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Israeli warplanes last year intercepted Iranian aircraft headed toward Syria, preventing them from delivering troops meant to assist the country’s embattled president at the time, Bashar Assad, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday. The remarks in a speech gave a new glimpse into Israel’s thinking in the final days in power for Assad, a longtime enemy who was overthrown by insurgents last December. Speaking to a conference hosted by the Jewish News Syndicate, Netanyahu said that Iran wanted to save Assad after watching the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group in neighboring Lebanon suffer heavy losses in fighting with Israel. “They had to rescue Assad,” Netanyahu said, explaining that Iran wanted to send “one or two airborne divisions” to help the Syrian leader. “We stopped that. We sent some F-16s to some Iranian planes that were making some routes to Damascus,” he said. “They turned back.” He gave no further details. (AP & YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

A former Taliban commander pleaded guilty Friday to providing weapons and other support for attacks that killed American soldiers and for key roles in the 2008 gunpoint kidnapping of a reporter for The New York Times and another journalist. Speaking through an interpreter, Haji Najibullah entered the plea in Manhattan federal court to providing material support for acts of terrorism and conspiring to take hostages. The bearded Najibullah, wearing a black skull cap over his shaved head, told Judge Katherine Polk Failla that he provided material support including weapons and himself to the Taliban from 2007 to 2009, knowing that his support “would be used to attack and kill United States soldiers occupying Afghanistan.” “As a result of material support I provided to the Taliban, U.S. soldiers were killed,” Najibullah said. He said his material support also included his role as a Taliban commander in Afghanistan’s Wardak Province, “where the fighters under me were prepared to, and sometimes did, conduct attacks against U.S. soldiers and their allies using suicide bombers, automatic weapons, improvised explosive devices and rocket propelled grenades.” Najibullah, 49, said he also participated in the hostage taking of David Rohde “and his companions” so demands could be made for ransom and for the release of Taliban prisoners held by the U.S. government. “I created proof-of-life videos of David Rohde and his companions in which they were forced to convey the Taliban’s demands,” he said. The former Times reporter and Afghan journalist Tahir Ludin were abducted when they were on their way to interview a Taliban leader. Both men made a dramatic escape from a Taliban-controlled compound in Pakistan’s tribal areas more than seven months after their Nov. 10, 2008, kidnapping. Their driver, Asadullah Mangal, was a third kidnapping victim. He escaped a few weeks after Ludin and Rohde. Rohde, a Pulitzer Prize winner who now works as senior executive editor for national security at NBC News, attended the plea proceeding. “I am pleased that he admitted his guilt today and grateful to all the U.S. officials who brought him to justice,” he said in an email to The Associated Press after his sentencing. “Most of all, my heart goes out to the families of the three U.S. soldiers and the Afghan translator who were killed.” After the plea, Najibullah was led from the courtroom in shackles and handcuffs by U.S. marshals to face an Oct. 23 sentencing. Federal sentencing guidelines, as acknowledged by a plea agreement signed by Najibullah and prosecutors, recommend a life prison sentence. New York Times spokesperson Danielle Rhoades Ha expressed gratitude to U.S. authorities for pursuing Najibullah, and she noted the dangers journalists face worldwide. “More than 120 journalists were killed in 2024, the most on record,” she said. “Journalists go to dangerous places to uncover the facts that citizens need. Governments can and should protect journalists by investigating all attacks against reporters and publicly condemning threats.” (AP)

The Sanzer Rebbe, who once again has opted not to take a vacation this year, came close to collapsing on Shabbos, echoing a similar incident from several months ago.

The episode occurred during Shacharis on Shabbos morning, at the conclusion of Shemoneh Esrei. As the Rebbe attempted to step back, he suddenly halted after taking just one step. His gabbai, quickly recognizing the severity of the situation, immediately rushed to bring a chair for the Rebbe.

The Rebbe remained seated through the recital of Kedusha, after which he quietly exited to his adjacent room.

Following a medical evaluation, it was determined that the Rebbe had narrowly avoided a collapse due to physical weakness, similar to the episode he suffered a few months ago.

After resting in his private quarters for about half an hour, the Rebbe was brought back to his home in a wheelchair. Later in the day, he participated in seudah shlishis as usual, delivering his customary hour-long derashah.

Despite his frailty, the Rebbe has once again declined to spend time recuperating at his residence in Caesarea, as he did in previous years immediately following Pesach.

As previously reported, the Rebbe also chose not to take a break last year, out of solidarity with the pain of the hostages, soldiers, and the ongoing war. This year, he has once again refused to take a vacation, continuing to share in the anguish of Klal Yisroel.

{Matzav.com Israel}

A Jewish candidate running against Andrew Cuomo for NYC mayor lashed out at him on Sunday, accusing the former governor of being dishonest about an antisemitism-fighting group he launched that has barely made an impact.

Scott Stringer, speaking at the West Side Institutional Synagogue, took aim at Cuomo’s “Never Again, NOW!” group, saying it was marketed as a force to battle antisemitism but ended up serving as a springboard for Cuomo’s political revival.

“He actually showed up in people’s living rooms and promised to set up an organization that would run commercials, host symposiums and – with money raised from the Jewish donor community – join the fight against rising antisemitism,” said Stringer, who previously served as city comptroller and Manhattan borough president.

“But he never lifted a finger. There were no commercials. Nothing,” Stringer added. “This organization was a vehicle for his mayor’s race – and everybody knows it.”

Cuomo had addressed the same synagogue a few weeks earlier, where he charged that several of his opponents in the Democratic primary either turned a blind eye to antisemitism or were complicit themselves.

“He knew not to call me out. That would have been a mistake,” Stringer said to the audience. “But still, I was appalled by his cynical – and frankly pitiful – attempts to divide the city and this community.”

Stringer further criticized Cuomo for what he considered a glaring silence after Hamas launched its brutal October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

“He didn’t tell you that he came to this community in our darkest moment, during our hour of need – after more than 1,200 people were murdered by the terrorist organization Hamas, with hundreds of hostages held in Gaza – and he lied to us,” Stringer said.

“This was the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Our hearts were broken,” he said. “And he sold us all a bill of goods in our darkest moment, during our hour of need … he thinks he’s getting one over on us. But we know better.”

“This was the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Our hearts were broken,” he said. “And he sold us all a bill of goods in our darkest moment, during our hour of need … he thinks he’s getting one over on us. But we know better,” Stringer emphasized.

During his remarks, Stringer also turned to the Talmud to issue a warning about Cuomo’s true intentions.

“‘Be careful about the government, as they approach a man only when they need him. They seem like good friends in good times, but they don’t stay for him in time of his trouble,’” he said.

Despite Stringer’s criticisms, “Never Again, NOW!” did eventually release a video ad condemning Hamas in July 2024, according to a report by The Post.

Cuomo continues to dominate the race, holding a commanding lead in the polls as the June 24 Democratic primary quickly approaches — a fact that has made him the main target for rivals like Stringer, who remains stuck in the low single digits.

The ex-governor has had to weather fierce criticism during his campaign over his 2021 resignation, which came amid the looming threat of impeachment after numerous allegations of sexual harassment — accusations he firmly denies.

In addition, Cuomo has been hammered for his controversial management of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly a March 2020 directive that required nursing homes to accept hospital patients recovering from the virus.

In response to Stringer’s broadside, the Cuomo campaign released a statement from Assemblyman Sam Berger, a supporter of Cuomo within the Jewish community.

“Governor Cuomo has shown his support for the Jewish community with action, not just words. Scott Stringer played footsie with the anti-Israel, anti-democratic DSA [Democratic Socialists of America] and their allies who won’t condemn hate,” Berger said.

“When Queens faced a choice for DA between a Jewish pro-Israel candidate [Melinda Katz] and a card-carrying DSA member [Tiffany Caban], Stringer chose DSA. We need a mayor who’ll fight for us — not one who just panders when convenient.”

The Cuomo team also pointed to his record as governor, highlighting actions such as signing the nation’s first executive order prohibiting state agencies from working with companies that support boycotts against Israel, boosting punishments for hate crimes, securing millions in funding for security improvements at shuls and yeshivas, and leading a solidarity mission to Israel during a 2014 conflict with Hamas.

Separately, at a church service in Brooklyn on Sunday morning, Cuomo defended his pandemic-era decisions.

“We beat COVID and saved lives,” he told the congregation.

{Matzav.com}

Syria’s foreign minister attended a U.N. Security Council briefing Friday after raising his country’s new flag at the international body’s headquarters. It was the first public appearance by a high-ranking Syrian government official in the United States since the fall of President Bashar Assad in a lightning rebel offensive in December. Asaad al-Shibani is part of a delegation of authorities from Damascus’ new government who have traveled to the United States this week in hopes of receiving relief from harsh sanctions that were imposed by America and its allies after Assad’s brutal crackdown on anti-government protests in 2011 that spiraled into a civil war. “The brutal policies of that era deepened divisions, forcing entire families to immigrate and leaving behind their hopes and dreams that were reduced to ashes,” al-Shibani said in his remarks to the Security Council. “However, I’m here today to represent that new Syria.” His arrival marks a stunning new chapter for the war-torn country, which has spent the better part of the last several decades isolated and ostracized from the rest of the world. Marking the arrival of a new Syria The presence of the new Syria was evident outside the U.N. headquarters as al-Shibani watched the three-starred flag previously used by opposition groups replace the two-starred flag of the Assad era as the country’s official emblem. “This flag is not a mere symbol but rather a proclamation of a new existence … embodying a future that emerges from resilience and a promise of change after years of pain,” al-Shibani said. Members of the Security Council, the U.N.’s most powerful body, welcomed the new interim minister, saying his attendance is a “positive step” toward a more prosperous Syria. But many countries and U.N. officials warned there is still much more work to be done to heal the country’s wounds. “Syria has moved beyond a caretaker government to a new, expanded and more diverse cabinet,” Geir Pedersen, the U.N. special envoy for Syria, told the council. “This is an improvement from what went before. Yet it is still not a fully inclusive framework for political transition. And this leaves many Syrians unsure of their place in the emerging new Syria.” The U.N.’s deputy humanitarian chief, Joyce Msuya, described the situation on the ground in Syria as among the “world’s largest” humanitarian crises, with nearly three-quarters of the population requiring assistance, more than half of the country facing food insecurity and at least 7 million people displaced. “Millions of refugees and internally displaced persons who have expressed their desire to return home will continue to be dissuaded by a lack of basic services and livelihood opportunities,” Msuya said, urging U.N. members to deliver the basic funding required to address these issues. The US hasn’t recognized the new government yet Other Syrian officials attended meetings at the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund this week in Washington, but it was unclear if Trump administration officials would meet al-Shibani during the visit. Dorothy Shea, the deputy U.S. ambassador to the U.N., said in her remarks Friday that the U.S. “continues to closely monitor the actions of the Syrian interim authorities,” while remaining hopeful that the interim cabinet ”represents a positive step.” But, she added, the U.S. expects “to see additional action and the appointment of more qualified and representative individuals to serve in critical positions.” She also […]

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, President Donald Trump voiced confidence that an agreement could soon be reached between the United States and Iran regarding Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

“On the Iran situation, I think we’re doing very well. I think a deal is going to be made there. That’s going to happen. Pretty soon it’s going to happen,” Trump told the press.

He added, “We’ll have something without having to start dropping bombs all over the place.”

Trump’s remarks came after a third round of negotiations between US and Iranian officials, which took place yesterday in Oman. Both sides agreed to meet again on May 3.

A US official told Axios that the discussions “were positive and productive. There is still much to do, but further progress was made on getting to a deal.”

Additionally, a senior American source confirmed that the talks are scheduled to continue next week, this time in Europe.

Although Trump has consistently emphasized that he would rather reach a diplomatic solution with Iran, he has also made it clear that the option of military force remains on the table if necessary.

Just two weeks ago, President Trump said that should it come to military intervention to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, Israel would take a leading role in the effort.

“With Iran, if it requires military, we’re going to have military. Israel will be the leader of that. But nobody leads us, we do what we want to do,” Trump said during a meeting in the Oval Office.

When asked if he had a specific timeline for reaching a deal with Iran, Trump responded, “I can’t really be specific, but when you start talks, you know if they’re going along well or not, and I would say the conclusion would be when I think they’re not going along well.”

Trump has previously warned the Iranian regime that refusing to negotiate would bring about devastating consequences.

“If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing — and it will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before,” he cautioned.

In a separate interview on Friday with Time Magazine, Trump reiterated that it is possible to forge a nuclear agreement without resorting to strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.

He added that although he remains prepared to authorize military action if required, he is also open to a direct meeting with Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in an effort to avoid conflict.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.comreports the petirah of Rebbetzin Chaya Miriam Weinberger a”h, widow of the Gaavad of Tchaba, author of Birchas Shalom. She was 84.

Rebbetzin Weinberger was born on 2 Teves in 1940, a daughter of Rav Dovid Yosef Ungar.

She married her illustrious husband, the Gaavad of Tchaba, Rav Shalom Meshulam Weinberger, renowned author of Birchas Shalom, who was niftar in Cheshvan 2014.

Rebbetzin Chaya Miriam merited to raise a distinguished family, leaving behind a generation of bnei and bnos Torah. Among them is her only son, Rav Yitzchok Yaakov Weinberger, Gaavad of Tchaba. Her sons-in-law include Rav Chaim Shlomo Horowitz, father of the current Kaliver Rebbe; Rav Nachman Biderman, noted mashpia; Rav Menachem Mendel Zelmanowitz, Av Beis Din of Akko; and Rav Boruch Berezovsky, son of the Slonimer Rebbe.

The levayah was held tonight at Beis Medrash Ateres Shmuel-Tchaba on Eliezerov Street in the Gush Shemonim neighborhood of Yerushalayim. Rebbetzin Weinberger was laid to rest beside her husband in the chelkas harabbonim on Har Hamenuchos.

Yehi zichrah boruch.

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Donald Trump is badgering the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates, but even if the Fed gave in to the pressure, it wouldn’t necessarily lead to lower borrowing costs for consumers. In fact, economists say, Trump’s ongoing attacks on Fed Chair Jerome Powell and his tariff policies could keep the longer-term interest rates that matter for consumers and businesses higher than they otherwise would be. A less-independent Fed can lead, over time, to higher borrowing costs, as investors worry that inflation may spike in the future. As a result they demand higher yields to own Treasury securities. Trump has repeatedly urged Powell to cut the short-term interest rate that the central bank controls. The Fed typically reduces its rate during an economic downturn to encourage more borrowing and spending, and raises it to cool the economy and fight inflation when prices rise. But long-term rates on things like mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards are largely set by market forces. And in recent weeks, fears that Trump’s sweeping tariffs could raise inflation, along with the administration’s threats to the Fed’s independence, have led markets to push those longer term rates higher. It’s not clear that the Fed can fully reverse those trends by itself. “It’s not automatically true that even if the Fed were to cut rates, that you would see a measured decline in long-term interest rates,” Francesco Bianchi, an economist at Johns Hopkins University, said. “This kind of pressure on the Fed might backfire…if markets don’t believe the Fed has inflation under control.” Trump renewed calls on Wednesday and Thursday for Powell to reduce the Fed’s short-term rate, telling reporters that the chair is “making a mistake” by not doing so. And last week, Trump suggested he could fire Powell, while a top aide said that the White House was “studying” whether it could do so. Stock markets plunged in response, the yield on the 10-year Treasury bond rose, and the dollar fell, an unusual combination that suggested investors were selling most American assets. Markets recovered those losses after Trump said on Tuesday that he had “no intention” of firing the Fed chair. Still, the threats to the Fed’s independence unnerved Wall Street investors, because they see a Fed free from political pressure as critical to keeping inflation in check. An independent Fed can take unpopular steps, such as raising rates, to fight inflation. “Threatening the Fed doesn’t soothe markets — it spooks them,” said Lauren Goodwin, chief market strategist at New York Life Investments. “And the result is often the opposite of what any administration wants to see: higher rates, weaker confidence, and more market turmoil.” Since Trump began imposing tariffs in early March, when he slapped duties on Canada and Mexico, the 10-year Treasury yield has risen from 4.15% to about 4.3%. The yield is a benchmark for mortgage rates and other borrowing. Mortgage rates, in turn, have increased during that time, from 6.6% to 6.8%. While Trump says he is negotiating over tariffs with many countries, most economists expect some level of duties to remain in place for at least this year, including his 10% duties on nearly all imports. The 10-year yield did fall Thursday when two Federal Reserve officials said that rate cuts are possible as soon as this summer, should the […]

During Friday night’s episode of HBO’s “Real Time,” New York Times columnist Bret Stephens reflected on the early months of President Trump’s second term, arguing that although the situation is troubling, it may actually be a positive development for the country.

Stephens told host Bill Maher that “I think that my summary of the first 100 days is that the bad news is, it’s the worst first 100 days in U.S. presidential history. I can’t think of a presidency that had it worse. But the good news, I think, for the country is it’s the worst first 100 days in the U.S. presidential history, for precisely the reason that you suggest, Bill, which is that, a lot of the country that voted for President Trump because they didn’t like the course of the country under his predecessor because they were mad, because they thought stuff needed to be broken up and disrupted are waking up to the reality of just how much worse it can get.”

He went on to say that “a lot of the country that voted for President Trump because they didn’t like the course of the country under his predecessor because they were mad, because they thought stuff needed to be broken up and disrupted are waking up to the reality of just how much worse it can get,” adding that if President Trump’s early days had gone more smoothly, it could have masked serious threats to basic legal and democratic norms. “If it had been a successful first 100 days, if it had been just a little less bad, people would say, well, what’s the problem if we’re not observing due process or what’s the problem if we’re defying the Supreme Court?”

Stephens continued, saying, “And I’m hearing from so many friends who voted for Trump, who remember the first Trump administration as being an era — at least until COVID — of prosperity and saying, hang on a second, 100% tariffs? I’m losing half of my workforce, I can’t afford things, the price of consumer goods is still going up, this is not what I voted for. And that’s a relief, because if it had been a successful first 100 days, if it had been just a little less bad, people would say, well, what’s the problem if we’re not observing due process or what’s the problem if we’re defying the Supreme Court? That would be even more worrisome than what we have now.”

{Matzav.com}

Qatari officials supported Hamas in rejecting the most recent Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire/hostage release, Israeli media outlets reported on Sunday. According to the report, Qatar pressured Hamas not to accept the proposal, claiming that the terror group would receive a better offer in the future. Israeli senior officials said that Qatar’s “assistance” in mediation efforts has been hindering progress in the talks, adding that it would be preferable to work solely with Egypt. According to the reports, if it wasn’t for Qatar’s interference, it is possible that Hamas would have accepted the most recent Egyptian proposal due to the increased IDF pressure in Gaza, the blockage of humanitarian aid into the Strip, and intense diplomatic pressure applied by Egypt and PA President Mahmoud Abbas. Ynet reported that contrary to the public perception that the war in Gaza is stagnating, recent IDF operations in Gaza have succeeded in creating pressure on Hamas to accept a partial deal that will see the release of some hostages. The Saudi Al-Hadath media outlet reported on Sunday that Egypt has demanded that Hamas provide a full report on the hostages’ conditions by early May. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

In a damning expose, two Gaza-based contributors to BBC Arabic have been revealed as open supporters of terrorism and violent antisemitism — even as they continued to appear on one of the world’s most prominent news platforms. The Telegraph reported that Samer Elzaenen, a 33-year-old journalist who has appeared repeatedly on BBC Arabic since the Israel-Hamas war began, has for years flooded social media with grotesque calls for Jewish blood. In one post, he vowed, “We’ll burn Jews like Hitler did.” In another, he instructed followers, “When things go awry for us, shoot the Jews, it fixes everything.” His posts are not isolated incidents. They represent over a decade of documented hatred, during which Elzaenen has praised more than 30 terror attacks targeting Israeli civilians as “blessed” acts and hailed the murderers as “heroes” and “martyrs.” After a horrific car-ramming attack in Jerusalem last year that killed two young children and a 20-year-old avreich, Elzaenen chillingly wrote that the innocent victims “will soon go to hell.” Following Hamas’s barbaric massacre at the Nova music festival on October 7, he saluted the terrorists as “resistance fighters.” And he is not alone. Ahmed Qannan — another regular BBC Arabic voice — similarly celebrated attacks on Jews. After a 2023 mass shooting at a shul in Yerushalayim that left seven civilians dead, Qannan said he hoped the wounded would die. When a friend fantasized about “cutting throats,” Qannan encouraged him: “Don’t give up on your ambition.” Qannan also praised a terrorist who murdered four civilians and a police officer in Bnei Brak, calling him a “hero.” This scandal follows a string of previous incidents involving BBC Arabic, including the exposure last year of BBC correspondent Ahmed Alagha, who publicly described Jews as “devils” and Israelis as “less than human.” Despite the BBC’s insistence that these figures are “only freelancers” and not formal staff members, watchdogs and critics are demanding accountability, accusing the BBC of laundering hate-filled propaganda under the guise of journalism. “The BBC knowingly turns a blind eye,” charged a spokesperson for CAMERA UK. “It hides behind the fig leaf of ‘freelance contributors’ so it doesn’t have to answer for the open Jew-hatred it platformed. This is not journalism — it is complicity.” The revelations have ignited a firestorm in Britain. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, citing a report detailing systemic bias and antisemitism at BBC Arabic, called for “wholesale reform” of the broadcaster’s Arabic-language service. In a searing letter to BBC Director-General Tim Davie, Badenoch wrote: “It appears that the BBC World Service may be fomenting extremism and misleading audiences — all funded by taxpayers and license fees. This is simply unacceptable and must stop.” The BBC, while insisting it was “unaware” of the social media activity at the time the contributors were aired, has refused to commit to sweeping changes. In a limp statement, the network reiterated that “there is no place for antisemitism” on its platforms — even as the evidence mounts that its Arabic division has been riddled with exactly that. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Appearing Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) criticized the Democratic Party for not offering a clear plan for the future.

Host Kristen Welker opened the conversation by saying, “Let’s talk about what you have called your oligarchy, and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez have been criss-crossing the country warning of an oligarchy. Senator you told the New York Times, ‘One of the aspects of this is to get people to get engaged in the political process and run as independents outside of the Democratic Party.’ As someone who twice ran in the Democratic presidential primary are you trying to strengthen the Democratic Party or Senator, are you trying to start a third party?”

Sanders replied, “we’re not trying to strengthen a third party. We are trying to strengthen the American democracy. Right now it’s extremely low. We are living, Kristen, in the richest country in the history of the world and yet you have one person, Mr. Musk, who owns more wealth than the bottom 53% of American households. That is insane. That is oligarchy on steroids. Meanwhile, we have 60% of our workers living paycheck to paycheck. We have the highest rate of childhood poverty of almost any major nation on earth and we have over 20% of seniors in America living on $15,000 a year or less. What the American people are saying is that they want, and what our tour was about is to say that they want an economy that works for all of us, and not just for Musk and other billionaires.”

Continuing, Sanders pointed out, “What Democrats lack right now is a vision for the future. How are we going to provide a decent standard of living for a younger generation where everything being equal will be poorer than their parents? How do we repair a broken heath care system? How do we deal with the corrupt campaign finance system that allows billionaires to control both political parties? Those are some of the issues that need to be discussed and we are going out around the country right now asking people, working people, run for office. You want to run as a Democrat? Great. You want to run as an Independent? That’s great, but you’ve got to get involved in the political process because right now the two-party system is failing the working class of this country.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer revealed Sunday that Democrats are “fighting back” against President Donald Trump’s decision to pull federal funding from Harvard University — by sending what he proudly described as a “very strong letter.” Appearing on CNN’s State of the Union, Schumer told anchor Dana Bash that he and several other Jewish senators had penned a letter to the White House demanding an explanation for the move, which came after Harvard refused to dismantle its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs or prohibit masked protests that Trump described as antisemitic. While Schumer admitted that Harvard has fallen short in addressing campus antisemitism, he accused Trump of overreaching. “What Trump is doing goes way beyond antisemitism,” Schumer said, likening the president’s actions to his criticism of judges, law firms, and the media. Schumer argued that Trump was using antisemitism as a “pretext” to punish universities, and insisted that cutting funds for areas like cancer and Alzheimer’s research was unrelated. His solution? A “very strong” letter posing eight questions to the administration — a move that Schumer framed as a major pushback effort. How brave. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Nearly 36,000 Gazans—close to 2% of the coastal enclave’s population—have left the Gaza Strip since the start of the war triggered by Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, massacre in southern Israel, Channel 12 News reported Friday. Most of the departing residents have relocated to Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Western European nations, and Romania, according to the report. Approximately 2,000 Gazans were able to exit through Israeli territory, traveling via Ramon Airport near Eilat or the Allenby Crossing into Jordan.

WATCH IT: Singer Yoni Z got married today and sang his Kallah down to the Chupa with his own song.

Rule changes announced by the Trump administration this week could allow automakers to report fewer crashes involving self-driving cars, with Tesla potentially emerging as the main beneficiary. The Transportation Department announced Thursday that it will no longer require automakers to report certain kinds of non-fatal crashes — but the exception will apply only to partial self-driving vehicles using so-called Level 2 systems, the kind Tesla deploys. Tesla CEO Elon Musk had complained the old reporting rules cast his company in a bad light. If Tesla and other automakers are required to report fewer crashes into a national database, that could make it more difficult for regulators to catch equipment defects and for the public to access information about a company’s overall safety, auto industry analysts say. It will also allow Tesla to trumpet a cleaner record to sell more cars. “This will significantly reduce the number of crashes reported by Tesla,” said auto analyst Sam Abuelsamid at Telemetry Insight. Added Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities, noting that Tesla rival Waymo won’t get an exception, “This is a win for Tesla, a loss for Waymo.” Tesla stock soared nearly 10% Friday on the rule changes. Wall Street analysts, and Musk critics, have said that Musk’s role as an adviser to President Donald Trump could put Tesla in position to benefit from any changes to regulations involving self-driving cars. Other car makers such as Hyundai, Nissan, Subaru and BMW make vehicles with Level 2 systems that help keep cars in lanes, change speed or brake automatically, but Tesla accounts for the vast majority on the road. Vehicles used by Waymo and others with systems that completely take over for the driver, called Automated Driving Systems, will not benefit from the change. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which enforces vehicle safety standards, said the new rules don’t favor one type of self-driving system over another, and that raft of changes it announced will help all self-driving automakers. “No ADS company is hurt by these changes,” the agency said in statement to The Associated Press, using the acronym for Automatic Driving System. It added that the changes also make sense because “with ADS, no driver is present meaning stronger safety protocols are needed.” Waymo declined to comment for this story. The AP reached out to Tesla but did not receive a reply. Under the change, any Level 2 crash that is so bad it needs a tow truck to come will no longer be required to be reported if it doesn’t result in death or injury or air-bag deployment. But if a tow truck is called for crashes of vehicles using ADS, it has to be reported. The vast majority of partial self-driving vehicle crashes reported under the old NHTSA rules involved Teslas — more than 800 of a total 1,040 crashes in the past 12 months, according to an AP review of the data. It’s unclear how many of those Tesla crashes required the vehicles to be towed, because a column requesting that information in the database is mostly blank. The NHTSA said after the story was published that only 8% of total reported crashes under the old criteria were cases in which partial self-driving vehicles had to be towed away and there was no other qualifying crash-reporting factor involved. It is […]

Appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday morning, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) declined to dismiss the idea of pursuing impeachment against President Donald Trump if Democrats succeed in retaking Congress.

During the interview, host Dana Bash asked, “Your colleague from Georgia, Senator Jon Ossoff told voters at a town hall that he strongly agrees that President Trump should be impeached. Do you agree with him? Would that be a priority if Democrats were to take back Congress?”

Schumer responded, “Well, look, right now, President Trump is violating rule of law in every way and we’re fighting him every single day in every way. And our goal is to show the American people over and over again, whether it’s the economy, whether it’s tariffs, whether it’s Russia and overseas and whether it’s rule of law, how bad he is. And you know, it’s two years it’s too far away to predict. Our job is day to day to day to show who Trump is, what he is doing, and it’s having an effect as your polls show.”

Bash followed up by saying, “You’re not ruling out.”

Schumer replied, “The American people are realizing.”

Bash pressed once more, stating, “You’re not saying no.”

Schumer concluded, “Look, it’s too far away to even, it’s too far away to even judge.”

{Matzav.com}

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas claimed last week that the First and Second Batei Mikdash were not in Yerushalayim — but in Yemen. Speaking at the 32nd Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) Central Council meeting in Ramallah on Wednesday, Abbas accused Israel of plotting to destroy the Al-Aqsa Mosque and replace it with a Jewish temple, before launching into his latest historical revisionism. “In the Noble Quran – and I believe that also in other divine books – it says that the Temples were in Yemen,” Abbas declared confidently. “People who like reading about religion can check it out.” Scholars and historians might beg to differ — or laugh outright. The existence of the Batei Mikdash in Yerushalayim is one of the most thoroughly documented facts in ancient history, corroborated by archeological evidence, ancient Jewish, Roman, and even early Islamic sources. The First Bais Hamikdash, built by Shlomo Hamelech, was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE; the Second Bais Hamikdash was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE. But for Abbas, centuries of documentation apparently pale next to a talking point. His remarks, flagged by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), continued the PA’s long tradition of trying to erase the Jewish connection to Yerushalayim. “[The Jews say:] ‘This is ours and that was ours, and this is where Solomon’s Temple was,’” Abbas said. “I am telling you, a large part of history is falsified.” Abbas’s foray into alternative history follows a long line of similar claims by Palestinian leaders. Yasser Arafat infamously asserted during the 2000 Camp David summit that the Bais Hamikdash never existed in Yerushalayim, insisting instead it was in Nablus. Later, the former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Ekrima Sabri, claimed that there isn’t a single stone in the city indicating Jewish history. Of course, none of these claims withstand even basic scrutiny. As Professor Eric Cline of George Washington University notes, even early Muslim rulers referred to Jerusalem using terms derived from the Hebrew designation for the Bais Hamikdash — Bayt al-Maqdis, or “House of the Sanctuary.” Over time, that name evolved into the Arabic term Al-Quds — “The Holy” — which still refers to Jerusalem today. Historical evidence aside, Abbas’s latest speech fits a familiar pattern: rewriting history to delegitimize Jewish ties to Eretz Yisroel. That effort runs into uncomfortable artifacts like the Merneptah Stele — a 3,200-year-old Egyptian monument that contains the earliest reference to “Israel” as a people in the land of Canaan — but facts, it seems, are no obstacle for a determined political narrative. At least this time, Abbas offered listeners a way to verify his theory: “People who like reading about religion can check it out,” he said. Historians would likely suggest starting with a map. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

On Sunday, Hatzolah of Mill Basin-Canarsie held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Tiferet Ovadia to dedicate the new “Beitel Family Ambulance,” generously donated by Mr. Ben Beitel and his family. The event drew a large crowd of community members, local leaders, elected officials, and emergency personnel, all gathered to honor the Beitel family’s commitment to lifesaving services in the Mill Basin and Canarsie communities. The new ambulance was dedicated in memory of Avraham and Chaya Sarah Altah Rosenthal, with the generous donation made by the Beitel family. The ceremony celebrated the addition of a state-of-the-art ambulance to Hatzolah’s fleet, enhancing the organization’s ability to provide rapid, expert medical response in the region. Among the distinguished attendees was NYPD Chief of Community Affairs Richie Taylor, who praised the Beitel family’s generosity and highlighted the profound impact of Hatzolah’s work. “This ambulance represents not just a vehicle, but a lifeline for our community, made possible by the Beitel family’s dedication,” Chief Taylor remarked. Chief Taylor also used the moment as an opportunity to recognize Hatzolah volunteer Nussy Josephy for his visionary project, the “Hatzalah Museum.” Chief Taylor commended Josephy’s efforts to create an educational space that will preserve and share the remarkable history of Hatzolah, detailing how the organization was founded against immense challenges. The museum aims to inspire future generations by showcasing the courage, perseverance, and chesed that define Hatzolah’s legacy. Hatzolah of Mill Basin, part of the broader Canarsie Hatzolah division, continues to serve as a vital resource for Brooklyn’s Jewish community and beyond. The new Beitel Family Ambulance will bolster their capacity to respond to emergencies with speed and professionalism, ensuring that countless lives are touched by their lifesaving efforts. Community leaders and attendees expressed gratitude to the Beitel family for their extraordinary contribution, noting that the ambulance will serve as a lasting tribute to their commitment to Klal Yisroel. The ceremony concluded with heartfelt tefillos for continued hatzlacha in Hatzolah’s mission and for the health and safety of the entire community. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Newly uncovered internal communications show that Hamas’s leadership viewed Operation Guardian of the Walls as a major success, according to a new report from N12.

The report reveals that Yahya Sinwar, who was serving as Hamas’s military commander at the time, took advantage of the 2021 ceasefire to lull Israel into a false sense of security while secretly laying the groundwork for the October 7 attacks.

The documents are described in the report as outlining a “calculated strategy designed to exploit the internal weaknesses of Israeli society and bring about its collapse from within.”

Sinwar is said to have believed that the ceasefire was a clear strategic advantage, offering Hamas benefits at Israel’s expense.

“It is likely that this move, which would be acceptable to most countries in the world, would not be acceptable to the occupation [Israel] and would therefore increase their isolation and disconnection from [the world]. If the occupation decides to go in this direction, it will tear it apart from within and lead to an internal rift and civil war,” Sinwar wrote to then Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh.

During that period, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, defense minister Benny Gantz, and IDF chief of staff Lt.-Gen. (res.) Avi Kochavi had all publicly portrayed the operation as a resounding achievement and a decisive victory. According to the report, this perception of success within Israel helped embolden Hamas’s leaders to move forward with the October 7 assault.

Further documents indicated that even though the IDF had declared major successes in its operations targeting the Gaza tunnel network—referred to as the “metro”—Hamas maintained that the tunnel system had remained mostly intact.

“The ‘metro’ was not damaged at all, and only the network of attack tunnels was slightly damaged and will be repaired soon,” senior Hamas officials relayed to former Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and IRGC Commander Esmail Qaani.

The N12 report concludes that these “vast conceptual gaps” between what Israeli officials believed and the actual situation on the ground created an environment where Hamas could rebuild and plan in secret while Israel wrongly assumed it had neutralized key threats.

{Matzav.com Israel}