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Police raided an apartment in Bnei Brak that had been converted into a drug laboratory, seizing large quantities of narcotics and arresting two suspects, authorities said.

The operation took place yesterday on Dangur Street, where detectives discovered what they believe was a facility used for the cultivation and production of illegal drugs. Inside the apartment, officers found 156 cannabis plants with a total gross weight of 31 kilograms. In addition, a substance suspected to be cocaine, weighing 10 grams gross, was located in a vehicle connected to the case.

Two suspects — a 25-year-old resident of Bnei Brak and a 24-year-old from Rehovot — were arrested and taken in for questioning at the local police station. Following their interrogation, both were remanded in custody. A court has extended their detention until February 26, 2026.

Meanwhile, Tel Aviv District Commander Chief Superintendent Chaim Sargarof signed an order yesterday to shut down the apartment for 30 days, through March 23, 2026.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, said Sunday that the United States is expected to issue an ultimatum to Hamas in the coming days, demanding that the terror group disarm and fully demilitarize Gaza. Speaking to Kan News, Smotrich said the move would come from Washington and would give Hamas a final opportunity to avoid a […]

Mexico mobilized its army, air force and elite security units — backed by intelligence assistance from the United States — to eliminate Nemesio Rubén “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, the powerful head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, in a sweeping weekend operation that officials described as unprecedented in scale.

The coordinated assault brought together ground troops, aircraft and a specially trained National Guard force focused on combating cartel violence. Oseguera, a former police officer who had a $15 million US bounty placed on him, had long led what authorities consider the most formidable criminal organization in the country.

Over the years, Oseguera built a heavily armed force around him. At his luxury compound in the state of Jalisco, security personnel reportedly maintained rocket launchers and other advanced weaponry to defend the property.

After dominating Mexico’s criminal underworld for years, Oseguera’s organization had amassed military-grade firepower, making a conventional law enforcement operation unfeasible.

In a prior raid on a CJNG stronghold, authorities discovered a cache that included numerous automatic machine guns, grenade launchers and rocket-propelled grenades — weapons similar to those used in 2015 to bring down a military helicopter.

Investigators also determined that Oseguera’s estate contained armored vehicles and heavy weapons more commonly associated with an organized military force than a criminal syndicate.

In advance of Sunday’s operation, Mexican officials received assistance from the US Joint Interagency Task Force-Counter Cartel (JITF-CC), a unit established last month to analyze and map cartel networks operating along the border.

President Trump has made dismantling Mexico’s drug cartels — which serve as a primary source of fentanyl and other narcotics entering the United States — a central focus of his administration.

Brigadier Gen. Maurizio Calabrese, who leads the task force, explained that the unit applied experience gained from counterterrorism campaigns against groups such as al Qaeda and Islamic State to track cartel infrastructure.

“The cartels operate differently than al Qaeda or ISIS, different motivations, which makes it even more important for us to identify entire networks so that we can disrupt and dismantle (them),” Calabrese told Reuters.

After Trump formally classified Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations last year, the task force gained authority to deploy military tools and surveillance resources in monitoring trafficking networks.

Ultimately, US analysts assembled a comprehensive targeting dossier on Oseguera, identifying his presence in the rural community of Tapalpa.

Although specific intelligence contributions from JITF-CC have not been publicly detailed, the agency’s website outlines its mission as seeking to “identify, disrupt, and dismantle cartel operations posing a threat to the United States along the U.S.-Mexico border.”

Mexico’s Security Ministry confirmed that US officials supplied “supplementary information” to support the mission, though planning and execution were directed by Mexico’s central military intelligence command.

According to Mexico’s Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla, part of the intelligence effort involved tracing an associate connected to one of Oseguera’s romantic partners, ultimately leading authorities to the cartel leader’s secluded compound in the mountains.

Trevilla said that when the woman departed the property, Oseguera and his armed entourage stayed behind inside the complex.

Once preparations were complete, Mexican special forces advanced on the compound Sunday. As security personnel attempted to escape into the surrounding forest, they opened fire on the approaching troops.

The Mexican troops “returned fire,” killing four cartel members in the shoot out, with Oseguera and three other gangsters dying from their wounds during an air transport, according to the security ministry.

Air Force aircraft and rapid-response National Guard teams provided additional support, enabling federal forces to swiftly subdue the gunmen and secure the property.

News of El Mencho’s death triggered violent retaliation by cartel factions across Mexico, with roadblocks erected on key highways and vehicles set ablaze.

Authorities issued a shelter-in-place order in Puerto Vallarta, a resort city west of Tapalpa, as unrest spread throughout the state.

Mexico Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch reported that at least 25 National Guard members were killed during the wave of violence in Jalisco, along with a prison guard and a state prosecutor’s office agent.

{Matzav.com}

Knesset Poised for Showdown Over Kosel Authority

A new dispute has erupted within the World Zionist Organization, as members of the religious-Orthodox bloc issued a sharp protest after a public statement was released in the name of the entire executive without their consent and contrary to their position.

The internal clash comes as the Knesset prepares to debate a bill that would grant the Chief Rabbinate full authority over all sections of the Kosel.

The controversy within the WZO follows last week’s incident at the Kosel, when police detained Women of the Wall activist Tami Gottlieb and issued her a restraining order barring her from the plaza after disturbances during Rosh Chodesh davening. The order was later shortened by a court ruling.

In the wake of that episode, several members of the WZO executive sought to publish a statement expressing support for Gottlieb, who also serves as a member of the organization’s executive. Representatives of the religious bloc objected strongly and refused to sign onto the statement. They have now released a counter-declaration, expressing what they describe as pain and protest over the original announcement, which they say was issued without their approval and does not reflect their position.

According to the Orthodox representatives, the statement fails to represent the will of the majority of voters in the most recent Zionist Congress elections. They argue that the results demonstrated a clear Orthodox majority across most major Jewish communities worldwide.

“Except for one or two countries,” Rabbi Pesach Lerner of the Eretz HaKodesh slate told Kikar HaShabbat, “in all the major countries around the world, in the United States and throughout Europe, there is a strong and clear majority of religious Orthodox voters who supported religious slates over the Reform slates. Despite this, representatives of the Reform and Conservative movements have the audacity to demand and publish statements as if they speak on behalf of world Jewry, when it has been demonstrated in the clearest possible way that the majority is Orthodox.

“It is time that we stand firm and state clearly: The majority of world Jewry supports the Orthodox position and seeks to preserve the voice of Torah and halachah in Eretz Yisroel. The Reform movement has no right to speak in the name of world Jewry.”

The WZO storm is unfolding against the backdrop of renewed legislative efforts in the Knesset. Justice Minister Yariv Levin announced Sunday that he intends to vote in favor of a bill that would place all parts of the Kosel, including the Ezras Yisroel section, under the full authority of Israel’s two chief rabbis.

“A few minutes ago, I received the announcement from the Government Secretariat that the meeting of the ministerial committee [for legislation] had been canceled. Since there is no government stance on this matter, I plan to vote for the bill. I urge all MKs, especially those in the coalition, to join me and send a clear message to the High Court: Enough is enough,” Levin said after Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu canceled a scheduled meeting of the Ministerial Committee for Legislation.

The prime minister reportedly acted amid concerns over potential backlash from Diaspora organizations. Coalition whip Ofir Katz later stated that members of the coalition would be free to vote according to their conscience, and a spokesman for Netanyahu said he had “allowed freedom of voting.”

The bill, sponsored by MK Avi Maoz, is intended to counter a recent High Court ruling requiring the state to move forward with upgrading the egalitarian prayer plaza, a step rooted in the Kosel compromise approved nearly a decade ago. Maoz’s proposal would grant the Chief Rabbinate ultimate authority over all activity at the site and define any action contrary to its directives, including non-Orthodox prayer services, as a “desecration.”

Maoz declared that he would bring the bill for a preliminary reading and called “upon all members of the Knesset to stand up and vote for the integrity of the Kosel and against the High Court.”

Shas, United Torah Judaism, and Otzma Yehudit issued a joint statement that they “will support the Kosel law that will be put to a vote on Wednesday. It was so in the past, and it will be so now.” The Religious Zionism party similarly announced that it would back the legislation, stating that it would “ensure the integrity of the Kosel and preserve its sanctity.”

Within the WZO, members of the Orthodox bloc insist that their stance reflects the authentic voice of the majority. In their formal protest, they stated that they were pained by what they called an unnecessary provocation that harmed the sanctity of the Kosel, while reiterating that every Jew has the right to daven at the holiest site of the Jewish people, provided that it is done in accordance with halachah and the longstanding status quo under the guidance of the Chief Rabbinate.

“We, members of the Zionist Executive on behalf of the religious-Orthodox factions, hereby express protest and pain over the statement that was published, contrary to our position, and purportedly in the name of all members of the executive following the provocation carried out at the Kosel plaza by executive member Tami Gottlieb,” the statement reads.

“The Western Wall is a most significant Jewish symbol. We respect the right of every Jew to pray there in accordance with halachah and Jewish tradition, while maintaining the status quo that has been in place for decades and the directives of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, which was founded by Rav Avrohom Yitzchok Hakohein Kook. This is the position of millions of Jews in Israel and throughout the world, and we seek to express it clearly.

“We express our pain over the unnecessary provocation that harmed the sanctity of the site, which bears no connection to the compromise outline proposed by Jewish Agency chairman Natan Sharansky and then-Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit. We strengthen the hands of the Israel Police and the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, who are entrusted with preserving the sanctity of the site and maintaining law and order in accordance with the directives of the Council of the Chief Rabbinate.”

{Matzav.com}

Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri on Monday sharply condemned the arrest of a 28-year-old yungerman from Be’er Sheva, accusing authorities of persecuting Torah students under the enforcement of Israel’s military draft laws.

Speaking during his party’s weekly faction meeting, Deri criticized the detention of the married kollel member, who is the father of a child with special needs and whose wife is currently pregnant. The man was reportedly arrested for failing to report for service under the Security Service Law, a move that Shas officials described as a “persecution of Torah learners.”

“What cruelty and wickedness to arrest a 28-year-old avreich, with a pregnant wife and a child with special needs, and throw him into prison for the crime of studying Torah,” Deri told fellow party members. “The world should be shocked by the persecution of Torah learners. We must not become accustomed to this.”

Deri also linked the arrest to what he described as a spiritually sensitive period for the nation, arguing that such actions carry broader consequences. “How much accusation and judgment this brings upon the people of Israel precisely during the difficult period we are in,” he said.

His remarks come amid heightened political tensions surrounding efforts to regulate the status of yeshiva students and their exemption from military service. Chareidi parties have warned against stricter enforcement measures and have placed responsibility on both political and defense officials for the current situation.

{Matzav.com}

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller on how the Supreme Court ruling against President Trump’s tariffs could affect Fed decisions: It’s too soon to know…This ruling is unlikely to have a significant impact on my view of the appropriate stance on policy.

Rep. Raskin on President Trump: As aspiring presidential dictators go, he is simply in a class by himself…Trump makes no pretense of respecting any part of the First Amendment.

UPDATE: The Levaya of Rebbetzin Shprintza Landau a”h will take place Tuesday morning at 9:00 a.m. at the Veretzky Shul, 1202 East 9th Street (corner of Avenue L) in Flatbush. The Kevurah will follow at Wellwood Cemetery, 1400 Wellwood Avenue, West Babylon, NY 11704. Besuros Tovois!

Former Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party suffered losses in the 2024 presidential race in part because of the party’s approach to Israel’s war in Gaza, according to internal research cited by Axios. The report, based on confidential Democratic Party reviews, suggests that U.S. policy toward Israel under then-President Joe Biden alienated key […]

BDE: YWN regrets to inform you of the petirah of Rebbetzin Shprintza Landau a”h, wife of the previous Veretzkier Rosh Yeshiva zt”l, and mother of the current Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Sholom Noach Landau, as well as the Veretzky Rav. She was niftar this morning at the age of 89 in her home. Notably, she attended […]

BREAKING: President Trump denies the reports in the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and Axios on the Pentagon’s concerns about a prolonged war against Iran.

Assuta Hospital in Tel Aviv’s Ramat Hachayal neighborhood has launched a new underground medical facility designed to hold roughly 200 patients, aiming to guarantee uninterrupted treatment during times of heavy missile fire.

The subterranean complex is intended to serve as a receiving center for patients transferred from public hospitals that lack sufficient fortification, allowing medical services to continue even under serious security threats.

Alongside the underground expansion, Assuta Medical Center Ramat HaHayal continues to operate reinforced above-ground operating rooms. During Operation Rising Lion, patients were moved to these protected surgical suites to undergo extended and complicated procedures.

Until now, the Ministry of Health’s standard policy during emergencies has been to shut down private medical institutions. However, insights gained from the Swords of Iron War and Operation Rising Lion prompted a reassessment of that approach.

Over the past two months, teams have worked intensively to equip the underground levels with the necessary infrastructure, including systems for medical gases, electricity, and communications, enabling a rapid shift to full inpatient hospitalization if required.

Dr. Shani Brosh, Head of the Medical Division at Assuta Medical Centers, emphasized: “In the past month or two, there has been very intensive activity. An agreement was signed, a contracting company was appointed, and infrastructure for medical gases, electricity, and communications was built to allow a move to underground complexes on the day of an order. Today, the infrastructure is in place and can accommodate about 200 hospitalized patients on behalf of other hospitals that do not have fortification.”

Assuta Medical Centers CEO Gidi Leshet said the project reflects a broader effort to strengthen Israel’s emergency preparedness. “Maintaining continuity of care as part of the health system’s emergency framework is a national mission, and part of our purpose – and we are proud to take part in its implementation.”

{Matzav.com}

A controversial door-to-door boycott campaign by pro-Palestinian activists in the UK is drawing fierce backlash after Jewish residents reported feeling intimidated in their own neighborhoods. According to a report by The Telegraph, activists linked to the “Apartheid-Free Zone” (AFZ) movement have been canvassing homes in Hackney, Bristol, Sheffield, and Brighton, urging residents to boycott Israeli […]

Following circulating claims that the state intends to take control of rooms located above the tefillah areas at the gravesite of the Tanna Rav Shimon bar Yochai in Meron, the so-called “Committee of Five,” which oversees management of the holy site, issued an official public statement this evening rejecting the allegations and outlining its plans for the space.

The committee, which operates with the guidance and blessing of leading Torah authorities, addressed reports suggesting it planned “to transfer the roof of the tomb to government control,” firmly dismissing the assertions. In its letter, the body stated unequivocally that “there is no truth to these claims, and they are baseless rumors being spread by interested parties.”

The statement further explained that the rooms in question “were built with supreme sanctity by the holy Rav Avraham Galanti, may his merit protect us, and were originally designated for Torah study and prayer for the use of all who come to the holy site of Meron.” According to the committee, the initial purpose of these rooms was to serve the broader public of worshippers and learners visiting the sacred location.

However, the committee noted that in practice, “these rooms are currently held by a number of individuals for lodging and family hospitality purposes, and at times are even rented out to others for overnight stays.” It emphasized that such use is inconsistent with both the original intention of the space and the needs of the wider public.

In light of the growing number of mispallelim and the increasing demand for additional davening areas, the committee stated that its request is “to return the rooms to public possession so that they may be used for Torah and tefillah for the benefit of all visitors to the site.”

Concluding its letter, the committee expressed regret over the spread of misinformation, writing that “we regret that interested parties are spreading falsehoods and rumors that have no basis, misleading the public and harming unity surrounding the management of the holy site.”

The committee stressed that it will continue to act “with responsibility, transparency, and while preserving the sanctity of the kever of Rav Shimon bar Yochai, may his merit protect us,” for the benefit of the entire public.

{Matzav.com}

The Knesset’s Health Committee has sounded the alarm over fruits and vegetables brought into Israel from the Palestinian Authority, citing data showing that a significant portion of tested produce contains prohibited pesticides associated with severe health risks, including cancer and Parkinson’s disease.

At a recent session led by MK Limor Sohn Har-Melech, committee members reviewed figures indicating that approximately 15,000 tons of agricultural goods from the Palestinian Authority enter Israel annually. Testing conducted between 2015 and 2022 revealed that between 27% and 40% of sampled produce exceeded permitted pesticide thresholds, with contamination rates increasing over time.

Dr. Ziva Hamma of the Ministry of Health outlined the findings in detail. According to the data presented, 50% of cucumber samples, 49% of tomato samples, and 66% of hot pepper samples were found to be contaminated. Particularly troubling was the discovery that 14% of samples contained neurotoxic organic phosphorus compounds, substances known to endanger fetal and infant development and to elevate the likelihood of Parkinson’s disease. In addition, 13% of the produce tested contained a combination of more than five different pesticides in a single item, creating potential harm to the liver, kidneys, and nervous system.

Although existing rules mandate that imported produce be held until laboratory results confirm compliance with safety standards, the committee heard that contaminated goods were frequently released to the market before testing was completed. Amos Zuarets, the Health Coordinator for the West Bank, acknowledged that the Civil Administration had placed greater emphasis on preserving shelf life and supporting the Palestinian economy than on health protections — a policy he said shifted only after the events of October 7. He indicated that within eight months, a new policy will ensure that all produce is withheld from sale until it receives confirmed clearance from safety tests.

MK Amit Levi sharply rebuked both government ministries and the Civil Administration, arguing that lenient enforcement over the years contributed to avoidable illnesses. He called on members of the public who believe they were harmed to seek accountability and cautioned that the problem may be compounded by an increase in unsupervised smuggling of agricultural products.

In response to the concerns, the Ministry of Health and the Civil Administration outlined a series of corrective steps. These include establishing a digital registry of authorized farmers, conducting inspections in the fields before goods cross into Israel, expanding sampling at border crossings, and imposing substantial fines on those who violate regulations.

Concluding the session, Sohn Har-Melech issued a direct appeal to consumers: “Nearly half of imported produce is contaminated with substances that threaten health, yet some prioritize profit over the safety of Israeli citizens. Check carefully where your fruits and vegetables come from and choose supervised Israeli produce.”

{Matzav.com}

Secretary of State Marco Rubio may postpone a planned visit to Israel as Washington weighs its next steps on potential military action against Iran, according to a U.S. official. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Rubio still intends to travel to Israel, but acknowledged that his schedule remains fluid. “Secretary Rubio is still […]

A senior U.S. military official is reportedly warning President Donald Trump that military action against Iran could carry grave consequences, including the risk of a drawn-out regional war. According to Axios, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine — the president’s top military adviser — has cautioned Trump and other senior officials […]

The White House seized on Team USA’s dramatic Olympic hockey victory over Canada to take a swipe at former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, reviving a past social media post after the Americans captured gold.

In a thrilling overtime finish at the Milan Cortina Winter Games on Sunday, the United States defeated Canada 2-1 to claim its first men’s Olympic hockey gold medal in 46 years. The winning goal came off the stick of Jack Hughes, who sealed the victory in overtime and ended the decades-long championship drought.

Following the triumph, President Donald Trump placed a congratulatory call to the team to mark the achievement.

The celebration extended beyond the ice. The official White House X account resurfaced a message Trudeau had posted last year after Canada defeated the United States in the 4 Nations Face-Off. At the time, Trudeau had written, “You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game.”

On Sunday, the White House reposted that statement and paired it with an image of a bald eagle standing atop a Canadian goose, signaling a pointed response to the earlier remark.

Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III also weighed in, sharing Trudeau’s previous message alongside a photo of himself holding an American flag and adding the caption, “We took your game.”

Hughes scored the decisive goal after receiving a cross-ice pass from Zach Werenski, sending the crowd in Milan into a frenzy and thrilling viewers across the United States who tuned in early Sunday morning.

Speaking after netting the game-winner, Hughes expressed pride in representing the country. “This is all about our country right now.”

“I love the USA,” he said. “I’m so proud to be American today.”

“I love my country; I love my teammates,” he added.

“That’s American hockey right there,” said Hughes.

“That’s a great Canadian team, but this means so much. We are such a team.”

Among those in attendance was FBI Director Kash Patel, who watched the game from the stands in Milan and later joined the team in its postgame celebration. Patel, an avid hockey enthusiast and amateur player himself, took part in the locker room festivities.

Video circulating online shows Patel celebrating with the players, drinking and spraying beer before pounding on a table and having a gold medal placed around his neck.

Patel later addressed media attention over his presence in the locker room, posting on X: “For the very concerned media — yes, I love America and was extremely humbled when my friends, the newly minted Gold Medal winners on Team USA, invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the boys — Greatest country on earth and greatest sport on earth,” Patel wrote.

{Matzav.com}

The Israeli Competition Authority announced Monday that it plans, pending a formal hearing, to levy a financial penalty of NIS 109,623,501 against El Al over alleged violations of competition law.

In addition to the corporate fine, the authority is weighing personal sanctions ranging from NIS 449,000 to NIS 548,000 against two senior executives at the airline.

According to the regulator, El Al declined to allow Arkia to use its aircraft maintenance hangars, despite a long-term agreement under which Arkia leases those facilities from El Al. Beginning in August 2024, amid the “Iron Swords” war, El Al repeatedly rejected Arkia’s requests for access. The authority said the justifications provided were inadequate and that the airline conveyed the impression that the existing agreement remained in effect, even as access was denied.

El Al holds a dominant position in Israel’s passenger aircraft hangar sector and competes directly with Arkia on numerous international routes. During the war, as many foreign carriers curtailed flights to and from Israel, domestic airlines became the primary players in the market. The authority noted that blocking Arkia’s access to hangars could have led to flight delays or cancellations, forced the leasing of replacement aircraft, and exposed the company to financial losses and reputational damage — expenses that might ultimately have been passed on to travelers.

The regulator stated that El Al’s conduct amounted to an unreasonable refusal to provide a service within a market in which it holds monopoly power, constituting an abuse of that status in breach of the Economic Competition Law. Before any final determination is made, El Al and the two executives will be given the opportunity to present their case at a hearing.

El Al pushed back against the allegations in a statement, saying: “We disagree with the claims in the authority’s letter. El Al always acts according to the law, including competition law. We are convinced no wrongdoing occurred. Throughout the war, El Al assisted other Israeli airlines far beyond legal requirements, out of solidarity and commitment to passengers, and continues to provide services-including hangars-to Arkia wherever possible.”

{Matzav.com}