Matzav

The Knesset Finance Committee on Monday approved a list of 95 nonprofit organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions under Section 46 of the Income Tax Ordinance. The list was finalized with one notable exception: a Temple Mount advocacy group was removed at the request of MK Moshe Gafni.

Gafni, who chairs the committee and leads Degel HaTorah, asked that the organization known as the Temple Mount Administration be taken off the list until the Israel Tax Authority conducts a new and thorough examination of its activities.

Explaining why he demanded the removal, Gafni said that Prime Minister Netanyahu repeatedly insists that the status quo on the Temple Mount must remain unchanged. He argued that the organization’s activities contradict longstanding halachic rulings and the position of the country’s chief rabbinate, and therefore should not be granted eligibility for tax-recognized donations. He added that he wants the Tax Authority to verify that granting such approval would not violate existing law or disrupt the current status quo.

The Temple Mount Administration responded with a statement defending its work. The organization said that the past decade has seen significant positive developments on the Temple Mount, including regular morning and afternoon prayer gatherings led by prominent rabbinic figures. It said it has been a partner in these improvements through coordination with government officials and security agencies and intends to continue its efforts.

With the rest of the list approved, the Tax Authority will now decide whether the group can regain eligibility after completing its renewed review.

{Matzav.com}

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President Donald Trump used a Truth Social message on Monday to urge Israel to stay engaged with Syria diplomatically, emphasizing that Jerusalem should avoid steps that could hinder Damascus’ progress. He praised recent developments in the region, insisting that “the United States is very satisfied with the results displayed, through hard work and determination, in the country of Syria. We are doing everything within our power to make sure the Government of Syria continues to do what was intended, which is substantial, in order to build a true and prosperous country.”

Trump highlighted what he believes has been a major boost for Damascus, noting that “One of the things that has helped them greatly was my termination of very strong and biting sanctions – I believe this was truly appreciated by Syria, its leadership, and its people!”

He followed with a direct appeal to Israel, saying that “it is very important that Israel maintain a strong and true dialogue with Syria, and that nothing takes place that will interfere with Syria’s evolution into a prosperous State. The new President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is working diligently to make sure good things happen, and that both Syria and Israel will have a long and prosperous relationship together.”

Calling it a pivotal moment, Trump added: “This is a historic opportunity, and adds to the success, already attained, for peace in the Middle East!”

His remarks were issued shortly after a volatile stretch along the Syrian-Israeli frontier. Days earlier, Israeli forces carried out a significant raid targeting three “Jamaa Islamiya” operatives in southern Syria. According to the IDF, the mission turned into close-quarters combat, leaving three soldiers in critical condition and three more with varying injuries.

The tension escalated the following day in Beit Jinn, a Syrian town situated at the base of Mount Hermon, roughly 11 kilometers from Israel’s border. Reports indicate that IDF units entered the area—near a buffer zone monitored by Israel—with the intent of detaining a local resident. Their arrival triggered an eruption of violence, including exchanges of gunfire between troops and residents, resulting in the deaths of two Syrian civilians and injuries to others.

Throughout the confrontation, Israeli forces deployed artillery fire while Israel Air Force aircraft circled overhead, providing support as the situation unfolded. After approximately two hours of clashes, the IDF pulled back to the outskirts of the town.

{Matzav.com}

As the IDF resumes arrests of yeshiva students classified as deserting or absent without leave, attorney Yoav Lalum has issued an urgent demand to the military and legal leadership, alleging that every student arrested in proactive operations over the past year has been from Sephardic communities.

In a sharply worded letter sent to IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, Lalum—head of the Noar K’Halacha organization—called for an immediate halt to what he described as targeted enforcement against Sephardic bnei Torah.

The renewed arrests by the Military Police have already raised tensions across the chareidi sector. Lalum warned that the data itself points to a deeply troubling pattern. “A simple review of the list of detainees who were arrested in proactive arrests by the IDF enforcement authorities reveals that almost all of the detainees arrested in the past year were specifically from the Sephardic communities,” he wrote.

He said such an outcome is impossible to justify and signals a systemic problem. “There is no way to accept such a result,” he told the Chief of Staff, adding that the situation “raises more than a suspicion that, heaven forbid, improper and illegitimate considerations are guiding the discretion of enforcement officials in the army, as they exercise their authority under the law to enforce the rules on deserters or draft evaders.”

Lalum requested full disclosure of the guidelines governing enforcement decisions and called for a comprehensive internal investigation before he proceeds with a petition to the High Court. “I am making this appeal as an exhaustion of proceedings before filing a petition,” he wrote, “with the goal that you order a full inquiry into the events that occurred and how it is possible that only Sephardic yeshiva students were arrested in proactive arrests.”

He further warned that the impact extends far beyond the arrests themselves, striking at the core of the community’s trust in the IDF and the political establishment. “It goes without saying,” Lalum wrote, “that these actions severely damage the trust of the Sephardic chareidi public in the army and in any draft law, even one agreed upon by the chareidi leadership. Just as the chareidi establishment treats Sephardic children in the education system, there is a serious concern that those who will be forced to fill the quotas will be Sephardic avreichim and bnei Torah whose life is Torah, while Ashkenazi troublemakers will receive deferments.”

Lalum ended his letter by emphasizing that the military must demonstrate transparent and equal enforcement, especially as the possibility of legal action looms. “It need not be stated,” he wrote, “that it is the duty of the IDF—as the army of the nation—to clarify and prove that there is no concern whatsoever of ethnic discrimination in its conduct regarding Sephardic chareidim.”

The IDF has not yet issued a response.

{Matzav.com}

An internal inquiry within the Shin Bet has revealed that Israel’s security service had no knowledge that the Nova music festival was scheduled to take place at the Re’im parking area on the night of October 6–7, 2023, according to a report published today by Haaretz. The oversight became evident only after the events began to unfold.

Despite the fact that a Shin Bet liaison reportedly participated in at least two coordination meetings with both police officials and the IDF in the days preceding the attack, the information about the large-scale gathering never reached senior leadership within the agency. The reason the details were not relayed upward remains unclear.

Because the event was not flagged to command staff, the Nova festival was entirely absent from the Shin Bet’s real-time situational evaluations during the night Hamas launched its assault. The lack of awareness meant that the gathering was not factored into early assessments or operational preparations.

Other sources indicated that the IDF also failed to notify the Shin Bet about the festival’s close proximity to the Gaza border. As a result, the agency’s operations center learned of the event only hours into the unfolding horror—approximately three hours after the attack had begun—when reports of multiple casualties started to pour in from the area.

A senior security official said the missing information could have been consequential. According to the source, had the agency or the broader security system been updated ahead of time—or even during the late-night hours before the massacre—it “might have influenced decision-making processes both within the Shin Bet and across the entire security establishment.”

{Matzav.com}

A moving scene unfolded in Rechovot in recent days as Mayor Matan Dil paid a special visit to the magnificent new campus of Yeshivas Maor HaTalmud, one of the leading flagship institutions of the Torah world in Eretz Yisroel.

The mayor arrived together with the city’s CEO, Dudi Ashkenazi, and the two were welcomed into the study of the rosh yeshiva, Rav Avraham Yitzchak Kook, a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah.

Throughout the tour, Mayor Dil expressed deep admiration for the scale and beauty of the yeshiva’s expanded campus. Standing inside the new facilities, he remarked, “We have been privileged in the city of Rechovot to have one of the most distinguished yeshivas—a true flagship of the Torah world. We will continue working together to strengthen its institutions for the honor of the city and the honor of Torah.”

During the meeting, Rav Kook offered warm encouragement to the mayor for his steadfast efforts to uphold and strengthen the sanctity of Shabbos in the city. He praised the mayor’s dedication and urged him to continue acting on behalf of the spiritual character of Rechovot.

The rosh yeshiva then accompanied the mayor into the central beis medrash, where hundreds of talmidei chachamim were immersed in learning. The powerful sound of Torah filled the hall, leaving a strong impression on the mayor, who did not conceal his joy and excitement as he listened to the vibrant atmosphere of continuous learning.

At the conclusion of the visit, Rav Kook presented Mayor Dil with one of his sefarim and bestowed upon him a heartfelt birkas kohen.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed the country on Monday, releasing a message aimed at calming the growing storm surrounding Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s request for a presidential pardon. In his video statement, delivered in Hebrew, Herzog stressed that his guiding principle is the welfare of the nation, noting that “The issue of Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s request for a pardon is clearly provoking debate and is deeply unsettling for many people in the country, across different communities.”

Herzog emphasized that the process would be handled with absolute care and neutrality. “I have already clarified that it will be handled in the most correct and precise manner. I will consider solely the best interests of the State of Israel and Israeli society,” he said, underscoring that no pressure campaign will sway him. He added that public input was welcome — “One thing is clear to me: Violent discourse will not impact me; on the other hand, respectful discourse will definitely create a discussion. I invite the Israeli public to the President’s Residence website to express their opinions and respond appropriately.”

Even before Herzog’s remarks, political circles were buzzing with reports that the President was weighing the request seriously, including the possibility of tying a pardon to an agreement for early elections. Channel 13 News mentioned this scenario earlier in the day. Those aligned with Netanyahu, however, pushed back on any conditional approach, stating unequivocally that “this is all or nothing – either an unconditional pardon, or the Prime Minister will continue his trial until acquittal.”

Netanyahu formally submitted his petition on Sunday through attorney Amit Hadad, nearly six years after charging documents were first filed. The letter makes no acknowledgment of wrongdoing. Instead, Netanyahu framed the appeal as a step toward restoring internal unity, writing: “In recent years, tensions and disputes have increased between parts of the people and between the various state authorities. I am aware that the proceedings in my case have become a focus of fierce debates and bear broad public and ethical responsibility, out of an understanding of the implications of all the events as a result, and despite my personal interest in conducting the trial and proving my innocence until I am fully acquitted, I believe that the public interest dictates otherwise.”

He continued by linking the end of the legal proceedings to easing national friction: “Out of a public responsibility as Prime Minister to try to bring about reconciliation between the parts of the people, I have no doubt that the end of the trial will help to reduce the intensity of the flames in the debate that has arisen around it.”

Following the submission, the President’s Office acknowledged the gravity of what now lies before Herzog. It noted that the President “is aware that this is an extraordinary request which carries with it significant implications. After receiving all of the relevant opinions, the President will responsibly and sincerely consider the request.”

The paperwork has already been routed to the Justice Ministry’s Pardons Department, where an official recommendation will be drafted. That opinion will then be assessed by multiple government bodies, including the legal adviser to the President’s Office and the minister designated to oversee the process. Because Justice Minister Yariv Levin is a senior member of Netanyahu’s Likud party and therefore conflicted out, Minister Amichai Eliyahu is expected to take the lead on evaluating the matter.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Iron Beam (“Magen Or” in Hebrew) laser defense system will begin defending against aerial threats at the end of the month, the country’s Defense Ministry announced on Monday.

“With development complete and a comprehensive testing program that has validated the system’s capabilities, we are prepared to deliver initial operational capability to the IDF on Dec. 30, 2025,” said Brig. Gen. (res.) Daniel Gold, head of the Directorate of Defense Research and Development at the Defense Ministry.

Brig. Gen. (res.) Daniel Gold, head of the Directorate of Defense Research and Development at the Israeli Defense Ministry, speaks at the International DefenseTech Summit at Tel Aviv University on Dec. 1, 2025. Credit: Israel Ministry of Defense.

Speaking at the International DefenseTech Summit at Tel Aviv University, Gold said the system was a complement to the Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow air defense systems, and “is expected to fundamentally change the rules of engagement on the battlefield.”

The system uses a 100-kilowatt laser to intercept rockets, mortars and UAVs at a range of more than 6 miles (10 kilometers), at a fraction of the cost of traditional interceptors. The estimated cost per firing is about $2 to $5, compared to $40,000 to $80,000 for a single Iron Dome interceptor.

The Iron Beam—to be renamed “Ohr Eitan” (“Eitan’s Light”) after Eitan Oster, who fell in battle in Lebanon and whose father was one of its developers—will be integrated into the Israel Defense Forces’ air defense array.

The Defense Ministry and Israel’s Rafael defense technology firm announced in September the completion of a series of successful trials of the Iron Beam system at a facility in southern Israel.

 

“The system proved its effectiveness in a complete operational configuration by intercepting rockets, mortars, aircraft and UAVs across a comprehensive range of operational scenarios,” they said in a joint statement at the time.

The Israeli military revealed in May that a smaller version of the laser defense system was tested in combat operations during the war that began on Oct. 7, 2023, shooting down dozens of enemy drones. Most of the interceptions were of Hezbollah drones, but the system also downed UAVs on other fronts, according to the IDF. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Republican strategist Karl Rove is urging his party to prepare a concrete and convincing pitch to voters well before the next midterm cycle, cautioning that the absence of a real health care proposal could severely damage their prospects.

Speaking on Fox News’s “Journal Editorial Report,” Rove said the GOP cannot enter the 2026 races empty-handed on core domestic issues. He argued that candidates must be able to explain both their economic vision and their approach to health care in a way that resonates beyond party loyalists. “If the Republicans want to maximize their victories in 2026, they need to go back in the way-back machine to 1992 and remember the immortal words of that great strategist, James Carville. ‘It’s the economy stupid,’ he said,” Rove noted. “And you got to have an agenda that is forward-looking.”

Rove said Republicans should frame their plans around policies that encourage economic expansion and help families improve their financial well-being. As he put it, candidates must be thinking in terms of “progrowth policies” that ordinary voters can immediately understand and feel.

He stressed that health care cannot be sidelined. “And ‘don’t forget health care,’ Carville famously said,” Rove reminded viewers. “The Republicans have got to have a health care agenda, otherwise they’re going to be in deep trouble.”

The topic has already proven volatile. The recent government shutdown — the longest in the nation’s history — hinged in large part on demands from Democrats to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies before permitting the government to reopen. Those enhanced subsidies expire at the end of the year, a development expected to push premiums higher for millions. That expiration is also creating uncertainty inside the GOP, since many Republican voters rely on those subsidies and are now bracing for steep costs.

Rove said these pressures are exposing division within the Republican ranks. In his view, lawmakers are increasingly worried about the political fallout tied to the public’s economic frustrations, while the benefits of the administration’s major tax and spending legislation have not yet been felt widely enough. He described the anxiety this way: members are “scared to death of the midterm election,” because the public isn’t feeling the results of President Trump’s major legislative achievement.

Rove pointed directly to the gap between Trump’s expectations and voter perceptions. “If the president’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ was as instantaneously positive as he thinks, his approval numbers on the economy wouldn’t be in the 30s, and his overall approval wouldn’t be in the low 40s,” he said.

He concluded that Republicans cannot afford to enter the cycle without a clear roadmap. “So Republicans are concerned, and they need to have an agenda going into the 2026 midterms, and they don’t have a forward-looking agenda at this moment,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

Maran Rav Dov Landau delivered a powerful shmuess at Yeshiva Ma’or HaTorah on Sunday, issuing an unequivocal declaration that there is no consent whatsoever for yeshiva bochurim from Sephardic communities to leave yeshiva and enlist in the IDF.

The gathering, hosted by Rav Avraham Salim, a member of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah of Shas, centered on the current climate surrounding the draft debate and the claims being circulated regarding Sephardic bnei Torah. Rav Landau devoted his remarks to affirming the unwavering position of the Torah world.

Rav Landau began by highlighting the rich Torah legacy of Sephardic Jewry throughout the generations, noting that many of the greatest sages of all time were Sephardic. “Many of our greatest teachers throughout the generations were Sephardic sages: the Rambam, the Rif, the Ramban, the Rashba, Maran HaBeis Yosef, the Mishneh LaMelech, the Machaneh Ephraim, the Sha’ar HaMelech, and other giants whose teachings we absorb to this day,” he said. “In every beis midrash we immerse ourselves in their Torah just as we do in the teachings of the Ashkenazic sages.” He recalled the powerful impression made on him in his youth by the rosh yeshiva of Porat Yosef, Rav Ezra Attiya, whose noble and refined character left a lifelong mark on him.

Rav Landau then reflected on the early years of the State, which he described as a time of profound spiritual assault on Sephardic communities. “At the beginning of statehood, in a cruel and sweeping spiritual destruction orchestrated by the heads of the government, Sephardic Jewry suffered a catastrophe that claimed countless souls,” he said. In response, he noted, the great leaders of both the Ashkenazic and Sephardic worlds fought with all their strength to rebuild Torah education. The prominent Ashkenazic yeshivos opened their doors to students from the Sephardic communities, many of whom went on to become outstanding talmidei chachomim and marbitzei Torah.

He described with gratitude the extraordinary growth of Sephardic yeshivos over the past decades. “Today there are many yeshivos for Sephardic bochurim that are an inseparable part of the world of Torah,” he said. Their standard of learning, their atmosphere, and their spiritual stature, he noted, rival the finest of the veteran yeshivos. Leading them are great Sephardic roshei yeshiva whose dedication and leadership have built a vibrant Torah world filled with “excellent bnei Torah and young tzorvim growing into talmidei chachomim who sanctify Heaven’s name.”

With emotional intensity, Rav Landau turned to the rumors and claims being spread regarding Sephardic bochurim and the draft. “To our great sorrow, there are inciters and agitators who malign the roshei yeshiva, as if there is some agreement—chalilah—for bnei Torah from Sephardic backgrounds to abandon the wellspring of Torah and enlist,” he declared. “Chalilah v’chas! May the mouths of the liars be sealed. There is no such agreement and no such consent.”

He stressed that roshei yeshiva invest their full strength into every talmid, without distinction of origin or ability, guiding even those who struggle with patience and devotion, exactly as the Gemara instructs. Those who attempt to sow division, he warned, inflict deep harm on the entire Torah world and desecrate the name of Heaven, whether knowingly or unknowingly. “One who desecrates Hashem’s name is accountable regardless,” he said.

Rav Landau concluded with a heartfelt charge to bnei hayeshivos: “Every yeshiva student must understand our mission: to learn Torah with depth, diligence, and total immersion, disconnected from the influences of the street.” He closed with a prayer that Torah learning continue to expand without interruption: “May Hashem help us continue to see the flourishing of the batei medrash and the increase of Torah learners without limit. Avinu Malkeinu, remove harsh decrees from us. May the earth be filled with the knowledge of Hashem as water covers the sea, and may we merit to see the return of Tzion, speedily in our days. Amein.”

{Matzav.com}

A&B Famous, one of the most widely recognized names in the kosher food market, has announced a temporary halt in production of its flagship Original Gefilte Fish, citing an unexpected shortage of key fish varieties essential to its recipe.

In a public notice, the company explained that its longstanding reputation rests on strict adherence to kashrus, freshness, and the use of only the highest-quality ingredients, including fish that is never previously frozen. That commitment, the company noted, is the foundation of the product’s “signature fresh, authentic, and delicious flavor.”

According to A&B, seasonal harvesting restrictions have made the specific varieties of fresh fish required for its classic recipe unavailable. As a result, the company said, it is currently unable to produce its Original Gefilte Fish in accordance with its rigorous standards.

“A&B Original Gefilte Fish will be temporarily unavailable until we are once again able to obtain the premium, freshly caught fish required for our recipe,” the notice states.

Despite the shortage, the company emphasized that several other products remain fully stocked. These include White & Pike, Salmon, and Gluten-Free gefilte fish varieties, all of which continue to be produced without disruption.

A&B expressed cautious optimism that the issue will be resolved within two to three weeks, at which point they expect to resume full production and restock the complete line of products.

The notice concludes with an apology for any inconvenience and thanks customers for their loyalty and understanding during the temporary shortage.

A&B Famous is based in Paterson, New Jersey.

{Matzav.com}

A new rift is emerging within United Torah Judaism (UTJ) as Agudas Yisroel signals firm opposition to lifting the bloc’s boycott of coalition-sponsored legislation. While coalition leaders were hopeful that the chareidi parties would ease their protest amid progress on the draft law, Agudah has made clear it will not budge until the bill passes its final Knesset reading.

The dispute comes as Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman MK Boaz Bismuth prepares for three intense discussions this week on the updated draft law. Coalition officials had assessed over the weekend that UTJ might partially end its boycott and support several preliminary coalition bills.

However, a report published Sunday evening revealed that Agudas Yisroel opposes lifting the boycott entirely, arguing that without a completed draft law—passed on its third reading—any parliamentary activity amounts to “empty deliberations.”

Degel HaTorah, the other half of UTJ, has not yet reached a decision. Senior Degel figures are weighing whether to accept the coalition’s request and support a limited number of bills. A final ruling is expected at today’s weekly faction meeting.

The decision carries broader coalition implications. Because Shas typically coordinates its voting strategy with Degel HaTorah, Degel’s stance will likely determine whether Shas joins or refrains from the boycott. If Degel chooses to support the coalition while Agudah refuses, Agudas Yisroel may once again find itself isolated, with the other chareidi parties returning to routine cooperation with the government.

The renewed political tension comes as the coalition works to secure a majority for the draft law—a task still far from guaranteed. So far, only two coalition MKs have publicly declared outright opposition: Likud MK Yuli Edelstein and MK Sharren Haskel of Gideon Sa’ar’s party.

Other lawmakers believed to harbor concerns—including Dan Illouz, Ofir Sofer, Bezalel Smotrich, and Eli Dallal—have stated that they will review the updated draft during committee discussions and decide their final vote afterward.

{Matzav.com}

During a flight from Palm Beach back to Washington, President Donald Trump made clear he had no regrets about the language he used last week when he referred to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as “retarded.” The exchange took place aboard Air Force One after a reporter pressed him on the wording he used in a Thanksgiving post.

When the reporter asked if he still stood behind the insult, Trump dismissed the concern. “Yeah, I think there’s something wrong with him,” he responded, firing back with, “Do you have a problem with it?” He repeated that his criticism stemmed from Walz’s stance on refugee policy, adding, “I think there’s something wrong with him … Anybody that would allow those people into a state and pay billions of dollars out to Somalia. We gave billions of dollars to Somalia — it’s not even a country because it doesn’t function like a country. It’s got a name, but it doesn’t function like a country. Yeah, there’s something wrong with Walz.”

His original Thanksgiving message on Truth Social said that the country’s “refugee burden is the leading cause of social dysfunction in America, something that did not exist after World War II,” and then moved directly into his criticism of Walz. In the same social media post, Trump claimed Minnesota had been overwhelmed by new arrivals from Somalia. “As an example, hundreds of thousands of refugees from Somalia are completely taking over the once great State of Minnesota. Somalian gangs are roving the streets looking for ‘prey’ as our wonderful people stay locked in their apartments and houses hoping against hope that they will be left alone,” he wrote.

He went on in that post to accuse the governor of inaction. “The seriously retarded Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, does nothing, either through fear, incompetence, or both,” Trump wrote, turning his attention next to Rep. Ilhan Omar. He claimed she “does nothing but hatefully complain about our Country,” adding pointed allegations about her origins and immigration history, saying her birthplace was “a decadent, backward, and crime ridden nation, which is essentially not even a country for lack of Government, Military, Police, schools, etc…”

Trump concluded the Thanksgiving message with a sweeping policy declaration, vowing that he “will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover.”

Walz addressed the remarks on Sunday and dismissed them entirely, saying it is “a badge of honor” to draw such an attack from the president.

{Matzav.com}

The renewed battle over Israel’s controversial draft law is set to intensify today as the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee launches a new round of high-pressure deliberations on the updated proposal. Committee chairman MK Boaz Bismuth is expected to enforce strict speaking limits as lawmakers confront a packed room and a tight legislative deadline.

The committee will open its first session of the new discussion cycle following the distribution of the revised bill text late last week. The updated version, drafted under Bismuth’s direction, is intended to address demands from the Knesset’s legal advisers and bolster the proposal’s chances of surviving scrutiny by the High Court.

Lawmakers are bracing for one of the most crowded meetings the committee has seen in months. According to internal assessments, the hearing room is expected to be filled to capacity with MKs, lobbyists, organizational representatives, and activists. Committee officials are already preparing for the likelihood that not all attendees will be able to enter.

To maintain order, Bismuth has instituted a stringent time-management mechanism: every speaker will be allotted between 90 seconds and two minutes, enforced by an official buzzer to prevent long-winded speeches, delays, or filibusters.

The coming days will feature an intensive schedule. Three sessions are planned for this week—today’s meeting, followed by two additional hearings tomorrow. Next week, discussions are set to expand to nearly every day as the committee races to produce a finalized version of the law for presentation to the Knesset plenum.

Behind the scenes, officials note that the draft law has already undergone 51 committee discussions, including those held under former chairman MK Yuli Edelstein. The latest round will focus primarily on the most recent amendments introduced last Thursday, which were crafted to ensure legal durability and meet the requirements laid out by government legal advisers.

{Matzav.com}

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During an exchange with reporters aboard Air Force One, President Donald Trump reignited long-running controversies surrounding Rep. Ilhan Omar, suggesting she should not remain in the United States if allegations about her past are accurate. Pointing to years of claims about her immigration history, he said the situation is reason enough to expel her.

“Somalia, where you have a Congressman goes around telling everybody about our Constitution, yet she supposedly came into our country by marrying her brother,” Trump said while speaking to reporters on Air Force One. “Well, if that’s true, she shouldn’t be a Congressman, and we should throw her the —- out of our country.”

Trump, continuing his remarks, argued that the U.S. doesn’t benefit from individuals who arrive in the country only to, in his words, lecture Americans. While fielding questions, he noted that the nation does not need people “telling us what to do.”

His pointed comments emerged as Democrats — with Omar at the forefront — have been vigorously defending Minnesota’s Somali community. That defense has drawn scrutiny amid reports alleging “widespread fraud of taxpayers’ healthcare programs” tied to Somali-run operations. Trump, for his part, has repeatedly vowed to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) amnesty for Somali nationals, citing concerns about billions in missing funds.

Breitbart’s Warner Todd Huston documented Omar’s response to Trump’s rhetoric, noting that she accused him of issuing “lawless threats” toward Somali immigrants. Huston wrote that Omar has adopted an aggressive tone in pushing back, standing firmly with Somalians while targeting Trump’s comments.

“Unsurprisingly, Somali native and U.S. congresswoman Ilhan Omar has been very vocal in her support for her fellow countrymen. She has also attacked Trump for ‘lawless threats’ she says he has leveled against Somalians.”

Trump’s criticisms escalated further in a Thanksgiving post on Truth Social, where he blasted both Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Omar. He cast Omar as a constant critic of America, invoking harsh and inflammatory language while accusing her of benefiting from fraudulent immigration.

“The seriously retarded Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, does nothing, either through fear, incompetence, or both, while the worst ‘Congressman/woman’ in our Country, Ilhan Omar, always wrapped in her swaddling hijab, and who probably came into the U.S.A. illegally in that you are not allowed to marry your brother, does nothing but hatefully complain about our Country, its Constitution, and how ‘badly’ she is treated, when her place of origin is a decadent, backward, and crime ridden nation, which is essentially not even a country for lack of Government, Military, Police, schools, etc,” Trump said.

Long before these exchanges, conservative writers had been pressing the same accusations. Powerline reported in early 2020 that the Daily Mail had revealed statements from a Somali community figure claiming Omar “DID marry her brother” and had admitted she would do whatever necessary to secure U.S. documentation for him.

The blog’s February update leaned heavily on a report by Martin Gould: “Is there anyone in the world who doesn’t know that Ilhan Omar married her brother in 2009? It has been my mission in life to get the word out over the past three and a half years. Today Martin Gould reports for The Daily Mail: ‘Ilhan Omar DID marry her brother and said she would “do what she had to do to get him “papers” to keep him in U.S.”, reveals Somali community leader.’ Maybe word will get out now that is has been reported in the most widely read English-language news site in the world.”

Gould’s findings came after spending time in Minneapolis and reconnecting with the original Somali source who first brought the allegations to light. Powerline described the relationship between the writer and the source, Abdihaikm Osman Nur, tracing it back nearly a decade and detailing the efforts made to corroborate the story.

A separate Powerline entry from July 2019 resurfaced additional claims asserting that Omar’s entire arrival in the U.S. was based on an invented identity. According to the report, Omar allegedly “entered the United States as a fraudulent member of the ‘Omar’ family,” joining relatives who were not biologically connected to her in order to secure asylum.

The article outlined the alleged split within her genetic family, claiming that three members came to America under falsified names while the rest obtained asylum in the United Kingdom. The outlet reiterated that her birth name was Ilhan Nur Said Elmi and noted that she and Ahmed Nur Said Elmi were married in 2009 and “did not divorce until 2017.”

In September, Trump again took to Truth Social to condemn Somalia, describing the country as mired in chaos and dysfunction. He also revisited the accusation that Omar had circumvented immigration rules, questioning how someone in her position could dictate policy to the United States.

In that post, he argued that Somalia was “plagued by a lack of central Government control, persistent Poverty, Hunger, Resurgent Terrorism, Piracy, decades of Civil War, Corruption, and pervasive Violence.” He went on to criticize Omar for telling the U.S. government “how to run America” and wondered aloud whether she was “the one that married her brother in order to gain Citizenship.”

{Matzav.com}

A political firestorm erupted Sunday night after MK Yair Lapid unveiled his party’s plan to introduce legislation stripping voting rights from Israelis who are deemed fit for IDF service but do not enlist—while explicitly exempting the Arab public from the proposal. The announcement immediately triggered condemnation across the chareidi political spectrum.

Lapid defended the idea by challenging the assumption that the ballot is beyond scrutiny. “I don’t know who invented this phrase that the right to vote is sacred. It is not sacred. In a democratic state, there are rights and obligations, and one depends on the other – they cannot be separated,” he said, arguing that civic privileges must reflect civic duties.

He went on to clarify that the law would apply only to those who receive a draft notice but refuse to show up. “For example, the Arab public in Israel is not summoned to enlist, so it does not apply to them. Or people with mental or physical conditions who cannot enlist – it does not apply to them either. It applies only to those who received a draft order, are healthy, and can report to the induction center but choose not to. They are offenders.”

Lapid added that he plans to advance another bill targeting incarcerated individuals. “I also intend to submit, alongside this, a law stating that prisoners will not be able to vote in Israel, as well as those who fail to report to the induction center,” he said, indicating that the effort is part of a broader campaign to link voting rights with compliance to the law.

Shas responded with immediate fury, accusing the Yesh Atid leader of singling out the chareidi community. The party declared: “Yair Lapid, who hastened to clarify that he did not intend to revoke voting rights from Arabs but only from haredim, revealed his true face and the depth of his hatred toward Jews who observe Torah and mitzvot. According to Lapid, Jews who love the land, study Torah, and pray daily for the safety of IDF soldiers are worth less than Arabs, some of whom support Palestinian terror. Shameful and disgraceful.”

UTJ MK Meir Porush also issued a blistering retort, directing his remarks at Israel’s minister responsible for combating antisemitism. “Minister for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Chikli, you need not look abroad for battles against antisemites – Yair Lapid is right here in the Israeli parliament, with ideas that even antisemites abroad would not dare voice today. Will Lapid and Liberman’s next law be a ban on haredim driving on Israeli roads paved with state funds?”

{Matzav.com}

Shin Bet chief David Zini made a discreet trip to Egypt on Sunday, sitting down with the country’s intelligence director for high-level talks. Kan News reported that their conversation centered on the evolving situation in the Gaza Strip and how both sides envision advancing the next stage of their ongoing understandings. The visit is widely viewed as Zini’s first formal overseas engagement since assuming his position.

Earlier in the day, a senior Palestinian Arab official told Agence France-Presse that Egyptian security services have already begun preparing Palestinian Arab police forces for their anticipated role in governing Gaza once hostilities end. This training effort has quietly been underway for months.

According to that report, Egypt ran an extensive program in March in which more than 500 Palestinian Arab police personnel and operatives were put through physical, tactical, and classroom-based instruction. Hundreds more have been participating in additional rounds of training since September, part of a growing pipeline Egypt intends to expand.

Several months back, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Ati publicly explained that Cairo’s plan was to train and equip as many as 5,000 Palestinian Arab officers who could be deployed in Gaza when a new administrative framework takes shape. That initiative appears to be moving forward.

Al-Araby Al-Jadeed added further context, noting that under the Fatah-Hamas understanding reached with Egyptian mediation at the end of 2024, the technocratic administration expected to govern Gaza after the war will enlist 5,000 newly trained police recruits. These will serve alongside another 5,000 officers who had previously worked under the Hamas-run security structure.

Another Palestinian Arab source indicated that the entire training and preparation effort is being conducted in full coordination with the Palestinian Authority. These officers, the source said, will be funded through the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, which is slated to oversee their salaries once they take up their roles in Gaza.

{Matzav.com}

Newly unsealed intelligence papers from Argentina expose a disturbing truth: SS Commander Josef Mengele, the notorious Auschwitz butcher known as the “Angel of Death,” lived openly in South America for years even though officials were fully aware of who he was. According to the documents, first highlighted by the New York Post, authorities tracked his steps yet never managed—nor decisively attempted—to bring him to justice.

Mengele had slipped out of Germany in 1949, vanishing just as the revelations of the Nuremberg trials made clear the full scale of his atrocities. His sadistic medical “research,” which included handpicking victims for the gas chambers and carrying out gruesome experiments, earned him his infamous title long before he disappeared overseas.

The intelligence reports, released by Argentinian President Javier Milei, reveal that South American authorities regularly exchanged information about his whereabouts. Still, bungled timing, bureaucratic delays, and even media leaks repeatedly gave him the chance to slip away. Each misstep widened the gap between his crimes and the justice he never faced.

Using an Italian passport under the alias Helmut Gregor, Mengele entered Argentina in 1949. By the middle of the next decade, the records show that officials already knew that the “Angel of Death” was living among them. Yet he continued building a life there without interference.

One document contains a harrowing newspaper interview with Auschwitz survivor José Furmanski, who said: “He gathered twins of all ages in the camp and subjected them to experiments that always ended in death. Between the children, the elderly, and women… what horrors.”

Incredibly, by 1956 Mengele felt confident enough to contact the West German Embassy in Buenos Aires to request his original birth certificate. He even began using his real name again. A 1957 memo recounts how he “explained” why he had entered Argentina under an alias: “He (Mengele) demonstrated being nervous, having stated that during the war he acted as a physician in the German S.S., in Czechoslovakia, where the Red Cross labeled him a ‘war criminal.’”

The files further detail that Argentine authorities knew exactly where he lived—Carapachy, near Buenos Aires. They were aware that he had married his brother’s widow and that his father visited him, possibly to support his medical ventures.

When West Germany finally issued an arrest warrant in 1959, the request for extradition was swiftly rejected by a local judge who claimed it amounted to “political persecution.” International calls for action escalated, but Mengele slipped away once more, this time into Paraguay, where he obtained citizenship and resumed life under government protection. Police raided his Buenos Aires laboratory, only to find an empty workspace.

Later investigations depended almost entirely on foreign press reports. By 1960, Mengele had settled in Brazil with the help of sympathetic German farmers. There he lived out the rest of his days, dying from a stroke while swimming near Bertioga. Buried under a fabricated name, his remains were finally unearthed in 1985—decades too late for the justice denied to his countless victims.

{Matzav.com}