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[Video below.] Hundreds of young men affiliated with the Peleg Yerushalmi gathered Thursday evening in the heart of Yerushalayim, blocking major roads and shutting down the light rail for hours in protest of the recent arrests of yeshiva bochurim.

The police eventually moved in to disperse the crowd, deploying a water cannon that sprayed blue-colored liquid.

The demonstrators, identified with the kehilla of Rav Tzvi Friedman, assembled at the Sarai Yisroel–Yaffo intersection near the central bus station and the Navon train station, bringing traffic in the area to a standstill. For an extended period, they remained in place, preventing vehicles from passing and halting the train service.

At the conclusion of the protest, police stated that they had been working for two hours to disperse what they described as a disturbance. According to the police, “As part of the incident, a small group of individuals blocking the roads and the light rail route caused disruption, including the involvement of minors.”

During the course of the dispersal, five individuals were taken into custody. Police reported that all roads were reopened shortly afterward and that calm was restored to the area.

The protest led to major disruptions throughout central Yerushalayim, with the light rail service repeatedly suspended and multiple roads closed. Large police forces were dispatched in an effort to remove the demonstrators from both the streets and the train tracks.

As tensions escalated, a police officer officially declared the gathering illegal and instructed the crowd to disperse. According to police accounts, when the protesters refused to comply, officers began crowd-control measures, including the use of a water cannon that sprayed blue-colored water. Footage from the scene showed many demonstrators soaked in blue dye as a result.

Members of the Peleg Yerushalmi say the protest was sparked by the arrest of a yeshiva bochur in Herzliya last week. According to their version of events, the arrest was carried out through deception, claiming that a military police officer posed as a delivery messenger, contacted the bochur, and told him there was a package waiting outside his home, where he was then arrested.

Holding the protest in Yerushalayim marked a departure from the group’s usual demonstrations, which are typically concentrated along Route 4 in central Israel. This time, organizers appear to have deliberately shifted the location to the capital in order to catch authorities off guard.

Earlier, police issued a statement saying: “Yerushalayim District police officers and Border Police forces are working to remove individuals disrupting public order in the Yaffo–Sarai Yisroel area. The demonstrators are blocking roads and the light rail route, thereby disturbing public order. A police officer declared the gathering unlawful and instructed the protesters to clear the roadway. Since they did not comply, forces began dispersing them using force and a water cannon in order to restore order and reopen the roads for public use.”

Police added: “The Israel Police will continue to allow lawful protest and freedom of expression. At the same time, we will not allow a blatant disruption of public order that harms freedom of movement, and we will act decisively to restore order.”

Senior legal officials are warning that Israel’s High Court of Justice is likely to invalidate the proposed draft law outright, even if the coalition revises its language and advances the framework led by MK Boaz Bismuth.

According to a report citing conversations with legal sources, the expectation is that the court will not allow the legislation to stand due to concerns that it fails to meet equality standards. The assessment is based on recent rulings and statements made by justices during hearings, which indicate that the law does not satisfy constitutional requirements. Officials said that “an order to halt the law will be issued immediately — since it does not align with the requirements of equality.”

The situation is further complicated by the position of the Knesset’s legal advisory body, which has raised “several significant comments” regarding the current wording of the bill. Despite the lack of legal approval, Bismuth, who chairs the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, appears determined to continue advancing the legislation.

Legal experts cautioned that the effort is unlikely to succeed in its present form, stating that “there is no chance of passing the draft law in its current version” without the backing of professional and legal authorities.

At the same time, leading rabbinic authorities have not yet issued a final ruling on the matter. Reports indicate that while Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch has expressed reservations about the proposed law, a final decision from Rav Dov Landau has not yet been handed down.

Sources in Bnei Brak suggest that given the intensifying situation on the ground, including arrests of yeshiva students, Rav Landau could ultimately support the legislation in an effort to halt sanctions and detentions.

However, the latest legal assessments cast doubt on whether any political or rabbinic decision would ultimately matter. If the High Court issues an immediate injunction against the bill, even full backing from chareidi parties would not be enough to bring the law into effect.

This leaves the yeshiva community in a state of uncertainty, as the proposed legislation faces the prospect of being struck down immediately and outright, by High Court order.

The conduct of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee has also raised questions within legal circles. The fact that its chairman has continued to move forward in recent discussions without the approval of the Knesset’s legal advisers is seen by some as an attempt to bypass fundamental legal obstacles.

Legal analysts say the High Court is closely monitoring the legislative process, and any attempt to pass a version of the law that does not meet equality standards is expected to face firm judicial opposition.

{Matzav.com}

The man responsible for a firebombing attack targeting a pro-Israel march in Boulder, Colorado, was sentenced Thursday to life in prison after admitting guilt to every state charge filed against him.

Mohamed Sabry Soliman entered guilty pleas to 101 counts, including a murder charge in connection with the death of 82-year-old Karen Diamond. The attack, which took place last June, targeted participants in a demonstration calling for the release of hostages taken by Hamas during its October 2023 assault on Israel.

More than a dozen others were injured in the assault, which shook Boulder’s Jewish community and heightened concern over growing antisemitic violence across the United States.

Addressing the court, Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty said the attack spread “terror, fear and death.”

During Thursday’s hearing, victims and relatives rose one after another to describe the lasting trauma they have endured in the months since the attack.

They recounted scenes of chaos as Molotov cocktails exploded around them, forcing them to flee in panic while others tried desperately to put out flames that engulfed clothing and burned fellow participants.

“When I’m alone and close my eyes I can vividly see Karen’s body in flames,” Orrie Gartner testified in court.

Several victims spoke of lingering psychological scars, describing how memories of screams, fire, and the smell of gasoline and burning hair continue to haunt them. Some said they now remain constantly on alert, scanning their surroundings for danger, while others fear they could be targeted again.

One man said he now checks for escape routes wherever he goes. Another said he has begun concealing his Star of David necklace, while a woman said she chooses to wear hers openly despite the hatred. Others reflected that the attack shattered their sense of security in what they once believed was a safe and peaceful college town.

“We learned the full meaning of the expression ‘Living Hell,’” Ms. Diamond’s sons, Ethan and Andrew, said in a statement read aloud in court.

Karen Diamond’s husband, Lou, suffered severe burns in the attack and endured a month of intense suffering in a hospital burn unit, located near his wife’s room, their sons said. She succumbed to her injuries three weeks after the incident.

According to their sons, the attack abruptly ended a life filled with activity and purpose. The couple had recently participated in the Bolder Boulder 10K race, where Ms. Diamond placed fourth in her age category and her husband, then 84, finished seventh in his. They frequently hiked, worked in their garden, attended concerts, and had been planning a trip to France.

“Now, none of those things will happen,” their sons said.

Inside the courtroom, victims and family members were visibly emotional, many wiping away tears as they listened to the statements.

After the testimonies concluded, Soliman, an Egyptian national who arrived in the United States in 2022, addressed the court for the first time. Speaking in Arabic, he expressed regret and said he believed he deserved the death penalty.

“I find that to be the justice for Ms. Diamond,” he said while seated beside his attorneys.

He rejected the claim that his actions were motivated by antisemitism, but then launched into an extended criticism of Zionism, calling it “the enemy,” and spoke about civilian deaths in Gaza.

“Yes, I am against Israel, and I can’t deny that,” he said. “And that’s my right.”

Chief District Judge Nancy W. Salomone dismissed his arguments, stating that his actions constituted terrorism and had impacted an entire community.

“Your choices were acts of terror, and they victimized an entire community,” she said.

“You chose to victimize these people because they were members of the Jewish community,” the judge added.

Soliman also told the court that his wife and five children had no knowledge of his plans and would have tried to stop him had they known.

Following the attack, his family was taken into federal custody and held for several months in an immigration detention facility in Texas before being released earlier this year. His legal team is currently fighting efforts by the Trump administration to deport them.

At the start of the hearing, Judge Salomone reviewed each of the charges individually, naming each victim as she confirmed Soliman’s pleas.

He responded briefly in Arabic, confirming that he understood he was giving up his right to trial and appeal, and stated he had no questions.

“Guilty,” he repeated multiple times as the charges—ranging from murder to attempted murder and assault—were read out.

Because Colorado law does not allow for the death penalty, the life sentence without the possibility of parole represents the most severe punishment available at the state level. However, Soliman could still face capital punishment in a separate federal case involving hate crime charges.

Prosecutors said Soliman spent approximately a year preparing for the attack, which targeted a group known as Run for Their Lives, whose members gather weekly in downtown Boulder to advocate for hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

Many participants in the march were members of Boulder’s Jewish community, including elderly individuals, at least one child, and a person using a wheelchair.

“They were completely defenseless,” Mr. Dougherty said in court. “To show up and attack people who were standing outside the Boulder courthouse in a peaceful gathering, walking in the middle of the day? That is, beyond anything, cowardly.”

Authorities said Soliman approached the group disguised as a gardener before launching the attack, throwing homemade Molotov cocktails and shouting “Free Palestine.” According to an FBI affidavit, he had intended to “kill all Zionist people.”

{Matzav.com}

Rabbi Eyal Tzionov is facing a potential defamation lawsuit demanding 200,000 shekels after publishing a video urging the public to boycott a Tel Aviv nightclub, which he described as a “place of drug users,” just days after drawing attention for his appearance at the state Independence Day ceremony.

Tzionov, who sparked widespread public controversy after managing to enter the VIP section at the official torch-lighting ceremony on Mount Herzl while dressed in the attire associated with the Rishon Letzion, has now become embroiled in another legal dispute—this time with one of Israel’s nightlife venues.

According to a report on N12, the latest episode began when Tzionov was seen at a nightclub at the Tel Aviv Port just days after the state event. Footage circulating on social media showed him dancing near the DJ booth, surrounded by large crowds who filmed the unusual sight.

However, the visit quickly turned into a public attack against the venue. In a video he later released, Tzionov called on his followers to boycott the club entirely, claiming that his visit had been intentional and aimed solely at raising awareness and persuading the public to avoid the location.

He described the venue as a “place of drug users” and called for the closure of nightclubs across Israel, arguing that such environments represent a corrupt culture incompatible with the values of the Jewish people. His remarks went beyond general criticism of nightlife and included serious allegations of criminal activity and violence.

In the video, he claimed that stabbings occur at the club and alleged that the venue is saturated with drugs and alcohol, stating that he is working “to eliminate the phenomenon at its root.” These statements, which gained wide exposure on social media, angered the club’s owners, who contend that the accusations are baseless and intended to damage their reputation and livelihood.

Following the publication of the video, attorney Oren Ben Yair, representing the club’s owners, sent a formal warning letter ahead of legal action for defamation. The letter demands that Tzionov pay substantial compensation totaling 200,000 shekels.

The attorney emphasized that the claims were false and misleading, designed to portray the establishment in a negative light and deter customers from visiting. It remains to be seen whether the matter will be resolved through a settlement or proceed to court, adding to the broader legal complications surrounding Tzionov in the wake of the Independence Day incident.

This is not the only issue Tzionov has faced in recent days. As previously reported, the Sephardic Community Committee sent him a formal warning letter demanding that he stop wearing the robe and turban associated with the Rishon Letzion. The letter stated that doing so constitutes “deception and misleading the public” and amounts to a “desecration of God’s name and a desecration of the honor of the former Rishon Letzion sages.”

Following public and legal pressure, Tzionov contacted the chairman of the Sephardic Community Committee, Avraham Doron, and agreed to stop appearing in that attire. During the conversation, he requested permission to continue wearing a robe without gold or silver embroidery and a turban without the diagonal marking associated with the Rishon Letzion, and the committee chairman agreed.

In an earlier interview prior to reaching that agreement, Tzionov explained how he began wearing the robe. “My students bought me this robe as a gift, I started wearing it on Purim and saw that the public really enjoyed it and connected to it,” he said. He added, “My goal is to bring peace and love, and everywhere I go people stop and ask, and I tell them explicitly: this is Rabbi Eyal Tzionov, I am not the Rishon Letzion.”

In recent days, Tzionov has been seen in the streets of Bnei Brak wearing Bukharian-style clothing, with the turban replaced by a regular hat.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump intensified his criticism of House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Thursday, urging that the New York congressman face charges for allegedly encouraging violence. Trump’s remarks came in the wake of an incident last month involving an armed individual who tried to gain entry to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

“This lunatic, Hakeem ‘Low IQ’ Jeffries, should be charged with INCITING VIOLENCE!” Trump posted on his Truth Social page. “The Radical Left Democrats actually want to Destroy our Country. President DJT.”

Although Trump did not directly reference the attempted breach in his written statement, the post featured two images: one showing Jeffries speaking in front of a sign promising “maximum warfare” against Trump’s policies, and another depicting the suspect—identified as California resident Cole Allen—captured on surveillance footage while attempting to access the event.

In the aftermath of the incident, Jeffries publicly defended his use of the phrase “maximum warfare,” according to reporting by Axios, maintaining that the language was tied to political disputes rather than any endorsement of violence.

“As it relates to the comment related to ‘maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time,’ in connection with the redistricting battle that Republicans launched, I stand by it,” Jeffries said. “You can continue to criticize me for it. I don’t give a damn about the criticism … get lost.”

Some Republican lawmakers have argued that Jeffries’ rhetoric contributes to heightened tensions. Representative Andrew Clyde criticized the remarks in a social media post last month.

“Hakeem Jeffries called for ‘Maximum warfare’ against President Trump and his Administration,” Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., wrote in a post last month on X. “The Democrat Party’s rhetoric is demonic and dangerous.”

Representative Randy Fine also weighed in, calling on Democrats to respond to Jeffries’ statements.

“It is unacceptable that House Democrats continue to remain silent in the aftermath of his call for ‘maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time’ against Republicans,” Fine posted on X.

{Matzav.com}

Rudy Giuliani’s current hospitalization is being linked to health complications stemming from his time at Ground Zero following the September 11 attacks, according to information he shared publicly on Thursday.

The 81-year-old former New York City mayor reposted a message from Dr. Maria Ryan, who detailed how Giuliani developed restrictive airway disease after spending prolonged periods at the World Trade Center site in the aftermath of the attacks.

“On 9/11 @RudyGiuliani ran to the towers to assist and lead,” Ryan wrote on X. “While there one of the towers fell and he was trapped. Upon emerging from the building he was covered by white dust.”

According to Ryan, the long-term effects of that exposure led to chronic respiratory issues, which were recently aggravated when Giuliani contracted human metapneumovirus.

“He lives with difficulty breathing every day,” Ryan wrote. “Recently he got a virus, metapneumovirus that overwhelmed his already compromised 9/11 lungs.”

She noted that Giuliani is still in the hospital but remains conscious of the widespread support and prayers being offered on his behalf.

“He is a deeply religious man. Keep the prayers coming!” she wrote.

Giuliani has since been transferred out of the intensive care unit, though he continues to receive treatment in the hospital as he recovers from pneumonia.

His spokesman, Ted Goodman, said that Giuliani and his relatives are grateful for the “outpouring of love and prayers” expressed by supporters.

Giuliani became a global figure during the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, when he led New York City through the crisis, earning widespread recognition as “America’s Mayor.”

In the days and weeks that followed the attacks, he was frequently present at Ground Zero, working alongside emergency personnel and recovery teams amid hazardous conditions filled with dust and debris.

Health officials and advocacy organizations have since documented that many first responders and workers who were exposed to the site developed serious respiratory conditions and other lasting medical issues.

Giuliani’s recent health crisis was described by some as “nothing short of a miracle,” following his hospitalization with severe breathing complications tied to double pneumonia.

Individuals close to him told Newsmax that doctors initially viewed his condition as potentially fatal.

Despite the seriousness of his illness, Giuliani is said to be focused on returning to his media appearances and continuing his vocal support of President Donald Trump.

Trump commented on Giuliani’s condition earlier in the week, writing on Truth Social that Giuliani is “a True Warrior” and “the Best Mayor in the History of New York City, BY FAR.”

Giuliani has been a prominent supporter of Trump since backing him in the 2016 presidential race.

Those familiar with his condition say that physicians are encouraged by his progress as he undergoes continued care and recovery efforts in the hospital.

Officials in Merom HaGalil say widespread damage totaling millions of shekels was caused in recent days after large numbers of people attempted to reach Mount Meron for Lag BaOmer by bypassing security restrictions.

According to local authorities, many individuals made their way through open areas, forests, and agricultural land, leaving behind extensive destruction to infrastructure and private property.

The regional council reported significant damage, including breached fences, trampled farmland, harm to orchards, and destruction of irrigation systems. In addition, security fencing in communities near the northern confrontation line was damaged—barriers that had only recently been installed with government funding as part of defense preparations.

Council head Amit Sofer warned about the severity of the situation, stating: “We raised this important issue with government ministers. This involves heavy damage to security fences in frontline communities that were funded just this year by the Ministry of National Security, as well as to private agricultural infrastructure: fences that were broken and trampled, damage to crops and orchards, and to irrigation systems. Farmers on the confrontation line are still recovering from the damage of the war. A solution must be provided—this situation cannot continue without accountability.”

The council is currently working to collect evidence and document the full scope of the destruction in order to seek government assistance and compensation for those affected.

Israel’s Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Rav Kalman Meir Bar issued a sharply worded protest following a decision by authorities in Belgium to file charges against three mohalim, condemning the move as antisemitic and comparing it to historic persecutions.

In a formal letter, Rav Bar—who also serves as president of the Chief Rabbinate Council—strongly criticized the decision, underscoring the central importance of circumcision in Jewish life and calling on Belgian authorities to reverse course. “One of the defining markers of a Jew, wherever he may be, is the fact that he fulfills the divine command of ‘you shall circumcise every male.’ History teaches us how Jews in every generation and across the globe, since becoming a nation, have sacrificed themselves for this important mitzvah. I call on the authorities to reconsider this hasty step, to take into account the harm to Jewish communities around the world, and to withdraw this unprecedented prosecution—and the sooner the better.”

In his full letter, Rav Bar expressed deep shock at the development, writing, “I was shocked to hear that law enforcement authorities in Belgium have filed an indictment against three mohalim. Words are insufficient to express my dismay at this matter. It is deeply regrettable that this country is joining an unflattering list of those who wage war against Judaism—something that, by definition, is called antisemitism.”

He continued by emphasizing the historical and religious significance of circumcision, adding, “One of the defining markers of a Jew, wherever he may be, is the fact that he fulfills the divine command of ‘you shall circumcise every male.’ History teaches us how Jews in every generation and across the globe, since becoming a nation, have sacrificed themselves for this important mitzvah. This reminds us of one of the decrees imposed by Antiochus upon the Jews during the period of Hellenistic rule over the Land of Israel. This is a decree that outrages every Jewish soul, and the public will not remain silent in the face of such a phenomenon.”

Addressing claims that circumcisions could instead be performed by physicians rather than certified mohalim, Rav Bar rejected the argument outright. “The claim that circumcisions can be performed by doctors rather than trained mohalim, on the grounds that the latter are not qualified for surgical procedures, is fundamentally flawed. History shows that since the Jewish people became a nation—long before there was documentation of European populations—it has been the mohalim who circumcised Jewish children.”

He stressed that the practice is rooted in religious obligation rather than medicine, writing, “Circumcision is a mitzvah, not a surgical procedure, and there are halachic requirements that doctors are entirely unfamiliar with and do not meet for the fulfillment of this commandment.”

Rav Bar concluded with a renewed appeal to Belgian officials: “I call on the authorities to reconsider this hasty step, to take into account the harm to Jewish communities around the world, and to withdraw this unprecedented prosecution—and the sooner the better.”

He signed the letter, “On behalf of the right of the Jewish people to live everywhere according to their faith.”

{Matzav.com}

A classified CIA report presented this week to senior U.S. officials concludes that Iran may be able to withstand the Trump administration’s naval blockade for roughly four months before experiencing a serious economic breakdown, according to a report published Thursday by The Washington Post.

That internal evaluation stands in contrast to repeated statements from the White House suggesting that Tehran is close to collapse.

According to individuals familiar with the intelligence findings, Iran has managed to preserve a substantial portion of its missile capabilities despite weeks of strikes carried out by U.S. and Israeli forces.

One American official indicated that Iran still holds approximately 70% of its pre-conflict missile inventory and about 75% of its mobile launching systems. The same official noted that the country has reopened underground storage sites and repaired parts of its weapons infrastructure that had been damaged.

These conclusions differ from comments made Wednesday by President Donald Trump, who described Iran’s missile arsenal as being largely destroyed.

”Our missiles are mostly decimated, they have probably 18, 19%, but not a lot by comparison to what they had,” Trump said at the White House.

Even as administration figures continue to emphasize the success of the blockade, they also acknowledge that Iran remains capable of resisting.

A senior U.S. intelligence official told the Post: ”The president’s blockade is inflicting real, compounding damage — severing trade, crushing revenue, and accelerating systemic economic collapse.”

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly likewise maintained that the economic campaign is rapidly taking a toll on Tehran.

”During Operation Epic Fury, Iran was crushed militarily,” Kelly said. ”Now, they are being strangled economically by Operation Economic Fury and losing $500 million per day thanks to the United States military’s successful blockade of Iranian ports.

“The Iranian regime knows full well their current reality is not sustainable, and President Trump holds all the cards as negotiators work to make a deal.”

At the same time, officials cited in the report said Iran has adjusted to the pressure by stockpiling oil at sea, cutting back on production to protect infrastructure, and possibly preparing alternative land-based export routes through Central Asia.

One U.S. official suggested that the CIA’s estimate may actually understate Iran’s ability to endure.

”The leadership has gotten more radical, determined, and increasingly confident they can outlast U.S. political will and sustain domestic repression to check any resistance,” the official said.

”Comparatively, you see similar regimes lasting years under sustained embargoes and airpower-only wars.”

Experts also pointed to Iran’s drone arsenal as an ongoing danger to international shipping passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Former Israeli intelligence official Danny Citrinowicz told the Post that even relatively small-scale drone strikes could disrupt global oil flows, since insurers would likely refuse to cover vessels operating in such conditions.

Citrinowicz said that while there have been tactical successes on the battlefield, the long-term strategic picture remains unclear.

”The problem is they don’t think they need to capitulate,” he said.

He later added on social media that the conflict could ultimately reinforce Iran’s leadership rather than weaken it, leaving the country with meaningful missile strength and ongoing uranium enrichment capabilities despite continued U.S. and Israeli military pressure.

New polling indicates shifting political momentum in Israel, with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu widening his advantage while the joint political effort of Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid shows signs of weakening.

A Channel 12 News survey published Thursday night found that if elections were held today, Netanyahu’s Likud would be tied with the Bennett-Lapid “Together” party, with each receiving 25 seats. The figure represents a one-seat drop for the Bennett-Lapid alliance compared to the previous week’s poll.

The survey also showed a slight decline for Gadi Eisenkot, whose “Yisra!” party fell by one seat to 14. The broader opposition bloc dropped to 59 seats—down one from the previous poll—without counting Arab parties.

In contrast, Yair Golan’s Democrats party gained one seat, rising to 11. Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu held steady at 9 seats, as did Aryeh Deri’s Shas and Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit, each also at 9.

United Torah Judaism, led by Yitzchak Goldknopf, strengthened to 8 seats. Among Arab parties, Mansour Abbas’s Ra’am and the Hadash-Ta’al alliance were each projected to win 5 seats.

Several parties remained below the electoral threshold, including Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism (2.9%), Yoaz Hendel’s Reservists party (1.0%), Benny Gantz’s Blue and White (1.5%), and Sami Abu Shehadeh’s Balad (0.8%).

The poll also explored hypothetical political alliances. If Eisenkot’s party were to merge with Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu, the joint list would become the largest faction with 25 seats, surpassing both Likud and the Bennett-Lapid alliance, each projected at 24. In that scenario, the opposition bloc would reach 60 seats—without Arab party support—while the coalition would fall to 50.

Another scenario examined a potential alliance between Hili Tropper and Hendel. In that case, Likud would drop slightly to 24 seats but still emerge as the largest party. The Bennett-Lapid list would decline to 23 seats, and Eisenkot’s party to 13. The new Tropper-Hendel list would cross the threshold with 5 seats.

When respondents were asked who is best suited to serve as prime minister, Netanyahu led in every matchup. Against Bennett, he received 39% support compared to Bennett’s 36%. The same margin held against Eisenkot, 39% to 36%. Against Lieberman, Netanyahu maintained 39%, while Lieberman trailed with 24%.

A separate poll conducted by Channel 14 and the NEXT DATA research firm painted an even stronger picture for Netanyahu. Based on a sample of 721 respondents, the survey showed the right-wing bloc maintaining a solid 65-seat majority—enough to form a stable government under Netanyahu’s leadership.

In that poll, Likud surged to 34 seats, making it the clear largest party. The Bennett-Lapid alliance dropped sharply to 16 seats—four fewer than it had received in the first poll following its formation. Eisenkot’s party climbed slightly to 13 seats.

Among other parties, Shas was projected at 10 seats and United Torah Judaism at 8. Otzma Yehudit, the Democrats, and Yisrael Beiteinu each received 8 seats, while Religious Zionism stood at 5.

The broader center-left bloc lagged far behind, totaling just 45 seats. Arab parties Hadash-Ta’al and Ra’am each received 5 seats but were not seen as playing a decisive role in coalition-building. Balad (2.1%) and Blue and White (1.8%) remained below the threshold.

On the question of leadership, Netanyahu held a commanding lead, with 56% of respondents saying he is best suited to serve as prime minister. Eisenkot placed a distant second with 20%, followed by Bennett at 18%, Lieberman at 5%, and Gantz at just 1%.

The poll also measured public opinion on security issues. A majority of 59% said Israel should seize additional territory in Lebanon to eliminate the threat posed by Hezbollah, while 32% opposed such a move and 9% said they had no opinion.

Another question examined perceptions of coordination between Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the campaign against Iran. A majority of 58% described the cooperation as “full and close,” while 33% said it was only partial, and 9% believed there was no coordination at all.

Israeli military police carried out coordinated overnight raids on the homes of yeshiva bochurim in several cities, including Herzliya, Tel Aviv, and Dimona, as part of a renewed wave of arrest attempts, though in each case the targeted individuals were not taken into custody.

The operation is part of a broader series of enforcement actions against yeshiva students reported over the past week.

The most dramatic incident occurred in Herzliya. At approximately 4 a.m., military police forces arrived at the home of a talmid from Yeshivas Chazon Mordechai, a mosad that has already seen one of its talmidim arrested earlier this week. According to reports, family members opened the door, after which officers entered the home and conducted what was described as a forceful and aggressive search.

A turning point came when the student’s mother managed to contact the Tzeva Shachor alert system, a network that assists yeshiva bochurim. Upon noticing the phone call, the commanding officer reportedly ordered his forces to withdraw immediately. The family was left shaken by the incident, but the student was not arrested.

Additional attempts were made elsewhere across the country.

In Tel Aviv, the operation focused on the residence of a student from Yeshivas Kiryat Malachi, who had previously been detained by authorities. When forces arrived, however, the student was not present, and officers left the scene without making an arrest.

At the same time, in the southern city of Dimona, military police raided the home of a married yeshiva student affiliated with the Gerer chassidus. In that case as well, a rapid alert through the Tzeva Shachor system led to members of the public arriving at the scene, prompting police to withdraw without detaining the suspect.

The overnight activity follows a series of recent arrests involving yeshiva students.

Last Sunday, a yeshiva student in Herzliya was reportedly taken into custody after receiving a phone call telling him a package was waiting outside his yeshiva. When he went to retrieve it, he encountered military police officers who arrested him and transported him to the Tel Hashomer base.

In another case, a yeshiva student was handed over to military police after being detained by Israeli police at a gas station near Ashdod.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF announced that it carried out a strike last Wednesday that killed Ibrahim Abu Tzakar, identifying him as a Hamas operative who posed as a paramedic while orchestrating multiple attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers.

According to findings based on intelligence assessments, the military said Abu Tzakar had crossed into Israeli territory during the October 7 massacre and took part in the kidnapping of Mia Schem from the Mefalsim area.

Schem had been seized on October 7 after attending the Nova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im and was later freed in November 2023 as part of a hostage release deal.

The IDF added that forces under the Southern Command remain positioned in line with the ceasefire arrangements and will persist in acting against any immediate dangers to both Israeli civilians and military personnel.

{Matzav.com}

Despite heavy restrictions on access to Mount Meron due to the security situation in northern Israel, Rav Tzvi Meir Zilberberg traveled to the site for Lag BaOmer together with a group of followers, enduring an eight-hour journey marked by roadblocks and significant delays.

Rav Zilberberg, head of the Nachalas Yaakov chaburah, maintained his longstanding custom of attending the hilula of Rav Shimon bar Yochai. After lighting a bonfire in Yerushalayim, he set out with his chassidim by bus, hoping to arrive in time for the conclusion of Lag BaOmer so that he could immerse in a mobile mikveh prepared for him, as he does each year.

However, what was expected to be a routine trip turned into a prolonged and exhausting journey. The group encountered heavy traffic and numerous checkpoints along the way, significantly delaying their arrival.

Instead of reaching Meron in the early evening as planned, they arrived only around midnight after approximately eight hours on the road. The bonfire lighting began much later than scheduled—around midnight rather than the originally planned 8:00 p.m.

Despite the difficulties, fatigue, and setbacks, participants described an atmosphere of joy and spiritual elevation throughout the trip. Rav Zilberberg, as is his custom, offered words of encouragement and led singing along the way, while his followers viewed the challenging journey as a meaningful act of dedication and a privilege to reach the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, even under such circumstances.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir is calling on chareidi lawmakers to push forward immediately with the draft law, arguing that concerns over a likely High Court rejection should not stop the legislative effort.

Addressing the issue, Ben Gvir said that, as with previous legislation such as the death penalty law for terrorists, the government should proceed regardless of expected judicial intervention. “They asked me why I passed the death penalty law for terrorists if the High Court will strike it down. I said I do my part and we need to leave something to Hakadosh Boruch Hu.“

Speaking on Kol Chai radio’s “Central Edition,” Ben Gvir argued that the root solution to the sector’s challenges—from daycare funding to military conscription—lies in reforming the judicial system. He directed a message to Knesset members from Shas and United Torah Judaism, saying, “We must insist on judicial reform. It cannot be that they always go after the good and harm chareidi children and women. It is possible, and it is right.”

Ben Gvir also sharply criticized Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and opposed the idea that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might pursue mediation in his legal cases. “This is a big mistake, she is not someone you can work with in cooperation,” he said.

He further revealed that he had previously urged Netanyahu to dismiss the attorney general early on. “Two and a half years ago I told him, let’s send her home. He told me I’m a young minister and don’t understand how things work, and today he openly admits that I was right. She is a dismissed and fired adviser who cannot continue in her role.”

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir revealed his personal phone number during a live broadcast, urging the public to send him documentation of police conduct—both positive and negative—during the Lag BaOmer events in Meron.

Speaking Wednesday evening on Kol Chai radio, Ben Gvir also addressed reports of a developing agreement between the United States and Iran, voicing firm opposition. He said Israel cannot accept a nuclear Iran and warned that the regime in Tehran cannot be trusted to uphold any agreement. While expressing confidence in President Donald Trump and his intentions toward Israel, Ben Gvir cautioned against what he described as naivety in dealing with a country seeking nuclear capabilities to destroy Israel.

Discussing broader security challenges, Ben Gvir said Israel must address threats from multiple fronts simultaneously, including Lebanon, Gaza, and Iran. “We cannot leave Hezbollah with weapons, we cannot leave Hamas in Gaza, and we cannot leave a nuclear Iran,” he declared. He praised Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu for leading operations targeting senior terror figures, including Sinwar, Nasrallah, and Khamenei, but stressed that the mission is not yet complete and that Israel has the capability to achieve a decisive outcome.

Turning to criticism of police conduct at Mount Meron during Lag BaOmer, Ben Gvir rejected claims of excessive force against chareidi participants. He said he has received hundreds of messages from citizens praising officers for their restraint and respectful behavior, contrasting this year’s events with past incidents that involved violence and injuries. He emphasized that there is a clear policy to treat the chareidi public as “brothers” and noted that officers underwent mental preparation to avoid offending sensitivities or the sanctity of the site.

Regarding restrictions on access to Meron, Ben Gvir explained that the decision was made by the Home Front Command out of concern for public safety. He said officials were presented with severe scenarios involving rocket or drone strikes hitting dense crowds, which could have resulted in mass casualties due to insufficient protected areas. “The decision was made to protect the public. Heaven forbid a missile had fallen—would we be going from family to family in mourning?” he said. Addressing questions about why other large events were allowed to proceed, he said security officials had provided explanations, noting that “there is a difference between Sammy Ofer Stadium and Mount Meron.”

On the issue of the draft law, Ben Gvir called for advancing legislation even if it faces likely challenges in the High Court. He urged chareidi parties to push for judicial reform, arguing that the court unfairly targets the chareidi community and harms women and children in matters such as daycare funding.

In closing, Ben Gvir addressed the possibility of criminal mediation in the cases involving the prime minister, calling it a mistake. He sharply criticized Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, referring to her as “a dismissed and fired adviser” and asserting that it is not possible to work with her in cooperation or engage in good-faith mediation.

In an unusual move, Ben Gvir publicly shared his personal phone number and invited citizens to send him footage documenting police behavior, both favorable and unfavorable, during the Meron events.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF avoided carrying out strikes in Lebanon on Lag BaOmer due to concerns that Hezbollah could retaliate toward Mount Meron, where large crowds had gathered, according to a report citing security sources.

Despite Home Front Command restrictions, thousands made their way to Meron for the hilula there, reaching the mountain by unconventional routes, including fields and wooded areas, in what observers described as determined efforts to attend the annual gathering.

The limitations placed on access to the site were tied to heightened tensions along the northern border and fears that Hezbollah might launch rockets or explosive drones toward the area. In the end, no such attack materialized, similar to the previous year during the height of fighting in the north.

According to the report, the IDF took steps to avoid further escalation and deliberately refrained from conducting operations in Lebanon throughout Lag BaOmer, out of concern that any military action could provoke a response aimed at Meron—potentially putting large numbers of civilians at risk.

Following the conclusion of Lag BaOmer, however, the IDF shifted its approach. In response to recent escalation by Hezbollah, Israeli forces carried out a targeted strike in the Dahiyeh district of Beirut, approximately one day after the end of the Meron gathering.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

Every year, mamish every single year, I go to Meron by Rebbi Shimon for Lag BaOmer. From when I was a yingerman, this was my whole thing. I made sure to go. I leave everything, I take off from work, whatever it takes, I go.

And when I go, I don’t just stand there like a stone. I stand by the kever, I cry, I daven, I talk to Rebbi Shimon like a child talks to a father. I ask for yeshios—for parnussah, for gezunt, for shulem bayis, for nachas from the kinder, for everything I need the whole year.

And I always see, it works. Mamish works. The whole year I walk around with a certain brucha. Things go smoother. Even when there are problems, somehow it works out. I always say to myself, this is from Meron, from that one night by Rebbi Shimon.

But this year, I didn’t go.

Because of the war, because of the matzav, all the restrictions, they didn’t let us go like normal. It didn’t happen. I stayed home like a nebach.

And I cannot explain what I felt on Lag BaOmer. Everyone is talking about Meron, everyone is sending videos, everyone is singing, and I was sitting in my house. I felt empty. Mamish empty. And now I am very scared for the whole year.

Because by me, this is how it works. I go to Rebbi Shimon, I ask for yeshios, and then the year goes with a brucha. So now I am thinking, if I didn’t go, then what? Where will my yeshios come from this year? What will be with my parnussah? What will be with my family? Who is going to help me?

Maybe people will laugh at me. They will say I am a simple Yid, I don’t understand big things. Maybe it’s true. But this is my metzius. This is how I live. I am not a big tzaddik, I am not a big thinker. I am a simple Yid who goes to Rebbi Shimon and asks for help from Hashem in the zechis of the tzaddik.

Now I didn’t go, so I feel like I lost my whole “pipeline.”

I am trying to be mechazek myself. I say Hashem is everywhere. You can daven anywhere. You don’t need Meron. I say it again and again. But my heart is not listening. My heart is used to Meron, to the fire, to the singing, to the crying, to that feeling that Rebbi Shimon is hearing me.

This year I didn’t have it.

So I walk around with a pachad in my heart. Mamish a fear. What will be? How will this year go?

Maybe there are other Yidden like me. Maybe someone can say a word, a simple word, how even if a Yid didn’t go to Meron, he can still have yeshios and a good year with a big brucha. Because I need to hear it.

I am begging that next year everything should be back to normal, no war, no restrictions, and we should all go to Meron with a big simcha, and stand by Rebbi Shimon, and cry and ask Hashem, and everything should be good again.

A Yid Who is Very Worried

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Israel’s chareidi parties are expected to make a critical decision in the coming days on whether to advance legislation regulating the draft and the status of yeshiva bochurim, as the Knesset prepares to open its summer session.

The decision must be made quickly, with only a few months remaining before the political system enters an election period, during which such legislation cannot be passed.

Within Shas, officials have indicated support for continuing the legislative effort but are waiting for a final position from Degel HaTorah, as both parties previously agreed that any move would be carried out in full coordination.

“From the outset, Shas and Degel HaTorah have worked together in full coordination to advance the draft law,” a senior Shas official told Matzav.com. “Recently, the gedolim from the Litvishe community instructed that the legislation be delayed in order to allow for further discussions.”

A senior figure in Degel HaTorah said that a ruling from the rosh yeshiva, Rav Dov Landau, could come within the next 24 hours or early next week.

At the center of the discussions are several key options:

-Whether to accept the demands of the Knesset’s legal advisers and introduce changes and stricter provisions into the bill.

-Whether to pass the law without the backing of the Knesset’s legal counsel, risking that it could be immediately struck down and face an interim injunction.

-Whether to abandon the current legislative effort altogether and postpone the issue until the next Knesset, in the hope that the right-wing bloc remains in power.

The office of Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni issued a firm denial of reports claiming that Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu had asked chareidi parties to delay completing the legislation until after the expected elections.

“The report that Prime Minister Netanyahu requested to delay the completion of the draft law until after the elections — is entirely false,” Gafni’s office said in a brief statement.

The denial followed a report by journalist Avraham Freund, who claimed that Netanyahu had recently held discussions with leaders of the chareidi parties and urged them to remove the draft law from the agenda and wait until after elections, arguing that there is currently no realistic path to passing it.

As noted, the chareidi parties are operating under significant time pressure. With the Knesset’s summer session approaching, only a limited window remains before the country enters an election period, when legislation of this kind cannot move forward. This situation is forcing party leaders to make a rapid decision: whether to continue pushing the law now or forgo the opportunity to pass it in the current Knesset.

{Matzav.com}

Khalil al-Hayya denied reports Thursday morning that his son Azzam was killed in an Israeli strike, saying instead that he was seriously wounded during the attack.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, al-Hayya addressed the reports that circulated the previous night, stating that his son had not been killed in the strike in Gaza City.

“What we heard is that in the group that was randomly attacked, so far Hamza al-Sharbati was killed, and my son Azzam and another group of people were seriously wounded,” al-Hayya said in the interview.

According to earlier reports, the strike took place in the al-Daraj neighborhood in eastern Gaza City during operational activity by IDF forces in the area. Palestinian sources had initially confirmed Azzam’s death, but al-Hayya now claims those reports were incorrect and that his son survived with severe injuries.

Al-Hayya, who serves as head of Hamas’s political bureau in the Gaza Strip, is considered one of the central figures in the organization’s leadership. He is currently in the final stage of a leadership contest within Hamas, facing Khaled Mashal ahead of internal elections expected in the near future.

This is not the first time al-Hayya’s family has been affected during the war. Another of his sons was previously killed in an Israeli strike in Qatar earlier in the conflict.

{Matzav.com}

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf publicly ridiculed Donald Trump on Wednesday, as reports circulated that Washington and Tehran may be nearing an agreement to end the ongoing conflict.

“Operation Trust Me Bro failed. Now back to routine with Operation Fauxios,” Ghalibaf wrote in a post on social media.

His comments appeared to take aim at the recently announced Project Freedom mission in the Strait of Hormuz, which Trump halted Tuesday night just two days after launching it, as well as a report from Axios indicating that the United States and Iran are close to finalizing a brief, one-page deal to bring the war to a conclusion.

Earlier that day, Trump issued a sharp warning to Iran in a post on his Truth Social platform, outlining the conditions under which hostilities could come to an end.

“Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran.”

He followed with a direct threat, writing, “If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before.”

Later, speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said recent negotiations with Iran have been productive, adding that Iranian leadership is eager to reach an agreement and has indicated a willingness to abandon nuclear weapons.

“They want to make a deal badly. And we’ll see if we get there. If we get there, they can’t have nuclear weapons. It’s very simple,” Trump stated.

Trump also described what he characterized as a near-total dismantling of Iran’s military capabilities, pointing to losses across its navy, air force, and missile systems.

“They had a Navy with 159 ships, and now every ship is blown to pieces and lying at the bottom of the water. They had an Air Force, lots of planes, and they don’t have any planes. They don’t have any anti-aircraft. They don’t have any radar left. Their missiles are mostly decimated. They have some. They have probably 18, 19 percent, but not a lot by comparison to what they had. And their leaders are all dead. So I think we won.”

He added that while the administration is pursuing a negotiated resolution, further escalation remains an option if talks do not succeed.

“Now we have to get what we have to get. If we don’t do that, we’ll have to go a big step further. But with that being said, they want to make a deal. We’ve had very good talks over the last 44 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll make a deal,” said Trump.

Trump reiterated his central position, emphasizing once again that “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. And they won’t. And they’ve agreed to that, among other things.”

{Matzav.com}