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Israel and Lebanon signed a landmark framework agreement in Washington today, marking a major diplomatic milestone intended to reshape the security situation along Israel’s northern border. The US-brokered accord establishes a roadmap for future understandings between the two countries while making the removal of Hezbollah and Iranian influence from Lebanon its central objective.

The agreement was formalized during a ceremony in Washington attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, signed on behalf of Israel, while Lebanon was represented by its ambassador to the US, Nada Hamadeh Moawad.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the Israel-Lebanon peace framework: "It's the beginning of the beginning. There is a lot of work ahead." pic.twitter.com/djoFtFMeaQ

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) June 26, 2026

Addressing those gathered before the signing, Rubio welcomed the breakthrough, saying, “We are pleased to announce the agreement between Lebanon and Israel. Both countries deserve it after years of suffering caused by external interference,” he stated.

Israeli officials had indicated earlier in the day that a framework agreement would be unveiled following four days of intensive negotiations held in Washington.

According to Channel 12 News, the Memorandum of Understanding is designed to create the conditions for a new security reality along the northern frontier. At the heart of the agreement is a shared commitment to eliminating Iran’s influence inside Lebanon and preventing Hezbollah from continuing to operate as the dominant military force in the country.

Under the terms of the agreement, Israeli forces will continue holding positions within the Yellow Line security zone until Hezbollah has been completely disarmed and the Lebanese government demonstrates that it can exercise full authority over all of its territory.

Explaining Israel’s position, a senior Israeli official told Channel 12 News, “We will withdraw from the territory we have taken only if Hezbollah ceases to be a factor in the entire country. We retain the freedom to respond to any threat that arises.”

The official also emphasized that Jerusalem is seeking broad international recognition for maintaining its military presence in the security zone for as long as threats against Israel remain.

The framework further includes a pilot initiative under which the IDF would gradually leave a limited area of southern Lebanon, allowing the Lebanese Armed Forces to move into those positions and assume responsibility for security.

The pilot phase will initially focus on two designated sectors. One area is located outside the Yellow Line, west of the Salouqi River and south of the Litani River. The second extends north of the Litani, with portions both inside and outside the newly established Yellow Line.

Implementation of the pilot program is expected to begin once the Lebanese Armed Forces complete their deployment preparations. During the initial stage, US military personnel will accompany Lebanese troops to assist them in carrying out the transition.

Following the signing ceremony, a senior Israeli diplomatic official described the agreement as an important diplomatic breakthrough, stating, “Following lengthy negotiations, representatives from the US, Israel, and Lebanon signed a trilateral working framework this evening, designed to pave the way for future agreements and achieve a lasting peace settlement.”

The official stressed that Israel’s security requirements remain unchanged, adding, “Israel will maintain its security zone within the boundaries of the Yellow Line in Lebanon until the day Hezbollah and all other terrorist organizations in Lebanon are disarmed, and a threat to the State of Israel no longer emanates from Lebanese territory. The IDF will retain full operational freedom of action throughout the security zone to neutralize threats of any kind.”

Highlighting the broader significance of the agreement, the senior diplomatic official concluded, “This trilateral framework represents a major achievement for Israel.” He asserted that the framework agreement “categorically rejects Iran’s attempt to force a unilateral withdrawal from southern Lebanon,” effectively stripping both Iran and Hezbollah of any role or influence in the country.

[Video below.] Rav Shlomo Englander, rosh yeshiva of Bais Shmaya, delivered a forceful address condemning demonstrations, road blockages, and confrontational protest tactics, arguing that such methods run contrary to the teachings of the Chazon Ish and the traditional approach of gedolei Yisroel.

The remarks, published in the Daas Emes MiToraso publication by Otzar HaParshah, focused on what the rosh yeshiva described as the growing phenomenon of young bnei Torah embracing the view that the draft decree should be fought through public protests, force, and disruptive demonstrations.

Rav Englander cited a historic letter that the Chazon Ish dictated word for word following an incident in which a group of young men set fire to the vehicles of Shabbos motorists in Yerushalayim.

In the extraordinary public proclamation, the Chazon Ish wrote: “This is not the way, nor is it the portion of Yaakov… The holy Torah and its mitzvos will not prevail through acts of violence, for ‘Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace.’”

The Chazon Ish went on to denounce such conduct in especially sharp terms.

“Terror is a foreign branch in the vineyard of faithful Judaism, a poisonous fruit of secular parties that educate people to admire brute force and the hands of Eisav. Blessed is He Who has not made us like the secularists. Their ways are not our ways, and may we have no share with them.”

Rav Englander noted that following publication of the letter, tensions subsided, and even the most zealous elements refrained from acting in opposition to the Chazon Ish’s unequivocal position.

The rosh yeshiva also referenced another letter published in 1953 with the approval of the Chazon Ish, which stated that anyone who believes the spiritual struggle can be won through force and violence has adopted the worldview of “kochi v’otzem yadi.”

He further recalled the well-known account involving the Brisker Rav, who once confronted one of the leaders of Neturei Karta demonstrations by declaring, “You are a Zionist.”

According to the story, the Brisker Rav explained that had the man lived in Soviet Russia, he would never have dared stage such protests because he feared being shot. The fact that he protested in Israel, the Brisker Rav argued, demonstrated that he relied on the Zionist government’s laws and restraint. One who depends on those laws, he said, is, in that sense, a Zionist.

Rav Englander also cited the death of Rav Pinchos Segalov, who died after being struck by a police officer, as well as comments made by Rav Moshe Silber at the levayah of a bochur who was killed by an Arab driver during a demonstration. Rav Silber reportedly said that anyone responsible for organizing that protest should repent for the bloodshed.

Rav Englander also questioned why bnei Torah involved in such demonstrations later turn to civil rights organizations to complain about police conduct.

“Is that not Zionism as well,” he asked, “when they believe the authorities will uphold the law?”

Concluding his address, the rosh yeshiva said such methods fundamentally contradict the educational principles handed down by the gedolim. Just as children should not be disciplined through slaps and shouting because it teaches that force is an acceptable means of achieving one’s goals, he argued, the same principle applies to public protests.

“If people hold demonstrations, break into the homes of government officials, and smash their windows, even if, as a result, several bochurim are released from prison, anyone who follows that path is being educated in a way of force and violence,” Rav Englander concluded. He stressed that such an approach is inconsistent with the educational philosophy taught by the Chazon Ish and the gedolei hador.

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A major public gathering in support of bnei yeshivah imprisoned in military jails has been postponed until Monday night, organizers announced. The event, titled Maamad Kevod HaTorah, will be led by the former Rishon LeTzion, Rav Yitzchak Yosef, president of the Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah, and is expected to draw tens of thousands of participants.

The rally follows a decision reached two weeks ago at a gathering of Sephardic community rabbanim in Bnei Brak, where leaders resolved to organize a mass demonstration in response to the draft of bnei yeshivah and the imprisonment of bnei Torah in military detention facilities.

Originally scheduled for Motzoei Shabbos following Parshas Balak, the event has now been rescheduled for Monday after numerous rabbanim and participants from outside Bnei Brak requested additional time to arrange their attendance.

According to organizers, the rally will bring together the city’s rabbanim, roshei yeshivah, roshei kollelim, and other gedolei Torah, alongside thousands of bnei Torah and avreichim, in a public demonstration of support for those currently incarcerated over the draft issue.

The gathering will take place along Rechov Eshel Avraham and Rechov Rabinov in the Ramat Elchanan and Ramat Aharon neighborhoods of Bnei Brak.

The rally is scheduled to begin Monday night, the 14th of Tammuz, at 9:30 p.m. Organizers say they are preparing for the arrival of tens of thousands and emphasize that the event will be conducted in an orderly fashion while expressing broad public support for lomdei Torah who have been imprisoned in military jails.

After an intensive diplomatic effort that lasted nearly two days, the body of the young Chernobyler chossid, Reb Akiva Rand z”l, who was tragically killed in a car accident near Kishinev, has been released by Moldovan authorities and is expected to be flown to Eretz Yisroel aboard a specially chartered private aircraft before Shabbos for burial. The development brought enormous relief to the grieving family and the many chassidim who had anxiously awaited the outcome.

Sources said that immediately after news of the tragedy emerged, members of ZAKA and its International Division launched an intensive campaign to prevent an autopsy and avoid unnecessary delays in releasing the body. The possibility of kavod hameis being compromised and the burial being postponed weighed heavily on the devastated family.

Senior askanim soon joined the effort. Through the extensive involvement of Motty Babchik, who personally enlisted the assistance of Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Israel’s highest diplomatic channels were activated in negotiations with the Moldovan government. Working closely together, Babchik and Sa’ar pressed officials in Kishinev until authorities finally agreed to release the body.

Volunteers from ZAKA’s International Division remained at the accident scene, ensuring that the deceased was treated with the utmost dignity while carefully recovering all necessary remains so that he could be brought to kever Yisroel in accordance with halachah.

From the outset, Israel’s Foreign Ministry, the Israeli Embassy in Moldova, and ZAKA’s International Division coordinated the response, assisting the family while simultaneously working to secure the release of the body. Although Moldovan authorities initially demanded that an autopsy be performed, ZAKA ultimately succeeded in preventing the procedure and obtaining permission for the body to be transported to Israel for burial.

Nachman Dickstein, commander of ZAKA Europe, praised the successful outcome, saying: “The efforts that continued for nearly two days concluded, with siyata d’Shmaya, successfully. I would like to thank the Foreign Ministry, the Israeli Embassy in Moldova, Chabad emissary in Moldova Rav Mendy Axel, and all those in Israel and Moldova who worked tirelessly around the clock until the mission was completed. Thanks to this cooperation, we were able to preserve Akiva’s dignity, prevent an autopsy, and bring him to kever Yisroel.”

Chaim Weingarten, ZAKA’s Deputy Director of Operations, added: “I would like to thank ZAKA Europe commander Nachman Dickstein for his professional and dedicated leadership, ZAKA’s legal department and its coordinator Michael Gutwin, Yossi Landau, ZAKA’s Lachish District operations officer, the volunteers of ZAKA’s International Division, and all of our partners in Israel and around the world. Special thanks to the askanim in the United States who worked with American government officials, including Rav Moshe Dovid Niederman (UJO Williamsburg), Rav Moshe Margaretten (Tzedek), and Zvi Gluck (Amudim), whose efforts contributed greatly to completing this mission. Thanks to everyone’s cooperation, all procedures were completed, Akiva’s body was released without an autopsy, and he will be brought to burial in Israel with the dignity he deserves.”

As previously reported, the olam hachassidus—and the Chernobyler chassidus in particular—was shaken by the tragic passing of Reb Akiva Rand, who was just 29 years old.

The fatal accident occurred while Reb Akiva was traveling with a group of chassidim to Moldova to visit the kever of the tzaddik Rav Yechiel Heshel of Krilovitz, whose yahrtzeit fell this week. While driving near Kishinev, Reb Akiva lost control of his vehicle, which veered off the road and plunged into a deep ravine. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene, while the other passengers sustained injuries and were transported to a local hospital.

A native of London, Reb Akiva was the son of Reb Mordechai Dovid Rand, one of the prominent Chernobyler chassidim, and the son-in-law of Rav Yosef Mordechai Weiss, rav of the Machzikei HaDas community in Zurich. After his marriage, he settled in Yerushalayim, where he learned in Kollel Nachalas Akiva and devoted himself to mentoring bochurim at Yeshivas Kochav MiYaakov–Tchebin.

Friends described him as a gentle and refined ben Torah, deeply devoted to Torah and yiras Shomayim. For many years, he and his wife waited to be blessed with children before finally meriting three young children, who have now been left orphaned by this heartbreaking tragedy.

{Matzav.com}

A major disruption to summer air travel has been avoided after Israel and the U.S. military reached an agreement to accelerate the relocation of dozens of American aircraft parked at Ben Gurion Airport, clearing the way for hundreds of thousands of additional commercial flights.

The Transportation Ministry announced Friday that the new understandings with the U.S. military will eliminate the remaining threat to more than 200,000 airline tickets scheduled for July and August. The agreement follows an earlier breakthrough about a week and a half ago that already prevented the cancellation of more than 2.4 million tickets.

Since June 16, when the first agreement was reached to ease the crisis, 15 American military aircraft have already been moved out of Ben Gurion Airport. Under the latest arrangement, another 30 aircraft will be gradually transferred to Israeli Air Force bases by next Tuesday, with an additional phase to follow that will relocate 20 more aircraft.

As part of the agreement, Israel committed that, should the security situation deteriorate, the American aircraft will be permitted to return to Ben Gurion Airport within approximately 72 hours.

The crisis developed after dozens of U.S. Air Force refueling and transport aircraft were stationed at Ben Gurion, occupying a substantial portion of the airport’s available parking space for civilian aircraft. In recent weeks, the Israel Airports Authority warned that unless the military aircraft were relocated, airlines would likely be forced to reduce their summer and Tishrei Yom Tov schedules. Initial estimates indicated that more than 2.4 million airline tickets could ultimately have been canceled if the congestion was not resolved.

{Matzav.com}

Conservative media personality Mark Levin and his wife, Julie, toured the Binyamin region this week as guests of Binyamin Regional Council Governor Israel Ganz, visiting strategic sites, meeting local residents and business leaders, and learning firsthand about the area’s security challenges, Jewish communities, and historical significance.

Levin, one of America’s most influential conservative television and radio hosts, bestselling authors, and constitutional lawyers, spent the day touring key locations throughout Binyamin, where he received briefings on the region’s strategic importance, its growing Jewish communities, and its central role in both Jewish history and Israel’s future.

The visit began at the Binyamin Regional Council’s emergency command center, where the Levins were shown remnants of Iranian missiles that struck within the council’s jurisdiction during the recent war. They then traveled to Shalisha Farm, where they met the owners and learned how local farms help preserve open land while strengthening Israel’s presence throughout the region.

During the tour, Ganz outlined the security challenges confronting residents of Judea and Samaria, noting that thousands of terrorist attacks had been carried out across the area over the past year. He emphasized that the region’s farms and communities play a critical role in protecting Israel’s strategic mountain ridges, which he described as vital to the country’s long-term security.

The delegation later stopped at the Kida lookout point, where they received a detailed briefing on Binyamin’s topography and its strategic importance to Israel’s defense. From there, they continued to Ancient Shiloh, where they davened at the site of the Mishkan and toured the archaeological and tourism complex. During the visit, Levin also met with leading Israeli business figures who are exploring investment opportunities in Binyamin. The tour concluded with a meal at Gofna Restaurant, owned by MasterChef winner Yehoyada Nizri.

Reflecting on the visit, Levin said: “It was an amazing tour. I love this place, and I especially love the Tabernacle site at Ancient Shiloh. Everyone should visit Judea and Samaria. This is not the West Bank of anywhere – if anything, it is the eastern bank of the State of Israel. To understand Judea and Samaria, you need to come here and see reality with your own eyes. This is the birthplace of Judaism and the birthplace of Christianity.

“Many people in the United States receive a distorted picture of this place. In reality, you find incredible people here – farmers, families, and thriving communities. You can see how the Palestinians continue building in an effort to create territorial continuity that would sever Jewish communities from one another and from major transportation routes. Anyone who wants to understand the Holy Land and the reality here must come and see it for themselves.”

Ganz thanked Levin for his longstanding support of Israel, saying: “Mark, I want to thank you for coming here. I want to thank you for fighting for a better world and for your courageous support of Israel throughout the years. We need people like you who stand for truth, justice, and security in Israel and around the world. We are proud to host you here in Binyamin and to show you reality as it truly is – the challenges, the communities, the history, and the future that we are building every day.”

Speaking during the stop at Shalisha Farm, Ganz underscored the strategic importance of the region’s agricultural outposts, declaring: “Every farm here is a frontline outpost for the State of Israel. Anyone standing on these mountains immediately understands that the struggle in Binyamin, in Judea and Samaria, is not a debate about real estate – it is a matter of national security. From these ridges you can overlook the Jordan Valley on one side and the Tel Aviv metropolitan area on the other. The communities and farms protect the land, strengthen security, and help ensure Israel’s future for generations to come. That is why we continue to build, develop, and deepen our roots in this land with determination and purpose.”

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{Matzav.com}

Police have arrested four Arad residents in connection with the violent clashes that erupted earlier this week against members of the Gerer chassidus, following an incident in which local residents allegedly attempted to prevent chassidim from joining Wednesday’s large vehicle protest in support of imprisoned bnei yeshivah.

According to a statement released by Israel Police, officers from the Arad station took the four suspects into custody Friday on suspicion of involvement in the violent altercation. The suspects were brought in for questioning as investigators continue examining the incident.

Police said the confrontation occurred Wednesday afternoon after authorities received reports of a violent fight in one of the city’s neighborhoods. Officers responded quickly to restore order and immediately launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify those involved.

The arrests come amid heightened tensions in Arad, where recent confrontations have broken out between different groups in the city. Wednesday’s violence required the intervention of large numbers of security personnel.

The incident reportedly began when secular residents attempted to block vehicles carrying Gerer chassidim who were planning to join the nationwide convoy traveling toward Military Prison 10 as part of the protest against the arrests of bnei yeshivah.

Police said the investigation remains ongoing and is focused on reconstructing the events and identifying all individuals involved in the violence. Officers continue to gather witness statements and additional evidence as part of the probe.

The four suspects remain under investigation on suspicion of assault, and police said further arrests may follow if additional individuals are identified as having participated in the attack. Authorities stated that they intend to bring all those responsible before the courts.

{Matzav.com}

The Belzer Rebbe convened senior rabbinic leaders and members of the Bnos Melachim committee of Belz to strengthen and expand the organization’s efforts to promote tznius within the Belz community. During the gathering, the Rebbe reflected on the founding of the Beis Malka educational network, emphasized the spiritual purpose behind its establishment, and declared that strengthening tznius among women would serve as a source of salvation for the entire generation.

The meeting, held at the Rebbe’s residence, brought together committee members and dayanim as part of an initiative to broaden and reinforce the activities of the Bnos Melachim committee. The organization was established to support families in upholding the community’s standards of tznius and to deepen women’s connection to the values and traditions of the Belz chassidus.

Addressing the gathering in the presence of the Rebbe, Rav Yehoshua Fink, a member of the committee and dayan who also serves as the spiritual director of Beis Malka, explained that although the committee is expanding, every mother within the Belz community is, in essence, a member of the initiative.

He stressed that the committee’s purpose is not to govern the public but to serve it.

“The committee,” Rav Fink said, “is not here to stand ‘above’ the ציבור, but rather its sole desire is to serve as a shaliach tzibbur, assisting the holy ציבור that wishes to follow the path of Torah and chassidus, the way of our holy fathers and rabbeim.”

Another committee member, Rav Elimelech Gross, spoke about the unique place women have always occupied within Belz.

“In Belz, righteous women have always held a special and honored place,” he said. He noted that the Belzer Rebbes would not enter the beis medrash without a women’s section, emphasizing that righteous women possess the ability to pierce the heavens with their tears, as “the gates of tears are never closed.” He added that this reflects the esteem in which women who faithfully uphold the standards of tznius have always been held, and recalled that the Rebbe has consistently spoken about the importance of the subject during the annual Stei’ige Torah gathering, presenting it as a fundamental pillar of authentic Jewish life.

Rav Aharon Mordechai Rokeach, who heads the committee, then addressed the gathering, praising its members for faithfully carrying out the Rebbe’s guidance.

“It is our sacred and pleasant obligation not to surrender to the temptations of the street,” he said. “‘Zich nisht lozen,’ but rather to continue walking in the path of Belz as it has been throughout the generations. Belz has always served as a model for the broader world of chassidus in matters of ruchniyus, and certainly in this area as well it must remain the standard-bearer.”

The Belzer Rebbe then delivered the keynote address, recounting at length the founding of the Beis Malka school system and the tremendous financial burden and other challenges that accompanied its creation.

“Many years ago, when Beis Malka was established, it involved tremendous financial burdens and many other challenges,” the Rebbe recalled. “People asked me why such an institution was necessary. I answered that the day would come when graduates of girls’ schools would be asked why they dressed a certain way, and their answer would be that they dressed that way simply because that was the custom at their particular school. I said that cannot be. There must be a defined path. Just as there is a proper mode of dress for men, there must likewise be a proper mode of dress for women, with clear boundaries. Beis Malka was not established so that girls could learn mathematics or other academic subjects. It was founded so that they would know how a Jewish daughter is meant to dress.”

The Rebbe also recalled a story about his grandfather, the Maharid of Belz.

“I have related in the past that when one of the young women in my grandfather the Maharid’s family was preparing to travel to another city, he first asked to inspect her suitcase to ensure that every article of clothing she was taking complied with the standards of tznius.”

The Rebbe stressed that every standard accepted within Belz is rooted in the long-established traditions of the chassidus.

“We must understand that everything we undertake to observe is based on the customs practiced in Belz. There must be care taken regarding the dress of both men and women. Everything must be conducted according to Torah and chassidus. We have gathered here today to address this matter. We established Beis Malka so that we would not need to compromise in these areas, as circumstances required during the war years.”

He continued by emphasizing that responsibility begins at home and extends to those in positions of influence.

“Every individual must ensure that these standards are upheld within his own home. Likewise, those who have influence over the ציבור have an obligation to speak about these matters. New fashions and new ‘musters’ are constantly emerging. Those appointed to oversee this issue have the responsibility to ensure that standards of women’s tznius are not weakened beyond what is absolutely necessary.”

Turning to the future of the community, the Rebbe stressed that preserving the next generation depends on parents serving as living examples.

“If we wish to raise chassidishe doros, we must first ensure that parents conduct themselves properly. That is why we have assembled today—to establish clear standards and restore matters to their proper place. We must build a generation of descendants who are deeply attached to the love and fear of Hashem, and therefore parents must lead by example and carefully uphold all the standards of tznius that have always been observed in Belz.”

The Rebbe concluded with a strong appeal to preserve firm boundaries despite changing fashions and social trends.

“If we indeed strengthen ourselves, remain steadfast and resolute, and refuse to yield, recognizing that there are boundaries which must never be crossed, we will merit the continued preservation of Judaism according to our sacred tradition. But if people begin searching for leniencies and creating new standards, no one can know how far that may lead. If we remain faithful to what has been observed until now, and everyone knows that in Belz these standards are carefully maintained, that strengthening will be the salvation of the entire generation.

“There must be a geder that is never crossed. New styles and new ideas appear constantly, and no one knows what the next trend will be. Therefore, we must establish a geder that serves as a firm boundary which is never breached. If we do so, we will succeed in continuing forward.”

Following the Rebbe’s address, members of the committee approached to receive a specially blessed coin from the Rebbe as a token of encouragement for their continued work.

{Matzav.com}

An emotional ceremony honoring 60 newly certified morai tzedek and rabbanim took an unexpected turn Wednesday evening when Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rav Dovid Yosef publicly revealed that legal restrictions prevented him from officially signing their certification documents.

The event, held in honor of the new morai hora’ah, was led by Rav Dovid Yosef together with Rav Gidon Ben Moshe and attended by numerous prominent dayanim and rabbanim. The evening celebrated the successful completion of the rigorous examination process by the new rabbanim.

Despite the festive atmosphere, the ceremony was overshadowed by two unexpected developments: legal limitations that affected the certification process and severe traffic disruptions that prevented several leading gedolei Torah from attending.

During the presentation of the certificates, attendees noticed that although Rav Dovid Yosef had originally been expected to personally sign each semichah certificate, his signature did not appear on the documents.

Addressing the matter directly, the Rishon Letzion explained to those in attendance: “Originally, I was supposed to sign the certificates myself, but this crazy state prohibits me from doing so.”

The event had also been scheduled to include the participation of Chacham Shlomo Machpud, a member of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah, along with several other distinguished rabbanim who had confirmed their attendance in advance.

However, widespread road closures and massive traffic congestion caused by a vehicle protest forced them to turn back before reaching the venue, making it impossible for them to participate in the ceremony.

Despite those setbacks, the evening concluded on an uplifting note as the newly certified morai tzedek formally accepted the responsibility of hora’ah, marking the beginning of their service as rabbanim and halachic authorities in communities across the country.

{Matzav.com}

Dozens of left-wing demonstrators gathered Friday morning at the entrance to Bnei Brak in an attempt to block traffic in protest of this week’s chareidi vehicle demonstrations against the draft law. The protest, held just hours before Shabbos, led to confrontations with local residents, though turnout was far smaller than organizers had promised.

The demonstration took place on Rechov Kahaneman after organizers had vowed to significantly disrupt access to the city. Despite those declarations, only a relatively small number of protesters arrived at the scene.

Residents strongly objected to the protest, particularly because it was held during the busy hours leading up to Shabbos, when thousands of families were making their final preparations. The area quickly became the site of heated confrontations as locals expressed anger over the attempt to block one of the city’s main thoroughfares at such a sensitive time.

The protest was organized following statements by attorney Ayelet Hashachar Seidof, head of the “Mothers on the Front” movement, who announced that activists intended to block Bnei Brak in response to this week’s chareidi vehicle protests against the conscription of bnei yeshivah.

“Road blockages will be met with road blockages,” Seidof said in advance of the demonstration, adding that the goal was “to disrupt the lives” of Bnei Brak residents.

The decision to stage the protest immediately before Shabbos drew sharp criticism throughout the city, as the streets were filled with pedestrians, children, and shoppers completing their last-minute preparations.

Large numbers of local residents gathered opposite the demonstrators, with some chanting, “We will die rather than be drafted.” Tensions escalated into physical confrontations that included pushing between protesters and chareidim. During the disturbance, one female protester removed her shirt as part of the demonstration. Police officers at the scene intervened in an effort to separate the opposing groups and prevent further escalation.

According to the organizers, Friday’s demonstration was intended as retaliation for this week’s vehicle protest, during which chareidi demonstrators blocked major highways across Israel for several hours in protest of the arrests of bnei yeshivah.

{Matzav.com}

As the number of bnei yeshiva currently held in Israel’s military prison reportedly stands at 46, a former inmate has offered a firsthand account of daily life behind bars, describing an environment centered around tefillah and Torah learning and insisting that incarceration is “not scary at all.”

Speaking with Betzalel Kahn on Israel’s Kol Chai Radio, 24-year-old Shmaryahu Greineman, who was imprisoned in the military jail in recent months, shared details about the prison routine and conditions. He said that during his incarceration there were only six bnei yeshiva in the facility.

Greineman explained that inmates are divided among four different companies based on the length of their sentence and the nature of their offense. According to him, bnei yeshiva are generally assigned to Company A, which houses prisoners serving relatively short terms.

He said the spiritual center of prison life is the beis medrash and shul.

“It’s either being inside your cell or being in the shul,” he said.

Greineman noted that the prison provides a wide range of seforim, including Shas, Chumashim, Tanach, Mishnayos, and Mishnah Berurah. Prisoners are also permitted to bring books back to their cells during lockdown periods.

He added that inmates are given opportunities to daven three times each day and that military regulations require prison officials to accommodate regular davening times and the laying of tefillin.

“On Shabbos they give even more time, and the religious needs are respected,” he said.

Discussing contact with family members, Greineman explained that each inmate is allotted seven minutes of telephone time per day.

“After seven minutes, the call disconnects automatically,” he said.

He noted, however, that conversations with attorneys are not subject to any time limit and added that bnei yeshiva entering prison generally receive assistance and guidance from various organizations.

Asked whether imprisonment was frightening, Greineman answered without hesitation.

“Not at all.”

He added that the presence of other bnei yeshiva makes the experience significantly easier, allowing them to learn together throughout the day.

“If I were there today among the 46 bochurim, it would actually be much easier,” he said.

Greineman also described what he called a unique phenomenon within the prison, referring to it as a place “where people learn emunah.”

He said that many secular soldiers begin moving closer to Judaism during their time in prison.

“Suddenly, people with tattoos begin coming to the shul, putting on tefillin, keeping Shabbos, and listening to words of Torah,” he said, describing what he believes is a widespread and meaningful spiritual transformation experienced by many inmates.

President Trump on Friday sharply criticized Iran after acknowledging that the regime launched a drone attack against a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, calling the strike a violation of the ceasefire established under the US-Iran memorandum of understanding.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump revealed that Iranian forces launched multiple attack drones at ships traveling through the strategic waterway.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran shot at least four One Way Attack Drones at Ships transversing the Strait of Hormuz,” the president wrote. “One of the Drones solidly hit the upper deck of a large and very expensive Cargo Carrying Ship. Damage was done, but the Ship was able to proceed on its way.”

Trump added that US forces intercepted the remaining drones before they could reach their targets.

“We knocked down three other Drones. Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our Ceasefire Agreement,” he added.

The president’s remarks came a day after the attack, when the White House initially took a more measured approach, saying only, “We are aware of these reports and looking into them.”

The incident has raised fresh concerns about the stability of the already fragile ceasefire while complicating ongoing efforts to ensure the safe movement of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes.

Reaffirming the administration’s position, the White House stated, “President Trump has been clear that Iran cannot subvert the free flow of traffic in the strait.”

[Video below.] Maran Rav Dov Landau publicly declared Thursday night that street protests are not the proper path in response to the gezeiras hagiyus and the arrests of bnei yeshivah.

Rav Landau’s statement has stirred considerable discussion, coming only days after the large vehicle convoy protest that took place on highways throughout Eretz Yisroel.

The remarks were delivered during a gathering at Rav Landau’s home in Bnei Brak attended by dozens of roshei yeshivah from across the country.

The meeting had originally been convened to review the recent historic Keren Olam HaTorah fundraising mission to the United States, during which leading gedolei Torah sought support to help offset government cuts to yeshivah funding. During the gathering, however, Rav Landau shifted the focus to the growing trend of public demonstrations.

Referring to the recent protests, Rav Landau told the assembled roshei yeshivah, “All kinds of other protests that we did not hear about from our rabbeim in previous generations are not our way.”

He continued by expressing concern over the effect such demonstrations can have on the image of the chareidi community.

“Very often these protests cause serious damage to the chareidi public’s image. We must remember that the most important thing is dedication, toil, and immersion in Torah study. That is the greatest sanctification of Hashem’s Name, and there is no doubt that strengthening Torah study within the botei medrash is what will help counter these decrees and difficulties.”

Rav Landau also spoke about his recent trip to the United States and the ongoing dispute over government funding for yeshivos. He emphasized that Eretz Yisroel has become the world’s central hub of Torah learning and serves as the spiritual heartbeat of the entire Jewish world.

According to Rav Landau, supporters overseas recognize that any weakening of Torah learning in Eretz Yisroel would have consequences for Klal Yisroel worldwide. He said that this understanding has led philanthropists to generously support bnei Torah.

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The man accused of assassinating conservative commentator Charlie Kirk remains eligible for the death penalty after a Utah judge ruled Friday that, although prosecutors violated a court-imposed gag order, the misconduct did not justify removing capital punishment from the case.

Judge Tony Graf found prosecutor Christopher Ballard in civil contempt for making comments to members of the media about the case involving defendant Tyler Robinson. However, the judge declined the defense’s request to strike the death penalty as a sanction.

The dispute stemmed from a defense filing that suggested the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had concluded that the bullet fired from the weapon Robinson allegedly used did not match the projectile recovered from Kirk’s body.

According to Robinson’s attorneys, prosecutors should be penalized for responding publicly to that filing, arguing that their statements violated the court’s gag order.

The defense filing sparked widespread online speculation and conspiracy theories about the circumstances surrounding Kirk’s death.

Judge Graf acknowledged that Robinson’s legal team had effectively “initiated the media frenzy” by filing documents that prompted inaccurate reports suggesting ATF evidence cleared Robinson of responsibility for the killing.

While Graf concluded that Ballard did not improperly discuss the forensic evidence when responding to those reports, he ruled that the prosecutor crossed the line when he told certain media outlets that his office possessed sufficient evidence to secure Robinson’s conviction.

Even so, the judge determined that the defense’s request to eliminate the possibility of capital punishment was “disproportional” to Ballard’s actions and “legally prohibited.”

Instead, Graf ordered the prosecution to reimburse Robinson’s legal team for the attorney’s fees incurred while pursuing the contempt motion.

To safeguard Robinson’s right to a fair trial, Graf also announced additional measures for the jury selection process. The court will summon a larger pool of prospective jurors and expand the screening process by adding more written questionnaire items as well as additional in-court questioning designed to identify potential bias stemming from the prosecutor’s public remarks.

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Iran sharply escalated its rhetoric on Friday, warning that it will not tolerate what it described as threatening Israeli military activity in the region, while state media also claimed Iranian forces intercepted foreign tankers attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz without authorization.

In a statement, Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters alleged that Israeli military aircraft flying through the airspace of neighboring countries on missions toward Iran represent “a dangerous move and a threat against the Islamic Republic.”

The military command warned that if Washington fails to restrain Israel, Tehran reserves the right to respond.

“We announce that if the United States is unable to restrain and control the Zionist regime, the Islamic Republic of Iran will not tolerate any threat against it and considers itself entitled to respond to these dangerous actions.”

Separately, Iranian state television reported that three foreign oil tankers attempted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without obtaining authorization but were halted after receiving warnings from the naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The report comes despite repeated statements by President Donald Trump asserting that the IRGC no longer possesses an operational navy.

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported that damage sustained by the U.S. Navy base in Bahrain during the recent conflict with Iran was significantly greater than the Pentagon has publicly disclosed.

According to the report, U.S. officials are now weighing the possibility of shifting some American military assets from bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to Israel in an effort to make them less vulnerable to potential Iranian attacks in the event of another regional conflict.

{Matzav.com}

A light sport aircraft crashed into Beijing’s tallest skyscraper on Friday, scattering wreckage from the 109-story tower and prompting an emergency evacuation as dramatic videos of the incident rapidly spread across social media.

According to CNN, the crash was particularly striking given Beijing’s strict security environment and tightly controlled airspace. Footage from the scene showed debris strewn around the base of the building, including the rear section of the aircraft.

A CNN reporter at the scene said the skyscraper was evacuated following the impact, with large numbers of occupants gathering outside the building on nearby streets as emergency crews responded.

Photos circulating online, including images showing the aircraft’s registration number, identified the plane as a Chinese-built Sunward SA60L Aurora light sport aircraft operated by a local aviation company.

Flight-tracking information published online by Flightradar24, though not independently verified, indicated that the aircraft veered significantly off its intended route before crashing into the building.

The incident also drew attention to Beijing’s stringent aviation restrictions. Reports noted that since May 1, residents of the Chinese capital have been prohibited from purchasing, renting, or operating drones within the city without prior government authorization.

{Matzav.com}

John Bolton, who served as President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, pleaded guilty Friday to one federal charge of unlawfully retaining national defense information while serving in the White House, exposing the 77-year-old to a possible prison sentence of up to 10 years.

Bolton, a longtime Republican foreign policy figure, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and outspoken Iran hawk, entered the guilty plea during a brief appearance in federal court outside Washington, D.C.

The plea resolves a criminal case that began after a federal grand jury indicted Bolton last October on 18 felony counts related to the alleged retention and transmission of classified material. Had he been convicted on all counts, Bolton faced the possibility of spending the remainder of his life behind bars. Federal agents searched both his Maryland residence and his Washington office on Aug. 22, 2025, as part of the investigation.

Authorities said the searches uncovered numerous sensitive government documents, including files concerning weapons of mass destruction, internal strategy discussions, classified travel memoranda, and materials related to the U.S. mission to the United Nations.

Prosecutors alleged that Bolton used email and various messaging applications to transmit documents classified up to the “top secret” level to individuals, exposing intelligence related to prospective U.S. military operations, foreign adversaries, and sensitive diplomatic matters.

Investigators also accused Bolton of sending more than 1,000 pages of personal diary-style notes and policy assessments through his private AOL email account to two people who allegedly lacked the necessary security clearances. Those recipients are widely believed to have been his wife and daughter.

According to investigators, that information was later compromised when Iranian-linked hackers breached Bolton’s AOL account in July 2021.

Bolton has remained a target of Iranian threats since the January 2020 U.S. strike that killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani.

Friday’s guilty plea brought to a close an investigation that began during the closing months of President Trump’s first administration. According to FBI sources previously cited by The New York Post, the probe was later mysteriously “shelved” during the administration of President Joe Biden.

Separately, Bolton came under scrutiny in 2020 over his handling of classified information connected to his bestselling White House memoir, The Room Where It Happened, which chronicled his 17 months as national security adviser.

At the time, the Trump administration argued that publication of the manuscript could jeopardize national security. Bolton’s legal team maintained that the book was released only after a White House National Security Council official who had worked extensively with Bolton informed him that the manuscript no longer contained classified material.

Bolton’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, also argued that many of the documents seized during the August 2025 searches had previously been reviewed and cleared through the government’s pre-publication process for The Room Where It Happened. He further contended that many of the records were decades old and stemmed from Bolton’s lengthy career in public service.

The Chernobyler Rebbe has issued an emotional appeal to Klal Yisroel, urging Jews around the world to intensify their tefillos for the swift release of the body of R’ Akiva Rand z”l, the yungerman who was tragically killed in a devastating traffic accident in Moldova earlier this week.

Despite ongoing efforts by askanim in both Moldova and Eretz Yisroel, Moldovan authorities have not yet released the body, delaying plans to bring him to kevurah in Eretz Yisroel.

As previously reported, the fatal accident occurred Wednesday near Kishinev, Moldova, as a group of avreichim was traveling to the kever of the tzaddik Rav Yechiel of Krylovitz, zya, together with many Chernobyler chassidim. The pilgrimage had been organized in conjunction with the Chernobyler Rebbe, who ultimately did not make the trip.

R’ Akiva Rand, z”ל, one of the prominent Chernobyler chassidim in Yerushalayim, was killed in the horrific crash. Despite extensive efforts by numerous askanim, both locally in Moldova and in Israel, authorities have yet to authorize the release of his body for burial.

In response, the Chernobyler Rebbe instructed that all chassidim worldwide be asked to storm the heavens in davening on behalf of the departed, R’ Akiva ben yblch”t R’ Mordechai Dovid, beseeching Hashem that the body be released without further delay so that he may be brought to his final resting place in Eretz Hakodesh.

A Honduran illegal alien has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison after admitting his role in an $89 million payroll fraud operation that enabled illegal alien construction workers and their employers to evade payroll taxes and other legal requirements.

Announcing the sentence, Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald said the case exposed a far-reaching scheme that cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars while facilitating the employment of illegal aliens.

“Today, we held an illegal alien from Honduras accountable for a brazen scheme that stole more than $38 million from American taxpayers to facilitate the employment of illegal aliens,” Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald said.

“This case exposes how unchecked illegal immigration fuels widespread payroll tax fraud and underground economies that harm American workers and taxpayers,” McDonald said. “This sentence sends a strong message: Those who exploit our open borders, cheat the U.S. Treasury, and violate federal laws will face justice.”

According to the Department of Justice, Mario Flores, an illegal alien from Honduras, conspired with others between 2015 and 2022 to establish a network of shell companies that operated an illegal check-cashing and cash courier business.

Federal prosecutors said the companies processed approximately $89 million in checks for construction subcontractors, charging fees for converting the checks into cash. Authorities said the arrangement allowed contractors and subcontractors to pay workers off the books, avoid withholding payroll taxes, and employ individuals without regard for whether they were legally authorized to work in the United States. Investigators also alleged that Flores caused false tax documents to be filed with the IRS to conceal the operation.

Prosecutors further said Flores and his associates defrauded workers’ compensation insurance carriers by leasing insurance certificates to contractors and providing insurers with false information, including inaccurate figures regarding the number of employees covered and the wages they received.

“Homeland Security Investigations is committed to protecting the integrity of our financial system and enforcing our nation’s laws,” HSI’s John Condon said. “Those who orchestrate large-scale payroll tax fraud and facilitate the illegal employment of unauthorized workers will be held accountable.”

Flores pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money-transmitting business.

Three of Flores’ co-conspirators—Iris Villafranca, Osman Zapata, and Francisco Alvarez—had already been sentenced in the case. Their prison terms ranged from four years to 17 years.

{Matzav.com}

The federal trial over the devastating January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires hit a major obstacle Thursday when jurors informed the court they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict after two days of deliberations.

The deadlocked jury notified U.S. District Judge Anne Hwang that it could not agree on whether Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, is guilty of the three federal arson charges he faces. Those charges include arson involving property used in interstate commerce, destruction of property by fire, and setting timber afire. Rather than declaring a mistrial, Hwang instructed the jurors to return Friday and continue their deliberations.

Defense attorney Steve Haney urged the judge to deliver an Allen charge, a special instruction encouraging jurors to continue discussing the case in an effort to reach a unanimous decision.

Federal prosecutors contend that Rinderknecht deliberately ignited the Lachman Fire on New Year’s Day. According to their theory, the blaze continued to smolder underground for nearly a week before reigniting as the catastrophic Palisades Fire six days later.

Rinderknecht has pleaded not guilty and insists he did not start the fire. If convicted on all counts, he faces up to 45 years in federal prison. Prosecutors built their case around surveillance video, cellphone location data, and what they described as incriminating online activity, including ChatGPT searches asking whether a cigarette could ignite a wildfire. They argue the evidence places Rinderknecht at the fire’s point of origin shortly before smoke was first reported.

The government also called witnesses who testified about Rinderknecht’s actions before the fire and introduced recordings of interviews he gave to investigators.

Haney countered that prosecutors failed to produce any physical evidence connecting his client to the fire’s origin. He argued that the Lachman Fire and the later Palisades Fire were unrelated events and maintained that fireworks—not Rinderknecht—were responsible for igniting the blaze.

The defense further argued that Rinderknecht behaved like someone trying to help rather than someone attempting to conceal a crime. Attorneys pointed to the multiple 911 calls he made and emphasized that he remained at the scene instead of fleeing. They also presented a witness who testified that he heard an explosion near the area before observing four men leave the location.

Earlier in the week, Judge Hwang rejected the defense’s request to dismiss the case after prosecutors presented expert testimony supporting their claim that the Palisades Fire originated from the earlier Lachman Fire. The Palisades Fire ultimately claimed 12 lives and destroyed nearly 7,000 homes and other structures.

{Matzav.com}