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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul issued strong condemnations Monday after four buses used to transport Jewish schoolchildren in Brooklyn were defaced with swastikas and antisemitic messages, prompting demands for the perpetrators to be arrested and prosecuted.

The vandalism occurred in South Williamsburg, home to a large chassidishe community, where the discovery of the hateful markings on school buses raised fresh concerns about antisemitism directed at Jewish children and families.

“The antisemitic vandalism targeting school buses in South Williamsburg is abhorrent. Every New Yorker – especially our children – deserves to live free of such hatred,” Mamdani said in a statement.

{Matzav.com}

A unique event took place in New Square, New York, where the small electric vehicle used by the Skverer Rebbe was fitted with a specially developed internet filtering system and received certification from the Skver community’s L’Taher organization, which works to protect the community from the dangers of unfiltered technology.

According to sources, the vehicle is used regularly by the Rebbe to make it easier for him to travel between his home, the main bais medrash, and other locations throughout New Square.

Because modern electric vehicles can contain sophisticated electronic systems with internet connectivity and the ability to communicate with other technological devices, community representatives sought to ensure that the Rebbe’s vehicle would be completely protected from such connections.

Activists associated with L’Taher, an organization operating within the Skverer chassidus to promote strict safeguards against inappropriate technology, developed a customized filtering solution designed to prevent internet access through the vehicle’s electronic systems.

The new system was installed last week in the personal presence of the Skverer Rebbe, who has long been at the forefront of efforts within his community to maintain strict standards regarding internet use and modern technological devices.

Following the installation, the vehicle received the organization’s official approval, confirming that the necessary safeguards had been implemented to prevent unwanted internet connectivity.

{Matzav.com}

Four school buses belonging to chassidishe communities in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, were vandalized with swastikas, antisemitic slurs, and anti-Israel graffiti early Monday morning, prompting a hate crime investigation by the NYPD and Williamsburg Shomrim.

The disturbing incident occurred at approximately 5 a.m. near the intersection of Bedford Avenue and Williamsburg Street West, where buses serving the Satmar, Sanz-Klausenburg, and Tiferes Yisrael communities were targeted. The vehicles, used to transport children to local yeshivos, were discovered with hateful messages spray-painted across their exteriors.

Photographs circulating Monday showed swastikas painted on the yellow school buses, along with slogans including “Free Palestine,” “America First,” and vulgar statements directed against Jews and Israel. Some of the graffiti was sprayed directly over the Hebrew lettering identifying the buses and their affiliated institutions.

According to police, the vandalism was reported shortly before 10 a.m. after someone associated with a local yeshiva discovered the damage and contacted authorities.

Officers from the NYPD’s 90th Precinct responded to the location, and the department’s Hate Crimes Task Force launched an investigation. Williamsburg Shomrim is working alongside investigators to identify those responsible, including efforts to obtain surveillance footage from the surrounding area.

The attack drew immediate condemnation from elected officials and Jewish community representatives, who expressed outrage that vehicles used to transport children had been singled out for antisemitic vandalism.

City Councilman Lincoln Restler, whose district includes the affected neighborhood, denounced the incident and confirmed that his office was coordinating with law enforcement and Shomrim.

“Anti-Semitic graffiti on our community’s school buses is truly obscene,” Restler said. “We are working with NYPD and Shomrim to track down those responsible. The decade-long rise in anti-Semitic incidents must be stopped.”

New York Attorney General Letitia James also condemned the vandalism, calling for those responsible to be identified.

“This is despicable. Antisemitism and hate have no home in New York,” James said. “I urge anyone with information to contact local law enforcement.”

The administration of Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed that it was aware of the incident and had been communicating with police and community leaders.

Phylisa Wisdom, executive director of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism, described the attack as abhorrent and pledged that the city would continue working to protect Jewish residents.

“The antisemitic vandalism targeting school buses in South Williamsburg is abhorrent. No Jewish New Yorker should have to live with the threat of hatred and intimidation,” Wisdom said.

Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal also condemned the attack, describing the targeting of schoolchildren as particularly reprehensible and urging authorities to prosecute those responsible under applicable hate crime laws.

The vandalism comes amid continued concern over antisemitic incidents across New York City. According to NYPD statistics cited in local reporting, anti-Jewish offenses accounted for approximately 52.9% of confirmed hate crimes in the city through September 30, despite Jews representing a substantially smaller percentage of the overall population.

{Matzav.com}

Vice President JD Vance said Monday that the Trump administration is increasingly hopeful of reaching a negotiated agreement with Iran, although Tehran must provide concrete, verifiable assurances that it will not restore its nuclear program. Vance said Washington has established no deadline for a deal, even as President Donald Trump continues to warn that military action remains an option if diplomacy fails.

Speaking with reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Vance described recent discussions with Iranian representatives as encouraging and revealed that he had spoken with Trump about the negotiations just an hour earlier.

JD Vance on Iran:

Trump and I both feel pretty good about the prospects for potentially coming to a negotiated settlement.

We've certainly made some progress. We'll see if we can make some more. pic.twitter.com/Gl4uMGRjbG

— Clash Report (@clashreport) November 2, 2026

“We’ve had a number of good conversations with the Iranians,” Vance said. “I actually spoke with the President of the United States about this an hour ago.”

“The President and I both feel pretty good about the prospects for potentially coming to a negotiated settlement. We’re going to keep on working at it. You never know, of course. The Iranians are always a little unpredictable, and as the President always says, he retains kinetic options, he retains non-kinetic options,” the Vice President added.

“We’ve certainly made some progress. We’ll see if we can make some more,” he said.

Vance dismissed suggestions that the administration had imposed a specific timetable on Iran, explaining that Washington’s overriding objective is to prevent the country from reconstituting nuclear capabilities that American military operations previously targeted.

“No, we haven’t set deadlines. I mean, look, we’ve said, ‘Here’s what we want.’ And what we want is, having destroyed their nuclear program, we want to make sure they don’t rebuild it or try to rebuild it. That’s what matters most to the United States.”

The vice president acknowledged that Iranian leaders are seeking to preserve their sovereignty and revive their battered economy. He indicated that those priorities could provide an opening for an agreement, provided Tehran accepts meaningful restrictions on its nuclear activities.

“The thing I’ve picked up is they care a lot, obviously, about their sovereignty. They care a lot about economically rebuilding. We do think that there is a pathway there, but it really does require a firm commitment and a verifiable commitment that they don’t rebuild that nuclear program.”

Trump offered a similarly upbeat assessment Monday, pointing to a sharp decline in oil prices as evidence that markets increasingly expect an agreement rather than another round of fighting.

“Oil Prices are DROPPING LIKE A ROCK, down almost $10 a Barrel, A RECORD, because people feel that there will not be a War with Iran. Iran wants a settlement, as soon as possible. It could happen!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

During a separate appearance at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, the president again suggested that Tehran was prepared to negotiate an end to the confrontation.

“They want to make a deal. And it could happen.”

Trump also portrayed the American military campaign against Iran as a decisive success, arguing that U.S. forces had already inflicted devastating damage on the country’s military capabilities.

“We had a war with Iran. We won, and I don’t even know if you can call it a war because we haven’t been fighting for months,” Trump said, adding, “It’s not a war. We’ve done very little fighting. We’ve wiped out their military and air force and we did everything we had to do.”

The president credited American military achievements with helping drive oil prices down by approximately $10 per barrel and predicted additional declines. He also asserted that Iran was experiencing severe economic distress, including inflation exceeding 300%.

Nevertheless, Trump made clear that his preference for negotiations should not be interpreted as an unwillingness to authorize further strikes. Speaking Sunday at a campaign rally in Iowa ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections, he warned that Iran’s opportunity to reach an agreement would not remain open indefinitely.

“The only reason we are not finished with Iran is because I want to be nice. I want to try and save all those lives if I can. But at some point, we’re going to have to give them the hammer.”

Trump predicted that the confrontation would be resolved soon but offered no specific timetable.

Meanwhile, Washington and Tehran have continued indirect negotiations through Qatari intermediaries. Reports over the weekend indicated that the two sides had reached preliminary understandings involving Iran’s nuclear activities, freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and possible economic incentives for Tehran. No final agreement has been announced.

According to a Reuters report Monday, Iranian negotiators departed Doha following discussions with Qatari mediators, although an official familiar with the negotiations said their departure did not signal a breakdown. A draft proposal is reportedly being circulated, and another round of talks remains possible.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran’s proposal centers on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the American naval blockade of Iranian ports. Iran has offered to accelerate implementation of its plan, potentially reopening the strategic waterway within two days if its conditions are accepted.

Significant differences remain, however, particularly over Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief, and the terms of a broader security arrangement.

{Matzav.com}

American forces carried out a covert strike Monday against Iran’s strategically important Qeshm Island, according to a new report, marking the latest in a series of previously undisclosed U.S. military operations targeting Iranian positions near the Strait of Hormuz.

The operation was part of a broader campaign of limited strikes conducted by American forces against Iranian targets in recent weeks, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing U.S. officials who characterized the actions as defensive measures intended to protect the vital international shipping corridor.

Qeshm Island, located off Iran’s southern coast at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, holds considerable military importance because of its proximity to one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.

The island has reportedly been used by Iran to store ballistic missiles and is home to an Iranian naval installation. It also contains civilian infrastructure, including a desalination facility.

The reported operation comes amid continuing tensions between Washington and Tehran over control of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a substantial share of the world’s seaborne oil supplies ordinarily passes.

The waterway connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, making it essential to energy exports from several major oil-producing countries. Military activity in and around the strait carries the potential to disrupt international shipping and affect global energy markets.

Qeshm Island has reportedly been targeted repeatedly by American forces since the beginning of the current conflict with Iran, reflecting its importance to Tehran’s military operations in the region.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the limited attacks have been carried out without public announcements because the administration wants to avoid creating the impression that the United States is returning to a full-scale military campaign against Iran. American officials said the strikes were intended to weaken Iran’s ability to threaten commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian state media reported several explosions on Qeshm Island on Monday, although the precise targets struck, the extent of the damage, and whether there were casualties remained unclear.

The disclosure is particularly significant because President Trump has publicly played down the possibility of renewed large-scale military action against Iran, even as the Pentagon continues preparing options for additional strikes.

Asked Monday whether he intended to resume attacks against Iran following Tuesday’s midterm elections, Trump responded, “No.”

The president has maintained that the United States already achieved its principal military objectives against Iran and has expressed confidence that a negotiated settlement remains possible. At the same time, administration officials have made clear that military options remain available if Tehran refuses to accept American demands.

The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Washington had warned several Persian Gulf countries to prepare for the possibility of a short but intense military campaign following the midterm elections. The preparations reportedly included additional military equipment and defensive systems being positioned throughout the region.

The Pentagon has also moved to strengthen missile defenses in Israel, including preparations to deploy an additional Patriot missile-defense system from Texas, according to the report.

The military preparations have raised concerns among regional governments that a new round of American strikes could trigger Iranian retaliation against American installations, Gulf Arab countries, or commercial shipping.

The latest developments also come amid continuing diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement with Tehran. Vice President JD Vance has expressed cautious optimism about the possibility of an agreement, while emphasizing that Iran must provide firm guarantees that it will not rebuild its nuclear weapons program.

Iranian officials, meanwhile, have insisted that Washington must take meaningful steps toward an agreement and have warned that renewed military operations would provoke retaliation.

The reported Qeshm Island strike highlights the delicate balance the Trump administration is attempting to maintain between military pressure and diplomacy. While the White House continues to signal that a negotiated settlement is preferable, American forces are reportedly carrying out targeted operations against Iranian military capabilities.

For now, the Pentagon has not publicly disclosed the details of Monday’s operation, and the full extent of the American military campaign around the Strait of Hormuz remains unknown.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli law enforcement officials are reportedly casting serious doubt on allegations that Qatar financed efforts to influence last week’s Knesset elections, with investigators describing the evidence connecting Doha to suspicious payments as extremely weak or possibly nonexistent. The development comes amid an escalating confrontation between Shin Bet director David Zini and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara over how the sensitive election interference investigation should proceed.

According to a report Monday evening by Roy Yanovsky of Kan News, the investigation began after intelligence emerged concerning an alleged transfer of substantial sums of money to individuals associated with the Joint List. Although investigators have reportedly established that money was transferred, they have yet to determine its original source, and law enforcement officials are increasingly skeptical that Qatar was responsible.

The investigation is also examining allegations involving the Palestinian Authority, following claims made Monday by Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Lieberman that Palestinian officials had attempted to influence Israel’s Arab political parties during the election campaign.

The information currently available to the Shin Bet reportedly concerns a specific financial transaction, with investigators attempting to establish where the funds originated and how they were ultimately used. According to the report, the suspected activity is considerably narrower than the sweeping allegations of Qatari involvement that have circulated publicly in recent days.

Meanwhile, Channel 13 reported that Baharav-Miara has refused to authorize the immediate questioning of parliamentary aides associated with the Joint List, insisting that investigators must first present sufficient evidence concerning suspicions against the Knesset member involved.

The attorney general reportedly determined that because the investigation concerns allegations against an elected lawmaker, questioning members of the lawmaker’s parliamentary staff must be treated as part of the investigation of the MK himself. Consequently, the relevant parliamentary immunity protections and legal approval procedures must be observed.

Under Baharav-Miara’s instructions, the Shin Bet must first substantiate the allegations against the Knesset member before she will consider authorizing the questioning of the lawmaker and his aides.

A separate Channel 13 report by Aviad Glickman revealed that the disagreement extends beyond the questioning of parliamentary staff. During a special meeting Sunday attended by Zini, Baharav-Miara, and Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg, a heated confrontation reportedly erupted over whether the Israel Police should participate in the investigation.

Zini argued that the suspected foreign interference constituted a national security matter that should remain exclusively under Shin Bet jurisdiction. Baharav-Miara and other senior Shin Bet officials reportedly disagreed, maintaining that the case involved suspected criminal offenses with national security implications and therefore required police involvement.

Sohlberg attempted to resolve the disagreement but ultimately informed Zini that, under the circumstances, the investigation could not proceed without the participation of the police.

The exchange reportedly became increasingly contentious, with Zini accusing government legal officials of interfering with his ability to conduct the investigation.

“The legal advisers are trying to slow me down and bypass me. This is unacceptable to me,” Zini reportedly declared.

Glickman also reported unusually sharp criticism of Zini from senior figures within the Shin Bet, who questioned his judgment and the investigative measures he was seeking to implement.

“Zini is seeking to carry out dangerous and extreme actions. He does not understand what an investigation is, what evidence is, or how the police and Shin Bet work and operate,” the officials reportedly said.

According to those officials, Zini had already received legal authorization to carry out significant investigative activities before the elections. However, they alleged that following the strong electoral performance of the Arab parties, he sought permission to take considerably more aggressive steps.

The officials went further, reportedly accusing the Shin Bet director of failing to understand the principles of democracy, an extraordinary criticism of the head of Israel’s domestic security service from individuals described as senior members of his own organization.

The dispute has emerged as the investigation attracts enormous political attention, particularly because the Arab parties could play a decisive role in determining the composition of Israel’s next government following an election in which neither major political bloc secured a parliamentary majority.

The Shin Bet declined to address the reported disagreements or the criticism attributed to its senior officials.

“We do not comment on what is said in closed discussions,” the agency stated.

The IDF has begun installing protective anti-drone netting at military positions inside the Gaza Strip amid growing concerns that terrorists could introduce fiber-optic-controlled drones similar to those encountered during the fighting in Lebanon, according to a report Monday by Channel 12 News.

Israeli military officials are increasingly concerned that the technology, which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and can be smuggled into conflict zones, could eventually reach terrorist organizations operating in Gaza and pose a serious danger to Israeli soldiers stationed in forward positions.

Unlike conventional drones that depend on radio signals for communication with their operators, fiber-optic drones transmit commands through a thin cable connected to the aircraft. This makes them particularly difficult to neutralize using traditional electronic jamming systems, which are designed to disrupt wireless communications.

Rather than waiting for the threat to materialize, the IDF’s Southern Command and Technology and Logistics Directorate have begun implementing physical defensive measures intended to protect soldiers and military infrastructure against potential drone attacks.

As part of an initial pilot program, specialized protective netting has already been installed at three Israeli military outposts located beyond the Gaza border fence. The barriers are designed to provide an additional layer of protection against drones attempting to enter or strike military positions.

The pilot project is expected to serve as the foundation for a broader fortification effort covering other vulnerable IDF positions in Gaza over the coming months.

Military officials emphasized that fiber-optic-controlled drones have not yet been used in the Gaza Strip. Nevertheless, the IDF believes that lessons learned during operations in Lebanon make it necessary to prepare for the possibility that terrorist groups in Gaza could acquire similar capabilities.

The army’s experience confronting drone threats along the northern border has demonstrated the limitations of conventional electronic countermeasures against aircraft controlled through physical cables, prompting the development of additional protective systems.

Despite the preparations underway in Gaza, the IDF’s immediate priority remains strengthening defenses along the Lebanese front.

Under instructions issued by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the military will first complete the installation of protective measures at all relevant positions in Lebanon before significantly expanding the anti-drone netting program in Gaza.

Once the northern fortification effort is completed, the army intends to extend the protective systems to additional positions in the Gaza Strip as part of its preparations for emerging threats to Israeli forces.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] A Bnei Brak yungerman who was brutally assaulted by a group of teenagers inside a shoe store where he works says he is now living in fear that his attackers will return to retaliate against him for filing a police complaint. The disturbing incident, captured on security cameras and widely circulated on social media, has sparked outrage throughout the chareidi city and renewed demands for police action against violent youths.

Speaking on Monday, the avreich described the anxiety that has gripped him since the attack, saying that he is particularly concerned that the police investigation will go nowhere and that the perpetrators will feel emboldened to target him again.

“I’m afraid. I’m afraid the investigation will fizzle out and they’ll come to take revenge on me for filing the complaint,” he said. “How have we reached a situation where I’m the victim, but instead of them being afraid, I’m the one afraid they’ll come back and once again treat me with such brutal violence?”

The victim, who required medical treatment following the assault, said he is still struggling to comprehend how an ordinary day at work turned into a terrifying ordeal. He described himself as a quiet avreich who has never been involved in confrontations or physical altercations.

“I’m a normal person. I’ve never gotten into trouble, I’ve never been beaten up. I’m a quiet avreich who doesn’t stand out, and then one fine day I suddenly find myself in a situation where people enter my workplace, a place where I’m supposed to feel safe, spray me with pepper spray, and beat me brutally.”

According to sources, the attack took place last Thursday when a teenager approximately 16 years old entered the shoe store and asked the employee to assist him in trying on shoes.

Witnesses said the encounter subsequently took a threatening turn when the teenager allegedly attempted to extort the avreich and threatened to file a false police complaint against him. The employee refused to give in to the demands, after which the teenager left the store.

Several minutes later, however, the teenager allegedly returned with five other youths. The group stormed into the business and attacked the avreich, striking him repeatedly and spraying him with pepper spray. The assailants caused a disturbance inside the store before fleeing.

Security camera footage showing the violent confrontation was released Monday and quickly spread across social media, prompting widespread condemnation. Residents expressed particular alarm that an avreich could be subjected to such an assault in broad daylight while simply carrying out his work.

The incident has intensified criticism of what residents describe as an increasingly serious problem involving troubled and violent youths in Bnei Brak. Many have accused authorities of failing to respond adequately to repeated incidents of harassment and violence, leaving ordinary residents concerned about their personal safety.

The victim said he hopes the police will treat the attack with the seriousness it deserves and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

“I hope the police will handle this case severely, so they won’t dare do it again to anyone else,” he said.

The latest assault follows another serious incident last month on Rechov HaAdmor MiGur in Bnei Brak, where three avreichim were attacked. One of the victims sustained moderate injuries after a troubled youth allegedly struck him in the head with a paving stone.

The repeated incidents have prompted calls for a stronger police presence and more decisive enforcement against those responsible for violence in the city, particularly amid concerns that attackers may feel they can act without facing meaningful consequences.

Israel Police confirmed that a formal complaint had been filed and that investigators are working to identify the individuals involved.

“Following the complaint, an investigation was opened and is ongoing, and all necessary actions are being carried out to locate the suspects in the incident,” police said.

{Matzav.com}

A confrontation has erupted between Shin Bet director David Zini and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara over an investigation into suspected foreign interference in Israel’s recent Knesset elections, with the security chief reportedly accusing government legal officials of obstructing efforts to question parliamentary aides connected to an Arab Knesset member.

According to a Monday evening report by Channel 13, Baharav-Miara has withheld authorization for Shin Bet investigators to interrogate aides associated with the Joint List, insisting that additional evidence must first be presented to justify investigative steps involving the lawmaker.

The disagreement centers on the legal protections afforded to Knesset members and the extent to which those protections apply to their parliamentary staff. Baharav-Miara reportedly determined that because the investigation involves allegations concerning an MK, questioning the lawmaker’s aides must be treated as part of the same investigation and subjected to the relevant immunity procedures and approval requirements.

Under the attorney general’s position, investigators must first establish a sufficient evidentiary basis for their suspicions against the Knesset member. Only after reviewing that material would she consider authorizing the questioning of the MK and the parliamentary aides involved.

Zini has reportedly objected strongly to the restrictions, arguing that the legal authorities are interfering with the Shin Bet’s ability to pursue a sensitive investigation into possible foreign involvement in Israel’s democratic process.

“The legal advisers are trying to slow me down and bypass me. This is unacceptable to me.”

The reported dispute has added another layer of controversy to the investigation into allegations that foreign money was used to influence voting in the October 27 election. Israeli media have reported suspicions involving funding from Qatar or Turkey, although the origins of the money, its intended recipients, and whether any criminal offenses occurred remain under investigation.

Likud responded to the Channel 13 report with a sharp attack on Baharav-Miara, accusing her of “selective enforcement on steroids.” The party argued that the attorney general had authorized investigations involving senior government officials in the past but was now placing obstacles before investigators examining suspected foreign involvement in the elections.

“In her campaign of persecution, Baharav-Miara readily authorized investigations of ministers, Knesset members, the Prime Minister’s chief of staff, advisers to the Prime Minister, advisers to ministers, and others. Now, when it comes to a serious affair involving foreign interference in Israel’s elections, she is doing everything in her power to obstruct efforts to uncover the truth.”

The dispute follows separate reports of disagreements within the Shin Bet over the scope of the investigation. According to Kan News, some senior security officials have questioned whether the available intelligence provides sufficient grounds for the more extensive investigative measures sought by Zini. Legal authorities have reportedly raised concerns about proceeding without stronger evidence concerning the suspected offenses and the source of the funds.

The investigation was authorized by Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg, who instructed the Shin Bet to examine suspicions of improper foreign financing intended to influence the election. The inquiry is being conducted in cooperation with police and prosecutors under Sohlberg’s supervision.

On Sunday, Sohlberg appeared in a joint video statement alongside Zini and Baharav-Miara, declaring that the elections had been conducted properly and that the investigation would not invalidate the overall results. He said the inquiry would continue while the official election process proceeded as scheduled.

The allegations have taken on particular political significance because neither Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s bloc nor the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot secured a Knesset majority. The Arab parties, which won a combined 19 seats, could play an important role in determining the next government’s composition.

Likud concluded its response by demanding that the attorney general permit the security service to pursue the investigation without further restrictions.

“We demand that the Attorney General allow the Shin Bet to complete its investigation and cease her attempts at a cover-up, as she did with the investigation into the Military Advocate General.”

A massive rainstorm described by local officials as a once-in-200-year flooding event has inundated Okeechobee, Florida, overwhelming drainage systems, submerging roadways, forcing school closures, and prompting a countywide state of emergency. The flooding has struck a region that has recently attracted a growing frum community of approximately 100 families, with many additional families expected to relocate there in the coming years.

The extraordinary weather event unfolded Sunday, November 1, when torrential rain swept through Okeechobee County, dumping approximately 10 inches of precipitation on the city of Okeechobee in just six hours. The downpour overwhelmed local drainage infrastructure and left streets and residential neighborhoods under water, with authorities warning that additional rainfall could complicate recovery efforts.

Okeechobee Mayor Dowling Watford described the destruction during a Monday news conference at the county’s Emergency Operations Center, saying the community was facing an exceptionally rare weather disaster.

“We had a very catastrophic event yesterday with a flood that is a one-in-200-year flood event,” Watford said. “It was very devastating to our community and to our roadways.”

“The recovery is going to be long and hard,” the mayor warned.

The flooding followed an unusually wet period in the region. According to local officials, Okeechobee County had already experienced four storms characterized as once-in-100-year rainfall events over the preceding two months. The repeated downpours left the ground saturated and groundwater levels elevated, greatly reducing the area’s ability to absorb Sunday’s extraordinary rainfall.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for southeastern Okeechobee County, describing the conditions as life-threatening. Authorities reported that sections of State Road 70 and U.S. Highway 441, two important transportation arteries serving the area, had become impassable, while floodwater was entering some structures.

Among the locations identified in official weather warnings were Treasure Island, Taylor Creek, Four Seasons Estates, Whispering Pines, Basswood Estates, and areas surrounding Okeechobee Airport.

The flooding carries particular significance for the Orthodox Jewish community, which has been establishing a growing presence in the Lake Okeechobee region. More than 100 frum families have reportedly moved to Lakefront Estates, a developing Orthodox community near Buckhead Ridge in neighboring Glades County, on the northwestern side of Lake Okeechobee.

The approximately 550-acre development is envisioned as a substantial new frum community, with plans for as many as 1,000 single-family homes and 300 rental units, along with shuls, mikvaos, yeshivos, schools, a kollel, and kosher shopping facilities.

Many of the families relocating to the area have come from New York, drawn by the opportunity to establish a new community with the infrastructure necessary for frum family life. Schools have already opened, and plans for a local Hatzalah South Florida operation are underway.

There have been no confirmed reports indicating that Lakefront Estates itself experienced flooding comparable to the hardest-hit neighborhoods in Okeechobee County. The development is located several miles from the city of Okeechobee, where the most severe damage has been reported.

County officials declared a state of emergency Sunday afternoon and urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel. Public schools were closed Monday because of flooding and concerns about road safety, although Superintendent Dylan Tedders subsequently reported that school buildings had escaped damage and were ready to reopen. Osceola Middle School experienced flooding in its parking lot and bus circulation area.

Emergency crews have been working to reduce standing water and restore normal conditions. Mayor Watford said the South Florida Water Management District activated pumps at Taylor Creek and opened its locks, helping alleviate flooding in the surrounding area.

Okeechobee Public Safety Director and Fire Chief Justin Hazellief said drainage ditches were functioning, but cautioned that the enormous volume of accumulated water would require time to clear. Damage assessment teams were going door to door in the most severely affected neighborhoods to determine how many homes and businesses had been damaged.

The flooding also brought an unusual danger for residents: alligators were spotted in some inundated areas, prompting additional concern about people entering standing water. Florida health officials warned that floodwater can contain bacteria, sewage contamination, and agricultural chemicals, and urged parents to keep children away from flooded streets, drainage ditches, and other submerged areas.

Okeechobee County Sheriff Noel Stephen said water rescue teams had been deployed during the storm to assist residents in low-lying neighborhoods. Authorities also warned motorists that speeding through standing water could cause vehicles to hydroplane or become stranded.

Police Chief Donald Hagan urged residents and sightseers to stay out of flooded neighborhoods unless they had a legitimate reason to be there, explaining that vehicles traveling through deep water can create waves that push additional water into nearby homes.

As floodwaters gradually receded Monday, forecasters continued monitoring the possibility of additional downpours across east-central Florida. The National Weather Service warned that saturated ground and excessive runoff could produce renewed flooding, particularly in low-lying neighborhoods and areas with inadequate drainage.

For residents of Okeechobee and the surrounding region, including families who have recently established new homes in the area’s growing frum community, the immediate concerns remained the condition of local roads, the extent of property damage, and whether additional rainfall would delay recovery efforts.

White House senior adviser Peter Navarro has scored a publishing success with his controversial new book, “Why Fauci MUST Rot in Prison,” which secured a place on The New York Times bestseller list during its first week of release. The book calls for criminal prosecution of Dr. Anthony Fauci over his role in the federal government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Navarro welcomed the recognition, describing the bestseller designation as “a very pleasant surprise,” particularly given his longstanding complaints that conservative authors have received unfavorable treatment from the newspaper’s influential book rankings.

“Perhaps there is a new détente at the NYT in what has been a cold war against conservative books,” Navarro said. “Or perhaps it has become better understood that Tony Fauci’s reign of terror and error harmed men, women, and children in America regardless of political party.”

The Trump adviser has previously accused the newspaper of failing to properly recognize the commercial success of his earlier works. He maintains that sales data compiled by BookScan should have placed both “In Trump Time” and “Taking Back Trump’s America” at No. 1, but that neither received the ranking he believes it deserved.

Published by Skyhorse, Navarro’s latest book presents an extensive indictment of Fauci’s conduct during the pandemic, drawing on government records, personal accounts, and documents that Navarro contends reveal serious failures and contradictions in the nation’s COVID-19 response.

Navarro served as the Defense Production Act policy coordinator during President Trump’s first administration, placing him at the center of federal efforts to secure medical supplies and respond to the pandemic. Throughout that period, he frequently found himself at odds with Fauci over public health restrictions, treatment options, vaccination policies, and the broader direction of the administration’s response.

A central feature of the book is Navarro’s comparison of his own records from the pandemic with more than 1,100 pages of Fauci’s private diaries and additional government documents. Navarro argues that the material provides a detailed account of internal discussions that differed significantly from the information presented to the American public.

Among the issues examined are the origins of COVID-19, American funding connected to coronavirus research in Wuhan, China, and the federal government’s treatment of competing scientific theories about how the virus first emerged.

Navarro accuses Fauci of attempting to discredit the possibility that the virus originated in a laboratory and of supporting pandemic restrictions and medical policies that Navarro believes inflicted enormous damage on the country.

He describes Fauci as the “godfather of the pandemic,” arguing that his influence over federal health policy contributed to decisions that affected millions of Americans.

Fauci has repeatedly rejected allegations that he engaged in misconduct or deliberately misled the public. The criminal accusations advanced by Navarro have not been proven in court.

The book has attracted favorable reviews from a number of doctors and researchers who have publicly challenged the federal government’s pandemic policies, particularly its handling of early treatment options and vaccine recommendations.

Cardiologist Dr. Peter McCullough praised Navarro’s “action and information packed firsthand account of battling the corrupt, tyrannical, and harmful pandemic response.”

Virologist Dr. Robert Malone said he approached the book skeptically, looking for factual weaknesses or inconsistencies that Fauci’s supporters might use to challenge Navarro’s conclusions. After reviewing the material, Malone offered a strong endorsement of the author’s documentary approach.

“Navarro has the diaries, the emails, and the dates. He built a case that survives cross-examination,” Malone said.

Dr. Harvey Risch, professor emeritus of epidemiology at Yale University, similarly praised the book, describing it as “the definitive reckoning,” while accusing Fauci of promoting misleading information about treatments during the early stages of the pandemic.

The 336-page hardcover, released October 20, also features a foreword by Steve Bannon and examines controversies surrounding lockdowns, school closures, mask mandates, and the government’s handling of natural immunity and vaccine-related concerns.

The book’s commercial success has been accompanied by a dispute involving Barnes & Noble. Navarro accused the bookseller of refusing to stock the title because of its “wokeness,” while publisher Skyhorse expressed frustration over what it characterized as resistance to controversial political viewpoints. Barnes & Noble does, however, list the hardcover and electronic editions in its online catalog, with the hardcover currently shown as out of stock online.

The New York Times bestseller recognition places Navarro’s book at No. 14 on the hardcover nonfiction list dated November 8, 2026, alongside titles by Newt Gingrich, Brian Kilmeade, Malcolm Gladwell, and other prominent authors.

The publication comes as questions surrounding the origins of COVID-19, American funding of coronavirus research, and the decisions made by federal health officials continue to generate political controversy. Navarro’s book seeks to turn those disputes into an argument for legal accountability, although Fauci has denied wrongdoing and no court has established the criminal allegations advanced against him.

“Why Fauci MUST Rot in Prison” is available in hardcover, e-book, and audiobook editions through online retailers.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has announced a new series of arrests involving foreign nationals accused of voting illegally in American elections, as the Trump administration intensifies its investigation of suspected voter fraud ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections.

The cases involve individuals who allegedly participated in federal, state, and local elections despite lacking U.S. citizenship. According to ICE, those identified include both lawful permanent residents holding green cards and foreign nationals residing in the country illegally.

One of the individuals named by federal authorities is Jesus Lopez, a Mexican citizen and lawful permanent resident who allegedly cast ballots in 15 separate elections between 2000 and 2024. The elections reportedly included state races, party primaries, and municipal contests, according to information reported Monday by Breitbart News.

ICE also announced allegations against Sirena Prosper, a Haitian national accused of unlawfully voting in the 2024 presidential election despite being subject to a final order of deportation.

Federal immigration officials said Prosper has a criminal history that includes two burglary convictions, as well as convictions for larceny and resisting a law enforcement officer.

“The pervasive nature of illegal alien election fraud should concern every American,” ICE Public Affairs Assistant Director Micah Bock said in a statement.

Another individual identified by the agency is Jose Diaz Guandique, a citizen of El Salvador who allegedly voted unlawfully in the 2024 election. Immigration authorities apprehended him in October.

Alberto Ruiz Ruiz, a Mexican national who was allegedly living in the United States without legal authorization, was also taken into custody in October after investigators accused him of participating in the 2024 election.

Several of the cases originated in Minnesota, where federal investigators examined state election records and identified foreign nationals suspected of voting despite being ineligible because they were not American citizens.

Among them is Sheikhnoor Adbo, a Somali citizen with lawful permanent resident status. ICE said records maintained by the Minnesota secretary of state indicate that Adbo voted in person during the November 2020 election.

Edvile Edmunds, a Lithuanian national and green card holder, surrendered to Homeland Security Investigations agents in August after investigators obtained documentation indicating that she had voted in Minnesota’s 2022 general election.

According to federal authorities, Edmunds initially denied participating in the election but subsequently acknowledged that she had cast a ballot.

Paul Kras, a German citizen, was arrested in September after investigators reviewed Minnesota voting records that allegedly showed his participation in both the 2020 and 2024 elections, despite his lack of U.S. citizenship.

ICE also identified Monica Carzoli Carrillo, a Mexican citizen and lawful permanent resident who authorities said admitted to voting illegally during the 2024 election.

The agency reported additional investigations involving citizens of Guatemala, Kenya, Canada, Venezuela, Jamaica, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, indicating that the enforcement effort extends beyond any single state or nationality.

The latest allegations are part of a considerably larger federal effort involving ICE, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Justice Department. Investigators have been examining voter registration records, citizenship information, and election participation histories to identify individuals suspected of violating federal voting laws.

The enforcement campaign has expanded rapidly in recent months. An investigation published by Reuters last week found that the Trump administration had issued more than 100 subpoenas seeking information about tens of thousands of voters across at least 13 states. At least 49 of those subpoenas were issued through federal grand juries, indicating their connection to criminal investigations.

Federal authorities have also pursued cases in California, where the Justice Department announced charges against 28 lawful permanent residents in October. Those defendants were accused of unlawfully voting or making false statements in connection with elections or citizenship paperwork.

The administration’s efforts have generated disputes with state election officials over access to voter records and the accuracy of federal citizenship screening. On Monday, the Justice Department asked the Supreme Court to intervene in a California case involving more than 20,000 registered voters whose citizenship status federal officials have questioned.

Although federal authorities have identified additional suspected violations, the allegations do not establish that everyone named committed an election offense. Some investigations remain pending, and studies of past elections have generally found that voting by noncitizens is uncommon.

Federal law prohibits noncitizens, including lawful permanent residents, from voting in federal elections. State and local election rules vary, although the overwhelming majority of American elections likewise restrict voting to citizens.

Bock said ICE intends to continue pursuing suspected violations and called for the strongest available penalties against those found responsible.

“Every illegal vote cancels out a vote of an American citizen,” Bock said. “Each and every illegal who voted must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

“We will end this madness. American elections are for American citizens, period.”

{Matzav.com}

Democrats are now favored to take control of the U.S. Senate in Tuesday’s midterm elections, with a new forecast from Decision Desk HQ giving the party a 64% probability of winning the majority and projecting a 52-48 Democratic advantage in the next Congress.

The latest election model points to three Republican-held seats as particularly vulnerable: Texas, Alaska, and Maine. Democratic victories in those states could produce a dramatic shift in Washington, where Republicans are fighting to maintain their Senate majority amid a difficult political environment.

In Texas, Decision Desk HQ estimates that Democrat James Talarico has a 61% likelihood of defeating Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton. The contest has attracted national attention because Texas has long been a Republican stronghold, making a Democratic victory there a potentially significant setback for the GOP.

Alaska presents another possible Democratic pickup, with former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola assigned a 61% chance of defeating incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. Peltola’s previous statewide electoral success has made her a formidable challenger in a state that generally favors Republicans in federal elections.

In Maine, former state Senate President Troy Jackson is given a 63% probability of unseating Republican Sen. Susan Collins, whose long tenure and reputation for political independence have helped her survive previous Democratic challenges.

The same forecasting model gives Republicans a 36% chance of retaining Senate control, leaving open the possibility that the GOP could outperform current expectations in several closely contested states.

The projections mark a substantial change from the political landscape a year earlier, when Republicans appeared well positioned to defend their majority. At the time, Democrats faced the difficult task of capturing Senate seats in multiple states that President Trump had carried by comfortable margins during the 2024 presidential election.

Republican prospects have since been complicated by declining approval ratings for President Trump, persistent voter frustration over household expenses, and economic concerns tied to tariffs and higher prices associated with the Iran war.

Despite the improving Democratic outlook, Decision Desk HQ chief elections analyst Geoffrey Skelley warned that early voting figures should not be interpreted as reliable predictions of the final results, particularly because Republicans have increasingly concentrated their participation on Election Day.

“Friends don’t let friends read too much into absentee and early voting data,” Skelley wrote in an analysis of voting patterns ahead of Tuesday’s elections.

Texas provides one example of the uncertainty. Through October 31, voters classified as Republicans by a statistical model accounted for approximately 42% of early ballots, compared with 39% identified as Democrats. Although that represents a smaller Republican advantage than in 2024, Skelley cautioned that a strong Election Day showing by GOP voters could still deliver a victory for Paxton.

Florida’s early voting numbers have offered Republicans a more favorable picture. As of November 1, registered Republicans represented roughly 41% of ballots submitted early or by mail, compared with 38% for registered Democrats. Decision Desk HQ consequently gives the GOP approximately a 75% probability of retaining the state’s Senate seat.

North Carolina, by contrast, has produced encouraging numbers for Democrats. Registered Democrats accounted for approximately 38% of early voters, compared with 26% for Republicans. That represents a substantial improvement over the party’s position at the same stage in 2024, although a surge in Republican participation on Tuesday could reduce the Democratic advantage.

Skelley also pointed to early voting trends in Kansas and Iowa, where Democrats have improved their position compared with previous elections. Both states have traditionally leaned Republican, however, and stronger Democratic participation before Election Day does not necessarily mean the party will overcome the GOP’s historical advantage.

The stakes are particularly high because Republicans entered the election cycle holding 53 Senate seats, compared with 47 held by Democrats and independents who caucus with them. Democrats therefore need a net gain of four seats to secure outright control. A 50-50 split would leave Republicans in charge because Vice President JD Vance would retain the power to cast tie-breaking votes.

Decision Desk HQ’s forecasting system runs one million simulations using polling, historical voting patterns, and other electoral data. While its latest projections favor Democrats, the relatively narrow probabilities in several battleground states mean that even modest changes in voter turnout could produce a substantially different Senate map when the votes are counted Tuesday night.

Four closely contested congressional elections in New York could play a decisive role in determining which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives following Tuesday’s midterm elections, with Republicans fighting to preserve their narrow majority and Democrats hoping that victories in the Empire State will help propel them back into power.

Although New York remains overwhelmingly Democratic in statewide elections, several competitive House districts have become major battlegrounds, attracting millions of dollars in campaign spending and national attention. Both parties view the state as essential to their efforts to secure the 218 seats needed for a House majority.

New York Democratic Party chairman Jay Jacobs expressed confidence that his party would successfully defend all its existing congressional seats while potentially capturing two additional districts in the Hudson Valley and upstate New York. He predicted that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Brooklyn Democrat, “will be the next speaker of the House.”

State Republican chairman Ed Cox, meanwhile, pointed to the GOP’s success in New York during the 2022 midterms, when Republican victories in several competitive districts helped deliver control of the House to the party.

Republicans currently hold 218 House seats, compared with 214 Democrats, one independent member, and two vacancies, leaving little room for losses as voters prepare to head to the polls.

Among the most closely watched contests is the race in New York’s 17th Congressional District, covering portions of the Hudson Valley north of New York City. Republican Rep. Mike Lawler is seeking another term against Democrat Cait Conley, an Army combat veteran who subsequently held a national security position in the Biden administration.

The Lawler-Conley contest has become one of the most expensive congressional races in the country. According to advertising tracking firm AdImpact, Republican organizations have poured approximately $30 million into advertising in the district, while Democratic groups have spent another $20.9 million. Only North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District has attracted more advertising expenditures.

Lawler’s political survival is particularly important to Republicans because he was the only GOP candidate among New York’s four major 2022 congressional pickups to retain his seat during the 2024 elections. Democrats successfully reclaimed the other three districts, leaving Lawler as the remaining Republican incumbent from that wave of victories.

Another major contest is unfolding in the North Country, where Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik’s decision not to seek reelection created an open seat in a district that has traditionally favored Republicans.

The GOP nominee, businessman Anthony Constantino, owns a printing company and has received President Trump’s endorsement. Constantino has reportedly invested approximately $17 million of his personal fortune into the campaign, making the contest one of the most heavily self-financed House races of the election cycle.

Constantino faces Democrat Blake Gendebien, a farmer who is attempting to capitalize on divisions within the local Republican organization. Constantino’s victory over a primary opponent supported by established Republican and Conservative Party leaders left lingering tensions within the district’s political structure.

The Conservative Party ultimately declined to place a candidate on its ballot line, an unusual development that could complicate Republican efforts to consolidate conservative voters behind Constantino.

Political consultant O’Brien “OB” Murray suggested that the internal Republican disagreements could create “the perfect storm for the Democrats,” particularly with Democratic organizations investing heavily in an attempt to flip the seat.

The Democratic House Majority PAC has reportedly committed approximately $1.4 million to the contest, while Vice President JD Vance was scheduled to appear alongside Constantino at a campaign event Monday in a final effort to energize Republican voters.

On Long Island, two Democratic incumbents are defending districts that have demonstrated a willingness to support Republican candidates, making both contests important opportunities for the GOP to gain seats.

In the 3rd Congressional District, Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi is facing former Republican Assemblyman Michael LiPetri in a rematch of their 2024 election. Suozzi prevailed in that contest by approximately three percentage points, and Republicans believe the district remains competitive, particularly because President Trump carried it in the presidential election that same year.

LiPetri has received substantial assistance from Republican organizations, including approximately $10 million in spending by a Trump-aligned super PAC. Suozzi, meanwhile, has sought to emphasize his reputation as a moderate Democrat in a district where voters have shown a willingness to split their tickets between the two major parties.

The neighboring 4th Congressional District features another Republican effort to reclaim a seat lost in 2024. Democratic Rep. Laura Gillen is seeking reelection against Jeanine Driscoll, the Republican receiver of taxes for the Town of Hempstead.

Gillen captured the district two years ago by defeating Republican Anthony D’Esposito, who had won the seat during the GOP’s successful 2022 campaign. D’Esposito chose not to pursue another rematch, clearing the way for Driscoll to become the Republican nominee.

Republicans are hoping that concerns about taxes, affordability, and the cost of living will help them regain support among suburban Long Island voters. Democrats are attempting to hold their recent gains by emphasizing local issues and portraying their candidates as independent-minded representatives of their districts.

The importance of New York’s congressional contests became evident during the 2022 elections, when Republicans captured four Democratic-held seats across Long Island and the Hudson Valley, providing a critical boost to the party’s successful effort to take control of the House.

Democrats reversed much of that progress in 2024, reclaiming three of the four districts and leaving Lawler as the sole Republican incumbent to survive from that group of victories.

With the House majority potentially hinging on only a handful of seats nationwide, even one or two unexpected results in New York could alter the balance of power in Washington. Both parties have consequently poured resources into voter turnout operations, advertising campaigns, and last-minute appearances by prominent national figures as Tuesday’s voting approaches.

{Matzav.com}

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has acknowledged that the IDF cannot realistically accommodate the entire chareidi population, suggesting that young chareidi men who do not enlist in the military could instead perform a limited period of national service. His remarks represent a significant departure from demands for sweeping chareidi conscription and come as opposition parties explore possible compromises with the chareidi parties in an effort to form a government without Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

Speaking Monday in an interview with Radio 103FM, Barak indicated that the opposition may need to reconsider its approach to the contentious draft issue as negotiations continue over the formation of Israel’s next coalition. With neither political bloc having secured a Knesset majority in last week’s elections, the possibility of bringing chareidi parties into a government headed by Gadi Eisenkot has placed the draft controversy at the center of coalition discussions.

Asked whether the anti-Netanyahu camp should temporarily abandon its demands for equal military service to facilitate a change in government, Barak responded, “We don’t need to set it aside; we need to handle it wisely.”

Barak went further, arguing that the opposition’s overriding political commitment is to remove Netanyahu from office and that other campaign promises must be reconsidered if they interfere with that objective. His comments suggested that opposition leaders should be prepared to demonstrate flexibility on the draft issue if doing so would enable them to assemble a governing majority.

The former prime minister expressed confidence that Eisenkot could formulate a conscription proposal acceptable enough to the chareidi parties to secure their cooperation, even if the arrangement would not fully satisfy their demands.

“Eisenkot can propose a conscription bill that has a good chance of passing. They haredim won’t love it, but it will be fair. We don’t want to eliminate Torah study.”

Barak’s most notable concession concerned the practical limitations of the Israeli military. Rather than insisting that every eligible chareidi young man be inducted into the IDF, he acknowledged that the army lacks the capacity to absorb such a large population and proposed an alternative framework for those who do not enlist.

“Of course we need equal service, but the IDF is anyway unable to integrate all the haredim. Anyone who chooses not to draft will serve nine months, or however many, of national service, and will then go about their lives.”

Under the approach Barak outlined, chareidi men who do not enter the military would fulfill a national service obligation lasting approximately nine months, although he did not specify the nature of the service, the institutions that would administer it, or whether full-time yeshiva bochurim and kollel yungeleit would receive exemptions.

Barak also called for substantially improving the financial compensation and benefits provided to IDF soldiers, arguing that those serving in the military should receive greater recognition and material support.

At the same time, he maintained that any compromise on conscription should be accompanied by broader changes affecting the chareidi community, including increased emphasis on secular core curriculum studies, greater participation in the workforce, and expanded contributions to the tax system.

{Matzav.com}

Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Lieberman accused the Palestinian Authority on Monday of interfering in Israel’s recent Knesset elections, alleging that it provided financial support to the Arab Joint List and exercised considerable influence over both the Joint List and Ra’am. The accusations come amid growing controversy over possible foreign involvement in the election and the role Arab parties could play in forming Israel’s next government.

Speaking at a press conference, Lieberman claimed that the Palestinian Authority had played an active role in shaping the political activities of Israel’s Arab factions, going beyond ordinary expressions of political support to influence their conduct during the election campaign.

“The Palestinian Authority was very involved and was the guiding force behind both Ra’am and the Joint List. They’re stirring the pot. As for Qatari money – maybe Urich knows,” Lieberman claimed, referring to Yonatan Urich, a senior aide to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu who has been implicated in the investigation known as Qatargate.

Lieberman’s remarks added another dimension to allegations that outside governments and political interests sought to influence voting within Israel’s Arab communities. Reports of possible foreign financing have already prompted scrutiny of whether money originating outside Israel was directed toward election-related political activities.

The Yisrael Beytenu leader did not publicly present documentation substantiating his specific accusations against the Palestinian Authority. His claims remain allegations, and the extent of any foreign involvement has not been conclusively established.

Lieberman also reiterated his refusal to participate in a government dependent on Arab parties, arguing that such an arrangement would deepen political divisions and encourage separatism rather than strengthen integration into Israeli society.

“In the previous elections, fewer than 14 percent of Arab voters voted for Zionist parties. We don’t want to encourage separatism. I received thousands of text messages from the left urging me to sit with the Arab parties. I answered them, ‘Don’t you have a memory? Have you forgotten?'”

His comments carry particular significance because of the parliamentary arithmetic following the October 27 election. Netanyahu’s bloc won 53 seats, while the Jewish opposition parties secured 48. The Joint List and Ra’am together captured 19 seats, leaving the Arab factions in a potentially decisive position as political leaders attempt to assemble a majority in the 120-member Knesset.

Lieberman announced Monday that Yisrael Beytenu would recommend Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot to form the next government, while ruling out joining a Netanyahu-led coalition. However, he also rejected the possibility of establishing a minority government dependent on Arab parliamentary support, complicating Eisenkot’s prospects of replacing Netanyahu.

The foreign-interference controversy has prompted an investigation by the Shin Bet, working alongside police and prosecutors under the supervision of Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg. Authorities are examining suspicions that money from foreign sources was directed toward influencing Arab voter turnout during the election campaign.

Israeli media have reported that investigators are examining allegations involving hundreds of thousands of shekels received by a Joint List lawmaker. Questions remain about the origin of the money, whether it was connected to Qatar, and whether it was used for campaign activities. No definitive findings have been announced.

Despite the allegations, Sohlberg emphasized Sunday that the election results remain valid and that the investigation does not provide grounds for overturning the nationwide vote. Appearing alongside Shin Bet chief David Zini, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, and senior election officials, he affirmed that the voting process had been conducted properly.

Ra’am chairman Mansour Abbas has denied that his party was involved in improper foreign financing, while election authorities have cautioned against treating allegations concerning particular individuals as evidence of wrongdoing by Arab voters generally.

Lieberman has likewise opposed canceling the election results, even while insisting that suspected foreign involvement must be investigated. His position leaves him aligned with the opposition’s effort to replace Netanyahu but firmly opposed to the parliamentary arrangement that could provide Eisenkot with the votes necessary to form a government.

{Matzav.com}

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Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday called for the establishment of a broad national coalition that would bring additional political factions into the government alongside his existing allies, while firmly rejecting any arrangement dependent on Ra’am or other Arab parties he accused of supporting terrorism and opposing Israel’s identity as a Jewish state.

Netanyahu’s remarks come as Israeli political leaders weigh their options following last week’s Knesset elections, which left the country facing complicated coalition negotiations and renewed questions about which parties will ultimately determine the composition of the next government.

“The Israeli public does not want a government that depends on Ra’am and its partners, parties that support terror and deny the existence of a Jewish state,” Netanyahu stated.

The prime minister emphasized that he has been prepared to negotiate a wider coalition since the election results became known, presenting his proposal as an opportunity to establish a government with support extending beyond his traditional political bloc.

“From the first day, our hand was out to form a broad patriotic government,” he declared.

Netanyahu also argued that the election outcome demonstrated continued public support for his leadership, pointing specifically to the strength of Likud among Jewish voters and its standing as the largest party in the Knesset.

“A clear majority of the Jewish public chose the Likud to be the largest party and me, as prime minister, to lead the next government.”

The prime minister’s appeal comes against the backdrop of a parliamentary stalemate that has left both major political blocs short of the 61 seats required to establish a governing majority. Netanyahu’s existing alliance secured 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, while the opposition parties aligned with Gadi Eisenkot obtained 48. The Arab parties, including Ra’am and the Joint List, won a combined 19 seats, placing them in a potentially influential position during coalition negotiations.

Likud emerged as the largest individual party with 27 seats, followed by Eisenkot’s Yashar party with 21. Netanyahu’s bloc includes United Torah Judaism with seven seats, Shas with six, Otzma Yehudit with seven, and Religious Zionism with six, meaning the prime minister would need the support of at least eight additional lawmakers to secure a majority.

The prime minister has made clear that his preferred solution is to attract additional parties into a coalition built around his existing partners, rather than dismantle his current political alliance. His invitation could place pressure on opposition figures who campaigned against him but may now face a choice between joining a broader government and risking another election.

Eisenkot has also been pursuing coalition possibilities, outlining principles that potential partners would need to accept before joining a government under his leadership. The opposition faces its own difficulties, particularly because several parties have expressed reservations about relying on Arab factions to establish a parliamentary majority.

Under Israel’s coalition formation process, President Isaac Herzog will consult with representatives of the elected parties after the official results are submitted to him on Wednesday. Herzog will then select the Knesset member he believes has the strongest prospect of assembling a government. That candidate will initially receive 28 days to complete negotiations, with the possibility of a 14-day extension.

Netanyahu ended his remarks by reiterating that his invitation remains open to political factions prepared to participate in a government consistent with his stated principles.

“We aspire to form a broad party with our partners and with any party that wants to and does not support terrorism. I am open to discussing the matter,” Netanyahu concluded.

Republican Senate candidates are gaining ground among voters who made their decisions in the final weeks before Tuesday’s midterm elections, according to a new New York Times/Siena University poll that found the GOP holding a nine-point advantage among late-deciding voters across seven closely watched Senate contests.

The survey, published Sunday, indicates that Republicans have made inroads with voters who settled on a candidate during the past month, although Democratic nominees continue to lead in six of the seven races examined. The findings suggest that Republicans may be building momentum as the campaign enters its final hours, even as Democrats remain competitive in several states that could determine control of the Senate.

“There are still some undecided voters, and voters who decided only in the last month favored Republicans by a nine-point margin,” the Times reported.

Despite that advantage among recent decision-makers, the overall polling numbers show Democrats maintaining leads in most of the battleground states. Democratic candidates are ahead by 11 percentage points in Michigan, seven points in Texas, six points in Maine, and five points apiece in Ohio and Kansas.

In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola holds a narrow two-point advantage over Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, while the contest in Iowa remains essentially deadlocked. The Alaska result falls within the survey’s margin of error, leaving the outcome particularly uncertain.

One notable finding is that Democratic nominees enjoy stronger favorability ratings among independent voters in all seven states. That advantage could prove important in contests where neither party can rely solely on its traditional supporters to secure victory.

Republicans have spent the closing weeks of the campaign attacking Democrats over cultural issues and portraying their opponents as aligned with increasingly socialist policies. Democrats, meanwhile, have concentrated their criticism on President Trump’s economic record and his administration’s handling of the conflict involving Iran.

The latest polling arrives amid unexpected developments in Michigan, where Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens announced Sunday that she was supporting Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers rather than her own party’s candidate, Abdul El-Sayed.

Stevens, who lost the Democratic Senate primary to El-Sayed in August, broke with her party by endorsing Rogers, a decision that immediately generated controversy among Michigan Democrats. Her announcement introduced another unpredictable element into a race already regarded as one of the most consequential Senate contests in the country.

The Michigan race has attracted national attention because of its potential implications for the balance of power in Washington. Although the Times/Siena survey gives the Democratic nominee a substantial lead, Stevens’ endorsement of Rogers could complicate efforts to maintain party unity in the final days of the campaign.

Another closely watched controversy has emerged in Alaska, where Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan is facing a competitive challenge from former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola. Reports have raised allegations that political operatives with possible connections to Peltola’s campaign encouraged a candidate with a name resembling Sullivan’s to enter the race, potentially confusing voters and drawing support away from the Republican incumbent.

Peltola’s campaign has denied participating in such an effort. The allegations have nevertheless triggered a legal dispute involving the Trump administration, adding another complication to an already tight contest. Much of the Times/Siena polling in Alaska was completed before the controversy became public, meaning the survey may not capture any resulting change in voter sentiment.

The latest surveys also found that Democratic candidates other than Peltola had improved their positions relative to their Republican opponents since the previous round of Times/Siena polling. That movement presents a challenge for Republicans, even as their improved performance among voters making last-minute decisions offers a potential source of optimism.

Polling analysts have cautioned, however, that the final numbers could still underestimate Republican support, particularly among white working-class voters who have historically been difficult for survey researchers to reach.

“Blue-collar white workers have proved particularly hard to reach in polls, and polling error has previously been among the highest in that demographic,” the Times reported.

The surveys were conducted from October 23 through November 1 and included 5,708 likely voters across the seven states. Individual state samples ranged from 610 respondents in Alaska to 1,215 in Texas, with reported sampling margins of error ranging from approximately 3.3 to 4.8 percentage points.

Siena Research Institute Executive Director Don Levy said the results indicate that Democratic control of the Senate remains a realistic possibility, but warned that the close margins in several states leave room for either party to emerge with a majority. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 Senate advantage, meaning Democrats would need a net gain of four seats to take control.

{Matzav.com}

A federal judge on Monday dismissed criminal charges against two former senior FBI officials accused of lying to Congress about the bureau’s handling of investigations involving Hunter Biden, delivering a blistering rebuke of the Justice Department and accusing the Trump administration of rushing a politically motivated prosecution just ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia M. Faruqui, presiding in federal court in Washington, D.C., threw out the case against Nikki Cole Floris and Bradley Benavides after determining that prosecutors had failed to establish sufficient evidence that either former official knowingly made false statements to congressional investigators. The ruling followed a series of contentious hearings during which the judge repeatedly questioned the government’s handling of the investigation and its unusual charging procedures.

“What has transpired here cannot be described as anything other than weaponization,” Faruqui declared from the bench, sharply criticizing the Justice Department’s decision to pursue the case in the final weeks before a closely contested national election.

The judge described the prosecution as a “rush job” and pointed to evidence indicating that the investigation had been initiated at the direction of senior administration officials, including FBI Director Kash Patel, following public statements by President Trump concerning alleged misconduct by federal intelligence agencies.

Floris and Benavides previously held senior positions in the FBI’s counterintelligence division, where they helped oversee the bureau’s Foreign Influence Task Force. The unit was responsible for investigating foreign attempts to interfere in American elections, including efforts involving disinformation and intelligence operations.

The criminal allegations stemmed from separate interviews the two officials gave to the House Judiciary Committee in 2023 concerning their knowledge of FBI investigations involving Hunter Biden and material recovered from his laptop before the 2020 presidential election.

Prosecutors maintained that both officials had deliberately minimized their awareness of the bureau’s investigative activities, particularly an internal operation known as Round River, which examined informant reporting concerning Hunter Biden and whether certain information could have originated from Russian disinformation efforts.

According to the government, statements made by Floris and Benavides during their congressional interviews were contradicted by internal FBI records and accounts from other witnesses. Prosecutors argued that the discrepancies demonstrated an effort to conceal the task force’s involvement in politically sensitive investigations.

Faruqui rejected the government’s contention that the evidence established probable cause to proceed. After examining the alleged false statements individually, the judge concluded that some were not demonstrably false, while others could reasonably have resulted from faulty recollection rather than intentional deception.

The judge also expressed concern about the circumstances under which the investigation began. During an earlier hearing, FBI agent Bryan Witt testified that Patel had assigned the matter to the bureau’s Kansas City field office following a July address by Trump in which the president called for renewed scrutiny of allegations that intelligence agencies had suppressed information concerning Chinese interference in the 2020 election.

Witt acknowledged under questioning that the assignment was unusual and that he had worried the investigation would be perceived as politically motivated. The inquiry subsequently shifted toward the congressional testimony of Floris and Benavides concerning Hunter Biden.

The prosecution encountered additional difficulties last week when Justice Department attorneys attempted to file an amended criminal complaint adding an obstruction charge without first obtaining the required judicial approval.

Faruqui reacted angrily to the filing, which appeared on the court’s public docket after midnight without a judge’s signature or sworn authorization. He said the procedure departed from established practice and raised serious questions about the government’s conduct.

The court struck the amended complaint from the record, leaving prosecutors to defend their original allegations at a preliminary hearing. Monday’s ruling dismissed those remaining charges as well.

The judge also questioned why prosecutors had chosen to initiate the felony case through a criminal complaint rather than first obtaining an indictment from a federal grand jury. Although the procedure is legally permissible, it is unusual in a case of this nature, particularly when the alleged offenses occurred several years earlier.

Defense attorneys had argued that the government was attempting to use the criminal justice system to punish officials associated with investigations that have long angered Trump and his political supporters. They maintained that the case lacked sufficient evidence and had been accelerated to generate headlines before voters went to the polls.

The decision represents another setback for the Justice Department in its efforts to pursue criminal cases involving individuals connected to politically contentious investigations from Trump’s first administration and the 2020 election.

In recent weeks, federal prosecutors have also pursued additional legal action involving former FBI Director James Comey, while other investigations have targeted individuals who have publicly criticized the president. The administration has maintained that its law enforcement efforts are intended to address alleged wrongdoing, while critics have accused officials of pursuing political retaliation.

Monday’s dismissal does not necessarily prevent prosecutors from attempting to revive the case. The Justice Department could still seek an indictment from a federal grand jury if it believes sufficient evidence exists to support criminal charges.

For now, however, the ruling brings an abrupt end to a prosecution that had become increasingly contentious, with a federal judge finding that the government had failed to meet even the preliminary evidentiary threshold required to proceed against the two former FBI officials.