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Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas issued a strong condemnation of both Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza and Hamas for exploiting the humanitarian crisis by plundering aid supplies meant for the local population.

The remarks, published by the PA’s official Wafa news agency, stated that Abbas “also expressed his categorical rejection and firm condemnation of the looting and theft carried out by criminal gangs targeting warehouses and storage facilities of humanitarian aid designated for the people of Gaza.”

Abbas’s statement further asserted that the PA “held Hamas-affiliated gangs primarily responsible, emphasizing that the Palestinian people will not forgive these disgraceful acts committed in such a critical time, especially in the besieged Strip.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Just days after removing eight individuals appointed during Joe Biden’s presidency from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council—including Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris—President Donald Trump has selected eight new individuals to take their place.

The incoming group includes radio personality Sid Rosenberg, a vocal supporter of Trump during the last presidential race, and Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz, founder and editor of the Yated Ne’eman. Also named is Alex Witkoff, son of Trump’s diplomatic representative Steve Witkoff.

These new appointees are stepping into the roles vacated by Emhoff and other figures tied to the Biden administration, such as Susan Rice, Tom Perez, and Ron Klain, all of whom were removed earlier this week by Trump in a swift shakeup.

“This Council has the important task of preserving the memories and stories of the loved ones whose lives were robbed in one of the darkest moments in History. NEVER FORGET!” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, while announcing the new appointments.

According to the Washington Post, the eight additions will join the 41 existing council members, many of whom were also named under the Biden administration. The Council, which oversees the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, traditionally consists of political appointees serving five-year terms. It is rare for a sitting president to remove multiple members midterm, making this move particularly noteworthy.

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration could gut research on the effectiveness of child welfare programs, with plans to terminate dozens of university grants studying improvements to Head Start and child care policy, according to a spreadsheet mistakenly made public this week. The document listed more than 150 research projects under consideration for termination by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It covered grants funded by the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, which says it “builds evidence to improve lives” by helping policymakers evaluate programs that help low-income children and families. “These grants are aimed at learning how to make programs more effective at pursuing goals like healthy child development, reducing abuse and neglect and promoting economic self-sufficiency,” said Naomi Goldstein, who led the office for nearly two decades before she retired in 2022. “It’s hard to see why they would want to cancel these efforts.” The grant cancellations would add to deep cuts already enacted at HHS’ Administration for Children and Families, which plans to close five regional offices and abruptly fired hundreds of workers one month ago. Its staffing has dropped from approximately 2,400 in January to 1,500, former employees say, and the administration has said it will fold ACF into other parts of HHS. Other HHS divisions, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, have already cut billions of dollars in grants, including those related to public health, gender, race and other subjects opposed by President Donald Trump’s administration. The document released Wednesday marked the first news of plans for the possible mass terminations of ACF grants, although a department spokesperson later said it was only an outdated draft. The proposed terminations would further undercut Head Start, the 60-year-old program overseen by ACF that supports preschool and services for hundreds of thousands of low-income children. Head Start has faced mass layoffs and a plan to eliminate its funding altogether in recent months. The grants facing termination included studies intended to answer key questions and improve its operations, such as how to retain more educators at local Head Start programs. The spreadsheet also listed for termination grants worth millions of dollars for first-of-their-kind centers dedicated to better serving low-income Black and Hispanic children and families, located, respectively, at Morehouse College in Atlanta and at a nonprofit in Maryland. Dozens of grants related to child care policy, child development, foster care, preventing child abuse, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and more were also listed as set for cancellation, reflecting ACF’s widespread portfolio. Those studies help policymakers understand what works, a former administration official said. “Ending these projects without explanation not only wastes taxpayer dollars, it also threatens the evidence base behind key safety net programs,” said Katie Hamm, who was ACF’s deputy assistant secretary for early childhood development until January. “It’s alarming that grantees and contractors had to find out this way, through an accidental email, rather than a transparent process.” The information was mistakenly included in an email sent Wednesday to grant recipients at universities and nonprofits by an HHS employee, who asked them to review and update their contact information. HHS recalled the message only after the spreadsheet, which had a column on whether funding would “terminate” or “continue” for each grant, had been downloaded by recipients. […]

At a high-level security meeting led by Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on Friday evening, Israeli leadership evaluated plans to intensify IDF activity in the Gaza Strip.

Military commanders laid out a strategy before the political leadership that includes significantly ramping up pressure on Hamas. The approach would mirror the IDF’s recent operations in Rafah, focusing on capturing territory, dividing sections of Gaza, rooting out terrorist infrastructure both above and underground, and retaining control over these areas. The goal is to force Hamas to become more flexible in hostage release negotiations.

To support this escalation, the IDF plans to call up additional reservists. According to Ynet, the reservists will be split into two operational groups: combat battalions that will penetrate deeper into Gaza with offensive assignments, and reserve brigades that will take over from the regular forces currently operating in the Strip as part of the renewed push.

Final approval of the plan is expected to take place during a meeting of the Security Cabinet on Sunday. The operation is not intended to be a massive ground offensive or full reoccupation of Gaza but is considered a tactical escalation designed to retain strategic leverage.

An Israeli official addressed the emerging reports, clarifying, “At the conclusion of the discussion at Prime Minister Netanyahu’s residence this evening, no decision has yet been made regarding the expansion of combat in the Gaza Strip. Security officials presented the political echelon with various options, but no final decision has been reached. The Cabinet will convene on Sunday to discuss and make decisions on the matter.”

{Matzav.com}

At a meeting this week, New York City’s Rent Guidelines Board advanced a proposal allowing rent hikes of as much as 7.75% for two-year leases on rent-stabilized units.

During the session at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, the board also recommended a maximum increase of 4.75% for one-year lease renewals. The motion narrowly passed in a 5-4 vote. Final approval of the proposed ranges is expected at a board vote scheduled for late June.

Each year, the Rent Guidelines Board sets adjustment limits for the city’s approximately one million rent-regulated apartments. The board is composed of members representing the public, tenant interests, and property owners.

These gatherings are frequently marked by spirited protests, as tenants and their advocates turn out in large numbers to push back against possible rent hikes.

Following the vote, Mayor Eric Adams issued a statement acknowledging the complexity of the board’s decision. He emphasized that the city would thoroughly evaluate the proposed adjustments while continuing efforts to improve housing affordability. “I must be clear that an increase as much as 7.75% is far too unreasonable of a burden for tenants, especially as our entire city is feeling the squeeze of a 1.4% housing vacancy rate and a decades-long affordability crisis,” Adams said. “New Yorkers simply cannot bear these costs.”

Building owners had lobbied for even larger increases—8% for one-year agreements and 9% for two-year contracts—citing steep hikes in maintenance and operational expenses. Tenant representatives, on the other hand, called for either a full rent freeze or more modest increases of 1.75% and 3.75%, arguing that the cost of living continues to outpace renters’ incomes.

The board’s decision in June will apply to leases beginning on or after October 1.

The first of several public hearings on the proposal will take place May 22, with additional sessions expected throughout June.

{Matzav.com}

A 15-year-old Nigerian has set a Guinness World Record for the world’s largest art canvas to raise awareness for autism. Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke, who is autistic, executed a painting featuring a multi-colored ribbon — the symbol for autism — surrounded by emojis, covering 12,304 square meters. That’s a lot bigger than a typical soccer field, which is 7,140 square meters. The massive painting is aimed at highlighting the spectrum disorder and challenges that people like him face amid stigma and limited resources in Nigeria. “I felt fine. Happy. Just fine,” said Tagbo-Okeke, whose disorder limits his speech. His artwork eclipsed that of Emad Salehi, the previous world record holder, who was nearly three times older at 42 when he set the record with a 9,652-square meter canvas. The artwork, created in November 2024, was unveiled and officially recognized by the Guinness World Record organizers in Nigeria’s capital of Abuja during the World Autism Acceptance Day in April. Nigeria’s art and culture minister Hannatu Musawa said Tagbo-Okeke’s artwork is “a beacon of hope and inspiration” for people with autism. “We recognize the unique abilities and potential of individuals with autism and are dedicated to providing opportunities for them to thrive in the creative industries,” Musawa added. ‘Impossibility is a Myth’ Born in Canada before moving to Nigeria, Tagbo-Okeke’s upbringing has been challenging, his family said. His father told The Associated Press during a recent interview that there was often fear, confusion and sadness along the way. “Not being able to communicate with your son or have regular activities you could have with any other child is quite depressing,” Tagbo Okeke said. Many people on the spectrum face stigma and limited resources in Nigeria, but Tagbo-Okeke’s family was determined to give him the best support. The young artist’s record-breaking attempt, accompanied by a campaign tagged “Impossibility is a Myth,” was widely celebrated among Nigerians, partly because of his young age. “We felt an overwhelming sense of relief and pride, knowing the countless hours and months of effort he poured into breaking the record,” his mother Silvia said. Many young people in Nigeria have attempted to break the Guinness World Record in recent years. At least seven Nigerians have broken world records in the past three years, including Hilda Baci, who won the longest cooking marathon and Tunde Onakoya, who played the longest chess marathon. Early support is key Kanyeyachukwu’s world record attempt also sought to raise funds for the Zeebah Foundation, a nonprofit focusing on providing support to those on the spectrum and their families. While there are no official records from within Nigeria, about 1 in 100 children worldwide is autistic, according to the World Health Organization. Like in many other countries, autism is often not diagnosed in Nigeria until in older years. The lack of reliable data on autism, adequate awareness and government support for the spectrum disorder are some of the biggest challenges autistic people face in Nigeria, said Stanley Effah, founder of the Ferdinand Effah Music Heritage Foundation. Effah, whose child is autistic, said his foundation is planning to launch an annual musical concert featuring major artists as part of efforts to raise awareness about autism in Nigeria. Access to stem cell therapy for autistic children should also be included under the Nigerian National Health Insurance plan as a way to improve their care, Effah said. Kanyeyachukwu’s […]

The Sanzer Rebbe will spend a Shabbos at the Kosel HaMaaravi together with a group of Chassidim, marking the first time in his 31-year leadership that he will be spending Shabbos at the site.

The original plan had been for the group of donors to travel to Poland to visit the kevorim of tzaddikim. However, this trip was never scheduled to include the Rebbe himself. In accordance with the firm stance of his father, the Shefa Chaim of Sanz zt”l, the Rebbe has consistently refrained from visiting the graves of tzaddikim in Poland and Ukraine. The Shefa Chaim had passionately argued that there is no reason to return to the lands of our slaughter following the horrors of the Holocaust, famously declaring: “Those tzaddikim who were truly worthy were brought to Eretz Yisroel immediately after their passing—not by men, but through miraculous means, as is well known.”

True to this approach, the Rebbe and his descendants have never visited these countries or the gravesites of their ancestors located there, viewing them as places stained by the blood of the six million kedoshim who were murdered al kiddush Hashem during the war.

Nevertheless, due to the severe financial strain currently facing Torah and chinuch institutions throughout Eretz Yisroel—and within the Sanz community in particular—the leadership of the Sanzer mosdos initially planned a special fundraising trip to the cities of Sanz, Lizhensk, and Mezhibuzh, with a visit to Auschwitz.

The Rebbe granted reluctant and temporary permission for the trip, given the pressing needs of the mosdos. However, this past week, an alternative plan emerged: rather than sending the donors on a pilgrimage abroad, the Rebbe would spend Shabbos together with them at the Kosel.

He agreed to the proposal, and for the first time, he will remain with the philanthropists for the duration of Shabbos, holding tefillos and tishen in the shadow of the Kosel.

The Shabbos will take place on Shabbos Parshas Shelach, Shabbos Mevorchim for the month of Tammuz.

{Matzav.com Israel}

At a gathering at Slabodka Yeshiva marking the shloshim since the passing of Rav Nachman Plonczek zt”l—one of the roshei yeshiva of Yeshivas Slabodka—the renowned posek Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein delivered an emotional hesped that also touched on the devastating wave of wildfires affecting Eretz Yisroel in recent days.

Speaking in the main bais medrash of Yeshivas Slabodka, Rav Zilberstein addressed the bochurim. He emphasized that amid the chaos and uncertainty, the true security for Klal Yisroel lies in the eish haTorah, the holy fire of Torah.

“There is trouble,” Rav Zilberstein said solemnly. “Today, Rachmana litzlan, I’m hearing what’s going on—so many fires, this one here, that one there. It’s terrifying what’s happening in the streets, what I’m hearing… We are living through a time of great distress. Fires here, fires there… We don’t know where this is heading. But the one security we rely on is you—the precious and beloved talmidei chachamim, more precious than gold and pearls. It’s your learning, your behavior—that is our protection.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

American employers added a surprising 177,000 jobs in April as the job market showed resilience in the face of President Donald Trump’s trade wars. Hiring fell slightly from a revised 185,000 in March, but that is above economist projections of 135,000 jobs. The unemployment rate remained at a low 4.2%, the Labor Department reported Friday. Trump’s aggressive and unpredictable policies – including massive import taxes – have clouded the outlook for the economy and the job market and raised fears that the American economy is headed toward recession. Friday’s report showed employment, one of the strongest aspects of the U.S. economy, remains solid, yet many economists anticipate that a negative impact from trade wars will materialize this year for American workers and potentially, President Trump. “Politicians can count their lucky stars that companies are holding on to their workers despite the storm clouds forming that could slow the economy further in the second half of the year,” said Christopher Rupkey, chief economist at fwdbonds, a financial markets research firm. Transportation and warehousing companies added 29,000 jobs last month, suggesting companies have built up inventory before imported goods are hit with new tariffs. Healthcare companies added nearly 51,000 jobs and bars, restaurants almost 17,000 and construction firms 11,000. Factories lost 1,000 jobs. Labor Department revisions shaved 58,000 jobs from February and March payrolls. Average hourly earnings ticked up 0.2% from March and 3.8% from a year ago, nearing the 3.5% that economists view as consistent with the 2% inflation the Federal Reserve wants to see. Trump’s massive taxes on imports to the U.S. are likely to raise costs for Americans and American businesses that depend on supplies from overseas. They also threaten to slow economic growth. His immigration crackdown threatens to make it more difficult for hotels, restaurants and construction firms to fill job openings. By purging federal workers and cancelling federal contracts, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency risks wiping out jobs inside the government and out. The drastic changes have shaken markets and consumers. The Conference Board, a business group, reported Tuesday that Americans’ confidence in the economy fell for the fifth straight month to the lowest level since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, Bill Adams, chief economist at Comerica Bank, called the jobs report “reassuringly normal. The fears of a softer labor market due to tariff uncertainty went unrealized last month … There are signs that businesses are reining in plans for hiring and capital spending and that consumers are turning more cautious toward discretionary spending.’’ American workers have at least one thing going for them. Despite the uncertainty about fallout from Trump’s policies, many employers don’t want to risk letting employees go – not after struggling to bring people back from the massive but short-lived layoffs from the pandemic. “For now, the unemployment rate and the number of people filing claims for jobless benefits every week remain low by historical standards,” Boston College economist Brian Bethune said this week. The federal government’s workforce fell by 9,000 on top of 17,000 job losses in February and March, The full effect of Musk’s DOGE cuts may yet to be seen. Bethune noted job cuts by the billionaire’s DOGE are still being challenged in court. Also, some of those leaving federal agencies were forced into early retirement and […]

Frustrated by delays in the production of a new Air Force One, President Donald Trump’s administration has reportedly decided to overhaul a jet once operated by the Qatari government as a temporary substitute.

“I’m not happy with Boeing,” Trump said in February about the drawn-out progress on the Air Force One replacements. “We may buy a plane or get a plane, or something.”

According to the Wall Street Journal, the federal government has enlisted defense contractor L3Harris to retrofit a Boeing 747 that previously belonged to Qatar’s leadership. Sources told the outlet that Trump is aiming to have the upgraded aircraft ready for use by the fall and is keeping close tabs on its status. This refurbished jet is expected to serve as a stand-in until the official replacements are completed.

The existing fleet of presidential aircraft — introduced during George H.W. Bush’s presidency — is approaching retirement.

During his first term, Trump reached a $3.9 billion agreement with Boeing to produce two new presidential aircraft. But seven years after securing the deal, Boeing has fallen behind schedule, and the program has encountered soaring costs due to supplier issues and engineering problems.

Given the delays, and barring an end run around the 22nd Amendment — something Trump has joked about — the new Air Force One planes may not be ready during his presidency.

This effort to find an interim solution reportedly began shortly after Boeing’s CEO visited the White House on April 18 for a meeting with the president.

Even prior to Trump’s return to the Oval Office, high-ranking officials in the Air Force and the White House Military Office had discussed canceling the Boeing contract, sources told the Journal.

Under Trump’s direction, there have also been internal conversations about whether the administration can pursue legal action against Boeing for the setbacks, according to the report.

{Matzav.com}

The CDC says 216 children have died this flu season, the most since the 2009-2010 H1N1 (swine flu) season 15 years ago.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on President Trump: “It’s important to get engaged immediately…I’m pleased to have the opportunity for quite a comprehensive set of meetings that will take place on Tuesday.”

The IDF says one of the leaders of a terror network in the Nablus area of the northern West Bank was killed by troops earlier today. Abu Lail, 39, was involved in several shooting attacks on troops in the Nablus area, along with transferring weapons to other operatives in Nablus and Jenin, and providing shelter for wanted Palestinians.

BREAKING: According to Axios, Stephen Miller is now the top contender for President Trump’s new National Security Advisor.

CBS: “In April, Border Patrol made 8,400 migrant apprehensions… The last time the U.S. averaged fewer than 9,000 monthly apprehensions was in the late 1960s.”

President Donald Trump said Friday that he will revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status, the latest move in the escalating clash between the administration and the Ivy League school. “We are going to be taking away Harvard’s Tax Exempt Status. It’s what they deserve!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. The president had previously suggested the university should lose its tax-exempt status. His latest statement came after Harvard sued the administration over its decision to freeze more than $2 billion in funding to the Ivy League school. The administration claimed the university was refusing to follow the administration’s demands that it take actions aimed at ending antisemitism on campus. “Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting ‘Sickness?’” Trump threatened in a Truth Social post last month. He added, “Remember, Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST!” Responding to Trump’s announcement Friday, Harvard spokesperson Jason Newton said that the government has “long exempted universities from taxes in order to support their educational mission” and that there was no legal basis to rescind its status. “The tax exemption means that more of every dollar can go toward scholarships for students, lifesaving and life-enhancing medical research, and technological advancements that drive economic growth,” he said. Newton added that revoking the university’s tax-exempt status “would endanger our ability to carry out our educational mission.” “It would result in diminished financial aid for students, abandonment of critical medical research programs, and lost opportunities for innovation,” he continued. “The unlawful use of this instrument more broadly would have grave consequences for the future of higher education in America.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

In a powerful letter, Rav Avigdor Nebenzahl, rov of the Old City of Yerushalayim and noted posek, has issued a public call urging Torah Jews around the world to vote for the Eretz HaKodesh slate in the current WZO elections.

The rov describes Eretz HaKodesh as “a clear and strong voice from the bnei haYeshivos and the Torah-faithful communities who seek to increase holiness in the Land, to spread Torah and prayer, and to reinforce the voice of Torah that resonates throughout the batei midrash in Eretz Yisrael.”

He contrasts this effort with those who, in his words, “are attempting to import Diaspora-style Judaism via the Reform movements,” warning that such efforts are aimed at “combating those who work to preserve the values of Torah and the mesorah of Klal Yisrael.”

The letter ends with a resounding endorsement of participation and support: “Certainly, it is a great merit and obligation to join and vote for the Eretz HaKodesh movement, and to partner with its members and activists in strengthening their efforts.”

{Matzav.com}

A 70-year-old Jewish man was viciously assaulted on Wednesday night in the quiet French town of Anduze, near Alès. According to a report by Entrevue, the victim—wearing a kippah and tzitzis—was feeding stray cats in the street when a drunken man approached him and demanded money. When the elderly man refused, he attacked. Eyewitnesses say the attacker, a 45-year-old man known to local police for previous theft-related offenses, launched into a brutal assault—punching and kicking the defenseless victim while shouting antisemitic slurs, including “dirty Jew.” Local authorities arrested the suspect on Thursday morning. He was reportedly still intoxicated at the time of arrest and is currently in custody on charges of “violence and insults based on religious affiliation or non-affiliation.” The incident has once again raised worries over the safety of visibly Jewish individuals in public spaces in France, a country that has seen an alarming increase in antisemitic attacks in recent years. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The United States is pulling back from its role in brokering peace between Russia and Ukraine, according to a statement Thursday from a senior State Department official.

State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters that the U.S. “will not be the mediators” going forward. Her comments reflect President Trump’s growing dissatisfaction with the stagnant negotiations between the Ukrainian and Russian governments.

“We are not going to fly around the world at the drop of a hat to mediate meetings,” Bruce said, emphasizing that while the U.S. still supports a peaceful resolution, it will no longer take the lead.

“It is now between the two parties, and now — now is the time that they need to present and develop concrete ideas about how this conflict is going to end. It’s going to be up to them,” she stated.

Bruce noted that the Trump administration is increasingly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has yet to follow through on his repeated claims of being prepared for peace.

“We are watching Putin’s actions, right, not his words. And in the process, he’s refined a very specific timeline. Weeks ago it was weeks; a few days ago it was days,” she said.

“This would be a pivotal week,” she added, hinting that a turning point may be approaching.

Her remarks came one day after the United States finalized a major mineral resource agreement with Ukraine, following two months of intense back-and-forth. The timing of the deal could further reduce Russia’s willingness to negotiate.

The agreement establishes a joint investment mechanism to which both Washington and Kyiv will contribute. Under the terms, the U.S. can count military supplies, technology, or training toward its share of the contributions.

Meanwhile, previously approved military aid packages from the Biden-era Congress are expected to be exhausted by next month. With Republicans controlling the House, it remains uncertain whether more assistance will be approved.

Despite the uncertainty over congressional funding, Ukraine has continued to purchase arms directly from American defense companies. On Tuesday, the State Department informed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that it had authorized a $50 million export license for weapons, technical data, and defense services to Kyiv.

Sources in Ukraine have told The NY Post that they’re hoping this minerals partnership may open the door to more direct weapons sales from the U.S.—a policy the American government has hesitated to embrace in the past.

Last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he asked President Trump if the U.S. would sell up to 10 Patriot missile batteries—systems exclusively manufactured in America—for $15 billion. Trump declined the request.

Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have both echoed the sentiment that any peace agreement will ultimately have to come from the warring sides themselves.

“It’s going to be up to them to come to an agreement and stop this brutal, brutal conflict,” Vance said in a Fox News appearance on “Special Report with Bret Baier.”

Vance went on to explain that the current military standoff shows little sign of changing. “It’s not going anywhere,” he said.

“It’s not going to end any time soon,” he added. “For the Ukrainians, yes, of course they are angry that they were invaded, but are we going to continue to lose thousands and thousands of soldiers over a few miles of territory this or that way?”

Rubio, speaking in a separate interview on “Hannity,” remarked that unless substantial progress is made, President Trump “is going to have to make a decision about how much more time we’re going to dedicate to this.”

On Monday, the Kremlin announced a temporary 72-hour halt in combat operations to coincide with the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat. However, U.S. officials suspect the ceasefire is more about optics than genuine peacemaking.

The pause is scheduled to begin at midnight on May 8 and extend through May 10, aligning with Russia’s Victory Day celebrations.

{Matzav.com}