Matzav

Israeli authorities today lifted a gag order, allowing publication of the identity of the mayor arrested and questioned earlier this week on suspicion of bribery and misappropriation of funds. The suspect is Tomer Glam, the mayor of the southern city of Ashkelon.

According to investigators, Glam is suspected of diverting donations that were earmarked for the welfare of soldiers for his personal use. The investigation, led by the elite police anti-corruption unit Lahav 433, followed a covert probe that unfolded over recent months.

Police allege that donations totaling millions of shekels, contributed to the Ashkelon municipality by individuals and organizations in Israel and abroad, were transferred into a community fund and from there funneled into the private accounts of the mayor. The funds were reportedly donated to support residents during the ongoing war.

A police statement said the covert investigation was conducted by the National Fraud Investigations Unit, which examined suspicions that a portion of the donations intended for public welfare were ultimately used for the personal benefit of the mayor and individuals close to him.

Attorneys Victor Ozen and Esther Bar Zion, who represent Glam and his wife, rejected the allegations. In a statement, they said: “This is an upright, ethical, and honest individual who was detained, provided a full account, and will do everything necessary to prove to the police that there is absolutely no basis to the suspicions attributed to him, apparently due to an error.”

The attorneys added that Glam works “day and night for the city,” is deeply committed to the safety and welfare of its residents, and expressed confidence that within days investigators would conclude that there was no wrongdoing in his conduct.

The investigation is ongoing, and no charges have been filed at this stage.

{Matzav.com}

A California statute that prohibits federal law enforcement officers from wearing masks while performing their duties will not be enforced by the Los Angeles Police Department, according to LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell.

Speaking with KABC, McDonnell said it would be unreasonable for one armed law enforcement agency to confront another, warning that such an approach would only create unnecessary conflict. He took aim at the No Secret Police Act, arguing that it reflects poor judgment and a lack of careful consideration.

McDonnell has also voiced criticism over how immigration enforcement operations have been carried out in Los Angeles, distancing his department from those actions.

“We are in line with our federal partners on everything except immigration enforcement,” he said.

“What we’ve seen since June here in Los Angeles and seen across the country, we’re as frustrated as everybody else — about the way that’s being done,” McDonnell added.

The police chief said he worries that aggressive enforcement tactics could discourage residents from contacting police when they need assistance, though he acknowledged there has been no documented decline in calls for service.

In an appearance on “Good Day Los Angeles,” McDonnell emphasized that the LAPD does not cooperate with federal law enforcement agencies on immigration matters.

“We’ve been solid on that since 1979. That’s been our policy,” he said.

“That’s worked for us. We cannot afford to alienate immigrant communities within Los Angeles,” McDonnell continued.

“We’ve built up trust over many years, and we can’t afford to lose that trust,” he said.

“We’ve tried to be as clear as we can about what our position is relative to ICE and immigration enforcement. We don’t work with ICE on that,” McDonnell added.

The mask ban has also drawn sharp criticism from the Department of Homeland Security. Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS spokesperson, said the law violates the Constitution.

“At a time that ICE law enforcement faces a 1,000% increase in assaults and their family members are being doxxed and targeted, the sitting Governor of California signed unconstitutional legislation that strips law enforcement of protections in a disgusting, diabolical fundraising and PR stunt,” McLaughlin said in a statement issued last fall when the bill was signed.

California has since agreed not to implement the law while a lawsuit brought by the Trump administration proceeds through the courts.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump briefly contemplated stepping away from diplomatic talks with Iran after a series of confrontations in the Persian Gulf that U.S. officials characterized as “aggressive,” according to a report published Tuesday by The Wall Street Journal citing senior American officials.

Despite the tensions, the discussions planned for later this week are still expected to move forward. The report did not specify what factors ultimately led Trump to allow the negotiations to continue.

Among the incidents cited was an episode in which Iran launched a drone that was intercepted and destroyed by a U.S. Navy fighter jet as it neared the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea.

That encounter took place just hours after Iranian forces allegedly harassed a U.S.-flagged merchant ship crewed by Americans as it transited the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the report, the drone involved was a Shahed-139, which was downed by an F-35C fighter launched from the Lincoln while the carrier was operating roughly 500 miles off Iran’s southern coastline. No U.S. service members were injured, and American military hardware was not damaged.

Even with those developments, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration still intends to proceed with talks between special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian representatives. “President Trump is always wanting to pursue diplomacy first, but obviously it takes two to tango,” she said. “As always, though, of course, the president has a range of options on the table with respect to Iran.”

Trump also addressed the matter directly on Tuesday, confirming that negotiations with Iran are underway while declining to disclose the location of the talks.

“They are negotiating. They’d like to do something, and we’ll see if something is going to be done,” Trump said.

Reflecting on earlier dealings with Tehran, he added, “They had a chance to do something a while ago, and it didn’t work out. And we did Midnight Hammer. I don’t think they want that happening again,” referring to U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities last June. “But they would like to negotiate. We are negotiating with them right now, yes.”

When pressed on where the upcoming meeting would take place, Trump responded simply, “I can’t tell you that.”

{Matzav.com}

WATCH:

LISTEN:

​​For more info, email bitachon4life@gmail.com.

LISTEN:

Israeli Finance Ministry Minister and member of the Security Cabinet Ze’ev Elkin warned on Tuesday night that continued opposition by chareidi parties to the draft law could lead to harsher outcomes for the chareidi public and destabilize the coalition, including the risk of elections without an approved state budget. Speaking in an interview on the HaMahadura HaMerkazit program, Elkin argued that internal resistance—particularly by the Chassidishe Agudas Yisroel faction—could make passage of the legislation impossible and ultimately harm the very communities seeking to block it.

Addressing reports of quiet contacts between Naftali Bennett and chareidi figures, Elkin said such maneuvering was unsurprising but misguided. “In politics, anything can happen,” he said, adding that some in the chareidi street are misreading the situation. “There are elements in the chareidi public who oppose the current version of the law and are hoping that maybe they’ll get more from Bennett. I think they are deluding themselves. As someone who has been following the draft law for a long time, I see the same pattern repeat itself: a proposal is put on the table, certain factions reject it in the hope of something better, time passes, and then they say, ‘Too bad we didn’t agree back then,’ because the new proposals are worse. This is a cycle that has been repeating itself since 2012.”

Elkin directed pointed criticism at the Chassidishe Agudas Yisroel faction, warning that its stance could stall the process entirely. “I’m afraid that this time as well Agudas Yisroel is making the same mistake,” he said. “Its opposition makes it impossible to pass the law, because no one in the coalition wants to be someone else’s Shabbos goy.”

Turning to the prospect of the government collapsing before the state budget is approved, Elkin issued a stark warning to chareidi representatives. “Let’s say the draft law isn’t passed and we go to elections—does it make sense to go to elections without a budget?” he asked. “I think that would be a very big mistake. It would be an economically ‘dead year.’ The first to be hurt by that would be the chareidi public, because a large portion of its funding is not in the base budget. Under a continuing budget of one-twelfth, that money won’t be transferred. It would be a kind of ‘self-inflicted punishment.’ If I were advising them, I would recommend: first approve a budget, and then go to elections.”

On security matters, Elkin addressed American demands to disarm Hamas as part of President Donald Trump’s plan, expressing doubt that diplomatic avenues alone would succeed. “Trump said it correctly: either it happens the easy way, or the hard way,” Elkin said. “The hard and bad way is clearly only the IDF, because no one else will do this job for us. I’m skeptical that diplomatic moves will help, and therefore the ball will return to the IDF.”

At the same time, Elkin pointed to what he described as significant achievements on the ground. “We defeated Hamas militarily,” he said. “They no longer have a shared border with Egypt, we have control over the Philadelphi Corridor, and therefore their ability to rebuild their strength is very limited.”

In closing, Elkin also touched on the brewing coalition crisis surrounding the dairy reform, urging all sides to reach a compromise that balances lowering the cost of living with protecting farmers in Israel’s periphery and safeguarding the country’s food security.

{Matzav.com}

The Belzer Chassidus on Tuesday forcefully rejected reports claiming that the Belzer Rebbe took part in drafting religious guidelines incorporated into new Israel Defense Forces General Staff orders. Senior figures in the chassidus dismissed the claims with derision, stating unequivocally that neither the Rebbe nor anyone acting on his behalf had any involvement in the matter at any stage.

The response followed earlier reports alleging that the Belzer Rebbe and the Stoliner Rebbe participated in formulating rules intended to regulate chareidi enlistment in the IDF, including direct dialogue with military officials, the dispatch of representatives to meetings, and approval of specific clauses in the orders.

Belzer sources flatly denied the claims, calling all such reports “false,” and added that the journalists who published them failed to seek any response from the chassidus beforehand. According to the statement, this omission violated basic standards of journalistic ethics and professional conduct.

The denial came as additional coverage aired on i24NEWS, which reported on the composition of a supervisory committee tasked with overseeing chareidi service frameworks within the IDF. The report said the committee would include representatives from Ashkenazi and Sephardi yeshivos, as well as figures linked to the Belzer and Stoliner courts.

According to that report, the committee members named were Rav Dovid Leibel, Rav Shimon Binik, Rav Avrohom Borodiansky, Rav Meir Antebi, Rav Asher Zelfreind, and Rav Carmi Gross. The committee is expected to have authority to conduct inspections at IDF bases where chareidi soldiers are serving.

Earlier on Tuesday, journalist Yoeli Brim reported that the Belzer and Stoliner Rebbes were involved in shaping the religious standards embedded in the new General Staff orders, including participation in discussions with the IDF and approval of the final language. That account was categorically rejected by Belz.

The controversy unfolded on the same day that IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi signed the new General Staff orders formally regulating chareidi service in the military. Until now, policies governing chareidi enlistment had been internal directives of the IDF Manpower Directorate. The new orders elevate those policies to binding General Staff regulations, subject to formal oversight, implementation, and periodic review at the highest levels.

The orders outline additional rights for chareidi soldiers, including designated prayer times, mehadrin kashrus standards, and the option of a declaration of allegiance in place of a formal oath.

They also establish three dedicated chareidi service tracks. One framework assigns soldiers to gender-segregated teams. A second, known as the “Cherev” track, provides fully gender-segregated units—such as entire battalions—where combat commanders are generally chareidi or religious soldiers, with rare exceptions requiring special approval. A third framework, the “Dovid” track, consists of units in which all personnel maintain a religious lifestyle; such units will require individual authorization from the head of the Manpower Directorate.

Under the new regulations, candidates seeking placement in chareidi tracks will be required to pass an evaluation demonstrating adherence to a chareidi way of life, with provisions allowing for removal from the framework if those standards are not maintained. The orders also permit chareidi soldiers, under justified circumstances, to enter and leave bases without wearing uniforms, and stipulate that their induction will be conducted via declaration rather than oath.

{Matzav.com}

An unusually forceful editorial published Tuesday in the Israeli daily Yated Neeman launched a sweeping and uncompromising attack on Israel’s judicial system and the military establishment, declaring that the Torah world will not yield to arrests, sanctions, or political pressure. The editorial frames the current moment as a decisive struggle over the identity of the state and the standing of Torah learners, asserting that Torah alone is the true and unchangeable constitution of the Jewish people.

The article describes what it calls an escalation in the battle over the character of the country, insisting that Torah cannot and will not be reshaped to suit political circumstances. Against the backdrop of growing pressure on yeshivos and kollelim, the editorial quotes Rav Dov Landau as saying: “At this time, when the burden on the yeshivos and kollelim has grown heavier due to decrees and harassment by state authorities, the urgent need of the hour is to strengthen those who learn Torah.” The paper notes that Rav Landau undertook a demanding campaign of encouragement across Torah institutions of all communities and backgrounds, a campaign that is continuing in the present days.

According to the editorial, the goal of this effort is to reinforce resolve, prevent spiritual weakening, increase kevod Shomayim, and raise high the banner of Torah and respect for its learners. The message delivered during these visits is quoted as: “The Torah unites the entire Jewish people, and through it we will merit salvation from all troubles, from within and from without.”

The article then turns to the parsha of Yisro, portraying the annual renewal of the covenant between the Jewish people and the Ribono Shel Olam. The editorial presents the current struggle as a spiritual campaign against what it calls the dominant Israeli cultural current, urging the nation to close ranks in a unified front.

In one of its sharpest passages, the editorial accuses the judicial system and its allied bodies, together with the military authorities, of adopting an agenda aimed at reducing the presence of Torah in Israel. It asserts that opponents of Torah and adversaries of the chareidi public have revealed their intentions, aided by what the paper describes as collaborators from religious-Zionist circles who, it claims, are intensifying public campaigns through their media outlets.

The article expands at length on the battle with Amalek, arguing that true victory was achieved not on the battlefield itself but in the place where Moshe Rabbeinu stood engaged in tefillah and spiritual leadership. According to the editorial, wars arise when commitment to Torah weakens, while victory comes through strengthening Torah study. It highlights Yehoshua’s role as a devoted Torah figure, chosen to lead precisely because of his lifelong immersion in Torah rather than any military training or command experience.

The editorial argues that although the physical fighting was carried out by soldiers, victory was achieved solely through the spiritual power of Torah. It stresses that this reality may not be perceptible to the physical senses, but is an accepted truth transmitted through Torah Shebaal Peh.

The piece goes on to describe Israeli society as being under what it calls a foreign spiritual domination by a small but aggressive minority. It accuses this group of seeking to uproot the covenant of Sinai and strip away what the editorial describes as the true spiritual protection that shields the nation. According to the article, efforts by the judiciary and political actors to undermine the Torah-based foundation of Jewish life are steadily intensifying.

Addressing arguments that Torah law should be adjusted to modern realities, the editorial challenges the notion that divine law is meant to adapt to human circumstances. Instead, it argues that the world itself was created in accordance with the Torah, and therefore reality must conform to Torah rather than Torah bending to reality. It maintains that attempting to replace Torah law with human-devised legal systems represents a distortion of the divine design underlying creation.

In response to what it describes as coercive measures, the editorial declares unequivocal defiance. It states that no Torah learner will abandon his studies because of arrests, enforcement actions, or sanctions. The article emphasizes that the Torah was accepted at Sinai as the binding constitution of the Jewish people, accepted unanimously and irrevocably.

The editorial draws a distinction between a state constitution, which it says can be changed by majority vote, and the constitution of a nation, which it argues cannot be altered. Jewish nationhood, it asserts, was forged at the giving of the Torah, not through international resolutions, parliamentary decisions, or judicial rulings.

Reiterating its core message, the article declares that loyalty to Torah will never change under any circumstances. It insists that “the Torah will not be adjusted to fit circumstances”; rather, “circumstances must be reshaped to align with the Torah, regardless of the cost.”

In one of its most striking lines, the editorial concludes that just as past adversaries failed, current efforts will also collapse. “Even the Israelis will not prevail over the Jews,” it states, warning that incitement, coercion, arrests, and sanctions are destined to fail. The struggle, the editorial says, is not about communal rights but about the honor of Hashem, framing the confrontation as a spiritual battle fought for a higher purpose.

The piece closes by returning to the theme of the covenant renewed each year with the reading of Parshas Yisro, asserting that Torah learners understand the roots of the struggle and will not abandon their posts. It ends by quoting Rav Landau’s declaration: “Even things that are well known must be said. Nothing overrides Torah study, and through the study of Torah we will merit salvation from all troubles, from within and from without.”

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] President Trump lashed out at CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins during a tense Oval Office question-and-answer session on Tuesday, criticizing her demeanor and attacking her credibility as she pressed him on the release of files connected to Jeffrey Epstein.

As Collins posed a series of questions about the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein materials, Trump cut her off with a personal rebuke, telling her, “CNN has no ratings because of people like you,” and labeling her the network’s “worst reporter.” He added a remark about her expression, saying, “You know, she’s a young woman. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile.”

Trump escalated his criticism moments later, referencing his long familiarity with Collins and broadening the attack to her employer. “I’ve known you for 10 years. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a smile, because you know you’re not telling the truth and you’re you’re a very dishonest organization and they should be ashamed of you,” he said.

Collins tried to interject, quietly noting that she was “talking about survivors of a … abusers,” suggesting that the subject matter did not lend itself to levity.

Collins began her journalism career covering entertainment before moving into political reporting, later serving as a White House correspondent for the Daily Caller starting in 2016.

She joined CNN in 2017 and reported on Trump’s first term from the White House before transitioning into anchor positions in 2023.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

 For many residents of Bnei Brak and the wider chareidi public who use kosher phones, a routine task—adding credit to a Rav-Kav public transportation card—has become a daily frustration. Speaking on the radio program Osim Seder BaMoked HaTziburi, hosted by Tzvi Tessler, a caller described how the lack of accessible charging options has turned simple bus travel into a logistical ordeal.

Leah, a Bnei Brak resident and computer teacher, told the program that she is routinely forced to walk significant distances just to reload her card. “I go specifically to the light rail, a ten-minute walk each way, just to top it up,” she said on air. According to Leah, neighborhood stores and groceries that once offered Rav-Kav charging services have shut down their terminals due to technical problems and a lack of financial viability.

The difficulty becomes even more acute when children are involved. Without access to smartphone apps on kosher phones, parents have no way of checking the remaining balance on their children’s cards. “Kids come to me and ask, ‘Mom, is there money?’ and I have to rack my brain every time,” Leah said, describing the constant uncertainty. The current system, in which no receipt is issued on the bus, leaves parents in the dark and forces them to physically visit distant service points just to find out whether a card still has credit.

In response to inquiries, Israel’s Ministry of Transport Israel said it is aware of the difficulties and is working on alternative solutions. The ministry said there are more than 150 dedicated service stations nationwide, along with thousands of charging points in retail stores and ATMs. It also pointed to a telephone service center at 03-7207406 that allows credit-card top-ups by phone.

However, that option has its own limitation: phone recharging still requires users to physically visit a service terminal to “activate” the credit on the card, effectively sending them back to square one.

Drawing on her technological background, Leah suggested what she described as a straightforward fix—direct charging by entering a Rav-Kav card number and credit-card details, similar to other bill-payment systems. Tessler explained that this is technically complex because the Rav-Kav is a physical card that does not transmit data. He did note, however, that a proposal raised in the past with then–Deputy Minister Maklev, involving a monthly direct-debit system, has yet to be implemented.

Leah concluded by arguing that the current situation ultimately hurts state revenues. “It’s in their interest that there should be money,” she said, explaining that many children board buses unable to pay because their cards are empty, forcing parents into complicated tracking and double payments after the fact. “There need to be more logical solutions,” Tessler said, promising to continue following the issue.

In a formal response, the Ministry of Transport said: “The Ministry of Transport and the National Public Transportation Authority are aware of the difficulties raised by passengers who do not have smartphones, and are working to provide a range of alternative and accessible solutions for topping up and checking Rav-Kav balances. Today, Rav-Kav cards can be charged at dedicated stations deployed across the country (more than 150 stations), as well as at thousands of retail outlets and ATMs that provide charging and balance-inquiry services.

“In addition, a telephone service center is available at 03-7207406, through which passengers can receive information, assistance in locating charging points, and even perform Rav-Kav top-ups by phone, with activation completed at service stations.

“There is also an option to top up Rav-Kav cards through the ‘Nedarim Plus’ system, available in synagogues and other community centers. The ministry continues to examine additional ways to improve accessibility and service for all passengers, with the goal of ensuring public transportation that is available, simple, and equitable for the entire population.”

{Matzav.com}

SAN FRANCISCO – Immigration and Customs Enforcement has no planned immigration operations at Sunday’s Super Bowl LX, according to a communication from the game’s host committee to local officials.

The Bay Area’s host committee informed elected officials in San Francisco, Santa Clara and San Jose of the development in a memo following calls Friday with members of the NFL security and events teams and federal and local law enforcement officials.

The host committee wrote in the memo, a copy of which was obtained Monday by The Washington Post: “Public safety is our top priority for Super Bowl LX. We have been in daily contact with the NFL, which has confirmed the following with the Department of Homeland Security: There are no planned ICE immigration enforcement operations associated with SBLX.”

The committee wrote that in “coordination with NFL security and local law enforcement, DHS will have federal agents at the Super Bowl to keep fans safe.” It added that the “federal security presence at SBLX is consistent with past Super Bowls and comparable to how DHS protects other major sporting events like the Olympics and World Cup.”

Cathy L. Lanier, the NFL’s chief security officer and a former D.C. police chief, confirmed the host committee’s assertion Tuesday.

“There are no planned ICE or immigration enforcement operations that are scheduled around the Super Bowl or any of the Super Bowl-related events,” Lanier said at a news conference related to Super Bowl security.

As with any Super Bowl, there are many related events for fans scheduled for the week leading up to the game.

“That includes all of the Super Bowl-related events,” Lanier said. “Again, we’ve been working with our DHS partners for 18 months. Everybody has got specific roles that they’re assigned to. There’s no ICE agents assigned as a part of our security team here. But everybody is focused on our mission here and already at it as of this morning.”

Jeffrey M. Brannigan, the Department of Homeland Security’s designated federal coordinator for Super Bowl LX, was asked during Tuesday’s news conference whether he also would commit to no ICE operations at the Super Bowl.

“I defer to Chief Lanier on those questions,” Brannigan said.

Of the DHS role at the Super Bowl, Brannigan said: “Our responsibility is to support the security planning of the cities that are responsible for these events. And that is what we are doing. There are multiple DHS agencies involved in that effort, including DHS law enforcement but not exclusive to DHS law enforcement. … The department’s depth in providing services, technical expertise and personnel to this event and other special events is wide ranging and well established.”

The Seattle Seahawks are scheduled to face the New England Patriots on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

The Department of Homeland Security did not specify its plans Monday.

“DHS is committed to working with our local and federal partners to ensure the Super Bowl is safe for everyone involved, as we do with every major sporting event, including the World Cup. Our mission remains unchanged,” assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. “We will not disclose future operations or discuss personnel. Super Bowl security will entail a whole of government response conducted in-line with the U.S. Constitution. Those who are here legally and are not breaking other laws have nothing to fear.”

Protests have erupted in cities nationwide in recent weeks over federal immigration personnel’s deployment across the country and the fatal shootings of two Americans, Renée Good and Alex Pretti, in Minneapolis last month.

The killing of Pretti, an ICU nurse, two weeks after immigration officers fatally shot Good, a poet and mother of three, added to mounting public outrage and demands for accountability over the militarized tactics the Trump administration has pursued while ramping up immigration enforcement.

Bad Bunny, the halftime performer at the Super Bowl, sharply criticized ICE during Sunday’s Grammy Awards. The Puerto Rican rapper, who won best música urbana album, received a standing ovation for his remarks.

“Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say: ICE out,” Bad Bunny said. “We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans. And we are Americans. … The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love.”

President Donald Trump, after attending last year’s Super Bowl in New Orleans, has said he will not attend this year’s game. He has cited the distance of the game from the East Coast and the selections of the musical performers.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem previously said ICE would conduct enforcement activities at the Super Bowl.

“I have the responsibility to make sure everybody who goes to the Super Bowl has the opportunity to enjoy it and to leave safely,” Noem told Benny Johnson on “The Benny Show” in October, according to Fox News. “That’s what America’s about. We’ll be all over that place.”

Noem said then that those attending the Super Bowl should be law-abiding Americans “who love this country.”

The Super Bowl is classified as a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level 1 event, which DHS defines as “significant events with national and/or international importance that require extensive federal interagency support.” As with other NFL games, flight above the stadium will be temporarily restricted. Federal authorities will be on hand to mitigate any threatening drone activity. State and local authorities and local law enforcement, the NFL and a collection of federal agencies are involved in the planning.

– – –

Goodell on security

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell did not directly address the issue of ICE operations at his annual news conference during Super Bowl week Monday.

“Security is obviously one of the things we focus on the most,” Goodell said. “It’s a SEAR 1 level event that involves unique assets at the federal level, the state level and the local level all working together. I see no change in that in the preparations for the Super Bowl. We have not seen that. We’re working with all three of those levels and doing everything we can to make sure it’s the safest environment. And the federal government is a big part of that, including this administration and every other administration before that. … I just anticipate we’ll continue to do the work to make it the safest event.”

Goodell called Bad Bunny “one of the great artists in the world” and added: “That’s one of the reasons we chose him. But the other reason is he understood the platform he was on. And this platform is to use to unite people and to be able to bring people together with their creativity, with their talent and to be able to use this moment to do that. … I think he’ll have a great performance.”

(c) 2026, The Washington Post

{Matzav.com}

State Attorney Amit Isman has directed police to expand the list of suspected offenses against Bezalel Zini and two other soldiers to include “assisting the enemy in wartime,” a move taken at the final stage of a probe into the alleged smuggling of cigarettes into the Gaza Strip during the war.

Under Israeli law, assisting the enemy in wartime is among the gravest criminal offenses, with penalties that can reach life imprisonment or even death.

The decision marks a sharp escalation from a similar case only weeks ago, when soldiers from the Bedouin Reconnaissance Battalion accused of smuggling cigarettes into Gaza were charged with a lesser security offense carrying a maximum sentence of five years. Investigators say Zini and the two other suspects are alleged to have engaged in the same conduct.

MK Moshe Saada, who previously served as deputy and acting head of the Police Internal Investigations Department (Mahash), condemned the prosecutor’s decision. “Amit Isman, who is unfit and has failed, continues to use his position for political purposes and to act systematically to thwart members of the national camp,” Saada said.

Saada went further, accusing the prosecution of abusing its authority. “The delusional instruction to add an offense of assisting the enemy-punishable by death or life imprisonment-to an allegation of cigarette smuggling is part of a planned witch hunt whose goal is to trigger a constitutional crisis or to force the resignation of the Shin Bet chief, who exposed the military advocate general affair and does not fall in line with Isman and his deep-state associates.”

Earlier on Tuesday, a court approved publication of the fact that Zini is suspected of involvement in the wartime smuggling of cigarettes into Gaza.

Police told the court that Zini’s questioning has concluded and stressed that the central allegation against him relates solely to cigarette smuggling. His detention, along with that of the two other soldiers, was extended until Thursday. At the same time, authorities confirmed that all three are also under investigation for assisting the enemy in wartime.

According to police, investigators carried out a series of investigative steps over the past several weeks and have now completed the evidence-gathering phase.

Following developments in the case, prosecutors have submitted a prosecutor’s statement against Zini, a procedural step that typically precedes the filing of formal charges, which is expected on Thursday.

Legislation that U.S. President Donald Trump signed into law on Tuesday included more than $4 billion for Israel, as well as several other provisions in support of the Jewish state, according to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Trump acted fewer than three hours after the U.S. House of Representatives cleared the bill that would reopen the federal government through Sept. 30 after a short shutdown. The Senate had passed the legislation earlier.

Atop the list is $3.8 billion for the U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding, which includes $3.3 billion in security assistance and $500 million for missile defense, such as Iron Dome and Arrow.

“Congress sent a powerful message about the strength and vibrancy of the U.S.-Israel alliance,” AIPAC stated. “This funding makes America safer, stronger and more prosperous, and ensures our democratic ally can defend itself from our shared enemies.”

Other funding includes $47.5 million for U.S.-Israel emerging technology cooperation (a $27.5 million increase), $75 million for U.S.-Israel counter-drone and directed energy investment (up $20 million), $80 million for U.S.-Israel anti-tunnel defense cooperation (a $32.5 million increase), $37.5 million for the Nita Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act that supports economic cooperation and peace building and $3 million for U.S.-Israel international development cooperation.

The measure also bans funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice and the U.N. Human Rights Council’s Commission of Inquiry against Israel.

“Congress once again came together to send an unequivocal and bipartisan message of support for Israel and the U.S-Israel relationship,” AIPAC stated. “This strong bipartisan support reflects that the enduring partnership between the United States and the Jewish state remains stronger than ever.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

SAN FRANCISCO – Google breached its own policies that barred use of artificial intelligence for weapons or surveillance in 2024 by helping an Israeli military contractor analyze drone video footage, a former Google employee alleged in a confidential federal whistleblower complaint reviewed by The Washington Post.

Google’s Gemini AI technology was being used by Israel’s defense apparatus at a time that the company was publicly distancing itself from the country’s military after employee protests over a contract with Israel’s government, according to internal documents included in the complaint.

In July 2024, Google’s cloud-computing division received a customer support request from a person using an Israel Defense Forces email address, according to the documents included in the complaint, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in August. The name on the customer support request matches a publicly listed employee of Israeli tech firm CloudEx, which the complaint to the SEC alleges is an IDF contractor.

The request from the IDF email address asked for help making Google’s Gemini more reliable at identifying objects such as drones, armored vehicles and soldiers in aerial video footage, according to the internal documents included with the complaint. Staff in Google’s cloud unit responded by making suggestions and doing internal tests, the documents said.

At the time, Google’s public “AI principles” stated that the company would not deploy AI technology in relation to weapons, or to surveillance “violating internationally accepted norms.” The whistleblower complaint alleges that the IDF contractor’s use contradicted both policies.

The complaint to the SEC alleges that Google broke securities laws because by contradicting its own publicly stated policies, which had also been included in federal filings, the company misled investors and regulators.

“Many of my projects at Google have gone through their internal AI ethics review process,” the former employee who filed the complaint said in a statement to The Post, provided on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation from the company. “That process is robust and as employees we are regularly reminded of how important the company’s AI Principles are. But when it came to Israel and Gaza, the opposite was true. … I filed with the SEC because I felt the company needed to be held accountable for this double standard.”

A Google spokesperson contested the whistleblower’s allegations and said the company did not violate its AI principles because the account’s usage of its AI services was too small to be “meaningful.” The AI product that was used is broadly available to any customer, the spokesperson said.

“We answered a general use question, as we would for any customer, with standard, help desk information, and did not provide any further technical assistance,” a statement provided by the spokesperson said. “The ticket originated from an account with less than a couple hundred dollars of monthly spend on AI products, which makes any meaningful usage of AI impossible.”

Google documentation for its “cloud video intelligence” service says that tracking objects in video is free for the first 1,000 minutes and then costs 15 cents per minute.

A spokesperson for the SEC declined to comment. Anyone can file a complaint with the agency, which does not make them public. Complaints do not automatically lead to an investigation.

Representatives for the IDF and CloudEx did not respond to requests for comment.

In 2024, CloudEx was among the sponsors of a tech conference held south of Tel Aviv called “IT for IDF,” which featured Israeli military officials praising the importance of cloud computing to its operations in Gaza, according to the event website.

The complaint to the SEC claims that the use of Gemini described in the internal Google documents was related to Israel’s operations in Gaza, without citing specific evidence. Google previously said its work for the Israeli government was “not directed at highly sensitive, classified, or military workloads relevant to weapons or intelligence services.”

Google, which used the motto “Don’t be evil” when it went public in 2004, has since its founding focused on serving consumers and businesses. More recently, company leaders have also sought defense contracts, triggering protests from some employees.

The company introduced its AI policies that barred uses related to weapons or surveillance in 2018, after employee pushback led the company to decline to renew a Pentagon contract that involved analyzing drone footage.

In 2021, Google and Amazon won a $1.2 billion cloud deal with Israel’s government known as Project Nimbus. Microsoft also provides cloud computing to the Israeli government. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Post.

Some Google, Amazon and Microsoft employees have protested the companies’ work with Israel. Google fired more than 50 workers in April 2024, according to a group representing the workers, after some of them staged sit-ins at company offices and demanded it cease working with the Israeli government. Microsoft has also fired workers, after protests at its campus near Seattle.

Google in February of last year updated its AI policies to remove its pledges not to apply the technology to weapons or surveillance, saying it needed to evolve to help democratically elected governments keep up in the global battle for AI dominance.

When the CloudEx employee filed the support request to Google in 2024, they described a bug that led to the Gemini AI software failing to properly analyze aerial footage some of the time. A Google staffer was copied in on the initial request, according to the documents included in the complaint to the SEC. The complaint alleges that staffer works on the IDF’s Google Cloud account.

After exchanging several messages with a Google support worker, the CloudEx employee said the issue resolved itself, according to the documents.

In December, the Pentagon announced that Google’s Gemini was the first AI offering to be provided to Defense Department employees on its new GenAI.mil platform, under a new drive to increase military use of the technology.

The whistleblower report adds to claims that major American tech companies have been drawn into assisting Israel in its war in Gaza, even as public opposition to the war in the United States has grown.

Israel has said that about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, died in the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas that triggered the war. The Gaza Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, says that more than 71,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israel-Gaza war.

Reporting from The Post and other news organizations has shown that Google and other U.S. tech giants have worked on military-related projects for Israel.

In January 2025, The Post reported that Google employees rushed to provide the Israeli military with greater access to AI tools in the weeks after the Oct. 7 attack. An internal document showed that one Google worker had warned colleagues that if requests from Israel’s Defense Ministry for more AI capacity were not approved, the country might turn to Amazon instead.

In August, Microsoft, which also has contracts with the Israeli government, said it had opened an internal inquiry after the Guardian newspaper reported that the company’s cloud services were being used to store phone-call data obtained through large-scale surveillance of civilians in Gaza and the West Bank.

In September, Microsoft said the investigation led it to shut off a unit inside Israel’s Ministry of Defense from accessing some cloud services, in line with its terms of service barring mass surveillance of civilians.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States is engaged in ongoing negotiations with Iran, while declining to reveal where the discussions are being held. Speaking to reporters, Trump confirmed that diplomatic contacts are underway but said details about the venue remain confidential.

“They are negotiating. They’d like to do something, and we’ll see if something is going to be done,” Trump said. He added that Tehran had missed earlier opportunities to reach an agreement. “They had a chance to do something a while ago, and it didn’t work out. And we did Midnight Hammer. I don’t think they want that happening again,” Trump continued, referring to U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities last June. “But they would like to negotiate. We are negotiating with them right now, yes.”

Trump says he is negotiating with Iran but doesn't know where the next meeting will be.
Then he says he doesn't think Iran wants another Midnight hammer. pic.twitter.com/bBH2rGSMid

— Ali (@MerruX) February 3, 2026

When pressed about where the talks would take place, Trump refused to elaborate, responding simply, “I can’t tell you that.”

The comments came amid reports that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were expected to meet Friday in Istanbul to discuss a potential nuclear agreement. However, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said Tuesday that consultations are still ongoing regarding the location of the meeting.

According to reports, Iran has requested that the talks be moved from Istanbul to Oman, signaling continued disagreement over the framework and setting of the negotiations.

Trump has repeatedly urged Iran to reach an agreement with Washington over its nuclear program, while making clear that military action remains an option if diplomacy fails.

Ahead of the anticipated talks, two Iranian officials told The New York Times that Tehran is prepared to shut down or suspend its nuclear program as part of an effort to ease tensions between the two countries. The report said Iran favors a U.S. proposal from last year that would establish a regional consortium for nuclear power production.

The officials also disclosed that Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s National Security Council, recently held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to the report, Larijani delivered a message from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, indicating that Iran could agree to transfer its enriched uranium to Russia, similar to arrangements included in the 2015 nuclear deal.

When the 58-year-old fraud victim told investigators in Maryland the details of how she had been duped out of $1.7 million, they knew she was hardly alone.

A year-long, expanding investigation – the results of which were made public Monday – revealed just how widespread her plight was: more than 650 victims, targeted by the same three call centers in India and losing over $48 million. The fraudsters posed as tech support workers, allowing them to gain access to victims’ computers, or described themselves as American law enforcement as part of elaborate ruses.

“A staggering amount of money,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, head of the bureau’s Baltimore field office. “It’s infuriating and it’s unfair.”

The probe led authorities in India to raid the call centers on Dec. 11 and 12, Paul said. Those operations were “dismantled,” according to India’s Central Bureau of Investigation, leading to the arrest of six leaders and the seizure of laptops, cellphones, other devices and cash.

Maryland officials said the victims probably will never see their money again.

Investigators this week described how the scams started at the call centers, where workers spent their days looking for American targets through email, text messages, phone calls and computer pop-up warnings.

They often played the role of a tech support worker from, say, Microsoft or Apple, persuading their marks to download software onto their computers. Or they said they were calling from the U.S. Social Security Administration to report that criminals were using the victim’s Social Security number for money laundering, drug trafficking or child pornography. “It’s always something that sounds horrific,” FBI agent Jeremy Capello said.

The terrified victims are often transferred to someone purporting to be from U.S. law enforcement agencies such as the FBI or Drug Enforcement Administration.

“The antennas come down because you think you’re talking to a trusted person in the government,” said John McCarthy, the top prosecutor in Montgomery County, Maryland. “That’s how they suck you into this.”

The big goal: convincing the victims that their money wasn’t safe in the bank and that it needed to be transferred for safekeeping, to the FBI or DEA or even the U.S. Treasury Department. Soon enough, the target – often an otherwise smart person but fully in the grip of skilled impersonators – is routing money to specific bank accounts, purchasing and moving cryptocurrency, buying gold bars for an “agent” of the government to pick up, or sending cash.

“It’s all about the art of making people believe you’re someone you’re not,” said Capello, who works in the FBI’s Baltimore field office and has investigated white-collar fraud for 16 years.

The first person to reach targets, Capello said, often speaks with a noticeable Indian accent. As the victim talks to more people faking identities – especially the purported American law enforcement officers – the voices tend to become more American-sounding, according to Capello. Sometimes that is how the fraudsters speak, but sometimes they are Americanizing their voice through software and AI, according to Capello.

Another central part of the scam: convincing the victims to keep their money movements secret so as not to attract attention from the criminals who already knew about them.

The 58-year-old reported the fraud to detectives at the Montgomery County Police Department, who had arrested several gold-bar scammers working in Maryland, some with ties to Indian call centers. They had put out the word: Come to us if you have been swindled. By the time the 58-year-old fraud victim had arrived, the Montgomery detectives, working alongside the FBI, were determined to trace the frauds to the call centers overseas.

The woman provided a wealth of data of the people she was dealing with: bank account numbers, email addresses, phone numbers. “We were off to the races,” Capello said.

Investigators worked closely with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), slowly linking the woman’s details with others in Maryland and elsewhere in the United States.

The U.S. and Montgomery County investigators were able to present their case to Indian authorities through an FBI agent stationed in Delhi solely tasked with helping to investigate scam call centers in India, according to Capello. Before authorities there could search the call centers, though, they needed sworn statements from at least two U.S. victims, which Capello and the Montgomery detectives were able to provide.

The India raids took place in Noida, Delhi and Kolkata, according to authorities there.

“During the period 2022-2025,” India’s Central Bureau of Investigation said in a news release, “the accused individuals, operating under pseudonymous identities of US Government officials from Drug Enforcement [Administration], Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Social Security Administration, conspired to target US victims by threatening them that their Social Security Numbers had been used for money laundering and drug deliveries.”

The Indian call centers used in frauds, Capello said, sell each other lists of potential American targets with phone numbers and email addresses. And they work in highly competitive operations, with quotas posted on the walls, he said.

The fraudsters present themselves as concerned, diligent government agents, but their power and intimidation is never far from the surface. And they’re not scared to bring it the fore, Capello said, recalling how one victim – balking at their demands – suddenly received an email with what looked like a genuine American arrest warrant and a threat that he would be locked up if he did not follow orders.

The message, in no uncertain terms, was this: “How do we know you’re not involved in this too?”

“These scams exploit fear, trust and vulnerability. They are deeply personal crimes,” Montgomery County Police Captain Marc Erme said.

Capello said it remains very difficult to recover any of the money. But he feels like their work – dismantling the three call centers – will help prevent more scams.

“We’re making an impact,” he said. “We’re chipping away at it.”

(c) 2026, The Washington Post 

{Matzav.com}

Elon Musk is combining SpaceX and xAI in a deal that values the enlarged entity at $1.25 trillion, as the world’s richest man looks to fuel his increasingly costly ambitions in artificial intelligence and space exploration.

The acquisition of xAI was announced in a statement on SpaceX’s website signed by Musk and confirming a Bloomberg News report earlier Monday.

The deal gives SpaceX a valuation of $1 trillion, and xAI a value of $250 billion, people familiar with the matter said. The combined company’s valuation was announced to employees in a memo on Monday, some of the people said earlier.

SpaceX said it acquired xAI to “form the most ambitious, vertically-integrated innovation engine on (and off) Earth, with AI, rockets, space-based internet, direct-to-mobile device communications and the world’s foremost real-time information and free speech platform.”

The company is still expecting to hold an initial public offering later this year, one of the people said. SpaceX had been planning an IPO that could raise as much as $50 billion, in what would be the biggest initial share sale to date.

The combined firm’s shares are expected to be worth $526.59 each, according to some of the people, who asked not to be identified as the information isn’t public. The deal is all stock, one of the people said.

Representatives for SpaceX and xAI didn’t respond to requests for comment.

The deal brings together two of the largest closely held companies in the world. XAI raised funds at a $230 billion valuation in January, while SpaceX was set to go ahead with a share sale in December at a valuation of about $800 billion.

Terms of the offering including price and valuation weren’t disclosed in the statement on SpaceX’s website.

The companies will remain operationally separate because SpaceX is subject to international regulations that control how information and technology related to defense systems are transported and shared, and xAI isn’t, according to a person familiar with the matter.

xAI will exist as a wholly-owned subsidiary of SpaceX, according to another person familiar with the matter.

In a memo, SpaceX said employees should be cautious about interfacing with xAI employees, as not all of them are cleared to work under those regulations, one of the people said. Business Insider reported earlier on the plan to keep operations separate.

In explaining the rationale for the deal, Musk said in the statement that the least expensive way to do AI computations within two to three years will be in space.

“This cost-efficiency alone will enable innovative companies to forge ahead in training their AI models and processing data at unprecedented speeds and scales, accelerating breakthroughs in our understanding of physics and invention of technologies to benefit humanity,” he wrote.

SpaceX is requesting permission to launch as many as a million satellites into the Earth’s orbit for the plan, according to a filing Friday.

The offering further entangles Musk’s various business ventures. The billionaire acquired social media platform Twitter in late 2022, renamed it X, then merged the site with his artificial intelligence startup xAI in a $33 billion deal.

XAI, which also operates chatbot Grok, is an expensive operation, burning around $1 billion a month in service of its stated ambition to gain “a deeper understanding of our universe.”

A merger with SpaceX pools capital, talent, access to computing power – and blurs corporate boundaries.

Unlike some of Musk’s other ventures, SpaceX stands out as arguably his most successful and consistent business. The company, the only American one that can routinely send astronauts to and from the International Space Station, is a key rocket launch provider for both NASA and the US Department of Defense, which the White House has moved to rename the Department of War.

The increasing revenue it’s generating from the Starlink network of more than 9,000 satellites is even more significant, now outpacing launch sales and presenting a potential source of funding for xAI’s capital-intensive business.

Following the announcement of the acquisition, SpaceX also noted that one of its Falcon 9 rockets suffered an undisclosed issue after launching a batch of Starlink satellites into orbit. The company said that while the upper port of the rocket safely deployed all the satellites on board, a mishap occurred just before the vehicle was set to take itself out of orbit.

The incident marks a relatively rare misstep for the Falcon 9, which last suffered in an-flight issue in 2024. “Teams are reviewing data to determine root cause and corrective actions before returning to flight,” SpaceX said in a statement on X.

(c) 2026, Bloomberg 

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu held an extended three-hour strategy session in Yerushalayim on Tuesday night with White House Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, focusing on coordination ahead of impending U.S. discussions with Tehran. During the meeting, Netanyahu cautioned that Iran’s record shows it cannot be relied upon to honor diplomatic commitments and stressed that any broader regional understanding must place security first. The talks also centered on Gaza, with Netanyahu reiterating Israel’s insistence on the complete dismantling of Hamas and the full demilitarization of the Strip. As Witkoff prepares for sensitive meetings with Iranian officials in Turkey, Israeli officials made clear that no “grand bargain” can come at the expense of removing terrorist threats.

The meeting was timed to prepare Witkoff ahead of his planned talks in Istanbul on Friday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. In a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu “emphasized his position that Iran has proven time and time again that its promises cannot be relied upon.” The warning comes amid reports that Tehran is proposing limits on uranium enrichment in return for sanctions relief. Netanyahu urged the American side to approach such offers with skepticism, arguing that without intrusive inspections and meaningful penalties for violations, any agreement would simply mask Iran’s nuclear aims.

Netanyahu also briefed U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee on newly uncovered intelligence pointing to abuse of humanitarian assistance in Gaza. According to the Prime Minister, Israeli forces uncovered “serious violations,” including the use of bags bearing the logo of UNRWA to hide weapons and military gear. Israeli officials say the findings underscore claims that terrorist groups have penetrated international aid mechanisms, raising concerns about future reconstruction efforts.

On the domestic front, Netanyahu spelled out what he described as Israel’s “uncompromising demands” for ending the war in Gaza. He reiterated that Hamas must be fully disarmed and the territory completely demilitarized before any rebuilding can begin. “The Prime Minister clarified that the Palestinian Authority will not be part of the management of the Strip in any way,” the official statement said, highlighting a clear divergence between Israel’s position and views held by some in Washington. Netanyahu insisted that Israel’s war objectives must be fully achieved before reconstruction proceeds.

The talks also addressed the potential second phase of the ceasefire, with Netanyahu stressing that Israel will not permit terrorist groups to regroup or rearm under the cover of humanitarian pauses. By presenting Witkoff with a broad assessment that included input from Israel’s senior security leadership, Netanyahu sought to ensure the envoy enters discussions with Tehran fully briefed on Israel’s assessment of the “multi-arena” threat. The meeting ended with an understanding that while Washington pursues diplomatic avenues, Israel remains prepared for the possibility that Iran’s “promises” will again go unfulfilled.

A 13-year-old Australian boy is being hailed as a hero for his sheer endurance and bravery after swimming about 2½ miles in rough waters then running about a mile to rescue his family who had been swept out to sea.

Austin Appelbee, his mother, Joanne, and two siblings Beau, 12, and Grace, 8, were on vacation kayaking and paddleboarding off the coast of Quindalup, in Geographe Bay, in southwestern Australia, when the weather deteriorated, according to local authorities and Australian media reports.

Fearing for her family, Joanne made the difficult choice to send Austin to get help, she told Australia’s national broadcaster, ABC News, calling it “one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make.”

“I knew he was the strongest and he could do it,” she said of her teenage son. “I have three babies. All three of them made it. That was all that mattered,” she added about the family ordeal where she spent more than eight hours clinging to a paddleboard in the ocean.

Western Australia Police Force said in a statement that it received an emergency call about 6 p.m. Friday that a woman and her two children had been swept out to sea in rough conditions.

Austin paddled to get help before his kayak took on water and failed him, police said. He then swam nearly 2½ miles in fading light and rough conditions before reaching land to ring the alarm.

“The actions of the 13-year-old boy cannot be praised highly enough – his determination and courage ultimately saved the lives of his mother and siblings,” said Inspector James Bradley, South West District office said in a statement Monday. “This incident is a reminder that ocean conditions can change rapidly. Thankfully, all three people were wearing life jackets, which contributed to their survival.”

Austin, in an interview with ABC News, recalled that his mother had directed him to “go get help” while she stayed with his siblings.

“I knew it would be a long way … but the kayak kept taking in water, I was fighting rough seas,” he said. “I was very puffed out but I couldn’t feel how tired I was,” he added. “The waves were massive.”

Austin said he decided to ditch the kayak and remove his life jacket, which were making it difficult for him to swim, and alternated between swimming breaststroke, freestyle and survival backstroke – an energy-preserving stroke for long distances. “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming,” he told himself, putting happier thoughts about his family and school friends into his mind to pull through, he said.

“I just said ‘all right, not today, not today, not today.’ I have to keep on going.”

Finally, he made it to shore.

“I hit the bottom of the beach and I just collapsed,” he said. But his feat of endurance was not over. He then sprinted over another mile to find a phone, where he called emergency services and told them his family was stranded at sea, he said.

“A multiagency search and rescue response was initiated,” police said, involving multiple marine sea rescue services and a rescue helicopter.

The family did not immediately reply to a request for comment from The Washington Post.

“This is what a true West Aussie hero looks like,” said Roger Cook, the premier of Western Australia, in a post on social media Tuesday, calling Austin’s feat of endurance an “extraordinary act of courage,” to save his family.

“Austin’s bravery is beyond his years, showing remarkable courage, resilience and determination in the face of real danger. Well done, Austin – we’re so proud of what you’ve done.”

Mike Tipton, a survival expert and professor of Human and Applied Physiology at Britain’s University of Portsmouth, said Austin’s survival was a “remarkable achievement.”

“He must be an accomplished swimmer, but even then, the water was cold enough to incapacitate him without unrelenting effort. He was clearly driven on by the desire to save his family – this is a common and critical factor in such survival scenarios,” he told The Post by email.

The Naturaliste Marine Rescue group, a volunteer group which was among the first responders, said the weekend’s rescue had the “best possible outcome, one we won’t forget in a hurry.”

“The bravery, strength, and courage shown by this family were extraordinary,” it said in a Facebook post. Naturaliste Marine Rescue commander Paul Bresland told ABC that the teenager’s efforts were “superhuman” and that his description of the kayak and paddleboards meant that his family was found “within an hour.”

“Fantastic effort from all involved in trying conditions. A great outcome,” Marine Rescue Busselton, a volunteer organization also involved with the incident, said in a social media post. “Please be mindful of the strong offshore winds that can occur this time of year.”

(c) 2026, The Washington Post 

{Matzav.com}