Matzav

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Davos focused on moving forward with peace-related discussions and strengthening Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.

In a post shared on X, Zelenskyy described the encounter as “productive,” noting ongoing coordination between Ukrainian and American teams. “We discussed the work of our teams, and practically every day there are meetings or communication,” he wrote, adding that the materials under negotiation between Kyiv and Washington were “now ⁠even better prepared.”

Zelenskyy also linked the current discussions to earlier engagement with Trump, crediting that interaction with bolstering Ukraine’s defensive posture. “Our ⁠previous meeting with President Trump helped strengthen the protection of our skies, and I hope that this time ⁠we will reinforce it further as well.”

{Matzav.com}

A Palestinian organization announced Thursday that it has submitted a criminal complaint in Switzerland against Israel’s Economy Minister Nir Barkat, accusing him of what it described as “international crimes,” while he is attending the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The group, Al-Haq, which Israel has designated a terror organization, wrote online that the Likud lawmaker and former Yerushalayim mayor “is currently present in #Davos and the public prosecutor is obliged to examine it while he is present in the country.”

Davos is hosting the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, an event that draws senior political leaders and top business figures from around the globe. Barkat traveled there to promote investment in Israel and hold meetings with foreign officials. President Isaac Herzog is also participating, alongside numerous other international leaders.

The statements issued by Al-Haq did not outline specific acts that Barkat is alleged to have committed, nor did they identify the other organizations said to be involved in filing the complaint. The move nevertheless fits a broader pattern in which pro-Palestinian groups attempt to pursue legal action against Israeli officials and citizens abroad over alleged war crimes connected to Gaza or the West Bank.

“Davos cannot be a safe haven for war criminals, where individuals facing serious allegations are granted impunity,” the group said in the post thread.

Another organization, the Hind Rajab Foundation, has in recent months pushed for the detention of Israelis overseas who served in Gaza, frequently relying on social media posts to identify targets and then submitting complaints to foreign authorities. Earlier this week, an Israeli comedian who shared a provocative video from Gaza reported being held for six hours in Canada following a complaint linked to the group.

There was no indication that the Hind Rajab Foundation played any role in the complaint involving Barkat, and the group did not reference him on its own X account.

In another post, Al-Haq asserted that Barkat, in his capacity as economy minister, “is responsible for unlawful Israeli colonization of Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel’s actions in Gaza,” and claimed that he had encouraged “genocide,” without pointing to specific remarks to support the allegation.

The organization further argued that during Barkat’s tenure as mayor of Yerushalayim from 2008 to 2018, he was “individually responsible for illegal Israeli settlement-related international crimes, including apartheid.” It added, “He should be investigated for his role in planning, permits, enforcement and demolitions in occupied Jerusalem.”

Many countries view eastern parts of Yerushalayim as territory illegally occupied by Israel. Israel, which captured the area during the 1967 Six Day War and later annexed it, regards the city as its undivided capital. Al-Haq’s posts did not clearly distinguish whether the accusations referred specifically to eastern Yerushalayim.

Responding publicly, Barkat shared an image of an article discussing the complaint and wrote, “No terror group will deter me. I will continue to develop the Israeli economy and represent the state fearlessly everywhere in the world.”

Israel designated Al-Haq a terror organization in 2021, alongside several other Palestinian NGOs, alleging they operate as fronts for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The group has previously sought international legal measures against Israeli officials and institutions.

{Matzav.com}

The Supreme Court has ruled that the name of the man accused of posing as a military officer and penetrating sensitive command facilities at the start of the war may be released, bringing an end to a long-running publication ban. The individual identified as the alleged “imposter officer” is attorney Asaf Shmuelovitz.

The decision was handed down following an appeal that sought Supreme Court review of an earlier Beersheba District Court ruling permitting the disclosure of his identity.

Prosecutors allege that Shmuelovitz falsely presented himself as a reserve officer, enabling him to enter headquarters and classified command centers connected to the Southern Command. Shmuelovitz has maintained that he acted out of a belief that he was helping during the chaotic opening days of the war.

After the court partially lifted the gag order, members of Shmuelovitz’s family released a statement denouncing the move and disputing the seriousness of the allegations. “Once part of the gag order was lifted, the entire narrative collapsed,” the family said. “At most, Asaf committed a classified-information offense that should have been handled through military disciplinary proceedings. This is a clear case of selective enforcement.”

In their statement, the family contended that Shmuelovitz operated in a capacity approved by his standing-duty commander, and that any classified material involved was either relayed by others during discussions or consisted of imprecise and unclear information. They further claimed that those with whom he communicated possessed higher security clearances within the military or other security bodies.

The family also noted that, with the prosecution’s agreement, a medical evaluation concluded that Shmuelovitz was unfit at the time of the alleged incidents. “Despite this, Asaf chose to continue with the trial in order to see the process through to the end,” the statement said. “He is confident that he will be acquitted and that it will be proven beyond doubt that the charges against him were exaggerated and unfounded.”

Deputy Minister Almog Cohen, who has taken an active role in the matter and participated in combat against Hamas during the October 7th massacre, voiced harsh criticism of how long the court took to issue its ruling. “It took the Supreme Court ‘only’ 838 days to rule on whether the name of the accused in the Southern Command espionage case – Asaf Shmuelovitz – could be published,” Cohen said.

Cohen further claimed that Shmuelovitz entered the Southern Command base on October 7 carrying a cellphone and recorded extremely sensitive material inside the command bunker. “He is only the tip of the iceberg,” Cohen added. “I will continue to fight to expose the full picture – who directed him, what his intentions were, and why the name Yair Golan appeared in his notebook and why they spoke on the phone. The people of Israel deserve to know who abandoned them, and all those responsible must be brought to justice.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said the United States is closely watching Iran’s nuclear activity and will not tolerate any move toward developing nuclear weapons, cautioning that Washington could respond if Tehran refuses to change course.

“We’re going to find out where they stand right now on nuclear,” Trump said. “They can’t have nuclear weapons. They have to stop,” he told CNBC.

Trump also said Iranian authorities backed away from killing protesters after he publicly warned last week that the United States might resort to military force. He claimed Iran’s leadership had been preparing for mass executions before reversing its plans following his statement.

“They were going to hang 837 people on Thursday,” he said. “I told them, ‘You can’t do that.’”

The president said he hopes no further steps will be required, while alleging that Iranian security forces had been shooting civilians in public areas.

Turning again to Iran’s nuclear efforts, Trump argued that without U.S. intervention last June under Operation Midnight Hammer, Tehran would have achieved a nuclear weapon within weeks.

“We hit them hard with B-2 bombers,” Trump said, adding that the aircraft were undetectable and that every strike reached its intended target. He noted that the United States has since ordered 25 additional bombers.

“They keep experimenting with nuclear, but at some point they’re going to get the idea that they can’t do that.”

{Matzav.com}

A draft arrangement taking shape between the United States and Hamas would center on the group’s disarmament while recasting the process as a political understanding rather than a formal surrender, according to details aired Thursday on i24NEWS.

The report said Hamas would issue a declaration stating that “at Israel’s request, it no longer poses a threat.” The framework would differentiate between heavy, offensive weaponry and lighter, personal, and defensive arms, using definitions to be drafted by Hamas itself.

If finalized, the document would carry the title “Understanding Agreement on the Issue of Weapons,” deliberately avoiding language that frames the move as an outright capitulation.

The outline of the deal was initially disclosed by Sky News Arabic, which reported that Hamas would agree to give up its weapons and hand over maps of tunnel networks in the Gaza Strip in return for recognition as a political entity.

Sources familiar with the talks said the terms would also provide that “the cessation of weapons use will allow some members of Hamas’ leadership, both military and political, to leave the Gaza Strip with an American assurance that Israel will not harm them in the future.”

Those sources added that Washington would permit a limited number of former Hamas police officers and officials to take part in administering a restructured “New Gaza,” contingent on their passing Israeli and American security vetting.

According to the reporting, U.S. officials have told mediators that Israel has expressed concerns about the proposal, particularly over the prospect of Hamas continuing to operate as a political party within the Palestinian Arab political arena.

President Trump has launched a $5 billion lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase and its chief executive, Jamie Dimon, accusing the bank of cutting off his financial relationships for political reasons in the aftermath of Jan. 6.

The complaint, filed Thursday in Florida state court in Miami, asserts that the country’s largest bank abruptly terminated long-standing accounts connected to the president and his businesses in early 2021, ending a relationship that had spanned decades.

“JPMC debanked [Trump and his businesses] because it believed that the political tide at the moment favored doing so,” the lawsuit said.

According to the filing, Trump’s attorney Alejandro Brito argues the bank acted “without warning or remedy,” forcing Trump and related entities to relocate hundreds of millions of dollars within weeks and offering no avenue to appeal the decision. The suit contends this conduct ran contrary to JPMorgan’s own internal standards and constituted unfair and deceptive trade practices.

The complaint points to JPMorgan’s publicly stated ethics guidelines, quoting the bank’s code of conduct: “We set high expectations and hold ourselves accountable. We do the right thing — not necessarily the easy or expedient thing. We abide by the letter and spirit of the laws and regulations everywhere we do business and have zero tolerance for unethical behavior,” the lawsuit states, citing the bank’s code of conduct.

“Despite claiming to hold these principles dear, JPMC violated them by unilaterally — and without warning or remedy — terminating several of Plaintiff’s bank accounts,” the lawsuit claims.

The filing alleges the account closures were driven by what it characterizes as “political and social motivations,” asserting that JPMorgan sought to distance itself from Trump and his conservative positions following the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.

It further claims the bank placed Trump, members of his family, and affiliated businesses on an internal “blacklist” shared with other federally regulated banks, a move the lawsuit says resulted in widespread refusals by other institutions to do business with him and caused extensive financial and reputational damage.

“Given that Plaintiffs have always complied with all applicable banking rules and regulations and their wealth management accounts were in good standing, JPMC’s publication of President Trump, the other Plaintiffs, the Trump Organization and its affiliated entities, and/or the Trump family’s names on this blacklist, is an intentional and malicious falsehood,” the lawsuit states.

Trump alleges that by circulating those names, JPMorgan Chase engaged in “an unfair and deceptive trade practice,” arguing the bank “had no legitimate basis to do so and knew that doing so would induce, and did in fact induce, other banking institutions not to deal with them.”

Responding to the suit, a JPMorgan spokesperson told The NY Post: “JPMC does not close accounts for political or religious reasons. We do close accounts because they create legal or regulatory risk for the company.”

“We regret having to do so but often rules and regulatory expectations lead us to do so,” the spokesperson added.

“We have been asking both this Administration and prior administrations to change the rules and regulations that put us in this position, and we support the Administration’s efforts to prevent the weaponization of the banking sector.”

The lawsuit comes amid a sharp deterioration in the relationship between Trump and JPMorgan, fueled by overlapping political, regulatory, and personal disputes.

In recent months, Dimon has publicly criticized several Trump administration policies, including warning that the Justice Department’s criminal probe into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell could threaten the central bank’s independence and potentially drive interest rates higher.

JPMorgan has also opposed a White House proposal to cap credit card interest rates at 10% for a year, with executives cautioning that such a move could limit access to credit, harm consumers, and disrupt financial markets.

Tensions resurfaced again after Dimon criticized Trump’s immigration enforcement approach at the World Economic Forum in Davos, urging more restrained rhetoric and questioning aggressive ICE tactics, comments that stood out as one of the clearest public rebukes of the president by a sitting Wall Street chief.

Trump has frequently used the prospect of litigation against entities he views as adversarial.

The president has previously reached settlements with Paramount, Disney’s ABC News, YouTube, and Meta over disputes tied to interviews, broadcast remarks, and the suspension of his social media accounts after Jan. 6.

Those matters were resolved without admissions of wrongdoing, with the companies opting to pay tens of millions of dollars rather than engage in extended court battles.

{Matzav.com}

At a somber asifah held at the Chanichei HaYeshivos beis medrash in the Ramot neighborhood of Yerushalayim, sharp remarks were delivered in the wake of a series of tragedies that struck the local community. The gathering followed the killing of yeshiva bochur Yossi Eisenthal z”l during a protest against the draft, as well as the murder of community members in a terror attack at the Ramot junction.

The central address was delivered by Rav Mechel Zilber, who spoke forcefully about the events surrounding the fatal bus-ramming that claimed the life of the young bochur. His words focused in particular on the minutes leading up to the incident and the behavior of those who surrounded the bus.

“I want to tell you,” Rav Zilber said at the outset, “that the attribute of Divine judgment struck this young boy. This is a heavenly secret. He ascended to the Heavenly Yeshiva. He has no problem. The problem is ours.”

While stressing that responsibility for the act itself rests with the Arab driver, Rav Zilber said that others bore moral responsibility for what unfolded. “The driver is an Arab who was provoked,” he said. “But you should know that anyone who provoked him is a murderer by accident. The Arab—may his name and memory be erased—but after all, they provoked him. Every single one needs to go to his rebbi and ask what kind of tikkun is required for accidental murder.”

Rav Zilber emphasized that his remarks were not directed at specific individuals, but at the broader ציבור. “I know Arabs. I’m from Tiveriah,” he said. “An Arab is willing to kill Jews, but he is afraid. There, they removed his fear because they provoked him. I am not pointing fingers at anyone in particular. I am speaking to all of Klal Yisroel.”

In an unusual and symbolic gesture, the Gerer Rebbe recently sent the famed silver bowl that graces his table on Shabbos and at tishen as a personal gift to a leading benefactor in the United States.

The recipient of the rare present is Reb Yosef Aryeh Breiner of Borough Park, a prominent supporter of Torah causes and one of the major backers of the Toraso initiative in Ger. The gift was sent on behalf of the Rebbe by Rabbi Yaakov Eisen, director of the organization.

Within the Gerer chassidic court, outward symbols of royalty are notably restrained compared to other chassidic dynasties. The Rebbe does not don white garments or ornate bekitches, does not carry a silver staff, and does not wear a decorative crown atop his tallis. As a result, the silver bowl that sits on his table has become one of the most recognizable and meaningful symbols associated with the Gerer Rebbe.

The silver bowl is placed before the Rebbe at every tish, on Shabbos and Yom Tov, at family celebrations, and even at simchos held outside the main beis medrash. Over the years, it has become closely identified with the Rebbe’s presence and the avodah of the Gerer chassidus.

The decision to present this historic item to Rabbi Breiner was made as an expression of deep appreciation for his exceptional support of Toraso, an initiative especially dear to the Rebbe. The program spearheads a major effort to strengthen bekius and memorization-based Torah learning among kollel members, while also encouraging thousands of Gerer chassidim who are working baalei batim to master Torah baal peh.

{Matzav.com}

A mysterious and striking incident took place at the ancient Jewish cemetery in Peshischa, the site of the kevorim of generations of the tzaddikei Beis Peshischa. In recent years, large numbers of visitors have been arriving at the site, particularly since the establishment of the hachnasas orchim building there.

This week, a local non-Jewish woman, who together with her husband had safeguarded the keys to the tziyun for decades, passed away at the entrance to the gravesite. Visitors to the cemetery were accustomed to calling the couple upon arrival, and they would open the ohel in all weather conditions, throughout the year.

According to sources, the caretaker collapsed and died of cardiac arrest at the entrance to the site after a group of mispallelim concluded their tefillos. She had come to lock up the ohel when she suddenly collapsed. Her passing occurred just one month after the death of her husband, who had long been regarded as the guardian of the site.

The ohel itself was constructed many years ago by emissaries of the Vaad for Peshischa, at the initiative of the Gerer Rebbe. It was built on the precise location of the graves, based on testimony from elderly residents of the town who remembered the site from before World War II. Responsibility for guarding the tziyun was passed down within the family, from the original caretaker to his son, who, as noted, passed away a month ago after suffering paralysis in recent years. This week, his wife died at the very entrance to the tziyun.

Dovid Rubinstein, director of Der Biala Hoif in Peshischa, said that a number of changes have been implemented at the site in recent years, including upgrades to the facility. He noted that access to the tziyun is now also controlled by a coded entry system.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump disclosed that the United States military employed a previously undisclosed “secret sonic” weapon during the operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, while boasting that no other country possesses the technology and highlighting what he described as America’s unmatched military capabilities.

Speculation about the use of a sonic device intensified after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the equipment deployed in the raid caused Venezuelan troops to suffer severe physical reactions, including nosebleeds and vomiting blood.

Despite the growing attention, Trump declined to offer specifics when asked about the weapon during an interview on the NewsNation program Katie Pavlich Tonight, adopting a notably guarded tone.

When host Pavlich asked whether Americans should be worried about the weapon’s strength, Trump reacted with a raised eyebrow and replied, “Well, yeah.”

He then added, “It’s something I don’t wanna…nobody else has it,” before continuing, “But we have weapons nobody else knows about.”

Trump went on to say, “And, I say it’s probably good not to talk about it, but we have some amazing weapons.”

Reflecting on the operation itself, he remarked, “That was an amazing attack,” without elaborating further.

As uncertainty remains over the exact nature of the device, Russia has demanded additional details from Washington. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow has assigned its special services to seek more clarity regarding Trump’s comments.

Sonic weapons are designed to incapacitate targets through powerful sound waves. Some systems emit concentrated, painful beams aimed directly at individuals, while others rely on higher-frequency sounds that can affect people differently depending on their hearing range.

Such weapons are known to trigger symptoms including headaches, disorientation, balance issues, confusion, and, in some cases, lasting hearing damage.

According to Leavitt, however, the effects of the U.S. device were even more extreme. Citing an eyewitness account from someone who claimed to be among Maduro’s guards, she said the individual was unable to remain standing after the weapon was activated.

“At one point, they launched something; I don’t know how to describe it,” the statement said, as quoted by Fox News. “It was like a very intense sound wave. Suddenly, I felt like my head was exploding from the inside.”

“We all started bleeding from the nose,” the account continued. “Some were vomiting blood. We fell to the ground, unable to move. We couldn’t even stand up after that sonic weapon — or whatever it was.”

The witness added that he had “never seen anything like it.”

Venezuela’s interior minister said the assault on Maduro’s compound resulted in at least 100 deaths, according to Reuters, though it remains unclear whether any of those fatalities were directly linked to the sonic weapon.

While the deployment of sonic weapons is not prohibited under international law, members of Congress have raised questions about the legality of Trump’s decision to seize the Venezuelan president.

Commenting on the aftermath of the raid, Trump said, “It’s a whole different Venezuela, and Venezuela is going to be very successful, and the people of the United States are going to be big beneficiaries.”

He later wrote on Truth Social that “BIG OIL” intended to invest “at least 100 billion dollars” in Venezuela.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Noach Heisler zt”l, the longtime rov of the Sanhedria Hamurchevet neighborhood in Yerushalayim, who collapsed in his home and was niftar at the age of 89.

Emergency medical teams were summoned to his residence on Re’im Levin Circle in Sanhedria Hamurchevet after he suddenly collapsed.

The levayah is scheduled to take place this evening, departing from his home at Re’im Levin Circle 125 in Sanhedria Hamurchevet and proceeding to Har HaMenuchos for kevurah.

Rav Heisler was born in Kislev 5697 (1936) to his father, Rav Zalman Zeidel Heisler, and his mother, Mrs. Tamar, daughter of Rav Moshe Porush, one of the founders of Agudas Yisroel in Yerushalayim. In his youth and formative years, he studied at Yeshivas Eitz Chaim. Upon reaching marriageable age, he married into the Rokeach family.

In 5731 (1971), Rav Heisler was appointed rov of the Sanhedria Hamurchevet neighborhood, a position he held for decades with dignity and devotion. Residents recall the sense of majesty and warmth he brought to the community. Each morning he davened at the Maor Chaim beis medrash, where he greeted every individual with a welcoming countenance and patiently answered questions in halachah and hashkafah. His derashos on Shabbos Shuvah and Shabbos Hagadol drew large crowds who came to hear his words.

He maintained a close and special relationship with the leaders of the Torah world, including Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach and Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, who trusted him and would refer matters to him.

In Sanhedria, his passing is a tremendous loss, particularly following the earlier petiros of the neighborhood’s leading figures, including Rav Boruch Shmuel Deutsch and Rav Uri Lupolianski, the founder and longtime chairman of Yad Sarah.

During his lifetime, Rav Heisler endured profound personal tragedy, losing two daughters: Mrs. Bila Weinberg a”h and Mrs. Sarah Rachel Drebkin a”h of the Ramat neighborhood of Yerushalayim, an educator at Bais Yaakov in Givat Shaul, who passed away at the age of 57.

Rav Heisler leaves behind a dor yesharim umevorach: his rebbetzin, his sons, among them Rav Naftali Heisler, rav of Ramat Beit Shemesh Daled, who is expected to continue his father’s role in the rabbanus of Sanhedria Hamurchevet, and Rav Meir Heisler, a dayan with the Badatz of Bnei Brak. His brother is Rav Meir Heisler.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

A court in Yerushalayim approved a compromise agreement on Thursday in the high-profile daycare case in the city, ordering the caregivers involved to remain under house arrest for nine days under restrictive conditions, even as the mother of a child who died in the tragedy appeared in court to speak forcefully in their defense.

Under the agreement reached with the prosecution, the caregivers were placed on house arrest and barred from returning to their workplace. Additional conditions imposed by the judge include a 45-day prohibition on working in childcare and a ban on contacting parents of the children or other individuals connected to the case.

In an extraordinary development, Chani Katz, the mother of Aharon Katz, the infant who died in the daycare tragedy, left her home during the shivah period to testify on behalf of the daycare director and staff. Addressing the court, she said the caregivers were being treated unjustly and insisted they bore no responsibility for her son’s death.

“We are like family. A terrible wrong is being done here,” Mrs. Katz told the court. “She lost a child just like I did.”

Standing before the judge only days after her loss, Mrs. Katz added, “I lost my son two days ago. I have known these caregivers for seven years. I sent all my children to them. I still have two children who have been with them for years. My children always loved being there. I know exactly who they are, and I am the most anxious mother in Jerusalem.”

Fighting back tears, she recounted the decision she made the night before the tragedy. “I hadn’t planned to send him to a permanent daycare. The night before, I debated where to place my most precious treasure — with my family or with Miriam. I chose Miriam because I felt calm and safe. This decree was from Heaven. He was meant to pass away on that day and at that hour, and God showed me kindness by not taking him while he was at home with me.”

Mrs. Katz went on to criticize the way the caregivers were being portrayed. “It hurts me to see them sitting here like two terrorists,” she said. “My pure Ari merited to be with Miriam longer than he was with me. Just as I lost a son, Miriam lost a child. I will get up from this and choose life, but she will never recover from this. It’s important to me to seek justice. They are innocent.”

Turning directly to the daycare director, Mrs. Katz concluded, “Miriam, be strong. We are with you.”

At the same time, other parents whose children attended the daycare submitted a letter to the court expressing their support for the educational staff. In the letter, they wrote that the caregivers’ “care, devotion, and sense of responsibility went far beyond what is expected,” adding that “each child received personal attention, meals on time, and every mother received a full report on her child’s day.”

The parents further stated that since the daycare was shut down, the absence has been clearly felt by the children. “The rumors, suspicions, and publications that have circulated are nothing more than fabrications and lies that harm innocent people,” the letter said.

Emergency response at the scene of the incident involved United Hatzalah, which assisted in evacuating children from the daycare following the tragedy.

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration is intensifying efforts to bring about a political shift in Cuba, aiming to dismantle the island’s communist leadership and reach an agreement that would end decades of one-party rule before the close of the year, according to a new report.

As part of that effort, U.S. officials are attempting to identify figures within the Cuban government who might be willing to cooperate with Washington in easing the current leadership out of power, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

While officials have not yet finalized a specific strategy to topple the communist system that has governed Cuba for nearly seven decades, they believe the regime is now more vulnerable than at any point in recent memory.

That assessment follows the removal of Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro, an event U.S. officials say has sent shockwaves through Havana and pushed Cuba’s already weak economy toward the brink.

According to U.S. intelligence evaluations cited in the report, Cuba is grappling with widespread shortages of food, medicine, and other essentials, alongside rolling power outages that have become a regular feature of daily life.

The situation is being compounded by the island’s dependence on Venezuelan oil supplies, which officials warn could dry up within weeks. Washington is now seeking to block any additional Venezuelan crude from reaching Cuba as a way to further strain the government’s ability to function.

Senior U.S. officials told the Journal that the operation that led to Maduro’s capture — and the leverage it gave Washington in extracting concessions from Caracas — is being studied closely as a possible model for dealing with Havana.

That Jan. 3 mission, which resulted in Maduro’s arrest, succeeded in part because of assistance from someone inside his inner circle, officials said.

In hopes of finding a comparable opening in Cuba, Trump administration officials have been holding discussions with Cuban exile leaders and civic organizations in Miami and Washington, according to the report.

At the same time, the administration is considering escalating pressure on the Cuban government while offering a negotiated exit path for senior figures, including 94-year-old Raúl Castro, brother of the late Fidel Castro, and current President Miguel Díaz-Canel.

President Trump has already publicly signaled to Havana that patience is running out and urged the leadership to come to terms with Washington.

“THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA – ZERO!” Trump wrote in a Jan. 11 post on Truth Social.

“I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,” he added.

{Matzav.com}

Federal officials say anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student, is expected to be deported to Algeria, a move that would close out a lengthy legal fight over his immigration status.

Khalil, who was born in Syria and taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement early last year, is facing removal from the United States after the Trump administration alleged he committed fraud in obtaining his green card.

“It looks like he’ll go to Algeria. That’s what the thought is right now,” Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Wednesday during an appearance on NewsNation’s Katie Pavlich Tonight.

“It’s a reminder for those who are in this country on a visa or on a green card. You are a guest in this country — act like it,” she added.

“It is a privilege, not a right, to be in this country to live or to study.”

The Trump administration has sought to remove the 31-year-old since he was among the first individuals detained amid the federal crackdown on anti-Israel demonstrations on college campuses.

The government alleges Khalil supports Hamas, and he spent roughly three months held in an immigration detention facility in Louisiana, a period during which he was absent for the birth of his first child.

Federal authorities defended his arrest by citing a little-used provision of immigration law that permits the deportation of noncitizens whose views are considered harmful to U.S. foreign policy interests.

In June, a federal judge in New Jersey ordered Khalil’s release, concluding that the government’s justification would likely be found unconstitutional.

That decision was reversed last week, when a federal appeals court sided with the White House and overturned the order that had freed him from ICE custody.

The three-judge panel ruled that Khalil’s case should have proceeded through the immigration court system before he was entitled to challenge his detention in federal court.

Following the ruling, McLaughlin publicly called on Khalil to “self-deport now before he is arrested, deported, and never given a chance to return.”

As of now, officials have not said when authorities may move to detain him again.

Khalil has rejected the claims against him as “baseless and ridiculous,” arguing that the case is a “direct consequence of exercising my right to free speech as I advocated for a free Palestine and an end to the genocide in Gaza.”

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] President Donald Trump on Thursday launched his Board of Peace at a ceremony on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, attended by representatives of at least 18 nations.

Leaders and representatives from Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kosovo, Mongolia, Morocco, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan were among those on stage as Trump spoke during the signing ceremony, The Guardian reported.

The board, which will initially focus on solidifying the ceasefire with Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip, “can do pretty much whatever we want to do” once it is “completely formed,” said Trump in remarks.

“And we’ll do it in conjunction with the United Nations,” he added.

“I’ve always said the United Nations has got tremendous potential, has not used it, but there’s tremendous potential in the United Nations, and you have some great people at the United Nations,” the president said.

“You know, on the eight wars that I ended, I never spoke to the United Nations about any of them,” he went on. “They tried, I guess, in some of them, but they didn’t try hard enough.”

The Board of Peace can be “something very, very unique for the world,” Trump continued. “The first steps toward a brighter day for the Middle East and a much safer future for the world are unfolding right before your very eyes.”

The new body will seek to end “decades of suffering, stop generations of hatred and bloodshed, and forge a beautiful, everlasting and glorious peace for that region and for the whole region of the world,” he said.

“We’re going to have peace in the world,” the president declared.

As the signing ceremony got underway, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt declared, “The charter is now in full force, and the Board of Peace is now an official international organization.”

Steve Witkoff, U.S. special envoy for peace missions, told attendees that Trump “created a sense of hope for what the future can bring in Gaza and in all other places where the Board of Peace will operate.

“I remember when the president asked Jared [Kushner], I, and of course our great secretary of state [Marco Rubio] to work on something that the world thought was impossible and unattainable,” the envoy said in his speech. “But the president—on this peace deal for Gaza, as on all other deals we work on his behalf—said we had to try and, of course, we were inspired by that.

“We have achieved a peace deal in Gaza. We have brought the hostages home all of the bodies, except for one, and we will bring that body home too,” Witkoff vowed.

Witkoff thanked “my good friend from Qatar,” Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others.

During the event, Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and a Middle East real estate developer, presented plans to disarm Hamas and develop the Gaza Strip into a free market hub for tourism with an airport and seaport after U.S.-backed reconstruction efforts conclude by 2035.

Netanyahu on Wednesday accepted Trump’s invitation to join the Board of Peace. While the body’s efforts will initially focus on Gaza, it “is like a new United Nations,” Netanyahu told Knesset lawmakers on Monday.

Speaking in Davos on Wednesday, Trump acknowledged that the Board of Peace has “some controversial people. But these are people that get the job done. These are people that have tremendous influence. If I put all babies on the board, that wouldn’t be very much.”

He continued, “I think the Board of Peace will be the most prestigious board ever, and it’s going to get a lot of work done that the United Nations should’ve done. And we’ll work with the United Nations, but the Board of Peace is going to be special. We’re going to have peace.”

Trump went on to mention the U.S. military strikes against Iran’s nuclear project in June as the platform that facilitated peace in the Middle East.

“It started off with Gaza in the Middle East. We’ve got peace in the Middle East. Tremendous peace in the Middle East. Nobody thought that was possible. And that happened by taking out the Iran nuclear threat. Without that, it could’ve never happened,” said Trump. JNS

{Matzav.com}

The advancement of Israel’s draft law has reached a critical stage, with a final decision now hinging on approval from the senior rabbinic leadership of Degel HaTorah. If the spiritual leadership grants its consent, the legislation could pass through the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee as early as Tuesday and proceed immediately afterward to a vote in the Knesset plenum.

From the outset of deliberations in the committee, Hagaon Rav Dov Landau and Hagaon Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch made clear that the approval they granted was only preliminary. They stipulated that once committee discussions concluded, the chareidi Knesset members would need to return to the Gedolim to receive final authorization before voting in favor of the law.

Progress on the legislation has been steady, and as of now only one remaining committee session is needed to complete the reading of all sections of the bill. However, that final discussion was unexpectedly postponed by nearly a week. In a statement issued by the office of committee chairman Boaz Bismuth, it was announced that due to the heavy legislative schedule surrounding the state budget—set to be brought for its first reading on Monday—the concluding discussion would be delayed until Tuesday.

According to information obtained by Matzav, chareidi lawmakers have already begun updating the Gedolim on the legal adviser’s comments and reservations raised during committee deliberations over the past month. The goal, sources say, is to avoid delays so that once discussions formally end, the committee can move directly to a vote. Lawmakers are said to already be aligned with the anticipated ruling of the Gedolim.

Sources further indicated that this preparation is one of the reasons the final discussion was deferred. Within Degel HaTorah, there is hope that rabbinic approval will be secured in the coming days. If that happens, Tuesday’s session is expected to be longer than usual, serving as a comprehensive summary of the legislation, followed immediately by a committee vote and then a vote in the Knesset plenum.

Meanwhile, internal political arithmetic has also shifted. Following the resignation of Yisrael Eichler, who was appointed deputy minister, MK Yitzchok Pindrus entered the Knesset, restoring Degel HaTorah’s fourth vote. At the same time, the Chassidishe Agudas Yisroel faction continues to voice firm opposition to the draft law. However, the Chassidishe Agudah Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah has not yet clarified whether that opposition will take the form of an outright rejection or abstention.

In parallel developments, leaders of the chareidi factions held discussions with Knesset legal adviser Sagith Afik, who reportedly clarified that claims she had warned the current version of the draft law would not withstand Supreme Court review were inaccurate.

Dear Matzav Inbox,

So now we hear it said – and sung – out loud, with a shrug and a smirk: “I don’t need your bekitshe.” And people smile. Some even laugh. As if this is all just harmless.

But let’s stop pretending we don’t see the pattern.

Explain this to me: What’s with the scarves?

What’s with the men who proudly wrap themselves in scarves like it’s a badge of honor? Scarves indoors. Scarves on warm days. Scarves draped just so, carefully curated, carefully signaling something. What, exactly?

Here’s what I think, and let’s be honest enough to say it plainly. A scarf isn’t religious garb. A scarf doesn’t scream commitment. It doesn’t declare allegiance to anything beyond self-image. So it’s safe. It’s trendy. It’s acceptable. You can wear it without answering to anything or anyone.

The bekitshe, though? That’s the problem.

Because a bekitshe isn’t just a coat. It’s not fabric. It’s not warmth. It’s identity. It’s continuity. It’s saying, I belong to something bigger than myself. And that makes people uncomfortable.

Don’t kid yourselves. We’ve seen this movie before. First, you scoff at the “external symbols.” Then you redefine them as unnecessary. Then you frame them as embarrassing. Then you quietly ask why anyone still insists on them at all.

And the scarf? The scarf stays.

Because the scarf gives off a very specific vibe: I’m cool. I’m hip. I don’t give a rip.
Not I stand for something.
Not I’m accountable.
Just: I answer to myself.

Everyone walking around wrapped in indifference, cloaked in apathy, broadcasting that nothing is sacred enough to demand loyalty. That nothing is serious enough to require consistency. That everything is flexible—except ego.

And we’re supposed to nod along. Smile politely. Pretend this isn’t hollowing something out from the inside.

But it is.

This isn’t about clothing. It was never about clothing. It’s about what we’re embarrassed by, and what we’re proud of. It’s about what we’re willing to carry, even when it’s not “cool,” and what we’re desperate to shed so we can blend in, be liked, be modern, be admired.

Call it style if you want. Call it personal choice. But don’t insult our intelligence by claiming this is neutral. Don’t tell us this means nothing.

When symbols of commitment are treated like liabilities, and symbols of emptiness are worn with swagger, something is deeply wrong.

No Scarf

Brooklyn, NY

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A dramatic incident unfolded Wednesday afternoon in the chareidi Geulah neighborhood of Haifa, when a lightweight roof structure tore loose from the top of a four-story residential building and crashed onto the sidewalk and street below. Despite the collapse occurring at the height of the midday rush, no one was injured, bechasdei Hashem.

The incident took place amid strong winds sweeping through the city. According to initial reports, the temporary rooftop structure was unable to withstand the force of the gusts, became detached, and plunged from a significant height. Residents described hearing a powerful bang that echoed through the area, as twisted metal and debris slammed into the pavement.

Eyewitnesses recounted moments of fear and shock. “It came out of nowhere,” one resident said. “We heard the sound of metal bending, and suddenly everything was on the ground. If it had landed a few meters to the side, or a minute earlier when children were walking here, we would be talking about a tragedy.”

In what many locals described as clear rachamei Shomayim, the sidewalk was momentarily empty at the precise moment of the collapse. The only damage reported was to a parked vehicle, which sustained heavy damage after being struck by the falling structure.

Security and municipal inspection teams were dispatched to the scene to clear the debris and examine the stability of nearby buildings.

As neighbors gathered around the wreckage, many recited the brocha, “Baruch she’asa nes bamakom hazeh,” pointing to the pile of debris lying where, just moments earlier, pedestrians had been passing through a busy neighborhood street.

{Matzav.com}

Against the backdrop of ongoing debates over the draft law and the intermittent detention of yeshiva students, Hagaon Rav Dov Landau delivered words of chizuk to bochurim at Yeshivas Mishkenos HaTorah in Bnei Brak.

Opening his address, Rav Landau said, “Outside, all kinds of things are happening, and all kinds of talk is going on. A large portion of that talk is against the Torah and against those who learn Torah…various decrees and various plots, rachmana litzlan.”

He went on to outline what he described as the only proper response. “The only way to deal with all of this,” the rosh yeshiva said, “is to ignore them and their noise, and to engage in Torah study with depth and total immersion, with all one’s strength and at all times.” He urged the bochurim to channel their natural curiosity exclusively into Torah learning, adding, “There is so much to find in the Torah. This is the path we received from our rabbeim, zichronam livrachah, throughout all generations—to be completely immersed in Torah.”

Rav Landau emphasized that steadfast dedication to learning serves as a spiritual shield. “Only in this way,” he said, “will everything that is happening outside be unable to penetrate us, and no force in the world will be able to overcome us. Baruch Hashem, the bnei hayeshiva here are immersed in their learning. Continue on the path laid out for us by our rabbeim, to be even more deeply immersed in Torah.”

He further encouraged the talmidim to remain attached to the mesorah of their rabbeim. “Be davuk in the Torah of your rabbeim, the rosh yeshiva and the rabbonim shlita, who educate you according to the tradition of the yeshivos. In this way you will merit to live a life of Torah, which brings happiness and honor to one who lives by this path.”

Concluding his remarks, Rav Landau offered a brachah to the leadership of the yeshiva. “I want to bless the rosh yeshiva, shlita, and the rabbonim, shlita, that your borders be expanded with worthy talmidim. May you increase Torah in Klal Yisroel, and may the Name of Heaven be sanctified and elevated through you. May Hakadosh Baruch Hu annul the counsel of our enemies and merit us with a complete geulah speedily in our days, amein.”

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s largest supermarket chain, Shufersal, has been hit with a significant regulatory penalty after the Israel Competition Authority imposed a fine of more than NIS 8 million, citing the company’s failure to provide required data during an official investigation.

The decision was announced Wednesday by the Competition Commissioner following an extensive review process and a formal hearing in which Shufersal presented its arguments. After weighing those claims, the commissioner rejected them and moved forward with the substantial financial sanction, signaling a tougher stance toward companies that delay or withhold information deemed essential to regulatory oversight.

The case stems from a broad examination conducted by the Competition Authority across Israel’s food sector. As part of a comprehensive market study aimed at analyzing cost structures, pricing mechanisms, and the overall cost of living, the authority issued data requests to Shufersal and other major players in the industry. While regulators expected full cooperation, they later determined that the information provided by Shufersal was incomplete.

According to the authority, the data submitted did not include key figures—most notably the company’s operational expenses—information described as critical to assessing the chain’s true profitability. The situation escalated when Shufersal maintained that the requested data was not in its possession. Regulators say that after repeated inquiries, it ultimately became clear that the data did, in fact, exist and was eventually transferred to the authority.

This revelation—that the information had been available despite earlier claims to the contrary—led the Competition Commissioner to conclude that there were serious flaws in the company’s conduct. As a result, and after dismissing Shufersal’s explanations, the authority decided to impose the hefty fine.

In its announcement, the Competition Authority stressed that the move was about more than a single company. It emphasized that the commissioner has clear legal authority, under Section 46(b) of the Economic Competition Law, to demand data from market participants. The statement further noted that receiving complete, accurate, and timely information is vital to the authority’s work, whether in enforcement proceedings, in evaluating mergers and transactions requiring approval, or in conducting market studies.

Shufersal, for its part, firmly rejected the allegations and signaled that it intends to challenge the decision. In a statement, the company said it “acts in accordance with the law,” adding that it routinely receives numerous data requests from the Competition Authority and provides extensive information on an ongoing basis while fully cooperating. “This was also the case here,” the company asserted.

The retail giant made clear it does not intend to pay the fine without a legal fight, announcing that it plans to file an appeal against the authority’s decision with the Competition Tribunal.

{Matzav.com}