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Kanye West is trying to meditate the fight between Elon Musk and President Trump.

* Shares of Tesla fell 16% on Thursday as President Donald Trump threatened to pull government contracts for CEO Elon Musk’s companies. * The drop comes as shares of the EV maker saw a 22% rally in May with Musk wrapping up his time as head of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. * “Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate,” Musk posted on X.

Steve Bannon calls for Elon Musk to be deported, says Trump admin should investigate Musk’s “drug use” and suspend his security clearance. “They should initiate a formal investigation of his immigration status because I am of the strong belief that he is an illegal alien.”

Elon Musk responds “yes” to a post suggesting Trump should be impeached and replaced by JD Vance.

POTUS: “I don’t mind Elon turning against me, but he should have done so months ago. This is one of the Greatest Bills ever presented to Congress…”

Tens of thousands of right-wing supporters attended a rally protesting against the overreach of the Supreme Court and Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara on Thursday. The protest was held outside the Supreme Court building in Jerusalem. Participants carried signs stating, among others, “A Jewish state wins over the Deep State” and “No to the rule of the Supreme Court!” and “The people are sovereign.” At one point, the crowd chanted again and again, “Gali will not decide!” referring to the Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara. Among the speakers at the rally were Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, Education Minister Yoav Kisch, Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, the chairman of the Knesset’s Constitution Committee, Simcha Rothman, Tzvika Mor, the father of Eitan, who is being held hostage in Gaza, and several bereaved parents whose children fell in Gaza. Smotrich said in his speech, “We will not allow anyone to take our democracy from us and strip us of authority. There are those who think they can take the reins from the citizens of Israel. There are those who believe that they are the supreme parliament, above the will of the people – that they will decide who will head the Shin Bet, who will be the Civil Service Commissioner, and even who will be the Prime Minister.” “And I ask you: are you willing to let someone decide for you? Will you agree that someone who is not an elected official will determine who will lead your security system? Who will head the critical services of the country? And who will head the government? This is simply infeasible. The prime minister and the government are not only allowed to decide – they are obligated to decide. Because they are the public’s messengers. And what they decide – that’s what you decided in the last elections. I look at you, at the tens of thousands, at this wonderful nation, and I say to you: you are sovereign. The will of the people will not be dictated to us from above. Our choice will not be imposed on us. You will decide!”   (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

In a dramatic gathering, the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisrael convened Thursday evening at the vacation home of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe in Moshav Ora, where he has been staying since returning from medical treatment abroad.

The emergency session came amid a deepening political crisis and calls for new elections, with the Chassidic leadership debating how to respond to what they described as ongoing persecution of the Torah-observant community.

This was the first such meeting of the Chassidishe Moetzes since 5783, and its very occurrence signaled the urgency of the moment.

In attendance were the Rebbes of Gur, Vizhnitz, Boyan, Seret-Vizhnitz, Biala (making his first appearance since the passing of his father), and Modzitz. Absent were the Rebbes of Belz, Slonim, Sanz, and Vizhnitz-Merkaz.

The meeting opened with briefings from key political figures representing Agudas Yisrael in the current coalition, including Ministers Yitzchok Goldknopf and Meir Porush, Deputy Minister Yaakov Tessler, and MK Yisroel Eichler, Chairman of the Knesset Labor and Welfare Committee.

Addressing the Moetzes, Minister Goldknopf declared, “There has never been a situation like this for the chareidi public.”

Deputy Minister Tessler added, “The list of sanctions that has been publicized applies only to the chareidim. We haven’t heard of such sanctions being applied to draft evaders in the general population. In fact, already now, thousands of chareidi women are being impacted by the daycare funding cuts.”

At the conclusion of the meeting, the secretary, Rav Yaakov Waltzer, read aloud the official resolution: “It is forbidden to sit in a government that persecutes Torah learners.”

While Agudas Yisrael will not submit its own bill to dissolve the Knesset, the party announced that it will throw its support behind one of the opposition’s proposed dissolution bills, scheduled for a vote this coming Wednesday.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Enjoy this brand new inspirational hit from Uri Davidi — “Toda Raba” — a heartfelt song of gratitude and joy. Song & Lyrics: Uri Davidi & Yitzy Waldner Produced by: Avrumi Lunger Video by: Shai Barak

President Donald Trump is tapping an Air Force fighter pilot with extensive experience as a senior commander in the Middle East to be the next head of U.S. European Command. Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, currently the director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, would also take over as the supreme allied commander, Europe, if his nomination is confirmed by the Senate. NATO’s North Atlantic Council in a statement Thursday said it approved Grynkewich’s nomination as SACEUR. The U.S. military’s presence in Europe is under scrutiny, as the Trump administration eyes cuts in the force even as the region continues to grapple with Russia’s war on Ukraine and the wider effects of the Israel-Hamas war. U.S. warships have been persistently patrolling the Mediterranean Sea to be poised to support operations in support of Israel and the broader effort to secure the Red Sea corridor, where Houthi rebels have attacked commercial and military vessels. There have been ongoing discussions in the Pentagon about slashing the number of U.S. troops across Europe. The Biden administration poured an additional 20,000 U.S. forces into the region — bringing the total to about 100,000 — to help calm escalating fears among NATO allies that they could be Russia’s next target. Defense leaders have said there have been no final decisions. Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have both made it clear they want NATO to do more to defend its own region and that the U.S. is turning to focus more on China and America’s own southern border. In his current job, Grynkewich helps to develop guidance for the combatant commands and serves as a key aide to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on military operations around the world. Most recently Grynkewich served as commander of Air Forces in the Middle East, including air operations in support of the conflict in Israel, from 2022 to 2023. And prior to that he was director of operations for U.S. Central Command. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1993, has served as an instructor pilot and was a test pilot for the development of the F-16 and F-22 fighter jets. He has more then 2,300 flight hours. (AP)

A three-judge appeals panel rejected Apple’s request to pause an April 30 order banning the company from charging a fee on in-app iPhone transactions processed outside its once-exclusive payment system in a two-page decision issued late Thursday. The setback threatens to divert billions of dollars in revenue away from Apple while it tried to overturn the order reining in its commissions from e-commerce within iPhone apps. Apple sought to put the order on hold after it was issued by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez-Rogers in a stinging rebuke that also held the Cupertino, California, company in civil contempt of court and recommended opening a criminal investigation into whether one of its executives had committed perjury while testifying in her Oakland, California, courtroom. It marked another twist of the screw in a legal battle initiated nearly five years ago by video game maker Epic Games, which alleged Apple had turned the iPhone’s app store had been turned into a price-gouging monopoly. The antitrust case focused largely on the 15% to 30% commissions that Apple rakes in from a portion of the commerce conducted within iPhone apps under a system that prohibited app makers from offering alternative payment methods. Apple is still seeking to overturn Gonzalez-Rogers’ ruling in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, but her order blocking Apple’s commissions on some in-app commerce will remain in effect while potentially leaving a dent in its profits. “The long national nightmare of the Apple tax is ended,” Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney wrote in a post after the appeals court denied Apple’s request. Apple didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Although Gonzalez-Rogers mostly sided with Apple in her initial 2021 ruling in the case, she ordered the company to begin allowing apps to include links to alternative payment systems — a decision that withstood appeals that went all the way to the Supreme Court in 2024. Apple then complied by requiring commissions of 12% to 27%, provoking Epic to ask Gonzalez-Rogers to hold Apple in contempt of her order. After holding a new round of hearings that unfolded over a nine-month period straddling last year and this year, Gonzalez-Rogers brought down another legal hammer on Apple. (AP)

Lebanese media reports at least four Israeli airstrikes targeting Beirut’s southern suburbs. Secondary explosions can be seen from this strike, indicating a significant presence of Hezbollah armaments in an urban center of the Lebanese capital.

Elon Musk claims that President Donald Trump “is in the Epstein files” and that’s “the real reason” they have not been released in his latest public attack.

“Time to drop the really big bomb,” Musk posted on X moments ago. “@realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!”

The truth is that the disgraced financier’s association with Trump has been known for years as the two were videotaped and photographed together at parties in the 1990s.

A book full of Epstein’s contacts from that era surfaced in the subsequent years showing Trump’s name.

{Matzav.com}

Tensions between President Trump and Elon Musk flared dramatically on Thursday, with Trump hinting that he may cut off significant federal funding to Musk’s businesses. The escalating feud came as the president reacted to mounting criticism from Musk over a cornerstone legislative proposal.

“The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn’t do it!” Trump posted on Truth Social, making a not-so-subtle reference to the extensive government partnerships enjoyed by Musk’s companies.

The sharp remark came in response to Musk’s increasingly vocal opposition to the administration’s latest legislation, a comprehensive bill that includes several of Trump’s signature economic initiatives. Musk had been a key supporter of Trump’s 2024 campaign and a guiding force behind his Department of Government Efficiency before their relationship soured.

Musk’s enterprises—chiefly Tesla and SpaceX—maintain numerous federal connections, including lucrative contracts tied to the Starlink satellite internet program, government-sponsored space missions, and electric vehicle subsidy programs.

Those very EV incentives are among the programs targeted for cuts in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” the legislative vehicle Trump is using to implement tax reductions on overtime pay, tips, and Social Security income.

Musk, for his part, has dismissed the bill as fiscally irresponsible, warning that it would exacerbate the national deficit.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Eliezer (Ezzy) Newhouse z”l, a beloved longtime resident of Lakewood, NJ.

He resided for decades at the corner of 7th Street and Forest Avenue, just steps from the main campus of Bais Medrash Govoha.

R’ Ezzy was a son of the famed Rabbi Avrohom and Rebbetzin Rivka Newhouse, founders of the Bais Yaakov school in Williamsburg and Camp Bais Yaakov in Ferndale, NY in the Catskills.

For a period, R’ Ezzy served as a beloved ninth grade maggid shiur at Mesivta Kesser Torah of Belmar, NJ, led by Rav Dovid Heinemann, where he taught and nurtured talmidim with great dedication. Not just a master mechanech, R’ Ezzy taught by example, the bochurim observing his unrelenting hasmadah, his love of learning, and his amkus.

A man who lived quietly but left a loud impression on the hearts of those around him, R’ Ezzy was the embodiment of ahavas haTorah, kavod rabbonim, and simchas hachaim. Whether learning in the local botei medrash, walking the streets with a warm smile, exchanging a good vort with a neighbor, or offering help to someone in need without fanfare or recognition, he radiated joy and chesed in every interaction.

He was an oheiv Torah in the truest sense, his days marked by deep respect and love for limud haTorah and those who carry its mantle.

A baal chesed without publicity, R’ Ezzy had a special sensitivity to others, responding to need instinctively and generously. Yet, even more than what he gave, it was how he gave—joyfully, humbly, and with heart—that made him unforgettable.

To his chareidim, he was a source of chizuk. To rabbonim, a supporter and pillar of strength. To his family, he was a rock, devoted and caring without end.

R’ Ezzy leaves behind his devoted eishes chayil, Mrs. Devorah Newhouse, along with children and grandchildren who carry forth his derech.

The levayah is taking place now at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Avenue, Lakewood, NJ. Kevurah will follow at the adjacent Mt. Sinai Cemetery.

The family will be sitting shivah at the Newhouse home, located at 502 7th Street in Lakewood, NJ.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Elon Musk lashed out at President Trump on Thursday, accusing him of showing “ingratitude” and rejecting claims that he had ever been shown the “Big Beautiful Bill.” The remarks marked a sharp escalation in tensions between the two, who were once closely aligned.

Responding to Trump’s public criticism—that he was “very disappointed” in Musk for his harsh condemnation of the bill—Musk fired back in a series of posts on X. The billionaire, who formerly led the Department of Government Efficiency, didn’t hold back.

“Such ingratitude,” Musk wrote in reply to his own post, where he asserted that Trump “would have lost the election” had it not been for his support.

In another message Thursday morning, Musk flatly denied having seen the controversial bill. “False, this bill was never shown to me even once and was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it!” he posted, directly countering Trump’s claim that he had been more familiar with the contents of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” than “anybody sitting here.”

Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, played a highly visible role during the first few months of Trump’s second term, taking on the task of eliminating government inefficiencies. However, his abrupt resignation last month—after just 130 days—came as a surprise.

When Musk left, the relationship still appeared cordial. Trump had presented him with a symbolic key to the White House, a gesture seen by many as a public display of appreciation.

But that goodwill evaporated quickly. Speaking to reporters from the White House on Thursday, just prior to a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump dismissed Musk’s latest critiques, saying his former adviser was suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

{Matzav.com}

New revelations have come to light about the mission that enabled the return of the bodies of Gadi Haggai and Judi Weinstein Haggai to Israel. Their remains were recovered in a highly coordinated operation conducted deep inside Khan Yunis.

The mission was the culmination of a months-long intelligence pursuit led by the Hostage Task Force in collaboration with the IDF Intelligence Directorate. From the beginning of the war, teams have worked tirelessly to track hostages’ whereabouts—whether alive or no longer living. Over the past month, those efforts became even more concentrated and targeted.

Tasked with gathering, interpreting, and acting on real-time intelligence, the Hostage Task Force employed sophisticated surveillance tools and cutting-edge research methods. Their objective: to locate and identify the positions of hostages with maximum accuracy.

After critical intelligence was collected and operational planning reached maturity, conditions were established to carry out a delicate maneuver in the heart of Khan Yunis. That intelligence enabled security forces to execute a precision-based mission aimed at protecting remaining hostages while successfully recovering the remains of the two Israeli citizens.

Ahead of the recovery effort, troops from the 98th Division conducted preparatory operations to set the stage. Combat units from the 7th and 89th Brigades carried out tactical flanking procedures that opened access to the location. The mission itself was conducted through coordinated efforts between the Southern Command and Military Intelligence, with leadership drawn from a unified operations center staffed by both the 98th Division and intelligence personnel.

This recovery effort was one element of the larger initiative known as Operation “Gideon’s Chariots”—an overarching campaign focused on dismantling Hamas’ militant infrastructure, neutralizing ongoing threats, and securing the return of hostages.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Heavy traffic is being reported in Beirut’s suburbs following the IDF’s immediate evacuation warning for four buildings.

President Donald Trump said Thursday that it might be better to let Ukraine and Russia “fight for a while” before pulling them apart and pursuing peace. In an Oval Office meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump likened the war in Ukraine — which Russia invaded in early 2022 — to a fight between two young children who hated each other. “Sometimes you’re better off letting them a fight for a while and then pulling them apart,” Trump said. He added that he had relayed that analogy to Russian President Vladimir Putin in their phone conversation on Wednesday. Asked about Trump’s comments as the two leaders sat next to each other, Merz stressed that both he and Trump agreed “on this war and how terrible this war is going on,” pointing to the U.S. president as the “key person in the world” who would be able to stop the bloodshed. But Merz also emphasized that Germany “was on the side of Ukraine” and that Kyiv was only attacking military targets, not Russian civilians. “We are trying to get them stronger,” Merz said of Ukraine. Thursday’s meeting marked the first time that the two leaders sat down in person. After exchanging pleasantries — Merz gave Trump a gold-framed birth certificate of the U.S president’s grandfather Friedrich Trump, who immigrated from Germany — the two leaders were to discuss issues such as Ukraine, trade and NATO spending. Trump and Merz have spoken several times by phone, either bilaterally or with other European leaders, since Merz took office on May 6. German officials say the two leaders have started to build a “decent” relationship, with Merz wanting to avoid the antagonism that defined Trump’s relationship with one of his predecessors, Angela Merkel, in the Republican president’s first term. The 69-year-old Merz — who came to office with an extensive business background — is a conservative former rival of Merkel’s who took over her party after she retired from politics. A White House official said topics that Trump is likely to raise with Merz include Germany’s defense spending, trade, Ukraine and what the official called “democratic backsliding,” saying the administration’s view is that shared values such as freedom of speech have deteriorated in Germany and the country should reverse course. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to preview the discussions. But Merz told reporters Thursday morning that if Trump wanted to talk German domestic politics, he was ready to do that but he also stressed Germany holds back when it comes to American domestic politics. Merz has thrown himself into diplomacy on Ukraine, traveling to Kyiv with fellow European leaders days after taking office and receiving Zelenskyy in Berlin last week. He has thanked Trump for his support for an unconditional ceasefire while rejecting the idea of “dictated peace” or the “subjugation” of Ukraine and advocating for more sanctions against Russia. In their first phone call since Merz became chancellor, Trump said he would support the efforts of Germany and other European countries to achieve peace, according to a readout from the German government. Merz also said last month that “it is of paramount importance that the political West not let itself be divided, so I will continue to make every effort to produce the greatest possible unity between the European and American […]

Amid the looming coalition crisis over the lack of a Chareidi draft bill, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara announced on Thursday evening that “the IDF will issue over 50,000 draft notices to yeshiva students in the upcoming month of Tammuz and will soon present an enforcement plan against draft dodgers.” “This was presented by army officials at a meeting with the Attorney General today with the participation of the head of the IDF’s Manpower Directorate.” According to the Attorney General’s letter, this concerns approximately 54,000 orders (referred to as “the pool”) that will be sent during the upcoming month of July, with reporting dates staggered throughout the recruitment year, according to a plan to be determined by the army. At the same time, the army will soon present a plan to encourage voluntary recruitment of those receiving the orders, alongside “concrete steps” to improve enforcement regarding evaders, including proactive enforcement actions by the army, improved enforcement at Ben Gurion Airport, and improved cooperation with the Israel Police in enforcement actions. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

In a turn of events nearly everyone knew was going to happen, Elon Musk launched a blistering attack on President Trump Thursday, declaring all-out war with a savage message on X: “Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House, and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate.” Musk didn’t hold back, calling out what he called “ingratitude” as their once-close alliance descends into chaos. This dramatic public spat marks a shocking rupture between two of the biggest personalities in American politics and tech. The feud centers around Trump’s signature “One, Big, Beautiful Bill,” a massive tax-and-spending package projected to add trillions to the U.S. national debt over the next decade. Musk, who once supported Trump’s agenda, launched a digital campaign Wednesday to “Kill the Bill,” claiming it includes “a mountain of disgusting pork” and unfair cuts to electric vehicle and solar incentives. Trump responded during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, suggesting Musk was angry about the bill’s EV tax credit rollback. “I’m very disappointed because Elon knew the inner workings of this bill,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office during a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. “I’m very disappointed in Elon. I’ve helped Elon a lot.” Trump suggested that Musk, who earlier this week called the GOP bill a “disgusting abomination,” was upset that the bill cut out a tax credit meant to incentivize electric vehicle purchases. “Elon’s upset because we took the EV mandate, which was a lot of money for electric vehicles and they’re having a hard time with electric vehicles and they want us to pay billions of dollars in subsidy,” Trump said. “Elon knew this from the beginning.” But Musk fired back on X, exposing the president’s hypocrisy: “Whatever. Keep the EV/solar incentive cuts in the bill, even though no oil & gas subsidies are touched (very unfair!!), but ditch the MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK.” Adding fuel to the fire, Musk questioned Trump’s claims that he “knew the inner workings of the bill better than anybody,” asserting, “False, this bill was never shown to me even once and was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it!” Sources close to the ongoing fallout reveal that long-standing speculation about their falling out has just become reality. For months, the two figures maintained a veneer of friendship—Trump even praised Musk as a “friend” in the Oval Office last week, praising him for his work on DOGE. Now, with Musk distancing himself from Trump and criticizing him openly, their relationship has crumbled in spectacular fashion—dragging their once-allyship into the spotlight as a full-blown public feud. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)