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Sources in the Chareidi parties claim that Yuli Edelstein, the chairman of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, wants to drag Israel to elections, Arutz Sheva reported on Wednesday. The report comes after the Rosh Yeshivah, HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau, instructed the Degel HaTorah MKs on Wednesday morning to act to dissolve the Knesset after the negotiations on a Chareidi draft law with Edelstein on Tuesday evening failed. “It cannot be said that Yuli Edelstein does not speak with a lot of logic to the average secular voter in that he demands a draconian law, but along the way he’s throwing the baby out with the bathwater, leading to the exit of the Chareidim from the coalition, elections, and a left-wing government,” a senior Shas official told Arutz Sheva. Edelstein is insisting that the law include harsh sanctions on bnei yeshivos if the recruitment targets aren’t reached, even if there is an increase in Chareidi recruitment, and is also not willing to include civilian service [such as service in Israel Police or MDA] in the recruitment goals. “What exactly does Edelstein want?” the senior official questioned. “If he wants to recruit Chareidim, no one will enlist because there will be no law and there will be no Chareidi agreement around a formula of the kind he is proposing. If he wants to oust Binyamin Netanyahu, he should say it out loud.” “At the end of the day, he knows very well that there is no world in which all yeshiva bochurim will leave their Gemaras and go to the battlefield. There is not one Chareidi Rav – even those who support Chareidi employment – who supports this.” “The proposals he is offering are detached and unrealistic. What he’s doing is pushing the entire Chareidi leadership into a corner, uniting them into one position, and dismantling the government. That way there will be no law, there will be no Chareidi recruitment, there will be no government, and a left-wing government will be elected. And maybe that’s what he wants.” Edelstein’s fellow Likud members are also angry at Edelstein’s refusal to compromise, Ynet reported. However, despite calls to oust him from his position as the chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, such a move is not on the table because it “would sully the legislative process” and would make the law more likely to be struck down by the Supreme Court. However, according to the report, the Likud party is exploring other options to appease the Chareidim. A senior coalition official said that “despite the fact that the Chareidim are compromising again and again, Edelstein has decided to dismantle the government. He won’t pass the conscription law, and not a single Chareidi will be drafted, and he will also endanger us with the rise of a left-wing government in such a complex security period.” A source close to Edelstein responded to the allegations against him, saying that “he has stuck to the same view for a year and a half and we have not changed anything in the principles of the law. He is determined to formulate a law that meets security needs. What is happening now is an attempt to introduce loopholes in our law, which really leads to recruitment. Edelstein’s law is logical, effective, and fair. It […]

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday that the US nuclear deal proposal was “against Tehran’s national interests” and that Iran will not abandon uranium enrichment. Speaking at an event marking 36 years since the death of his predecessor, Ruholla Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Khamenei said in a speech that uranium enrichment is key to the country’s nuclear program and that the US proposal to end it violates Iranian independence. “Independence means not waiting for the green light from America and the likes of America,” Khamenei says, adding that the proposal is “100 percent against the idea of ‘we can,’ which is an important principle in our country’s independence.” “If we had 100 nuclear power plants while not having enrichment, they are not usable for us,” Khamenei said. “If we do not have enrichment, then we should extend our hand (begging) to the U.S.” Khamenei also addressed US President Donald Trump, saying, “Who are you to tell us whether we can have a nuclear program or not? We will not give up the ability to enrich uranium.” An Iranian diplomat told Reuters on Monday that Tehran was set to reject the US nuclear deal, calling it a “non-starter.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

The leader of Degel HaTorah, Rosh Yeshivah HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau, instructed the Degel HaTorah MKs to act to dissolve the Knesset after the negotiations on the draft law with the chairman of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Yuli Edelstein, failed, Kikar H’Shabbat reported on Wednesday morning. A charged meeting on Tuesday night between Edelstein and the Chareidi MKs ended without any progress, with the main issue being Edelstein’s insistence on the law including severe personal sanctions if recruitment targets aren’t reached. Additionally, Edelstein continues to insist that Chareidi recruitment targets include only recruitment for combat and combat support roles, while the Chareidi MKs insist that the recruitment targets also include national/civil service so that they can meet the recruitment targets. It should be noted that the agreed-upon recruitment targets at this stage is 50% of eligible Chareidim within only five years, contrary to the principles of Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, who spoke of a similar target but within seven years. Senior Chareidi sources told Kikar on Wednesday morning, “The heads of the Chareidi parties are frustrated with the conduct of Prime Minister Netanyahu. The feeling is that Netanyahu believes that this is a personal crisis of the Chareidim with Edelstein and not something that threatens his position. Our hope is that by next week he will come to his senses and use his weight to resolve the points of contention; otherwise, we will indeed go to elections.” Following the reports, the heads of the opposition parties said they will submit a bill to dissolve the Knesset next Wednesday. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

The IDF has announced the tragic death of Master Sergeant (Res.) Alon Farkas HY”D, a 27-year-old reservist from the 646th Reserve Paratroopers Brigade’s 6646th Battalion, who was killed during combat operations in northern Gaza on Tuesday. Farkas, a resident of Kibbutz Kabri, fell in battle while operating in the Shejaiya neighborhood of Gaza City. According to an initial investigation, a Palestinian terrorist opened fire with an assault rifle, striking Farkas and another soldier from the unit. The terrorist managed to flee the scene. The second soldier sustained serious injuries and is receiving medical treatment. יהי זכרו ברוך. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Two individuals from China are facing federal charges in the U.S. after being accused of conspiring to smuggle a dangerous biological agent into the country.

According to U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr., the defendants—33-year-old Yunqing Jian and 34-year-old Zunyong Liu, both Chinese nationals—have been apprehended on multiple conspiracy-related offenses. Among those allegations is the illegal importation of Fusarium graminearum, a fungus known in scientific research for its potential use as an agroterrorism tool, the Justice Department revealed in a statement.

The FBI took Jian into custody following accusations that she and Liu were responsible for bringing Fusarium graminearum into the United States. This hazardous pathogen is linked to “head blight,” a disease that severely impacts key agricultural crops like wheat, maize, rice, and barley, leading to global economic losses in the billions. Exposure to the fungus’ toxic byproducts can result in nausea, liver failure, and reproductive harm in both people and animals.

Investigators claim that Jian had received funding from the Chinese government to work on this pathogen in China. Additionally, digital data seized from her devices reportedly contains material tying her to the Chinese Communist Party, including proof of her loyalty and affiliation.

“It is further alleged that Jian’s boyfriend, Liu, works at a Chinese university where he conducts research on the same pathogen and that he first lied but then admitted to smuggling Fusarium graminearum into America—through the Detroit Metropolitan Airport—so that he could conduct research on it at the laboratory at the University of Michigan where his [partner] Jian, worked,” noted the Justice Department.

U.S. Attorney Gorgon emphasized the broader implications of the charges, stressing the potential threat to national security posed by the couple’s alleged plans to utilize a university lab while residing in the country on student visas.

“The alleged actions of these Chinese nationals—including a loyal member of the Chinese Communist Party—are of the gravest national security concerns,” said Gorgon. “These two aliens have been charged with smuggling a fungus that has been described as a ‘potential agroterrorism weapon’ into the heartland of America, where they apparently intended to use a University of Michigan laboratory to further their scheme.”

Cheyvoryea Gibson, head of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office, stated that the duo took advantage of their ability to work in academic labs to carry out their biological smuggling activity.

As noted by Breitbart News, recent government actions coincide with these developments. Secretary of State Marco Rubio disclosed last week that the State Department has initiated measures to cancel visas of Chinese students tied to the CCP.

“The U.S. will begin revoking visas of Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields,” Rubio said in an announcement on X.

{Matzav.com}

Yeshiva Mikdash Melech in Brooklyn recently received a threatening letter, allegedly sent by inmate Matthew Karelefsky, 47, who is currently serving a 25-years-to-life sentence for attempted murder and arson. The letter, addressed to the yeshiva on Ocean Parkway in Midwood, warned of planned mass shootings in three zip codes: 11230 and 11210 in Brooklyn, and 06710 in Waterbury, Connecticut. Karelefsky was convicted in 2024 for setting fire to a longtime Chaim Berlin rebbi’s home in 2019, an attack that injured 13 people, including a 6-week-old infant.

President Trump placed the blame for Sunday’s violent assault in Boulder, Colorado, on what he described as “Biden’s ridiculous Open Border Policy,” declaring that the suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, should be deported immediately under his administration’s approach to immigration enforcement.

“Yesterday’s horrific attack in Boulder, Colorado, WILL NOT BE TOLERATED in the United States of America. He came in through Biden’s ridiculous Open Border Policy, which has hurt our Country so badly. He must go out under ‘TRUMP’ Policy,” Trump stated on Truth Social in his first comments regarding the incident, which left eight people wounded.

Records revealed that Soliman, age 45, entered the United States from Egypt in August 2022 on a tourist visa valid through February 2023. He subsequently applied for work authorization, which extended his lawful presence until March 28, 2024. As a result, he had been residing in the U.S. without legal status for the past two months.

As outlined in a federal criminal complaint, Soliman allegedly hurled two improvised firebombs at a group affiliated with Run For Their Lives — a movement primarily consisting of elderly participants advocating for the release of hostages held by Hamas following the October 7, 2023, massacre.

Authorities reported that Soliman shouted “Free Palestine!” as he launched the explosive devices. After the attack, law enforcement officers discovered an additional 14 Molotov cocktails stored inside a black plastic bin at the scene.

The complaint also indicated that during questioning by federal agents, Soliman expressed a desire to “kill all Zionist people and wished they were all dead.”

He confessed to watching online tutorials to learn how to build the weapons and said that he had been preparing for the attack for a full year, delaying execution of the plan until his daughter had graduated.

Investigators said Soliman, a resident of Colorado Springs who lived with his wife and five children, recorded and uploaded a video to X while carrying out the assault. The footage shows him shirtless, pacing, and gripping the incendiary devices.

According to the complaint, he can be heard in the video saying, “how many children killed” and “end Zionist.”

The eight victims — four women and four men ranging in age from 52 to 88 — were injured during the attack.

Soliman was apprehended and charged on Monday with a federal hate crime. State prosecutors also filed charges, including attempted first-degree murder.

“Acts of Terrorism will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law,” Trump declared in a follow-up post.

“This is yet another example of why we must keep our Borders SECURE, and deport Illegal, Anti-American Radicals from our Homeland. My heart goes out to the victims of this terrible tragedy, and the Great People of Boulder, Colorado!”

Trump’s immigration stance has emphasized the removal of undocumented criminals, but Stephen Miller, a key architect of Trump’s border policies, has recently called for a broader crackdown on illegal entry and overstayed visas.

Reacting to the Boulder attack, Miller wrote on X, “Suicidal migration must be fully reversed.”

{Matzav.com}

Yeshiva Mikdash Melech in Brooklyn recently received a threatening letter, allegedly sent by inmate Matthew Karelefsky, 47, who is currently serving a 25-years-to-life sentence for attempted murder and arson. The letter, addressed to the yeshiva on Ocean Parkway in Midwood, warned of planned mass shootings in three zip codes: 11230 and 11210 in Brooklyn, and 06710 in Waterbury, Connecticut. Karelefsky was convicted in 2024 for setting fire to a longtime Chaim Berlin rebbi’s home in 2019, an attack that injured 13 people, including a 6-week-old infant. The NYPD is currently investigating the threat, and it remains unclear whether additional security measures have been implemented in the affected neighborhoods. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Palestinian terrorists responsible for a deadly bombing that killed three Israeli soldiers in northern Gaza had launched their attack from a tunnel concealed beneath a damaged structure, IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin stated during a press briefing.

According to Defrin, the assailants emerged from the tunnel to plant explosive devices along a route in the Jabalia area. “The terrorists set out from a tunnel shaft in a building and planted the explosive devices. This is an active tunnel that is used for terror,” he said.

Defrin explained that the tunnel’s entry point was hidden inside a bombed-out building located near a commonly used path. “The entrance to the tunnel is located inside a destroyed building, close to a route. Therefore, it is important to emphasize, this building is a military target, like tens of thousands of other buildings in Gaza that are used for terror,” he said.

He went on to stress that the IDF’s policy of demolishing such structures was based on the serious threat they posed. “Nearly every other building is booby-trapped and contains a tunnel entrance. We are demolishing these homes, not for the sake of destruction. Every building that is destroyed poses an operational threat and could harm our forces,” Defrin added.

{Matzav.com}

A Boulder, Colorado city council member is facing backlash after refusing to sign a joint statement condemning a firebombing attack at a rally in support of Israeli hostages, objecting to the statement’s description of the incident as antisemitic without also labeling it “anti-Zionist.” Councilmember Taishya Adams said her request to include the term “anti-Zionist” in the statement was denied, prompting her decision not to sign. “I cannot sign a letter that equates the calls for a ‘Free Palestine’ with antisemitism,” Adams wrote on Facebook. “Without the anti-Zionist part, the reader will fail to understand a key driver of this terrible attack.” She emphasized that she condemns the attack and its perpetrator, whom she said “was explicit about ending Zionism.” The official city statement described the incident as a “targeted, antisemitic attack” and affirmed Boulder’s commitment to opposing antisemitism: “We cannot – and will not – allow antisemitism to become normalized here.” Adams, who serves as Boulder’s sister city liaison to Nablus (Shechem), a Palestinian city in the West Bank, has previously been accused of anti-Jewish discrimination by members of a local hostages’ advocacy group. The group claims Adams blocked them on her official Instagram account and ignored their outreach. The firebombing follows months of tension at Boulder City Council meetings, which have been repeatedly disrupted by anti-Israel demonstrators. According to the Boulder Reporting Lab, a Jewish council member has previously expressed feeling unsafe at council sessions due to the protests. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Elon Musk took aim at the sweeping tax and spending legislation championed by President Donald Trump, calling the bill a “disgusting abomination” and warning that it would significantly worsen the nation’s fiscal outlook.

“I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore,” Musk declared on X, the social media platform he owns.

Blasting lawmakers for approving the measure, Musk said, “This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.”

He added, “Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.” Musk had only recently stepped down from leading the Trump administration’s DOGE initiative to reduce federal spending.

In a subsequent post, Musk predicted the bill “will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden America citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt.”

His public rebuke came shortly after a CBS News interview aired in which he argued that the legislation pushed by the Republican president “undermines” DOGE’s original goals.

The White House dismissed Musk’s criticism without hesitation.

“Look, the president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill,” said press secretary Karoline Leavitt during a Tuesday briefing when asked about Musk’s online remarks.

Leavitt continued, “It doesn’t change the President’s opinion. This is one big, beautiful bill, and he’s sticking to it.”

She reaffirmed the administration’s position that claims of the bill inflating the deficit were unfounded.

Leavitt also went after the Congressional Budget Office, which projected the measure would boost the deficit by $3.8 trillion over a decade, accusing the agency of harboring anti-Republican bias.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, who helped shepherd the legislation through the lower chamber, defended the package when asked about Musk’s comments.

“With all due respect, my friend Elon is terribly wrong about the one big beautiful bill,” said Johnson, R-La.

He doubled down on his support in a post on X, promising that Congress would pass a follow-up rescissions package to lock in savings associated with DOGE.

Musk, responding to a user’s post criticizing GOP lawmakers, fired back with a warning: “In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people.”

Though some Republicans stood by the bill, others publicly aligned with Musk’s assessment, including Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky.

Massie, who was one of just two House Republicans to oppose the measure, responded to Musk’s post with, “He’s right.”

“Simple math,” Musk replied to him.

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, also voiced support for Musk’s concern over deficit spending.

“Congress has hollowed out America’s middle class through reckless deficit spending and the inflation it causes,” Lee posted on X.

“The Uniparty propels this vicious cycle, and must be stopped in its tracks.”

President Trump, earlier that day, took to social media to attack Sen. Rand Paul after the senator criticized a section of the bill that authorizes a massive debt ceiling increase.

Trump fired back, saying Paul didn’t grasp that the plan would bring “tremendous GROWTH.”

Paul later responded on X, writing, “I agree with Elon.”

“We have both seen the massive waste in government spending and we know another $5 trillion in debt is a huge mistake. We can and must do better,” the senator posted.

Musk reacted to Paul’s post with an American flag emoji.

Although Musk was the top donor to Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign—pouring over $250 million into it—his time leading DOGE included sharp disagreements with the administration, especially over tariffs, and clashes with figures like trade advisor Peter Navarro and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

{Matzav.com}

A fringe group of Har Habayis activists, led by members of the “Returning to the Mount” movement, sparked renewed outrage this Shavuos after attempting to carry out a symbolic reenactment of the Korban Shtei HaLechem on Har HaBayis. The provocative act was immediately halted by Israeli police and Waqf officials. Dressed in imitation bigdei kehunah, several activists — who self-identified as kohanim — rushed to what they believe is the site of the Mizbeiach and attempted to raise two loaves of chametz – which can only be performed in a rebuilt Beis Hamikdash. The group was reportedly acting under the direction of Rabbi Yisrael Ariel, founder of the Temple Institute and a longtime advocate for resuming korbanos on Har Habayis. The group’s attempt was quickly shut down by security forces, but not before they reportedly managed to lift the loaves — though conflicting reports exist as to whether the full ritual was completed. Rav Ariel emotionally recited Shehecheyanu, and supporters answered “Amen” as police escorted the participants off the site. Mainstream Torah authorities and Gedolei Yisrael have consistently ruled that ascending Har HaBayis is strictly forbidden. The vast majority of poskim — both past and present — have warned against such provocations, citing both halachic violations and the real danger of inciting violence and desecration of the Har Habayis. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A firestorm erupted Monday over revelations that a new U.S. proposal to Iran — reportedly delivered via Oman — would permit Tehran to continue enriching uranium at low levels for civilian use, contradicting President Donald Trump’s own public declarations that any deal must impose a total ban on enrichment. The report, first published by Axios and confirmed by two U.S. officials speaking anonymously to the Associated Press, outlines a framework that mirrors key elements of the 2015 Obama-era nuclear deal — the very agreement Trump dismantled during his first term. Under the proposed terms, Iran would be required to shut down its fortified underground facilities and cease high-level enrichment, but would still be permitted to enrich uranium up to 3% at above-ground sites for nuclear medicine and energy production. That allowance, however narrow, is at odds with Trump’s explicit statement posted hours later on Truth Social: “Under our potential Agreement — WE WILL NOT ALLOW ANY ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM!” The contradiction between the proposal’s details and the President’s own words ignited backlash from critics across the political spectrum. “This is a moment of truth,” wrote former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro. “If you demanded no enrichment under Obama, you should demand the same now.” Trump’s special envoy and lead negotiator Steve Witkoff has previously echoed Israel’s uncompromising demand for zero enrichment — a position Tehran has flatly rejected. The White House declined to clarify whether Trump’s social media post or the reported terms of the proposal reflect the administration’s true stance. In an official response, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt attempted to downplay the reports without denying them: “President Trump has made it clear that Iran can never obtain a nuclear bomb. Special Envoy Witkoff has sent a detailed and acceptable proposal to the Iranian regime, and it’s in their best interest to accept it.” She declined to elaborate further, citing the sensitivity of ongoing negotiations. The reported terms would dismantle key infrastructure, block Iran from building new enrichment facilities, and freeze centrifuge development. But under the plan, Iran would still be allowed to enrich to 3% — a level considered below weapons-grade, but which critics warn maintains the regime’s breakout capability and international legitimacy for nuclear activity. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported last Saturday that Iran has continued to expand its stockpile of uranium enriched to near-weapons-grade levels — a violation of multiple UN resolutions. Experts warn that Iran is now only weeks away from nuclear breakout if it chooses to weaponize its program. Iranian officials have already rejected the proposal, with one senior diplomat calling it “insufficient” and accusing Washington of refusing to respect Tehran’s “right” to enrichment. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported Israeli officials fear Washington is preparing to drop the zero-enrichment demand entirely in a last-ditch effort to salvage talks. The reported proposal also includes a long-defunct plan to create a regional enrichment consortium — an idea rejected in previous rounds due to fierce opposition from Arab states and Iranian distrust. The optics are alarming: a U.S. administration that came to power criticizing Obama’s deal may now be offering Iran a deal nearly indistinguishable from it — and possibly even weaker in enforcement. Israel, for its part, has issued repeated warnings that it will act militarily to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. […]

The wife and five children of an Egyptian Msulim terrorist who threw Molotov cocktails at Jews in Boulder demonstrating for the release of Israeli hostages, injuring 12 of them, was taken into custody Tuesday by U.S. immigration officials who are investigating whether they knew about his plan. The family of Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and could be deported as early as Tuesday night, the White House said in a post on X. Soliman, who was disguised as a gardener, had 18 Molotov cocktails and had planned to kill all of the roughly 20 participants in Sunday’s demonstration in downtown Boulder but apparently had second thoughts and threw just two while yelling “Free Palestine,” police said. Soliman, who federal authorities say has been living in the U.S. illegally, didn’t carry out his full plan “because he got scared and had never hurt anyone before,” police wrote in an affidavit. The two incendiary devices he threw were enough to injure more than half of the participants in the weekly demonstration, authorities said, noting that he expressed no remorse about the attack. “When he was interviewed about the attack, he said he wanted them all to die, he had no regrets, and he would go back and do it again,” Colorado’s acting U.S. attorney, J. Bishop Grewell, said during a news conference Monday. Soliman told authorities that no one, including his family, knew about his plans, according to court documents. He targeted what he described as a “Zionist group,” authorities said in court papers, at times spelling his first name “Mohammed.” “He stated that he had been planning the attack for a year and was waiting until after his daughter graduated to conduct the attack,” the affidavit says. Soliman left an iPhone hidden in a desk drawer at his Colorado Springs home that contained messages to his family, according to an FBI affidavit. After his arrest, his wife brought the phone to the local police department, saying it was his but was also used by other members of the family. According to the affidavit, Soliman also told the police he was driven by a desire “to kill all Zionist people” — a reference to the movement to establish and protect a Jewish state in Israel. Before moving to Colorado Springs three years ago, he spent 17 years in Kuwait, according to court documents. He has been living in the U.S. illegally, having arrived in August 2022 on a tourist visa that expired in February 2023, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a post on X. She said Soliman filed for asylum in September 2022 and was granted a work authorization in March 2023, but that it also expired. The immigration status of his wife and children is not clear, and DHS did not respond to requests for additional information. Federal and state prosecutors filed separate criminal cases against Soliman, charging him with a hate crime and attempted murder, respectively. He faces additional state charges related to the incendiary devices, and more charges are possible in federal court, where the Justice Department will seek a grand jury indictment. Soliman is being held on a $10 million bond. His attorney, Kathryn Herold, declined to comment Monday after a hearing where he […]

Elon Musk on Tuesday tore into the massive tax-and-spending-cut bill backed by President Donald Trump, calling it a “disgusting abomination” that will explode federal budget deficits. “I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore,” Musk wrote in a post on X, his social media site. “This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination,” the Tesla and SpaceX CEO added. “Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it,” wrote Musk, who until last week led the Trump administration’s DOGE effort to cut government spending and waste. Musk in a follow-up post wrote that the bill “will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden America citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt.” The jibes came two days after CBS News aired an interview in which Musk said that the legislative package backed by the Republican president “undermines” DOGE. The White House quickly shrugged off Musk’s latest criticism. “Look, the president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a briefing Tuesday when asked about the initial post. “It doesn’t change the President’s opinion. This is one big, beautiful bill, and he’s sticking to it,” Leavitt said. Leavitt doubled down on the administration’s claim that it is “blatantly wrong” to say that the bill adds to the deficit. She accused the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, which found that the budget package would raise the deficit by $3.8 trillion over the next decade, of being biased against Republicans. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who led the Republican caucus’s effort to pass the spending package through that chamber, told reporters, “With all due respect, my friend Elon is terribly wrong about the one big beautiful bill.” Johnson, R-La., reiterated his defense of the bill in an X post, while also vowing that Congress would codify some of DOGE’s claimed government-spending cuts as part of a rescissions package.

Amid mounting reports suggesting that chareidi lawmakers have adopted a more aggressive tone toward the government, the Israeli Yated Neeman is now striking a more moderate chord. While easing immediate threats, the newspaper will make clear tomorrow that continued support for the coalition will depend on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s concrete actions, not just promises.

Despite fierce warnings earlier in the day from Degel HaTorah MKs about a possible withdrawal from the coalition due to the stalled Chok HaGiyus (Draft Law), the Yated Neeman is set to publish a statement Wednesday clarifying that Rav Dov Landau has not yet instructed the party to leave the government. The article says that the community is waiting to see what steps the prime minister actually takes in the coming days.

According to new information obtained Tuesday evening, there remains a strong inclination among chareidi political circles to exit the government, based on the widespread understanding that the draft legislation is unlikely to pass—not due to lack of will alone, but because of insurmountable opposition to key elements such as sanctions and enlistment quotas.

A senior insider told Kikar HaShabbat: “The meeting with Yuli Edelstein and chareidi representatives just ended. There seems to be willingness to move forward, and if there’s visible progress, another chance may be given. But patience is wearing thin, and the de facto deadline is the end of this week.”

Edelstein’s office later confirmed that the meeting—lasting over four hours—was held in good spirits, and that both sides intend to continue discussions to seek a resolution.

Tensions had intensified earlier in the day when the home of Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch released a statement warning that “in the absence of a dramatic change regarding the draft law, he will instruct United Torah Judaism to leave the coalition.”

Political analyst Yishai Cohen noted that one of the primary sticking points in negotiations between Edelstein and the chareidim is the definition of who counts toward the draft targets. Edelstein, aligning with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, insists that only those entering IDF service should be counted, excluding those performing national or civil service. Furthermore, Edelstein reportedly demands that only recruits entering combat or combat-support roles be tallied toward the quota—setting the bar far beyond current expectations.

Given these conditions, the prospect of reaching a mutually agreed draft law appears increasingly remote.

Degel HaTorah chairman Moshe Gafni sent a pointed message to Netanyahu Tuesday afternoon, acting on behalf of both Rav Landau and Rav Hirsch. According to reports, he warned that if no real progress is made on the draft law by Tuesday night, the party would begin escalating its response immediately. While no details were given as to what that escalation would entail, the threat was taken seriously.

Meanwhile, political maneuvering continued behind the scenes. Motty Babchik, a top aide to UTJ minister Yitzchok Goldknopf, reportedly met today with National Unity leader Benny Gantz. According to journalist Michael Shemesh, the two discussed possible cooperation on legislation to dissolve the Knesset, with support from both opposition and chareidi lawmakers.

In parallel, opposition leader Yair Lapid addressed the developing crisis at the start of his Yesh Atid faction meeting. “Let me speak directly to the gedolei Yisroel—to the Rebbe of Ger, to Rav Landau, to Rav Hirsch, to Rav Yitzchak Yosef: They are deceiving you,” Lapid declared. “Netanyahu knows this draft exemption law will never pass. He’s just stalling to get through the summer session.”

Lapid went on to say, “All he cares about is staying in power while he’s under cross-examination in court. He’s feeding you fairy tales and empty pledges. He doesn’t know how—and can’t—deliver the law you want.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

In a dramatic turn at the Tel Aviv District Court on Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu took the stand for cross-examination in his long-running corruption trial—nearly five years after it first began. The prosecution wasted no time, working to cast doubt on Netanyahu’s reliability and attacking the consistency of his testimony.

Prosecutor Yehonatan Tadmor of the State Attorney’s Office opened the session by focusing on Case 1000, in which Netanyahu is accused of accepting lavish gifts—including cigars, champagne, and jewelry—from billionaires Arnon Milchan and James Packer. According to the indictment, Netanyahu allegedly returned the favors by helping Milchan with U.S. visa issues and other business interests, including media mergers.

From the outset, Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman reminded the prime minister of his obligation to answer truthfully. Over the course of the session, Netanyahu’s attorneys frequently objected to the line of questioning, prompting recesses during which Netanyahu briefly exited the courtroom as the judges conferred.

Tadmor delved into Netanyahu’s initial police questioning in 2016, pressing him on whether he had been aware in advance that the investigation centered on gifts from wealthy associates. Netanyahu said he had some recollection of that and insisted, “I don’t do favors for businessmen.”

He was then asked about a list compiled by his legal team of ten wealthy individuals—Milchan and Packer among them—in preparation for his questioning. Netanyahu responded, “I don’t remember,” and suggested that the entire investigation stemmed from a politically motivated article by journalist Gidi Weitz. “It’s persecution,” he said bluntly.

The prosecutor attempted to portray Netanyahu’s repeated memory lapses as strategic. Tadmor highlighted that the prime minister said “I don’t remember” a staggering 1,778 times during his police interrogations in Cases 1000 and 2000, often leaning on that phrase more as the sessions progressed. “You said ‘I don’t remember’ when it suited you,” Tadmor asserted.

Netanyahu pushed back, arguing that no one could recall every minor detail from years past. “Some meetings stand out more than others,” he said. At one point, Judge Friedman-Feldman interjected, asking directly if he had used memory lapses as a tactic to avoid answering. “No,” he replied.

The prosecutor then attempted to dismantle Netanyahu’s narrative that his relationship with Milchan was purely personal and devoid of political interest. Recounting a 1996 meeting between Netanyahu and Milchan in New York—arranged while Netanyahu was staying at a hotel with his wife Sara—Tadmor presented a story meant to illustrate the transactional nature of the relationship.

Sara Netanyahu, according to Milchan’s past testimony, asked him to bring a stuffed Bugs Bunny doll for their son Yair. Milchan reportedly arrived with a small one, only to be told it wasn’t large enough. “He ran through the streets of New York in the rain to find a bigger one,” Tadmor said.

Milchan’s 2023 testimony was read aloud: “I didn’t have a driver, it was raining, but I got a pretty big Bugs Bunny, very big… I stood there with the Bugs Bunny… eventually I made it to the hotel… Sara said it was okay… then we had dinner.”

Tadmor challenged Netanyahu over the oddity of making such a request of someone he had just met. Netanyahu claimed he didn’t recall any movie being changed and said he had no knowledge of the Bugs Bunny episode. He then quipped, “Sounds like something out of ‘Who Killed Roger Rabbit.’”

Pressing further, Tadmor demanded that Netanyahu admit Milchan had a strong desire to meet him, to which Netanyahu shrugged, “Many people wanted to meet with me.”

The prosecution later turned to Netanyahu’s political career after his 1999 electoral defeat. Tadmor suggested Netanyahu had always planned a return to politics, citing a passage from his own 2022 autobiography that stated he had “no doubt” he could make a comeback and that he “remained a major force in Israeli politics.” Netanyahu countered, saying at the time he genuinely believed he was finished: “I was a political corpse.”

The ongoing trial centers around three major cases. In Case 2000, Netanyahu is accused of negotiating a deal with publisher Arnon “Noni” Mozes for more favorable coverage from the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper in return for legislation that would harm rival publication Israel Hayom.

The most serious, Case 4000, revolves around allegations that Netanyahu advanced regulatory decisions favoring Bezeq’s controlling shareholder, Shaul Elovitch, to the tune of hundreds of millions of shekels. In exchange, Netanyahu allegedly received positive coverage from the Walla news site, which Elovitch also owned.

With the prosecution still in its early stages of cross-examination—a process expected to last roughly a year due to scheduling complexities and Netanyahu’s governmental obligations—the courtroom battle is only beginning to unfold.

{Matzav.com}

Two rockets launched from Syrian territory toward the Golan Heights on Tuesday marked the first such incident in over a year and were swiftly followed by a Houthi missile launched from Yemen, setting off alarms across central Israel. Though neither attack caused injuries, Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz declared that a full retaliation against the Syrian government would follow.

Responding to the Golan incident, Israeli forces fired artillery at the source of the launch near Tasil, roughly 12 kilometers from the Israeli border. The military also carried out a wave of airstrikes in southern Syria targeting weapons systems it said were under the control of the regime now led by Ahmed al-Sharaa.

“The Syrian regime is accountable for everything that happens on its soil and will be held responsible for continued aggression originating from there,” the IDF said in a statement.

Katz issued a separate declaration, placing personal responsibility on Sharaa: “Israel holds Sharaa directly responsible for every rocket fired and every threat against our citizens. The full response will come soon. We will not return to the situation that existed before October 7.”

The two rockets fired from Syria landed near Ramat Magshimim, with warning sirens also sounding in the nearby town of Hispin. Authorities said both impacts occurred in open areas.

The Syrian foreign ministry claimed it had no confirmation of the rocket launches but condemned Israel’s retaliatory strikes, saying they inflicted “severe human and material damage” and constituted a breach of sovereignty. It called for international intervention, asserting Syria was actively working to contain militant groups in its south and was not a danger to others in the region.

“This is a time for calm and political solutions,” the ministry’s statement added. “We urge the global community to take action to prevent further attacks and support efforts to restore regional stability.”

The attack marked the first rocket fire from Syrian territory since May 2024, when Syria was still under the rule of Iran-backed Bashar al-Assad. That changed seven months later when a radical faction led by Sharaa overthrew Assad in a surprise coup.

Although the United States once offered a reward for Sharaa’s capture, it has since shifted its stance, lifting Assad-era sanctions and recognizing Sharaa’s regime. Reports now suggest Sharaa is set to address the UN General Assembly this September—something no Syrian head of state has done in nearly six decades.

Despite the apparent U.S. pivot, Israel has maintained a cautious posture. After Assad’s removal, Israeli troops were stationed inside the buffer zone separating the two countries. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes across Syrian territory have continued unabated.

Later on Tuesday, just 20 minutes after the Syrian attack, a Houthi missile triggered warning sirens across central Israel, including in Tel Aviv. The IDF confirmed that the projectile was intercepted, but not before residents received early alerts via push notifications.

Authorities also reported that fragments—either from the Houthi missile or from the interceptor—landed in the city of Modiin. Police responded to secure and remove debris from the area. Sirens also briefly blared in Nof HaGalil and other towns near Nazareth, which were later deemed false alarms caused by misidentification of potential threats.

In line with routine protocol, Ben Gurion Airport suspended takeoffs and landings for 25 minutes following the Houthi launch.

The Houthis, aligned with Iran and known for their slogan “Death to America, Death to Israel, a Curse on the Jews,” have been targeting Israel and international shipping since November 2023. Their strikes tapered off after a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in January 2025, by which time they had launched more than 40 ballistic missiles and a wide array of drones and cruise missiles—one of which killed a civilian and wounded several others in Tel Aviv.

Since Israel renewed its offensive in Gaza on March 18, the Houthis have launched an additional 45 ballistic missiles and at least 10 drones. While a number of those attacks were intercepted or fell short, the frequency of launches has stirred continued concern among Israeli defense officials.

{Matzav.com}

A man who identified himself as a New Orleans jail escapee released videos on social media while still on the run, leading to a police raid that failed to recapture him, an Associated Press source says. Authorities were so convinced about the authenticity of the videos that they searched a home a little over 2 miles (3.7 kilometers) from the jail late Monday where they believe the recordings were made by escapee Antoine Massey, according to a senior law enforcement official who spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity. The official said he wasn’t authorized to publicly discuss the ongoing investigation into the May 16 escape by 10 inmates. Massey was not at the New Orleans home on the edge of the Fairgrounds and Gentilly neighborhoods, the official said, but authorities did locate clothing they believe he wore during filming. The owner of the home, Shedrick Burnell, said it was being rented and declined to name the tenant. He told AP by phone that he had never seen or heard of Massey before the jailbreak and the videos circulated online, but he appeared unfazed that a fugitive had likely used his property as a hideout. “I’m 76, I’ve seen a helluva lot worse than this,” said the Louisiana native. “As long as my tenant is safe, there’s nothing I can do.” When an AP reporter knocked at the home Tuesday afternoon, no one answered. Next door, a house under construction had been kicked in and the backdoor, gate and windows were open — likely due to the police search, said Tariq Aldahir, an electrician who had been working on that property, adjacent to where Massey had allegedly been hiding. “It’s a little scary — if he is as dangerous a criminal as they say he is, what is he capable of doing?” Aldahir said. “He’s desperate — any human being who is desperate, there’s no limit to what they can do.” Authorities were tipped to the videos, posted online Sunday, by relatives who recognized the residence. Authorities are racing to recapture Massey and convicted murderer Derrick Groves, more than two weeks since the audacious breakout. Eight other escapees have since been recaptured. State Police Superintendent Col. Robert Hodges said that despite the agency’s confidence in its investigations, “things change at a moment’s notice and it’s usually because someone has helped them.” He encouraged people to keep offering tips. Authorities are offering a $50,000 reward per escapee. Louisiana State Police, the agency leading the search, declined to comment on whether it had verified Massey’s identity in the videos. The agency carried out the search related to the videos — since removed from Instagram — which seemingly show a man with the same facial tattoos as Massey sitting near a kitchen. “Please, I’m asking for help,” said Massey, appealing to President Donald Trump and several rappers including New Orleans native Lil Wayne in one video. “When I get back in custody I’m asking y’all please to come and help.” Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson urged Massey to surrender, adding in a statement: “Cooperating with law enforcement is in his best interest and may help avoid additional charges.” Massey, 32, faced charges of rape, kidnapping, domestic violence involving strangulation and violation of a protective order all stemming from a November 2024 incident, […]