During a tour of the IDF Intelligence Directorate’s Targeting Center on Wednesday, Major General Shlomie Binder, who heads the Intelligence Directorate, stated that Israel’s current military actions are effectively shifting Iran’s status from a remote strategic issue to a direct and immediate concern.
“We struck the Quds Force very hard on the first night. This includes roughly 30 commanders; the names that were published are those of the more senior ones. But we’re talking about Chiefs of Staff and Air Force Commanders,” said Binder.
He went on to describe a recent Israeli operation that zeroed in on a hidden Iranian command post nestled in a mountainous region. “Some of the commanders managed to flee to a secondary location. Twelve hours later, we succeeded in striking the Chief of Staff of Khatam al-Anbiya, who had fled to the same secondary location in another mountain ridge in Tehran,” he noted.
Binder stressed the critical nature of sustained pursuit and pressure. “We need to hunt them down wherever they flee. And you are succeeding in turning Iran, as I said earlier, from some distant place, 1,500 kilometers from here, into an army that we know how to deal with, with the sense of it being a first-circle threat.”
He closed his remarks by reinforcing the strategic imperative behind the operation. “Your ability to deliver high-value results in the coming days is integral. We need to deliver, increase the pace, and that’s exactly what we’re doing. Because this is the kind of threat that, I emphasize, the State of Israel cannot tolerate. Period. That’s the reason we launched this campaign, and that’s the reason you are working hard.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have held several phone conversations in recent days, according to a Reuters report released Thursday. These communications came in the wake of Israel’s June 13 air offensive against Iran and represent the most extensive contact between the two officials since April, three diplomats familiar with the situation told Reuters.
Speaking anonymously, the diplomats said that Araghchi made it clear that Iran would refuse to come back to the negotiating table unless Israel put a stop to its military actions. The discussions also reportedly included a brief mention of a U.S. initiative first floated in late May that proposed establishing a uranium enrichment program managed by a regional consortium outside Iran’s borders—an idea that Tehran has so far turned down.
The article states that the U.S. placed the initial call, using the opportunity to offer a revised proposal intended to break the diplomatic impasse. A regional source with ties to Iran suggested that Araghchi might be open to compromise on the nuclear issue if Washington could influence Israel to suspend its attacks.
Reuters also cited a European diplomat who said Araghchi signaled a readiness to reengage in nuclear talks, but only if the Israeli strikes came to a halt. Until this latest communication, Araghchi and Witkoff had only spoken briefly on the sidelines of five indirect negotiation sessions held since April.
{Matzav.com}
Israel’s dramatic initial strike against Iran was a significant achievement in terms of military coordination and intelligence execution, but it will not be enough to entirely eliminate Iran’s nuclear capabilities without American involvement, said Sima Shine, a former senior Mossad official.
Shine expressed genuine admiration for the precision and synchronization displayed by both the Mossad and the IDF in launching Operation Rising Lion. She described the attack as a masterclass in planning and execution. Nevertheless, she emphasized that dismantling the entirety of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure would require active U.S. participation.
Now heading the Iran and Shiite Axis research program at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), Shine had previously led the Mossad’s Research Division. She offered her insights during a briefing following the surprise Israeli campaign on June 13, which struck more than 100 military and nuclear targets across Iran.
Although Tehran has already begun its retaliation, Shine warned that much more is likely to come. “Everything in their capacity will be used,” she cautioned, urging the Israeli public to closely follow directives issued by the Home Front Command.
She said that Iran’s response might not be conventional, and could include asymmetric attacks by dormant terror networks stationed internationally—especially in Europe—something the regime has attempted before. Iran might also take steps on the diplomatic front, such as quitting the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and expelling international inspectors.
Since Israel’s opening strike, Iran has been launching daily barrages of missiles and drones, some of which have inflicted serious damage on major Israeli cities including Tel Aviv and Haifa. A state of emergency has been declared, and the country’s defense systems—both civilian and military—remain in a heightened state of readiness.
Shine warned that Tehran’s vengeance may be intense enough to spark a broader regional war. She noted that attacks from the Houthis in Yemen are expected to persist despite recent mixed signals from Iran’s network of allied groups. Hezbollah, for instance, issued a rare public statement: “Hezbollah will not initiate its own attack on Israel in retaliation for Israel’s strikes.”
She pointed out that Iran’s affiliates in Iraq are in a precarious position, especially after Iraq’s Prime Minister made it clear that his government has no interest in joining the current conflict. This is a stark departure from the atmosphere last year when Iran’s so-called “ring of fire” was fully ablaze.
“Israel cannot probably take out completely the nuclear project on its own without the American participation,” she said. “If the US will not be a part of the war, I assume that Iran will have some parts of the nuclear project remain from my point of view, this is a huge point of question mark to what will happen after.”
She elaborated that several key nuclear sites in Iran are located deep underground, making them extremely difficult to destroy completely. “This does not mean that Israel will not attack it and will not damage them,” she said. “In order to make sure this program cannot be rebuilt, in the same places where it is now, there is a need for American involvement.”
On the diplomatic front, Shine noted an unusually strong consensus between Israel, the U.S., and Europe. “No question of daylight between us and the Europeans and the Americans about the evilness of the regime and the destabilizing role of Iran in the Middle East,” she remarked.
For the moment, Israel is pressing forward with momentum. But the question remains: Will Washington join the campaign directly? Shine suggests this decision will determine whether Iran’s nuclear program is merely disrupted—or fully dismantled. The real danger, she warned, lies in the possibility that the most threatening elements of the program will remain untouched.
Shine characterized Operation Rising Lion not as a singular operation, but as the opening chapter of a larger confrontation. She pointed out that the situation unfolding now deserves to be described as a full-scale war. The term “operation,” she explained, implies limited scope and duration, while this campaign was clearly designed to hit a broad set of targets over an extended period.
She expects tit-for-tat escalation going forward, noting: “Once Iran retaliates, Israel will again retaliate.”
Israel’s June 13 strikes hit Iran’s nuclear facilities, its missile and air defense systems, and command centers belonging to the IRGC and military. In the following days, the scope of the operation widened. On June 14 and 15, Israeli forces bombed Iranian oil and gas infrastructure. By the third day, strikes were hitting Tehran and surrounding regions, while diplomatic negotiations in Oman fell apart as a result of the ongoing escalation.
The attacks intensified further on June 16 and 17, with Israeli jets targeting Iran’s Foreign Ministry and the headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). The IRIB compound was struck during a live broadcast, causing massive explosions.
Shine stated that Iran’s response calculus will depend largely on two factors: how its population reacts and whether the regime’s grip on power begins to show signs of stress.
International reactions to Israel’s operation have been varied. Shine views Iran as part of a strategic axis involving Russia and China, all of whom are seeking to challenge American influence globally.
“It is no question that Iran is part of the war in Ukraine,” she said, pointing to the well-documented supply chain of drones and other weapons from Tehran to Moscow that has kept the fighting alive. She also noted that China has recently supplied missile fuel to Iran. These partnerships, she added, are rooted in shared interests—but those interests are not necessarily identical. “These states have mutual interest but not all their interests are mutual.”
Initially, the U.S. distanced itself from the June 13 strikes. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made clear: “Israel acted independently… we’re not involved.”
According to Shine, that statement was a deliberate move to shield American assets in the region from potential retaliation. “It was important for the US to make a statement distancing themselves to try to ensure that Iranians do not touch US interests in the region.”
Still, on June 17, Trump made headlines when he called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender.”
In Shine’s view, even though Israel showcased exceptional operational prowess on the first day of strikes, eliminating Iran’s nuclear project in its entirety is beyond its solo capabilities. For that, U.S. cooperation is not just helpful. It’s essential.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi defended his country’s recent actions, describing them as acts of self-defense while reiterating Tehran’s dedication to diplomacy in a statement posted to X/Twitter.
“Even in the face of the most outrageous aggression against our people, Iran has so far only retaliated against the Israeli regime and not those who are aiding and abetting it,” Araghchi wrote on Thursday.
He directed sharp criticism at Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, accusing him of deliberately igniting conflict in order to derail any chance for diplomacy. Araghchi warned that the international community should take seriously “increasing attempts by the failing Israeli regime to get others to bail it out and to expand the flames to the region and beyond.”
Araghchi also insisted that Iran has no interest in developing nuclear weapons, but emphasized that the nation would not hesitate to defend itself. “Iran will continue to exercise its right to self-defense, with pride and bravery, and we will make the aggressor regret and pay for its grave error,” he wrote.
He closed his message with a reaffirmation of Iran’s diplomatic stance: “As before, we are serious and forward-looking in our outlook.”
According to a report published Wednesday by the New York Times, a high-ranking Iranian Foreign Ministry official revealed that Iran is preparing for a potential meeting with US President Donald Trump. The official stated that Abbas Araghchi would likely agree to sit down to discuss a possible ceasefire with Israel, though Trump reportedly wants any discussions to center around Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
{Matzav.com}A newly formed group of vaccine advisors, appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is set to evaluate several immunization policies in an upcoming session, including a vote on flu vaccines that use thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative. They will also consider guidance related to the measles vaccine.
The panel, which provides recommendations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will meet on June 25 and 26. According to a preliminary schedule published on the CDC’s website, members will also vote on eligibility guidelines for receiving vaccines targeting respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza.
One key topic for the meeting includes a discussion on whether the combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine should be administered to children under the age of five.
As of now, the agenda does not list specific individuals who will be speaking about either MMRV or thimerosal during the proceedings.
The CDC notes that thimerosal has been used in the United States for decades, particularly in multi-dose vials of vaccines and other medications.
{Matzav.com}In a dramatic shift amid the ongoing conflict with Iran, a new Channel 13 News poll released on Wednesday showed Likud reclaiming its spot as the most popular party in Israel.
The poll indicated that if elections were held today, Likud would capture 27 Knesset seats. A hypothetical party led by Naftali Bennett would come in second with 24 seats. Yisrael Beytenu and the Democrats were both projected to receive 11 seats each, followed by Shas with 10, Yesh Atid, National Unity, and United Torah Judaism each with 7, Otzma Yehudit and Hadash-Ta’al with 6 apiece, and Ra’am bringing up the rear with 4 seats.
In this particular survey, the Religious Zionist Party did not meet the minimum electoral threshold required to enter the Knesset.
The poll also revealed widespread support for the war effort, with 75% of Israelis backing military action against Iran. Just 17% expressed opposition to the war, while another 8% said they were still unsure.
Participants were also asked about what they believed was driving Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s decision-making. A majority—64%—said they thought the campaign was motivated primarily by a sincere intention to dismantle Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities. In contrast, 28% felt that political motives were behind the move.
{Matzav.com}
As the war with Iran continues, several Israeli Knesset members received threatening phone calls in recent days from individuals identifying themselves as Iranian. According to a report by Channel 12 News on Wednesday, lawmakers from both right-wing parties and coalition factions were targeted with disturbing messages of intimidation and mockery.
The report, by journalist Dafna Liel, revealed that one of the calls was received by an aide to MK Sheli Tal Meron of the Yesh Atid party. The caller, speaking in Hebrew with a heavy Persian accent, made direct threats.
“I’m calling you from Iran. Are you scared or not?” the caller asked. “Why aren’t you answering? Today you need to wait for our missiles.”
The caller went on to say: “Run to the shelter. We will continue this war until the destruction of Israel. We will take revenge on you, okay? I think you need a diaper. Understand? A diaper.” He then broke into laughter.
The aide asked for the caller’s name and identity, to which the caller replied, “It doesn’t matter. Whenever you go to the shelter, okay?”
When the aide told the caller that his phone number was being traced and encouraged him to keep talking, the caller retorted, “I’m not afraid,” and accused the Israelis of being cowards. The aide calmly responded, “Very well.”
In response to the incident, MK Sheli Tal Meron issued a statement: “I thank the Knesset’s security officer and the head of Knesset cyber defense for their devoted handling of the matter. Even such calls will not deter or frighten us. I express my full support and appreciation to the IDF, our security forces, and the State of Israel in this just and determined war against the head of the snake—the dictatorial Iranian regime. Am Yisrael Chai.”
{Matzav.com Israel}Rahm Emanuel, who once served as White House chief of staff and later as mayor of Chicago, said Wednesday that he is weighing a presidential bid for 2028 on the Democratic ticket, citing a lack of strong contenders in the current party landscape.
In an interview with Crain’s Chicago Business, Emanuel stated: “’Of course’ it’s fair to say he’s considering running for president, declared Rahm Emanuel, hands for the moment neither waving nor pointing but resting on the table. ‘I’m looking at the (Democratic) field and, most importantly, what I have to contribute.’”
Emanuel gained national prominence for orchestrating the Democratic Party’s strategic victories in the 2006 midterm elections, promoting centrist candidates in competitive districts to attract disillusioned Republican voters, particularly those upset over the Iraq War.
During his time as chief of staff to President Obama, Emanuel was instrumental in launching the administration’s aggressive progressive initiatives—even as many Americans were more concerned about the economic downturn. He summed up the administration’s philosophy in a now-famous quote to the Wall Street Journal: “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste.”
Still, Emanuel expressed reservations about the administration’s push for sweeping health care reform. He advised a more measured path, but his suggestions were dismissed. Obamacare ultimately passed, triggering political backlash that fueled the emergence of the Tea Party and cost Democrats control of the House in 2010.
Before the fallout from that political wave, Emanuel exited the White House and campaigned for the mayorship of Chicago. His time in office was contentious, marked by disputes with the teachers’ unions and rising tensions with the early Black Lives Matter movement. His abrasive style and sharp tongue earned him a reputation for being difficult to work with, limiting his ability to form lasting alliances.
In recent years, Emanuel has sought to rebrand himself as a centrist voice within a Democratic Party that continues to lean left, even as it faces electoral setbacks.
After a stint as U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Emanuel is once again seeking opportunity amid political disarray—this time, stepping into what he sees as a leadership void within the Democratic field.
He is the first figure to openly express interest in entering the 2028 race. His background suggests he could tap into significant fundraising networks, particularly from Wall Street, due in part to his past role on the board of Freddie Mac before the financial collapse. However, his past political baggage and the party’s current ideological climate could present steep obstacles. Emanuel may find himself out of step with a base that has shifted dramatically in recent years.
{Matzav.com}Rav Kalman Bar, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, has issued a psak halachah stating that krias haTorah missed due to shul closures must be completed under specific conditions.
The psak, published following disruptions caused by recent closures due to security concerns, rules that the parsha of Beha’aloscha, which was not read in many communities, should be completed retroactively. The ruling is based on the opinions of both early and later poskim affirming the obligation to make up a missed krias haTorah when the cancellation results from external circumstances such as a security crisis.
However, the obligation to make up the reading depends on how many members of the kehillah missed it. If the majority of the kehillah did not hear the Torah reading, then the missed parashah should be read the following Shabbos alongside that week’s regular parashah.
In contrast, if only a minority missed the reading, there is no obligation to inconvenience the broader community. Still, Rav Ber notes that a separate Torah reading may be arranged for that minority, if feasible.
Regarding how to perform the makeup reading, Rav Ber instructs that three olim should be taken from the missed parashah, and the fourth oleh should continue with the beginning of the current week’s parsha, similar to the practice when two parshiyos are read together. The same principle applies to making up the missed haftarah.
The psak also delves into a broader halachic discussion regarding whether Torah reading is a communal obligation or an individual one. Rav Ber presented various views from leading poskim and concludes that a Torah reading should not be arranged for fewer than ten people unless they are strict about regularly hearing krias haTorah.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Some might chalk it up to a stroke of good fortune or credit it to seasoned leadership and quick thinking in the face of crisis.
But we know the truth: It was Hashgocha Elyonah, the unmistakable Hand of Hashem.
The Jerusalem Post reports that roughly a day before Iranian ballistic missiles tore into Soroka Medical Center in Beer Sheva this morning, Health Ministry Director-General Moshe Bar Siman-Tov made a pivotal call that ended up preserving countless lives. “Clear the surgery floor in the hospital – it’s not safe,” he ordered. While some questioned the necessity of such a drastic move, the wisdom of his directive became heartbreakingly clear the next day.
As sirens pierced the early morning calm across the Negev, one of the missiles crashed directly into the hospital’s third-floor surgical unit. The ward sustained major structural damage. Yet, due to Bar Siman-Tov’s foresight, the entire floor had been vacated, and only one person suffered a minor injury. Dozens of patients who would have otherwise been at risk had already been transferred to safer areas of the facility.
The decision to evacuate the surgical floor came on Wednesday afternoon, spurred by intelligence reports forecasting an incoming swarm of over 20 missiles and drones aimed at overwhelming Israeli defense systems. Realizing the specific vulnerability of Soroka’s surgery department, Bar Siman-Tov instructed administrators to move both patients and staff immediately. By that night, the floor was empty and silent. By morning, that silence had become the hospital’s salvation.
Born on October 21, 1976, in Yehud, and raised in Holon and later Hashmonaim, Bar Siman-Tov hails from a family with Turkish roots. He earned his B.A. and M.B.A. in economics and finance from the Hebrew University of Yerushalayim. He began his public service career managing welfare and healthcare budgets at the National Insurance Institute, then climbed the ranks to become deputy budget director at the Finance Ministry in 2010. In that role, he was instrumental in resolving the 2011 doctors’ strike and initiating significant educational reforms.
After serving as Israel’s economic attaché in Washington for seven years, Bar Siman-Tov returned home in 2015 to lead the Health Ministry as its first-ever nonphysician director-general. His time in office has been defined by innovative public health policies, including the 2020 law mandating front-of-package nutrition labeling, and by steady, transparent leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic — during which his briefings became a national mainstay.
Those who have worked closely with him say that the same composure and foresight he showed during the pandemic were evident once again this week. “His anticipatory action turned what could have been a massacre into a story we may barely remember,” remarked a senior hospital official. Now, as Soroka’s teams clear debris and attempt to restore normalcy, Bar Siman-Tov’s bold call remains a powerful example of the life-saving impact of preparedness — and a sobering reminder that sometimes, it’s a single decision – with siyata diShmaya – that determines the difference between devastation and deliverance.
{Matzav.com Israel}
On Thursday morning, Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz visited the impact site in Holon where an Iranian missile had struck, leaving many civilians wounded. Among the injured were four individuals in serious condition.
While surveying the damage, Katz issued a blunt warning aimed directly at Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. “A dictator like Khamenei cannot be allowed to exist. Khamenei is a modern-day Hitler, diverting his nation’s resources toward the goal of destroying Israel.”
Earlier that same morning, Katz sharply condemned the Iranian regime for intentionally hitting civilian zones. “The cowardly Iranian dictator sits in the depths of his fortified bunker, firing targeted missiles at hospitals and residential buildings in Israel.”
He emphasized the severity of these actions, stating, “These are war crimes of the highest order — Khamenei will answer for his crimes.”
Katz also explained the government’s next steps, saying, “The Prime Minister and I have instructed the IDF to intensify attacks on strategic targets in Iran and on regime targets in Tehran to eliminate the threats to the State of Israel and destabilize the Ayatollah’s regime.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
