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An Israeli court on Wednesday moved to release the driver suspected of killing 16-year-old bochur Naftali Zvi Kramer z”l in a traffic incident near Kiryat Gat, even as police immediately challenged the decision and secured a temporary delay.

The Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court ruled that the suspect be transferred to house arrest, but prosecutors filed an appeal on the spot. The court granted a 24-hour stay of the release, meaning the driver will remain behind bars until the appeal is heard.

Investigators are examining allegations that the driver caused Kramer’s death through negligence, along with other possible offenses. In his statement to police, the driver said he never noticed the bochur before the crash. During the hearing, police argued that the suspect posed a danger to the public, with a representative telling the court, “Instead of accelerating toward a crowd of people, one should brake. That is the proper course of action.”

Judge Yariv Ben David nonetheless determined that the driver could be released to strict house arrest with supervision and limitations on his movement. While acknowledging the fatal outcome, the judge pointed to a range of considerations weighing against continued detention, including findings from the investigation, video footage shown in court, the driver’s cooperation, his decision to stop the bus immediately after the collision, and the absence of any prior criminal history.

Summarizing his reasoning, the judge wrote, “Despite the severe outcome, I find that in these specific circumstances, an alternative less harmful than detention is appropriate and proportionate to both the act and the individual involved,” referring to the incident, which took place amid demonstrations at the Komemiyus Junction.

{Matzav.com}

CCTV captured the moment a storm surge flooded the dining room of an Italian seafront restaurant in Sicily’s Catania as Cyclone Harry struck the region.

A federal agent was involved in a shooting in Los Angeles. No one was struck by gunfire, and all suspects are in custody.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that U.S. control of Greenland is necessary to support construction of a massive “Golden Dome” missile defense shield, arguing that the project would also safeguard Canada and underscoring his view that Ottawa relies heavily on American security.

Addressing participants at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump said the proposed defense network would automatically extend protection north of the U.S. border. “We’re building a Golden Dome that’s going to, just by its very nature, going to be defending Canada. Canada gets a lot of freebies from us, by the way. They should be grateful also,” he told the audience.

Trump went on to criticize Canada’s leadership, saying he was unimpressed by remarks delivered a day earlier by the Canadian prime minister. “But they’re not. I watched your prime minister yesterday. He wasn’t so grateful. They should be grateful to us, Canada. Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements,” he said, referring to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s appearance at the forum.

Whether Canada will ultimately join the Golden Dome initiative remains uncertain. The White House first revealed the missile defense concept in May, and while participation from allies has not been finalized, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday that the administration has formally invited Canada to take part.

Speaking in Davos during an interview with CNBC, Bessent emphasized Greenland’s central role in the plan. “Greenland is strategically important for [Trump’s] Golden Dome project to protect the U.S. and he’s invited Canada into that if they want to pay their share,” he said.

According to administration estimates, the Golden Dome system would cost about $175 billion and rely on a network of space-based sensors, interceptors, and other cutting-edge missile defense capabilities.

Those figures could climb substantially over time. In a report released in May, the Congressional Budget Office projected that deploying space-based interceptors alone could run anywhere from $161 billion to $542 billion over a 20-year period.

Carney, in his own Davos address, avoided naming Trump directly but cautioned that the global, rules-based system is eroding as “great powers” increasingly apply economic and security pressure to influence allies.

He said countries that fall into the category of “middle powers,” including Canada, should treat the moment as a “wake-up call,” arguing that cooperation alone does not ensure security. Instead, he urged nations to strengthen themselves through diversification, collective efforts, and respect for national sovereignty.

Carney also reiterated Canada’s backing of Greenland and Denmark’s right to decide the island’s future, signaling resistance to any attempt to tie security arrangements to territorial claims or economic coercion.

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. military said Wednesday it began transferring detainees from the Islamic State group who were held in northeastern Syria to Iraq to ensure they remain in secure facilities. The move came after Syrian government forces took control of a sprawling camp housing thousands of IS detainees following the withdrawal of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces as part of […]

Construction beats promises They say Tzfat is having a hot moment. Real estate market ups and downs aside, let’s be honest, Tzfat has pulled at the heartstrings of Jews everywhere for centuries. The cobblestone alleys where kabbala was transmitted, open vistas where Lecha Dodi was born, and mountain air breathing history. Shabbos and every day […]

President Donald Trump on Wednesday delivered remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, outlining his views on a range of international developments, including Venezuela, Greenland, Israel, and the situation in Gaza.

Speaking about events following the recent capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro earlier this month, Trump said the country was now positioned for success and praised the cooperation his administration received. “Venezuela is going to do fantastically well. We appreciate all of the cooperation we’ve been given. We’ve been given great cooperation. Once the attack ended. The attack ended, and they said, ‘Let’s make a deal.’”

Trump also returned to the issue of Greenland, reiterating his belief that the massive Arctic island should become part of the United States. He described Greenland as strategically vital, saying, “This enormous unsecured island is actually part of North America, on the northern frontier of the Western Hemisphere. That’s our territory.”

Emphasizing security concerns, Trump argued that only the United States is capable of protecting Greenland effectively. He said the U.S. needs control of the territory to “make it so that it’s good for Europe and safe for Europe, and good for us.. And the fact is, no nation or group of nations is in any position to be able to secure Greenland other than the United States.”

At the same time, Trump stressed that he does not intend to use military force to obtain the island. “People thought I would use force. I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force,” he said, adding that he prefers diplomacy. “I’m seeking immediate negotiations to once again discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the United States, just as we have acquired many other territories,” he said.

Turning to Israel, Trump credited the United States with major contributions to its security and defense capabilities. “What we did for Israel was incredible,” he said, while pledging to pursue even more advanced missile defense technology for North America.

He recounted a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying, “We did it for Israel. And by the way, I told Bibi: ‘Bibi, stop taking credit for the dome. That’s our technology, that’s our stuff.’” Trump added that Israel’s military efforts were decisive, saying the Israelis “were good fighters and they had a lot of courage and we wiped out the Iran nuclear threat.”

After concluding his prepared remarks, Trump was asked about the creation of the Gaza Board of Peace and whether he believes the current ceasefire can last. He expressed optimism, responding, “I do. I think we have peace in the Middle East.”

He acknowledged remaining challenges, particularly regarding Hamas. “There are some little situations,” he said, “like Hamas. And Hamas has agreed to give up their weapons. They were born with a weapon in their hand, so it’s not easy to do. When they were born, they were born with a rifle in their hand. It’s not an easy thing for them, but that’s what they agreed to. They’ve got to do it. And we’re going to see over the next two or three days, certainly over the next three weeks, whether or not they’re gonna do it. If they don’t, they’re going to be blown away very quickly.”

{Matzav.com}

A protester was struck by a vehicle on Wednesday evening during a protest by IDF veterans near the Chords Bridge in Jerusalem, leaving three people injured. According to reports, the main victim was lightly injured, while two additional protesters also required medical treatment. Police forces were called to the scene and launched a search for […]

An awe-inspiring encounter took place in Tiveriah, as the venerable mashgiach Rav Don Segal paid a special and uplifting visit to the home of the tzaddik Rav Dov Kook. The meeting revolved around yearning for the geulah and the deep spiritual chain connecting the great ones of past and present generations.

Rav Segal, who is spending time in Tiveriah for rest, made a point of going to Rav Kook’s home for a private meeting. Despite Rav Kook’s relatively young age, Rav Segal is known to accord him exceptional kavod. Conversely, those close to Rav Kook note that the rare expressions of praise he voiced regarding Rav Segal are almost never heard within his home.

A transcript of their conversation reveals fiery words concerning the pursuit of geulah and the enduring spiritual bond between generations. At the heart of the discussion stood the towering figure of the legendary mashgiach of Lakewood, Rav Nosson Wachtfogel zt”l, whose entire life was bound up with constant anticipation of Mashiach.

Rav Segal shared emotionally, saying, “He was here once, the mashgiach Rav Nosson zt”l. He lived with anticipation for Mashiach literally every moment.” Rav Segal recalled what he declared at the levayah: “When he passed away, I said at the levayah, ‘Now Mashiach can already come.’ The reason is that Mashiach comes only with hesach hadaas. As long as Rav Nosson was alive, there was no such thing in the world as distraction from Mashiach, because he thought about it every moment. Now that he has passed, there is hesach hadaas, and Mashiach can come.”

Rav Kook listened intently and asked in earnest, “Who was the mashgiach of Lakewood?” Rav Segal then continued, elaborating on the wondrous conduct and inner world of Rav Nosson Wachtfogel.

Rav Segal recounted a rare meeting between Rav Nosson and the mekubal Rav Yaakov Hillel. “I asked Rav Yaakov Hillel after their meeting what they discussed,” Rav Segal said, “and he answered me in astonishment: ‘For two hours he spoke with me about only one thing — how to bring Mashiach.’ Again and again, back and forth, constantly just that one question: how to bring the geulah.”

Rav Kook responded with a stirring statement: “And I, the small one, add that even now he continues like this in Shamayim.” Rav Segal immediately agreed, replying, “That is absolutely correct. That is why I mentioned it. I did not come here to tell stories for their own sake.”

During the visit, Rav Segal inquired with concern about Rav Kook’s health, asking, “Is the Rav feeling better now?”

Rav Kook answered with his characteristic sincerity, “Just now I received another bout of suffering.”

Rav Segal immediately responded with a warm brachah: “First and foremost, there should be a complete refuah sheleimah, and may the yissurim be separated from him.”

As the conversation neared its conclusion, the two gedolim reflected on the wondrous timing of Rav Nosson Wachtfogel’s petirah. “It was truly a פלא of ‘r’tzon yereiav ya’aseh,’” Rav Segal said. “He passed away on the very yahrtzeit of Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l. Over the years, the powerful bond between them may not always have been spoken about, but on the day of his passing, the heavenly connection was revealed — on that very same day.”

{Matzav.com}

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir addressed the horrific incident that occurred Tuesday night on Route 3533 at the entrance to the moshav of Komemiyut, in which a Satmar yeshiva Bochur Naftali Tzvi Kramer z”l, was killed after being struck by a bus. In a video statement, the minister sought to both strengthen the grieving […]

About 4,000 buildings in Kyiv remained without heating Wednesday, and nearly 60% of the Ukrainian capital was without power, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, after days of Russian bombardment of Ukraine’s power grid. With temperatures falling as low as minus 20 C (minus 4 F) in Kyiv, Ukraine is seeing one of the coldest winters […]

Mike Woods with the latest on a potential significant snowstorm that could impact multiple states, including New York and New Jersey, Sunday going into Monday.

Conservative media figure Tucker Carlson is under fire following the release of a newsletter in which he floated the idea that Iran obtaining nuclear weapons might actually calm tensions in the Middle East, comparing the scenario to North Korea’s nuclear deterrence.

In the essay, titled “Could a Nuclear Iran Stabilize the Middle East?” and published on the Tucker Carlson Network website, Carlson revisits long-standing alarms about Iran’s nuclear aspirations and casts doubt on their validity. He wrote, “Those warnings sound pretty scary, but the past 20 years have proven them unwarranted. North Korea became a known nuclear nation in October 2006, and its proliferation has yielded a total of zero nuclear strikes on America, the West, or any other country.”

Expanding on that comparison, Carlson suggested that nuclear capability may have had a pacifying effect in East Asia. “Could the Iranians obtaining The Bomb wind up being a good thing? Whether anyone in the foreign policy establishment admits it, North Korea’s nuclearization has undeniably stabilized the Korean Peninsula. The region has seen no wars, coups, or interventionist-forced regime changes since 2006,” he argued.

Carlson went on to question whether a similar outcome could occur in the Middle East, asking, “Would Iran becoming a nuclear power have the same effect on its region? Could it finally prompt America to leave the area alone, and incentivize Israel to drop its stated goal of controlling the Gaza Strip and the West Bank?”

The commentary pushes back against warnings from U.S. and Israeli officials — including Senator Lindsey Graham and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — who have repeatedly said that a nuclear-armed Iran would pose an existential danger, potentially threatening Israel or even the United States.

According to Carlson, regimes labeled part of an “Axis of Evil” have refrained from using nuclear weapons precisely because doing so would amount to “an act of suicide.” He suggested that dire predictions are overstated and are often used to build public support for a military strike against Iran.

The newsletter sparked an immediate and heated reaction on social media. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) responded on X by writing, “Unbelievable. Now @TuckerCarlson is arguing it would be ‘a GOOD thing’ if the Ayatollah had a nuclear weapon. READ it yourself. Apparently ‘Death to America’ is an ambiguous sentiment to Mr. Qatarlson. #TuckerIsAmericaLast.”

Others joined the criticism, including commentator Eyal Yakoby, who wrote, “Tucker Carlson now argues in his newsletter that Iran getting nukes would be good and that North Korea having them is good too. The mental gymnastics required to apologize for some of the world’s most brutal regimes isn’t contrarianism. It’s indefensible.”

Additional reactions focused on Iran’s internal repression. One user wrote, “Tucker’s newsletter today argues that it would actually be a good thing if The Islamic Republic, the same ones who just massacred thousands of their own citizens for simply protesting, obtained a nuke.” Another likened the argument to handing matches to arsonists, warning of catastrophic consequences.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said he has no intention of resorting to military action to obtain Greenland, even as he argued that the massive Arctic landmass belongs within North America and should fall under U.S. control.

“This enormous unsecured island is actually part of North America,” Trump said. “That’s our territory.”

While outlining his view of Greenland’s strategic importance, Trump acknowledged that the United States would be unlikely to gain control of the island unless he chose to act militarily, a step he described as involving overwhelming power. The U.S., he said, “probably won’t get anything” unless he opted to “use excessive strength and force,” which he claimed would make the country “frankly unstoppable.”

He quickly dismissed that option, however. “But I won’t do that. Okay?” Trump said.

Moments later, he reinforced the point, stating, “I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.”

Trump made the remarks while addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he criticized European leaders and reiterated his belief that the United States should ultimately control Greenland.

WATCH:

Rattled by U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats over Greenland, the European Union is readying countermeasures against the United States. As primarily a trading bloc, the EU’s toolkit is mostly financial instruments, from steep tariffs on U.S. goods to the so-called trade bazooka touted by French President Emmanuel Macron. So far, most of the 27 EU nations remain skeptical about […]

[Video below.] President Donald Trump told an international audience on Wednesday that the strong performance of the U.S. economy one year into his second term is driving growth far beyond America’s borders, delivering benefits to countries around the world.

Addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in remarks broadcast live on Newsmax and Newsmax2, Trump argued that global prosperity is closely tied to America’s economic health. “The USA is the economic engine on the planet, and when America booms, the entire world booms,” Trump said. “It’s been the history. When it goes bad, it goes bad… when America booms, the entire world booms.”

Marking the anniversary of his inauguration, Trump portrayed an economy that he said is gaining momentum across multiple fronts, including faster growth, higher productivity, rising investment, and increasing incomes for Americans.

He asserted that inflation has been brought under control and claimed that the southern border is now shut down and effectively sealed off.

Pointing to recent figures, Trump said inflation has run at 1.6 percent over the last three months and projected that economic growth in the fourth quarter will reach 5.4 percent, calling those numbers proof of a sharp turnaround.

Trump also cited gains on Wall Street, saying markets have reached 52 record highs since the election and that retirement accounts and personal savings have grown by an estimated $9 trillion.

He contrasted the current economic environment with conditions during the previous administration, which he described as a period defined by stagnation and rising prices. “America was plagued by the nightmare of stagflation, meaning low growth and high inflation, a recipe for misery, failure, and decline,” said Trump. “But now, after just one year of my policies, we are witnessing the exact opposite: virtually no inflation and extraordinarily high economic growth.”

According to Trump, businesses and investors have pledged a combined $18 trillion in new investments, a figure he said could ultimately climb to $20 trillion, which he described as unprecedented anywhere in the world.

He added that U.S. economic expansion is now running at almost twice the pace forecast by the International Monetary Fund last spring and said additional acceleration is expected as a result of his economic and tariff agenda. “And with my growth and tariff policies, it should be much higher,” he said. “I really believe we can be much higher than that, and this is all great news, and it’s great for all nations.”

Trump concluded by stressing how quickly the shift has taken place, saying the pace of improvement exceeded his own expectations and describing the change as the most significant economic turnaround in American history.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

I recently conducted a brief, informal survey of about twenty people. No experts. No studies. Just conversations with ordinary, functioning members of our communities.

What emerged was not just troubling, it was downright disturbing.

We have people among us who are spending five, six, seven hours a day on their phones. Every day. Not once in a while. Not during a crisis. As a routine. Some knew it. Some guessed it. Others were shocked when their screen-time data forced them to confront the truth.

This is not a minor habit. This is not “just the times we live in.” This is sickness, normalized.

We have quietly trained ourselves to be incapable of silence. A free moment feels unbearable. Standing in line, sitting in a waiting room, even walking from one place to another … the reflex is immediate: reach for the phone. Not because we need it, but because we cannot tolerate being alone with our thoughts for more than a few seconds.

And then we wonder why people feel anxious. Why attention spans are shot. Why conversations feel shallow. Why we are impatient, irritable, and perpetually distracted.

We talk about chinuch nonstop. About children who can’t focus, teens who feel disconnected, families that feel fractured. But no one wants to say the obvious: We are modeling obsession. We are teaching our children that reality is something to escape from, not engage with.

We are sick!

Imagine a parent who spends seven hours a day reading magazines. Or pacing the house with a radio pressed to their ear. We would call it unhealthy. We would intervene. But scrolling? That gets a pass.

Why?

Because it looks productive? Because it’s “news”? Because it’s “work”? Because it’s “hock”? Because your checking Matzav and all the brilliant comments?

You’re sick!

Let’s be honest. Much of it is mindless consumption dressed up as necessity. Endless updates, outrage cycles, dopamine hits, and trivialities we won’t remember an hour later.

We have become a community that cannot sit through a meal without glancing down. That cannot daven without checking messages. That cannot have a conversation without half-listening, eyes darting toward a screen.

And the scariest part? We don’t even feel embarrassed anymore.

We used to worry about bittul zman. Now we carry it in our pockets and defend it aggressively. Anyone who dares question this addiction is dismissed as “out of touch.”

This isn’t about banning phones. It’s about reclaiming sanity. About asking whether five to seven hours a day glued to a device is something we want to accept as normal, or whether, at some point, we admit that something has gone very wrong.

Because if this is what adulthood looks like, what chance do our children have?

Name Withheld

To submit a letter to appear on Matzav.com, email MatzavInbox@gmail.com

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{Matzav.com}

A former flight attendant for a Canadian airline posed as a commercial pilot and as a current flight attendant to obtain hundreds of free flights from U.S. airlines, authorities said. Dallas Pokornik, 33, of Toronto, was arrested in Panama after being indicted on wire fraud charges in federal court in Hawaii last October. He pleaded […]

Rav Ben Zion Mutzapi, leading Sephardic posek and rosh yeshiva of Bnei Tzion, delivered a forceful message addressing what he described as mounting decrees against Torah learners, set against the backdrop of the ongoing struggle over the draft law and the legal status of yeshiva students.

Rav Mutzapi’s remarks came in response to a question from one of his talmidim, who described the severe financial pressure facing many kollel families. The avreich explained that while the men learn in kollel throughout the day and their wives work and earn limited incomes, the cost of placing infants in licensed daycare facilities has become overwhelming. For families with two young children, he said, the expenses are often impossible to meet, leaving many avreichim without a viable way to support their households.

In his response, Rav Mutzapi said the hardships are not incidental, but intentional. He stated that the aim of the authorities is to break the spirit of Torah learners, distance them from Torah study, and secularize the chareidi community. He added that those advancing these policies neither recognize nor believe in Hashem or His Torah, and he sharply criticized what he described as rampant incitement against yeshiva students who are already struggling to obtain even basic necessities.

Rav Mutzapi went on to say that the Torah community has been brought low and called on the public to cry out to their Father in Heaven. He expressed hope that Hashem will hear their voices, have mercy on them, and bring salvation. He davened for better days, asking that Hashem overturn unjust rulings and disrupt the plans and schemes directed against Torah learners.

He concluded his response with words of faith, stating that just as Hashem saved Klal Yisroel from Paroh and his forces, He will save them again in the present time as well.

{Matzav.com}

VIDEO: I recently lost my father, and now I am preparing for my wedding alone. I do not have what I need to reach the חופה with dignity. Please help an orphaned Kallah get married and fulfill the mitzvah of הכנסת כלה. DONATE HERE: https://thechesedfund.com/chesedprojects/346?aff=2040