President Donald Trump believes that the legal proceedings against Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu are hampering critical negotiations involving Iran and Gaza, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. She explained that the court’s requirement for Netanyahu to be physically present comes at a time when he is “in the middle of negotiating a peace deal and bringing hostages out of a war torn region.”
Despite Trump’s concerns, there has been no evidence so far that Netanyahu’s courtroom obligations have interfered with hostage negotiations. In fact, the prime minister recently convened a cabinet meeting to discuss the ongoing situation, though it concluded without any concrete decisions.
Trump, however, has made his stance clear, using his Truth Social platform twice in the past week to call for the cancellation of Netanyahu’s corruption trial.
When asked to clarify the president’s position, Leavitt said Trump “was simply emphasizing his empathy that he has for Bibi Netanyahu, seeing him go through what he’s going through with his own judicial system in the State of Israel.”
She added, “Clearly, the president knows that very well. He too was a victim of a judicial system that was trying to put him in jail, but President Trump prevailed,” praising Netanyahu for his partnership with the United States in confronting Iran.
{Matzav.com}
An 82-year-old Colorado woman who was injured in a Molotov cocktail attack on demonstrators in support of Israeli hostages in Gaza has died, prosecutors said Monday. Karen Diamond died as a result of severe injuries she suffered in the June 1 attack in downtown Boulder, Colorado, the local district attorney’s office said in a statement. Prosecutors have listed 29 victims, including 13 who were physically injured. Mohamed Sabry Soliman already faced dozens of counts in state court on charges including attempted first-degree murder, using an incendiary device, and animal cruelty because a dog was hurt in the attack. He has not been arraigned on the initial charges that now include first-degree murder. The Associated Press left a voicemail Monday for Soliman’s public defender in the state case. The office generally bars its lawyers from commenting on their cases to the media. A preliminary hearing to determine whether there’s enough evidence to move forward with the case is set for July 15. Separately, Soliman has been indicted on 12 federal hate crime counts. He entered a not guilty plea to those charges during a hearing Friday in federal court. Leaders of the Boulder Jewish Community announced in an email Monday that Diamond died June 25 and said she will be deeply missed “Karen was a cherished member of our community, someone whose warmth and generosity left a lasting impact on all who knew her,” executive director Jonathan Lev and board chair David Paul said. Prosecutors said Diamond’s family has asked for privacy as they grieve. “Part of what makes Colorado special is that people come together in response to a tragedy; I know that the community will continue to unite in supporting the Diamond family and all the victims of this attack,” District Attorney Michael Dougherty said in the statement. During the demonstration, Soliman posed as a gardener and wore a construction vest to get close to the group before launching the attack, prosecutors allege. Investigators say Soliman told them he intended to kill the participants at the weekly demonstration. He yelled “Free Palestine” as he threw just two of more than two dozen Molotov cocktails he had prepared. Prosecutors say the victims were targeted because of their perceived or actual national origin. An attack motivated by someone’s political views is not considered a hate crime under federal law. Soliman told investigators he tried to buy a gun but was not able to because he was not a “legal citizen.” Federal authorities have said the Egyptian national has been living in the U.S. illegally with his family. (AP)
Mayor Eric Adams just released a blistering statement criticizing the State Education Department’s refusal to approve special education services to students at six yeshivas. Those schools were deemed non-equivalent by SED earlier this year, and on May 15 SED issued a statement declaring that these yeshivas are no longer schools and are therefore ineligible for the protections contained in the legislation enacted to protect yeshivas. Ten days ago, after the New York Court of Appeals held that SED does not have the authority to close schools that are non-equivalent or to direct parents to unenroll their children from those schools, the Adams Administration informed SED that those children should now receive the services they need. SED refused to engage, or to issue written guidance. In its statement, the Adams Administration pledged to take legal action in order to protect the rights of these yeshivas and children. The complete statement given exclusively to YWN is below: “No family in New York City should ever have to worry about whether their child with special needs will receive the education and services they need to thrive. With tomorrow’s deadline approaching for nonpublic school students to receive approval for special education services, the Adams administration is deeply concerned by the New York State Education Department’s continued refusal to update its guidance. As a result, the department has directed New York City Public Schools to stop providing special education services to students in six yeshivas. Let’s be clear: the State Education Department is misinterpreting a recent decision by the New York State Court of Appeals and, in doing so, is denying these schools even the opportunity to comply. We are committed to supporting the affected families and schools with any legal challenges that may arise.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The International Criminal Court revealed on Monday that it had recently experienced a “sophisticated” cyber intrusion and is now working to assess the damage and protect its systems from further harm.
In a brief update, the ICC confirmed that the breach, which comes just a year after another cyberattack in 2023, has been brought under control. However, the court provided no additional information regarding who may be responsible or what the attackers’ goals might have been.
“A court-wide impact analysis is being carried out, and steps are already being taken to mitigate any effects of the incident,” the court stated, noting that efforts are underway to understand the scope and minimize any disruption caused by the breach.
According to officials, the breach occurred sometime last week.
“All necessary measures have been taken to ensure the business continuity,” court spokesman Fadi El Abdallah told The Associated Press, suggesting that the institution’s operations are continuing despite the digital assault.
Interestingly, the hack coincided with a gathering of 32 NATO leaders in The Hague, held at a convention center close to the ICC’s premises. The event featured heightened cybersecurity precautions, raising questions about whether the attack was linked to the summit.
The court has not disclosed whether any internal data or sensitive material was accessed or stolen during the breach.
Despite efforts to recover from the 2023 cyberattack, the ICC is still struggling to fully restore all systems, with internal Wi-Fi service at its headquarters still not functioning as intended.
{Matzav.com}
Senators hunkered down Monday to consider proposed amendments to President Donald Trump’s big bill of tax breaks and spending cuts amid challenges including the weekend announcement from one GOP senator that he won’t run for reelection after opposing the package over its Medicaid health care cuts. The potential changes were being considered in what’s called a vote-a-rama, though most are expected to fail. With Democrats united against the Republican president’s legislation and eagerly lined up to challenge it, the voting could take all day and churn into the night. “It’s time to vote,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota as the session opened. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said the “hardest choices” for Republicans are still to come. Democrats, he said, are bringing “amendment after amendment after amendment to the floor, so Republicans can defend their billionaire tax cuts and so they can try to explain their massive cuts to Medicaid to people back home.” The day will be pivotal for the Republicans, who have control of Congress and are racing against Trump’s July Fourth deadline to wrap up work. The 940-page “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” as it’s formally titled, has consumed Congress as its shared priority with the president, with no room politically to fail, even as not all Republicans are on board. A new analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found 11.8 million more Americans would become uninsured by 2034 if the bill became law. The CBO said the package would increase the deficit by nearly $3.3 trillion over the decade. House Speaker Mike Johnson’s leadership team has recalled lawmakers back to Washington for voting in the House as soon as Wednesday, if the legislation can first clear the Senate. But the outcome remains uncertain. As the first few amendments came up Monday — to strike parts of the bill that would limit Medicaid funds to rural hospitals or shift the costs of food stamps benefits to the states — some were winning support from a few Republicans. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, joined Democrats on the rural hospitals amendment, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, joined Democrats on both votes. But none of the amendments won majority support to substantially change the package. Senators to watch Few Republicans appear fully satisfied as the final package emerges. GOP Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who announced Sunday he would not seek reelection after Trump badgered him over his opposition to the package, said he has the same goals as Trump: cutting taxes and spending. But Tillis said this package is a betrayal of the president’s promises not to kick people off health care, especially if rural hospitals close. “We could take the time to get this right,” he thundered. At the same time, some loosely aligned conservative Senate Republicans — Rick Scott of Florida, Mike Lee of Utah, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming — have pushed for steeper cuts, particularly to health care, drawing their own warning from Trump. “Don’t go too crazy!” the president posted on social media. “REMEMBER, you still have to get reelected.” What’s in the big bill All told, the Senate bill includes some $4 trillion in tax cuts, making permanent Trump’s 2017 rates, which would expire at the end of the year if Congress fails to act, while adding the new ones he campaigned on, including no taxes on tips. The Senate package would roll back […]
The Trump administration filed a lawsuit on Monday targeting the city of Los Angeles, along with its mayor and other top officials, over policies the federal government says obstruct immigration enforcement and unfairly single out federal agents.
The legal action lists Mayor Karen Bass, who is currently under intense scrutiny, and the entire Los Angeles City Council as defendants. The complaint argues that the city’s sanctuary stance hampers the ability of immigration officers to perform their federally mandated duties.
“Sanctuary City laws and policies are designed to deliberately impede federal immigration officers’ ability to carry out their responsibilities in those jurisdictions,” the lawsuit reads in part.
The lawsuit asserts that the ordinance and related directives in Los Angeles violate the law by deliberately treating federal immigration personnel in a discriminatory fashion.
“The Los Angeles Ordinance and other policies intentionally discriminate against the Federal Government by treating federal immigration authorities differently.”
In a strongly worded statement, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned Los Angeles.
“Sanctuary policies were the driving cause of the violence, chaos, and attacks on law enforcement that Americans recently witnessed in Los Angeles,” she said.
Bondi further criticized jurisdictions with similar policies, saying their actions endanger public safety.
“Jurisdictions like Los Angeles that flout federal law by prioritizing illegal aliens over American citizens are undermining law enforcement at every level — it ends under President Trump.”
The lawsuit comes on the heels of chaotic demonstrations earlier this month in downtown Los Angeles. Protesters targeted Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, torched vehicles, and engaged in widespread vandalism and looting of area businesses.
{Matzav.com}
The United Nations Security Council gathered on Monday to deliberate over ongoing developments in the Middle East.
Israel’s envoy to the UN, Danny Danon, took the opportunity to sharply call out the international body for its treatment of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an aid organization that bypasses Hamas and delivers assistance directly to civilians in Gaza.
“Senior UN officials are threatening organizations operating with the GHF…and promoted false allegations against the GHF about drug distribution and other violent incidents, shamelessly promoting claims made by Hamas-controlled sources,” Danon stated, accusing top UN figures of parroting propaganda from terror-linked sources and undermining legitimate aid efforts.
Danon then pointed to a recent deadly attack against GHF workers. “Three weeks ago, Hamas gunmen murdered clearly identified GHF staff as they were returning from a day of feeding Gazan civilians. The Secretary-General said noting. OCHA said nothing. UNRWA said nothing. Silence in the face of murder is not impartiality; it is abandonment.” His words underscored what he described as a glaring and deliberate indifference from major UN branches.
He also recounted the deeply disturbing murder of Yonatan Samerano, whose remains were dragged into Gaza by an employee of UNRWA. “The United Nations paid the wages of the man who stole Yonatan’s body and dragged him into Gaza. Where are the condolences from the Secretary-General? Where is even an apology from Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini?” Danon asked, pointing to UN accountability—or the lack thereof.
He described how Yonatan’s mother, Ayelet Samerano, came to the United Nations hoping for acknowledgment and justice. “Yonatan’s mother, Ayelet Samerano, came here to this very building and looked Commissioner Lazzarini in the eyes. We demanded accountability. We reminded him that a UN badge must not be a shield for terrorists. And how was she received? With polite nods, but then, with silence. She spoke, and many looked away,” Danon told the chamber, painting a picture of bureaucratic coldness in the face of grief.
Danon concluded his remarks with an emotional indictment: “Now, she has buried her son while the UN buries its head in the sand,” condemning the UN for its moral failure to respond meaningfully to the tragedy.
{Matzav.com}
Zohran Mamdani’s triumph in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary has jolted the political establishment, but what’s even more surprising is the degree of Jewish support he secured despite his openly anti-Zionist – and arguably antisemitic – record. Mamdani, a Muslim progressive who has championed boycotts of Israel and made no secret of his sympathies for Palestinian activism, nonetheless attracted an estimated 20% of the city’s Jewish vote — a stunning figure given New York’s reputation as a global center of pro-Israel advocacy. Mamdani, whose platform includes plans to dramatically expand housing access and slash transit costs, positioned himself as a champion of social and racial justice. That message, combined with his promise to boost funding for anti-hate initiatives by 800% and to protect the independence of Jewish religious schools, resonated among a younger generation of Jewish voters skeptical of Israel’s policies but focused on bread-and-butter city concerns. “He talks about rent, he talks about fairness, he talks about safety — and that’s what people want,” said Jeremy Feldman, a Reform Jewish voter in Harlem. “I might not share his Middle East views, but he’s honest about what he believes.” Mamdani’s wife, Rama Dawaji, has drawn her own share of headlines. An artist with a long record of provocative pro-Palestinian imagery, she has been unapologetic in her criticism of Israel, going so far as to showcase images of keffiyeh-wearing demonstrators trampled by riot police. Yet Jewish voters seemed more focused on Mamdani’s domestic priorities than Dawaji’s art. Lest you think this is just a Reform issue: It isn’t clear how many Orthodox Jewish voters cast a ballot for Mamdani, but voting records make it clear that the number is far from zero. With the general election approaching, Mamdani appears well positioned to defeat independent incumbent Eric Adams. But observers say the true test will come during moments of crisis, such as a new wave of protests over Gaza or a high-profile Israeli visit. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
WH Press Secretary on the “One Big Beautiful Bill”: “This is one of the most fiscally conservative pieces of legislation that has ever made its way through Capitol Hill… It will cut taxes, putting more money back into the American people’s pockets.”
President Donald Trump’s big bill to cut taxes and reduce federal spending on some social safety net programs could have large implications for states, but for many it’s too late to do much about it this year. Tuesday marks the start of a new budget year in 46 states. Though some legislatures are still working, most already have adjourned and finalized their spending plans without knowing whether federal funding will be cut and, if so, by how much. “The ebb and flow of rumors and reality have created great uncertainty and some anxiety in state governments,” said David Adkins, executive director of The Council of State Governments. Several states have taken preemptive steps, setting aside money in reserves or tasking committees to monitor the impact of federal funding reductions. Others are tentatively planning to return in special sessions this year to account for potential funding cuts to joint federal-state programs such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Others will have to wait until their legislatures are back in session next year. What’s at stake for states? “If there are significant cuts, states wouldn’t be able to fully absorb those,” said Brian Sigritz, director of state fiscal studies at the National Association of State Budget Officers. Nationally, the Medicaid health care program for lower-income residents accounts for 30% of total state expenditures, according to the health policy research organization KFF. That makes it the costliest program in many states, ahead of even K-12 education. The bulk of Medicaid money comes from the federal government, meaning any changes in federal policy can create big ripples for states. Legislation pending in Congress would affect Medicaid in several ways. New work requirements are expected to reduce enrollment by millions of people, while other proposed changes also could reduce federal payments to states. Until now the federal government also has covered the full cost of SNAP benefits and half the administrative costs. Trump’s bill would shift more of those costs to states, leaving them to either divert money from other purposes or trim back their food assistance programs. The Medicaid and SNAP changes are just the latest in a series of Trump policies affecting state finances, including the rollback of grants for transportation and high-speed internet projects and attempts to withhold federal funds from sanctuary jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Some legislatures are stocking up on savings A surge in federal aid and state tax revenue during the coronavirus pandemic led to booming budgets and historic cash surpluses in many states. As revenues slow and those surpluses get spent, some states now are trying to guard against federal funding reductions. New Mexico enacted a law this year creating a Medicaid trust fund gradually stocked with up to $2 billion that can be tapped to prop up the program if federal funding cuts would otherwise cause a reduction in coverage or benefits. Hawaii lawmakers, in crafting the state’s budget, left an extra $200 million in the general fund as a contingency against federal funding uncertainty. They plan to return for a special session. And Vermont’s budget sets aside up to $110 million in case federal funding is cut. That includes $50 million that can be spent while the Legislature is not in session and up to $60 million that could be appropriated in the future to address federal funding shortfalls. Though not necessarily tied to federal cuts, […]
BREAKING: President Trump to sign executive order today ending U.S. sanctions on Syria.
REPORTER: “What is the White House’s response to Sen. Tillis’ criticism articulated from the Senate floor yesterday…?” WH PRESS SECRETARY: “He is just wrong and the president and the vast majority of Republicans who are supportive of this legislation are right. This bill protects Medicaid…”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is under fire for her carefully crafted “Bronx girl” image, even after new revelation of her comfortable suburban upbringing. After a Yorktown High School yearbook photo went viral, Ocasio-Cortez took to X on Friday to defend herself, insisting her background is still rooted in struggle. “My mom cleaned houses and I helped,” she posted, claiming she exchanged chores for tutoring help and that splitting time between the Bronx and the suburbs shaped her views on inequality. But critics say the congresswoman is twisting her personal story to fit a political brand that never matched the facts. “She’s embarrassing herself doing everything possible to avoid admitting she grew up in the suburbs instead of the Bronx,” said state Assemblyman Matt Slater (R-Yorktown) on Sunday. “She’s gone from visiting extended family to commuting, and now she’s trying to land somewhere ‘in between.’ It’s clearly desperate attempts to protect the lie.” Ocasio-Cortez, who was born in the Bronx but left at age five for the leafy comfort of Yorktown Heights, graduated from Yorktown High School in 2007. Yet she regularly refers to herself as a “Bronx girl,” selling an image that helped propel her 2018 primary upset over then-Rep. Joe Crowley. Last week, the self-styled progressive firebrand reignited the branding machine, sparring with President Trump after she called for his impeachment over Iranian airstrikes. When Trump called her “one of the dumbest people in Congress,” Ocasio-Cortez tried to flex Bronx pride with a bizarre jab: “I’m a Bronx girl. You should know we can eat Queens boys for breakfast.” The line fell flat. While Ocasio-Cortez portrays herself as a scrappy outsider, her carefully polished biography leaves out years of suburban privilege. Yorktown Heights, where she spent her formative years, is one of Westchester County’s more comfortable communities, with above-average schools and median home values north of $700,000. Still, Ocasio-Cortez refuses to let reality puncture her narrative, doubling down on the notion that growing up “between” the Bronx and Yorktown gives her a unique claim to hardship. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
President Donald Trump issued a stern warning Sunday that New York City could risk losing access to federal funds if voters elect Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani as mayor — labeling the candidate a “pure communist.”
“He’s a communist,” Trump told Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures. “I think it’s very bad for New York.
“I don’t know that he’s going to get in. It’s inconceivable.
“But let’s say this: If he does get in, I’m going to be president, and he’s going to have to do the right thing or they’re not getting any money.”
Mamdani recently secured a victory in the Democratic primary, defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Despite the result, sitting Democrat Mayor Eric Adams is expected to run for reelection as an independent, and Cuomo may still enter the race independently as well.
Trump clarified that his caution regarding federal funding wasn’t limited to Mamdani alone, but extended to anyone vying for City Hall.
“I can tell you this — whoever is mayor of New York is going to have to behave themselves or the federal government is going down very tough on them financially,” Trump told host Maria Bartiromo.
Earlier in the week, Trump took to Truth Social to blast what he described as a dangerous shift among Democrats toward extreme economic policies.
“It’s finally happened, the Democrats have crossed the line,” Trump wrote Wednesday afternoon on Truth Social. “Zohran Mamdani, a 100% communist lunatic, has just won the Dem Primary, and is on his way to becoming mayor.
“We’ve had radical lefties before, but this is getting a little ridiculous.
“He looks terrible, his voice is grating, he’s not very smart, he’s got AOC+3, dummies all, backing him, and even our great Palestinian Senator, Cryin’ Chuck Schumer, is groveling over him.
“Yes, this is a big moment in the history of our country!”
{Matzav.com}
WH PRESS SECRETARY: “We are truly coming off a historic week of President Trump racking up win after win on behalf of the American people.” Obliterated Iran’s nuclear capabilities— and brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Traveled to the Netherlands and got our NATO allies to commit 5% of their GDPs to military spending.
WH Press Secretary previews The Presidents upcoming trip to “Alligator Alcatraz”: “The facility will have up to 5,000 beds to house, process, and deport criminal illegal aliens. This is an efficient and low cost way to help carry out the largest mass deportation campaign in American history.”
Finance Minister and member of the Security Cabinet Bezalel Smotrich opened the Religious Zionist Party’s weekly gathering with a dramatic declaration, describing the current period as a defining moment in Israel’s history.
“In 12 days, we eliminated the Iranian nuclear program. In a few weeks, [we eliminated] Nasrallah and Hezbollah’s 200 thousand missiles. In a week, the entire Syrian military. The region is undergoing a strategic upheaval in our favor,” Smotrich stressed.
Turning to critics of the ongoing war effort, Smotrich condemned those urging compromise with Hamas. “We are in the midst of a campaign against a crushed terror organization. It has one bargaining chip – our brothers in captivity. In the face of this bargaining chip, there are those who call for concessions, agreements, and a ceasefire.”
He issued a sharp warning about the dangers of giving in. “If we surrender now, the message to the world will be clear: the way to bring Israel to its knees is the abduction of Jews. There will not be a bigger danger. Every Jewish child will become a target. That’s how you miss a historic victory, and that’s what it looks like when you’re weak in the face of enemies who only understand strength.”
Smotrich emphasized that the operation in Gaza must end decisively, without compromise. “This is not just a military campaign, it’s conscious decisiveness. This war must end only in victory, without agreements, without mediators. Only decisiveness. The destruction of Hamas and the return of the hostages from a position of strength.”
He rejected any future prisoner swaps or negotiations with terrorist groups. “No more dialogue with murderers, no more deals with the devil, no more releasing murderous terrorists. It’s time to continue the momentum of victory over the Iranians to an intense war that will destroy the enemy in Gaza and remove the threat for decades in the future.”
Smotrich concluded with a message meant to rally the nation: “We will not surrender. Not now, not in the face of weakness. Not in the face of brutality. We will win and restore security to Gaza, the Galilee, the home front, and the entire Jewish world.”
{Matzav.com}
For reporters, it’s hardly unusual to call sources on the phone to learn details or get quotes that will enliven their stories. Sometimes people will talk, sometimes they won’t. But the president of the United States? In an almost unfathomable level of access, reporters who call President Donald Trump on his personal cell phone often get an answer — and an interview — from the leader of the free world on the spot. There’s evidence that this is happening more frequently. Paradoxically, it’s the same president who popularized the term “fake news” and has battled against the press for years on multiple fronts. Just this week, Trump’s lawyers threatened to sue CNN and The New York Times over their reporting on an initial government assessment of damage caused by bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities. On the day of the June 21 bombing, Trump gave phone interviews to Jonathan Karl of ABC News, Kristen Welker at NBC News, Reuters’ Steve Holland, Axios’ Barak Ravid and both Bret Baier and Sean Hannity of Fox News Channel, according to an independent database of the president’s media appearances. The next day, Trump spoke with Josh Dawsey of the Wall Street Journal — for all of 38 seconds, Dawsey noted — enabling the reporter to include a fresh presidential quote in the newspaper’s story about the bombing. “I find it utterly remarkable,” said Ari Fleischer, former press secretary to President George W. Bush. “It’s classic Trump. It defies tradition.” Who’s calling? This spring, when he was denied an interview with Trump for an Atlantic magazine cover story, Michael Scherer dialed Trump’s number on a Saturday morning. “Who’s calling?” Trump answered. When the reporter identified himself, Trump berated him for past stories he’d written. But he didn’t hang up. Scherer explained the story he was doing. Trump answered his questions, and was gracious about it, he said. “The president likes speaking,” he said. “He wants to share his story. I think he feels that the more he shares his story, the better off he is. He just has a totally different approach to the press than any president I’ve covered.” In a subsequent story, Scherer and colleague Ashley Parker explored how the telephone is like a lifeline to the president. Many other people besides reporters know the number. Trump has kept using it even after being told around Election Day of the likelihood that Chinese spies had the ability to listen in on his conversations, The Atlantic reported. Dealing with the press — and by extension, the American public — is a significant part of a president’s job. But the interactions are generally much more formal and structured. That was the case with Trump in his first term, too; Scherer said the times he talked with Trump then, it was mediated by the White House communications office. That wasn’t the case when they talked this spring, nor when Scherer called Trump’s phone for an interview the day of the military parade in Washington. “There have been multiple times that people who work for the president have made clear that they weren’t happy he was talking to me,” Scherer said. “But they don’t get to make the decisions. It’s his decision.” The president’s most frequent callers Asked about the calls, White House communications director Steven Cheung said Trump “is the most transparent president in history, […]
The Knesset Finance Committee gave the green light on Monday to Amendment No. 9 to the Customs and Exemptions Tariff Order, initiating a plan to systematically eliminate the current tax exemption on imported tobacco. The phase-out will unfold over several years, with the exemption completely canceled by June 2028.
Previously, individuals could bring tobacco, cigarettes, and e-cigarette liquids into Israel from abroad without paying import tax. That benefit will now be progressively reduced until it is entirely removed.
The Israel Tax Authority projects that this policy shift will increase revenue significantly, with an estimated NIS 50 million expected in 2027, NIS 70 million the following year, and roughly NIS 100 million annually once the new tax structure is fully in effect.
The decision follows the release of the Ministry of Health’s most recent annual report on smoking, which shows that 20% of Israeli adults smoke — a figure 30% higher than the worldwide average. The report also highlights poor cessation outcomes, with Israel’s quit rate trailing 50% behind the OECD average.
In a related study, the Ministry of Health reported that over half of adolescents who experiment with tobacco begin with e-cigarettes. Use of flavored tobacco products among youth is especially prevalent: 88% have tried flavored shisha, 82% flavored e-cigarettes, and 45% have smoked flavored cigarettes or used flavored rolling tobacco.
In the chareidi community, the numbers are troubling. A new survey showed that 54% of students in ultra-Orthodox high schools and 80% of teens in dropout programs between the ages of 12 and 17 have used some type of smoking product.
Although current law mandates that local governments enforce public smoking bans, oversight remains weak. While 82 municipalities reported enforcement actions in 2024 under the smoking prevention law, over 65% failed to submit the legally required reports, and even those that did showed uneven follow-through.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Two Jewish students have launched a blistering lawsuit against the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, accusing the prestigious university — and a tenured professor — of enabling a climate of antisemitic harassment so severe it forced one student to abandon his PhD. Filed by the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, the 71-page complaint outlines how linguistics professor Michel DeGraff allegedly waged a public campaign of intimidation and defamation against the students, while MIT administrators stood by in silence. One plaintiff, IDF veteran and postdoctoral student Lior Alon, claims DeGraff doxxed him twice — publicly posting his name and photograph on social media and tagging Al Jazeera — after describing Alon as part of “Zionist propaganda.” DeGraff further singled out Alon in a Le Monde article, accusing him of working to erase “anti-Zionist Jewish students.” Alon says he was later harassed by strangers in public, including at his child’s daycare. Alon emailed MIT President Sally Kornbluth pleading for help, warning that the doxxing had left him and his family fearing for their safety. Kornbluth never responded, the lawsuit states. “Not only did President Kornbluth’s silence and MIT’s inaction cause harm to Alon, but MIT’s failure to act also emboldened Prof. DeGraff, and his harassment of Jews escalated as a result,” the suit claims. DeGraff, a tenured faculty member, later launched a seminar titled “Language and Linguistics, from the River to the Sea in Palestine,” and circulated posts referring to Jewish “mind infection.” The second plaintiff, PhD student William Sussman, says he raised concerns about the hateful rhetoric, only to be subjected to even more abuse. According to the lawsuit, DeGraff sent department-wide emails — copying in MIT’s president — describing Sussman as a living example of a “Jewish mind infection.” On the same day, flyers using Hamas-inspired color schemes and directly targeting Sussman were slipped under dorm doors. Unable to endure the threats and bigotry, Sussman ultimately left MIT before completing his PhD. When Sussman filed a formal complaint, MIT’s investigations manager responded that the school would not pursue a discrimination case. The official concluded that DeGraff’s references to “mind infection” were not about Sussman being Jewish, but rather about his supposed views on Israeli propaganda. Sussman was told there would be no appeal. The Brandeis Center said MIT’s failure to protect Jewish students amounted to a wholesale betrayal of its legal and moral responsibilities. “Jews and Israelis on campus were prevented from fully engaging in their studies, their research, and the full spectrum of campus life,” the organization argued in a statement. “They have been forced out of their programs, off campus, and even out of the university entirely.” Sussman, whose academic dreams were shattered, described Kornbluth’s leadership as part of a broader failure that echoes last year’s congressional hearings, where Kornbluth infamously testified that calls to eliminate the Jewish people could be antisemitic “depending on context.” Unlike her counterparts at Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania, who resigned, Kornbluth kept her position. “That tells you everything you need to know,” Sussman said. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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