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Two yeshiva bochurim, both affiliated with prominent yeshivos, were detained at Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday as they attempted to fly out of Israel. Authorities stopped them due to active stay-of-exit orders that had been issued after the young men failed to appear at an IDF recruitment center as required.

Following their arrest, the pair was transferred to the IDF’s Tel Hashomer base, where a hearing on their status is expected to take place.

The Lemaancha organization, which provides support for yeshiva students facing conscription-related challenges, immediately informed senior chareidi rabbanim of the situation. Acting on the guidance of these gedolim, Lemaancha began assisting the detainees.

“We are closely, sensitively, and quietly accompanying the boys following the instructions from the rabbis,” the organization said in a statement.

In response to the arrest, Lemaancha cautioned the public not to rely solely on the Interior Ministry’s website to determine whether a travel ban is in effect.

“There are sometimes discrepancies between the various data systems,” the organization explained. “Refrain from arriving at sensitive locations, such as the airport, without conducting an in-depth inquiry beforehand.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Tonight is known in many circles as “Rumpelnacht,” as the post-Pesach cleanup gets underway. With pots, pans and dishes all over the place and kitchenware being moved from here to there, the name “Rumpelnacht” has been found appropriate by some to describe the hectic atmosphere.

So as you “turn back over” from Pesach to chometz, Matzav.com wishes you bracha and hatzlacha and all the best to your families and loved ones.

We also wish you the customary Motzoei Pesach blessing of “ah gezunte zummer” and pray for only the best for all members of Klal Yisroel across the globe. May we all see yeshuos and refuos, collectively and individually, and may we see an end to the current difficult situation.

Next year in Yerushalayim, be’ezras Hashem.

{Matzav.com Newscenter}

Qatar’s top negotiator, Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, expressed growing concern over the stalled ceasefire talks regarding Gaza, warning in a statement to AFP that further delays could make the situation worse. “This is an urgent matter. There are lives at stake here if this military operation continues day by day,” Al-Khulaifi stated.

The Qatari government, in coordination with the United States and Egypt, played a key role in establishing a short-term ceasefire between Israel and Hamas earlier this year. That arrangement ended in early March without any follow-up deal. After Hamas refused to prolong the truce and restricted the flow of aid, Israel resumed military activity on March 18.

According to recent accounts, Hamas turned down Israel’s proposal for a 45-day ceasefire that would have involved the release of 10 living hostages. Despite mounting international challenges, Al-Khulaifi affirmed that Qatar is still actively pursuing efforts to reestablish the ceasefire framework.

However, Qatar’s mediation has not been well received in all quarters. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has raised doubts about Doha’s intentions, especially amid reports alleging that members of his inner circle accepted financial support from Qatar. The Qatari government has firmly denied these accusations, labeling them a “smear campaign.”

Al-Khulaifi responded directly to Netanyahu’s assertions, including claims that Qatar sponsors anti-American and anti-Zionist sentiment on U.S. university campuses. He refuted the charges, saying, “Everything we do is transparent.”

Apart from its Gaza involvement, Qatar has also been active in other diplomatic initiatives. Al-Khulaifi highlighted secret talks in Doha that contributed to calming tensions near the mineral-rich area of Walikale in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He also mentioned that Qatar is working with the U.S. on efforts in Syria, including discussions about increasing civil servant salaries as part of stabilization measures.

{Matzav.com Israel}

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is under increased scrutiny after it was revealed that he allegedly shared classified military information related to operations in Yemen through a private Signal group chat, according to a CNN report. The group reportedly included his wife, his brother, and his attorney—individuals who may not have had the appropriate security clearances to receive such information.

CNN cited three sources familiar with the situation who confirmed that this messaging group was used as an unofficial backchannel to discuss planned strikes against Houthi targets.

The revelation has further deepened concerns about Hegseth’s judgment, particularly during a period when his leadership is being questioned. Recently, Hegseth removed several high-level staff members, including Dan Caldwell, his chief adviser; Darin Selnick, the deputy chief of staff; and Colin Carroll, who served as chief of staff to the deputy secretary of defense.

John Ullyot, who previously served as Hegseth’s press secretary, condemned the situation in a comment obtained by CNN. “It’s been a month of total chaos at the Pentagon. From leaks of sensitive operational plans to mass firings, the dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president — who deserves better from his senior leadership,” he said.

Unlike another chat previously used by Hegseth to coordinate with other Cabinet officials on defense strategies—which is now being investigated by the Pentagon’s acting inspector general—this newer group functioned independently and continued to operate via Hegseth’s personal device even after his confirmation.

Similar to the earlier chat, this group also contained information related to military action against Houthi forces. Its existence was exposed when The Atlantic mistakenly received classified communications intended for internal national security personnel. The mix-up occurred due to a blunder by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, who accidentally added an unintended recipient.

Though the presence of Phil Hegseth and Tim Parlatore—both of whom are employed within the Department of Defense—raised relatively few concerns, questions have been directed at the inclusion of Hegseth’s wife, Jennifer, who does not have an official government role. Reports suggest she had been present at confidential meetings early in Hegseth’s tenure. Whether every participant in the group chat had the necessary clearance remains uncertain.

{Matzav.com}

Two yeshivah bochurim were arrested on Sunday morning at Ben Gurion Airport due to their failure to report to IDF recruitment centers. The bochurim were transferred to the Dan camp in Tel HaShomer for a hearing on the matter. The L’ma’ancha organization, which assists bnei yeshivoos with draft issues, intervened in the matter, and after several hours, the bochurim were released. Four bnei yeshivos were previously arrested in recent weeks, three at Ben Gurion Airport, and the fourth at a traffic court, where he had arrived for a hearing on a traffic violation. All four were released with the assistance of the L’ma’ancha organization, which hired a lawyer for them. (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated on Isru Chag in Israel)

A press event in the Oval Office featuring President Trump ended abruptly on Friday when a young girl suddenly fainted, prompting immediate action from White House staff to clear out members of the media.

“Everybody out, please move,” a staffer instructed on the live video feed that was shared with reporters, after a child related to Dr. Mehmet Oz collapsed during the event.

“No photos!” was the follow-up directive given to the press by the aide.

Just moments before, Dr. Oz, age 64, had been officially sworn in as the new head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Following the ceremony, President Trump began fielding questions from reporters on a range of topics.

The girl who lost consciousness was later identified by People and TMZ as 11-year-old Philomena, Dr. Oz’s granddaughter.

During the Q&A, Trump had been emphasizing the importance of preventing Iran from developing nuclear capabilities. He also took aim at the media and Democrats for what he described as ignoring serious allegations, including domestic abuse and MS-13 ties, involving Kilmar Abrego Garcia — a man deported to El Salvador by the administration in a move that drew backlash from Democratic lawmakers.

As the incident unfolded, Trump approached to check on the young girl while reporters were swiftly escorted out of the room.

“A minor family member fainted during Dr. Oz’s swearing in ceremony in the Oval Office,” said a White House official in a short statement. “We are happy to say she is OK.”

{Matzav.com}

In a breathtaking demonstration of kavod haTorah, throngs of Yidden converged on the home of the Slabodka rosh yeshivah, Rav Dov Landau, over Chol Hamoed for the minhag of hakbalah pnei rabo.

The event, held on Tuesday of Chol Hamoed, became a gathering of Torah and inspiration, drawing tens of thousands to Bnei Brak and bring broadcast to countless others via live streams.

From the early afternoon hours, the streets surrounding the rosh yeshivah’s home were filled with eager participants, standing in reverence and anticipation. The event featured a majestic maamad of kavod haTorah.

The opening remarks were delivered by Rav Yosef Efrati, rav of Beis Medrash Emunas Eish. He spoke passionately about the halachic obligation to visit one’s rebbi on the regel, stating, “ברגע שאדם בא לבית רבו, ושומע דברי תורה זה ודאי חיוב גמור – when a person comes to his rebbi’s home and hears divrei Torah, it is certainly a complete obligation.”

Rav Itamar Garbuz, rosh yeshivah of Orchos Torah, addressed the crowd as the rosh yeshivah entered.

As the central part of the gathering commenced, Rav Dov Landau delivered stirring words about the importance of Ohalai Torah, praising the current yeshivah world as something he was unsure existed even in the days of Rav Hai Gaon. He then led an electrifying rischa d’Oraysa, engaging in complex halachic discourse with other roshei yeshivah, dissecting sugyos with clarity and depth.

Following the event, a long line of attendees passed by the rosh yeshivah to receive his brachah and greet him personally, a procession that lasted well over an hour.

FULL VIDEO:

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

מעמד “ריתחא דאורייתא” והקבלת פני רבו במעונו של הגר”ד לנדו (צילום: דניאל נפוסי)

 

הקבלת פני רבו אצל הגאון רבי דב לנדו (צילום: יצחק ורדי)

 

הקבלת פני רבו אצל הגאון רבי דב לנדו (צילום: יצחק ורדי)

 

הקבלת פני רבו אצל הגאון רבי דב לנדו (צילום: יצחק ורדי)

 

הקבלת פני רבו אצל הגאון רבי דב לנדו (צילום: יצחק ורדי)

 

הקבלת פני רבו אצל הגאון רבי דב לנדו (צילום: יצחק ורדי)

 

הקבלת פני רבו אצל הגאון רבי דב לנדו (צילום: יצחק ורדי)

 

הקבלת פני רבו אצל הגאון רבי דב לנדו (צילום: יצחק ורדי)

 

הקבלת פני רבו אצל הגאון רבי דב לנדו (צילום: יצחק ורדי)

 

הקבלת פני רבו אצל הגאון רבי דב לנדו (צילום: יצחק ורדי)

 

הקבלת פני רבו אצל הגאון רבי דב לנדו (צילום: יצחק ורדי)

 

הקבלת פני רבו אצל הגאון רבי דב לנדו (צילום: יצחק ורדי)

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams responded strongly to criticism over recent immigration enforcement activity in the city, asserting that “ICE is not a criminal organization.” His remarks come in the wake of a major federal operation that led to the arrests of more than 200 undocumented immigrants, many of whom were found to have committed serious crimes after entering the U.S. unlawfully.

“ICE is not a criminal organization. ICE is a law enforcement organization,” Adams said, as reported by NBC4 New York. “I cooperate with law enforcement organizations on public safety.”

Last week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, working alongside other federal entities, carried out a sweeping operation across the New York City area. Authorities detained 206 individuals without legal immigration status, including several with past convictions for violent or drug-related crimes, according to the report.

“New York is much safer today because of the hard work of ICE and our law enforcement partners,” said acting ICE Director Todd Lyons in a statement. “Throughout this enhanced enforcement operation, we targeted the most dangerous alien offenders in some of the most crime-infested neighborhoods in and around the city of New York. Our efforts resulted in 206 arrests in just one week.”

Speaking to Fox News, Adams, who is seeking another term in office, rejected the notion that ICE should be vilified. “One of the big mistakes that’s being made in some parts of the far-left philosophy is that ICE is a criminal organization. They are not, they are part of our law enforcement community,” he said. “We have to get bad, dangerous people off our streets.”

Fox News also shared specific details from ICE about the backgrounds of some of those taken into custody during the operation. Of the 206 individuals apprehended, 121 were either convicted of or currently facing charges including homicide, assault, arson, immoral offenses, drug trafficking, and weapons violations.

Among those arrested was 58-year-old Adnan Paulino-Flores, a Mexican national living illegally in the U.S., who had been previously charged with sexually abusing someone unable to consent and engaging in non-consensual sexual contact.

Another individual, Jaime Gustavo Quizpi-Romero, a 51-year-old Ecuadorian national, had a record that included assault with a weapon, strangulation, and inflicting serious bodily harm.

The head of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in New York praised the joint effort, emphasizing its importance in safeguarding communities. “The success of this enhanced operation highlights the resolve of ICE and our federal partners in keeping our country safe from violent criminal aliens.”

Lyons reiterated ICE’s commitment to public safety: “Throughout this enhanced enforcement operation, we targeted the most dangerous alien offenders in some of the most crime-infested neighborhoods in and around the city of New York. ICE remains dedicated to our mission to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing illegal alien offenders from communities throughout this great nation.”

{Matzav.com}

The community of Petach Tikvah is mourning the petirah of one of its most beloved and respected residents, Rabbi Tzvi Mordechai Radlich z”l. He was 68.

His levayah was held this afternoon, Erev Shevi’i shel Pesach, at the Segulah Cemetery in Petach Tikvah.

Born on the 12th of Shevat in 1952 to his father R’ Yosef z”l and his mother Mrs. Chana a”h, Rabbi Radlich built a life of Torah, chessed, and integrity. Together with his devoted wife, née Marmelstein, he established a home rooted in Torah values in Petach Tikvah, where he gained recognition as a successful accountant. Yet to him, his profession was merely a vehicle—melachto ara’i veToraso keva—as he pursued a life dedicated to tzedakah and chessed.

Rabbi Radlich was a distinguished member of the Avi Ezri – Mishkan Shmuel kehillah, under the leadership of the renowned posek Rav Ben Tzion HaKohen Kook. He stood out for his deep reverence for talmidei chachamim, his unwavering emunah and bitachon, and his refined character. With a kind smile and gentle demeanor, he treated every person with dignity, never seeking recognition for his many acts of chesed.

A man of deep humility and bitachon, Rabbi Radlich served as the nosi of Kollel Avreichim Petach Tikvah, led by his son-in-law, Rav Shmuel Abramovsky. His support for Torah was constant and generous, and his home was a beacon of warmth and giving.

He leaves behind a beautiful family who continue in his path.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi weighed in Friday on the latest developments between Washington and Tehran, as the two nations prepare to resume discussions over a potential nuclear agreement.

Diplomats from both countries are set to meet this weekend in Rome to explore the possibility of reviving the deal.

“These nuclear talks will not bring peace to the Middle East,” Pahlavi said in a statement. “This regime does not negotiate in good faith. It uses diplomacy as a tactic — to buy time, ease pressure, and tighten its grip on power.”

Pahlavi argued that the negotiations, even if pursued with the best of intentions, would end up empowering a collapsing regime. “However well intentioned, these nuclear talks will throw a lifeline to a crumbling dictatorship and prolong its export of terror and chaos. The Islamic Republic is at its weakest point in 46 years. Its leadership is fractured. Its economy is in free fall. Its people are rising. In just the past few weeks, protests have erupted again across the country. Change is already happening. This is not the time to rescue a dying regime.”

He concluded his remarks with a call to Western powers to reject the current rulers in Iran and instead back the Iranian people. “I urge the United States and its allies in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy to stand with the people of Iran. Make a deal with the people of Iran, not a deal with the extremists in Tehran.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu denied a request to allow Jordanian helicopters to transport Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas directly from Ramallah to Damascus.

As a result of the decision, Abbas had to make his way to Jordan by vehicle, crossing through the Allenby Bridge, before continuing on to Syria via helicopter from Jordanian territory.

Abbas touched down in Damascus around midday, marking his first trip to the Syrian capital in nearly two decades. During the visit, he is scheduled to hold a meeting with President Ahmed al-Sharaa al-Jolani.

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President Trump took aim at Senator Chris Van Hollen on Friday, ridiculing the Maryland Democrat after photos surfaced showing him with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who is accused of being a member of the MS-13 gang, during a visit to El Salvador. The White House also condemned the encounter, calling it “disgusting.”

“Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland looked like a fool yesterday standing in El Salvador begging for attention from the Fake News Media, or anyone. GRANDSTANDER!!!” Trump posted on Truth Social early Friday morning.

The controversy was sparked after El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele released images on Thursday showing Van Hollen alongside Abrego Garcia, who was recently deported to El Salvador and imprisoned despite a pending legal case surrounding his removal.

The Biden administration, in coordination with the White House press team, also criticized the Democratic senator for the meeting.

“Chris Van Hollen has firmly established Democrats as the party whose top priority is the welfare of an illegal alien MS-13 terrorist,” the White House said in a statement to The Post. “It is truly disgusting. President Trump will continue to stand on the side of law-abiding Americans.”

President Bukele, who earlier in the week stated he would not cooperate with U.S. requests to send Abrego Garcia back, mocked the meeting, suggesting that the pair had been “sipping margaritas” together during their interaction.

Van Hollen shared his own update online, confirming he had indeed visited with Abrego Garcia and describing it as the purpose of his trip.

“Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return,” he wrote in a post on X.

Abrego Garcia had been living in Maryland with his wife and children before he was among a group of 260 alleged gang members sent to El Salvador’s high-security facility last month.

Having fled El Salvador at age 16, Abrego Garcia was granted protection in 2019, allowing him to remain in the U.S. He has never been arrested or convicted of a crime.

The U.S. Supreme Court has now ordered the Trump administration to arrange for Abrego Garcia’s return, after government officials admitted his deportation had stemmed from a bureaucratic mistake.

Meanwhile, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi released evidence this week claiming Abrego Garcia was a documented member of MS-13 in 2019, holding the gang rank of “Chequeo” and going by the street alias “Chele.”

His legal team has pushed back, rejecting the Justice Department’s assertion that he has any affiliation with the gang. Even though the administration has acknowledged an error in his removal, the White House maintains he should not be allowed to come back to the United States.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Friday that the United States could soon abandon its push for a negotiated resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict if meaningful progress isn’t achieved in the immediate future.

Speaking in Paris after a full day of intensive meetings involving U.S., Ukrainian, and European leaders, Rubio described the talks as productive, noting that they laid the groundwork for a potential roadmap to peace.

French officials indicated that another round of discussions in the same format is being scheduled to take place in London in the coming days. Rubio said he may participate and that the meeting is anticipated early next week.

″We are not reaching a point where we need to decide whether this is even possible or not,″ Rubio told reporters as he left the French capital.

Despite ongoing attempts by the Trump administration to mediate a truce between Russia and Ukraine, fighting continues, and Rubio emphasized that a decision needs to be made “in a matter of days whether or not this is doable in the next few weeks.”

Thursday’s high-level summit in Paris marked the first instance since President Donald Trump took office that senior representatives from the U.S., Ukraine, and Europe came together to discuss resolving the war. The gathering took place amid growing concern in Europe over Trump’s perceived willingness to engage more closely with Moscow.

Rubio, along with presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, has been at the forefront of the administration’s diplomatic outreach. Multiple negotiation sessions have already taken place in Saudi Arabia, and according to Rubio, Witkoff has had three separate meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

While President Trump has advocated for a comprehensive ceasefire—an idea Ukraine supports—Moscow has declined to agree. Russia is demanding an end to Ukraine’s military mobilization and a halt to Western weapons deliveries, conditions Kyiv has outright rejected.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump indicated that the back-and-forth tariff escalation between the United States and China may be winding down, and he suggested that a resolution regarding TikTok could be postponed.

“I don’t want them to go higher because at a certain point you make it where people don’t buy,” Trump told reporters at the White House when discussing tariffs.

“So, I may not want to go higher or I may not want to even go up to that level. I may want to go to less because you know you want people to buy and, at a certain point, people aren’t gonna buy.”

Trump’s latest remarks hinted at a softening approach toward the blanket tariff increases that had rattled financial markets since their rollout on April 2. While the administration had imposed 10% duties on most incoming products, it held off on further hikes to allow room for potential deals.

Despite that, the administration still raised tariffs on Chinese exports, now reaching a cumulative 145%, after Beijing responded with its own economic measures. China later stated that it “will not respond” to a “numbers game with tariffs,” suggesting it was not planning to escalate further.

Trump mentioned that Chinese officials had reached out after the tariffs were enacted, and he expressed hope that a trade resolution might be within reach.

Even though the two governments are maintaining communication, sources told Reuters that high-level discussions that could pave the way for an agreement have been mostly lacking.

Pressed for details, Trump declined to elaborate on the nature of the negotiations or whether Chinese President Xi Jinping was involved directly.

Trump has extended several deadlines for ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, to sell off its U.S. assets. On Thursday, he acknowledged that any deal regarding the app might be postponed until broader trade discussions are concluded.

“We have a deal for TikTok, but it’ll be subject to China so we’ll just delay the deal ’til this thing works out one way or the other,” Trump said.

{Matzav.com}

The Israeli Air Force conducted a series of airstrikes over the past 24 hours, hitting approximately 40 terror-related locations across the Gaza Strip, according to a statement issued by the military on Friday.

These strikes targeted militants, weapons depots, and military compounds, the IDF stated. Simultaneously, ground forces engaged in operations in the Shabura and Tel Sultan neighborhoods of Rafah, located in Gaza’s south, where they eliminated terrorists and destroyed key terror infrastructure.

In the northern sector of Gaza, troops coordinated with the air force to identify and strike terrorists from the air. Forces operating in that area also uncovered and destroyed hidden stockpiles of weapons.

A day earlier, on Thursday, the IDF reported that its forces had been active in the southern corridor known as “Morag,” where they dismantled launch sites used for rockets, terror hideouts, underground tunnel entrances, and mortar systems.

Later on Friday, military officials revealed that the 16th Brigade, which functions under the 252nd Division, had dismantled a Hamas terror network operating in Shejaiya.

Since the beginning of operations in Shejaiya, Israeli forces have reportedly neutralized several dozen terrorists. Among those eliminated was a group plotting a sniper assault on IDF personnel.

Earlier in the week, the military confirmed the death of Yahya Fathi Abd al-Qader Abu Shaar, who headed Hamas’s weapons smuggling operations.

Additionally, the IDF announced last week that Mazen Ibrahim Mahfouz Farra, a senior operative in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, was killed in a strike on Khan Yunis.

 

President Donald Trump is fervently praying for the immediate release of all hostages being held in Gaza, said newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who joined in that heartfelt plea during remarks delivered today at the Kosel in Yerushalayim.

“And we will bring them home,” the ambassador affirmed.

Huckabee highlighted Trump’s unwavering support for Israel, pointing to key decisions such as officially recognizing Yerushalayim as the capital of the Jewish state and affirming Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights as demonstrations of his “extraordinary love for the Jewish people and the people of Israel.”

Standing before the Kosel today, Huckabee expressed how deeply honored he felt to be present and conveyed “best wishes” from the American people—not only for the Yom Tov, but “for eternity.”

“I come to also join the president in prayer for the peace of Yerushalaim,” Huckabee concluded.

Before his remarks, the ambassador inserted a written prayer into the stones of the Kosel and offered a blessing on behalf of the Trump administration, expressing hopes for peace and prosperity in Israel.

Later, in a separate press briefing, Huckabee turned his attention to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, declaring that the regime would never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons. He emphasized that Iran remains a threat not only to Israel but to the United States as well.

Huckabee was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the new ambassador to Israel just last week.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump has unveiled a new lineup for his overhauled Homeland Security Advisory Council, placing Fox News host Mark Levin and several other prominent figures at the helm.

“I am proud to announce the formation of my revamped Homeland Security Advisory Council [HSAC], which is comprised of Top Experts in their field, who are highly respected by their peers,” Trump posted Thursday on Truth Social.

Joining Levin, the host of Fox News’ “Life, Liberty & Levin,” are former NYPD detective Bo Dietl, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, and Florida State Senator Joseph Gruters of Sarasota.

“It is a big honor to serve on HSAC, and I know the new Members, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, Mark Levin, Bo Dietl, and Joseph Gruters, will do an incredible job,” Trump added in his announcement.

Trump explained that with Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem at the helm, the council will focus on bold new initiatives aimed at addressing border security, removing violent criminals, and tackling the deadly drug crisis.

“Under Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s leadership, HSAC will work hard on developing new Policies and Strategies that will help us secure our Border, deport Illegal Criminal Thugs, stop the flow of Fentanyl and other illegal drugs that are killing our Citizens, and MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN.”

Although Levin has recently voiced criticism of some aspects of Trump’s foreign policy, particularly in relation to Ukraine, he responded enthusiastically to the appointment, posting: “What an honor! Thank you, Mr. President!” on X.

This announcement marks a fresh chapter for the advisory board, which was previously disbanded when Trump first took office.

At the time, the administration said the decision was meant to prevent waste and to move away from what it called the Biden administration’s failed attempt at launching a “Disinformation Governance Board,” which critics likened to a dystopian surveillance scheme.

{Matzav.com}

MS-13 suspect Kilmar Abrego Garcia was spotted sharing drinks with Senator Chris Van Hollen during the lawmaker’s visit to El Salvador this week, according to images posted online by El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele.

Bukele posted three photographs that appeared to show Van Hollen (D-Md.) seated with Abrego Garcia, who was recently deported to El Salvador’s infamous mega-prison despite legal challenges. The two were pictured sitting in a relaxed outdoor setting, holding glasses rimmed with salt and garnished with cherries, sparking online controversy.

“Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the ‘death camps’ & ‘torture’, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador,” Bukele wrote Thursday night in a post on X.

In a follow-up message, Bukele added, “Now that he’s been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvador’s custody,” reiterating his refusal to send Abrego Garcia back to the U.S.

Van Hollen’s trip to El Salvador was aimed at advocating for Abrego Garcia’s release, despite the administration’s deportation of him last month and allegations tying him to the MS-13 gang.

The senator’s visit drew intense criticism from Patty Morin, whose daughter Rachel Morin was brutally murdered by Victor Martinez-Hernandez, another Salvadoran national. Martinez-Hernandez was found guilty this week of the 2023 slaying in Maryland.

“I just don’t understand this,” Morin told the White House press corps, expressing outrage that Van Hollen “didn’t even acknowledge” her daughter’s tragic death.

She condemned the senator’s actions, saying he “used my tax money to fly to El Salvador to bring back a person … who isn’t even an American citizen.”

The White House also criticized Van Hollen’s meeting with Abrego Garcia, accusing the senator of siding with a dangerous individual rather than protecting American interests.

“Chris Van Hollen has firmly established Democrats as the party whose top priority is the welfare of an illegal alien MS-13 terrorist,” the White House said in a statement to The Post.

“It is truly disgusting. President Trump will continue to stand on the side of law-abiding Americans.”

Van Hollen, meanwhile, posted his own photo from the meeting, which showed Abrego Garcia dressed casually in jeans, sneakers, a colorful shirt, and a Kansas City Super Bowl cap.

“I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar,” the senator wrote on X, along with a photo of them seated at an outdoor table with what looked like glasses of water and coffee.

“Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return.”

Abrego Garcia had been living in Maryland with his family before being sent to El Salvador along with over 250 other alleged gang affiliates under the Alien Enemies Act—despite never being charged and consistently denying any gang involvement.

According to the Trump administration, Abrego Garcia was a member of MS-13 and was unlawfully residing in the U.S. at the time of his deportation. Officials have continued to reject calls for his return, even after acknowledging that his removal was the result of a “clerical error.”

That deportation also went against a 2019 court ruling that prohibited his removal due to potential retaliation he could face from gangs if sent back to El Salvador.

During a visit to the White House earlier this week, Bukele dismissed calls to return Abrego Garcia, saying the demand was “preposterous.”

As debate over the case continues, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi released documents on Wednesday that claim Abrego Garcia held the MS-13 rank of “Chequeo” in 2019 and was known by the alias “Chele.”

The Department of Homeland Security further disclosed that Abrego Garcia had been accused of domestic violence in 2021, prompting his wife to seek a protective order.

His wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, who has publicly advocated for his return, told The Post that she filed for protection “out of caution,” citing previous abuse she had endured in another relationship.

Despite this, she pushed back against immigration authorities, saying her husband’s alleged actions “is not justification for ICE’s actions of abducting him and deporting him to a country where he was supposed to be protected from deportation.”

{Matzav.com}

Over 10,000 pages of previously classified records concerning the 1968 assassination of Robert F. Kennedy have now been made available to the public, following a declassification order by President Trump.

These once-hidden materials, which had been stored in the National Archives, were released under the supervision of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

“Lifting the veil on the RFK papers is a necessary step toward restoring trust in American government,” said the late senator’s son, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

“I commend President Trump for his courage and his commitment to transparency. I’m grateful also to Tulsi Gabbard for her dogged efforts to root out and declassify these documents.”

Robert F. Kennedy, then a senator from New York, was gunned down by 24-year-old Sirhan Sirhan shortly after delivering a victory speech at Los Angeles’ Ambassador Hotel, celebrating his win in the California Democratic primary.

At just 42, Kennedy was considered a frontrunner for the presidency and seen by many as a symbol of a potential return of the Kennedy legacy to the White House.

Sirhan, a Palestinian Christian who immigrated to the United States as a child, would later explain his motive by citing anger over American support for Israel.

“Robert Kennedy would not have waited for me to lick his boots, nevermind to persuade him to stop sending Phantom jets and arms to kill my countrymen with,” Sirhan said in a 1980 prison recording. “He used his influence. He used his power, used his authority to kill people by words rather than by his hands.”

Though Sirhan was convicted, his legal representation once asserted he had been set up.

RFK Jr., who entered last year’s presidential race as a Democrat opposing Joe Biden before launching an independent bid and eventually endorsing Trump, has expressed longstanding doubts about the official version of events.

He said he wasn’t certain Sirhan was the person who fatally shot his father and visited the convicted killer in prison in 2018 to examine the case more closely.

“I got to a place where I had to see Sirhan,’’ he said in a Washington Post interview that same year. “I went [to the prison] because I was curious and disturbed by what I had seen in the evidence.”

“I was disturbed that the wrong person might have been convicted of killing my father,” RFK Jr. added, saying he had reviewed forensic documents, autopsy results, and had conversations with people who were there that night.

“My father was the chief law-enforcement officer in this country. I think it would have disturbed him if somebody was put in jail for a crime they didn’t commit.”

Gabbard, who managed the declassification process, has also broken with her former party. A past Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, she ran for the presidency in 2020 on a platform centered around ending U.S. military interventions. She, too, threw her support behind Trump last year.

Officials familiar with the archive release said prior to publication that there didn’t appear to be any explosive revelations in the documents.

President Trump issued the order to declassify these RFK-related files on January 23, along with records tied to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 and the killing of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. The MLK documents have not yet been released.

{Matzav.com}

A recent set of surveys from YouGov reveals that Barack Obama, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and former HUD Secretary Ben Carson are among the political figures who continue to enjoy substantial public approval.

In a poll focused on Democratic leaders, 58 percent of participants said they had either a “very favorable” or “somewhat favorable” opinion of Obama. Conversely, 36 percent expressed a “somewhat unfavorable” or “very unfavorable” view, putting the net approval gap at 22 points—the largest margin among those listed in the poll.

Senator Sanders also scored well, with half of those surveyed reporting a favorable impression of the Vermont lawmaker. Meanwhile, 38 percent said they saw him in a negative light, giving him a 12-point edge in favorability. Sanders is aligned with the Democrats though he is officially an independent.

Both Obama and Sanders have been openly critical of the Trump administration’s actions since it began its current term. Sanders, in particular, has drawn thousands to rallies held across states like Montana and Idaho as part of his “Fighting Oligarchy” speaking tour alongside Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).

A separate YouGov poll examining Republican leaders found that 35 percent of respondents felt positively about Carson, who served under President Trump as secretary of Housing and Urban Development. On the other hand, 29 percent held a negative view of him, creating a 6-point favorability margin—the widest among Republican figures surveyed.

Carson officially backed Trump’s latest presidential run at the end of 2023, making clear his support for the president’s platform.

“Donald Trump believes in our freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to keep and bear arms,” Carson said at the time. “So we can fix our country, and we can make America great again. And President Donald J. Trump is the person to do that.”

The Democratic-focused YouGov survey was conducted from March 19 to March 22 with 2,285 people participating. Its margin of error is ±2.8 percentage points. The Republican survey followed shortly after, taking place March 21 to 24, with 2,260 respondents and the same margin of error.

{Matzav.com}