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Vice President JD Vance alleged that individuals connected to elements within the Israeli government financed an organized campaign aimed at discrediting him over the Trump administration’s efforts to negotiate with Iran. Speaking on Joe Rogan’s podcast, Vance claimed the operation was designed to undermine both the negotiations and the eventual ceasefire initiative.

During the interview, Vance described what he called a coordinated effort operating behind the scenes.

He said there was a “very discreet, extremely well-funded campaign” that had attempted to derail negotiations and a ceasefire agreement.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2077450739207610427

To support his claims, Vance pointed to a recent TIME magazine investigation examining a digital media campaign overseen by Brad Parscale, President Donald Trump’s former campaign manager. According to the report, Parscale’s firm, Clock Tower X, was retained by the global advertising agency Havas to conduct a messaging campaign on behalf of the State of Israel.

TIME reported that filings submitted under the Foreign Agents Registration Act showed Israel agreed to pay Clock Tower X $1.5 million each month. The campaign focused on producing online content geared primarily toward younger audiences while amplifying its message across social media and other digital platforms.

According to the magazine, three individuals familiar with the project described a network in which conservative social media influencers received suggested messaging through private group chats and were compensated based on the reach and engagement generated by their posts.

Parscale denied that any money from the Israeli contract was used to pay influencers and rejected accusations that he had attempted to interfere with or undermine President Donald Trump’s policies.

Vance, however, interpreted the report differently.

“It lists a bunch of people who have quite literally been paid by a former Trump campaign person who was himself paid by certain elements within the Israeli government,” Vance told Rogan. He alleged that those individuals were “attacking me viciously for quite literally trying to accomplish the negotiation objective that the president set for the country.”

When Rogan asked how those attacks had manifested themselves, Vance said they came through online criticism as well as information being leaked to members of the media.

“They’re attacking me obsessively, saying that we should not be negotiating with Iran. We should just keep the military campaign going indefinitely,” he said.

Vance also said some critics accused him of being influenced by Qatar and other foreign governments, while others alleged that he was taking “marching orders from Tucker Carlson.”

The vice president emphasized that he has no objection to Israeli officials expressing their views or attempting to persuade American policymakers. However, he said he opposes situations in which U.S. leaders allow outside influence to shape American policy decisions.

“When I open up the pages of Time Magazine and I see that there’s a literal foreign influence campaign being funded to tank the very deal that I was pursuing, and, oh, by the way, many of the people who were receiving that money were actually attacking me in completely dishonest ways, you know, my response to that is, well, go to hell,” Vance said.

“I’m going to do what I have to do for the American people. I represent Americans first.”

TIME also reported that some U.S. officials believed Israel’s effort to preserve support among younger conservatives conflicted with the Trump administration’s push to end the conflict with Iran. The publication quoted a senior U.S. intelligence official who claimed that American influencers were being paid by a foreign government in an effort to influence either the president or those closest to him.

Vice President JD Vance tells Joe Rogan that Jeffrey Epstein had clear connections to US and Israeli intelligence services.

"He clearly had connections to the highest levels of American intelligence, he clearly had connections to the highest levels of Israeli intelligence.” pic.twitter.com/Ze7HVfh0zC

— Jon Michael Raasch (@JMRaasch) July 15, 2026

Parscale denied coordinating any such operation and maintained that his firm’s work for Israel did not direct or influence independent commentators or hosts affiliated with Salem Media.

Elsewhere in the interview, Vance also discussed convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, asserting that Epstein maintained ties to both American and Israeli intelligence services.

“He clearly had connections to the highest levels of American intelligence. He clearly had connections to the highest levels of Israeli intelligence,” Vance stated.

Vance said the Epstein case illustrated the importance of distinguishing between different factions within Israel’s government, adding that not all Israeli officials opposed the administration’s diplomatic efforts.

“There are a lot of elements within the Israeli government that actually do like our peace process,” he said.

He further alleged that Epstein’s relationships were primarily with left-leaning figures within Israel’s political establishment.

“I’ve always found that fascinating,” Vance said. “It wasn’t like he was super connected to the right of center of Israeli politics.”

{Matzav.com}

In a significant shakeup within Israel’s ruling Likud Party, Knesset Member Dan Illouz announced Wednesday that he is leaving the party after serving a single term in the Knesset, citing deep disagreements over its direction and its handling of the military draft exemption issue.

“I cannot ask the public to vote for a party that I myself can no longer vote for,” Illouz said in a statement released Wednesday evening.

Reflecting on the aftermath of the October 7 massacre, Illouz argued that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu should have made way for new leadership at the conclusion of his current term.

“The truth is that immediately after October 7, it was clear to everyone that Netanyahu should end his tenure after this term. Instead of standing before the public and asking for forgiveness, Likud is doing everything it can to evade responsibility. We are removing the word ‘massacre’ from legislation and preventing the establishment of a commission of inquiry. A Jewish identity means, first and foremost, taking responsibility.”

Illouz said the recent legislation concerning military service exemptions for yeshivah students was the decisive factor behind his decision to leave the party.

“The saga of the draft exemption is a disgrace that made it clear to me that my place is no longer in Likud.”

He sharply criticized the party’s approach, accusing it of capitulating to its Chareidi coalition partners.

“At a time when the IDF is warning that it is collapsing under the burden, and my fellow reservists are sacrificing their families and their experience of fatherhood, Likud chose ongoing surrender to the Chareidi parties and advanced political maneuvers to institutionalize draft evasion. Today, there is no difference between voting for Likud, Shas, or Goldknopf.”

Illouz concluded by pledging to continue serving the country despite his departure from the party.

“I will continue to work for the State of Israel from wherever I am, with integrity and determination.”

In recent months, Illouz had emerged as one of the most outspoken critics within Likud, particularly regarding efforts to formalize the status of yeshivah students. Over the past two days, he voted against both the Basic Law: Torah Study and the law freezing the arrest of draft evaders.

Commenting on those measures, Illouz argued that they represented “a severe blow, not to mention a spit in the face of the public we were elected to represent.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump declared Wednesday that Iran is on the brink of defeat, signaling that the United States is prepared to intensify its military campaign unless Tehran agrees to negotiate. His remarks came as U.S. Central Command announced a second wave of strikes targeting Iranian military assets tied to threats against shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking at the Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit, Trump expressed confidence that the United States has gained the upper hand in its confrontation with the Islamic Republic.

“We’re doing really well with Iran. The Islamic Republic of Iran is not happy right now.”

Trump argued that decisive action against Iran should have been taken decades ago rather than allowing the regime to grow stronger over the years.

“Should have been done 47 years ago. Should have been done at least during the 47-year period. And it wasn’t. Other presidents didn’t do what was right. They should have done it a long time ago. Would have been much easier.”

Trump:

Iran will be defeated very soon. pic.twitter.com/DW1RxEjynl

— Clash Report (@clashreport) July 15, 2026

He also suggested that mounting U.S. pressure has left Tehran eager to negotiate, while making clear that military action remains on the table if diplomacy fails.

“They want to settle so badly. They don’t like what we’re doing. And they do want to settle. We’ll find out whether or not we settle with them or we just finish it off,” said Trump.

The president also took aim at President Barack Obama over the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran, arguing that the deal strengthened the regime and contributed to the current crisis.

“He was very bad on Iran because he basically gave them the money. He made a – what a horrible deal. He went away from Israel and he went to Iran. And that’s part of the reason that we’re stuck with this whole situation,” Trump stated.

Trump’s latest comments followed an interview with Fox News a day earlier in which he warned that U.S. attacks would become increasingly severe if Iran refused to engage in meaningful negotiations.

“We’re going to hit them very hard tonight, we’re going to hit them very hard tomorrow night, we’re going to hit them very hard the night after, and then next week it gets really bad for them because next week comes the power plants, next week comes the bridges.”

He said the campaign would soon expand to include critical infrastructure unless Iranian leaders changed course.

“We’re going to knock out all their power plants, we’re going to knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate,” he added.

Trump emphasized that the military operation would continue for as long as he deemed necessary, saying Iran’s capabilities had already been significantly weakened. “Continue until I say it’s enough…the word the military likes to use is degrade. They’ve been degraded to a very low level.”

As Trump spoke, U.S. Central Command confirmed Wednesday evening that American forces had begun a second wave of operations against Iran. According to CENTCOM, the latest strikes are focused on Iranian military capabilities that have been used to threaten international shipping transiting the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important waterways for global trade.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Israel’s Knesset interrupted its proceedings on Wednesday to pay an extraordinary tribute to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, honoring the longtime South Carolina lawmaker with a moment of silence in recognition of his decades of steadfast support for the Jewish state. The ceremony reflected the deep admiration Graham earned across Israel’s political spectrum and underscored the unique bond he forged with Israeli leaders over more than 30 years in public service.

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana opened the tribute by asking lawmakers to rise in memory of Graham, praising him as one of Israel’s most devoted allies in the United States.

“In honor of one of the greatest friends the state of Israel has ever had, members of the Knesset from both sides of the aisle will now rise for a moment of silence to pay our respects to the legendary Sen. Lindsey Graham.

“May his memory be a blessing,” he said.

Following Ohana’s remarks, members of the Knesset stood together in silence to honor the late senator.

The rare parliamentary recognition highlighted the immense respect Graham commanded in Israel, where he was widely regarded as one of the most vocal and dependable champions of the U.S.-Israel relationship.

During his years in the Senate, Graham consistently advocated for robust American military assistance to Israel, promoted closer defense cooperation between the two allies, and was among Washington’s leading voices calling for a hard line against Iran and other threats facing the region.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who shared a longstanding personal friendship with Graham, released a heartfelt statement after learning of his death.

“Sara and I grieve with the American people over the loss of our dear friend, Senator Lindsey Graham,” Netanyahu said.

“Lindsey understood that the security of Israel and America are inseparable. He devoted his life to defending America, strengthening our alliance and standing up for the free world.”

Netanyahu added, “Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend.”

President Isaac Herzog also expressed his sorrow, remembering Graham as a genuine friend of Israel whose commitment to the country never wavered. Defense Minister Israel Katz and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar likewise praised the senator’s unwavering dedication to Israel’s security and to strengthening the alliance between Jerusalem and Washington.

Graham died unexpectedly on Saturday following a brief illness caused by an aortic dissection, according to the District of Columbia’s chief medical examiner.

His passing at the age of 71 stunned political leaders in the United States and abroad, particularly because he had remained actively engaged in foreign policy discussions and had recently returned from overseas travel.

It is uncommon for Israel’s parliament to formally commemorate an American lawmaker in this manner, making Wednesday’s tribute especially significant.

The ceremony served as a reflection of Graham’s exceptional standing among Israel’s leadership, who viewed him not only as a steadfast advocate in Washington but also as a trusted personal friend whose support remained constant through changing administrations and multiple wars.

The tribute came as Israel prepares to send a high-level delegation—including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—to Graham’s funeral in the United States, another indication of the remarkable relationship the senator cultivated with the Jewish state throughout his long career in public service.

{Matzav.com}

A major coalition crisis erupted in the Knesset on Wednesday, throwing into doubt the fate of legislation aimed at significantly reducing the powers of Israel’s attorney general after Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni threatened to withhold support for the bill amid an escalating dispute with Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich.

The legislation, championed by Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Constitution Committee chairman MK Simcha Rothman, had reached the Knesset floor for its second and third readings after approximately 70 committee sessions. But moments before the decisive vote, the coalition was thrown into turmoil when the Chareidi parties signaled they might oppose the measure, triggering a direct confrontation between Gafni and Smotrich.

As negotiations intensified behind the scenes, Rothman prolonged his speech from the Knesset podium in an effort to delay the vote and buy time for coalition leaders to resolve the standoff.

At the heart of the dispute is mounting frustration within United Torah Judaism over what party leaders say is the government’s continued refusal to approve long-promised seniority-based salary increases for Chareidi preschool teachers.

According to UTJ officials, Smotrich has deliberately withheld the funding in an effort to pressure the Chareidi parties into allowing Religious Zionism representatives to join the municipal coalition in Beit Shemesh. In response, Gafni and his colleagues warned they would vote against one of the coalition’s flagship judicial reform bills—a move that could doom the legislation.

Religious Zionism responded with an unusually sharp public attack, accusing Gafni of effectively rescuing Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and preserving what it described as judicial overreach.

Sources close to Smotrich said Baharav-Miara “can send Gafni flowers,” arguing that his actions are granting her immunity, preserving her “judicial dictatorship,” and enabling her to continue undermining both the right-wing coalition and the Chareidi public for years to come.

The party also issued a direct warning to Gafni and his allies, declaring that if they are responsible for defeating legislation intended to curb the attorney general’s authority, “they will not be able to show their faces on the Chareidi street.” The statement concluded with the blunt message: “Let them not threaten.”

The confrontation comes despite earlier coalition understandings under which the Chareidi parties had agreed to fully support the attorney general legislation as part of a broader political agreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Under that arrangement, the coalition advanced several key priorities sought by the Chareidi parties, including the Basic Law: Torah Study, the law temporarily freezing the arrest of yeshiva bochurim who fail to report for military service—which has since been suspended by the High Court—and legislation repealing the kashrus reform.

Now, with tensions between coalition partners at their highest point in months, questions are mounting over whether that broader political agreement can survive.

The legislation at the center of the dispute would significantly reshape the relationship between Israel’s elected government and its legal advisers.

Its principal provision would eliminate the binding authority of the attorney general’s legal opinions, making them advisory rather than mandatory. Under the proposal, the attorney general would continue providing legal guidance, presenting policy alternatives, and helping ensure compliance with the law, but final decision-making authority would rest with the government and its ministers.

The bill also provides that while the attorney general’s written legal opinions would continue to reflect his or her interpretation of existing law, they would no longer be legally binding on the government. Ministers would have the authority to determine that an opinion does not accurately reflect the law, subject to notification of the Knesset Constitution Committee.

In addition, the proposal would give the government the final authority over its legal positions before the High Court and other courts. If the attorney general declines to represent the government’s position, the government would be permitted to retain private legal counsel to argue its case.

For now, however, the future of the judicial reform package remains uncertain, as coalition leaders struggle to bridge the widening divide between Smotrich and Gafni before the legislation comes to a vote.

{Matzav.com}

A House amendment to end aid to Israel sharply divided the Democratic caucus on Wednesday with less than half of Democrats voting to continue annual military funding to the Jewish State.

Only 93 of the 212 Democratic lawmakers in the House voted to oppose the amendment from Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) to end $3.3 billion in assistance to Israel.

The amendment failed 104-314, with 103 Democrats voting to end aid to Israel and 10 voting “present.” Massie was the lone Republican to vote in favor of the measure, with 215 Republicans opposed.

Debate on the amendment before the vote largely pitted Democrats against one another, with pro-Israel Democrats accusing their colleagues, who intended to vote in favor of the amendment, of endangering U.S. national security and the lives of Israeli civilians.

“This amendment would embolden the enemies of peace, those pursuing the complete elimination of Israel and those who seek the death of Jews,” said Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.). “It is a vote to weaken our ability to engage in the region and it’s a vote against American security, against American interests and against American safety.”

Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) accused Israel of “ethnic cleansing” and said that Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu had taken Israel “down an ugly path.”

“Israel does not need and quite honestly does not deserve more American money for weapons,” Castro said. “Do not reward a wrongdoer.”

Support for Israel has rapidly become one of the biggest fault lines in Democratic politics, as pro-Israel incumbents have lost a string of primary elections to anti-Israel challengers.

Democrats who voted in favor of the amendment to cut off Israel aid included 15 congressmen who are endorsed by AIPAC as “pro-Israel” candidates or thanked by the pro-Israel group on their endorsement page, including former House speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

One of those endorsees, Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.), said after the vote that he was rejecting AIPAC’s endorsement and returning its donations to his campaign.

“I expect groups like AIPAC will not support me in my future elections and frankly, I don’t want their support,” Ryan wrote. “Hardline stances that refuse to stand up to a corrupt and increasingly dangerous Netanyahu regime have no place in our politics.”

Two other AIPAC endorsees, Reps. Shontel Brown (D-Ohio) and Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.) voted “present” on the amendment.

Other pro-Israel groups that had endorsees who voted to cut off Israel aid included Democratic Majority for Israel and the Jewish Democratic Council of America. (JNS sought comment from AIPAC, DMFI and JDCA.)

Matt Brooks, CEO of the Republican Jewish Coalition, stated that the group “applauds House Republicans for unanimously defeating Thomas Massie’s reckless effort to strip all American aid to Israel from the State Department funding bill.”

Under the “strong leadership” of U.S. President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), “America has Israel’s back,” Brooks stated. “Today, the GOP-led House of Representatives proved it.”

Brooks said that Massie is “a voice of one in the Republican Party” and a “lame duck outlier.”

“The Republican majority left no doubt about where our party stands: resolutely with the Jewish state,” he said. “The contrast could not be clearer. In today’s Democratic Party, vociferous hostility to Israel is not the fringe. It is their future.”

“Democrats’ primaries are sending it to Congress, their leaders are indulging it and their base is demanding it,” he added. “Today’s Democratic Party is being shaped in the image of the worst, most radicalized elements of its anti-Israel base, and the Squad’s Hamas caucus is leading the way. Today’s vote reaffirms the longstanding commitment of Republicans to stand unwaveringly with Israel through thick and thin.”

The vote divided Democratic leadership even after Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) sent a letter to colleagues on Tuesday explaining his reasons for voting “no” on the measure. Jeffries said in the letter that he would not whip the vote given the “strongly held views” among Democrats on Israel.

Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), both of whom are endorsed by AIPAC, voted in favor of the amendment, while Jeffries and the two other members of the Democratic leadership team, Reps. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) and Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), voted to oppose it.

Massie argued in the debate that he was opposed to all foreign aid, not just aid to Israel, but his subsequent amendment to cut off aid to Jordan revealed the extent to which the Jewish state has become a particular focus of ire among House Democrats.

That amendment failed 421-6, with not a single Democrat voting to cut off military aid to the Arab kingdom. JNS

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Yosef Rabinowitz zt”l, the longtime mara d’asra of Khal Zichron Aryeh Leib in Flatbush, Brooklyn, who was niftar after decades of distinguished harbotzas haTorah and tireless service to his kehillah.

Rav Rabinowitz served as the rov of Khal Zichron Aryeh Leib for more than 40 years, earning the deep respect and affection of generations of mispallelim through his dedication, warmth, and steadfast hanhogah.

Rav Rabinowitz pursued his formative years of learning at Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin, where he became one of the devoted talmidim of the legendary rosh yeshiva, Rav Yitzchok Hutner zt”l. The profound influence of his rebbi and the other illustrious rabbeim at Chaim Berlin remained with him throughout his life, shaping both his worldview and his approach to Torah, avodah, and communal leadership. Those who knew him often remarked that he carried the distinctive spirit and ideals of Chaim Berlin wherever he went, remaining deeply connected to the yeshivah and its enduring legacy.

When he assumed the rabbonus of Khal Zichron Aryeh Leib, Rav Rabinowitz devoted himself wholeheartedly to the spiritual growth and well-being of his kehillah. For more than four decades, he served not merely as the rov of the kehillah, but as its guiding heart and soul. He was available at all hours to answer shailos, offer counsel, provide chizuk during difficult times, and share in the simchos of his mispallelim. His door was always open, and countless individuals benefited from his chochmah and compassion.

His rabbonus was characterized by genuine personal concern for every member of the kehillah. Whether delivering shiurim or providing practical guidance, he approached every interaction with sincerity and humility.

Throughout his life, Rav Rabinowitz remained deeply committed to harbotzas haTorah. An outstanding talmid chochom himself, he encouraged his mispallelim to engage in serious Torah learning and inspired others through his own hasmadah and ahavas haTorah.

The levayah was held today in Flatbush, after which kevurah took place at Beth David Cemetery in Elmont, New York.

Rav Rabinowitz is survived by his devoted rebbetzin, together with a distinguished family of children and grandchildren who continue to walk in his path of Torah, yiras Shamayim, and dedication to Klal Yisroel.

A Gerer yeshiva bochur studying at Yeshivas Sfas Emes was arrested Wednesday at an Israeli military draft office and immediately sentenced to 20 days in military prison after being classified by the IDF as a draft evader, despite having reportedly appeared at the enlistment office three separate times in an effort to regularize his status.

The arrest has sparked outrage within the Gerer community, where officials insist the young man made every effort to comply with the military’s instructions and that bureaucratic delays at the draft offices ultimately led to his imprisonment.

According to sources in Ger, the bochur‘s original reporting date was Monday. He arrived that day, but mistakenly went to the draft office in Yerushalayim instead of the office in Haifa, where he had been instructed to report.

Personnel in Yerushalayim directed him to the Haifa office, but by the time he arrived there, the office was preparing to close. He was instructed to return the following day.

The bochur returned to the Haifa draft office on Tuesday as instructed. However, according to those close to him, his case was not processed, and he was again told to return on Wednesday.

When he appeared for the third consecutive day on Wednesday morning, military officials informed him that because two days had passed since his original reporting date on Monday, he was now officially classified as absent without authorization and therefore considered a draft evader.

He was immediately tried by military authorities and sentenced to 20 days in military prison.

Officials in Ger contend that the imprisonment resulted solely from delays and repeated runarounds at the draft offices, arguing that the young man consistently followed every instruction he was given and genuinely sought to resolve his status.

The case is the latest in a growing series of arrests involving bnei yeshiva in recent days and has intensified criticism within the Chareidi community regarding the military’s handling of draft matters.

Just one day earlier, another ben yeshiva—a grandson of the Ziditchov Rebbe—was arrested after reporting to a draft office to address his status and was likewise classified as a draft evader, an incident that generated widespread outrage throughout the Chareidi community.

Community leaders say the military and defense establishment continue to demonstrate a lack of sensitivity to the unique realities of the Chareidi public.

“When an ordinary yeshiva bochur is arrested, localized protests immediately break out,” community sources said. “But when the person arrested is the grandson of an Admor or a chassid from a well-known family, the situation changes entirely and the public reaction becomes much more intense.”

Many within the Chareidi community now fear that the recent arrests could trigger widespread demonstrations, particularly because several of those detained were young men who, according to their supporters, were acting in good faith to regularize their status but instead became caught in bureaucratic delays.

The latest arrest also comes just a day after the Knesset approved legislation temporarily freezing the arrest of yeshiva bochurim over draft-related issues. That law, however, has since been suspended by an interim order issued by Israel’s High Court of Justice, leaving thousands of bnei yeshiva in continued legal uncertainty.

Yerushalayim Affairs and Jewish Heritage Minister Meir Porush delivered a fiery address in the Knesset on Wednesday, launching a blistering attack on Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and Israel’s High Court of Justice during debate over legislation redefining the powers of the attorney general. In an emotional speech, Porush accused the legal establishment of waging a campaign against Torah learners, likened its actions to those of Haman in the Purim story, and vowed that the Chareidi community would no longer submit to what it views as judicial persecution.

Taking the podium during the heated Knesset debate on the Attorney General Law, which addresses legal opinions, government representation, and oversight, Porush sharply criticized both the attorney general’s conduct and recent High Court rulings concerning the military draft of yeshiva bochurim and the funding of Torah institutions.

Addressing Baharav-Miara directly, Porush accused her of pushing the country toward an irreparable national divide through her legal policies on matters of religion and state.

Recalling the bill’s preliminary reading more than six months ago during the Purim season, Porush drew on imagery from Megillas Esther to compare the current political struggle to the biblical confrontation between Mordechai and Haman.

“You, Attorney General, are leading the country toward civil war,” he declared. “You are leading the nation toward an irreparable rift. When this bill passed its preliminary reading—the same bill we are debating today—during Purim more than half a year ago, I said: In Megillas Esther it is written, ‘If you have begun to fall before him, you shall surely fall,’ and I added, ‘Attorney Miara—you shall surely fall.’ Many members of this Knesset answered me then with ‘Amen,’ and today, together with the government, we are bringing that ‘Amen’ to fruition.”

Porush escalated his rhetoric by directly comparing the actions of the Attorney General’s Office and the High Court to those of Haman, accusing them of attempting to destroy the Torah world through legal rulings and financial sanctions.

“Just moments earlier in the Megillah it says, ‘If Mordechai is of the seed of the Jews…’ And today I stand here and say to everyone who thinks they can persecute Torah students—whether in the Attorney General’s Office or in the High Court—you, intoxicated by your own power, are behaving like Haman. Other than hanging Torah learners on the gallows, you have already done almost everything. But power does not last forever. ‘If Mordechai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the seed of the Jews, you will not prevail against him, but you shall surely fall before him,’” Porush proclaimed from the Knesset podium.

The minister went on to review Jewish history, arguing that every empire, ruler, and regime that sought to eradicate Torah and its students ultimately disappeared, while the Jewish people endured.

“Jewish history is filled with empires, rulers, tyrants, and officials consumed by delusions of grandeur who tried to uproot the Torah, restrict those who study it, and impose a foreign culture upon us. Where are they today? Buried beneath the dust of history. And where are we? Growing stronger! ‘The Eternity of Israel does not lie,’” he said to applause from members of his faction.

Concluding his speech, Porush declared that the Chareidi public would no longer bow to judicial decisions that, in its view, undermine the Torah world. He argued that the legislation represents the beginning of restoring authority from unelected legal officials to Israel’s elected representatives.

“The legal bureaucracy, sitting in its ivory tower, has become accustomed to believing it is the true ruler of the State—that it can issue decrees, freeze funding, turn kollel avreichim into criminals, and expect us to bow our heads. Those days are over. Today we are restoring authority to the people and to their elected representatives, and just as importantly, we are placing a bright stop sign in front of this anti-Jewish campaign of persecution,” Porush concluded.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is openly questioning Sen. Mitch McConnell’s extended absence from Congress, saying she cannot understand how such a lengthy disappearance by an elected official is being treated as routine.

Speaking with a reporter outside the U.S. Capitol, Ocasio-Cortez expressed disbelief over McConnell’s continued absence from the Senate.

“I mean, this is — I don’t even know how this is legal. I really don’t even know how this is legal at this point. And it — I just find it shocking,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “And how is everyone pretending this is normal? This is not normal. This is not normal, at all.”

The New York Democrat also referenced the extended absence of another Republican lawmaker, widely understood to be Rep. Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey, though she did not mention him by name.

“First of all, how is it that we have sitting elected members of Congress going missing for months at a time when, especially right now when the margin — margin in the Senate are razor-thin, the margins in the House are razor-thin,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “Every single person’s absence here has country-altering implications.”

While acknowledging that lawmakers can face legitimate medical issues, she argued that there comes a point when prolonged absences become unacceptable.

“There’s a line here, and I think almost everyone can agree that it’s been crossed.”

Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks come after weeks of questions surrounding McConnell’s health and whereabouts following his hospitalization on June 14.

McConnell, 84, has not cast a vote in the Senate for more than a month. On Sunday, he addressed the speculation by releasing a statement accompanied by a photograph of himself in the hospital with his wife.

In the statement, McConnell said his absence stemmed from injuries suffered in a fall, as well as a mild case of pneumonia.

“As much as it frustrates me, this process takes time. And on the advice of my doctors, I won’t be able to return to the Senate floor to vote quite yet,” he wrote in a Sunday statement shared with The Hill.

Despite that explanation, questions have continued to circulate regarding his condition.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., fueled some of that speculation on Monday when he questioned how recently the hospital photograph had been taken, though he later walked back those comments.

McConnell’s prolonged hospitalization, combined with the recent death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has complicated President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda, particularly efforts to advance a $1.5 trillion defense spending package.

As chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, McConnell oversees legislation involving Pentagon funding. Without his vote, Republicans could face an uphill battle in passing the defense package unless they secure support from Democratic senators.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump threw his full support behind MyPillow founder Mike Lindell on Wednesday, issuing a glowing endorsement of his campaign for governor of Minnesota and urging voters to send the longtime ally to the governor’s mansion.

Posting on Truth Social, Trump praised Lindell while sharply criticizing outgoing Democratic Gov. Tim Walz.

“Mike Lindell, the “Pillow Man,” and one of America’s greatest and most hard working Patriots, is running to be GOVERNOR OF MINNESOTA, replacing one of the worst and most incompetent governors in the history of the U.S.A.,” Trump wrote.

Lindell entered the gubernatorial race last December, becoming one of several Republican candidates seeking to succeed Walz. The Democratic governor, who had initially sought a third term, withdrew from the race in January after facing intense scrutiny over a massive fraud scandal in Minnesota.

According to prosecutors, as much as $9 billion was allegedly stolen by multiple organizations that claimed to provide meals for needy children and other services reimbursed through state agencies.

Trump has repeatedly clashed with Walz over the alleged fraud, as well as over immigration enforcement and the administration’s policies regarding the conflict with Iran.

In his endorsement, Trump said Lindell is the candidate capable of reversing the state’s decline.

“He can do it! Nobody has sacrificed more than Mike Lindell in fighting for our country, especially when it comes to Election Integrity,” Trump wrote. “He truly deserves everything he gets – He will MAKE MINNESOTA GREAT AGAIN!!!”

Trump concluded his endorsement by declaring, “MIKE LINDELL HAS MY COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT – HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN. Good Luck Mike!!!”

Lindell’s campaign comes only months after a federal judge ruled that he had defamed Smartmatic by making false statements alleging that the company’s voting machines helped rig the 2020 presidential election.

President Trump has continued to maintain that the 2020 election was illegitimate, despite courts and election officials finding no evidence of widespread fraud sufficient to change the outcome. He is expected to deliver a primetime address Thursday focused on election integrity.

Minnesota voters will head to the polls for the state’s primary election on Aug. 11. On the Democratic side, Sen. Amy Klobuchar is widely viewed as the leading contender heading into the November general election.

Last month, Lindell announced that retired U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Phillip Parish will be his running mate for lieutenant governor if he is elected. Parish, a former intelligence officer, withdrew his own gubernatorial campaign to join Lindell’s ticket.

{Matzav.com}

A wave of grief swept through the community in Yerushalayim on Wednesday following the tragic passing of four-and-a-half-year-old Frieda Hershkowitz a”h, who was fatally struck by a vehicle in the Meah Shearim neighborhood.

The devastating accident occurred shortly after midday on Rechov Harav Shmuel Salant. The young girl was hit by a passing vehicle, prompting an immediate response from emergency personnel.

First responders performed extensive resuscitation efforts at the scene before evacuating her in critical condition to a hospital in Yerushalayim. Despite the determined efforts of medical teams, she succumbed to her injuries, and her petirah was later confirmed.

The tragic news spread quickly, leaving family members, friends, neighbors, and residents of the surrounding Chareidi neighborhoods in profound shock and mourning.

Following the accident, ZAKA volunteers responded both at the scene and at the hospital to assist the family and ensure that every aspect of the situation was handled with dignity and according to halachah.

“With the receipt of the report, ZAKA volunteers were dispatched to the scene of the accident,” said Bentzi Auering, Commander of ZAKA’s Jerusalem District, together with Tzvi Yurovitz, a ZAKA Yerushalayim District minilance driver. “After the girl’s death was pronounced at the hospital, the volunteers worked at the scene collecting all findings out of respect for the deceased. At the same time, they accompanied the family at the hospital and assisted in coordinating with all the relevant authorities until she could be brought to burial.”

ZAKA’s legal department worked with police and the appropriate legal authorities to expedite the process. Following those discussions, it was decided that the child’s body would be released directly for kevurah without being transferred to the Institute of Forensic Medicine.

Auering praised the efforts of the volunteers and those involved in securing the family’s request.

“From the moment the report was received, ZAKA volunteers worked at both the scene and the hospital alongside the family. At the same time, ZAKA’s legal department coordinated with all the relevant authorities, and with siyata diShmaya the process was completed and the child was released for burial without being transferred to the Institute of Forensic Medicine.”

Michael Gutwein, coordinator of ZAKA’s legal department, said the organization regularly assists bereaved families during their most difficult moments.

“Members of the legal department accompany families during their hardest moments and work with all the authorities to ensure the swift release of the deceased for burial while preserving the dignity of the deceased and the rights of the family.”

The circumstances surrounding the fatal accident remain under investigation. The levayah is expected to take place as soon as arrangements are completed.

Baruch Dayan HaEmes.

{Matzav.com}

A photograph showing Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu reading a book aboard an aircraft has ignited widespread discussion on social media, with critics questioning whether the image captured a genuine moment or was staged for public consumption.

The image, shared by political commentator Amit Segal on his Telegram channel alongside a political update, appeared to portray Netanyahu making productive use of his flight time by reading. Instead of focusing on the book itself, however, many online commenters zeroed in on details they said cast doubt on the authenticity of the scene.

Among the issues raised was the apparent difficulty of reading under the circumstances. Critics questioned why someone would choose to read a printed book inside a dimly lit, noisy aircraft while using a cellphone as a flashlight in one hand and holding the book in the other. They argued that the posture appeared awkward for sustained reading and looked more like a carefully arranged photo opportunity than a candid moment.

The biggest point of criticism centered on Netanyahu’s lack of reading glasses. Social media users referenced longstanding claims that his prepared speeches are printed in unusually large type so he can read them without wearing glasses in public. That prompted many to ask how he could comfortably read the small print of a book under poor lighting inside an aircraft without eyewear.

For many of the photo’s critics, those details transformed what might have been viewed as a flattering image into what they described as evidence that Netanyahu was posing with the book rather than actually reading it. They argued that the photograph was intended to project the image of a diligent, intellectual leader who uses every spare moment productively.

Segal also came under criticism for publishing the photograph. Some detractors argued that instead of simply reporting the accompanying political news, he amplified what they viewed as a public relations image from the prime minister’s office without explaining the circumstances in which it was taken or questioning whether it reflected a spontaneous moment or one designed to convey a particular message.

At the same time, critics acknowledged that the photograph itself does not prove Netanyahu was not reading. Nevertheless, they argued that the combination of the cellphone flashlight, the dim conditions, and the absence of reading glasses gave them reason to question whether the image depicted genuine reading or simply the appearance of it.

A remarkable historical research project led by a Christian woman from Poland has enabled a large Chassidic family with more than 5,000 descendants to locate the exact burial place of their ancestors in a Jewish cemetery destroyed by the Nazis. Her painstaking work has also uncovered thousands of forgotten Jewish burial records and inspired a separate effort to preserve the memory of prewar Jewish life through the traces of mezuzos still visible on centuries-old homes.

Janina Naskalska, 42, a Christian resident of Krakow, has spent years researching Jewish history and preserving the memory of communities that were almost entirely wiped out during the Holocaust. She leads an extensive digitization project that has documented more than 9,000 names of Jews buried in the historic Plaszow Jewish cemetery, which was desecrated and destroyed by the Nazis. She is also widely known in Krakow for launching the project, “In the Footsteps of Krakow’s Mezuzos.”

As a licensed tour guide and historian, Naskalska conducts educational tours highlighting the physical remnants left behind by Jewish families who once lived throughout Krakow. Her research focuses on the marks and indentations left on doorposts where mezuzos were once affixed before World War II.

Naskalska said her interest in Jewish history began after she realized how much of Poland’s Jewish past had been omitted from her education.

“It came as a shock to me that there was so much history that no one had ever taught me,” she said, explaining that Jewish history was largely absent from the Polish school curriculum when she was growing up.

Motivated by that discovery, she immersed herself in Jewish studies. She visited the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw, traveled to Yad Vashem in Yerushalayim, learned basic Hebrew, and during the COVID-19 pandemic completed a master’s degree in Jewish Studies at Krakow’s Jagiellonian University while caring for her two children at home.

Before pursuing graduate studies, she completed specialized training at the Galicia Jewish Museum. She is now working toward a doctorate focusing on the Jewish history of Podgórze, the Krakow district where many Jews lived before the Holocaust.

Naskalska is also inviting descendants of Jews from Podgórze to contact her if they are searching for information about relatives who lived there before the war. Those seeking assistance can reach her at j.naskalska@gmail.com.

She explained that her fascination with Jewish history began roughly 15 years ago while training to become a city tour guide. During her studies, she learned that before World War II, roughly one-quarter of Krakow’s population was Jewish—and that nearly the entire community was murdered during the Holocaust.

Determined to preserve what remained, she began examining archival materials that had never previously been researched. Her work eventually led to the digitization of more than 9,000 burial records from two destroyed Jewish cemeteries. Of all the original gravestones, only one remains standing today—the matzeivah of Chaim Yaakov Abrahamer, who passed away in 1935.

One of the most emotional chapters of her work unfolded recently when she met members of the Halperin family from New York.

According to Naskalska, the family’s greatest wish was to stand at the precise location where their ancestors had been buried on what is now little more than a barren hill. Today, only one original Jewish gravestone remains at the site, alongside a reconstructed monument honoring Sarah Schenirer, founder of the Bais Yaakov movement.

Using old maps, historical records, and rare photographs, Naskalska successfully identified the exact burial location, enabling the family to stand there and recite Kaddish.

She said the family was deeply moved by the experience.

“Although the gravestones are gone, we found the exact location thanks to the maps and a handful of surviving photographs of the family graves,” she said.

Among the graves identified were those of Chaya Halperin and her husband, Rav Mattisyahu Halperin, who served as the rav of the town of Dobczyce.

When Germany invaded Poland in September 1939, the Jews of Dobczyce were subjected to increasingly harsh decrees and forced labor. In August 1942, they were deported to the Wieliczka Ghetto and from there sent to the Nazi death camps.

Today, Rav Mattisyahu Halperin’s descendants number approximately 5,000 and are spread throughout the United States, Britain, and Eretz Yisroel.

During the family’s visit, Shaya Halperin told Naskalska, “The family gravestones did not survive, but the families did, and that is a great victory over evil.”

Speaking to B’Chadrei Chareidim, Halperin reflected on the emotional significance of the discovery.

“For years, our family knew where our ancestors were buried, but we never knew exactly where their graves had stood after the cemetery was destroyed by the Nazis.”

He then recounted an extraordinary story from many years earlier.

“I once came across an auction on eBay offering an old photograph of the gravestones of my grandfather and grandmother—Rabbi Mattisyahu Halperin and his wife Chaya Halperin. I immediately began calling cousins I knew were active on eBay and asked them not to bid so I could quietly purchase the photograph without driving up the price.”

But things did not go as planned.

“However, when the auction closed, the bids kept climbing higher and higher. I couldn’t understand who would even be interested in a photograph of my family’s gravestones. I lost the auction.”

Only later did he learn what had happened.

“The winning bidder was connected to the Plaszow Museum. It turned out the photograph was one of only six known images of the old Jewish cemetery in Podgórze taken before its destruction during the Holocaust. It is considered one of the most historically significant photographs of the cemetery because it captures the magnificent Byzantine-style taharah building with its towering dome behind the graves. More importantly, the photograph clearly preserves the names on several gravestones—including those of my family.”

For years afterward, Halperin tried unsuccessfully to determine the exact location of the graves in hopes that one day they could properly commemorate them.

That breakthrough finally came through Naskalska’s research.

“She succeeded in identifying the exact place where Rabbi Mattisyahu Halperin and Chaya Halperin were buried,” Halperin said. “When we stood there together as a family, on what now appears to be an empty hill, we were finally able to say Kaddish at the actual place where our ancestors were buried before the cemetery was destroyed.”

Halperin also shared the broader history of his family.

“For me, this story goes back even further. For approximately ten generations, the rabbis of the Halperin family were buried in Berezhany, today in western Ukraine. Generation after generation—father after son—was buried there. Rabbi Mattisyahu Halperin was the first to leave that family line. After marrying into the distinguished Frankel-Teomim rabbinic family of Podgórze, whose patriarch, Rabbi Shimon Alter Frankel-Teomim, served as the city’s chief rabbi, he settled in Podgórze. When he passed away in his father-in-law’s home, he was buried in the Jewish cemetery there.”

Although the Nazis destroyed his gravestone, Halperin emphasized that they failed to erase his legacy.

Three of Rav Mattisyahu’s grandsons survived the Holocaust. One branch became the family of the renowned Rav Elchonon Halpern of Golders Green in London, whose descendants today live across Britain, Eretz Yisroel, and New York. Two additional surviving brothers established large families in Brooklyn and Efrat.

With Naskalska’s continued assistance, together with experts in historical mapping and geography, the Halperin family now hopes to reconstruct and rededicate the original matzeivah at the precise spot where it once stood, restoring a small but meaningful piece of Jewish history the Nazis sought to erase.

Reflecting on her years of work, Naskalska said the project has become deeply personal.

“It gave me a feeling of fulfillment and satisfaction to do something for people who are so different from you,” she told B’Chadrei Chareidim. “I felt that it really became part of me.”

She explained that while her original goal was simply to preserve Poland’s Jewish history, she now feels privileged to help Holocaust survivors’ descendants rediscover their own family stories.

Her research has also extended to more than 200 fragments of broken marble matzeivos uncovered during excavations conducted under rabbinical supervision. Through painstaking detective work, she has identified many of the individuals to whom those fragments belonged.

One belonged to Adela Bergner, who passed away in 1939. After locating her name in municipal records, Naskalska expressed hope that Bergner’s descendants might one day read about her work and contact her to learn more about their family history.

Naskalska said one of the greatest disappointments she encountered was discovering that the Chevra Kaddisha burial ledgers disappeared during the war. Undeterred, she turned instead to municipal death registries and city archives, where families had officially recorded deaths. Through years of painstaking research, she reconstructed the identities of approximately 9,000 Jews buried in the cemeteries.

She noted one heartbreaking statistic: roughly 30 percent of those buried were infants and young children.

Beyond cemetery research, Naskalska’s unique tours encourage visitors to look closely at the old doorframes throughout Krakow. Small physical traces—a diagonal groove in the wood, rust stains from ancient nails, or faint marks in the plaster—often reveal where a Jewish family once affixed a mezuzah before the Holocaust.

Through those silent remnants, she says, the stories of Krakow’s vanished Jewish residents come alive once again. On her tour’s official website, she describes those tiny marks as “an opening to the micro-history of Krakow’s Jewish residents and the Jews who once lived here.”

{Matzav.com}

In a dramatic political announcement, Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer said Wednesday that he will not seek re-election to the next Knesset, signaling the end of his parliamentary career amid longstanding ideological disagreements with Religious Zionism Party chairman and Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich, particularly over the military draft issue.

Sofer, a member of the Religious Zionism Party, made the announcement in a public statement, thanking his political partners while alluding to the tensions that have marked recent months within the government and coalition.

“I have decided not to present my candidacy for the next Knesset. I thank Religious Zionism Party chairman Betzalel Smotrich for years of trust and joint work, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his leadership and guidance during this complex and challenging period.

“The State of Israel must continue strengthening its security and building a firm and unshakable iron wall, but one that is also founded upon spirit, values, and unity. It is our duty to foster a spirit of unity among the people of Israel. The bereavement and wounds of war will leave scars that will not heal quickly. They will remind all of us, every day, of the magnitude of our responsibility and our commitment to the proper path.”

Addressing the Israeli public directly, Sofer also called for a more respectful political discourse.

“The citizens of Israel have a duty to demand a dialogue of unity, solidarity, and genuine partnership in the sacred and critical mission of defending the security of the State.”

Reflecting on his tenure as Minister of Aliyah and Integration, Sofer said he would remain in office through the end of the current government’s term while expressing gratitude for the opportunity to help facilitate large-scale immigration during a difficult period.

“I had the privilege, during a difficult and challenging period, to lead the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration and contribute my part in the aliyah of tens of thousands who chose to make Israel their home דווקא during this time, an endeavor that filled me with great hope and optimism. I will continue contributing to the State of Israel and Israeli society in other ways. Thank you to my voters, the many activists, my partners along the way, and my dedicated staff, alongside whom I will continue working faithfully until the completion of this term, and a special thank you to my wife and family, who stood by my side throughout the journey.”

Responding to the announcement, Smotrich said he respected Sofer’s decision while praising his longtime colleague for his years of public service.

“I received with sorrow the decision of my friend and longtime political partner, Minister Ofir Sofer, not to run for the next Knesset. Ofir represents an important voice among the people of Israel and within the Religious Zionist community. Throughout the years, we worked together on important initiatives for the people of Israel, the Land of Israel, and the Torah of Israel, all with his pleasant and unique political style.”

Smotrich added that he is confident Sofer will continue serving the Jewish people in another capacity.

The announcement follows months of public disagreements between Sofer and members of his own party over the draft law. Sofer had repeatedly voiced opposition to the legislation and previously warned of its political consequences.

In recordings published several months ago, Sofer was heard saying, “If the law is advanced, despite the reservists and against their will, the right will collapse. It will pay an electoral price for it. Certainly in the overall numbers, and even if you look at more specific constituencies.”

{Matzav.com}

Tensions flared at the Kosel on Wednesday morning as members of the trouble-making Women of the Wall group arrived on Rosh Chodesh Av, prompting confrontations and renewed criticism from the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, which accused the activists of turning the site into a venue for protest.

According to the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, the group “turned the Western Wall plaza into a protest site – the likes of which have not been seen in hundreds of years, and acted in violation of the regulations and instructions from the court, when they brought the Torah scroll into the Western Wall plaza.”

Foundation officials expressed sorrow over what they described as a growing atmosphere of confrontation at the Kosel, saying the tensions reached a new level on Rosh Chodesh. They appealed to all parties to refrain from transforming the Kosel plaza into a site of demonstrations. The Foundation emphasized that the Kosel “is not a place for whistles and shouting, nor is it a place for provocations or for desecrating its sanctity.”

The Foundation also noted the significance of the day, pointing out that Rosh Chodesh Av marks the yahrtzeit of Aharon HaKohen, renowned for his love of peace and pursuit of harmony. “On Rosh Chodesh Av, which marks the anniversary of the passing of Aaron the High Priest, who loved and pursued peace, we call on everyone to give the Western Wall the proper respect and preserve its sanctity in accordance with Jewish tradition,” the Foundation said.

Women of the Wall, for its part, claimed its members were confronted by opponents during the gathering. The organization alleged that “male and female rioters surrounded the women, whistled, screamed, cursed, and pushed into them. Police distanced some of them.”

{Matzav.com}

Britain’s Labour government is reportedly preparing to scale back proposed immigration reforms after mounting opposition within the party over plans that would delay permanent residency for more than 1.6 million migrants who entered the country during the surge in migration known as the “Boriswave.”

According to reports, immigration changes championed by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood could be shelved for those migrants following pressure on incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham from Labour’s left-wing backbench lawmakers.

As part of an effort to reduce the long-term financial burden associated with mass migration, Mahmood had proposed doubling the waiting period for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) from five years to ten years.

However, applying the new rules to migrants already living in Britain has reportedly met fierce resistance from within Labour. Nearly 80 Labour MPs argued that preventing those migrants from obtaining permanent residency under the current timetable would be “anathema to who we are, what we stand for and how we should do politics.”

The Times of London reported that negotiations between Mahmood and Labour’s left-wing faction could result in a compromise that preserves the existing five-year pathway to permanent residency for Boriswave migrants while delaying their eligibility for certain welfare benefits.

Alp Mehmet, chairman of Migration Watch UK, sharply criticized the reported retreat in comments provided to Breitbart London.

“This is appalling, if entirely predictable. Whatever Ms Mahmood’s intentions may be, it is obvious that Labour’s far-left backbenchers will have none of it. This would hand settlement to 1.6 million people, each of whom could in turn bring in more dependants.

“The Prime Minister-in-waiting should stop hiding. Will Mr Burnham show more backbone than his predecessor-to-be and kill this anti-Britain plan now?”

Under current law, migrants who obtain Indefinite Leave to Remain become eligible for a range of government benefits, including Universal Credit, housing assistance, state pensions, housing subsidies, and access to National Health Service hospital and general practitioner care.

The issue has intensified scrutiny of the sharp rise in immigration that occurred under former Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Critics argue that, despite promises to reduce immigration after Brexit, Johnson’s policies instead produced record-breaking levels of migration into Britain.

A report published in April by Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party estimated that migrants who arrived during the Boriswave between 2020 and 2024 would ultimately cost British families an average of approximately £20,000 each over their lifetimes, for a total projected cost of £622.5 billion by the year 2085.

Reform UK has pledged that, if it comes to power, it would eliminate Indefinite Leave to Remain altogether. The party instead proposes replacing permanent residency with a five-year work visa modeled after the American system, under which migrants would not qualify for welfare benefits.

The party has also vowed to launch a nationwide inquiry into those it says were responsible for allowing record levels of immigration despite promising the opposite, including Boris Johnson and former Home Secretary Priti Patel.

Reform UK Shadow Home Secretary Zia Yusuf condemned the Boriswave as the greatest act of “vandalism” ever inflicted on the British public and warned that unless the policy is reversed, it could “bankrupt” Britain.

{Matzav.com}

Joe Biden is set to release a new memoir this fall reflecting on his four years in the White House, with the book scheduled to hit shelves just two weeks after the midterm elections, when Democrats will be trying to win back control of Congress.

Publisher Little, Brown and Company confirmed to The Associated Press that the memoir will be published on November 17. Reports have indicated that Biden received a $10 million advance for the book.

Titled Promise Me, America, the memoir will center on Biden’s single term as president and the major events and decisions that defined his administration.

The release comes as Democrats remain divided over Biden’s political legacy, particularly following his unsuccessful effort to seek another term in the White House. His presidency has also remained under scrutiny amid ongoing questions about his mental acuity while in office and allegations regarding the use of an autopen for official documents.

According to the Associated Press, Democratic leaders are hoping this fall’s campaign remains focused on President Donald Trump’s record rather than Biden’s tenure. The report noted that Biden has largely faded from public view after his bid to return to the White House ended and support within his own party evaporated.

In a video released Wednesday alongside the announcement, Biden described the themes of the book.

“‘Promise Me, America’ is about the challenges we faced as a nation. It’s about the decisions I made and why I made them,” Biden said. “Most of all, it’s about my faith in the promise of America.”

The title recalls Biden’s 2017 memoir, Promise Me, Dad, which chronicled the illness and passing of his son, Beau Biden.

A spokesperson for Little, Brown said the 83-year-old Biden plans to promote the memoir with a nationwide book tour and will also participate in media interviews surrounding its release.

{Matzav.com}

More than a year after a sweeping workforce reduction tied to the Department of Government Efficiency, the Social Security Administration is still grappling with the loss of nearly 8,000 employees, even as agency leadership points to gains in technology and customer service.

The agency, which provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits to approximately 75 million Americans each month, has seen its workforce shrink by about 14% since the DOGE-directed cost-cutting initiative began, according to a report published Wednesday by The Washington Post.

Current and former employees say the staffing losses continue to place significant pressure on daily operations, despite ongoing recruitment efforts and a broad modernization campaign.

Since taking over the agency, Commissioner Frank Bisignano has prioritized updating Social Security’s systems by increasing automation and encouraging greater use of online services.

Bisignano has said the technological improvements are expected to save the equivalent of 2,500 full-time work hours, while the agency has begun hiring for roughly 1,000 new positions.

Even so, employees and union representatives say the departure of approximately 7,800 workers has left offices across the country struggling to keep up with demand.

“The look on everybody’s face is they’re beat down, they are demoralized, they’re tired,” Chris Delaney, a claims specialist and local union president representing Social Security workers in Hudson, New York, said.

According to the American Federation of Government Employees Council 220, which represents employees in field offices, the vast majority of the agency’s roughly 1,200 local offices lost at least one-tenth of their staff during the workforce reductions.

To compensate for staffing shortages, the agency has reassigned thousands of employees to help answer calls on its national 800-number. Internal figures show that as of July 6, about 1,500 field office employees had been assigned to phone duty, while approximately 2,500 workers had been reassigned across the agency.

Officials say those staffing changes, along with upgrades to the telephone system, have significantly improved response times. Agency data show that the average wait to reach a representative dropped from 11 minutes a year ago to five minutes in May. However, callers who opt for a callback are recorded as having no wait time, and the agency no longer publicly reports the average length of time required for callbacks.

“I’d like to make this more complicated, but it’s not. It’s putting people where the work is,” Bisignano told lawmakers during a congressional hearing last month. “It’s building technology in a modern-day fashion.”

Employees, however, say the improvements in phone service have come at the expense of other critical functions.

Agency data indicate that as of July 6, only 64.6% of appointments for initial benefit claims were scheduled within 30 days, down from 78.1% during the same period last year. In some parts of the country, that figure recently fell below 45%.

Union officials argue that shifting field office staff to phone duty reduces the time available to meet with beneficiaries in person and slows the processing of claims.

“It’s extremely disruptive to the workloads,” Jeremy Maske, a union president representing frontline employees in Iowa and Nebraska, said. “If you’re assigned to the 800 number once a week, that’s taking a fifth of your time to answer those phones.”

Bisignano has highlighted other areas where he says the agency has made progress, including shorter wait times for customers with appointments, smaller claims backlogs, and faster processing of disability benefit applications.

The Social Security Administration is also testing a nationwide appointment scheduling system that would replace the current local office scheduling process. At the same time, officials have expanded online services, including the ability to request replacement Social Security cards electronically, while pledging to keep field offices open and continue offering assistance in person, by phone, and online.

Advocates for senior citizens, people with disabilities, and low-income Americans warn that reducing staff while relying more heavily on automation could create additional obstacles for beneficiaries with complicated cases.

“You can’t lose that many people in that haphazard of a manner without an impact on services,” Devin O’Connor, a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, said. “The question is where or when the harm will be felt.”

{Matzav.com}

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir pushed back forcefully against criticism from Ra’am chairman Mansour Abbas over the government’s demolition of illegally built homes in the Negev, declaring that the law will be enforced equally against anyone who violates building regulations.

In a video message released Wednesday, Ben Gvir rejected accusations that the demolitions are motivated by discrimination.

“Racism is a lie. Listen carefully, and tell all your friends: anyone who builds illegally-their house will be demolished.”

Ben Gvir’s remarks came in response to a speech Abbas delivered in Arabic from the Knesset podium on Tuesday, in which the Ra’am leader argued that the coalition’s only real accomplishment has been maintaining unity among its members long enough to complete its term in office.

Abbas sharply criticized the current right-wing government, saying its record has been marked by “failure, crimes, murder, demolitions, and wars.” He contrasted that with the previous “government of change,” in which Ra’am served as a coalition partner and, according to Abbas, played a significant role in addressing the needs of Israel’s Arab community.

The Ra’am chairman also claimed that violent crime in Arab society declined by 15 percent during the previous government’s first year. He argued that if that coalition had remained in power for a full four-year term, the number of homicide victims could have fallen to “only forty deaths, or even fewer.”

Turning to the issue of housing enforcement, Abbas asserted that only four occupied homes in the Negev were demolished during the previous government. By contrast, he claimed that Ben Gvir has proudly cited approximately 5,700 demolition operations carried out over the past year.

Abbas also took aim at Hadash and Ta’al, the factions that make up the Joint List, accusing them of failing to shoulder responsibility when opportunities arose.

“Our colleagues from the Joint List did not understand the responsibility that rested on them,” Abbas said, arguing that Ra’am had been willing to accept the political consequences of joining the coalition. He questioned what the public ultimately gained from the collapse of the previous government and what it has lost under the continued tenure of the current coalition.

{Matzav.com}