Matzav

In a wide-ranging interview, MK Yair Golan, who leads the Democrats party, unleashed fierce criticism at the chareidi factions, arguing that their political flexibility comes at the expense of the country’s wellbeing. Although he insisted, “as long as they get their pound of flesh, they’re willing to sit in any government,” Golan simultaneously claimed he might align with those same parties if a future political reality forced such cooperation.

Golan described what he views as the ideal governing structure, maintaining that, “What’s good for Israel is a coalition ranging from [Naftali] Bennett to Mansour Abbas of Ra’am… led from within by the liberal-democratic camp — not the Right.” According to him, meaningful leadership must move away from narrow ideological blocs and toward what he calls a broad, values-based alignment.

He dismissed the traditional left-center-right political map, arguing instead that the true divide in Israel rests between two clashing worldviews. “Clinging to the outdated left-right-center paradigm is wrong and locks us into obsolete frameworks. The real story in Israel today is the corrupt and authoritarian camp versus the liberal-democratic camp,” he asserted.

While he categorically rejected entering any coalition that includes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Itamar Ben Gvir, or Bezalel Smotrich, he noted that he would not automatically rule out working with chareidi parties if the numbers demanded it. In his words, “We all understand that we need each other. We don’t want any of the current coalition parties. They are destructive: a corrupt Likud, the extreme nationalists Ben Gvir and Smotrich, and the charedim who are destroying the country.”

Golan also turned his attention to centrist figures — Yair Lapid, Benny Gantz, and Gadi Eisenkot — urging them to rally behind what he calls a unified ideological alternative. He appealed to them to help form “a strong, large liberal-democratic camp that will provide a real governing alternative.”

When discussing Naftali Bennett’s record, Golan issued one of his harshest attacks. He expressed disbelief that anyone would treat Bennett as a partner after his role in shifting national direction. “Bennett brought the Kohelet Forum into our lives, attacked the Supreme Court, and introduced religious content into education. What are we talking about? Have you lost your minds?”

{Matzav.com}

At a Motzoei Shabbos gathering marking the completion of Seder Moed by the Oraysa learning program, Rav Yitzchak Yosef delivered an emotional and forceful address about the draft crisis and the recent arrests of yeshiva students by military police. Speaking with visible pain, he declared that “almost all” of those being detained are Sephardi bochurim and urged the community to strengthen Torah study as a means to overturn the harsh decrees.

Opening his remarks, Rav Yosef asked, “The detainees? Almost all of them are Sephardim, unfortunately. We need many merits so that Hashem will cancel all these decrees upon us — the legal advisers, the judges… may He nullify their counsel and disrupt their plans.”

Rav Yosef stressed that the most powerful response to the crisis is an increase in Torah learning. “These merits must come through Torah study,” he said. “When a person learns Torah, Hashem will help ensure that all of these decrees will be canceled as if they never existed.”

He concluded with a brocha that the yeshiva world continue to grow despite the pressure and upheaval. “May we all merit to expand our borders with more students, and may all the rabbanim and roshei yeshiva see true nachas from their talmidim, who are like their own children,” Rav Yosef said.

{Matzav.com}

Israel is bracing for a political showdown over the new draft law, as Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has instructed the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee—led by MK Boaz Bismuth—to begin a marathon of deliberations this week on the proposal that would formally define the status of yeshiva students and shape the future of military conscription.

The coalition’s goal is ambitious: to pass the bill through its second and third readings in the Knesset plenum within just six weeks. To reach that target, the coming days will feature three separate committee sessions aimed at finalizing the legislation.

But even within the coalition, cracks are emerging. Senior coalition members—including Yuli Edelstein and Sharren Haskel—have already begun quietly rallying internal opposition that could block the bill from securing a majority when it reaches the floor.

In response, senior figures in the charedi parties have turned to an unusual strategy: engaging in discreet conversations with Arab party leaders, hoping they will simply skip the vote and effectively lower the threshold for the law’s passage. Thus far, however, Arab factions have rejected the idea, making clear that their top priority is bringing down the Netanyahu government rather than helping it pass critical legislation.

MK Boaz Bismuth announced last night that the committee has already made substantial revisions to the legislation. “I worked over the past weeks on the draft of the enlistment law in full cooperation with the legal advisers of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee under my leadership. I made several changes in order to fully meet legal requirements and prevent any future legal risk,” he said.

He defended the bill as balanced and pragmatic. “This is a responsible law that creates equilibrium between the needs of the IDF and the preservation of the Torah world, and restores stability to the State of Israel.” Bismuth added confidently, “The train has already left the station, and it will not stop until the law is approved in the Knesset plenum!”

The controversy has also triggered objections from unexpected quarters. Tzachi Hanegbi, the former National Security Council chief who was recently dismissed, sharply condemned the current version of the bill. “The burden still falls on the shoulders of relatively few. The IDF needs thousands more combat soldiers, certainly in light of the most recent war and its consequences. The proposed law, as published, does not advance this goal, it legitimizes draft-dodging and endangers the state’s future,” he said.

Hanegbi emphasized that supporting Torah study does not contradict national defense. “The Torah has preserved Israel throughout the generations, and Torah learning is precious to the Jewish people. It must be combined with the value of defending the state and its citizens,” he said.

He concluded by warning that the government cannot afford to delay. “Many years in the Cabinet, in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and in the National Security Council taught me that the IDF knows how to integrate these two values successfully. Now the government and the Knesset must ensure this without any further postponements.”

{Matzav.com}

A deeply emotional scene unfolded last week in Beitar Illit during the wedding of a granddaughter of the Rebbe of Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok. The event took an unexpected and stirring turn when the Rebbe addressed the crowd and spoke candidly about his declining health.

The kallah is a daughter of Rav Yisroel Kahn, rov of the Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok kehillah in Boro Park, and a granddaughter of Rav Dovid Schwimmer, a senior dayan in the Vizhnitzer kehillah of Beit Shemesh.

The chosson is a son of Rav Naftali Stein and a grandson of Rav Dovid Shlomo Stein, dayan of the Faltishaner kehillah in Williamsburg. He is also a grandson-in-law of the Karlsburger Rebbe of Williamsburg.

In the midst of the celebration, the atmosphere shifted when the Rebbe rose to speak. His voice was weak but full of emotion as he reflected on his health challenges and shared a message that deeply touched the crowd. “We must make use of the time we are still here together in this world. I am very weak now because of the illness in my legs and I have no strength. I ask the public to thank Hashem on my behalf,” the Rebbe said.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek issued a sharp warning to federal immigration officers, declaring that the state is prepared to investigate and prosecute any federal agent who violates Oregon law while enforcing immigration policy within its borders. Her remarks came in a video posted to Instagram, where she sharply criticized the Department of Homeland Security for what she described as abusive tactics.

In the video, Kotek accused DHS personnel of engaging in “violent actions” and “stoking fear in the name of immigration enforcement,” saying Oregon would not look the other way if federal officers overstepped legal boundaries. She emphasized that Oregon intends to “investigate misconduct” and hold violators accountable.

“I believe as you do, in the rule of law and keeping our community safe,” Kotek said, framing her position as consistent with public safety. “We also believe in being a welcoming place, where our immigrant and refugee community help our state thrive. The ongoing violent actions of the federal Department of Homeland Security are unacceptable — going after Oregonians, and stoking fear in the name of ‘immigration enforcement.’”

The governor argued that DHS’s tactics have endangered both civilians and local law enforcement. She described the conduct of federal agents as involving “excessive force, reckless tactics,” which she said is “not how public safety works.”

Kotek stressed that the state is actively keeping track of federal immigration operations. “Oregon is monitoring all ICE actions closely,” she said. “We will investigate misconduct, and if a federal officer breaks Oregon law, they will be held accountable — just like anyone else. I will not tolerate reckless, or unconstitutional behavior in our state.”

Her criticism of federal immigration authorities is not new. In an interview with CBS News in October, Kotek accused federal agents of heightening tensions during confrontations with protesters in Portland and urged them to pull back. She said they needed to “stand back and focus on de-escalating” rather than intensifying volatile situations.

“[T]his set of demonstrations that are happening are managed by local law enforcement, as they should be,” she said at the time. “People have the right to lawfully protest, but if they cross the line, they are being held accountable. If criminal activity occurs, they are being held accountable. This is what free speech looks like, and I believe the federal government can continue to do the work right here.”

{Matzav.com}

An Afghan man brought into the United States through President Biden’s Operation Allies Welcome initiative has been taken into custody after federal officials said he posted a TikTok video showing what appeared to be the construction of an explosive device while mentioning Fort Worth as a possible target. The Department of Homeland Security disclosed the arrest earlier this week.

Tricia McLauglin, an assistant secretary at DHS, announced that authorities detained Mohammad Dawood Alokozay after he allegedly uploaded a video threatening to blow up a Fort Worth–area building with a bomb. The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Texas Department of Public Safety jointly moved in to arrest him on charges tied to making terroristic threats.

Officials noted that Alokozay had entered the United States under a special Biden administration resettlement effort for Afghan nationals. His arrest came just one day before another Afghan national launched a deadly assault on two West Virginia National Guard members in Washington, D.C.

Local media outlet WFAA ABC6 in Dallas reported that Alokozay was booked into the Tarrant County Jail on November 25.

The news broke as President Donald Trump announced a sweeping immigration agenda that would shut off entry from what he called “Third World countries.” As reported by Breitbart Texas, Trump issued the declaration on November 28 in direct response to the killing of West Virginia National Guardsman Sarah Beckstrom and the severe wounding of Guardsman Andrew Wolfe.

“This heinous assault was an act of evil, and an act of hatred, and an act of terror,” Trump said in a Thanksgiving video statement. “It was an act against our entire nation; it was a crime against humanity.”

He went on to argue that the attack demonstrated the scale of the threat the U.S. now faces. “This attack underscores the single-greatest national security threat facing our nation,” Trump continued. “We must now reexamine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden, and we must take all necessary action to remove any alien from any country who does not belong here or add benefit to our country.”

Trump added that those responsible for undermining public safety must be removed. “We’re not going to put up with these kinds of assaults on law and order by people who shouldn’t even be in our country,” he said.

In a Thanksgiving Day post on Truth Social, Trump laid out even more detailed plans for an aggressive immigration crackdown. He wrote that his administration will “remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States, or is incapable of loving our Country, end all Federal benefits and subsidies to noncitizens of our Country, denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility, and deport any Foreign National who is a public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization.”

He concluded the message by stressing that the goal is a dramatic reversal of current immigration patterns. “These goals will be pursued with the aim of achieving a major reduction in illegal and disruptive populations, including those admitted through an unauthorized and illegal Autopen approval process. Only REVERSE MIGRATION can fully cure this situation,” Trump wrote.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Dr. Abba Spero z”l, a kind, generous, and devoted person whose warmth and dedication touched so many.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Sara Spero; his brother, Rabbi Ephraim Spero; and his children, Mr. Chaim and Rebecca Spero, Rabbi Yechiel and Chumi Spero, Mr. Moshe and Gila Spero, Mrs. Chavi and Reb Chezky Schneider, and Mr. Yehuda and Tova Spero; and his grandchildren.

The levayah will take place today at 1:30 p.m. at Sol Levinson, located at 8900 Reisterstown Road in Pikesville, MD. Kevurah will follow at the Aguda Cemetery in Rosedale.

Shivah will be observed through Friday afternoon at 5901 Key Avenue in Baltimore, MD. Shacharis will be held Monday–Friday at 8:00 a.m., and Mincha/Maariv Sunday–Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu submitted a formal request for a pardon to President Isaac Herzog, the head of state said Sunday.

“The Office of the President is aware that this is an extraordinary request which carries with it significant implications,” Herzog’s office stated.

“After receiving all of the relevant opinions, the president will responsibly and sincerely consider the request,” it added.

In the request submitted through his attorney, Netanyahu explained to Herzog that a pardon would “enable the prime minister to devote all of his time, abilities and energies to advancing the State of Israel in these critical times, and to address the challenges and opportunities ahead.”

Halting the legal process will also allow for “mending the rifts between different parts of the nation and open the door to lowering the flames, all for the purpose of strengthening the national resilience,” he wrote.

Israel’s longest-sitting prime minister faces corruption charges in three separate cases—Cases 1000 and 2000 (the charge is “breach of trust” in both instances), and Case 4000 (bribery, fraud and breach of trust).

In a video statement released shortly after Herzog’s announcement, Netanyahu said that his “personal interest has been, and remains, to continue the process until the end, until full acquittal on all charges.

“However, the security and diplomatic reality, the national interest, demand otherwise,” the premier continued. “The State of Israel faces enormous challenges, and alongside them, tremendous opportunities.

“To repel the threats and to seize those opportunities, national unity is required,” Netanyahu stated. He added, “The continuation of the trial tears us apart from within, fuels this division and deepens the rifts.”

According to the prime minister, putting an immediate end to the thrice-weekly court sessions “will greatly help lower the flames and advance the broad reconciliation our country so desperately needs.

“I expect that all those who place the good of the country above all will support this step,” the two-and-a-half-minute statement concluded.

Defense Minister Israel Katz called on the president to “support a decision that will allow the State of Israel to move forward united.

“Israel is facing a security reality more complex than ever: Old enemies are trying to rebuild their strength, while new forces in the region are emerging with the aim of threatening the security of Israel’s citizens,” said Katz. “At this time, we need united leadership focused on the strategic threat before us.”

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid Party) in response called on Herzog not to grant the pardon unless Netanyahu admits guilt, expresses remorse and immediately retires from political life.

Netanyahu told Australian journalist Erin Molan of “The Erin Molan Show” podcast on Nov. 13 that he was “thinking about” requesting a pardon, but said he would not admit guilt as part of the procedure.

“Nobody suggests that that’s what I’ll do, and I certainly won’t do that. That’s not going to happen,” he said, responding to Lapid’s assertion that Israeli law requires an admission of guilt and expression of remorse to receive a pardon.

On Nov. 12, Herzog announced he had received a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump requesting a full pardon for Netanyahu.

Trump said that, while he respects the independence and requirements of the Israeli judicial system, he believes the case against Netanyahu is a “political, unjustified prosecution.” He added that “it is time to let Bibi unite Israel by pardoning him, and ending lawfare once and for all.”

Herzog responded to the missive, stressing to his American counterpart that “anyone seeking a presidential pardon must submit a formal request in accordance with the established procedures.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

The Food and Drug Administration is preparing to overhaul how it evaluates vaccines, signaling a far stricter approach after senior officials publicly questioned the safety of COVID immunizations for children. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary laid out the agency’s new posture during a Fox News appearance, declaring that the FDA would no longer “rubber-stamp new products that don’t work,” adding that doing so made a “mockery of science.”

His remarks followed the leak of an internal message from Dr. Vinay Prasad, the FDA’s top vaccine regulator, who told his staff the agency would tighten its annual influenza vaccine system, revise product labels to be “honest,” and impose tougher standards across multiple vaccine categories. The email, reviewed by NPR and initially reported by PBS News Hour, outlined substantial changes to the agency’s internal framework.

In that message, Prasad informed regulators that authorization for vaccines marketed to pregnant women would now require additional layers of evidence. He also said that companies producing pneumococcal vaccines would have to demonstrate actual reductions in illness rather than rely on antibody data. He raised concerns as well about the long-standing practice of administering several vaccines simultaneously.

Such revisions could greatly extend the time, cost, and difficulty of bringing vaccines to market, potentially shrinking the pool of available products. Public health leaders have long argued that the existing FDA model—requiring extensive pre-approval testing and continuous safety monitoring through mechanisms like the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System—has proven that vaccines overwhelmingly protect far more than they harm.

On Fox News, Makary asserted that 10 children died from the COVID vaccine during the Biden administration, though he did not provide evidence supporting how that determination was reached. The vast majority of U.S. children have received the COVID shot without any confirmed fatal complications. Federal health agencies did not immediately comment on Makary’s claim or on the email laying out the FDA’s prospective changes.

According to Prasad’s email, FDA analysts reviewed 96 deaths reported between 2021 and 2024 and concluded that 10 children died “after and because of” the COVID vaccine—a number Prasad wrote was likely an undercount. The message did not include the underlying data or methodology.

The lack of documentation drew sharp criticism from experts. Dr. Paul Offit of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia said via text that Prasad has not supplied the evidence behind the alleged 10 vaccine-linked deaths. “Because he doesn’t provide any evidence, he is asking us to trust him on an important issue,” Offit said. “All this will do is scare people unnecessarily. At the very least, he should provide all the evidence he has so that experts in the field can review it and decide whether he has enough data to prove his point.”

Dr. Jesse Goodman of Georgetown University, who previously led the FDA’s vaccine office, also pushed back on Prasad’s assertions. He emphasized that the FDA’s biologics division has long been seen as a worldwide regulatory benchmark and defended the use of “immunologic endpoints like antibody levels” to expedite approvals for pneumonia and flu vaccines. These standards, he said, have reliably delivered safe, effective shots while still being validated by post-approval research: “These approaches have helped provide children and adults with timely access to safe and effective vaccines, saving many lives.”

Michael Osterholm, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota, reviewed the internal email and flatly disputed Prasad’s claim that “COVID-19 was never highly lethal for children,” pointing to CDC figures showing 1,597 pediatric deaths from 2020 to 2022. He also questioned the FDA’s conclusion regarding the 10 reported cases. “Prasad’s email is filled with factual mistakes and misrepresents both the severity of COVID in children…,” Osterholm wrote to NPR. He added that none of the cases have ever been published or presented to medical experts and argued, “until these cases have been reviewed by an expert third party, like the National Academy of Science[s], we can not accept the fact they are vaccine-associated deaths.”

The FDA continues to make VAERS data public while consistently warning that the system cannot determine causation. As the agency notes, “it is important to note that for any reported event, no cause and effect relationship has been established.” Prasad acknowledged in his email that assessing causality with case reports often involves subjective judgment.

Makary told Fox News that while the COVID shot proved “amazing” for individuals at high risk early in the pandemic, the scientific landscape has shifted. “Back in 2020, we saw a reduction in the severity of illness and lives saved, but now recommending that a 6-year-old girl get another 70 million COVID shots – one each year for the rest of her life – is not based on science. And so we’re not going to just rubber stamp approvals without seeing some scientific evidence.”

This stance marks the latest chapter in a broader movement by officials in the Trump administration questioning aspects of vaccine safety and regulation. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has publicly expressed skepticism about vaccines for years. The FDA already moved in August to narrow eligibility for the updated COVID vaccine and announced it would require stronger evidence before future approvals.

The email outlining revised vaccine standards surfaces just as the CDC prepares for a pivotal December 4–5 meeting of its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The panel is reevaluating how children receive critical protections against measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, polio, and other diseases. Many in the medical community fear the committee may consider delaying doses, spacing out the schedule, or recommending changes to formulations—steps that could reduce childhood vaccination coverage and open the door to outbreaks of previously contained illnesses.

Moderna, whose pediatric COVID vaccine is authorized for children as young as six months, responded to Makary and Prasad’s allegations by pointing to a statement the company issued in September. Moderna said extensive peer-reviewed research from numerous sources confirms the shot’s safety and that it is “not aware of any deaths in the last year or pertinent new information from prior years.” The company said it works with regulators in more than 90 countries and that “with more than one billion doses distributed globally… these systems… have not reported any new or undisclosed safety concerns in children or in pregnant women.”

{Matzav.com}

The nationwide cost of gasoline has dipped under $3.00 a gallon, a benchmark the United States hasn’t touched since spring 2021, according to new figures released by GasBuddy. The company called the development a major turning point for drivers as the colder months approach.

Patrick De Haan, who leads petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, highlighted the significance of the sudden downturn. “We haven’t seen the national average fall this low in over four years, and the speed and breadth of the decline are remarkable,” he said, noting that the drop has spread quickly across the country.

Over the past week, average pump prices fell in all 50 states, something GasBuddy described as an unusually broad slide. “Every single state has seen relief at the pump over the past week, a rare feat that underscores how challenging the fundamentals are for gasoline prices right now. This is a welcome break for Americans ahead of the holiday season and comes as refinery maintenance season concludes and gasoline demand weakens seasonally,” the company said.

Some of the most dramatic price cuts have appeared in parts of the South and Mountain West. GasBuddy reported that dozens of stations in Oklahoma, Colorado, and Texas are posting prices at $1.99 per gallon or below, signaling that the downward pressure is especially strong in low-cost markets.

De Haan noted earlier that the shift is notable not just for its timing but for what it suggests about the months ahead. “It is pretty compelling to see gas prices this low, falling ahead of Thanksgiving, and it signals what more Americans could experience in the coming months,” he said.

He pointed to multiple forces driving the drop: softer seasonal demand, increased OPEC production, and weakening oil prices globally. He added that while promotional discounts occasionally push prices under $2, this moment marks the first appearance of a true, non-temporary sub-$2.00 pump price in the current market cycle.

De Haan cautioned that the exact price point may still bounce around, but he predicted that more stations in traditionally low-priced states such as Mississippi and Texas—as well as elsewhere along the Gulf Coast—are likely to see similar levels before the typical spring upswing expected in 2026.

The recent relief at the pump is tied closely to broader trends in the oil market. GasBuddy noted that refinery activity has been steady and efficient, helping rebuild fuel stocks as demand naturally slips during the colder months.

West Texas Intermediate crude has been hovering near $58 a barrel in recent trading—a sharp departure from earlier this year and the lowest in several years. GasBuddy said this downturn has been reinforced by consistent monthly increases in OPEC output.

The company explained that the combination of cheap crude, robust refinery production, and competitive pricing among stations—especially across the southern United States—has accelerated the usual winter cooling of retail gas prices.

Though some areas have seen short-term refinery issues, GasBuddy expects that once those problems ease, downward pressure will likely grow in regions such as the West Coast and the Great Lakes, which are often affected by refinery fluctuations.

In its broader assessment, GasBuddy attributes the nationwide decline to a powerful mix of factors: lower crude costs, rising OPEC+ supply, record U.S. oil production, strong refining output, and a seasonal dip in demand. With refineries now operating at high utilization rates and gasoline inventories swelling, the company said market sentiment has also turned bearish, adding further room for retail prices to drift lower.

{Matzav.com}

Qatar is pressing ahead with efforts to shift the Gaza ceasefire framework into its next phase, insisting that Israel should not be permitted to stall the process over the remains of two hostages still in Hamas’s hands. Majed al-Ansari, spokesman for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, made the comments during an interview on an Al-Araby Al-Jadeed podcast, emphasizing that resolving the matter of the bodies “is the most important” issue from Doha’s perspective.

Al-Ansari stressed that the agreement cannot be held hostage to this single point. “We don’t believe Israel should be allowed to obstruct the implementation of the agreement over these two bodies. At the same time, of course, the Palestinian side is working to retrieve the bodies and preempt any Israeli pretexts,” he said, describing ongoing regional efforts to keep the diplomatic track from derailing.

According to him, Qatar and its regional partners are intent on shifting from the opening stage of the ceasefire arrangement to the next benchmark, which he said is intended to lead to a more durable quiet. “The current endeavor for Qatar and its partners in the region is to move from the first phase to the second [of the plan], and thus achieve a sustainable peace that can comprehensively end the state of war in the Gaza Strip,” he explained. “There are significant challenges in reaching this stage of truce, but the focus now is on maintaining it long enough to reach a political solution in which all parties in the region, along with the international community and the United States, work together to make this plan a success and end the war.”

He added that any eventual thaw between Doha and Jerusalem would be contingent on meaningful movement toward resolving the broader Palestinian question, signaling that normalization is not on the table absent such progress.

The two remaining hostages whose bodies are still in Gaza were both abducted on October 7, 2023. Police officer Ran Gvili was killed while battling the Hamas onslaught at Kibbutz Alumim. Thai worker Sudthisak Rinthalak was seized from Kibbutz Be’eri, where he had been employed in agriculture.

In Tel Aviv last night, Ran Gvili’s father, Itzik, addressed the weekly demonstration demanding the return of hostages. He insisted that there must “no next phase” to the current ceasefire and “no ‘day after’ in Gaza,” until the last two bodies are brought home.

The framework guiding these negotiations is rooted in the opening phase of President Donald Trump’s 20-point proposal, which underpinned the truce-hostage deal announced on October 9.

The upcoming stage of the plan outlines several major shifts: a further Israeli pullback from the Yellow Line, the creation of an interim governing body for Gaza, the arrival of a multinational force to begin assuming security responsibilities from the IDF, the gradual dismantling of Hamas’s military capabilities, and the beginning of reconstruction.

However, the process remains stuck on multiple fronts. Beyond retaining the bodies of the two victims, Hamas continues to reject the core demand of demilitarization. Israel maintains that Gaza must be fully disarmed before Trump’s plan can proceed to its next chapter.

{Matzav.com}

UN personnel have recently been spotted operating uncomfortably close to active IDF zones, quietly filming and cataloging the landscape, an activity that senior commanders say has triggered intense concern within the army. According to Galai Tzahal’s reporting, officials fear that these recordings could slip into the hands of Hezbollah, giving the terror group fresh intelligence at a moment of high regional tension.

For years, distrust of UNIFIL has simmered beneath the surface, but the strain has sharpened significantly as Lebanon faces growing internal and international pressure to rein in Hezbollah. Israeli defense officials believe that UNIFIL’s behavior on the ground is increasingly unhelpful — and potentially dangerous.

Adding fuel to the fire, reporter Doron Kadosh disclosed this morning that the IDF recently intercepted a UNIFIL coordination document that described Israel as the “Israeli enemy.” The discovery prompted an immediate protest from the military. UNIFIL later issued an apology and insisted the phrasing resulted from copying Lebanese army terminology “without correction,” a claim the IDF found deeply troubling.

In a blunt assessment, a high-ranking IDF officer told the press, “There is nothing good about UNIFIL – they mostly get in the way. They contribute nothing, certainly not to the disarmament of Hezbollah. They hinder the IDF’s freedom of action – and we are very concerned that footage of our forces along the border is leaking to Hezbollah. The sooner they move out of the area and end their activity, the better.”

{Matzav.com}

The Association of chareidi Hesder yeshivos is raising a red flag over the draft legislation currently moving through the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee under MK Boaz Bismuth. Leaders of the network caution that, if enacted as written, the bill could unravel the unique framework that has successfully brought chareidi recruits into combat, tech, and classified IDF roles.

In a sharply worded letter submitted to the committee, the association reported that 14 participating chareidi Hesder institutions—collectively serving roughly 1,000 talmidim—stand to suffer major harm from provisions embedded in the proposal. The leadership warned that “This is not only an administrative malfunction but a moral and professional one, which could lead to the immediate dismantling of this important enterprise.”

At the center of the dispute is a clause that, according to the association, effectively bars a chareidi Hesder student from pursuing anything outside of pure Torah study. By prohibiting additional academic, technological, or professional coursework, the group argues, the bill imposes an unacceptable burden that “does not exist in Zionist Hesder yeshivos.” The letter stressed the irony that the very institutions that “actually recruit thousands to the IDF” are those being penalized.

Roshei yeshiva warned that, without changes, the damage would be swift and far-reaching. “If no amendment is inserted into the law, a critical momentum of recruiting chareidim in dedicated tracks will be halted, existing institutions will close, and a deterrent message will be sent to every young chareidi man considering combining Torah with service and meaning,” they stated.

A proposed legal addendum was attached to their submission, offering a practical solution: official recognition of chareidi Hesder yeshivos so they can operate within the law while maintaining their dual structure of Torah learning and military service. The draft outlines a framework that would allow certificate and engineering studies—similar to the opportunities already available in Religious Zionist Hesder programs—ensuring the model can continue to function and expand.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s freedom to defend itself does not hinge on Washington’s approval, the newly appointed U.S. ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, made clear in an interview marking his first weeks on the job. “Israel assesses its own security needs and will take whatever measures it deems necessary to protect its citizens,” he told Haaretz, underscoring that Jerusalem alone determines its defensive actions.

Even as he highlighted Israel’s autonomy, Issa emphasized that the United States remains deeply engaged with Lebanon’s leadership, pressing them to carry out their longstanding pledge to strip Hezbollah of its weapons. He said Washington is “strongly urging them to implement their own historic decision to disarm Hezbollah,” a commitment he described as central to Lebanon’s stability. The American stance, he explained, “is essential for restoring the authority of the Lebanese state and safeguarding the country’s future.”

Issa made it clear that the U.S. sees Hezbollah’s disarmament — along with stemming Iran’s broader regional influence — as a critical prerequisite for security. “Disarming Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations in Lebanon, as well as ending Iran’s proxy activities more broadly, is a key step to ensuring peace in Lebanon and across the region,” he said. He chose not to address whether diplomatic dialogue between Jerusalem and Beirut might materialize anytime soon.

His remarks come amid a fragile calm, one year after a U.S.- and French-brokered ceasefire effort between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel has repeatedly accused Lebanon of refusing to fulfill its obligation to dismantle Hezbollah’s arsenal, while the group continues to rebuild military assets and operate along Israel’s northern frontier. Israeli strikes have targeted Hezbollah infrastructure, including the recent killing of the group’s Chief of Staff, Haytham Ali Tabtabai, in Beirut.

Following that strike, Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Qassem responded defiantly in a televised address. He condemned the killing as “a blatant aggression and a heinous crime,” declaring, “We have the right to respond, and we will determine the timing for that.”

Issa, who also currently functions as the acting U.S. special envoy to the region after replacing Tom Barrack, outlined Washington’s goals for Lebanon: promoting “a durable peace between Lebanon and Israel and supporting Lebanon’s sovereignty,” countering Iran’s influence, and advancing economic cooperation. He said the U.S. hopes to encourage “a peaceful and prosperous future for Lebanon through strengthening commercial opportunities for Americans in Lebanon and with Lebanese partners.”

{Matzav.com}

The chairman of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, MK Boaz Bismuth, revealed Motzoei Shabbos that he has implemented a series of adjustments and stricter provisions in the updated version of the draft law, working hand-in-hand with the committee’s legal advisers. According to Bismuth, the goal was to reduce legal vulnerabilities and create a workable balance between the IDF’s manpower needs and the preservation of the Olam HaTorah.

Bismuth addressed the newly released text ahead of committee deliberations scheduled for this week, stressing that an “intensive and meticulous” drafting process was carried out with the full involvement of the legal team.

He explained that the latest version includes “a number of changes and tightened clauses” designed to fully comply with legal requirements and minimize the risks that plagued earlier iterations. “I worked in recent weeks on the wording of the law in full cooperation with the legal advisers of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee,” he said. “I made precise adjustments and changes to meet the legal demands and to prevent any future legal exposure.”

The committee chair emphasized that the updated draft seeks to strike a carefully calibrated compromise. With the IDF dealing with manpower shortages while the chareidi sector insists on safeguarding full-time Torah study, Bismuth described the proposal as “a responsible, balanced and stable law — a law that will return to the State of Israel the stability it has been lacking.”

Bismuth also made clear that the legislative process is already too far along to shift course. “The train has already left the station, and it will not stop until the law is approved in the Knesset plenum,” he declared.

His comments come amid reports over the weekend that the committee’s own legal adviser, Miri Frenkel-Shor, opposes portions of the draft Bismuth unveiled. The committee is expected to begin detailed discussions on the legislation in the coming days.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump issued a sweeping declaration Friday, announcing that he is voiding every document signed through the use of an autopen during Joe Biden’s presidency and threatening legal consequences if Biden insists he personally approved the signatures. Trump claimed he is prepared to have his predecessor “brought up on charges of perjury” if Biden says he was involved in authorizing aides to use the device.

For months, Trump has insisted that Biden was largely absent during his term, portraying the administration as one run by unelected staffers. In his latest Truth Social post, Trump asserted, “Any document signed by Sleepy Joe Biden with the Autopen, which was approximately 92% of them, is hereby terminated, and of no further force or effect. The Autopen is not allowed to be used if approval is not specifically given by the President of the United States.”

He went on to accuse Biden’s advisers of usurping authority, writing, “The Radical Left Lunatics circling Biden around the beautiful Resolute Desk in the Oval Office took the Presidency away from him. I am hereby cancelling all Executive Orders, and anything else that was not directly signed by Crooked Joe Biden, because the people who operated the Autopen did so illegally.”

Trump concluded his message with a direct warning: “Joe Biden was not involved in the Autopen process and, if he says he was, he will be brought up on charges of perjury. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Although Trump has already undone many of Biden’s directives, he has also implied that a number of Biden’s pardons may be invalid. Biden, however, told the New York Times this year that he personally authorized the use of his name in his final clemency decisions. Historically, autopen signatures have been recognized as fully legitimate when used by staff under presidential direction, and presidents of both parties have relied on the device for decades — including in rare instances to enact legislation.

Legal precedent supports the practice. A Justice Department opinion issued in 2005 during the George W. Bush administration concluded, “the President need not personally perform the physical act of affixing his signature to a bill he approves and decides to sign in order for the bill to become law.”

{Matzav.com}

President Trump unveiled a sweeping new directive today, declaring that no aircraft may traverse Venezuela’s skies as part of an intensified campaign against narcotics flowing out of the region. In a sharply worded Truth Social message, he announced: “To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.” He ended the post with: “Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

This latest move follows Trump’s pledge earlier this week to target drug operations on land. Speaking with reporters, he said, “The land is easier, but that’s going to start very soon,” hinting that the airspace shutdown is only the beginning of a broader escalation.

Since September, the administration has focused heavily on maritime strikes, hitting what it describes as narcotics-carrying vessels departing from Venezuela and elsewhere in Latin America. The White House says the maritime strategy has sharply curtailed drug movements, with Trump insisting that trafficking by sea has fallen by “85%” since the operations began. Critics—including human rights groups, academics, and Democratic lawmakers—have condemned the policy as a form of extrajudicial killing.

Defense officials acknowledge that at least 21 deadly strikes have taken place under the initiative. One of the most contentious incidents involved a boat near Trinidad, where survivors were reportedly killed in a second round of fire—an alleged “double tap” that prompted outrage. According to reports, the strike was carried out under direction from Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth to “kill everybody,” an allegation Hegseth dismissed as “fake news.”

Amid all this, Trump held a conversation last week with Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. According to the New York Times, the discussion included the possibility of an unprecedented face-to-face meeting—something no U.S. president has ever pursued with the authoritarian head of state. Trump has long denounced Maduro, calling him illegitimate and accusing him of running the narcotics empire known as Cartel de los Soles.

The decision to seal off Venezuelan airspace marks the most dramatic step yet in the administration’s expanding campaign, signaling a readiness to widen the fight beyond sea and land—and into the skies.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Gershon (George) Morgenstern z”l, a man whose life embodied determination, brilliance, and unwavering devotion to Torah and avodas Hashem. He was 92.

Born and raised in New York in an era and environment where authentic Torah life was far from the norm, young Gershon stood out for his quiet resolve and inner fire. While most of his peers drifted far from Yiddishkeit, he charted a different path, one of conviction, courage, and fierce loyalty to Torah.

His journey began at Rabbi Yitzchok Shmidman’s Yeshiva Toras Chaim in East New York, where the foundations of his lifelong identity were formed. From there, his love for learning and his refined intellect led him to Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin, where he learned under the guidance of illustrious rabbeim. There, he forged a deep and enduring kesher with its legendary rosh yeshiva, Rav Yitzchok Hutner zt”l, whose teachings and worldview became the hashkafic backbone of his life. Until his final days, Rabbi Morgenstern was proud to call himself a Chaim Berliner, carrying its ideals with dignity and clarity.

Despite his humble beginnings, he became the living definition of a self-made man. Everything he achieved—spiritually, professionally, and personally—was earned through perseverance, grit, and a refusal to compromise on the values he cherished. He built himself into a ben Torah, and later built a family rooted in those same ideals, determined that his children and grandchildren live lives rich with Torah and mesorah.

As a young married man, after marrying his devoted wife Faigy, he assumed rabbinic positions in both Lynn and Lowell, Massachusetts, where his warmth, intellect, and genuine care for every Jew left a lasting imprint. Congregants who met him during those formative years never forgot the way he listened, guided, taught, and uplifted, leading with both head and heart, helping countless individuals draw closer to Hakadosh Baruch Hu.

In time, Rabbi Morgenstern moved from the rabbinate into the world of business, where his extraordinary brilliance came to the fore. Long before the computer revolution reshaped the world, he stood at its front lines as a pioneer and visionary. He founded multiple companies, including Data Systems & Software Inc. (DSSI) and Tower Semiconductor Ltd., breaking ground in areas no one else had yet imagined. His forward-thinking innovations were decades ahead of their time, and his creativity and acuity were unmatched. One of his company’s major achievements was its development of advanced sonar systems purchased by the Israeli government, a testament to the caliber of his technological contributions.

Yet, even at the height of professional success, parnassah was never merely a business objective for him. It was an opportunity for chesed. As chairman of Decision Systems Israel, he recognized the extraordinary potential of yeshiva students and began hiring them en masse, believing that their training in limud haTorah made them uniquely suited to programming. At one point, he employed approximately 200 yeshiva graduates, giving them a dignified means of support.

He would often explain, with a mix of clarity and pride: “In programming you need patience, a willingness to go into detail and the concentration to make sure you dotted your I’s and crossed your T’s and to go over it again and again. It’s the same thing with Gemara [study].”

He would emphasize that it took six months to train a yeshiva student to excel in software, compared to one to two years for a typical high-school graduate. To him, this wasn’t merely a statistic. It was a celebration of Torah, of its rigor, its discipline, and its ability to shape extraordinary human beings.

Eventually, Rabbi and Mrs. Morgenstern settled in the then-young, blossoming community of Monsey, New York, where he immediately became a quiet, steady pillar of support for local mosdos. As a member of the tuition committee at Yeshiva of Spring Valley, he helped countless families ensure that their children could learn Torah without unbearable financial strain. He involved himself in supporting other institutions, always with discretion, respect, and boundless generosity.

His relationships with rabbonim—such as Rav Shmuel Faivelson, rosh yeshiva of Bais Medrash L’Torah, and Rav Zorach Shapiro, with whom he learned b’chavrusah for many years—were deeply meaningful to him. They reflected his appreciation for talmidei chachomim, his love of learning, and his lifelong quest for aliyah.

From his home on Shalvah Place, the very block he personally built during Monsey’s early days, Rabbi Morgenstern poured out chesed. People from every walk of life crossed his threshold seeking advice, support, guidance, employment, resources, or simply a listening ear. And in every instance, he gave with generosity, dignity, and a sense of mission.

He was a wellspring of memories, stories, and insights, recounting his years near gedolim, his experiences in the birth of the tech revolution, his time as a rov, and his personal journey of spiritual resilience. Anyone fortunate enough to hear those stories walked away richer, because every tale carried a message, a value, a surge of inspiration.

Together with his wife Faigy, he was zocheh to raise a distinguished family of bnei and bnos Torah who today make their mark across the world, carrying forward his legacy of integrity, perseverance, and ahavas haTorah.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Faigy Morgenstern; by his children, Mrs. Shoshana Schechter, Mrs. Reyce Krause, Mrs. Alisa Rokach, Rav Dov Morgenstern, and Reb Shloime Morgenstern; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Yehi zichro boruch.

The man accused of unleashing gunfire on two West Virginia National Guard members near the White House is expected to pull through his own injuries, even as one of his alleged victims remains in a critical and fragile state.

A law enforcement official briefed on the investigation said the suspected gunman, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, is likely to recover. “I think the guy’s going to live. Nobody’s going to be able to say anything and he’s going to stand trial,” the official told The NY Post. The source added, “I know that he underwent surgery the night it happened,” while explaining that the DC court process limits what prosecutors can disclose about Lakanwal, who allegedly opened fire on the Guardsmen on Nov. 26.

One of the ambushed soldiers, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, succumbed to her injuries the following day, passing away on Thanksgiving.

A representative for Joint Task Force — DC, which oversees the mission in the capital, said Saturday there were no new details regarding the condition of the second Guardsman, Andrew Wolfe. He remains hospitalized in critical condition after the attack.

“Andrew is fighting for his life right now,” West Virginia Gov. Patrick James Morrisey said in an interview on Fox & Friends.

On Friday, US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced that prosecutors will pursue upgraded charges. “There are certainly many more charges to come, but we are upgrading the initial charges of assault to murder in the first degree,” she said after Beckstrom’s death.

Reports indicate that a fellow National Guard member—armed only with a pocket knife—managed to subdue the attacker during the chaos, preventing further harm.

Authorities say Lakanwal left his home in Bellingham, Washington, roughly two weeks before the shooting and traveled across the country. Neighbors reported that he had “disappeared” shortly before the ambush. Investigators believe he used a .357 Magnum-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver to shoot both Guardsmen, striking Beckstrom in the head and chest.

According to lawyer and strategist Mike Davis, who said he spoke with law enforcement immediately after the attack, one Guardsman “stabbed the suspect in the head multiple times,” while another “shot him in the leg and buttocks.” Lakanwal was nearly unclothed when first responders transported him to a hospital.

Officials have not yet disclosed what procedures doctors performed on him, nor have they provided updated details on his medical status or potential motive.

In the aftermath of the shooting, CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed that Lakanwal previously worked with the agency in Afghanistan. He entered the United States in 2021 following the US withdrawal from the region, and investigators are now examining when and where radicalization may have taken place.

Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, suggested today that Lakanwal may have received training on American soil, pointing to the specifics of his immigration documentation. Mullin noted that the suspect’s Special Immigrant Visa “had a special number below it because he was trained and worked with the CIA. There’s actually … a good possibility that he came in and was here and trained on US soil. We don’t know that for a fact but there’s a good possibility,” he told Fox News.

{Matzav.com}

The administration has widened its running catalog of so-called “media offenders,” adding CBS News, The Boston Globe, and The Independent to a list it claims documents distorted or inaccurate coverage.

Officials accuse the three outlets of misleading the public in their reporting on a recently circulated video in which several members of Congress encouraged military personnel to resist what they termed “illegal” directives from President Donald Trump. The White House insists the coverage falsely implied that Trump had issued unlawful instructions.

In a statement posted online, the administration asserted, “The media misrepresented President Trump’s call for Members of Congress to be held accountable for inciting sedition by saying that he called for their ‘execution.'” It followed with another clarification emphasizing that, “Media Misrepresents and Exaggerates President Trump’s Calls for Democrat Accountability.”

The breakdown provided by the White House further argues that, “The Democrats and Fake News Media subversively implied that President Trump had issued illegal orders to service members. Every order President Trump has issued has been lawful. It is dangerous for sitting Members of Congress to incite insubordination in the United States’ military, and President Trump called for them to be held accountable.”

A growing portion of the White House tracker is devoted to what it calls the “Offender Hall of Shame,” described as “A record of the media’s false and misleading stories flagged by The White House.” At the top of that list are The Washington Post, CBS News, CNN, and MSNBC (MS NOW).

Another section, labeled “Repeat Offenders,” highlights outlets the administration accuses of multiple violations. The Washington Post currently leads with five entries, identified as involving “Bias, Lie, Malpractice.” CBS and MSNBC follow with four alleged offenses apiece.

Newsmax remains absent from the registry, while Fox News briefly appeared before an error surfaced regarding the attribution of a press-conference question. Fox objected, leading to an update noted by Washington Post media reporter Scott Nover, who wrote on X, “Update: The White House media tracker — intended to name and shame journalists for bias and errors — incorrectly attributed questions in a press conference to a Fox News reporter. Fox News asked the White House to correct it and now there’s a 404 error where the page once was.”

Outside critics have condemned the administration’s approach, including the American Civil Liberties Union, which frames Trump’s pushback against inaccurate reporting as an attack on fundamental freedoms. The ACLU argues that his strategy represents an effort to “dismantle our free press and violate the Constitution.”

Still, the ACLU’s own “Press in Peril” report acknowledges Trump’s legal victories against major media outlets. As the report notes, “He recently settled for $16 million in a lawsuit against Paramount and CBS News for the ’60 Minutes’ coverage of former Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential race. In December, he reached a $15 million settlement with ABC News over a misquotation by host George Stephanopoulos.”

{Matzav.com}