Matzav

North Korea’s state media reported Monday that Kim Jong-un personally oversaw the launch of multiple long-range cruise missiles, a test the regime says was designed to reinforce its ability to deliver nuclear strikes. The report framed the exercise as part of Pyongyang’s broader effort to demonstrate the readiness of its strategic forces.

According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim expressed approval of the missile drill. “The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un expressed great satisfaction,” KCNA stated, “saying that the result of the launching drill is a practical verification and clear demonstration of the absolute reliability and combat readiness of our strategic counterattack capability.”

KCNA further said Kim emphasized that the test was required to ensure “the reliability… of the components of the DPRK’s [North Korea’s] nuclear deterrent,” arguing that the country was “facing various security threats” that made such demonstrations necessary.

South Korea confirmed the activity shortly afterward. Yonhap News Agency reported that authorities detected “the launch of multiple missiles from the Sunan area near Pyongyang at around 8 a.m. the previous day [Sunday],” noting that the missiles flew over the Yellow Sea.

Seoul responded with pointed criticism. Yonhap quoted a South Korean government official, spokesperson Chung Binna, urging Pyongyang to change course. “North Korea should respond to South Korea’s efforts to resume dialogue that are being made in good faith to promote peace and coexistence on the peninsula and join efforts to maintain the stable situation,” Chung said.

The missile test followed another high-profile appearance by Kim, this time at a shipyard where North Korea claims it is building what it calls “an 8,700-tonnage nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine.” KCNA said Kim “guided” the project “on the spot,” despite no public evidence that he has technical expertise in nuclear submarine construction.

State media praised the workers involved, reporting that they went “all out in the glorious struggle for implementing the WPK’s [Workers’ Party of Korea] policy of modernizing the navy” by “pushing ahead with the building of a strategic nuclear attack submarine.”

KCNA added that the workforce greeted Kim with “inexhaustible patriotic enthusiasm,” while Kim asserted that the country’s nuclear forces — described as “the super-powerful offensive capability” — represented “the best shield for national security in developing the armed forces.”

Kim was also quoted as saying, “The strategic nuclear attack submarine to be considered as an important component of the nuclear war deterrent will constitute the greatest immortal feats of the working class, defense scientists and technicians, the driving force of the DPRK, for the times and history.”

KCNA announced the submarine project on Christmas Day. The timing was notable, given Pyongyang’s history with the holiday. Once known as the “Jerusalem of the East” because of its large Christian community, North Korea outlawed Christianity under Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-un’s grandfather, mandating worship of the ruling family instead. Today, possessing a Bible is illegal, and Christians face severe punishment, including torture and death, if discovered.

Kim’s visit to the submarine site also came days after the United States and South Korea confirmed the arrival of a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine in Busan. Chosun Ilbo reported that the USS Greenville docked there on December 23, marking the first such visit during the Lee Jae-myung administration.

North Korea’s Ministry of National Defense sharply condemned the deployment in a statement released Wednesday. “The repeated emergence of the U.S. strategic asset 46 days after the entry of the nuclear carrier George Washington strike group belonging to the U.S. Seventh Fleet into the ROK on November 7 constitutes a grave act of causing instability and escalating military tensions in the Korean peninsula and the region,” a Defense Ministry spokesperson said.

The statement continued with another warning: “This is a warning that the U.S. is getting closer to the critical level in its attempt to gain strategic advantage in the region by making its military alliance with the ROK [South Korea] more surely evolve into a nuclear confrontation bloc sharing its nuclear weapons.”

It concluded with a defiant message from Pyongyang. “The DPRK remains unchanged in its practical will to strongly propel the development of the defense capabilities for ensuring its prospective interests and defending security at present and in the future.” The statement added, “Nothing will change no matter how frequently the U.S. brings its nuclear submarine to highlight the visibility of its nuclear attack forces.”

Despite shifts in leadership and policy in Seoul, including efforts by President Lee Jae-myung to pursue engagement, North Korea has continued to emphasize military development as a core element of its national strategy, keeping nuclear deterrence at the center of its messaging to the region and beyond.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu met today at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where the two leaders discussed Gaza, Iran, and the broader regional situation.

Trump addressed Iran early in the discussion, warning that renewed activity by Tehran would draw an immediate response. “Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again. And if they are, we’re gonna have to knock them down. We’ll knock the hell out of them. But hopefully that’s not happening.”

Asked directly whether he would back Israeli military action should Iran refuse a deal and continue advancing its nuclear and missile programs, Trump replied “yes.” He elaborated, saying, “Missiles, yes, the nuclear, fast,” and added, “We’ll do it immediately.”

Turning to Gaza, Trump said he wanted to advance the next stage of the peace framework without delay, while emphasizing a key precondition. He said he hoped to move to Phase 2 “as quickly as possible,” but stressed that “there must be a disarming” of the Hamas terrorist organization.

Trump was also asked about the timing of the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire in relation to the fate of the final remaining hostage, Ran Gvili. Referring to him as a “wonderful young man,” Trump noted the presence of his “wonderful parents” at the meeting. “He’s the only one left, and we’re doing everything we can to get his body back,” Trump said.

The US president repeatedly praised Netanyahu’s leadership during the war, calling him “a war-time prime minister” who has “done a phenomenal job.” Trump said Netanyahu “has taken Israel through a very dangerous period of trauma,” adding that “Israel, with other people, might not exist right now.” He continued, “If you had the wrong prime minister, Israel right now would not exist,” and concluded, “We worked together and we were extremely victorious.”

Netanyahu, for his part, returned the praise, emphasizing the strength of the relationship between the two leaders. “We’ve never had a friend like President Trump in the White House. It’s not even close … I think Israel is very blessed to have President Trump leading the United States and leading the free world at this time. I think it’s not merely Israel’s great fortune. I think it’s the world’s great fortune.”

Netanyahu arrived earlier Monday at Mar-a-Lago for the high-level meeting, which comes amid ongoing efforts to shape the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire and rising concern over Iran’s regional ambitions.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

For the first time in a quarter century, Jews will be permitted to enter Kever Yosef in Shechem during daylight hours, following an announcement made Monday by Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz.

Under the updated arrangement, visitors will be allowed to remain inside the compound until 8:00 a.m., replacing the long-standing requirement to exit by 4:00 a.m. The extended window will also make it possible to hold Shacharis at the site. Officials said that the possibility of allowing Jews to stay for even longer periods during the day will be reviewed at a later stage.

Until now, all Jewish access to Kever Yosef has been restricted to nighttime visits only, and solely under the coordination and protection of Israeli security forces.

The move represents a major shift from policy in place since 2000, when the Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva was evacuated from the compound. Since that time, no organized Jewish visits during daylight hours had been permitted.

The Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva welcomed the announcement, issuing a statement that read: “We praise the Defense Minister’s decision, which is correct from a moral, historical, and security standpoint. It is time that Jews be allowed to stay at Kever Yosef in daylight, proudly, and not [only] as thieves in the night. This is the first step towards the full return of Jews to Shechem and to the kever of Yosef Hatzaddik.”

The statement continued with a broader message of hope tied to the weekly Torah reading: “This past Shabbos, we read in the Torah about the reunion between Yosef Hatzaddik and his brothers, and we hope that soon, the entire nation of Israel will be able to reunite, with Kever Yosef under full and permanent Jewish control.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli intelligence officials say a strategic analysis prepared by Hamas’ intelligence apparatus played a central role in the terror group’s decision-making ahead of the October 7, 2023 massacre, influencing the thinking of its now-deceased leaders, Yahya Sinwar and Mohammad Deif.

The document, which was recovered by Israeli forces during combat operations in the Gaza Strip amid the war, was written less than a month before the attack. It was later released in full by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center.

According to the assessment, Hamas believed Israel had no intention of overthrowing the group’s rule in Gaza. The authors argued that Israeli policy had evolved over time, moving away from decisive military outcomes toward what they described as conflict containment.

The paper stated that “Israel relied for years on a strategy of preemptive strikes, but the strengthening of Hamas and Hezbollah caused it to shift to a pattern of short rounds of limited-intensity fighting.”

The analysis pointed to Israel’s experience in Operation Cast Lead in 2008–2009, asserting that Israel failed to achieve its central aim of dismantling Hamas’ control of Gaza. As a result, the document claimed, Israel adopted imprecise war aims in later confrontations, prioritizing deterrence and conflict management over outright victory and regime change.

The authors also examined the events of Operation Guardian of the Walls in 2021, concluding that Hamas scored what they termed a psychological success by tying the fighting in Gaza to tensions in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria, while also stirring unrest among Arab citizens of Israel.

In addition, the assessment argued that Israel “failed to implement the ‘war between wars’ policy,” and maintained that the prospect of a multi-front conflict represents the most severe test of Israeli military capacity. For that reason, the document asserted, Israel prefers to avoid simultaneous wars and instead engage adversaries in separate theaters.

Building on these conclusions, the paper asserted that “Israel has not abandoned the idea of a preemptive strike, especially following the failure in Operation Guardian of the Walls, but it is not in a position to build a new deterrence equation. Therefore, it focuses on conflict management, risk management, and neutralizing threats. Thus, the recommendation to Hamas leadership is to prepare for a new opening strike that will trigger a new round of fighting, but also to lead an ‘unexpected’ confrontation that will break the recurring pattern and put Israeli leadership in a state of uncertainty.”

Israeli officials say the document was formally presented to the leadership of Hamas’ military wing. Roughly a month later, the terror group launched the October 7 assault, with investigators assessing that the conclusions and recommendations outlined in the paper were among the factors that shaped the decision to carry out the attack.

{Matzav.com}

The United Torah Judaism faction has decided to boycott all votes in the Knesset plenum this week, deepening tensions within the governing coalition. While the final decision is expected to be formally approved at an upcoming faction meeting, the move already signals a significant coalition crisis. The dispute follows a sharp confrontation between Aryeh Deri, chairman of Shas, and Moshe Gafni, head of Degel HaTorah, alongside what UTJ officials describe as coalition intervention in favor of Shas. During the faction meeting, UTJ faction chairman Uri Maklev outlined the background to the decision, explaining that relations between Shas and Degel HaTorah deteriorated further over the appointment of the chairman of Yerushalayim’s religious council. According to Maklev, the recent conduct surrounding the issue left United Torah Judaism with no choice but to refrain from supporting coalition votes this week. UTJ chairman Yitzhak Goldknopf voiced sharp criticism during the discussion, directing his remarks at Maklev. Goldknopf questioned why voting boycotts were not pursued earlier, saying: “Didn’t you always say we need to keep a ‘wick’ connected to the coalition? Yeshiva students are being arrested, the Ofek Chadash framework is being stalled, and that still didn’t lead you to halt votes in the plenum.” {Matzav.com}

Two chareidi women in their 20s from central Israel were arrested Sunday at Prague’s international airport on suspicion of attempting to smuggle a large quantity of khat, according to a report by mako.

During a search conducted by customs officials and local police, authorities discovered 96 kilograms of khat hidden in the women’s luggage — 48 kilograms in each suitcase. The seized shipment is estimated to be worth tens of thousands of euros. Following the discovery, the two were taken into custody and transferred to a local detention facility in Czech Republic for questioning.

Preliminary findings indicate that the women were not acting independently. Investigators suspect they were recruited as couriers in an organized smuggling operation. According to the probe, the pair allegedly acted on behalf of an Israeli khat dealer known to police and were tasked with delivering the shipment to local distributors in the Czech Republic.

Law enforcement officials noted that khat smuggled into Prague is typically intended for buyers within African immigrant communities, where the plant is considered highly sought after.

Family members of the detainees, expressing deep concern over their situation, have reached out to Israel’s Foreign Ministry for assistance. The Department for Israelis Abroad said the case is known and is being handled by the Israeli consulate in Prague, which is in contact with local authorities to monitor the women’s condition and provide assistance within the limits of its authority.

Earlier reports recalled a similar case from 136 days ago, when two 19-year-old Israeli men from chareidi families were arrested in Germany at the French border after allegedly attempting to smuggle 50 kilograms of khat in a rented vehicle. One of those detained was Nechemia Epstein, the brother of social media activist Yedidia Epstein. The two were released today, one day before Yedidia’s wedding.

After their release, the two issued a warning to others who may be tempted to engage in khat smuggling. “This was a mistake. We call on everyone not to be tempted to smuggle khat. It is dangerous and can end in a long prison sentence,” they said.

Members of the Jewish community in Germany have also voiced alarm over the phenomenon, warning of severe consequences and damage to the community’s reputation. “From time to time, young chareidi men are arrested with suitcases full of khat, and the punishment can be very harsh. Many times, chareidi youths end up spending very long periods in European prisons,” community representatives said.

{Matzav.com}

A Utah court is set to unseal records from a previously secret proceeding in the criminal case against Tyler Robinson, who is accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

During a brief video hearing on Monday, Tony Graf said that a transcript from an Oct. 24 closed-door session will be released later in the day with limited redactions. He also authorized the release of the audio recording from that hearing, though he cautioned that it may take up to two weeks before the audio becomes publicly available.

Robinson did not appear on camera during the virtual proceeding, but confirmed his attendance when the judge asked if he was present, replying, “Yes, your honor.”

The October hearing was conducted in private so the court could consider whether Robinson would be permitted to appear at future proceedings without jail-issued clothing and without restraints. Graf ruled that Robinson may wear civilian attire but must remain shackled in court due to security concerns.

Earlier this month, Robinson, 22, appeared in court in person for the first time while his attorneys argued that cameras should be barred from the courtroom. Defense counsel maintained that televised coverage could taint the jury pool and undermine Robinson’s right to a fair trial. Portions of that hearing were also held behind closed doors, excluding both the public and the press.

During that appearance, defense attorney Staci Visser sharply criticized media outlets, accusing them of violating court orders by filming Robinson while he was restrained.

“We don’t want the chaos that is out in the media in this courtroom,” Visser claimed at the time.

Prosecutors have charged Robinson with seven felonies, including aggravated murder, discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice, two counts of witness tampering, and committing a violent offense in the presence of a child.

Kirk, 31, was fatally shot with a single bullet to the neck on Sept. 10 while addressing a crowd of thousands at Utah Valley University. He was appearing as part of his American Comeback Tour. A co-founder of Turning Point USA, Kirk was widely regarded as a rising MAGA figure. He is survived by his wife, Erika, and their two young children.

Erika Kirk has publicly supported allowing cameras in the courtroom, saying transparency would allow the public to see the man accused of killing her husband and would help dispel conspiracy theories surrounding the murder. She has been formally designated as the official victim representative in the case.

If convicted, Robinson could face the death penalty by firing squad, a method still permitted under Utah law, making it one of only five states that allow that form of capital punishment.

{Matzav.com}

Likud MK Moshe Saada delivered a sharp warning Monday night, arguing that Israel has effectively lost control over parts of the seam zone due to what he described as years of neglect and failed enforcement.

Speaking in an interview on Kol Chai Radio, Saada said the scale of illegal entry into Israel has reached staggering proportions. “The state talks about 20,000 illegal infiltrators entering every day. Twenty thousand! It’s unbelievable. And every one of them is a potential security threat,” he said.

According to Saada, the danger is not theoretical. “Four terror attacks have already been carried out by people who came out of there. Anyone who enters Barta’a can go anywhere in Israel and attack,” he warned, describing the area as an active transit point for terrorists, including operatives from Gaza.

Saada recently toured the Barta’a area and described a reality of near-total lawlessness. “The place is divided into two: Israeli Barta’a and Palestinian Barta’a. There is no fence at this point, anyone who wants can enter and exit freely,” he said, referring to the border-adjacent settlement located near Ma’aleh Iron, Shaked, and Hinanit.

He argued that the ongoing failure to address the situation is part of a broader pattern that predates recent events. “This has been going on since the Oslo [Accords]. Just like we ignored it before October 7 – we’re ignoring it the same way now,” Saada said.

Placing blame squarely on Israel’s enforcement bodies, Saada said responsibility is shared across multiple agencies. “First of all, the police, but it’s a combination – the IDF is also part of the failure,” he stated, pointing to the lack of a permanent and visible security presence in mixed areas where fencing is incomplete or nonexistent. His remarks referenced both the Israel Police and the Israel Defense Forces.

Saada accused enforcement authorities of only reacting after blood has already been spilled. He described what he called a pattern of complacency across the system, saying the military, police, and courts engage in “Israeli bluff,” adding, “They wake up only after an attack, make some noise, and then everything goes back to normal.”

He also rejected economic arguments often raised in favor of looser enforcement. “We let the Palestinian economy breathe, and in return, they murder us,” Saada said. “All the terror attacks are carried out by illegal infiltrators who entered through these gates.”

Concluding his remarks, Saada called for a fundamental shift in policy, urging authorities to adopt uncompromising enforcement measures. “We need to target the employers as well – every infiltrator has an employer who allows them to stay,” he said, arguing that only a zero-tolerance approach would restore security in the seam zone.

{Matzav.com}

During a visit to the Knesset, Jonathan Pollard laid out a sweeping argument for renewed Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip, asserting that a decisive Israeli return to the territory reflects the true sentiment of the public and is essential for national security.

Pollard said his position is grounded not in political calculations but in personal conversations with Israelis displaced from communities near Gaza. “I look at the people first,” he said, explaining that residents who lost homes and loved ones consistently told him that only a fundamental change in Gaza’s status would allow them to feel safe again. According to Pollard, even individuals who once opposed such ideas now believe a Jewish Gaza is the only path to long-term stability in the south.

He emphasized that his focus is not on lobbying lawmakers, but on listening to those living with the trauma of repeated attacks. Pollard said many told him they cannot rebuild their lives while fearing that the threat from Gaza could reemerge. In his view, that fear can only be removed through what he described as a “100% Jewish Gaza.”

Addressing skepticism about whether Israeli society supports such a move, Pollard dismissed polling that suggests otherwise, arguing that the data is misleading. In an interview with Arutz Sheva–Israel National News conducted from the Knesset, he said, “I actually feel that the consensus would support a return to Gaza as completely as we can.” He added that other surveys point to widespread backing for a full Israeli return following the removal of what he termed the area’s current Islamo-fascist population.

Pollard also framed Gaza as a pivotal test of Israel’s resolve. He warned that hesitation and dependence on foreign governments would invite further concessions and losses. Resettling Gaza, he argued, would send a clear message to Israel’s adversaries that aggression carries irreversible consequences. “If you fight us, we will not only defeat you decisively, but we will take back our land as well, permanently,” he said.

Turning to the practicalities of such a policy, Pollard said implementation would require firm leadership and clarity at the highest level. He argued that Israel must be led by a prime minister prepared to tell the United States unequivocally that land captured in war will not be surrendered. “What was achieved in blood will never be given up by us ever again,” he said.

Discussing Washington’s role, Pollard said Donald Trump had already created a strategic opening by lifting weapons restrictions and signaling support for decisive Israeli action. Pollard contended that if Israel had moved forcefully at that moment, Hamas would already be defeated and Jewish resettlement in Gaza would be underway.

He returned to President Trump later in the interview, saying the American leader responds to confidence and success rather than hesitation. “The man likes winners,” Pollard said, urging Israel to act like one and to pursue an “Israel first” approach beginning with Gaza, without waiting for external approval.

Asked whether he himself would consider relocating to Gaza if Jewish resettlement were reestablished, Pollard answered lightheartedly that it would depend on the quality of the housing. He added that having grown up near the ocean, the idea of living by the sea again was not difficult for him to imagine.

{Matzav.com}

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For the first time, the Hamas terrorist organization has publicly admitted that a number of senior commanders from its military wing were killed in Israeli airstrikes carried out over recent months, issuing an official confirmation on Monday after a long period of silence.

In the same announcement, Hamas confirmed the death of its longtime military spokesperson, Abu Obaida, whose elimination had been reported in Israel roughly four months ago. The statement also acknowledged the killing of Raed Saad, another high-ranking operative, as well as Mohammad Shabana, the commander of the Rafah Brigade. Shabana was killed together with Mohammad Sinwar inside a tunnel in Khan Yunis.

Alongside the confirmations, Hamas released updated and official photographs of several of the eliminated figures. Among them was a newly published image of Abu Obaida, marking the first time the organization has shown him unmasked. Until now, he had only appeared publicly with his face concealed, despite the fact that the IDF spokesperson had previously circulated his image on multiple occasions.

Hamas also published, for the first time, an official and current photograph of Mohammad Sinwar, who previously headed the group’s military wing and was the brother of Yahya Sinwar.

“Abu Obaida” functioned as the head of the military wing’s propaganda apparatus and served as its chief spokesperson. His real name is Khadifeh Khalout.

Following his killing, a Palestinian Arabic source told Sky News in Arabic that the apartment in Gaza City where Abu Obaida was killed had been rented only days before the airstrike. According to the source, his wife and children were present in the apartment when it was struck in the Rimal neighborhood of western Gaza City.

The source further said that operatives from Hamas’s military wing quickly sealed off the area after the strike, blocking local residents from approaching the building or attempting to retrieve the bodies.

{Matzav.com}

At the close of his remarks on Monday, Finance Minister and Religious Zionism party chairman Bezalel Smotrich pledged that the government would continue pressing forward on economic reforms aimed at easing the burden on Israeli households. “I pledge here – we will continue to fight the high cost of living with all our strength. We will prove that it is possible to live in a safe, strong, and just country, and it can be affordable here,” he said.

Addressing economic policy more broadly, Smotrich said Israel’s economy has demonstrated resilience even under extreme pressure. “The State of Israel continues to advance on the economic front. The Israeli economy is strong. It proved itself during the hardest times, and I am proud to be at the helm during this period. However, I am well aware that the cost of living still burdens the citizens of Israel,” he noted.

He argued that entrenched interests have long kept prices high and resisted reform. “I say honestly: For many years, deep distortions were created here. Monopolies, barriers, strong interests – all together ensured that prices remained high. Those who benefit from this situation are in no hurry to give it up, and not everyone is happy to see me determined to dismantle these mechanisms. But I am not deterred. I did not come into this role to maintain the status quo, but to change it.”

According to Smotrich, concrete measures are already underway. “The milk reform, the deposit reform, the tax exemption on personal imports up to $150, and the tax on banks – all these are clear steps in one direction: to lower prices, increase competition, and give power back to the citizens,” he said.

Turning to internal security, Smotrich warned that the most serious danger currently facing Israelis is not external. “And now we must say it unequivocally – after amazing achievements in the foreign arenas of this war, the greatest current threat to the security of Israeli citizens is the enemy from within. The pictures and events from the Negev in recent days must sound every alarm bell, reminding us of the existence of tens, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of illegal weapons in the hands of crime and terror organizations in the Arab sector, including the most advanced and deadly explosives,” he said.

He described what he sees as a growing nationalist danger. “Among Israeli Arabs, there is a kind of dangerous terror army that, in one moment, shifts from criminal to nationalist and turns the events of October 7th into small change,” Smotrich warned.

Smotrich said the government has already poured extensive resources into combating crime and now expects results on the ground. “In recent years, we have invested billions to strengthen the police, gave them all the tools, and now it is their turn to collect illegal weapons, eliminate crime and delinquency, and restore security to Israeli citizens. In the Negev, the people of Israel will be tested. In Tirabin, the Israeli police will be tested,” he stated.

Earlier in the faction meeting, Smotrich focused on the diplomatic and military fronts ahead of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s upcoming meeting with US President Donald Trump. He said the message Israel must deliver is uncompromising. “The message that needs to be heard there is clear and sharp – the State of Israel will not be able to move to the next stage, neither politically nor security-wise, as long as the body of Ran Givli (may his memory be a blessing) has not been returned to the land of Israel, and as long as the terrorist organization Hamas continues to exist, arm itself, and dream of our destruction. There is no and will be no reality where those who committed the most severe atrocities against the Jewish people since the Holocaust will remain standing. There will be no real ceasefire, and there will be no real security until Hamas is completely dismantled and loses its ability to threaten Israeli citizens.”

Directly addressing Netanyahu, Smotrich urged him not to waver. “We promised a complete victory and we must bring it. This victory is not only about securing our national security, but also about making a statement that will resonate for many years to come: that the Jewish people are not to be messed with, and anyone who thinks about harming us will be destroyed. Mr. Prime Minister, all of Israel stands behind you. Stand firm. Our prayer to the Almighty that Your will succeeds.”

{Matzav.com}

Ukraine forcefully rejected a Russian assertion that one of Vladimir Putin’s official residences was targeted overnight, accusing Moscow of manufacturing a narrative to excuse further military action against Ukraine’s capital.

Responding to comments attributed to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the allegation was invented in the wake of his Sunday meeting with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago and warned that it was meant to derail diplomatic momentum.

“Russia is at it again, using dangerous statements to undermine all achievements of our shared diplomatic efforts with President Trump’s team. We keep working together to bring peace closer,” Zelensky wrote on X.

He went on to dismiss the Russian version of events in blunt terms: “This alleged ‘residence strike’ story is a complete fabrication intended to justify additional attacks against Ukraine, including Kyiv, as well as Russia’s own refusal to take necessary steps to end the war. Typical Russian lies.”

According to Moscow, Ukrainian forces launched 91 long-range drones toward a state residence linked to Putin in the Novgorod region during the night, and Russian air defenses intercepted all of them. Russian officials said the incident would prompt a reassessment of their position in negotiations aimed at ending the war, now nearing its fourth year.

Zelensky countered that Ukraine’s conduct has been consistent with diplomatic norms and that the pattern of escalation comes from the Kremlin. “Ukraine does not take steps that can undermine diplomacy. To the contrary, Russia always takes such steps. This is one of many differences between us,” Zelensky insisted.

He also appealed for international attention to the situation, warning that silence would only encourage further destabilization. “It is critical that the world doesn’t stay silent now. We cannot allow Russia to undermine the work on achieving a lasting peace.”

Russian authorities did not say whether Putin was present at the Novgorod residence at the time of the alleged drone incident. There were also no immediate reports of injuries or structural damage connected to the claim.

The Novgorod region lies in northwestern Russia, positioned roughly midway between Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Details about how many official residences Putin uses are tightly restricted. More than a decade ago, Kremlin critics released a report asserting that Putin personally controlled around 20 palaces and villas, nearly half constructed after he came to power in 2000.

One of the authors of that report, former Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov, was shot dead near the Kremlin in February 2015. Five men from Chechnya were later convicted in a murder-for-hire case, but Russian authorities have never publicly identified who ordered the killing or where that individual might be.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Minnesota officials are facing intensified scrutiny after a viral investigation video reignited allegations of widespread fraud tied to state-funded programs, prompting renewed public pressure and an expanded federal response.

Federal investigators estimate that as much as half of the $18 billion sent to Minnesota since 2018 may have been siphoned off through fraudulent operations, potentially totaling up to $9 billion. By Saturday evening, authorities had charged 86 individuals in connection with the schemes, securing 59 convictions so far. Most of those accused come from Minnesota’s Somali community.

The controversy gained momentum following the release of a 43-minute video published Friday by conservative YouTuber Nick Shirley. In the footage, Shirley and a Minnesota resident named David travel throughout Minneapolis, visiting several child care and learning centers that they allege are linked to Somali aid fraud. According to the video, some of the locations were closed despite signage suggesting they were operating, while others were staffed by individuals who declined to appear on camera.

One building featured in the video displayed a sign reading “Quality Learing Center,” with the word “learning” misspelled. The facility was purportedly responsible for serving at least 99 children and allegedly received about $4 million in state funding, according to Shirley’s reporting.

As the video circulated widely online, Governor Tim Walz moved to push back against the accusations through a spokesperson, responding directly to the claims raised in Shirley’s investigation.

“The governor has worked for years to crack down on fraud and ask the state legislature for more authority to take aggressive action. He has strengthened oversight — including launching investigations into these specific facilities, one of which was already closed,” the spokesperson told Fox News.

The spokesperson further outlined actions taken by the administration, saying Walz has “hired an outside firm to audit payments to high-risk programs, shut down the Housing Stabilization Services program entirely, announced a new statewide program integrity director, and supported criminal prosecutions.”

Shirley amplified his findings during an appearance Sunday night on Fox News’ “The Big Weekend Show,” where he mocked what he described as obvious wrongdoing uncovered during his investigation.

He joked that the alleged scheme was “so obvious” that a “kindergartner could figure out there is fraud going on.”

“Fraud is fraud, and we work too hard simply just to be paying taxes and enabling fraud to be happening,” Shirley said.

“There better be change. People are demanding it. The investigation have been launched just from that video alone. So there better be change, like I said, we work way too hard to be paying taxes and not knowing where our money’s going,” he added.

Calls for accountability have also come from government officials. FBI Director Kash Patel announced that the bureau had deployed additional personnel to Minnesota to investigate the distribution of funds, describing the move as an early step in a broader effort to “dismantle large-scale fraud schemes exploiting federal programs.”

Shirley’s video continued to gain traction over the weekend, surpassing 100 million views by Sunday night, further intensifying national attention on Minnesota’s aid programs and the political fallout surrounding them.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

I am writing out of deep frustration, sadness, and genuine concern, asking—no, begging—for someone to finally explain the decision by frum publications to erase women from their pages.

Not blur. Not minimize. Erase.

This policy has become so normalized that many no longer stop to question it, but it is nothing short of absurd. Half of Klal Yisroel has been rendered invisible, and we are expected to accept this as if it were a natural extension of Torah values, rather than a social choice that quietly metastasized into dogma.

Let’s be clear: This is not mandated by halacha. There is no source that requires the total removal of women’s faces from newspapers, magazines, or public discourse. This is not tznius as defined by Chazal or poskim. It is a chumrah that somehow hardened into policy, enforced by editors afraid of backlash and advertisers afraid of phone calls.

And the price is being paid by our daughters.

We raise girls to be thoughtful, capable, idealistic, and committed to Torah life—and then we show them a world in which women do not exist. No role models. No achievers. No leaders. No images of women who contribute, build, create, teach, save lives, run chesed organizations, educate generations, or carry communities on their shoulders.

We tell girls they matter, but the pages they read say otherwise.

We tell them they are essential to Klal Yisroel, but the media that shapes their worldview treats them like a liability that must be cropped out. What message do we think that sends? That their presence is a problem? That visibility itself is shameful? That the safest version of a frum woman is one who cannot be seen?

This is not chinuch. It is abdication of responsibility.

Ironically, the same publications that claim to be protecting tznius are creating a vacuum—one where young girls must look elsewhere to find anyone to admire. If they cannot see women within their own value system, they will inevitably seek representation outside of it. We should not be shocked when they do.

And let’s address the unspoken truth: This policy does not elevate men either. It infantilizes the public, implying that a respectful photograph of a woman—fully modest, dignified, appropriate—is somehow beyond the capacity of frum readers to process without moral collapse. That assumption is not flattering to anyone.

A Torah society is not one that pretends women don’t exist. It is one that knows how to see women properly.

Policies born of fear rarely age well.

I am not asking for sensationalism. I am not asking for modernity for its own sake. I am asking for honesty, balance, and courage. I am asking editors to take responsibility for the culture they are shaping and the children who are absorbing it.

Explain the decision. Defend it openly, if you can. And if you cannot, have the integrity to reconsider it.

Our daughters deserve to be seen. Our community deserves better than silence dressed up as piety.

Sincerely,
A deeply concerned reader

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

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Ukraine’s leadership is pressing for long-term international security assurances as part of ongoing efforts to end Russia’s invasion, with President Volodymyr Zelensky revealing that Washington is currently proposing a 15-year guarantee under the latest draft framework.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Zelensky said the proposal was discussed during a meeting the previous day with President Trump at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. The Ukrainian leader explained that he urged Trump to consider a far longer commitment, potentially stretching decades into the future.

“I raised this issue with the president. I told him that our war is still going on, and it has been almost 15 years,” Zelensky said.

“Therefore, we would really like the guarantees to be longer. I told him that we would very much like to consider the possibility of 30, 40, 50 years. And that would then be a historic decision by President Trump.”

According to Zelensky, Trump did not dismiss the idea outright and responded that he would “think about” the request.

Details of the proposed guarantees have not been publicly released, but Zelensky said they would involve oversight mechanisms to detect cease-fire violations and some form of involvement by the United States and European countries. He stressed that a tangible international role would be central to any credible arrangement.

“I believe that the presence of international troops is a real security guarantee, it is a strengthening of the security guarantees that our partners are already offering us,” the Ukrainian leader said Monday.

A report published last week by The Post said a separate 20-point outline under discussion includes provisions for a coordinated military response by the US, NATO, and other European nations if Russia resumes its offensive.

Moscow has repeatedly rejected the idea of NATO forces operating inside Ukraine. Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, told the Tass news agency on Sunday that any such deployment would be viewed as “a legitimate target.”

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump were expected to hold a conversation in the near future. He added there was no indication that Putin planned to speak with Zelensky anytime soon.

European leaders are also weighing their roles. French President Emmanuel Macron said Ukraine’s allies would gather in Paris in early January to “finalize each country’s concrete contributions” to the proposed security framework. It remained unclear whether the United States would send a representative to that meeting.

Zelensky underscored that robust guarantees are essential for Ukraine to lift martial law, which has been in force since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Under Ukraine’s constitution, elections cannot be held while martial law remains in effect, forcing the postponement of presidential and parliamentary votes originally scheduled for 2024.

“Without security guarantees, this war has not really ended,” he said Monday. “We cannot recognize that it has ended.”

Following Sunday’s discussions, Trump said he would consider traveling to Ukraine to persuade lawmakers to support a proposal that would turn the eastern Donbas region into an internationally supervised, demilitarized free economic zone.

“I think the land — you’re talking about — some of that land has been taken [by Russia],” said the US president, adding: “Some of that land is maybe up for grabs, but it may be taken over the next period of a number of months — and you’re better off making a deal now.”

Russian forces currently control most of the Luhansk region and roughly 70 percent of Donetsk, the two territories that make up the Donbas.

Under Ukraine’s post-Soviet constitution, any change to the country’s borders must be approved through a nationwide referendum. Such a vote cannot take place until a cease-fire has been in effect for at least 60 days — a condition the Kremlin has given no indication it is prepared to accept.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Supreme Court President Yitzchok Amit on Sunday issued a temporary order delaying the election for Tel Aviv’s chief rabbi by approximately one month, following petitions filed by members of the Tel Aviv City Council.

The ruling postpones the vote that had been scheduled for next week, Tuesday, January 6, 2026 (17 Teves 5786), as determined by the city’s rabbinical election committee. The committee is chaired by retired dayan Rav Yaakov Zamir, a former member of Israel’s Supreme Rabbinical Court.

The petitions argued that the Ministry of Religious Services appointed representatives of the minister to the electoral body without consulting the city council, in alleged violation of legal requirements. According to the petitioners, this deprived elected council members of their lawful influence over the composition of the electoral forum and, by extension, over the identity of the rabbi to be chosen.

In his decision, Justice Amit indicated that postponing the election would allow time for the city council to present its position regarding the minister’s representatives on the electoral body, addressing the procedural concerns raised in the petitions.

The race for Tel Aviv’s chief rabbinate includes Rav Zavdiel Cohen, the city’s av beis din, who has received backing from the former chief rabbis as well as political support from the Shas party and Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai.

Also expected to enter the race is Rav Tzvi Yehuda Lau, son of former Chief Rabbi of Israel Rav Yisrael Meir Lau, who currently serves as the rov of the Yad Eliyahu neighborhood in Tel Aviv.

The court’s temporary order leaves the future timetable of the election dependent on further legal review and potential adjustments to the selection process of the electoral body.

{Matzav.com}

Hopes for progress toward normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia appear to be dimming once again, as senior voices in Riyadh issued sharp criticism following Israel’s recent recognition of Somaliland.

According to Israeli media reports, Saudi officials conveyed growing dissatisfaction with Israel’s diplomatic conduct, describing the move as yet another step that distances the two sides from a potential normalization agreement. Relations between Yerushalayim and Riyadh, which had shown signs of cautious engagement in the past, have recently cooled, with the Saudis repeatedly raising conditions and voicing disappointment over Israel’s actions.

A senior Saudi source, quoted by N12, said that Israel’s recognition of Somaliland sparked angry reactions across the Arab world and sent a negative signal to the Gulf kingdom. “Israel’s recognition of Somaliland pushes normalization with Riyadh further away and isolates Israel even more in the region,” the source said.

The same official pointed to domestic Israeli politics as an additional destabilizing factor, arguing that Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s desire to remain in office is exacerbating regional tensions. “Netanyahu’s pursuit of another term only intensifies the regional upheaval,” the source claimed. “It creates confusion both inside Israel and throughout the broader Middle East.”

The Saudi official went further, posing a pointed rhetorical challenge to Jerusalem’s leadership. “How would Netanyahu react if Saudi Arabia were to support Palestinian liberation movements in Judea and Samaria and Gaza, or Lebanese liberation movements in southern Lebanon?” the source asked. “Would he see that as a declaration of war? And after all that, is he still talking about normalization? It’s madness.”

{Matzav.com}

An act of disturbing vandalism was recorded overnight outside the main Beit Yosef shul in Givatayim, after an unidentified individual was caught on security cameras tearing tefillin, siddurim, and talleisim and scattering the ripped items on the ground near the shul entrance.

According to information obtained by Matzav.com, the shul was open at the time and was not broken into, and no structural damage was caused.

In an unusual detail, the suspect did not take the tashmishei kedusha from inside the building. Instead, security footage shows the man arriving on an electric scooter, carrying the religious items with him, vandalizing them outside the shul, and then throwing the torn remains onto the floor near the entrance.

The incident took place at the Beit Yosef shul on Gilboa Street in Givatayim and was fully documented by the shul’s surveillance cameras. The footage shows the unidentified man calmly approaching the area and carrying out the act before leaving the scene.

Rav Shlomo Batzri, the rov and a son of the mekubal Rav Dovid Batzri, expressed deep pain over the incident. “Our community is a place of great unity and ahavas Yisroel,” he said. “Only recently, members of the ‘Brothers in Arms’ organization held a bar mitzvah here. The shul is constantly involved in kiruv rechokim, and it is shocking that something like this could be done in such a horrific manner. We are examining the circumstances and trying to understand what led to this.”

The motive behind the act remains unclear.

{Matzav.com}

A day that had already been marked by major transportation disruptions in and around Bnei Brak took an unexpected turn Sunday night, when a citywide power outage plunged multiple wedding celebrations into darkness. Hours earlier, protests organized by the Peleg had caused severe traffic congestion on the main roads leading into the city, complicating access for residents and guests alike.

As the evening weddings reached their height, electricity suddenly cut out across the city center, leaving large banquet halls without lighting or sound. Festive scenes were instantly replaced by darkness, forcing families and guests to improvise with cellphone flashlights in an effort to keep the simcha going.

Video footage from the halls showed expansive spaces almost entirely blacked out, with small beams of light flickering between tables. Guests were seen moving cautiously through the halls, trying to preserve some sense of celebration under difficult circumstances. The music came to a sudden halt, and the lively atmosphere gave way to an uneasy quiet.

Musicians and event staff were visibly shaken by the sudden shutdown. Yehuda Galili, a well-known keyboardist and Kol Chai Music broadcaster who was attending one of the weddings, was filmed standing beside his silent instruments in disbelief. Asked during a live radio broadcast how he was feeling, Galili said, “I’m in shock,” as those nearby explained, “Power outage, the whole area is shut down.”

{Matzav.com}