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Tens of thousands of people across Australia took part in large-scale pro-Palestinian demonstrations on Sunday, protesting against Israel and urging the government to impose sanctions while demanding an immediate halt to the fighting in Gaza. The rallies come as tensions between Canberra and Yerushalayim continue to escalate.

Relations between Israel and Australia have grown increasingly strained in recent weeks after the center-left Albanese government moved to formally recognize a Palestinian state and revoked an entry visa previously granted to Israeli far-right MK Simcha Rothman.

According to the Palestine Action Group, over 40 separate rallies were held nationwide, with significant gatherings in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. The organization claimed that approximately 350,000 people participated across the country, including an estimated 50,000 in Brisbane. However, police placed Brisbane’s turnout closer to 10,000 and did not release crowd size estimates for the Sydney and Melbourne protests.

In Sydney, protest organizer Josh Lees said demonstrators had come together to “demand an end to this genocide in Gaza and to demand that our government sanction Israel,” as many waved Palestinian flags and chanted “Free, free Palestine.”

Queensland senator Larissa Waters addressed protesters in Brisbane, declaring there were “so many people here calling for peace, calling for sanctions on Israel just like we have on Russia, and calling for an end to the two-way arms trade,” according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

“I think after the Sydney march just a couple of weeks ago, which saw the government change position, I’m really hopeful that with the amazing turnout today across the country, the government will feel the pressure,” Waters added.

Meanwhile, in Canberra, senator David Pocock told attendees that Australia needed to do far more, ABC reported. “People care. People care deeply, and they want a government that’s actually going to listen and then act,” he said.

Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, condemned the rallies, telling Sky News that the demonstrations created “an unsafe environment and shouldn’t be happening.”

The wave of protests comes on the heels of an intensifying diplomatic clash, as Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu sharply criticized Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over his government’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state.

Australia’s announcement to conditionally recognize Palestinian statehood, made on August 11, followed similar moves by France, Britain, and Canada, and marked a turning point in relations. The decision came only days after tens of thousands marched across Sydney’s Harbour Bridge demanding peace and increased humanitarian aid for Gaza, where Israel’s military campaign began nearly two years ago in response to Hamas’ October 7, 2023, cross-border attack that killed 1,200 people and saw 251 others kidnapped.

Tensions escalated further last week when Australia revoked Rothman’s entry visa just before he was scheduled to leave Israel to address Jewish community events in the country.

In retaliation, Israel revoked visas for Australian diplomatic officials assigned to the Palestinian Authority — a move that drew sharp criticism from Canberra.

Following these developments, Netanyahu issued a pointed rebuke against Albanese on his official X account, calling him a “weak politician who betrayed Israel” and claiming he had “abandoned” Australian Jewry.

{Matzav.com}

France has summoned the American ambassador to Paris after the diplomat, Charles Kushner, wrote a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron alleging the country did not do enough to combat antisemitism. France’s foreign ministry issued a statement Sunday announcing it had summoned Kushner to appear Monday at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and that his allegations “are unacceptable.” The White House did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott on Sunday evening said it stood by Kushner’s comments, adding: “Ambassador Kushner is our U.S. government representative in France and is doing a great job advancing our national interests in that role.” The summoning of the ambassador is a formal and public notice of displeasure. Kushner, a real-estate developer, is the father of President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. The French foreign ministry, in its statement, said “France firmly rejects these allegations” from Kushner and that French authorities have “fully mobilized” to combat a rise in antisemitic acts since the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel, deeming the acts “intolerable.” The contents of the letter were not released. Kushner’s allegations violate international law and the obligation not to interfere with the internal affairs of another country, the French ministry said, and, “They also fall short of the quality of the transatlantic partnership between France and the United States and of the trust that must prevail between allies.” The dustup follows Macron’s rejection this past week of accusations from Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that France’s intention to recognize a Palestinian state is fueling antisemitism. France is home to the largest Jewish population in Western Europe, with an estimated 500,000 Jews. That’s approximately 1% of the national population. The diplomatic discord comes as French-U.S. relations have faced tensions this year amid Trump’s trade war and a split over the future of U.N. peacekeepers in Lebanon. France in particular has objected to the U.S. push to wind down the peacekeeping operation known as UNIFIL, with a vote on the issue set for the end of the month by the U.N. Security Council. France and the U.S. have also been divided on support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, but the split has eased with Trump expressing support for security guarantees and a warm meeting with Macron and other European leaders at the White House last week. Trump at the end of his first term as president pardoned Charles Kushner, who pleaded guilty years earlier to tax evasion and making illegal campaign donations. His son Jared is a former White House senior adviser to Trump who is married to Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka. (AP)

Vice President JD Vance emphasized over the weekend that President Donald Trump wants him focused on advancing the administration’s current agenda rather than engaging in speculation about the 2028 presidential race.

During an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, Vance played down the growing conversation surrounding Trump’s eventual successor, even after the president recently suggested that the vice president is the “most likely” person to carry on his political movement.

“If it’s in the news, the President and I have certainly discussed it. But I think the President is just focused on doing a good job for the American people. He wants me to be focused on doing a good job for the American people,” Vance explained.

When asked directly whether he views himself as the natural heir to the MAGA movement, Vance responded, “No. I see myself as a Vice President who’s trying to do a good job for the American people.”

Trump, in recent remarks, acknowledged that while it is too soon to officially name a successor for 2028, Vance currently stands as the leading figure to continue the Republican vision.

“I think most likely, in all fairness,” Trump said when asked if he would consider endorsing Vance to solidify his position and potentially clear the GOP field.

“So it’s too early to talk about it, but certainly he’s doing a great job, and he would be probably favored at this point,” the president added.

Trump also brought up Secretary of State Marco Rubio — who ran against him in the 2016 Republican primary before exiting the race after weak showings — as a possible strong contender to serve as Vance’s running mate should the vice president lead the 2028 ticket.

These comments came as Trump addressed ongoing chatter about a possible third term, saying he would “probably not” pursue it, noting that the Constitution prohibits a president from serving more than two terms.

Although some observers have treated Trump’s remarks on the topic as tongue-in-cheek, at times his statements have carried a more serious tone, prompting continued debate among political analysts and strategists.

Back in March, Trump made one of his clearest comments yet on the matter, saying, “I’m not joking” about the possibility of seeking a third term.

“There are methods which you could do it,” Trump said in a phone interview with NBC News, though he tempered expectations by clarifying, “It is far too early to think about it.”

{Matzav.com}

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced on Sunday night that “advanced talks” are currently taking place between Damascus and Yerushalayim to work toward a potential security arrangement. He made this statement during a meeting with representatives of various Arab media outlets.

According to Nadim Koteich, director of Sky News Arabia, al-Sharaa revealed that the framework for the proposed agreement would be tied to the 1974 disengagement line that has defined boundaries between the two nations for decades.

Al-Sharaa explained that his immediate goal is to restore the ceasefire with Israel and establish “security arrangements” designed to safeguard Syria’s sovereignty. He added that these measures could serve as a foundation for possible future agreements between the two sides.

At the same time, the Syrian leader clarified that a comprehensive peace treaty with Israel is not something he sees happening right now.

“If a peace agreement serves the interests of Syria and the Syrian people, I will not hesitate to choose that option,” he stated.

His comments come in the wake of a report published last week by the Saudi-owned newspaper Independent Arabia, which claimed that Israel and Syria are expected to sign a security agreement on September 25 under the sponsorship of the United States.

The report said the deal would primarily focus on reducing tensions between Damascus and Jerusalem through coordinated security arrangements. However, it stressed that a full peace accord between the two nations is not anticipated “in the near future.”

Just days before al-Sharaa’s remarks, Syria’s state-run news agency reported that Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met with an Israeli delegation in Paris, which was reportedly headed by Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.

According to the report, the Paris discussions were facilitated by U.S. mediation and were largely centered on ensuring greater stability in southern Syria and the surrounding region.

Sources familiar with the negotiations said the agenda included several critical points: reducing tensions along the border, maintaining a policy of non-interference in Syria’s internal matters, promoting regional stability, monitoring the ceasefire in the Druze Mountain area, and revisiting the 1974 disengagement agreement.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Russia accused Ukraine on Sunday of launching drone attacks that sparked a fire at a nuclear power plant in its western Kursk region overnight, as Ukraine celebrated 34 years since its independence. Russian officials said several power and energy facilities were targeted in the overnight strikes. The fire at the nuclear facility was quickly extinguished with no injuries reported, according to the plant’s press service on Telegram. While the attack damaged a transformer, radiation levels remained within normal ranges. The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog said it was aware of media reports that a transformer at the plants had caught fire “due to military activity,” but hadn’t received independent confirmation. It said its director-general, Rafael Mariano Grossi, said that “every nuclear facility must be protected at all times.” Ukraine did not immediately comment on the alleged attack. Firefighters also responded to a blaze at the port of Ust-Luga in Russia’s Leningrad region, home to a major fuel export terminal. The regional governor said approximately 10 Ukrainian drones were shot down, with debris igniting the fire. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses intercepted 95 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory overnight into Sunday. Russia fired 72 drones and decoys, along with a cruise missile, into Ukraine overnight into Sunday, Ukraine’s air force said. Of these, 48 drones were shot down or jammed. Another wartime Independence Day The incidents occurred as Ukraine marked Independence Day, commemorating its 1991 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered remarks in a video address from Kyiv’s Independence Square, emphasizing the nation’s resolve. “We are building a Ukraine that will have enough strength and power to live in security and peace,” Zelenskyy said, calling for a “just peace.” “What our future will be is up to us alone,” he said, in a nod to the U.S.–Russia summit in Alaska earlier in August, which many feared would leave Ukrainian and European interests sidelined. “And the world knows this. And the world respects this. It respects Ukraine. It perceives Ukraine as an equal,” he said. U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg was in attendance at Independence Day celebrations in Kyiv, during which Zelenskyy awarded him the Ukrainian Order of Merit, of the 1st degree. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Kyiv on Sunday morning for meetings with Zelenskyy. “On this special day — Ukraine’s Independence Day — it is especially important for us to feel the support of our friends. And Canada has always stood by our side,” wrote Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff. Military aid and prayers for peace In a joint news conference with Zelenskyy, Carney said Canada will invest 2 billion Canadian dollars ($1.5 billion) in new military assistance for Ukraine to boost its army and provide urgently needed weapons. Zelenskyy said the two leaders were considering the presence of Canadian forces on the ground in Ukraine as part of a reassurance force. Norway announced significant new military aid Sunday, pledging about 7 billion kroner ($695 million) for air defense systems. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said Norway and Germany are jointly funding two Patriot systems, including missiles, with Norway also helping procure air defense radar. Pope Leo XIV prayed Sunday for peace in Ukraine as he marked the country’s Independence Day with a special appeal during his weekly noon blessing. He said the faithful were joining Ukrainians “asking […]

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Israel issued an unusual statement of support for the Lebanese government on Monday in wake of its efforts to work toward the disarmament of Hezbollah. The statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said, “Israel acknowledges the significant step taken by the Lebanese government, under the leadership of President Aoun and Prime Minister Salam.” “The recent decision by the Council of Ministers to work towards the disarmament of Hezbollah by the end of 2025 was a momentous decision. It marks a crucial opportunity for Lebanon to reclaim its sovereignty and restore the authority of its state institutions, military, and governance—free from the influence of non-state actors.” “In light of this important development, Israel stands ready to support Lebanon in its efforts to disarm Hezbollah and to work together towards a more secure and stable future for both nations. If the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) take the necessary steps to implement the disarmament of Hezbollah, Israel will engage in reciprocal measures, including a phased reduction of IDF presence in coordination with the US-led security mechanism.” “Now is the time for both Israel and Lebanon to move forward in a spirit of cooperation, focusing on the shared objective of disarming Hezbollah and promoting the stability and prosperity of both nations.” Netanyahu on Sunday met with the U.S. Special Envoy for Syria and Lebanon, Tom Barrack, as part of Washington’s efforts to promote a security arrangement that includes Israel, Syria, and Lebanon. The meeting was also attended by Morgan Ortagus, the former U.S. envoy to the region, National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi, and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Some National Guard units patrolling the nation’s capital at the direction of President Donald Trump have started carrying firearms, an escalation of his military deployment that makes good on a directive issued late last week by his defense secretary. A Defense Department official who was not authorized to speak publicly said some units on certain missions would be armed — some with handguns and others with rifles. The spokesperson said that all units with firearms have been trained and are operating under strict rules for use of force. An Associated Press photographer on Sunday saw members of the South Carolina National Guard outside Union Station with holstered handguns. A statement from the joint task force that has taken over policing in the nation’s capital said units began carrying their service weapons on Sunday and that the military’s rules say force should be used “only as a last resort and solely in response to an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm.” It said the force is committed to protecting “the safety and wellbeing” of Washington’s residents. The defense official who spoke to The Associated Press said only troops on certain missions would carry guns, and that would include those patrolling to establish a law enforcement presence throughout the capital. Those working in transportation or administration would likely remain unarmed. Thousands of National Guard and federal law enforcement officers are now patrolling the district’s streets, drawing sporadic protests from local residents. The development in Trump’s extraordinary effort to override the law enforcement authority of state and local governments comes as he is considering expanding the deployments to other Democratic-led cities, including Baltimore, Chicago and New York. Earlier Sunday, the president responded to an offer by Maryland’s governor to join him in a tour of Baltimore by saying he might instead “send in the ‘troops.’” Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, has criticized Trump’s unprecedented flex of federal power aimed at combatting crime and homelessness in Washington. Moore last week invited Trump to visit his state to discuss public safety and walk the streets. In a Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump said Moore asked “in a rather nasty and provocative tone,” and then raised the specter of repeating the National Guard deployment he made in Los Angeles over the objections of California’s Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom. “Wes Moore’s record on Crime is a very bad one, unless he fudges his figures on crime like many of the other ‘Blue States’ are doing,” Trump wrote, as he cited a pejorative nickname he uses frequently for the California governor. “But if Wes Moore needs help, like Gavin Newscum did in L.A., I will send in the ‘troops,’ which is being done in nearby DC, and quickly clean up the Crime.” Moore said he invited Trump to Maryland “because he seems to enjoy living in this blissful ignorance” about improving crime rates in Baltimore. After a spike during the pandemic that matched nationwide trends, Baltimore’s violent crime rate has fallen. The 200 homicides reported last year were down 24% from the prior year and 42% since 2021, according to city data. Between 2023 and 2024, overall violent crime was down nearly 8% and property crimes down 20%. “The president is spending all of his time talking about me,” Moore said on CBS’s “Face the […]

At least 15 people were killed in an IDF-attributed strike on Nassar Hospital in Khan Younis, Gazan media reported on Monday. According to reports, several “journalists” and photographers were killed in the attack, including Al-Jazeera channel photographer Mohammad Salama, journalist Muaz Abu Taha, journalist Mariam Abu Dagga, who worked with the Associated Press, and Palestine TV photographer Hussam Al-Masri, who also worked for Reuters. It should be noted that Al Jazeera photographer Mohammad Salama enthusiastically filmed the horrifying Hamas ceremony in which the Bibas family’s bodies were returned to Israel. The IDF has not yet officially responded to the reports. Ynet reported that security officials said, “The IDF identified a threat to IDF forces from the hospital, so it was bombed, but the circumstances are still being investigated.” According to Hamas’s “Health Ministry,” the IDF bombed the same spot on the fourth floor of the hospital twice.  Media reports said that a suicide drone exploded on the external stairs on the top floor of the Yassin building, where the hospital’s emergency room is located, and a second attack took place after a rescue team arrived at the site. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

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The military police attempted to arrest another ben yeshiva overnight Sunday, at 3:15 in the morning. Three military police officers, in civilian clothes, banged on the door of a Chareidi home in the Ganei Hadar neighborhood of Petah Tikva, seeking to arrest a 22-year-old avreich who recently got married. “They furiously banged on the door,” the father told B’Chadrei Chareidim. “Through the peephole, we saw three men dressed in civilian clothing demanding to open the door, claiming they have a warrant. I asked them to show me the warrant. They refused. I asked them to identify themselves—they refused that too. They told me: ‘Open the door, and then you’ll see the warrant.’ At that moment, I was convinced they were criminals. Who knocks like that in the middle of the night, almost tearing the door off?” He said that when he made it clear that his son does not live at home, the officers demanded to be let in to search the home. He refused, and the officers argued with him for many minutes. Eventually, the three left and walked down to the street and waited there. Meanwhile, the parents called the Ezram U’Magenim organization. Within a short time, Chareidi men arrived at the scene, who began a noisy protest under the house. Faced with the growing pressure, the three officers—who sought to hide their identity behind civilian clothes—left the scene. The parents said that over the past few days, they’ve received mysterious phone calls from every possible number. “Everyone is looking for our son, but he no longer lives here since he got married. He’s a young avreich who is entirely immersed in Torah—he completed Shas. This is unbelievable persecution, reminiscent of the darkest days. They even called us claiming they have a ‘package’ to deliver to him. Who uses such methods? It’s absurd.” The mother says that the panic in the house reached its peak when her husband suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest. “My husband recently underwent bypass surgery; his heart is weak. The moment the officers shouted and knocked forcefully, I was afraid he was having a heart attack. It was frightening.” The father added that although the family knew that this day would come, the incident shook them. “We prepared ourselves, but when it really happens, there is no way to remain indifferent. The knocks, the shouts, and the surprise—all together created enormous panic. We pray that these days will pass quickly and that the status of bnei yeshivos will be settled once and for all.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Kan News spoke with a Yemeni media source identified with the opposition to the Houthis, who asserted that the IDF’s attacks on Houthi infrastructure will not cause the terrorist organization to cease its attacks on Israel. Speaking to Kan following Israel’s attack on Sanaa on Sunday, the source explained that the impact of the strikes in Sanaa is limited. “They affect the electricity by damaging power stations and oil reserves, but the damage is not a ‘game changer,'” he said, asserting that the only game-changer would be harming the Houthi leadership, including its leader, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi. In June, the IDF tried to assassinate Houthi Chief of Staff Muhammad Abd Gharmari, but he survived the attempt. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday dismissed the prospect of resolving tensions with the United States, vowing that Tehran would never bow to American pressure, even as nuclear talks with European powers are set to resume. “They want Iran to be obedient to America,” Khamenei said in remarks carried by state media. “The Iranian nation will stand with all of its power against those who have such erroneous expectations. This issue is unsolvable.” His comments come two months after Iran and Israel fought a bruising 12-day air war that killed dozens in Israel and left thousands wounded. The conflict erupted after Israel launched sweeping strikes on Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure, which Tehran answered with more than 500 ballistic missiles and some 1,100 armed drones. Khamenei’s declaration comes as France, Britain, and Germany prepare to reengage Tehran in talks aimed at reviving restrictions on its uranium enrichment program. Western powers have warned that unless Iran makes concessions, they could reimpose United Nations sanctions under the 2015 nuclear deal’s “snapback” mechanism. Some Iranian officials are signaling openness to compromise. Reformist factions, led by Supreme National Security Council chief Ali Larijani and backed by President Masoud Pezeshkian, are reportedly pushing to cap enrichment at 20 percent — far below weapons-grade levels but still well above the limits in the 2015 accord. The initiative has drawn sharp resistance from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and hardliners who accuse Larijani of appeasing the West. “Larijani is trying to convince the system to reduce enrichment to avoid another war,” a senior Iranian official told The Telegraph. “He’s concerned that without lowering it or meeting some of the West’s demands, the system will face another major challenge.” Even as nuclear debate rages in Tehran, Iranian officials are threatening fresh conflict with Israel. Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh boasted last week that Iran had developed missiles “with far greater capabilities” than those fired during June’s war, warning: “If the Zionist enemy embarks on the adventure again, we will undoubtedly use them.” Senior IRGC adviser Yahya Rahim Safavi went further, telling Iranian media, “We are not in a ceasefire, we are in a stage of war. I think another war may happen, and after that, there may be no more wars.” Nasirzadeh also claimed Iran has established weapons-manufacturing infrastructure in “several countries,” fueling fears of expanding proxy conflicts across the Middle East. On Saturday, Iranian state media reported that security forces killed six militants in the country’s southeast, accusing them of links to Israel. Although Tehran insists it does not seek nuclear weapons, it continues to enrich uranium to levels without clear civilian use, restricts international inspections, and advances ballistic missile capabilities — actions Israel and Western intelligence agencies say point to weaponization efforts. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared on Sunday that the conflict between Tehran and Washington cannot be resolved and emphasized that the Islamic Republic will never give in to U.S. demands, Reuters reported.

“The Iranian nation will stand with all of its power against those who have such erroneous expectations,” Khamenei stated, according to Iranian state media. “They want Iran to be obedient to America.”

His remarks come at a time when nuclear negotiations between Iran and Western nations remain at a standstill. Talks have largely been frozen since June, when Iran halted discussions following a 12-day period of hostilities during which both the U.S. and Israel struck Iranian nuclear sites.

Tensions escalated further after Britain, France, and Germany issued a warning that they are prepared to reimpose United Nations sanctions on Tehran if it refuses to return to the negotiating table regarding its nuclear program.

On Friday, the foreign ministers of Iran and the three European nations held a conference call to discuss resuming talks aimed at restoring full negotiations over Iran’s uranium enrichment activities. However, according to Axios, the discussion was strained and produced no meaningful breakthroughs.

Speaking again on Sunday, Khamenei dismissed any possibility of holding direct discussions with Washington. “People who ask us not to issue slogans against the US… to have direct negotiations with the US only see appearances… This issue is unsolvable,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

France summoned U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner after he published a letter to President Emmanuel Macron accusing France of failing to do enough to combat antisemitic violence, a spokesperson for the French foreign ministry said on Sunday.

Kushner, who is Jewish and whose son is married to U.S. President Donald Trump’s daughter, wrote the open letter in the Wall Street Journal amid growing tensions between France, the United States, and Israel.

In his letter to Macron, Kushner highlighted the significance of Monday’s date, noting it marked “the 81st anniversary of the Allied Liberation of Paris, which ended the deportation of Jews from French soil” under Nazi occupation.

“I write out of deep concern over the dramatic rise of antisemitism in France and the lack of sufficient action by your government to confront it…” Kushner wrote.

“In France, not a day passes without Jews assaulted in the street, synagogues or schools defaced, or Jewish-owned businesses vandalized,” he added.

Kushner urged Macron to take stronger steps to enforce existing hate-crime laws and reduce public criticism of Israel, arguing that recent French government statements about recognizing a Palestinian state have intensified antisemitic incidents across the country.

While acknowledging that “antisemitism has long scarred French life,” Kushner stressed that hatred toward Jews “has exploded since Hamas’s barbaric assault on October 7, 2023,” which triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.

“France firmly refutes these latest allegations,” the French foreign ministry said in response to Kushner’s letter, issuing a statement just hours after the publication.

“The Ambassador’s allegations are unacceptable,” the ministry declared, adding that Kushner would be formally summoned to appear at the foreign ministry on Monday.

Officials cited the 1961 Vienna Convention, stating that ambassadors are prohibited from interfering in the internal affairs of the countries where they serve.

Kushner’s letter came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a similar message to Macron earlier in the week, accusing the French president of encouraging antisemitism by pushing for international recognition of a Palestinian state, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Macron has been among the most vocal critics of Netanyahu’s handling of the war in Gaza, frequently condemning the high number of Palestinian civilian casualties. In contrast, President Trump has maintained strong support for Netanyahu throughout the conflict.

“Public statements haranguing Israel and gestures toward recognition of a Palestinian state embolden extremists, fuel violence, and endanger Jewish life in France. In today’s world, anti-Zionism is antisemitism – plain and simple,” Kushner wrote.

Kushner’s son, Jared Kushner, is married to Ivanka Trump, who converted to Judaism before their wedding in 2009. The couple has three children, all being raised in the Jewish faith.

Macron, meanwhile, has publicly condemned antisemitism as incompatible with French values and has bolstered security around synagogues and Jewish institutions following a spike in antisemitic incidents tied to the Gaza conflict.

France is home to the largest Jewish community in Western Europe, estimated at around half a million people, as well as a sizable Muslim population sensitive to the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza.

Both Jewish and Muslim communities in France have reported a sharp increase in hate crimes since Israel launched its retaliatory strikes against Hamas in Gaza.

Macron’s recent announcement that France intends to formally recognize a Palestinian state during a UN meeting in September drew swift criticism from Israel at the time.

With that move, France is set to join a growing number of countries that have recognized or plan to recognize a Palestinian state since the outbreak of the Gaza war nearly two years ago.

According to a recent New York Times report, at least 147 of the 193 United Nations member states now recognize or intend to recognize Palestinian statehood.

{Matzav.com}

The British government is preparing to introduce changes to prison sentencing that would allow thousands of offenders to avoid jail time as part of a plan to address the country’s overcrowded prison system.

According to The Times of London, the Labour Party’s Sentencing Bill will encourage judges to eliminate prison terms for sentences of up to 12 months. If passed, the measure could allow many individuals — including drug dealers, offenders, and shoplifters — to bypass prison altogether.

Instead of short custodial sentences, the bill would prioritize community-based penalties. These could include restrictions such as banning offenders from visiting pubs, attending football matches, and other public events, along with expanded use of electronic monitoring to track individuals after conviction.

The proposal follows an independent review led by former justice secretary David Gauke, which concluded that reducing the number of people sent to prison could ease overcrowding in Britain’s jails.

The review also suggested that short-term prison sentences have proven ineffective for rehabilitation and often lead to higher rates of repeat offending rather than reducing crime.

Under the new plan, judges would still hold significant discretion in determining whether prison sentences are avoided. However, critics have noted that British judges already have a reputation for imposing lenient punishments in many cases.

Additionally, the bill includes a “good behaviour” provision that could allow certain violent offenders to be released after serving as little as one-third of their sentences. However, this exemption would not extend to terrorists or the most dangerous violent criminals, according to The Guardian.

Defending the proposed legislation, the government issued a statement explaining the urgency of the reforms: “This government inherited a prisons system days away from collapse. That is why we are building 14,000 more prison places — with 2,500 already delivered — but we know we can’t build our way out of this crisis. Without further action, we will run out of prison places in months, courts would halt trials and the police cancel arrests.

“That is why as part of our plan for change, we are overhauling sentencing to make sure we always have the prison places needed to keep the country safe.”

The government’s strategy contrasts sharply with proposals from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who has pledged to enforce “zero tolerance policing” against all crimes, ensuring that even minor offenses are prosecuted consistently. Drawing inspiration from former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s policies, Farage said that if he came to power, his government would also expand stop-and-search operations to confront the rising problem of knife crime.

“As someone who spent over 20 years working for American companies, I was a regular transatlantic commuter, and I saw what one inspired, brave leader with a New York Police Department that wanted to work with him… I saw what could happen, what the potential was. I believe London needs a Giuliani, not a Sadiq Khan,” Farage said last month.

Instead of immediately releasing offenders like shoplifters back onto the streets, Farage has suggested establishing a network of detention facilities on military bases, where arrested individuals would be held immediately. To reduce costs, he also proposed negotiating agreements with countries such as El Salvador and Estonia, where housing prisoners is significantly cheaper.

{Matzav.com}

On Sunday’s broadcast of MSNBC’s “The Weekend,” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) warned that if President Donald Trump were to send the National Guard into Chicago, residents would rise up against what he described as “tyranny.”

During the interview, co-host Jonathan Capehart referenced a report from The Washington Post and asked for Johnson’s reaction. “I just want to get your reaction to another thing in The Washington Post story I’m reading directly here. It says the use of thousands of active duty troops in Chicago also has been discussed, but is considered less likely at this time. We saw him do that with active duty Marines on the streets of Los Angeles. What would the reaction be in Chicago if the President of the United States does indeed put active duty military on the streets of Chicago?”

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Johnson responded, “Well, again, you know, the city of Chicago does not need a military occupied state that that is that’s not who we are. I commend the work of Mayor Bass, my colleague, and and, you know, all the folks in Los Angeles who stood up and fought, you know, against this, you know, authoritarianism. Here’s the bottom line. they don’t have police power. There’s nothing they can do. you know, these are federal troops, they do not go through the training that our police officers go through. So they cannot even enact police authority.”

He went on to criticize the administration’s broader approach. “The president has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to what, arrest nine people in D.C.? You know that that is that clearly he’s demonstrated that he doesn’t have a level of consciousness to understand what it takes to run cities, not to mention an entire country. So, you know, look, we’re going to remain firm. We’ll take legal action. But the people of this city are accustomed to rising up against tyranny. And if that’s necessary, I believe that the people of Chicago will stand firm alongside of me as I work every single day to protect the people of this city.”

{Matzav.com}

An urgent meeting was held Thursday night by the Sanzer Rebbe, bringing together the rabbonim and dayanim of Sanz to address serious concerns that have arisen regarding the kashrus of tefillin.

The gathering took place just prior to the bar mitzvah celebration of the Rebbe’s grandson.

According to information obtained by Matzav.com, the emergency meeting followed the discovery of potential flaws in the kashrus of tefillin batim produced over the past 25 years, dating back to approximately the year 2000. Manufacturers had begun using a harder and thicker type of leather for the batim, and even after pressing the leather in industrial machines, small hollow spaces or cracks sometimes remained. These gaps were then filled with glue. However, due to a lack of proper oversight, such cracks can compromise the integrity of the square shape required for tefillin, raising serious halachic concerns about their validity.

In addition, further issues were identified relating to the proper squaring of the tefillin batim. These include the use of electric saws to create deeper grooves between the four compartments of the tefillin shel rosh, improper handling by examiners when opening the batim for inspection, and even drilling holes with electric tools to pass the threads between compartments, all of which may lead to potential halachic deficiencies.

This development recalls a similar controversy from approximately fifty years ago, when the Rebbe’s father, the Shefa Chaim of Sanz, led a well-known campaign addressing problems in tefillin kashrus. Now, once again, with new questions arising, the Sanzer Rebbe has called on his rabbonim to establish a dedicated system of hashgacha and oversight.

The newly implemented supervision will be entrusted to the rabbonim of Sanz, who will monitor the manufacturing process closely and ensure that tefillin produced and sold within the community meet the highest halachic standards. The Rebbe emphasized the urgent obligation to safeguard the mitzvah of tefillin, ensuring that chassidim fulfill this foundational mitzvah k’das uk’din, in accordance with the rulings of the Shefa Chaim and the guidance of today’s leading poskim.

{Matzav.com Israel}

In recent days, renovations have begun at the iconic Brisk Yeshiva building in Yerushalayim, the legendary structure that once served as the home of the Brisker Rav and, for the past seventy years since his passing, has stood as the central beacon of the world-renowned Brisk Yeshiva.

Due to growing needs, major changes are being carried out on the front facade of the building, including updates to the original staircase that was used for nearly ninety years by the Brisker Rov, his talmidim, and all who entered his home.

To address the increasing crowding, the entrance to the yeshiva has been expanded significantly. This change has transformed the appearance of the building’s exterior, with the historic staircase fully refurbished. The upgraded entrance will now better accommodate the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Soloveitchik, along with the thousands of talmidim who arrive daily to learn in the yeshiva’s eight bustling batei midrash.

{Matzav.com Israel}