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President Trump on Monday signed an executive order designed to prohibit the burning of the American flag, a practice that has until now been protected under the First Amendment.

“If you burn a flag, you get one year in jail — no early exits, no nothing,” Trump declared as he signed the order.

“And you will see flag-burning stopping immediately,” he continued, adding that a similar move during his first administration to protect national monuments had proven successful in curbing destruction.

The Department of Justice has been directed to investigate any incidents involving the burning of the Stars and Stripes and pursue legal action “where prosecution wouldn’t fall afoul of the First Amendment,” according to White House staff secretary Will Scharf.

The president initially suggested taking executive action during an appearance on The Post’s “Pod Force One” podcast in June, in the aftermath of violent riots in Los Angeles.

“They were burning a lot of flags in Los Angeles,” Trump said at the time, referencing footage showing rioters setting American flags on fire while waving Mexican flags.

Throughout his political career, Trump has consistently advocated for strict penalties against those who desecrate the U.S. flag and previously backed efforts to pass a constitutional amendment during his first term that would have banned the practice nationwide.

In 1989, the Supreme Court ruled in Texas v. Johnson that burning the flag is considered a form of “symbolic speech” and is thus constitutionally protected.

The following year, in U.S. v. Eichman, the Court struck down the Flag Protection Act of 1989, reaffirming its earlier decision and expanding protections for those choosing to burn the flag.

“Through a very sad court,” Trump remarked Monday in response to those rulings, “they called it freedom of speech.”

“When you burn the American flag, it incites riots,” the president argued, despite having faced impeachment at the end of his first term over accusations that he incited unrest at the U.S. Capitol during the certification of the 2020 election results.

Notably, the late conservative Justice Antonin Scalia and Justice Anthony Kennedy both joined the majority in these landmark cases, voting to uphold the right to burn the flag under the First Amendment.

“While people can be prosecuted for burning anything in a place they aren’t allowed to set fires, the government can’t prosecute protected expressive activity — even if many Americans, including the president, find it ‘uniquely offensive and provocative,’” explained Bob Corn-Revere, Chief Counsel of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.

“You don’t have to like flag burning. You can condemn it, debate it, or hoist your own flag even higher. The beauty of free speech is that you get to express your opinions, even if others don’t like what you have to say.”

{Matzav.com}

A senior member of Iran’s powerful Expediency Discernment Council has alleged that Israel orchestrated the death of former president Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash in May 2024, along with then–foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and several aides. In a televised interview on state-run IRIB’s Synergy program Sunday night, Mohammad Sadr said: “From the very first moment I said this was an assassination… carried out by Israel.” He said his conclusion comes from his “personal analysis,” conceding he had no documents or evidence to support the accusation, according to the Saudi-owned al-Arabiya and London-based Iran International. Sadr went further, claiming Israel’s alleged role was meant to send a warning to Tehran over its regional military activities, support for Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, and pursuit of nuclear capabilities. Iran’s own military chiefs have repeatedly ruled out Israeli involvement in the crash, attributing it to mechanical failure and adverse weather conditions. Analysts note that anti-Israel activists raised similar allegations in the immediate aftermath, but no evidence has ever been produced. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not linked Raisi’s death to outside action, and Tehran’s official investigation never assigned blame to foreign powers. In the same interview, Sadr also leveled extraordinary charges against Moscow, alleging Russia passed intelligence about Iranian air defense sites to Israel. He branded this year’s much-publicized strategic pact between Iran and Russia as “worthless,” saying, “Our relationship with Russia must be serious, and at the same time, we must not trust them.” Sadr argued that despite the treaty’s promises of “military cooperation,” Russia would abandon Iran in a direct confrontation with the United States. Mohammad Sadr, a cousin of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, has been a member of the Expediency Discernment Council since 2017. He previously served as deputy foreign minister for Arab and African Affairs and later as senior advisor to then–foreign minister Javad Zarif. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court registrar, Shai Tzarfati, has ruled that Omar Rani Yassin, convicted of violently assaulting a Chareidi family in Jerusalem’s Beit Hanina neighborhood several years ago, must pay the victims NIS 440,000 in compensation. According to the lawsuit filed by Adv. Chaim Bleicher of the Honenu legal aid organization, Yassin attacked the family out of antisemitic motives after noticing their Jewish appearance as they were driving through Beit Hanina. He forcefully kicked the car’s windshield, causing it to shatter. Flying glass shards injured the father’s neck and hand, causing him to briefly lose consciousness. The mother, who was driving, went into shock but managed to keep control of the car. The couple’s three children, seated in the back, were left traumatized by both their father’s injury and the violent attack they witnessed. Initially, the case was filed against the Arab without citing his nationalist motive, but Judge Elazar Bialin of the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court later clarified in his ruling that Yassin’s actions were driven by antisemitism. He also rejected the lenient plea bargain the prosecution signed with Yassin and imposed a tougher sentence. Yassin then appealed to the District Court with the support of the State Attorney’s Office, which demanded to reinstate the lenient plea bargain. Adv. Bleicher, representing the family, demanded the appeal be denied. Ultimately, the District Court partially accepted Yassin’s appeal—reducing his prison sentence but increasing the compensation he was ordered to pay. The family subsequently filed a civil lawsuit demanding NIS 440,000 in damages, including compensation for pain, suffering, and emotional distress for each family member, as well as NIS 150,000 in punitive damages. Since Yassin failed to submit a defense within the required timeframe, Registrar Tzarfati upheld the claim in full, ordering him to pay the full NIS 440,000, in addition to NIS 29,504 in legal fees. Adv. Bleicher commented, “The attack of a Jewish family’s vehicle is an antisemitic act of terror that seriously undermines Israelis’ sense of security. For reasons that remain unclear, the indictment failed to note the terrorist motive, leading to an absurd verdict. Thankfully, Judge Bialin intervened to ensure some measure of justice. Unfortunately, due to the failures of the prosecution and the State Attorney’s Office, full justice was not achieved in the criminal proceedings. That is why we pursued the civil route—to exact a heavy price and deter others from committing such acts.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Southwest Airlines will soon require travelers who can’t fit within the armrests of their seat to pay for an extra one in advance, part of a string of recent changes the carrier is making. The new rule goes into effect Jan. 27, the same day Southwest starts assigning seats. Currently, plus-size passengers can either pay for an extra seat in advance with the option of getting that money back later, or they can request a free extra seat at the airport. Under the carrier’s new policy, a refund is still possible but no longer guaranteed. In a statement Monday, Southwest said it is updating some of its policies as it prepares for assigned seating next year. “To ensure space, we are communicating to Customers who have previously used the extra seat policy that they should purchase it at booking,” the statement said. It marks the latest change at Southwest, which had long been known for letting its passengers pick their own seats after boarding the plane, and for letting their bags fly for free, which ended in May. Those perks were key to differentiating the budget carrier from its rivals. Southwest says it will still refund a second ticket under its new policy for extra seating if there is at least one open seat on the flight when it departs, and if both of the passenger’s tickets were purchased in the same booking class. The passenger also needs to request the refund within 90 days of the flight. The airline has struggled recently and is under pressure from activist investors to boost profits and revenue. The airline also said last year that it would charge customers extra for more legroom and offer red-eye flights. (AP)

The letter is composed of two parts, and after signing the first section of the letter, the Rebbe added an additional part and signed it again in his holy handwriting.

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The IDF acknowledged Monday afternoon that its forces mistakenly struck Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, located in southern Gaza, resulting in the deaths of several people, including prominent journalists working for Reuters, along with as many as 14 additional fatalities.

Following the admission, the military clarified that the strike had been officially authorized due to the presence of a Hamas-related target in the area. However, the IDF stressed that the incident is under active investigation, indicating that key elements of the strike and its outcome are being treated as a serious error.

The IDF emphasized that it had no intention of harming journalists or innocent Palestinian civilians during the operation.

Earlier Monday morning, and again later in the day, IDF sources told the Jerusalem Post that the air force had not been managing any operations in that specific area. They explained that responsibility for any such attack would have fallen under the IDF’s Southern Command, which is led by Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asur. However, they noted that target approvals depend on the sensitivity of the strike, with higher-ranking officials typically involved in decisions on operations involving sensitive sites.

In general, military protocol requires higher-level authorization before carrying out an attack on a hospital, even if a known terrorist is nearby.

Since assuming command of IDF operations in Gaza in March, Maj. Gen. Asur has faced criticism from some within the air force, who argue that he has been less careful in preventing civilian casualties compared to earlier phases of the war, which were overseen by Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkleman.

Recent figures suggest that the civilian-to-combatant casualty ratio may now be at its worst since the start of the conflict.

Earlier in the war, IDF officials — speaking off the record — said that approximately 60% of casualties were civilians and 40% were Hamas operatives, a ratio they believed was comparatively favorable given the challenges of fighting in densely populated urban areas where Hamas regularly uses human shields.

At that stage, Israeli forces were eliminating thousands of Hamas operatives each week or month.

In contrast, over the last six months, the IDF has reported killing just over 2,000 Hamas fighters, while Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry has alleged that roughly 11,000 Gazans have been killed during the same period.

The IDF has repeatedly demonstrated that Hamas has exaggerated or fabricated reports of civilian deaths in several instances. However, the military has not fully dismissed Hamas’s casualty claims and, unusually, has chosen not to publish its own civilian death estimates — a departure from its standard practice in previous Gaza conflicts.

Among those killed in the hospital strike was Hussam al-Masri, a cameraman working for Reuters. Another Reuters contractor, photographer Hatem Khaled, was wounded in the attack.

Gazan officials identified three additional journalists among the dead: Mariam Abu Dagga, a freelancer who worked with the Associated Press and other outlets since the start of the conflict; Mohammed Salama, who Qatar-based Al Jazeera reported was one of its staff; and Moaz Abu Taha. Health officials also confirmed that a rescue worker was among the fatalities.

At the time of the strike, Nasser Hospital was operating at full capacity, treating more than 1,000 patients, according to hospital director Atef al-Hout, who spoke with Al-Arabiya TV. He also reported that more than 50 people were injured in the attack.

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Trump on Monday signed an executive order aimed at criminalizing the burning of the American flag, escalating a long-running political fight over free speech rights and testing the boundaries of established Supreme Court precedent. “If you burn a flag, you get one year in jail — no early exits, no nothing,” Trump said at the White House signing ceremony. “And you will see flag-burning stopping immediately.” The order directs the Department of Justice to investigate incidents of flag desecration and pursue charges “where prosecution wouldn’t fall afoul of the First Amendment,” according to White House staff secretary Will Scharf. The move comes despite decades-old rulings by the nation’s highest court that explicitly protect flag-burning as constitutionally protected speech. In Texas v. Johnson (1989), the Supreme Court determined that incinerating the flag was an act of “symbolic speech.” A year later, in United States v. Eichman, the Court struck down the Flag Protection Act, reinforcing those protections. Trump dismissed the rulings as misguided. “Through a very sad court, they called it freedom of speech,” he said. “When you burn the American flag, it incites riots.” The president has for years railed against flag desecration, backing legislation and even a constitutional amendment during his first term that would have outlawed the act. He first floated the idea of an executive order in June during an appearance on The New York Post’s “Pod Force One” podcast, citing videos of protesters in Los Angeles burning U.S. flags while waving Mexican ones. The new directive recalls Trump’s earlier executive actions against the destruction of national monuments during protests in 2020. White House officials contend that order curtailed vandalism, and Trump predicted the same outcome here. But the executive order is certain to spark an immediate legal challenge, given the Supreme Court’s prior decisions — both of which saw conservative justices, including Antonin Scalia and Anthony Kennedy, side with liberal colleagues in defending flag-burning as free expression. The president framed the new order as a matter of public safety as much as patriotism. “We cannot allow flag-burning to tear apart our country,” he said. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Trump issued a warning on Sunday, suggesting that he may open a criminal investigation into former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie over the 2013 “Bridgegate” controversy.

Trump hinted at the possibility of revisiting the case and examining Christie’s role in what he called “criminal acts,” after Christie criticized him in a television interview — comments that came just days after federal agents carried out an FBI raid on former National Security Adviser John Bolton.

“I just watched Sloppy Chris Christie be interviewed on a ratings challenged ‘News’ Show, ‘This Week With George Slopadopolus,’ on ABC Fake News,” Trump wrote on Truth Social late Sunday.

“Can anyone believe anything that Sloppy Chris says? Do you remember the way he lied about the dangerous and deadly closure of the George Washington Bridge in order to stay out of prison, at the same time sacrificing people who worked for him, including a young mother, who spent years trying to fight off the vicious charges against her,” Trump raged on Truth Social.

“Chris refused to take responsibility for these criminal acts. For the sake of JUSTICE, perhaps we should start looking at that very serious situation again?

NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW!” Trump wrote — repeating the same phrase used by FBI Director Kash Patel following Friday’s raid on Bolton’s home and office.

Christie, a fellow Republican, has consistently denied any role in the “Bridgegate” episode, a political scandal that left New Jersey commuters dealing with severe traffic gridlock for several days.

Despite Christie’s claims, two of his top allies were convicted for their involvement in a scheme to block access lanes on the George Washington Bridge as retaliation against Fort Lee’s Democratic mayor, who refused to endorse Christie’s reelection campaign in 2013.

In 2020, the Supreme Court overturned those convictions, determining that while the conduct involved dishonesty and abuse of power, it ultimately did not meet the threshold for violating federal law.

Trump’s statements come on the heels of a high-profile raid targeting Bolton’s Maryland residence and Washington, D.C. office on Friday, as investigators searched for materials connected to allegations that Bolton took “highly sensitive national security documents.”

Bolton, who once served as Trump’s National Security Adviser, has since become one of the most outspoken critics of the former administration, frequently appearing in the media to attack his ex-boss.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump greeted Lee Jae Myung, the new president of South Korea, by asserting that a “Purge or Revolution” was taking place there and threatening to not do business with Seoul as he prepared to host the new leader at the White House later Monday. It was not immediately clear what Trump was referring to, but South Korea had been in a state of political turmoil for the last several months after its former leader, the conservative Yoon Suk Yeol, briefly imposed martial law last December which eventually led to his stunning ouster from office. “WHAT IS GOING ON IN SOUTH KOREA? Seems like a Purge or Revolution. We can’t have that and do business there,” Trump posted on social media Monday morning. “I am seeing the new President today at the White House. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!” Yoon, who was elected to a five-year term in 2022, was considered more ideologically aligned with Trump and had even taken up golfing again after the U.S. president was reelected last November to try to forge a bond with him. The liberal Lee, an outspoken critic of Seoul’s conservative establishment who had narrowly lost to Yoon in that 2022 election, led the South Korean parliament’s efforts to overturn Yoon’s martial law decree while impeaching him. The nation’s Constitutional Court formally dismissed Yoon in April. Before Trump’s Truth Social post Monday morning, the first in-person meeting between Trump and Lee had been expected to help flesh out details of a July trade deal between the two countries that has Seoul investing hundreds of billions of dollars in the U.S. The agreement set tariffs on South Korean goods at 15% after Trump threatened rates as high as 25%. Trump declared at the time that South Korea would be “completely OPEN TO TRADE” with the U.S. and accept goods such as cars and agricultural products. Automobiles are South Korea’s top export to the U.S. Seoul has one of the largest trade surpluses among Washington’s NATO and Indo-Pacific allies, and countries where the U.S. holds a trade deficit has drawn particular ire from Trump, who wants to eliminate such trade imbalances. Lee’s office said in announcing the visit that the two leaders plan to discuss cooperating on key manufacturing sectors such as semiconductors, batteries and shipbuilding. The latter has been a particular area of focus for the U.S. president. On defense, one potential topic is the continued presence of U.S. troops in South Korea and concerns in Seoul that the U.S. will seek higher payments in return. Ahead of his visit to Washington, Lee traveled to Tokyo for his first bilateral visit as president in a hugely symbolic trip for the two nations that hold longstanding historical wounds. The summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba was interpreted by analysts as a way to show unity and potential leverage as Japan and South Korea face new challenges from the Trump administration. Lee was the first South Korean president to choose Japan for the inaugural bilateral visit since the two nations normalized ties in 1965. Elected in June, Lee was a former child laborer with an arm deformity who rose his way through South Korea’s political ranks to lead the liberal Democratic Party and win the presidency after multiple attempts. Lee faced […]

The complex of the kever of Rav Nachman of Breslov in Uman, Ukraine, is set for a major renovation project valued at over $2 million, the Breslov Union in Uman, which manages the site, announced.

Work is scheduled to begin in the winter of 2026 on the 2,154 square yard complex, which has suffered from overcrowding and disruptions for decades.

Tens of thousands customarily visit the site during Rosh Hashana. With annual upkeep that exceeds $800,000 and Rosh Hashana preparations that cost more than $350,000, the Breslov Union is preparing to launch a large fundraising campaign.

Renovation plans include several major enhancements: a new women’s section that will provide a comfortable space for female visitors; creative solutions to allow kohanim to stay within the complex without concerns regarding tumah; a designated dance hall so as not to disturb those engaged in tefillah; three separate shuls—one for Ashkenazim, a second for Sephardim and a third to be used as needed; new facilities offering light refreshments; and, for the first time, separate restrooms for women.

“Our goal is to enable every Jew to visit, focus on prayer without disturbance, and fulfill Rav Nachman’s teachings with peace of mind. We coordinated with relevant authorities and carefully ensured no harm would come to the other holy graves in the area,” a Breslov Union representative said.

“For many years we witnessed hardships and limitations faced by worshippers. This renovation is nothing short of a revolution,” said a veteran Breslover.

Uman, located some 125 miles south of Kyiv, has become in recent years a popular destination of pilgrimage for tens of thousands of Jews, who make the journey to pray at the kever of the 18th-century founder of the Breslover movement.

In July, the Ukrainian government announced the recognition of the kever as a national heritage site, a decision that is expected to lead to increased security at the site for the safety of Jewish worshippers.

It followed a recent tightening of Ukrainian-Israeli relations, which have seen tensions mount since February 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar thanked the Ukrainian government for recognizing the site in Uman, during a joint press conference in Kyiv with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha in his recent visit to the European nation.

“Both Ukraine and Israel are going through difficult times, but our countries are strong, and the friendship between us is steadfast. We will continue to deepen it and support one another,” said Sa’ar.

In 2024, some 35,000 people flocked to Uman, Ukraine, despite official warnings urging travelers not to do so due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, alongside other security concerns. JNS

{Matzav.com}

TRUMP: “If you burn an American flag, you get 1 year in jail”

The family of hostage soldier Nimrod Cohen released two photos showing his abduction by Hamas terrorists during the October 7 attack, with a full video—seized by the IDF during ground operations in Gaza—expected to be released later.

President Trump signs an Executive Order taking steps to eliminate so-called “cashless bail” in Washington, D.C.

President Trump blasts Chicago Mayor: “I watched as a very incompetent mayor from Chicago said, ‘Well, what do they know? They only arrested 9 people.’ … We actually arrested a total of well over 1,000 people…apprehended scores of illegal aliens…seized dozens of illegal firearms.”

Opposition leader MK Yair Lapid revealed that he recently attended a meeting with representatives from the State Comptroller’s Office as part of its ongoing investigation into the events of the October 7 massacre.

Lapid explained that, before any discussions began, he specifically asked for his opening statement to be officially included in the meeting’s records.

“I am cooperating with the investigation out of respect for the law, and because I do not conduct myself like the government,” he stated during the session.

He went on to add, “But it is clear to me that this is a complete fraud, whose sole purpose is not to uncover the truth but to help [Prime Minister Bibi] Netanyahu avoid a state commission of inquiry and his responsibility for the worst failure in the country’s history.”

According to Lapid, officials from the State Comptroller’s Office documented his remarks in the protocol, and his statement is expected to be featured in the upcoming report.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Former Mexican cartel kingpin Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada is expected to plead guilty Monday to federal charges related to his role in the violent drug trade that for years flooded the U.S. with cocaine, heroin and other illicit substances. The longtime leader of the Sinaloa cartel is scheduled to appear before a federal judge in Brooklyn for a change of plea hearing. The appearance comes after federal prosecutors said two weeks ago that they wouldn’t seek the death penalty against Zambada, who was arrested in Texas last year. Prosecutors, in a court filing ahead of Monday’s hearing, said they expect the 77-year-old to plead guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of running a continuing criminal enterprise. Zambada pleaded not guilty last year to a range of drug trafficking and related charges, including gun and money laundering offenses. Lawyers for Zambada didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment Friday. Prosecutors say the Sinaloa cartel evolved from a regional player into the largest drug trafficking organization in the world under the leadership of Zambada and co-founder Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. They say Zambada presided over a violent, highly militarized cartel with a private security force armed with powerful weapons and a cadre of “sicarios,” or hitmen, that carried out assassinations, kidnappings and torture. Guzmán was sentenced to life behind bars following his conviction in the same federal court in Brooklyn in 2019. His two sons, who ran a cartel faction, also face federal charges. (AP)

Florida’s Attorney General calls on the Trump Administration to investigate, revoke CDL programs, and cut funding to California, Washington, and any state that allows criminal aliens to obtain licenses.

Israeli forces fired a warning shot near Syrians protesting their presence in Bat al-Warda, close to Beit Jin in the Damascus countryside, about 50 kilometers from the capital. According to local media, residents said the IDF told them it plans to set up an outpost in the area.

Trump said Intel is worth about $11 billion and claimed he paid nothing for it, adding that he enjoys seeing the company’s stock price rise and that all government-held shares of Intel belong to the United States.