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Richard Falk, the former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Palestinian affairs, stated that the brutal assault carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023 — in which approximately 1,200 Israelis, the majority of them civilians, were murdered — was “long overdue” and “entirely justifiable,” even acknowledging that it may have included breaches of international law.

In an interview released by the Indian outlet Countercurrents, Falk said, “To the extent that there is real evidence of atrocities accompanying the October 7 attack, those would constitute violations, but the attack itself is something that, in context, appears entirely justifiable and long overdue.”

Falk claimed that Western countries and Israel have deliberately removed the context of the October 7 massacre in an effort to shape global perception. “One of the tactics used by the West and Israel has been to almost succeed in decontextualizing October 7 so that it appears to have come out of the blue,” he said, citing UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ controversial remark that the attack did not occur “in a vacuum.”

He also endorsed the opinion of Zhang Jun, China’s Ambassador to The Hague, who asserted that Palestinians possess the “inalienable right” to wage “armed struggle” against Israel. “Yes, I think that’s a correct understanding of international law—one that the West, by and large, doesn’t want to hear about,” Falk remarked in support of Zhang’s assertion.

Falk has a documented record of hostility toward Israel and has been repeatedly accused of antisemitism due to his radical views. In 2011, the Anti-Defamation League condemned him for publishing a cartoon on his personal blog that depicted a dog wearing a kippah urinating on Lady Justice and gnawing on blood-soaked bones. Even UN official Navi Pillay, a fierce critic of Israel herself, called the image “antisemitic and objectionable.”

Although Falk later issued an apology for the cartoon, he has continued to spark outrage through a series of inflammatory claims, including blaming Israel for the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and participating in radio programs hosted by conspiracy theorists who deny the Holocaust and question the events of 9/11. He has persistently defended both the use of violence by Palestinians and the actions of the Hamas terrorist organization.

{Matzav.com}

The Auschwitz Jewish Center (AJC) is bringing kosher food back to this once-flourishing Jewish community and adding tefillos to its program in time for the annual March of the Living pilgrimage of tens of thousands of Jews from around the world starting April 23rd. In addition to providing access to the shul and guided tours of its museum, the Auschwitz Jewish Center’s kosher concession will offer shelf-stable packaged kosher meals for purchase starting just after Pesach. The meals will be available for a nominal fee, and visitors wishing to reserve meals, participate in tours, or attend tefillos can contact the center via https://ajcfus.org/programs/#contact-popup. Before the Holocaust, Oświęcim was home to a thriving Jewish community, which made up more than half of the population and boasted over 30 shuls. Today, the Auschwitz Jewish Center is the only surviving shul from that time and serves as both a museum and an educational center dedicated to fighting hatred and bigotry. Since its reopening, the center has welcomed over 800,000 visitors eager to learn about the Jewish history of Oświęcim. Thousands of students, educators, first responders, and military personnel have participated in its impactful educational programs, which teach the lessons of the Holocaust from the very site of Auschwitz, the most iconic symbol of Nazi death and destruction. “As more and more visitors come to Auschwitz to learn about the Holocaust, many also choose to visit the Auschwitz Jewish Center,” said Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation Chairman Simon Bergson. “Opening the city’s first post-war kosher concession was a natural step, ensuring that Kosher-observant visitors could pray or reflect in our synagogue while also enjoying a kosher meal.” “It is remarkable that nearly a century ago, Oświęcim was more than half Jewish, home to over 30 synagogues, and had kosher butchers, bakeries, and eateries. Opening the town’s first post-war kosher concession is a powerful reminder of the resilience of Jewish life in this city. Our responsibility is to honor the legacy of the Jewish community that once thrived here and provide a space where visitors can learn about the past and experience a piece of that living history. This concession is more than just a place to eat – it symbolizes continuity, resilience, and hope for future generations,” said Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation Director General Jack Simony. The Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to harnessing the lessons learned from Holocaust the to combat hatred and bigotry through educational programs and by providing direct humanitarian aid to victims of mass atrocities. It supports survivors of genocides and other tragedies, including Ukrainian refugees and those impacted by Hamas’s October 7 attacks. 

The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of President Trump, permitting him to utilize the Alien Enemies Act to deport members of the Tren de Aragua gang.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent: “There are 50, 60, maybe almost 70 countries now who have approached us.”

President Donald Trump welcomed the 2024 World Series-winning Los Angeles Dodgers to the White House on Monday, hosting the team for a special ceremony in the East Room.

Although their championship win came several months ago in a decisive five-game series against the New York Yankees, the Dodgers arrived in Washington to be honored for their remarkable season.

“Over the course of this amazing season, the members of this team gave us some of the most incredible performances ever seen on the baseball diamond,” Trump said.

Trump reserved particular acclaim for National League MVP Shohei Ohtani, who made baseball history by becoming the first player to rack up over 50 home runs and steal more than 50 bases in a single season, launching the exclusive “50-50 club.”

“Even more incredibly, Shohei clinched that achievement in what some have called the greatest game ever,” Trump noted.

“On September 19, 2024, he did the unthinkable by going six for six… against the Marlins with three homers, ten RBIs and a pair of stolen bases. Other than that, it was not a great game,” Trump joked.

Trump also took time to highlight Dodgers stars Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, while teasing the Boston Red Sox for parting ways with Betts, who’s now a key part of the Dodgers’ powerhouse roster alongside Freeman.

Veteran pitcher and likely Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw represented the team on the podium and handed the president a Dodgers jersey as a token of appreciation.

“This is an incredible honor for me to stand here today representing the Los Angeles Dodgers and this group of staff and players behind me today,” Kershaw said.

He paid tribute to the determination and unselfishness of his teammates during their championship run.

“The selflessness and humility that each one of these players and staff have shown over the last year is truly an inspiration,” Kershaw said. “They have constantly played hurt, switched positions, and taken the ball to put the team first.”

Following the ceremony, the team accompanied President Trump to the Oval Office for a more private visit.

WATCH:

The National Weather Service is no longer providing language translations of its products, a change that experts say could put non-English speakers at risk of missing potentially life-saving warnings about extreme weather. The weather service has “paused” the translations because its contract with the provider has lapsed, NWS spokesman Michael Musher said. He declined further comment. Lilt, an artificial intelligence company, began providing translations in late 2023, replacing manual translations that the weather service had said were labor-intensive and not sustainable and eventually. It eventually provided them in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, French and Samoan. The contract lapse comes as President Donald Trump’s administration is seeking to slash spending in federal agencies, including cuts within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that have led to high employee vacancy rates at NWS offices. NOAA referred questions about the contract to a message on its website announcing the contract had lapsed. Lilt did not respond to requests for comment. Nearly 68 million people in the U.S. speak a language other than English at home, including 42 million Spanish speakers, according to 2019 Census data. Not being able to read urgent weather alerts could be a matter of life or death, said Joseph Trujillo-Falcón, a researcher at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who has worked with NOAA researching how to translate weather and climate information to the public, including the use of artificial intelligence. He said translated weather alerts saved lives during a deadly tornado outbreak in Kentucky in 2021. A Spanish-speaking family interviewed afterward said they got a tornado alert on their cellphone in English but ignored it because they didn’t understand it, he said. When the same alert came in Spanish, they quickly sought shelter, he said. “It saved their life,” said Trujillo-Falcón. Trujillo-Falcón said weather alerts used to be translated by forecasters that spoke more than one language, a task that could be “completely overwhelming” on top of their forecasting duties. The translations are important for more than extreme weather events, said Andrew Kruczkiewicz, a senior researcher at the Columbia Climate School at Columbia University. General weather forecasts are essential for a number of sectors including tourism, transportation and energy. Families and businesses can make more informed decisions when they can get weather information that often includes actions that should be taken based on the forecast. Norma Mendoza-Denton, a professor of anthropology at the University of California, Los Angeles, said there are many people in the U.S. that function with limited English relevant to their daily routines. For example, a shopkeeper might be able to have short conversations with customers, but might not have the same understanding when it comes to reading weather or climate terminologies. “If they don’t have access to that National Weather Service information in the different languages, that could be the difference between life and death for somebody,” said Mendoza-Denton. (AP)

[COMMUNICATED]

As Pesach approaches, thousands of families in Eretz Yisrael are struggling to afford even the most basic necessities for Yom Tov. Kupat HaMarkazit, under the leadership of HaGaon HaRav Ezriel Auerbach, shlit”a, is their lifeline—ensuring they have food on their tables and dignity in their homes.

This is our opportunity to fulfill the time-honored tradition of Kimcha D’Pischa—giving to those in need so that they, too, can celebrate Pesach with joy.

Now is the time to act.

Open your heart. Give generously. Your tzedakah will ensure no Yiddishe home goes without matzah, wine, and the essentials for Pesach.

May all who are mishtatef in this heilige mitzvah be zocheh to shefa bracha v’hatzlacha and to be mekabel the Yom Tov b’simcha u’b’tuv leiv!

A Call from Gedolei HaTorah

In a powerful letter (TRANSLATION BELOW), the Roshei Yeshiva of Beis Medrash Govoha—HaRav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, HaRav Yeruchem Olshin, HaRav Dovid Schustal, and HaRav Yisroel Neuman—along with HaRav Aharon Feldman and HaRav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, urge support for this vital cause:

B’siyata D’Shmaya – Erev Yom Tov Pesach 5785
We come with this beki’riya to our acheinu, in the matter of Kupas HaTzedakah HaMekubedes which operates under the nesiyus of the Gaon HaRav Ezriel Auerbach shlit”a, which stands to help and support families of simple people and those in need throughout Eretz Yisrael, and those who are literally in need of pas lechem mamash, through the distribution of food packages on erev hamo’adim and throughout the entire year.
And all this is done under the oversight of the gedolei haTorah v’haHora’ah shlit”a. We have seen through experience, over the years, the ability and strength of this organization in matters concerning Eretz Yisrael that are praiseworthy in both aid and success.
And especially the hiddur in fulfilling the mitzvas matanos l’evyonim on yom Purim through superior tzedakah, and likewise the minhag mekubbal of Kimcha D’Pischa before chag haPesach.
And all the donors and supporters should be zocheh to beracha v’hatzlacha in all matters, and may their voice be heard for the good in all inyanim.
Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, Yeruchem Olshin, Dovid Schustal, Yisroel Neuman
Elya Ber Wachtfogel, Aharon Feldman

Maran Rosh HaYeshiva Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlit”a issued a rare, personal plea to help a talmid chacham from Bnei Brak facing severe financial hardship, entirely innocent of any wrongdoing. This highly respected talmid chacham, from a distinguished Torah family, is in urgent need of assistance. Maran Hirsch emphasized that helping him is an incredibly important mitzvah, urging those who can to contribute 1000 shekels (approx. $300). A special fund (Fund 5880) has been established at Kupat Ha’ir. Respond to this urgent call and receive the brocha of success and divine assistance. To donate click here

President Trump rejected a proposal put forth by the European Union on Monday that aimed to eliminate tariffs on industrial goods on both sides, dismissing the offer as insufficient to warrant lifting the current 20% import duties.

“The EU has been very tough over the years,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked about the proposal. “It was formed to really do damage to the United States in trade.”

“They don’t take our cars, like Japan in that sense. They don’t take our agricultural product; they don’t take anything practically,” he continued.

Highlighting the imbalance in trade, Trump stated, “We have a [trade] deficit with the European Union of $350 billion — and it’s going to disappear fast,” adding that a key way to address the disparity would be for the EU to start purchasing American energy exports. “And one of the ways that that can disappear easily and quickly is they’re going to have to buy our energy from us.”

In response to a question about whether the sweeping global tariffs introduced on Saturday were meant as a strategic move to invite future discussions, Trump was clear in his position: “We’re not looking at that.”

Explaining his broader approach to trade, Trump said, “We have very many countries that are coming to negotiate deals with us. And they’re going to be fair deals,” emphasizing that some nations would face “substantial tariffs” as part of those agreements.

“This is America First,” he declared. “There can be permanent tariffs, and there can also be negotiations.”

Trump argued that this moment represents a rare opportunity to fundamentally change the terms of global trade in America’s favor. “It’s the only chance that we will have to reset the table,” he said, citing the closure of 90,000 American manufacturing plants since the implementation of NAFTA in 1994.

European leaders had earlier in the day detailed their own initial offer to ease trade tensions by proposing to scrap tariffs on various industrial goods, including items like plastics, rubber, cars, machinery, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.

“We have offered zero-for-zero tariffs for industrial goods as we have successfully done with many other trading partners,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

“Because Europe is always ready for a good deal. So we keep it on the table,” she added during a joint press appearance with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

“We stand ready to negotiate with the US,” von der Leyen affirmed. “We are also prepared to respond through countermeasures and defend our interests.”

EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič of Slovakia noted that the idea of zero tariffs on industrial products had already been floated to U.S. officials, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, back on February 19.

“Right now we are in the early stages of discussions, because the US views tariffs not as a tactical step, but as a corrective measure,” Šefčovič said Monday.

Despite efforts at diplomacy, European officials have not dismissed the possibility of retaliatory actions in response to Trump’s previously enacted 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum.

Since Trump’s “Liberation Day” announcement on April 2, which unveiled a new 10% global tariff base rate and set the stage for higher duties starting April 9, markets worldwide have experienced a steep decline.

Trump, 78, also enacted a 25% tariff on all foreign-made vehicles entering the United States.

While the EU’s average tariff on agricultural goods from outside the U.S. stands at just 1.6%, American-made cars face a 10% duty when exported to Europe.

The STOXX Europe 600 index opened with a sharp 6% drop on Monday but regained some ground to end the day down just 2.9%, helped in part by von der Leyen’s conciliatory remarks.

Over the weekend, Department of Government Efficiency head Elon Musk expressed cautious optimism that trade talks could lead to a better outcome. “I hope that the United States and Europe can establish a very close partnership,” said the Tesla and SpaceX CEO, “effectively creating a free-trade zone between Europe and North America.”

Such a deal was close to fruition during President Obama’s second term, but negotiations were derailed after Greenpeace leaked sensitive documents, sparking a wave of public resistance.

Further complications arose from fundamental disagreements over food safety standards between the two sides.

Talks for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership formally collapsed during Trump’s first term in 2019.

{Matzav.com}

Ten elected officials who once demanded Andrew Cuomo’s resignation from the governorship over harassment allegations are now endorsing his political comeback. The reversal includes several female lawmakers, sparking criticism from advocates who say the move undermines the Me Too movement and the fight against workplace harassment in government. “Electeds’ support for Cuomo is a slap-in-the-face betrayal to government workers everywhere, including their own staff,” said Erica Vladimer, founder of the Harassment Working Group. “It’s cowardly for anyone who rightfully spoke up against Cuomo four years ago to now say, ‘Ho hum, second chances, let the voters decide.’” Back in 2021, following a report from State Attorney General Letitia James that substantiated multiple harassment claims against Cuomo, many lawmakers publicly denounced the then-governor. Among them was Queens State Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky, who said at the time: “It is clear that there is a pattern of unacceptable and troubling behavior. The governor should resign or face impeachment.” Now, Stavisky is one of several who have endorsed Cuomo’s mayoral campaign. Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, who serves as Brooklyn’s Democratic Party chair, also reversed her stance. Once calling Cuomo’s resignation “a relief” and “in the interest of the people of this state,” she now praises his candidacy. Brooklyn Councilwoman Farah Louis, who previously said Cuomo “could no longer lead New York State effectively,” is also among his current supporters. Other officials who once called for Cuomo to resign but now support his mayoral run include State Sen. James Sanders Jr., Rep. Ritchie Torres, Rep. Gregory Meeks, State Sen. Joe Addabbo, and Assemblymen David Weprin and Ed Braunstein — all Democrats. Cuomo, who has denied all harassment allegations, left office in 2021 amid mounting political pressure. His campaign now argues he’s been vindicated, pointing out that related criminal and civil cases were either dropped, dismissed, or closed without findings of guilt. “New York is in crisis – a crisis of affordability, of quality of life, and of leadership,” said campaign spokesman Richard Azzopardi. “Governor Cuomo is the only person in this race with the proven track record to tackle these issues head-on. That’s why he has built a broad coalition of support that reflects our great city.” He added, “Since the beginning, we said all of this was political and wasn’t going anywhere, and four years later, that has all borne out.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Chief Justice John Roberts agreed Monday to pause a midnight deadline for the Trump administration to return a Maryland man mistakenly deported to a notorious prison in El Salvador. The temporary order comes hours after a Justice Department emergency appeal to the Supreme Court arguing U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis overstepped her authority when she ordered Kilmar Abrego Garcia returned to the United States. The administration has conceded that Abrego Garcia should not have been sent to El Salvador because an immigration judge found he likely would face persecution by local gangs. But he is no longer in U.S. custody and the government has no way to get him back, the administration argued. Xinis gave the administration until just before midnight to “facilitate and effectuate” Abrego Garcia’s return. “The district court’s injunction—which requires Abrego Garcia’s release from the custody of a foreign sovereign and return to the United States by midnight on Monday—is patently unlawful,” Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote in court papers, casting the order as one in “a deluge of unlawful injunctions” judges have issued to slow President Donald Trump’s agenda. The Justice Department appeal was directed to Roberts because he handles appeals from Maryland. The Trump administration is separately asking the Supreme Court to allow Trump to resume deportations of Venezuelan migrants accused of being gang members to the same Salvadoran prison under an 18th century wartime law. The federal appeals court in Richmond, Virginia, denied the administration’s request for a stay. “There is no question that the government screwed up here,” Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson wrote in a brief opinion accompanying the unanimous denial. The White House has described Abrego Garcia’s deportation as an “administrative error” but has also cast him an MS-13 gang member. Attorneys for Abrego Garcia said there is no evidence he was in MS-13. “The Executive branch may not seize individuals from the streets, deposit them in foreign prisons in violation of court orders, and then invoke the separation of powers to insulate its unlawful actions from judicial scrutiny,” Abrego Garcia’s lawyers wrote in a response filed moments after Roberts issued his temporary pause. Xinis wrote that the decision to arrest him and send him to El Salvador appears to be “wholly lawless,” explaining that little to no evidence supports a “vague, uncorroborated” allegation that Abrego Garcia was once an MS-13 member. Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old Salvadoran national who has never been charged or convicted of any crime, was detained by immigration agents and deported last month. He had a permit from DHS to legally work in the U.S. and was a sheet metal apprentice pursuing a journeyman license, his attorney said. His wife is a U.S. citizen. In 2019, an immigration judge barred the U.S. from deporting Abrego Garcia to El Salvador. A Justice Department lawyer conceded in a court hearing that Abrego Garcia should not have been deported. Attorney General Pam Bondi later removed the lawyer, Erez Reuveni, from the case and placed him on leave. (AP)

A newly released medical assessment from the Health Team of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum paints a devastating picture of the health crisis facing the 24 Israeli hostages who remain in Hamas captivity in Gaza, a year and a half after their abduction. The findings indicate a steep decline in both physical well-being and mental stability.

Compiled using accounts from recently freed hostages, publicly released Hamas footage, and input from family members, the report details severe hunger, lack of medical treatment for injuries, and ongoing psychological torment suffered by the captives.

Of the 24 hostages confirmed to still be alive, signs of life have been received from 20. The report states that at least eight individuals are struggling with serious wounds, and five are afflicted by chronic medical conditions or dangerous allergies. Most of them are being held in underground bunkers that lack sunlight, ventilation, or even the most basic human necessities.

“This is a preventable death—one that could be avoided through medical and psychological care, and their immediate release from captivity,” the report states bluntly.

Professor Hagai Levine, who leads the Health Team, issued a dire warning: “When examining the health of all the hostages together, a horrifying picture of life in hell is revealed. All of the hostages are subjected to inhumane physical and psychological torture and are at risk of death. Every one of them is a humanitarian case and must be rescued urgently.”

The report’s other major conclusions include:

• Severe physical decline in all hostages, including drastic weight loss, fatigue, muscle wasting, skin conditions, and digestive complications

• Around one-third are living with untreated injuries such as burns, shrapnel wounds, broken bones, or nerve trauma

• Several captives are dealing with unmanaged chronic illnesses like asthma, digestive disorders, and serious allergies

• Psychological trauma is widespread, with symptoms of depression, intense anxiety, emotional collapse, and hopelessness

• Many are enduring isolation, ongoing sleep deprivation, and deliberate humiliation

• Living conditions in the tunnels are described as suffocating, with stifling heat or cold, poor airflow, and unsanitary surroundings

{Matzav.com}

There a stink rising over the United Kingdom’s second-largest city. Garbage has piled up for a month in Birmingham during a dispute between the city and its trash collectors. It is a sore sight for eyes and offensive to the nose. Mountains of garbage are said to be visible from space and people have complained of seeing rats as big as cats in the refuse. “You can see the juice flowing out of the bags onto the road. It stinks,” Naeem Yousef said. “It’s bringing down the areas. People are saying, ‘Look at these areas, how dirty these people are.’” Talks on Monday failed to reach an agreement, but they were scheduled to resume Tuesday as the strike enters its fifth week. Members of Unite, the union representing garbage truck workers, walked off the job March 11 over the elimination of a job position and painful pay cuts. The council said it’s made a reasonable offer, that cuts would only affect a small number of jobs and the jobs being eliminated are unnecessary. As heaps of black bags littered sidewalks with their contents spilling out of holes chewed by critters, the city council declared a major incident to bring in additional cleanup crews and vehicles. Photos on news sites and social media show furniture, mattresses and car bumpers illegally dumped alongside bulging trash bags. In one neighborhood, garbage sacks were set ablaze. Birmingham, a city of more than 1 million residents 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of London in the Midlands of England, has been here before. A garbage strike in 2017 brought similar chaos and lasted seven weeks in the heat of summer. Picketing workers have been blamed for blocking dump trucks from leaving depots until police stepped in. But even with some trucks rolling, the backlog of refuse is daunting and options for residents to get rid of their waste are limited and time-consuming. Drone footage on the BBC that was shot Friday showed a mile-long traffic backup to a mobile dump site. Vanita Patel said she was depositing her garbage in relatives’ bins outside Birmingham. Yousef, meanwhile, removed the equipment from his work van to deliver his rubbish and that of his neighbors to a local dump site, where he had to make an appointment. “It’s like winning a lottery now to try and get a booking,” he said. (AP)

In a dramatic turn of events, President Donald Trump revealed today that the United States would begin high-level, direct negotiations with Iran regarding its nuclear program. The announcement came during his Oval Office meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.

“We’re having direct talks with Iran, and they’ve started,” Trump said to the press on Monday, following a meeting that was initially expected to center on Israel’s request for relief from new U.S. trade tariffs.

“Maybe a deal’s going to be made, that would be great. We are meeting very importantly on Saturday, at almost the highest level,” he added, surprising many with the timing and nature of the disclosure.

Trump’s declaration came just one day after Iranian officials publicly dismissed the idea of entering direct talks with the United States about their nuclear program, labeling such efforts as futile.

The president withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear deal during his first term in office in 2018, and speculation has continued ever since about whether Israel, with or without American involvement, would consider striking Iranian nuclear sites if no diplomatic resolution is reached.

“Everybody agrees that doing a deal would be preferable to doing the obvious — and the obvious is not something that I want to be involved with, or frankly, that Israel wants to be involved with, if they can avoid it,” Trump stated.

The announcement coincided with Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, where he became the first foreign leader to personally ask Trump to reconsider the newly imposed tariffs that have rattled international trade markets.

Netanyahu promised to reduce the trade imbalance between the U.S. and Israel and said he would work to eliminate remaining trade barriers. Ahead of the meeting, Israel had already taken steps to remove its final tariffs on American goods.

He noted that he believed Israel could serve “as a model for many countries” in how to approach and resolve tariff disputes diplomatically.

The two leaders also addressed the worsening situation in Gaza, where a short-lived truce between Israel and Hamas, facilitated by the United States, had recently fallen apart.

Netanyahu told reporters that efforts were underway to reach a new agreement focused on freeing hostages from the conflict zone. “We’re working now on another deal that we hope will succeed, and we’re committed to getting all the hostages out,” he said.

Trump reiterated his intention for the United States to play a central role in managing the future of Gaza, calling it a “great piece of real estate,” a vision he first outlined during Netanyahu’s previous visit in February.

Earlier that day, Trump greeted Netanyahu outside the West Wing, pumping his fist as the two leaders—both dressed in matching dark suits, white shirts, and red ties—headed into the Oval Office.

Although a full press conference had been scheduled, it was abruptly canceled without explanation. However, both leaders held a detailed conversation with a smaller group of pool reporters.

This marked Netanyahu’s second visit to the White House since Trump returned to office. It came just days after Trump announced a 17 percent tariff on Israeli imports as part of his “Liberation Day” declaration, a move that shocked some observers.

Despite Israel being the leading recipient of U.S. military aid, Trump declined to make an exception for the country, citing America’s trade imbalance with Israel.

Upon arriving in the U.S., Netanyahu met with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Sunday evening. The following day, he held discussions with Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.

{Matzav.com}

Israel officially acknowledged that it had received a proposal from Egypt aimed at brokering a compromise for a potential hostage release agreement. However, an Israeli official clarified that the country would not accept the terms, citing Egypt’s condition that Israel agree to a permanent ceasefire and withdraw all IDF troops from the Gaza Strip.

According to a report in the Saudi outlet Asharq Al-Awsat, an Egyptian official said the proposal had been shown to Hamas leaders. It outlined a plan under which roughly eight Israeli hostages would be freed in return for a ceasefire that would span anywhere from 40 to 70 days.

Hamas, however, demanded assurances that Israel would uphold the ceasefire even after the hostages were released. To address this, Egypt’s plan included a clause that the hostages would be released in a staggered fashion throughout one week, rather than all at once.

As part of the deal, Israel would agree to halt military operations against Hamas and allow humanitarian aid to flow back into Gaza. The agreement would also include the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the Israeli hostages. In parallel, further talks would resume regarding the second and third phases of a broader agreement reached in January.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Netanyahu met with Steve Witkoff, a Trump administration Middle East envoy. Following the meeting, a source close to Netanyahu remarked, “there are movements in Hamas and tonight’s meeting is critical. There is full coordination between Israel and the US. An effort is being made to release as many hostages as possible in the near future, and the message coordinated with Trump is always of decisive significance, and in these moments in particular.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

In a poignant tribute to one of the youngest victims of the October 7 Hamas-led massacre, the Academy of the Hebrew Language has officially renamed a species of butterfly in honor of four-year-old Ariel Bibas. The butterfly, previously known in Hebrew as Kitmit Yerushalayim (Orange Yerushalayim), will now be called Kitmit Ariel (Orange Ariel), commemorating the child who, along with his mother and baby brother, was murdered after being taken hostage. The Academy announced the name change on Friday, noting that the new designation carries deep symbolic meaning. The name “Ariel” is one of the 70 poetic names for Yerushalayim, thus maintaining a connection to the original name while creating a lasting memorial. “May this be some consolation in your grief, and may his memory be a remembrance for all those who perished and fell in this great disaster,” the Academy wrote in a letter addressed to Ariel’s father, Yarden Bibas. Yarden, who was also abducted, was released from captivity in February. The decision to rename the Melitaea ornata (eastern knapweed fritillary) was made unanimously by the Academy following consent from Yarden Bibas. The family, instantly recognizable from Ariel and nine-month-old Kfir’s vivid red-orange hair, became an emotional focal point of the campaign to bring Israeli hostages home. The color orange grew to symbolize the Bibas family’s struggle and the broader national effort for the safe return of all abductees. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

As Pesach approaches, thousands of families in Eretz Yisrael are struggling to afford even the most basic necessities for Yom Tov. Kupat HaMarkazit, under the leadership of HaGaon HaRav Ezriel Auerbach, shlit”a, is their lifeline—ensuring they have food on their tables and dignity in their homes. This is our opportunity to fulfill the time-honored tradition of Kimcha D’Pischa—giving to those in need so that they, too, can celebrate Pesach with joy. Now is the time to act. Open your heart. Give generously. Your tzedakah will ensure no Yiddishe home goes without matzah, wine, and the essentials for Pesach. May all who are mishtatef in this heilige mitzvah be zocheh to shefa bracha v’hatzlacha and to be mekabel the Yom Tov b’simcha u’b’tuv leiv! A Call from Gedolei HaTorah In a powerful letter (TRANSLATION BELOW), the Roshei Yeshiva of Beis Medrash Govoha—HaRav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, HaRav Yeruchem Olshin, HaRav Dovid Schustal, and HaRav Yisroel Neuman—along with HaRav Aharon Feldman and HaRav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, urge support for this vital cause: B’siyata D’Shmaya – Erev Yom Tov Pesach 5785We come with this beki’riya to our acheinu, in the matter of Kupas HaTzedakah HaMekubedes which operates under the nesiyus of the Gaon HaRav Ezriel Auerbach shlit”a, which stands to help and support families of simple people and those in need throughout Eretz Yisrael, and those who are literally in need of pas lechem mamash, through the distribution of food packages on erev hamo’adim and throughout the entire year.And all this is done under the oversight of the gedolei haTorah v’haHora’ah shlit”a. We have seen through experience, over the years, the ability and strength of this organization in matters concerning Eretz Yisrael that are praiseworthy in both aid and success.And especially the hiddur in fulfilling the mitzvas matanos l’evyonim on yom Purim through superior tzedakah, and likewise the minhag mekubbal of Kimcha D’Pischa before chag haPesach.And all the donors and supporters should be zocheh to beracha v’hatzlacha in all matters, and may their voice be heard for the good in all inyanim.Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, Yeruchem Olshin, Dovid Schustal, Yisroel NeumanElya Ber Wachtfogel, Aharon Feldman

After a meeting with former President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu spoke to journalists and revealed that Israel had been actively pursuing a new agreement involving a hostage release and a ceasefire in Gaza. He expressed hope that the negotiations would prove successful.

Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s dual objectives: securing the freedom of all remaining hostages and removing Hamas from power in Gaza. “We’re working now on another deal that we hope will succeed, and we’re committed to getting all the hostages out,” Netanyahu stated during his remarks in the Oval Office.

He acknowledged the suffering endured by those still in captivity, saying, “The hostages are in agony, and we want to get them all out.”

Netanyahu also shared that he and Trump had discussed the American president’s proposed initiative to relocate displaced Gazans during the region’s reconstruction, calling the plan a “bold” vision.

Trump commented on the state of the conflict, predicting that the fighting in Gaza would not continue indefinitely. “I’d like to see the war stop, and I think the war will stop at some point that won’t be in the too distant future. Right now, we have a problem with hostages. We’re trying to get the hostages out…. It’s a long process. It shouldn’t be that long.”

He commended Netanyahu’s commitment to the hostage crisis and expressed hope that the Israeli public recognized his dedication. “We are trying very hard to get the hostages out. We are looking at another ceasefire; we’ll see what happens. We want to get the hostages out.”

Trump continued, “The Israeli people want the hostages out. More than anything, they want the hostages out. This man is working very hard with us to do that. I don’t know, I hope he’s being appreciated because he’s been a great leader. He’s working very, very hard on the hostages and many other things… It’s a tough place in the world.”

Netanyahu responded by saying, “I have a good partner.”

To which Trump replied, “You do have a good partner, and so do we.”

{Matzav.com}