Just two days after being deported from Colombia and returned to the United States, members of the cultish Lev Tahor sect attempted to flee the country once again, leading to an interception by federal agents at the airport on Thursday.



According to reports, four adults and five children, comprising two families, managed to clear both immigration and airport security checkpoints. The group had reportedly changed into &#8220;standard Chassidic clothing&#8221; in an effort to conceal their identities. However, minutes before they could board a flight bound for Guatemala, they were intercepted and stopped by undercover FBI agents.



The attempted escape on Thursday came on the heels of a major operation in South America. On Tuesday, it was confirmed that Colombian immigration officials had deported nine adults and seventeen minors linked to the group the previous day.



The deportees were placed on a flight to New York under heavy police escort.



Colombian authorities took action after discovering the group at a hotel in Yarumal, in the Norte de Antioquia region. Intelligence indicated they were planning to move to a remote location.



“Their intention was to disappear into private land, and this raised serious concerns,” a security source said regarding the operation. Citing these plans, immigration officials designated the group a “threat to national security” and raised alarms regarding potential violations of children’s rights. The operation was executed in coordination with a regional child-protection unit.



Paula Salazar, director of the regional immigration authority, addressed the government&#8217;s stance on the expulsion. “Colombia has implemented an administrative deportation of the nine adults due to concerns about national security,” Salazar said. “The minors remained in custody on the flight until their full transfer to US authorities.”



Upon arrival in the United States, several of the minors were taken into the care of US Child Protective Services. Authorities disclosed that five of the children, holding citizenship from Canada, the United States, and Guatemala, were listed under Interpol Yellow Notices due to fears of human trafficking, kidnapping, or exploitation.



The deportation operation was carried out one week after officials rescued seventeen minors from remnants of the group in Colombia on November 23.



According to local authorities, families linked to Lev Tahor have been attempting to regroup in Colombia following the collapse of their previous base of operations in Guatemala, though recent efforts have been detected and dismantled by law enforcement.



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FBI Intercepts Lev Tahor Families Fleeing to Guatemala, Days After Deportation from Colombia

A Brooklyn middle school that sparked outrage for blocking a Holocaust survivor from speaking due to his support for Israel is using images of protestors wearing keffiyehs in its social justice curriculum, according to documents shared exclusively with Belaaz on Sunday.



While MS 447 in Boerum Hill refused to allow Holocaust survivor Sami Steigmann to address students, leaked curriculum materials reveal the school is actively teaching a &#8220;social activism&#8221; unit that highlights art by Rama Duwaji, the wife of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. The artwork depicts protestors wearing keffiyehs; checkered scarves that serves as a symbol of Palestinian nationalism and which are frequently associated with terrorism against Israelis and Jews.



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The unit also features a module titled &#8220;Fashion as Activism,&#8221; which explicitly includes the keffiyeh. The course material claims that Palestinian nationalism began in the 1930s. Critics, however, argue this constitutes historical revisionism, noting that modern Palestinian nationalism was largely promulgated in the 1960s under heavy influence from the Soviet Union as part of a Cold War campaign against the West and its ally, Israel.



The revelations have incited anger among parents and Jewish community leaders, who contend the school is prioritizing a specific political agenda while marginalizing Jewish history. This conduct could potentially violate NYC Schools Chancellor Regulation D-130, which mandates that curriculum remain neutral on political matters.



Moshe Spern, head of the United Jewish Teachers, told Belaaz that the school was engaging in indoctrination. “Exposing 7th graders to keffiyehs in the context of social justice and activism is an example of indoctrination for students to have negative viewpoints around Israel,&#8221; Spern said. &#8220;This is precisely why they didn’t want a Holocaust survivor with pro Israel views because it would go against their negative narrative around Israel. They’re afraid that students could actually have empathy for Israel and even support Israel. This is a very dangerous precedent being set by MS 447.”



The &#8220;Art for Social Change&#8221; unit also highlights movements such as Black Lives Matter and features figures like Kendrick Lamar and Colin Kaepernick.



In a letter to families dated Nov. 20 and obtained by Belaaz, MS 447 teacher Joy Canning described the unit&#8217;s objective: &#8220;Students have been busy throughout this unit thinking about their own deep culture, their identities&#8230; and social justice issues.&#8221; She noted that students would design their own &#8220;activist T-shirts&#8221; to &#8220;wear the message of the movement of their choosing&#8221; at an upcoming expo in February.



Meanwhile, following public backlash over the school&#8217;s refusal to host Steigmann, District 15 Superintendent Rafael T. Alvarez issued a letter on Dec. 5 attempting to clarify the district&#8217;s stance.



&#8220;We acknowledge that the recent decision caused hurt for many in our community, and we are committed to repairing that harm,&#8221; Alvarez wrote. He stated that he and Chancellor Aviles-Ramos had spoken with Steigmann and agreed to &#8220;partner together on an educational programming opportunity for students in our public school system.&#8221;



However, the letter stopped short of confirming Steigmann would be allowed to speak at MS 447 specifically; a move Mayor Eric Adams has publicly supported, as first reported by Belaaz. Instead, Alvarez noted that the school has arranged visits to the Museum of Jewish Heritage and the Jewish Children&#8217;s Museum &#8220;as a starting point.&#8221;



Spern expressed relief that the Chancellor and Superintendent are engaging but remained deeply critical of the delay.



“We are very happy to hear that Chancellor Ramos and Superintendent Alvarez are taking this very seriously and supporting my friend Sami Steigmann, but it’s unfortunate that it took a media storm to wake them up to this issue,” Spern said. “As someone who reported this concern to them immediately, it went on deaf ears&#8230; No one should be fooled, there is still very real systemic antisemitism in NYC Public Schools.”



Spern questioned the vagueness of the Superintendent’s response regarding MS 447. “Why is Superintendent Alvarez afraid to host Sami Steigmann at MS 447? And why hasn’t the Principal apologized?&#8221; Spern asked. &#8220;What are they afraid the students will hear? Is it possible that hearing about the Jewish perspective on the Holocaust somehow violates the school&#8217;s mission?&#8221;

Exclusive: School That Barred Holocaust Survivor Celebrates Keffiyeh-Clad Protestors in Curriculum

A Brooklyn middle school principal has ignited a firestorm of controversy after denying a parent’s request to host a Holocaust survivor, claiming the 85-year-old’s &#8220;pro-Israel views&#8221; made him inappropriate for a public school setting.



The decision comes from the administration of MS 447, a Boerum Hill school that used to admit students based on merit, but shifted towards a lottery system in recent years to improve &#8220;diversity.&#8221;



Principal Arin Rusch rejected the proposal to host Sami Steigmann, a survivor of a Nazi labor camp and medical experimentation, in a November 18 email to a parent.



&#8220;In looking at his website material, I also don’t think that Sami’s presentation is right for our public school setting, given his messages around Israel and Palestine,&#8221; Rusch wrote. While Rusch insisted she would &#8220;love to explore other speakers&#8221; to discuss the Holocaust and antisemitism, she maintained that Steigmann’s presence would not be &#8220;right.&#8221;



Steigmann, who spent his early childhood in a labor camp in Transnistria (modern-day Ukraine) where he was subjected to Nazi medical experiments, centers his lectures on a message of moral courage. His website urges students to &#8220;Never be a bystander — be an UPSTANDER,&#8221; and he has been honored by the New York State Assembly for his work with students. While he does not discuss the current Israel-Hamas war in his bio, he is openly proud of his Jewish identity and Israel’s right to exist.



Formerly known as &#8220;The Math &amp; Science Exploratory School,&#8221; the school officially dropped &#8220;Math and Science&#8221; from its name in 2023 following the diversity initiative. While over 95% of students tested proficient in math in 2018, that number tanked to just 69% by 2022 after the program kicked off.



 Mayor Eric Adams’ office stood by Principal Rusch’s decision. A City Hall spokesperson stated that while the Mayor is dedicated to Holocaust education, &#8220;this speaker wasn’t the right fit.&#8221;



Moshe Spern, President of the United Jewish Teachers (UJT), reacted with fury to the decision, issuing blistering statements regarding the principal&#8217;s vetting process and the City’s response.



In a statement to the NY Post, Spern, himself the grandson of a Holocaust survivor, called Rusch’s stance &#8220;appalling,&#8221; &#8220;discriminatory,&#8221; and &#8220;personally offensive.&#8221;



&#8220;There are only so many survivors out there who still speak,&#8221; Spern said. &#8220;This is not meeting the moment. This is sending a message to Jews in [New York City Public Schools].&#8221; He noted that the rejection &#8220;begs the question of, ‘Are we now censoring Holocaust survivors for their views of Israel?’&#8221;



Spern went even further in comments to Belaaz, characterizing the move as a betrayal by the current city administration.



&#8220;This email from the principal and the decision by the Department of Education is an example of Jew-hatred,&#8221; Spern told Belaaz. &#8220;It is the censorship of a Holocaust survivor who literally does not even talk about Israel, outside of having an Israeli flag on their website and a few past statements made in a non-public school. He even said he wouldn&#8217;t talk about Israel if that&#8217;s what they wanted.&#8221;



Spern continued, drawing a sharp political contrast regarding the Adams administration: &#8220;Is this what we&#8217;re going to do? We&#8217;re going to censor Holocaust survivors? Honestly, this is what I would have expected from a Mamdani administration, not the Adams administration. What a huge letdown, and what a huge letdown by the Department of Education. Way to backstab all the Jews in New York City.&#8221;



&#8220;I&#8217;m extremely disappointed in the decisions made by this principal, by the Department of Education, and by the Mayor&#8217;s office. We need to do better. Do better for the Jewish community. Censoring Holocaust survivors is not how you do it. This is not how you make Jews feel safer in 2025; it&#8217;s how you make us feel smaller and less supported.&#8221;



The defense from the Mayor&#8217;s office has drawn sharp criticism from local leaders, including Brooklyn City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, a Ukrainian-born Jew.



&#8220;It’s particularly abhorrent to deny someone who lived through the horrors of the Holocaust the opportunity to share his experience with students — particularly during a time when antisemitism is skyrocketing among our youth,&#8221; Vernikov told the Post. She warned that the school is &#8220;potentially engaging in viewpoint discrimination in violation of the First Amendment.&#8221;

‘DEI’ Brooklyn Middle School Blocks Holocaust Survivor Over ‘Pro-Israel’ Views

A powerful story of integrity and kiddush Hashem unfolded in Bnei Brak on Thursday when an avreich from Slabodka Kollel returned 150,000 shekels in cash to the woman who had sold him an apartment.



The apartment, located in Hod Hasharon, had previously belonged to the woman’s late brother, who had used it while he was ill. During renovations, the student discovered a substantial amount of money concealed within one of the walls.



This discovery raised a halachic question: Did the money belong to the deceased brother, whose will made no mention of it, or to the new owner of the apartment?



The issue was brought before Harav Yehuda Silman shlita, who ruled that the money should be returned to the previous owner, who had been unaware of its existence. On Thursday, a special ceremony at the Rav’s home commemorated the return of the cash, attended by the student’s friends and family.



The woman, who is not religious, was deeply touched and said, “Why don&#8217;t they report such good things in the media?”



Rav Silman blessed the student, expressing his hope that, in merit of his righteous deed, he be granted abundant blessings, along with children who follow the path of Torah and mitzvos.

Kiddush Hashem: Bnei Brak Avreich Returns 150,000 Shekels Found Hidden in Apartment Wall

A 75-year-old man who admitted to a months-long campaign of antisemitic vandalism across Montauk ultimately avoided serving any of the five-day jail sentence he received, the New York Post reported Tuesday night.



Michael Nicholoulias confessed to spray-painting swastikas and messages including “Jews Die” and “Jews Burn” on homes, businesses, and public property between October and December 2023. He was arrested and, on Nov. 14, a judge handed down a five-day Suffolk County jail sentence, 27East reported.



“I am guilty of everything,” Nicholoulias told prosecutors, according to the outlet.



Nicholoulias pleaded guilty in August to two felony hate-crime charges as part of a plea agreement with Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. But despite the imposed sentence, he did not serve a single day of it. The report said he was credited with “good behavior” for the one day he had previously spent in custody after his arrest, leaving him with probation instead of jail time.



Investigators identified Nicholoulias by tracking the GPS tag placed on his 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser. Police later caught him in the act on Dec. 4 near Ditch Plains, where he was found spray-painting a swastika on a bench by the public restrooms. Other nearby signs had been defaced in the same manner.



In court, Nicholoulias admitted he specifically targeted properties because their owners were Jewish, the report said.



Following sentencing, jail officials processed him for the short term, but because he was due to receive time off for “good behavior” within days, and because the sentencing occurred on a Friday, a procedural technicality effectively erased the entire five-day term.

Antisemite Who Terrorized Jewish Community With Nazi Graffiti Ends Up Serving No Jail Time

A coveted strip of Miami shoreline known as Billionaire’s Beach, home to landmark art deco hotels like the Delano and Raleigh alongside soaring new luxury towers, is seeing heightened interest from affluent New Yorkers sizing up South Florida as a potential refuge.



According to extensive research the The Guardian, real estate insiders say they’re watching the early signs of what they call the “Mamdani effect”: an anticipated migration triggered by socialist democrat Zohran Mamdani’s election as New York City mayor.



Some business leaders, including President Donald Trump, have played down the notion that Mamdani will spark a mass flight of New York’s wealthy. Yet Florida developers insist inquiries and purchases have surged “exponentially” in recent weeks.



At the Ritz-Carlton Residences, a set of 30 upcoming “beach house” units ranging from under $10 million to a $125 million penthouse, marketing teams say interest from New York has jumped 166% compared to last year.



Agents report similar patterns across high-end projects throughout Miami Beach, Brickell’s fast-growing financial district, and the upscale, tree-lined enclave of Coconut Grove.



Governor Ron DeSantis has joked that Mamdani deserves a realtor-of-the-year award and even floated charging an entrance tax on incoming high-net-worth New Yorkers.



A tour of Miami’s newest luxury developments shows the level of indulgence awaiting potential transplants: celebrated architectural design, expansive ocean vistas, private restaurants with Michelin-starred chefs, and full-service spas built to soothe away the pressures of city life.



At the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach, anticipation spiked early. “The second that the word on the street was that Mamdani was going to be elected we started getting phone calls,” said Pietro Belmonte, executive vice-president at Douglas Elliman. The tower, designed by Kobi Karp with interiors by Alessandro Munge, features apartments from 1,200-square-foot one-bedrooms to upper-floor units ranging from $10.5 million to more than $22 million. Twin penthouses with private pools top out at a combined $125 million.



Residents will enjoy brass-detailed bathrooms, wraparound balconies overlooking the Atlantic, and immediate access to several José Andrés restaurants and 350 feet of beachfront. With move-in projected for 2028, Belmonte said the timing aligns with buyers weighing the long-term impact of Mamdani’s win. “I don’t see it as a mass exodus, I see it more as a thoughtful exodus,” he said.



Belmonte noted that buyers are largely seasonal. “They’re all second-home buyers. No one’s going to be here during the summer … they’ll be here for the six months and a day to make it their main residence then they’re going to be in St Tropez, they’ll be in Italy, in the Hamptons, in the Berkshires.”



In Coconut Grove, developer Ugo Colombo of CMC Group says his Four Seasons Private Residences project marks “the crown jewel” of his four decades transforming Miami’s skyline. Roughly 15% of new buyers are from New York, with interest rising another 10% around the time of Mamdani’s election.



“Most of these people already have second and third homes, right? So they’re not necessarily running to us and saying, ‘We’re escaping New York’,” said Christine Martinez de Castro, CMC Group’s chief marketing and sales officer. She said buyers began eyeing Miami during Covid, and tax considerations remain a major draw.



Units at the Four Seasons range from $6 million for two bedrooms to $18 million for spacious 4,000-square-foot homes, with a penthouse accessible only under NDA. Residents will have a European-style spa, a signature restaurant, and the relaxed ambiance of Coconut Grove. Martinez de Castro said the brand’s service sets it apart: “You want the ‘Oh yeah, I didn’t think about that’ moment, right?”



Farther north on Miami Beach, the Perigon — a 73-unit waterfront development — is attracting what developers describe as extraordinary demand from “ultra, ultra high net worth” clients. “Activity at Perigon right now … is really staggering,” said Michael Patrizio, managing director at Mast Capital. With a Michelin-starred chef, private cinema, children’s lounge, and an invitation-only speakeasy, the project caters to buyers seeking privacy and high design.



Condos start at $12.5 million for two bedrooms and climb to $70 million for upper-floor residences with sweeping views. Construction is advancing rapidly, which Patrizio says reassures buyers. “It gives certainty of delivery … there’s activity, there’s progress.”



In Brickell, the soaring 80-story Cipriani Residences will become Miami’s tallest building, housing nearly 400 condominium units in 1.2 million square feet. Even the smallest apartments start just under $2 million. Patrizio said interest from wealthy New Yorkers — though not necessarily the “ultras” — has surged since the mayoral primary. “Inquiries have increased exponentially,” he said, noting multiple buyers who committed specifically after the election.



The tower features the Canoletto Collection on its upper floors, offering 74 luxury homes designed by 1508 London. Three triple-level penthouses crown the building, each equipped with a private elevator, concierge service and an infinity pool.



Despite Miami’s building boom, Patrizio believes demand is sustainable. He points to the relocation of major firms like Citadel, Blackstone and Starwood Capital, as well as rising applications to private schools. “That means people are relocating,” he said.

New Research: Wealthy New Yorkers Eye Miami Escape Amid Predicted ‘Mamdani Effect’

New York legislators are moving to ban protests within 25 feet of houses of worship following a recent incident in Manhattan where a crowd of anti-Israel demonstrators targeted a shul, chanting “death to the IDF” and other violent messages.



The proposed legislation, introduced by Assemblyman Micah Lasher (D-Manhattan) and Sen. Sam Sutton (D-Brooklyn), would prohibit demonstrations within 25 feet of the entrance, driveway, or parking area of any religious sanctuary.



Around 200 demonstrators gathered outside Manhattan’s Park East Synagogue, harassing Jews attending a Nefesh B’nefesh event.



Anyone violating the measure could be charged with criminal interference with access to a place of religious worship in the first degree, a Class A misdemeanor carrying a maximum penalty of one year in prison.



“New York must always be a place where people can both exercise free speech and express their religious identity without fear or intimidation, and that balance broke down outside Park East Synagogue,” said Lasher, who is running for Congress in the 12th House District, which includes the synagogue.



The historic shul was the scene of a demonstration where hundreds of protesters shouted slogans such as “globalize the intifada,” and a speaker encouraged the “resistance” to “take another settler out.”



“This bill will help our city government and other localities across the state ensure that New Yorkers are able to enter houses of worship without having to run a gauntlet of hate speech. Simple decency and mutual respect demands nothing less,” said Sutton, who represents the heavily frum Jewish neighborhoods of Borough Park and Midwood in southern Brooklyn.



The large crowd chanted “From New York to Gaza, globalize the intifada” in rhythm with a drum.



The legislation is co-sponsored by Sen. Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan), whose district includes Park East Synagogue, and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D-Queens).



The transition team for Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, who at first criticized the victims of the riot, said earlier this week that it would support a push for protest bans near houses of worship, after speaking with Rabbi Schnierer&#8217;s son, who leads a synagogue in the Hamptons.



The younger Rabbi Schneier told Mamdani he is “out of touch with the greater Muslim world” and challenged his refusal to recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. Mamdani has faced criticism for supporting the BDS movement against Israel and pledging to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza. 



He also praised Mamdani for backing the protest ban legislation.



“Houses of worship should serve as peaceful sanctuaries, not punching bags for protestors. Every New Yorker, no matter their faith, deserves to worship and gather in peace. I’m grateful to Assemblymember Lasher for carrying this legislation, and I’m proud to stand with him in support of it,” Rozic said.



The bill is backed by the UFA Federation of NY.



“The ability to worship freely and without fear is fundamental to who we are as a nation,” said UJA executive director Eric Goldstein. “No one should ever face intimidation or see their synagogue – or any house of worship – targeted by protests meant to disrupt or instill fear. We are deeply grateful to Senator Sutton and Assembly Member Lasher for their leadership and commitment to protecting all those who come together in sacred communal spaces.”

New York Lawmakers Propose 25-Foot Protest Ban Outside Houses of Worship After Anti-Israel Riot

Tuesday, the 12th of Kislev, marks the 185th yahrtzeit of one of the greatest Chassidish Rebbes, Harav Avraham Dov Ber of Ovritch zt”l, known to the world as the &#8220;Bas Ayin,&#8221; a sefer he wrote on Chumash.



A talmid of the Meor Einayim and the Kedushas Levi, he served as the Rav of Ovritch for nearly forty years before journeying to Eretz Yisrael at the advanced age of 70.



While his life in Europe was distinguished, it was his leadership in the holy city of Tzfas that cemented his legacy as a guardian of the Jewish people.



The Bas Ayin arrived in Tzfas during a tumultuous era, becoming the leader of the Chassidic community while living in peace with the Perushim (disciples of the Vilna Gaon), and their leader, Harav Yisrael of Shklov zt&#8221;l.



His koach ha&#8217;tefilah was displayed during the Great Earthquake of 1837.



On that devastating day, tremors began to rock the mountainside city just as the community was gathered for Mincha. As panic set in and congregants rushed for the exits, the Bas Ayin shouted above the din: &#8220;Come to the Aron Kodesh if you wish to be saved!&#8221;



The mispalelim gathered at the Aron and the Rebbe threw himself on the floor in weeping tefilah. In an open neis, while the majority of the synagogue’s structure collapsed into rubble, the area surrounding the Aron Kodesh remained perfectly intact. To this day, visitors to the reconstructed shul in Tzfas can see the visible line distinguishing the original surviving wall from the rebuilt sections, a witness to the miracle that saved dozens of lives while 5,000 others in the region tragically were killed.



Three years later, in 1840 (5601), a terrible plague ravaged the community of Tzfas. As the death toll mounted, the Bas Ayin made a selfless promise: he would be the plague&#8217;s final victim.



On the 12th of Kislev, the holy Rebbe returned his soul to his Creator. True to his word, the plague stopped immediately upon his passing. He was laid to rest in the ancient cemetery of Tzfas, in a ma&#8217;arah alongside the Arvei Nachal, and near the resting places of the Beis Yosef and the Alshich Hakodesh.



The Bas Ayin left behind no biological children. He famously stated that his sefer, the Bas Ayin, was his child, and he promised to intercede on behalf of those who study it or help in its publication.



In this monumental work, he offers a profound insight into the episode of May Merivah (The Waters of Strife), where Moshe Rabbeinu struck the rock instead of speaking to it as he had been commanded by Hashem. The Torah tells us Hashem decreed Moshe would not enter Eretz Yisrael because &#8220;You did not believe in Me to sanctify My name.&#8221;



The Bas Ayin asks the obvious question: How can Hashem accuse Moshe Rabbeinu, the man who spoke to Hashem face-to-face, of a lack of faith?



The Rebbe explains that the &#8220;lack of faith&#8221; was not in Hashem&#8217;s power, but in the power of his own Teshuvah. When the people complained, Moshe initially slipped by calling them &#8220;rebels.&#8221; He immediately regretted this harshness and did Teshuvah. However, when commanded to speak to the rock, Moshe hesitated. He feared that his mouth, having just been used to speak negatively about Bnei Yisrael, was spiritually damaged. He worried that if he used a &#8220;tainted&#8221; mouth to command the rock, the rock would not listen, leading to a massive Chillul Hashem. Therefore, he chose to strike the rock, a method that had worked previously.



Hashem’s critique, the Bas Ayin explains, was this: &#8220;You did not believe in Me,&#8221; meaning, you did not have enough faith in the power of the Teshuvah I gave you, that when one does Teshuva he isn&#8217;t the same person who sinned, and the parts of his body that he used the wrong way are recreated &#8211; the mouth that uttered the wrong words is not the same mouth after Teshuva. Had Moshe fully believed that his repentance had completely recreated his mouth, he would have known he was worthy to speak to the rock and bring forth water through words alone.



Jewish communities across the world mark the yahrtzeit with seudos l&#8217;ilui nishmaso; a minhag first popularized first in Eretz Yisrael by noted mashpia Harav Elimelech Biderman shlita.



For 185 years, the Bas Ayin has remained a powerful advocate for Klal Yisrael. His kever in Tzfas attracts thousands of petitioners annually, and stories abound of yeshuos found by those who connect to his Torah. As he viewed his writings as his progeny, the study of his teachings on this day is considered a powerful merit.



Zechuso yagen aleinu.

Who Was the Bas Ayin?

The Manhattan district attorney announced Friday that 30-year-old Salem Seleiman has been given a two-year prison sentence for the 2021 assault on Jewish New Yorker Joey Borgen.



Borgen was ambushed in Times Square near an anti-Israel demonstration held during the 2021 conflict between Israel and Gaza terrorists. He had been on his way to a pro-Israel counter-rally when six men set upon him.



Footage of the attack, which showed the shocking level of violence, quickly turned the incident into a prominent hate-crime case in New York.



Seleiman, the final member of the group to face sentencing, admitted guilt in September to second-degree assault and third-degree assault as a hate crime.



“Salem Seleiman took part in the repugnant and bias-motivated assault of a Jewish man who was peacefully attending a rally,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg says in a statement. “The victim was targeted based on his religion and did nothing to warrant physical violence.”



According to the statement, the attackers threw Borgen to the ground and beat him, using fists, kicks, pepper spray, and even a crutch, while shouting slurs including “filthy Jew” and “dirty Jew.”



Borgen made aliyah earlier this year.



Seleiman had previously fled New York, but authorities tracked him to Florida, where he was arrested in May and returned to New York City to face charges.



In New York City, Jews continue to be the most frequently targeted group in hate crimes.

Antisemitic Attacker Gets 2-Year Prison Term For Brutal Assault On Jewish Man In Times Square

Harmeet Dhillon, the United States Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, delivered sharp criticism of New York’s incoming mayor at the Israel Hayom conference in New York, accusing him of enabling a surge in antisemitism across the city.



Dhillon declared that “The mayor-elect of New York Zohran Mamdani is an ‘antisemitic demagogue.’ That’s a fact,” citing rising hate crimes, assaults, and limits on access to synagogues.



She said federal agencies, including the Department of Justice and the FBI, are conducting active investigations into attacks on Jewish communities in New York, New Jersey, and other states. “When we find it, we protect Jews,” Dhillon added, emphasizing the government’s commitment to enforcement and safeguarding targeted communities.



Her remarks come as major US cities report escalating antisemitic incidents. Dhillon stressed that combating hate requires rigorous oversight and swift federal action, with Washington stepping in where local leadership fails to keep vulnerable communities safe.



Mamdani has faced heavy criticism after last month’s antisemitic protest outside the Park East Synagogue, where demonstrators called for violence against Jews.



Responding to the backlash, Mamdani spokesperson Dora Pekec told reporters that the Mayor-elect “discouraged the language used at last night’s protest and will continue to do so.” She then faulted the synagogue for hosting a Nefesh B’Nefesh aliyah event, saying, “He believes every New Yorker should be free to enter a house of worship without intimidation, and that these sacred spaces should not be used to promote activities in violation of international law.”



Pekec’s comments drew swift condemnation, with critics accusing her of blaming victims and falsely asserting that moving to Israel or exploring aliyah is illegal.

US Civil Rights Chief Slams NYC Mayor-Elect As ‘Antisemitic Demagogue’

A group of 11 Holocaust survivors has called on British politician Nigel Farage to issue a sincere apology, after a report claimed he made antisemitic remarks while at school — a demand laid out in a letter obtained by The Guardian.



The news outlet reported that some of Farage’s former schoolmates accused him of making racist and antisemitic comments, including saying “Hitler was right.” Farage denied the allegations to BBC News, saying: “I’ve never directly racially abused anybody. No.”



Several of those former classmates quickly rejected Farage’s denial, accusing him of deliberately targeting fellow students and now lying about it.



The survivors wrote in their letter:



“As Holocaust survivors, we understand the danger of hateful words – because we have seen where such words lead. Let us be clear: praising Hitler, mocking gas chambers, or hurling racist abuse is not banter. Not in a playground. Not anywhere.”



They went on:



“When allegations arise about invoking Nazi attitudes toward Jewish children, the responsible response is honesty, reflection, and commitment to truth. So we ask you: did you say ‘Hitler was right’ and ‘gas them,’ mimicking gas chambers? Did you subject your classmates to antisemitic abuse?



&#8220;If you deny saying those words, are you saying that 20 former classmates and teachers are lying? If you did say them, now is the time to acknowledge you were wrong, and apologize.



&#8220;Those who hope to lead our country should never divide people by race or religion. Antisemitic hatred must never be normalized. This moment is about moral responsibility. The choice is yours, Mr Farage.”



Among the signatories is Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, a Holocaust survivor who spent nearly a year in Auschwitz-Birkenau before being transferred to Bergen-Belsen, where she was liberated in April 1945. The letter also includes names such as Hedi Argent, Simon Winston, Janine Webber, Edith Jayne, Helen Aronson, Ruth Barnett, John Fieldsend, Susan Pollack, Hanneke Dye, and Agnes Kaposi.



In a recent survey by Ipsos, 45% of respondents said Farage is “in touch with ordinary people,” compared with 26% for Keir Starmer — a 19-point lead.



The same poll found Farage leading on traits such as “understands Britain’s problems,” “strong leader,” and “capable leader.”



Regarding whom Britons see as most likely to become Prime Minister, 39% said Farage, compared to 25% for Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch.



On voting intention polls: one recent survey found his party, Reform UK, at 34%, its highest recorded result, with Labour on 25%, and Conservatives far behind.



Still, Farage’s favourability remains mixed: according to a November 2025 poll from YouGov, roughly 30% of Britons view him favourably, while about 62% view him unfavourably.

Holocaust Survivors Demand Apology from UK Politician Nigel Farage as His Popularity Rises

Mayor Eric Adams forcefully rejected a Wednesday statement released by his office, which had backed a Brooklyn middle school&#8217;s decision to not invite a Holocaust survivor to speak due to his support of Israel.



The first statement, given to the New York Post, supported MS 447 Principal Arin Rusch&#8217;s decision to bar Holocaust survivor Sami Steigmann from speaking to students.



Writing on X from New Orleans, where he had attended a Combat Antisemitism conference, the Mayor released a clarification at 12:20AM, stating: &#8220;Unfortunately, a statement went out prematurely from my office that said he was not the right speaker,&#8221; Mayor Adams stated, distancing himself from the initial City Hall response which had claimed Steigmann &#8220;wasn&#8217;t the right fit.&#8221;



&#8220;Let me be very clear, I&#8217;ve previously met with Sami Steigmann and he is ABSOLUTELY the right person to speak with kids about the atrocities of the Holocaust,&#8221; Adams declared.



Rusch wrote that she did not think &#8220;Sami’s presentation is right for our public school setting, given his messages around Israel and Palestine.&#8221;



Steigmann, a survivor of a Nazi labor camp in Transnistria and medical experimentation, focuses his lectures on moral courage, urging students to be &#8220;upstanders&#8221; rather than bystanders. While he is openly proud of his Jewish identity and supports Israel, advocates note that he does not discuss the current Israel-Hamas war in his bio and had even offered to avoid the topic entirely if requested.



Adams made it clear that blocking survivors from speaking is unacceptable.



&#8220;As our Jewish community faces increased antisemitism and persecution across the globe, it&#8217;s more important now than ever that we learn the lessons and stories of the Holocaust,&#8221; Adams said. &#8220;New York City is the home to the largest number of Holocaust survivors in the world and we are privileged to learn from them.&#8221;



The Mayor indicated that he has taken personal steps to rectify the situation.



&#8220;We need our young people to hear these critical stories now, so we can train our next generation to never again perpetrate such evil,&#8221; Adams said. &#8220;Sami Steigmann has shared his amazing story with me at Gracie Mansion and I spoke to him tonight about how we can continue to highlight his story in the coming weeks.&#8221;



The refusal by the school, and the initial support from the Department of Education, drew blistering condemnation from Jewish leaders. Moshe Spern, President of the United Jewish Teachers (UJT) and the grandson of a Holocaust survivor, described the principal&#8217;s vetting process as &#8220;appalling,&#8221; &#8220;discriminatory,&#8221; and &#8220;personally offensive.&#8221;



&#8220;There are only so many survivors out there who still speak,&#8221; Spern said in a statement. &#8220;This is not meeting the moment. This is sending a message to Jews in [New York City Public Schools].&#8221;



Speaking to Belaaz, Spern characterized the decision as an act of &#8220;Jew-hatred&#8221; and &#8220;censorship of a Holocaust survivor who literally does not even talk about Israel.&#8221; He slammed the move as a &#8220;huge letdown&#8221; and a &#8220;backstab&#8221; to Jews in New York City.



Brooklyn City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov echoed these sentiments, warning that the school was &#8220;potentially engaging in viewpoint discrimination in violation of the First Amendment.&#8221; She called it &#8220;abhorrent&#8221; to deny a survivor the chance to speak while antisemitism is &#8220;skyrocketing among our youth.&#8221;

Mayor Adams Rejects Office’s ‘Premature’ Statement, Fully Backs Holocaust Survivor Speaking at Brooklyn School

Beginning this Thursday night, December 4th, at Maariv, Jews who live outside Eretz Yisrael will begin inserting the tefilah for rain, &#8220;V’sain Tal U’matar Livracha,&#8221; into the Bracha of Barech Aleinu in the Shemoneh Esrei.



While Jews in Eretz Yisrael have been adding the tefilah since 7 Cheshvan, the minhag in the Diaspora follows a calculation based on the solar calendar.



The Gemara in Taanis 10a explains that while Eretz Yisrael requires rain immediately following the Yomim Tovim, the low-lying lands of Bavel, where the vast majority of the Jewish people lived at the time, did not need rain as early. In fact, early rain could be detrimental to their agricultural needs.



Therefore, Chazal established that outside of Eretz Yisrael, we wait until &#8220;60 days after the Tekufah (Autumnal Equinox).&#8221;



Halacha follows the solar calculations of&nbsp; Shmuel the Amora (Tekufas Shmuel). Because the solar calendar (Julian) used by Shmuel drifts slightly from the civil Gregorian calendar we use today, the date for &#8220;60 days after the Tekufah&#8221; is strictly fixed to the solar cycle.



Currently, in a standard year (like 2025), we begin on the night of December 4th. However, in the year preceding a civil leap year (when the secular year has an extra day in February), the date pushes forward to the night of December 5th.



In Eretz Yisrael, the request for rain is not bound by the solar Tekufah but by the Jewish calendar date of 7 Cheshvan.



Theoretically, the residents of Eretz Yisrael should have started asking for rain immediately after Sukkos (on Shemini Atzeret), just as we start mentioning the power of rain (Mashiv Haruach) at that time. However, Chazal exercised great sensitivity for the Olei Regalim; the people who had traveled to Yerushalayim for Yom Tov.



To ensure these travelers could return to their homes without being stranded in muddy, impassable roads caused by heavy rains, the Chachamim delayed the tefilah for rain in Eretz Yisrael until the 7th of Cheshvan, when even those living as far away as the Euphrates River could arrive home safely.

REMINDER: ‘V’sain Tal U’matar’ Begins Thursday Night for Chutz La’aretz

Israeli security forces recently stopped a Hamas cell that was preparing to infiltrate communities in northern Israel, preventing what officials say could have been a major terror attack or kidnapping attempt, Arutz 7 reported Motzoei Shabbos. 



Two weeks ago, the IAF struck terrorists at a Hamas training site in southern Lebanon. “The military compound that was struck had been used by the terrorists for training and preparation in order to plan and carry out terror operations against IDF forces and the State of Israel,” the IDF said.



Lebanon’s Health Ministry claimed 14 people were killed and four were wounded in the strike.



Newly released intelligence shows the cell had been operating from inside Lebanon and was preparing to cross into the Galilee, with the intent to target civilians or carry out an abduction.



Security officials said Israel received advance warning of the planned infiltration, enabling intelligence and operational teams to move quickly and shut down the plot before it could unfold.



Full information about the cell and the operation remains under a gag order.



The IDF said in a statement that “IDF forces are constantly working to detect and thwart infiltration attempts from every front and will continue to act decisively to ensure the security of northern residents.”

IDF Thwarts Hamas Cell Plotting Terror Infiltration From Lebanon Into Northern Israel

An Afghan national arrested in Virginia for allegedly aiding ISIS-K once occupied a top intelligence role in his former country, the New York Post reported Saturday night.



Jaan Shah Safi was taken into custody in Waynesboro, Virginia, after the Department of Homeland Security labeled him an “illegal alien terrorist.” DHS said on December 3 that he had supported ISIS-K and supplied weapons to his father, a militia commander in Afghanistan.



What DHS did not make public is that Safi, 48, had served as deputy director of the National Directorate of Security, the Afghan equivalent of the CIA, in Nangarhar Province.



He arrived in the United States under the Biden Administration’s Operation Allies Welcome.



“He’s not just a soldier or just a commander. He was a very senior guy,” Haibatullah Alizai, who was chief of staff of the Afghan Army in the final days before Kabul fell, told The Post. Alizai added that Safi had once been “the most key intelligence guy in Kunar Province,” and said Afghan expats were stunned by the allegations. “This family has always been a counterterrorism family. They are famous for that.”



The Trump Administration revealed Safi’s arrest just after authorities charged Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the alleged National Guard shooter, with first-degree murder in the killing of 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom in Washington, DC. Lakanwal has pleaded not guilty.



“This terrorist was arrested miles from our nation’s capital where our brave National Guard heroes, Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe, were shot just days ago by another unvetted Afghan terrorist brought into our country,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement.



Another Afghan national, Mohammad Dawood Alokozay, was also arrested in Texas on federal charges accusing him of threatening to blow up men in a group chat on TikTok and other platforms.



DHS pointed to all three cases, saying this latest arrest “marks the third arrest of an Afghan national terrorist released into the country by the Biden administration in less than a week.”



Rahmatullah Nabil, the former head of Afghanistan’s security directorate, questioned the accusations on X, arguing that Safi — who DHS said had lost his Temporary Protected Status — should be acknowledged for “his work in counter-terrorism, identifying extremist networks, and handling intelligence sources.”



A pro-Taliban outlet later claimed Safi was a “pawn” and an oppressor whose family had supported ISIS.

Afghan Ex-Official Accused Of ISIS Support Had Held Senior Intelligence Post, Sources Say

Border czar Tom Homan said Sunday that the Trump administration has safeguarded more than 62,000 migrant children who had crossed the border alone during the Biden years and ended up in horrific situations, including exploitation and forced labor.



“Over half a million children were smuggled into this country under Joe Biden,” Homan said on “Fox &amp; Friends” Sunday.



Homan, speaking during the live Fox News segment, emphasized that the effort to locate endangered minors has been a top priority for the White House.



“They lost track of 300,000. President Trump committed on day one that we will do everything we can to find every one of these children.”



Homan noted that thousands of missing minors were tracked down and rescued, describing the work as urgent and life-saving.



“We know many of them are in [exploitation]. Many are in forced labor. Many are being abused,” Homan added. “I can’t discuss some of the mistreatment we found out about. President Trump again proved why he’s the greatest president in my lifetime. Over 62,000 children rescued.”



He concluded by accusing the Biden administration of abandoning these vulnerable migrant kids and failing to make any meaningful effort to locate them.

Trump Administration Credited With Rescuing Tens Of Thousands Of Migrant Children

Hamas terrorists indicated on Sunday for the first time that they are open to discussing “freezing or storing” their weapons as part of a potential ceasefire with Israel, a senior official said, suggesting a possible way forward on one of the most contentious points in the U.S.-brokered agreement.



Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, made the remarks as both sides prepare to enter the second, more complex phase of the deal.



“We are open to have a comprehensive approach in order to avoid further escalations or in order to avoid any further clashes or explosions,” Naim told The Associated Press in Doha, Qatar, where much of Hamas’ leadership is based.



Naim emphasized that Hamas retains its “right to resist,” but said the group is willing to lay down its arms as part of a broader effort aimed at establishing a Palestinian state. He provided few details, but suggested a long-term truce of five or ten years could allow negotiations to move forward.



“This time has to be used seriously and in a comprehensive way,” he said, adding that Hamas is “very open minded” about how to handle its weapons.



“We can talk about freezing or storing or laying down, with the Palestinian guarantees, not to use it at all during this ceasefire time or truce,” Naim said.



It is still uncertain whether the proposal would meet Israel’s demands for complete disarmament.

Hamas Signals Readiness to ‘Freeze or Store’ Weapons

A massive sports arena filled with 80,000 spectators became the stage for a Taliban-orchestrated public execution, where a 13-year-old boy was forced to shoot the individual responsible for killing 13 of his relatives.



Footage circulating on the internet captured the scene in the eastern city of Khost on Tuesday, displaying thousands of cheering onlookers crowded into the venue for a display the United Nations condemned as “inhumane” and “contrary to international law.”



The teenager was directed to fatally shoot Mangal, the convicted murderer, as part of a Sharia-law “retaliation punishment” known as Qisas, which is akin to the mistaken, literal rendering of an “eye for an eye.”



Regarding the sentencing, “The family of the victim was offered the option of forgiveness and retaliation, but … they refused and insisted on Qisas,” the Supreme Court of Afghanistan said in a statement on social media.



While official statements did not specify the executioner&#8217;s identity, reports from the Afghan news source AMU TV indicate it was a 13-year-old male relative of the victims who killed the man.



The court further noted that Mangal’s two sons face imminent execution for aiding their father; however, their sentences have been postponed to allow additional family members of the victims to return to the area to witness the event. This event marks the 11th such public execution conducted since the Taliban reasserted control in 2021 following the disastrous withdrawal of US forces that left 13 troops dead. According to AMU TV, the presence of 80,000 spectators made this the most attended execution to date. Following the killing, “prayers were made for the strengthening of the national security, for the people’s better access to their legitimate rights, and for the proper implementation of Islamic Sharia throughout the country,” the supreme court claimed.



Prior to the event, Richard Bennet, the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, had issued a plea for the proceedings to be halted. Voicing his opposition on X, he stated, “Public executions are inhumane, a cruel and unusual punishment, and contrary to international law.”



The killing reflects the practices of the Taliban&#8217;s earlier regime in the late 1990s, during which time they frequently presided over public executions, floggings, and stonings.

Taliban Order Child to Kill Man as 80,000 Cheer Execution

White House Deputy Chief of Staff for policy Stephen Miller said the massive Minnesota welfare fraud case amounts to “the single greatest theft of taxpayer dollars through welfare fraud in American history,” describing the scandal as a political earthquake for the state.



Miller, who also advises President Trump on homeland security matters, said the scheme, allegedly run by numerous Somali migrants, “will rock the core of Minnesota politics and American politics.”



“We believe that we have only scratched the very top of the surface of how deep this goes,” he told Sean Hannity on Fox News Friday.



Dr. Mehmet Oz, who leads the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, moved quickly to launch a federal health-fraud probe tied to the widening scandal. Oz warned that Minnesota could lose federal support if Gov. Tim Walz’s administration does not impose strict corrections.



“Either fix this in 60 days or start looking under your couch for spare change, because we’re done footing the bill for your incompetence!” Oz said. “Why didn’t Walz stop them? That’s simple: because he went all-in on identity politics.” “Based on what we know now, this is a clear dereliction of duty.”



Officials said Walz’s entire administration is now under heightened scrutiny. They cited explosive growth in certain state programs: “The housing program was supposed to cost $2.6 million dollars annually. Last year, it paid out over $100 million. The autism program ballooned from $3 million in 2018 to nearly $400 million in 2023.”



CMS ordered Minnesota to:



1. Provide weekly updates on anti-fraud efforts.



2. Freeze enrollment of high-risk providers for six months.



3. Verify all existing providers or remove them.



4. Submit a corrective action plan outlining long-term prevention.



Federal prosecutors have already charged nearly 80 people in the scheme, which centered on a pandemic-era food program. Fifty-nine have been convicted so far, with authorities saying the fraud totaled $1 billion.



Investigators say the scam targeted programs intended to feed children during COVID, with the nonprofit Feeding Our Future accused of submitting fabricated meal counts and invoices to obtain federal reimbursements. Officials previously estimated the fraud at $250 million, but later investigations pushed that figure dramatically higher.



Then–US Attorney Andrew Luger said at the time: “Their goal was to make as much money for themselves as they could while falsely claiming to feed children during the pandemic.”



The state probe has expanded as Washington demands answers about how so many programs became vulnerable. Small Business Secretary Kelly Loeffler ordered a review of pandemic Paycheck Protection Program loans, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is examining whether any state funds were diverted to al-Shabaab, a designated terrorist organization.



Minnesota GOP floor leader Harry Niska told The Post that political pressure on Walz is only intensifying. “The scrutiny is intense and it’s going to get more intense and I think he realizes that,” he said.



“He’s never gotten this level of scrutiny — he’s definitely going to continue to get skepticism from the administration, from Congress and I expect that is only going to intensify.”



The scandal has also prompted renewed immigration debates. ICE officials recently detained a Somali migrant convicted in the fraud conspiracy. President Trump, reacting to the ongoing revelations, sharply criticized Somali migrants during a cabinet meeting, saying: “They contribute nothing. I don’t want them in our country. Their country is no good for a reason. Your country stinks and we don’t want them in our country.”



Minnesota’s Somali community numbers roughly 80,000 people, including Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.). The Post reported she has been photographed with Abul Dahir Ibrahim, an alleged fraudster long subject to removal orders and known to law enforcement.



The scandal first surfaced publicly in 2022, when prosecutors labeled it the “largest pandemic fraud in the United States.” Since then, expanding investigations have revealed broader issues across multiple programs that relied on state oversight while drawing federal funds.

Dep. WH COS Miller Blasts Minnesota Welfare Scheme As Historic Fraud, Dr. Oz Launches Investigation

A chaotic mob of anti-Israel demonstrators targeted a humanitarian benefit hosted by the Met Council on Jewish Poverty Wednesday night, even though the organization has no ties to Israel and is dedicated to fighting poverty.



The incident took place outside the Mandarin Oriental hotel at Columbus Circle, where guests had gathered to support the charity.



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The agitators chanted profanity-laced slogans related to the conflict in the Middle East.



The Met Council operates the largest kosher food pantry network in the world and is a leader in developing affordable housing. The decision to target such an organization has drawn sharp condemnation, serving as proof to many observers that the protestors’ grievances are rooted in hatred of Jews rather than specific Israeli policies.



The situation escalated beyond shouting, with reports confirming that protestors threw objects at passersby and attendees.



Crown Heights askan Rabbi Yaacov Behrman expressed his outrage on X, highlighting the absurdity of targeting a charity based solely on its Jewish identity.



&#8220;I know this has unfortunately become &#8216;normal&#8217; in New York in 2025, but it still infuriates me,&#8221; Behrman wrote. &#8220;Outside a Jewish charity @MetCouncil event, which supports a major Food Pantry Network and is a leader in creating affordable housing, demonstrators showed up simply because the organization is Jewish. And they think it’s acceptable to throw things at passersby.&#8221;

Anti-Israel Mob Protests Met Council’s Annual Benefit

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his Wednesday interview at the New York Times Dealbook forum to deliver a forceful defense of Israel’s campaign in Gaza, warning Western governments about the expanding danger posed by Iran and its proxies.



In his conversation with the news outlet, Netanyahu said Israel is at a pivotal moment, insisting that “history beckons.” He flatly rejected establishing a Palestinian state and portrayed the legal proceedings against him as a diversion from Israel’s most urgent national priorities.



Discussing the war and the recent UN Security Council vote on President Donald Trump’s peace initiative, the Prime Minister argued that diplomatic progress only comes when backed by decisive force. He attributed the latest hostage releases to sustained military action combined with pressure from the American-led coalition.



“The battering that the Iran axis received opens up many possibilities,” Netanyahu told Sorkin. “We went into the last stronghold of Hamas in Gaza City. They didn&#8217;t believe we&#8217;d do it&#8230; And the combination of those two pressures brought Hamas to its senses.”



Reaffirming his long-held worldview, Netanyahu said that regional stability depends on demonstrating power. “In our neighborhood, and I venture to say now in all the areas of the world, the way you achieve peace is peace through strength,” he said. “If you&#8217;re weak, you invite aggression, and nobody makes peace with the weak. You make peace with the strong.”



When confronted with Saudi Arabia’s insistence on a path toward a two-state arrangement as part of normalization talks, Netanyahu dismissed the demand, pointing to the consequences of Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza. “There was a Palestinian state. It&#8217;s called Gaza. That&#8217;s exactly what it was,” he said. “We didn&#8217;t get peace. What we got was the most horrific massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.”



He also referenced near-unanimous opposition in the Knesset to externally imposed statehood plans. Netanyahu argued that Palestinian education and messaging remain incompatible with coexistence, referencing schoolbooks that glorify violence. “People say, look, there has to be a solution with the Palestinians. But it&#8217;s not one in which they don&#8217;t recognize the Jewish state&#8230; They indoctrinate their children with textbooks that are calling for children to become suicide bombers.”



Netanyahu dismissed any prospect of the Palestinian Authority taking control in Gaza, calling the PA “very corrupt” and criticizing its long absence of elections. “They cannot pay terrorists to kill more Jews,” he added.



He then delivered a sharp critique of the International Criminal Court and the global rise in antisemitism, drawing parallels between historic blood libels and accusations leveled at Israel. “The same lies that were leveled at the Jewish people are now being leveled at the Jewish state,” he said. “We don&#8217;t carpet bomb. We don&#8217;t do Dresden&#8230; We send our soldiers, some of whom die, trying to clear out these booby traps.”



Asked about New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s claim that Netanyahu could face arrest under the ICC warrant, the Prime Minister remained unfazed. “Yes, of course I will [come to New York],” he said.



Netanyahu also addressed his ongoing corruption case, confirming he has requested a pardon from President Yitzchak Herzog and repeating his view that the charges amount to a political “witch hunt.” “I received a Bugs Bunny doll 29 years ago, and I received some cigars and champagne bottles. That&#8217;s what this trial is about,” he said, criticizing the time demands of lengthy court sessions. “I think history beckons&#8230; The needs of Israel are such that to spend another two, three years in this nonsense where this trial has just collapsed, it&#8217;s become a joke.”



Despite the wartime challenges, Netanyahu voiced confidence in Israel’s long-term future, especially in technology and artificial intelligence, provided the country maintains robust security. He made clear he intends to stay at the helm. “When history is within reach, you don&#8217;t step aside. You step forward. And that&#8217;s what I&#8217;m doing,” he said. “We will change the face of the Middle East. We will win this war.”

Netanyahu in NYT Interview Dismisses Mamdani Threat

The IDF confirmed it carried out an airstrike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, targeting a Hamas terrorist following an earlier assault on Israeli troops.



“Earlier today, the Hamas terror organization committed a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement, during which terrorists attacked IDF troops deployed in the Rafah area,” the military says.



Five soldiers were wounded in the attack, including one seriously.



In response to the ceasefire violation, the IDF says it “struck a Hamas terrorist in the southern Gaza Strip.”



The military did not provide additional details regarding the identity of the target.



Palestinian media reported that at least six people were killed in the strike.



Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu convened an urgent meeting to determine Israel’s response to the Rafah attack, where five soldiers were injured, including one seriously, according to Channel 12.



Separately, Netanyahu issued a statement declaring that Hamas has violated the truce and promising a response.



“The Hamas terror organization continues to violate the ceasefire agreement and carries out terror attacks against our forces,” he says in the statement. “Our policy is clear: Israel will not tolerate attacks on IDF soldiers and will respond accordingly.”



Netanyahu also wished the wounded soldiers a speedy recovery.



Channel 12 reported that Defense Minister Israel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, and Shin Bet director David Zini participated in the meeting.



Zamir reportedly stressed that Israel cannot allow the attack to go unanswered.



“This is a serious violation of the ceasefire agreement,” a senior Israeli official told the outlet, “we are in full coordination with the Americans on the topic, and we have emphasized the severity of the matter.”

IDF Strikes Hamas Terrorist in Khan Younis After Attack on Soldiers

US President Donald Trump is expected to announce the transition to the second phase of his Gaza peace plan within the coming weeks, Channel 12 reported Thursday, citing senior American officials familiar with the plan’s development.



The news outlet reports that Trump’s announcement could come just before Dec. 25, shortly before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet him in the United States.



Officials say the US and mediators are engaging with Hamas to reach an agreement in which the terror group would relinquish its governing control over Gaza and begin disarming — key elements of the second phase that have remained unresolved since the October ceasefire.



Under the proposed arrangement, Hamas would first surrender heavy weapons, such as missiles and rockets, followed by lighter arms in a phased process. Acceptance of this plan would be a necessary step before moving forward with the second phase, including the IDF’s withdrawal beyond the current Yellow Line, the report notes.



A senior American official told Channel 12, “in the coming weeks, we will reach the moment of truth. Hamas will have to decide whether to give up its rule and begin disarming in exchange for an IDF withdrawal, or refuse and face the consequences.”



The second phase, which has yet to be formally signed by either Israel or Hamas, also outlines a Board of Peace led by Trump to supervise Gaza, along with the establishment of an International Stabilization Force to secure the Strip.



American officials say Trump will chair the board alongside roughly ten leaders from Arab and Western countries. Under this board, an international committee headed by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, along with Trump’s envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff and other senior global figures, would operate.



Beneath this committee, a proposed body of 12–15 Palestinian technocrats — unaffiliated with Hamas or Fatah — would manage Gaza’s day-to-day governance. Some of these Palestinians are already in Gaza, while others would join from abroad. The US is reportedly finalizing the roster in coordination with Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and Arab states to ensure consensus.

Trump Set to Announce New Gaza Governing Body, Phase 2 of Gaza Deal, Within Two Weeks

The Trump administration launched an aggressive new phase of its immigration enforcement campaign Wednesday, deploying more than 100 ICE agents to Minneapolis to pursue illegal Somali immigrants.



According to multiple reports cited by the New York Post on Wednesday, the intensified operation is aimed at up to 500 Somalis living in the country unlawfully in Minneapolis, which houses the nation’s largest Somali population — estimated at more than 80,000 residents.



The move comes on the heels of revelations that scammers within the Somali migrant community perpetrated extensive fraud that cost Minnesota taxpayers roughly $1 billion, according to the state’s Department of Human Services. The scheme unfolded under the watch of Gov. Tim Walz, prompting widespread outrage.



During a White House cabinet meeting Tuesday, President Donald Trump sharply criticized Somali illegal immigrants, stating, “I don’t want them in our country,” and describing Somalia, one of the world’s poorest nations, as a place that “stinks.” He also took aim at Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), who was born in Somalia, calling her “garbage.”



Homeland Security officials, however, maintained that the enforcement surge is not singling out ethnic groups. A DHS statement noted that the operation has expanded to include increased ICE activity in New Orleans as well.



“Every day, ICE enforces the laws of the nation across the country. What makes someone a target of ICE is not their race or ethnicity, but the fact that they are in the country illegally. We do not discuss future or potential operations,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Wednesday as the Minneapolis operation was reportedly underway.

ICE Floods Minneapolis In Major Operation Targeting Illegal Somali Migrants

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Sunday that he would not retire from politics even if he received a pardon.



When a reporter asked if he planned to retire if pardoned, he answered simply: “no.”



His announcement comes after he formally requested clemency from President Yitzchak Herzog in an effort to end the trial that has spanned years and continues to weigh on his ability to govern.



Last month Netanyahu submitted a formal request for a pardon. The submission included a detailed legal brief prepared by his lawyers, which argued that frequent court appearances were undermining his capacity to run the country effectively.



Netanyahu has denied all wrongdoing. He told supporters the trial is harming national unity, and he argued the ongoing legal process is “tearing us apart from within, arousing fierce divisions, intensifying rifts.”



Opposition figures have argued that any clemency should come only after accountability, not as a shortcut to freedom. They also are hopeful that a pardon would eliminate their political foe.



Washington has championed a pardon for Netanyahu for several months. Most recently, in November, President Donald Trump sent a letter to Herzog, calling the legal cases against Netanyahu “political, unjustified prosecution” and urging a full pardon.



In that letter, Trump described Netanyahu as “a formidable and decisive War Time Prime Minister,” arguing that pardoning him would help end what he characterized as lawfare and allow Israel to move forward.



Herzog’s office accepted receipt of Netanyahu’s 111‑page request and confirmed it has been forwarded to the pardons department of the Ministry of Justice for evaluation, stressing that this is an “extraordinary request” with “significant implications.”



While the office said the request would be “responsibly and sincerely considered,” the fact remains that it would break precedent to grant a pardon mid‑trial, especially without a conviction or acknowledgment of guilt.



Herzog acknowledged Trump&#8217;s pressure to grant a pardon, but stated that Israel is a &#8220;sovereign nation&#8221; and will do what it sees fit.

Netanyahu Won’t Exchange Pardon for Leaving Politics

The European Broadcasting Union released a statement Thursday confirming that “a large majority” of its members voted to approve new Eurovision reforms, effectively ensuring that “all EBU members” who wish to participate, including Israel, may do so.



While the EBU did not name Israel directly, it emphasized that members showed “clear support” for the reform package and that there was “no need for a further vote” on eligibility.



EBU President Delphine Ernotte Cunci said the outcome “demonstrates our members’ shared commitment to protecting transparency and trust in the Eurovision Song Contest, the world’s largest live music event,” and thanked members for “their thoughtful, respectful and constructive contributions.”



Just minutes after the EBU decision, public broadcasters in the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia announced Thursday that they will withdraw from the 2026 contest in protest of Israel’s participation. Iceland said it is still weighing its options.



The Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS said its decision “follows a careful and extensive deliberation process” that included talks with Israel’s ambassador. “After weighing all perspectives, AVROTROS concludes that, under the current circumstances, participation cannot be reconciled with the public values that are fundamental to our organization,” it said.



Spain’s RTVE also confirmed it will drop out of next year’s event “following the vote” held Thursday in Geneva.



Ireland’s RTE said it “feels that Ireland’s participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza,” adding that it will neither participate in nor broadcast the contest.



Spain’s departure is especially significant, as it is part of Eurovision’s “Big Five” — the top financial contributors alongside France, Germany, the UK and Italy.



Slovenia’s RTV SLO argued that Eurovision has become “hostage to the political interests of the Israeli government,” according to the broadcaster.



President Yitzchak Herzog, who played a role in efforts to secure Israel’s place in the contest, praised the EBU’s decision.



“Israel deserves to be represented on every stage around the world, a cause to which I am fully and actively committed,” Herzog said. “I am pleased that Israel will once again participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, and I hope that the competition will remain one that champions culture, music, friendship between nations, and cross-border cultural understanding.”



Herzog also thanked the “friends who stood up for Israel’s right to continue to contribute and compete at Eurovision,” saying the move “demonstrates solidarity, fellowship, and cooperation, and reinforces the spirit of affinity between nations through culture and music.”

EBU Members Overwhelmingly  Allow Israel To Compete in Eurovision, 4 Countries Boycott

President Yitzchak Herzog welcomed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to the President’s Residence in Jerusalem on Saturday evening, marking Merz’s first trip to Israel since assuming office.



Herzog told Merz that their countries had forged an unusually strong partnership, noting the deployment of Israel’s Arrow 3 missile-defense system in Germany. “We have become very close friends, and for me to see the Arrow 3 missiles being installed in Germany to defend Germany and Europe, Israeli-made products, is something very unique and moving and important,” he said, according to his office.



He added that Germany holds a “huge role to play” in helping shape a “new horizon” for Israelis, Palestinians, and the wider region.



Herzog warned of the growing threat from Iran. “As we know, we are facing an empire of evil from Tehran, and that is why the equilibrium in the world is very clear. It’s us defending Europe, and it’s us working very hard to reach the day after in Gaza,” he said.



Merz stressed that his country stands firmly behind Israel in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, massacre carried out by Hamas terrorists. “We couldn’t meet in more challenging and more complicated times, and you know that Germany firmly stands at Israel’s side, especially since the horrific attack perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, 2023,” he said.



The chancellor said the relationship between the two nations has only strengthened. “Since then, we were able to deepen and further intensify our friendship, and you know that we will always stand by Israel’s side. We still consider this friendship a miracle. So shortly after the Shoah, to be able to establish diplomatic relations and further continue to deepen and foster our friendship is very special and important to us indeed,” he said.



Merz voiced hope for a swift end to the war once Hamas lays down its weapons, and said he supports efforts to achieve a two-state framework, calling it an “important factor for good coexistence between Israel and the Palestinians, and the Israeli people, the Palestinian people, and the Arab world, for it to be able to live peacefully in peace and security and in dignity.”

Merz Lauds ‘Miracle’ Bond With Israel During Jerusalem Meeting With Herzog

The Prime Minister’s Office said the Israel–Lebanon–US meeting held earlier Wednesday in Lebanon took place “in a positive atmosphere,” describing the tone among the delegations as constructive.



According to the PMO, “The meeting was conducted in a positive spirit, and it was agreed that ideas would be developed to promote possible economic cooperation between Israel and Lebanon.” Israeli officials added that any economic progress must be tied to core security benchmarks.



Israel stressed that Hezbollah’s disarmament remains a non-negotiable requirement. The PMO’s readout underscored that “Israel emphasized that the disarmament of Hezbollah is mandatory, regardless of progress in economic cooperation.” Jerusalem has repeatedly argued that Hezbollah has already violated the existing ceasefire by refusing to disarm as required, while continuing to expand its military infrastructure in southern Lebanon.



The discussion, held in Naqoura just across the border, marked the first direct talks between the two countries in decades. Israel said all sides agreed to keep the channel open.



Israel’s delegation was led by Uri Resnick, deputy director for foreign policy at the National Security Council. Morgan Ortagus, the US special representative for Lebanon, headed the American team, while Lebanon was represented by former ambassador to the US Simon Karam.



Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized Gil Reich, acting head of the National Security Council, to dispatch an envoy to Lebanon for meetings with political and economic officials. Netanyahu’s office described the effort as “an initial attempt to create a basis for a relationship and economic cooperation between Israel and Lebanon.”



The outreach comes as Israeli and American officials warn that the IDF may be forced to launch a major operation if Beirut fails to advance the long-stalled process of dismantling Hezbollah’s arsenal and military forces.



Lebanon’s prime minister, addressing speculation about broader diplomatic moves, said that if a peace agreement were ever reached, “normalization will follow, but we are not there at all.” He emphasized that the day’s session “was not peace talks.”

PM Office Responds Positively to Israel-US-Lebanon Joint Talks

After nearly five years, federal law enforcement agents apprehended a suspect on Thursday in connection with the pipe bombs discovered outside the Democratic and Republican National Committees on January 5, 2021, a breakthrough in the case of a security breach that has unsettled the capital for nearly five years.



Brian Cole Jr., 30, was taken into custody at his residence in Woodbridge, Virginia, charged with transporting explosives and attempted malicious destruction. The arrest marks the conclusion of a manhunt that had, until now, yielded no arrests despite a massive $500,000 reward offered during the previous administration.



According to FBI Director Kash Patel, the breakthrough was not the result of public tips, but rather a revamped police investigation, in remarks made to the New York Post following the arrest.



“The FBI examined every piece of information available, leveraged new technology, brought in experts from around the country, and methodically developed the evidence needed to nail this suspect,” Patel stated. “This breakthrough didn’t come from new tips, it came from relentless FBI work.”



Patel elaborated on the sheer volume of data analyzed, noting that investigators sifted through “three million lines of information … you can think about the amount of cell phone data that has to be ingested and triangulated and dumped and received.”



“When you develop evidence, you get a search warrant,” Patel explained. “When you get a search warrant, you get an address. When you get an address, you hit the house, and that’s what we did.”



The arrest has highlighted a sharp contrast between the current Justice Department and the previous Biden administration. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino, who Director Patel noted “spearheaded the investigation,” were quick to credit the change in leadership for the result.



“This is what it’s like when you work for a president who tells you to go get the bad guys and stop focusing on other extraneous things not related to law enforcement,” Bongino said at a press conference.



“This is what happens,” Bongino added, “when you have a president who tells you to go get the bad guys.”



Bondi echoed these sentiments, criticizing the delay under the previous leadership. “Today’s arrest happened because the Trump administration has made this case a priority,” Bondi said. “The total lack of movement on this case in our nation’s capital undermined the public trust of our enforcement agenices. This cold case languished for four years until Director Patel and Deputy Director Bongino came to the FBI.”



Bongino emphasized the determination of the current bureau: “You’re not going to walk into our capital city, put down two explosive devices and walk off into the sunset. Not gonna happen. We were gonna track this person to the end of the earth. There was no way he was getting away.”



Federal agents descended on the Cole family’s quiet cul-de-sac in Woodbridge early Thursday, searching the home and a vehicle. Neighbors described Cole as a reclusive figure who generally avoided social interaction.



“He’s very antisocial. Very,” one neighbor, a resident since 1991, observed. “He keeps to himself.” She noted that Cole’s routine involved walking his dog: “He has a dog that he loves. He walks every day, twice a day, to 7-Eleven with his dog and he wears his headphones.”



Another neighbor noted Cole’s attire, saying he would “wear shorts all winter long, and red Crocs,” and expressed surprise at the allegations. “I’m pretty shocked. This is a very uncommonly friendly and neighborly place to live.”



However, one neighbor expressed skepticism regarding the identification, suggesting the suspect seen in surveillance footage had different physical characteristics.



The devices were planted the night before the certification of the 2020 electoral votes. The danger was palpable at the time; then-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi both reportedly came “within feet” of the bombs near the DNC headquarters.



For years, the lack of a suspect fueled speculation and concern. A congressional report released in January by Republican Representatives Barry Loudermilk and Thomas Massie had criticized the previous investigation, stating that “little meaningful progress” had been made and that “[b]y the end of February 2021, the FBI began diverting resources away from the pipe bomb investigation.” Previous FBI officials had even cast doubt on whether the bombs were intended to detonate. Steven D’Antuono, former head of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, testified in 2023 regarding the devices&#8217; timers.



“I saw the same kitchen timer as you,” D’Antuono had told lawmakers. “I agree. I don’t know when they were supposed to go off. Maybe they weren’t supposed to go off. We can’t — we don’t know. We honestly don’t know.” He added, “Should it have exploded in the hour? Or should it have been waiting there to — for somebody to find? Those are the theories that we have … There’s a lot of unanswered questions. There really are.”



With Cole now in custody, the Justice Department aims to answer those questions. “Our team re-examined the case from the ground up after the previous leadership spent four years with no success,” Patel said. “We engineered this investigation, built the evidentiary trail, and executed the search warrants that finally brought this individual into custody.”



“This is what a focused, disciplined Bureau delivers for the American people,” he concluded.

Virginia Suspect Arrested in Jan. 6 Pipe Bomb Case, FBI Combed Through ‘Millions’ of Data Lines

New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani released a video on Sunday that effectively instructs immigrants on how to avoid being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, following an attempted ICE operation in Manhattan. Mamdani framed the video as a rights-education effort, and cautioned against resisting arrest of interfering with arrests, but detractors argue he is providing tools to thwart federal enforcement.



The video was released amid rising scrutiny over immigration enforcement in New York, with Mamdani signaling he intends to push back aggressively against federal actions he claims endanger immigrant communities. Opponents say his message instead encourages residents to avoid cooperation with ICE.



Mamdani opens the video by referencing an ICE attempt last weekend to take immigrants into custody.



&#8220;As mayor, I&#8217;ll protect the rights of every single New Yorker, and that includes the more than 3 million immigrants who call this city their home,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But we can all stand up to ICE if you know your rights.&#8221;



He then lays out step-by-step instructions for how immigrants should respond when confronted by ICE agents, guidance that critics say mirrors advice given by activist groups that encourage avoiding detention.



&#8220;First, ICE cannot enter into private spaces like your home, school or private area of your workplace without a judicial warrant signed by a judge,&#8221; Mamdani advised. &#8220;If ICE does not have a judicial warrant signed by a judge, you have the right to say, ‘I do not consent to entry&#8217; and the right to keep your door closed.’&#8221;



He added that agents may show paperwork suggesting they can make an arrest but insisted &#8220;that is false.&#8221;



&#8220;ICE is legally allowed to lie to you, but you have the right to remain silent,&#8221; the mayor-elect said. &#8220;If you&#8217;re being detained, you may always ask, ‘Am I free to go?’ repeatedly until they answer you.&#8221;



Mamdani also noted that people can record ICE activity as long as they do not interfere with an operation.



&#8220;It is important to remain calm during any interaction with ICE or law enforcement. Do not impede their investigation, resist arrest or run,&#8221; he said.



He concluded by highlighting New Yorkers’ constitutional right to protest, a message his opponents say further positions the city against federal immigration enforcement.



&#8220;New Yorkers have a constitutional right to protest, and when I&#8217;m mayor, we will protect that right,&#8221; he said. &#8220;New York will always welcome immigrants, and I will fight each and every day to protect, support and celebrate our immigrant brothers and sisters.&#8221;



The video was posted a little more than two weeks after Mamdani met with President Donald Trump, a meeting that suggested a warming of relations as they found agreement on issues like affordability and quality of life in the city.



Nevertheless, Mamdani reaffirmed New York’s sanctuary city stance during a speech in the Bronx.



&#8220;I shared with the president directly that New Yorkers want to follow the laws of our city, and the laws of our city say that, in our sanctuary city policies, city government can be in touch with the federal government on around 170 serious crimes,&#8221; Mamdani said last month. &#8220;The concern comes from beyond those crimes, the many New Yorkers who are being arrested, they&#8217;re being detained, they&#8217;re being deported for the crime of making a regular court appearance.&#8221;



&#8220;My focus as the next mayor of this city is going to be to protect immigrants who call this city their home,&#8221; he added.

Mamdani Releases Video to Help Immigrants Avoid ICE Activity

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">🇺🇸 — WATCH LIVE: The 60th Presidential Inauguration Ceremony — Donald Trump to be sworn in as 47th President momentarily. <a href="https://t.co/6YgEqoeM2i">https://t.co/6YgEqoeM2i</a>&mdash; Belaaz News (@TheBelaaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheBelaaz/status/1881385602429673655?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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LIVE: 60th Presidential Inauguration – Donald Trump Takes the Oath of Office

Colombian immigration officials on Monday deported nine adults and seventeen minors linked to the Lev Tahor cult after authorities uncovered their plan to re-establish the group in a remote region of the country, according to officials.



The deportees were placed on a flight to New York under police escort.



Authorities said the group had been staying at a hotel in Yarumal, in the Norte de Antioquia region, when officials learned they intended to relocate to an isolated private property nearby. &#8220;Their intention was to disappear into private land, and this raised serious concerns,&#8221; a security source said.



Immigration officials designated the group as a “threat to national security” and raised alarms about potential violations of children’s rights. The operation was carried out together with a regional child-protection unit.



Paula Salazar, director of the regional immigration authority, said that &#8220;Colombia has implemented an administrative deportation of the nine adults due to concerns about national security. The minors remained in custody on the flight until their full transfer to US authorities.&#8221;



Several of the minors were taken into the care of US Child Protective Services after authorities discovered that five of them, citizens of Canada, the United States, and Guatemala, were listed under an Interpol Yellow Notice amid fears of human trafficking, kidnapping, or exploitation.



The removal came one week after officials rescued seventeen minors from remnants of the group in Colombia on November 23. According to local authorities, families linked to Lev Tahor attempted to regroup in Colombia after the collapse of their base in Guatemala, but the effort was detected and stopped.

Colombia Expels Lev Tahor Members After Attempt To Rebuild Secretive Enclave

An Israeli organization has been informed that Guinness World Records will no longer accept submissions from Israel or the Palestinian territories, Channel 12 reports.



The report states that the charity “Matnat Chaim,” which promotes voluntary kidney donations, reached out to Guinness World Records regarding an upcoming event in Jerusalem that aims to gather 2,000 donors in a single location.



The charity, which had hoped to have a photo of the large-scale event featured in the next edition of the Guinness Book of World Records, was disappointed when the UK-based organization confirmed that it is no longer accepting submissions from Israel or the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank, Channel 12 says.



Matnat Chaim president Rachel Heber told Channel 12, “Israel is leading the whole world in this wonderful revolution of mutual responsibility in altruistic kidney donations. The fact that Guinness refuses to include the Israeli achievement that astonished the entire medical world is unacceptable.”

Guinness World Records No Longer Accepting Entries from Israel

Invitations have been distributed for Vice President JD Vance’s upcoming Chanukah reception, scheduled to take place just one day before the President’s annual holiday gathering, sources tell Belaaz.



The invitations for both the Vice President’s and the President’s events were first reported on and shared by Belaaz.



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According to the details released, Vice President Vance and the Second Lady will host the reception at the Vice President&#8217;s Residence on the evening of Monday, December 15. The event is slated to run from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM.



The text of the Vice President&#8217;s invitation reads: &#8220;The Vice President &amp; The Second Lady&nbsp; Request the pleasure of your company for a Hanukkah Reception.&#8221;

EXCLUSIVE: VP Vance’s Chanukah Reception Set for Day Before White House Party

Two teenagers, one of them a Russian national, have been taken into custody in Paris on suspicion of planning an antisemitic attack, according to judicial sources and media reports.



The Russian teen, a 16-year-old Chechen who arrived in France with his mother four years ago, reportedly sent a WhatsApp photo showing himself holding a knife, declaring that he was “going to kill Jews in five days,” Le Parisien reported.



He was allegedly in communication with the other 16-year-old, who resides in the Paris region, and threatened to attack a religious site, the newspaper added.



Confirming the media accounts, France’s national anti-terror prosecutor’s office told AFP that the two had been charged with “participation in a terrorist criminal association with the aim of preparing one or more crimes against persons.”



So far in 2025, France has charged 20 minors with terrorism-related offenses, with prosecutors noting a rise in young people being implicated in such plots over the past five years.



The detention of these two teenagers pushes this year’s total above the 19 minors charged with terrorism-related crimes across all of 2024.

Two Teens Detained in France Over Murderous Antisemitic Attack Plot

The UK and the US have finalized an agreement ensuring that British-made pharmaceuticals will continue entering the American market without tariffs for the next three years, the BBC reported Monday.



Under the deal, the UK agreed to higher NHS medicine payments in exchange for a binding guarantee that US import taxes on British drugs will stay at zero. It marks the first time in over two decades that NHS drug costs are set to rise.



The agreement follows President Donald Trump’s warnings that he could impose tariffs of up to 100% on branded medicines; one of Britain’s most valuable exports to the US.



Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said the arrangement “guarantees that UK pharmaceutical exports, worth at least £5bn a year, will enter the US tariff free, protecting jobs, boosting investment and paving the way for the UK to become a global hub for life sciences.”



In the 12 months to September, the UK exported £11.1 billion in medicines to the US, accounting for 17.4% of all British goods sold to America, according to UK government figures.



Pharmaceuticals were originally excluded from the earlier round of tariffs announced by President Trump, but he repeatedly raised the prospect of targeting drug imports, citing concerns about US dependence on foreign suppliers and the higher prices paid by American consumers.



As part of Monday’s terms, the UK will lift the cost threshold used to judge when new medicines are too expensive by 25%. NHS drug spending is also set to increase gradually — rising from 0.3% to 0.6% of GDP over the next decade.



Drugmakers’ required repayments to the NHS, introduced to prevent overspending, will be capped at 15%, down from the over-20% level seen last year. In return, British medicine exports receive tariff protection for three years.



Announcing the deal, US Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. said Americans “should not pay the world’s highest drug costs for medicines they helped fund,” adding that the agreement “strengthens the global environment for innovative medicines and brings long-overdue balance to US–UK pharmaceutical trade.”



White House spokesman Kush Desai called the agreement “a historic step towards ensuring that other developed countries finally pay their fair share.”



Tensions around the issue had been rising inside the UK as well, amid disputes between the government and pharmaceutical firms over pricing and approval delays. British Health Secretary Wes Streeting said earlier this year he would not allow companies to “rip off” the UK after negotiations stalled.



However, Science Minister Sir Patrick Vallance later acknowledged that NHS drug spending had fallen as a share of the health budget over the past decade and needed to rise.



NICE, the NHS advisory body, said the revised framework could result in three to five additional medicines being approved each year. Currently, it reviews around 70 annually and approves roughly 90%.



The ultimate cost to the NHS remains unclear; drugs account for about 10% of its budget. Sally Gainsbury of the Nuffield Trust warned the deal could add £3 billion in expenses, calling it “bad news” given intense financial pressures, and argued that the Treasury would need to fully fund any increases.



The UK government emphasized that it is the only country to secure a zero-percent tariff rate for pharmaceutical goods. EU officials previously believed their exports would be shielded by earlier agreements capping most tariffs at 15%.



The deal comes after a string of halted or cancelled pharma investments in the UK. GSK announced in September it would spend $30 billion in the US instead, while Merck (known as MSD in Europe) scrapped a £1 billion expansion in Britain. AstraZeneca also paused a £200 million Cambridge project and later committed $50 billion to US-based research and manufacturing.



William Bain of the British Chambers of Commerce praised the announcement, calling it “a real win” that will strengthen exports, draw investment and bolster the UK as a center for pharmaceutical innovation.



Bristol Myers Squibb said it now expects to invest over $500 million in UK research, development and manufacturing over the next five years. Chief executive Chris Boerner said the arrangement “creates an environment conducive to our continued presence in the UK.”



The White House launched a formal investigation into pharmaceutical imports in April, assessing their national security impact. In September, President Trump posted on Truth Social that he might impose 100% tariffs on branded drugs, though the administration held off as talks progressed.

UK Strikes 3-Year Zero-Tariff Deal With US On Pharmaceutical Exports

President Trump said today that the U.S. is “very satisfied” with Syria’s recent progress and praised new Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa for his “hard work and determination” to rebuild the country.



Trump said his decision to end “very strong and biting sanctions” was “truly appreciated by Syria, its leadership, and its people,” and that Washington is helping ensure Syria “evolves into a prosperous state.”



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He also asked Israel to maintain a “strong and true dialogue” with Syria, saying both countries can now build a “long and prosperous relationship” and a “historic opportunity” for Middle&nbsp;East&nbsp;peace.



The message came as President Sharaa met in Damascus with U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack, alongside Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, where the two sides discussed “the latest developments in the region and issues of common interest,” further showing Washington’s renewed engagement with Damascus.



The developments follow an Israeli raid in southern Syria on Friday, where Syria said 13 people were killed in what it called a “criminal attack,” while the IDF said its troops came under fire in Beit Jinn during an operation to arrest two Al-Jama’a Al-Islamiya terrorists. Six Israeli soldiers were wounded, three severely, after gunmen opened fire as the soldiers left the suspects’ home.

Trump Praises Syria’s New President al-Sharaa and Urges Israel to Continue Dialogue

US President Donald Trump invited Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit the White House “in the near future” during a phone call Monday evening, Netanyahu’s office says.



According to the Israeli readout, the two leaders underscored “the importance of and commitment to dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip,” and also discussed further expanding the region’s peace accords.



If finalized, the trip would mark Netanyahu&#8217;s fourth White House visit since Trump returned to office in January; a higher number than any other international leader. Trump also met Netanyahu in Israel earlier this year.



The conversation followed Trump’s recent warning to Israel not to destabilize Syria or its new leadership, issued just days after IDF forces clashed with gunmen in southern Syria.



“It is very important that Israel maintain a strong and true dialogue with Syria, and that nothing takes place that will interfere with Syria’s evolution into a prosperous State,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.



The call also came one day after Netanyahu formally asked Yitzchak Herzog for a pardon in his ongoing corruption case; a request Trump has vocally supported, both in public comments from the Knesset podium in October and in a follow-up letter to the president.

Trump Invites Netanyahu To Washington As Leaders Reaffirm Push To Neutralize Hamas

President Donald Trump will gather senior national security officials at the White House on Monday evening to determine next steps on Venezuela, according to sources who spoke with CNN, as Washington sharply ramps up its pressure campaign on the Maduro regime.



Key Cabinet officials are slated to participate, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller are also expected at the session.



The meeting, scheduled for 5 p.m. ET in the Oval Office, follows a series of intensified U.S. actions targeting Venezuela, including strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels and a significant military buildup in the Caribbean. The Pentagon says “Operation Southern Spear” has already placed more than a dozen U.S. warships and roughly 15,000 troops in the area.



Last week, Trump signaled that U.S. interdiction efforts would soon expand beyond the sea routes. He said the administration would begin blocking Venezuelan drug networks by land as well, adding that such actions were coming “very soon.”



Over the weekend, Trump issued a sweeping social-media directive cautioning pilots, airlines, and criminal groups to stay clear of Venezuelan airspace. Speaking to reporters Sunday, he downplayed any broader implications of that statement.



Trump also acknowledged having spoken by phone with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, though he did not elaborate on the contents of the conversation. Just days earlier, the administration formally labeled Maduro and several senior figures in his government as members of a foreign terrorist organization; an action officials argue provides expanded U.S. authority for potential operations inside Venezuela.



The Oval Office meeting comes amid growing scrutiny from lawmakers over the legality of recent U.S. strikes on alleged drug boats, attacks that have resulted in more than 80 deaths. Critics in Congress note that the U.S. is not formally at war with Venezuela.



CNN reported last week, citing sources familiar with the matter, that a second strike was carried out on a suspected drug vessel after an initial attack failed to kill everyone aboard.



Members of both parties have raised alarms, with some warning the actions may constitute a “war crime.”



“The law is clear,” Maine Sen. Angus King, an independent, told CNN on Monday morning. “If the facts are, as have been alleged, that there was a second strike specifically to kill the survivors in the water — that’s a stone-cold war crime. It’s also murder.”



King, who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said lawmakers plan to question officials “up and down the chain of command.”



“The question is, what order did the secretary of defense give and how was that executed? And we’re going to be talking to people, as I say, all the way up, up to the top of the chain of command and down to the people that actually triggered that attack,” he said.



 On Sunday, Trump issued a stark ultimatum to Maduro, telling him, “You can save yourself and those closest to you, but you must leave the country now,” according to the Miami Herald. 



Washington reportedly offered safe passage for Maduro, his wife Cilia Flores, their son, and several allies if he departed immediately, but Caracas rejected the terms, causing the talks to collapse. Trump later confirmed he had spoken with Maduro, saying only, “I wouldn’t say it went well or badly.” The Herald reported that Maduro demanded two guarantees; global amnesty for crimes attributed to his circle, and the right to retain control of the armed forces in exchange for allowing free elections. The US refused both requests and insisted Maduro step down at once.

Trump Convenes Oval Office Meeting On Escalating Venezuela Campaign

A 16-year-old man was shot Sunday afternoon at the Q train station near Avenue J and East 16th Street in Brooklyn, according to police. The incident has left the local Jewish community in shock, as the area is typically considered low-crime.



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Police sources told Belaaz that according to preliminary findings, the shooting is likely related to gang activity, though the investigation is ongoing. First responders rushed the teen to a nearby hospital.



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The NYPD source says the victim is expected to recover.



The source added that a firearm was recovered at the scene, but it is not yet clear whether it belonged to the suspect or the victim. No arrests have been announced at this time.

Teen Shot at Ave. J Q Train Station in Apparent Gang-Related Violence

An IDF soldier who was wounded in the Beit Jann clash in southern Syria last week, was rushed to Rambam Hospital, where doctors discovered a bullet that pierced his vest and lodged in his heart. 



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The soldier underwent emergency surgery, was B&#8221;H stabilized, and the bullet remains in place due to removal risks.



Medically, the odds of surviving such a wound unscathed are extremely low.

MIRACLE IN MOTION: IDF Soldier Survives Heart-Piercing Bullet in Syria

Freed hostage Yosef Chaim Ohana returned to Kiryat Malachi on Sunday, stepping back into his hometown after 738 days in captivity; a moment of national joy that contrasted with the the burial of Dror Or Hy’d, who was returned recently by Hamas terrorists.



The duality of a young man lifted onto shoulders of admirers and a grieving family laying a beloved father to rest captured the emotional whiplash that continues to define life in Israel more than two years after the Hamas-led massacre.



Ohana, abducted during the terrorists’ October 7 attack at the Nova music festival and among the final 20 surviving hostages freed on October 13, completed several weeks of rehabilitation at the Kfar HaMaccabiah center in Ramat Gan before making his way home. He emerged smiling, surrounded by his parents, students waving flags, and Scouts drummers who accompanied him in a celebratory procession. As he stepped outside, he clapped and mimed a hug toward the crowd.



“It’s hard when everyone looks at you like this,” he admitted before arriving in Kiryat Malachi. “But all the love I’m receiving says everything.” He emphatically recited Shema Yisrael. Supporters then lifted him onto their shoulders and carried him to City Hall, where he blew a shofar as candy rained down.



“I’m so excited to return to the city, after two years of dreaming that I would get there someday. It’s crazy,” he said. “I want to say thank you. Listen, you’re amazing.”



Visibly emotional, he continued: “The first thing I’ll do when I get home is cry. Each one of you is like an angel. This warmth and welcome prove we have one heart. You&#8217;re here for the hard times and the joyous ones. I love each and every one of you. Just as your smile gave me strength, I ask you — never stop smiling at one another. Let’s live with the knowledge that nothing is to be taken for granted. Thank you for everything.”



Ohana said the ability to speak openly about what he endured mattered to him. “People ask what we went through and how we’re doing — that gives us space to share and be heard.” He also emphasized that one Israeli hostage remains in Gaza, mentioning Ran Gvili and saying his family “deserves to have him here.” Addressing the cheering crowd once more, he added, “But look, look at these champs. I’m still here.”



His father, Avi, described the return as a miracle. “For two years we cried out for this day. I want to tell you: I love you with all my soul. This day didn’t come by chance — it came after millions of prayers from the people of Israel that Yosef Chaim would be saved and return home against all odds. It’s a great miracle, a personal splitting of the sea. Thank you for this blessed day.”



Meanwhile, oved ones buried Dror Or Hy’d, a devoted father, husband, and cheesemaker, whose body was returned last week under the ceasefire terms, more than two years after he was murdered and taken into Gaza. He was laid to rest beside his wife, Yonat Or Hy’d, who was also murdered by the terrorists on October 7.



His brother Elad said in his eulogy that he could never fully comprehend what happened. “I will never in my life really understand how this could have happened to you and to Yonat — how you were attacked like that in your beautiful home, with such terrible evil,” he said. “And how you somehow managed to tell Alma and Noam to run, and then they caught you. I never want to understand it.”



Dror’s younger children, Noam and Alma, were taken hostage during the attack and later freed under the first hostage deal in November 2023. His older son, Yahli, was away on a year of national service at the time.



Hundreds of Be’eri residents, including former hostages, joined the funeral. Gvili’s family was also present, a reminder that two murdered hostages; Ran Gvili Hy’d and Sudthisak Rintalak, have still not been returned.



Dror’s father, Yuval, said the family’s struggle continues. “There is still a refusal to investigate the disaster of October 7 and what led to it,” he said, calling for a full, independent inquiry and urging Israelis to pursue a “democratic, solidarity- and peace-seeking Israel.”



His mother, Dorit, spoke of Dror and Yonat as “people of freedom and light, of spirit and creativity,” describing their early years together, their return to Be’eri, their three children, and the home they built. She recounted how, on October 7, as terrorists entered the house and set it on fire, the couple instructed their children to flee out the window and run — saving their lives.



She remembered her son as a patient, gentle father, whose calmness shaped their home. “We have each other,” Elad told the family as they stood beside the graves.

A Day Of Grief And Joy: Yosef Chaim Ohana Returns Home While Levaya is Held for Dror Or Hy’d

Documents released by President Javier Milei reveal how &#8220;Doctor&#8221; Josef Mengele ym&#8221;s, the murderous “Angel of Death,” managed to live freely in Argentina after the war, the New York Post reported Sunday.



Mengele, infamous for his role as an Auschwitz commander, carried out monstrous medical experiments on prisoners, especially twins, under the false banner of &#8220;scientific inquiry.&#8221; Eyewitness accounts, some included in the newly released Argentine files, describe his chilling brutality and sadism, including torturing twins in front of one another after sending their parents to the gas chambers R&#8221;l.



A full binder in the archive is solely dedicated to tracking the movements of the Auschwitz doctor and SS officer.



The records demonstrate that by the mid- to late 1950s, Argentina had already confirmed Mengele’s identity and presence in the country. Officials knew he entered in 1949 with an Italian passport under the alias Helmut Gregor, later using it to obtain an immigrant ID in 1950.



Argentina’s collection exposes the network that protected him. The heavily fragmented archive, which spans Spanish, German, Portuguese, and English, reveals how authorities documented, mishandled, and often failed to act on what they knew about one of the world’s most notorious war criminals.



The trove includes photographs, intelligence files, immigration documents, surveillance notes, and correspondence, showing years of attempts to map the support system that assisted him across Argentina, Paraguay, and eventually Brazil. German documents point to foreign intelligence involvement; Portuguese and English elements hint at cooperation with Brazilian, US, or British agencies.



Among the material is an undated newspaper clipping about José Furmanski, an Argentine citizen born in Poland and a victim of Mengele. The files show local intelligence was well aware of the accusations against him.



“I met Mengele. I knew him well. I saw him many times in the Auschwitz camp, with his SS colonel’s uniform and, on top of it, the white doctor’s coat,” Furmanski recalls in the interview.



Furmanski, himself a twin, described the horrors inflicted on him and his sibling.



“He gathered twins of all ages in the camp and subjected them to experiments that always ended in death. Between the children, the elderly, and women… what horrors. I saw him separate a mother from her daughter and send one to certain death. We will never forget,” he said.



The archive also contains dozens of images without captions and hundreds of pages of internal notes, showing a structured, though often ineffective, effort to assemble a complete dossier. It includes foreign passports issued under aliases, photos of suspected collaborators, handwritten operational plans, border-crossing logs, and briefings prepared for senior officials.



The files confirm that Argentina’s postwar approach was muddled; a mix of cooperation with Western allies and bureaucratic dysfunction. Authorities showed limited urgency or comprehension of the severity of Nazis’ crimes, and senior officials appeared reluctant to expose how rooted Nazi fugitives had become in Argentine society.



In 1956, while expanding a business venture, he secured a certified copy of his birth certificate from the West German Embassy in Buenos Aires and petitioned to have his ID officially changed to his real name; a remarkable sign of how secure he felt.



By then, Argentine agencies not only knew his true identity and address, but were also aware that he had married his brother’s widow, was raising their son, and had significant business interests in the country. Some reports indicate his father may have visited Argentina to support him financially, including investments in a Buenos Aires medical-laboratory enterprise.



His conspicuous lifestyle prompted West Germany to issue an arrest warrant and request extradition in 1959. A local judge blocked the request, claiming it amounted to “political persecution,” and declined to take action.



Despite extensive evidence, information remained scattered among agencies that rarely communicated. Intelligence often failed to reach the presidency, and actions were taken too late, sometimes only after press leaks alerted him, resulting in repeated dead ends. Arrest orders, searches, and surveillance operations were frequently approved after they were no longer useful.



After the 1959 extradition request and growing pressure on Argentina, he fled to Paraguay while his wife and stepson relocated to Switzerland.



A memo dated July 12, 1960 — long after he had already slipped into Paraguay — shows investigators still trying to trace his business dealings and movements. It detailed his partnership in the medical-laboratory firm FADRO-FARM and his use of the alias Dr. Gregor.



Argentine intelligence continued monitoring him largely through news reports and conversations with foreign agencies. He gained Paraguayan citizenship and was shielded by dictator Alfredo Stroessner, whose family originated from the same Bavarian town.



The files show he slipped into Brazil clandestinely in 1960 via the tri-border region near Paraná state. Nazi-sympathizing German Brazilian farmers sheltered him in various rural locations.



The Argentine documents, increasingly dependent on media clippings, indicate that he used the alias Peter Hochbichler in Brazil, though he sometimes reverted to a Portuguese version of his real name, José Mengele. During the late 1960s and 1970s, he stayed on properties owned by the German Bossert and Stammer families in São Paulo state.



He died in 1979 after suffering a stroke while swimming off the coast of Bertioga. Buried under the false name Wolfgang Gerhardt, he was later exhumed, and his identity was confirmed by Brazilian authorities in 1985. DNA analysis in 1992 further verified the findings.

Declassified Files Show How Nazi ‘Angel Of Death’ Josef Mengele Ym”s Eluded Justice In Argentina

Hagaon Harav Moshe Sternbuch shlita said Motzoei Shabbos that the joy of finishing even one sugya is so immense that a seudas mitzvah should be held in celebration.



According to Bechadrei Charedim, the remarks were made at the conclusion of his weekly shiur at his Kollel &#8220;Teshuvos Vehanhagos,&#8221; which is named after the Rav&#8217;s renowned series of Halachic seforim.



For the past three months, the members of the Kollel have been deeply immersed in the complex Sugya of mechitzos. After delivering dozens of in-depth shiurim on the subject, Rabbi Sternbuch and his students marked the completion of the study with a &#8220;Lechaim.&#8221;



Addressing the talmidim, Rav Sternbuch said &#8220;the joy is so great that it was appropriate to hold a seudah and simcha for each halacha in its own right.&#8221;



Rav Shternbuch, 99 years old, is considered one of the foremost poskim in the world. He is the Gaavad of the Eidah Charedis and in recent years has been referred to as the Posek Hador.

“We Must Have a Seudah for Every Halacha”: Hagaon Harav Moshe Shternbuch Celebrates Conclusion of Sugya

JERUSALEM &#8211; In a historic move, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu submitted a formal request for a presidential pardon to President Isaac Herzog on Sunday afternoon through his attorney, accompanied by a detailed legal memorandum and a personal letter.



The request comes weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump urged Herzog to pardon Netanyahu. 



The President’s Office confirmed receipt of the request, describing it as “extraordinary and of significant consequence.” 



The document will now be transferred to the Justice Ministry’s Pardons Department for a comprehensive review and the collection of professional opinions.



A statement from the President’s Office said President Herzog will examine the request “with responsibility and utmost seriousness” once all opinions have been received.The submission comes as Netanyahu continues to stand trial on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in three separate cases — charges he has consistently denied.

Netanyahu Formally Requests Pardon from President Herzog

A Jewish Israeli student traveling in Paris reported a harrowing encounter recently after discovering her taxi driver identified as a member of the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah, according to a Saturday night report by Channel 12.



The incident occurred after the woman and a friend ordered a taxi through a ride-sharing app. The passenger noted that the driver spoke English, which facilitated a &#8220;pleasant&#8221; initial conversation. However, the discussion shifted when the driver stated he was from Lebanon.



The woman, who stated in an interview that she makes a point of not hiding her nationality, informed the driver she was from Israel. She described the driver’s face as &#8220;turning white&#8221; upon realizing his passengers were Israelis. &#8220;It felt very uncomfortable. I told him I understood he didn&#8217;t like us,&#8221; she told Channel 12.



According to her account, the driver initially insisted he had &#8220;no problem with Israelis,&#8221; but expressed grievances regarding Israeli political leadership, specifically naming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.



The situation escalated when the passenger asked for the driver&#8217;s opinion on Hezbollah, referring to it as a terrorist organization. The driver replied, &#8220;I&#8217;m from Hezbollah.&#8221;



It is possible that due to the language barrier, the driver may have intended to say that he was a supporter of the terror group and not an active member.



&#8220;At that moment I was scared, just like he was scared when I told him I was from Israel,&#8221; she said.



Despite the tension, the passenger described viewing the remaining seven minutes of the trip as a &#8220;mission&#8221; of outreach. She engaged the driver in a discussion regarding the October 7 attacks, sharing with him that three of her friends had been murdered at the Nova music festival.



&#8220;It was scary, but I wanted him to see our side too,&#8221; she said.



The ride concluded without physical incident. At the end of the trip, the driver offered his personal phone number to provide future rides. The women accepted the offer but provided him with a fake number before exiting the vehicle.

Jewish Student in Paris Encounters Hezbollah-Affiliated Taxi Driver

Northwestern University will pay $75 million over the next three years to resolve a Trump administration investigation into campus antisemitism, a move that will also restore $790 million in federal funds that had been frozen since April, according to CBS News.



The settlement was jointly announced Friday night by Northwestern and the Trump administration, which accused the university of allowing antisemitism to take root on campus.



Attorney General Pamela Bondi welcomed the agreement, saying: “Today’s settlement marks another victory in the Trump Administration’s fight to ensure that American educational institutions protect Jewish students and put merit first. Institutions that accept federal funds are obligated to follow civil rights law &#8211; we are grateful to Northwestern for negotiating this historic deal.”



Northwestern said it expects full restoration of the frozen federal funding within 30 days. Alongside the $75 million payment, the university agreed to conduct a review of international admissions, provide training for international students on campus expectations, and reaffirm protections for Jewish students and faculty.



Interim President Henry Bienen emphasized that the agreement leaves Northwestern’s institutional autonomy intact. “As an imperative to the negotiation of this agreement, we had several hard red lines we refused to cross: We would not relinquish any control over whom we hire, whom we admit as students, what our faculty teach or how our faculty teach. I would not have signed this agreement without provisions ensuring that is the case. Northwestern runs Northwestern. Period.”



The freeze had already led to hiring pauses, layoffs, and reductions in academic programs. Former President Michael Schill stepped down in September amid the tumult surrounding the probe.



Northwestern is one of several universities that have reached settlements in recent months to close federal investigations into campus antisemitism. Columbia University agreed to a $200 million deal in July, while Cornell University finalized a $30 million agreement earlier this month.

Northwestern University To Pay $75 Million To End Trump Admin Antisemitism Probe

The first round of White House Chanukah party invitations were sent out Friday, sources tell Belaaz Motzoei Shabbos.



A copy of the invitation, which is electronic, was shared with Belaaz.



The invite reads: &#8220;The President and Mrs. Trump request the pleasure of your company at a Hanukkah Reception to be held at The White House on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at seven o&#8217;clock.&#8221;



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The invitations arrive amid reports of a significantly scaled-back guest list for this year&#8217;s celebration, as first reported by Belaaz two weeks ago.



Sources familiar with the planning indicate that the 2025 Chanukah party will be smaller than in previous years. This reduction is due to the massive construction project currently underway on the White House grounds, specifically the demolition and rebuilding of the East Wing.



The East Wing, which traditionally houses the First Lady’s offices and serves as a critical staging area for large social events, has been undergoing extensive work as part of President Trump&#8217;s initiative to construct a new, larger ballroom.



The construction has turned much of the eastern side of the complex into an active work zone, severely limiting the space available for the logistical support required to host the hundreds of guests usually invited to the annual menorah lighting.

EXCLUSIVE: White House Chanukah Party Invites Sent Out to Jewish Figures

Dublin’s city council has moved to strip a local park of the name of Chaim Herzog, Israel’s sixth president and a native of Ireland, a decision widely viewed as another expression of the country’s increasingly hostile posture toward Israel amid the Gaza war.



Although a replacement name has not yet been selected, pro-Palestinian activists have reportedly pushed for it to be rebranded as “Free Palestine Park.”



Former Irish justice minister Alan Shatter sharply condemned the decision, arguing that “Dublin City Council has now gone full on Nazi &amp; a committee of the Council has determined it should erase Jewish/Irish history. Herzog Park in Rathgar is named after Chaim Herzog, Israel&#8217;s 6th President, brought up in Dublin by his father, [Rav] Yitzchak HaLevi Herzog, a friend of Eamon De Valera, who was Chief Rabbi of Ireland &amp; Israel’s first Chief Rabbi&#8230; Some councillors want the Park renamed ‘Free Palestine Park.’”



The Jewish Representative Council of Ireland criticized the move as harmful to the country’s tiny Jewish community.



&#8220;It sends a hurtful and isolating message to a small minority community that has contributed to Ireland for centuries. We call on Dublin City Councillors to reject this motion. The removal of the Herzog name from this park would be widely understood as an attempt to erase our Irish Jewish history.&#8221;



Chaim Herzog, a diplomat and thinker, served in numerous senior positions throughout his career, including his landmark tenure as Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations. In 1975, he delivered a historic address rebuking the Soviet-backed resolution equating Zionism with racism—an oration often paired with the famed speech delivered that same day by U.S. Ambassador Daniel Patrick Moynihan.



Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar denounced Dublin’s decision, saying Ireland’s “antisemitic and anti-Israel obsession is sickening.”

Dublin Votes To Remove Israeli President’s Name From Park, Sparks Outrage Over Erasing Jewish History

President Donald Trump on Saturday ordered a full closure of airspace above and around Venezuela, sharply intensifying his standoff with Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro, whom the White House accuses of collaborating with narco-terrorist networks to move drugs across the region.



“To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY,” the president wrote on Truth Social Saturday morning.



The Federal Aviation Administration had recently cautioned pilots and airlines to avoid Venezuelan skies, warning of “a worsening security situation” and highlighting heightened military activity and potential GPS interference. Two days earlier, Venezuela pulled operating rights from six major airlines that had halted flights following the FAA alert.



Trump’s directive to shutter the airspace “in its entirety” goes well beyond the FAA’s advisory, reflecting Washington’s view that Venezuelan airspace now represents an active and evolving security danger rather than simply an unsafe corridor.



Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gill denounced the announcement, calling it a “hostile, unilateral, and arbitrary act,” and arguing it violates the United Nations Charter.



“Venezuela denounces and condemns the colonialist threat that seeks to affect the sovereignty of its airspace, constituting a new, extravagant, illegal, and unjustified act of aggression against the people of Venezuela,” he said.



Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have spent recent months applying mounting pressure to push Maduro from power, supported by a significant deployment of American military forces in the Caribbean and repeated lethal strikes on vessels the administration identifies as drug-smuggling operations.



Those strikes have drawn heavy criticism abroad, while both Democrats and some Republicans warn that Trump is centralizing too much authority within the executive branch and may be breaching international law.



Last month, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights condemned the attacks, labeling them “unacceptable” and echoing concerns from U.S. lawmakers that the strikes violate international norms.



This week, Trump hinted at broader military action targeting drug traffickers operating in the resource-rich nation.



“People aren’t wanting to be delivering by sea,” he said at the White House Thursday. “And we’ll be starting to stop them by land also. The land is easier. But that’s going to start very soon. We warn them. Stop sending poison to our country.”



Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned that Trump risked bypassing federal law since Congress has not authorized military force against Venezuela.



“Americans are tired of endless foreign wars that cost the lives of countless American servicemembers and drain precious resources,” he said. “This is not an America First policy. We need Republicans and Democrats in Congress to come together to return the power to declare war back to the people.”

Trump Orders Complete Shutdown Of Venezuelan Airspace Amid Rapid U.S. Military Buildup

In a sweeping declaration, President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he is terminating &#8220;approximately 92%&#8221; of documents signed by former President Joe Biden, claiming they were authorized illegitimately via mechanical &#8220;autopen&#8221; without Biden’s direct approval.



The announcement, made via Truth Social, ties directly into a new immigration directive Trump unveiled hours before, which vows to &#8220;terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions&#8221; by classifying them as legally void from their inception.



In his Friday morning post, Trump claimed that the vast majority of Biden’s official acts were orchestrated by staff members rather than the former president himself.



&#8220;Any document signed by Sleepy Joe Biden with the Autopen, which was approximately 92% of them, is hereby terminated, and of no further force or effect,&#8221; Trump wrote. &#8220;The Autopen is not allowed to be used if approval is not specifically given by the President of the United States.&#8221;



Trump went further, alleging a &#8220;cover-up&#8221; within the Biden White House. &#8220;The Radical Left Lunatics circling Biden around the beautiful Resolute Desk in the Oval Office took the Presidency away from him,&#8221; he stated. &#8220;I am hereby cancelling all Executive Orders, and anything else that was not directly signed by Crooked Joe Biden&#8230; Joe Biden was not involved in the Autopen process and, if he says he was, he will be brought up on charges of perjury.&#8221;



The move appears designed to bypass standard legal revocation procedures for immigration statuses. On Thursday, while announcing a &#8220;permanent pause&#8221; on immigration from what he termed &#8220;third world countries,&#8221; Trump explicitly linked the autopen theory to his mass deportation goals.



By asserting that admission documents signed via autopen were never validly executed, the administration is pursuing a legal theory that these immigrants were never technically &#8220;admitted&#8221; to the U.S., potentially stripping them of due process rights associated with revocation.



The President’s declaration relies heavily on a theory championed by the House Oversight Committee. Their recent investigations have alleged that President Biden’s cognitive decline was so severe that staff members, specifically a tight circle of aides, began authorizing executive actions, pardons, and admissions independently, using the autopen machine to affix Biden’s signature without his knowledge.



While the autopen has been a standard tool for U.S. presidents for decades to sign routine correspondence and commissions, its use for substantive executive orders without direct presidential authorization would break with protocol.



A 2005 Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) opinion explicitly upheld the constitutionality of the autopen, stating that &#8220;the President need not personally perform the physical act of affixing his signature&#8221; as long as the authorization is clear.

Trump Declares Most Biden Documents Void, Citing ‘Illegal’ Autopen Use

The Jewish community of Chernivtsi, Ukraine, was jolted on Thursday evening when a man set fire to the revered Sadigura shul, the famed “Kloiz Kadisha,” inflicting major damage on a site central to the Chasidus.



Community representatives said the suspect, described as mentally unstable, entered the synagogue in the Sadigura (Sadhora) neighborhood during a brief moment when the guard stepped away. He allegedly ignited a fire inside before police arrived and took him into custody.



A preliminary review suggested the same man attempted to set fire to a nearby church, lehavdil, about a month ago, according to community leaders, pointing to a pattern of unstable behavior rather than any targeted act against Jews.



While b&#8217;chasdei Hashem nobody was hurt, locals reported that the blaze severely damaged parts of the shul&#8217;s historic interior. Engineers, preservation specialists and municipal officials are slated to evaluate the extent of the destruction in the days ahead.



“This is a very painful and distressing incident,” Chernivtsi’s chief rabbi, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Glitzenstein, who also serves as Chabad’s emissary told the Jerusalem Post. “The synagogue is one of the most important buildings in the Chasidic world.”



At the same time, Rabbi Glitzenstein emphasized that the event should not be interpreted as growing antisemitism in the city. “In Chernivtsi, we do not feel antisemitism,” he said. “There is extensive security around Jewish institutions, and efforts are made to neutralize any sign of antisemitism. All residents here live in brotherhood and peace.”.



In the 1840s, the Rizhiner Rebbe zy&#8221;a, Harav Yisrael Friedman, established his court in the shul after fleeing persecution in the Russian Empire.



The shul was constructed in a roman style with touches of Moorish design, built from red brick and resembling a palace more than a typical Eastern European shul, true to the Rizhiner Rebbe&#8217;s emphasis on showing malchus Hashem. The Rebbe was know to dress in royal garb, but with shoes that had no soles, so as not to derive any worldly pleasure. When he was about to be niftar, chasidim say that he raised his pinky finger and made the same declaration that Rebbe Yehudah Hanasi, who was also very wealthy, made when he was about to leave the world &#8211; a shvuah that he had never enjoyed Olam Hazeh even with his smallest finger.



For four generations, the leaders of the Sadigura Chasidus presided from this site, which historians have long described as one of the largest and most impressive shuls in the Chasidish world.



That era ended with World War I. In 1914, as fighting neared the area, the Sadigura court moved to Vienna, and the once-thriving Jewish life of Sadhora — along with its celebrated shul — fell into decline.



During the Soviet period, the structure was seized and used for secular purposes, including as a factory, before later falling into disrepair.



After Ukraine gained independence, Jewish descendants, Chasidish groups and local partners began working to restore the building. A major renovation, backed by international donors connected to the Ruzhin–Sadigura lineage, was completed in the mid-2010s.



By 2016–2017, the restored shul, with its renewed interior and shining brickwork, was rededicated and regained its role as a center for prayer and pilgrimage.



In recent years, Sadigura Chasidim from Israel, Europe and North America have returned to Chernivtsi to daven in the kloiz and visit the nearby graves of earlier rebbes. Local Jews have also used the site for Yamim Tovim, including large Sukkos gatherings.



The incident comes as Ukraine continues to grapple with Russia’s invasion, leaving Jewish heritage sites vulnerable to both wartime conditions and limited resources.



Ukrainian officials have repeatedly committed to protecting religious institutions, and in many cities, authorities work closely with Jewish communities to safeguard synagogues, cemeteries and monuments.



“This place has already survived wars, regimes and decades of neglect,” one community member told the Post. “We are sure that with G-d’s help, and with the support of Jews around the world, the Kloiz Kadisha will be repaired and will continue to stand as a beacon of Torah, prayer and Chasidic heritage.”



Ukrainian police have launched a criminal investigation into the arson.

Mentally Unstable Man Reportedly Torches Historic Sadigura, Rizhiner Shul in Ukraine

Former US ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney said in a Friday interview with i24NEWS that American and Saudi officials had been edging close to a normalization framework before the October 7 massacre derailed the entire process, leaving Riyadh deeply frustrated.



Ratney explained that Saudi Arabia’s pursuit of F-35 fighter jets is “largely symbolic,” serving as a message about the depth of the strategic partnership with Washington rather than a practical necessity. He added that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman wants to see the Gaza fighting fully end and expects significant shifts in Israeli policy toward the Palestinian issue before advancing toward normalization.



According to Ratney, meaningful progress is unlikely in the near future — and possibly not under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership.



His comments emerged as new details surfaced about the November 18 Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump and the crown prince. Three sources told Axios earlier this week that Trump had hoped the end of the Gaza war would open the door to a breakthrough on Saudi-Israel ties and pressed MBS directly to join the Abraham Accords.



White House officials had already briefed MBS ahead of the visit that Trump expected movement on normalization. But when Trump raised the issue in the private meeting and insisted on progress, the exchange grew heated, officials said.



The crown prince pushed back, explaining that while he wants to move forward, Saudi society is currently “highly anti-Israel” following the Gaza war and “isn’t ready” for such a step. Despite cordial public statements from both leaders, the private discussion underscored the significant gap that remains.



Ratney noted that prior to October 7, the normalization effort had been close to success, but the terrorists’ attack “upended everything” and halted what had appeared to be real momentum.



Trump said a few days before the meeting that Saudi Arabia is expected to join the Abraham Accords “very shortly,” citing “tremendous interest” in normalization.

Former US Envoy Says Breakthrough With Saudis on Israel Unlikely Soon

In a blistering Thanksgiving message shared late Thursday night on Truth Social, President Donald Trump announced a sweeping escalation of his administration’s immigration crackdown, pledging a “permanent pause” on migration from “all Third World Countries” and vowing to strip federal benefits from noncitizens.



The lengthy post, written as a holiday salutation to “Patriots,” framed the current state of U.S. immigration as an existential threat. Citing a foreign-born population of 53 million, the President described the situation as a “refugee burden” responsible for social dysfunction, including “failed schools, high crime, urban decay… and large deficits.”



“I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover,” Trump wrote, declaring that only “reverse migration” could cure the situation.



A portion of the President&#8217;s new directive relies on a contested legal theory regarding his predecessor. Trump vowed to “terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions, including those signed by Sleepy Joe Biden’s Autopen.”



This references a theory promoted by the House Oversight Committee and the White House, which alleges that former President Biden’s cognitive decline led to staff members authorizing executive actions and admissions via a mechanical “autopen” without his direct knowledge. By classifying these admissions as unauthorized, the Trump administration appears poised to bypass standard revocation procedures, treating the legal status of millions as null and void ab initio.



The President leveled attacks against the leadership of Minnesota, pointing to the state’s Somali community. He stated that that “Somalian gangs are roving the streets looking for ‘prey’” and accused Governor Tim Walz of incompetence.



“The seriously retarded Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, does nothing,” Trump wrote, before pivoting to attacks on Rep. Ilhan Omar, whom he disparaged for her “swaddling hijab” and questioned her entry into the country.



The statement come just days after the administration moved to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals, a move that Minnesota leaders have vowed to fight in court.



Trump pledged to:



End all federal benefits and subsidies to noncitizens.



&nbsp; Denaturalize migrants deemed to “undermine domestic tranquility.”



Deport any foreign national considered a “public charge” or incompatible with “Western Civilization.”



The President claimed that a migrant earning $30,000 can receive roughly $50,000 in yearly benefits, likely referring to Medicaid, food stamps, and other programs.



Legal experts anticipate immediate challenges to the “Third World” pause, citing the Immigration and Nationality Act’s non-discrimination clauses, though the Supreme Court has previously given the executive branch broad deference on national security grounds.



The President concluded his message with a stark warning to his political opponents and those he deems enemies of the state: “You won’t be here for long!”

Trump Announces Permanent “Pause” on Migration, Vows “Reverse Migration” in Thanksgiving Address

Two Jewish teenagers in Montevideo were chased to the doorstep of their home by young men shouting antisemitic slurs and threatening them with pieces of paving tiles, in what Uruguay’s Jewish leadership denounced as a brazenly hate-driven assault.



The attack occurred Tuesday afternoon in the Punta Carretas neighborhood and was first reported Wednesday night by local Spanish-language outlets.



Reports said the boys, ages 13 and 14, were walking home from school in their uniforms from a local Jewish high school when two young men, apparently in their early twenties, confronted them.



The attackers, having identified the teens as Jewish, allegedly shoved them and shouted, “Jews, we know what you did,” a phrase widely understood there as blaming Jews for events tied to Israel and Gaza. As the boys fled, the assailants grabbed broken paving tiles from a construction site and chased after them, threatening to strike.



The pursuit continued all the way to the home of one of the boys. Once there, the attackers stood outside, hurled additional antisemitic insults, and warned the boy’s mother that they now knew where the family lived.



No physical injuries were reported, but both teens were left deeply traumatized. One parent described the ordeal as a “lynching attempt.”



The families filed a complaint at a local police station, prompting prosecutors to investigate potential hate-crime charges, including “incitación al odio,” or incitement to hatred. Police examined nearby CCTV footage, though no arrests had been reported by Thursday afternoon.



The Central Jewish Committee of Uruguay, the country&#8217;s main Jewish representative body, said it would fully support the family’s complaint and push for the incident to be prosecuted as an antisemitic crime.



In a public statement, the committee said the boys “were pursued, harassed, and threatened because they are Jews” and cautioned that rising hate speech was “enabling real attacks.” The group expressed confidence in the justice system but urged a clear national response to growing antisemitism.



Roby Schindler, the committee’s president, called the assault “outrageous” and said it should serve as an urgent warning to authorities and civil society groups.



Regional antisemitism monitors said the case reflected how online radicalization is increasingly spilling into physical violence. Eduardo Kohn of B’nai B’rith Latin America warned that hateful social-media messages “reach their destination” and urged Uruguayans not to normalize such attacks. A Spanish-language global antisemitism watchdog likewise condemned the incident and encouraged the public to report similar cases.



Jewish community organizations across Latin America have documented steep increases in antisemitic rhetoric and incidents following the October 7 Hamas massacre and the ensuing Gaza war, with some reporting surges of several hundred percent in threats, harassment, and vandalism.



Uruguay’s Jewish community, estimated at 15,000 to 18,000 people, is one of the region’s oldest. Although the country has long been considered relatively safe for Jews, community leaders have warned over the past year of rising incidents, including threatening graffiti and harassment near Jewish schools and institutions.



They linked the spike to increasingly toxic online conversations about Israel and Gaza, along with the spread of conspiracy theories and extremist discourse on social platforms.



The families involved said their primary concern is the safety and emotional recovery of their children, who remain shaken but uninjured. According to the parents, police and prosecutors assured them that the investigation is advancing.

Jewish Teens Flee Antisemitic Attack In Montevideo, Uruguay

New York City, recently hailed as the second-best city globally by Resonancy Consultancy for its “cultural economy and massive urban infrastructure projects,” has now earned a far less enviable distinction: the most stressed-out city in the world.



Finance company Remitly conducted a global study assessing major cities on cost of living, crime, congestion, pollution, and access to healthcare, combining these factors into an overall “stress score” out of 10.



New York topped the list with a score of 7.59.



The city’s exceptionally high cost of living is a major contributor to residents’ stress levels.



A 2025 study by Cornell University found that rising living expenses are the primary concern for most New Yorkers.



In November, median Manhattan rent hit a record $4,625, up 7.6% year over year, according to appraiser Miller Samuel Inc. and brokerage Douglas Elliman.



Inflation has also affected groceries, utilities, and insurance, pushing Remitly to assign New York City the maximum living expenses score of 100. By comparison, Athens, Greece, scored 56.6, and Mexico City scored 44.4.



While New York’s top-stress ranking is unsurprising, the city in second place may raise eyebrows. Dublin, Ireland, traditionally viewed as a laid-back city full of pubs and poets, scored 7.55 overall. Local residents face increasing affordability pressures, the study noted.



Dublin is also among Europe’s most congested cities, with travel times averaging 32 minutes and 45 seconds for just 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).



Rounding out the top five most stressful cities were Mexico City, Manila, and London.



At the other end of the spectrum, Eindhoven in the Netherlands was named the least stressful city globally, with a low overall score of 2.34. Utrecht followed closely. Both Dutch cities benefitted from excellent healthcare access and low crime and pollution rates.

NYC Named World’s Most Stressful City

A new draft of the government’s conscription bill, authored by Likud MK Boaz Bismuth, was released to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Thursday afternoon. The legislation aims to “regulate the status of full-time yeshiva students while recognizing the importance of Torah study,” proposing a framework that balances yearly deferments for yeshiva students with periodic recruitment quota increases from the Charedi public.



The bill stipulates that full-time yeshiva students who do not engage in any other vocation may be granted yearly deferments from enlistment. Notably, provisions found in previous versions regarding strict oversight of yeshiva attendance, such as the implementation of fingerprint scanners, have been removed from this updated draft.



For the purposes of the law, the definition of Charedi recruits is based on educational background. The bill defines them as individuals who studied at a Charedi educational institution for at least two years between the ages of 14 and 18.



The legislation outlines specific annual minimal thresholds for recruitment. These targets are to be filled by graduates of Charedi educational institutions entering either military service or civilian security service, though the latter cannot account for more than 10% of the quota.



The proposed recruitment thresholds are as follows:



First Year: 8,160 conscripts Second Year: 6,840 conscripts Third Year: 7,920 conscripts Fourth Year: 8,500 conscripts Fifth Year: “No less than 50 percent of the annual enlistment cohort from graduates of Charedi educational institutions.” Following the fifth year, the Defense Minister, with committee approval, will set a threshold no lower than that of the fifth year.



A critical component of the bill regarding the nature of service involves the integration of non-military options. While students receiving deferments may request to perform civilian security service upon reaching the age of 20, 90% of the Charedi quota will be compromised of soldiers.



The bill ties compliance to financial and individual sanctions. Failure to meet recruitment targets will result in the withdrawal of funding for yeshiva students enjoying deferrals.



On an individual level, yeshiva students who have not received an exemption and fail to report for service face significant civil restrictions until the age of 23. These include: Ineligibility for a driver’s license. A ban on traveling abroad. Ineligibility for academic scholarships. Denial of subsidized public housing, tax credits, national insurance discounts, and daycare or transit subsidies.



Exceptions committees may override specific travel or licensing bans. Importantly, these sanctions expire once a student reaches the age of exemption, which is set at 26.



To facilitate integration, the bill mandates that the IDF “enable the preservation” of the Charedi lifestyle. The military is required to “establish service tracks that are tailored to the lifestyles of graduates of Charedi educational institutions,” and the Defense Ministry will work to establish Charedi pre-military preparatory academies.



While there have been reports of Charedi politicians and senior leaders of the Litvishe world reviewing and potentially supporting the advancement of the bill, there remains no official confirmation of their endorsement.



Rabbi Yitzchak Goldknopf,&nbsp; chairman of the United Torah Judaism party and its Augudas Yisrael faction, says that his party’s Moetzes Gedolei Torah will examine the bill before deciding on whether or not to support it.



“The position of the Moetzes, as conveyed to us, is that we must advance a framework that will preserve the world of Torah, without any sanctions against Torah students,” he says.



“The draft proposal presented this evening will be brought before our revered Gedolim shlita, for their decision, and we will act solely according to their guidance.”



Religious Zionism&#8217;s Bezalel Smotrich said his party is reviewing the bill, but &#8220;Our principle has been and remains: We will only vote for a law that will lead to real and rapid recruitment of Charedim into the IDF to meet security needs and ease the burden on fighters, reservists, and their families.&#8221;



Criticism from PM Benjamin Netanyahu&#8217;s political foes was swift. The bill “spits in the faces of those who serve, while improving the situation of those who evade service,&#8221; Blue and White chair Benny Ganz said. &#8220;The absurdity in which there is an overwhelming majority in the public and in the Knesset for a service framework, and yet, for a few more months in power, Likud is selling out Israel’s security — must end.&#8221;



In a video message, MK Bismuth defended the legislation against critics, stating: “We’re on our way, we’ve submitted the conscription bill, and with G-d’s help we will do and succeed. A balanced law, a good law, a law that is good for the army. A good law for yeshiva students, a law that is good for the people of Israel, that is good for the state itself.”



He emphasized the broader stability the bill aims to achieve: “And I have to tell you one thing: and let’s be precise: it’s not here to stabilize a coalition, it’s here to stabilize the state.” Bismuth further commented in a separate statement, “This is it, we’re moving forward with a balanced and responsible conscription law that serves the people of Israel.”



If the IDF fails to meet 95% of its recruitment targets for three consecutive years, a committee will be established to recommend implementation improvements or legislative amendments.

Charedi Draft Bill Submitted, Includes Exemptions for Yeshivah Students, Penalties Dropped for Current Non-Compliance

A historic landmark in the Caucasus Mountains of Russia has been returned to Jewish ownership and restored to its original glory, as the Jewish community of Kislovodsk celebrated the rededication of their 135-year-old shul following a massive three-year renovation.



The Chanukas Habayis this week marked the culmination of a project that saw the &#8220;restoration of the historic site from foundation to roof,&#8221; according to a press release shared with Belaaz from the Chief Rabbi&#8217;s office; a process that breathed new life into a building once nationalized by the communist regime.



The event was graced by the presence of the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Harav Berel Lazar, who was honored with the &#8220;special dedication ceremony of the entire complex and the affixing of mezuzahs at the doors to the synagogue hall.&#8221;



The event drew a wide array of dignitaries, including the district governor, the mayor, and various community leaders. Led by the community&#8217;s president, Rabbi Akiva Khudainatov, the guests toured the two historic buildings that comprise the complex.



According to the press release, the officials &#8220;were extremely impressed by the magnificent results.&#8221;



The transformation was comprehensive. &#8220;Dozens of expert workers in the field restored the entire structure, according to photos that have been preserved since then,&#8221; ensuring historical accuracy. The project also included a significant expansion, &#8220;adding a Beis Medrash that will include a large Torah library.&#8221;



A particularly moving moment during the renovations was the discovery of the site&#8217;s spiritual roots. &#8220;The location of the original Mikva that had operated there was discovered&#8221; in the basement. The report noted that despite &#8220;cracks and changes that had been made by the building&#8217;s residents over the years,&#8221; the original craftsmanship remained evident, allowing observers to &#8220;get a sense of the impressive beauty that had been invested by the Jews in those years, to build the place with maximum splendor and beauty.&#8221;



The massive undertaking was made possible &#8220;thanks to the support of the government as well as philanthropist Mr. Naum Babayev, a native of the city, along with additional donors from the community&#8217;s friends.&#8221;



The shul, built approximately 135 years ago in an area where Tsarist authorities permitted Jews to reside, holds deep historical significance for the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, to which Rav Lazar is affiliated.



During its active years before Soviet nationalization, the shul was a focal point for Jewish leadership. It was visited by the fifth Rebbe of Lubavitch, the Rebbe Rashab zt&#8221;l, &#8220;who even established a soup kitchen in the area, which provided free food daily to every needy Jew.&#8221;



The connection continued with his son, the Rebbe Rayatz zt&#8221;l, who organized meetings there for rabbis of surrounding cities &#8220;to strengthen Judaism in their places of rabbinate.&#8221;



Furthermore, the last Lubavitcher Rebbe zt&#8221;l &#8220;briefly visited the place when he came to meet his kallah and father-in-law [the Rayatz].&#8221;



The reclamation of the property began a few years ago when Rabbi Yitzhak HaCohen Kogan of Moscow’s &#8220;Bolshaya Bronaya &#8211; Chabad&#8221; shul managed to redeem the site. He subsequently &#8220;transferred a Torah scroll through his student, Rabbi Akiva Khudainatov,&#8221; who now heads the community.



Kislovodsk, known famously as Russia&#8217;s &#8220;City of the Sun,&#8221; is &#8220;blessed with mild and sunny weather most of the year.&#8221; The newly renovated shul is expected to serve as a spiritual hub not just for locals, but for visitors as well. The site is described as &#8220;a magnet for the city&#8217;s Jews and the many tourists who visit the area for its mineral waters and clean air.&#8221;



The ceremony concluded with a show of unity from across the Russian Jewish community. A congratulatory letter from the president of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Russia, Rabbi Alexander Boroda, was read by Rabbi Aharon Gurevich, the Russian Army and Prison Chaplain.



Honors were shared among distinguished guests, including the Shliach and Rabbi of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rabbi Yitzhak Gorelik; the Rabbi of Piategorsk, Rabbi Eliyahu Levin; and Rabbi Levi Shabayev of Nalchik.



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Historic Russian Shul Rededicated in Kislovodsk

Two West Virginia National Guard members were shot just blocks from the White House the day before Thanksgiving, leaving the nation on edge as conflicting reports emerged about their condition.



Police arrested 29-year-old Afghani illegal immigrant Rahmanullah Lakanwal as a suspect in the shooting. According to Fox News, he was in the country on an expired visa.



West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey initially announced that both troops had died, but later clarified that he has been receiving “conflicting reports” about their status. Fox News said that the victims were in critical condition.



“We are now receiving conflicting reports about the condition of our two Guard members and will provide additional updates,” Morrisey said on X.



The Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that one suspect was taken into custody following the shooting. The White House was placed on lockdown while authorities secured the area.



President Donald Trump, who was in Florida at the time, said in a statement that the soldiers had been “critically wounded.”



Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stressed the need for stronger security across America’s transit systems.



“On the night before Thanksgiving, two families are hurting like never before,” Duffy wrote on X Wednesday evening. “Tonight, our nation prays for the families of two patriotic West Virginia National Guardsmen who were shot while performing the duties we asked them to do — protect the people of Washington, DC.”



“This is an unspeakable tragedy &#8230; a cowardly act,” Duffy said. “I will continue to do everything in my power, as Secretary of Transportation, to hold transit authorities accountable to radically improve security and safety on our public transit systems. I promise to withhold funding if cities don’t respond adequately. Our citizens deserve safe, transportation. And our brave National Guard deserves respect not violence.”



Rep. Riley Moore, R-W. Va., confirmed the guardsmen are from West Virginia and described the situation as “absolutely heartbreaking.”



“Please join Mina and me in praying for them,” Moore wrote. “We need everyone praying right now for these heroes.”



Moore added that both soldiers remain in critical condition and said he is closely monitoring developments, promising updates as more information is confirmed.



Officials across West Virginia condemned the attack as senseless and devastating, particularly given its timing on the eve of Thanksgiving, leaving families anxiously awaiting news on the soldiers’ well-being.

National Guardsmen May Have Survived DC Shooting: Suspect is Afghani Illegal Immigrant

Marc Klein of Brooklyn has claimed a top prize in the New York Lottery’s $10,000 A Week For Life scratch-off game, lottery officials confirmed Wednesday afternoon.



Klein chose to receive his winnings as a single lump sum payment. The prize guarantees a minimum of $10,000,000 over a lifetime; after required tax withholdings, Klein received $4,372,060, according to the New York Lottery.



The chances of winning such a ticket are 1 in 7,282,016, according to lottery data.



The winning ticket was purchased at NO7 Grocery, located at 6102 18th Ave. in Brooklyn.



Lottery officials note that three top prizes remain for the $10,000 A Week For Life scratch-off. Players can verify the status of any New York Lottery scratch-off game by downloading the Game Report at nylottery.ny.gov.



During fiscal year 2024-2025, New York Lottery scratch-off games brought in $4,339,794,048 in total sales. School districts across the five boroughs received $1,427,185,199 in Lottery Aid to Education funds in the same period.



The New York Lottery remains North America’s largest and most profitable lottery, contributing $3.6 billion in fiscal year 2024-2025 to support public schools throughout New York State.



Klein shared his reaction in a Whatsapp post:



&#8220;Yes it&#8217;s true. I have about 1500 messages And like 50 missed calls. Baruch Hashem, a huge Bracha. Don&#8217;t worry I&#8217;m not changing jobs or anything in my life. Thank you all for the Mazel tovs&#8221;

Mazel Tov! Frum Brooklyn Man Wins $4.37 Million in Lottery

Two National Guard members were fatally shot Wednesday afternoon near the Farragut West Metro station in downtown Washington, D.C., approximately one mile from the White House.



The White House was briefly placed on lockdown, and President Trump has been briefed. The suspect is in custody, and the scene has since been secured by Washington, D.C. Police.



President Trump issued a statement shortly after the shooting: &#8220;The individual responsible for the attack on the two National Guardsmen, resulting in their deaths, is also severely wounded. Nevertheless, they will face severe consequences. God bless our esteemed National Guard, along with all our Military and Law Enforcement. These are truly remarkable individuals. As President of the United States, and on behalf of everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, I stand with you!&#8221;



Following the incident, White House Press Secretary stated: “The White House is fully aware and closely monitoring this heartbreaking event. The President has received a briefing.”



DHS Secretary Kristi Noem posted on X: &#8220;Please join me in praying for the two National Guardsmen who were just shot moments ago in Washington D.C.. The DHS is collaborating with local law enforcement to gather more information.&#8221;











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White House Press Secretary after the incident: “The White House is aware and actively monitoring this tragic situation. The President has been briefed.”



DHS Secretary Kristi Noem wrote on X: &#8220;Please join me in praying for the two National Guardsmen who were just shot moments ago in Washington D.C.. The DHS is working with local law enforcement to gather more information.&#8221; 



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Please join me in praying for the two National Guardsmen who were just shot moments ago in Washington D.C.<a href="https://twitter.com/DHSgov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DHSgov</a> is working with local law enforcement to gather more information.&mdash; Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sec_Noem/status/1993771280898916498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">🚨 BREAKING: MAJOR federal response underway near the White House with helicopters circling overhead after National Guard troops were shot One soldier has been airlifted to the hospital, and at least one other by ambulance. Their conditions are not known. Pray. And pray hard. <a href="https://t.co/PnOU1F06hF">pic.twitter.com/PnOU1F06hF</a>&mdash; Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) <a href="https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/1993775368424313136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">🇺🇸🚨 — BREAKING NEWS: Two National Guard members were shot near White House. White House is on locked down and President Trump has been briefed. The suspect is in custody. Victims hospitalized, conditions unknown. <a href="https://t.co/OKoBIkcqq0">pic.twitter.com/OKoBIkcqq0</a>&mdash; Belaaz News (@TheBelaaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheBelaaz/status/1993773153882132851?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Two National Guard Members Fatally Shot Near Farragut West Metro Station in Washington, D.C.

The head of a Jewish educators&#8217; group has filed a complaint with the Department of Education (DOE), demanding an investigation into a public high school teacher seen participating in a violent protest outside Park East Synagogue last week.



In the letter shared exclusively with Belaaz, Moshe Spern, head of United Jewish Teachers, reported the protesting teacher, identified by a watchdog group as as Mia Kurzer, and called for immediate disciplinary action.



Spern sent the email earlier this week to Superintendent Noah Angeles and Dyanad Sugrim, the principal of The Heritage School in East Harlem, wher Kurzer works.



He&#8217;s yet to hear back from either of them.



&#8220;As a Jewish community advocate it brings me no pleasure in reporting actions of other staff members,&#8221; Spern wrote in the email. He alleged that Kurzer &#8220;attended and participated in last week&#8217;s antisemitic protest,&#8221; noting that she was &#8220;exposed by a watchdog by name&#8221; after the event made national headlines.



The protest in question took place on November 19 outside the Park East Synagogue, where demonstrators disrupted a seminar on immigration to Israel hosted by Nefesh B&#8217;Nefesh, chanted &#8220;death to the IDF,&#8221; and slogans calling for the murder of &#8220;settlers,&#8221; as well as for &#8220;Intifada.&#8221; The riot drew widespread condemnation from Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul after videos surfaced of protesters chanting threats against Jewish worshippers.



In his letter, Spern expressed deep concern regarding the impact Kurzer’s alleged participation could have on the school climate.



&#8220;Imagine being a Jewish colleague or student of hers. Imagine being a parent and finding this out,&#8221; Spern wrote to the DOE. &#8220;This is really upsetting and disturbing. I also wonder if she has brought any of her views into the school as well. You have a whole school community that deserves safety and not fear.&#8221;



Speaking in an interview with Belaaz, Spern elaborated on these fears, arguing that a double standard exists regarding hate speech.



&#8220;If a teacher, an educator, attended any other rally that was discriminatory to any other group&#8230; there would be some type of action towards that educator,&#8221; Spern said. &#8220;How can you ever trust that person to educate children or to be a colleague? This isn&#8217;t like a political event. This was condemned by everyone across the aisle.&#8221;



While acknowledging in his letter that the incident occurred &#8220;off work time,&#8221; Spern insisted that educators &#8220;are held responsible for our choices outside of the workplace.&#8221;



He is requesting that Kurzer &#8220;be spoken with immediately and be given a formal warning,&#8221; and indicated in the email that he intends to file a complaint with the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) as well.



&#8220;Obviously, we don&#8217;t want to destroy this person&#8217;s career,&#8221; Spern added in his interview, &#8220;but at the same time&#8230; there needs to be action to ensure the safety of everyone in that building.&#8221;



The controversy comes as New York prepares for the administration of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. Spern, like many in the Jewish community, expressed concern that the incoming administration’s initial reluctance to condemn the protest &#8211; Mamdani first criticized the synagogue for hosting the event before issuing a general condemnation under pressure &#8211; will embolden antisemitic rhetoric.



&#8220;People like this are empowered to do more of this,&#8221; Spern said. &#8220;They feel that the new incoming administration will not do anything to prevent or have any action against this.&#8221;



Regarding Mamdani’s revised statement, Spern was dismissive. &#8220;Just saying words to make people feel [better]&#8230; without action means absolutely nothing,&#8221; he said, warning that under the new mayor, the city could see &#8220;words and no action.&#8221;



Spern concluded the interview with a call for legislative change, urging the city to establish buffer zones around religious institutions. &#8220;Make it a rule. Make it a law&#8230; 100 yards,&#8221; he said. &#8220;No one should ever feel unsafe walking into a synagogue, a church, or any house of worship.&#8221;



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Interview: Head of Jewish Teachers Group Demands Action After Teacher Linked to Shul Riot

The IDF said Wednesday that the body of murdered hostage Dror Or Hy&#8217;d has been brought back to Israel for burial after a full identification process.



In its announcement, the IDF stated: &#8220;Following the completion of the identification process by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, in cooperation with the Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate, IDF representatives informed the family of Dror Or that his body has been returned for burial.&#8221;



According to the IDF, &#8220;Dror Or was murdered by the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization on October 7th, 2023, and his body was abducted to the Gaza Strip from his home in Kibbutz Be’eri. His death was officially determined on May 2nd, 2024. Dror Or was 48 years old at the time of his death. He leaves behind three children. His wife, Yonat Or, was also murdered during the attack on the kibbutz. Two of his children, Alma and Noam, were also abducted and returned two years ago, as part of the hostage release agreement in November 2023.&#8221;



The IDF added that it extends its condolences to the families and continues working to return all murdered hostages for proper burial. &#8220;Hamas is required to fulfill its part of the agreement and make the necessary efforts to return all the hostages to their families and to a dignified burial.&#8221;



The Hostages Families Forum released a tribute describing Dror as a devoted husband, father, and respected member of Kibbutz Be’eri. &#8220;Dror Or, of blessed memory, was from Kibbutz Be&#8217;eri. He was a loving husband to Yonat, of blessed memory, and a devoted father to his three children &#8211; Yahli, Noam, and Alma. He worked for many years at the Be&#8217;eri dairy, which he managed in recent years.&#8221;



The Forum recounted the family’s desperate attempt to escape the October 7 attack. &#8220;On October 7th, the Or family took shelter in the safe room. When the entire house caught fire, Dror and Yonat decided to take their children out through the window, an action that saved their children&#8217;s lives. Dror and Yonat then split up and tried to escape, but were murdered by the terrorists. Their children Noam and Alma were kidnapped to Gaza and returned in the first hostage deal on November 25, 2023.&#8221;



The statement continued: &#8220;Now, exactly two years after their return and after 781 agonizing days during which his family fought day and night for him, Dror has been brought back to Israel for burial in the soil of Be&#8217;eri that he loved so dearly.&#8221;



Dror is survived by his three children, his siblings, and his parents.



The Prime Minister’s Office also issued a statement following the identification. &#8220;Following the completion of the identification process by the National Center of Forensic Medicine, in cooperation with the Israel Police and the IDF Rabbinate, IDF representatives informed the family of fallen hostage Dror Or, of blessed memory, that their loved one has been returned to Israel and that his identification has been completed.&#8221;



The PMO said the government shares in the Or family&#8217;s grief and remains determined to bring all murdered hostages home. &#8220;The Hamas terrorist organization is required to uphold its commitments to the mediators and return the fallen hostages as part of the implementation of the agreement. We will not compromise on this and will spare no effort until we return all of the fallen hostages, every last one of them. May his memory be blessed.&#8221;

Body Of Hostage Dror Or Hy’d Returned To Israel For Burial

A Paris prosecutor announced late Tuesday that authorities have taken four additional suspects into custody as part of the investigation into October’s audacious $102 million jewelry theft at the Louvre Museum.



Prosecutor Laure Beccuau said the detainees, two men and two women, all from the Paris area and aged 31 to 40, were brought in for questioning as the probe widens.



Her office did not specify what roles the four are believed to have played in the Oct. 19 robbery.



Police are permitted to hold the suspects for up to 96 hours.



French outlets reported that a 39-year-old man, already known to law enforcement, is thought to be the fourth member of the core team behind the daylight break-in. He is said to be from Aubervilliers, the same suburb linked to other suspects.



The three other individuals previously identified as part of the “commando” crew were earlier arrested and now face preliminary charges including theft by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy.



Investigators say their DNA was recovered at the scene or on items tied to the theft.



A woman arrested in October is being investigated for complicity in the crime.



The stolen treasure has not been found.



Among the missing items are a diamond-and-emerald necklace gifted by Napoleon to Empress Marie-Louise, jewels associated with Queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense, and Empress Eugénie’s pearl-and-diamond tiara.



The heist has renewed concerns about museum security at the Louvre, the most visited cultural institution in the world.



Authorities say the thieves took under eight minutes to enter and exit the building, using a freight elevator to reach a window.



Surveillance footage shows two of them breaking into the Apollo Gallery, slicing through display cases with disc cutters and grabbing the jewels, before two accomplices on scooters sped them away.



One major piece, Empress Eugénie’s emerald-set imperial crown, boasting more than 1,300 diamonds, was later discovered outside the museum.

Four More Suspects Detained In Expansive $102 Million Louvre Jewel Heist

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror organization, which participated in the Oct. 7 massacre and held hostages in Gaza, is allegedly working covertly to entrench a substantial military infrastructure on Syrian territory, according to a broadcast by Reshet Bet on Wednesday.



The outlet further claims that, simultaneous to this buildup in Syria, Hamas is fortifying its positions within Lebanon and intensifying its operational cooperation with Hezbollah, the country&#8217;s dominant terror faction.



The report asserts that Islamic Jihad has spent recent weeks invigorating its military wing&#8217;s command centers, with a specific focus on consolidating power within Palestinian Arab refugee camps situated in the Damascus periphery.



It is believed by Islamic Jihad that Syria currently offers an opportune environment for staging military hostilities against Israel, a calculation reportedly based in part on unwritten restrictions the United States has placed on Israeli aerial operations inside Syrian airspace.



Most significant is the allegation that this expansion is occurring with the full, albeit secret, authorization of Syria’s new President, Ahmed al-Sharaa. This claim stands in stark contrast to al-Sharaa’s recent public efforts to rehabilitate his terrorist image and distance himself from his past associations with Islamic terror groups; he has explicitly told international bodies he seeks stability and that discussions on normalization with Israel would be possible in the future if the IDF disengages from Syrian territory. He has also met with US President Donald Trump and expressed a desire to become an American ally.



However, the Reshet Beit report insists his regime has appointed a special envoy to maintain channels with Islamic Jihad leadership, fully cognizant of the group&#8217;s rising military potential and the severe threat it poses to Israeli targets in the north.

Report: Secret Alliance Between Al Sharaa’s Syria and Islamic Jihad

Mayor Eric Adams and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards announced Tuesday that a new “Queens Holocaust Memorial” will rise on the grounds of Queens Borough Hall, a project meant to safeguard history and push back against a surge in antisemitism.



Backed by $3 million from the city and the Queens Borough President’s office, the memorial is intended to honor the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust while recognizing the survivors who rebuilt their lives in New York.



Queens State Asssmblyman Sam Berger also attended the event.



City officials said the memorial is designed to be more than a monument, but rather a place for education, reflection, and communal strength during a tense moment for Jewish communities.



“It is not enough to say ‘never again’ — we have to live it with our actions too,” Mayor Adams said in announcing the effort. “By preserving the stories of both victims and survivors, by creating a permanent space for remembrance and reflection, by promoting understanding and solidarity across generations, this memorial will live out the meaning of ‘never again.’”



With Jews remaining the most frequently targeted community for hate crimes in New York City, Adams said the need for this initiative is urgent.



“As our city and our country confront the rising tide of antisemitism, our administration will not remain silent,” he said. “We will use our office to call out hate wherever we find it, encourage compassion wherever we need it, and create a city where everyone can live side by side in harmony.”



Richards underscored the importance of placing the memorial at a central civic location, saying its presence at Borough Hall carries symbolic weight.



“No matter how much time passes since the evils of the Holocaust, New York City’s commitment to the pledge of ‘Never Again’ must never waver,” he said. “That is why, in the face of rising tides of heinous anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial across our society, I could not be prouder to lead this effort alongside the administration and the Queens’ Jewish community in creating this critically important memorial here at Queens Borough Hall.”



“The Queens Holocaust Memorial will not only pay a touching tribute to the six million innocent Jews murdered by the Nazis and the survivors who settled in our borough afterward, but it will also serve as daily inspiration for our fight to forge a future free of anti-Semitism,” Richards said. “I thank all our city and community partners for their commitment to see this memorial through.”



New York City continues to have the world’s largest population of Holocaust survivors, many of whom arrived in Queens after World War II and became part of the borough’s social and cultural foundation.



Moshe Davis, executive director of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism, said the memorial is a necessary response to the hostility facing Jewish communities today.



“When hate crimes, vandalism, and extremist rhetoric targeting Jewish communities are happening both nationally and globally, this memorial will stand not only as a powerful testament to those lost and to those who rebuilt, but also as a rebuke to intolerance and a reminder of our imperative to confront hatred with moral clarity,” Davis said.



The initiative originated with the Queens Jewish Community Council, working alongside local leaders. The QJCC will lead additional fundraising efforts to advance the memorial’s design and construction.



According to the announcement, DCAS will manage the site designation, while the Department of Cultural Affairs’ Percent for Art program will handle the artist selection. Historians, survivors, and artists will be consulted during the design phase.



When finished, it will become Queens’ first major Holocaust memorial and will host commemorations, student learning programs, and community events.



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Mayor Adams, Boro Pres Announce Plans for Holocaust Memorial in Queens Borough Hall

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced she will not seek a fourth term, ending months of speculation and setting up a wide-open 2026 race in the nation’s capital. She confirmed her decision in a social media post and subsequently gave an interview with NBC Washington’s News4, saying that “it was time for me to pass the baton onto the next set of leaders who are going to take our city to the next level.”



Bowser said the decision was shaped largely by her family and her sense that a new chapter was overdue. “It’s probably the hardest thing I’ve had to do – to walk away from a job I love. But I know we’ve accomplished the things I’ve set out to do,” she told NBC Washington. She added that now is the moment “to do something else while I still have a lot of energy, vigor and great ideas.”



On Tuesday afternoon, Bowser released a public message reflecting on her tenure. “It has been the honor of my life to be your Mayor. Together, we have built a legacy of success of which I am intensely proud,” she wrote. “With a grateful heart, I am announcing that I will not seek a fourth term.” She urged residents to stay focused on the work ahead: “For the next 12 months, let’s run through the tape and keep winning for DC.”



Despite stepping aside, Bowser insisted that she would have won if she entered the race. “I&#8217;ve never lost an election,” she said.



Her final year in office comes after a turbulent period that included clashes with the federal government, an influx of federal law enforcement in the city, and public anxiety over ICE activity and other conflicts that rattled parts of the capital. Bowser said the balance she struck with President Donald Trump was deliberate, as Trump continued threatening to overturn the District’s Home Rule authority. She credited the additional federal law enforcement for reducing crime but acknowledged that many residents lived “in anxiety because of the fear of ICE.”



Asked whether Washingtonians should worry about Trump following through on those threats under the next mayor, Bowser told NBC Washington, “I believe that I am putting the District in the best possible place.” She emphasized that she did not notify the White House ahead of the announcement, saying, “I serve the residents of the District of Columbia. So, they’ll be the first to know.”



Bowser’s third term saw significant sports negotiations as well. She secured the deal to bring the Washington Commanders back to D.C. and redevelop the RFK Stadium site, noting that she made clear to team leadership early on that she would eventually be stepping away. She also reached an agreement to keep the Capitals and Wizards in the District after Virginia rejected owner Ted Leonsis’ plan to relocate the teams to Alexandria.



The mayor, first elected in 2014 and one of only two in D.C. history to serve three consecutive terms, guided the city through the COVID-19 pandemic, the unrest and racial riots of 2020, and later, the period when a federal judge ruled the National Guard’s deployment to the District was unlawful. Bowser called that ruling “a move in the right direction.”



Her delayed decision created space for new political names to emerge. D.C. Councilmembers Janeese Lewis George and Kenyan McDuffie have both said they are considering a run. Bowser stressed that potential candidates need not wait on her: “Nobody has to wait on me to make any decision,” she said in an earlier NBC Washington interview. “If I want, I tell voters what I’m going to do when I know what I’m going to do and I’m ready to tell voters.”



Bowser now heads into her final year with a full agenda, determined, as she told NBC Washington, to “run through the tape” and leave the city steady for the next mayor.

DC Mayor Bowser Says She Won’t Seek Fourth Term

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering a dramatic reshuffle of senior government portfolios that would see Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar appointed as Defense Minister. The move would displace current Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, who is expected to be transferred to the Ministry of Energy, Israel Hayom reported Tuesday.



According to the report, tensions escalated over the past 24 hours following a public dispute between Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir regarding dismissals in the General Staff.



While Netanyahu attempted to mediate the situation on Tuesday by inviting both Katz and Zamir to a meeting aimed at &#8220;improving relations,&#8221; the two were ultimately held in separate meetings. Sources close to the Prime Minister indicated to the news outlet that while a final decision has not been made, the timeline for replacing Katz could accelerate if the Defense Minister continues to act &#8220;independently&#8221; of Netanyahu.



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However, after the report was released, a Prime Minister&#8217;s Spokesperson appeared to deny the report, but not directly: &#8220;It&#8217;s better not to listen to briefings from people with vested interests. The Prime Minister is determined to resolve the issues and he will resolve them in the best way possible.&#8221;



Under the reported plan, Gideon Sa’ar would take the helm at the Defense Ministry; a position he had pushed for in previous years. Consequently, Eli Cohen would move from the Energy Ministry to replace Sa’ar as Foreign Minister. Katz would then be moved to the Ministry of Energy.



This specific rotation has roots in the original coalition agreements, which stipulated that Katz and Cohen would rotate roles. The agreement stated that in the government’s final year, Cohen would return to the Foreign Ministry and Katz would return to Energy.



However, the political landscape has shifted significantly since those agreements were signed. Katz had already moved from Foreign Affairs to Defense following the dismissal of Yoav Gallant, with Sa’ar taking the Foreign portfolio. Government insiders are now questioning whether the current move is a fulfillment of the rotation agreement or a political &#8220;exile&#8221; for Katz due to his friction with the Prime Minister. Sources hint that the latter is a &#8220;good possibility.&#8221;



The potential appointment of Sa’ar to the Defense Ministry marks the culmination of a long and complex political courtship between the New Hope chairman and Netanyahu. In September 2024, reports circulated that Netanyahu was preparing to fire then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and replace him with Sa’ar.



At the time, the move was viewed with skepticism due to the historically acrimonious relationship between the two men. Sa’ar, a former Likud lawmaker, had previously been a vocal critic of Netanyahu. In 2022, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid highlighted Sa&#8217;ar&#8217;s past statements, quoting him as saying his &#8220;principles do not allow me to support a leader who puts his personal good above everything.&#8221;



Furthermore, in March 2023, Sa’ar had harshly criticized Netanyahu’s initial attempt to fire Gallant, claiming the Prime Minister was pushing Israel &#8220;into the abyss.&#8221;



Despite this history, by late 2024, political dynamics had shifted. Sa’ar, having left the coalition in March 2024 after being denied a spot in the war cabinet, re-entered negotiations. While the Prime Minister&#8217;s associates reportedly harbored trust issues regarding Sa&#8217;ar at the time, and negotiations temporarily stalled over the summer of 2024, Sa’ar eventually secured the Foreign Ministry.

Report: Netanyahu Weighing Dismissing Katz as Defense Minister, Replacing Him With Sa’ar

In a blistering series of remarks delivered ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, President Donald Trump ripped into Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, calling the Democrat a &#8220;big fat slob&#8221; while asserting that his administration could eradicate crime in Chicago in a matter of weeks if given federal authority to intervene.



Trump argued that the city&#8217;s leadership is failing, citing recent violence as justification for a federal takeover of local policing duties. &#8220;We have a governor that thinks it&#8217;s wonderful that only like seven people were killed this week,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;But we are moving toward&#8230;and we&#8217;re going to if crime gets it&#8217;s horrible.&#8221;



&#8220;We could make Chicago a safe city in a period of four weeks, in a period of eight weeks, nine weeks, 10 weeks, it would be totally safe,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;And the people of Chicago want us to go there.&#8221; Trump drew parallels to his administration&#8217;s actions in other regions, claiming a track record of instant success. &#8220;We&#8217;ll do the same thing as we did in DC, the same thing as we did everywhere we&#8217;ve gone. It&#8217;s become almost instantly safe. And I want to do it in Chicago.&#8221;



Trump hurled vitriol at Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and, more aggressively, Governor Pritzker.



&#8220;It&#8217;s on the front page of every newspaper. It&#8217;s out of control,&#8221; Trump said of the crime rate. &#8220;The mayor is incompetent and the governor is a big fat slob.&#8221;



Trump suggested that the only barrier to a safer Chicago was Pritzker’s refusal to request federal help. &#8220;He ought to invite us in say, please make Chicago safe. We&#8217;re going to lose a great city if we don&#8217;t do it quickly,&#8221; Trump warned, addressing the Governor directly: &#8220;So Governor Pritzker, if you&#8217;re listening, let&#8217;s get your act together. Invite us in.&#8221;



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Speaking tongue-in-cheek, Trump said he refused to mock Pritzker’s physical appearance before making fun of his weight. He noted that speechwriters had prepared a joke about the Governor&#8217;s weight, which he claimed he would not use.



&#8220;I was going to talk about Pritzker in size, but when I talk about Pritzker, I get angry because he&#8217;s not letting us do the job. So I&#8217;m not going to tell my Pritzker joke,&#8221; Trump said.



&#8220;They have a very cute little joke. You know, some speech writer wrote some joke about his weight, but I would never want to talk about his weight. I don&#8217;t talk about people being fat. I refuse to talk about the fact that he&#8217;s a fat slob.&#8221;



&#8220;I&#8217;d like to lose a few pounds too, by the way,&#8221; Trump admitted. &#8220;And I&#8217;m not going to lose it on Thanksgiving. I can tell you that, because I&#8217;m going to have a turkey.&#8221;

Trump Slams Illinois Governor as ‘Big Fat Slob,’ Says He Could Fix Chicago Crime in Weeks

One of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s newest transition team picks for community safety is a professor known for pushing the elimination of traditional policing — a move that immediately sparked backlash across New York City, though wasn&#8217;t unexpected given Mamdani&#8217;s history of &#8220;defund the police&#8221; ideology; a notion he claimed to have abandoned on the campaign trail.



Alex Vitale, a sociology professor at Brooklyn College, was announced Monday as part of Mamdani’s incoming advisory group on community safety during the mayoral handover.



Vitale celebrated the appointment online, writing on X, “I’m excited to announce that I have been asked to join the Mamdani Transition Team to work on community safety issues. A New Era for NYC.”



Vitale is best known for his 2017 book The End of Policing, which openly argues that policing itself, not training or tactics, is a problem at its core. The book condemns “broken windows” strategies and other proactive enforcement measures, insisting they have harmed minority communities.



“The problem is not police training, police diversity, or police methods. The problem is the dramatic and unprecedented expansion and intensity of policing in the last 40 years, a fundamental shift in the role of police in society,” a description of the book says.



His position is blunt: “The problem is policing itself.”



Vitale has repeatedly denounced broken-windows policing, maintaining that NYPD strategies have unfairly singled out minority neighborhoods. Now, with his selection by Mamdani, a wave of critics — from retired officers to everyday New Yorkers — warned that his ideology could destabilize the city.



One person posted, “RIP NYC,” while others called the pick “a guaranteed disaster.” Another critic wrote, “Reading your bio, the last thing in the world I’d entrust you with is community safety.”



Vitale is expected to help shape the policy direction of Mamdani’s administration as the transition continues.

Mamdani Taps Academic Who Wrote of The ‘End of Policing’ For Community Safety Role

A Namibian politician named Adolf Hitler is on track to secure another local victory — and continues to insist his father was &#8216;probably&#8217; not familiar with &#8216;what he stood for,&#8217; when he named him, mentioning only the Nazis&#8217; goals of world domination and omitting the Holocaust. The claim has long drawn skepticism, especially given the well-known German colonial history of the region.



Adolf Hitler Uunona, 59, is expected to win a second term on Wednesday in northern Namibia, where he previously dominated his constituency with 85% of the vote in 2020.



The Swapo party member first became internationally known after his earlier win brought widespread attention to his name. At the time, he said, “My father probably didn’t understand what Adolf Hitler stood for. As a child, I saw it as a totally normal name,” he told Germany’s Bild newspaper in 2020.



Given both Namibia’s German past and modern global awareness, many observers found the explanation hard to accept, and Uunona only repudiated Hitler&#8217;s goal of world domination, not the Holocaust.



“Only as I grew up did I understand this man wanted to conquer the whole world. I have nothing to do with any of these things,” he added.



Uunona said his wife calls him Adolf, though he avoids using “Hitler” in public. Despite the notoriety, he refuses to change the name, saying, “It’s in all official documents. It’s too late for that.”



Namibia, once under German control, still carries numerous Germanic place names, and names like Adolf remain common. But the country borders South Africa — a country where open antisemitism has become an increasing concern among Jewish communities and international watchdogs.



In 2020, a car in Uunona’s home region was photographed with “Adolf Hitler” and a Nazi swastika plastered across its rear window. Uunona denied any involvement and said he had no connection to the vehicle or the stunt.



He is expected to retain his seat later this week.

Politician Named Adolf Hitler to Likely Remain in Office in Namibia

The IDF says the Red Cross is en route to a meeting point in central Gaza, where a coffin containing the body of a deceased Israeli hostage will be handed over by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.



Hamas announced the handover for 4 p.m. local time. The body was located in central Gaza.



Once received, the coffin will be transferred to IDF forces and taken to Abu Kabir for identification.



Three hostage bodies currently remain in Gaza; if this body is identified as a hostage, only two deceased hostages will be left in Gaza—one Israeli and one foreign national.

Hamas to Hand Over Body of Deceased Israeli Hostage in Central Gaza

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced that the county will deploy cameras and other surveillance tools along the New York City border following the election of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.



Blakeman, freshly re-elected in the predominantly Democratic county, told Fox News on Monday that the new measures are intended to reinforce public safety under a mayor-elect he views as a security risk. “We are doing everything necessary to make sure that Nassau County is safe,” he said, noting that the county will install license-plate readers, facial-recognition tools and video systems.



He said Nassau is also adding new officers to its force, supplementing the police already on duty and the 100 cadets in training.



“Our cops are doing a great job,” Blakeman said, adding that he will keep supplying police with the staffing, equipment and training they need.



Blakeman argued that Mamdani “talks like he&#8217;s pro-criminal, not pro-victim,” and said voters responded strongly to his own message on safety and affordability. He won by nearly 12 points in a county with more than 100,000 more Democrats than Republicans.



He said his stance on immigration enforcement and his opposition to New York’s sanctuary policies were part of that appeal, and he emphasized that he never distanced himself from his support for President Trump. “People respected me for that, even if they disagree,” he said.



Blakeman said his coalition of independents and crossover Democrats powered his victory, contrasting his agenda with Mamdani’s past attacks on police and his push to replace officers with mental-health workers.



“Right now, I see his values as anti-American,” Blakeman said. He warned that Mamdani’s policies could damage New York City’s economic standing and added that anyone leaving the city is “welcome to come to Nassau County, where it&#8217;s safe and affordable.”

Nassau County Ramps Up Security In Response To Mamdani’s Election

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday afternoon designating only specific chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), after making general statements this week about categorizing the movement as a terror group, including statements made hours before the signing.



The ban notably does not include branches in Israeli territories, Europe, or North America, and instead only focuses on Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt.



Earlier in the day, President Trump had signaled to reporters and in an interview with Just the News that he intended to designate the Muslim Brotherhood &#8220;in the strongest and most powerful terms,&#8221; leading many to anticipate a sweeping measure against the organization as a whole.



The order cites actionable intelligence regarding the groups&#8217;&nbsp; direct involvement in violence.



The White House’s rationale, outlined in the order, distinguishes these specific branches by their participation in &#8220;violence and destabilization campaigns.&#8221;



A closer look at recent intelligence supports these specific designations:



Lebanon (The Al-Fajr Forces): The order explicitly cites the &#8220;military wing of the Lebanese chapter.&#8221; This refers to the Al-Fajr Forces (Quwwat al-Fajr), which made headlines after the October 7 attacks by coordinating with Hamas and Hezbollah. Confirmed reports indicate they have fired salvos of rockets into northern Israel from the Arqoub region in southern Lebanon. Unlike the group&#8217;s political wing, which holds seats in Lebanon&#8217;s parliament, the Al-Fajr Forces have openly engaged in armed conflict, providing the Trump administration with a clear legal basis for the terror tag. Jordan: The designation of the Jordanian chapter comes after a year of escalating tensions in the Kingdom. In April 2025, Jordanian authorities arrested a cell of Muslim Brotherhood members accused of smuggling weapons and drones intended for Hamas in the West Bank. The Executive Order references this &#8220;material support,&#8221; validating long-standing accusations that elements of the Jordanian Brotherhood have moved beyond political opposition into logistical support for militancy. Egypt: While the group has been banned domestically in Egypt since 2013, the U.S. designation targets its exiled leadership&#8217;s rhetoric. The order notes a &#8220;senior leader&#8221; calling for violence against U.S. interests on October 7, 2023. This likely refers to statements made by acting leaders in the immediate aftermath of the Hamas invasion, which praised the &#8220;resistance&#8221; and urged further escalation, crossing the line from protected speech to incitement under U.S. law.



The move follows intense pressure from state-level Republican leaders. Just last week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a state-level executive order designating the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as terrorist organizations, barring them from doing business in Texas. President Trump&#8217;s federal order appears to be a response to this growing momentum, though it stops short of the domestic sweeping bans many had hoped for.



The Executive Order gives Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Treasury Department 30 days to finalize the designations, which will freeze assets and criminalize material support for these specific chapters.

Trump Designates Muslim Brotherhood Chapters as Terror Groups, Excludes Israeli Territories and North America

A federal judge on Monday dismissed criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, dealing a major blow to two of the Trump administration’s most prominent efforts to prosecute political adversaries. The ruling found that the prosecutor who brought the indictments, U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, had been unlawfully installed in her role.



U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie issued simultaneous orders throwing out both sets of charges, after reviewing the cases in tandem. Comey had been accused of lying to Congress, while James faced a mortgage-fraud indictment; both brought after Halligan replaced former U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert, who was reportedly removed for refusing to move forward with the politically charged prosecutions.



Defense attorneys for Comey and James argued that the indictments were invalid from the start, asserting that the administration bypassed federal rules governing interim U.S. attorney appointments and that only district court judges had authority to choose Siebert’s successor. Attorney General Pam Bondi appointed Halligan instead, a move the defense said violated federal statute.



Judge Currie agreed, concluding that “Halligan had no lawful authority to present the indictment” in either matter. Without a lawfully appointed prosecutor, she ruled, the government’s cases could not proceed.



Both dismissals were issued “without prejudice,” leaving open the possibility that federal officials could attempt to refile the charges, though doing so would likely require restarting the process under new prosecutors.



The decision closes, at least for now, two high-profile criminal cases that had become symbols of the Trump administration’s aggressive posture toward critics and rivals. The Justice Department has not yet indicated whether it plans to appeal or seek new indictments.

Judge Tosses Trump Cases Against Comey And Letitia James, Citing ‘Illegally’ Appointed Prosecutor

Gaza terror group Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) announced on its official Telegram channel Monday that its members recovered the body of a hostage in the central Gaza Strip, providing no name or evidence to support the claim.



If confirmed, only two deceased hostages would remain in Gaza — one Israeli and one foreign national. The Red Cross or Israeli military has yet to comment on the statement.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad Claims It Located Hostage’s Body in Central Gaza

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Monday that he will travel to China this coming April, accepting an invitation extended by Chinese President Xi Jinping during a phone call that covered a wide range of issues from agricultural trade to the status of Taiwan.



Trump broke the news of the upcoming diplomatic travel on Truth Social, calling the conversation with the Chinese leader as a &#8220;very good telephone call&#8221; that served as a follow-up to their face-to-face meeting in South Korea on October 30. &#8220;President Xi invited me to visit Beijing in April, which I accepted, and I reciprocated where he will be my guest for a State Visit in the U.S. later in the year,&#8221; Trump wrote. &#8220;We agreed that it is important that we communicate often, which I look forward to doing.&#8221;



While a White House official confirmed the call took place without offering immediate specifics, President Trump provided a detailed list of the topics discussed, including &#8220;Ukraine/Russia, Fentanyl, Soybeans and other Farm Products.&#8221;



The call signals a continued thawing of relations following months of trade friction. Since the two leaders met in Busan, South Korea, three weeks ago, tensions triggered by tariff policies appear to have de-escalated.



According to reports, the U.S. has lowered tariffs on Chinese goods by 10%, while China has halted its expanded curbs on rare earth exports and resumed the purchase of American agricultural goods.



&#8220;We have done a good, and very important, deal for our Great Farmers &#8211; and it will only get better,&#8221; Trump stated. &#8220;Our relationship with China is extremely strong! &#8230; Since then, there has been significant progress on both sides in keeping our agreements current and accurate.&#8221;



Xi echoed these sentiments during the call, according to Chinese state media. Xi noted that ties have stabilized since the South Korea meeting, telling Trump that &#8220;the facts again show that cooperation benefits both sides while confrontation hurts both.&#8221; He urged both nations to maintain this positive momentum.



Despite the progress on trade, significant geopolitical differences remain, particularly regarding Taiwan.



According to the state news agency Xinhua, Xi emphasized to Trump that Taiwan’s &#8220;return to China&#8221; is a fundamental component of the global order established after 1945.



&#8220;China and the United States once fought side by side against fascism and militarism, and should now work together to safeguard the outcomes of World War Two,&#8221; Xi reportedly said.



These comments come amidst a deepening diplomatic crisis between Beijing and Tokyo.



Tensions flared earlier this month after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that a hypothetical Chinese attack on democratically governed Taiwan could trigger a military response from Japan. Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to take control of the island.



The two leaders also touched on the ongoing war in Ukraine. Trump noted the topic was part of their discussion, while Xinhua reported that Xi reiterated China’s support for efforts conducive to peace, calling on all parties to narrow their differences.



With the meeting set, the focus turns to &#8220;the big picture,&#8221; as Trump put it. &#8220;Now we can set our sights on the big picture,&#8221; he wrote.

Trump Accepts Invitation to Visit Beijing in April Following ‘Very Good’ Call with Xi

Outgoing New York City Mayor Eric Adams paid a visit to Park East Synagogue in Manhattan, just days after antisemitic activists targeted the shul during a protest.



The demonstration had focused on an open house hosted by Nefesh B’Nefesh, which supports and organizes aliyah for North American Jews. Protesters shouted “Death to the IDF” and “intifada,” and some hurled openly antisemitic slurs.



Adams, who was in Uzbekistan when the protest unfolded, condemned the incident online. He returned to New York Sunday, making the synagogue stop his first public appearance since arriving back in the city.



“We don’t back down in the face of hate — we show up,” Adams says.



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“I visited [Park East Synagogue] to stand proudly with Rabbi [Arthur] Schneier and our Jewish community to celebrate Jewish life and reaffirm our unshakable bond with Israel after last week’s antisemitic protests,” he says.



Adams has long aligned himself with Israel and with the city’s mainstream Jewish communities. His forceful stance on the protest stands in sharp contrast to that of mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a far-left anti-Israel activist who will assume office on January 1.



Mamdani last week criticized both the protest and the synagogue, drawing sharp condemnation from Jewish organizations.



His office said he “has discouraged the language used at last night’s protest and will continue to do so,” adding that he “believes every New Yorker should be free to enter a house of worship without intimidation.”



The statement also said, “These sacred spaces should not be used to promote activities in violation of international law”

Mayor Adams Visits Park East Synagogue After Anti-Israel Protests

An investigation released by the open-source intelligence handle Inside Israel Intel (@inside_IL_intel) claims to have uncovered a sprawling network of social media accounts purporting to report from inside the Gaza Strip while actually operating from countries thousands of miles away, including Poland, Nigeria, India, and the United Kingdom.



The report, titled &#8220;X Just Exposed the Gaza Faker Network,&#8221; utilizes the social media platform’s &#8220;About this account&#8221; transparency feature to highlight geographic discrepancies among high-profile accounts that solicit donations and share real-time war updates.



According to the investigation, what began as a &#8220;trickle&#8221; of anomalies turned into a discernible pattern following X’s (formerly Twitter) release of location transparency data.



The report details numerous instances where accounts claiming to be &#8220;from the heart of Gaza&#8221; or living in tents beneath Israeli bombardment were flagged by the system as operating from safe jurisdictions in Europe, South Asia, and the Gulf.



&#8220;A child pleading for help from beneath the rubble appeared instead to be posting from Qatar,&#8221; the report states. &#8220;A weeping mother, begging viewers for milk for her infant, was actually based in India. A teenager describing Israeli strikes ‘right next to our tent’ appeared in the system as posting from Nigeria.&#8221;



The investigation suggests that while individual anomalies might be explained by the use of VPNs or diaspora relatives managing accounts, the scale and behavior of the network suggest a coordinated &#8220;decentralized influence operation.&#8221;



The report argues that these accounts function less as personal diaries of survival and more as a &#8220;content mill&#8221; designed for the &#8220;industrialization of virtual suffering.&#8221;



The investigation arrives as a surge of social media users have begun independently analyzing popular accounts claiming to be reporting from Gaza. This grassroots effort to scrutinize digital identities has gained momentum in recent days, evolving into a popular movement where users collaborate to cross-reference location data, timestamps, and content inconsistencies, none of which require any technological expertise.



Characteristics of these fraudulent accounts, as identified by Inside Israel Intel, include: Inconsistent Content: A lack of verifiable, original footage featuring the account holder’s face or immediate surroundings. instead relying on &#8220;recycled photos&#8221; and &#8220;identical captions.&#8221; Rhythmic Posting: High-frequency posting schedules that suggest a production pipeline rather than a chaotic war zone environment. Monetization: The proliferation of fundraising links &#8211; GoFundMe, PayPal, and Chuffed &#8211; accompanied by viral hooks such as &#8220;If you see this, leave a dot&#8221; or &#8220;I just want to eat.&#8221;



&#8220;The real Gaza is crowded, dangerous, chaotic,&#8221; the report notes. &#8220;Instead, these accounts repeat the same pattern: No face. No environment. No corroboration.&#8221;



The investigation published a list of specific accounts, referred to as &#8220;receipts,&#8221; contrasting their claims with their account data:



&nbsp; @moebari97 (Mahmoud Gaza): posts graphic descriptions of tent bombings &#8220;right next to us&#8221; in real-time, yet X data identifies the account as &#8220;Based in Poland.&#8221;



&nbsp; @Mahayasir248909: Explicitly claims to be &#8220;born and raised in Gaza and reside there,&#8221; but is flagged as based in Poland and connected via a U.S. app store.



&nbsp; @MahmoudAbed_sm: Solicits donations to rebuild a bombed home while claiming to be in the enclave; X places the account in the Netherlands with an Omani app store connection.



@abu_hafed1 (Ameer from Gaza): Broadcasting as a young man from &#8220;the heart of Gaza,&#8221; but identified as based in the United Kingdom.



&nbsp; @dn_osama_rabee (Osama Abu Rabee): Claims to be a press photographer or fixer in Gaza; identified as based in Saudi Arabia.



@MMaryamfam (Maryam’s Family): Purports to be a seven-year-old girl asking for rescue; transparency tools show the account is based in &#8220;West Asia&#8221; using a European app store.



&nbsp; @noor_jomaa01: A self-described Gaza mother, shown to be operating from Nigeria.



Yasmine.muhamsd: A &#8220;Gaza mother&#8221; begging for urgent help, identified as based in India.



The investigation warns that this &#8220;cultural export&#8221; of manufactured trauma is shaping headlines, congressional hearings, and campus protests.

X Transparency Tools Expose Global Network of ‘Gaza Based’ Accounts Operating from Europe, Africa, and Asia

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has been operating in the Rafah area, locating terrorists and targeting underground tunnels and infrastructure used by terror groups in Gaza. 



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According to a statement by the IDF, the Nahal and Golani Brigades, alongside the Yahalom Unit, have dismantled hundreds of meters of tunnel routes, struck over 60 targets, including 15 tunnel shafts and 40 structures, and located weapons such as firearms and explosives in the area.



In a recent operation, 11 terrorists were killed and 6 were detained after emerging from a tunnel in Rafah. The IDF stated the efforts aim to remove immediate threats to troops and residents of the western Negev.



The IDF provided photos of the ongoing operation.



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IDF Operates in Rafah to Locate Weapons and Neutralize Terrorists in Underground Tunnels

United States and Ukrainian officials announced &#8220;meaningful progress&#8221; Sunday night in President Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan following high-level negotiations in Geneva earlier in the day, despite underlying tensions and a tight deadline set by the White House.



According to a joint statement issued by the White House following the talks, delegations from both nations have drafted an &#8220;updated and refined peace framework&#8221; aimed at aligning positions on the controversial proposal.



&#8220;Final decisions under this framework will be made by the Presidents of Ukraine and the United States,&#8221; the joint statement confirmed.



The negotiations centered on President Trump’s 28-point peace plan, aspects of which were revealed last week. The proposal reportedly requires Kyiv to make significant concessions, including relinquishing additional territory in the east, permanently foregoing NATO membership, and accepting full amnesty for Russian individuals accused of war crimes.



In exchange, the plan offers Ukraine a security guarantee from the U.S. and European allies modeled on NATO’s Article 5. This provision would commit the &#8220;transatlantic community&#8221; to treat any attack on Ukraine as an attack on the alliance as a whole.



While the plan forces difficult compromises, the White House stated Sunday that Ukrainian representatives believe the revised draft &#8220;reflects their national interests.&#8221; The administration added that the Ukrainian delegation felt their primary concerns, ranging from security guarantees and sovereignty to long-term economic development, were &#8220;thoroughly addressed.&#8221;



The Geneva meeting included a high-level American delegation featuring Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, and presidential adviser Jared Kushner. They met with Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak.



Secretary Rubio described the session as &#8220;probably the most productive day we have had on this issue,&#8221; noting that negotiators had substantially narrowed the list of unresolved issues. While acknowledging that &#8220;work remains,&#8221; Rubio dismissed the strict Thanksgiving deadline set by President Trump, emphasizing that the primary goal is to finalize a deal &#8220;as soon as possible.&#8221;



However, sources close to the negotiations described to Axios a volatile atmosphere behind the scenes. American officials reportedly accused the Ukrainian side of leaking negative details of the plan to the U.S. press, leading to a tense Sunday morning session. To clear the air, Ukrainian negotiators agreed to issue positive public statements.



Later in the day, Ukraine presented a counterproposal, to which the U.S. expressed a willingness to make adjustments.



Despite the progress reported in Geneva, President Trump expressed frustration on social media on Sunday. In a post on Truth Social, he criticized Ukrainian leadership for allegedly showing &#8220;zero gratitude&#8221; for U.S. efforts.



&#8220;I inherited a war that should have never happened,&#8221; Trump wrote, reiterating his stance that the conflict is a &#8220;loser for everyone.&#8221; Conversely, President Zelensky struck a cautiously optimistic tone. In a statement, he acknowledged that &#8220;a lot is changing&#8221; and that his team is working carefully to find &#8220;doable solutions.&#8221;



&#8220;It is important that there is dialogue with the American representatives, and there are signals that President Trump&#8217;s team is hearing us,&#8221; Zelensky said.



Both sides agreed to continue close coordination as the agreements move toward final refinement. Aspects of the plan involving European allies and NATO specifics will be handled on a separate diplomatic track.

U.S. and Ukraine Report ‘Meaningful Progress’ on Peace Plan in Geneva

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum announced it will narrow its operations now that only three hostages remain in Gaza: Dror Or Hy&#8217;d, Master Sgt. Ran Gvili Hy&#8217;d, and Sudthisak Rinthalak. Families will decide whether to continue holding the weekly rallies at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square.



“The official struggle is over,” said Lior Chorev, the Forum’s strategy head, noting that a hostage deal is in place and supported by Israel and the US. Remaining funds and volunteer support will be directed to the three families, who can decide how to use them.



Since the ceasefire, 20 living hostages have returned, and 25 of the 28 deceased have been brought back. With only three still missing, recovery efforts are expected to be more complex and may take time.



Chorev emphasized that the Forum is not abandoning its mission but adapting to the current reality. “There are three hostages left, and it’s unclear how much time it will take to bring them home,” he said. Staff will stay in contact with the Or, Gvili, and Rinthalak families to provide ongoing support.



A new organization, Organization 255, is being formed to continue supporting hostages’ families long-term and complement state services, filling the gaps left by the Forum’s closure.

Hostages Forum To Wind Down As Only Three Families Remain

For over 60 years, Metformin has served as a foundational treatment for millions of people managing type 2 diabetes. While physicians have long understood that the drug manages blood sugar, the precise mechanics of how it functions have remained partially obscured. Now, a breakthrough study suggests the medication works directly on the brain, a revelation that could pave the way for entirely new treatment methods.



Researchers at the Baylor College of Medicine have identified a specific neural pathway utilized by the drug. While medical consensus previously held that Metformin operated primarily on biological processes within the gut and liver, these new findings indicate the brain plays a pivotal role. &#8220;It&#8217;s been widely accepted that metformin lowers blood glucose primarily by reducing glucose output in the liver. Other studies have found that it acts through the gut,&#8221; Makoto Fukuda, a pathophysiologist at Baylor and lead researcher on the study told Science Alert.



Fukuda noted that the team decided to pivot their focus to the central nervous system. &#8220;We looked into the brain as it is widely recognized as a key regulator of whole-body glucose metabolism. We investigated whether and how the brain contributes to the anti-diabetic effects of metformin.&#8221;



The study, published in the journal Science Advances, details how the research team focused on the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), a section of the brain previously linked to glucose metabolism.



In tests conducted on mice, the researchers observed Metformin traveling to the VMH and interacting with a protein known as Rap1. The drug essentially &#8220;turns off&#8221; this protein to combat diabetes symptoms. To confirm this mechanism, the team bred mice lacking the Rap1 protein. When these specific mice were treated with Metformin, the drug failed to impact their diabetes-like condition, whereas other medications remained effective.



This isolation of the Rap1 protein provides strong evidence that Metformin relies on a unique brain-based mechanism distinct from other treatments. Furthermore, the team identified the specific neurons involved. &#8220;We also investigated which cells in the VMH were involved in mediating metformin&#8217;s effects,&#8221; said Fukuda. &#8220;We found that SF1 neurons are activated when metformin is introduced into the brain, suggesting they&#8217;re directly involved in the drug&#8217;s action.&#8221;



This discovery offers potential for the future of diabetes management. By understanding that the drug targets specific neurons, scientists may be able to develop treatments that are far more targeted.



This new understanding may also shed light on previous studies linking Metformin to slowed brain aging and increased lifespan. While the current results were observed in animal models, human trials are the necessary next step. If the findings translate to humans, researchers believe they could find ways to boost the potency of Metformin or develop therapies that mimic this brain-centric pathway. &#8220;This discovery changes how we think about metformin,&#8221; Fukuda concluded. &#8220;It&#8217;s not just working in the liver or the gut, it&#8217;s also acting in the brain.&#8221;

Decades-Old Diabetes Drug Metformin Found to Work on Brain, Opening Door to New Therapies

Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon has vowed to launch a federal investigation into the chaotic anti-Israel demonstration that besieged Manhattan’s historic Park East Synagogue last week, reiterating her &#8220;zero tolerance&#8221; stance for violence and obstruction at American houses of worship.



The investigation follows a violent protest on Wednesday night that blocked access to the synagogue during a symposium hosted by Nefesh B’Nefesh, an organization that facilitates Jewish immigration to Israel.



On Sunday, Dhillon confirmed the Department of Justice’s involvement, stating unequivocally that the events outside the Upper East Side landmark would be scrutinized under federal civil rights law.



&#8220;Investigation is underway,&#8221; Dhillon wrote in a statement. &#8220;The Justice Dept has zero tolerance for violence/obstruction around any American house of worship.&#8221;



The announcement doubles down on a warning she issued Friday, just days after footage of the protest went viral.



&#8220;It&#8217;s a federal crime to block access to a house of worship in the US,&#8221; Dhillon stated on Friday. &#8220;Civil Rights [Division] under AG Pam Bondi will NOT tolerate it and we are gathering information about this incident!&#8221;



The protest, organized by groups including the Palestinian Assembly for Liberation and Pal-Awda, drew approximately 200 demonstrators to the synagogue on East 68th Street. Witnesses and video footage captured the crowd chanting &#8220;Death to the IDF,&#8221; &#8220;Globalize the Intifada,&#8221; and &#8220;We need to make them scared,&#8221; while banging drums and obstructing the entrance.



The event inside was an informational session for American Jews considering aliyah to Israel. However, protesters characterized the civilian gathering as &#8220;settler recruiting,&#8221; with some demonstrators shouting violent threats, such as &#8220;Resistance, you make us proud, take another settler out&#8221; at attendees attempting to enter the sanctuary.



The chaotic scene forced police to separate congregants from demonstrators with barricades, but many attendees reported being physically intimidated and blocked from entering the building—a violation that falls under the purview of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which also protects houses of worship.



The federal response comes as the NYPD faces intense scrutiny for its handling of the incident. On Saturday, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch visited the synagogue to issue a rare and direct apology to the congregation, admitting that the police department failed to secure the entrance effectively.



&#8220;That is where we fell short, and for that, I apologize to this congregation,&#8221; Tisch told a crowd of 150 congregants, receiving a standing ovation for her candor.



Tisch explained that while protests are legally permitted, the NYPD&#8217;s tactical plan failed to maintain a &#8220;frozen zone&#8221; to ensure safe passage for worshippers.



&#8220;Our plan didn’t include a frozen zone at the entrance. As a result, the space right outside your steps was chaotic,&#8221; Tisch said. &#8220;You deserved an NYPD posture that recognized the sensitivity of this location, the climate we’re living in, and the heightened fear within our community. Instead, you had turmoil. I say all of this as someone who understands what this moment feels like.&#8221;



Park East’s Rabbi Arthur Schneier expressed gratitude for the Commissioner’s visit, telling the New York Post he was &#8220;very, very touched&#8221; by her support.



While federal and police officials moved to reassure the Jewish community, Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani ignited a political firestorm with comments that appeared to&nbsp; justify the protestors&#8217; blocking Jewish immigration to Israel.



Through a spokesperson, Mamdani issued a statement that, while discouraging the specific violent slogans used, suggested the synagogue itself was at fault for hosting the event.



&#8220;He believes every New Yorker should be free to enter a house of worship without intimidation, and that these sacred spaces should not be used to promote activities in violation of international law,&#8221; the statement read.



The comment drew immediate and fierce backlash from Jewish leaders and legal experts, who accused the incoming mayor of effectively criminalizing Jewish immigration to Israel. By branding a standard aliyah informational session as a &#8220;violation of international law,&#8221; critics argue Mamdani is adopting a radical fringe position that views the entire State of Israel, not just disputed territories, as &#8220;stolen land.&#8221;



&#8220;It is not a violation of any law, international or otherwise, for Jews to gather in a synagogue or immigrate to Israel,&#8221; Mark Treyger, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York said.

‘Zero Tolerance’: DOJ Investigates Synagogue Blockade With Violent Threats

A critical server system outage has disrupted operations at John F. Kennedy International Airport Sunday, afternoon causing significant delays.



The technical failure is confirmed to have affected Terminal 4, but some on social media are claiming that the entire airport server is down. While the airport has not yet released a detailed analysis of the root cause, airlines have confirmed the outage directly to frustrated passengers.



Etihad Airways acknowledged the issue in a statement to customers. &#8220;There is system outage in JFK T4 that is affecting the entire terminal,&#8221; the airline stated. &#8220;The airport teams are working on this and will assist you as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience, feel free to reach us via DM as well. Thanks.&#8221;



Reports of the outage began circulating on X shortly before noon, with travelers posting real-time updates from stagnant check-in lines.



Publicly available airport data shows takeoffs and landings, indicating that the server issue appears limited to check-ins.



User Claudia Hernandez (@pachitaher) shared the scene from the ground, writing simply: &#8220;JFK airport system servers down. Everyone waiting in the line.&#8221;



Others questioned the source of the technical failure. Traveler Dhruv Kothari (@dhruvkothari_) posted a similar update just minutes prior, speculating on potential causes for the blackout. &#8220;JFK airport system servers down,&#8221; Kothari wrote. &#8220;AWS or Crowdstrike down again? Everyone waiting in the line.&#8221;



This is a developing story.

Server Outage Hits JFK, Leaving Passengers Stranded

The IDF says it eliminated Hezbollah’s military commander Haytham Ali Tabatabai in an airstrike in Beirut on Friday, releasing video of the strike soon after.



According to the IDF, Tabatabai was a “veteran and central operative in the terror organization,” having joined Hezbollah in the 1980s and rising through a series of senior posts, including commander of the Radwan Force and leader of the group’s operations in Syria.



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The military adds that during the current war, Tabatabai was tapped to lead Hezbollah’s operations division, where he was tasked with “consolidating the organization’s situational picture and force buildup.”



The strikes mark an escalation in the region not seen since last year&#8217;s ceasefire between Israel and the terror group, which has been rearming at a rapid rate in recent weeks.



Hezbollah terrorists responded, with official Mahmud Qomati telling reporters that “The targeting was clearly aimed at a key… figure in the resistance, and the results are unknown,” adding that the attack “crosses a new red line.”



Officials speaking to the Saudi al-Hadath outlet said the operation succeeded and that Tabatabai was eliminated, though the IDF has not yet issued a definitive confirmation.



Tabatabai, born in Beirut in 1968 to a south Lebanese mother and an Iranian father, grew up in southern Lebanon and joined the terrorists at a young age.



He has been wanted by the United States since 2016, which set a $5 million reward for information leading to him.



Tabatabai once led Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, the unit tasked with invading Israel. According to the US Department of State, he also oversaw Hezbollah’s special forces activities in Syria and Yemen.



In 2015, Israel sought to kill Tabatabai in southern Syria in a strike that instead killed Jihad Mughniyeh, the son of Imad Mughniyeh, the senior Hezbollah commander assassinated in Damascus in 2008.



He rose further within the terror group’s hierarchy in late 2024, after the IDF took out much of Hezbollah’s senior leadership.

IDF Confirms Beirut Strike Took Out Hezbollah’s Top Military Commander

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is officially saying goodbye to its furry test subjects. In a move that marks a major shift in how the government studies infectious diseases, the agency announced Saturday that it is ending its primate research program, effective immediately.



The directive, reportedly at the behest of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. As part of the administration&#8217;s &#8220;Make America Healthy Again&#8221; agenda, impacts roughly 200 rhesus macaques previously used for studies on diseases like hepatitis.



The CDC plans on replacing the primates with high-tech alternatives, aiming to invest more in &#8220;organ-on-a-chip&#8221; technology and advanced cellular models. The goal is to replace animal subjects with digital and synthetic human-like systems that are more cost-effective.



A CDC spokesperson said that the agency is committed to the &#8220;highest standards of ethical and humane care&#8221; and is aligning with new administration priorities to use non-animal methods &#8220;whenever feasible.&#8221;



While animal rights advocates are cheering the end to monkeying around, the scientific community has a mixed take.



Dr. JoAnne Flynn, a microbiology chair at the University of Pittsburgh, expressed concern that halting research mid-stream could mean valuable data is lost. &#8220;In infectious disease, things really need to be tested in a system that’s very similar to humans,&#8221; she told Scientific American.



However, other experts point out that the CDC’s program was relatively small compared to the massive primate research conducted at universities and NIH-funded centers across the U.S., meaning the broader field of research won&#8217;t grind to a complete halt.



While the research is ending by the end of the year, it remains unclear where the animals will go next; whether they will be transferred to other facilities or retired to sanctuaries.

No More Monkey Business: CDC Officially Ends Primate Research Program

Hamas escalated its warnings on Saturday, threatening to end the ceasefire after the IDF intercepted repeated attempts by terrorists to breach Gaza’s Yellow Line and responded with airstrikes. The developments, reported by both Al Arabiya and The Times of Israel, unfolded amid rising friction over what Israel says are Hamas attacks on its troops during the fragile truce.



Sources cited by Saudi state-owned Al Arabiya claimed Hamas told US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff that the ceasefire could be considered void, saying, “The agreement is over and [Hamas] is ready to fight,” and insisting that the pause must be genuinely mutual, adding, “Gaza will not become another Lebanon.”



Hamas later denied reports that it had informed Witkoff the truce was finished. Senior Hamas figure Mousa Abu Marzook told Al Jazeera Mubasher the terror organization had not declared the ceasefire ended.



American officials acknowledged to Walla that Hamas has not fully abandoned the deal but has warned it cannot tolerate more Israeli strikes. One source said Hamas declared, “It is better for us to fight and let a thousand be killed by fire under Israeli attacks than by inaction,” while also stressing that “Gaza will not be Lebanon for them.”



Meanwhile, The Times of Israel reported that the Trump administration backs Israel’s response to gunfire on its troops earlier Saturday, which led to IDF strikes that the Prime Minister’s Office said killed five senior Hamas operatives. In total, the Hamas-run Civil Defense in Gaza claimed 21 fatalities, though its figures are unverified and do not distinguish combatants from civilians.



The PMO accused Hamas of repeatedly dispatching terrorists to attack Israeli forces despite the ceasefire.



The day’s escalation began when a Palestinian terrorist crossed the Yellow Line in southern Gaza using a vehicle along the humanitarian corridor through which aid enters the Strip. The IDF said the attacker opened fire on soldiers without causing injuries. Troops from the Gaza Division’s Southern Brigade shot him dead. The IDF published footage of the incident and called it a “blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement.”



Following the attack, and under Shin Bet direction, the IDF began striking Hamas sites across the Gaza Strip.



Additional tensions mounted as Lebanese outlet Al Mayadeen reported that Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya was en route to Cairo with a delegation to coordinate with Arab states. The purpose of the trip, according to the report, was to bolster the Palestinian position, though it was unclear whether the ceasefire crisis would be addressed.



Earlier Saturday, Al Arabiya claimed an IDF strike killed Abu Abdullah Al-Hudaydi, the Operations Staff Commander of the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades. The IDF has not confirmed the report.



Alongside the five senior terrorists the PMO said were eliminated, the IDF reported killing five additional operatives in the Rafah area. Those terrorists were part of a group of 17 who emerged from a tunnel on Friday. After a 24-hour search, 11 were killed and six arrested. The detainees have been transferred to Shin Bet for interrogation.



In northern Gaza, the IDF killed two of four terrorists who approached troops after crossing the Yellow Line. The fate of the remaining two terrorists was not disclosed.



On Friday, 15 terrorists attempted to flee a tunnel within the Yellow Line; five were arrested, other were killed. There were around 200 terrorists trapped in tunnels under IDF control.

Hamas Threatens Ceasefire Collapse As IDF Responds to Gunfire on Yellow Line, Strikes Kill Senior Terror Officials

A quiet community in central Israel was horrfied Friday night, following the discovery of a heart-wrenching scene of desecration at a local shul.



As mispallelim arrived at the Mishkan Shalom Shul, a Yemenite congregation in Kadima-Zoran, near Netanya, to prepare for Kabbalas Shabbos, they were met with a sight of utter devastation.



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The inside had been vandalized, with sidurim, seforim and Sifrei Torah treated with shocking disgrace.



Video footage circulating on Motzaei Shabbos revealed the extent of the damage. The floor of the shul was strewn with torn pages from Siddurim and Chumashim. Most painfully, at least two Sifrei Torah were found lying on the ground amidst the debris.



The emotional toll on the kehilla was immediate and profound.



&#8220;There has never been a pogrom like this,&#8221; the shul administration said in a statement released to the Hebrew press. &#8220;After we saw the horrors, we closed the place.&#8221;



The community filed a formal complaint with the police immediately after Shabbos.



&#8220;We are in shock; this is a terror attack,&#8221; one member of the community told Channel 12, expressing the deep pain felt by the congregation. &#8220;I arrived at the shul and almost fainted when I saw it. We have no idea who is behind this or why they would do such a thing. There are no words to describe the destruction and damage.&#8221;



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Israel Police have confirmed that an expedited investigation has been opened to apprehend those responsible for this heinous act.



According to a police spokesperson, an initial examination of the scene found no signs of forced entry, complicating the immediate understanding of how the perpetrators gained access. However, authorities emphasized that &#8220;all directions of the investigation are being examined&#8221; and that significant resources are being dedicated to bringing the culprits to justice.



For now, the doors of Mishkan Shalom remain closed as the community begins to grapple with the violation of their shul.



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Shock and Horror: Sifrei Torah, Siddurim Desecrated, Pages Strewn on Floor in Yemenite Shul

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Friday he will not &#8220;betray&#8221; his country as he pushed back on a US plan to end the war on terms favorable to Moscow, acknowledging he risks losing Washington as an ally.



The rejection comes as US President Donald Trump set a firm deadline for Kyiv to accept the administration&#8217;s proposed 28-point peace framework. In an interview on Fox News Radio’s Brian Kilmeade Show on Friday, Trump identified the US Thanksgiving holiday, Thursday, November 27, as the target date for an agreement.



&#8220;I&#8217;ve had a lot of deadlines, but if things are working well, you tend to extend the deadlines,&#8221; Trump stated regarding the ultimatum. &#8220;But Thursday is it — we think an appropriate time.&#8221; Ukraine faces one of the most challenging moments in its history, Zelensky says in an address to the nation published on social media, adding that he would propose &#8220;alternatives&#8221; to US President Donald Trump’s 28-point plan. Kyiv and its European allies were startled by the proposal, which would effectively force Ukraine to capitulate by giving up land, cutting its army, pledging never to join NATO and holding snap elections.



Russia, meanwhile, would not only gain territory but be reintegrated into the global economy and rejoin the G8, under a draft of the plan, seen by AFP.



In Moscow, the Kremlin was bullish, threatening Zelensky to negotiate or lose even more territory. Zelensky says: &#8220;I will present arguments, I will persuade, I will propose alternatives.&#8221;



Recalling how he marshaled Kyiv’s response to the Russian invasion in February 2022, he says: &#8220;We did not betray Ukraine then, we will not do so now.&#8221;



He spoke to US Vice President JD Vance earlier today, a source in the Ukrainian president’s office says, without elaborating on the discussion.



And the Ukrainian leader plans to speak directly to Trump in the &#8220;coming days,&#8221; his office said Thursday.



He also held an emergency call with German, French and British leaders as Europe, cut out of the process, also scrambled to respond.

Zelensky Rebuffs US Peace Plan, Trump Issues Thanksgiving Deadline

Jewish organizations sharply criticized a grotesque display at Washington’s Union Station on Friday that revived the centuries-old blood libel responsible for countless attacks on Jews throughout history.



A video circulating online shows performers wearing masks of major political figures — including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump — sitting at a table draped with an Israeli flag smeared in fake blood, lifting wine glasses filled with mock blood.



The table is strewn with fake severed limbs and imitation organ meat. The actors, their hands soaked in red dye, use Israeli flags to wipe their faces. Those portraying Netanyahu and former president Joe Biden are seen tearing apart a pile of bloody faux entrails.



A large menu placed beside the setup reads “Israel’s Friendsgiving Dinner,” listing items such as “Gaza children’s limbs,” “stolen organs,” “illegally harvested skin,” and the drink option “Gaza’s spilled blood.” A heart appears next to Netanyahu’s name at the bottom.



The exhibit was staged in the capital’s central transportation hub, one of the most visible public spaces in the city.



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The American Jewish Committee condemned the scene, saying, “Blood libel was on full display today.”



“Dressed up as ‘activism’ and ‘performance art,’ this was nothing less than the revival of one of the oldest and most dangerous antisemitic tropes in history,” the group said. “Blood libel has fueled violence, persecution and massacres of Jews for centuries. Seeing it resurface in our nation’s capital is both horrifying and unacceptable.”



The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater DC issued its own rebuke, noting that “just steps away from the symbols and heart of American democracy, a scene that would have been right at home in Nazi Germany played out in the United States. Seldom have we seen such a sickening display of full-throated antisemitism.”



Pro-Palestinian activists in the area took responsibility for organizing the exhibit on social media.



The blood libel, the false claim that Jews kill non-Jews to use their blood for matzos, is among the most infamous antisemitic myths and has sparked waves of violence across Europe and beyond. It has gained renewed use in the Arab world and among anti-Israel groups.



The incident follows reports last week that a university researcher in the UK taught a blood libel during a student lecture.



<a href="https://x.com/AJCGlobal/status/1991666748689392063?t=TME2KFlbSg7-Ryh7Ljes4g&amp;s=19">Click Here</a>

Jewish Groups Denounce Shocking Blood Libel Stunt in Washington

President Donald Trump predicted a “civil” discussion ahead of his Friday Oval Office meeting with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, but the democratic socialist’s ascent continues to unsettle lawmakers and fuel concerns about the direction of America’s largest city.



Speaking on a radio interview Friday morning, Trump noted only Mamdani’s “different philosophy” without ripping into his Marxism; he also credited him for a successful campaign. The president said he hoped both men could “get along fine,” even hinting the meeting, initially closed to the press, could be opened to reporters.



Even in Congress, where Democrats continue to downplay GOP warnings, unease is spreading. Members privately acknowledge that Mamdani’s victory has exposed ideological fractures within their party with both his socialism and extreme anti Israel rhetoric, especially among moderates in New York’s suburbs.



House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, attempting to set a calmer tone, said he “hopes” Trump approaches the meeting with respect and said the mayor-elect plans to discuss affordability and public safety; the very areas where critics say Mamdani’s positions are most troubling.



Jeffries confirmed speaking with Mamdani on Thursday as part of the mayor-elect’s preparation for the Oval Office session, but Friday’s statements did little to reassure those who argue the new administration in City Hall will be defined by activism rather than governance.



Republicans, meanwhile, say Trump’s willingness to meet politely should not obscure the stakes. They argue Mamdani represents precisely the shift to the far left that the House condemned hours earlier when it passed a new resolution denouncing socialism — with moderate Democrats breaking ranks to support it.

Trump Strikes Positive Tone Ahead of Mamdani Meeting

The House on Friday approved a resolution denouncing socialism by a 285–98 margin, a major shift from a similar measure two years ago that saw far more support.



The vote came just hours before President Donald Trump’s scheduled White House meeting with incoming New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a self-described Democratic Socialist.



Eighty-six Democrats joined Republicans this time, with only 98 lawmakers voting against the measure and two voting present. No Republican opposed it.



That stands in stark contrast to the chamber’s 2023 vote on an almost identical resolution. In that earlier tally, the House passed the measure 328–86–14, but a much larger share of Democrats — 86 voting no and 14 voting present — publicly resisted the GOP-led condemnation. The caucus also fractured more openly, with more than 100 Democrats voting in favor despite objections raised by colleagues who feared the language could be used to target Social Security and Medicare.



In Friday’s debate, Democrats voiced similar complaints about the resolution’s framing, saying it “selectively lists certain despotic leaders and the harms of totalitarian regimes self-labeled as ‘socialist.’” Party leaders did not formally encourage a no vote, however, reflecting discomfort among moderates — particularly in New York — with Mamdani’s rise.



Speaker Mike Johnson and House GOP leaders used the moment to draw a sharper contrast with the incoming New York mayor, calling him a symbol of the Democratic Party’s leftward lurch. They have vowed to make Mamdani a centerpiece of their 2026 campaign messaging.



The debate briefly veered off track when Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) launched a personal attack at Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), accusing her of being a “friend” of Fidel Castro. Waters demanded the remarks be taken down, but Salazar withdrew her comments and the proceedings continued.



The earlier 2023 fight over the same issue was notably more expansive. Democrats who opposed that measure repeatedly warned that Republicans were rejecting attempts to clarify that federal programs such as Social Security and Medicare were not “socialism,” and several lawmakers — including Reps. Rashida Tlaib, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Cori Bush — openly embraced their democratic socialist labels. Others, such as Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, supported the resolution but criticized GOP leaders for ignoring what she called anti-democratic tendencies within their own ranks.



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By comparison, Friday’s vote reflected a quieter and smaller bloc of pushback against socialism, even as Democrats criticized Republicans for staging political theater on the morning of Trump’s high-profile meeting with Mamdani.



The president and the incoming mayor are set to meet later Friday at the White House, an encounter Republicans have already framed as evidence of a Democratic Party drifting toward the far left.

House Opposition to Socialism Falls Sharply in Resolution Ahead of Trump-Mamdani Meeting

President Donald Trump advanced Thursday a sweeping 28-point plan aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, a proposal that would require Kyiv to surrender additional territory, limit its military, and formally rule out NATO membership, according to a draft obtained by Axios and confirmed by multiple U.S. and Ukrainian officials.



The administration is pushing Ukraine to engage on what one official described as an “aggressive timeline,” even though the draft includes several provisions Kyiv has firmly rejected before. Still, President Volodymyr Zelensky said after receiving the document on Thursday that he is prepared to discuss it with Trump’s team.



The plan was originally drafted by Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, with input from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Witkoff also consulted Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who told Axios he is “optimistic” because Moscow feels “the Russian position is really being heard,” though President Vladimir Putin has not officially endorsed the proposal.



Following meetings with Dmitriev, Witkoff and Kushner briefed Zelensky’s national security adviser, Rustem Umerov, before U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll presented the full written plan to Zelensky on Thursday. Zelensky later emphasized that the document reflected the U.S. “vision,” not a final deal, and said Ukraine would provide its own input.



A U.S. official described the plan to Axios as a “live document” open to amendment, while insisting that Washington views it as balanced and expects Ukraine to respond seriously and quickly. Trump has personally endorsed the proposal, the full details of which had not been published until now.



Beyond territorial concessions, the draft includes a pledge of a “decisive coordinated military response” if Russia violates the agreement by invading Ukraine again, though it does not clarify what role the United States would play. The plan also outlines economic incentives: partial use of frozen Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine, staged lifting of sanctions on Moscow, long-term U.S.–Russia economic cooperation, and Russia’s return to the G8.



The framework calls for broad amnesty for all parties in the conflict, meaning Russian officials and soldiers would not face prosecution for war-related actions. It also mandates Ukrainian elections within 100 days of a deal—a timeline Zelensky previously said he would consider once a ceasefire takes hold.



Below is a summary of the 28-point plan as reflected in the current draft:



1–5: Security Architecture The plan confirms Ukraine’s sovereignty, establishes a Russia-Ukraine-Europe non-aggression pact, freezes NATO expansion, and sets up a U.S.-mediated dialogue between Russia and NATO. Ukraine would receive explicit U.S. security guarantees, a first in these negotiations.



6–10: Military Limits and Guarantees Ukraine’s armed forces would be capped at 600,000 troops. Kyiv would enshrine in its constitution that it will not join NATO, and NATO would formally bar future Ukrainian membership. European fighter jets would be based in Poland. Complex conditionality defines when U.S. guarantees apply, or are revoked.



11–14: Economic Integration and Reconstruction Ukraine would receive preferential access to European markets and a major reconstruction package featuring investments in technology, energy infrastructure, and natural resources. Sanctions relief for Russia would proceed in stages, and Moscow would gain long-term economic partnerships with the U.S. and Europe. One hundred billion dollars in frozen Russian assets would be directed toward Ukraine’s rebuilding, with Europe matching that amount.



15–20: Oversight, Arms Control, Nuclear Issues, and Social Policies A joint U.S.–Russia security group would monitor compliance. Russia must codify non-aggression toward Ukraine and Europe. Nuclear treaties would be extended, including the soon-to-expire New START framework. Ukraine remains a non-nuclear state, and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant would operate under IAEA supervision with power shared equally. Both countries must implement educational and cultural protections, ban discriminatory measures, and reject Nazi ideology.



21–23: Territorial Arrangements and Trade Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk would be recognized de facto as Russian, including by the United States. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia would be frozen along current lines of contact. Ukraine would withdraw from parts of Donetsk it still controls, with that area becoming an internationally recognized demilitarized buffer zone belonging to Russia, though Russian troops would not enter it. A commitment not to change borders by force would become binding. Moscow would guarantee Ukraine’s commercial use of the Dnieper River and allow grain shipments across the Black Sea.



24–26: Humanitarian Measures and Amnesty All prisoners, bodies, civilian detainees, and abducted children would be exchanged on an “all for all” basis. A family reunification program would begin, and all sides would receive full amnesty for wartime actions.



27–28: Implementation and Ceasefire A legally binding agreement would be enforced by a Peace Council chaired by President Trump, with sanctions applied for violations. A ceasefire would begin immediately once both sides move to agreed positions.



The draft marks the most detailed articulation yet of Trump’s proposed settlement, setting the stage for what could become the most consequential diplomatic effort of his presidency. Whether Ukraine, Russia, and Europe will accept the sweeping terms, and whether they can be implemented, remains uncertain as discussions intensify.

Trump’s 28-Point Ukraine–Russia Peace Blueprint Presses Kyiv For Major Concessions

A salvaged mezuzah from the burned home of twins Gali and Ziv Berman of Kibbutz Kfar Aza was presented to President Donald Trump on Thursday, during a White House meeting with 17 captivity survivors, freed about a month ago, who are gathering with the President in the Oval Office.



The Berman twins brought the original mezuzah from their family home in Kfar Aza’s Young Generation neighborhood, from which they were abducted on October 7th. Their neighborhood was devastated in the assault, with nearly every home reduced to rubble. When the twins returned last week to see what was left, they discovered their mezuzah had miraculously survived the flames that destroyed the rest of the house.



Gali and Ziv Berman said: &#8220;We came to thank the President of the United States for the many actions he took toward our release. At the same time, it&#8217;s important to remember that the mission is not yet complete. There are three deceased hostages still being held in Gaza. Until everyone returns, we cannot begin our rehabilitation as a society and as a nation.&#8221;



The mezuzah will be accompanied by a personal letter from the Berman family to President Trump titled: &#8220;A Gift from Kfar Aza &#8211; In Honor of the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump.&#8221;



Their message explains: &#8220;This mezuzah was lovingly removed from the door of Gali&#8217;s room in our home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, a community that endured unspeakable horrors on October 7, 2023. The mezuzah survived. Gali survived. And now, this sacred item is presented to you, for helping to save his life.



&#8220;With deep respect and heartfelt gratitude, we present you with a small yet powerful symbol of protection and faith, salvaged from the devastation of tragedy, as a gesture of honor and appreciation for your actions in bringing back the hostages. May it stand as an enduring testament to courage, to faith, and to the eternal friendship between our peoples.&#8221;

Mezuzah From Burned Kfar Aza Home Presented To President Trump

The IDF confirmed on Thursday that the Air Force eliminated Abdullah Abu Shamala, the longtime head of Hamas’s naval formation in Gaza. According to the military, Abu Shamala oversaw the unit for years, directed its operations, and played a central role in multiple maritime attacks against Israel.



The IDF said Abu Shamala was directly involved in the attempted infiltration of the Zikim outpost during Operation Protective Edge and was responsible for planning the terrorists’ naval assault carried out on October 7.



In the same series of strikes, the IDF also eliminated terrorist Fadi Abu Mustafa. Military officials said Abu Mustafa held several Israeli hostages, including Nimrod Cohen and David Kunio.



The IDF noted that the targeted strikes were part of ongoing efforts to dismantle Hamas’s operational capabilities and remove senior figures involved in attacks against Israel.

IDF Eliminates Hamas Naval Chief And Terrorist Who Held Israeli Hostages

President Trump hosted a group of the recently released hostages and their families for an Oval Office meeting that was scheduled for 2:00 PM on Thursday afternoon, but was somewhat delayed.



A source who attended the emotional meeting tells Belaaz that the president told one of the hostages: “you lost a lot of weight, you look good, stay that way. You look better than me…”



A White House source told Belaaz that the hostages were set to arrive at 1:00 PM. A reception featuring kosher food will also be served.



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During the meeting, Trump told the former captives and their families, “You’re not a hostage anymore… today you’re heroes,” according to footage released by the White House. According to a source in attendance, Trump spoke with each hostage individually.



In exclusive Belaaz footage, Trump said to the released hostages &#8211; &#8220;We took a hard stand, a dangerous stand in many ways&#8230;.we got you back&#8221;



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Trump said of survivor Matan Angrest: &#8220;Because of service in the IDF, Matan was subjected to severe beatings, even at times losing consciousness. And alone and under a special guard, he went through hell. I guess you really were. I&#8217;ve heard stories that were not good. Look at you, how good you look. It just made you tougher, right? It did, made you tougher. But Matan never broke, and today he&#8217;s a living testimony to the toughness, heart, and faith of the Jewish people. Great knowing you, you&#8217;re great inspiration to everybody, whether you&#8217;re Jewish or not.&#8221;



The Berman twins presented Trump with a mezuzah that was rescued from their destroyed Kfar Aza home.



Trump gave each hostage one of his presidential challenge coins, as seen in video shared exclusively with Belaaz.



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Belaaz has also learned that several prominent Jewish leaders were invited.



The meeting comes a day after the hostages met with a bipartisan group of lawmakers in Washington DC.



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Exclusive Footage: Trump Hosts Freed Israeli Hostages in Oval Office

Scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science have developed a novel immunotherapy approach designed to dismantle the defense mechanisms of tumors, offering new hope for patients who have developed resistance to existing cancer treatments.



The study, published recently in the journal Cell, details the creation of a new class of biological molecules called MiTEs (Myeloid‑targeted immunocytokines and natural killer/T‑cell Enhancers). This treatment targets a specific type of immune cell—macrophages expressing the TREM2 receptor—which tumors often &#8220;hijack&#8221; to suppress the body&#8217;s immune response and promote cancer growth.



&#8220;As tumors hijack macrophages to suppress immune responses and promote growth, our goal has been to re‑educate these cells rather than remove them,&#8221; Prof. Ido Amit, director of Weizmann’s Immunotherapy Research Center told Ynet.



The research team, led by Michelle von Locquenghien, Pascale Zwicky, and Ken Xie, utilized spatial transcriptomics to map gene activity within human tumors. They discovered that these immune-suppressing macrophages were frequently located in close proximity to &#8220;exhausted&#8221; killer T-cells—the immune cells responsible for destroying cancer but which had lost their ability to function.



To counter this, the newly engineered MiTEs perform a dual function: they block the suppressive macrophages and simultaneously deliver an immune-boosting cytokine known as IL-2 to re-energize the exhausted killer cells. A critical innovation in the design of MiTEs is a safety mechanism likened to a &#8220;molecular mask.&#8221; The IL-2 component remains inactive while circulating through the bloodstream to prevent toxic, widespread immune reactions. The mask is removed only when it encounters specific enzymes found exclusively within the tumor environment.



&#8220;The dual function of MiTEs enables them to attack the tumor from multiple immune angles at once,&#8221; said von Locquenghien.



In preclinical trials using mice, the treatment caused tumors to shrink and successfully remodeled the immune environment. Further testing on human renal-cell carcinoma tissue demonstrated robust immune activation. The researchers believe this approach could have broad applicability across various cancer types and may work synergistically with chemotherapy and radiation.



&#8220;With MiTEs, we may have found a way to convert the tumor’s shield into the very weapon that defeats it,&#8221; Prof. Amit concluded.



Cancer treatments often fail because tumors are excellent at tricking the human body into protecting them. Here is a breakdown of how this new treatment works using a simple analogy.



Normally, the body has cells called macrophages (the &#8220;cleanup crew&#8221;) that eat up debris and bad cells.



In cancer, the tumor tricks these macrophages into working for the enemy. These specific &#8220;traitor&#8221; macrophages (identified by a tag called TREM2) surround the tumor and act as bodyguards. They put the actual soldiers (Killer T-cells) to sleep, preventing them from attacking the cancer.

Weizmann Institute Unveils ‘Smart’ Immunotherapy to Overcome Cancer Drug Resistance

A delegation of recently released Israeli hostages and their families was hosted yesterday, November 19, at the U.S. Congress by leaders of the bipartisan Bring Them Home Caucus. 



Lawmakers expressed strong support for the former hostages and pledged to continue pressing for the return of the three remaining hostages whose bodies are still held by Hamas.



Released hostages and family members thanked Congress, the U.S. administration, and American Jewish communities for their efforts in securing their freedom and emphasized the vital U.S.-Israel alliance.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="600" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/022f53ef-962e-4a9e-8bd9-e6c65f797dc8.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-20421" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/022f53ef-962e-4a9e-8bd9-e6c65f797dc8.jpeg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/022f53ef-962e-4a9e-8bd9-e6c65f797dc8-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/022f53ef-962e-4a9e-8bd9-e6c65f797dc8-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo credit: Shmulik Almani, Israel embassy in Washington</figcaption></figure>



&#8220;Today we succeeded in bringing both sides of the House together in one room — Democrats and Republicans united,&#8221; said Dani Miran, father of released hostage Omri Miran. &#8220;This is an opportunity to thank you, the American Jewish community, and everyone who worked tirelessly to bring these wonderful children back home. In less than a month we’ll celebrate Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights — thank you so much for all the lights you kindled for us.&#8221;



&#8220;When I was kidnapped from Nir Oz and separated from my family, my eldest daughter ran after me screaming &#8216;Daddy!&#8217;. For half a year I had no idea what happened to them, until I saw my daughter Lishay on television,&#8221; released hostage Omri Miran added. &#8220;When I saw her, I knew I had something to live for. Today my little girl says &#8216;Daddy&#8217; and I’m here to answer her — and that’s because of you.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="600" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/ba208c75-0360-4d90-91c4-71c03900f686.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-20419" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/ba208c75-0360-4d90-91c4-71c03900f686.jpeg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/ba208c75-0360-4d90-91c4-71c03900f686-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/ba208c75-0360-4d90-91c4-71c03900f686-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo credit: Shmulik Almani, Israel embassy in Washington</figcaption></figure>



&#8220;For me, standing here with my new brothers is a victory. It’s because of the people in this room that I can stand here freely, wearing my tzitzit,&#8221; released hostage Bar Kupershtein said. &#8220;We owe you everything — for fighting for us.&#8221;

Newly Released Hostages  Meet Bipartisan U.S. Lawmakers in Emotional Capitol Hill Visit

In a joint operation by the Shin Bet and the Southern District Counter-Terrorism Unit, Rafael Reuveni, a 21-year-old resident of Be’er Sheva, an active-duty soldier serving at an Israeli Air Force base in the south, and a member of a Frum (Charedi) family, was arrested in October on suspicion of committing grave security offenses, including maintaining contact with Iranian intelligence operatives.



The investigation revealed that in recent weeks Reuveni was in direct contact with Iranian handlers and carried out multiple sensitive missions for them, while fully aware that he was operating under Iranian direction and that his actions could severely damage Israel’s national security.



His status as a serving IAF soldier dramatically heightens the gravity of the case and the potential risk posed by any classified information he might have been able to access or pass on.



Among the tasks Reuveni performed at the request of his Iranian operators:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Photographing and transmitting images of various sites in Be’er Sheva</li>



<li>Planting a cellphone and a pack of cigarettes in dead drops</li>



<li>Retrieving a SIM card from a dead drop</li>



<li>Locating an object resembling a pistol left in a dead drop, verifying it, and later relocating it to another site as instructed</li>
</ul>



In return, Reuveni received substantial payments through digital currency.



This case is one of more than 30 Iranian espionage incidents uncovered in recent months, underscoring Tehran’s relentless efforts to recruit Israeli citizens – including from within sensitive military roles to carry out missions aimed at harming the State of Israel and its citizens.



The Israel Police and Shin Bet reiterate their warning: any contact with foreign agents or execution of tasks on their behalf is a serious criminal offense that endangers national security.

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