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In a late-night vote, New York lawmakers passed the FY2026 state budget, delivering a win for yeshivos and nonpublic schools across the state. The budget includes significant increases in funding and expands key programs that support thousands of students in Jewish day schools and other nonpublic institutions. One of the most significant achievements is a $10 million increase to the state’s innovative STEM reimbursement program, bringing the total allocation to $85.5 million. This boost will enable more nonpublic school students to access high-quality instruction in science, technology, engineering, and math. Additionally, nonpublic schools will now be included in the state’s newly created Universal Free Meals program. This landmark policy ensures that all students, regardless of the school they attend, will receive free, nutritious meals each day—a long-standing goal of education advocates who have fought for equal treatment. Security funding for nonpublic schools was also renewed and expanded, with $70 million allocated for the Nonpublic School Safety Equipment (NPSE) program and $35 million set aside for the Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes (SCAHC) initiative. The state also maintained funding for other vital programs, including $230 million for mandated services reimbursement (CAP/MSR) and $5 million to support arts and music instruction in nonpublic schools. “This is a monumental moment,” said Sydney Altfield, Executive Director of Teach NYS. “It proves that when our community advocates loudly and clearly on behalf of our children, our leaders respond.” Teach NYS extended its gratitude to Governor Hochul, the State Senate, and the Assembly for recognizing the needs of nonpublic school students. The organization also acknowledged its coalition partners—Agudath Israel of America, the Catholic Conference, the Islamic School Association, and the UJA Federation of New York—for their collaboration in securing this funding. But the biggest thanks, Altfield emphasized, goes to the families, students, and member schools who rallied, spoke out, and helped shape the outcome. “Your advocacy made this possible. Now it’s time to thank our elected officials and let them know this support is noticed—and deeply appreciated.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has confirmed that American military action against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels will hinge not on attacks against Israel, but on whether American citizens are harmed. Speaking to Israel’s Channel 12 News, Huckabee defended the recent surprise ceasefire agreement between the United States and the Houthis—brokered without Israeli input—just days after a Houthi ballistic missile struck the grounds of Ben Gurion Airport, injuring six and prompting international flight suspensions. “The United States isn’t required to get permission from Israel to make arrangements to stop Houthi fire on our ships,” he said, brushing aside concerns of coordination with America’s key Middle East ally. Ambassador Huckabee emphasized that U.S. retaliation would only come into play “if they hurt an American.” With approximately 700,000 U.S. citizens living in Israel, the ambassador acknowledged the risk but drew a stark line: attacks on Israel alone do not automatically warrant American military response. The ceasefire, announced by President Donald Trump earlier this week, caught Israeli officials off guard and drew fierce criticism in Jerusalem. The Houthis, undeterred, declared their campaign against Israel would continue—an assertion Trump dismissed with indifference: “I’ll discuss that if something happens.” The developments come amid a fresh wave of Houthi hostilities, including a drone attack intercepted over Israel and a missile strike on Ben Gurion Airport. In response, Israel launched a punishing series of airstrikes against Houthi assets in Yemen, culminating in what the IDF called the complete disabling of Sanaa International Airport. The Houthis, whose slogan includes “Death to America, Death to Israel,” have vowed to escalate retaliation for the Israeli strikes. Meanwhile, their continued aggression—paired with America’s calculated detachment—has sparked alarm among Israeli defense officials who fear a dangerous new chapter of strategic divergence between the longtime allies. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Back in November, Yeshiva World News published a controversial mailbag article titled “Why I’m Voting For Kamala Harris Over Donald Trump, And Why You Should Too.” Many of you will remember it—not necessarily for its content, but for the uproar it caused. The writer made a compelling, if unpopular, case: that Kamala Harris represents a steadier and more principled approach to foreign policy, while Donald Trump’s decisions are more impulsive, more ego-driven, and more transactional than ideological. He warned that Trump’s alliance with Israel wasn’t based on shared values, mutual respect, or any enduring strategy—but rather on whether leaders “like him” or not. And he concluded, quite boldly, that this type of relationship was risky and unsustainable. The backlash was instant and brutal. The comments flooded in: “What did you smoke before writing this article?” … “Utter fool” … “Trash” … “I can’t believe YWN published this.” The outrage was deafening. The reaction wasn’t just disagreement—it was dismissal. Condescension. Derision. As if the very possibility of Trump being anything other than Israel’s best friend was laughable. And yet, here we are. Today, Yeshiva World News reported that Trump’s relationship with Prime Minister Netanyahu has reached a low point. Trump has reportedly “run out of patience,” and is moving ahead with his Middle East agenda without Israel. The shocker? He’s now pushing a deal with Saudi Arabia—even if it means leaving Israel out of the picture entirely. Let that sink in. Trump, the supposed “best friend Israel ever had,” is now ready to cut a nuclear deal with Riyadh—even if it doesn’t include normalization with Israel. Under Biden, those nuclear talks were tied to a broader package that required Saudi recognition of Israel. Trump? He’s done waiting. He wants the deal, Israel or no Israel. Now let’s be honest: this should not be shocking. It’s exactly what that November mailbag writer predicted. His warning was never that Trump was anti-Israel—it was that Trump is pro-Trump, and that our community’s trust in him is built more on emotion and campaign slogans than any stable, ethical framework. That writer was mocked for saying Trump’s foreign policy was based on personal loyalty rather than democratic values or long-term vision. Today’s news proves his point. And it forces us to ask hard questions: Did we put our trust in someone who saw our support as a tool to be used and discarded? Were we seduced by slogans and photo ops, while ignoring the real risks of hitching ourselves to a man with no consistent principles? It’s time we recognize that short-sighted loyalty can be dangerous. Trump knew how to speak our language. He gave us embassy moves and peace deals that felt good. But now, when the politics shift, he walks away—and expects us to follow anyway. This isn’t about Kamala Harris anymore. It’s not even about left or right. It’s about learning to distinguish between performative friendship and real strategic alliance. In hindsight, that “ridiculous” mailbag article might’ve been one of the most prescient pieces published on this site in a long time. Maybe we owe that anonymous writer an apology. Or at least… a second read. Signed, Shlomo Zalman Rabinowitz The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you […]

U.S. policy toward Houthi-led aggression against Israel is guided by the potential risk posed to American nationals, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee explained in a televised interview excerpt aired by Channel 12 on Thursday.

“The United States isn’t required to get permission from Israel to make some type of arrangement that would get the Houthis from firing on our ships,” Huckabee stated in a segment of the conversation that will be fully aired over the weekend.

His remarks came in the wake of President Donald Trump’s unexpected revelation earlier in the week that the U.S. had reached a direct ceasefire understanding with the Houthi rebels in Yemen, despite the group’s insistence that it will persist in attacking Israel.

Israeli officials reported that they were not given advance notice about the agreement. The announcement was made just 48 hours after a Houthi-launched missile exploded within the vicinity of Ben Gurion Airport, dangerously close to the air traffic control tower. The attack caused minor injuries and led several international airlines to suspend flights into Israel.

Ambassador Huckabee, who previously served as governor of Arkansas, said his interpretation of Washington’s strategy was informed by discussions he held with President Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

“Here’s what I can tell you, because I had a conversation with both the president and the vice president last night,” Huckabee said. He added: “There’s 700,000 Americans living in Israel. If the Houthis want to continue doing things to Israel and they hurt an American, then it becomes our business.”

When pressed by Channel 12 to specify whether U.S. military involvement would hinge solely on whether an American is harmed in a Houthi attack, Huckabee responded, “It’s a matter of what becomes our immediate business.”

His stance closely mirrors that of President Trump, who, when questioned about the Houthis’ commitment to continuing strikes on Israel despite the truce with the U.S., remarked, “I’ll discuss that if something happens.”

On Wednesday, the Houthis launched a drone targeting Israel, which was successfully intercepted before reaching its destination.

The Houthis—who operate under the slogan “death to America, death to Israel, a curse on the Jews”—have consistently targeted Israeli territory and maritime activity in the Red Sea since November 2023. Their actions have been framed as a gesture of support for Palestinians in Gaza, following the Hamas-led assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which roughly 1,200 people were murdered and 251 individuals abducted.

Though the Houthis halted most attacks on commercial vessels around six months ago, this pause followed widespread rerouting of international shipping to avoid the region. While military strikes and rocket attacks paused temporarily earlier this year, hostilities resumed after Gaza ceasefire efforts collapsed in March.

In response to the resurgence of these threats, the U.S. ramped up its military campaign against the Iran-aligned group, launching a series of strikes across Yemen to deter attacks on maritime traffic. The Houthis had declared intentions to renew attacks on vessels linked to Israel across several maritime corridors, including the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and Bab al-Mandab Strait.

The U.S. military has reported that since initiating “Operation Rough Rider” on March 15, it has conducted strikes on more than 1,000 Houthi targets. According to official statements, the operation has eliminated “hundreds of Houthi fighters and numerous Houthi leaders.”

{Matzav.com}

A political firestorm is engulfing Israel’s security and political elite as two former Mossad operatives are now under investigation for allegedly working with Qatari intelligence, dramatically escalating the so-called “Qatargate” scandal that has already ensnared close advisers to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The suspects—both once senior figures in Israel’s vaunted intelligence community—are believed to have maintained ties with Qatari officials and engaged in business dealings that may have compromised national security, Channel 12 reported Thursday. One of the former agents, known by the codename “Shin,” reportedly cooperated with Qatari intelligence while still serving in the Mossad and now operates in Qatar’s business sector. The other is David Saig, a longtime associate and former subordinate of “Shin” in the Mossad. The revelation adds a new layer to the already explosive investigation, which centers on Netanyahu aides Jonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein. Both are suspected of secretly working for a pro-Qatar lobbying firm while simultaneously serving as media consultants to the prime minister—allegedly helping Doha improve its image in Israel, particularly in the context of hostage negotiations with Hamas. Reports indicate retired IDF General Yoav Mordechai—formerly the Defense Ministry’s top liaison to Palestinian territories—may have connected key Qatargate figures to Doha. The company he co-owns with “Shin” is reportedly tied to German-Israeli businessman Gil Birger, who allegedly funneled funds from Qatar-linked lobbyist Jay Footlik to Feldstein. Judge Menachem Mizrahi initially struck down police efforts to extend Urich’s detention, blasting investigators for acting “unlawfully” and accusing them of arresting suspects without clear evidence. But the Lod District Court overturned the decision and ordered Urich held until Monday. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Donald Trump on Friday floated cutting tariffs on China from 145% to 80% ahead of a weekend meeting as he looks to deescalate the trade war. Top U.S. officials are set to meet with a high-level Chinese delegation this weekend in Switzerland in the first major talks between the two nations since Trump sparked a trade war with stiff tariffs on imports. “80% Tariff on China seems right! Up to Scott B,” Trump wrote on his social media account on Friday morning, referring to Scott Bessent, his Treasury chief, who has been a point person on trade. Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will meet with their counterparts in Geneva in the most-senior known conversations between the two countries in months, the Trump administration announced this week. It comes amid growing U.S. market worry over the impact of the tariffs on the prices and supply of consumer goods. No country has been hit harder by Trump’s trade war than China, the world’s biggest exporter and second largest economy. When Trump announced his “Liberation Day” tariffs on April 2, China retaliated with tariffs of its own, a move that Trump viewed as demonstrating a lack of respect. The tariffs on each other’s goods have been mounting since then, with the U.S. tariffs against China now at 145% and China tariffs on the U.S. at 125%. (AP)

Half of Gaza’s residents, or some 1.1 million Palestinians, believe that Hamas’s decision to carry out the Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border massacre in Israel was “correct,” according to an opinion poll published by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) this week.

The center, based in the Palestinian Authority city of Ramallah in Samaria, surveyed a representative sample of 1,270 people across Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip on May 1-4. (The survey’s margin of error was plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, the organization said.)

The poll came as the Israeli government approved “Operation Gideon’s Chariot” to defeat Hamas and bring about the release of the remaining 59 hostages, held by the terrorist organization for more than 570 days.

The entire population of the Gaza will be evacuated to the southern part of the enclave during the fighting, and the Israel Defense Force will stay in every area taken, Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday.

An overwhelming majority of the respondents—85% in Judea and Samaria and 64% in Gaza—said they opposed the disarmament of Hamas as a precondition to end Israel’s war on the terrorist group, which led the savage killing of some 1,200 people, primarily civilians, on Oct. 7.

The attacks also saw thousands more wounded and 251 innocent Israelis and foreign nationals taken as hostages to the Strip.

Asked whether they supported or opposed the eviction of some terrorist leaders as condition for putting an end to the Israel Defense Forces operation, 65% said they opposed it and 31% supported it.

Almost three in four Palestinians told the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research that they disagreed with the statement that if Hamas releases the hostages, the conflict would end and the IDF would fully withdraw from the war-torn territory.

The largest share of respondents, almost one-third, said they supported Hamas as a “political party,” followed by P.A. leader Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah (21%), which rules nearly all Arabs in Judea and Samaria.

Forty percent said the Iranian-backed terrorist group that had ruled Gaza since 2007 was “the most deserving” of leading the Palestinian people.

Accordingly, if the Palestinian Authority would call its first legislative elections in 20 years, 43% of those who would participate said they would vote for Hamas, followed by 28% that would choose Fatah.

In a P.A. “presidential” runoff vote between Abbas and Hamas’s Khaled Mashaal, the latter terrorist would receive 68% of the vote, with a quarter saying they would back the incumbent Palestinian Authority leader.

A previous Arab opinion poll published in December found that close to two-thirds of Palestinians in Gaza, Judea and Samaria prefer Hamas terrorists to be part of, or even lead, a Palestinian governing body that would control the Strip after the current war with Israel concludes.

According to the poll, 47% of Palestinians said they would put their trust in a “national unity” government that would include Hamas and Fatah. Meanwhile, 17% of the surveyed Palestinians said that they favored a return to the situation in which the Strip is ruled solely by Hamas.

In Judea and Samaria, respondents showed significantly more support for Hamas than for the P.A., with 25% expressing support for the Gaza terrorist group, compared to 10% for the Western-backed P.A.

In June, the Palestinians’ satisfaction with Hamas’s performance in the war against Israel reached its highest point since the Oct. 7 massacre, while support for the Palestinian Authority and Fatah plummeted.

When asked by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research to rate the performance of various actors during the war, Hamas took the lead with 75% satisfaction, up five percentage points since March. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Indian and Pakistani soldiers exchanged heavy volleys of shells and gunfire across their frontier in Kashmir overnight, killing at least five civilians in a growing military standoff that erupted following an attack on tourists in the India-controlled portion of the disputed region. In Pakistan, an unusually intense night of artillery exchanges left at least four civilians dead and wounded 12 others in areas near the Line of Control that divides Kashmir, local police official Adeel Ahmad said. People in border towns said the firing continued well into Friday morning. “We’re used to hearing exchange of fire between Pakistan and India at the Line of Control, but last night was different,” said Mohammad Shakil, who lives near the frontier in Chakothi sector. In India, military officials said Pakistani troops barraged their posts overnight with artillery, mortars and gunfire at multiple locations in Indian-controlled Kashmir. They said Indian soldiers responded, triggering fierce exchanges until early dawn. Two people were killed and four others injured in Uri and Poonch sectors, police said, taking the civilian death toll in Indian-controlled Kashmir to 18 since Wednesday. Pakistan said Indian mortar and artillery fire has killed 17 civilians in Pakistan-administered Kashmir in the same period. Indian authorities have evacuated tens of thousands of civilians from villages near the volatile frontier. Thousands of people slept in shelters for a second consecutive night. Rivals exchange strikes and allegations Tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals have soared since an attack on a popular tourist site in India-controlled Kashmir left 26 civilians dead, mostly Hindu Indian tourists, on April 22. New Delhi has blamed Pakistan for backing the attack, an accusation Islamabad rejects. On Wednesday, India conducted airstrikes on several sites in Pakistani territory it described as militant-related, killing 31 civilians according to Pakistani officials. Pakistan said it shot down five Indian fighter jets. On Thursday, India said it thwarted Pakistani drone and missile attacks at military targets in more than a dozen cities and towns, including Jammu city in Indian-controlled Kashmir. The army said no casualties were reported. Pakistan denied that it carried out drone attacks in Indian-controlled Kashmir. India said meanwhile it hit Pakistan’s air defense systems and radars close to the city of Lahore. The incidents could not be independently confirmed. India orders X to block thousands of accounts Meanwhile, social platform X in a statement on Thursday said the Indian government had ordered it to block users in the country from accessing more than 8,000 accounts, including a number of “international news organizations and other prominent users.” The social platform did not release the list of accounts it was blocking in India, but said the order “amounts to censorship of existing and future content, and is contrary to the fundamental right of free speech.” Later, X briefly blocked access to the Global Affairs Account from which it had posted the statement, also citing a legal demand from India. Crisis disrupts schools, sports and travel India’s biggest domestic cricket tournament, the Indian Premier League, which attracts top players from around the world, was suspended for one week. Pakistan also moved its own domestic tournament to the United Arab Emirates because of the tensions. Panic also spread during an evening cricket match in northern Dharamsala city, where a crowd of more than 10,000 people had to be evacuated from the stadium and the game called […]