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Iran signaled today that it views a new diplomatic approach from the Trump administration favorably, but warned that negotiations with the United States will not resume unless Washington first agrees to a series of demands involving sanctions, American military deployments and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the comments during an interview with Al Jazeera as Iranian representatives continued indirect negotiations in Qatar aimed at preventing renewed hostilities with the United States and Israel.

The latest diplomatic activity follows a letter from Vice President JD Vance to Iranian security official Mohsen Rezaei, an initiative that has prompted speculation about whether Washington is attempting to revive negotiations with Tehran.

“The American side’s attempt to open the door to dialogue and understanding more broadly is a positive step,” Araghchi told Al Jazeera.

The Iranian foreign minister said the message had been examined by senior officials in Tehran, but warned that any American attempt to exploit internal disagreements within Iran would undermine the diplomatic effort.

“If Washington’s goal in sending this letter is to stir up discord, it would be yet another mistake to add to its previous ones,” he said.

Reports in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal described Vance’s communication as an attempt to explore a possible return to negotiations and avoid another round of American military strikes. President Donald Trump offered a different explanation, saying the letter concerned assistance in obtaining medical supplies for Iran rather than a new peace initiative.

Despite describing the American approach as encouraging, Araghchi made clear that Tehran was not prepared to send officials into direct negotiations.

“We see no need to meet with the Americans at present. Our conditions are clear, and mediators are continuing their consultations regarding them,” he told Al Jazeera.

He rejected reports suggesting that a meeting between American and Iranian representatives was imminent, saying any decision about direct or indirect negotiations would depend on Washington’s response to Tehran’s demands.

Among those conditions are the removal of American sanctions imposed after the Islamabad memorandum of understanding and a reduction in the U.S. military presence across the region.

Iran is also demanding international acceptance of a shipping arrangement for the Strait of Hormuz that Tehran says it developed with Oman. The proposal would establish an approved maritime passage while closing alternative routes through the strategically important waterway.

Araghchi maintained that the Iranian plan remains the only proposal currently available for reopening the strait and suggested that American acceptance could create the conditions for broader negotiations.

The negotiations have also produced movement on the timetable for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Araghchi said Qatari mediators initially suggested a five-day implementation period, but subsequent discussions reduced the proposed timeframe to just two days. Tehran is additionally seeking the restoration of oil-export waivers and the release of frozen Iranian assets, including funds held in Qatar.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts are continuing in Doha following more than 12 hours of meetings between Qatari mediators and Iranian officials in Tehran on Friday. An official familiar with the negotiations told Reuters that the Qatari delegation maintained regular communication with American negotiators throughout the discussions.

“My aide is currently in Qatar to continue consultations. Qatari and Pakistani mediators are continuing consultations regarding our conditions,” Araghchi told Al Jazeera.

The Iranian foreign minister also acknowledged that international mediators had introduced proposals concerning Tehran’s nuclear activities, another major obstacle to an agreement.

“Mediators have presented proposals concerning the nuclear dossier, which we are currently reviewing as part of the second phase,” Araghchi said.

Earlier this week, Reuters reported that Qatari officials had suggested a seven-day arrangement involving reciprocal confidence-building measures, potentially supported by international guarantees. An Iranian official subsequently disputed the characterization of the initiative as a formal proposal, describing the ideas presented by Qatar as unacceptable.

At the same time, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, issued a warning that any renewed American or Israeli military operation would bring immediate retaliation.

During a meeting today with senior military commanders, Khamenei ordered Iranian forces to strengthen their readiness and revise their lists of potential American and Israeli targets. According to Iranian state media, he instructed the military to prepare responses without geographical limitations.

Khamenei assumed leadership following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during the American-Israeli military offensive against Iran in February.

The warnings come as Washington weighs its next steps. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Trump has not made a decision about additional military action and would prefer a diplomatic resolution, although American forces remain prepared to strike if necessary.

Qatari officials are reportedly attempting to secure progress before Tuesday’s U.S. midterm elections, amid concerns that the Trump administration could resume military operations afterward.

{Matzav.com}

Members of Degel HaTorah met on Motzoei Shabbos with Roshei Yeshiva Rav Dov Landau and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch as reports intensified that United Torah Judaism could potentially help Gadi Eisenkot establish a minority government in exchange for legislation protecting the status of yeshiva bochurim.

The meeting, officially described by Degel HaTorah as an opportunity for its newly elected representatives to receive the Roshei Yeshiva’s brachos ahead of the upcoming Knesset term, took place amid increasingly complicated coalition negotiations following Tuesday’s elections, which left Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s political bloc with only 53 seats.

According to reports published Friday, Rav Landau instructed Degel HaTorah lawmakers to begin discussions with all political factions in an effort to secure an acceptable arrangement regarding the draft status of yeshiva students.

The Rosh Yeshiva was quoted as directing the party to “make every effort to regulate the status of yeshiva students. We are not in anyone’s bloc. We are in the bloc of the Torah world.”

The reported directive followed discussions involving senior figures in the anti-Netanyahu camp about a possible arrangement under which United Torah Judaism would abstain during the parliamentary vote to approve an Eisenkot-led government, allowing it to take office without formally joining the coalition.

Under the scenario being explored, UTJ’s seven seats would no longer be counted among the lawmakers opposing Eisenkot, potentially leaving Netanyahu’s bloc with 46 seats and giving Eisenkot a path to forming a government supported by 55 lawmakers.

In return for such cooperation, UTJ would reportedly demand an agreed-upon draft law establishing the legal status of yeshiva students and protecting their ability to continue learning without military service.

Senior UTJ officials acknowledged that indirect discussions have taken place through intermediaries, although they characterized the likelihood of such an agreement as extremely remote.

However, the office of UTJ chairman MK Yaakov Asher firmly rejected reports that the party had already received instructions to negotiate with the opposition.

“No such instruction was given. We have not yet visited the Gedolei Yisroel since the elections,” Asher’s office stated.

Tonight’s meeting marked the first formal visit by Degel HaTorah’s elected representatives to the Roshei Yeshiva since the election results became known.

The political maneuvering faces a major obstacle from Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Lieberman, whose party has taken an uncompromising position on the military draft. A senior party official said that Lieberman has insisted the first law passed by any government his party joins must require universal military service.

“Lieberman has made clear that the first law in any government in which he participates will be a draft law for everyone,” the official said.

The official added that the demand was nonnegotiable, even if it meant another election. “This is a statement made after the elections, and it is a central principle from which we will not retreat, even at the cost of elections! We will not sell out the soldiers for power. Conscription for everyone, with zero exemptions.”

Nevertheless, a senior opposition MK said that some members of the anti-Netanyahu camp are prepared to reconsider their positions on the draft in order to establish a government.

“The election results show that the public did not vote against the chareidim,” the lawmaker said. “If we need to compromise on the draft issue in order to form a government, we will seriously consider it. There is an entire world outside Twitter, a world that did not show up at the ballot box when it mattered.”

According to discussions taking place within UTJ, some party officials believe that if an agreement protecting yeshiva students can be reached, Shas could eventually join the arrangement as well. Shas suffered a severe electoral defeat Tuesday, dropping from 11 Knesset seats to just six.

Separately, Channel 14 reported that Degel HaTorah was considering withholding its recommendation for prime minister during President Isaac Herzog’s upcoming consultations, allowing the party to maintain flexibility while negotiations continue.

However, following tonight’s meetings, senior Degel HaTorah figures reportedly clarified that neither support for Netanyahu nor support for Eisenkot had actually been discussed with the Roshei Yeshiva. They maintained that the visits were intended solely to receive brachos ahead of the new parliamentary term, and that no concrete political decisions had been reached.

President Herzog is scheduled to begin consultations with the newly elected Knesset factions on Wednesday, when party representatives will formally recommend whom he should select to attempt to form Israel’s next government.

{Matzav.com}

Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Lieberman announced Friday that his party will refuse to participate in any Israeli government that includes Arab political factions, dealing another setback to efforts by the anti-Netanyahu bloc to assemble a governing coalition following this week’s Knesset elections.

In a sharply worded Facebook statement, Lieberman accused several Arab lawmakers of making statements sympathetic to terrorism and declared that Yisrael Beytenu would not compromise its position for the sake of forming a government.

“We will not sit with supporters of terrorism.”

Lieberman specifically criticized MKs Ofer Cassif and Yasser Hujirat, along with remarks made by Joint List representative Osama Saadi during celebrations following Tuesday’s election.

Explaining his objections, Lieberman pointed to Cassif’s endorsement of South Africa’s legal case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, which accused Israel of committing genocide during its military campaign in Gaza.

“After October 7, Ofer Cassif supported the proceedings initiated by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, which alleged that Israel was committing genocide,” Lieberman wrote.

He also cited Cassif’s accusation that “the Israeli military carries out acts of terrorism.”

The Yisrael Beytenu leader further criticized Ra’am lawmaker Yasser Hujirat, alleging that the MK had described Hamas as a charitable organization rather than a terrorist group in remarks made several weeks before the election.

Lieberman also took issue with comments delivered by Osama Saadi at Joint List headquarters on election night, when Saadi dedicated the party’s electoral success “to our people in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and occupied Jerusalem.”

Taken together, Lieberman argued, the statements demonstrated why his party could not enter a coalition alongside the Arab factions, regardless of the political difficulties confronting the opposition.

“Anyone who wants to rely on supporters of terrorism is welcome to do so. Yisrael Beytenu will not be part of it.”

The announcement comes as opposition leaders struggle to overcome the arithmetic of Tuesday’s election. Netanyahu’s coalition bloc secured 53 seats, while the Jewish-led opposition won 48. The Joint List and Ra’am together captured 19 seats, potentially giving Netanyahu’s opponents a 67-seat majority if they agreed to cooperate with the Arab factions.

Lieberman’s position effectively blocks that possibility as long as Yisrael Beytenu remains part of the proposed coalition. He has also previously rejected joining a government headed by Netanyahu or one that includes Shas and United Torah Judaism, insisting that the next coalition consist exclusively of Zionist parties.

The political confrontation follows another controversy involving the Arab parties. Before the election, Israel’s Central Elections Committee voted to disqualify Ra’am, the Joint List and Cassif from participating. The Supreme Court subsequently overturned those decisions, allowing the parties and Cassif to compete.

With neither political bloc commanding a majority, President Isaac Herzog is expected to begin consultations with party representatives before selecting a candidate to attempt to form the next government. Failure to reach a coalition agreement could send Israel back to the polls.

{Matzav.com}

The identities of two pilots who helped save a Flydubai passenger jet from a potentially catastrophic terrorist attack have been revealed after they received prestigious civilian honors from the United Arab Emirates for their extraordinary actions during the September 30 emergency.

The pilots, Henson Steven of Fiji and Rowan Tooth of South Africa, were traveling aboard the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight as off-duty crew members when the aircraft’s co-pilot allegedly attempted to seize control and crash the plane. The two men ultimately took over the controls and guided the damaged aircraft to a safe emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

The pair were publicly identified following an awards ceremony held Tuesday, October 27, during which UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan conferred the First Class Order of Zayed II on members of the Flydubai crew. The decorations were presented by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The incident occurred aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 MAX traveling from Dubai to Ben Gurion Airport with approximately 170 passengers and crew members, most of them Israelis.

According to investigators, the aircraft’s Omani co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with an emergency axe inside the cockpit in an apparent attempt to take control of the aircraft and crash it into Ben Gurion Airport.

Despite suffering serious injuries, Machchhar fought back and managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing passengers and other crew members to enter and overpower the attacker.

During the terrifying confrontation, the aircraft plunged approximately 16,000 feet in just 30 seconds, sending passengers into panic as the plane descended at an extraordinary rate.

Several Israeli passengers rushed forward to help restrain the attacker. Among them was Yaniv Hayun, who helped stabilize the aircraft during the emergency before the two off-duty pilots assumed control.

Steven and Tooth, who had originally been aboard the aircraft to operate its return flight, took over the damaged jet and successfully landed at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia. Their intervention, together with the actions of the injured captain and passengers, prevented what authorities believe could have been a mass-casualty terrorist attack.

The UAE subsequently confirmed that its investigation had identified the incident as an attempted terrorist attack. Hammami was taken into custody, while investigators began examining how he had been permitted to serve aboard a flight bound for Israel.

Captain Machchhar was also honored at Tuesday’s ceremony. Photographs showed the Indian pilot with visible scars from the attack, including significant injuries to his head and arm.

The First Class Order of Zayed II is among the UAE’s highest civilian distinctions, recognizing exceptional service and contributions. The presidential recognition acknowledged the crew’s courage and professionalism in protecting everyone aboard the aircraft.

The ceremony also marked the first public identification of Steven and Tooth, whose names had remained largely unknown in the weeks following the incident. Earlier accounts had incorrectly identified one of the pilots as a New Zealand citizen.

Israeli authorities previously honored several passengers who helped subdue the attacker, including Hayun, recognizing their intervention during the desperate struggle inside the cockpit.

The attack has also prompted Israel to tighten aviation security procedures, including requirements for airlines operating flights to and from the country to provide additional crew information ahead of departure.

{Matzav.com}

MK Ahmad Tibi of the Joint List declared tonight that his party will not participate in a government headed by Gadi Eisenkot, even as he signaled a willingness to cooperate with opposition lawmakers seeking to remove Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana following Israel’s elections.

Speaking on the television program “Meet the Press,” Tibi delivered a direct message to Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar! party, making clear that the Arab faction would remain outside any new governing coalition while potentially supporting parliamentary moves against the current leadership.

“We want to make things easier. We will not be part of the government. We will support replacing the Knesset Speaker.”

Tibi’s remarks come as parties opposed to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu search for ways to exercise influence in the newly elected Knesset despite failing to secure the parliamentary majority needed to establish a government.

The election results left the anti-Netanyahu parties with just 48 seats, compared with 53 for Netanyahu’s existing coalition bloc, reversing the balance suggested by many pre-election surveys. Neither camp has the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-member Knesset.

The opposition’s path to power is further complicated by commitments made by nearly all its constituent parties not to depend on Arab factions to establish a government. Democrats chairman MK Yair Golan has been the notable exception, leaving Eisenkot and his potential partners facing a difficult political calculation.

Reports earlier this week indicated that opposition leaders were examining a plan to replace Ohana immediately upon the new Knesset’s inauguration, even without reaching an agreement on forming an alternative coalition. Such a move could give the anti-Netanyahu parties an early parliamentary victory despite their inability to assemble a governing majority.

Meanwhile, Eisenkot met this evening with Yair Lapid, chairman of the Together party, for discussions focused on the election outcome and the opposition’s next steps. The two leaders coordinated their political approach and emphasized their determination to honor the commitments they made to voters.

Tibi’s announcement adds another dimension to those discussions, offering the opposition possible support for changing the Knesset’s leadership without requiring the Arab parties to become formal coalition partners.

Additional reporting indicates that Tibi’s offer extends beyond the election of a new Knesset speaker. He has also pledged not to support no-confidence motions initiated by Likud against a potential alternative government and not to introduce legislation seeking to dissolve the Knesset.

Tibi has indicated that his faction could provide outside parliamentary support in exchange for agreements addressing problems facing Arab communities, including violent crime and the recognition of Bedouin villages. The Joint List won 11 seats in Tuesday’s election, while the separate Ra’am party secured eight, giving the two Arab factions a combined 19 seats.

Israel’s anti-Netanyahu parties are reportedly considering a dramatic change to the country’s electoral system that would allow voters to choose the prime minister directly, potentially enabling a new government to take office without securing the backing of 61 Knesset members.

The proposal, which would revive an initiative advanced by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in 2021, is among several options being examined by opposition leaders following an election that left neither political camp with a clear parliamentary majority.

Channel 12 journalist Michael Hauser Tov reported on the Ulpan Shishi program that senior opposition officials have acknowledged discussions about introducing direct elections for prime minister as a possible solution to the political stalemate.

The central objective would be to create a path toward establishing a government without requiring the participation or parliamentary support of Arab parties, an issue that has complicated efforts to assemble an alternative coalition.

Opposition figures have reportedly dubbed the initiative the “Netanyahu 2021 Model,” referring to a plan Netanyahu himself promoted after the 2021 elections produced another divided Knesset.

Under the framework being discussed, Israelis would cast ballots directly for their preferred prime minister. The victorious candidate would then be entitled to establish a government without first obtaining the customary support of a 61-member parliamentary majority.

The idea represents a significant departure from Israel’s existing parliamentary system, under which the president assigns a Knesset member the task of forming a government and that government must subsequently win the confidence of the legislature.

The proposal would also require amending Israel’s Basic Law governing the formation of governments, a legislative change that would need at least 61 votes. Although the Jewish-led opposition parties control only 48 seats, the addition of 19 lawmakers from Arab parties would provide a potential 67-vote majority to approve the legislation.

Israel previously experimented with direct elections for prime minister between 1996 and 2001. Netanyahu became the first prime minister elected under that arrangement when he defeated Shimon Peres in 1996. The system was subsequently abandoned amid concerns that it encouraged political fragmentation and made coalition-building more difficult.

Another unresolved question is whom the opposition would nominate for prime minister. Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Liberman have all sought the leadership of the anti-Netanyahu camp, and the parties did not agree on a single candidate before Tuesday’s election.

For now, the direct-election proposal remains an option under consideration rather than an agreed political strategy. No legislation has been formally announced, and opposition leaders have not established whether sufficient support exists to move the initiative forward.

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spoke by telephone on Saturday amid escalating tensions with Iran, as Washington considers additional military action against Tehran while pursuing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

The conversation followed a high-level White House briefing on Thursday during which Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), presented Trump with potential military options involving Iran.

The briefing, described as unusual, reportedly included Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine. Officials familiar with the discussions said the meeting focused on possible American military operations as the administration evaluates its next steps.

Trump indicated Friday that Iran was seeking negotiations, suggesting that Tehran’s worsening economic difficulties were increasing pressure on its leadership to reach an agreement.

“There are talks. They want to talk. They keep talking. They’re not paying their soldiers. They’re not paying their police. They’re in a lot of trouble,” Trump told reporters.

The president also suggested that Washington was not operating under an immediate deadline to bring the confrontation to an end.

“We have time, frankly. It’s a war, but it is not a typical war.”

Meanwhile, diplomatic contacts between the United States and Iran have reportedly advanced through mediation efforts in Qatar.

Sources familiar with the negotiations told the Qatari newspaper Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed on Saturday that discussions in Doha had produced progress, with an American delegation expected to participate in talks alongside Iranian representatives.

According to the report, negotiators have reached preliminary understandings concerning several major issues, including restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities, freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and possible economic incentives that could be offered to Tehran as part of an agreement.

The report also indicated that China and Russia could serve as guarantors of a potential arrangement, although no final agreement has been announced.

Despite the diplomatic activity, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a new warning Saturday following a meeting with senior military commanders, threatening an expansive response if the United States or Israel launches additional attacks.

“Every level or type of threat must be met with an immediate and effective response, without geographical restrictions,” Khamenei wrote on social media.

Iranian state media reported that Khamenei also instructed military commanders to expand their list of potential targets to include additional American and Israeli assets, signaling that renewed hostilities could extend well beyond Iran’s borders.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, meanwhile, described the latest American diplomatic overtures as a positive development but indicated that Tehran was not yet prepared to enter direct negotiations with Washington. He said Iran was reviewing proposals conveyed through mediators, including arrangements that could allow the Strait of Hormuz to reopen within two days.

The competing military threats and diplomatic initiatives have placed the Trump administration at a critical decision point, with American commanders preparing possible operations while mediators attempt to prevent another major escalation in the Middle East.

{Matzav.com}

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Moscow is prepared for a military confrontation with European nations if Western governments continue trying to weaken Russia, raising the possibility of a major conflict and threatening to turn the Baltic Sea into a flashpoint resembling the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking Thursday at a Russia-Africa summit in Moscow, Putin insisted that his country has no desire to fight Europe but cautioned that continued Western efforts to impose a strategic defeat on Russia could produce consequences far beyond the ongoing war in Ukraine.

According to Russian state news agency TASS, Putin invoked the devastating conflicts of the previous century, referring to “the tragic pages of history” and arguing that Moscow wants to prevent “anything like this happens on a global scale” again.

At the same time, the Russian leader made clear that his military would be prepared for a confrontation if European governments pursued one.

Putin accused unspecified Western countries of seeking to “inflict a strategic defeat on Russia” and questioned whether European military preparations for a possible conflict by the end of the decade were realistic.

“Many people are talking about preparing for war by 2030. Is this right or wrong? First of all, we are prepared, but we don’t want any war with Europe… as for them, if someone wants it, let them prepare. However, they failed to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia this time and it is unlikely to become possible by 2030”.

Putin warned that efforts to defeat Moscow through continued military and financial support for Ukraine could “go too far,” suggesting that a wider conflict would be catastrophic for all parties involved.

He declared that if such a war erupted, “there will be no winners”.

The Russian president also issued a warning concerning the Baltic Sea, suggesting that tensions between Moscow and NATO could create a maritime confrontation comparable to the recent crisis in the Persian Gulf.

The Baltic has become an increasingly sensitive strategic region since Finland and Sweden joined NATO, leaving Russia surrounded by alliance members along much of the coastline. Moscow nevertheless retains important access to the sea through St. Petersburg and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, situated between Poland and Lithuania.

Putin suggested that Western pressure on Russian maritime interests could trigger a confrontation resembling the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz during the recent conflict involving Iran.

“there will be a situation similar to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. Does anyone want the same situation to develop in the Baltic Sea as in the Persian Gulf or the Strait of Hormuz? I don’t know. We don’t want that… We do not want this. But we will respond to any challenge.”

The remarks appeared intended to warn European governments against measures that Moscow might interpret as interference with Russian shipping or access to Baltic ports, although Putin did not announce any specific military operation.

Putin also addressed recent diplomatic contacts with European leaders, saying Moscow remains willing to restore relations despite the deep divisions created by the war in Ukraine.

The Russian president referred to a telephone conversation earlier this week with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. He defended their decision to speak with him despite criticism from other European capitals, saying dialogue was preferable to continued isolation.

According to Reuters, Putin said Russia supported efforts to reestablish normal diplomatic relations with European countries, whether through the European Union or direct bilateral discussions.

The latest warnings come as European governments continue strengthening their defenses amid concerns about Russian military activity and the possibility of a wider confrontation with NATO.

Moscow has repeatedly accused Western governments of provoking an escalation by arming Ukraine, while European leaders have argued that Russia’s invasion and continued military operations are the principal threats to regional security.

{Matzav.com}

Democrats could emerge from Tuesday’s midterm elections with as many as 240 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, potentially securing their largest majority since 2009, according to an updated assessment released Friday by the Cook Political Report.

The nonpartisan election forecaster moved 12 congressional contests in Democrats’ favor, estimating that the party could capture between 12 and 25 seats currently held by Republicans. That would leave Democrats controlling between 227 and 240 seats in the next Congress.

With Democrats needing a net gain of only three seats to take control of the House, the revised outlook suggests Republicans face a considerably broader electoral challenge than previously anticipated.

“As the House battleground map has expanded, Democrats now have the potential to win their largest majority since 2009,” Cook reported.

The latest ratings reflect concerns within Republican circles about President Donald Trump’s approval numbers, the party’s ability to bring supporters to the polls, and whether substantial campaign expenditures will be sufficient to counter a political climate increasingly favorable to Democrats.

Among the notable changes, Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District, currently represented by Republican Rob Bresnahan, was moved from “Toss Up” to “Lean Democrat.” Ohio’s 9th District, presently held by a Democrat, received the same revised rating.

Cook House editor Erin Covey pointed to polling showing Bresnahan behind his Democratic opponent, with criticism surrounding the congressman’s stock transactions appearing to damage his reelection prospects.

Three additional Republican-held seats were placed in the highly competitive “Toss Up” category after previously being rated “Lean Republican.” They include Colorado’s 5th District, Pennsylvania’s 1st District, and South Carolina’s open 1st District.

Pennsylvania Republican Brian Fitzpatrick is among the incumbents confronting a difficult contest. His district supported Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, making it a particularly important battleground for both parties.

The forecast also identified growing Democratic opportunities in several districts previously considered relatively secure for Republicans. Florida’s 7th and 9th districts, along with Indiana’s 5th District, were shifted from “Likely Republican” to “Lean Republican.”

Another four GOP-held seats—North Carolina’s 5th and 9th districts, New Jersey’s 2nd District, and Washington’s 5th District—were downgraded from “Solid Republican” to “Likely Republican.”

North Carolina has become a particular source of concern for Republican strategists, with the party facing potential difficulties motivating voters following developments in the state’s Senate contest.

“Republicans, meanwhile, are deeply concerned about low turnout in North Carolina this cycle now that national GOP groups have stopped contesting the Senate race,” Covey wrote.

Democrat Roy Cooper has maintained an advantage over Republican Michael Whatley in that Senate contest, potentially complicating Republican efforts to generate enthusiasm among conservative voters in competitive House districts.

Cook also observed that Trump’s approval ratings remain negative in several traditionally Republican areas, including districts where he won comfortable victories during the 2024 presidential election. The trend has persisted despite significant Republican spending on congressional campaigns.

If Democrats reach the upper end of Cook’s projected range, they would exceed the House majorities they secured following the 2006 and 2018 elections. Their anticipated gains, however, would still leave them below the 257 seats they controlled following Barack Obama’s presidential victory in 2008.

Other election forecasters have also identified a strong possibility of Democratic control. Decision Desk HQ, which partners with The Hill, currently places the party’s chances of winning the House at 80%.

The latest Cook assessment follows several consecutive weeks of ratings changes benefiting Democrats. Just one week earlier, on October 23, the organization moved 19 additional House races in their direction, bringing the number of seats favoring Democrats to the 218 needed for control even before Friday’s revisions.

Cook’s updated ratings now favor Democrats in 222 districts, with another 18 contests classified as toss-ups. Winning all of those competitive races would bring the party to 240 seats, although the final outcome remains dependent on voter turnout and the results in closely contested districts.

Republicans are now entering the final weekend of campaigning under mounting pressure to defend seats once regarded as relatively safe, while Democrats seek to convert their improving electoral prospects into control of the House on November 3.

{Matzav.com}

In a potentially dramatic development that could reshape Israel’s post-election political landscape, Rav Dov Landau, Rosh Yeshiva of Slabodka, has instructed Degel HaTorah’s Knesset representatives to open discussions with all political factions, including the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot, in an effort to secure the status of yeshiva bochurim and protect the continued study of Torah.

The directive, first revealed Friday morning, comes amid intensive behind-the-scenes negotiations over the possibility of establishing a minority government with the tacit support of United Torah Judaism, which could facilitate the formation of an Eisenkot-led government by abstaining from key parliamentary votes.

According to sources, Rav Landau made clear that Degel HaTorah’s political decisions must be guided by the interests of the Torah world rather than automatic allegiance to either of Israel’s competing political camps.

“Make every effort to regulate the status of yeshiva students,” the Rosh Yeshiva reportedly instructed. “We are not in anyone’s bloc. We are in the bloc of the Torah world.”

The statement represents a potentially significant development in the political calculations following Tuesday’s elections, which left Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s bloc with 53 seats, compared with 48 for the opposition bloc, and neither side holding the 61 seats necessary to form a government independently.

Senior figures in the opposition have reportedly been exploring an arrangement under which United Torah Judaism would refrain from voting against the establishment of an Eisenkot-led minority government, effectively providing the parliamentary breathing room necessary for such a government to take office.

Under the proposed arrangement, United Torah Judaism would not necessarily become a coalition partner or accept ministerial positions. Instead, its abstention during the government formation process could alter the parliamentary balance sufficiently to allow Eisenkot to assume office.

According to the political calculations being discussed, removing United Torah Judaism’s seven seats from Netanyahu’s effective parliamentary support would leave his bloc with 46 seats, while the Eisenkot bloc could potentially assemble 55 seats in support of the proposed arrangement.

The central demand from United Torah Judaism in exchange for such cooperation would be an agreed-upon draft law providing a legal framework for the continued deferment of military service for yeshiva students.

For Degel HaTorah, the issue is particularly urgent amid the continuing arrests of yeshiva bochurim and the uncertainty surrounding their legal status.

Senior United Torah Judaism officials acknowledged to Kikar HaShabbat that contacts are taking place through intermediaries, although they stressed that the chances of successfully implementing such an arrangement remain extremely slim.

However, the office of United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yaakov Asher issued a response disputing the report that a formal directive had already been issued.

“No instruction was given. We have not yet even visited the Gedolei Yisroel since the elections,” Asher’s office stated.

The denial introduces uncertainty regarding the precise status of the reported instruction, even as political contacts concerning a possible arrangement continue.

One of the greatest obstacles to the proposed minority government is Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman, whose longstanding opposition to draft exemptions for yeshiva students places him in direct conflict with United Torah Judaism’s central demand.

On Thursday, Lieberman issued a categorical statement rejecting cooperation with Netanyahu, the Arab parties, and the chareidi political leadership.

“We will not sit with Bibi and not with Tibi, not with Goldknopf and not with Deri. Not directly and not indirectly,” Lieberman declared.

His comments appeared to rule out not only formal coalition participation with the chareidi parties but also political arrangements that would depend on their support.

A senior Yisrael Beiteinu official subsequently reinforced that position in remarks to Kikar HaShabbat, insisting that the party would not compromise on its demand for universal military conscription.

“Lieberman made clear yesterday that the first law in any government in which he participates will be a draft law for everyone,” the official said.

“This is a statement made after the elections. It is a central principle from which we will not retreat, even at the cost of another election! We will not sell out the soldiers for power. Conscription for everyone, with zero exemptions.”

The declaration presents a formidable challenge to any attempt to bring together Lieberman and United Torah Judaism in a parliamentary arrangement centered on protecting yeshiva students from military conscription.

Nevertheless, other senior figures within the opposition bloc appear more willing to consider compromises in order to establish a government.

A senior opposition MK told Kikar HaShabbat that the election results have prompted serious consideration of whether an accommodation on the draft issue might be necessary to assemble a governing majority.

“The election results show that the public did not vote against the chareidim,” the MK said.

“If we need to compromise on the draft issue in order to form a government, we will seriously consider it. There is an entire world outside Twitter, a world that was not present at the ballot box when it mattered.”

The remarks suggest that at least some opposition figures view the election outcome as an indication that voters did not necessarily endorse a confrontational approach toward the chareidi community.

Within United Torah Judaism, senior figures have also reportedly discussed the possibility that Shas could eventually join such an arrangement if a satisfactory solution to the draft crisis were achieved.

The calculations are taking place against the backdrop of Shas’s severe electoral setback, which saw the party’s representation plunge from 11 seats to just six in Tuesday’s elections.

According to individuals familiar with the discussions, United Torah Judaism officials believe that an agreement safeguarding the status of yeshiva students could ultimately persuade Shas to cooperate with a broader political initiative, despite its longstanding alliance with Netanyahu.

Such a development would mark a dramatic shift in the political landscape, although no agreement has been reached and substantial ideological and political obstacles remain.

The opposition leadership has meanwhile continued its own negotiations following the election.

Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party, recently met with Lieberman in a late-night political summit, during which the two reportedly agreed to continue coordinating their efforts.

Their discussions are part of a broader attempt to determine whether the fragmented election results can be translated into a viable governing arrangement without returning the country to another election.

{Matzav.ccom}

A yeshiva bochur traveling home for Shabbos was arrested Friday morning and handed over to Israeli military police, triggering a protest that blocked a major roadway, as the number of bnei Torah expected to spend Shabbos behind bars in military detention facilities reached 35.

The latest arrest occurred on Highway 3 near Moshav Beko’a, where traffic police stopped a bochur who was traveling from Yeshivas Romemus Halev in Givat Ze’ev to his hometown of Netivot.

According to reports, officers detained the bochur during the traffic stop and quickly transferred him to military police custody over his military service status.

The bochur reportedly managed to notify the activist network known as “Hachotfim Higi’u,” which monitors arrests of yeshiva students and mobilizes supporters to intervene. However, authorities completed the transfer before activists could reach the location.

When demonstrators subsequently arrived, they blocked Highway 3 in an effort to protest the arrest and prevent the transfer of the bochur to military custody. Confrontations developed between protesters and police officers responding to the road closure.

The incident came amid continuing tensions throughout the chareidi community over the arrest and imprisonment of yeshiva bochurim who have not reported for military service.

According to the report, 35 bnei Torah currently being held in military detention facilities over their refusal to enlist are expected to remain incarcerated throughout the coming Shabbos.

The continued imprisonment of the bochurim has generated growing concern among their families and within the broader Torah community, particularly as the arrests have increasingly involved students detained during routine activities, including traveling home, responding to police inquiries, and attending to ordinary personal matters.

Calls have been issued for the public to increase tefillos on behalf of the imprisoned bnei Torah, praying for their immediate release, for their continued strength and resolve, and for the cancellation of the military draft measures affecting yeshiva students.

Meanwhile, two other yeshiva bochurim whose arrests sparked protests in recent days were released from military detention on Friday.

One of those released was Alon Smadja, a talmid of Yeshivas Tiferes Shraga, who was arrested last week outside his home in the Bayit Vegan neighborhood of Yerushalayim.

His arrest drew particular outrage because of the circumstances under which military police reportedly apprehended him.

According to the account, members of his family received a notification indicating that a delivery was waiting for him. When Smadja came downstairs to collect the supposed package, military police officers were waiting and placed him under arrest.

The circumstances of the detention prompted sharp criticism among activists, who accused authorities of employing deceptive tactics to apprehend a yeshiva student.

Smadja’s imprisonment became the focus of a major demonstration Thursday at the Geha-Zabotinsky intersection in Bnei Brak, where supporters of the Peleg Yerushalmi gathered to protest the ongoing arrests of bnei Torah.

During the demonstration, protesters blocked Highway 4, one of the central transportation arteries in the region, disrupting traffic and leading to serious confrontations with police.

Officers deployed crowd-control measures as they attempted to disperse the demonstrators and reopen the roadway.

Smadja was released Friday, following approximately a week in custody.

A second bochur released Friday was Elchanan Damati, a talmid of Yeshivas Torah B’Tifartah in Elad.

Damati had been summoned to a police station in Kfar Saba for questioning in connection with a traffic-related incident. During the handling of his case, authorities discovered that he was listed as having failed to report for military service.

He was subsequently transferred from civilian police custody to the military police.

His arrest also led to demonstrations last week, with protesters gathering in Kfar Saba and blocking roads in an attempt to prevent his transfer to military detention.

Further clashes subsequently erupted between demonstrators and police, including near the entrance to Elad and along surrounding roadways.

The release of Smadja and Damati was welcomed by supporters, although their return home came as dozens of other bnei Torah remained incarcerated.

{Matzav.com}

More than 307,000 votes cast in Tuesday’s Israeli elections went to parties that failed to cross the electoral threshold, effectively leaving over 5% of voters without representation in the new Knesset. A detailed analysis of the results has revealed that while those lost votes could have shifted several seats between the political blocs, they would not have resolved Israel’s parliamentary deadlock. However, votes cast for two small chareidi parties that failed to enter the Knesset could have given Shas an additional seat.

According to official Central Elections Committee figures examined by Kikar HaShabbat, 307,958 votes were cast for 25 parties that did not reach the 3.25% electoral threshold required to enter the Knesset. Those votes represented approximately 5.41% of all valid ballots, equivalent to roughly seven Knesset seats.

The largest number of wasted votes went to the Reservists and Economic Party, headed by Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zelekha, which received 154,950 votes, or 2.72% of the total. Despite attracting substantial support, the party fell short of the threshold and secured no representation.

The Amcha Yisrael party, led by former senior IDF officer Ofer Winter, finished second among the unsuccessful lists, receiving 95,663 votes, or 1.68%.

Four other parties received more than 5,000 votes but failed to win seats. The chareidi party Tzeva Shachor–Magen Olam HaTorah received 11,274 votes, while HaTzibur HaChareidi, headed by Motti Leitner, attracted 10,594 votes. The Noam party, led by Avi Maoz, received 9,923 votes, and Tzomet Beit Yisrael obtained 5,710.

Together, approximately 133,000 votes associated with right-wing and chareidi parties were lost, while roughly 155,000 votes went to parties generally identified with the opposition bloc, including the Hendel-Zelekha list.

However, the analysis cautioned that Hendel’s party also appealed to voters from the more moderate right, making it difficult to assign all its supporters definitively to either political camp.

Using Israel’s Bader-Ofer seat allocation formula, which determines how Knesset seats are distributed among parties that cross the electoral threshold, Kikar HaShabbat recalculated the results under several hypothetical scenarios.

The calculations incorporated the five surplus-vote agreements signed between parties ahead of the election and examined how the results might have changed if votes cast for unsuccessful parties had instead gone to established parties within their respective political blocs.

The actual election results gave Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s bloc 53 seats, the opposition bloc identified with Gadi Eisenkot 48 seats, and the Arab parties a combined 19 seats. Of the Arab parties’ representation, Ra’am secured eight seats, while the Joint List received 11.

Had all the wasted votes from right-wing and chareidi parties been transferred to parties within Netanyahu’s bloc, the prime minister’s camp would have increased its representation from 53 to 55 seats. The opposition bloc would have fallen to 47, while the Arab parties would have received 18.

Conversely, if the 154,950 votes cast for Hendel and Zelekha had gone to parties within the opposition bloc, Netanyahu’s camp would have dropped to 52 seats, while the opposition would have risen to 50. The Arab parties would have held 18 seats, with Ra’am receiving seven and the Joint List retaining 11.

If both sets of wasted votes had been redirected to their respective political blocs, Netanyahu’s camp would have finished with 53 seats, the opposition with 49, and the Arab parties with 18.

Even under the extreme hypothetical scenario in which every wasted vote, regardless of political affiliation, had gone to right-wing parties, Netanyahu’s bloc would have reached only 57 seats, still four short of the 61 required for a parliamentary majority.

The analysis therefore concluded that the wasted votes, while significant, were not ultimately responsible for the inconclusive election outcome.

One finding, however, has particular significance for the chareidi political world.

The two unsuccessful chareidi lists, Tzeva Shachor and HaTzibur HaChareidi, together received 21,868 votes. Had those voters supported Shas or United Torah Judaism instead, the combined chareidi representation in the Knesset would have increased from 13 seats to 14.

More remarkably, the additional seat would have gone to Shas regardless of how those votes were divided between the two established chareidi parties.

According to the calculations, the surplus-vote agreement between Shas and United Torah Judaism would have resulted in the additional mandate being awarded to Shas even if every one of those 21,868 voters had cast a ballot for United Torah Judaism.

The analysis examined all 21,869 possible ways of dividing the votes between the two parties and found that the result remained unchanged in every scenario.

In each case, Shas would have gained an additional seat at the expense of Ra’am, increasing the chareidi parties’ combined strength to 14 mandates.

The finding is especially noteworthy following Shas’s disappointing election performance, which saw the party lose a substantial portion of its previous electoral support.

It also highlights the consequences of the emergence of alternative chareidi political lists that challenged the established parties during the election campaign but ultimately failed to cross the electoral threshold.

The broader coalition calculations present a different challenge for the opposition.

Even if the votes cast for Hendel’s party had gone to the opposition bloc, Eisenkot and his political allies would still have been unable to form a majority government without support from Arab parties.

Under the actual results, the opposition bloc’s 48 seats combined with Ra’am’s eight would produce only 56 seats, five short of a majority.

In the scenario in which Hendel’s votes were redirected to opposition parties, the bloc would hold 50 seats, while Ra’am would have seven, producing a combined total of 57.

Ra’am previously participated in the Bennett-Lapid coalition established in 2021, demonstrating that its participation in an Israeli governing coalition is politically possible. Nevertheless, the party’s support alone would not provide Eisenkot with the necessary parliamentary majority.

The Joint List presents a different calculation.

If Hendel’s votes had strengthened the opposition to 50 seats, the Joint List’s 11 mandates could theoretically provide the 61 votes needed for a majority.

However, such an arrangement would likely depend on outside parliamentary support rather than full participation in the government, raising questions about whether a stable coalition could be established.

Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman has already declared that he would not support a government dependent on the Joint List, creating a substantial political obstacle to that possibility.

Under the actual election results, the opposition bloc and Ra’am together hold 56 seats, while the opposition and Joint List together have 59. Neither combination reaches a majority.

The analysis found that the various scenarios involving wasted votes generally shifted only one or two seats between the competing blocs, without fundamentally changing the political equation.

The central obstacle to forming a government is therefore the overall distribution of votes among the parties that successfully entered the Knesset, rather than the ballots cast for parties that failed to qualify.

The uncertainty surrounding the election outcome has also attracted attention from international financial institutions.

Credit rating agency Fitch warned that the results could lead to an extended period of political uncertainty and governmental paralysis, potentially complicating Israel’s ability to address pressing economic and policy challenges.

For the chareidi parties, however, the calculations offer a particularly painful conclusion: While the hundreds of thousands of wasted votes nationwide did not determine who could form the next government, the relatively small number of votes cast for two unsuccessful chareidi lists was enough to cost Shas an additional Knesset seat.

{Matzav.com}

[Audio below.] In a special vaad marking the 40th yahrtzeit of his illustrious father-in-law, Rav Nochum Partzovitz zt”l, the legendary Rosh Yeshiva of Mir in Yerushalayim, Rav Chaim Mendel Brodsky, Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah of Toronto, delivered divrei zikaron in tribute to one of the great marbitzei Torah of the previous generation. Rav Nochum, whose extraordinary amkus haTorah and penetrating shiurim left an enduring imprint on generations of talmidim, remains a legendary figure in the world of Torah learning. The accompanying recording presents this special vaad, offering an opportunity to reflect on Rav Nochum’s legacy and the profound influence he continues to exert on the olam haTorah.

LISTEN:

{Matzav.com}

Don’t forget to “fall back” this weekend. Daylight Saving Time officially comes to an end early Sunday morning, November 1, 2026, when clocks across most of the United States will be turned back one hour, giving everyone an extra hour of sleep.

The change takes effect at 2 a.m. Sunday, when clocks will move backward to 1 a.m. For those who prefer not to stay awake until that hour, the simplest approach is to turn back clocks before going to sleep on Motzoei Shabbos.

Most smartphones, computers, and other internet-connected devices will adjust automatically, although traditional clocks, watches, and certain household appliances will need to be changed manually.

The adjustment applies to most Matzav.com readers in chutz la’aretz. In Eretz Yisroel, clocks were already turned back one hour last Sunday, October 25, when Israeli Daylight Saving Time ended.

Since 2007, Daylight Saving Time in the United States has begun on the second Sunday in March and ended on the first Sunday in November. The familiar expression “spring forward, fall back” serves as a reminder of which direction to move the clocks.

Before 2007, Americans generally moved their clocks forward on the first Sunday in April and returned to Standard Time on the final Sunday in October. The current schedule was established under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, signed into law by President George W. Bush, which extended Daylight Saving Time by approximately four weeks.

Not every part of the United States observes the seasonal adjustment. Hawaii and most of Arizona remain on Standard Time throughout the year, as do several U.S. territories.

The twice-yearly clock change has remained the subject of debate in Washington, with proposals to establish a permanent national time standard repeatedly attracting attention. However, no federal legislation eliminating the seasonal change has taken effect, meaning Americans will once again adjust their clocks this weekend.

The transition is also a useful reminder to check smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms throughout the home. Fire safety officials encourage residents to test their alarms, replace batteries when necessary, and ensure that older units have not exceeded their recommended service life.

While many newer smoke alarms contain sealed, long-life batteries, they should still be tested regularly and replaced according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

For families preparing for the shorter winter days, the return to Standard Time also means that sunset and Shabbos candle-lighting times will occur approximately one hour earlier by the clock beginning next Friday.

So, before heading to bed this Motzoei Shabbos, remember to turn back the clocks that do not adjust automatically, check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and enjoy that extra hour of sleep.

{Matzav.com}

The three chief rabbonim of Bnei Brak have issued an urgent public warning ahead of the shorter winter Fridays, calling on residents to leave ample time for travel, complete their shopping early, and ensure that businesses close well before Shabbos. The rabbonim cautioned that those who set out on journeys too close to Shabbos risk violating its sanctity and may bear serious halachic responsibility for failing to anticipate delays.

The directive was issued jointly by Rav Chaim Yitzchok Isaac Landau, Rav Shevach Tzvi Rosenblatt, and Rav Masoud Ben Shimon, who expressed concern that the transition to winter time and the earlier arrival of Shabbos could lead to dangerous last-minute rushing and inadvertent chillul Shabbos.

In a detailed letter addressed to residents, business owners, shoppers, and travelers, the rabbonim established specific guidelines intended to ensure that preparations for Shabbos are completed with sufficient time to spare.

The letter, titled “Pnei Shabbos Nekabelah,” opens with an appeal to the residents of Bnei Brak, explaining that the clocks have been moved back an hour and that Friday afternoons have consequently become considerably shorter.

“To the dear residents of our city,” the rabbonim wrote. “As of this Shabbos, the time of Shabbos has been moved an hour earlier, and Friday has become very short. It is therefore necessary to observe the following guidelines.”

The most forceful warning concerns individuals traveling out of the city on Friday, whether by public transportation or private vehicle.

The rabbonim instructed travelers to arrange their departures so that they are expected to arrive at their destinations at least two hours before the local candle-lighting time.

For those facing pressing circumstances, they established an absolute minimum: A person must not begin a journey if the anticipated arrival time is less than 80 minutes before sunset at the destination.

“Many delays commonly occur along the way, which can lead, chas v’shalom, to chillul Shabbos,” the rabbonim warned. “Those who depart later than this time may come to violate Shabbos, and this is considered an inadvertent violation bordering on deliberate wrongdoing.”

The warning reflects the halachic principle that a person who knowingly places himself in circumstances where a prohibited act is foreseeable cannot necessarily claim that the resulting violation was entirely accidental.

The rabbonim also emphasized that travelers must consider the needs of the drivers transporting them, particularly those operating buses, taxis, and other vehicles on Friday afternoons.

“We are obligated to think about the driver who transports us on Erev Shabbos,” they wrote. “He still needs to return home before Shabbos begins. We must not, chas v’shalom, fall into the category of ‘Do not place a stumbling block before the blind.'”

The rabbonim stressed that passengers who arrange late journeys may place drivers in a position where they are unable to return home before Shabbos, thereby contributing to a potential violation of Shabbos.

Another section of the letter addresses the practice of visiting the mikvah on Friday.

Residents were urged to attend the mikvah earlier in the day rather than waiting until the final hours before Shabbos.

The rabbonim explained that arriving early would allow sufficient time to complete preparations for Shabbos while also preventing overcrowding and preserving appropriate standards of tznius.

The letter also contains detailed instructions for Bnei Brak’s business community, with the rabbonim calling on store owners to end commercial activity well ahead of Shabbos.

All stores must have their doors closed and secured no later than 30 minutes before the candle-lighting time published in the local calendars, the rabbonim instructed.

They emphasized that shopkeepers should begin the process of closing their establishments sufficiently early to ensure that the deadline is met, rather than waiting until the final moments to begin shutting down.

The restrictions apply not only to serving customers but also to cleaning, organizing merchandise, and other activities associated with closing a business.

Store owners were additionally advised that their display windows should remain dark throughout Shabbos.

Regarding Motzoei Shabbos, the rabbonim directed businesses not to reopen until at least 30 minutes after the published time for the conclusion of Shabbos.

The letter also places responsibility on customers, warning them against pressuring merchants to remain open or continue serving them after the prescribed closing time.

“We appeal to the shoppers: Do not pressure the sellers to violate these guidelines,” the rabbonim wrote. “Beyond the harm you cause them, you are violating ‘Do not place a stumbling block before the blind,’ and causing chillul Shabbos, chas v’shalom.”

The rabbonim urged the public to complete Shabbos shopping earlier in the day, thereby allowing merchants and their employees sufficient time to return home and prepare for Shabbos without unnecessary pressure.

The directives come as communities throughout Eretz Yisroel adjust to the winter schedule, when the shorter daylight hours significantly reduce the amount of time available for Friday travel and preparations.

In Bnei Brak, where large numbers of residents travel to other cities for Shabbos and busy commercial districts serve thousands of shoppers, the rabbonim expressed particular concern about the potential consequences of last-minute activity.

Their message emphasizes that proper Shabbos observance requires advance planning and consideration not only for one’s own needs but also for the welfare and religious obligations of others.

The letter concludes with a reminder of the tremendous reward associated with safeguarding the sanctity of Shabbos.

“And whoever guards Shabbos from desecrating it, his reward is exceedingly great, according to his deeds,” the rabbonim wrote.

{Matzav.com}

The Skverer community in New Square is mourning the heartbreaking petirah of Reb Yisroel Boruch Avrohom Leffler z”l, a beloved and dedicated Chaverim volunteer who succumbed to injuries sustained in a devastating drunk-driving accident approximately a year and a half ago. He was just 32 years old.

Reb Yisroel Boruch Avrohom, the son of Reb Yaakov Yosef Leffler, was a respected member of the Skverer community and was widely known throughout the Monsey area for his extraordinary dedication to helping others. As an active volunteer with Chaverim, he devoted himself to assisting people in need, earning the admiration and affection of countless friends, neighbors, and fellow volunteers.

His life was tragically altered on a Motzoei Shabbos when an intoxicated driver struck a group of pedestrians with tremendous force, leaving the community reeling from the horrific consequences.

The crash claimed the life of four-year-old Golda Eisenbach a”h, the young daughter of Spring Valley Trustee Reb Yisroel Eisenbach, and left Reb Yisroel Boruch Avrohom critically injured.

The devastating incident sent shockwaves throughout the New Square and Monsey communities, as residents struggled to come to terms with the loss of a young child and the critical condition of a man who had devoted so much of his life to helping others.

Following the collision, Reb Yisroel Boruch Avrohom was rushed to the hospital, where he remained under intensive medical care. He was sedated and placed on a ventilator as doctors worked to treat his severe injuries.

In the months that followed, family members, friends, and Yidden throughout the community continued to daven fervently for the recovery of Yisroel Boruch Avrohom ben Chava Yitta.

Despite the passage of time and the severity of his condition, those closest to him never abandoned hope. His family and friends continued to await a yeshuah, with countless tefillos offered on his behalf.

Tragically, after approximately a year and a half of suffering, Reb Yisroel Boruch Avrohom was niftar Thursday night, leaving his family and the broader Skverer community devastated.

Those who knew him remembered a man whose life was defined by chesed and concern for others. His involvement with Chaverim was an expression of his willingness to give of himself whenever someone needed assistance.

As a devoted volunteer, he was always prepared to respond to calls for help, extending himself on behalf of individuals and families facing difficulties. His warm personality and selfless dedication made him a cherished figure among his fellow volunteers and throughout the community.

The circumstances of his passing have compounded the sorrow surrounding the original tragedy, which had already claimed the life of young Golda Eisenbach a”h.

The levayah took place at midnight Thursday night, departing from the main bais medrash in New Square. Members of the Skverer community gathered to accompany Reb Yisroel Boruch Avrohom on his final journey.

The kevurah followed at the New Square bais hachaim.

He is survived by his father, Reb Yaakov Yosef Leffler, and his grieving family.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Federal immigration authorities arrested 4,170 illegal immigrants during an intensive 10-day enforcement operation across Texas, including individuals convicted of violent crimes, assault, drunk driving and human smuggling, the Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday.

The operation, dubbed “Lone Star Mission,” ran from October 19 through October 29 and involved coordinated efforts by five U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field offices throughout Texas. The arrests averaged 417 per day, marking one of the largest concentrated immigration enforcement operations conducted in the state.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced the results during a news conference in Dallas, revealing that more than 60% of those taken into custody had criminal backgrounds.

“Lone Star Mission has been an incredible success, with the brave patriots of ICE arresting more than 4,100 illegal aliens across the state of Texas in ten days,” Mullin declared.

“Thanks to Texas law enforcement and our federal partners, over the course of this operation, we arrested murderers, …assailants, drunk drivers, and alien smugglers,” he continued. “This operation shows exactly how important our state and local partnerships are for protecting American communities.”

The operation brought together ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations personnel from Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, El Paso and Harlingen, working alongside state and local law enforcement agencies to locate and apprehend individuals subject to immigration enforcement.

Among those arrested was Javier Hernandez Alcon, a Mexican national who had previously been deported from the United States twice. He was apprehended in Liberty, Texas, on October 20. According to DHS, his criminal record includes convictions for residential burglary and illegal reentry, as well as a previous arrest for capital murder.

Another individual identified by federal authorities was Orlando Aguilar, a Mexican national arrested in Dallas on October 24. His criminal history includes convictions for felony intoxication assault involving a vehicle that caused serious bodily injury and driving while intoxicated.

In Houston, ICE agents arrested Ramon Antonio Martinez, a Honduran national wanted by authorities in his home country in connection with the alleged killing of a man alongside two other suspects. Martinez was taken into custody on October 23.

Federal agents also apprehended Gerardo Daniel Rivera-Rivera, a Mexican national with convictions for felony assault and illegal reentry. He was arrested in Zapata County on October 24.

In El Paso, authorities arrested Victor Manuel Macias-Castro, whom DHS identified as a member of the La Linea cartel. His criminal history includes convictions for conspiracy to transport or harbor illegal immigrants, illegal entry and illegal reentry. He was apprehended on October 22.

Of the 4,170 arrests statewide, 879 occurred in North Texas, according to federal officials.

Mullin credited cooperation between ICE and local law enforcement agencies with allowing investigators to locate individuals who had been sought by immigration authorities for extended periods.

“Most of these individuals are looking for, for quite some time, but we just didn’t have the resources to be able to go in and do a pattern of life on the individuals, make sure we know where they live, know where they work out,” Mullin said.

The homeland security secretary also acknowledged that approximately 40% of those arrested did not have criminal records. He described those individuals as collateral arrests, explaining that some were encountered while agents were carrying out enforcement actions targeting other individuals.

“They may not been the target, but they were in the vehicle, they were in a house, or wherever the warrant was served at,” Mullin explained.

The distinction means that while the administration emphasized the arrests of dangerous criminals, a substantial portion of those detained were not identified as having prior criminal convictions. DHS did not release a comprehensive breakdown of the offenses associated with those who had criminal histories or specify how many had been convicted of violent crimes.

Mullin nevertheless defended the operation as an important component of the Trump administration’s broader effort to enforce immigration laws and remove individuals residing in the country illegally.

“They should have never been on our streets. We were able to make the Lone Star State safer,” he said.

The secretary also criticized jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, arguing that such policies make it more difficult for ICE to apprehend individuals who pose public safety threats.

“This is what law and order looks like. This is what safety looks like,” Mullin said.

He added that the administration would continue pursuing immigration enforcement operations across the country, regardless of whether local governments cooperate with federal authorities.

“Those individuals who entered this country illegally? We’re going after you every single day,” Mullin said.

Federal officials highlighted the role of ICE’s 287(g) program, which allows participating state and local law enforcement agencies to carry out certain immigration enforcement responsibilities under federal supervision.

The program has become an important component of the administration’s enforcement strategy, enabling immigration authorities to work with local police departments and sheriff’s offices in identifying and processing individuals subject to removal proceedings.

According to Mullin, ICE’s Texas enforcement offices took more than 136,000 individuals described by the administration as criminal illegal immigrants into custody during the federal fiscal year that ended September 30.

The secretary praised President Donald Trump for expanding immigration enforcement and giving federal agents additional resources and authority to pursue individuals residing in the United States illegally.

“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, ICE has been fully unleashed to go after criminal illegal aliens and make America safe again,” Mullin said.

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri is reportedly considering convening the party’s Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah following a devastating election setback that saw the Sephardic chareidi party lose nearly 100,000 votes, representing approximately one-quarter of its electoral support. Despite speculation about his political future, individuals close to Deri insist that he has no intention of relinquishing the party’s leadership.

The disappointing results have sent shockwaves through Shas, raising difficult questions about the party’s political direction and its ability to regain the confidence of voters who abandoned it in Tuesday’s Knesset elections.

According to sources, Deri has taken the election results particularly hard, with the magnitude of the losses prompting extensive consultations among senior figures in the party and its rabbinic leadership.

On Thursday, Rishon Letzion Rav Dovid Yosef visited Deri’s home, accompanied by senior members of the Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah, including Rav Avraham Salim, Rav Shmuel Betzalel and Rav Yehuda Cohen.

Additional rabbonim and Torah figures also came to Deri’s residence throughout the day to offer encouragement and support following the party’s electoral defeat.

Sources familiar with the developments said that intensive discussions were taking place throughout Thursday, at Deri’s own initiative, concerning the possibility of convening the Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah in the near future.

Such a gathering would provide the party’s senior rabbinic leadership with an opportunity to assess the election results and determine what steps should be taken as Shas confronts a dramatically altered political landscape.

The discussions come amid widespread speculation about Deri’s future, with various reports and social media posts suggesting that the longtime Shas chairman could be preparing to resign following the party’s poor performance.

However, Emess reported that it contacted three separate sources within Deri’s closest circle, all of whom firmly rejected suggestions that he was contemplating stepping down.

According to those sources, Deri has not raised the possibility of resigning, and no discussions have taken place concerning his departure from the party leadership.

The denials are significant given Deri’s longstanding dominance of Shas and his central role in shaping the political representation of Sephardic chareidi Jewry.

Nevertheless, political observers have raised the possibility of a different arrangement under which Deri would remain chairman of Shas while relinquishing his position as a member of the Knesset.

Such a move would allow him to continue directing the party’s political strategy and maintaining control of its operations without serving as a sitting lawmaker.

The speculation follows changes in Deri’s personal routine during the previous Knesset term. In recent years, he has substantially reduced his appearances at public events and spent considerably more time at home.

According to Emess, Deri has devoted much of that time to intensive Torah learning, including in-depth study and the study of pnimiyus haTorah.

Political commentators suggest that this shift could eventually influence how Deri chooses to balance his personal commitments with his responsibilities as chairman of Shas.

Under one possible scenario, Deri could step away from the day-to-day responsibilities of serving in the Knesset while continuing to exercise authority over the party’s elected representatives and political decision-making.

There is, however, no indication that such a decision has been made, and sources close to Deri have not confirmed that he is actively considering surrendering his Knesset seat.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] The Sanzer Rebbe paid a special visit to the home of Maran Rav Dov Landau in Bnei Brak on Thursday, personally expressing his appreciation for the Rosh Yeshiva’s extraordinary efforts during Israel’s recent Knesset election campaign and praising his dedication to strengthening the honor of Torah and ensuring the success of chareidi Jewry.

The meeting took place while the Sanzer Rebbe was in Bnei Brak to be menachem avel Rav Shimon Galai following the petirah of his brother, Rav Mordechai Galai zt”l. During his visit to the city, the Rebbe made a special trip to Rav Landau’s residence to convey his gratitude.

The Sanzer Rebbe spoke warmly about the Rosh Yeshiva’s tireless efforts in the days leading up to the elections, during which Rav Landau traveled to communities throughout Eretz Yisroel to encourage participation and rally support for the chareidi parties.

The Rebbe described those efforts as an extraordinary kiddush Hashem, emphasizing the personal sacrifices made by the Rosh Yeshiva in his determination to uphold kavod haTorah and kavod Shomayim.

“I do not want to take up the Rosh Yeshiva’s time, but I simply could not restrain myself,” the Sanzer Rebbe said. “I want to be here on behalf of the tens of thousands of Yidden to express my gratitude for the tremendous kiddush Hashem that the Rosh Yeshiva brought about, for the mesirus nefesh to elevate the honor of Torah and the honor of Heaven. That is why I felt obligated to come and personally say yasher koach.”

The Rebbe then offered Rav Landau a heartfelt bracha for continued strength and longevity in his leadership of the Torah world.

“May he continue to reign for many years,” the Rebbe said, invoking the words of the posuk, “Orech yamim u’shenos chaim yosifu lach” — “Length of days and years of life shall be added to you.”

“That is all I wanted to say,” the Rebbe added.

Rav Landau responded with appreciation, telling the Rebbe, “Thank you very much for the bracha.”

The Sanzer Rebbe replied simply, “I felt obligated.”

The Rosh Yeshiva then reciprocated with a bracha for the Rebbe, saying, “May the one who has blessed be blessed with the finest of blessings.”

The meeting also came ahead of an important overseas journey scheduled for Sunday, when Rav Landau is expected to travel to Europe as part of fundraising efforts on behalf of the Torah world.

Before the conclusion of the visit, Rav Landau personally requested the Sanzer Rebbe’s bracha for the success of the upcoming trip, which is intended to raise vital financial support for yeshivos and kollelim.

{Matzav.com}

A federal judge has ruled that members of an Orthodox shul in Maryland may carry firearms inside their shul for security purposes but cannot carry those same weapons while walking to and from the building, creating a difficult situation for Shabbos-observant congregants who are prohibited from driving.

The ruling, issued Tuesday, October 27, by U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow, represents the latest development in a legal battle between the Silver Spring Jewish Center, also known as Congregation Ahavas Yisrael, and Montgomery County over a law restricting firearms near houses of worship and other public gathering places.

Although the court previously granted the shul permission to maintain armed security inside its building, it has now refused to suspend a separate provision prohibiting firearms within 100 yards of designated public assembly locations, including shuls, schools, parks and other facilities.

The distinction has left members of the Orthodox congregation in an unusual predicament: They may legally carry firearms once inside the shul, but because they must walk there on Shabbos and Yom Tov, they cannot lawfully bring their weapons with them along routes covered by the restrictions.

“Although they can theoretically have firearms at the synagogue, they cannot carry them there when they walk on the days when they have to walk there,” Jacob Huebert, senior litigation counsel at the New Civil Liberties Alliance, which represents the congregation, told JNS.

The controversy began in July when Montgomery County enacted legislation prohibiting individuals from carrying firearms in or within 100 yards of designated places of public assembly. The law includes exceptions for certain authorized security personnel and for individuals transporting firearms in vehicles.

The measure was approved by the County Council on July 21 and signed into law by County Executive Marc Elrich on July 27.

County officials argued that the restrictions were necessary to reduce gun violence and improve public safety in sensitive locations, including schools and religious institutions.

The Silver Spring Jewish Center and Rav J. Menashe Shapiro challenged the ordinance in federal court, arguing that it violated their constitutional rights to religious freedom and armed self-defense.

The congregation had established an armed volunteer security team following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks in Eretz Yisroel, amid growing concerns about antisemitic violence in the United States. Its security volunteers include individuals with military and specialized firearms training.

In September, Judge Chasanow granted the congregation a preliminary injunction allowing members to carry firearms inside the shul, finding that the prohibition on weapons within houses of worship likely violated constitutional protections.

However, the judge declined to block enforcement of the 100-yard restriction surrounding public gathering places.

The congregation subsequently asked the court to reconsider that portion of the decision, arguing that the county’s rules unfairly burden Orthodox Jews by permitting motorists to transport firearms through restricted areas while preventing Shabbos-observant Jews from doing so on foot.

In Tuesday’s ruling, Chasanow rejected that argument.

The judge acknowledged that the plaintiffs had established religious obligations concerning self-defense within the shul and walking to shul on Shabbos and Yom Tov. However, she determined that they had not sufficiently demonstrated a separate religious requirement to carry firearms while making that journey.

The court also concluded that the 100-yard restrictions were neutral and generally applicable because they did not expressly target religious activity.

Huebert criticized the ruling, arguing that it places Orthodox Jews at a particular disadvantage because they cannot simply drive to shul with their weapons.

“Most other religions that I know of don’t require you to walk to the place of worship on the days when you go there to worship,” he told JNS. “So this law doesn’t affect their ability to carry a firearm to their place of worship and have it there, because they can drive there.”

“But since these people have to walk, they’re not able to fulfill their religious obligation to defend themselves and other members of the synagogue,” he added.

Huebert also maintained that the responsibility to protect Jewish lives does not end at the shul’s entrance.

“If you’re walking to the synagogue with your family, and you’re out and about, you have the same obligation and at least as much need, because you’re out in public,” he said.

Rav Shapiro similarly condemned the restrictions, arguing that the county’s ordinance discriminates against Orthodox Jewish residents who rely on walking to attend Shabbos and Yom Tov services.

He said the law “unfairly and unduly burdens Jewish religious firearms carriers” and violates both the First and Second Amendments.

The dispute comes amid heightened security concerns at Jewish institutions throughout the United States following a series of violent antisemitic incidents.

In May 2025, two Israeli Embassy employees were murdered outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. The following month, an attacker targeted a gathering supporting Israeli hostages in Boulder, Colorado.

The Silver Spring Jewish Center has also cited security incidents closer to home, including an attack on a visibly Jewish congregant outside the shul in October 2024 and an attempted unauthorized entry into the building in June 2026.

Montgomery County is home to a substantial Orthodox Jewish population, with approximately 45% of Maryland’s Jewish residents living in the county.

The federal government’s Justice Department has also challenged the county’s firearms restrictions in separate litigation, raising constitutional objections to the legislation.

Tuesday’s decision does not conclude the broader legal dispute. The shul’s lawsuit remains ongoing, and the congregation may continue pursuing relief from the restrictions.

{Matzav.com}