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The FBI is reportedly pursuing a massive nationwide contract for access to automated license plate reader systems, a move that would significantly expand the agency’s ability to monitor vehicle movements across the United States, according to newly reviewed procurement documents.

The records, obtained and reviewed by 404 Media, indicate the bureau is seeking access to a broad network of automated license plate reader, or ALPR, cameras capable of tracking vehicles — and potentially the movements of individuals — throughout the country without requiring a warrant.

Federal documents show the FBI considers the technology a critical intelligence and investigative tool and is seeking extensive nationwide coverage.

“The FBI has a crucial need for accessible LPRs to provide a diverse and reliable range of collections across the United States. This data should be available across major highways and in an array of locations for maximum usefulness to law enforcement,” a statement of work, which describes what data the FBI is seeking access to, reads.

ALPR technology works by continuously scanning passing vehicles and recording details such as license plate numbers, vehicle color, make, and model. The systems generate time-stamped records tied to specific locations, allowing authorities to reconstruct where a vehicle has traveled over time. Although the technology has existed for years, its use has expanded rapidly across the country in recent years.

According to the procurement documents, the FBI is seeking a cloud-based platform that would allow agents to search ALPR records using license plate information, vehicle descriptions, timeframes, and geographic locations.

The agency is requesting access covering virtually the entire United States, including areas east and west of the Mississippi River, as well as Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and tribal territories. Budget documents attached to the proposal indicate the FBI is prepared to spend as much as $6 million per geographic region, totaling approximately $36 million overall.

The contract would reportedly support the FBI’s Directorate of Intelligence, the branch responsible for the bureau’s intelligence-gathering operations. While the FBI is primarily known as a law enforcement agency, it also operates as a member of the broader U.S. intelligence community.

Only a small number of private companies are believed capable of supplying the type of expansive nationwide database the FBI is seeking.

One major player in the field is Flock Safety, whose ALPR cameras are installed in communities throughout the country. Public records previously obtained by researchers and 404 Media reportedly showed that Flock has more than 80,000 cameras connected to a national vehicle lookup network.

Federal agencies have previously tested access to the Flock system, including Homeland Security Investigations, the Secret Service, and the Navy’s criminal investigative division. Reports have also indicated that local police departments have conducted searches within the network on behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Another company positioned to potentially fulfill the FBI’s request is Motorola Solutions, which acquired Vigilant Solutions and maintains one of the country’s largest ALPR databases. Much of Motorola’s data reportedly comes from cameras mounted on police vehicles as well as information gathered through its private-sector affiliate, Digital Recognition Network, which works extensively with vehicle repossession companies.

Reports last year indicated that ICE officials attended demonstrations of Motorola software capable of scanning a license plate and instantly searching billions of historical records showing where a vehicle had previously been observed.

The growing use of automated license plate readers has sparked increasing backlash in communities across the country, with critics warning the systems create vast surveillance networks capable of tracking ordinary Americans’ daily movements.

Josh Thomas, chief communications officer at Flock, told 404 Media in an email “We’re not going to speculate on prospective deals. But it’s worth noting that we already work with several federal agencies, all of whom are subject to the same obligations, constraints, and transparency mechanisms that apply to every other Flock customer. We also rebuilt our product from the ground up, starting last year, to ensure all local customers could trust that they can use Flock in full compliance with local and state laws. A big part of that is our Audit Assistance tool.”

Dozens of American military refueling aircraft are expected to continue operating out of Ben Gurion Airport until at least the end of 2027, according to Israeli media reports, in a move that is reportedly creating growing pressure on Israel’s civilian aviation system.

Israeli outlet N12 reported Monday that the aircraft, along with American military crews and support personnel, are expected to remain stationed at and around Israel’s main international airport for the foreseeable future as part of the ongoing US military buildup tied to regional tensions with Iran.

The deployment reportedly began during Operations Roaring Lion and Epic Fury, when American and Israeli forces coordinated strikes against Iranian targets and expanded military cooperation throughout the region. Reports earlier this year documented the arrival of US KC-46 and KC-135 refueling aircraft, as well as cargo planes, at Ben-Gurion Airport amid fears of broader regional escalation.

Israeli aviation officials are increasingly warning that the long-term military presence is disrupting normal civilian airport operations and could have major economic consequences for travelers and airlines.

Last week, Israel Civil Aviation Authority chief Shmuel Zakay reportedly sent a sharply worded letter to Transportation Minister Miri Regev, complaining that “Ben-Gurion is operating like a military base, not as a civilian airport.”

According to Israeli aviation officials, the parking and operational space occupied by American aircraft has reduced airport capacity at a time when international carriers are already hesitant to fully restore flights to Israel following months of regional instability.

Industry officials have warned that the continued military deployment could contribute to higher airfare prices by limiting available flight slots and discouraging foreign airlines from resuming regular service to Tel Aviv.

ישראיר CEO Uri Sirkis recently told the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee that the situation has significantly disrupted airline operations.

“We are currently allowed to have four overnight parking spaces at Ben Gurion Airport because of the US planes, and we were supposed to keep 17 planes in Israel,” he said.

Sirkis added that the shortage of space has forced airlines to adopt costly workarounds, including parking aircraft overnight in European cities and reversing flight schedules.

American military aircraft began arriving at Ben-Gurion in large numbers earlier this year as Washington expanded its military posture across the Middle East while weighing possible military action against Iran. Open-source flight analysts tracked dozens of refueling tankers and cargo aircraft entering the region during the buildup.

{Matzav.com}

Sheba Medical Center has launched a new underground hyperbaric medicine facility that hospital officials say is the only protected center of its kind in Israel, designed to continue operating even during wartime emergencies while treating wounded soldiers and civilians from across the country.

The new center, named in honor of Michal and Dr. Avraham Kedar, was built with a donation of approximately 22 million shekels from the Kedar family. Located within Sheba’s Rehabilitation Hospital in Tel Hashomer, the facility has already begun accepting patients referred both from Sheba and other hospitals nationwide.

The underground complex houses two state-of-the-art hyperbaric chambers that rank among the largest in Israel. Together, the chambers can accommodate up to 24 patients simultaneously. Hospital officials emphasized that the fortified underground location allows treatments to continue uninterrupted during missile attacks or other national emergencies, making it unique within Israel’s healthcare system.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves placing patients inside a pressurized chamber where they breathe concentrated oxygen. The treatment is used to accelerate healing and improve oxygen flow to damaged tissue in patients suffering from conditions such as severe infections, radiation injuries, diabetes-related wounds, and other chronic or complex medical complications. In some instances, the therapy can prevent amputations and prove lifesaving.

Sheba officials said the center is expected to become a national destination for hyperbaric medicine and will also support expanded medical research in the field. The hospital described the project as part of a broader wartime rehabilitation effort as Sheba continues caring for wounded soldiers and civilians injured during the conflict.

The project also represents a new philanthropic direction for Michal and Dr. Avraham Kedar, whose previous charitable efforts focused largely on education, culture, and innovation in Israel. After personally meeting wounded soldiers, the family said they understood the growing need for advanced rehabilitation infrastructure capable of serving both military personnel and civilians.

“We see it as a great privilege to partner with Sheba and take part in establishing an advanced medical center that is expected to improve the lives of many patients,” Michal and Dr. Avraham Kedar said. “We believe that combining medical innovation, clinical excellence and human mission is a way to create broad and lasting impact on Israeli society and its resilience.”

Prof. Amitai Ziv said the new facility will significantly strengthen the hospital’s rehabilitation capabilities and allow for broader treatment options for patients requiring long-term care.

“The establishment of the center at Sheba allows us to continue providing broad, comprehensive, precise and multidisciplinary care to patients, alongside research development in the field,” Ziv said. “We thank Michal and Dr. Avraham Kedar for their partnership and extraordinary donation, which has enabled us to provide the best possible response for our patients.”

Prof. Yitzchok Kreiss said the new center is intended to serve as a national medical anchor during a period of ongoing instability in Israel.

“In today’s changing reality, our role is to be a beacon of stability and excellence,” Kreiss said. “Our mission goes beyond clinical care; it is about breakthrough thinking and building social and national resilience. The new national center will serve as an anchor for the home front and provide advanced medical care to patients from across the country. Thanks to partners like the Kedar family, we will continue to make an impact and serve as a source of hope for Israeli society.”

{Matzav.com}

Sen. John Fetterman is continuing to distance himself from many Democrats on the issue of Iran, defending President Donald Trump’s military campaign and opposing efforts in Congress to force an end to the conflict.

In an interview with Semafor, Fetterman argued that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons outweighs partisan political considerations or pressure from political supporters.

“Something like this is much more important than just voting what your base might demand. Because I think things are much bigger and more important than that. And Iran with a nuclear bomb is one of those things,” Fetterman told Semafor in an interview published Monday, discussing opposition to legislation to end President Trump’s war with Iran.

Fetterman has repeatedly voiced frustration with lawmakers who oppose U.S. military action against Iran. Shortly after hostilities began, he publicly questioned why some senators were unwilling to support the administration’s approach.

“Every member in the U.S. Senate agrees we cannot allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon,” Fetterman said in a post on the social platform X in March.

“I’m baffled why so many are unwilling to support the only action to achieve that. Empty sloganeering vs. commitment to global security — which is it?” he asked.

Congressional Democrats, joined by several Republicans, have been attempting to advance resolutions aimed at limiting or ending the war unless Congress explicitly authorizes continued military action under the 1973 War Powers Act.

Last week, momentum behind those efforts increased as several Republican lawmakers crossed party lines to support Democratic-backed measures in both the House and Senate.

On Wednesday, three Republican senators voted in favor of advancing a Democratic resolution seeking to halt the war with Iran absent additional authorization from Congress. The effort ultimately failed when a procedural motion to remove the resolution from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was defeated by a 49-50 vote.

Fetterman stood apart from the rest of his party by becoming the lone Democrat to oppose moving the resolution forward.

Public opinion surveys meanwhile have shown growing unease among American voters regarding the conflict. A recent poll conducted by The New York Times and Siena College found that most registered voters believe Trump made the wrong decision in launching the military offensive against Iran.

The war has also created economic concerns tied to energy markets. The Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes — has been closed amid the fighting, fueling increases in oil and gasoline prices.

According to AAA, the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline reached approximately $4.52 on Monday afternoon.

{Matzav.com}

A senior Iranian official publicly mocked President Donald Trump on Monday after Trump disclosed that he had delayed a planned military strike against Iran to allow additional time for negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program.

Mohsen Rezaei, a former commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and a top adviser to Iran’s supreme leadership, ridiculed Trump’s announcement in a social media post.

“He sets a deadline for a military strike and then cancels it himself! All with the delusional hope of making the Iranian nation and officials surrender!” Rezaei wrote in a post on social media.

He further threatened, “The iron fist of the powerful Armed Forces and the great nation of Iran will force them to retreat and surrender.”

Rezaei’s comments came shortly after Trump revealed on Truth Social that the United States had been preparing to carry out a military strike against Iran on Tuesday but decided to postpone the operation because of ongoing diplomatic discussions.

Later Tuesday, Trump elaborated on the decision while speaking with reporters, indicating that a major military action had been imminent.

“We were getting ready to do a very major attack tomorrow. I’ve put it off for a little while, hopefully, maybe forever, but possibly for a little while, because we’ve had very big discussions with Iran, and we’ll see what they amount to.”

Trump said several Gulf nations had urged Washington to delay military action in hopes that diplomacy could still succeed.

“I was asked by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, and some others if we could put it off for two or three days, a short period of time, because they think that they are getting very close to making a deal. And if we can do that, where there’s no nuclear weapon going into the hands of Iran, I think, and if they’re satisfied, we will be probably satisfied also.”

The president said Israel and other regional allies were informed about the decision to hold off on the strike.

He stressed that the US informed Israel of the decision to hold off on the attack as well as “other people in the Middle East that have been involved with us.”

Trump described the current diplomatic effort as encouraging, though he cautioned that previous negotiations had also appeared promising before collapsing.

“It’s a very positive development, but we’ll see whether or not it amounts to anything. We’ve had periods of time where we thought [we were] pretty much getting close to making a deal, and it didn’t work out, but this is a little bit different,” said Trump, who added that the strike he halted would have been “very big and not something I wanted to do, but we have no choice because we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon.”

He also emphasized that he would prefer a negotiated settlement over military action if such an agreement could effectively block Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

He also said that “there seems to be a very good chance they could work something out. If we can do that without bombing the hell out of them, I’d be very happy.”

In a separate interview with the New York Post on Monday, Trump warned that Iran was aware that significant developments could occur soon as tensions continue rising despite the fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.

Trump stated in the interview that Iran knows “what’s going to be happening soon” as the fragile ceasefire between the US and the Islamic Republic continues to fray.

The president also said he was unwilling to offer Tehran additional concessions during negotiations.

Trump further stated that he is “not open” to further concessions to Iran.

The renewed diplomatic maneuvering follows reports that Iran recently transmitted a revised proposal through Pakistani intermediaries. According to reports, the updated proposal contained only modest adjustments compared to earlier drafts.

Sources familiar with the proposal said the new Iranian offer included broader language pledging that Tehran would not seek nuclear weapons, though it reportedly lacked concrete commitments regarding uranium enrichment levels or Iran’s existing stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

Pakistani sources said the updated Iranian proposal included a commitment not to produce nuclear weapons, but did not address the issue of enriched uranium or developments surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.

{Matzav.com}

A federal judge in the United States has dealt a major legal setback to Francesca Albanese, ruling that the controversial United Nations official can be formally served in a defamation lawsuit brought against her by two Christian pro-Israel organizations.

The decision was handed down May 15 by the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. The court authorized the plaintiffs to serve Albanese through email and social media platforms, overcoming earlier complications tied to international procedures and her current reported residence in Tunisia.

Under the court order, Albanese now has 21 days to respond to the lawsuit. If she fails to answer the complaint within that timeframe, the court could enter a default judgment against her.

The lawsuit was filed in September by Christian Friends of Israeli Communities and Christians for Israel USA, two Colorado-linked Christian charities that say they were targeted by Albanese in what they describe as a coordinated campaign intended to intimidate and damage pro-Israel groups.

According to the complaint, the dispute began after Albanese sent letters to the organizations ahead of publishing a United Nations report that the plaintiffs characterize as deeply biased against Israel. The charities allege that Albanese threatened them with possible exposure to international criminal proceedings related to alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In the letters, Albanese accused the groups of “knowingly spreading malicious lies” and linked them to allegations involving genocide and war crimes connected to the conflict in Gaza.

The organizations argue that her accusations severely harmed their reputations, interfered with their charitable activities, and were made intentionally to cause damage. The plaintiffs are seeking financial compensation, a formal retraction, and a court order prohibiting Albanese from repeating the statements.

Albanese has repeatedly faced criticism over statements viewed by opponents as hostile toward Israel. More recently, several European foreign ministers condemned remarks she made during an Al Jazeera conference, where she stated: “The fact that instead of stopping Israel, most of the world has armed, given Israel political excuses, political sheltering, economic and financial support … We who do not control large amounts of financial capitals, algorithms and weapons, we now see that we as a humanity have a common enemy.”

She later denied interpreting her remarks as labeling Israel itself a universal enemy.

Albanese later claimed in an interview that she “never, ever, ever said ‘Israel is the common enemy of humanity,'” calling the accusations “completely false accusations.”

Her past comments regarding Israel and Jewish influence have also drawn scrutiny. Social media posts uncovered in 2022 showed Albanese referring to what she described as the “Jewish lobby” controlling the United States.

At the time, Albanese denied that the comments were antisemitic, insisting they had been “mischaracterized,” though criticism over her rhetoric has persisted.

Her remarks about Israel intensified after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, which she said should be understood within “context” and framed as a response to Israeli “aggression.”

Earlier this year, Albanese accused Israel of institutionalizing torture against Palestinians.

In late March, Albanese claimed that the world has given Israel “a license to torture Palestinians”, alleging that “torture has effectively become state policy” in Israel.

Israel’s diplomatic mission in Geneva responded sharply to those comments.

Responding to the comments, Israel’s mission in Geneva said in a statement, “Francesca Albanese is not a promoter of human rights; she is an agent of chaos… and any document she produces is nothing but a politically-charged, activist rant.”

The Israeli statement further charged that Albanese “advocates dangerous extremist narratives to undermine the very existence of the State of Israel,” it said.

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