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Yesterday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed that the United States is immediately halting the issuance of visas to individuals holding South Sudanese passports and canceling any existing ones.

Rubio explained that the decision was made due to “the failure of South Sudan’s transitional government to accept the return of its repatriated citizens in a timely manner,” as he wrote in a post on X.

In a formal statement issued the same day, the U.S. State Department criticized South Sudan’s interim leadership, asserting it was time for the government to “stop taking advantage” of American support and leniency.

“Enforcing our nation’s immigration laws is critically important to the national security and public safety of the United States,” the statement read. “Every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when another country, including the United States, seeks to remove them.”

Officials added that the restrictions could be reassessed if South Sudan shows full cooperation going forward. The department noted it “will be prepared to review these actions when South Sudan is in full cooperation.”

The timing of this announcement coincides with escalating turmoil in South Sudan. The country is teetering on the edge of another civil war, with rising violence, widespread displacement, and deepening hunger.

This policy shift also follows the closure of the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, last April. As of April 22, 2023, all consular services there, including visas and passports, have been suspended.

The announcement follows other significant immigration policy changes. In February, the Trump administration ended protections that had shielded hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans from deportation.

Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security announced plans to revoke temporary protected status for over 300,000 individuals from various nations who had been permitted to stay in the U.S. under that classification.

According to reporting by the New York Post, more than 100,000 undocumented immigrants have been deported by the Trump administration since it assumed office, citing information from a DHS official.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz today unveiled irrefutable proof of Iran’s central role in orchestrating the October 7th massacre and its ongoing mission to destroy the State of Israel. Speaking during a visit to Israel’s elite Special Operations Unit—a recently established intelligence and combat force comprised of seasoned reservists—Katz revealed the first-ever transcript of explosive communications between Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar and Muhammad Deif and the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. “I present here today unequivocal proof of Iran’s support for Hamas’ genocidal plan to wipe Israel off the map,” Katz said. “Sinwar and Deif demanded $500 million from Iran’s Quds Force commander to carry out their plan—and they received it.” According to the materials retrieved by the Special Operations Unit—classified intelligence physically extracted from deep within Hamas tunnels in Gaza—the documents include internal archives from Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terror factions. Among them was a direct correspondence between Hamas leadership and the Iranian regime that lays bare the scale of coordination and shared ambition to destroy both Israel and the United States. “In this document, Sinwar and Deif explicitly request the transfer of half a billion dollars from Iran to fund the destruction of the State of Israel,” Katz explained. “In response, Hassan Izadi, the head of the Palestinian branch of the Revolutionary Guards, pledged the money—despite Iran’s severe economic crisis and the suffering of its people. The Iranian regime made clear: annihilating Israel takes precedence over the well-being of its own citizens.” “The conclusion is clear,” Katz continued. “Iran is the head of the snake. Despite its denials, it continues to fuel terrorism across the region—from Gaza to Lebanon, Syria, Yehuda and Shomron, and now through the Houthis in Yemen—all under the same banner: the eradication of the Jewish state.” “We will not rest until the Iranian axis of evil is dismantled and destroyed,” Katz concluded. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Zvika Klein, editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post, sat down for a televised interview to share his account of the distressing experience he underwent earlier in the week when he was questioned by police as a suspect in the unfolding Qatargate scandal. During the interview, he spoke candidly about his ties to three associates — past and present — of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, all of whom are reportedly at the center of the investigation.

In his conversation with Channel 12 aired overnight, Klein became visibly emotional as he recounted the grueling twelve-hour police interrogation on Monday, during which authorities confiscated his phone. He described returning home around midnight to an empty house — his wife was overseas — only to face his confused children the next morning, asking where he had been.

Klein expressed skepticism that Netanyahu is even aware of what is happening among his closest advisers, appearing to refer to accusations that members of the prime minister’s inner circle were working covertly on behalf of Qatar. He also voiced unease over possible consequences he might face for sharing sensitive information about his communications with people linked to the case.

The case, dubbed Qatargate, centers on allegations that Netanyahu advisers Jonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein engaged in illicit activities while reportedly working for a Qatari lobbying organization. These include suspicions of communicating with a foreign agent and being involved in corruption schemes with lobbyists and businessmen. Urich is currently behind bars, while Feldstein is confined to his home. A third figure, Yisrael Einhorn, is also wanted for questioning and is currently residing in Serbia.

Klein was brought in for questioning on Monday and was subsequently designated a suspect. While other members of the press have been questioned in connection to the probe, none have been classified as suspects. Though initially placed under house arrest, Klein was released from that restriction by Thursday. He has denied all allegations and criticized the way authorities handled his detention.

During the interview, which was filmed prior to Shabbos and aired Saturday night, Klein was asked about his journalistic work concerning Qatar.

He explained that his involvement with the matter began in the lead-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, when he published a report stating that kosher food could not be brought into the country. That article prompted a message from Urich, a longtime Netanyahu aide.

Klein noted that he and Urich had a longstanding friendship, adding, “I love him.” He also pointed out that at the time, Netanyahu was serving as leader of the opposition.

Urich told him he had a friend — seemingly referring to someone linked to the Qataris — who was unhappy with the article and found it “problematic.” In response, Klein invited them to submit a rebuttal or further information, saying, “send me other things… I want the truth.”

According to Klein, that friend turned out to be Einhorn, whom he described as “a very talented guy.” (Einhorn had been featured in a Jerusalem Post ranking in October 2024 as one of the 50 most influential Jews, lauded as “The strategic mastermind behind Netanyahu’s success.”)

Klein said he developed a growing interest in Qatar due to its rising influence in the region, particularly after the Hamas-led massacre on October 7, 2023, and the hostage deal negotiated in November of that year, in which Qatar played a significant role.

Once he became editor of The Jerusalem Post, Klein said he intensified his efforts to gain direct access to Qatari officials. Einhorn, who had contacts with powerful individuals, was instrumental in facilitating those connections.

As part of the buildup to a Jerusalem Post event in Germany in early 2024, Einhorn mentioned to Klein that although he didn’t have a direct line to the Qataris, he had a contact named “Ryan” based in the UK who did.

Through that intermediary, an interview between Klein and the Qatari ambassador to Germany was arranged for the conference stage. Klein said he declined a request to present the ambassador with an award. Instead, he insisted on receiving a public commitment from the ambassador to work toward the return of all hostages. That promise was made, he said, both to him and directly to Meirav Leshem Gonen, the mother of Romi, a hostage recently freed by Hamas.

“As far as I’m concerned, what I was doing was work [on behalf of the hostages] that sanctified God,” Klein told Channel 12.

He described his 2024 trip to Qatar — during which he interviewed the Qatari prime minister — as the result of persistent lobbying via Einhorn, who eventually connected him to Jay Footlik, a U.S. lobbyist now at the heart of the Qatargate case. Klein said he met with Footlik in Tel Aviv to explore the possibility of visiting Qatar, and eventually traveled there for a three-day visit. Footlik, whom Klein called “a wonderful man,” accompanied him throughout the trip, acting as his “babysitter.”

After publishing reports about the trip in The Jerusalem Post and in the Hebrew outlets Walla! and Maariv, Klein said some of his colleagues wrote critical pieces about the visit. Although Einhorn encouraged him to appear on television to discuss the trip, Klein said he declined because he didn’t want to be seen as self-promoting during wartime.

Einhorn then mentioned “a guy called Eli Feldstein” who might be able to help him.

“I said, who is he, a PR guy? They said, ‘He’ll help you,’” Klein recalled. He said Einhorn instructed him not to tell Feldstein that Einhorn was the one who had connected them.

Klein remembered that he had once messaged Feldstein years ago when Feldstein worked for far-right politician Itamar Ben Gvir, but Feldstein had never responded.

Klein said he told Einhorn he didn’t have funds to organize media appearances, and Einhorn suggested telling Feldstein that someone in the U.S. would cover the cost. Klein said the call with Feldstein was brief — “I understand today that apparently he knew all about this” — and Feldstein said he didn’t want any money. Klein then gave interviews about the Qatar trip to both Channel 12 and Channel 13.

Asked how he ended up under police investigation, Klein implied that the reaction might have been much more intense had he been leading one of the major Hebrew-language outlets.

He added that police took his phone on Monday, and that it still had not been returned. In the meantime, he said he was borrowing a phone from his neighbor’s daughter.

“By speaking to you, I have burned a lot of journalistic connections. I’ll pay a price — people will want to get back at me,” he told the interviewer.

“I want the truth to come out,” he added. “And as time passes, I realize I don’t know all the truth.”

He repeated what he has previously emphasized: “I got no benefits,” from the Qatar visit. “Nobody offered me any benefits.”

Asked who financed his flight to Qatar, Klein replied, “They paid for the flight,” referring to the Qataris. He said he had clearly noted in his articles that the Qatari government invited him to Doha, and that he was not compensated for any of the resulting publications.

At the time he was called in for questioning, Klein said his wife was away dealing with the death of her mother, leaving him to manage their children’s daily routine. Expecting to be home after a short testimony, he instead got back close to midnight.

In his absence, neighbors watched the children. The next morning, when the kids wanted to know where he had been, Klein said, choking up, that he simply told them, “I was helping the police.”

Reflecting on his life in Israel, Klein said he has no regrets about immigrating with his family from Chicago at the age of three. He praised the people of Israel, saying he had received messages of support from individuals across the societal spectrum.

At that point, interviewer Ben Caspit addressed Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara directly through the camera, stating, “if there’s nothing here that we don’t know,” she owes Klein an apology.

When asked to summarize the Qatargate story in his capacity as a journalist, Klein responded, “I don’t know all the facts… I want to be careful… I can’t expose testimonies that I saw.”

He said that during his initial questioning — before being formally cautioned and before his phone was taken — he had offered to let police look through the contents. “I offered to show them everything in my phone… I thought I knew everything.”

But now, with more insight into the case, he said, “….God almighty… There’s a problem here. It’s not [a question of] right and left.”

Asked whether Netanyahu is aware of what’s happening in his own office, Klein responded, “I don’t have enough information. In my opinion, no.”

And what about Urich? “I really hope not. I truly don’t know… I really love him… He’s a complicated guy… Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but truly, since 2022, [as regards my journalistic interactions on Qatar,] his name did not come up with me.”

{Matzav.com}

More than $4 million worth of electronics were stolen in a major burglary at a Lakewood business earlier this week. The break-in was reported on Sunday at a business located on Prospect Street. According to police, the suspects cut a hole in the roof of the building to gain access, then used a ladder to climb inside. See the video on Lakewood Alerts. 

Ukraine will send a team to Washington next week to begin negotiations on a new draft of a deal that would give the U.S. access to Ukraine’s valuable mineral resources, Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko told The Associated Press. “The new draft agreement from the U.S. shows that the intention to create a fund or jointly invest remains,” Svyrydenko said Saturday, during a trip to northern Ukraine. The delegation from Kyiv will include representatives from the Ministries of Economy, Foreign Affairs, Justice and Finance. The long-running negotiations over a mineral deal have already strained relations between Kyiv and Washington. The two sides had been preparing in February to sign a framework agreement but the plan was derailed following a contentious meeting in the Oval Office between U.S. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. After some Ukrainian lawmakers leaked the new draft, critics slammed it as little more than an attempt to strip Kyiv of control over its own natural resources and infrastructure. According to the leaked document, the new draft includes not only rare-earth minerals but gas and oil. Ukraine holds significant deposits of more than 20 minerals deemed strategically critical by the U.S., including titanium, which is used to make aircraft wings, lithium, key to several battery technologies, and uranium, used in nuclear power. New draft only gives the U.S. side of the deal Despite the disruption following the Oval Office meeting, Ukrainian officials showed interest in signing the framework deal at any time, seeing it as an important step to win the favor of President Donald Trump and shore up U.S. backing in the war against Russia’s full-scale invasion. After weeks of silence on the status of the deal, the U.S. sent a new draft to Kyiv, which goes further than the original framework. It’s unclear why the U.S. chose to bypass the signing of the framework deal and instead moved forward with a more comprehensive draft agreement, which would likely require ratification by Ukraine’s parliament. However, Ukrainian officials have been cautious about commenting on the contents of the draft, stressing that it currently reflects only one side’s position. “What we have now is a document that reflects the position of the U.S. Treasury legal team,” said Svyrydenko. “This is not a final version, it’s not a joint position.” She said that Ukraine’s task now is to assemble a technical team for negotiations, define its red lines and core principles, and send a delegation to Washington for technical talks as early as next week. “It’s clear that the full parameters of this agreement can’t be discussed online,” Svyrydenko said. “We need to sit down with the teams and continue the conversation in person.” Legal, investment, and financial advisers are being selected, she said. “This marks a new stage in relations with the United States — one that requires expertise across multiple areas,” she said. “Ultimately, everything will be decided through the course of negotiations.” Ukraine seeks terms acceptable to both sides Svyrydenko declined to elaborate publicly on Ukraine’s official evaluation of the new draft, but noted that there is now a more detailed document outlining the fund’s creation. And while the initial draft focused primarily on the intention to establish the fund, Svyrydenko said the latest version lays out how American advisers envision […]

Ramat Shlomo is growing! We all carry Yerushalayim within us, wherever we go.  It’s that feeling when you round a corner and your breath catches — this place knows you. When walking the ancient alleys feels like a conversation with your own heart. And where a number 1 on a bus is a direct route to your soul. Our connection to Yerushalayim isn’t born of history or tradition — it’s something alive inside us that whispers, “this is home.” Something remarkable is now happening in Yerushalayim that can turn that whisper into reality.  has transformed quietly but powerfully. What was once just another neighborhood now pulses with new energy as hundreds of families have moved in, creating something special. You’ll find young couples starting out alongside growing families, Chassidic communities living next door to American yeshiva leit. They’ve chosen this place not just for apartments, but for the sweeping open views and the sense that something wonderful is taking root here. Just this past year, the neighborhood has welcomed new shuls, intimate shtieblach, and even English-speaking preschools. More schools and community spaces are already on the drawing board, responding to the neighborhood’s growth. Talk to anyone who’s recently moved here and you’ll hear the excitement in their voice. Families are drawn by how central yet peaceful this area feels. They’ve found a place in the city where they belong. “There’s no one type of person here,” residents will tell you. “Whether you wear a shtreimel or speak with an American accent, you’ll find your people.” IT’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED Enter JUrban, the newest offering from Bayit Yerushalmi. These 162 thoughtfully designed homes — ranging from garden apartments to stunning penthouses — make raising your family in Yerushalayim a possibility. Situated between Chazon Ish and Toledano Streets, every home captures those breathtaking Jerusalem hills, a view you never tire of looking out on. These homes honor Jerusalem’s timeless character while embracing the comfort and functionality modern families need. At the heart of JUrban sits a welcoming 48,000 sqft. shopping center that feels intimate rather than overwhelming. You’ll find daycares where children’s laughter fills the air, shuls where community forms, and a cultural center bringing people together. It’s designed around how families actually live, laugh and shop.  The neighborhood sits at a sweet spot — connected to everything while maintaining its own character. Parks where children play, schools that nurture minds and souls, shopping that meets daily needs, and a planned road linking JUrban directly to northern Jerusalem’s established neighborhoods. Everything feels within reach. ALL THAT YOU LOVE As Yechiel Gamliel, Marketing Director at Bayit Yerushalmi, explains: “We’re watching something genuine unfold here. More families are choosing Ramat Shlomo not just for what it is today, but for what they can help it become. While places like Romema and Ramat Eshkol have become increasingly out of reach financially, JUrban offers a real alternative. Here in Jerusalem’s heart, families find a home — with everything you need just downstairs.” Your new favorite place in Yerushalayim? Welcome home to JUrban!

A Member of Parliament from Britain’s Liberal Democrats sparked outrage during a House of Commons session on April 2, when he referred to the Israel Defense Forces as “murderous” and accused them of effectively detaining Gaza’s entire population.

Andrew George, who represents the constituency of St Ives, said, “We all want the hostages to be freed, just as we want the 2 million hostages in Gaza being held hostage by the murderous IDF, which is treating them with disdain and starving them, to be freed.”

George directed harsh criticism at Minister of State for the Middle East Hamish Falconer, expressing frustration over what he viewed as a weak response to Israel’s actions. “If the Minister is not prepared to make the statement that many of us wish for him to make, will he at least admit that the actions of the far-right Israeli Government can no longer be described as self-defense?”

In his reply, Falconer indicated that the UK government is seriously evaluating whether Israel may be violating international humanitarian law. He stated, “a serious risk of breaches of international humanitarian law, that is the same as saying that we think there is a serious risk that Israel is not simply acting in its own legitimate self-defense.”

George has a history of making inflammatory claims against Israel. He has repeatedly accused the country of engaging in ethnic cleansing in Gaza and has used provocative language to describe its military operations.

Back in January, George had said, “The Netanyahu regime continues to seek to justify its cold-blooded slaughter of Palestinian people behind the dishonest façade of self-defense.”

A source within the Jewish Labour movement condemned George’s remarks, telling Jewish News that the comments from the Liberal Democrat MP were “shamefully simplistic.”

{Matzav.com}

During a swift visit to Eretz Yisroel, the Rebbe of Vizhnitz Yerushalayim, who currently resides in the United States, made a special stop at the home of the Belzer Rebbe.

Upon his arrival, the Belzer Rebbe warmly welcomed his guest and inquired about the purpose of his brief trip to Eretz Yisroel. The Vizhnitz-Yerushalayim Rebbe responded with deep emotion, explaining that he had traveled especially in honor of the upcoming yahrtzeit of his grandfather, the Imrei Chaim of Vizhnitz zt”l, which will be marked this coming Monday.

“I came,” the Rebbe said, “to seek a yeshuah at the kever of the Imrei Chaim.”

The two Rebbes shared an animated and warm conversation, exchanging memories and customs related to Pesach as observed in both Belz and Vizhnitz, with particular focus on the practices of the Imrei Chaim, who was known to speak about the Seder night and Pesach throughout the entire year.

After being served a cup of tea, the Belzer Rebbe extended his heartfelt brachos for a joyous and uplifting Pesach and offered special brachos to the grandchildren of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe who had accompanied him on this trip.

Over Shabbos, the Vizhnitz-Yerushalayim Rebbe spent time with bochurim of his chassidus in the moshav of Beit Chilkiya, where they held a spirited Shabbos hisachdus in preparation for the approaching Yom Tov of Pesach.

A second school-age child who was hospitalized with measles is the third measles-related death in the U.S. since the virus started ripping through West Texas in late January. The child, a patient at UMC Health System in Lubbock, Texas, was unvaccinated and being treated for measles complications. The U.S. now has more than double the number of measles cases it saw in all of 2024, with Texas reporting another large jump in cases and hospitalizations on Friday. Other states with active outbreaks — defined as three or more cases — include New Mexico, Kansas, Ohio and Oklahoma. The virus has been spreading in undervaccinated communities. The multi-state outbreak confirms health experts’ fears that the virus will take hold in other U.S. communities with low vaccination rates and that the spread could stretch on for a year. The World Health Organization said last week that cases in Mexico are linked to the Texas outbreak. Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000. Here’s what else you need to know about measles in the U.S. How many measles cases are there in Texas and New Mexico? Texas’ outbreak began more than two months ago. State health officials said Friday there were 59 new cases of measles since Tuesday, bringing the total to 481 across 19 counties — most of them in West Texas. The state also logged 14 new hospitalizations, for a total of 56 throughout the outbreak. More than 65% of Texas’ cases are in Gaines County, population 22,892, where the virus stated spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. The county now has logged 315 cases since late January — just over 1% of the county’s residents. New Mexico announced six new cases Friday, bringing the state’s total to 54. New Mexico health officials say the cases are linked to Texas’ outbreak based on genetic testing. Most are in Lea County, where two people have been hospitalized, and two are in Eddy County. A school-age child died of measles in Texas in late February, and New Mexico reported its first measles-related death in an adult on March 6. Hospital officials declined to say Sunday when the second child in West Texas died. How many cases are there in Kansas? Kansas has 24 cases in six counties in the southwest part of the state as of Wednesday. Kiowa and Stevens counties have six cases each, while Grant, Morton, Haskell and Gray counties have five or fewer. The state’s first reported case, identified in Stevens County on March 13, is linked to the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks based on genetic testing, a state health department spokesperson said. But health officials have not determined how the person was exposed. How many cases are there in Oklahoma? Cases in Oklahoma remained steady Friday: eight confirmed and two probable cases. The first two probable cases were “associated” with the West Texas and New Mexico outbreaks, the state health department said. A state health department spokesperson said measles exposures were confirmed in Tulsa and Rogers counties, but wouldn’t say which counties had cases. How many cases are there in Ohio? Ohio reported one new measles case Thursday in west-central Allen County. Last week, there were 10 in Ashtabula County in the northeast corner of the state. The […]

A unique moment occurred during the opening shiur of the yeshivas bein hazmanim program in Ashkelon, delivered by the Ateres Shlomo rosh yeshiva HaGaon Rav Chaim Feinstein to all the local yeshiva bochurim gathered from the various branches across the city.

Rav Feinstein, who made a rare visit to Ashkelon to inaugurate the day for the hundreds of organizers of Igud Bnei HaYeshivos, first delivered words of chiuzk to the program leaders. He then proceeded to the central bais medrash, Orah Shel Torah, where dozens of yeshiva bochurim participating in the bein hazmanim program had gathered for the opening shiur.

Upon entering the beis medrash and seeing that the program included the learning of a sugya d’kallah—a unified topic of study learned by all the bochurim—Rav Feinstein expressed his admiration for the effort and noted that although he had initially intended to speak on a different sugya, he would deviate from his original plan and, on the spot, instead delivered a shiur on the sugya d’kallah, focusing specifically on the halachos of haseibah, reclining at the Seder.

Following the shiur, Rav Feinstein offered words of chizuk and hachanah ahead of Pesach. He praised the inspiring sight of so many bochurim immersed in their learning even during bein hazmanim. He encouraged them to write and develop their own Torah insights during this time and to consider publishing a collective sefer of their writings at the end of bein hazmanim.

{Matzav.com Israel}

[COMMUNICATED]

Medical crises don’t take a break for Yom Tov. This Pesach, hundreds of families in our community will face the overwhelming challenge of navigating hospital stays and medical treatments while trying to maintain the simcha of Pesach.

Lev Rochel Bikur Cholim of Lakewood (LRBC) has been a lifeline for these families, providing comprehensive support through their network of essential services.

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$360: Yom Tov seuda for a large family

$180: Yom Tov seder for a small family

“Dealing with unfamiliar hospitals, doctors, and treatments while alone is an extremely overwhelming and isolating experience,” shares an LRBC representative. 

“When coupled with Yom Tov preparations, the burden becomes unbearable for many families. Your donation ensures that no one in our community faces these daunting medical challenges alone.”

When you support LRBC, you directly enable their comprehensive network of services:

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Join LRBC in this vital mission today. To donate: 855.905.3020 or visit lrbcol.org

For donor advised funds, tax ID: 223251871

We’re in this together. This Pesach, be there for those who need you most.

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Yesterday, the Egyptian government revealed plans for a high-level summit set to take place in Cairo on Monday, bringing together Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, and French President Emmanuel Macron.

According to the formal announcement, the gathering will center on strategies to implement an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and explore renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at stabilizing the region.

During a recent telephone conversation between President Al-Sisi and President Macron, the two leaders stressed “the importance of de-escalation through an immediate ceasefire in Gaza” and called for the swift and unhindered delivery of humanitarian supplies.

The statement further noted that President Macron will travel to El-Arish, a city in northern Sinai, where he plans to meet with humanitarian groups and personally monitor the coordination of aid being sent into the Gaza Strip.

{Matzav.com}

The head of the Shin Bet’s Jewish Division announced on Sunday that he is suspending himself from his position until the completion of an internal investigation regarding statements he made about the arrest of Jews in Yehudah and Shomron without evidence that were revealed by Kan News on Motzei Shabbos. The officer, identified only as A., also referred to settlers in a highly disparaging manner. In an internal statement he sent to the division’s employees, he wrote: “I deeply regret the style of the remarks that were made, which does not characterize my way of conduct with the many other elements with whom we cooperate.” “I completely reject the attempt to create an appearance of work that is not in accordance with the law and the values of restraint of force. I failed in my language in a way that does not match the values of the service and my values, and therefore, in order to allow a thorough examination and out of my duty to set a personal example, I am suspending myself from my position as head of the division until the completion of the comprehensive investigation into the matter.” Religious Zionist Ministers Betzalel Smotrich and Orit Strock sent an urgent letter on Sunday to National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi demanding that the political-security cabinet be convened as soon as possible to discuss the conduct of the Shin Bet towards Jewish suspects in Yehudah and Shomron. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday that the United States was revoking all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders, accusing the African nation’s government of “taking advantage of the United States.” “Every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when another country, including the United States, seeks to remove them,” Rubio said in a statement, adding that “South Sudan’s transitional government has failed to fully respect this principle.” Besides revoking visas, Rubio said the U.S. would “prevent further issuance to prevent entry into the United States by South Sudanese passport holders.” South Sudan’s political landscape is fragile and recent violence between government troops and armed opposition groups has escalated tensions. Last week, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged regional and international leaders to prevent South Sudan from falling “over the abyss” into another civil war. Guterres warned that the world’s newest and one of its poorest countries is facing “a security emergency” with intensifying clashes and a “political upheaval” culminating with last week’s arrest by the government of First Vice President Riek Machar. (AP)

Former senior IDF officer Brig. Gen. (res.) Erez Winner, who led the Southern Command’s operational team for 12 years, spoke with Reshet Bet on Sunday morning about what has prevented Hamas’ defeat and the return of all the hostages. Winner said that he had written a plan to defeat Hamas back in January 2014, but “the understanding was that Gaza is a secondary arena. The understanding was that if you break it, you pay for it. That is, if you take the responsibility from Hamas, anyone who comes after it will probably be worse, so let’s leave Hamas alone.” “You probably remember the expressions ‘weakened,’ ‘deterred,’ ‘Gaza is a secondary arena,’ and ‘we must not allow it to grab the attention and resources of the State of Israel.'” “At certain times over the years, I thought that we had to conquer the entire Strip and take down Hamas. But I understood that the State chose differently because it prioritized other arenas. I understood the logic of the decisions of those years, but we still should have acted differently.” Winner noted that he participated in hundreds of discussions at various levels. “It was clear that this was the decision: Gaza is a secondary arena and we need to push it aside as much as possible.” Regarding the post-October 7 war in Gaza, Winner asserted that former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi made a grave error by refusing to impose temporary military rule over Gaza. “The big mistake, which is what led us to prolong the war, is the issue of not applying military rule,” he said. “In other words, our lack of control over civilian aid. We were forced to bring aid into the Strip in excessive quantities at the request of our American friends and others, and we allowed Hamas to maintain control with the help of the aid – the right hand struck Hamas, and the left hand fed and provided for it.” Winner explained: “The plan was a fundamental change in civilian aid. It’s vital that the IDF has full control over what reaches Gaza. Hamas would then lose its power, Gazan civilians will lose their fear, and local elements would rise up. If we combine the voluntary immigration plan of our friend Trump, which I think has a realistic possibility of being implemented, together with action against Hamas outside Israel – Hamas could be defeated in less than three months.” Winner added that the “noise” protesters made around the issue of the hostages deterred the release of the hostages. According to him, what led to the release of the hostages was military pressure. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

In a stunning new twist to the long-running saga of Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings, newly surfaced federal documents show that the son of then-Vice President Joe Biden directly sought — and received — help from the Obama State Department on behalf of a Ukrainian energy firm that was paying him a million-dollar salary. The documents show Hunter used his connections within the administration to secure diplomatic assistance for a geothermal subsidiary of Burisma Holdings operating in Italy. The revelation adds fresh fuel to Republican allegations of influence peddling by the Biden family during the Obama years. In July 2016, then-U.S. Ambassador to Italy John Phillips responded to a letter from Hunter with a striking offer: diplomatic assistance in brokering a meeting between Burisma representatives and Enrico Rossi, the president of Italy’s Tuscany region. “I know Enrico Rossi well and have a good working relationship with him,” Phillips wrote. “I’ve asked [a senior embassy official] to be the point of contact, see where our interests may overlap, and facilitate contact.” The letter, obtained and published by The New York Times, follows an earlier message from Hunter in which he asked the U.S. embassy in Rome for help arranging the meeting, referencing a recent visit to the city with his father, then-VP Biden. Phillips confirmed that Hunter appeared to be referring to a three-day official stay at the ambassador’s residence in 2015, during which both Bidens were present. A representative for Hunter claimed the mention of the trip was “heartfelt appreciation” and not an attempt to invoke his father’s political clout. Still, critics argue the timing and tone suggest otherwise. “This is yet another example of the Biden family’s playbook,” said House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), who has led inquiries into alleged Biden family influence schemes. “Hunter cozies up to U.S. and foreign officials, cashes in on the Biden name, and gets the government to grease the wheels for his foreign paymasters.” Burisma hired Hunter Biden in 2014 to help polish the reputation of the company’s pro-Russian owner, Mykola Zlochevsky, following Ukraine’s revolution. At the time, Joe Biden had just taken over the White House’s Ukraine portfolio. Despite having no relevant experience in the energy sector, Hunter landed a lucrative board seat and, as recently as 2019, admitted he likely wouldn’t have been hired “if my last name weren’t Biden.” The newly uncovered records appear to corroborate long-standing claims that Hunter used his family name to secure preferential treatment and high-level access — and that officials in the Obama administration were responsive to his overtures. Compounding the controversy are earlier reports and laptop emails indicating that Joe Biden met with several of Hunter’s business associates — despite his repeated denials. These include alleged meetings with figures from China, Mexico, Russia, and Ukraine. The documents also reignite questions about Joe Biden’s role in the 2016 firing of Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokin, who had been investigating Burisma’s leadership. Biden famously threatened to withhold $1 billion in U.S. loan guarantees unless Ukraine removed Shokin — a move Biden has defended as U.S. policy but which critics now view with suspicion, given the potential conflict of interest. Sworn testimony from Devon Archer, a former Hunter business partner, has revealed that Hunter called his father from Dubai during a meeting with Burisma executives in December […]

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy delivered a stern condemnation of the Israeli government yesterday after two Labour Members of Parliament were denied entry and deported, according to a report in The Guardian.

The MPs in question, Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed, were stopped at the border and turned away later that day amid concerns over the nature of their visit and suspected ulterior motives.

During interrogation by Israeli officials, the two parliamentarians claimed to be part of a sanctioned British parliamentary delegation. However, Israeli authorities quickly determined that this claim was baseless, as no governmental body in Israel had been informed of any such official visit.

Further investigation revealed that the true objective behind their visit was allegedly to gather material against Israeli defense personnel and promote damaging falsehoods about the country. Consequently, Interior Minister Moshe Arbel of Shas exercised his legal authority to bar the MPs and their team from entering, instructing that they be expelled from the country.

In response to the developments, Lammy issued a public statement Saturday night, saying, “It is unacceptable, counterproductive, and deeply concerning that two British MPs on a parliamentary delegation to Israel have been detained and refused entry by the Israeli authorities.”

He went on to say, “I have made clear to my counterparts in the Israeli government that this is no way to treat British parliamentarians, and we have been in contact with both MPs tonight to offer our support.”

Lammy also reiterated the UK’s diplomatic priorities in the region, with a focus on restoring calm and facilitating negotiations in Gaza. “The UK government’s focus remains securing a return to the ceasefire and negotiations to stop the bloodshed, free the hostages and end the conflict in Gaza,” he stated.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump sought to shut down swirling rumors about Elon Musk’s potential departure from the administration, delivering a full-throated defense of his embattled advisor while teasing a mysterious and “horrible” new discovery uncovered by their government overhaul initiative. Speaking to reporters during a flight aboard Air Force One, Trump described Musk as “fantastic,” “a patriot,” and “a smart person,” and insisted he hopes the billionaire entrepreneur remains in his orbit “as long as possible.” “Elon is fantastic. He’s a patriot. I think it’s a shame what they’re doing to him with his car company. It’s a great car, great product. It tells you what a patriot he is,” Trump said, lavishing praise on Musk’s contributions both to the private sector and to his government initiative, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The president hinted that DOGE and Musk had just uncovered a significant — and as yet unrevealed — scandal as part of their sweeping audit of federal spending. “We found hundreds — think of it — hundreds of millions of dollars of fraud and abuse and waste. They are still going. They are going strong. They found something today that is horrible. It is horrible,” Trump said, refusing to elaborate but promising more details “soon.” The president declined to provide a firm timeline for Musk’s expected exit but suggested the tech mogul may step away from his advisory role “within a few months” to focus on his many business ventures. “I would say Elon will stay for a certain period of time, and then he’s going to want to get back to his businesses full-time,” Trump said. “But he’s done a fantastic job.” The president also revealed he’s open to appointing Musk to a formal position. “I would. I think Elon’s great. But he also has a company to run — or a number of companies to run,” he said. Trump’s comments come on the heels of a Politico report claiming the president has been privately telling allies that Musk’s time in the administration is winding down and that DOGE, the agency Musk helped spearhead, would soon take a lower profile. White House officials, including Vice President JD Vance, have dismissed that narrative, insisting that Musk remains a key advisor and that his role at DOGE was always meant to be temporary. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The United Nations Human Rights Council has chosen to renew Francesca Albanese’s mandate as special rapporteur on human rights in what it refers to as the “Palestinian territories,” extending her term for another three years. This decision comes despite ongoing backlash over her consistent record of anti-Israel rhetoric and conduct.

Albanese, who was originally appointed in 2022, had her role reaffirmed after it passed the necessary procedural vote among the 47 member states. Israel strongly opposed the extension, and efforts to block the reappointment were backed by Hungary and Argentina, but those attempts did not succeed, as reported by Ynet.

Within both international diplomacy and human rights advocacy, Albanese has drawn significant controversy. Israeli officials and numerous advocacy groups have persistently accused her of being overtly hostile to Israel and of allowing her personal bias to dominate her professional assessments.

Concerns about Albanese’s stance were first spotlighted in 2022, when she made social media posts asserting that the “Jewish lobby” exerts control over the United States government.

At the time, Albanese denied that these remarks were antisemitic. She insisted they had been “mischaracterized,” though accusations of bias have only intensified since then.

Her antagonism toward Israel has escalated notably following the Hamas-led massacre on October 7, 2023, during which more than 1,200 Israelis were murdered and 250 taken hostage. Albanese referred to the atrocity as something that must be seen in “context” and described it as a response to supposed Israeli “aggression.”

In subsequent months, Albanese has gone even further, accusing Israel of perpetrating genocide. She has publicly drawn parallels between the Israeli government and the “Third Reich,” and even compared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler.

{Matzav.com}

One person was killed Sunday as Russian air strikes hit the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, while the death toll from Friday’s deadly attack on the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih continued to rise. The Kyiv victim was found close to the strike’s epicenter of the attack in the city’s Darnytskyi district, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. A further three people were injured in the strike, which saw fires break out in several nonresidential areas, damaging cars and buildings. In a statement on social media, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the intensifying Russian attacks showed that there is still insufficient international pressure on Moscow. He said Russia has launched more than 1,460 guided aerial bombs, nearly 670 attack drones and more than 30 missiles at Ukraine in the past week alone. “These attacks are (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s response to all international diplomatic efforts. Each of our partners — the United States, all of Europe, the entire world — has seen that Russia intends to continue the war and the killing,” Zelenskyy said. “That is why there can be no easing of pressure. All efforts must be aimed at guaranteeing security and bringing peace closer.” Meanwhile, officials said that the death toll from Friday’s attack on the central city of Kryvyi Rih had continued to grow, with 19 dead — including many children — and a further 75 wounded. Oleksandr Vilkul, head of Kryvyi Rih’s military administration, declared three days of mourning for the attack, starting on April 7. He said that there was “pain in the hearts of millions of people”. “Together we will stand. And no matter how difficult it is, we will win,” he said. “The enemy will be punished for every Ukrainian and for every mother’s tear.” Local authorities said the Kryvyi Rih strike damaged 44 apartment buildings and 23 private houses. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed Friday that it had carried out a high-precision missile strike with a high explosive warhead on a restaurant where a meeting with unit commanders and Western instructors was taking place. Russian military claimed that the strike killed 85 military personnel and foreign officers and destroyed 20 vehicles. The military’s claims could not be independently verified. The Ukrainian General Staff rejected the claims. Elsewhere, Russian troops fired 23 missiles and 109 strike and decoy drones across Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian air force said Sunday. Thirteen missiles and 40 drones were shot down, while 53 decoy drones were jammed and did not reach their destinations, it said. Russia’s Defense Ministry said that its air defenses had destroyed 11 Ukrainian drones, including eight over the Rostov region and two over the Kursk region. (AP)