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Several dozen roshei yeshiva representing the Litvish, Chassidish, and Sefardic Torah worlds in Eretz Yisroel gathered on Monday at the home of the venerable sar haTorah, Maran Rav Dov Landau shlit”a, to confront the escalating gezeiros against yeshivos. 

With government threats looming — including the potential arrest of yeshiva bochurim for refusing army enlistment — the rabbanim convened to deliberate next steps. After lengthy discussion, a consensus was reached: the situation demands immediate international action. Plans are now underway for a second Keren Olam HaTorah mission to the United States, following the historic success of last year’s campaign.

Despite his advanced age of 95 and recent surgery following a broken bone, Rav Dov shlit”a expressed an unwavering desire to participate once again, saying he wants to do everything he can for Keren Olam HaTorah. Rav Dov requested tefillos from the tzibbur that he should have the strength to travel once more to America on behalf of the yeshivos.

The meeting was marked by remarkable achdus, with roshei yeshiva from all backgrounds joining together with one voice and one mission: to secure the future of Torah in Eretz Yisroel.

Askanim involved say the trip is tentatively planned for shortly after Shavuos. Last year’s inaugural campaign brought in over $100 million for yeshivos and drew tens of thousands of participants to events across the U.S., Canada, and South America.

Updates on the campaign and Rav Dov’s health will be forthcoming in the weeks ahead.

Dozens of demonstrators affiliated with the Retzafnikim faction gathered Monday evening in central Yerushalayim, staging a protest that quickly escalated into confrontation with security forces.

The protestors blocked the intersection of Sarei Yisrael and Yafo Streets in the heart of the city.

In response, police units were dispatched to the scene, including mounted officers and a water cannon vehicle, in an effort to disperse the crowd.

The demonstrators were forcibly removed by police as tensions flared between the protestors and law enforcement. Eyewitnesses reported shouting, resistance, and scuffles as protestors refused to vacate the area voluntarily.

The protest is part of a series of actions led by the Retzafnikim, a group known for its hardline stance on the army issue.

Photos from the scene show a heavy police presence, water being sprayed from the canon, and protestors being dragged away or restrained by officers. The use of mounted police created dramatic moments as the crowd tried to resist while horses advanced.

Several arrests were made.

PHOTOS:

A special l’chaim took place in the study of the Gaavad of Mosdos Darchei Torah, HaGaon Rav Asher Weiss, in celebration of the publication of the 35th volume of Minchas Asher.

The event was held at Kollel Darchei Torah in the Ramot neighborhood of Yerushalayim and was attended by leading talmidim of Rav Weiss, many of whom are affiliated with Mosdos Minchas Asher.

The Minchas Asher series, encompassing wide-ranging topics across all areas of Torah, has earned great acclaim among talmidei chachomim and has been printed over the years in tens of thousands of copies across multiple editions.

During the gathering, Rav Weiss delivered brief remarks, expressing heartfelt thanks to his close talmidim and the members of Mosdos Minchas Asher for their dedication and assistance in the publication of the new sefer.

PHOTOS:

{Matzav.com Israel}

Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, who was pardoned by Donald Trump for his conviction related to the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, said he met with the president over the weekend in Florida. Tarrio posted about the meeting on his X account Sunday morning. “Yesterday, I had the honor of meeting the President of the United States, a moment I never could have imagined in my darkest days,” Tarrio wrote. In other posts, he said he was at Mar-a-Lago, the president’s club, and that he had a “great conversation” with the president after Trump called him and his mother over during dinner. A White House official said the meeting was not planned; rather, Tarrio had been at the club to dine with a member, who introduced him to Trump. The two had a “brief exchange” as the president walked to his table for dinner, said the official who was granted anonymity to discuss a private encounter. Tarrio responded to messages seeking comment about the meeting. A federal jury convicted Tarrio and three lieutenants of seditious conspiracy for a failed plot to keep Trump in the White House after he lost the 2020 presidential election. Tarrio was serving a 22-year prison sentence, the longest of any Capitol riot case, before Trump pardoned him. He was in prison for about three years. Tarrio wasn’t in Washington, D.C, when Proud Boys members stormed the Capitol with a mob of Trump supporters. But prosecutors said the Miami resident organized and led the far-right extremist group’s assault from afar. Trump has defended the clemency actions he took on his first day returning to office. He pardoned roughly 1,500 people who were involved in the siege at the Capitol by his angry supporters. He also suggested there could be a place in American politics for the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, the extremists groups whose leaders were convicted of seditious conspiracy against the U.S. Before the Capitol attack, the Proud Boys were best known for street fights with anti-fascist activists at time when Trump told the group to “stand back and stand by” during his first debate in 2020 with then-presidential candidate Biden. (AP)

All are asked to daven for the refuah sheleimah of Rav Yitzchok Ezrachi, one of the roshei yeshiva of Yeshivas Mir-Yerushalayim.

Rav Ezrachi, who is 90 years old, was hospitalized earlier this week at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Yerushalayim after feeling unwell. He is expected to undergo a cardiac catheterization procedure in the coming days.

A notice was posted in Yeshivas Mir urging the bochurim and yungeleit to daven on behalf of their revered rosh yeshiva.

All are asked to daven for the refuah sheleimah of Rav Yaakov Yitzchok ben Hinda Malka.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Multiple Orthodox Jewish passengers on Lufthansa flight LH1397 from Prague to Frankfurt tell YWN they were singled out and forced to check their carry-on luggage, while other passengers with larger bags were allowed to board without issue. The incident occurred Monday afternoon at Václav Havel Airport, shortly before the scheduled 2:30 PM departure. According to firsthand accounts, the passengers — identifiable by their religious attire — were approached at the gate and asked if they were comfortable sitting in the emergency exit row. Upon agreeing, they were immediately told their hand luggage would need to be checked, allegedly for failing to fit easily into the sizing rack. One passenger, who arrived at the airport around 12:30 PM, explained to staff that he had a tight connection in Frankfurt and could not afford delays caused by checking a bag. His request was denied. When he questioned why only visibly Orthodox passengers were being subjected to this policy, he was told the inquiry was inappropriate and was threatened with removal from the boarding area. “No other passengers — many with visibly larger suitcases — were stopped, measured, or asked to check their bags,” the passenger said. The situation escalated when the passenger attempted to photograph another traveler’s larger suitcase that had been allowed onboard. A Lufthansa staff member blocked the camera and threatened to call the police. While Lufthansa has not yet issued a comment on the incident, the airline has previously faced allegations of discriminatory conduct toward Orthodox Jewish travelers. In 2022, Lufthansa apologized after a group of Jewish passengers was barred from boarding a flight in Frankfurt, and later shelled out millions in fines over the incident. The passengers involved in Monday’s incident described the experience as humiliating and discriminatory. “No one should be treated differently because of how they look or what they wear,” one of the passengers told YWN. “We were not asking for special treatment — only fair treatment.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A major rift has erupted within Israeli PM Netanyahu’s governing coalition as both United Torah Judaism (UTJ) and Shas have announced they will boycott all coalition votes beginning Wednesday, in protest of the government’s continued failure to pass legislation formally exempting yeshiva bochurim from military conscription. The decision was made during UTJ’s weekly faction meeting on Monday, with Hebrew media reporting that Shas has joined the move. Both parties notified coalition whip MK Ofir Katz (Likud) that they would be abstaining from all coalition-sponsored votes during Wednesday’s Knesset plenum session. The step comes amid mounting frustration in the chareidi parties over what they view as a betrayal of core coalition agreements and a delay that threatens the Torah world. UTJ MK Rabbi Yaakov Asher told Kikar HaShabbat that if the law isn’t passed by the end of the Knesset’s summer session — July 27 — the party will find it nearly impossible to remain in the government. “If this law does not pass in this session, we will have a very big problem sitting in such a government,” said Rabbi Asher. “We cannot be part of a government that turns bnei Torah into criminals. We simply don’t know how to sit in a government that refuses to pass this law. This is the most important thing for Klal Yisrael.” The legislation in question would formalize the long-standing exemption for full-time talmidei yeshiva from mandatory IDF service — a cornerstone issue for charedim. While the government had previously committed to passing the law before the state budget was approved, those promises have repeatedly been postponed. In response to the boycott, Likud MK Dan Illouz wrote on social media: “If the chareidi factions boycott the government’s votes and harm the coalition’s ability to function, then Likud should also reconsider supporting their legislation. The Likud is not a floor rag.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

During a sit-down interview with Meet The Press, President Trump torched rising Democratic “star” Jasmine Crockett, calling the Texas congresswoman a “low-IQ person.”

Trump also said the Democratic Party is in total disarray.

“I mean, look at the Democrats,” Trump told Meet the Press host Kristen Welker. “They’re in total disarray. They have a new person named Crockett. I watched her speak the other day, she’s definitely a low-IQ person, and they said she’s the future of the party. I said you have to be kidding.”

“I really believe in a two-party system, because it’s good to be challenged, it’s really good to have a two-party[…]Being challenged is okay, it keeps you sharp,” Trump said. “I don’t know what they’re gonna do. They have nobody. Bernie’s 87 years old or something and you know, Biden is the worst thing that ever happened to old people.”

“He’s a nutjob,” Trump said of Sanders, “but he’s still sharp. He’s sharp… he’s the same guy as he was. He hasn’t gone down, but Biden, is really, he’s the worst thing to happen to old people.”

Watch the clip below:

Crockett has emerged as a prominent media figure for Democrats since her heated clash with Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene during a May 2024 House Oversight Committee hearing. She’s also drawn attention for her use of profanity in congressional settings and for mocking Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as “Governor Hot Wheels,” a jab at his use of a wheelchair following a paralyzing back injury.

{Matzav.com}

The shoe company Skechers is being acquired for more than $9 billion to be taken private by the investment firm by 3G Capital. The deal comes amid growing uncertainty over how U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on foreign goods will affect companies who make their products overseas, particularly in China. Athletic shoe makers have invested heavily in production in Asia. The offer of $63 per share represents a premium of 30% to Skechers’ 15-day volume-weighted average stock price. The deal was unanimously approved by Skechers’ board. Skechers shares jumped nearly 25% Monday, to $61.56. In a press release announcing the deal, the companies did not mention the potential impacts of Trump’s tariffs on its business going forward. However, Skechers says that about two-thirds of its revenue comes from sales outside of the U.S. China accounts for 15% of the company’s revenue, according to the data firm FactSet. The deal comes at a precarious time with Trump’s ongoing, on-again-off-again tariff announcements. Like many other companies increasingly have done since Trump’s widespread tariff announcements, Skechers did not issue guidance when it released its first quarter earnings in April. Chief Financial Officer John Vandemore told investors that the “current environment is simply too dynamic from which to plan results with a reasonable assurance of success.” Executives also said they would be looking to minimize products going to the U.S. from “high-cost locations,” including the impact of tariffs. The company did not immediately provide a breakdown of foreign production, but many of their shoes come with a “Made in China” stamp. Trump raised the tariff on Chinese imports to 125% in early April, hours after China boosted the duty on American goods to 84% in an escalating battle that threatens to disrupt trade between the world’s two largest economies. Skechers executives said last month that the company had several “levers” it could pull to deal with tariffs, including cost sharing with vendors, sourcing optimization, and price adjustments. “We’re looking at how we optimize the global cost of tariffs in all markets when we look to move production around,” Vandemore said last month. “Obviously, with an effective tariff rate at about 159%, products from China to the U.S. are prohibitively expensive.” Skechers has about 5,300 retail stores worldwide, about 1,800 company-owned. About 97% of the clothes and shoes purchased in the U.S. are imported, predominantly from Asia, according to the American Apparel & Footwear Association. Using factories overseas has kept labor costs down for U.S. companies, but neither they nor their overseas suppliers are likely to absorb price increases due to new tariffs. When the deal closes, the company will be led by Skechers Chairman and CEO Robert Greenberg and his management team. Its headquarters will remain in Manhattan Beach, California, where it was founded more than three decades ago. Skechers reported a record $9 billion in revenue in 2024 with net earnings of $640 million. The deal with 3G Capital is expected to close in the third quarter this year. (AP)

I24NEWS military analyst Tzvi Yechezkeli referred to the Israeli preparations for an attack in Yemen as an “American trap.” “The trap we are in is mainly an American trap,” Yechezkeli said. “The Americans have taken it upon themselves to attack the Houthis with very, very serious and intensive attacks. But in practice, we’re getting what we already know from before—that it’s impossible to subdue the Houthis from the air.” “And no matter how much the Americans try, including bringing in Yemeni forces opposed to the Houthis on the ground, it’s not working.” “If we didn’t have the interception means, we might have already rolled up our sleeves and dealt with the problem, but the trap is that we gave it to the Americans, and this must be seen in the Iranian context. It’s not just an incident between us and the Houthis; Iran is involved. And the Americans are dragging their feet on negotiations with Iran.” Yechezkeli continued: “I’ll just mention a few things about Trump’s first 100 days. He promised that if there’s no deal after two months of negotiations with Iran, he’ll attack. We’re reaching that deadline very soon. He promised hell in Gaza – it’s not happening. The issue of the deal and everything he pressured Hamas for – it’s also not happening.” “Trump’s tweets and reality are separate. The reality says that he, Trump, is following in Obama’s footsteps. He’s moving toward an agreement with Iran and therefore, they’re getting this energy and this approval that it’s possible to attack Israel.” Yechezkeli concluded: “The Houthi spokesperson said that they attacked Israel because Israel is recruiting reservists. And I wonder – if the Houthis are in such a state, they probably weren’t harmed. And therefore it goes back to this, to the issue that it’s an American trap.” “If the Americans give up the negotiations, give the green light – it’s time to attack Iran, the Houthis will disappear. And if not, we’re in a trap. We’re waiting for the Americans, and Trump is excellent—in tweets. But in the field, we’re still waiting. It’s not happening, and every day that passes is a blow to prestige, deterrence, and certainly to the blow that will come, and I really hope it will come.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Several international airlines announced on Monday that they would be extending their suspension of flights to Tel Aviv, following a missile attack by the Houthi terror group near Ben Gurion Airport and threats by the group to “blockade” Israel’s main airport.

As a response to the growing number of canceled flights, Israeli airlines began increasing their operations and capping the cost of one-way tickets to help Israelis currently stuck abroad. But due to limited seating, efforts by El Al and other smaller domestic airlines have fallen short of meeting the demand.

United Airlines said it would extend its flight suspension between Newark and Tel Aviv until May 11, pushing beyond its previous May 8 target.

The Lufthansa Group—which operates SWISS, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines—also announced it would not resume flights to Israel before May 11. The group had previously canceled flights only through May 6.

Air France stated it would halt flights to Tel Aviv through May 13, while Wizz Air, the low-cost Hungarian airline, extended its cancellations through May 8.

Most of these international carriers grounded their Tel Aviv flights following Sunday’s missile strike, in which a ballistic missile from Yemen landed near Ben Gurion Airport, injuring multiple people and causing a temporary shutdown. Airlines including Iberia, LOT, Air Europa, British Airways, ITA, Ryanair, and Delta suspended service, alongside other regional operators.

Many of these airlines had only recently resumed flights to Israel after a months-long suspension that began following Hamas’s October 7 attack and the subsequent war in Gaza. United restarted in March, Delta resumed operations on April 1, and British Airways followed on April 5.

A small number of foreign airlines continued flying into Israel on Sunday, among them Ethiopian Airlines, flydubai, and Blue Bird Airways.

To assist Israeli travelers trying to return home, El Al introduced capped fares for flights departing from several cities. The airline announced fixed maximum prices on tickets to Tel Aviv: $333 from Rome, $349 from Barcelona, $392 from Paris, $424 from London Luton, $289 from Thessaloniki, and $799 from New York.

Additionally, El Al offered deeply discounted one-way fares from Cyprus and Greece—$99 from Larnaca and $149 from Athens—starting Sunday.

“Israeli aviation has a national responsibility to continue connecting Israel to the world in this period, while providing solutions to Israelis seeking to return home,” said Shlomi Zafrany, the VP of commercial and industrial affairs at El Al.

Mark Feldman, CEO of Ziontours Jerusalem, expressed to The Times of Israel that El Al’s initiative, while helpful, was limited in scope.

“They are not lowering fares but are offering more reasonable prices and are not price gouging,” he said. “However, not a lot of people will be able to take advantage, as the problem is not so much the price but the availability of seats.”

“If El Al said there are thousands of seats on these planes, I would be more impressed,” he added.

Israir, another Israeli airline, operated special flights from Larnaca, Athens, and Budapest on Sunday and Monday in an effort to assist travelers trying to return. Arkia also announced it would fly from Rome and Vienna later in the week, with fares beginning at $299.

With most international airlines grounded, Israeli carriers El Al, Arkia, and Israir once again dominate the skies. On Sunday, El Al’s stock climbed nearly 7%, and it has gained 49% since the start of the year. Israir’s shares also increased by 4.1%, based on Tel Aviv Stock Exchange figures.

After the missile exploded near Ben Gurion Airport—despite an unsuccessful attempt by Israeli forces to intercept it—the Houthis celebrated and declared the airport “no longer safe for air travel.”

The group, supported by Iran, threatened to enforce a total “aerial blockade” of Israel by continuing its rocket campaign targeting the airport.

Houthi leaders urged “all international airlines to take this announcement into serious consideration… and to cancel all their flights to the airports of the criminal Israeli enemy, in order to safeguard the safety of their aircraft and passengers.”

Despite the threats, the chance of a complete blockade succeeding remains minimal, with Israel expected to intercept the vast majority of incoming missiles using its advanced air defense systems.

In retaliation for Sunday’s missile strike, the Israeli Air Force launched an operation on Monday evening, targeting Houthi-controlled sites in the port city of Hodeidah, Yemen.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump is set to issue an executive order cutting off all federal dollars from funding gain-of-function research in nations like China and Iran, unless those experiments are under stringent supervision. This move comes more than five years after the outbreak of COVID-19, which U.S. intelligence agencies now believe likely stemmed from a mishap in a laboratory.

The directive will apply retroactively and prospectively, stopping support for any current or upcoming gain-of-function studies. It will also task the National Institutes of Health and other federal agencies with flagging biological research that could endanger public health or pose a threat to national security.

“These measures will drastically reduce the potential for lab-related incidents involving gain-of-function research, like that conducted on bat coronaviruses in China by the EcoHealth Alliance and Wuhan Institute of Virology,” according to a White House fact sheet reviewed by The Post.

Officials from the White House took aim at the Biden administration for failing to prevent controversial experiments that deliberately boost the contagiousness of pathogens, warning that such research could trigger global health disasters.

The executive order also halts all projects involving dangerous microbes or toxins until a revamped national policy is crafted. That new framework will be drawn up by the national security adviser and the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and it will include strict enforcement and reporting mechanisms.

Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, which has claimed the lives of over one million Americans, intense debate has raged among government agencies, lawmakers, and scientists over whether the virus originated from gain-of-function work at the Wuhan Institute of Virology that received U.S. taxpayer money.

Between 2014 and 2021, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases — then overseen by Dr. Anthony Fauci — and the U.S. Agency for International Development provided over $1.4 million in grants and subgrants to EcoHealth Alliance, which collaborated with the Chinese lab on a project titled “Understanding the Risk of Bat Coronavirus Emergence.”

That initiative led to what Dr. Lawrence Tabak, the former principal deputy director of the NIH, acknowledged were gain-of-function experiments conducted at the Wuhan facility. However, he and other officials have consistently denied that the project directly led to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A growing number of federal agencies — including the FBI, the Energy Department, and the CIA — along with former high-ranking health experts like former CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield, have since concluded that a lab leak is the most plausible cause of the virus’s origin.

{Matzav.com}

A correctional officer pleaded guilty to manslaughter Monday in connection with the killing of inmate Robert Brooks, whose brutal beating while handcuffed at an upstate New York prison was recorded by officers’ body cameras. Christopher Walrath, 36, was one of six guards charged with second-degree murder in the Dec. 9 beating at the Marcy Correctional Facility. He pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter during a hearing at state court in Utica. The plea deal calls for him to get a 15-year prison sentence. Under questioning by Judge Robert Bauer and a prosecutor, Walrath admitted that he beat Brooks, put him in a chokehold and struck his body and groin. He also admitted that he lied to investigators about what happened. Walrath appeared somber with his hands clasped in front of him as he answered the questions with either “yes” or “correct.” Remaining free on posted bail, Walrath and his attorney did not comment while leaving the courthouse. He is the first of the six guards charged with murder to take a plea deal. His sentencing is set for Aug. 4. A special prosecutor, Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, said, “I felt based on the evidence I had of Mr. Walrath’s involvement and the extent of the blows that he inflicted on Mr. Brooks — which, in my judgment, were non-lethal — that by his plea admitting that he acted in concert with the other defendants, I think it may expedite the other individuals to enter pleas, or may not.” Brooks’ son Robert Brooks Jr., who was at the hearing, said in a statement afterward that, “This is one important but modest step on the long road to justice for my father.” “Now, Mr. Walrath’s life is in the hands of prison officials. This must be a terrifying prospect for him and his family, knowing what staff is capable of, and how little the system values the lives of incarcerated people,” the victim’s son said. “I pray that Mr. Walrath has the opportunity in prison to rehabilitate himself, and come out a better man.” In addition to the six guards who were charged with murder, three workers at the prison about 180 miles (290 kilometers) northwest of New York City were charged with manslaughter and another was charged with evidence tampering. Four prison workers, including Walrath, have reached plea agreements, according to prosecutors. Brooks began serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault in 2017. He was transferred to Marcy from a nearby lockup shortly before he was beaten to death. The bodycam videos show officers beat Brooks, who was on a medical examination table with his hands cuffed behind his back. Officers are seen striking him in the chest with a shoe, lifting him by the neck, and dropping him. Brooks died the next day. The beating drew widespread condemnation and calls for reforms. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who said she was “outraged and horrified” by the videos, appointed a new superintendent for the prison. She also ordered state officials to initiate proceedings to fire 13 correctional officers and a nurse implicated in the attack. Fitzpatrick also is prosecuting guards in the fatal beating of Messiah Nantwi on March 1 at another Marcy lockup, the Mid-State Correctional Facility. Ten guards were indicted in that case last month, including two who are charged […]

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President Donald Trump addressed the growing Israeli military campaign in Gaza on Monday, offering remarks about the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the region.

“We’re going to help the people of Gaza get some food. People are starving, and we’re going to help them get some food,” Trump said in response to a question about his stance on Israel’s current military actions.

He went on to criticize Hamas for worsening the situation. “A lot of people are making it very, very bad. If you look, Hamas is making it impossible because they’re taking everything,” he stated.

Trump emphasized that his concern lies with the suffering civilians in Gaza, asserting, “We’re gonna help the people of Gaza, because they’re being treated very badly by Hamas.”

{Matzav.com}

A high-ranking defense official gave a detailed briefing on the upcoming phase of military operations in Gaza, named “Operation Gideon’s Chariots.” He clarified that the mission’s ultimate objective is “to defeat and subdue Hamas in Gaza and release all hostages.”

The official explained that the strategy was developed by the IDF Chief of Staff and top commanders, and it has received the green light from both the Defense Minister and the Prime Minister. “In accordance with the plan formulated by the Chief of Staff and the IDF Command and approved by the Minister of Defense and the Prime Minister, the IDF will increase its forces and act forcefully to defeat and subdue Hamas and destroy its military and governmental capabilities, while creating strong pressure for the release of all the hostages. A strong protective envelope will be provided to the forces maneuvering from land, air, and sea, while using heavy equipment to neutralize explosive devices and destroy threatening structures.”

A core component of the strategy, the source added, involves minimizing civilian casualties and separating the civilian population from combatants. “A central component of the plan is the broad evacuation of the entire Gazan population from the fighting zones, including northern Gaza, to areas in southern Gaza, while creating a separation between them and Hamas terrorists – in order to allow the IDF operational freedom of action. Unlike in the past, the IDF will remain in any area that is conquered, in order to prevent the return of terrorism, and will handle any area that is cleared in accordance with the Rafah model, where all threats were eliminated and it became part of the security zone.”

He also addressed concerns about humanitarian needs during the operation, saying a carefully monitored plan has been designed to ensure aid reaches civilians without strengthening Hamas. “A humanitarian plan will be implemented, as presented yesterday by the IDF and approved by the cabinet, that distinguishes between the aid and Hamas by using civilian companies and designating areas that will be secured by the IDF. This includes a sterile zone in the Rafah area beyond the Morag route, where entrants will be screened by the IDF to prevent Hamas operatives from gaining access.”

The official emphasized that the IDF will not launch the full-scale ground operation until President Donald Trump finishes his regional trip in ten days. That window, he said, provides Hamas with one last opportunity to agree to the terms of a hostage deal. “The military’s preparations ahead of the ground maneuver will create a window of opportunity — until the end of the US president’s visit—for a hostage deal under the ‘Witkoff model.’ In such a scenario, Israel will seek to retain territory that has been cleared and incorporated into the buffer zone beyond the March lines. Under any temporary or permanent arrangement, Israel will not withdraw from the security buffer zone around Gaza, which is intended to protect Israeli communities and prevent weapons from being smuggled to Hamas.”

He concluded with a warning: if Hamas refuses to accept a deal within the timeframe, the full-scale assault will commence. “If no hostage deal is reached, Operation ‘Gideon’s Chariots’ will begin with great force and will not end until all its objectives are achieved.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

The Trump administration says it is going to pay immigrants in the United States illegally who’ve returned to their home country voluntarily $1,000 as it pushes forward with its mass deportation agenda. The Department of Homeland Security said in a news release Monday that it’s also paying for travel assistance and that those people who use an app called CBP Home to tell the government that they plan to return home will be “deprioritized” for detention and removal by immigration enforcement. “If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest. DHS is now offering illegal aliens financial travel assistance and a stipend to return to their home country through the CBP Home App,” Secretary Kristi Noem said. President Donald Trump has made immigration enforcement and the mass deportation of immigrants in the U.S. illegally a centerpiece of his campaign, but that is a costly, resource-intensive endeavor. While the Republican administration is pushing Congress for a massive increase in resources for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement department responsible for removing people from the country, it’s also pushing people in the country illegally to “self-deport.” (AP)

A record-breaking number of participants took part in the latest World Zionist Congress elections, with over 238,000 individuals casting their votes, according to the American Zionist Movement (AZM), which oversaw the process.

This vote plays a crucial role in deciding how billions of dollars in funding are distributed annually to Jewish and Israeli institutions and programs.

The election, which was conducted online over an eight-week period and concluded yesterday, saw nearly double the number of voters compared to the 2020 elections, AZM reported.

The final tally will also include several thousand paper ballots submitted by mail, with official results expected in the coming weeks.

This election shattered previous records for Jewish American participation in Zionist elections, overtaking the prior high set in 1987 when 210,957 people voted exclusively by paper ballot.

American representatives selected in this election — totaling 152 delegates, about a third of the global body — will play a decisive role in formulating the policies of the Zionist movement and steering the allocation of more than $1 billion each year via key organizations such as the World Zionist Organization (WZO), the Jewish Agency (JAFI), the Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF), and Keren Hayesod.

“This turnout is not just historic — it’s a message,” said AZM Executive Director Herbert Block. “American Jews are saying loud and clear: We’re here, we care, and we’re voting for the future of the Jewish people.”

Voting took place through the website zionistelection.org and was open to American Jews 18 and older who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Voters could not be participants in Israeli Knesset elections.

This year’s election featured an unprecedented 22 competing slates, representing a broad ideological spectrum. Participants included groups ranging from progressive Zionists and environmental activists to chareidi factions and those staunchly opposed to the two-state solution.

The 39th gathering of the World Zionist Congress is slated to take place in Yerushalayim from October 28 to 30, 2025.

With more than 2,900 candidates from 43 states and territories vying for a place at the table, this election could represent a watershed moment, not only for the future direction of Zionist institutions, but also for shaping the dynamic between Israel and Jewish communities across the globe.

{Matzav.com}

The Israeli cabinet has resolved to postpone the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the circumstances that enabled the October 7th massacre, opting to delay action despite Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara’s insistence that an immediate decision was needed.

In a formal communication addressed to the Prime Minister and other ministers, Baharav-Miara emphasized that “a state commission of inquiry is the proper mechanism considering the issues discussed, the commission’s authority, and its expertise.”

Nevertheless, the cabinet dismissed the recommendation, citing the current military escalation in Gaza as justification for holding off on a probe. “Now is not the time to investigate,” the ministers concluded in their decision.

Instead of launching a commission straightaway, the cabinet said that it and the Knesset would begin the process of drafting legislation that would “create a special state commission of inquiry that will represent the various opinions and will be trusted by the majority of the public.”

This approach carries weighty implications, as passing a dedicated law to form such a commission is a complex and potentially time-consuming legislative process.

Additionally, the cabinet informed the Supreme Court that it intends to submit an update on the matter within 90 days, instead of by the May 11th deadline previously set by the Attorney General.

Responding to the delay, Opposition Leader MK Yair Lapid of Yesh Atid said: “The only meaning of not establishing a commission of inquiry is that October 7th will happen again and again.”

Lapid further criticized the Prime Minister for similarly trying to avoid investigations in previous cases such as the Meron tragedy and the Submarine Scandal. However, he insisted, “A state commission of inquiry will certainly be created.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Photographer Doug Mills wins the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography with this photo of President Trump at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.