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The United States remains open to nuclear pact talks with Iran, which again rejected Washington’s advances during a United Nations Security Council meeting.

The session focused on implementing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, of 2015 which outlined Iran’s commitments to limit its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

The permanent Security Council members—United States, United Kingdom, France, China and Russia—signed the agreement, as did Germany and the European Union.

Tuesday marked the first council gathering on the nuclear issue since sanctions were reimposed on the Islamic Republic through a so-called “snapback” mechanism, which the United Kingdom, France and Germany—known as the E3—triggered.

Sanctions were reimposed due to Iranian noncompliance with verification measures and limits on uranium enrichment levels.

“The United States remains available for formal talks with Iran but only if Tehran is prepared for direct and meaningful dialogue,” Morgan Ortagus, Washington’s deputy Middle East envoy, told the council.

 

“We have been clear, however, about certain expectations for any arrangement,” Ortagus said. “Foremost, there can be no enrichment inside of Iran, and that remains our principle.”

Citing its membership in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Tehran said that American insistence on a zero uranium enrichment policy was a non-starter in talks.

“We appreciate any fair and meaningful negotiation, but insisting on zero enrichment policy, it is contrary to our rights as a member of the NPT, and it means that they are not pursuing a fair negotiation,” Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s U.N. envoy, said.

“They want to dictate their predetermined intention on Iran,” he added. “Iran will not bow down to any pressure and intimidation.”

Washington, which withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018 during U.S. President Donald Trump’s first term, held five rounds of negotiations with Iran over the summer. Those talks did not yield an agreement, and a 60-day window for resolution, which Trump had set to expire in June, expired.

Israel struck Iranian targets, including nuclear facilities, the next day, triggering a 12-day war, during which the United States also bombed Iranian nuclear facilities.

“The lack of implementation by Iran of its international obligations related to its nuclear program constitute a grave threat to international peace and security,” said Jay Dharmadhikari, France’s deputy U.N. ambassador.

Dharmadhikari said that Iran’s uranium stockpile “would be of a sufficient quantity to produce 10 nuclear explosive devices” if increased slightly to military-grade levels.

Most signatories to the JCPOA say that the pact remains in force despite the diplomatic degradation this year. Moscow says the accord is a non-entity.

Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s U.N. ambassador, lashed out at Slovenia, the current council president, for even scheduling Tuesday’s meeting. He said that the country did not “find the courage to impartially uphold your obligation not to act at the behest of those who insisted on holding a Security Council meeting on a non-existent agenda item.”

Nebenzia said that the EU, which coordinates the JCPOA committee, should not be allowed to brief the council, because the pact “does not exist anymore.”

Iravani agreed, telling the council that the JCPOA, which was put into force through Security Council Resolution 2231, expired on Oct. 18, as the accord states.

The E3 triggered the snapback provision shortly before the expiration date.

The Iranian envoy said that the accord “ceased to have any legal effect or operative mandate” and that there is “no mandate for the secretary-general to submit any report and no mandate for the council to hold discussions on it.”

He said that those who think the pact remains valid are engaging in a “calculated distortion” of the resolution.

Hedda Samson, deputy EU head of delegation, said that “the snapback of sanctions and nuclear restrictions must not be the end of diplomacy.”

“Quite the opposite,” Samson said. She urged Iran to give the International Atomic Energy Agency watchdog verifiable information on its nuclear program. JNS

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During a tish at the main beis medrash of the Karlin-Stolin chassidus in Givat Ze’ev, the Stoliner Rebbe addressed one of the most sensitive and widely debated issues in today’s chareidi world: the use of smartphones and modern technology.

Speaking at length, the Rebbe presented an approach that recognizes contemporary reality while insisting on uncompromising vigilance and spiritual responsibility. He began by noting that the world has changed and that technological devices have become deeply embedded in daily life.

“We have reached a situation where no one can honestly say it’s possible to manage without devices,” the Rebbe said. “It’s not possible. We need them. But that is precisely why there must be proper filtering, and they must be used with safeguards.”

The Rebbe rejected the view that a total ban on devices is the sole solution, illustrating his point with a practical analogy. “If someone shouts that it’s dangerous, driving a car is also dangerous,” he said. “There are many things in the world that involve danger. Just as we don’t tell a person not to drive because the road is dangerous, we cannot completely prevent the use of devices.”

At the same time, the Rebbe stressed that recognizing the need for technology does not mean unrestricted use. He directed pointed remarks to young avreichim building their homes, emphasizing that owning a device is not a religious obligation.

“An avreich who has just gotten married does not need to immediately run out and buy a device,” the Rebbe said. “It’s not a mitzvah. Devices should be used only for what is truly necessary—work needs and essential arrangements—not for nonsense or wasting time.”

Concluding his remarks, the Rebbe reminded his chassidim that beyond filters and human effort, a Jew’s greatest protection is tefillah. “We must daven and beg the Ribbono Shel Olam to guard us, our children, and our families,” he said. “We have to live with yosher halev—uprightness of heart.”

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[Audio below.] The controversy surrounding Israel’s proposed draft legislation intensified Wednesday night after Rav Dovid Cohen, rosh yeshiva of Chevron Yeshiva, issued a sweeping and uncompromising rejection of the Bismuth draft law. In sharp remarks delivered to talmidim at the yeshiva, Rav Cohen ruled out any compromise and declared that even young men who are not currently learning in a yeshiva framework may not be drafted into the army.

A recording of the address, revealed Wednesday evening by journalist Yoeli Brim on Channel 13 News, shows Rav Cohen leaving no room for debate over whether non-learning yeshiva-age men could be conscripted. He framed the issue not as a technical question of manpower, but as a fundamental struggle over the spiritual character of the Jewish people, warning that the draft law represents an attempt to secularize Torah society.

According to Rav Cohen, the current moment constitutes “a war for the very existence of the yeshivos.” He stressed that the discussion surrounding enlistment is not about how many soldiers the army needs, but about a broader cultural battle aimed at uprooting Torah from Klal Yisroel and drawing bnei Torah away from the beis medrash into a secular way of life. “This is a war on multiple fronts,” he said, describing it as an effort “to take us out of the yeshivos and bring us into lives of chilonius.”

In his remarks, Rav Cohen revealed that he had been formally approached with a series of questions regarding the draft, including distinctions between those who are learning and those who are not. He dismissed the entire framework of such inquiries, saying they were designed only to confuse the public. “Anyone who knows that Klal Yisroel has no existence without Torah, and that Torah and Klal Yisroel are embodied in the world of yeshivos, understands that whoever separates from the yeshiva world loses all of his spiritual standing,” Rav Cohen said. “These are not questions. Someone who understands does not ask, and someone who wants answers, I have no answers for him.”

LISTEN:

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Health officials are warning that this year’s flu season is being shaped by a particularly transmissible and hard-hitting strain that is rapidly gaining ground across the country.

The surge is being linked to a newly identified offshoot of influenza A (H3N2), known as subclade K. Public health monitoring shows that this mutation has become dominant in recent samples, both internationally and within the United States.

In a recent update, the World Health Organization described subclade K as a significant shift in the evolution of H3N2 viruses, raising concerns among researchers about how closely this season’s flu vaccine matches the circulating strain.

Doctors say patients infected with the K variant are often experiencing more pronounced symptoms than usual. Reported complaints include high fever, shaking chills, head pain, exhaustion, persistent cough, sore throat, and nasal congestion.

Data from the CDC indicates that nearly 90% of 216 recently analyzed H3N2 samples collected since late September were identified as subclade K, underscoring how quickly the variant has taken hold.

Respiratory illness activity is especially elevated in parts of the Northeast and several other regions. Surveillance tracking outpatient visits — not limited to confirmed flu cases — shows very high levels in New York City, New York State, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Louisiana, and Colorado. High activity has also been reported across multiple additional states and in Washington, D.C.

So far this season, federal estimates attribute at least 4.6 million illnesses, roughly 49,000 hospital admissions, and approximately 1,900 deaths to influenza.

Speaking with Fox News Digital, Dr. Neil Maniar, a professor of public health practice at Northeastern University, said early patterns suggest an unusually severe flu season. He noted that areas overseas where subclade K circulated earlier saw substantial illness, a trend that now appears to be emerging domestically as well.

Maniar described the current situation as a “perfect storm,” pointing to a combination of lower overall vaccination rates and uncertainty about how precisely this year’s vaccine targets the mutation. While the vaccine remains strongly recommended, he explained that a less-than-ideal match could be contributing to the intensity of cases being reported.

Despite these concerns, Maniar emphasized that getting vaccinated remains worthwhile, even now. Peak flu activity has not yet arrived, and the vaccine still offers important protection against severe outcomes linked to the K variant.

He also cautioned that flu complications are not limited to high-risk groups. Healthy individuals can become seriously ill, particularly as colder weather and indoor gatherings increase exposure risks. According to Maniar, partial immunity can begin developing within days of vaccination, with full protection generally reached within two weeks — making this an important window for those who have not yet received their flu shot.

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Mahmoud Abbas has openly acknowledged that the Palestinian Authority remains loyal to terrorists who murder and attack Jews, publicly affirming support that Israeli officials say confirms long-standing allegations about covert financial assistance to terrorists and their families.

The remarks came after reports revealed that the Palestinian Authority continues to transfer money to terrorists through indirect and concealed channels. In a statement he issued, Abbas did not deny the practice and instead expressed pride in it, writing: “I affirm, with absolute clarity, that loyalty to the sacrifices of our righteous martyrs, the prisoners who stand with them, the wounded, and their families is a deeply rooted national and moral duty.”

Abbas added that this obligation, in his words, “is not subject to political bargaining or exploitation, and cannot be used as a tool for incitement, division, or harm to the legitimate institutions of our national state.”

In Israel, the response was swift and sharp. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said that Abbas had now openly admitted what Israel has been saying for years. “Mahmoud Abbas admits that loyalty to the ‘martyrs,’ to imprisoned terrorists, to terrorists who were wounded, and to their families is a Palestinian national commitment,” Sa’ar said.

Sa’ar accused the Palestinian Authority of continuing to deceive the international community by claiming it had ended its policy of paying salaries to terrorists. “He does this while continuing to lie about ending the distorted policy of the Palestinian Authority of paying salaries to despicable terrorists and their families,” Sa’ar said. “The international community must hold the Palestinian Authority accountable for the payment of salaries to terrorists.”

Israeli officials noted that Sa’ar recently exposed how the Palestinian Authority allegedly continues these payments by disguising them as pension transfers to retirees of the Palestinian security services, a method Israel says is designed to bypass international scrutiny while maintaining financial support for convicted terrorists and their families.

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Knesset Speaker Amir Ochana of the Likud voted Wednesday in favor of an opposition-sponsored bill promoting civil marriage in Israel, despite clear coalition opposition to the legislation. Ochana’s vote triggered sharp condemnation from the chareidi parties, which accused him and Likud of violating long-standing agreements to preserve the religious status quo.

According to chareidi officials, Ochana’s support for the bill directly contradicted understandings reached between Likud and the chareidi factions, particularly commitments to block legislation seen as undermining marriage conducted according to das Moshe v’Yisroel. Senior figures in Degel HaTorah issued an unusually harsh response, calling Ochana’s move “an act that should never have been done.”

In an official statement, Degel HaTorah said that Ochana backed an opposition bill “in direct violation of the agreement between Likud and United Torah Judaism to safeguard the status quo.” The party added pointedly that “the mistake we made in agreeing to Likud’s request and supporting him as Knesset speaker will not be repeated.”

The Shas party also released a formal protest, stating that it “expresses strong objection to the Knesset speaker’s vote in favor of a law that harms the institution of marriage according to Jewish law, in complete contradiction to the position of the coalition.”

Chareidi leaders went further, warning that the civil marriage bill represents a serious breach in Israel’s Jewish character. In another statement, Degel HaTorah described the legislation as “a grave breach in the vineyard of Israel, liable to undermine the foundations of the Jewish identity of the State of Israel,” and said that Ochana’s decision to side with the opposition on such a sensitive issue amounted to a provocation demonstrating that he is “unfit to serve as Knesset speaker for the faith-based camp.”

United Torah Judaism chairman Yitzhak Goldknopf also weighed in, accusing the government of repeatedly violating agreements with the chareidi sector. “The Government of Israel, headed by Binyomin Netanyahu of Likud, continues to breach all the understandings and commitments made to the chareidi public,” Goldknopf wrote.

Referring specifically to Wednesday’s vote, Goldknopf added that Ochana “went even further” by supporting legislation that he described as “a blatant trampling of our holy Torah,” carried out in defiance of prior agreements and of what he called the historic alliance between Likud and the chareidi parties—an alliance built, he said, on safeguarding the values of Jewish tradition within the Knesset.

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Federal prosecutors say four California activists who allegedly prepared a coordinated bombing campaign also repeatedly voiced violent threats toward Israel and openly embraced Hamas, according to an indictment unsealed this week, Times of Israel reports.

Authorities say the suspects—Audrey Illeene Carroll, Zachary Aaron Page, Dante Gaffield, and Tina Lai, ages 24 to 41—were part of a clandestine offshoot known as the Order of the Black Lotus, described in court papers as a radical faction within a network calling itself the Turtle Island Liberation Front.

The indictment alleges that Carroll authored a planning document titled “Operation Midnight Sun,” which laid out a New Year’s Eve attack across Southern California. Prosecutors say the plan called for striking offices tied to technology and logistics firms and targeting federal immigration agents, with the stated aim to “pulverize” selected sites.

Investigators say Carroll recruited the other defendants into the scheme and that the group began gathering bombmaking components, including PVC pipes, potassium nitrate, sulfur powder, gasoline, electronics, and pistol primers. The materials were allegedly taken to a remote desert campsite for testing, where the FBI moved in and made arrests before any devices were fully assembled.

As the alleged preparations progressed, the indictment says the defendants exchanged messages expressing extreme hostility toward Israel and the United States. Using encrypted messaging, Page wrote to the group, “death to israel death to the usa death to colonizers death to settler-coloniasm [sic.].”

Carroll responded, “Death to them all, burn it all down,” followed by three emojis of a burning heart.

In subsequent exchanges cited by prosecutors, Carroll wrote, “I identify as a terrorist,” and, “I am a Hamas fangirl.” Gaffield later told the group, “I am here to destroy Zionism by any means necessary.”

“Real Activism = Destroying Zionism By Any Means, even if it’s risky. If you aren’t willing to die for or lose your freedom, then you’re just another toy in the machine,” he added.

Carroll replied, “Glory to the martyrs and death to Israel.”

The indictment further alleges that Carroll argued the collapse of the United States would hasten Israel’s downfall. Prosecutors say images recovered from her home show posters marked with inverted red triangles—a symbol associated with Hamas—and slogans including, “Death to America, long live Turtle Island and Palestine.”

The Turtle Island Liberation Front, described by authorities as far-left, anti-Israel, anti-government, and anti-capitalist, also surfaced publicly during the same period. Prosecutors say the group promoted and joined a heated protest outside a Los Angeles synagogue, where demonstrators reportedly entered the building to disrupt a private event.

On social media, the group advertised the demonstration with incendiary language, calling synagogue members “genocidal monsters.”

“These genocidal war criminals have no place in our city, and no place in Palestine. Never let them live in peace,” the post said.

Photos released by prosecutors from the arrest scene show bomb components laid out alongside signs reading “Free Palestine,” reinforcing, they argue, the ideological motive behind the alleged plot.

The charges include providing and attempting to provide material support to terrorists, possession of unregistered firearms, and conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction. Carroll and Page face potential life sentences if convicted, while Gaffield and Lai could each receive up to 25 years in prison.

{Matzav.com}

Speaking publicly months after his release from Gaza, Segev Kalfon accused Israel’s leadership of prosecuting the war against Hamas while leaving him to pay the personal price.

In an interview aired Wednesday on Kan public radio, Kalfon — who spent 738 days in Hamas captivity before being freed in October — said he was seized from inside Israel and questioned why he was left behind as the fighting continued. Hamas, he said, “took me from within the country’s borders. Why did I have to sit and pay the price? Why did I have to bear the cost of this war?”

Kalfon claimed the decision-making at the top treated the war effort as more important than the lives of captives. “If they’d gotten me out, they’d have had to stop the war — they didn’t want to get me out, because they made [the war] their first priority, above human lives,” he said.

Appealing to religious and ideological values, he challenged lawmakers on the right. “Where is [the religious obligation of] redeeming captives?” he asked. “You’re a right-wing government. Where are all the religious people who sit in the Knesset?”

Describing the dangers he faced while being held, Kalfon said Israeli airstrikes repeatedly put his life at risk. The army, he said, “bombed me so many times,” leaving him convinced that death could come from either side. “I got to a place where I said, ‘Great, if I don’t die at [Hamas’s] hands, maybe I’ll die by accident, at the hands of my own army.’”

He recounted being pulled alive from debris more than once. “Twice, I emerged from ruins. They bombed me eight, nine times. Think of it. It came to where I wanted to go down into a tunnel,” he said, adding that he was eventually taken underground.

Beyond the battlefield, Kalfon criticized the state for what he described as inadequate financial support for former hostages. He argued that even the most limited period of captivity should entitle survivors to full, lifelong care. “Even someone who spent just one day in captivity, is entitled to sit on a beach in Mexico with a coconut in their hand for the rest of their life — and for the government to pay for it all,” he said.

His remarks followed a coalition vote last month that blocked opposition-sponsored legislation to provide a one-time NIS 4 million ($1.2 million) assistance package to released hostages and their families.

Kalfon also reiterated a claim he has made before: that statements by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir during the war worsened his treatment in captivity. According to Kalfon, when Ben Gvir publicly boasted about tightening conditions for Palestinian security prisoners, his Hamas guards responded by beating him more severely.

He said that during his imprisonment in Gaza he was sometimes allowed to listen to the radio, and that about 16 months into captivity he heard his mother’s voice advocating for his release. That moment, he said, transformed his resolve to stay alive.

“For the first year and four months, I lost hope many times. I got to a place where I thought I’d commit suicide, because I didn’t want to give them the satisfaction of killing me,” he said.

“But then, after a year and four months, I received the sign from my mom, and I understood that at the end of the day it wasn’t just a sign from my mom, but from God, who wanted me to keep surviving despite the hardship.”

Since returning home, Kalfon said the psychological toll remains heavy. “I wake up a lot in the middle of the night; I don’t sleep much,” he said, noting that he is in therapy. “I’m in therapy — I have a therapist — but no one’s been through what I’ve been through.”

He described giving himself space each night to confront the memories. “I give myself an hour, two hours, at night, to fall apart if I need to. My eyes saw things, my ears heard things, my body felt things that you can’t erase,” he said.

Kalfon, a resident of Dimona, was abducted on October 7 after fleeing the Nova music festival as Hamas terrorists attacked the area, killing more than 360 people and kidnapping dozens amid a broader assault that left about 1,200 dead and 251 taken hostage. While trying to escape, he crossed Highway 232, where the gunmen spotted him and dragged him into Gaza.

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At a ceremony marking the induction of new pilots, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu outlined a far-reaching plan to bolster Israel’s domestic defense production, saying the country intends to sharply cut its reliance on foreign suppliers.

Netanyahu said the government plans to allocate 350 billion shekels, about $110 billion, toward developing an independent arms capability, stressing that Israel will still procure certain necessities abroad even as it expands local manufacturing. “We will continue to acquire essential supplies while independently arming ourselves,” he said at the event.

Acknowledging the limits of full self-sufficiency, Netanyahu said Israel would nevertheless aim to maximize homegrown production. “I don’t know if a ⁠country can be completely independent but we will strive … to ensure our ⁠arms are produced ⁠as much as possible in Israel,” he said. “Our goal is to build an independent arms industry for the State of ⁠Israel and reduce the dependency on any party, including allies.”

{Matzav.com}

The Powerball jackpot has surged to an eye-popping $1.7 billion, placing one of the largest lottery prizes ever offered in the United States within reach of players nationwide.

The surge came after Monday night’s drawing failed to produce a jackpot winner, clearing the way for the prize to roll over once again and climb sharply.

The drawing is tonight at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time

Despite the excitement, the odds remain daunting, with a one-in-292.2-million chance of hitting the jackpot.

According to the game’s website, the eventual winner will have a choice between receiving the full $1.7 billion through annual payments spread over 29 years or opting for a one-time cash payout estimated at about $781.3 million before taxes.

The current prize ranks as the fourth-largest jackpot in Powerball history and among the biggest ever offered by any U.S. lottery, heightening anticipation as ticket sales continue to climb.

Monday’s drawing did not produce a grand-prize winner, but it did yield nine secondary prizes worth $1 million each across the country.

The biggest Powerball jackpot on record reached $2.04 billion, claimed by a ticket sold in California in 2022, which also stands as the largest U.S. lottery prize ever won.

{Matzav.com}

For the next several weeks, U.S. military activity will be centered almost entirely on blocking Venezuelan oil exports, following a directive from the White House, a U.S. official said Wednesday.

According to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the instruction orders American forces to concentrate nearly all their efforts “on the quarantine of Venezuelan oil for at least the next two months.”

The administration views this approach as the preferred method of applying pressure on Caracas, prioritizing sanctions enforcement over immediate military action. “While military options ⁠still exist the focus is to first use economic pressure by enforcing sanctions to reach the outcome the White House is looking,” the official said.

The emphasis on economic measures could cool expectations of near-term U.S. ground operations against Venezuela, something President Donald Trump has said remains possible.

U.S. officials believe the oil restrictions are already taking a heavy toll. “The efforts so far have put tremendous pressure on (Venezuelan President Nicolas) Maduro and the belief is that by late ⁠January Venezuela will be facing an economic calamity unless it agrees to make significant concessions to the U.S.,” the official said.

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Israel’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations says it has uncovered a vast, structured system inside the UN that channels enormous resources toward activities focused almost entirely on Israel. According to figures released by the mission, roughly $100 million a year is devoted to reports, debates, special mechanisms, and communications efforts that consistently single out the Jewish state, the Jerusalem Post reports.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said the findings demonstrate that the effort is neither incidental nor marginal. “Today we actually showed that these are orchestrated campaigns, well-funded and well-established within the UN budget,” he said. “These $100 million, which will be approved in the coming days in the new UN budget, are spent on activities against the government of Israel and against the IDF.”

Danon noted that while some of the initiatives are openly labeled as addressing Palestinian issues, others are presented under broader or less transparent frameworks. “Sometimes they do it directly, such as through committees that address Palestinian issues. Many times it is disguised under different names and organizations, but the actual activities are pure propaganda against the State of Israel,” he said.

The assessment, prepared by Israel’s Permanent Mission to the UN and International Organizations, points to specific UN entities whose stated mission centers on advancing the Palestinian narrative, including the Division for Palestinian Rights and several General Assembly committees dedicated exclusively to that cause.

According to the analysis, the UN produces dozens of debates and at least 100 reports every year dealing with Israel and the Palestinians. Many of these documents are described as repetitive, politically slanted, and lacking balance. Each report can cost tens of thousands of dollars to prepare and translate, while debates add thousands more in expenses. When travel and staffing costs are included, the total climbs into the millions annually.

Israeli officials say a central pillar of this structure is UNRWA, whose annual budget request stands at approximately $86 million. Of that sum, about $80 million is drawn from the UN’s regular budget, with roughly 60 percent earmarked for international staff salaries.

While other UN bodies have been subjected to budget cuts and reform efforts, UNRWA has largely avoided such measures. This continues despite repeated disclosures of Hamas infiltration into the agency and longstanding questions about its neutrality.

Asked whether Israel is attempting to bring greater scrutiny to the UN bodies receiving this funding, Danon acknowledged the challenge. “We are always trying,” he said in response to a question from The Jerusalem Post. “But unfortunately, most countries tend to ignore it. And even though we exposed this, the UN will continue to fund these activities.”

Beyond the General Assembly framework, Israel has also highlighted the role of the Human Rights Council in Geneva and its commission of inquiry on Israel, established in 2021 with an open-ended mandate. That mechanism alone is estimated to cost about $4 million per year and, according to Israeli officials, has increasingly adopted language associated with delegitimization, accusations of genocide, and economic pressure campaigns.

The commission has compiled a so-called blacklist of companies operating in Israeli-controlled areas and works alongside special rapporteurs who receive UN support while advancing explicitly political agendas. Israeli officials argue that these activities feed international legal actions against Israel and bolster global BDS efforts.

Israel’s mission stressed that exposing these funding patterns is not an attempt to undermine humanitarian assistance or silence legitimate criticism. Rather, officials say, the goal is to dismantle a system that has institutionalized discrimination, rewarded bias, and consumed vast sums of public money.

“We are sharing the information, and we are grateful to the US mission, which is taking a moral stand against the funding of these bodies,” Danon said. “Despite the huge amount of money directed against Israel, we will continue to stand strong and proud against the bias of UN organizations.”

{Matzav.com}

The Israel Defense Forces disclosed Wednesday morning that significant sums of money—amounting to tens of millions of dollars—were raised and delivered to Hamas’ military wing over the past year, even more than two years into the war.

The disclosure came in a statement published on X by IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee, who described a recent joint action carried out by the IDF and the Shin Bet. According to Adraee, the operation resulted in the killing of a key Hamas figure involved in terror financing.

“In a joint operation by the Israel Defense Forces and the General Security Service (Shin Bet), two weeks ago, the Hamas terrorist Abdel Hay Zoqout from the residents of Gaza City was eliminated. He belonged to the finance department in the military wing of the organization. He was eliminated while in his vehicle, alongside the individual Ra’ad Sa’ad.”

Adraee said Zoqout played a central role in sustaining Hamas’ military capabilities through financial channels. “During the past year, Zoqout was responsible for recruiting tens of millions of dollars and transferring them to Hamas’s military wing, with the aim of continuing the fight against the State of Israel,” he said.

He added that Israeli security forces remain committed to targeting such networks. “The Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet will continue their efforts to cut off terrorism funding channels, and will work against every entity involved in terrorism or in providing assistance to plan and execute terrorist plots against the State of Israel.”

Further details released by Israeli officials clarified that Ra’ad Sa’ad, described as a senior operative in Hamas’ military wing, was killed in an airstrike in western Gaza City on December 13. Sa’ad had spent an extended period operating within Hamas’ tunnel network beneath the city.

Security sources said that shortly before the strike, Sa’ad left the tunnel system and traveled by car. When the vehicle reached the Al-Nabulsi Square area, it was hit by multiple missiles. Abdel Hay Zoqout was also killed in that strike.

According to those sources, Sa’ad was considered a close deputy of Az a-Din al-Haddad and effectively functioned as head of operations, as well as the commander overseeing the production of rockets, mortars, and anti-tank missiles.

He was involved in top-level decision-making within Hamas’ military wing and possessed extensive intelligence knowledge, including detailed familiarity with the organization’s tunnel infrastructure. In November 2023, the IDF distributed leaflets across Gaza offering an $800,000 reward for information leading to his capture. An earlier attempt to eliminate him, carried out in June of last year, was unsuccessful.

{Matzav.com}

Persistent breaches in the security barrier near the Qalandiya checkpoint and the northern Yerushalayim neighborhood of Neve Yaakov have turned the area into a flashpoint, with a sharp rise in unauthorized crossings from Palestinian Authority-controlled areas into Israel.

Israeli security officials say the scope of the problem has expanded dramatically since the outbreak of the war. A security source cited by Yediot Acharonot estimated that roughly 6,000 infiltrations now occur each week through gaps in the fence—double the number recorded prior to the fighting. According to the source, a notable share of terror attacks inside pre-1967 Israel has been linked, directly or indirectly, to these crossings.

The infiltrations are often facilitated by paid intermediaries. Palestinians reportedly pay between 300 and 600 shekels to be guided through breaches that are deliberately cut into the barrier. Once across, a waiting driver transports them deeper into Israeli territory.

In response, security forces have stepped up enforcement along the fence, deploying ambushes around the clock in an effort to intercept those crossing illegally. Since the war began, a temporary directive has been in force allowing forces to open fire at infiltrators breaching the barrier, with instructions to aim at the lower body as a means of stopping crossings and restoring deterrence.

The growing concern over these vulnerabilities is echoed in a newly released State Comptroller’s audit focusing on the Seam Line barrier and crossings in the Jerusalem perimeter. On Tuesday, State Comptroller Matanyahu Engelman published a wide-ranging report that examined long-standing shortcomings in security preparedness, operations, and the implementation of government policy—issues brought into sharper focus by the October 7 massacre and the ongoing Swords of Iron War.

According to the audit, only 61 percent of the several-hundred-kilometer seam line is currently fitted with a physical barrier. In many other sections, wide openings remain, allowing Palestinians to pass without any inspection. Engelman highlighted especially severe gaps, including uninterrupted stretches of 11 kilometers on one route and six kilometers on another where no obstacle exists at all, warning that such conditions pose a serious risk of terrorist infiltration.

The report also faulted authorities for the lack of an organized operating framework at the crossings. Despite a 2005 decision by the Prime Minister to transfer management of the crossings to civilian control, not a single crossing in the Jerusalem perimeter has been civilianized to this day. The audit further criticized the Shin Bet for failing to adequately implement professional recommendations tied to these changes.

Operational problems were also flagged within the Israel Police, which have managed the crossings for roughly two decades without a formal doctrine or permanent command structure. Of the 16 crossings in the sector, only two are headed by commanders officially authorized for the position. Engelman cautioned that this arrangement undermines coordination among the IDF, Israel Police, Border Guard, and civilian security elements, creating dangerous security gaps.

On the ground, the audit found that Border Guard units were frequently reassigned from routine seam line duties to other missions, weakening the overall defensive posture in the area. Inconsistent reporting between the IDF and police regarding infiltration incidents further contributed to what the Comptroller described as a fragmented and insufficient response.

Additional deficiencies cited include aging infrastructure, manpower shortages, inadequate screening equipment, and poor coordination between government ministries. One case highlighted was the prolonged delay in opening the subsidence road at the Qalandiya crossing, which stemmed from unresolved disputes between the Transportation Ministry and the police.

Among Engelman’s recommendations are the immediate closure of open gaps in the barrier, completion of the long-delayed civilianization of the crossings, and the establishment of a clear and binding police operating doctrine. The report also calls for improved intelligence-sharing across all security bodies and a reassessment of the barrier’s route based on updated threat evaluations.

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Two Likud Knesset members, Tally Gotliv and Moshe Saada, notified a Knesset security official on Wednesday that their personal cellphones had been compromised. According to Walla! News reporter Yehuda Shlezinger, data taken from the devices was allegedly circulated on the dark web.

The lawmakers said they were alerted to the breach by a former police officer now working in the cyber field, who told them that information extracted from their phones had begun spreading in underground online forums.

The disclosures come after claims last week by the Iranian-linked hacker group Handala, which asserted it had penetrated the personal phone of former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. The group said it had released a trove of material taken from an iPhone 13, including a contacts list, a chat with Avia Sassi, photos, videos, and an audio recording. Among the contacts allegedly exposed, along with phone numbers, were UAE Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and French President Emmanuel Macron. Bennett’s office said the device was examined and found not to have been hacked.

In a statement, Bennett’s office said: “The issue is being handled by security authorities. Israel’s enemies will do everything to prevent me from becoming Prime Minister again. It will not help them. No one will stop me from acting and fighting for the State of Israel and the Jewish people. After further investigation, it appears that while my phone itself was not hacked, access was gained to my Telegram account in various ways. Content from my phone’s contact list, as well as authentic and fake photos and chats (including a photo of me next to Ben Gurion), were circulated. This content was obtained unlawfully, and its distribution constitutes a criminal offense.”

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An artificial intelligence–generated clip shared Wednesday by the Prime Minister’s Press Office shows Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu sitting beside U.S. President Donald Trump inside the cockpit of a B-2 bomber.

The post appeared as Netanyahu readies for a trip to the United States, where he is slated to meet with Trump. Their talks are expected to focus on Iran’s efforts to restore capabilities damaged during the fighting, as well as the next stage of President Trump’s Gaza peace initiative.

The video was uploaded with the caption, “On our victory lap. #sixmonths.” It references the six-month mark since Israel’s Operation Rising Lion and the U.S. campaign known as Operation Midnight Hammer, during which American B-2 bombers struck Iranian nuclear facilities.

The Prime Minister’s Press Office launched its Instagram account in October with the goal of reaching a younger audience. The page mixes brief clips from Netanyahu’s speeches and public appearances with lighter content, including casual Q&A segments and meme-style posts.

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Diplomatic maneuvering is underway to shape a possible security arrangement between Israel and Syria, with Russia playing a central but discreet role and doing so with American consent, according to a report by Kan News.

One senior defense official familiar with the contacts said Moscow is seeking to reestablish a military footprint in southern Syria, close to Israel’s border, restoring a posture that existed prior to the collapse of the previous Syrian government.

The same official noted that Russia has already taken steps to rebuild its overall military presence in the country. Ties between Moscow and Damascus are being repaired, and Russian forces have begun redeploying personnel and equipment to the Latakia region in northern Syria, an area that had largely been abandoned after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

While Russia operates behind the scenes, the actual face-to-face meetings have largely taken place in Baku. Azerbaijan has been hosting and facilitating the discussions, with delegations from both Israel and Syria traveling there for talks.

From Israel’s perspective, officials reportedly see advantages in a renewed Russian role in southern Syria, preferring that scenario over deeper military or political entrenchment by Turkey in the same area.

The negotiations, which remain focused on security arrangements rather than full normalization, reflect a complex regional realignment involving Russia, Israel, and Syria, with Washington quietly signaling its approval of Moscow’s mediating role.

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New federal filings show the Democratic National Committee ended November with a sharply reduced financial cushion, holding just over $12 million in cash while carrying nearly $16 million in outstanding debt tied largely to a recent loan.

Those figures arrive as Democrats head toward the 2026 midterms under growing internal strain, with party leaders split over whether to release a detailed assessment of the failed 2024 Biden–Harris campaign and how to recalibrate ahead of a fight to reclaim control of Congress.

According to Federal Election Commission disclosures, the DNC reported roughly $12.6 million cash on hand for November, raised $10.7 million during the month, and listed $15.9 million in liabilities. Republicans seized on the filing, charging that Democrats are struggling to keep up with their bills.

By comparison, the Republican National Committee posted $89.9 million in cash on hand for the same period and reported no debts, leaving the DNC only marginally ahead of the GOP in November fundraising totals but dramatically behind in overall financial strength.

The November report also shows the DNC’s reserves shrinking by about $6 million over the course of the month, as expenditures exceeded incoming donations. In October, the committee had taken in $23 million — more than twice its November haul.

The loan contributing to the party’s current debt load was taken out before Democrats scored notable electoral wins in New Jersey, Virginia, and New York City. Over the same stretch, the RNC’s cash reserves dipped by less than $1.5 million.

Tensions inside the party sharpened last week after the DNC decided not to make public its post-election analysis of Vice President Kamala Harris’s loss to President Donald Trump. Party chairman Ken Martin said releasing the report now would be “a distraction from its core mission.”

A senior DNC official, speaking anonymously, said the party’s outreach efforts fell short — particularly among voters ages 18 to 30, a group that shifted toward Trump by 11 percentage points. The official added that Democrats failed to calm voter anxiety about crime and illegal immigration and lacked credibility when addressing economic concerns.

Not all Democrats agree with keeping the report under wraps. Senate Chief Deputy Whip Brian Schatz criticized the decision, saying, “I believe the DNC should release the report because 1) that’s what they said they were going to do 2) this is going to be a thing 3) if there’s good analysis we should see it.”

Despite the internal disputes, Democrats currently maintain a nearly four-point edge over Republicans on the generic congressional ballot, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average.

Harris has also signaled interest in seeking the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, after rising to the top of the 2024 ticket without a primary when President Joe Biden ended his campaign just 107 days before Election Day.

Reports indicate the unreleased DNC analysis does not squarely address Biden’s decision to seek reelection at an advanced age. The New York Times reported that issue was largely avoided, while the Bulwark said some Biden or Harris advisers pressed party leaders to keep their names out of the document.

Financial pressures have continued into 2025. FEC records show the DNC spent more than $18 million in the first seven months of the year repaying expenses linked to Harris’ campaign.

The grim fundraising picture coincides with renewed scrutiny of Democratic leadership following remarks by Hunter Biden during a lengthy podcast appearance, where he criticized the administration’s immigration policy and the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. “We don’t want immigrants that are coming here illegally, draining us of resources, and being prioritized above people that are actual, literal heroes, that are still recovering from 21, 20 years of endless war — or anybody else in our society,” he said on “The Shawn Ryan Show.”

Data from the Congressional Budget Office estimate that about 2.4 million immigrants entered the United States each year from 2021 through 2024, while a Goldman Sachs analysis concluded at least 60 percent crossed the border illegally.

Early polling of a hypothetical 2028 race shows Vice President JD Vance trailing Harris by just one point, while other surveys indicate Vance would defeat Democratic contenders such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Republicans argue the numbers reflect deeper problems inside the Democratic Party. RNC spokeswoman Kiersten Pels accused party leadership of mismanagement, saying, “Ken Martin has turned the DNC into a money-losing operation that reflects the failures of the broader Democratic Party.”

She added, “The DNC is drowning in debt, still paying Kamala Harris’ campaign bills, and watching donors flee as leadership bankrolls radical candidates voters don’t want. Ken Martin has run the party into the ground, and Republicans sincerely hope he keeps it up.”

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Newly compiled crime figures suggest the United States is experiencing an unprecedented decline in killings, with early indicators pointing to the steepest single-year reduction ever observed.

Independent crime researcher Jeff Asher says fresh national numbers show homicides falling faster than at any point in modern data tracking, reversing the surge seen during the pandemic years.

Asher’s Real-Time Crime Index, a nationwide dataset that aggregates reports from hundreds of police departments and is refreshed frequently, indicates the country is on course for the largest one-year decrease in murders ever recorded.

Federal officials are also striking an optimistic tone. Last month, Kash Patel said the 2025 homicide rate is expected to be the lowest in “modern history,” attributing the shift to a renewed focus across the bureau on violent crime.

Researchers outside the government say the underlying data back that assessment. Because the Real-Time Crime Index is updated well ahead of official federal releases, it offers an early look at national trends while final FBI tallies are still years away.

Figures available through October show killings down by nearly 20 percent compared with the same point in 2024. The index defines murder as intentional, non-negligent killings, excluding accidental deaths and other categories that fall outside standard FBI definitions, a distinction it summarizes as tracking “willful (nonnegligent) killings.”

Asher has cautioned in recent months that nationwide crime estimates are often revised and that official totals can shift over time. Even so, he says the downward trajectory has become so pronounced that the FBI is likely to ultimately report the lowest U.S. murder rate ever when complete 2025 data are finalized, potentially edging below the prior low set in 2014.

The sharp fall in homicides is occurring alongside broader declines in violent crime. Real-Time Crime Index data show reductions across several major categories, including robbery, aggravated assault, and motor vehicle theft, suggesting the change is widespread rather than confined to specific regions or demographics.

Large metropolitan areas appear to be driving much of the improvement. Axios recently noted drops of almost 20 percent in murders in New York City and Memphis, nearly 28 percent in Chicago, and sizable decreases across Los Angeles County.

At the same time, analysts note that a small number of jurisdictions have posted sharp percentage increases, underscoring how year-to-year swings can be volatile for smaller agencies with fewer cases.

The emerging numbers come as Donald Trump has placed fighting violent crime at the center of his second-term agenda, with the administration highlighting tougher enforcement policies and expanded backing for law enforcement nationwide.

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At a ceremony marking the graduation of the 191st pilot course at Hatzerim Airbase, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir addressed the newest aviators and reflected on the responsibilities now resting on their shoulders. As the wings were pinned to their uniforms, Zamir told the graduates that from this moment forward, “the next operational mission – and with it the great responsibility of removing existential threats to Israel and ensuring the continued existence of the Jewish state – will be yours.”

Zamir urged the new pilots to look ahead with confidence, closing his remarks by encouraging them to “soar upward to the skies and return safely to your bases,” and charging them to go forth and succeed.

Turning to the broader picture, Zamir emphasized that the memory of fallen soldiers accompanies every mission and that the military remains committed to the rehabilitation of the wounded. He added that the task is not complete until SFC Ran Gvili is brought back to rest in Israel.

Addressing parents and families in attendance, Zamir described them as full partners in the achievement of the graduates, thanking them for standing by their children through years of demanding preparation. He also expressed appreciation to commanders, career and reserve personnel, and technical crews, crediting their leadership during what he called the longest and most complex war in Israel’s history.

Zamir congratulated Brig. Gen. Omer Tishler on assuming the role of incoming commander of the Israeli Air Force, voicing confidence in his ability to guide the force through future challenges. He likewise praised course commanders and staff who, he said, trained the next generation of pilots while simultaneously leading real-time operations during wartime.

Reflecting on the months since October 7, Zamir said the air force, together with ground forces, has operated “with unprecedented precision and scope” in both nearby and distant arenas. He noted that the IDF is conducting ongoing reviews and applying lessons learned, stressing that “we will learn from the failure, but we will not sink into it.”

Zamir added that the military continues to adapt even as operations unfold, declaring, “The Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps,” and reaffirming that Israel will act decisively against those who seek to do it harm, guided by the principle of striking those who rise to kill.

Only later in his remarks did Zamir recount the hours leading up to the strike on Iran. He said that during the night between June 12 and June 13, he presented the final operational plan to the Israeli cabinet, calling it “a dramatic meeting.” According to Zamir, the Cabinet Secretary offered a prayer for the safety of IDF troops, recalling that “the tension was palpable, and there was a feeling in the air of the crowded room that something historic was about to happen.” The plan, he said, was approved by a show of hands.

Once the decision was made, Zamir described how senior commanders rushed from Jerusalem to IDF headquarters, entering the command bunker as pilots were already in the air. Officers, he said, were “operating with composure and professionalism,” while dozens of aircraft circled, awaiting final instructions. Intelligence updates continued in real time, forcing mission changes mid-flight. “At 02:55, dozens of strikes hit their targets with great precision,” Zamir said, marking the launch of Operation “Rising Lion.”

He noted that the full scale of the operation — from aerial refueling and intelligence coordination to helicopters on standby, special forces deployment, and ground crews — would be recorded in history. Zamir said the air force “was at its very best,” describing it as Israel’s long-range strategic arm.

Zamir also recalled the briefings held with pilots ahead of the operation, when he warned them plainly of the dangers, telling them that “some aircraft will be shot down and some of you will not return.” He said the response was immediate and unified: “We are ready for the mission. You can rely on us!” According to Zamir, that moment captured the spirit that has enabled the IDF to confront threats on multiple fronts.

{Matzav.com}