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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized on Tuesday that the Trump administration’s hardline approach has seriously weakened Iran’s ability to finance terrorism across the globe.

Her remarks came in the lead-up to nuclear negotiations set to take place in Oman on Saturday, where U.S. and Iranian representatives are expected to discuss Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. Leavitt suggested that Iran would be entering the discussions under significant pressure.

“The president has reimposed crippling sanctions on the Iranian regime, and he’s made it very clear to Iran they have a choice to make. You can strike a deal with the president. You can negotiate, or there will be hell to pay,” stated Leavitt.

Leavitt pointed to comments made by President Trump just the day before, reinforcing that there would be dire repercussions if Iran walked away from diplomacy.

“As the president said yesterday, if they don’t choose to move forward with diplomacy and a deal, which is the direction we do see them headed in, there will be grave consequences.”

On Monday, during a meeting at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Trump revealed that the United States would engage in nuclear talks with Iran over the coming weekend.

While Trump described the upcoming dialogue as direct negotiations, Iranian officials later indicated that their involvement would be more limited, signaling that communication would be conducted through intermediaries rather than face-to-face.

Iran had already dismissed an earlier overture from Trump, who had sent a letter to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei proposing a direct path to talks — an offer that was promptly declined.

In response, Trump issued a sharp warning to Tehran, cautioning that consequences would follow if a deal wasn’t reached.

“Bad things” would happen, he said, if Iran refused to agree to terms on its nuclear activities.

The president went further with his rhetoric in a later statement, making it clear that military action was not off the table.

“If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing — and it will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.”

{Matzav.com}

We never imagined our lives would come to this. We are 9 children, and our Abba—just 40 years old—is battling cancer. The disease has taken away his strength, his ability to work, and the stability we once knew. His life-saving treatments cost 27,800 shekels a month—an impossible amount for us. With no income, we are struggling to afford even the most basic necessities: food, rent, and milk for my little siblings. I see my mother fighting every day to keep us afloat. But we can’t do this alone. I’m begging—please help us. Every shekel gives us hope. With heartfelt gratitude,Chanie Weiss, 19 🙏 Donate now to save our Abba 

China fired back at President Trump’s aggressive tariff strategy on Wednesday, unveiling its own dramatic response: an increase in import taxes on American goods, now totaling an eye-popping 84%.

The Chinese government revealed that its earlier tariff rate of 34% would be raised to mirror the rate implemented by Trump.

This retaliatory measure, which takes effect Thursday, follows closely on the heels of the U.S. president’s unprecedented 104% import tax aimed at China that was enacted just hours earlier.

The timing of China’s move also aligned with a stern warning from its Ministry of Commerce, which pledged an unyielding stance in the growing trade conflict with Washington.

“If the US insists on further escalating its economic and trade restrictions, China has the firm will and abundant means to take necessary countermeasures and fight to the end,” the Ministry of Commerce said in a lengthy policy statement.

In tandem with its tariff announcement, China disclosed that it had designated a dozen U.S. firms for tighter export controls, while blacklisting six others under its so-called “unreliable entities” list.

Among the companies facing export restrictions are American Photonics and Novotech, both of which will be barred from receiving goods that have both civilian and military applications.

As for the entities now deemed unreliable — including Shield AI and the Sierra Nevada Corporation — they will be prohibited from engaging in import and export transactions tied to China and from making investments within the country.

In Washington, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismissed Beijing’s counterattack, arguing on Fox Business Network that it would ultimately harm China more than the U.S.

“I think it’s unfortunate that the Chinese actually don’t want to come and negotiate, because they are the worst offenders in the international trading system,” Bessent said.

“They have the most imbalanced economy in the history of the modern world, and I can tell you that this escalation is a loser for them.”

President Trump, for his part, appeared emboldened. On Tuesday night, just before his tariffs were activated, he claimed international leaders were scrambling to stay on his good side.

“I’m telling you, these countries are calling us up, kissing my ass,” Trump told the National Republican Congressional Committee Dinner late Tuesday — just hours before the tariffs went into effect.

“They are. They are dying to make a deal. ‘Please, please, Sir, make a deal. I’ll do anything. I’ll do anything, sir!’” he said mockingly.

The 104% tariffs imposed on Chinese goods by Trump came in direct response to Beijing’s earlier retaliatory move: a 34% tax on American imports prompted by Trump’s own initial 34% levy the week before.

“It was a mistake for China to retaliate,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday.

“The president, when America is punched, he punches back harder. That’s why there will be 104% tariffs going into effect on China tonight at midnight.”

Trump’s dramatic escalation includes a new 50% penalty on Chinese imports, which stacks on top of the existing 34% reciprocal tariff and a prior 20% charge — together reaching a total tariff burden of 104%.

The White House has not yet responded publicly to China’s latest countermeasures.

{Matzav.com}

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk unleashed a blistering tirade against former White House trade adviser Peter Navarro on Tuesday, calling him a “moron” and “dumber than a sack of bricks” in response to Navarro’s dismissive remarks about Tesla’s manufacturing credibility. The tech mogul and Tesla CEO, 53, lit up social media after Navarro claimed on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” that Musk was “not a car manufacturer” but merely “a car assembler,” accusing Tesla of relying too heavily on imported parts. “Navarro is truly a moron. What he says here is demonstrably false,” Musk fired back on X. “Tesla has the most American-made cars. Navarro is dumber than a sack of bricks.” Musk cited a 2023 Cars.com study showing that Tesla produced four of the top five most American-made vehicles — though critics noted the study controversially includes Canada in its “U.S. content” calculations. Still, Musk was relentless. In a follow-up jab, he dubbed Navarro “Peter Retardo” and ridiculed the Harvard-educated economist’s credentials, suggesting his Ivy League degrees were “a bad thing, not a good thing.” The public brawl comes amid rising tensions within the pro-business wing of Trump’s inner orbit, ignited by a sweeping round of tariffs rolled out last week — the most aggressive protectionist push in nearly a century. Navarro, 75, was a key architect of the new measures, which impose a blanket 10% tariff on all imports, with even higher rates set to take effect this week. While Musk has avoided directly criticizing former President Trump, his discontent with the tariff barrage is palpable. Over the weekend, Musk reposted a classic video of economist Milton Friedman explaining the global complexity of making a pencil — a not-so-subtle warning against meddling with international supply chains. “Tariffs can’t change supply chains overnight,” Musk said in a recent conversation with Italy’s League Party leader Matteo Salvini. “I hope the U.S. and Europe can move toward a zero-tariff agreement.” Navarro, for his part, tried to downplay the verbal slugfest. “Elon, when he’s in his DOGE lane, is great,” Navarro told Fox News, alluding to Musk’s role in Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative. “But we get it — he’s protecting his business.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt brushed aside the spat with a smirk: “Boys will be boys,” she quipped, praising Trump’s “willingness to hear from all sides.” But beneath the jabs and memes lies a serious economic rift. As the stock market reels from tariff-induced volatility, Musk’s own fortune has cratered — shedding nearly $50 billion in just two weeks, according to Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

During a high-profile fundraising event hosted by the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) on Tuesday evening, three former hostages — Keith Siegel, his wife Aviva, and Iair Horn — took the stage to publicly express their gratitude to President Donald Trump for his efforts in securing their release from Hamas captivity.

Keith Siegel and Iair Horn were released as part of the most recent hostage deal, while Aviva Siegel had been freed earlier, in November 2023. Together, they used the opportunity to thank the former president personally and to urge him to continue working to free those still held in Gaza.

“They went through unimaginable suffering,” Trump said as he introduced Siegel and Horn. “Come on up.”

Keith Siegel began his remarks with deep emotion, speaking directly to Trump with a message of appreciation.

“President Trump, I’m here, and I’m alive,” he said. “President Trump, you saved my life. You saved the life of 33 hostages.”

Highlighting the importance of Trump’s actions, Siegel elaborated on what his intervention meant.

“Because of your efforts and your setting the hostage crisis as a high priority — among all of the enormous issues and things that you’re dealing with since you came into your position as president of the United States — you got 33 of us home alive. We all owe our lives to you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

He concluded with a plea for continued involvement.

“Please continue your tremendous efforts and your tremendous actions and your tremendous accomplishments. And we will get, with your help, all of the remaining 59 hostages still in Gaza back home. Thank you.”

Aviva Siegel, who was previously released and reunited with her husband in the latest deal, expressed her overwhelming joy and appreciation.

“Thank you, President Trump, for bringing my Keith home. Keith’s grandchildren are the happiest, Keith’s children are the happiest, Keith’s family is the happiest, but I am the most happiest. Thank you so much.”

She also urged action for the remaining captives, speaking with urgency and emotion.

“We need you. We need you to bring all the hostages home. There’s 24 that are alive and 59 to come home to their families. We have Iair standing here with us and Eitan, his brother, is underneath the ground now begging to get out. So I’m begging you all to help us. We need your help. Thank you.”

Iair Horn, whose brother remains in captivity, shared a chilling description of what he endured during his time as a hostage.

“My name is Iair. I’ve been in hell for 498 days,” he said. “Have been held in hell with Hamas terrorists. We didn’t see the light.”

Horn recalled a turning point in their hope, when news reached them about Trump’s election victory.

“But we feel — when we heard President Trump get elected — we knew, we knew. That is now someone who makes things happen. Thank you.”

Following their emotional testimonies, Trump addressed the crowd once more, commenting on the horrors faced by those still in captivity.

“This is a terrible thing that’s going on with Hamas. The hatred is so incredible. It’s unbelievable. And the way they were made to live was not even understandable, I think, by anybody in this audience, and you have great people in this audience that love you, and they’re going to fight for you. And I just want to thank you very much. Thank you.”

He ended with a vow of continued dedication to the cause.

“We’ll not rest until your loved ones have been returned home, and hopefully we can do it the right way. We want to get those 24 out really fast, and we’re working on it very hard.”

{Matzav.com}

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri has drawn a red line regarding the controversial draft law, warning that his party will boycott all Knesset votes if no agreement is reached by the start of the summer session.

Speaking in an interview with HaDerech, the official Shas newspaper, Deri made his position unequivocally clear: “By the opening of the Knesset’s summer session, we must reach an internal agreement on all the core issues of the draft law — or we will refrain from participating in votes.”

Deri issued a stark warning about the potential consequences of any attempt to enforce the draft on bnei yeshiva: “The moment, G-d forbid, there is a single incident in which the military police enters a yeshiva or a home and arrests even one yeshiva bochur, Shas will no longer be able to remain in the government.”

The Shas leader also addressed the internal coalition tensions, particularly the possibility of removing MK Yuli Edelstein as head of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. “The moment we make such a move,” said Deri, “you lose the cooperation of the committee’s legal advisor. She’ll immediately declare that it’s a political maneuver and refuse to cooperate. After that, the Knesset’s legal advisor will also say it’s legally problematic. Then what will you do?”

Deri emphasized that key principles regarding the draft law have already been agreed upon. “The most important one,” he said, “is that there will be no quotas. We will not agree to any kind of quota system.”

In response to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and others in the right-wing bloc who have criticized the “deep state” and bureaucratic dominance, Deri remarked, “I don’t like the term ‘deep state,’ but I can tell you this — there are things happening that are deeply concerning.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

A call for rachamei Shamayim has gone out across the Torah world following a significant deterioration in the condition of HaGaon HaRav Meir Mazuz, Rosh Yeshivas Kisei Rachamim.

Rav Mazuz, 80, was hospitalized earlier this week at Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah due to ongoing weakness. His condition worsened overnight.

All are asked to daven for Rav Meir Nissim ben Kamasna.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The Trump administration said Tuesday that it’s not backing off its latest deadline for New York to end its $9 congestion toll on drivers entering the most traffic-snarled parts of Manhattan, despite a recent court filing that indicated the charge would remain at least through the summer. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who called the toll a “slap in the face to working class Americans and small business owners,” originally told the state to end the tolling program by March 21. When state officials refused, federal authorities set a new deadline of April 20. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul had said the state intended to ignore that deadline, too. The dispute headed to federal court in Manhattan, where the Metropolitan Transportation Authority — the regional transit agency — sued Duffy over his February decision to rescind the toll’s federal approval. Congestion pricing advocates say it’s meant to deter drivers and relieve traffic backups while providing billions of dollars for the city’s transit system. Lawyers for the two sides recently reached an agreement that appeared to slow things down. They proposed a briefing schedule that allows for court filings through the end of July and possibly into October, while government lawyers indicated they wouldn’t seek an injunction to stop the tolls while the lawsuit proceeds, according to a joint letter dated Friday and signed by an MTA lawyer to the judge in the case. But the U.S. Department of Transportation said Tuesday that it wasn’t backing off from its immediate demands to end the tolling. In a post on the social platform X, the agency said the April 20 deadline stands. “This is a complete lie by the elitist New York liberal media, whose rich buddies love the idea of pricing poor people out of the city,” the post said. “The truth is simple agreements on judicial timelines have no bearing on the underlying merits of our case or our position.” It added, “Make no mistake — the Trump Administration and USDOT will not hesitate to use every tool at our disposal in response to non-compliance later this month.” Duffy previously suggested that federal funding for New York could be at risk if it didn’t end the toll. The U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan, which represents Duffy in the lawsuit, declined to comment. The MTA also declined to comment, saying Friday’s letter speaks for itself. The fee started Jan. 5 on most drivers entering Manhattan neighborhoods south of Central Park. It comes on top of tolls drivers already pay to cross bridges and tunnels into Manhattan. President Donald Trump, whose namesake Trump Tower and other properties are within the congestion zone, vowed to kill the plan as soon as he took office. (AP)

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Yosef Atik z”l, from the Shmuel Hanavi neighborhood of Yerushalayim, just one month before his bar mitzvah.

Yosef battled a difficult illness for close to two years with great strength and emunah. Despite his suffering, he remained devoted to his learning and davening.

A child of noble lineage, Yosef was the son of Rav Shimon Hillel Atik and a grandson of the renowned gaon Rav Yitzchok Zev Atik zt”l and Rav Yaakov Yehuda Salant. He was also a great-grandson of Gedolei Yerushalayim — Rav Mendel Atik zt”l, Rav Moshe Salant zt”l, and Rav Chaim Uri Freund, a member of the Badatz of the Eidah Hachareidis.

He has been described as a “yeled sha’ashu’im,” a sweet and precious neshomah, a refined and gentle child whose presence lit up his home and kehillah. Yosef was beloved by all who knew him.

Yosef’s levayah will take place this evening, departing from Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim and proceeding to Har HaMenuchos for kevurah.

The family will be sitting shivah at the home of his parents at 25 Rechov Shmuel Hanavi until Shabbos.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

The United States officially began enforcing a wide array of new tariffs early this morning, fulfilling President Trump’s sweeping trade policy that now affects close to 90 countries — most notably China, which has been hit with a staggering 104% tariff rate.

These newly implemented tariffs follow an earlier 10% baseline rate that went into effect on April 5. The latest round applies both to longstanding U.S. allies and rival nations, part of what the administration calls a broader strategy to reset global trade relationships.

China received the highest duties after retaliating with a 34% tariff on American exports — itself a response to the 34% levy Trump had previously imposed. That tit-for-tat prompted Trump to up the ante with an even harsher penalty.

“It was a mistake for China to retaliate,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday. “The president, when America is punched, he punches back harder. That’s why there will be 104% tariffs going into effect on China tonight at midnight.”

The full tariff on Chinese imports now stands at 104%, a combination of a 50% retaliatory duty, a 34% reciprocal tariff, and a previously established 20% charge. These layers of penalties reflect what Trump has framed as a firm response to unfair trade practices.

To the president, this aggressive tariff schedule isn’t just economic policy — it’s a cornerstone of his vision for reclaiming America’s financial independence. Trump sees these moves as a way to tear down foreign protectionism and revive American industry.

Other nations have not been spared. Countries such as Israel, Japan, South Korea, and the European Union are also facing tariffs ranging from 17% to 25%. These rates were crafted by the Council of Economic Advisers, based on each country’s trade imbalance with the United States, in addition to the standard base rate.

Inside the Trump administration, officials report a frenzy of diplomatic activity since the announcement. Foreign governments, alarmed by the steep levies, have been reaching out in an attempt to negotiate better terms.

“The president met with his trade team this morning, and he directed them to have tailor-made trade deals with each and every country that calls up this administration to strike a deal,” Leavitt said, noting, however, that Trump “expects that these tariffs are going to go into effect.”

During a public appearance at the White House on Tuesday, Trump proudly declared the economic impact of his tariff policy, boasting about its immediate fiscal returns.
“We’re already taking in almost $2 billion a day in tariffs,” he said.

Still, Trump emphasized a willingness to negotiate on a country-by-country basis.
“Not off-the-rack, these are tailored, highly tailored deals,” he said.

At home, the sweeping tariff campaign has had a chilling effect on financial markets. Wall Street reacted swiftly and negatively, with sharp declines across major indices stoking fears of both inflation and a looming economic downturn.

Following last week’s announcement, the S&P 500 suffered a historic drop of 10.5% over two days — its steepest decline since the early days of the pandemic in March 2020. On Tuesday, it slid another 1.5%.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average also took a hit, falling 320 points on the eve of the new tariffs. It now sits more than 10% below its peak from December.

The Nasdaq Composite didn’t fare much better. It tumbled more than 2% on Tuesday, officially entering bear market territory — a drop of 20% or more from its recent high — according to Reuters.

Unless new agreements are made with affected countries, Trump intends to keep the tariffs in place indefinitely. According to his executive order, the tariffs will remain until the administration determines that “the threat posed by the trade deficit and underlying nonreciprocal treatment is satisfied, resolved, or mitigated.”

{Matzav.com}

China again vowed to “fight to the end” Wednesday in an escalating trade war with the U.S. as it announced it would raise tariffs on American goods to 84% from Thursday. Beijing also added an array of countermeasures after U.S. President Donald Trump raised the total tariff on imports from China to 104%. Beijing said it was launching an additional suit against the U.S. at the World Trade Organization and placed further restrictions on American companies’ trade with Chinese companies. “If the U.S. insists on further escalating its economic and trade restrictions, China has the firm will and abundant means to take necessary countermeasures and fight to the end,” the Ministry of Commerce wrote in a statement introducing its white paper on trade with the U.S. The government declined to say whether it would negotiate with the White House, as many other countries have started doing. On Friday, China announced a 34% tariff on all goods imported from the U.S, export controls on rare earths minerals, and a slew of other measures in response to Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs. Trump then added an additional 50% tariff on goods from China, saying negotiations with them were terminated. Wednesday’s newest measures include adding 11 American companies to a so-called “unreliable entities” list that would bar Chinese companies from selling them dual-use goods. Among the companies are American Photonics, and SYNEXXUS, both of whom work with the American military. So far, China has not appeared interested in bargaining. “If the U.S. truly wants to resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation, it should adopt an attitude of equality, respect and mutual benefit,” said Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Lin Jian Wednesday. The paper says that the U.S. has not honored the promises it made in the phase 1 trade deal concluded during Trump’s first term. As an example, it said that a U.S. law that would ban TikTok unless it is sold by its Chinese parent company violates a promise that neither would “pressure the other party to transfer technology to its own individuals.” Trump signed an order to keep TikTok running for another 75 days last week after a potential deal to sell the app to American owners was put on ice. ByteDance representatives called the White House to indicate that China would no longer approve the deal until there could be negotiations about trade and tariffs. The paper also argued that taking into account trade in services and U.S. companies’ domestic Chinese branches, economic exchange between the two countries is “roughly in balance.” It says that China had a trade in services deficit with the U.S. of $26.57 billion in 2023, which is composed of industries like insurance, banking and accounting. Trump’s tariffs were designed to close trade deficits with foreign countries, but those were calculated only based on trades in physical, tangible goods. “History and facts have proven that the United States’ increase in tariffs will not solve its own problems,” said the statement from the Chinese commerce ministry. “Instead, it will trigger sharp fluctuations in financial markets, push up U.S. inflation pressure, weaken the U.S. industrial base and increase the risk of a U.S. economic recession, which will ultimately only backfire on itself. (AP)

Undercover and special forces units operated in Shechem on Tuesday and arrested Mahmoud al-Bana, the commander of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, who has been wanted by Israel for many years. On Wednesday, Shechem residents published security camera footage of the dramatic arrest. In the footage, the Israeli forces are seen arriving in two vehicles and blocking the area. Al-Bana tried to flee and the Israeli forces opened fire on him, causing him to collapse near a wall. The forces then dragged him to one of the vehicles, ending the arrest operation in less than three minutes. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

More than $1 billion in federal funding for Cornell University and around $790 million for Northwestern University has been frozen while the government investigates alleged civil rights violations at the schools, the White House said. It’s part of a broader push to use government funding to get major academic institutions to comply with President Donald Trump’s political agenda. The White House confirmed the funding pauses late Tuesday night but offered no further details on what they entail or what grants to the schools are being affected. The moves come as Trump’s Republican administration has increasingly begun using governmental grant funding as a spigot to try to influence campus policy, previously cutting off money to schools including Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania. That has left universities across the country struggling to navigate cuts to grants for research institutions. In a statement, Cornell said that it had received more than 75 stop work orders earlier Tuesday from the Defense Department related to research “profoundly significant to American national defense, cybersecurity, and health” but that it had not otherwise received any information confirming $1 billion in frozen grants. “We are actively seeking information from federal officials to learn more about the basis for these decisions,” said the statement from Michael I. Kotlikoff, the university president, and other top school officials. Northwestern spokesperson Jon Yates said Tuesday evening the school had not received any notice from the federal government. Yates said the school has fully cooperated with investigations by both the Education Department and Congress. “Federal funds that Northwestern receives drive innovative and life-saving research, like the recent development by Northwestern researchers of the world’s smallest pacemaker, and research fueling the fight against Alzheimer’s disease,” Yates said. “This type of research is now at jeopardy.” Last month, the Education Department sent letters to more than 60 universities, including Cornell, based in Ithaca, New York, and Northwestern, based in Evanston, Illinois, warning of “potential enforcement actions if they do not fulfill their obligations” under federal law to “protect Jewish students on campus, including uninterrupted access to campus facilities and educational opportunities.” The Trump administration has threatened to cut off federal funding for universities allowing alleged antisemitism to go unchecked at campus protests last year against Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza — accusations the universities have denied. The funding freezes have jeopardized science and research without advancing the goal of creating campuses free of antisemitism, said Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education. ”This was wrong last week, it is wrong this week, and it will be wrong next week,” he said. A spokesperson for the Education Department did not respond to a request for comment. Officials have already singled out Columbia University, making an example of it with threats to withhold $400 million in federal funds. The administration accused Columbia of failing to stop antisemitism during protests against Israel that began at the New York City university last spring and quickly spread to other campuses, a characterization disputed by those involved in the demonstrations. As a precondition for restoring that money — along with billions of dollars more in future grants — the Trump administration demanded unprecedented changes in university policy. Columbia’s decision to bow to those demands, in part to salvage ongoing research projects at its labs and medical […]

The condition of HaGaon HaRav Meir Mazuz, Rosh Yeshivas Kisei Rachamim, has deteriorated and the public is asked to daven for his refuah. The Rosh Yeshivah was hospitalized in recent days in Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah. HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Amar and HaGaon HaRav Dovid Yosef issued a call to the public to daven for the Rosh Yeshivah’s refuah sheleimah. The Rosh Yeshivah’s name for tefilla is מאיר ניסים בן כמסאנה b’toch sha’ar cholei Yisrael. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

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For the first time in the IDF’s history, all soldiers will be allowed to grow beards without the need for special exemptions as the IDF prepares to approve several changes to its dress code for soldiers on Wednesday. The move was led by the Torat Lechima organization, Likud MK Keti Shitrit, and Gilad ‘Mezukan,” one of the prominent activists in the struggle for granting a blanket exemption for soldiers to grow beards. The new arrangement allows soldiers to grow a beard regardless of religious identity as long as it is neat and in accordance with proper military appearance [no stubble]. “The IDF is a Jewish army,” stated the Torat Lechima organization. “After many years of struggle, we succeeded, with Siyata Dishmaya, and under the leadership of our tireless colleague MK Keti Shitrit, in making a historic and significant correction that will put an end to the bizarre persecution of soldiers who grow beards. From now on, a beard is an integral part of the image of the Israeli soldier, and this is a historic and significant step, especially during this war of Am Yisrael against their enemies.” “The amendment was made at the request of Golani soldiers who approached us exactly a year ago with a request to amend the beard regulation in the IDF. We thank Minister of Defense Yisrael Katz and Minister of Justice Yariv Levin for their significant assistance and cooperation with us throughout the entire process; Minister Amichai Eliyahu who has fought with us to advance the issue for 10 years; and our friend, the social media personality Gilad ‘Hamezukan, for the excellent work.” Knesset Member Keti Shitrit welcomed the new arrangement. “We are privileged to bring about the correction of a historical injustice within the army, precisely during wartime. Following the bill I initiated, soldiers will be allowed to grow a beard regardless of identity. It is unacceptable that growing a beard as a basic Jewish symbol should have to go through an archaic bureaucratic process that is not relevant to the purpose of the mission of the IDF.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Security officials confirmed in internal discussions that the IDF has destroyed only about a quarter of Hamas’s terror tunnels in the Gaza Strip, Channel 12 News reported on Wednesday morning. According to the report, defense officials also estimate that there is a significant number of smuggling tunnels that cross from Egypt into the Gaza Strip. The presence of these tunnels lies behind Israel’s refusal to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor. About a month and a half ago, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said that Israel has no intention of withdrawing from the Philadelphi Corridor due to the threat of smuggling between Egypt and Gaza. “The Philadelphi  Corridor will remain a buffer zone just like in Lebanon and Syria,” Katz emphasized. “I’ve seen several tunnels penetrating the Philadelphi with my own eyes, some of which were closed – and some open.” Last month, it was reported that the IDF’s engineering forces have uncovered about 90 tunnels of various types along the Philadelphi Corridor. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said he wants communities to stop fluoridating water, and he is setting the gears of government in motion to help make that happen. Kennedy this week said he plans to tell the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop recommending fluoridation in communities nationwide. And he said he’s assembling a task force of health experts to study the issue and make new recommendations. At the same time, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it would review new scientific information on potential health risks of fluoride in drinking water. The EPA sets the maximum level allowed in public water systems. Here’s a look at how reversing fluoride policy has become an action item under President Donald Trump’s administration. The benefits of fluoride Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear, according to the CDC. In 1950, federal officials endorsed water fluoridation to prevent tooth decay, and in 1962 set guidelines for how much should be added to water. Fluoride can come from a number of sources, but drinking water is the main one for Americans, researchers say. Nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population gets fluoridated drinking water, according to CDC data. The addition of low levels of fluoride to drinking water was long considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the last century. The American Dental Association credits it with reducing tooth decay by more than 25% in children and adults. About one-third of community water systems — 17,000 out of 51,000 across the U.S. — serving more than 60% of the population fluoridated their water, according to a 2022 CDC analysis. The potential problems of too much fluoride The CDC currently recommends 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water. Over time, studies have documented potential problems when people get much more than that. Excess fluoride intake has been associated with streaking or spots on teeth. And studies also have traced a link between excess fluoride and brain development. A report last year by the federal government’s National Toxicology Program, which summarized studies conducted in Canada, China, India, Iran, Pakistan and Mexico, concluded that drinking water with more than 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter — more than twice the CDC’s recommended level — was associated with lower IQs in kids. Meanwhile, last year, a federal judge ordered the EPA to further regulate fluoride in drinking water. U.S. District Judge Edward Chen cautioned that it’s not certain fluoride is causing lower IQ in kids, but he concluded that research pointed to an unreasonable risk that it could be. Kennedy has railed against fluoride Kennedy, a former environmental lawyer, has called fluoride a “dangerous neurotoxin” and “an industrial waste” tied to a range of health dangers. He has said it’s been associated with arthritis, bone breaks, and thyroid disease. Some studies have suggested such links might exist, usually at higher-than-recommended fluoride levels, though some reviewers have questioned the quality of available evidence and said no definitive conclusions can be drawn. How fluoride recommendations can be changed The CDC’s recommendations are widely followed but not mandatory. State and local governments decide whether to add fluoride to water and, if so, how much — as long as it doesn’t exceed the EPA’s limit of 4 milligrams per liter. So Kennedy can’t order communities to stop fluoridation, but he […]

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu warned on Tuesday about the potential perils of a nuclear deal with Iran, ahead of taking off for Israel following his meeting the previous day with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.

“We agree that Iran will not have nuclear weapons. This can be done by agreement, but only if this agreement is Libyan-style: They go in, blow up the installations, dismantle all of the equipment under American supervision and carried out by America—this would be good,” he said.

“The second possibility—that will not be—is that they drag out the talks, and then there is the military option. Everyone understands this. We spoke about this at length,” he added.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed on Tuesday that his government had decided to start negotiations with Washington.

“Iran and the United States will meet in Oman on Saturday for indirect high-level talks,” he wrote on X, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the discussions set to take place in Muscat, which he called direct.

Speaking in the Oval Office after meeting Netanyahu on Monday, Trump announced: “We’re having direct talks with Iran, and they’ve started. … Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he stressed. “If it can be done diplomatically in a full way, the way it was done in Libya, I think that would be a good thing.”

Netanyahu on Tuesday said he and Trump also discussed the ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza.

“We are determined to eliminate Hamas, and at the same time, we are determined to return all of our hostages. The president looked at me and told the journalists who were present: ‘This man is working constantly to free the hostages.’ I hope that this shatters the lie that is being circulated to the effect that I am not working for them, that I don’t care. I do care, and I am doing it, and we will be successful,” said the Israeli premier.

Netanyahu noted that he raised Trump’s vision to relocate civilians in the Gaza Strip, insisting that Jerusalem was currently in contact with several countries talking about the possibility of absorbing Palestinians.

“This is important because in the end, this is what needs to happen,” he said.

“The third issue: Turkey. Turkey wants to establish military bases in Syria, and this endangers Israel. We oppose this and are working against it. I told President Trump, who is my friend and also a friend of [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan: ‘If we are in need of your help, we will discuss it with you,’” stated the prime minister.

“The fourth and last issue: the tariffs. President Trump has asked countries to reduce their trade deficits with the U.S. to zero. I told him: ‘This is not so difficult for us. We will do it.’ This is the little that we can do for the U.S. and its president, who does so much for us,” said Netanyahu.

The prime minister concluded by stressing that it was a “very warm visit,” his second in two months since Trump assumed office, adding that “there were additional things that you will hear about later.” JNS

{Matzav.com}