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Police officers arrested 18 people at worker-led protests at Microsoft headquarters Wednesday as the tech company promises an “urgent” review of the Israeli military’s use of its technology during the ongoing war in Gaza. Two consecutive days of protest at the Microsoft campus in Redmond, Washington called for the tech giant to immediately cut its business ties with Israel. But unlike Tuesday, when about 35 protesters occupying a plaza between office buildings left after Microsoft asked them to leave, the protesters on Wednesday “resisted and became aggressive” after the company told police they were trespassing, according to the Redmond Police Department. The protesters also splattered red paint resembling the color of blood over a landmark sign that bears the company logo and spells Microsoft in big gray letters. “We said, ‘Please leave or you will be arrested,’ and they chose not to leave so they were detained,” said police spokesperson Jill Green. Microsoft late last week said it was tapping a law firm to investigate allegations reported by British newspaper The Guardian that the IDF used Microsoft’s Azure cloud computing platform to store phone call data obtained through the mass surveillance of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. “Microsoft’s standard terms of service prohibit this type of usage,” the company said in a statement posted Friday, adding that the report raises “precise allegations that merit a full and urgent review.” In February, The Associated Press revealed previously unreported details about the tech giant’s close partnership with the Israeli Ministry of Defense, with military use of commercial artificial intelligence products skyrocketing by nearly 200 times after the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack. The AP reported that the Israeli military uses Azure to transcribe, translate and process intelligence gathered through mass surveillance, which can then be cross-checked with Israel’s in-house AI-enabled targeting systems. Following The AP’s report, Microsoft acknowledged the military applications but said a review it commissioned found no evidence that its Azure platform and artificial intelligence technologies were used to target or harm people in Gaza. Microsoft did not share a copy of that review or say who conducted it. Microsoft said it will share the latest review’s findings after it’s completed by law firm Covington & Burling. The promise of a second review was insufficient for the employee-led No Azure for Apartheid group, which for months has protested Microsoft’s supplying the Israeli military with technology used for its war against Hamas in Gaza. The group said Wednesday the technology is “being used to surveil, starve and kill Palestinians.” Microsoft in May fired an employee who interrupted a speech by CEO Satya Nadella to protest the contracts, and in April, fired two others who interrupted the company’s 50th anniversary celebration. On Tuesday, the protesters posted online a call for what they called a “worker intifada,” using language evoking the Palestinian uprisings against Israeli military occupation that began in 1987. On Wednesday, the police department said it took 18 people into custody “for multiple charges, including trespassing, malicious mischief, resisting arrest, and obstruction.” It wasn’t clear how many were Microsoft employees. No injuries were reported. Microsoft said in a statement after the arrests that it “will continue to do the hard work needed to uphold its human rights standards in the Middle East, while supporting and taking clear steps […]

The Texas House on Wednesday approved a deeply divisive mid-cycle redistricting bill, just days after dozens of Democratic legislators returned to Austin, ending a two-week effort to derail the measure strongly supported by President Trump.

In a 88-52 vote along party lines, Republicans pushed through a newly drawn congressional map designed to give the GOP a significant edge, potentially securing as many as five additional seats in Congress before the 2026 midterm elections.

The fight over House Bill 4 sparked heated debate, with Democrats slamming both the timing of the proposal and its contents. They accused Republicans of crafting a plan that undermines minority representation, violates federal voting rights protections, and bypasses meaningful public involvement.

State Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (D), one of several Democrats who fled to Chicago to prevent the House from reaching quorum, charged that Republicans had created the map “in the cloak of darkness” while sidelining the Texas Legislative Black Caucus — which, she said, “potentially will lose two seats” — and failing to give them “a role in this process.”

Bill sponsor State Rep. Todd Hunter (R) dismissed the criticism, responding sharply: “You absolutely did … but you left 17 to 18 days.”

“Now you’re getting on the microphone saying, why didn’t I involve you? Well, I wasn’t going across state lines to find you. I was here,” Hunter added, stressing that Democrats abandoned the chamber when negotiations were taking place.

“Don’t come into this body and say we didn’t include you – You left us for 18 days, and that’s wrong,” he said, defending his approach and accusing Democrats of obstructing the process.

Hunter also insisted the bill is fully lawful, arguing, “redistricting can be done at any point in time.” He openly acknowledged the political intent behind the legislation, stating, “The underlying goal of this plan is straightforward: improve Republican political performance,” while maintaining that Supreme Court precedent backs the move.

Responding to accusations that the new districts harm minority voters, Hunter countered by pointing out that “four of the five new seats are hispanic majority … that’s a pretty strong message, and it’s good.”

Of the more than 50 Democratic representatives who left Austin earlier in protest, 20 were still officially marked absent during Wednesday’s session, though several reappeared before the final vote took place.

Meanwhile, the Texas Capitol Rotunda filled with demonstrators opposing the redistricting plan. Inside the chamber, the gallery had to be cautioned several times to avoid applauding Democrats who spoke against the bill.

Republicans, controlling the House, rejected all 12 Democratic amendments to the measure, including one that sought to delay the implementation of the map until federal authorities released documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.

Democrats also attempted to stall proceedings by proposing additional amendments — including measures to postpone the new map’s effective date until 2028, to establish an independent redistricting commission, and to require federal court approval confirming that the changes would not diminish minority voting power.

The bulk of the Democrats returned to the chamber on Monday under mounting pressure. Faced with threats of arrest, suspension from office, and having their pay withheld, many were only permitted to leave after agreeing to be released into the custody of a Department of Public Safety officer to ensure they returned for the decisive vote.

Rep. Nicole Collier (D), however, refused to sign the mandatory permission slip imposed by Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows. Instead, she stayed in the Capitol and slept inside the chamber for two nights leading up to the vote.

The Democrats’ decision to return came after the initial special session ended on Friday and after California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced his own plan to redraw district lines in an effort to offset the advantage Texas Republicans secured with their new map.

In a statement issued after the session, the Texas House Democratic Caucus declared that they would “launch the next phase in their fight against the racist gerrymander that provoked a weeks-long standoff with Governor [Greg] Abbott and President Trump.”

Before the vote, state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer (D), who has pledged to challenge the law in court, issued a pointed warning to Republicans: “Don’t delete your emails, don’t delete your text messages.”

{Matzav.com}

President Trump’s administration on Wednesday imposed sanctions on two judges and two prosecutors at the International Criminal Court (ICC), escalating pressure on the war tribunal for its actions against Israeli officials. According to the U.S. Treasury and State Department, Washington designated Nicolas Yann Guillou of France, Nazhat Shameem Khan of Fiji, Mame Mandiaye Niang of Senegal, and Kimberly Prost of Canada. Last November, ICC judges issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Ibrahim al-Masri for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Gaza war. Guillou was part of the pre-trial panel that approved the warrant against Netanyahu, while Khan and Niang are deputy prosecutors at the court. The move comes less than three months after the administration sanctioned four other ICC judges, accusing them of pursuing “illegitimate and baseless actions” targeting the U.S. and its ally Israel. The ICC, which denounced the earlier sanctions as an attack on its independence, did not immediately respond to Wednesday’s actions. The sanctions freeze any U.S.-based assets of the individuals and bar them from accessing the American financial system. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released the following statement: “I congratulate US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for deciding to impose sanctions on the judges of the International Court in The Hague. This is a firm measure against the mendacious smear campaign against the State of Israel and the IDF, and for truth and justice.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Sources linked to Hamas confirmed that terrorist Ghassan Salot, a member of the organization who back in February forced captivity survivor Omer Shem Tov to kiss his forehead during his release, was killed on Tuesday in Dir al-Balah.

Several months ago, Shem Tov shared details of the severe conditions he endured while being held captive.

In an emotional interview, he described how the terrorists attempted to coerce him into harming IDF soldiers, but he refused to comply. “They told me: ‘When the soldiers enter the house, you denotate.’ I told them no. They threatened to shoot me in the head – I said, ‘So shoot,'” he recalled.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence will dramatically reduce its workforce and cut its budget by more than $700 million annually, the Trump administration announced Wednesday. The move amounts to a major downsizing of the office responsible for coordinating the work of 18 intelligence agencies, including on counterterrorism and counterintelligence, as President Donald Trump has tangled with assessments from the intelligence community. His administration also this week has revoked the security clearances of dozens of former and current officials, while last month declassifying documents meant to call into question long-settled judgments about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. “Over the last 20 years, ODNI has become bloated and inefficient, and the intelligence community is rife with abuse of power, unauthorized leaks of classified intelligence, and politicized weaponization of intelligence,” Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, said in a statement announcing a more than 40% workforce reduction. She added: “Ending the weaponization of intelligence and holding bad actors accountable are essential to begin to earn the American people’s trust which has long been eroded.” Division tackling foreign influence is targeted Among the changes are to the Foreign Malign Influence Center, which is meant to track influence operations from abroad and threats to elections. Officials said it has become “redundant” and that its core functions would be integrated into other parts of the government. The reorganization is part of a broader administration effort to rethink how it tracks foreign threats to American elections, a topic that has become politically loaded given Trump’s long-running resistance to the intelligence community’s assessment that Russia interfered on his behalf in the 2016 election. In February, for instance, Attorney General Pam Bondi disbanded an FBI task force focused on investigating foreign influence operations, including those that target U.S. elections. The Trump administration also has made sweeping cuts at the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which oversees the nation’s critical infrastructure, including election systems. And the State Department in April said it shut down its office that sought to deal with misinformation and disinformation that Russia, China and Iran have been accused of spreading. Republicans cheer the downsizing, and Democrats pan it Reaction to the news broke along partisan lines in Congress, where Sen. Tom Cotton, Republican chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, praised the decision as “an important step towards returning ODNI to that original size, scope, and mission. And it will help make it a stronger and more effective national security tool for President Trump.” The panel’s top Democrat, Sen. Mark Warner, pledged to carefully review Gabbard’s proposals and “conduct rigorous oversight to ensure any reforms strengthen, not weaken, our national security.” He said he was not confident that would be the case “given Director Gabbard’s track record of politicizing intelligence.” Gabbard’s efforts to downsize the agency she leads is in keeping with the cost-cutting mandate the administration has employed since its earliest days, when Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency oversaw mass layoffs of the federal workforce. It’s the latest headline-making move by an official who just a few month ago had seemed out of favor with Trump over her analysis of Iran’s nuclear capabilities but who in recent weeks has emerged as a key loyalist with her latest actions. Changes to efforts to combat foreign election influence The Foreign Malign Influence Center was created by the Biden administration in […]

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Yisroel Yitzchok Radzik z”l, a maggid shiur in the Gerer mesivta of Beit Shemesh. He was just 37 years old. He was niftar after battling a severe illness that afflicted him over the past two years.

The heartbreaking news comes from Ashdod, where Rav Yisroel Yitzchok was born and raised. His passing follows a prolonged period of suffering and yissurim, during which countless tefillos were offered on his behalf.

Approximately a year and a half ago, on Purim 5784, he suddenly collapsed in the Gerer beis medrash, prompting an outpouring of tefillos from family, friends, talmidim, and the broader Ger community.

Rav Yisroel Yitzchok was born in Ashdod on 15 Sivan 5748 (1988) to his father, Rav Eliezer Moshe Radzik, and his mother, Mrs. Chaya Tzivia.

In his youth, he learned in the Gerer yeshiva ketanah in Chatzor and later continued to the Gerer yeshiva gedolah, where he was part of its very first class. His diligence and hasmadah earned him recognition as a rising talmid chacham, distinguished in his Torah learning and yiras Shamayim.

He later married his devoted wife, daughter of Rav Avigdor Rubinstein, rosh yeshiva of Maor Yisroel in Bnei Brak and a close confidant and mechutan of the Gerer Rebbe.

Rav Yisroel Yitzchok was widely admired for his refined character, deep humility, and unwavering avodas Hashem. As a maggid shiur in the Gerer mesivta of Beit Shemesh, he inspired his talmidim with clarity, warmth, and love for Torah.

This tragedy marks the second devastating loss for his father-in-law, Rav Rubinstein. A decade ago, another son-in-law, Rav Yosef Eliezer Lubert z”l, passed away at the young age of 30 after battling a serious illness.

Rav Yisroel Yitzchok leaves behind his grieving parents, siblings, his devoted wife, and seven children.

The levayah took place at his parents’ home in Ashdod, proceeding to the Ashdod cemetery for kevurah.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rebbetzin Zahava Golda Chevroni a”h, widow of the late nosi of Yeshivas Chevron, Rav Yitzchak Zev Chevroni, and mother of the current rosh yeshiva, Rav Yosef Chevroni. She was 93 years old.

Rebbetzin Chevroni was born on 29 Tishrei 5692 (1931) to her father, Rav Yosef Weinberg, and her mother, Mrs. Penina Weinberg.

She married her husband, Rav Yitzchak Zev Chevroni, who served as nosi of Yeshivas Chevron. He was the son of the rosh yeshiva, Rav Moshe Chevroni, author of Masas Moshe. Following his father’s passing, Rav Yitzchak Zev assumed leadership of the yeshiva and guided it with dedication until his own passing in Cheshvan 2009.

Throughout the decades, Rebbetzin Chevroni stood faithfully at her husband’s side, carrying the weight of the yeshiva’s responsibilities with quiet strength and unwavering devotion. Her home was a source of warmth, chesed, and support for countless talmidim and families connected to the Chevron community.

She is survived by a distinguished family, including her son, Rav Yosef Chevroni, rosh yeshiva of Chevron; her son-in-law, Rav Aryeh Zolty, son of Rav Betzalel Zolty who serves as rosh kollel in Givat Mordechai; along with grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The levayah took place today beginning from the courtyard of Yeshivas Chevron in Givat Mordechai, Yerushalayim, proceeding to Har HaZeisim for kevurah.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israeli police arrested a 36-year-old man from Yerushalayim on suspicion of threatening Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara’s life, after he allegedly approached former Chief Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef seeking a psak that she is a rodef and he is allowed to murder her. Alarmed, Rav Yosef relayed the encounter to Religious Affairs Ministry director-general Yehuda Avidan, who immediately alerted the Jerusalem District police. Police said they had already launched an investigation earlier in the day after receiving a letter containing an explicit death threat against a senior public figure. Within hours, investigators tracked the suspect to his home and arrested him. Authorities said he will be brought to court as they seek to extend his remand. The din rodef designation carries explosive resonance in Israel’s history. Yigal Amir, the assassin of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, cited it as justification for his crime. Law enforcement sources stressed the severity of invoking it, given its deadly precedent in political violence. Baharav-Miara has become a lightning rod in Israel’s polarized political climate. Earlier this month, the government voted to oust her, a move quickly frozen by the High Court. She has frequently clashed with the Chareidi community, halting daycare subsidies for families of lomdei torah and pressing the IDF to deliver enlistment orders to thousands of bnei yeshiva, including threats of arrest for noncompliance. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Several close associates of New York City Mayor Eric Adams are expected to be indicted on corruption charges in the coming days, marking yet another explosive chapter in the scandals that have dogged his administration and eroded public trust ahead of his re-election bid, the New York Times reports. According to four people with direct knowledge of the matter, the defendants will include Adams’s longtime confidante and former chief adviser, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, and her son, both of whom are already facing corruption charges filed last year. They will be joined by former state senator Jesse Hamilton, a political ally whom Adams installed in a powerful city position, and Gina and Tony Argento, wealthy siblings who run one of the city’s most influential soundstage companies and major donors to Adams’s campaigns. The indictments, expected Thursday morning, are being brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and the city’s Department of Investigation. Sources say the charges will center on bribery schemes and attempts to manipulate city policy through well-connected insiders — with Lewis-Martin at the heart of the alleged misconduct. Lewis-Martin, once described as the second-most powerful figure in City Hall, is expected to be charged again despite already facing an indictment for accepting $100,000 in bribes — money prosecutors say her son used to purchase a luxury Porsche. Her resignation came just days before her first indictment, but her shadow over City Hall has remained. “The mayor is not a target of our investigation,” Bragg emphasized in an earlier press conference, though the web of allegations continues to tighten around Adams’s closest circle. Mayor Adams, who is struggling in the polls and battling lawsuits from former police officials accusing him of fostering corruption, insists he is the victim of political persecution. “In spite of the lawfare that brought an attack on me because I was fighting on behalf of all New Yorkers,” he said Wednesday at his campaign office opening in Harlem, “we have continued to move the city forward.” A spokesperson for Adams reiterated that he is not implicated in the new cases, stressing that “Mayor Adams was not involved in this matter and has not been accused of wrongdoing.” Prosecutors are also expected to scrutinize the Argento family’s successful lobbying effort to derail a long-planned road safety redesign on Brooklyn’s McGuinness Boulevard. The siblings launched an aggressive campaign to kill the project, and according to city officials, Lewis-Martin repeatedly echoed their objections inside City Hall. Just months after the Adams administration unveiled the safety plan, it abruptly reversed course. Investigators seized the Argentos’ phones in the same week that Lewis-Martin’s home was searched and her devices confiscated — an indication of the widening probe. The upcoming indictments deepen a corruption cloud that shows no sign of lifting. One Adams associate recently pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud, another was sentenced to probation, and several former top police officials have sued the mayor, accusing him of running the NYPD like a criminal racket. While Adams himself has so far evaded charges, the steady drip of corruption cases against his allies has left his administration badly weakened — and his political prospects increasingly dim. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Frank Caprio, a retired municipal judge in Rhode Island who found online fame as a caring jurist and host of ” Caught in Providence,” has died. He was 88. His official social media accounts said Wednesday he “passed away peacefully” after “a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.” Caprio billed his courtroom as a place “where people and cases are met with kindness and compassion.” He was known for dismissing tickets or showing kindness even when he handed out justice. Last week, Caprio posted a short video on Facebook about how he had “a setback,” was back in the hospital and was asking that people “remember me in your prayers.” Caprio’s show was filmed in his courtroom and featured his folksy humor and compassion. Clips from the show have had more than 1 billion views on social media. During his time on the bench, Caprio developed a persona at odds with many TV judges — more sympathetic and less confrontational and judgmental. In his bite-sized segments on YouTube, Caprio is often seen empathizing with those in his courtroom. Many of the infractions are also relatively minor, from failing to use a turn signal to a citation for a loud party. Caprio also used his fame to address issues like unequal access to the judicial system. “The phrase, ‘With liberty and justice for all’ represents the idea that justice should be accessible to everyone. However it is not,” Caprio said in one video. “Almost 90% of low-income Americans are forced to battle civil issues like health care, unjust evictions, veterans benefits and, yes, even traffic violations, alone.” Caprio’s upbeat take on the job of a judge drew him millions of views. His most popular videos have been those where he calls children to the bench to help pass judgment on their parents. One shows him listening sympathetically to a woman whose son was killed and then dismissing her tickets and fines of $400. In another clip, after dismissing a red-light violation for a bartender who was making $3.84 per hour, Caprio urged those watching the video not to duck out on their bills. “If anyone’s watching I want them to know you better not eat and run because you’re going to get caught and the poor people who are working hard all day for three bucks an hour are going to have to pay your bill,” he said. On social media, his family described Caprio “as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend.” “Beloved for his compassion, humility, and unwavering belief in the goodness of people, Judge Caprio touched the lives of millions through his work in the courtroom and beyond,” the family wrote. “His warmth, humor, and kindness left an indelible mark on all who knew him.” State and local politicians mourned his passing and celebrated his life. “Judge Caprio not only served the public well, but he connected with them in a meaningful way, and people could not help but respond to his warmth and compassion,” Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee said in a statement. “He was more than a jurist — he was a symbol of empathy on the bench, showing us what is possible when justice is tempered with humanity.” Robert Leonard, who co-owned a restaurant with Caprio, said he was “going to be […]

A new survey conducted by the Direct Polls Institute for i24NEWS indicates that if national elections were held today, the Likud party would secure 28 Knesset seats.

According to the poll, Naftali Bennett’s party would capture 19 seats, the Democrats would win 13, Shas would earn 10, Otzma Yehudit and Yisrael Beytenu would each receive 9, United Torah Judaism would take 8, the Religious Zionist Party would gain 6, a reservists’ faction led by Yoaz Hendel would get 5, and Yesh Atid, Ra’am, and Hadash-Ta’al would each finish with 4 seats.

The findings also show that both the Blue and White and Balad parties would fail to clear the electoral threshold.

The poll further examined a separate scenario involving the creation of a new right-wing party led by figures from the defense establishment, including Yossi Cohen, Dedi Simchi, Ofer Winter, and Amir Avivi.

Under this scenario, Likud would drop slightly to 25 seats, Bennett’s party would secure 17, and the newly formed defense-oriented right-wing party would earn 13. The Democrats would remain steady at 13, while Shas would win 9, Yisrael Beytenu 8, United Torah Judaism 8, Otzma Yehudit 5, Yoaz Hendel’s reservists’ party 5, Ra’am 5, Yesh Atid 4, the Religious Zionist Party 4, and Hadash-Ta’al 4.

In this outcome as well, the Blue and White party would once again fail to pass the electoral threshold.

{Matzav.com Israel}

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of R’ Mendel Schechter Z”L of Flatbush, at the age of approximately 87. He was a beloved brother of the late Chaim Berlin Rosh Yeshiva, Hagaon HaRav Aharon Schechter ZT”L. R’ Mendel dedicated his entire life to Yeshiva Chaim Berlin, which he so deeply loved and cherished. For more than 60 years – over 30 of them as a devoted employee – he tirelessly served the Yeshiva with loyalty and humility. A true ben Torah, R’ Mendel davened in the Yeshiva throughout his life. In his later years, when walking became difficult, he davened in the shuls of Rav Lipa Geldwirth and Rav Binyomin Cohen — but he would always say that his heart remained in the Yeshiva’s Beis Medrash. He is survived by his wife Rivka, his children, grandchildren, and the entire extended Chaim Berlin family, who all mourn the loss of a lifelong servant of Torah and the Yeshiva world. The Levaya will be held at Yeshiva Chaim Berlin on Thursday. Exact details will be updated when confirmed. Boruch Dayan Ha’Emes…

Four IDF soldiers were lightly wounded Wednesday when a combat device exploded during operational activity in southern Syria, the military said. The troops were evacuated to a hospital and their families notified. The IDF opened an investigation into the circumstances of the blast. The incident comes amid a tightened Israeli posture along the Syrian frontier, where the IDF’s 210th Division has been running a series of raids aimed at disrupting weapons smuggling and keeping hostile actors away from the Golan Heights. On Aug. 10, Israeli forces arrested an alleged weapons trafficker in the Tarangah area of Quneitra after intelligence gathering and surveillance. Paratroopers from the 226th Brigade, operating under the 210th Division and in coordination with Military Intelligence Unit 504, carried out the overnight operation, interrogated the suspect, and confiscated weapons found on site. Earlier this month, the army said it wrapped up an operation targeting weapons-trafficking networks in the Hader area. Acting on intelligence and an on-the-ground investigation, soldiers raided four locations simultaneously and uncovered a cache of arms. In addition to ground activity, the Israeli Air Force recently struck a vehicle mounting a heavy machine gun in southern Syria. The IDF said the strike followed Israel’s elimination in Lebanon of two senior terrorists tied to attacks originating in Syria, underscoring a broader effort to blunt cross-border threats. Tensions along the line have been compounded by unusual civilian activity: A group of about 10 Israeli Jewish activists from northern Shomron briefly crossed into Syrian territory on Monday and attempted to set up a new settlement before being escorted back by Israeli soldiers. The IDF says troops from the 210th Division remain deployed across the sector to prevent the entrenchment of terrorist elements in Syria and to protect Israeli civilians, particularly residents of the Golan Heights. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Ministry of Religious Services Director-General Yehuda Avidan reached out to Police Commissioner Major General Danni Levy on Wednesday to alert him about a potential threat to the life of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.

The warning came after the office of the former Sephardic Chief Rabbi, Rav Yitzchok Yosef, received a troubling request from a private citizen seeking approval to harm Baharav-Miara.

“The rov’s office warned of a threat that seems real and could immediately endanger the life of the Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara,” the letter stated.

Rav Yosef further directed that the information be quickly handed over to law enforcement so it could be investigated without delay.

Following receipt of the letter, police reported that they had launched an investigation after a threatening note aimed at Baharav-Miara was discovered near a residential property in the city. Authorities confirmed that an immediate probe was underway to track down the individual responsible for sending the threat.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The Texas House on Wednesday approved redrawn congressional maps that would give Republicans a bigger edge in 2026, muscling through a partisan gerrymander that launched weeks of protests by Democrats and a widening national battle over redistricting. The approval came at the urging of President Donald Trump, who pushed for the extraordinary mid-decade revision of congressional maps to give his party a better chance at holding onto the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2026 midterm elections. The maps, which would give Republicans five more winnable seats, need to be approved by the GOP-controlled state Senate and signed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott before they become official. But the Texas House vote had presented the best chance for Democrats to derail the redraw. Democratic legislators delayed the vote by two weeks by fleeing Texas earlier this month in protest, and they were assigned round-the-clock police monitoring upon their return to ensure they attended Wednesday’s session. The approval of the Texas maps on an 88-52 party-line vote is likely to prompt California’s Democratic-controlled state Legislature this week to approve of a new House map creating five new Democratic-leaning districts. But the California map would require voter approval in November. Democrats have also vowed to challenge the new Texas map in court and complained that Republicans made the political power move before passing legislation responding to deadly floods that swept the state last month. Texas maps openly made to help GOP Texas Republicans openly said they were acting in their party’s interest. State Rep. Todd Hunter, who wrote the legislation formally creating the new map, noted that the U.S. Supreme Court has allowed politicians to redraw districts for nakedly partisan purposes. “The underlying goal of this plan is straight forward: improve Republican political performance,” Hunter, a Republican, said on the floor. After nearly eight hours of debate, Hunter took the floor again to sum up the entire dispute as nothing more than a partisan fight. “What’s the difference, to the whole world listening? Republicans like it, and Democrats do not.” Democrats said the disagreement was about more than partisanship. “In a democracy, people choose their representatives,” State Rep. Chris Turner said. “This bill flips that on its head and lets politicians in Washington, D.C., choose their voters.” State Rep. John H. Bucy blamed the president. “This is Donald Trump’s map,” Bucy said. “It clearly and deliberately manufactures five more Republican seats in Congress because Trump himself knows that the voters are rejecting his agenda.” Redistricting becomes tool nationwide in battle for US House The Republican power play has already triggered a national tit-for-tat battle as Democratic state lawmakers prepared to gather in California on Thursday to revise that state’s map to create five new Democratic seats. “This is a new Democratic Party, this is a new day, this is new energy out there all across this country,” California’s Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom said on a call with reporters on Wednesday. “And we’re going to fight fire with fire.” A new California map would need to be approved by voters in a special election in November because that state normally operates with a nonpartisan commission drawing the map to avoid the very sort of political brawl that is playing out. Newsom himself backed the 2008 ballot measure to create that process, as did former President Barack […]

Looking for a structured program that will give you the tools and resources you need to get Smicha? Hilchos Shabbos? Dayanus? Chuppah v’Kiddushin? Join Machon Smicha, the premier halachah institute serving the English-speaking Torah community. Machon Smicha is a unique, online, halacha-learning program that makes learning, getting tested and receiving smicha possible. We offer rigorous and structured learning programs in halachah across a broad spectrum of topics, which enables learners to grow and succeed in their Torah learning, from the novice to the scholar. Be empowered to learn Shulchan Aruch like never before, from the Mishnah and Gemara all the way to contemporary Poskim and Minhagim. Our programs include:  Smicha: Achieve your dream of finally receiving smicha in a program that will empower you to succeed, Shabbos: Learn and master Hilchos Shabbos, from the original sources down to their practical application Chuppah v’Kiddushin: Become proficient in the halachos of weddings and marriage, and become equipped to be a mesader kiddushin. Dayanus: Dive deep into the halachos of beis din, halachic litigation, business, and interpersonal responsibility. Machon Smicha offers each student a complete curriculum, consisting of: Online portal with access to all the program content. Flexible schedule. Shiurim. English Study Guide, containing introductions, overviews, translations, and in-depth summaries of every halachah. Access to forums and teachers for questions, discussions, etc. Rabbi and teachers available to answer questions and aid in the learning. Quizzes, review material, and mock tests. Tests with prominent rabbis. Signed certificate for those who successfully complete the program. Machon Smicha’s next semester begins on August 28th, 2025To learn more, or to apply, visit onlinemachon.com.

Blue and White party leader MK Benny Gantz is weighing the option of rejoining the government amid expectations that Ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich will oppose the proposed hostage deal currently under discussion, Kan News reported on Wednesday.

According to the report, Gantz — who entered the government when the war began but later stepped down — has held talks with political figures about the possibility of returning in order to help advance an agreement for the hostages’ release.

These discussions have largely focused on whether such a move would be strategically sound for Gantz, particularly given Smotrich and Ben-Gvir’s strong objections to a partial arrangement that would not secure the freedom of all the captives.

Up until now, opposition lawmakers have mostly spoken about offering a “safety net” to back Netanyahu in approving the deal, but recently, a more direct possibility has surfaced — Gantz potentially rejoining the coalition under specific conditions.

For now, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has not yet issued a final decision regarding the proposal presented by mediators earlier this week.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The IDF released a report on Wednesday summarizing the results of Operation Gideon’s Chariots, announcing that its forces have secured control over nearly 75% of the Gaza Strip. This achievement has allowed the military to broaden its campaign, dismantle Hamas’ infrastructure, and disrupt the group’s leadership structure.

As part of the mission, the IDF created two major operational corridors:
The “Morag” Corridor, which separates Hamas’ Rafah and Khan Yunis Brigades, and the “Magen Oz” Corridor, which divides the Khan Yunis Brigade from east to west.

Since March 18, Israeli forces have carried out close to 10,000 strikes against terrorist targets using hundreds of fighter jets, drones, and naval vessels from the Air Force and Navy. One of the most significant attacks took place on May 13, when a joint IDF-ISA operation in Khan Yunis killed several top Hamas leaders: Mohammad Sinwar, head of the organization’s military wing; Mohammad Shabaneh, commander of Hamas’ Rafah Brigade; and Mahdi Quara, commander of the South Khan Yunis Battalion.

The report also confirmed the elimination of additional figures, including operatives within Hamas’ General Security Apparatus, six senior officers in its naval commando division, numerous terrorists who infiltrated Israel during the October 7th attack, and hundreds of other fighters and field commanders across Gaza.

Five IDF divisions — the 162nd, 143rd, 98th, 252nd, and 36th — conducted simultaneous ground operations, while the 99th Division provided backup support. Soldiers discovered and destroyed dozens of terror tunnels, sealed off escape routes used by militants, and neutralized multiple Hamas cells as well as key field leaders.

According to the IDF, these operations have significantly weakened Hamas’ military capabilities and command networks, setting the stage for further intensified actions. The army stressed that these accomplishments form the foundation for the next phase of its campaign in Gaza.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Federal prosecutors in the nation’s capital will no longer bring felony charges against people for possessing rifles or shotguns in the District of Columbia, according to a new policy adopted by the leader of the nation’s largest U.S. attorney’s office. That office will continue to pursue charges when someone is accused of using a shotgun or rifle in a violent crime or has a criminal record that makes it illegal to have a firearm. Local authorities in Washington can prosecute people for illegally possessing unregistered rifles and shotguns. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said in a statement that the change is based on guidance from the Justice Department and the Office of Solicitor General and conforms with two Supreme Court decisions on gun rights. Pirro, a former Fox News host, has been a vocal critic of local officials’ crime-fighting efforts since Trump installed her in office in May. Her policy shift means federal prosecutors will not purse charges under the D.C. law that made it illegal to carry rifles or shotguns, except in limited cases involving permit holders. The change also overlaps with Republican President Donald Trump’s declaration of a crime emergency in the city, flooding the streets of Washington with patrols of hundreds of federal agents and National Guard members. The White House says 76 firearms have been seized since the crackdown started this month. The new policy also coves large-capacity magazines, but it does not apply to handguns. “We will continue to seize all illegal and unlicensed firearms, and to vigorously prosecute all crimes connected with them,” Pirro said, adding that she and Trump “are committed to prosecuting gun crime.” Pirro said a blanket ban on possessing shotguns and rifles violates the Supreme Court’s ruling in 2022 that struck down a New York gun law and held that Americans have a right to carry firearms in public for self-defense. She also pointed to the high court’s 2008 decision in District of Columbia v. Heller striking down the city’s ban on handguns in the home. (AP)

A federal judge in Texas has temporarily stopped the implementation of a new state law that would have compelled public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Fred Biery granted a preliminary injunction in the case of Rabbi Nathan v. Alamo Heights Independent School District, finding that Texas Senate Bill 10, which was scheduled to go into effect on September 1, likely conflicts with both the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.

The legal challenge was initiated in late June after Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 10 into law. Several families filed suit, arguing that the measure infringed on their rights to direct their children’s religious upbringing and effectively imposed state-sponsored religious practices in public education.

The injunction prevents school districts from enforcing the requirement, which would have mandated that all classrooms display a 16-by-20-inch poster or framed copy of a specific English version of the Ten Commandments.

In his ruling, Judge Biery stated that the mandate risks crossing constitutional boundaries by coercing students into religious observance and restricting their ability to express their own personal beliefs.

“[T]he displays are likely to pressure the child-Plaintiffs into religious observance, meditation on, veneration, and adoption of the State’s favored religious scripture, and into suppressing expression of their own religious or nonreligious background and beliefs while at school,” Biery wrote.

The plaintiffs in the case represent a diverse group of families, including Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Unitarian Universalist, and nonreligious households with children enrolled in Texas public schools. Their legal team included the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and attorneys from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP who provided services pro bono.

Plaintiff Rabbi Mara Nathan praised the decision as a significant victory for parental rights, stating: “Children’s religious beliefs should be instilled by parents and faith communities, not politicians and public schools.”

Heather L. Weaver, senior counsel for the ACLU’s Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief, said the ruling reinforces the principle of inclusivity in public education. “Public schools are not Sunday schools,” Weaver said.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton strongly criticized the ruling and vowed to challenge it in higher courts.

“The Ten Commandments are a cornerstone of our moral and legal heritage, and their presence in classrooms serves as a reminder of the values that guide responsible citizenship. Texas will always defend our right to uphold the foundational principles that have built this nation, and I will absolutely be appealing this flawed decision,” Paxton declared in a statement.

{Matzav.com}