critics who question whether a far-reaching agreement can be achieved.

Trump said it should be obvious that any deal must confront Iran’s nuclear program, adding that he sees room for talks to also address Tehran’s ballistic missile capabilities.

“We can make a great deal with Iran,” he said.

The renewed negotiations are unfolding as Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu prepares for a visit to Washington on Wednesday. Trump told Axios that Netanyahu “also wants a deal.”

“He wants a good deal,” Trump said.

Ahead of his trip, Netanyahu said he intends to convey Israel’s perspective on what he described as the “essential principles” guiding the negotiations.

At the same time, senior Iranian figure Ali Larijani has been holding meetings with regional intermediaries in Oman and Qatar. U.S. officials believe those discussions are designed to influence the shape and direction of the next phase of talks, according to Axios.

The Biala Rebbe of the United States, who is currently in Eretz Yisroel to mark the yahrtzeit of his grandfather, the Chelkas Yehoshua of Biala zt”l, paid a special visit to the home of the Yenuka in Rishon LeZion.

During the visit, the Biala Rebbe presented the Yenuka with the sefer Noam Elimelech, which includes the awe-inspiring tefillah of the Rebbe Rav Elimelech of Lizhensk.

The Rebbe outlined the lineage of righteous figures in his dynasty, tracing it back to the Yehudi HaKadosh of Peshischa and earlier tzaddikim. In the course of the meeting, the Yenuka recounted the extraordinary episode involving the Yehudi HaKadosh, who was saved when a Russian soldier fired at him and, in a miraculous moment, he caught the lead bullet and stopped it.

The Biala Rebbe added that a similar miracle occurred with his illustrious grandfather, the Chelkas Yehoshua of Biala. After being taken to Siberia during the war and immersing himself in icy waters, a Russian soldier fired at him as well. In a strikingly similar event, he caught the bullet with his hand and was miraculously spared.

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Shlomo Ephraim HaKohen Fischer zt”l, one of the distinguished figures of Yerushalayim Shel Maalah and a familiar presence on Bar Giora Street, in Yerushalayim at the age of 86.

Rav Fischer was born in Yerushalayim on 18 Kislev 5700 to his father, Rav Menachem Fischer, a member of Yerushalayim Old Yishuv and a talmid of Maharitz Dushinsky, and to his mother, Mrs. Chana, daughter of Rav Avraham Frenkel.

In his youth, he studied at Yeshivas Dushinsky and was among the early talmidim of Maharam Dushinsky. As a child of ten, he merited seeing Maharitz Dushinsky frequently, accompanying his father on visits to him.

Upon reaching marriageable age, he married Mrs. Yocheved Fischer, daughter of Rav Baruch Pinchas Goldberg, author of the sefarim Bikur Cholim Kehilchasah and Pnei Baruch-Aveilus Kehilchasa. She was a devoted volunteer who dedicated more than 30 years to assisting patients at Hadassah Hospital. She passed away in Adar 5782.

Rav Shlomo Ephraim served as a gabbai tzedakah and as a melamed of tinokos shel beis rabban. He frequently went to spend time in the Dushinsky court, participating in gatherings and hillulos. As recently as Erev Sukkos, he addressed the crowd at the hillula of the Maharitz in the courtyard of the Dushinsky Chassidus.

He is survived by children and grandchildren. One of his sons is Rav Chaim Fischer, a maggid shiur in the Ungvarer kehillah in Modiin Illit. His brother, Rav Avraham HaKohen Fischer, a respected figure in Bnei Brak and among the founders of the first chareidi orchestra, passed away in 5778.

The levayah took place today at the Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim, with kevurah on Har HaMenuchos.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Investigators probing the disappearance of Moishi Kleinerman have taken an unusual step, turning to civilian technology based on artificial intelligence to explore new investigative avenues. Analysis of the data has led to the identification of an additional terrain route that, according to assessments, may be the last location where Kleinerman was present.

Moishi Kleinerman has been missing since March 2022, after he was last seen in the Mount Meron area, which he reached without a mobile phone. A new development has now emerged in the case, involving an unconventional move aimed at examining further possibilities.

Police in the Judea and Samaria District decided to utilize civilian AI-based technology capable of analyzing data patterns not detectable to the human eye. The data analysis pointed to a specific terrain route in the Mount Meron area that may be the final place Kleinerman was located, according to a report by i24NEWS.

Police stress that it is still not possible to determine with certainty that this was indeed the teenager’s last location, but preparations are underway to conduct searches in the area. At the same time, new testimonies have been collected. Next week, investigators are expected to deploy an investigative tool known as the “Crystal Ball,” typically used to solve murder cases, which will be employed for the first time in the search for a missing person. The commander of the Judea and Samaria District has updated the family on the latest developments.

{Matzav.com}

Democratic leaders said a White House proposal responding to their demands on immigration enforcement falls far short, calling it “incomplete and insufficient” as they push for tighter limits on President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and warn that funding for the Department of Homeland Security could lapse.

In a statement issued late Monday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said a counterproposal sent by the White House after the weekend “included neither details nor legislative text” and failed to address “the concerns Americans have about ICE’s lawless conduct.”

The White House has not made its proposal public.

The standoff comes with the clock ticking toward a possible partial government shutdown set to begin Shabbos. Democrats are seeking a range of changes, including a requirement for judicial warrants, clearer identification for DHS officers, revised use-of-force standards, and an end to racial profiling. They argue the measures are needed following the fatal shootings of two protesters by federal agents in Minneapolis last month.

Earlier Monday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota voiced optimism about the unusual talks between Democrats and the White House, saying there had been “forward progress.”

Thune said the exchange of proposals between the two sides was encouraging and that “hopefully they can find some common ground here.”

Reaching a deal on immigration enforcement remains difficult, however, as skepticism runs deep among rank-and-file lawmakers in both parties about the prospects for compromise.

Republicans have pushed back on many of the Democratic demands and some have offered counterconditions, including legislation requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote and penalties for cities they argue are not doing enough to combat illegal immigration.

At the same time, many Democrats angered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s aggressive tactics have said they will not support additional DHS funding unless enforcement efforts are significantly curtailed.

“Dramatic changes are needed at the Department of Homeland Security before a DHS funding bill moves forward,” Jeffries said earlier Monday. “Period. Full stop.”

Congress is now attempting to renegotiate DHS funding after Trump agreed to a Democratic request to pull it out of a broader spending package that became law last week. That legislation temporarily extended Homeland Security funding at current levels only through Feb. 13, creating a narrow window for negotiations over new limits on ICE and other federal agencies.

Democrats escalated their demands for changes to ICE and other federal law enforcement after ICE-watch activist Alex Pretti was fatally shot during a confrontation with U.S. Border Patrol officers in Minneapolis on Jan. 24. Some Republicans also suggested at the time that new restrictions might be warranted. Renee Good was shot by an ICE agent on Jan. 7.

Although Trump agreed to separate the DHS funding, he has not publicly addressed the Democrats’ specific requests.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said late last week that the Trump administration is open to discussing some of the items on the Democratic list, but said “others don’t seem like they are grounded in any common sense, and they are nonstarters for this administration.”

Schumer and Jeffries have called for immigration officers to remove masks, display identification, and better coordinate with local authorities. They are also pressing for tougher use-of-force rules, stronger legal protections at detention centers, and a ban on using body-worn cameras to track protesters.

Among their additional demands, Democrats want Congress to halt indiscriminate arrests, “improve warrant procedures and standards,” make clear that officers cannot enter private property without a judicial warrant, and require verification that a detainee is not a U.S. citizen before detention.

Republicans have said they support requiring DHS officers to wear body cameras — language that appeared in the original DHS funding bill — but have resisted many of the other proposals.

“Taking the masks off ICE officers and agents, the reason we can’t do that is that it would subject them to great harm, their families at great risk because people are doxing them and targeting them,” House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana said Monday. “We’ve got to talk about things that are reasonable and achievable.”

Sen. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee said Sunday that Democrats are “trying to motivate a radical left base.”

“The left has gone completely overboard, and they’re threatening the safety and security of our agents so they cannot do their job,” Hagerty said.

Beyond ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Homeland Security funding bill also covers agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Transportation Security Administration. Thune warned last week that if DHS shuts down, “there’s a very good chance we could see more travel problems” similar to those during last year’s 43-day government shutdown.

Lawmakers in both parties have floated the idea of separating funding for ICE and Border Patrol and passing the remainder by Friday. Thune has shown little enthusiasm for that approach, instead favoring another short-term extension for all of DHS while talks continue.

“If there’s additional time that’s needed, then hopefully Democrats would be amenable to another extension,” Thune said.

Many Democrats are unlikely to support another temporary extension, though Republicans could still muster enough Democratic votes if lawmakers believe negotiations are making progress.

“The ball is in the Republicans’ court,” Jeffries said Monday.

{Matzav.com}

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Tuesday that he believes the federal immigration enforcement surge in the state is nearing its conclusion and could wrap up within “days, not weeks and months,” citing recent discussions with senior officials in the Trump administration.

Speaking at a news conference, the Democratic governor said he held conversations with border czar Tom Homan on Monday and with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles early Tuesday. Homan assumed control of the federal operation in Minnesota in late January, following a second deadly shooting involving federal officers and growing political criticism over how the effort was being carried out.

“We’re very much in a trust but verify mode,” Walz said. He added that he expects additional clarification from the administration “in the next day or so” about the future of what he described as an “occupation” and a “retribution campaign” directed at Minnesota.

Walz said that while he is cautiously optimistic because “every indication I have is that this thing is winding up,” he acknowledged the situation remains fluid and could still change.

“It would be my hope that Mr. Homan goes out before Friday and announces that this thing is done, and they’re bringing her down and they’re bringing her down in days,” Walz said. “That would be my expectation.”

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the governor’s statements.

Walz said he has no reason to doubt Homan’s assertion last week that 700 federal officers would immediately withdraw from Minnesota, but noted that such a move would still leave roughly 2,300 federal personnel operating in the state.

At the time, Homan pointed to what he called an “increase in unprecedented collaboration” that reduced the need for a larger federal presence, including cooperation from jails holding inmates eligible for deportation.

The governor also said he expects the state to receive “cooperation on joint investigations” into the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal officers, though he did not elaborate. State officials have said those cases have been a source of tension, arguing they have been excluded from the investigations and denied access to evidence.

Walz convened the news conference largely to highlight what he said has been the economic fallout from the enforcement surge. He spoke at The Market at Malcolm Yards, a local food hall where owner Patty Wall said the broader restaurant industry has become “collateral damage” as a result of the crackdown.

Matt Varilek, the state’s commissioner of employment and economic development, said Malcolm Yards would typically be packed but is now struggling because workers and customers are staying away out of fear tied to the enforcement activity.

“So it is great news, of course, that the posture seems to have changed at the federal level toward their activities here in Minnesota,” Varilek said.

“But, as the governor said, it’s a trust-but-verify situation. And frankly, the fear that has been sown, I haven’t really noticed any reduction in that.”

{Matzav.com}

Federal investigators secured a search warrant to confiscate hundreds of boxes of ballots from Fulton County, Georgia election facilities, launching a criminal probe into possible “deficiencies or defects” in how votes were tallied during the 2020 presidential election won by President Donald Trump’s opponent, according to a court filing made public Tuesday.

The newly unsealed affidavit offers the first official explanation for an FBI operation carried out last month in a jurisdiction that President Trump and his allies have long pointed to as a focal point of their claims that the 2020 vote was mishandled.

According to the affidavit, the inquiry draws heavily on assertions that have circulated for years among individuals who, including the president, maintain that fraud occurred in the 2020 election.

Those assertions have been repeatedly disputed by audits, election officials, the courts, and even President Trump’s former attorney general, prolonging a national dispute that continued through President Biden’s administration and into President Trump’s return to the White House.

Investigators are examining Fulton County’s acknowledgment that it lacks scanned images for all ballots counted in both the initial tally and the subsequent recount, the affidavit states. County officials also confirmed that some ballots were scanned more than once during the recount process.

“If these deficiencies were the result of intentional action, it would be a violation of federal law regardless of whether the failure to retain records or the deprivation of a fair tabulation of a vote was outcome determinative for any particular election or race,” the document says.

The affidavit further explains that the seizure of election materials was required to assess whether records had been destroyed or whether vote totals included “materially false votes.”

Investigators cite potential violations of federal statutes governing the preservation and retention of election records, which carry misdemeanor penalties, as well as a separate law that makes it a felony to “knowingly and willfully” deprive voters of a “fair and impartially conducted election process.”

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

by Rabbi Eliezer Sandler

The concept of the Yissachar-Zevulun Torah Learning Pact goes back well over 3,500 years, to the time of Yaakov Avinu and his sons. It is named for the Torah pact between two of his sons – Yissachar the scholar and Zevulun the merchant. Not only was it an equal pact but, Chazal explained, the deed of Zevulun/the Sponsor is considered even greater than that of Yissachar, because without the support of Zevulun, Yissachar would not have had the wherewithal to study Torah undisturbed.”

It is well-known that when it comes to learning Torah, people who sponsor the learning, often do so, not just as a donation. By financially supporting specific Torah scholars, they enter into a binding, written, signed and sealed learning partnership pact whereby the Sponsor (the Zevulun) is deemed by Halacha as if he personally studied the Torah completed by the Scholar (the Yissachar). (See below.) 

Thus, those who support the Talmidei Chachomim at Shas Yiden via a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact merit a portion in every daf of the entire Talmud Bavli and associated texts that they study, and complete the entire cycle in the space of ONE year. Some of the Sponsors opt to continue sponsoring repeat cycles of Shas which accrue to them.

Sar Hatorah, Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, Nasi Shas Yiden, emphasized: The most mehudar Yissachar-Zevulun pact to support in our times is that offered by Shas Yiden – it comprises the entire Shas, Rashi and Tosfos – all in just one year!

Rav Chaim explained why this pact with Shas Yiden is the most mehudar. Chazal say that the highest level of learning is when one understands what he is learning b’iyun u’ve’amkus. However, even higher than that is when one remembers b’al peh all what he has learned. I have farhered the Shas Yiden avreichim geonim many times and can attest ZEI KENNEN SHAS (they know Shas)!

YES! YOU CAN MAKE

The Yissachar-Zevulun Pact in Halacha

The Shulchan Aruch in Yoreh De’ah Chapter 246 regarding the efficacy of the Yissachar-Zevulun Sponsorship Pact for the Zevulun (the Sponsor) states clearly:  It is deemed as if he (the one sponsoring the learning) himself learned all the Torah studied under the pact. 

All the learning under the Shas Yiden Yissachar-Zevulun Pact is yours בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב (in both This World and the World to Come)! Concerning this, the Netziv of Volozhin comments that in Olam Habah, the Zevulun sponsor will sit together with the Gedolei Torah of the past and merit to participate in their discussions and pilpulim on all the Torah learned.

Achieve Almost 7 million Mitzvos in One Year

The Vilna Gaon in Shnos Eliyahu Pe’ah 41 states that one should hold precious every word of Torah that he learns because each word is considered a mitzvah of its own. 

Thus, since in Talmud Bavli, Rashi and Tosfos there are 6,608,891 words, that translates into almost 7 million mitzvos accruing through Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden. 

Official Shtar from Shas Yiden

Each Yissachar-Zevulun pact is confirmed by an official contract (shtar) from Shas Yiden specifying the learning of the entire Shas, and is witnessed by talmidei chachomim.

All who wish to enter into a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact for the entire Shas during ONE year should contact Shas Yiden to make arrangements: 718-702-1528.

The opportunity to complete the entire Shas has been a cherished way to honor family members and others as a prized achievement. It has also proven to be a source of comfort for mourners to obtain such a zechus for their dear ones during the year of mourning – a siyum of the entire Shas can be completed on the yahrzeit!

Yissachar-Zevulun Pact –

The legendary visionary and “Father of Yeshivos”, Reb Chaim of Volozhin, was the founder of the famous yeshiva in the town of Volozhin and the beloved talmid of the Vilna Gaon. 

Reb Chaim had an ongoing Yissachar-Zevulun pact with a local shoemaker – a man who was not learned but who dearly valued Torah learning. They had a ‘deal’ whereby the shoemaker would pay the monthly financial support needed for Reb Chaim and his family. For this financial support, the shoemaker would have an equal share in all Reb Chaim’s daily Torah study – both in the mitzvah of Torah study בעוה”ז and that the knowledge of the Torah learned would continue to be his בעוה”ב (in the World to Come).

One day the shoemaker passed away suddenly. During the shiva period, Reb Chaim was facing a perplexing halachic question and researched high and low for a solution. That night the shoemaker appeared to him in a dream and gave him the full solution that he sought. Reb Chaim was amazed and commented, “Azoi gich, Azoi Gich – So quickly, so quickly has he acquired the zchus and knowledge of the Torah that I have studied!”

In the words of Gedolei Torah:

Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, Nasi Shas Yiden:

“In just ONE year, through Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden, you can be zoche to the entire Shas forever – בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב (in olam hazeh and olam habah).

“Moreover, whoever supports Shas Yiden is zocheh to fulfill both Yissachar-Zevulun and support of aniyei (the poor of) Eretz Yisroel in the fullest sense of the word.

“Those who support Shas Yiden will be saved from chevlei (the travails of) Moshiach – spiritually and materially, and will be zoche to have ehrlicher bonim u’vanos yir’eishomayim ”

Maran Hagaon Harav Dov Lando, shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva, Slabodka:

“Who compares to the Shas Yiden? Incredible talmidei chachomim geonim who raised the bar in limud Hashas b’iyun u’v’amkus. Blessed are those who enter a Yissachar-Zevulun pact with them.”

Hamashpia Hagadol Reb Meilech Biederman, shlit”a:

 “Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden – best possible deal, and in just 1 year! 100% partnership! 100% Shas x 5 times! 100% Shisha Sidrei Mishna – בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב”

Sanzer Rebbe, shlit”a:

“A first in 2000 years of Jewish history! Until Shas Yiden, never a Torah institution where ALL the avreichim metzuyonim v’geonim know the entire Shas by heart”

Harav Yaakov Hillel, shlit”a:

“Therefore, the great mitzvah to support the efforts [of the Talmidei Chachomim] with generous donations in order that they should continue diligently with their studies to enhance the greatness of the Torah and its glory. 

ShasYiden.com

Russia is exploiting negotiations to end the war in Ukraine as a “tool for manipulation” as it aims to restore relations with the US, but has no intention of ending the invasion, according to an assessment by Estonian foreign intelligence.

“Russia is setting long-term operational objectives in its war against Ukraine. This confirms that the recent uptick in peace-talk rhetoric is merely a tactic to buy time,” according to the annual report of the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service published on Tuesday.

The assessment casts a shadow over US President Donald Trump’s effort to end the four-year war, as his envoys seek to bring together Russian and Ukrainian negotiators. While Kyiv has secured commitments for guarantees designed to prevent a further Russian attack, talks have stalled over other issues including territory.

The Kremlin has instructed Russia’s state institutions to “project openness” to cooperate with the US, the Estonian report said. The main objective is to restore full relations with Washington, a path that would open the possibility of direct flights and visas for the business elite – as well as easing the path for espionage, influence operations and sanctioned goods, it said.

Sanctions relief is essential for sustaining President Vladimir Putin’s power system as a deteriorating economy stemming from falling oil production sows division among the ruling elite.

“The Kremlin merely feigns interest in peace talks, hoping to restore its bilateral relations with the United States to their previous level and formalize Ukraine’s defeat,” the spy agency said.

Russia is also seeking to collaborate with the US on nuclear arms safety – a process that helps the country retain its great power status. “Presenting itself as a responsible nuclear power” is part of a strategy to open broader security talks, aimed at potentially imposing restrictions on NATO activity, the report said.

According to the Baltic nation’s spy agency, one option for Moscow is to establish a postwar reconstruction fund financed by Russian assets frozen in the West, enabling Moscow to effectively impose its will on Ukraine and pay for propaganda campaigns.

The report from Estonia, a European Union and NATO member state that borders Russia, said that Moscow’s military-industrial complex will continue to be a danger to its neighbors even after a peace deal might be agreed. Moscow still hopes to restrict NATO activity along its border – and “Russia is highly likely preparing for future conflict even as its war against Ukraine continues,” it said.

Military production is expected to stagnate this year as an increasingly dire economic outlook sows division among the ruling elite, the report said, citing higher borrowing costs and low investment as factors driving the economy into recession.

Oil production, a major source of Russian government funding, has steadily declined and is unlikely to rebound in coming years, the report said. Higher taxes and spending cuts to cover the cost of war – combined with Ukrainian drones strikes reaching deeper into Russia – have dampened consumer sentiment. But total economic collapse is unlikely, according to the spy agency.

“Divisions within the ruling elite over economic policy have also sharpened, resulting in disagreements spilling into the public domain over the state of the economy and the central bank’s monetary policy,” the report said.

(c) 2026, Bloomberg 

Staten Island stands apart from the rest of New York City in more ways than one. But its status as a Republican redoubt in a Democratic stronghold is under threat.

In January, a state court judge ruled that New York’s 11th Congressional District, which encompasses Staten Island and a wedge of southwestern Brooklyn, violates the voting rights of minorities who live within it, and must be redrawn.

The judge had given a state panel, the Independent Redistricting Commission, until Feb. 6 to come up with a new map. But the process was paused after Representative Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican who’s held the seat since 2021, launched an effort to overturn the judge’s order. A new deadline of Feb. 23 has been set for the judge to finalize the lines.

“If the people of this district don’t want me to represent them, they can vote me out in the election,” Malliotakis said in an interview with Bloomberg News. She blamed the effort to revise her district’s borders on political operatives in Washington.

“In no way will we allow a Washington law firm to come along and dictate how this community is going to be represented,” she said.

The battle on Staten Island is playing out amid a nationwide campaign to redraw political borders and gain a leg up in the 2026 midterm elections. So far, the parties have largely dueled to a draw. With Congress narrowly divided, control of the House could turn on a small number of skirmishes over district lines.

Some Staten Islanders say the fight reflects deeper anxiety about how the borough is changing. Over the past 25 years, an influx of Latino and Asian residents have moved to the northern section of the island, drawn by the prospect of cheaper housing and a more suburban lifestyle. Meanwhile, its South Shore, with its more spacious homes and strong schools, has remained a Republican bastion.

Paul Alexander Shali-Ogli, an activist and campaign consultant who resides on the island, said the shifting demographics have unsettled parts of its electorate. “There are a lot of people who are hopeful for the future,” said Shali-Ogli. “But then there seem to be a minority who can’t accept that the island has changed since the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s.”

Yet Joseph Pidoriano, a local entrepreneur, said reshaping the district would betray Staten Island’s conservative character.

“They’re going to redraw the lines and make this district a destination where our values aren’t represented,” said Pidoriano. “Our values are faith, family, freedom, leadership, and the ability to be successful.”

Malliotakis’s district has been New York City’s most durable Republican perch since the early 1980s, when the Staten Island-anchored seat, then numbered differently and once extending into Lower Manhattan, was redrawn to include a conservative-leaning sliver of Brooklyn. Only two Democrats – Michael McMahon in 2008 and Max Rose in 2018 – have won there since. Neither served more than one term.

Malliotakis, whose mother left Cuba following the rise of Fidel Castro, said that hers is “the only competitive seat” in New York City, and serves as a counterweight to Democratic dominance of local politics. Many Staten Island Republicans reject the idea that the district’s Black and Latino voters have been disenfranchised.

“It’s absurd that a district that elects a Latina would somehow empower minorities by removing the more diverse portion of NY-11 in Brooklyn and replacing it with a lily white district in Lower Manhattan,” said Joe Borelli, a former Republican city and state lawmaker for Staten Island who testified in the January court hearing.

– – –

Conservative Culture

On the Staten Island Ferry, during the free, nearly 30-minute ride across New York Harbor, the Manhattan skyline recedes gradually. At the St. George Ferry Terminal, passengers step off the boat into a borough where most trips continue by car rather than subway, and where the pace and scale feel far removed from the rest of New York City.

Staten Island’s landscape looks less like Midtown than New Jersey, to which it is linked by three bridges. The island’s quiet streets are lined by single-family homes in car-dependent, hilly neighborhoods, where a plethora of American flags snapped in gusting wind on a frigid February morning.

Much of the borough’s commercial activity runs along Hylan Boulevard, a stretch of set-back strip malls and residential areas running from Tottenville at the island’s southern tip toward Fort Wadsworth, just across the water from Brooklyn on the island’s northeast.

For many commuters, getting to the city’s major employment hubs means a drive on the Staten Island Expressway and over the towering Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, through traffic that island residents routinely rank among the worst in the city. Others rely on express buses that charge $7.25 each way.

Staten Island’s physical isolation from the rest of New York City and its status as a haven for blue-collar workers and city employees including police officers and firefighters has long defined its proudly conservative political culture.

Democrats argue that their party would better represent the island’s changing makeup. Assemblymember Charles Fall, chair of Staten Island Democrats, sees it as a question of how effectively the district’s interests are represented in Congress.

“If we had a Democrat in this seat, I think we would see a representative that was much more reflective of what hardworking people need in this area,” Fall said.

With half a million residents, Staten Island is the least populous New York City borough. Its median annual household income of nearly $100,000 is around $20,000 higher than the citywide average. It is majority White, according to the US Census, but its Asian American and Hispanic populations have surged in the past 25 years.

Many of those new residents have clustered on the island’s North Shore, where denser housing, lower incomes and higher shares of Black, Latino and immigrant residents contrast with the predominantly white South Shore. The island is bisected by the Staten Island Expressway, a six-lane artery that residents and planners have long described as a social and economic boundary.

Staten Island Republicans fear that if Democrats prevail in their redistricting push, they would be losing representation, and that has renewed talk of seceding from the city to get out from under Democratic domination.

“It’s a serious conversation, and I feel it’s percolating again,” Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella said.

Secession efforts have surfaced before at times when borough leaders felt Staten Island’s needs weren’t being addressed. In 1993, nearly two-thirds of voters approved a referendum to secede from the city, but the movement stalled in the New York State Assembly.

– – –

National Redistricting Push

The legal dispute over the district’s shape will likely turn on the question of whether it is being redrawn to benefit one party or another.

New York passed an amendment to its state constitution in 2014 that prohibits the redrawing of congressional districts to favor candidates or parties.

“Political gerrymandering sets up a system where it’s more like an incumbent protection program,” Malliotakis said. “You eliminate competitive seats like mine, and you make them lopsided where only one party can win, and therefore the voters can’t hold that individual accountable.”

On a national level, the pressure to revise electoral boundaries is likely to persist. The unusual middecade scramble to design new districts – previously, most states only altered their maps after the decennial US census – could become a new norm amid increased polarization and closely divided government. But some onlookers have recoiled at leaving much of the process in the hands of courts.

“You don’t want to see lines drawn by judicial decree,” said Richard Flanagan, a political science professor at the College of Staten Island. “You’d rather have a good state legislative process draw the lines.”

GOP officials have signaled their willingness to take their case to the US Supreme Court, if necessary. In the meantime, Republicans on Staten Island fear that they could lose one their few remaining avenues for exerting national influence.

“One of the few ways in which Republican voters can have a voice, at least on the national stage, is through this seat,” Fossella said. “And to silence it in this way, in this form, just reaffirms people’s cynicism.”

(c) 2026, Bloomberg