Matzav

An atmosphere of excitement and uplift filled the bais medrash of Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok on Monday night during the Zos Chanukah tish held at the chassidus’ center in Yerushalayim’s Meah Shearim neighborhood. Hundreds of chassidim gathered for the tish were surprised and deeply moved when the Rebbe entered wearing the traditional kolpik hat.

While the Rebbe has worn the kolpik on isolated occasions in private settings—such as during bedikas chometz—this was the first time he donned the distinctive garment publicly for the entirety of a tish, before the assembled chassidim.

It is widely known that the Rebbe is a devoted talmid and deeply bound, heart and soul, to the Rebbes of the Vizhnitz dynasty, foremost among them the Imrei Chaim and Yeshuos Moshe. Having drawn from their wellsprings throughout his formative years, the Rebbe has consistently instilled Vizhnitzer teachings and conduct among his followers, guiding his own path in accordance with their sacred traditions.

The kolpik has long been identified as the distinctive headgear of the Vizhnitzer Rebbes throughout the generations. Seeing it worn openly by the Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Rebbe during a public tish was understood by chassidim as a powerful expression of the unbreakable bond between the Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok court and the legacy of Vizhnitz.

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{Matzav.com}

A chareidi mother who was forcefully shoved along with her daughters by police officers during a protest in Bnei Brak has spoken out sharply against what she described as police brutality, following the circulation of disturbing footage from the incident.

In an interview with Yaakov Grodka on Kol Barama Radio, the woman recounted the moments shown in the video, which spread widely on social media. “Nazis! Anyone who drags a small child along the road and pushes a mother who is trying to protect her. I have no other word for him,” she said. “He violently pulled my daughter when we were standing on a traffic island into the road. She’s a small child, she started crying, and when I tried to protect her, he pushed me too, and my other daughter as well.”

The mother stressed that she and her daughters were not participants in the demonstration. “We weren’t part of the protest. We came to shop and were standing on the side with our bags,” she said. “My daughter was just filming, and suddenly a police officer appeared out of nowhere and dragged us by force.”

The footage shows the mother and her daughter attempting to cross the road amid the protest in Bnei Brak. Police officers at the scene are seen using force against them, initially striking the mother and then pushing her without apparent cause, in full view of her daughter, who was also shoved.

In response to the video, Israel Police issued a statement rejecting the characterization of the incident. “These were not innocent women, but two women who were present at an illegal protest that led to the blocking of a road and disruption of public order,” police said. According to the statement, one of the women shouted insults at officers—calling them “Nazis”—and pushed a camera into an officer’s face. “Israel Police will continue to maintain public order and prevent harm to freedom of movement for road users,” the statement added.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich used a meeting of his Religious Zionist Party faction on Monday to lay out his positions on the economy, the fighting in Gaza, and Israel’s diplomatic agenda ahead of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s expected trip to Washington, Arutz Sheva reports.

Turning first to domestic concerns, Smotrich said easing the financial burden on Israeli families remains a central priority. “The cost of living is deeply important to me. The budget now coming to the Knesset after government approval includes very significant measures to address it.”

He pointed to structural changes in the dairy sector as an example of why reform is necessary. “The dairy reform proves its necessity and urgency more with each passing day. While the public is being frightened by lies about the collapse of the dairy industry, they are being denied this basic consumer product, and some think this will convince the public that the reform is a mistake. It’s exactly the opposite – the absolute, monopolistic control you hold over the dairy market only proves how desperately it must be opened.”

According to Smotrich, more steps are imminent. “The import reform, which will be signed in the coming days, will also reduce costs for the citizens of Israel. The same goes for the deposit reform and additional steps we will soon take to address the cost of living.” He summed up his approach by saying, “The reason we are doing this is simple – I am determined to prove to everyone that things can be affordable here.”

The minister then shifted to security and diplomacy, stressing that Judea and Samaria must be central to discussions with Washington. “We are carrying out a revolution on the ground in Judea and Samaria, but in terms of security and diplomacy, we are still far from internalizing and implementing the lessons of October 7. Oslo was a mistake, the establishment of the Palestinian Authority was a mistake, and the PA is a terrorist entity that must be eradicated.”

Expanding on that point, he warned against repeating past failures. “So that Kfar Saba does not, God forbid, become Kfar Aza, and Netanya does not become Be’eri, and Nitzanei Oz does not become Nahal Oz, we must – absolutely must – dismantle the Palestinian Authority, collect the weapons, and apply Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria.”

Smotrich cited remarks by President Donald Trump to underscore his argument about Israel’s security depth. “President Trump himself compared Israel to the tiny tip of a pen on the large desk in the Oval Office, explaining better than anyone how indefensible these borders are.”

He cautioned that inaction would carry a heavy price. “If we fail to act now in these areas, we will be responsible, God forbid, for the next October 7. As a member of the government, I bear responsibility for October 7, and I have no intention of bearing responsibility for the next one.”

Addressing Gaza, Smotrich said the coming White House meeting is critical. “The Prime Minister will soon, God willing, travel to the White House to meet Israel’s friend, President Trump.” He added that the objectives of the war must remain unchanged. “The Prime Minister must ensure in that meeting that – just as we committed – we do not stop until we achieve the primary objective of the war that we defined: the destruction of Hamas. We promised total victory, and we are not there yet.”

While acknowledging delays, including the issue of the hostages, Smotrich said attention must now be on firm conditions for the future. “There will be no reconstruction without demilitarization. This is mandated by President Trump’s plan, and we must not deviate from it by even an inch. There is no such thing as partial demilitarization, fictitious demilitarization, or watered-down demilitarization. Hamas cannot exist in Gaza at the end of this war. There will be no involvement of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza – neither directly nor indirectly.”

He concluded by listing further red lines. “There will be no entry of multinational forces into our part of Gaza. International forces must dismantle Hamas and demilitarize Gaza, and they must do so in the red zone of the Strip. The State of Israel will not pay in any way for Gaza’s reconstruction. If anything, the Gazans should bear the enormous costs of the war they forced upon us in the October 7 massacre. There must be a clear and short deadline for attempts to dismantle Hamas the easy way, after which Israel will have full freedom to act on its own.”

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{Matzav.com}

A new generation of American battleships bearing President Donald Trump’s name is being planned, with the Navy outlining vessels that would carry nuclear capabilities and represent a return to a class of warship not used in combat for decades.

Speaking Monday, Trump said the ships are intended as a broad show of strength rather than a message to any single rival. “It’s a counter to everybody. It’s not China. We get along great with China,” he said. “It’s just everybody. You don’t know who comes along, but we just wanted peace through strength. Hopefully we never have to use them, but there will never be anything built like these.”

The announcement was made at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, where Navy Secretary John Phelan described the vessels as “Trump-class battleships.” He said an upcoming ship, to be known as the USS Defiant, would be “the largest, deadliest and most versatile and best-looking warship anywhere on the world’s oceans.”

According to officials, the battleships will be outfitted with a wide array of weaponry, including traditional guns and missiles alongside hypersonic weapons, electronic rail guns, and high-powered laser systems. Phelan added that the ships will also be equipped with the “nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile.”

Trump said the goal is to establish an entirely new fleet of such vessels over time. “We envision that these ships will be the first of a whole new class of battleships to be produced in the years to come,” he said, adding that the long-term plan calls for as many as 20 to 25 ships.

The president also framed the idea as a revival of an older naval concept. “These have been under design consideration for a long time, and it started with me in my first term, because I said, ‘Why aren’t we doing battleships like we used to?'” Trump said.

The Defense Department said the Navy will take the lead in designing the ships, which are expected to be completed in the early 2030s. Trump indicated he intends to be involved in the process as well, saying he would participate “because I’m a very aesthetic person.”

Battleships have been largely absent from modern U.S. combat operations. The last time the United States deployed them in active fighting was in 1991, during the first Gulf War against Iraq.

The move fits into a broader pattern of Trump’s name and image being attached to federal institutions and projects during his second term. In recent weeks, a board selected by Trump voted to rename the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as the Trump-Kennedy Center. His name was also added to the U.S. Institute of Peace headquarters, and the Interior Department last month showcased a 2026 national park pass featuring Trump’s likeness. Several of those actions are now facing legal challenges.

Despite the sweeping scope of the new naval plans, Trump emphasized that the battleships are intended to preserve stability rather than provoke conflict, portraying them as a tool to maintain U.S. dominance and deter any potential adversary that might emerge.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. regulators have authorized the first pill taken by mouth to treat obesity, opening the door to a new option for patients who until now needed injections to access GLP-1 weight-loss therapies. The Food and Drug Administration signed off on the drug Monday after studies showed meaningful weight reduction along with heart-health benefits, according to its manufacturer, Novo Nordisk.

The newly approved tablet is designed to be taken once a day and uses semaglutide, the same compound found in the company’s injectable Wegovy and Ozempic. It is the first oral GLP-1 receptor agonist approved in the United States for long-term weight management.

Approval covers adults with obesity, as well as those who are overweight and have at least one related medical condition such as heart disease, provided the medication is used alongside diet and exercise.

Clinical results played a central role in the decision. In the OASIS 4 phase 3 study, participants taking a 25-milligram daily pill shed an average of 16.6% of their body weight over 68 weeks, while those given a placebo lost 2.7%. Novo Nordisk said roughly one in three patients in the treatment group dropped at least 20% of their body weight.

The FDA’s decision was also backed by findings from the large SELECT trial, which showed that semaglutide lowered the risk of major cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke, in adults with obesity or overweight who already had cardiovascular disease.

Until this approval, all FDA-cleared GLP-1 medications for weight loss were delivered by injection. Drugs in this class work by mimicking a hormone that helps control appetite and slows digestion, allowing patients to feel full for longer periods.

“With today’s approval of the Wegovy pill, patients will have a convenient, once-daily pill that can help them lose as much weight as the original Wegovy injection,” Mike Doustdar, president and CEO of Novo Nordisk, said in a news release. “As the first oral GLP-1 treatment for people living with overweight or obesity, the Wegovy pill provides patients with a new, convenient treatment option that can help patients start or continue their weight-loss journey.”

Novo Nordisk has indicated that the drug could enter the U.S. market at an initial price of about $149 for a month’s supply, far less than many injectable GLP-1 treatments that can run uninsured patients hundreds of dollars each month.

The company has argued that pills may be easier for insurers to cover than injections, potentially broadening access for people who have avoided shots or encountered insurance barriers.

Investors responded quickly to the announcement, pushing Novo Nordisk shares up more than 9% in after-hours trading on news of the approval and the company’s first-mover advantage in oral obesity treatment.

The manufacturer said it plans to roll out the Wegovy pill in the United States in early January and has already submitted the medication for regulatory review in Europe and other regions.

The approval arrives as competitors move closer to the same space. Eli Lilly and Company is developing its own once-daily oral weight-loss drug, orforglipron, which has delivered double-digit percentage weight loss at higher doses in late-stage trials and met key study goals. The company is expected to seek FDA clearance next year, setting up a head-to-head race in what analysts see as a future multi-billion-dollar global market.

Like other semaglutide-based products, the Wegovy pill carries warnings about gastrointestinal side effects and includes a boxed warning tied to thyroid tumors observed in animal studies.

{Matzav.com}

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By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld

The Rishonim argue whether going from one town to another town, and thereby having differences in the way the letters are written, constitutes a psul. The Rosh in 3:11, the Shiltei Giborim in Hilchos Sefer Torah 3, and the Meiri in Shabbos 104a all conclude that there is no chashash in switching the form of the letters. On the other hand, the Ramban in Meseches Shabbos writes that all the letters have special reasons for why they are formed the way they are, and therefore changing them would render them pasul.

The question then arises: if one has the masoreh to use ksav Bais Yosef, can he be yotzei with tefillin or a Sefer Torah written in ksav Ari or ksav Velish, which is the ksav of the Sefardim? And what about the opposite case? The Rema in 36:1 says that changing the ksav is not a problem; nevertheless, there is a great inyan to be chosheish for the Ramban.

On one end, we find in the name of the Gra that since the mesorah of Ashkenaz is not to use ksav Ari, this should be maintained. We see that the Chazon Ish was very makpid not to use Ari ksav and felt that it would be le’ikuva. The Steipler, in Kraina De’Igrasa 2:78, writes that one should not believe the rumors claiming that the Chazon Ish later regretted this position.

On the other hand, the Maharsham in Mafteichos 2:120 writes that the Sefer Torah of the Ohr HaChaim Hakadosh was written in ksav Velish. The Chasam Sofer in Yoreh Deah 66 testifies that his rebbe, Rabbi Nosson Adler, had tefillin in which the letter tzaddik was written in ksav Ari. The Mishna Berura in 66:5 brings the Noda BiYehuda (80), who explains that whenever the Ramban was machmir, it applied only to letters rooted in the Gemara, and not to letters rooted in the Bais Yosef. The Ari himself held that all forms of ksav have valid sources.

LeMaaseh, despite the fact that many quote Rav Shach zt”l as having advised a grandchild of the Chasam Sofer that he did not need to switch his tefillin to ksav Bais Yosef, Reb Elyashiv zt”l held to the contrary. He maintained that if a person does most of his avoda in the Litvishe way, he would need to switch his tefillin to ksav Bais Yosef. The Mesoras Moshe relates a story in which someone brought Reb Moshe Feinstein to examine a letter in his tefillin. Reb Moshe said the letter itself was not a problem, but that the greatest hiddur would be for the person to switch all of his parshiyos to Bais Yosef.

Reb Chaim Kanievsky said that this applies only to tefillin or mezuzos. However, if one listens to krias HaTorah from a Sefer Torah written in ksav Ari, one is yotzei, even though lekatchila the Sefer Torah should be written in ksav Bais Yosef. Reb Chaim added that even the Chazon Ish held that one could be yotzei krias HaTorah and could even make a bracha on an Aliyah. His reasoning was that, according to the Rambam, one may make a bracha on a Sefer Torah that is pasul, and therefore it would not be a Bracha Levatala. The Brisker Rov, who held that lekatchilah one should use ksav Bais Yosef, would nonetheless be yotzei from a Sefer Torah written in ksav Ari when he was on vacation in Kreinitz before the Holocaust, and he would even take an Aliyah.

May we always be careful that what we read from is done kehalacha.

{Matzav.com}

Two nationally infamous political figures will take part in the inauguration of New York City’s next mayor when Zohran Mamdani formally assumes office.

According to plans released by the transition team, Bernie Sanders will preside over a celebratory, ceremonial oath during a New Year’s Day block party, while Letitia James will administer the official oath at midnight, the moment Mamdani’s term legally begins.

The transition announcement said Sanders’ “unapologetic progressive values inspired Zohran to run for office in the first place,” underscoring the ideological ties between the mayor-elect and the Vermont senator.

“It is an honor to be sworn in by two leaders I have admired for years: Attorney General Tish James and Senator Bernie Sanders. Attorney General James has taken on powerful interests in her defense of New Yorkers and embodied the principle of equal justice before the law,” Mamdani said in a statement.

“Senator Bernie Sanders laid the foundations for our movement with his steadfast commitment to the dignity of working people and his belief in a government that serves the many, not just the few. I can think of no better leaders to help usher in a new era for New York City,” Mamdani said.

Mamdani secured victory in last month’s election after defeating Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa, positioning him to take office on Jan. 1 as mayor of New York City. He also becomes the city’s first Muslim mayor. During the campaign, Mamdani frequently appeared alongside Sanders, drawing energy from the same progressive base that fueled the senator’s two presidential runs.

James emerged as one of Mamdani’s highest-profile supporters in a political landscape where many leading Democrats were cautious about embracing the progressive challenger. Because the Democratic primary used ranked-choice voting, allowing voters to rank up to five candidates, James publicly disclosed that she placed Mamdani third on her ballot. She later joined him at an October rally shortly after she was indicted on mortgage-related fraud charges, a case that was subsequently dismissed by a federal judge.

“He is a leader fighting for a better future for this city, and he, like me, knows what it’s like to be attacked, to be called names, to be threatened, to be harassed,” James said at the time.

{Matzav.com}

With Washington escalating its pressure campaign on Caracas, President Donald Trump suggested Monday that Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro should consider stepping aside, even as Moscow publicly lined up behind the embattled government.

Speaking to reporters at his Florida residence, Trump was asked whether the administration’s warnings and military moves were meant to push Maduro out after more than a decade in power. “That’s up to him, what he wants to do. I think it would be smart for him to do that,” Trump said.

He followed with a sharper note of caution, adding: “If he wants to do something — if he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’s ever able to play tough.”

The comments came as U.S. naval forces enforced a blockade targeting Venezuelan oil shipments, a move Trump announced last week against what he described as “sanctioned oil vessels” traveling to and from the country.

Russia, one of Caracas’ closest allies, responded by voicing firm backing for Maduro’s government, even as the crisis moved onto the agenda of the United Nations. Moscow’s statement was issued ahead of a UN Security Council meeting requested by Venezuela, with support from Russia and China, to address what Caracas calls escalating U.S. aggression.

In a phone conversation between the two countries’ foreign ministers, Washington’s recent actions — including strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats and the seizure of oil tankers — were sharply criticized. A U.S. official told AFP on Sunday that American forces were pursuing a third vessel.

“The ministers expressed their deep concern over the escalation of Washington’s actions in the Caribbean Sea, which could have serious consequences for the region and threaten international shipping,” Russia’s foreign ministry said. It added that Moscow had reiterated “its full support for and solidarity with the Venezuelan leadership and people in the current context.”

According to U.S. officials, naval strikes against boats alleged to be involved in narcotics trafficking have been underway since September under Trump’s orders, targeting vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. The operations have reportedly resulted in more than 100 deaths, with families and some governments saying fishermen were among those killed.

Trump has repeatedly argued that Venezuela’s oil revenues are fueling criminal activity, accusing the Maduro government of financing “drug terrorism, human trafficking, murder and kidnapping.” He has also claimed Venezuela took “all of our oil” — a reference to the nationalization of its petroleum industry — saying “we want it back.”

Caracas has rejected those accusations, insisting Washington is pursuing regime change and branding the naval actions “international piracy.”

Russian officials said their foreign minister and his Venezuelan counterpart agreed to “coordinate their actions on the international stage, particularly at the UN.” In a Telegram post, Venezuela’s foreign minister said the two discussed “the aggressions and flagrant violations of international law being perpetrated in the Caribbean: attacks on vessels, extrajudicial executions, and illicit acts of piracy carried out by the United States government.” He added that Moscow had pledged its “full support in the face of hostilities against our country.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed Russia’s stance last week, saying Washington was “not concerned about an escalation with Russia with regards to Venezuela” because “they have their hands full in Ukraine.”

Relations between Washington and Moscow have grown more strained in recent weeks, with Trump expressing frustration over the lack of progress toward ending the war in Ukraine.

Adding to the diplomatic pushback, Venezuela’s foreign minister read a letter from Maduro on state television Monday addressed to UN member states, warning that the U.S. blockade “will affect the supply of oil and energy” worldwide.

{Matzav.com}

Eli Feldstein, a former spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, on Monday evening publicly presented his version of events for the first time in the case involving the alleged leak of classified documents, in which he is charged, as well as in the so-called “Qatargate” affair. Feldstein made the claims during an interview with Kan News.

According to Feldstein, the episode began with a late-night meeting in an underground parking garage at the Kirya military complex in Tel Aviv, where he was summoned by the prime minister’s chief of staff, Tzachi Braverman. Feldstein said Braverman contacted him after learning that a sensitive investigation was underway within the IDF’s Information Security Department—an investigation that, he claimed, could reach the Prime Minister’s Office.

During that conversation, Feldstein alleged, Braverman told him he could “shut it down” and even interfere with the investigation. Feldstein further claimed that Braverman asked whether he knew individuals connected to the affair, mentioned names of future suspects, and sought to determine whether they had ties to Feldstein or to the Prime Minister’s Office.

Feldstein said he shared the details of the encounter with Yonatan Urich, a senior adviser to Netanyahu whom Feldstein described as “my boss,” adding that he routinely updated him on all such matters. “I told him that the chief of staff said there was an investigation by the Information Security Department,” Feldstein said. “Tzachi knew there was an investigation inside the IDF that was reaching the Prime Minister’s Office, and he chose to meet me in the middle of the night, in parking level minus four at the Kirya.”

Feldstein said that only later, when he was arrested in connection with the classified document allegedly sent to the German newspaper Bild, did he fully understand the significance of that nighttime meeting and its connection to the investigation.

Addressing the Qatargate affair, Feldstein said that Srulik Einhorn, a former adviser in the Prime Minister’s Office, asked him to issue an invoice to Gil Birger, a person Feldstein said he did not previously know. Feldstein claimed he was unaware at the time that Birger was acting on behalf of Jay Footlik, who operates for Qatar. “I didn’t know I was receiving money from the Qataris… I was stupid and naïve,” Feldstein said, adding that he avoided asking questions out of fear of losing what he viewed as the pinnacle of his career.

Feldstein also described his role following the October 7 Hamas attack, saying that his primary task was to remove the issue of responsibility from public discourse surrounding the prime minister. He recounted Netanyahu asking him what was being discussed in the news and whether responsibility was still being mentioned. “He gives me a mission—think about what to do with it,” Feldstein said. “They told me to remove the word ‘responsibility’ from the lexicon and to draft something without the word responsibility. It would not appear.”

He further described Netanyahu’s reaction upon being shown the first hostage video released by Hamas early in the war, featuring wounded hostage Mia Schem. Feldstein said the prime minister threw the phone away and refused to watch the footage. “I felt awful,” he said. Regarding Netanyahu’s position on hostage releases, Feldstein asserted that the prime minister’s drive to defeat Hamas and win the war outweighed other considerations.

Feldstein also claimed that Netanyahu held a dismissive attitude toward National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, saying the prime minister often believed they were “talking nonsense” and that parallel discussions were held merely to give them the feeling of involvement.

In response, the Prime Minister’s Office rejected Feldstein’s claims, calling them “a long series of false and recycled allegations” made by someone with clear personal interests. The statement said Netanyahu never instructed Feldstein to leak classified material, did not approve bypassing censorship, was not aware of any external payment mechanisms, and was not involved in any illegal actions. “The content of the conversations attributed to the prime minister is completely fabricated,” the statement said, adding that the court had already ruled that “Qatarfake” was a baseless allegation.

Braverman also denied the accusations, stating that Feldstein “is lying and inventing stories that never happened,” and stressing that the chief of staff has no authority to interfere with investigations. He added that Feldstein was once considered for a spokesman role but failed a security suitability check and was immediately disqualified.

Through his attorney, Lior Epstein, Einhorn likewise rejected Feldstein’s claims, saying that Feldstein worked as an independent consultant and that allegations regarding payment arrangements, invoicing, or mediation of employment within the Prime Minister’s Office were false.

{Matzav.com}

Naftali Bennett escalated his attacks on Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on Monday, urging him to resign amid mounting allegations tied to the so-called Qatargate affair, which Bennett described as “the most serious act of treason in Israeli history.”

Bennett’s remarks came after fresh media reports detailed communications among suspects in the case, as well as alleged coordination with a journalist from a pro-Netanyahu outlet. The revelations concern claims that senior aides in the Prime Minister’s Office were simultaneously employed as paid lobbyists for Qatar — home to Hamas’s leadership — while continuing to work for Netanyahu.

According to a report aired Sunday by i24 News, correspondence between the suspects indicates they shared fabricated material attributed to “senior security officials” and “senior American officials.” The messages reportedly portrayed Qatar as central to negotiations with Hamas while attempting to marginalize Egypt, another key mediator in ceasefire efforts during the Gaza war.

The same report said the aides collaborated with a reporter from Channel 14, a pro-Netanyahu network, to “refine” an article so that it aligned with their preferred messaging.

“Netanyahu’s office betrayed the State of Israel and IDF soldiers during wartime and acted on behalf of Qatar for financial gain, and Netanyahu himself is covering it up,” Bennett said following the broadcast. “Whether Netanyahu knew or did not know that his office was working for the enemy in a time of war, both possibilities require his immediate resignation.”

Bennett, who is preparing a political comeback and plans to challenge Netanyahu in the next election, said that if he returns to power he will establish a state commission of inquiry “that will also investigate aid to an enemy state in a time of war.”

The investigation centers on close Netanyahu aide Jonatan Urich and former spokesman Eli Feldstein. Prosecutors allege the two worked for a pro-Qatar lobbying firm, maintained contact with a foreign agent, and engaged in multiple corruption offenses involving lobbyists and businessmen while employed by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Previously revealed WhatsApp messages, published by Ynet in August, showed that former Netanyahu campaign adviser Yisrael Einhorn drafted pro-Qatar talking points and sent them to Feldstein. Feldstein then passed the material to Urich, who distributed the messaging to journalists in an effort to improve Qatar’s standing in Israel.

Bennett argued that the alleged conduct offers insight into what he views as the government’s wartime failures. “Three of Netanyahu’s closest advisers were in effect paid agents of Qatar and Hamas at the height of the war, while our soldiers were fighting and being killed by Hamas bullets purchased with Qatari money,” he said. He added that this “can certainly explain why the Israeli government failed in the ultimate goal it set for itself in the war: the destruction of Hamas.”

Continuing his critique, Bennett accused the Prime Minister’s Office of actively assisting Israel’s adversaries. “Qatar’s declared goal is Hamas’s survival. Israel’s declared war goal is the destruction of Hamas. They chose sides. Instead of acting for Israel, they acted for Israel’s enemies,” he said, asserting that Netanyahu’s staff worked “tirelessly to malign Egypt, which is anti-Hamas, and whitewash Qatar, which is pro-Hamas.”

Bennett said the damage extended beyond any eventual legal determination. Even if criminal guilt is not established, he argued, “from a security and ethical perspective,” the actions constituted “a betrayal of our soldiers.”

Calls for broader accountability have intensified across the opposition. Bennett, like other Netanyahu critics, has long demanded a state commission of inquiry into the failures surrounding the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack. Netanyahu has resisted those demands, despite polls showing broad public support, and has instead advanced an unusual plan for a politically appointed investigative body.

Other opposition leaders echoed Bennett’s language. Avigdor Liberman, head of the Yisrael Beytenu party, said any commission examining October 7 must also investigate Qatargate. Opposition Leader Yair Lapid labeled the affair “the most serious treason affair in the history of the country,” while Democrats chairman Yair Golan wrote on X that “Netanyahu’s office betrayed the country’s security in the Qatar affair, and Netanyahu must be fully investigated over it.”

Netanyahu, who has already testified as part of the Qatargate probe, has dismissed the investigation as a “witch hunt.”

{Matzav.com}

New information has surfaced about the deadly terrorist attack that struck Sydney during the lighting of the first Hanukkah candle, where 15 members of the Jewish community were murdered. Australia’s ABC network disclosed additional findings that shed light on how the assault was planned and executed.

Court records indicate that the perpetrators conducted reconnaissance at Bondi Beach on December 12, two days before the massacre. Australian authorities described this surveillance as the final step in their preparations ahead of the attack.

According to the report, the two terrorists had trained in advance and even filmed themselves before the assault. In the recording, they appeared alongside ISIS flags, carrying multiple weapons and offering what was described as a video in which they “justified” the attack.

Investigators further revealed that during the assault, the attackers hurled four explosive devices into the crowd — three pipe bombs and an additional object shaped like a tennis ball. None of the devices detonated.

One of the attackers, Sajid Akram, was shot and killed at the scene. His son, Navid, survived the attack, was later released from the hospital, and taken into custody. Prosecutors have since filed an indictment against him listing 59 charges, including 15 counts of murder.

One week after the massacre, thousands gathered at Bondi Beach for a memorial vigil and the lighting of the eighth Hanukkah candle. The ceremony took place amid extensive security measures, with hundreds of police officers deployed, along with mounted units and snipers.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended the vigil but was greeted with loud boos from the crowd. Protesters shouted accusations at him, including, “Shame, supporter of jihad-you do not represent Australia.”

During the gathering, leaders and members of the Jewish community publicly called for the creation of a formal commission of inquiry into the attack. They pointed to a sharp increase in antisemitic incidents in recent years and emphasized the need for a federal-level investigation to examine the circumstances surrounding the massacre.

{Matzav.com}

Federal authorities are rolling out a $3,000 “Holiday Stipend” aimed at persuading illegal immigrants to leave the United States voluntarily during the X-mas season. Officials argue the incentive is a modest outlay compared with the expense of locating, detaining, and deporting migrants.

The initiative comes as illegal immigrants face mounting financial strain, including job losses and housing pressures, linked to President Donald Trump’s stepped-up enforcement of the country’s widely supported immigration laws.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the temporary increase in incentives, warning that the offer expires at year’s end. “During the X-mas Season, the U.S. taxpayer is so generously TRIPLING the incentive to leave voluntarily for those in this country illegally — offering a $3,000 exit bonus, but just until the end of the year,” she said. “Illegal aliens should take advantage of this gift and self-deport because if they don’t, we will find them, we will arrest them, and they will never return.”

According to the Department of Homeland Security, voluntary departures have already reached significant levels this year. “Since January 2025, 1.9 million illegal aliens have voluntarily self-deported, and tens of thousands have used the CBP Home program,” the agency said.

DHS officials also promoted the CBP Home app as the preferred method for leaving the country. The agency stated: “Self-deportation through the CBP Home app is the best gift that an illegal alien can give themselves and their families this holiday season. It’s a fast, free, and easy process: Just download the app, fill out your information, and DHS will take care of the rest — including arranging and paying for your travel back home. The government added that migrants who ignore the temporary incentive face severe consequences. Those illegal aliens who don’t take advantage of this special offer today have only one alternative: They will be arrested, deported, and they will never be able to return to the United States.”

Supporters of the policy argue that fewer migrants in the labor and housing markets could benefit American workers by boosting wages, easing rent pressures, and encouraging people who have left the workforce to seek jobs. They also say the shift would compel political, media, and business leaders to refocus attention on Americans dealing with crime, discrimination, and poverty.

Despite widespread anecdotal reports of migrants leaving on their own, critics note that there is still no hard data confirming that voluntary departures exceed one million people.

Some migration trends offer partial insight. Large numbers of Haitian and other migrants have reportedly crossed into Canada. The Canada Border Services Agency “says it processed 31,977 total asylum claims through November, a 42% decline from the same period last year,” according to a December 22 report in the Detroit News.

Individual cases have also drawn attention. In December, KOLD.com reported on a Colombian family that chose to leave the United States after the father was deported from Tucson, Arizona. Yarlidis Goez-Santos, the mother of four, previously told 13 News that self-deportation was the right choice after her husband was removed in January 2025.

She reiterated that view this week. “I don’t have the words to express just how grateful I am,” Goez-Santos said. “I want to thank all the people that we met while we stayed here.”

Backers of the administration’s approach contend that as economic migrants depart, pressure will mount on political and corporate leaders to prioritize helping displaced Americans regain jobs, stability, and long-term prosperity.

Man films himself self deporting to avoid being picked up and deported by ICE.

“They make us feel unwelcome here.” pic.twitter.com/sIQt42oaRY

— ICE of TikTok (@ICEofTikTok) November 25, 2025

Self-deport or be deported: the choice is yours!
https://t.co/Ci1fP6L2T9 pic.twitter.com/fEVNSwVumG

— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) December 2, 2025

“It feels like the system isn’t broken — it’s working AGAINST us.”

A young American with $10 left shares a home with 4 roommates, lives off granola bars, drives a car she can’t afford to fix, and watches rent, bills, and basic necessities wipe out every paycheck. pic.twitter.com/2CLWv0r3PZ

— MatrixMysteries (@MatrixMysteries) December 17, 2025

https://twitter.com/i/status/1986183229154455805

{Matzav.com}

Rep. Jasmine Crockett said Vice President J.D. Vance’s recent remarks about her were rooted in racial stereotyping and political fear, arguing that Republicans are alarmed by her potential to flip Texas by winning a U.S. Senate seat.

Appearing Sunday on MS NOW’s “The Weekend,” Crockett responded to comments Vance made at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest conference, where he mocked her candidacy and background. Vance told the crowd, “Jasmine Crockett, oh, Jasmine Crockett, the record speaks for itself. She wants to be a senator, though her street-girl persona is about as real as her nails.”

During the segment, co-host Antonia Hylton reacted sharply to the remark, saying, “I think every Black woman heard what he was trying to say there. What do you think he’s trying to signal at a conference like this to an audience like this?”

Crockett said Vance’s comments were aimed at energizing his supporters while avoiding substantive debate. “Well, first of all, he’s trying to rile up his base, because right now we know that no matter if we’re looking in deep red Tennessee, Mississippi or Georgia, we know that we’re swinging no less than ten points. And unlike what we’ve had historically in Texas, because I know that you talked about the Texas dream of turning us blue, is that we have a candidate in me who absolutely plans to talk to any and everybody, and that is why they are afraid,” she said.

She pushed back strongly against Vance’s characterization of her, emphasizing her background and qualifications. “The fact that he said, I have a quote-unquote’ street-girl persona,’ I’m sorry, but anybody that you talk to knows my credentials. They know that I’ve gone to school. They know that I’m educated. I never tried to put on some random story about where I came from. But at the end of the day, I am who I am and I am authentic,” Crockett said.

Crockett argued that authenticity, not rhetoric, is what resonates with voters and unsettles her critics. “And that is actually what they are fearful of is my authenticity. Because it rings true with every single American, whether they’re Texan or not. It rings true that I am fighting for real, everyday people,” she said.

Turning the focus back on Vance, Crockett challenged his record and standing. “And instead of talking about policy, when you’re talking about, ‘The record speaks for itself’ — baby, let’s talk about your record, because the only reason you’re the vice president is because the current president tried to have his last vice president killed. Lets talk about qualifications,” she said.

She concluded by saying attacks will not deter her and that she is ready to debate policy at any time. “When they can tell me about their policies that are helping Texans, then we can have a conversation. Until then. take whatever shots you want to take at me. Because I have been a Black woman my entire life. I promise you, there are other people just like J.D. Vance, who have tried to do the same racist tropes my entire life, and somehow I ascended and became a U.S. congresswoman. It will not be different when I become a U.S. senator, and we can have a conversation when I get to the Senate floor if he wants to talk.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump’s job approval has climbed back to the 50% level, according to a new InsiderAdvantage survey released Monday, marking his strongest showing in nearly three months.

The poll, conducted among likely voters, asked participants, “What is your opinion of the job performance of President Donald Trump?” The responses showed 50% approving of Trump’s performance, 41% disapproving, and 9% saying they were undecided.

That result represents a notable rebound from InsiderAdvantage’s November survey, which recorded Trump’s approval at 44%. It also gives Trump a nine-point net approval margin, his widest positive spread in the firm’s polling since mid-August, when approval stood at 54% with 44% disapproval.

Pollster Matt Towery, who supervised the survey, attributed the shift to a combination of recent developments, including Trump’s Dec. 17 address to the nation and newly released inflation data. “After months of Trump hovering at or above 50% approval, our November survey showed a dip to 44%. But in recent days, his approval has moved back into the 50% range,” Towery said.

Trump’s prime-time White House speech came at a moment when economic issues, particularly inflation and the cost of living, have remained a consistent concern for voters. The address was widely seen as an attempt to recalibrate his domestic agenda and steady public opinion following several weeks of weaker polling.

Towery also pointed to fresh economic figures released Dec. 18 by the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. According to the agency, the Chained Consumer Price Index rose 2.6% over the past year, though officials cautioned that some of the most recent monthly readings may still be revised.

The pollster said the improvement in Trump’s numbers was fueled by gains among several demographic groups, including independents, younger voters, and women. At the same time, he warned that a relatively large share of respondents — especially independents — remain undecided, underscoring the potential for shifts as the 2026 midterm elections approach.

“Interestingly, our recent job performance surveys have shown the number of undecided respondents at an unusually high number,” Towery said. “This tells us that some voters, particularly independents, remain unsure as to his accomplishments so far. This suggests he has work to do as he and the GOP enter the midterm season.”

InsiderAdvantage said the survey was conducted Dec. 19–20 among 800 likely voters using cellphone calls and text messages. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

{Matzav.com}

A wave of shootings over the weekend left at least 11 people wounded across Chicago, with one of the victims later dying from her injuries, according to multiple reports.

CBS News said those struck by gunfire ranged in age from “18 to 55,” underscoring the broad impact of the violence across the city.

Details of the fatal incident were reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, which said the shooting took place around 8:20 a.m. Shabbos. A gunman in another vehicle opened fire on a car driven by a 22-year-old woman “in the 200 block of East 103rd Street.” As she attempted to flee, her vehicle crashed into a tree. She was transported to a hospital, where she later died.

Police said the shooter was able to escape the scene and has not been taken into custody.

The latest violence follows a deadly pattern seen in recent weeks. Breitbart News reported that the previous weekend saw nine people shot across Chicago from Friday into Sunday morning, with one of those victims dying from gunshot wounds.

Citywide homicide figures remain high. Crain’s Chicago Business reported that Chicago recorded 395 murders from January 1, 2025, through December 9, 2025, highlighting the continued toll of violent crime in Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration.

{Matzav.com}

A new report by the Anti-Defamation League says a significant minority of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s transition appointees have past connections to anti-Zionist activism, prompting sharp debate over the makeup of his incoming administration.

The ADL said its findings are based on a review of more than 400 individuals selected by Mamdani for advisory and administrative roles. According to the report, at least 20 percent of those appointees have online activity or organizational ties linked to anti-Zionist or anti-Israel causes.

Among the groups cited are Students for Justice in Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace, and Within Our Lifetime, which the ADL describes as a leading hardline activist organization in New York City.

The report states that some appointees publicly expressed support for Palestinian “resistance” against Israel. In one case, an appointee wrote that such resistance was “justified” one day after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. Two appointees were identified as having posted messages endorsing that framing.

The ADL also found that at least four individuals connected to the transition have ties to Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, including online posts praising or supporting him.

Campus protest activity also featured prominently in the report. According to the ADL, at least a dozen appointees voiced support for anti-Israel encampments at universities, and at least five personally took part. One individual appointed to the Committee on Youth and Education joined a City University of New York encampment and shared images of herself standing before a banner bearing an inverted red triangle — a symbol associated with Hamas — alongside the words “Long live the resistance.”

The report further alleges that at least one-fifth of Mamdani’s appointees have posted statements characterized as anti-Zionist or anti-Israel. Examples cited include a Committee on Legal Affairs nominee who wrote that “Zionism is racism,” and a Committee on Criminal Legal System appointee who was involved in circulating a statement describing Zionism as a “genocidal ideology.” Another appointee, the report says, shared content claiming that Zionists are worse than Nazis and asserting that “Zionists are never Jews.”

At the same time, the ADL emphasized that many of Mamdani’s selections raised no concerns. The organization noted that at least 25 members of the transition team have prior relationships with the ADL or documented records of support for the Jewish community.

In response to its findings, the ADL announced the launch of a “Mamdani Monitor” initiative aimed at tracking the mayor-elect’s policies and appointments. The move has drawn criticism from progressive activists and from Mamdani himself.

Addressing the report at a press conference, Mamdani said, “I have always spoken out against antisemitism and hatred in any form and have made it clear that the commitment that I have made to protect New Yorkers, to protect Jewish New Yorkers, is one that I will uphold.”

He also pushed back on the ADL’s conclusions, saying, “We must distinguish between antisemitism and criticism of the Israeli government and the ADL’s report oftentimes ignores this distinction, and in doing so, it draws attention away from the very real crisis of antisemitism.”

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s High Court of Justice has ordered the state to submit its long-awaited response to a petition demanding media access to Gaza by early January, sharply criticizing the government for what it described as a pattern of stalling.

In a ruling issued Sunday, Justice Ofer Grosskopf made clear that the court would not tolerate another postponement in the case brought by the Foreign Press Association. The judge set January 4 as the final deadline for the state to present its position, rejecting a request for an additional three-week extension.

“Now the respondents [the state and the defense minister] are requesting another extension, this time of three weeks, and they [may yet] ask for more. It is not possible to agree to this,” Grosskopf wrote, adding that if the state does not comply, the court will issue a ruling without waiting further.

The petition, filed in 2024, challenges Israel’s sweeping ban on independent journalistic access to Gaza since the outbreak of the war. The state initially informed the court in June last year that it could not allow journalists into the territory due to security concerns, a position it has not formally updated since.

Grosskopf noted that the government had previously committed to submitting its response by November 23, but then sought and received two extensions that pushed the deadline to Sunday. Those delays were granted despite the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that came into effect on October 10, a development the court expected the state to address.

The FPA welcomed the court’s decision, saying, “After two years of the state’s delay tactics, we are pleased that the court’s patience has finally run out.”
“We renew our call for the State of Israel to immediately grant journalists free and unfettered access to the Gaza Strip. And should the government continue to obstruct press freedoms, we hope that the Supreme Court will recognize and uphold those freedoms,” the organization added.

Since the war began, policy set by the defense minister and the Israel Defense Forces has barred all journalists from entering Gaza independently. Israeli reporters, and a smaller number of foreign correspondents, have been permitted into the enclave only as embedded journalists accompanying IDF units.

The state has argued that allowing independent media access would endanger both soldiers and reporters, citing operational and personal security risks. Those justifications, the petition maintains, are far less compelling in light of the cessation of hostilities.

According to the FPA, the government has requested eight separate deferrals since the petition was submitted, all of which were approved by the court. A hearing was also postponed earlier this year due to the June conflict with Iran.

In its filing, the association argues that the blanket prohibition on independent reporting from Gaza “contravenes the foundational principles of the state as a democratic country, and represents a severe, unreasonable and disproportionate injury to the freedom of the press, freedom of expression, and freedom of employment for journalists and the right to information.”

The petition further claims that foreign journalists have been given fewer opportunities to embed with the IDF than their Israeli counterparts, that decisions on who is allowed to enter Gaza are made largely without coordination with the FPA, and that embedded reporting is so tightly supervised that it prevents comprehensive and meaningful coverage of the war.

{Matzav.com}