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Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich launched a sharp attack against Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on Motzaei Shabbos, accusing him of failing to raise the issue of Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria with President Donald Trump. Drawing a parallel to the hostage negotiations, Smotrich argued that just as the president was ultimately persuaded to change his position regarding the hostages, he could likewise be convinced to support sovereignty.

In a lengthy post on X in Hebrew, Smotrich wrote that when Trump first took office, “he didn’t understand how important the return of the hostages was to the Israeli public and how deeply it was tied to Israel’s founding ethos.” According to Smotrich, as journalist Amit Segal reported over the weekend, Trump had “spoken harshly against the excessive consideration” given to the hostages, believing it prolonged the war. “But the hostage families, and the prime minister who joined their efforts, persisted,” Smotrich continued. “They explained again and again how crucial the return of the hostages was to the Israeli public and how standing with Israel meant returning the hostages — even more than destroying Hamas. And they succeeded. The president understood, changed his opinion and his policy, and the rest is history. Why is what was permitted to them forbidden to the Right and to the settlers?”

Smotrich argued that it was natural for the government to repeatedly emphasize the “public’s desire to apply sovereignty over the homeland in Judea and Samaria and to eliminate the dangerous idea of a Palestinian state.” He said that after October 7, “an overwhelming majority of the Israeli people support this,” and that the Knesset had already declared its opposition to a Palestinian state and its support for extending sovereignty.

Turning his criticism directly at Netanyahu, Smotrich lamented that “unfortunately and regrettably, the prime minister, who threw himself into the hostage campaign and personally explained to the president the importance of their return, does not do the same for sovereignty and avoids bringing it up in his conversations with the president.”

Smotrich said he had no criticism for Trump himself, explaining that “he easily gave up on sovereignty and ‘sold’ it to the Arab states in exchange for the Gaza deal and perhaps for expanding the Abraham Accords,” adding that “until now, he had no way of knowing how important this matter is to the Israeli people.” Smotrich said he was confident that “just as with the hostages, the president — a true friend of Israel — will change his mind once he understands how vital this is to us, how deeply it touches our roots and our identity, and how determined we are not to give up on it.”

The minister called on supporters of the Land of Israel “not to relent and not to despair,” encouraging them to keep pushing the issue “until our great friends in America understand its importance.” He said that if sovereignty supporters were to hold mass rallies every Motzaei Shabbos, wear symbolic pins, hang banners on bridges, and raise the issue at every Knesset committee discussion, “sovereignty would happen — I have no doubt about that. With Hashem’s help.”

Smotrich further claimed that Trump’s recent comments about the Gaza deal — which returned the hostages and led Arab states to commit to dismantling Hamas and demilitarizing Gaza — were “achieved largely thanks to the sovereignty campaign.” He argued that the campaign had made the Arab states fear that Israel was serious about sovereignty, prompting them “to sacrifice Hamas, compel the return of the hostages, and accept the demilitarization of Gaza.”

Calling it “no small achievement for a campaign with minimal funding,” Smotrich said it had been “far more effective than the well-funded hostage campaign in bringing about Hamas’s capitulation and the return of the captives.”

He concluded his statement by thanking “the Yesha Council, the Knesset’s Land of Israel Caucus, and all supporters of sovereignty,” pledging to “continue, with Hashem’s help, striving to realize our sovereignty over every part of our land and to advance true peace agreements with our neighbors — from a position of national strength, pride, and loyalty to our values, our heritage, our history, and our unequivocal right to our homeland.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump announced he’s ending “all trade negotiations” with Canada because of a television ad sponsored by one of its provinces that used the words of former President Ronald Reagan to criticize U.S. tariffs — prompting the province’s leader to later pull the ad. The post on Trump’s social media site Thursday night ratcheted up tensions with the U.S.’s northern neighbor after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he plans to double his country’s exports to countries outside the U.S. because of the threat posed by Trump’s tariffs. White House officials said Trump’s reaction was a culmination of the administration’s long, pent-up frustration about Canada’s strategy in trade talks. Later Friday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, whose province had sponsored the ad, said it would be taken down, though it will still run this weekend. Ford said after talking with Prime Minister Mark Carney he’s decided to pause the advertising campaign effective Monday so that trade talks can resume. Ford said they’ve achieved their goal, having reached U.S. audiences at the highest levels. “Our intention was always to initiate a conversation about the kind of economy that Americans want to build and the impact of tariffs on workers and businesses,” Ford said. “We’ve achieved our goal, having reached U.S. audiences at the highest levels.” The U.S. president alleged the ad misrepresented the position of Reagan, a two-term president who remains a beloved figure in the Republican Party, and was aimed at influencing the U.S. Supreme Court ahead of a hearing scheduled for next month that could decide whether Trump has the power to impose his sweeping tariffs, a key part of his economic strategy. Trump is so invested in the case that he has said he’d like to attend oral arguments. “You know, it’s a crooked ad,” Trump said Friday night as he left the White House for a trip to Asia, shortly after the ad aired during the seventh inning of Fox’s national broadcast of Game 1 of the World Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers. “They could have pulled it tonight,” Trump said. “Well, that’s dirty play — but I can play dirtier than they can, you know.” Canadian premier digs in after Trump ends talks The ad was paid for by Ontario’s government, not the Canadian federal government. Ford, the premier, didn’t initially back down, posting Friday that Canada and the U.S. are allies “and Reagan knew that both are stronger together.” Ford then provided a link to a Reagan speech where the late president voices opposition to tariffs. Ford had said the province plans to pay $54 million (about $75 million Canadian) for the ads to air across multiple American television stations using audio and video of Reagan speaking about tariffs in 1987. Ford is a populist conservative who doesn’t belong to the same party as Carney, a Liberal. For his part, Carney said his government remains ready to continue talks to reduce tariffs in certain sectors. “We can’t control the trade policy of the United States. We recognize that that policy has fundamentally changed from the 1980s,” he said Friday morning before boarding a flight for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Malaysia. Trump is also traveling to the summit. But he told reporters on Air Force One that […]

In an unusually forceful public criticism, Rav Yitzchok Yosef, former Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, sharply attacked the Shas Party and the Religious Affairs Ministry—a ministry currently headed by a Shas member—accusing them of refusing to allocate any funding to the Maran Heritage Center.

In a newly released recording from Motzaei Shabbos, Rav Yosef can be heard voicing deep frustration over what he described as the ministry’s ongoing refusal to provide financial support for the institution established to preserve and promote the teachings and legacy of his father, Rav Ovadia Yosef zt”l.

According to the former Chief Rabbi, the center’s director “did not receive a single shekel” despite repeated appeals. “He doesn’t get help from anywhere,” Rav Yosef said. “He turned several times to the Ministry of Religious Affairs. I personally approached the minister and the director-general and asked them to assist him — this is the Maran Heritage Center. They told me, ‘No, you know how things work.’ I don’t know what they meant. Maybe they think it harms one of the members of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah, I don’t know what their intention was. They didn’t give him a penny.”

The former Rishon LeTzion went on to compare the current Shas leadership unfavorably to previous governments. “When the minister of religion was from Mafdal, wearing a small knitted kippah, he helped them; he gave them half a million shekels. And these people (Shas) — nothing, not a single shekel. Everything comes from donations,” he said. “You have no idea how important the Maran Heritage Center is. It spreads the halachic path of Maran.”

Rav Yosef’s comments grew even more pointed as he reflected on the aftermath of his father’s petirah. “Unfortunately, after Maran’s death, he left us — and those who once feared him are gone too. Then some young people began to raise their heads, ‘M’sanecha nas’u rosh’ (‘Your enemies have lifted their heads’).”

{Matzav.com}

In a coordinated show of communal achdus ahead of New Jersey’s 2025 general election, leading community organizations from Lakewood, Jackson, Toms River, Manchester, and Howell have issued joint letters urging residents to vote together in support of gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli and key local Republican candidates.

The effort, themed “Voting in Unity – כאיש אחד בלב אחד,” emphasizes the importance of communal solidarity and participation in shaping local and statewide policy, particularly in areas impacting education, yeshivos, and family life.

In a letter written in Lashon Kodesh, the roshei yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoah highlighted the responsibility to strengthen candidates who respect the needs and values of the Torah community.

A letter signed by the Igud HaMosdos addressed parents directly, stressing how vital strong relationships with government officials are for the success of chinuch institutions.
“We must offer our dear friends a powerful voice of appreciation and support,” the letter stated, urging parents to back the recommendations of the Vaad and neighboring towns’ askanim “as we have done in the past.” The Igud thanked the community in advance for “helping us help your children.”

The Vaad Harabbonim D’Jackson released a letter calling on members of the Jackson kehillah to turn out and vote, stressing the importance that gedolim have always placed on civic participation. Signed by Rabbi Micha Cohen, Rabbi Eli Friedman, Rabbi Yoel Marton, and Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Schmelczer, the letter highlights the unity among rabbonim and askanim across the region, joining neighboring communities in backing Jack Ciattarelli for Governor of New Jersey. The rabbonim noted that Ciattarelli has “shown a real willingness to listen and work hand in hand with our Kehila to address the needs of our families,” and urged every eligible voter to take part, emphasizing that “even a small number of votes can make all the difference.” The message concludes with a strong reminder that “every vote truly matters for the future of our town and our state.”

The Toms River Jewish Community Council (TRJCC) also released a formal endorsement, describing Ciattarelli as a proven ally who has “demonstrated deep understanding of our community, our families, our values, and our concerns.” The group noted the burdensome 12.9% local tax increase and praised Ciattarelli’s commitment to reforming the state’s school funding formula, which has long disadvantaged the region’s residents.

The TRJCC additionally endorsed Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and Paul Kanitra, Sheriff Mike Mastronardy, and County Commissioner Ray Gormley, calling them “true friends of our community.” The letter encouraged voters to confirm recommended candidates with their local askanim and to “make every effort to come out and vote.”

The rabbonim of Howell have issued a unified letter, endorsing Jack Ciattarelli for Governor alongside neighboring towns. The letter also backs Avi Schnall and Sean Kean for Assembly, Michael Wrubel for Town Council, and Shaun Golden for Sheriff, citing each candidate’s friendship and support for the frum community. The signatories stress that “when we vote, our needs and values are heard and respected,” and urge every eligible voter to take part, concluding with a heartfelt reminder that the community’s strength lies in its unity and civic participation.

The Lakewood Vaad released a message to the community, calling on residents to vote in unity and large numbers. The Vaad emphasized that “your vote is important and essential,” urging the community to ensure that its voice remains clear and united so elected officials can continue to focus on issues vital to Lakewood and its families. The Vaad announced its support for Jack Ciattarelli for Governor of New Jersey, citing his proven understanding of the community’s values and needs. “Mr. Ciattarelli has been clear with our leadership that he understands and shares our community’s values and concerns,” the letter stated, praising his commitment to securing funding for schools, road infrastructure, and essential services. The Vaad also expressed appreciation to President Donald J. Trump for his “extraordinary efforts to free our hostages, defend the rights of Yidden in Eretz Yisroel, and his friendship to our community.” Endorsements were reaffirmed for Assemblyman Avi Schnall, Assemblyman Sean Kean, Sheriff Michael Mastronardy, Committeeman Isaac Akerman, and Board of Education members Meir Grunhut and Shlomie Stern. The Vaad further backed Jack Kelly for County Clerk, as well as Sam Ellenbogen and Ray Gormley for County Commissioner, lauding their “dedicated volunteer hours to public service for the kehillah.”

Together, these coordinated endorsements from Lakewood-area leadership reflect a unified push to bring out a strong, consistent vote across Ocean County.

{Matzav.com}

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, in his first public comments since the arrests of Portland coach Chauncey Billups and Miami guard Terry Rozier on gambling-related charges, said Friday night that he was stunned by the indictments that have rocked the league. “My initial reaction was I was deeply disturbed,” Silver said on Amazon Prime Video, during the streaming service’s first broadcast — Boston at New York. “There’s nothing more important to the league and its fans than the integrity of the competition. I had a pit in my stomach. It was very upsetting.” Such was a sentiment shared by many around the league on Friday, one day after the indictments were unsealed and nearly three dozen people — most notably, Billups and Rozier — were arrested by federal officials. Rozier was arrested because federal officials allege he conspired with associates to help them win bets based on his statistical performance. The charges are similar to what former Toronto player Jontay Porter faced before he was banned from the league by Silver in 2024. Billups faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering for participating in what federal officials called Mafia-backed rigged poker games. He also matches the credentials of someone described only as Co-Conspirator 8 in an indictment detailing how some people gave bettors inside information on player health statuses. The arrests have overshadowed the opening week around the league. “I apologize to our fans that we are all dealing with this situation,” Silver said during the in-game interview. The Rozier case has gone on since March 23, 2023. He was with the Charlotte Hornets at that time, and sportsbooks — legal ones — alerted the NBA to irregular patterns involving Rozier’s “prop bets” that day. Rozier went on to play about 9 1/2 minutes, and those who bet that he would underperform the listed stat lines won those wagers. Federal officials said more than $200,000 was bet on those lines alone. The NBA investigated and found no reason to sanction Rozier, Silver said. “We frankly couldn’t find anything,” Silver said. “Terry at the time cooperated. He gave the league office his phone. He sat down for an interview. And we ultimately concluded that there was insufficient evidence despite that aberrational behavior to move forward. “He still hasn’t been convicted of anything, in fairness to Terry. Obviously, it doesn’t look good. But he’s now been put on administrative leave. There’s a balance here of protecting people’s rights and investigating.” Los Angeles Clippers coach Tyronn Lue calls Billups his best friend and said the news was difficult to take. He said he spoke with Billups on Thursday night and was encouraged by what he heard. “To go through something like this, the allegations, his family, my goddaughters, it was a tough day,” Lue said. “You never want to see your friends go through anything like that.” Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers started in the NBA as a player more than 40 years ago. He’s seen plenty of good and bad. He thought he had heard it all. That is, until now. “It’s really sad,” Rivers said Friday. Along with Billups and Rozier, former NBA player Damon Jones now faces charges because officials said he tipped off bettors about the health status of two Los Angeles Lakers players. The details in […]

Senator Bernie Sanders has ignited controversy with remarks praising President Donald Trump’s border policy, saying during an appearance on The Tim Dillon Show that Trump “did a better job” securing America’s borders than President Biden. Sanders called on Democrats to reembrace an enforcement-centered immigration approach, declaring that “it ain’t that hard to do.”

The comments, released Wednesday in a podcast episode now widely shared on X and YouTube, mark one of Sanders’ most direct challenges to his own party in years. “So long as we have nation-states, you’ve got to have borders,” he said. “If you don’t have any borders, then you don’t have a nation.”

In an unusually candid assessment, the Vermont senator admitted his discomfort while still crediting Trump. “Trump did a better job. I don’t like Trump, you know, but we should have a secure border, and it ain’t that hard to do,” he said, before adding that the current administration had failed to follow through. “Biden didn’t do it.”

The clip quickly gained traction online, with the Republican National Committee’s research division reposting it within hours, highlighting Sanders’ remarks as evidence of what they described as “growing Democratic acknowledgment of Biden’s border failures.”

Sanders, who twice sought the Democratic nomination for president on a populist economic platform, has occasionally split from his party on immigration. Even during his 2020 campaign, he warned against “open borders” messaging and insisted that the United States already possesses “the technology and manpower” necessary to maintain control. He reiterated that sentiment on the podcast, saying bluntly, “I’m not going to sit here and tell you that overall [Biden] did a good job — it was not.”

The senator’s remarks come amid record-breaking numbers at the southern border. U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded 2.47 million migrant encounters in fiscal year 2023 — the highest ever — compared to about 458,000 in Trump’s final year in office.

Sanders made the comments while promoting his new book, Fight Oligarchy, and responding to host Tim Dillon’s question about where Democrats have lost touch with working-class voters. His tone represented a notable shift from his earlier stance. During his 2020 run, Sanders accused Trump of “demonizing immigrants” and dismissed talk of a border crisis as “manufactured.”

Back in March 2020, Sanders told a Fox News town hall audience he “would not close the borders” even amid the COVID-19 outbreak, calling such restrictions “xenophobic.” And in January 2019, when Trump delivered a televised address warning of a border emergency, Sanders brushed it off, saying “we don’t need to create artificial crises.”

Now, five years later, the longtime progressive’s rhetoric has taken a striking turn. By insisting that “you’ve got to have borders” and asserting that Trump “did a better job,” Sanders has aligned himself — at least on immigration enforcement — with an argument long championed by conservatives.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump plans to burnish his reputation as an international dealmaker on Sunday by solidifying a trade agreement with Malaysia and overseeing the signing of an expanded ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, two nations that skirmished along their disputed border earlier this year. The two accords could be finalized while Trump attends the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which is being hosted in Kuala Lumpur. It’s the first stop of a three-country swing across the continent, with visits to Japan and South Korea and a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Trump told reporters traveling with him on Air Force One that he was optimistic his meeting with Xi could yield progress on a range of issues, including fentanyl trafficking and soybean trade. “I think we have a really good chance of making a very comprehensive deal,” Trump said. “I want our farmers to be taken care of. And he wants things also.” Details about Trump’s agreements have been characteristically scarce, even after Trump departed Washington. It remains to be seen whether Trump’s dealmaking addresses longstanding issues or puts them off for another day. The Republican president is scheduled to touch down in Kuala Lumpur around 10 a.m. local time. He will meet with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim before attending a ceremony featuring Cambodia and Thailand and later joining regional leaders for dinner. U.S. presidents don’t always attend this summit, and Trump went only once during his first term. But he told reporters aboard Air Force One that he wanted to come because Anwar helped resolve the fighting between Cambodia and Thailand. “I told the leader of Malaysia, who is a very good man, ‘I think I owe you a trip,’” Trump said. Dozens of people died and hundreds of thousands were displaced during five days of combat in July. Cambodia and Thailand have competing territorial claims, and violence periodically flares along their border. Trump threatened to withhold trade agreements from the two countries unless they stopped fighting, a display of economic leverage that has been credited with spurring negotiations. A shaky truce has persisted since then. “The fact that Trump was holding the tariff card was actually very, very significant,” said Ou Virak, president of Phnom Penh’s Future Forum think tank. “That’s probably the main reason, if not the only reason, but definitely the main reason why the two sides agreed immediately to the ceasefire.” Now, he said, “there’s a ceremony for Trump to be in front of cameras” so he can be “seen as the champion that brings an end to wars and conflicts,” giving him ”more ammunition for his bid for Nobel Peace Prize.” Trump has explicitly campaigned for the honor, continuously adding to a list of conflicts that he either helped resolve or claims to have ended. Thai foreign ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura told reporters on Saturday that the “joint declaration” to be signed on Sunday will state that Thailand and Cambodia “are committed to renew their relations.” He also said there has been an agreement to address Thai concerns about landmines and heavy artillery along the border, as well as other issues. “It’s not an end in itself,” Nikorndej said. “Work has just begun.” Trump expressed confidence about the prospect of finalizing trade agreements during his trip. Negotiations have […]

The New York Knicks have ordered mayoral contender Zohran Mamdani to immediately stop using the team’s logo in his campaign materials, warning that his ad implied a false association with the franchise and violated its intellectual property rights.

The controversy erupted after Mamdani’s campaign aired an ad during the Knicks’ season opener on Wednesday night, featuring the team’s iconic orange-and-blue design but swapping out the word “Knicks” for “Zohran.” The ad carried the tagline, “This is our year. This is our time,” and appeared across the candidate’s social media accounts.

Following The New York Post’s report exposing the unauthorized use, Mamdani’s campaign swiftly removed the online ads by Friday afternoon.

In a letter sent to the campaign, the Knicks’ legal team accused Mamdani of misleading voters by creating the false impression that his candidacy was “affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by, or in some way connected with the Knicks.” The team demanded that all campaign material containing Knicks-related imagery or branding be deleted immediately.

A spokesperson for the franchise confirmed the team’s actions in a statement to The Post: “The NY Knicks have sent NYC Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani a cease-and-desist letter for using the NY Knicks logo to promote his candidacy.” The spokesperson added, “The Knicks want to make it clear that we do not endorse Mr. Mamdani for Mayor, and we object to his use of our copyrighted logo. We will pursue all legal remedies to enforce our rights.”

Mamdani, the socialist Democrat leading in early polls, had promoted the ad as a symbol of local pride and energy heading into the race, but the Knicks’ move forced his team to backtrack.

While the organization made its disapproval public, Knicks owner James Dolan has stayed quiet on the mayoral race itself. Still, Dolan has not avoided politics altogether—recently revealing that he quietly supported independent candidate Diana Florence’s campaign for Manhattan district attorney in an effort to unseat incumbent Alvin Bragg.

{Matzav.com}

Senator John Fetterman addresses dysfunction in Washington and the ongoing government shutdown, saying he can’t control the direction of the Democratic Party but will always vote “country over party.”

Curtis Sliwa after casting his vote early in New York City: “We trust people. We don’t trust the billionaires, the insiders or the influencers.”

President Trump is asked if he’d consider meeting Kim Jong Un during his Asia trip: “If he’d like to meet, I’m open to it… They have very little telephonic service, but he knows I’m coming — and, yeah, I’d be open to it, 100%.”

Trump on Democrats: “All they have to do is say yes and [the shutdown] is over… and then we go into a negotiation. Obamacare has been terrible. We can make it better. I’m all for that — but they’re not.”

Trump on the Democrat Shutdown: “All they have to do is agree to let’s go and we’re ready… This is purely Democrat. They’re doing some really bad things. I think they’re lost souls.”

Bernie Sanders: “If you don’t have any borders, you don’t have a nation… Trump did a better job. I don’t like Trump, but we should have a secure border. It ain’t that hard to do. Biden didn’t do it.”

Stephen Miller after an illegal alien truck driver in California killed three: “This is a Democrat-caused calamity… Newsom, in his state, has a policy to give CDLs to individuals who don’t know how to speak English and don’t know how to drive.”

MSNBC: “Why are you backing Mamdani in the Mayor’s race?” HAKEEM JEFFRIES: “Well he’s the nominee…”

Florida police have arrested a Colombian theft ring posing as landscapers. All five suspects, who are in the U.S. illegally, are now in jail with ICE detainers.

Trump on Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reportedly considering a large purchase of Ford F-150 trucks: “That’s great. She has good taste. That’s a HOT truck.”