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“The last people who said the Jews are a ‘burden on humanity’ were Hitler and Goebbels,” said Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who had recently used the phrase to describe Israel in an interview with CNN Türk.

“You’re in excellent company, Mr. Fidan,” Chikli added in his tweet, accompanied by an AI-generated image of Fidan standing next to a Nazi flag.

Fidan on Thursday said Israel had become “a problem for the entire international community,” adding that “the Israeli authorities have become a burden that humanity can no longer bear.”

Fidan said Turkey had no intention of changing its position toward Israel and defended Ankara’s decision to halt trade with the Jewish state following the war against Hamas in Gaza.

Responding on social media, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar accused his Turkish counterpart of incitement to genocide, describing his remarks as “sickening.”

Likud Party lawmaker Dan Illouz told JNS on Sunday that Fidan’s remarks were “not just despicable; they are the words of a regime that has entirely lost its way.

“Erdoğan is rapidly dragging Turkey down the exact same path as Iran’s axis of terror. If he continues going in Khamenei’s ways, he very well might end up like Khamenei,” Illouz added. “Israel has made it perfectly clear what happens to those who seek our destruction.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

While New York City celebrated the nation’s 250th anniversary, Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, traveled to Spain to take part in an Islamic spiritual retreat, drawing criticism from political opponents who questioned her absence during one of the country’s most significant patriotic observances.

Duwaji, a Syrian-American artist who was raised in Dallas and educated in Dubai, was seen Monday at Newark Liberty International Airport boarding a flight to Palma, the capital of the Spanish island of Mallorca. According to reports, she traveled there to participate in a sold-out retreat organized by The Women’s Sanctuary, where she serves as the group’s artist-in-residence and one of the event’s hosts.

The retreat, titled “Plants Of The Quran,” carries a price tag of approximately $3,400 per attendee. Running from Wednesday through Monday, the program centers on plants referenced in the Quran through art, botanical instruction, and spiritual reflection.

Following the Mallorca event, Duwaji is expected to travel to Corsica, France, to help lead another sold-out Women’s Sanctuary retreat scheduled for July 9 through July 14. That gathering, titled “Mary In The Quran,” promises to “explore” in “depth” the legacy of Mary, described by organizers as “the most honored woman in the Qur’an.”

Conservative commentator and comedian Arynne Wexler posted photographs on X on Friday showing Duwaji seated at a United Airlines departure gate before her flight. Wexler criticized the timing of the trip, writing, “Funny how when @ZohranKMamdani was telling New Yorkers to lower their AC his wife Rama Duwaji was boarding a flight to party in Mallorca.”

Wexler added, “Reminder that I can’t tag her because she deleted her account after her insanely offensive tweets were discovered. Champagne socialists,” referring to controversial racial, homophobic, and other social media posts from more than a decade ago that resurfaced earlier this year.

According to Wexler’s publicist, the photographs were taken by an acquaintance who happened to be on the same flight and were shared so the public would be aware of Duwaji’s travel.

The cost of Duwaji’s airfare has not been disclosed. However, round-trip tickets between Newark and Palma later this month were listed at approximately $930 as of yesterday.

Her decision to leave the country during the America 250 celebrations quickly drew criticism from Republican officials in New York City.

“Nothing says ‘America 250’ quite like skipping the celebration for a Mediterranean vacation, but I am not surprised because she has made her hatred for America very evident,” said Councilwoman Joann Ariola of Queens.

Councilman Frank Morano of Staten Island also criticized the trip.

“It’s disappointing that the First Lady chose to be overseas instead of taking part in one of the biggest civic events our city and country will mark this year,” he said.

“No one is saying elected officials and their families can’t take vacations, but this was a moment to show up for the city and for the country, and she missed it.”

City Hall declined to respond directly to the criticism but confirmed that Duwaji was not accompanied by members of the NYPD security detail assigned to the mayor and his family.

Duwaji has previously faced scrutiny over deleted social media posts. According to a March report by the Washington Free Beacon, some of the posts praised Palestinian terrorist organizations, while others criticized American military personnel for supporting Israel.

One post she reposted on Tumblr in 2015 declared, “American soldiers fighting in imperialist wars are not brave nor are they fighting for anyone’s freedom. They are mercilessly slaughtering 3rd world civilians and fighting to maintain American hegemony.”

Mayor Mamdani, who has also been sharply critical of Israel, has defended his wife, arguing that her past online activity should not be treated as a political issue because she holds no official position in his administration. Duwaji has since apologized for many of her earlier posts.

While his wife was overseas, Mamdani remained in New York, where he faced criticism over his handling of the city’s first major heat wave since taking office. He urged residents to set their air conditioners to 78 degrees, even as temperatures inside portions of City Hall reportedly dropped as low as 54 degrees.

Mamdani also participated in the city’s America 250 observances, delivering a 15-minute speech from City Hall in which he criticized capitalism and America’s involvement in foreign conflicts while seated at the former desk of George Washington.

Yesterday, the mayor attended the Sail4th 250 International Parade of Sail on Governors Island and was later scheduled to preside over the Empire State Building’s Fourth of July lighting ceremony.

{Matzav.com}

The Social Security Administration announced Friday that parents will soon be able to enroll newborns in the new Trump Accounts program through the same paperwork used to obtain a Social Security number at birth, simplifying the process as the first federal deposits begin reaching eligible accounts.

Beginning next week, the agency will revise its instructions to hospitals and coordinate with states to update the Enumeration at Birth forms, allowing parents who apply for a Social Security number for their newborn to automatically initiate the creation of a Trump Account at the same time.

The Enumeration at Birth system, which has been in use since 1987, is the primary method by which American newborns receive Social Security numbers. By integrating Trump Account enrollment into that existing process, officials say parents will no longer need to complete a separate application.

Social Security Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano said the streamlined enrollment process is a key part of the program’s implementation.

“Social Security numbers are the backbone of Trump Accounts, and we will empower parents to enroll their newborns through the Enumeration at Birth program to take full advantage of this program from the day a child is born,” he said in the announcement.

The investment accounts were established under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4, 2025. Designed as custodial investment accounts similar to retirement savings plans, they are available for children under the age of 18.

Children born in the United States between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, who are U.S. citizens and have valid Social Security numbers are eligible to receive a one-time $1,000 contribution from the U.S. Treasury.

In addition to the government’s initial deposit, families, employers, relatives, and charitable organizations may collectively contribute up to $5,000 each year. The funds are invested in low-cost U.S. stock index funds and generally remain inaccessible until the child reaches age 18.

Ahead of the official rollout, President Trump announced on Truth Social that demand for the program had already exceeded 6 million account requests. He also revealed that the Treasury Department will now permit publicly traded stock to be donated to Trump Accounts.

“This opens the door for GREAT American Businesses, Philanthropists, and Job Creators to invest directly in the future of our children, and help build a Generation of Savers, Investors, and Owners,” he wrote.

Parents of children who have already been born may still open a Trump Account by visiting TrumpAccounts.gov and submitting IRS Form 4547. The new Social Security enrollment process is intended to automatically register future newborns at birth, eliminating the need for parents to complete a second application later.

Eligible children whose accounts have already been established began receiving the $1,000 Treasury contribution today.

{Matzav.com}

The Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission are urging state attorneys general to investigate possible gasoline price gouging and anti-competitive conduct by oil companies, intensifying the Trump administration’s effort to bring fuel prices down as crude oil costs have fallen while prices at the pump remain relatively high.

In a letter sent Friday, Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward Jr. and FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson told state law enforcement officials that federal regulators are closely monitoring developments in the petroleum market and warned that fluctuations in the market do not exempt companies from antitrust laws or consumer protection requirements.

Although neither the Justice Department nor the FTC has direct authority to enforce price-gouging laws, the officials noted that more than 36 states, along with several U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, have statutes prohibiting excessive price increases during emergencies. The agencies encouraged those jurisdictions to use those laws when appropriate.

Gasoline prices have remained elevated since the U.S.-Iran conflict led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz for more than three and a half months beginning in late February, disrupting one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes, which typically carries about 20 percent of global oil supplies.

According to AAA, the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline stood at $3.82 on Friday. While that is below the peak reached during the conflict, it remains significantly higher than the $2.98 national average recorded in the week before the fighting erupted.

President Trump has repeatedly criticized oil companies in recent days, arguing that consumers have not benefited from the sharp decline in crude oil prices.

In a Truth Social post on June 24, Trump accused the industry of keeping gasoline prices artificially high despite falling crude costs, writing that motorists were being “gouged” and announcing that he had directed the Justice Department to investigate the matter.

He renewed that demand Monday evening, writing that “Gasoline Retailers must get their Prices down, IMMEDIATELY!” while saying prices should be closer to $2.50 per gallon.

Oil industry executives, however, contend that reductions in crude oil prices are not immediately reflected at gas stations.

Chevron Chief Financial Officer Eimear Bonner told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Europe” that the adjustment takes time to work its way through the supply chain.

“It’s going to take time though,” she said, explaining that there is a delay between declining crude prices and lower retail gasoline prices. She added that consumers should see prices ease as market conditions stabilize.

The federal agencies also encouraged consumers who suspect unlawful pricing practices to file complaints through the Justice Department’s Citizen Complaint Center and the FTC’s online fraud reporting system, signaling increased scrutiny of gasoline prices as they remain a major issue for consumers ahead of November’s midterm elections.

{Matzav.com}

Paul Pelosi, the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is facing a recommended misdemeanor hit-and-run charge after authorities say he struck a parked vehicle in Napa County and drove away before his own damaged car came to a stop a short distance later.

According to the Napa County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a reported hit-and-run on Yount Street in Yountville at approximately 2:30 p.m. on July 3.

Investigators said a witness called 911 after seeing a northbound convertible crash into the rear of a parked vehicle on the side of the road. The impact caused extensive damage and forced one of the parked car’s tires onto the curb.

The witness told deputies that the driver briefly stopped after the collision before leaving the scene.

Authorities later located Pelosi, 86, who acknowledged that he had struck something but told officers he did not realize what he had hit. He continued driving until his vehicle became disabled because of the damage sustained in the crash.

Deputies found Pelosi’s brown convertible partially obstructing the roadway on Yountville Cross Road. Officers observed significant damage to the front passenger side of the vehicle.

Investigators determined that alcohol did not play a role in the incident. Pelosi voluntarily submitted to a preliminary alcohol screening test, which registered a blood alcohol content of 0.00. Police said that “therefore, Driving Under the Influence was ruled out.”

Pelosi was not taken into custody. The sheriff’s office explained that “is common for this type of offense, in accordance with misdemeanor arrest laws spelled out in 853.6 of the California Penal Code.”

The investigation has been forwarded to the Napa County District Attorney’s Office for review. Authorities also said they will submit a driver re-examination referral to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, a procedure commonly used in cases involving elderly motorists.

A spokesperson for the Napa County Sheriff’s Office told The California Post that investigators are recommending a misdemeanor charge of property-damage hit-and-run without injuries under California Vehicle Code 20002.

The Pelosi family owns a vineyard estate in nearby St. Helena, roughly 10 miles north of Yountville. The 16-acre Zinfandel Lane property includes a residence and a licensed winery and generates revenue through grape production.

In a statement to The California Post, a spokesperson for Pelosi said, “Mr. Paul Pelosi has personally apologized to the owner of the vehicle and assured them that he would take responsibility for the damage to their vehicle.”

The spokesperson added, “Speaker Pelosi will not be commenting further on this private matter.”

Pelosi has previously spoken publicly about issues affecting the area surrounding the family’s vineyard. According to the Los Angeles Times, he once opposed a neighboring winery’s proposed expansion and also raised concerns about speeding on the local roads.

“One thing I would like to say while here, though,” he said, “all of us are concerned about the speed limit on Zinfandel Lane.”

Pelosi first became the focus of national attention in 2022 after an intruder broke into the couple’s San Francisco home and assaulted him with a hammer, causing a fractured skull.

The attacker, David DePape, had been searching for Nancy Pelosi, who was away on official business at the time of the attack.

Earlier that same year, Pelosi was involved in another crash in Napa County while driving his Porsche. Responding officers reported that he appeared intoxicated, alleging that he smelled strongly of alcohol, had difficulty maintaining his balance, and slurred his speech.

A blood alcohol test later measured his blood alcohol concentration at 0.082%. Pelosi subsequently pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor DUI charge involving injuries.

Pelosi has also drawn public attention over financial transactions. In 2021, he reportedly earned approximately $5.3 million through Alphabet stock options that he had acquired on February 27, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted the U.S. economy. The timing of the investment prompted questions from critics about possible insider trading because of his connection to a senior member of Congress.

{Matzav.com}

A series of suspected antisemitic attacks shook Montreal’s Outremont neighborhood over Shabbos night, as individuals riding in a vehicle allegedly targeted visibly Jewish pedestrians, stealing three shtreimlach and assaulting several victims in what authorities are investigating as a hate crime.

The incidents began at approximately 10:00 p.m. when a car carrying several suspects drove through the neighborhood, apparently seeking out chassidic Jews. According to reports, the group repeatedly stopped to harass pedestrians and snatch their shtreimlach before speeding away.

The first attack occurred near Mehudar, where one of the suspects exited the vehicle and struck a passerby’s shtreimel. When the victim shouted for help, nearby pedestrians rushed toward the scene, prompting the suspect to flee back into the waiting vehicle before he could take the fur hat. As the car sped away, it narrowly missed hitting another pedestrian.

The same vehicle was later linked to three additional attacks throughout the neighborhood. In three of the incidents, the suspects succeeded in stealing shtreimlach, while a fourth attempt was unsuccessful. During the spree, one victim was spat on, and another was struck by a thrown beverage can.

Members of the community pieced together the reports and concluded that the same vehicle and group of suspects were responsible for all of the incidents.

Police have launched an investigation and are treating the attacks as suspected hate crimes.

{Matzav.com}