Matzav

A 15-year-old student at a school in Saint Petersburg was severely assaulted by a classmate and an older student after posting a profile picture featuring the Israeli flag, according to Russian media reports. The incident has prompted Russia’s Investigative Committee to open a formal probe.

Reports indicate that the confrontation began in early December, when another student objected to the Israeli flag appearing in the boy’s online profile photo. The alleged attacker, who reportedly espoused extreme nationalist views, threatened the teenager and hurled verbal abuse at him, including remarks referencing the Holocaust.

According to a report by Ynet, the dispute escalated following a verbal exchange, after which the victim was summoned to what was described as a “conversation” with the aggressor. When he arrived, he encountered both the attacker and an older student who blocked his path. The two demanded that he kneel and apologize. When the boy refused to submit to the humiliation, he was punched repeatedly in the face.

As a result of the assault, the teenager suffered a fracture to the eye socket. He was hospitalized and underwent surgery under full anesthesia to remove bone fragments. He remained in the hospital for more than a week and is now continuing treatment on an outpatient basis.

The boy’s mother has filed a police complaint. Authorities confirmed that the Investigative Committee is examining the circumstances surrounding the attack, while regional education officials said they are also reviewing the incident.

A powerful and uplifting Shabbos experience returns this winter as the 5th Annual Shabbos of Emunah & Bitachon with Rabbi Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin will take place February 6–8, Parshas Yisro, at The Westin in Princeton, New Jersey. Designed to inspire, strengthen, and illuminate, this special Shabbos offers participants the opportunity to step away from daily pressures and reconnect—both spiritually and emotionally—in a warm, elevated environment.

Set in luxury accommodations with a five-star menu, the Shabbos will feature a rich and thoughtfully curated program focused on clarity, inner strength, and living with deeper trust in Hashem. Throughout the Shabbos, participants will enjoy inspiring tefillos, spirited seudos, and a meaningful oneg, all infused with an atmosphere of warmth and purpose.

Rabbi Rubashkin will be joined by an outstanding roster of guest rabbanim and speakers, including Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz, Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger, singer Rabbi Shloime Taussig, and Rabbi Getzel Rubashkin. Their divrei chizuk and guidance will address timeless and timely themes, offering insight and inspiration that resonate long after Shabbos ends.

The program has been carefully structured to meet the needs of the entire family. Alongside the main sessions, there will be special talks for women led by Rabbi Rubashkin and Mrs. Rubashkin, as well as dedicated programming for teens. Children will enjoy an exciting kids’ program, and babysitting will be available for infants, allowing parents to fully participate in the Shabbos experience.

Now in its fifth year, the Shabbos of Emunah & Bitachon has become known for its unique ability to combine depth with warmth, inspiration with joy, and personal connection with communal uplift. Attendees consistently describe the Shabbos as transformative—a time of renewed perspective, strengthened faith, and meaningful connection.

Registration is now open, and space is limited. Those seeking a Shabbos of insight, inspiration, and genuine spiritual recharge are encouraged to reserve their place.

For registration or more information, CLICK HERE.

For additional information or to register, interested participants may visit bitachonshabbos.com or alephbeisgimmel.com, email shabbos@alephbeisgimmel.com, or call or text (732) 354-1496.

New York Attorney General Letitia James has been the beneficiary of tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from liberal billionaire George Soros and his family members, according to a report published Sunday by the New York Post.

Campaign finance disclosures cited by the Post show that Soros and relatives have sent more than $71,000 to political efforts supporting James since 2019. Included in that sum is $31,000 earmarked for her 2026 reelection campaign.

The records indicate that George Soros himself contributed $18,000 in July 2024, while his daughter-in-law, Jennifer Soros, made a $13,000 donation two months earlier, in May.

When earlier contributions are added in, the Post reported that the Soros family has directed approximately $40,000 more to James over the past several years.

The reported figure does not include indirect political support flowing to James through organizations backed by Soros. Among them is the Working Families Party, which has received millions in funding from Soros-linked entities and continues to support James’ political career.

According to the Post, Soros’ Open Society Foundations have sent more than $865,000 to the New York arm of the Working Families Party since 2018.

James’ relationship with the Working Families Party dates back decades. She first gained statewide attention in 2003 when she won a Brooklyn City Council seat as the first candidate elected in New York under the WFP banner.

Although James ran as a Democrat during her 2018 attorney general campaign alongside then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo and avoided running under the WFP label, she has remained aligned with the party’s platform and accepted its endorsement again during her successful 2022 reelection bid, the Post reported.

“George Soros has spent years financing the radical left’s most extreme projects, and the outcome is almost always the same: instability and disorder that is destroying our state,” Michael Henry, a Republican challenger seeking to defeat James in the 2026 election, told the Post.

James has drawn national attention for her aggressive legal actions against President Donald Trump, including civil fraud cases that focused on his business valuations and financial statements.

Opponents of those prosecutions have accused her office of engaging in political lawfare, arguing that the cases relied on novel legal interpretations, selective enforcement, and unusually large financial penalties intended to damage Trump’s business operations and undermine his presidential campaign rather than prosecute clear criminal conduct.

In August, Trump scored a significant victory when a New York appellate court struck down more than $500 million in fines that had previously been levied in the case.

James has also faced scrutiny related to her own conduct. In October, the Department of Justice filed mortgage fraud charges connected to a property she owns in Virginia.

That case, however, did not proceed. A judge ultimately dismissed the charges after ruling that the federal prosecutor who brought them had been improperly appointed.

{Matzav.com}

A Palestinian man died overnight after a fall while attempting to cross into Israel without authorization in search of work, according to the Palestinian Authority’s Yerushalayim Governorate.

The governorate identified the man as Jihad Quzmar, a 58-year-old resident of the village of Izbet Salman. It said he was trying to scale the West Bank separation barrier near the Palestinian town of al-Ram when he fell.

According to the statement, Quzmar sustained a serious head injury and was taken to an Israeli hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The governorate added that Israeli authorities are still holding his body. The IDF did not immediately issue a response.

The Yerushalayim Governorate also released video footage it said was filmed at the same location overnight. In the video, an Israeli voice can be heard mocking a Palestinian who is entangled in barbed wire after falling from the barrier in al-Ram. The governorate said the man shown was attempting to enter Israel for employment but did not clarify whether the individual in the video was Quzmar or another person.

The General Federation of Palestinian Trade Unions said the incident comes against the backdrop of a severe labor crisis. According to the federation, more than 500,000 Palestinian workers have lost jobs in Israel since Israel sharply curtailed Palestinian work permits following the Hamas-led onslaught of October 7, 2023.

The labor federation further reported that during this period, at least 44 Palestinians have been killed and thousands more injured while attempting to enter Israel illegally for work, either as a result of Israeli gunfire or falls from the separation wall.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir came under attack from stone-throwing demonstrators on Sunday while touring the Bedouin village of Tarabin al-Sana, as tensions flared following a wave of police activity in the area.

According to police, unrest had already begun before the minister’s arrival. Young residents hurled stones at officers, prompting police to respond with tear gas. Two suspects were arrested during the clashes, law enforcement officials told The Times of Israel.

Ben Gvir arrived at the village accompanied by Israel Police chief Danny Levy, Southern District commander Haim Boublil, and large contingents of police officers, moving through the area under heavy security.

“These criminals thought that they would send me a message, that they would do a ‘price tag,’” Ben Gvir said while walking with his security detail, using a term commonly associated with retaliatory settler violence.

Footage aired by Channel 12 showed police scuffling with local residents as Ben Gvir spoke with a man dressed in Arab clothing nearby. Despite the confrontation, the minister told reporters that he was undeterred and pledged to continue visiting the village.

In an official statement, Ben Gvir accused Bedouin communities of operating without effective law enforcement. He said the towns had “gotten used to there being no police and no rule of law,” adding that “everyone does as he pleases.”

“That is over. Finally there is a police force here that functions and responds,” he said.

The visit followed police operations over Shabbos, during which officers arrested three Tarabin al-Sana residents suspected of torching and vandalizing vehicles in nearby Jewish communities. Police said the acts were carried out as “revenge” for an earlier overnight raid in the village.

Over the past month, police have intensified their presence across the Negev as part of an initiative aimed at curbing violent crime, weapons trafficking, and traffic violations. The campaign, known as New Order, has included repeated raids in Bedouin localities.

Bedouin leaders and residents have strongly criticized the operation, accusing Ben Gvir of undermining their rights as Israeli citizens. They dispute his claims of improved policing, arguing instead that their communities lack a steady police presence.

Residents say that rather than routine law enforcement, they experience surprise, military-style raids involving counterterror units and Border Police, along with checkpoints at town entrances that affect ordinary civilians as well as criminals.

Ben Gvir, for his part, praised the concrete barriers police have placed at entrances to several Bedouin towns, rejecting accusations of collective punishment.

“This is the State of Israel. Period. Those who don’t like it, fantastic — they can go drink the water in Gaza,” he said.

A Tarabin al-Sana resident identified as Alaa told Ynet that villagers were being unfairly blamed. “It makes no sense to blame us [residents] for everything that goes on in the village,” he said.

“I blame Ben Gvir for this situation. You want to catch criminals? Go in and arrest them. What are these checkpoints for? Where are we, in the territories?” he added, referring to the West Bank.

Addressing the alleged retaliatory vandalism in the nearby Jewish towns of Giv’ot Bar and Mishmar Hanegev, Alaa told Ynet that he maintains friendships in Giv’ot Bar and condemned the attacks.

{Matzav.com}

FBI Director Kash Patel said the massive fraud uncovered in Minnesota represents only a small portion of a much larger criminal web, signaling that further investigations, along with immigration consequences, are still ahead for those involved.

In a detailed statement posted on social media, Patel said the Federal Bureau of Investigation had already redirected significant manpower and investigative assets to Minnesota well before the case drew widespread attention online, allowing agents to aggressively pursue the scheme at an early stage.

“To date, the FBI dismantled a $250 million fraud scheme that stole federal food aid meant for vulnerable children during COVID,” Patel wrote.

He explained that the probe uncovered a complex operation involving fake vendors, shell corporations, and extensive laundering of illicit funds connected to the Feeding Our Future network. “The investigation exposed sham vendors, shell companies, and large-scale money laundering tied to the Feeding Our Future network,” he added.

The sprawling case resulted in dozens of prosecutions, ultimately leading to 78 indictments and 57 convictions.

Detailing the scope of those charged, Patel said, “Defendants included Abdiwahab Ahmed Mohamud, Ahmed Ali, Hussein Farah, Abdullahe Nur Jesow, Asha Farhan Hassan, Ousman Camara, and Abdirashid Bixi Dool, each charged for roles ranging from wire fraud to money laundering and conspiracy.”

He also highlighted efforts to corrupt the justice system itself. “Abdimajid Mohamed Nur and others were charged for attempting to bribe a juror with $120,000 in cash. Those responsible pleaded guilty and were sentenced, including a 10-year prison term and nearly $48 million in restitution in related cases,” Patel said, cautioning that the full scale of the wrongdoing has yet to be uncovered.

Looking ahead, Patel stressed that investigators are far from finished. “The FBI believes this is just the tip of a very large iceberg. We will continue to follow the money and protect children, and this investigation very much remains ongoing,” he said.

He added that criminal penalties may not be the final consequence for many of those involved. “Furthermore, many are also being referred to immigrations officials for possible further denaturalization and deportation proceedings where eligible,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

After meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Florida on Sunday, President Donald Trump said he sees real potential for a breakthrough in efforts to end the war between Ukraine and Russia, while cautioning that the human toll will continue to rise without an agreement.

Standing beside Zelensky outside the main dining room at Mar-a-Lago, Trump told reporters, “I do believe that we have the makings of a deal. It’s good for Ukraine, good for everybody. It’s very important.”

Trump emphasized the stakes involved if the conflict drags on, warning that failure to reach an accord would cost countless lives. “If the war continues, ‘millions of additional people will be killed, millions, and no one wants that,’” he said.

The president also underscored how challenging the negotiations have been compared to past efforts he has led. “There’s nothing more important,’’ Trump said. “I solved eight wars, and this is the most difficult one.”

Despite expressing confidence in progress, Trump dismissed the idea of locking in a specific deadline for a final agreement. Describing the talks, he said they were “Pretty complex but not that complex,’’ adding, “No deadlines. ‘You know what my deadline is, getting the war ended.’”

Trump nevertheless predicted swift movement following discussions with Zelensky over unresolved elements in a 20-point peace proposal drafted by both sides’ teams. He said the process is likely to “move very rapidly” as those remaining issues are addressed.

As part of advancing the proposal, Trump said he plans to speak directly with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and to consult with senior European officials. He noted that he had already spoken with Putin before sitting down with Zelensky.

Sunday’s meeting marked the first time Trump and Zelensky have met face to face since October 17, following a period of highly publicized disagreements between the two leaders.

Reflecting on Zelensky’s role in the conflict, Trump offered praise for the Ukrainian president and his country. “This gentleman has worked very hard,’’ he said. “He’s very brave, and his people are very brave, but what they’ve gone through, no nation, very rarely, has a nation ever gone through this.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump expressed confidence after what he described as a successful phone conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, held shortly before Trump’s scheduled meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago to discuss a proposed 20-point peace framework.

“I just had a good and very productive telephone call with President Putin of Russia prior to my meeting, at 1:00 P.M. today, with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump’s optimism came against the backdrop of intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine. In the days leading up to the anticipated discussions, Russian forces launched more than 2,100 drone strikes, nearly 800 guided aerial bombs, and 94 missiles, according to Ukrainian officials.

On Saturday alone, Ukraine was hit with 500 drone strikes and 400 missile attacks, leaving parts of Kyiv without electricity. Officials said at least one person was killed and 27 others were wounded in the barrage.

Zelensky, who is traveling to meet Trump, reiterated his country’s determination to bring the conflict to an end, even as the violence escalates. “Ukraine is willing to do whatever it takes to stop this war. For us, priority number one – or the only priority – is ending the war. For us, the priority is peace. We need to be strong at the negotiating table,” he said.

While Trump was preparing for talks, Putin issued a stark warning signaling no immediate softening of Moscow’s position. “If Ukraine does not want to resolve everything peacefully, Russia will resolve all its objectives by military means,” Putin said, according to a translation.

Russia has insisted that Ukraine relinquish control over the entire Donbas region, where Moscow occupies most of the territory while Kyiv still holds several strategically significant cities. Ukrainian leaders have resisted surrendering any land not already lost in combat, viewing the remaining areas as vital to national security and a buffer against future Russian advances.

Zelensky has also noted that Ukraine’s constitution would require a referendum before any territory could be ceded.

Behind the scenes, Ukrainian negotiators have spent weeks in discussions with Trump’s team, helping reshape an initial 28-point proposal viewed as favorable to Moscow into a revised 20-point plan that Kyiv sees as more balanced.

Zelensky told reporters last week that the new proposal is nearly complete but that several critical issues remain unresolved, including territorial questions, the status of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and long-term security guarantees.

He has publicly stressed the need for Moscow to engage seriously in the diplomatic effort. “The key is that Russia must not sabotage this diplomacy and must take ending the war 100% seriously,” Zelensky wrote on X last week. “If it doesn’t, then additional pressure on Russia must follow. The world has all the instruments needed to make that pressure effective and ensure that peace is achieved.”

Ending the war, which is set to reach its four-year mark in February, has been a central foreign policy goal for Trump.

In an interview with The NY Post last Friday, Trump voiced guarded optimism that progress could be made during his talks with Zelensky. “Well, I think we have a good shot at it,” Trump said. “I think [Ukrainian officials] want to do it now, and I think that Russia wants to do it. But every time one wants to do it, the other doesn’t.”

{Matzav.com}

Satellite imagery and expert assessments reviewed by The Washington Post indicate that China has been quietly but dramatically ramping up its ability to produce nuclear warheads, modernizing sensitive weapons facilities and expanding output at a pace unmatched by any other country.

According to the report, Beijing appears to have moved beyond a long-standing strategy centered on maintaining a limited nuclear deterrent. Analysts now believe Chinese planners are preparing for quicker and more assertive nuclear responses, a shift that could significantly heighten tensions in a future clash with the United States and allied nations.

Independent experts who examined satellite photos told the Post that since around 2019, China has carried out extensive upgrades at several locations connected to nuclear warhead manufacturing. The work spans multiple stages of the production process, from core components to explosive triggers.

Among the most significant expansions are at facilities believed to produce plutonium pits, the central element of a nuclear warhead, as well as plants that manufacture the high explosives used to initiate a detonation. One analyst described the scope of the transformation in stark terms. “The scale of change we’re seeing is unlike anything before,” said Renny Babiarz.

Despite these advances, recent Pentagon assessments estimate that China’s existing stockpile remains in the low 600s. Defense officials, however, say the trajectory is clear, with projections indicating Beijing could surpass 1,000 warheads by the end of the decade.

President Donald Trump has publicly warned that China could come close to matching U.S. nuclear capabilities within five years, reflecting growing alarm in Washington over Beijing’s long-term strategic aims.

Even so, specialists emphasize that China is not expected to rival the approximately 3,700 warheads held by the United States in the near future. What concerns analysts more is the speed and breadth of the buildup, which they say points to preparation for an extended period of nuclear competition.

Images analyzed by experts reveal construction activity and enhanced security across nearly every link in China’s nuclear weapons supply chain. At sites associated with plutonium pit production, observers noted new structures, expanded infrastructure, and security zones that have roughly doubled in size.

One particularly notable location near Pingtong in Sichuan province — the only publicly identified Chinese site tied to plutonium pit production — has seen especially sweeping changes over the past five years. Analysts say its capabilities now rival, and in certain respects exceed, those of the Pantex facility in Texas, where U.S. nuclear warheads are assembled and maintained.

Rapid growth has also been observed at a separate facility in Zitong County, also in Sichuan, believed to manufacture high-explosive components. Satellite imagery shows newly erected security barriers, expanded storage and testing areas, and a massive 430,000-square-foot structure completed last year that could support assembly and transport of warhead parts.

Beyond manufacturing, analysts point to renewed activity at China’s Lop Nur nuclear test site in Xinjiang, where new underground tunnels and shafts have been constructed. Experts suggest this could signal preparations for future nuclear tests, despite China having signed — but never ratified — the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

Some specialists also believe Beijing may be edging toward a “launch-on-warning” posture, under which it would fire nuclear weapons upon detecting an incoming attack rather than waiting for a strike to land.

“Rapid-response nuclear postures raise the danger of misunderstanding and overreaction,” said Tong Zhao of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

{Matzav.com}

An Iranian-linked hacking collective said Sunday that it had gained access to the cellphone of Tzachi Braverman, chief of staff to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and warned that it would soon publish material it says connects him to the so-called Qatargate affair.

The group, which operates under the name Handala, asserted in an online post that it had penetrated an iPhone 16 Pro Max belonging to Braverman and planned to disclose details later in the day regarding his alleged role in the controversy that has shaken Netanyahu’s inner circle.

Handala had already claimed momentum last week, when it said it had successfully hacked the phone of former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett.

Among the initial materials released by the hackers were files they say include contact information for senior officials and other figures close to Netanyahu, including his wife, Sara Netanyahu.

Additional content circulated by the group appeared relatively mundane, consisting of videos and official paperwork, including a document outlining emergency protocols established during the June conflict with Iran.

The hackers dubbed the effort “Bibi Gate,” a label seemingly intended to echo the wider scandal they claim to be exposing.

Responding to the allegations, the Prime Minister’s Office said there was no evidence of a successful intrusion. “No breach has been found. The issue is being investigated.”

In more inflammatory language, Handala asserted that it possesses extensive sensitive material. “We have everything: encrypted chats, hidden deals, shameful moral and financial indulgences, abuse of power, blackmail, payoffs. For years, you performed your little dance, thinking Handala was not among you. But we were in the room, every time,” the group claimed.

In a further message, the hackers warned that additional disclosures were imminent. “The files, the voices, the videos, every thread of Braverman’s double life, every secret that ties your regime to the heart of corruption, are about to surface,” Handala wrote.

{Matzav.com}

Calls for a more forceful state response to declining vaccination rates were voiced Sunday by senior figures in Israel’s healthcare system, who warned that persuasion alone is no longer working and that firmer action is required.

Professor Doron Netzer, Head of the Community Medicine Department at Clalit Health Services, said that public information campaigns have not delivered the needed results and that escalation is unavoidable. “If we don’t make it mandatory for the public to vaccinate, we won’t reach the necessary vaccination rate,” he said.

Similar concerns were raised by Dr. Eran Rotman, deputy CEO of Maccabi Health Services, who argued that the government must adopt steps that have so far been avoided. He framed the issue as one that goes beyond policy and enters the realm of values. “A parent who doesn’t vaccinate their children is endangering not only their own children but also those around them,” Rotman said.

The remarks were delivered at a conference organized by the Friends for Medicine organization, where health officials addressed what they described as a worrying drop in public compliance with vaccination guidelines.

Leumit Health Fund CEO Chaim Fernandes went a step further, urging consideration of financial consequences for those who refuse vaccines for themselves or their children. He suggested that benefits currently provided by the state could be reduced or withdrawn as a deterrent, including child allowances and tax credit points.

Fernandes explained that avoiding vaccination carries broader costs for society, saying, “When a person increases the risk of using the healthcare system and infecting others, it also has an economic implication.”

Israel marked a major technological milestone Sunday morning with a formal event at a Rafael facility, where the IDF officially accepted the “Or Eitan” laser interception system into its arsenal. The platform is the first operational laser-based air defense system anywhere in the world, using high-powered laser beams to counter airborne threats.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Yisroel Katz hailed the breakthrough, saying the achievement “changes the rules of the game and sends a clear message to all our enemies: do not test us-neither in nearby arenas nor in distant ones. Anyone who does will pay a heavy price.”

The system is the product of close collaboration between Rafael and the Ministry of Defense’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development. According to defense officials, it has already undergone an extensive testing program, during which it successfully intercepted rockets, mortar fire, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Amir Baram, Director General of the Ministry of Defense, described the handover as a turning point for the project, noting that it represents the move from research and development into full-scale, serial production.

Once operationally deployed, “Or Eitan” is slated to become part of Israel’s layered air defense framework, augmenting existing systems such as Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and the Arrow missile defense array.

Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar emphasized the strategic importance of the system, calling it a significant accomplishment and the result of years of sustained cooperation focused on strengthening Israel’s defensive capabilities.

An emotional moment came during the ceremony when Dov Oster, one of the system’s developers and the father of the late Capt. Eitan Oster—who was killed in action in southern Lebanon and for whom the system is named—recited Shehecheyanu.

Rafael Chairman Dr. Yuval Steinitz summed up the historic nature of the moment, stating, “Today, Israel becomes the first country in the world to field an operational laser defense system. This is a global scientific breakthrough made possible by Rafael’s unique adaptive optics technology.”

With the end of January approaching and a possible government shutdown on the horizon, President Donald Trump renewed his call for Senate Republicans to eliminate the filibuster, arguing that the rule is standing in the way of progress. “The filibuster is hurting the Republican Party,” he said in an interview with Politico. “If you get rid of the filibuster, you’re not going to have a shutdown.” He added that without it, “you can do everything.”

Trump went further, saying that major policy goals would be easier to achieve if the procedural hurdle were removed. “You can do great healthcare if you get rid of the filibuster,” he said. “We can do everything we want.” Despite those comments, a number of Senate Republicans, including Majority Leader John Thune, continue to support keeping the filibuster, describing it as an important safeguard that encourages bipartisan cooperation. Ending it would also clear the way for other Republican initiatives, such as voter ID legislation.

In the same interview, Trump argued that the political stakes of the upcoming 2026 midterm elections will largely hinge on economic issues, particularly prices. He said voters will judge the election based on the direction of the country. “I think it’s going to be about the success of our country,” Trump said, speaking to Politico in an interview conducted Friday.

Trump placed responsibility for recent cost-of-living pressures on Democrats under Joe Biden, while insisting his administration is reversing that trend. “They gave us high pricing, and we’re bringing it down. Energy’s way down. Gasoline is way down,” he said.

Recent economic data has bolstered the administration’s argument. Over the past two weeks, a string of reports has suggested inflation is easing, a point the White House has emphasized as Americans continue to voice concerns about affordability. A Politico poll conducted last month found that many people still view everyday expenses — including groceries, utilities, healthcare, housing, and transportation — as too high.

Trump pushed back on that perception, citing falling energy-related costs. He said in the interview that “electricity is down. It’s way down.” He linked those declines to broader energy trends, explaining, “When the gasoline goes down, and when the oil and gas go down, the electricity comes down naturally.” He added, “But it’s all coming down. It’s all coming down. It’s coming beautifully.”

Pointing to broader economic growth, Trump highlighted new GDP figures released Wednesday. “You saw the 4.3%?” he said, referring to data showing the economy expanded at an annualized rate of 4.3% in the third quarter of 2025. He claimed the numbers triggered a strong reaction from political opponents, saying, “The Democrats were exploding. Their heads were exploding.”

Inflation data also showed improvement, with the Labor Department reporting that the consumer price index rose at an annual rate of 2.7% in November, the smallest year-over-year increase since July. Trump has cited those figures as further evidence that his administration is steering the economy in the right direction ahead of the next election cycle.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s former Sephardic Chief Rabbi, Rav Yitzchok Yosef, sharply criticized the conduct of the Israeli military police regarding the arrest of yeshiva students, charging that the enforcement is discriminatory and disproportionately targets Sephardic youth.

Speaking last night at the start of his weekly shiur at the Yazdim Shul, Rav Yosef addressed what he described as a clear pattern in the recent initiated arrests, noting that all detainees thus far have been from Sephardic backgrounds.

During his remarks, Rav Yosef commented pointedly on the issue, turning to the guest rov next to him and saying: “The rov lives in France. If he were living in Israel, he would learn from the authorities to arrest only Sephardim. There is discrimination. Baruch Hashem, he is in France — there, there is no discrimination.”

Rav Yosef also referenced a recent meeting he held last week with Avraham Malul, a talmid at Yeshiva Or Yehuda, who had been arrested and jailed after being classified as a draft evader and was later released.

Addressing the matter further during the meeting, Rav Yosef said: “Unfortunately, we see that they are mainly arresting Sephardic boys, residents of the periphery. Hashem should save us.”

In recent months, Rav Yosef has repeatedly spoken out on the issue during his weekly shiurim, delivering especially forceful criticism of the nighttime arrests. In one such address, he said: “They are arresting mainly Sephardim. They know the mother is weak, the father is weak. You need to strengthen yourselves. What is this, Russia? Is this a communist regime? Bolsheviks? They go and arrest yeshiva boys in the middle of the night, banging loudly on the door. If they knock, look through the peephole. You need to be strong. Hashem should help that this period pass. It is a very difficult period.”

The criticism was echoed by Rav Yehuda Cohen, a member of the Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah of Shas and rosh yeshiva of Be’er HaTalmud, who spoke in particularly blunt terms. “Listen — all of those arrested are Sephardim only. Only Sephardim!” he said. “Those who choose them in all those parties should know well how much they love Sephardim.”

He added: “They don’t dare arrest Ashkenazim — only Sephardim. I already said two years ago: they are Ashkenazim, they will never touch them. Only the Sephardim. They think we are nothing, absolutely nothing.”

{Matzav.com}

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United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yitzchok Goldknopf sharply criticized the Likud after the party released an official statement during Shabbos, calling the move a serious affront to religious sensitivities.

The statement in question was issued Friday night by Likud spokesman Guy Levy, after the onset of Shabbos. The message reiterated accusations against Qatar Gate suspect Eli Feldstein, who previously served as military spokesman in the Prime Minister’s Office, while at the same time expressing support for another Qatar Gate suspect, Yonatan Urich, an adviser to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.

Goldknopf said the decision to publish the announcement at that time was entirely unnecessary and should never have been done on Shabbos.

“Publishing an official political message at the height of Shabbos crosses a red line and constitutes severe harm to Shabbos’ sanctity and to the status quo, which are basic values of the State of Israel as a Jewish state,” he said.

He added that beyond the substance of the statement itself, the timing reflected a troubling disregard for the Shabbos-observant public. “In addition to the contents of the statement, the very decision to publish such a statement on Shabbos expresses contempt for the Shabbos-observant public and severe harm to the public. There is no justification, not political and not media-related, to violate Shabbos for the sake of managing denials and political spins.”

{Matzav.com}

The Peleg Yerushalmi announced that it will resume protests across Israel today, warning of widespread traffic congestion due to the protestors.

The demonstrations are being organized in response to the continued arrests of yeshiva students.

According to an announcement, the Peleg protests were ordered by the movement’s leadership, which instructed supporters to take to the streets in what it described as a firm and forceful stand against the arrests.

Demonstrations are scheduled to begin at approximately 4:30 p.m. Protest locations were not disclosed beforehand, a decision organizers said was made in order to prevent advance preparations by police.

Peleg has frequently demonstrated in the past along Road 4 near Bnei Brak, as well as in areas surrounding the main entrance to Yerushalayim. Authorities are bracing for significant traffic delays in those regions and possibly elsewhere as the protests unfold today.

{Matzav.com}

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, has halted the planned demolition of the historic Kingsbrook Shul, formerly Congregation Chaim Albert, in the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Built in 1950 on the grounds of the former Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, the shul was to be razed as part of a redevelopment of the larger site into affordable housing. The project, which is partly financed via the state’s housing and community renewal program, would include hundreds of residential units.

The governor’s decision came amid a lawsuit in the state’s supreme court in Kings County, in which Congregation Chaim Albert sued One Brooklyn Health System, the entity that owns the property.

In the June 13 complaint, the congregation alleged that the shul as always intended to remain a permanent house of worship and should not be treated as a disposable real estate asset.

According to the complaint, shul services were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic but were never allowed to resume, even after public-health restrictions ended. The congregation alleged that the prolonged closure was used to justify removing the Kingsbrook Shul as part of the redevelopment.

Hochul said she “led the effort to save the historic Kingsbrook Shul from its demolition” in a statement in which she encouraged “leadership from the hospital and synagogue to find a path forward where both sites can prosper and serve the community.”

Aron Wieder, a state assemblyman, said that “protecting institutions with deep community and cultural significance is important.”

Letitia James, the state attorney general, also said that “this synagogue has been meaningful to the community for decades, and I am grateful a treasured piece of Jewish history in New York will be preserved.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s office circulated an itinerary to the traveling press indicating that his official schedule during this week’s visit to Florida will be relatively light.

The prime minister departed Eretz Yisroel this morning at 7:30 a.m. and is expected to arrive in Florida at 2 p.m. local time.

His most active day on the calendar is Monday. Netanyahu is set to hold an early-afternoon meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, followed later that day by a 3:30 p.m. meeting with US President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago.

No official engagements are currently listed for Tuesday.

On Wednesday morning, Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with Evangelical leaders at his hotel at 10:30 a.m. He will then travel to the Shul of Bal Harbour, where he is expected to attend an event together with lawmakers, Jewish and community leaders, and local students.

Netanyahu is scheduled to depart Florida on Thursday afternoon and is expected to arrive back in Eretz Yisroel early Friday afternoon.

An emergency session of the UN Security Council is set for Monday, where members are expected to voice strong opposition to Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland as an independent state.

The move drew swift international criticism, with Somalia’s government in Mogadishu accusing Israel of a “deliberate attack” on its sovereignty. Egypt, Turkey, the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Saudi-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation also issued condemnations.

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, responded by stressing Israel’s approach, saying that “Israel will act responsibly and we will continue to cooperate with partners who contribute to regional stability.”

The European Union joined the growing chorus of criticism. In a statement, Brussels said, “The European Union reaffirms the importance of respecting the unity, the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia pursuant of its constitution, the Charters of the African Union and the United Nations.” The statement added, “This is key for the peace and stability of the entire Horn of Africa region,” and noted that “The EU encourages meaningful dialogue between Somaliland and the Federal Government of Somalia to resolve long-standing differences.”

Israel announced the recognition on Friday, just days before Somalia is scheduled to assume the rotating presidency of the Security Council. In unveiling the decision, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the step was “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords,” adding that Israel and Somaliland would work together in “economic fields, on agriculture, [and] in the fields of social development.”

A joint declaration released yesterday by 21 countries — most of them from the Middle East or Africa — together with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, rejected Israel’s action “given the serious repercussions of such unprecedented measure on peace and security in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea and its serious effects on international peace and security as a whole.” The countries, including Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Iran, also emphasized “the full rejection of any potential link between such measure and any attempts to forcibly expel the Palestinian people out of their land.”

The same statement warned that “the recognition of parts of states constitutes a serious precedent and threatens international peace and security, and violates the cardinal principles of international law and the United Nations Charter.”

Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, operates as a self-proclaimed republic with its own currency, passports, and military, and occupies a strategic location on the Gulf of Aden, across from Yemen and near Djibouti. Despite this, it has remained largely diplomatically isolated. Israel is now the only UN member state to formally recognize Somaliland’s independence.

In past discussions, Somaliland has occasionally been mentioned as a possible destination for Gazans leaving the war-torn Strip, a notion that has heightened sensitivities around Israel’s recognition.

Notably absent from the joint statement were the three countries that normalized relations with Israel in 2020 — the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco. Syria issued a separate declaration rejecting Israel’s move.

The US State Department also weighed in, saying it continues to recognize the territorial integrity of Somalia, “which includes the territory of Somaliland.”

{Matzav.com}