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Treasury Sec. Bessent: Trump’s Peace, Tax, and Trade Deals on Track, Tax Deal Expected by July 4
Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danon Backs Trump for Nobel Peace Prize
Netanyahu Said to Be Weighing Snap Elections in Light of Popular Iran Offensive
Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is reportedly considering calling early elections following Israel’s military campaign against Iran, which has garnered widespread domestic support and is being hailed as a strategic victory.
According to Channel 12, members of Netanyahu’s inner circle are urging him to capitalize on the success of the operation and the resulting bump in public approval to bolster his standing in a potential election.
The report noted that Netanyahu would likely campaign on a platform focused on forging diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia and blocking the creation of a Palestinian state.
Netanyahu has faced declining support in public opinion polls since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, with most surveys showing that his bloc would struggle to secure a parliamentary majority if elections were held. But a recent poll conducted late last week showed a resurgence in support for his Likud party.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Netanyahu appeared to signal his political ambitions, stating that he still had “many missions” ahead of him and intended to continue pursuing them “for as long as the people” of Israel want him to.
Although the current Knesset is not scheduled to dissolve until October 2026, there is growing speculation that the government may not last that long due to increasing tension within Netanyahu’s coalition.
A major flashpoint expected in the upcoming Knesset session is the demand from Netanyahu’s chareidi partners for legislation that would permanently exempt yeshiva students from mandatory army service — a controversial issue that has stirred public debate and coalition unease.
Budget battles may further complicate the prime minister’s path, as disagreements loom over how to allocate funds for Israel’s ongoing military conflicts. The divisions within the coalition could deepen as fiscal pressures mount.
Given the internal discord and looming legislative battles, Netanyahu may see early elections as a strategic opportunity to reassert control and possibly expand his party’s influence in the Knesset.
The coalition was nearly upended earlier this month due to the stalemate over the draft exemption law. United Torah Judaism and Shas, two key chareidi factions, threatened to trigger new elections if their demands were not met.
During that crisis, a Channel 12 survey showed Naftali Bennett outpacing Netanyahu in a hypothetical election, amid criticism of the government’s handling of the Gaza war and its perceived concessions to chareidi groups.
However, that momentum appears to be shifting. A Channel 13 poll conducted on June 19 indicated that Likud had rebounded from 24 to 27 seats, placing it once again as the Knesset’s largest party. Nonetheless, the current coalition as a whole remained short of a majority, projected to secure just 50 out of 120 seats.
The military strikes against Iran appear to have boosted Netanyahu’s popularity, with the air campaign being broadly viewed as a success. The United States’ role — particularly its strike on three major Iranian nuclear sites this past Sunday — is being celebrated in Israel as a diplomatic and strategic win for Netanyahu.
{Matzav.com}
Steve Bannon Is A Raging Antisemite:
President Trump Greets King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima Of The Netherlands
President Trump Has Arrived At The Royal Palace In The Hague
New Trump Rule Bars Non-English-Speaking Truckers From U.S. Highways
Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Rules: Despite the War, Weddings Are Still Prohibited During Bein Hametzarim
A halachic debate has emerged over whether weddings may be held during Bein HaMetzarim—the three-week period between the 17th of Tammuz and Tisha B’Av—amid the ongoing war between Israel and Iran.
While Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rav Yitzchak Yosef has ruled leniently in light of the national crisis, permitting weddings for both Sephardim and Ashkenazim during this time, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Rav Kalman Ber has published a formal halachic response presenting the opposite view.
As previously reported by Matzav.com, Rav Yitzchak Yosef emphasized in a public psak that couples should not postpone their weddings due to the war. He wrote: “There is no greater sha’as hadchak (pressing circumstance) than this,” encouraging even those who generally follow stringent customs to be lenient this year. “One who is stringent will end up losing more than he gains,” Rav Yosef concluded.
However, in a detailed halachic letter responding to marriage registrars inquiring about Ashkenazi practice this year, Rav Kalman Ber ruled unequivocally that weddings remain prohibited during Bein HaMetzarim, despite the current wartime conditions.
In his response, Rev Ber laid out the foundational reasoning behind the long-standing Ashkenazi custom—as well as that of many Sephardic communities—not to hold weddings during this period. “Mourning and joy,” he wrote, “are inherently contradictory. One cannot combine the two.”
He added that these days are considered lo siman milsa—an inauspicious time for joyous events such as marriage—and that danger, even potential, carries greater weight than a standard prohibition. “Chamira sakanta me’issura—danger is treated more seriously than a simple prohibition,” he wrote, emphasizing that no halachic authority has permitted weddings during this time, especially not with celebratory feasts.
Rev Ber further noted that even on the night of the 17th of Tammuz, which marks the beginning of Bein HaMetzarim, the poskim did not allow weddings, even in extenuating circumstances.
Calling on the public to uphold the traditions of their forefathers and mourn the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash, Rev Ber encouraged all to refrain from weddings during this period. However, he clarified that Sephardim who follow the custom of permitting weddings until Rosh Chodesh Av may of course continue to do so.
He concluded: “Kol hamesabeil al Yerushalayim zocheh v’roeh b’simchasa—whoever mourns for Yerushalayim will merit to see its joy.”
{Matzav.com}
A Note Of Thanks To The YWN Staff
Shocking! Radical Muslim Imam: “Jihad in America Is All Muslims Uniting and Electing The First Muslim Mayor”
NYC: Timely Letter From Kalman Yeger
Satmar Rebbe Harshly Criticizes Israeli Government: Without a State, There Would Be No Decrees, No Wars, and No Draft of Bnei Yeshiva
In a fiery speech delivered Sunday night, the Satmar Rebbe, launched a scathing rebuke of the Israeli government and those who express admiration for Israel’s military might in its current war against Iran, known as Operation Am K’Lavi.
Speaking at a siyum on Maseches Bechoros organized by the Satmar Zichru learning initiative in Boro Park, the Rebbe warned against falling into the trap of believing in kochi v’otzem yadi—human power and might—rather than in Divine salvation.
“Our holy Rebbe, the Vayoel Moshe, had a heart that ached with the suffering of Klal Yisroel. He mourned every Jewish soul lost in war,” the Rebbe said. “But what pained him even more was when sincere, G-d-fearing Jews were misled into putting their faith in human strength. He would plead: do not prolong the golus by believing in their power. In every generation, we face great challenges that tempt us to fall into this mistake, but we must constantly remind ourselves—we are not impressed by their actions, not in the least.”
The Rebbe quoted the posuk, ‘From the wicked comes forth wickedness’ (Shmuel I 24:13), emphasizing, “Acts of violence are the traits of the wicked. Our path is not to admire them. The Medrash on Birkas Kohanim explains the brocha of ‘Hashem shall bless you and guard you’ as protection from harm and from the yetzer hara. These two—physical harm and spiritual danger—go hand in hand.”
Continuing his critique, the Rebbe stated, “The minim and apikorsim—heretics and deniers—are worse than the yetzer hara itself. We see this clearly in recent years, as they attempt to destroy Klal Yisroel from within by drafting yeshiva bochurim into the army. Their goal is to sever Jews from belief in Hashem and His Torah. These people cannot be the source of yeshuah. They are the greatest mazikin—spiritual destroyers.”
The Rebbe then posed a rhetorical question: “If we were truly in such danger in recent years, under threat from enemy nations, why did no one urge the public to flee Eretz Yisroel? The answer is clear—they caused the danger themselves. Without a state, there would be no decrees, no wars, and no draft of bnei yeshiva. As I’ve said before, these are the agents of the Satan, working to uproot emunah from the Jewish people.”
“There is only one way to withstand these trials,” the Rebbe declared. “We must study and internalize the teachings of our holy Rebbe, Vayoel Moshe. He was anguished by the suffering of Klal Yisroel, wept bitterly for every soul, and yet he battled against the forces of secularism with sword and spear.”
The Rebbe concluded with a powerful message: “We must instill within ourselves the truth of ‘From the wicked comes forth wickedness.’ Salvation will not come from them—they are the emissaries of the yetzer hara.”
{Matzav.com}
Fed Chair Powell Rebuffs Trump, Says No Immediate Rate Cuts Planned
AN INSIDE LOOK: Tens of Thousands of Dollars to Escape Israel Amid the War
With Israeli airports shuttered due to the ongoing war with Iran, a wave of travelers sought unconventional and costly means to leave the country, many through the Sharm el-Sheikh airport in Egypt. Some have paid staggering sums, often upwards of tens of thousands of dollars, for private jet charters.
Among those who flew in was the Gerrer Rebbe, whose travel arrangements have drawn particular attention.
In an unusual scene in Williamsburg, one of America’s top frum travel agents was summoned to the private residence of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe. The agent had just received a call from the Rebbe’s personal assistant and promptly closed his office to make his way over. Unsure of what urgent matter awaited him, he entered the Rebbe’s room with curiosity.
The Rebbe quickly put him at ease and got straight to the point: “Several people, chassidim and businessmen alike, are asking me about traveling to Eretz Yisroel. They say the only way is through Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. I want to know before I advise them: What is this place? Who works there? Do Jews normally travel through it? And how long is the journey from there to Israel? That’s why I called you. I want to give an informed answer.”
The agent remained in the Rebbe’s room for some time, offering detailed explanations about the routes, organized shuttles from Eilat, and the current travel infrastructure. He reassured the Rebbe that even senior admorim and rabbanim were choosing this path, which was deemed safe under the circumstances.
As for the Gerrer Rebbe himself, he too traveled by private jet—both on his initial flight to the U.S. and now on his return—thanks to the generosity of a major American philanthropist eager to assist the Rebbe and his entourage during this difficult time.
Meanwhile, scores of Israelis have been flocking to Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh airport and Jordan’s Aqaba airport to escape or return to Israel. Some chose to charter private jets, spending fortunes to leave what they viewed as a danger zone. One group of just 13 passengers reportedly paid about $38,000 per person to charter a private jet to New York over the weekend.
With commercial air travel from Israel largely frozen, a mini-industry has emerged to ferry passengers out of the country. Several chareidi travel companies are offering charter flights from Sharm el-Sheikh and Aqaba to Larnaca, Cyprus. One Beit Shemesh-based agency has sold one-way tickets from Aqaba to Larnaca for 2,990 shekel.
Some have tried leaving Israel by boat from Ashdod to Cyprus, but the sea journey proved nauseating. Many passengers reportedly turned back within 30 minutes, one quipping to his friend, “I’d rather buy a small apartment in Yerushalayim than ride this crazy boat through the open sea.”
But for others, cost was no object. They opted for the so-called “oligarch route”: a fully managed escape that included door-to-door service. These luxury packages featured pick-up from Yerushalayim, transfer to the Taba border, crossing into Sinai, security-escorted vehicles to Sharm el-Sheikh, and from there, a private flight to New York or other destinations.
One such jet—a Bombardier Global 7500 used by a group of 13—resembled a flying hotel. It featured a lounge area, full-size reclining beds, kosher catering, attentive flight attendants, and two pilots. The total cost: approximately $500,000.
Prices to European destinations were slightly lower, though still in the tens of thousands of dollars, making them viable only for businesspeople needing to return to their routines.
Several families flew to London for simchos last week. Upon returning to Israel, they reported seeing long lines of Israelis waiting to travel, a stark contrast to the near-empty flights they had taken earlier. Still, they emphasized that they encountered no antisemitism along the way and praised the airline staff for their courteous service.
In a time of chaos and closed borders, some are paying steep prices for mobility, but for others, the cost is worth it to remain close to home, family, and routine.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Cuomo Comeback or Mamdani Momentum? NYC Democrats Choose in Heated Mayoral Primary
IDF Lifts Nationwide Restrictions, Country Returns to Full Activity – Except Gaza Border Area
Trump Channels Dirty Harry In Blistering Truth Social Post Daring Dems To Impeach Him: ‘Go Ahead … Make My Day!’
President Trump unleashed a fiery attack on his political adversaries Tuesday morning via Truth Social, challenging them to once again attempt to remove him from office.
“So go ahead and try impeaching me again, MAKE MY DAY!” Trump wrote, directing his anger particularly at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), a leading voice among the progressive “Squad,” who had demanded impeachment in response to his recent military strikes on Iran.
Trump referred to Ocasio-Cortez as “one of the ‘dumbest’ people in Congress” and accused her of being unable to accept that “our Country [is] being successful again.” He criticized Democrats more broadly, mocking their supposed unfamiliarity with success and their aversion to his leadership style.
The president also lashed out at other prominent progressive lawmakers, slamming Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) as “seriously a Low IQ individual” and delivering a harsh rebuke of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.). He wrote that Omar “does nothing but complain about our country, yet the failed country she comes from doesn’t have a Government, is drenched in Crime and Poverty, and is rated one of the WORST in the world, if it’s even rated at all,” a clear reference to her Somali origins.
Ocasio-Cortez’s condemnation of Trump’s airstrikes particularly set him off. She had described the bombings as “a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers,” prompting the president to assign her the nickname “The Mouse” and ridicule her concerns over executive authority.
Trump went on to contrast his administration with what he called the “Radical Left experiment” under President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. “We’re just now coming back from that Radical Left experiment with Sleepy Joe, Kamala, and ‘THE AUTOPEN,’ in charge. What a disaster it was!” He added that Ocasio-Cortez ought to undergo the same cognitive evaluation he had taken at Walter Reed Medical Center, which he proudly claimed to have “ACED,” according to the attending physician.
In closing, Trump addressed rumors that Ocasio-Cortez might run against Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in a future primary, issuing a mocking warning. “She better start worrying about her own Primary, before she thinks about beating our Great Palestinian Senator, Cryin’ Chuck Schumer, whose career is definitely on very thin ice!”
{Matzav.com}
Jeffries Accuses Republicans of Hiding Iran Briefing Facts, Warns of Middle East War Risk
GOOD NEWS: IDF Lifts All Restrictions as Iran Ceasefire Holds, Allowing Gatherings, Schools, and Workplaces to Resume
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