Harav Dov Kook, shlita, the renowned mekubal of Tiveria, was hospitalized Wednesday morning at the Poria Medical Center after falling ill with pneumonia. His condition has since deteriorated significantly, and he is currently sedated and on a ventilator, receiving full respiratory support.



According to reports, Harav Kook felt unwell earlier in the day, and following a brief medical consultation at his home, the decision was made to transfer him to the hospital for further respiratory treatment. His condition worsened in the hours that followed, and he was subsequently placed on a ventilator.



Harav Kook, a son-in-law of Harav Yitzchak Zilberstein, shlita, is widely revered throughout Eretz Yisrael, particularly in the North, for his tzidkus and his profound influence on tens of thousands of Yidden. He is known for his spiritual guidance he has shared with the broader public over the years.



The tzibur is asked to daven for (Rav) Dov&nbsp; ben Shoshana, for a refuah shleimah b&#8217;soch she&#8217;ar cholei Yisrael.

Tefillos Requested for Harav Dov Kook, Shlita, Mekubal of Tiveria; Hospitalized, Placed on Ventilator

As Jewish families across the United States prepare to usher in Shabbos, they are doing so with an added layer of national recognition; the first time in American history that a sitting president has formally called upon the Jewish people to observe a mitzvah.



In his Jewish American Heritage Month proclamation issued May 4, President Donald Trump urged Jewish Americans to mark what he termed &#8220;Shabbat 250,&#8221; a nod to the nation&#8217;s 250th anniversary celebrations. &#8220;From sundown on May 15 to nightfall on May 16, friends, families, and communities of all backgrounds may come together in gratitude for our great Nation,&#8221; the proclamation read, describing Shabbos as &#8220;the sacred Jewish tradition of setting aside time for rest, reflection, and gratitude to the Almighty.&#8221;



The announcement has sparked a series of invitation-only events across Washington tied to the proclamation. Among the most sought-after invitations is the White House reception scheduled for the Indian Treaty Room, where Jewish members of the Trump administration are expected to attend. Another private dinner, co-hosted by the Combat Antisemitism Movement, is set to gather Jewish administration officials, congressional staffers, and policy figures. The event will feature wine provided by Psagot Winery, an Israeli vineyard located in Yehudah and Shomron.



&#8220;It’s an honor and a privilege to work for an administration that values religious freedom,&#8221; Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, long-time Trump ally and United States Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism told Belaaz. &#8220;The president is a true friend and advocate for the values of religion.&#8221;



Rabbi Moshe Margaretten, President of the Tzedek Association, who has worked extensively with the Trump Administration, told Belaaz: “Shabbos has always been the secret of Jewish survival. Through every generation and every challenge, Shabbos kept Yidden connected to Hashem, to family, and to our mesorah. At a time when America prepares to celebrate 250 years, it is especially meaningful to see Jews across the country coming together to honor the gift of Shabbos and the religious freedom this great country has given us to observe it proudly. In a world that moves so fast and pulls people in so many directions, Shabbos reminds us what truly matters; emunah, family, kedusha, and gratitude to the Ribbono Shel Olam.”



Rabbi Levi Shemtov, executive vice president of American Friends of Lubavitch, said in a statement; “I&#8217;m obviously delighted by the president&#8217;s call to observe Shabbat, because this reinforces Jewish identity with Jewish observance and tradition.”



Rabbi Josh Joseph, executive vice president of the Orthodox Union, issued a statement endorsing the call. &#8220;This weekend, following President Trump&#8217;s encouragement, we will mark Shabbat 250,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We will pause to acknowledge all the blessings that the Almighty has provided American Jews through the unique devotion to liberty embedded in this nation.&#8221; 



Chabad announced special Shabbos 250 programming, and more than 7,500 people registered on Shabbat250.org pledging to observe the day.



For many in the Torah world, the moment carried a weight that transcended politics. Rabbi Dovid Katz, Executive Director of the Israel Heritage Foundation, told Belaaz that the president&#8217;s call stirred deep emotion, drawing a striking contrast to the struggles of an earlier generation of American Jews.



&#8220;70-80 years ago, when Yidden were here in the United States and the government did not push Yidden to observe Shabbos, every erev Shabbos people had a big nisayon of should I observe the Shabbos and how will I put bread and parnosa for my children and my wife? Or should I unfortunately chas v&#8217;shalom violate Shabbos? And it was every erev Shabbos people went through this nisayon,&#8221; Rabbi Katz said. &#8220;And Baruch Hashem, b&#8217;yomeinu hayeim b&#8217;zman hazeh, today, instead of Yidden having the same nisayon, the government, the president, and his entire staff — I texted today and WhatsApped today and communicated with over 40 people that are close to the Trump administration and everybody is so excited and so happy and so pushing for this that I really think that it&#8217;s almost k&#8217;yom shekulo Shabbos.&#8221;



Rabbi Katz, who said he had written letters to President Trump and the administration in support of the initiative, drew on a teaching of the Rizhiner Rebbe zy&#8221;a to give the moment a broader spiritual frame.



&#8220;We are all entering in Moshiach days,&#8221; he said, &#8220;and the holy Rizhiner Rebbe zy&#8221;a once said that before Moshiach will come, Hashem will give a very big shefa and very good days for Klal Yisroel and Klal Yisroel will think that we&#8217;ve reached the highest happiness, the highest simcha, and the highest achievements — and Hashem will say wait, there&#8217;s much more to come, Moshiach is here and now you&#8217;ll really know what yom shekulo Shabbos means.&#8221;

As Jews Nationwide Prepare for Shabbos, Trump’s Call Sparks Wave of Enthusiasm

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Wednesday evening that he will move to dissolve the Knesset next week and bring Israel to early elections, approximately half a year before the legally mandated election date in October.



The vote on dissolution is expected to take place early next week, though the exact election date has not yet been set and will be determined following the formal proceedings.



The announcement follows a dramatic 24 hours in Israeli politics. On Tuesday, Hagaon Harav Dov Lando, shlita, the senior Rav of Degel HaTorah — the Litvishe faction of United Torah Judaism — issued a formal directive to the party’s Knesset faction instructing them to work toward dissolving the current Knesset at the earliest opportunity.



In a letter to Degel MKs, Harav Lando wrote that the faction has “no trust in the Prime Minister,” adding that “we no longer feel that we are his partners, and we are not obligated to him.” The letter stated unequivocally that elections must be held as soon as possible, and declared that the right-wing bloc, of which the chareidi parties had been a central pillar, “no longer exists.”



Degel HaTorah chairman R’ Moshe Gafni cited Harav Lando’s directive as a binding instruction governing the faction’s course of action. The chareidi community’s decision to force the government’s hand reflects months of mounting frustration over the fate of the Giyus law — legislation that would enshrine in law the longstanding arrangement exempting yeshivah students from military service.



The bill, which the chareidi parties regard as a matter of existential importance to the Torah world, was removed from the legislative agenda in March following the outbreak of hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Despite repeated assurances, coalition leaders have since failed to return it to the floor. Netanyahu’s candid acknowledgment last week that the coalition does not have sufficient votes to pass the legislation was seen by chareidi leaders as the breaking point.



Wednesday’s development appeared to catch even Netanyahu’s own coalition off guard.



Coalition lawmakers had spent much of Tuesday and Wednesday morning urging their chareidi partners not to bring down the government. Likud MK Boaz Bismuth, chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, posted a public appeal calling on the chareidi parties not to “give a gift” to the opposition and insisting that the exemption bill “is ready and can already be advanced tomorrow.” National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit also urged restraint, warning that early elections would be a mistake.



Nevertheless, with opposition parties — including Yesh Atid, the Democrats, and Yisrael Beytenu — having already submitted their own dissolution bills, and with chareidi support pushing a majority within reach, Netanyahu appears to have concluded that it is better to control the dissolution process than to let the opposition set its terms.



Coalition whip Ofir Katz subsequently submitted a coalition dissolution bill co-sponsored by all of the parties in Netanyahu’s coalition, including UTJ, Shas, New Hope, Religious Zionism, and Otzma Yehudit. Under Knesset rules, a preliminary dissolution vote cannot be held before Monday at the earliest. With both coalition and opposition supporting the move, passage is considered all but assured.

Netanyahu Announces Early Elections; Knesset Dissolution Vote Expected Next Week

Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, reportedly created two public Spotify playlists during the early months of the Gaza war that featured profanity-laced anti-Israel music, including songs containing antisemitic themes, according to an exposé published by The Free Press.



One playlist, title featured tracks such as “Amrikkka,” “Intifada,” and “Ana Bakrah Israel,” which translates to “I Hate Israel.”



Another playlist, reportedly created in January 2024, included the song “FREE PALESTINE,” featuring lyrics, with profanity used between most words, that said: “Free Palestine, Israel gon’ die [expletive]. [Expletive], it’s they land, why you out here tryna rob it. No shalom [expletive], [expletive], this Haram [expletive].”



The same playlist also reportedly contained an anti-police track which also used profanity.



According to the report, Duwaji and the mayor’s office declined to comment on the findings, which examined the first lady’s online presence and questioned her previous claims that she had remained a private citizen following her husband’s election. Duwaji had apologized for some tweets she had posted as a teenager which said Tel Aviv, purchased by early Jewish settlers, &#8220;should never have existed,&#8221; praised Palestinian terrorists and used anti-black racial slurs. However, she has not apologized for &#8220;liking&#8221; posts that celebrated the Oct. 7 massacre.



While Duwaji has not publicly confirmed ownership of the Spotify account, the report stated that the playlists were made private after The Free Press requested comment and before the article was published.



The report also noted that Duwaji previously apologized for using what she described as “harmful” language online, though she has not specifically addressed the anti-Israel material.

Anti-Israel Songs And Antisemitic Lyrics Found In Spotify Playlists Linked To NYC Mayor’s Wife

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Tuesday a major expansion of the city’s antisemitism prevention funding, proposing to increase the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes budget from roughly $3 million to $26 million annually beginning in 2027. City Hall said the proposal would form part of New York’s first comprehensive strategy to combat antisemitism, expected later this year.



Most of the new funding would go toward expanding existing anti-hate programs and grants for community organizations, including the city’s Partners Against Hate FORWARD initiative run alongside the NYC Commission on Human Rights. Officials said the final allocation details are still being finalized, but described the plan as a large-scale investment in prevention rather than only law enforcement response after incidents occur.



The announcement comes as antisemitism remains the largest category of reported hate crimes in New York City. According to NYPD data, antisemitic incidents accounted for 57% of all hate crimes reported in 2025. The Anti-Defamation League also said New York recorded the third-highest total of antisemitic incidents in its history last year despite an overall decline from 2024.



“Too often, the only response offered to a hate crime is exactly that, it’s a response,” Mamdani said while presenting the proposal. “Today we want to also do the work of preventing those hate crimes.”



The funding announcement followed renewed tensions surrounding anti-Israel demonstrations near Jewish institutions across the city, including clashes Monday night outside an event at a Shul in Brooklyn’s Midwood neighborhood. Mamdani condemned “antisemitic, anti-Muslim and racist rhetoric” following the incident while also defending the constitutional right to protest.



The ADL said Jews in New York “were targeted in more hate crimes than all other groups combined” last year and welcomed the mayor’s proposed “866% increase” in hate-crime prevention funding. The New York City Council recently also passed legislation requiring enhanced synagogue security planning and clearer NYPD response procedures around demonstrations near houses of worship.

Mamdani Unveils Major Antisemitism Funding Increase Across New York

A new Channel 13 News poll released Wednesday night suggests that even after the consolidation of the center-left camp, the opposition still falls short of being able to form a government on its own and would need the support of all Arab parties to reach a majority &#8211; a move that several potential coalition parties have ruled out.



According to the survey, the “Together” party headed by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid would emerge as the largest faction with 26 seats, while Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud would follow closely behind with 25 seats.



The poll projects 12 seats for Gadi Eisenkot’s “Yashar!” party. Otzma Yehudit and Shas each receive 10 seats, while The Democrats are projected to win 9. United Torah Judaism and Yisrael Beytenu each receive 7 seats, followed by Hadash-Ta’al and Ra’am with 5 seats apiece. The Religious Zionist Party is projected to secure 4 seats.



Blue and White, the Reservists Party and Balad all fall below the electoral threshold in the survey.



According to the bloc totals, the current coalition parties would hold 56 seats, compared to 54 seats for the opposition bloc, while the Arab parties would control the remaining 10 seats.

Poll Shows Coalition Bloc Leading Opposition Despite Bennett-Lapid Alliance

A federal judge in New York City sentenced a neo-Nazi from the country of Georgia to 15 years in prison for multiple crimes tied to a terror plot targeting Jewish children.



Prosecutors said 22-year-old Michail Chkhikvishvili was a leader of the Maniac Murder Cult, an international white supremacist organization rooted in neo-Nazi ideology.



Authorities said Chkhikvishvili, who went by the nickname “Commander Butcher,” recruited followers to carry out mass casualty terror attacks in New York City.



Investigators said he circulated a manifesto titled the “Hater’s Handbook,” which urged readers to carry out school shootings and other violent acts “for the white race.”



According to prosecutors, one of the individuals he attempted to recruit for the attacks was actually an undercover FBI agent.



Officials said that in November 2023, Chkhikvishvili devised a New Year’s Eve terror plot in New York City in which the attacker would dress as Santa Claus and hand out poisoned candy to racial minorities.



By January 2024, prosecutors said he changed the plan and instructed the undercover FBI agent to target Jewish schools and Jewish children in Brooklyn using poison.



Court filings said Chkhikvishvili provided the agent with detailed guidance on producing deadly toxins and gases, including ricin.



Chkhikvishvili was extradited to the United States from Moldova last year.

Neo-Nazi Sentenced After Plot To Poison Jewish Children In Brooklyn

Police sealed off the heavily Jewish neighborhood of Golders Green in northwest London on Thursday, but unlike the lockdown following last month’s terrorist stabbing attack that wounded two Jewish men, residents this time welcomed the security presence as crowds gathered to greet King Charles III.



The king visited the headquarters of Jewish Care, a major nonprofit health and social care organization serving the Jewish community, where he met the two victims who were stabbed only steps away from the building. The visit was intended as a show of solidarity with Britain’s increasingly targeted Jewish population.



British Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, who attended alongside Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley, told the monarch that the visit meant a great deal to the victims, 34-year-old Shloime Rand and 76-year-old Norman Shine.



Rabbi Mirvis later posted on Facebook: “Thank you, your Majesty, for coming today to Golders Green to bring comfort and encouragement to our Jewish community.”



<figure class="wp-block-video"><video height="640" style="aspect-ratio: 360 / 640;" width="360" controls src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/104954.mp4"></video></figure>



Large crowds lined the streets to welcome Charles, with many shouting, “Long live the King,” as he arrived. Some residents learned of the visit in synagogue, while others heard the news while shopping in the neighborhood, including at Kosher Kingdom.



Speaking afterward, Shine, who suffered a stab wound to the neck, described the encounter with the monarch as deeply moving.



“The most inspiring thing was that he didn’t let go of my hand,” said Shine. “I mean, it was amazing. He is the king, but I felt a genuine warmth and concern.”



Somali-born Essa Suleiman, 45, has been charged with three counts of attempted murder over the April 29 attack. Prosecutors say he first attempted to kill another man before stabbing Rand and Shine.



The Golders Green visit came one day after Charles delivered the King’s Speech at the opening of Parliament, during which he presented government plans for tougher legislation aimed at combating rising antisemitism and improving protections for Britain’s Jewish community. The visit also coincided with a letter published by Prince Harry, who remains estranged from the king, in which he condemned the country’s “deeply troubling” surge in antisemitism.



The stabbing attack marked the latest in a series of violent incidents targeting British Jews amid record antisemitism following Israel’s wars in Gaza and Iran, both triggered by the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre.



During Yom Kippur services in Manchester this past October, two men were murdered in a terror attack. In March, arsonists torched four ambulances belonging to the Jewish volunteer emergency service Hatzola. The Community Security Trust reported that 3,700 antisemitic incidents targeting Britain’s Jewish population of roughly 290,000 were recorded over the past year.



While visiting Jewish Care, Charles also met members of Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer security organization whose members responded to the stabbing scene and helped capture the attacker.



Outside the building, the king spent time speaking with local Jewish residents who had gathered hoping to see him.



“It’s a dangerous world, isn’t it?” Charles remarked while talking with members of the crowd. After one resident described the April 29 attack as “horrific,” the king replied: “I know.”



Buckingham Palace said the purpose of the visit was to “reaffirm his steadfast support” for Britain’s Jewish community following the recent attack and growing fears over antisemitism.



During the visit, Charles was presented with a challah loaf from the famed Grodz bakery, a beloved London institution for more than 100 years. He also greeted children from a nearby primary school. Behind them hung a sign decorated with London buses and featuring the bracha made on seeing a king.



<figure class="wp-block-video"><video height="1460" style="aspect-ratio: 1080 / 1460;" width="1080" controls src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/105193.mp4"></video></figure>



The royal visit also carried historical significance. Charles’s grandmother, Princess Alice of Battenberg, was honored as Righteous Among the Nations for rescuing Jews during the Holocaust.



One woman in attendance, who identified herself only as Leah, explained the meaning of the blessing displayed for the king in an interview with the Times of Israel.



“The Jewish people revere monarchy, whether they’re Jewish or not. And we are given an opportunity of making a special blessing when you see monarchy in real life, whether a king or a queen,” she said, noting that it differs from the prayer recited for the royal family in synagogue each Shabbos morning. “It’s a special blessing to thank them for the ability to live safely and for sharing the honor of their kingdom with us — and that is what we all hope to say now.”



Another resident, Yakir, said he rushed to join the crowd after hearing in shul Thursday morning that the king was coming.



“He should know what’s going on in the world and hopefully things will get better. It must stop,” Yakir said regarding antisemitism in Britain.



Susan Winegarten, 77, stood holding the wording of the royal blessing on her phone while accompanied by her granddaughter. She told The Times of Israel she had previously recited the blessing when she watched the royal procession for Princess Diana’s funeral and later when attending a Buckingham Palace garden party with her husband.



Winegarten also recalled attending the coronation procession of Queen Elizabeth II when she was just four years old. She called Charles’s visit during such a painful period for the Jewish community “lovely.”



The stabbing attack happened only a short distance from Winegarten’s home.



“It was crazy,” she said. “The roads were all blocked. I couldn’t get out, even to walk.”



Having spent nearly her entire life in Golders Green, Winegarten said she never imagined such violence could strike her neighborhood.



“It just doesn’t seem real,” she said.







<figure class="wp-block-video"><video height="1772" style="aspect-ratio: 1080 / 1772;" width="1080" controls src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/105192.mp4"></video></figure>

King Charles Visits Golders Green To Support London’s Shaken Jewish Community

Thousands of Jews entered Kever Yosef in Shechem overnight and into Wednesday morning, with hundreds remaining for what organizers described as the largest daylight Shacharis at the site since the Second Intifada.



The visit marked a major change from the limited nighttime entries that have taken place for years under heavy IDF protection. More than 50 armored buses brought Mispalelim to the compound, where Tefilos, dancing and singing continued through the night and into the morning. Volunteers distributed food and drinks, including cholent, kugel, cakes and drinks.



The entry was secured by Israeli forces. Mispalelim came from across Israel and abroad for the 41st day of the Omer, known in Kabbalistic Mesorah as “Yesod ShebeYesod,” a day associated with Yosef HaTzaddik. Natanel Shnir, from the Kever Yosef administration, called it a “historic operation,” saying, “inside people are crying and praying, and outside there is joy and dancing. It’s a mini-Meron.”



The event also became call for restoring a permanent Jewish presence at the site. The campaign is being led by Shomron Regional Council head Yossi Dagan, MK Tzvi Sukkot, Rabbi Dudu Ben Natan, whose son Shuval Ben Natan fell in battle in southern Lebanon, and other activists. They are pushing for a staged return to the site, including the return of the Od Yosef Chai yeshiva.



Finance Minister and Minister in the Defense Ministry Bezalel Smotrich said the Tefilah was part of a wider national return. “The Jewish people are returning home to every part of our land. Kever Yosef is living testimony to the unbreakable bond between the Jewish people and its land,” Smotrich said. “This Tefilah is another stage in a historic correction and in strengthening our hold on the Shomron.”



Dagan called the morning “historic” and said, “Victory in the war means a full return to the tomb of Yosef HaTzaddik.” MK Tzvi Sukkot’s son, Hallel David, named after Sukkot’s grandfather Rabbi Hillel Lieberman, celebrated his Upsherin at the site. Lieberman was murdered near Kever Yosef after the IDF withdrew from the compound in 2000.

Thousands Daven at Largest Shacharis At Kever Yosef Since Second Intifada

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing fierce backlash after publishing a social media post marking “Nakba Day,” with critics accusing him of distorting the history surrounding Israel’s founding in a message posted shortly before Shabbos began for Jewish New Yorkers.



Mamdani, who has repeatedly criticized Israel, used Friday night’s commemoration of what Palestinians refer to as the “catastrophe” tied to Israel’s establishment on May 14, 1948, to spotlight the story of city resident and self-described “Nakba survivor” Inea Bushnaq in a professionally produced video shared online.



“Today marks Nakba Day, an annual remembrance to commemorate the expulsion of more than 700,000 Palestinians between 1947 and 1949 during the creation of the State of Israel and the year that followed,” the mayor wrote on his official X account.



“Inea is a New Yorker and a Nakba survivor. She shared her story with us – one of home, tradition and memory over generations.”



In the accompanying video, Bushnaq recounts leaving Jerusalem at age nine because, she said, “the Zionists were coming into Jerusalem.”



The video also alleges that the displacement of Palestinians “continues to this day.”



The mayor’s remarks drew immediate condemnation from Jewish activists and supporters of Israel, who accused him of inflaming tensions and presenting a one-sided version of history at a time of rising antisemitic attacks.



“Mamdani is dangerous, he’s evil, he is stirring the pot of hate,” Americans Against Antisemitism founder Dov Hikind told The NY Post.



“He is corrupting history,” Hikind added.



In 1947, the United Nations voted to partition the British Mandate of Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states. Jewish leaders accepted the proposal, while five Arab nations — Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq — rejected it and went to war against the newly declared State of Israel after its independence in 1948.



Israel ultimately won the war, and Arab nations later established Nakba Day to commemorate the defeat and displacement that followed.



Mamdani’s post sparked widespread outrage online, with critics accusing him of promoting propaganda while ignoring the suffering of Jews expelled from Arab lands after Israel’s creation.



“He ignores that roughly 850,000 Jews were expelled or forced to flee Arab countries in the years that followed,” one critic wrote on X.



Another commenter argued that Nakba Day is not simply about mourning, but “is a movement that rejects Israel’s existence (and along with it millions of Jews).”



“In a city where Jews are already facing rampant harassment and violence, this kind of one-sided historical revisionism fuels hostility toward Jews,” the commenter added.



The post’s video montage also featured Palestinian-themed artwork displayed inside Inea’s home. One of the pieces shown was a vintage “Visit Palestine” poster designed in 1936 by Frank Krausz — a Holocaust survivor and Zionist Jew.



Critics pointed to the inclusion of the poster as especially ironic given the anti-Israel framing of the video, noting that Krausz himself strongly supported Zionism and Jewish statehood.



Israeli activist Hen Mazzig was among those who publicly criticized Mamdani’s post, sharing his own family’s history of persecution and expulsion from Arab countries.“My grandmother fled North Africa and Iraq after the Farhud [pogrom] of 1941. Six years before any war over Israel. Palestinians were expelled during a war Arab states launched against us. Over 850,000 Jews were driven from Arab lands. Almost none remain,” Mazzig wrote.



“Maybe the mayor of New York should stay out of it. Or speak to both. Don’t weaponize one trauma while actively erasing another. Especially when using this ‘Visit Palestine’ poster created by Frank Krausz, a Holocaust survivor and a Zionist Jew.”



As anti-Israel demonstrations continue throughout New York City, including protests outside synagogues, critics noted that Mamdani has declined to denounce many of the disruptive rallies and has instead continued voicing support for the protest movement.



“This video provokes and justifies acts of revenge and hate on Jews and Jewish Synagogues across NYC,” one commenter wrote, while another accused the mayor of “leaving out some key historical facts.”



“Ok!! I’m done being nice… You are putting Jews everywhere at risk by not providing historical context for this,” United Jewish Teachers President Moshe Spern posted on X.



“You are putting Jews in harms way!! Enough is enough!!”



Mamdani’s ties with many Jewish leaders have remained strained since his mayoral campaign last year, largely due to controversial statements and his vocal criticism of Israel.



His wife, First Lady Rama Duwaji, has also faced scrutiny over past social media activity praising Palestinian terrorists, attacking Israel, and allegedly liking posts celebrating the October 7 terrorist massacre carried out by Hamas terrorists in Israel.



Mamdani defended his wife after the controversy surfaced, while Duwaji apologized in April for the “hurt” caused by the posts, though she stopped short of directly apologizing for the anti-Israel content itself.

Mamdani Under Fire For ‘Rewriting History’ In One-Sided ‘Nakba Day’ Post

Energy Secretary Chris Wright warned Wednesday that Iran is nearing the ability to produce weapons-grade enriched uranium, describing the threat as “frighteningly close.”



Speaking before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Wright said Iran’s uranium stockpile — which President Donald Trump has vowed to seize — places the regime only weeks away from reaching the level needed for a nuclear weapon.



“They are a small number of weeks away to enrich that to weapons-grade uranium. There’s still a weaponization process that happens after that, but they’re quite close,” he told the Senate Armed Services Committee.



Special envoy Steve Witkoff previously stated publicly that Iran had accumulated enough uranium enriched to 60% purity to potentially produce 11 nuclear bombs if the material were further enriched to 90%.



Nuclear experts note that reaching 60% enrichment represents a far more difficult technical achievement than advancing from 60% to 90%, the level considered weapons-grade.



Iran is believed to currently possess roughly 1,000 pounds of uranium enriched to 60%.



During the hearing, both Wright and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) agreed that the Islamic Republic is “only weeks away” from refining the material to weapons-grade levels.



Officials also noted that Iran maintains an additional 11 tons of uranium enriched at lower levels.

Energy Secretary Warns Iran Is ‘Frighteningly Close’ To Nuclear Weapons Capability

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit announced Friday morning that Staff Sergeant Negev Dagan Hy’d, 20, from Dekel, was sadly killed during combat operations in southern Lebanon.



Dagan served as a combat soldier in the Golani Brigade’s 12th Battalion. He was killed Thursday night at approximately 10:00 p.m. when Hezbollah terrorists fired an anti-tank guided missile during fighting in the area.



Earlier in the week, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit reported that one IDF soldier sustained moderate injuries while a reservist was lightly wounded in an explosive drone attack launched by Hezbollah near the Lebanese border.



Both injured soldiers were transported to a hospital for treatment, and their families were informed of the incident.

Golani Soldier Negev Dagan Hy’d Killed By Hezbollah Missile Attack In Southern Lebanon

Israel held its annual state memorial ceremony Thursday morning for Ethiopian Jews who died on their journey to Israel, with thousands gathering at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem before Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day) to honor members of the Beta Israel community who unfortunately never made it. The ceremony commemorated more than 4,000 Ethiopian Jews who perished during the dangerous journey through Sudan in the 1980s on their way to Israel.



Beginning in the late 1970s and accelerating through the 1980s, thousands of Ethiopian Jews left their villages following calls from Israel and Mossad emissaries operating in the region. Entire families crossed harsh desert routes through Sudan hoping to reach Jerusalem. Many died from hunger, disease, violence and brutal conditions along the way, while relatives were often forced to bury loved ones in unmarked graves or leave them behind without documentation.



The memorial is held each year on the 28th of Iyar, Yom Yerushalayim, symbolizing the longing of Ethiopian Jewry to reach Yerushalayim after generations in exile. The date was officially established by the Knesset as the national memorial day for Ethiopian Jews who died en route to Israel.



Speaking at the ceremony, President&nbsp;Isaac Herzog&nbsp;described the aliyah of Ethiopian Jewry as one of the defining moments in Israel’s history. “There are moments in the history of the state that enter deeply into the heart. The aliyah of Ethiopian Jewry was one such moment,” Herzog said. He added: “Thank you for coming, thank you for not giving up, thank you for being here.”



Prime Minister&nbsp;Benjamin Netanyahu&nbsp;connected the memorial directly to Jerusalem Day, telling members of the community: “My brothers and sisters of Ethiopian descent, who more than you knows that our presence in Jerusalem is not self-evident. You dreamed, you merited, you saw Jerusalem.” Immigration and Absorption Minister&nbsp;Ofir Sofer&nbsp;also announced plans to establish a heritage center at Mount Herzl dedicated to preserving the story of the Beta Israel community for future generations.

“You Dreamed, You Reached Jerusalem”: Israel Honors Ethiopian Jews Lost On Journey

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar instructed officials to begin preparing a defamation lawsuit against&nbsp;The New York Times&nbsp;following a column by Nicholas Kristof that sparked furious condemnation from Israel.



The move came after Kristof published a column accusing Israel of widespread abuse of Palestinian detainees using trained dogs. Israeli officials accused the paper of promoting a false and deeply damaging narrative against the IDF, while stressing that legal action has been initiated but not yet formally filed.



Netanyahu accused the newspaper and Kristof of smearing Israeli soldiers and drawing a moral equivalence between Israel and Hamas terrorists. “They defamed the soldiers of Israel and perpetuated a blood libel, trying to create a false symmetry between the genocidal terrorists of Hamas and Israel’s valiant soldiers,” he said.



“We will fight these lies in the court of public opinion and in the court of law. Truth will prevail,” Netanyahu added. The Foreign Ministry had already denounced the column as one of the most severe modern media smears against Israel, calling it one of the worst blood libels to appear in the press.



The New York Times&nbsp;defended the column, saying Kristof’s reporting was extensively fact-checked and based on accounts corroborated where possible with witnesses, relatives and lawyers. The Israeli response comes amid growing anger in Jerusalem over international coverage that officials say distorts the war, vilifies IDF soldiers and blurs the line between Israel’s military and Hamas terrorists.

Netanyahu Moves To Sue NYT Over Kristof ‘Blood Libel’ Column

Sweden has become the first European country to formally challenge the use of the term “Islamophobia,” arguing that it obstructs open and honest discussion about Islamist influence across Europe. Officials say other countries should consider taking a similar approach.



The Swedish government has now confirmed it is moving away from the term “Islamophobia,” with officials claiming it has increasingly been used to suppress criticism of Islamist ideology rather than to address legitimate hostility toward Muslims.



Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said the government prefers alternative terms such as “anti-Muslim racism” or “anti-Muslim hatred,” pointing to concerns about protecting free expression and encouraging open public debate.



The decision comes after years of European debate over immigration, integration, and the influence of Islamist movements. Critics of the term argue it can blur the line between legitimate scrutiny of Islamist ideology and prejudice against Muslims as individuals.



A 2025 report by the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy, titled “The Muslim Brotherhood&#8217;s Strategic Entryism Into the United States: A Systemic Analysis,” stated that the term has been “weaponized” by Islamist organizations to shield their political activities from scrutiny.



“On the one hand, there are people who suffer genuine anti-Muslim hatred, bigotry, and discrimination based on their faith or perceived identity,&#8221; the report stated. “This must always be challenged and addressed, as it undermines pluralism and social cohesion.&#8221;



“At the same time,&#8221; the report continued, “Islamist organizations have deliberately weaponized the term Islamophobia to shut down scrutiny of their ideology and political activities.&#8221;



Tensions over the issue escalated following a May 2025 report by the French Interior Ministry, titled “Muslim Brotherhood and Political Islamism in France,” which described what it said was an active Muslim Brotherhood presence in Sweden.



According to the French findings, the Swedish branch—while relatively small—plays a notable role in the group’s broader European network. The report linked this influence to funding from Qatar, Sweden’s multicultural policies, and connections with political actors, including the Social Democratic Party.



That report led Swedish authorities to open an investigation in October 2025 into possible Islamist infiltration within Swedish society.



Education and Integration Minister Simona Mohamsson told the Swedish newspaper Expressen that “political Islam has gained a foothold” in the country.



“We see that political Islam has gained a foothold and is being allowed to take over neighborhoods, schools, welfare, and even risks taking over political parties,&#8221; Mohamsson said. “Islamism does not want constitutions but Sharia law. It does not want integration but segregation.&#8221;



The Swedish government has also signaled plans to encourage both the European Union and the United Nations to reconsider the continued use of the term “Islamophobia.”



Internationally, the concept has already become deeply embedded in institutional frameworks. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation operates an “Islamophobia Observatory,” while the United Nations General Assembly has designated March 15 as the annual “International Day to Combat Islamophobia.”



Supporters of Sweden’s position argue that distinguishing between anti-Muslim hatred and criticism of Islamist ideology is essential to safeguarding free speech and enabling honest discussion about immigration and integration challenges in Europe.



The issue remains particularly sensitive in Sweden, which has taken in one of the highest numbers of Muslim migrants per capita in Europe over the past two decades. The country has since faced growing concerns over gang violence, bombings, segregation, and the rise of parallel communities in major cities.



Political parties such as the Sweden Democrats have long been accused by critics of racism or Islamophobia when raising concerns about immigration and integration policies.



Observers say Sweden’s move represents a significant shift in European discourse and could influence wider debates across the continent over immigration, Islamism, and freedom of expression.

Sweden Moves To Drop ‘Islamophobia’ Label In Major Free Speech Shift

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly traveled to the United Arab Emirates during the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, according to an announcement from the Prime Minister’s Office.



During the visit, Netanyahu met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the PMO said.



“This visit led to a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates,” says the PMO.



Earlier in the week, senior U.S. officials confirmed that Israel deployed an Iron Dome battery along with Israeli soldiers to operate it in the UAE during the conflict with Iran.



The Wall Street Journal also reported that Mossad chief David Barnea visited the UAE at least twice throughout the war to coordinate efforts related to the conflict, citing Arab officials and a source familiar with the matter.



According to the report, Israel and the UAE additionally coordinated a strike on a major Iranian petrochemical facility.



Israel and the UAE formally normalized relations in 2020 under the Abraham Accords. Netanyahu was also reported to have made a secret trip to the UAE in 2018 for a meeting with bin Zayed.

Netanyahu Secretly Visited UAE During Iran War, PMO Reveals

The U.S. Justice Department announced Friday that it will pursue the death penalty against the man charged with murdering two Israeli Embassy employees outside a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C.



Elias Rodriguez has been charged with federal hate crimes and murder in the shooting deaths of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, who were leaving an event at the museum in May. According to the indictment, Rodriguez yelled “Free Palestine” during the attack and later told police, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza.”



Among the charges filed against Rodriguez is a hate crime resulting in death. Prosecutors also included special findings in the indictment, clearing the way for the government to seek capital punishment.



“My message to anyone who seeks to commit political violence in this district &#8212; D.C. is not the place. You will be held accountable and you will face the full wrath of the law,” Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, said Friday during an unrelated press conference where she disclosed the Justice Department’s decision.



Federal prosecutors must prove Rodriguez acted out of antisemitic motives when he allegedly opened fire on Lischinsky and Milgrim, a young couple who were reportedly preparing to become engaged. Milgrim was an American citizen, while Lischinsky was an Israeli citizen employed in the United States.



Authorities say the murders were deliberate and carefully organized. Prosecutors stated that Rodriguez traveled from Chicago to the Washington area before the May 21 gathering at the Capital Jewish Museum, bringing a handgun in his checked luggage.



Witnesses told investigators that Rodriguez was seen pacing outside the venue before approaching a group of four individuals and opening fire. Surveillance footage allegedly captured him moving closer to Lischinsky and Milgrim after they collapsed, leaning over them and firing additional rounds. Officials also said he appeared to reload his weapon before fleeing the scene.



Court documents state that after the shooting, Rodriguez entered the museum and declared, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I am unarmed.” Investigators also said he told detectives he admired an active-duty Air Force member who set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in February 2024, calling the man “courageous” and a “martyr.”

Death Penalty Sought For Israeli Embassy Murder Suspect Elias Rodriguez

<figure class="wp-block-video"><video height="798" style="aspect-ratio: 1152 / 798;" width="1152" controls src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Untitled-design-2026-05-12T155408.531.mp4"></video></figure>



U.S. President Donald Trump is en route Tuesday to China, where he will make the first state visit by a U.S. President since his last visit nine years ago.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="512" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/P20251029DT-2198.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-26889" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/P20251029DT-2198.webp 768w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/P20251029DT-2198-300x200.webp 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure>



The trip was originally scheduled for late March but was delayed due to the escalating war with Iran.

President Trump Lands in China – First State Visit by a U.S. Leader Since 2017, Delayed by Iran War

The Department of Justice has alleged that Yale School of Medicine engages in discriminatory admissions practices, claiming the institution gives preference to Black and Hispanic applicants over white and Asian candidates with comparable academic credentials.



The findings were issued following a yearlong federal investigation that examined Yale’s internal admissions data and policies to assess compliance with the 2023 Supreme Court ruling that barred race-based consideration in admissions decisions.



“Yale has continued its race-based admissions program despite the Supreme Court and the public’s clear mandate for reform,” Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general for civil rights, said in a statement. “This Department will continue to shed light on these illegal practices, and demand that institutions of higher education comply with federal law.”



Yale representatives did not immediately provide a response when contacted for comment.



According to the Justice Department, documents obtained from Yale indicate that university leadership deliberately factors race into admissions decisions and has explored the use of race-based proxies in an effort to work around the Supreme Court’s ruling.



In a six-page letter, Dhillon stated that Yale employs “holistic metrics” in its admissions process, which include consideration of “race” and “national origin.”



“Yale uses its holistic-review procedure to uncover and then use applicants’ race through direct and indirect means. It then conducts interviews that enable the committee to know applicants’ race and ethnicity,” Dhillon wrote. “Race preferences elevate Black and Hispanic applicants in the admissions process.”



The DOJ further reported that it analyzed academic data such as grade-point averages and standardized test scores across different racial groups. It concluded that Yale’s “use of race resulted in a Black applicant being as much as 29 times higher odds of getting an interview for admission than an equally strong Asian applicant with similar academic credentials.”



“This consistent difference in the test scores between students of different racial groups is substantial and cannot be explained by a coincidence,” the DOJ said.



The release of Yale’s investigation findings follows similar conclusions earlier this month from a separate DOJ review of the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.



The actions are part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to reshape college admissions policies, particularly at elite medical schools, which officials argue place excessive emphasis on diversity initiatives.



In March, the Justice Department also opened investigations into admissions practices at the medical schools of Stanford University, the University of California, San Diego, and Ohio State University.

DOJ Accuses Yale Medical School of Race-Based Admissions Practices

U.S. Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks announced Thursday that he is stepping down from his post as the Department of Homeland Security continues undergoing major leadership changes following the departure of former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.



“It’s just time,” Banks told Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin. “I feel like I got the ship back on course. From the least secure, disastrous, chaotic border to the most secure border this country has ever seen. Time to pass the reins, 37 years is time to enjoy the family and life.”



Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott praised Banks in a statement honoring his decades of service.



“We thank U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks for his decades of service to this country and congratulate him on his second retirement after returning to serve during one of the most challenging periods for border security,” Scott said.



“During his time as Chief, the border was transformed from chaos to the most secure border ever recorded. We wish him and his family well,” he added.



Before joining the Trump administration, Banks served as border czar under Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. He also previously spent years working within the U.S. Border Patrol.



Banks’ resignation comes shortly after Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting director Todd Lyons announced plans to leave the agency at the end of May.



Dave Venturella, a veteran ICE official who most recently worked as an executive at a private prison company, is set to take over the role.



Noem and senior adviser Corey Lewandowski both departed DHS in March after scrutiny intensified over hundreds of millions of dollars in federal contracts approved during her tenure that are now under investigation by a watchdog agency.



Also departing in March was Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, whose leadership during operations in Minneapolis drew significant criticism.



Two American citizens were killed in Minneapolis in January during immigration enforcement activity, including one person who was shot by a Customs and Border Protection agent.



In response to the unrest, President Trump dispatched border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota to calm tensions and halt Operation Metro Surge, which had deployed more than 3,000 ICE and CBP personnel throughout Minneapolis.



Following Noem’s departure, Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma was selected to lead DHS and was later confirmed by the Senate.



According to DHS estimates, more than 2 million migrants voluntarily left the United States during the first year of President Trump’s second term, while another 675,000 migrants were deported by federal authorities.

Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks Resigns Amid Major DHS Shakeup

The IDF announced that a Hamas terrorist involved in the October 7, 2023 massacre at the Nahal Oz military base was killed in an airstrike in Gaza last week, together with the son of a senior Hamas negotiator.



According to the military, the strike carried out last Wednesday targeted Hamza Sharbasi, a commander in Hamas’s Shejaiya Battalion, who the IDF said posed a threat to Israeli forces operating in Gaza. The strike also killed Azzam al-Hayya, the 23-year-old son of senior Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, though the military said he was not the intended target.



The IDF said Azzam al-Hayya belonged to Hamas’s elite Nukhba Force and “who recently held a central role in the organization.”



According to the military, Sharbasi participated in the October 7 assault on the Nahal Oz base, where dozens of soldiers were murdered and kidnapped by Hamas terrorists.



“Recently, Sharbasi operated near the yellow line and, in the framework of his role, worked to advance terror plots against IDF troops operating in the area,” the military says.

IDF Eliminates Son of Senior Hamas Negotiator and Terrorist Who Participated In Nahal Oz Massacre

Today, Thursday afternoon, undercover Israeli Border Police officers from the Jerusalem unit, acting on precise Shin Bet intelligence, arrested a suspect in Jerusalem’s Abu Tor neighborhood who is accused of planning a terrorist attack during Jerusalem Day celebrations, Police said in a statement moments ago. 



<figure class="wp-block-video"><video height="576" style="aspect-ratio: 1024 / 576;" width="1024" controls src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/sssx.io_1778773555585.mp4"></video></figure>



The suspect was located and detained while at a car wash facility. No injuries were reported and the suspect has been transferred for further Shin Bet interrogation.



Jerusalem Day (Yom Yerushalayim) marks the reunification of Jerusalem under Israeli control after the 1967 Six-Day War, and is celebrated annually on 28 Iyar (this year: May 14–15).

WATCH: Israeli Security Forces Foil Jerusalem Day Terror Plot; Suspect Detained at Car Wash

The New School has come under renewed criticism after retaining a faculty member accused of helping lead disruptive anti-Israel campus protests, despite the university publicly insisting it is committed to protecting Jewish students.



Corinna Mullin, a political science professor whose work focuses on anticolonialism and criticism of Western institutions, was identified as one of the organizers behind the April 2024 anti-Israel encampment at City College of New York in Harlem.



According to school officials, Mullin was arrested in connection with the protest, which culminated in a fire inside the science building that caused roughly $3 million in damage.



Mullin later became part of a group dubbed the “fired four” — adjunct professors at CUNY who claimed they were dismissed during the summer of 2025 because of their pro-Palestinian activism ahead of a congressional hearing by the Trump administration examining antisemitism on college campuses.



Higher Ed Labor United announced that Mullin and two other professors were reinstated in January, although it remains unclear whether she taught at CUNY during the spring semester, as her name did not appear on faculty listings.



The controversy comes as CUNY recently became the first university in the country whose student senate voted to sanction its Hillel chapter, though university officials later stated the senate lacked authority to take such action.



Mullin previously taught a Fall 2025 course titled “Middle East in the World” and is currently scheduled to teach “Decolonizing International Law” this coming September.



The NY Post reported that Mullin has referred to Arab governments normalizing relations with Israel as committing “high treason.”



The paper also reported that she worked with the Samidoun network, which the State Department has described as a front organization for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine terrorist organization.



Mullin did not respond to requests for comment, according to the NY Post.



Meanwhile, New School administrators continued defending the campus climate, insisting all students remain “welcome, valued and respected,” while also condemning the student senate’s anti-Hillel vote as unacceptable.



“We are looking carefully at how this situation unfolded, what further actions the university needs to take,” a university spokesperson told the NY Post.



The student senate voted on May 1 to revoke funding for Hillel, arguing that the Jewish student organization’s involvement in Israel trips connected it to “grave violations of international law.”



Hillel rejected the accusation, saying the organization itself is apolitical and emphasizing that the Israel trips in question were financed through private donations rather than student activity fees.



“The idea that student money is somehow funding foreign military operations is simply incorrect,” graduating MFA student and Hillel member Michael Valdes told the NY Post.



“People are entitled to their opinion about Israel, the war and international politics. But political disagreement cannot become the justification for excluding a student club from campus life.”



Only a small portion of Hillel’s funding reportedly comes from student senate allocations, and the organization has not canceled any programming following the vote.



“We will continue to be at this campus,” Valdes said Friday during remarks to the student senate.

Anti-Israel Protest Leader Kept On Staff At NYC’s New School Despite Arrest

The Jewish community was the primary target of hate crimes in Toronto during 2025, according to a report published by the Toronto Police Services Board.



The annual hate crime statistics report found that Jews, who comprise less than 3 percent of Toronto’s population, were victims in 82% of all religiously motivated hate crimes and accounted for 35% of all reported hate incidents across the city.



Toronto police documented 81 anti-Jewish hate crime incidents during the year. Officials also stated that a Jewish resident was 14 times more likely to experience a hate-related incident than other residents of Toronto.



The findings come amid what Jewish organizations describe as a dramatic increase in antisemitic attacks throughout Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. Since February, synagogues have reportedly been hit by gunfire, Jewish-owned businesses have been vandalized and shot at, and visibly Jewish individuals have been assaulted in public.



Police additionally reported a 24% rise in hate crimes compared to the same period the previous year.



Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs Vice President Michelle Stock described the statistics as “deeply alarming.”



“Jewish Canadians are being targeted simply for who they are,” Stock says, calling on government officials, law enforcement, and civic leaders to work together to combat antisemitism, extremism, and hate-driven violence.

Jews Targeted In Vast Majority Of Toronto Religious Hate Crimes, New Report Finds

The IDF has successfully completed the &#8220;Sulfur and Fire&#8221; General Staff Exercise, which simulated a surprise attack and infiltrations from the eastern border. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="600" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/WhatsApp-Image-2026-05-15-at-11.08.38-AM.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-26977" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/WhatsApp-Image-2026-05-15-at-11.08.38-AM.jpeg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/WhatsApp-Image-2026-05-15-at-11.08.38-AM-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/WhatsApp-Image-2026-05-15-at-11.08.38-AM-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



The exercise, held today (Friday), tested the readiness of the 96th and 80th Divisions. It included scenarios such as infiltrations into communities, responses to drone threats, and complex incidents near the Dead Sea. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="600" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/whatsapp_image_2026-05-15_at_121245_-1.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-26971" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/whatsapp_image_2026-05-15_at_121245_-1.webp 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/whatsapp_image_2026-05-15_at_121245_-1-300x200.webp 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/whatsapp_image_2026-05-15_at_121245_-1-768x512.webp 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



Forces also practiced rapid aerial strikes by fighter jets and combat helicopters, aerial deployment of special forces into civilian areas, and handling a simulated terrorist infiltration at a hotel. 



According to the IDF, the high readiness of troops on the eastern border, along with new defense directives and reinforced frameworks introduced after October 7 — significantly contributed to the successful response in the simulated scenarios.



The IDF says it will now conduct a detailed review to identify lessons learned, gaps, and achievements in order to further improve its preparedness



<figure class="wp-block-video"><video height="1080" style="aspect-ratio: 1920 / 1080;" width="1920" controls src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Untitled-design-2026-05-15T121612.376.mp4"></video></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="600" data-id="26976" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/whatsapp_image_2026-05-15_at_121247.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-26976" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/whatsapp_image_2026-05-15_at_121247.jpeg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/whatsapp_image_2026-05-15_at_121247-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/whatsapp_image_2026-05-15_at_121247-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="600" data-id="26975" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/whatsapp_image_2026-05-15_at_121243_-1.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-26975" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/whatsapp_image_2026-05-15_at_121243_-1.jpeg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/whatsapp_image_2026-05-15_at_121243_-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/whatsapp_image_2026-05-15_at_121243_-1-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="600" data-id="26974" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/whatsapp_image_2026-05-15_at_121245.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-26974" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/whatsapp_image_2026-05-15_at_121245.jpeg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/whatsapp_image_2026-05-15_at_121245-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/whatsapp_image_2026-05-15_at_121245-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="600" data-id="26973" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/whatsapp_image_2026-05-15_at_121243.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-26973" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/whatsapp_image_2026-05-15_at_121243.jpeg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/whatsapp_image_2026-05-15_at_121243-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/whatsapp_image_2026-05-15_at_121243-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>
</figure>

IDF Completes Major “Sulfur and Fire” Exercise Simulating Surprise Eastern Border Attack

In a targeted operation in Gaza City Friday evening, the IDF struck Izz al-Din al-Haddad, head of Hamas’s military wing and the No. 1 terrorist leader in Gaza. 



He was one of the main architects of the October 7 massacre. Al-Haddad was responsible for the murder, abduction, and brutal treatment of thousands of Israelis and for directing terror attacks.



Senior security sources report initial indications show that the strike succeeded. Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement moments ago: “On orders from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and myself, the IDF struck the arch-murderer Izz al-Din al-Haddad&#8230; This is a clear message to all the murderers seeking our lives: Sooner or later, Israel will get you.”

Israel Strikes No. 1 Hamas Commander In Gaza

Residents of Rosh Hanikra, Liman, Nahariya, Betzet, and Akhziv remained in shelters for more than 30 minutes earlier, following sirens triggered by suspected hostile aircraft infiltration from Lebanon.



The IDF launched interceptors toward several drones launched by Hezbollah. One was successfully intercepted, while others fell in open areas per protocol, the military says. No injuries or damage reported B&#8221;H.



The IDF condemned the incident as yet &#8220;another violation of the ceasefire understandings by Hezbollah&#8221;.

UPDATE: Northern Israel Residents Sheltered for Over 30 Minutes Amid Suspected Drone Infiltration:

Governor Kathy Hochul’s latest effort to raise taxes on wealthy New Yorkers may satisfy Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s calls to “tax the rich,” but critics are warning the rushed proposals could create major complications for New York City’s already tangled property tax system.



Among the ideas floated during ongoing state budget negotiations are a new pied-à-terre tax — a levy on luxury second homes that are not used as a primary residence — as well as a transfer tax on all-cash purchases of homes valued above $1 million.



The proposals emerged as Hochul and state lawmakers entered a sixth week of extended budget talks over New York State’s next spending plan.



Experts told the NY Post the late-stage proposals would require sweeping changes to the city’s notoriously complex property tax structure, raising concerns about unintended long-term consequences.



“Should we rationalize our property and transfer tax system? Yes,” Citizens Budget Commission President Andrew Rein told the NY Post. “Should we do it piecemeal, 45 days into the state fiscal year based on unvetted proposals? No.”



“That’s not the way for a good outcome.”



Mamdani has repeatedly argued that wealthy New Yorkers should shoulder more of the city’s financial burden, claiming the current system unfairly benefits high earners while the city faces a reported $5.4 billion budget gap.



Hochul had previously rejected Mamdani’s push for a direct millionaire’s tax, warning it could drive wealthy residents out of New York altogether.



However, the governor later shifted course by backing the proposed pied-à-terre tax, a move viewed by many as an attempt to appeal to Mamdani’s progressive political allies ahead of her re-election campaign.



Mamdani celebrated the development in a polished social media video filmed outside billionaire Ken Griffin’s Manhattan penthouse, declaring: “Today we’re going to tax the rich.”



“The two fundamental facts here are that the mayor is unwilling to control spending and separately wants to be seen taxing the rich. And the practicality or sustainability of his solutions look to be afterthoughts,” Manhattan Institute fellow Ken Girardin told the NY Post.



The video reportedly angered Griffin, who responded by pledging to expand hiring in Miami instead of New York “as a direct consequence.”



Even as the political fight escalated, many details surrounding the proposed pied-à-terre tax remained unclear.



Hochul’s office later clarified that the plan would target second homes in condos and co-ops assessed at more than $1 million, along with one- to three-family homes assessed above $5 million.



Under New York City’s current system, condos and co-ops are assessed based on potential rental income rather than actual market value, often resulting in substantially lower tax assessments.



The proposal would initially apply the new tax to units with assessed values above $1 million — a figure officials say typically corresponds to properties selling for roughly $5 million.



After two years, the proposal calls for New York City to overhaul the way condos and co-ops are valued so they would eventually be taxed similarly to traditional family homes.



Tax Foundation senior policy analyst Abir Mandal agreed the city’s assessment system is deeply flawed, particularly regarding condos and co-ops, but warned there are too many unanswered questions surrounding Hochul’s proposal.



“Imposing a tax on top of that flawed assessment system, it’ll lead to a higher deadweight loss,” Mandal told the NY Post.



“Do I support New York City going through a better assessment system? Yes,” he added. “But we’ll just have to take a look at and see exactly what they come up with. It’s like if we don’t have details yet, they could come up with something that’s even worse than what they have right now.”



Lawmakers are also discussing a separate transfer tax on cash purchases of homes priced above $1 million, which Bloomberg reported could generate another $160 million for the city.



A spokesperson for Hochul confirmed to the NY Post that the governor is still considering the proposal and has not ruled it out.



Mandal criticized the transfer tax idea as economically damaging, arguing it would make it more expensive both to purchase and sell homes.



“They’re economically even more harmful because they decrease the liquidity in the market,” he said. “If you really want a freer market for housing available for people increasing the transfer tax is not a good proposal.”



The tax debate comes amid continued growth in city spending.



Mamdani’s executive budget has climbed to $124.7 billion, fueled in part by increased funding from Albany.



Hochul is also directing another $2 billion toward expanded childcare programs for two years, though critics warn the city could later be left scrambling to replace that funding on its own.



Additional pension agreements under discussion could saddle city taxpayers with more than $100 million in new annual costs.



“Revenues are not a problem either for New York City or for New York State,” Mandal told the NY Post.



“It’s the fact that spending has grown even faster than the revenues have grown, which have grown pretty rapidly.”



Republican officials sharply criticized the proposed taxes, warning they could eventually impact far more than just the wealthy.



“This is exactly how ‘tax the rich’ turns into taxing everybody else,” City Councilman Frank Morano told the NY Post.



“A lot of middle-class New Yorkers bought modest co-ops or condos decades ago that now fall into these thresholds because of the insanity of the real estate market. They’re not oligarchs. They’re retirees, small business owners, and families who worked hard and played by the rules.”



“And let’s be honest: if Albany and City Hall keep moving the goalposts from $5 million down toward $1 million assessments, people are right to wonder who gets targeted next,” he added.



Councilwoman Joann Ariola warned that many pied-à-terre owners already contribute enormous sums in taxes and cautioned that pushing them out of New York would shift the burden onto remaining residents.



“There’s this mistaken belief out there that people will never leave New York no matter how high taxes go because ‘it’s New York,&#8217;” Ariola told the NY Post.



“But people can easily move right across the river to Hoboken, take their tax dollars with them, and still be minutes from Manhattan.”



“What we are seeing here is a short-term solution from the governor in an election year that will have long-term consequences for New Yorkers.”



Business leaders also warned the proposals could further damage New York’s already poor reputation for high taxes.



“We are already in last place in tax competitiveness. What are we trying to do, be in super-duper-extra last place?” Business Council of New York State President Heather Mulligan told the NY Post.

Hochul-Mamdani Tax Push Sparks Fears Of Chaos In NYC Property System

President Donald Trump fueled speculation about a possible renewed military confrontation with Iran after posting a cryptic message Saturday on Truth Social.



The post included an AI-generated image showing Trump alongside a US Navy admiral standing before rough seas filled with warships, including one bearing the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.



Above the image appeared the message: “It was calm before the storm.&#8221;



The post came as reports surfaced suggesting the United States and Israel are preparing for the possibility that military operations against Iran could resume in the near future.



According to a report published Saturday by The New York Times, Washington and Jerusalem are engaged in intensive military preparations for potential renewed strikes against Iran as early as next week.



The report described the buildup as the largest military mobilization since the ceasefire between the sides took effect.



Trump signaled Friday that he could accept a 20-year freeze on Iran’s nuclear program, but stressed that any agreement would require what he described as genuine guarantees from Tehran.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="729" height="1024" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/107935-729x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-27039" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/107935-729x1024.jpg 729w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/107935-214x300.jpg 214w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/107935-768x1079.jpg 768w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/107935.jpg 900w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 729px) 100vw, 729px" /></figure>



Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while returning from his trip to China, Trump discussed the latest Iranian proposal regarding the conflict.



“Well, I looked at it, and if I don&#8217;t like the first sentence, I just throw it away,&#8221; Trump said.



He explained that the opening line of the proposal was “an unacceptable sentence because they fully agree, no nuclear, and if they have any nuclear of any form, I don&#8217;t read the rest of their letter.”



Asked whether a 20-year moratorium would satisfy him, Trump replied, “No, 20 years is enough, but the level of guarantee from them is not enough. In other words, it&#8217;s got to be a real 20 years, not a fake 20.&#8221;



Trump also warned Thursday during an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News that his patience with Iran is running out.



“I’m not going to be much more patient. No, I&#8217;m not. They should make a deal. Any sane person would make a deal, but they might be crazy,&#8221; Trump said.



The interview aired only hours after Trump hinted in another Truth Social post that military action against Iran could continue despite the current ceasefire.



Those remarks followed his diplomatic visit to China, where Iran reportedly remained a central topic in discussions.

Trump Posts Ominous Iran Warning Amid Reports Of Possible Renewed Strikes

Comments by President Donald Trump suggesting that American arms sales to Taiwan could be used as leverage in negotiations with China are fueling concern in Taiwan over Washington’s long-term commitment to the island’s security.



Trump made the remarks during a Fox News interview with Bret Baier that aired Friday following his high-profile visit to China.



Taiwan governs itself democratically, though China claims the island as part of its territory and has repeatedly threatened to take it by force if necessary. While the United States does not formally recognize Taiwan as an independent country, it remains Taipei’s main military supporter and weapons supplier.



During the interview, Trump suggested future arms sales to Taiwan could depend on broader negotiations with Beijing.



Asked whether he would approve a stalled $14 billion weapons package for Taiwan, Trump responded: “I&#8217;m holding that in abeyance and it depends on China.”



“It&#8217;s a very good negotiating chip for us, frankly. It&#8217;s a lot of weapons.”



Under American law, the United States is required to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, and Washington has traditionally viewed threats against the island as a matter of major concern.



William Yang, a Northeast Asia analyst with the International Crisis Group, warned that Trump’s comments appeared to touch on one of Taiwan’s greatest fears — the possibility that decisions about the island’s future could be negotiated without Taiwan itself being involved.



Although Trump did not specify what concessions he might seek from China in exchange for delaying arms sales, he has recently pushed Beijing to increase purchases of American products and to assist efforts aimed at pressuring Iran.



The Trump administration and Congress previously approved a separate $11 billion arms package for Taiwan in December, prompting an angry response from Beijing, which launched military drills around the island afterward.



China has repeatedly described Taiwan as the most sensitive issue in US-China relations.



During his recent summit with Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly warned that mishandling the Taiwan issue could lead to “clashes and even conflicts.”



Russian President Vladimir Putin is also expected to travel to Beijing next week following the Trump-Xi summit.



Taiwan’s presidential office attempted Saturday to calm fears by emphasizing that official US policy toward Taiwan has not formally changed.



“The Republic of China is a sovereign, independent, democratic country; this is self-evident, and Beijing&#8217;s claims are therefore without merit,” Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo said, using Taiwan’s official name.



Kuo also thanked Trump for his support and stressed that American weapons sales to Taiwan are mandated by US law.



Another source of anxiety in Taiwan came from Trump’s renewed calls for the island’s massive semiconductor industry to move more production to the United States.



“I&#8217;d like to see everybody making chips over in Taiwan come into America,” Trump told Fox News, calling it “the greatest thing you can do.”



Taiwan dominates the global advanced semiconductor market, producing more than 90% of the world’s most sophisticated microchips used in artificial intelligence systems, smartphones, and military technology.



Taiwanese chip giant TSMC has already committed $165 billion toward a major manufacturing complex in Arizona, while Taiwan earlier this year pledged an additional $250 billion in investment in the American semiconductor industry as part of a broader trade arrangement with Washington.



Trump also repeated past accusations that Taiwan had “stole” the semiconductor business from the United States decades ago.



Although Trump stopped short during his summit with Xi of changing longstanding US policy language regarding Taiwan, some analysts said his rhetoric appeared increasingly aligned with Beijing’s framing of the issue.



China has frequently labeled Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te a dangerous separatist and accused him of pushing the island toward war.



Trump appeared to echo some of those concerns during the Fox interview.



“But they have somebody there now that wants to go independent,” Trump said, apparently referring to Lai.



“They&#8217;re going independent because they want to get into a war and they figure they have the United States behind them.”



Trump added that he has no desire to involve the United States in a distant military conflict.



Observers also noted that Lai has not yet traveled through the United States during his presidency, unlike previous Taiwanese leaders, leading some analysts to speculate that the Trump administration may be scaling back visible demonstrations of support for Taiwan.



Wen-Ti Sung of the Atlantic Council suggested Trump’s remarks may partly reflect his broader negotiating style.



“What matters more is the substance, which Taiwan is holding its collective breath for,” Sung said.

Trump’s Taiwan Remarks Spark Alarm Over Future US Support

Untitled design (48)

Liebers ad

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged President Trump this week to continue the war against Iran until the regime is toppled, according to a New York Times report citing U.S. officials on Tuesday.



MBS reportedly pushed for strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure and even suggested U.S. ground forces seize key sites, warning Iran will remain a long-term threat and could continue targeting Saudi Arabia and global shipping.



Despite publicly backing diplomacy, Gulf states including Saudi Arabia and the UAE are now considering joining U.S. and Israeli strikes, as fears grow over both Iran’s capabilities and the risks of a failed Iranian state.

Donald_Trump_and_Mohammad_bin_Salman_Al_Saud_in_the_Oval_Office,_March_14,_2017

MORE FROM BELAAZ

Saudi Crown Prince Urges Trump to Continue War on Iran, Citing ‘Historic Opportunity’ to Reshape Middle East’

Jewish organizations across California’s Bay Area are condemning a judge’s decision to remove Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen from a criminal case involving anti-Israel protesters accused of vandalizing Stanford University’s president’s office.



The ruling bars Rosen from retrying five protesters on felony charges after the judge determined he may have crossed legal boundaries by publicly characterizing the protest as antisemitic during campaign-related messaging.



“Rosen is allowed to take a strong stance against crime in the community, against antisemitism. But caution and care need to be taken when utilizing active litigation in campaign communication,” Judge Kelley Paul said from the bench.



Judge Paul said Rosen improperly described the case as antisemitic even though prosecutors never charged the defendants with a hate crime.



“This case is not a hate crime,” Paul said. “The characterization of the prosecution as a fight against antisemitism runs afoul of case law.”



In a statement to J. The Jewish News of Northern California, Rosen’s office said it “disagrees with the judge’s ruling” but added that it “respect[s] it.”



The Jewish Community Relations Council Bay Area and Jewish Silicon Valley issued a joint statement saying they were “deeply troubled” by the ruling and insisted the prosecution should continue.



“This decision uniquely targets minority prosecutors, suggesting they are incapable of pursuing justice in cases perceived to be impacting their own communities,” the statement says, adding that it “risks reinforcing longstanding antisemitic prejudices and invites future defendants to weaponize a prosecutor’s identity against them.”



The defendants are facing felony vandalism and conspiracy charges tied to a June 2024 demonstration in which 13 protesters allegedly broke into Stanford’s executive offices and caused roughly $300,000 in damage. A jury deadlocked earlier this year, reportedly splitting 9-3 on the vandalism charge and 8-4 on the conspiracy count, prompting Rosen to announce plans for a retrial.



The motion seeking Rosen’s removal was filed by deputy public defender Avi Singh, who argued the district attorney compromised his neutrality by featuring the case on a campaign fundraising page titled “DA Rosen Fighting Anti-Semitism,” which also included a donation button.



Singh argued the fundraising material falsely portrayed the defendants as antisemitic despite the absence of hate crime charges.



Rosen, who has publicly spoken about combating antisemitism and supporting Israel, has denied any conflict of interest.



Judge Paul also cited remarks Rosen made during a March 2025 speech at San Jose Hillel, delivered about a month before charges were filed against the protesters. A recording of the speech was later linked on the “Fighting Anti-Semitism” section of his campaign website.



During the speech, Rosen connected antisemitism with “anti-Americanism,” language that Deputy District Attorney Robert Baker later echoed during closing arguments at trial. Judge Paul ruled the overlap in rhetoric justified disqualifying the entire district attorney’s office from handling the case.



Jewish advocacy groups argued the ruling effectively penalizes Rosen for being Jewish.



“Generations of American Jews in positions of public trust have all too often been treated as suspect or inherently conflicted,” JCRC Bay Area and Jewish Silicon Valley said. “This decision risks reinforcing longstanding antisemitic prejudices and invites future defendants to weaponize a prosecutor’s identity against them, casting any public opposition to hate as grounds for disqualification.”



Rosen’s opponent in next month’s district attorney primary, former prosecutor Daniel Chung, seized on the ruling in a campaign video criticizing Rosen’s handling of the Stanford case.



“This is a humiliating loss for DA Rosen and his entire office,” Chung said in an Instagram video. “For years, millions of dollars have been spent trying to prosecute Stanford student protesters with felony charges.”



Chung further argued that Rosen’s conduct “jeopardized the due process of the defendants” and “exemplifies the undermining of integrity, competence and compassion under DA Rosen for the last 16 years.”



The case will now be transferred to the California attorney general’s office, which must decide whether to retry the defendants — German Gonzalez, Maya Burke, Taylor McCann, Hunter Taylor-Black and Amy Zhai — or dismiss the charges entirely.

Judge Removes Jewish DA From Stanford Anti-Israel Protest Case Amid ‘Bias’ Allegations

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed back Tuesday against growing concerns that the war with Iran has severely strained America’s weapons stockpiles, telling lawmakers during a tense Pentagon budget hearing that the US military still has the firepower it needs. Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine testified before a House Appropriations defense subcommittee reviewing President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget for fiscal year 2027.



During the roughly two-hour hearing, lawmakers from both parties questioned whether months of strikes, air defense operations, and regional deployments tied to the Iran conflict had burned through critical US munitions supplies. Hegseth rejected that characterization, saying: “I take issue with the characterization that munitions are depleted in a public forum. That’s not true.”



Hegseth acknowledged that the Pentagon is increasing weapons production but insisted the military remains fully prepared for ongoing operations. “Ultimately, we have all the munitions needed to execute what we need to execute,” he said, adding that the Trump administration plans to “supercharge” future production. He declined to publicly discuss detailed stockpile levels.



Lawmakers continued pressing Pentagon officials over long-term readiness concerns and the pace at which advanced weapons are being consumed. Senator Mark Kelly previously warned the US had already fired “years’ worth of munitions” during the conflict, while Senator Chris Coons cautioned that tactical successes against Iran could still lead to a broader “strategic loss” if US military readiness suffers.



Pentagon officials also revealed Tuesday that the estimated cost of the Iran war has now climbed to roughly $29 billion, with much of the increase tied to replacing munitions and repairing military equipment used during the campaign.

Hegseth Rejects Claims Iran War Depleted US Munitions Stockpile

Mayor Zohran Mamdani is set to unveil a massive $124.7 billion executive budget for New York City on Tuesday without the property tax increase he had previously warned might be necessary if his push to “tax the rich” failed.



Sources familiar with the negotiations told the NY Post Mamdani backed away from earlier threats to raise property taxes by nearly 10% and dip into the city’s reserve funds to address what had been described as a $5.4 billion budget shortfall.



Instead, Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday that New York City would receive an additional $4 billion in state assistance to help close the budget gap.



According to Hochul’s office, the funding package will be spread over two years and includes $2.2 billion from pension restructuring, $500 million in anticipated revenue from a pied-à-terre tax on luxury second homes, $508 million from postponing a public school class-size reduction mandate, $202 million from measures aimed at reducing recurring spending obligations, $150 million in additional state aid, and $361 million from other unspecified actions.



Much of the funding had already been disclosed previously, but Hochul — who faces re-election later this year — used the announcement to emphasize her working relationship with Mamdani despite political differences.



“This is what a results-driven, responsible partnership looks like and I’m proud to work with Mayor Mamdani to deliver for working New Yorkers,” she said in a statement.



Hochul has sought to balance her relationship with Mamdani since his rapid rise in city politics, attempting to appeal to progressive voters while maintaining support among moderates.



Her Republican challenger for governor, Bruce Blakeman, sharply criticized the funding package.



“Kathy Hochul just committed the largest daylight robbery in New York history, looting $4 billion from your family’s grocery and rent budget to bankroll Zohran Mamdani’s socialist experiment,” Blakeman said in a statement.



As of Tuesday morning, many specifics surrounding the city’s spending plan remained unclear ahead of Mamdani’s scheduled budget presentation.



Sources said the mayor’s proposed $124.7 billion budget will not include revenue from either his proposed millionaire’s tax or the previously threatened property tax hike.



“This whole thing proves there was never a budget crisis; it was all for the mayor saying he wants to tax the rich, it was performative,” an insider told The Post.



“It’s all these different things that were just fake. This is the theater of the absurd, manufacture a budget crisis. He basically put the whole city in panic for months.”



The proposed property tax increase and the idea of using the city’s rainy day reserves had both drawn heavy criticism from residents and financial rating agencies.



City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Finance Committee Chair Linda Lee praised Mamdani for ultimately avoiding both proposals.



“While we await a final state budget, we are pleased with Governor Hochul and the state legislature’s commitment to providing the City with billions in additional funds and savings,” they said in a joint statement.



City Comptroller Mark Levine warned that despite the state aid, New York City could still face major financial problems in the years ahead.



“There still is a reliance on a number of one-shot measures, and those are tools that are then going to be off the table next year,” he said. “And we are looking at about a $7 billion shortfall for the following fiscal year.”

Hochul Funnels Another $4 Billion To Help Mamdani Close NYC Budget Gap

A political crisis erupted in Israel&#8217;s governing coalition on Tuesday after Degel HaTorah &#8211; the litvishe faction of the United Torah Judaism party &#8211; announced it would push to dissolve the Knesset and call early elections, following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#8217;s acknowledgment last week that the coalition does not have sufficient votes to pass legislation exempting yeshivah students from military service.



The dramatic move came after Hagaon Harav Dov Lando, shlita, the faction&#8217;s senior Rav, issued a formal directive instructing Degel HaTorah to work toward dissolving the 25th Knesset at the earliest opportunity. In a letter to Degel MKs, Rav Lando wrote: &#8220;You have carried out your mission faithfully, above and beyond. Wee have no trust in the Prime Minister. We no longer feel that we are his partners, and we are not obligated to him.From here on, we will do only what we believe is good for Chareidi Jewry.And in our view, elections must be held as soon as possible.All manner of talk about a [coalition] bloc — no longer exists.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="512" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/91c8f67f-349c-4325-a56b-e8330c383ff0-768x512-1.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-26897" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/91c8f67f-349c-4325-a56b-e8330c383ff0-768x512-1.jpeg 768w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/91c8f67f-349c-4325-a56b-e8330c383ff0-768x512-1-300x200.jpeg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure>



Degel HaTorah chairman R&#8217; Moshe Gafni subsequently cited Rav Lando&#8217;s directive as a binding instruction governing the faction&#8217;s course of action.



The Charedi community&#8217;s frustration reflects months of broken assurances on an issue of existential importance to the Torah world. The military exemption legislation, which would enshrine in law protections for yeshivah students dedicated to full-time Torah study, has been stalled repeatedly.



Most recently, the bill was removed from the legislative agenda in March following the outbreak of hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Since then, coalition leaders have failed to bring it back to the floor, and Netanyahu&#8217;s candid admission last week that the votes are simply not there was seen by Charedi leaders as the breaking point.



For the Charedi community, the stakes could not be higher. The legislation goes to the heart of a long-standing arrangement — rooted in the founding period of the State — that recognized the Charedi community&#8217;s refusal to enlist.



Whether the effort will succeed depends heavily on Shas, the Sephardic Charedi party with eleven mandates. Shas chairman R. Aryeh Deri has not issued public statements echoing Degel HaTorah&#8217;s ultimatum.



A spokesman for Rav Lando&#8217;s office pushed back against suggestions of any daylight between the two Charedi parties. &#8220;Contrary to various reports, there is complete and absolute consensus and cooperation between Degel HaTorah and Shas regarding the course of action concerning the status of yeshivah students,&#8221; the spokesman told the Times of Israel.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="461" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot_20260512_134836_Gallery.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26867" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot_20260512_134836_Gallery.jpg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot_20260512_134836_Gallery-300x154.jpg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot_20260512_134836_Gallery-768x393.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">MK Gafni and PM Netanyahu</figcaption></figure>



Degel HaTorah&#8217;s four mandates alone are insufficient to secure a Knesset majority for dissolution, and the backing of Shas would be required.



Secular opposition parties wasted little time attempting to capitalize on the coalition rift. Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid announced his party would place a dissolution bill on the Knesset agenda next week. The Democrats party submitted its own dissolution bill, and Yisrael Beytenu was also reported to have done so. Opposition coordinator MK Meirav Ben Ari appealed to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana to convene an emergency Knesset presidium meeting by telephone to fast-track a dissolution vote as early as Wednesday.



Coalition lawmakers moved to contain the damage, urging their Charedi partners not to bring down the government. Likud MK Boaz Bismuth, chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, posted a public appeal on social media: &#8220;Don&#8217;t dismantle the bloc! I worked side by side with the Charedim. I see them as partners on the path.&#8221; Bismuth insisted that the draft exemption bill &#8220;is ready and can already be advanced tomorrow,&#8221; and called on the Charedi parties not to &#8220;give a gift&#8221; to the opposition or to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.



National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir&#8217;s Otzma Yehudit party also urged restraint, saying in a statement that while going to early elections would be a mistake, &#8220;this government still has several tasks left to complete.&#8221;



Israel must hold national elections no later than October regardless of whether the coalition survives in its current form.

Reb Dov Lando in Blistering Letter Calling for Early Elections: ‘We Have no Trust in the Prime Minister’

An inocent 11-year-old Jewish boy was riding his bike home after school in London&#8217;s Stamford Hil neighborhood, when three Jew hating girls deliberately shoved him into a store shutter. 



The three haters laughed as the young boy struggled to keep his balance. 



CCTV footage captured the traumatized Jewish child wobbling as he stood back up.



<figure class="wp-block-video"><video height="532" style="aspect-ratio: 768 / 532;" width="768" controls src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1011970909.mp4"></video></figure>







This is the latest in a wave of antisemitic incidents targeting the Orthodox Jewish community in the United Kingdom. 



In a statement on X, Shomrim says it is supporting the boy, known as “M”, and his family. No suspects have been identified. 



Witnesses or other victims should contact the Metropolitan Police or Shomrim quoting CAD 8584 11MAY26.(378 characters)

HATE: Jewish Boy Shoved Off Bike in London

The IDF revealed Tuesday that Israeli special forces operated beyond the Litani River in southern Lebanon during a weeklong raid against Hezbollah positions, in one of the deepest publicly confirmed ground operations in the area.



Forces from the Egoz Unit and Golani Reconnaissance crossed the river in secret and operated near Zawtar al-Sharqiya, about 6 miles from Israeli territory. The area was used by Hezbollah to fire rockets and mortars at IDF troops, according to Israeli reports.



During the operation, Israeli forces encountered Hezbollah terrorists at close range several times. In one clash, terrorists emerged from a tunnel shaft north of the Litani and opened fire at the troops. Several IDF soldiers were wounded during the fighting, and a dog from the Oketz canine unit was killed in one of the encounters.



Israeli reports said 15 Hezbollah terrorists were killed in the Litani area during the operation. Troops also located and destroyed underground infrastructure, weapons, mortars, launchers and compounds prepared for extended Hezbollah stays near the border. The Israeli Air Force struck more than 100 targets during the raid.



The operation stood out because IDF troops crossed the Litani alongside heavy Namer armored personnel carriers from Golani Reconnaissance. The Litani has long been treated by Israel as the key line for keeping Hezbollah away from northern communities, and Defense Minister Israel Katz said in March that Israel planned to establish a buffer zone in southern Lebanon up to the river after the war. This week’s operation showed the IDF can also move forces beyond it when needed.

IDF Reveals Troops Operated Beyond Litani River In Weeklong Hezbollah Raid

The mayor of Arcadia, a city in Los Angeles County’s San Gabriel Valley, admitted Monday that she acted as an illegal agent for Communist China and agreed to resign from office as part of a stunning federal plea agreement unsealed by prosecutors.



According to court filings, Eileen Wang acknowledged that she worked with officials tied to the People’s Republic of China to spread propaganda through a fake news website operating in the United States between 2020 and 2022. Wang was later elected to the Arcadia City Council in November 2022.



Federal prosecutors said Wang, 58, partnered with her former fiancé, Yaoning “Mike” Sun, to run a website called “U.S. News Center,” which presented itself as a legitimate news outlet serving Chinese Americans.



Authorities said the website was actually being used to carry out directives from Beijing.



Court documents state that Wang and Sun “executed directives” from Chinese government officials by publishing propaganda favorable to China while also sending screenshots and analytics back to their handlers to show how many readers viewed the articles.



In one instance described in the plea deal, Wang’s Chinese handler instructed her to publish pre-written propaganda pieces, including an essay authored by a PRC official that had appeared in the Los Angeles Times.



“There is no genocide in Xinjiang; there is no such thing as ‘forced labor’ in any production activity, including cotton production. Spreading such rumor is to defame China, destroy Xinjiang’s safety and stability,” wrote Wang’s master, according to the plea agreement.



Prosecutors said Wang quickly complied with the request, after which her handler responded, “So fast, thank you everyone.”



In another exchange detailed by investigators, Wang’s PRC contact praised the online traffic generated by one propaganda article. Wang allegedly responded, “Thank you leader.”



Wang pleaded guilty Monday afternoon during an arraignment hearing in downtown Los Angeles. She now faces up to 10 years in federal prison.



Bill Essayli, the top federal prosecutor in Los Angeles, said the case highlights China’s ongoing efforts to infiltrate and influence American institutions.



“Ms. Wang is just the latest to act as an agent for the PRC and it should terrify Americans that she was able to rise to the highest levels of local office in her city,” Essayli said.



As part of the plea agreement, Wang admitted she operated under the direction and control of Chinese officials to distribute propaganda inside the United States.



Sun was previously charged in 2024 with conspiracy and acting as an unregistered foreign agent on behalf of China.



Wang said her relationship with Sun ended that same year. Sun had also managed her City Council campaign. In Arcadia, the mayoral position rotates among members of the council.



In 2025, Wang attempted to separate herself from Sun’s legal troubles, stating she was “not responsible for the action of others,” while refusing calls to resign from the City Council.



Sun was sentenced in February to four years in federal prison for secretly working as an agent of the PRC.



“For years, Sun received and executed taskings from Chinese government officials, distorted our public discourse by disseminating Chinese propaganda, and surveilled groups in the United States that China viewed as threatening,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg.



Federal prosecutors allege Sun and Chinese officials hoped to transform Wang into a rising political figure who could eventually help advance Beijing’s interests in California politics.



In a 2024 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Wang said she moved from China to Southern California roughly 30 years ago.



She also said her mother practiced Chinese medicine and acupuncture, while her father worked as a physician in Sichuan province before later joining the University of Southern California.



The Chinese government has spent years attempting to shape American policymaking and public opinion through espionage and propaganda campaigns. U.S. counterintelligence officials warned in 2022 that Beijing was increasingly relying on both covert and overt influence operations.



That same year, the House Ethics Committee concluded a two-year investigation into allegations involving former Congressman Eric Swalwell and suspected Chinese spy Christine Fang, who had volunteered on his congressional campaign.



The committee ultimately warned Swalwell “of the possibility that foreign governments may attempt to secure improper influence through gifts and other interactions,” according to a letter issued at the close of the investigation.



Federal agents also carried out raids last month at Lancaster City Hall and at the homes of two local politicians as part of an investigation into ties between the officials and Chinese electric vehicle company BYD, which is conducting America’s first electric bus pilot program in the city.



“The concern was that the buses could be used for spying,” said a person with knowledge of the investigation.

Arcadia, California Mayor Admits To Acting As Chinese Agent In Explosive Federal Plea Deal

Rafael Chairman Yuval Steinitz said today, Monday, that Israel’s Iron Dome system intercepted nearly 99% of the roughly 40,000 rockets fired by Hamas and Hezbollah since October 2023.



Steinitz said Iran has also launched around 1,500 ballistic missiles at Israel in two major attack waves since 2024, with “only a few dozen” managing to evade interception.



He added that Israel currently faces no shortage of interceptor missiles for its air defense systems.

Iron Dome’s Record: 99% of 40,000 Rockets Intercepted Since October 2023

A predatory towing racket is targeting Flatbush&#8217;s Jewish community &#8211; with scammers allegedly filing bogus blocked-driveway complaints to get neighbors&#8217; cars hauled away, sometimes over Shabbos, then charging victims up to $500 to get them back.



The legal maximum for such a tow is $125.



Flatbush Shomrim coordinator Tzvi Weill tells Belaaz the scheme has victimized dozens of residents across the neighborhood over at least the past six weeks &#8211; and he&#8217;s got the footage to prove it.



&#8220;We&#8217;re talking dozens,&#8221; Weill said. &#8220;Five of them sent me that it happened within the last two weeks.&#8221;



The con is simple but brazen. Someone &#8211; not the actual resident, as required by law &#8211; calls the NYPD pretending to be a homeowner and complains that a car is blocking their driveway. A cop shows up, writes a ticket, and a tow truck rolls in to haul the car to an impound lot. The car&#8217;s owner then gets slapped with fees to get it back.



The scam is especially cruel when it hits over Shabbos. In one case Weill described, a man&#8217;s son-in-law drove in from Lakewood to drop him off in Flatbush on Friday &#8211; and came back after Shabbos to find his car gone. The bill? Five hundred dollars. Nearly four times what the law allows.



Weill said multiple victims have identified F&amp;S Roadside Towing as the company behind the scheme. He&#8217;s been reviewing surveillance footage to track whether the same trucks keep turning up at different locations.



&#8220;Someone&#8217;s running around, obviously,&#8221; he said.



When reached by Belaaz, the F&amp;S Roadside Towing company that was accused denied involvement, stating it does not handle the removal of cars blocking driveways. A representative produced an invoice given by what he says was a victim of such a scam in Queens, created by a company called F&amp;S Towing Corp. The representative also shared screenshots of a conversation with the alleged victim, who he instructed to contact F&amp;S Towing Corp at the number listed on the invoice. The invoice, however, does not indicate the $500 fee or any other figure.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="1022" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/100216.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26857" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/100216.jpg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/100216-264x300.jpg 264w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/100216-768x872.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



After reaching out to the 70th Precinct Monday morning, Weill said the commanding officer agreed to open a formal investigation.



&#8220;I reached out to the 70th Precinct &#8211; the CO wants to sit down,&#8221; Weill said. &#8220;They want to start an investigation about it. Once you give them all the complainants, they&#8217;re going to take it seriously.&#8221;



The hits are spread across Flatbush, Weill says.



Weill&#8217;s message to anyone who gets towed: don&#8217;t pay a dime until you call Shomrim.



&#8220;If it happens to them, they need to call the local precinct and Shomrim &#8211; and we&#8217;ll get the car given back to them free of charge,&#8221; he said.

Tow Truck Company Allegedly Preying on Flatbush Jewish Community

At least 11 swastikas were found Monday in Highland Park and Forest Park in Queens, the latest in a string of antisemitic vandalism incidents to strike the borough in recent weeks, officials said.



City Council Speaker Julie Menin condemned the discovery in a joint statement with Council Members Lynn Schulman and Joann Ariola, noting that the graffiti appeared exactly one week after similar vandalism struck two shuls and two private homes in Queens.



&#8220;This is yet another hateful incident meant to intimidate Jewish New Yorkers and divide our city,&#8221; Menin said. &#8220;We cannot and will not accept this as normal.&#8221;



The NYPD is investigating and the Parks Department said it will remove the graffiti as soon as possible.



Monday&#8217;s discovery comes one week after a coordinated overnight rampage in Forest Hills and Rego Park in which four suspects spray-painted swastikas and the word &#8220;Hitler&#8221; at five locations, including the Rego Park Jewish Center, Congregation Machane Chodosh, two private homes, and a car. One of the swastikas at Congregation Machane Chodosh — a shul built by refugees from Germany — was sprayed directly over a plaque honoring kedoshim murdered during Kristallnacht.



Jews in New York City were targeted in 60% of all confirmed hate crimes last month, according to NYPD data released Monday. In the first three months of 2026, antisemitic hate crimes surged 140%, and hate crimes overall in Queens were up 45%.



Local Jewish voices vented their frustration with city hall. “These incidents don’t seem to be calming down anytime soon when the Mayors &#8216;Office to Combat Antisemitism&#8217; continues to be a token gesture rather than an actual government body that can work on hate crime prevention,&#8221; United Jewish Teachers head Moshe Spern, a Queens resident, told Belaaz. &#8220;When the Mayor actually begins to take this seriously then we will see the numbers go down.”



The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force, which is investigating both incidents, has released surveillance footage of four suspects wanted in connection with the May 4 rampage, described as young light-skinned men, three of whom were wearing hoodies. No arrests have been made in either case.



Menin, the first Jewish speaker of the City Council and herself a daughter and granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, pointed to the City Council&#8217;s Five-Point Action Plan to Combat Antisemitism as a legislative response to the wave of incidents.



&#8220;That&#8217;s why the Council passed our Five-Point Action Plan to Combat Antisemitism,&#8221; she said, &#8220;and why we&#8217;ll continue fighting for education and accountability.&#8221;

Swastikas Found In Two Queens Parks As Antisemitic Vandalism Wave Continues

The Flatbush community is bracing for a tense Monday evening as a planned anti-Israel protest and a scheduled counter-demonstration are set to converge outside the Young Israel of Midwood.



Organizers operating under the name &#8220;Pal-Awda NY/NJ&#8221; have circulated flyers calling for a demonstration outside the shul, located at 1694 Ocean Avenue, at 6:30 p.m. The protest is targeting a real estate event being held at the shul, with organizers urging attendees to bring flags and &#8220;noisemakers&#8221; into the residential neighborhood.



In response, a counter-protest has been organized for 6:00 p.m., with flyers circulating online asking individuals to gather across from the shul with American and Israeli flags to oppose the demonstration.



With multiple groups expected to converge, local safety organizations are taking significant precautions. Flatbush Shomrim told Belaaz that they will maintain a &#8220;heavy presence&#8221; at the shul, with a deployment of 80 members to ensure the safety of neighborhood residents. Photos shared with Belaaz on Monday show dozens of barricades set up in preparation for the event. The NYPD is also expected to maintain a large presence to handle crowd control and maintain order.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="900" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/99112.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26826" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/99112.jpg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/99112-300x300.jpg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/99112-150x150.jpg 150w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/99112-768x768.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">PHOTO CREDIT: David Glenn</figcaption></figure>



The gathering in Midwood comes on the heels of similar protests targeting real estate events at local shuls in recent months. Many of these past demonstrations have deeply alarmed the community, frequently featuring violent rhetoric and severe harassment.



The escalating situation has drawn the attention of city officials. Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed the planned protests, issuing a statement in which he condemned both the hosting of the real estate event itself, as well as the protesters whose previous demonstrations have included calls for the death of Jews.



The repeated targeting of local synagogues has also spurred renewed legislative action aimed at protecting houses of worship from intimidation. Lawmakers in Albany are currently pushing a statewide bill that would create mandatory buffer zones around religious institutions, establishing a set distance that protests must maintain to ensure congregants can safely enter and exit.



Simultaneously, a separate bill passed the New York City Council with a veto-proof majority that would also establish buffer zones around houses of worship. However, the city version of the legislation notably lacks a specific distance requirement, leaving the exact parameters of the buffer up to interpretation and enforcement on the ground.

Flatbush Shul Faces Protest Over Real Estate Event; NYPD Sets Up Barricades

President Donald Trump warned Monday that the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran is effectively on life support after Tehran rejected Washington’s latest proposal aimed at ending the conflict.



Speaking with reporters in the Oval Office, Trump described the nearly month-old truce as extremely unstable and indicated that the agreement could soon completely collapse.



“I would call it the weakest, right now, after reading that piece of garbage they sent us, I didn’t even finish reading it,” Trump said.



He then compared the ceasefire to a critically ill patient, saying, “I would say the ceasefire is on massive life support, where the doctor walks in and says, ‘Sir, your loved one has approximately a 1% chance of living,’”



The ceasefire originally went into effect on April 8 after Trump warned Iran that its “whole civilization” could be wiped out if diplomatic efforts failed. While the arrangement was initially meant to last for two weeks, Trump later chose to extend it unilaterally on April 21.



From the beginning, the agreement appeared shaky, with both the United States and Iran accusing each other of breaching the terms almost immediately after the ceasefire took hold.



When Trump first unveiled the ceasefire on April 7, he insisted that Iran immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The key maritime route, essential for global oil transport, had effectively been closed since fighting broke out.



After commercial shipping traffic in the strait failed to return to normal, Trump ordered a U.S. naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman designed to stop ships from entering or departing Iranian ports.



Despite the ceasefire remaining officially in place, fighting across the region has continued. Over the past week, Iran carried out attacks targeting the United Arab Emirates, American and Iranian forces exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz, and the Pentagon confirmed strikes against two Iranian-flagged oil tankers.



As recently as last week, Trump administration officials continued to publicly insist that the ceasefire remained active while awaiting Tehran’s formal reply to a U.S. proposal meant to end the war and revive talks regarding Iran’s nuclear program.



In a Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump confirmed that Iran had officially responded to the American proposal.



“I don’t like it — TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!” he wrote.

Trump Says Iran Ceasefire On ‘Massive Life Support’ After ‘Totally Unacceptable’ Tehran Response

A CNN investigation published today detailed how apparent Iran-linked networks allegedly recruit Europeans online for surveillance, arson attacks and other operations targeting Jewish and Israeli-linked sites across Europe.



According to the report, journalists posing as London-based Telegram users found channels openly advertising “high-paid agents” for covert activity. One account allegedly connected to the network told CNN it was looking to “hire anyone who can harm Israeli interests or individuals.”



The investigation centered on a group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, or HAYI, which emerged online in March and has claimed responsibility for at least 17 attacks across Britain and Europe. The incidents included arson attacks targeting synagogues, Jewish neighborhoods, volunteer ambulances and businesses in London, Antwerp and other cities.



CNN reported that recruiters allegedly begin with smaller assignments, including hanging posters or filming minor acts of vandalism, before escalating to more serious surveillance or violent operations. Experts interviewed by CNN said the structure resembles a layered proxy system in which operatives connected to Iran’s IRGC recruit low-level criminals or financially desperate individuals to carry out attacks while shielding higher-ranking organizers.



The report also cited Israeli espionage cases in which suspects allegedly recruited through Telegram were accused of photographing military bases, filming sensitive facilities and carrying out intelligence-gathering missions for Iranian handlers. Israeli authorities say at least 60 Israelis have been indicted on allegations of spying for Iran since 2023.



British counterterrorism officials said investigators are examining whether Iran-linked groups are increasingly relying on “violence as a service” by paying recruits with little ideological connection to the cause. Security experts warned the attacks could become more dangerous as the networks expand operations across Europe.

CNN Investigation Details How Iran-Linked Networks Recruit Europeans For Attacks

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is quietly working against a left-wing congressional candidate backed by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in a Democratic primary that has become a flashpoint over Israel, antisemitism, and the party’s ideological future, according to a report by Axios. The May 19 race is increasingly being viewed by Democratic insiders as an early proxy battle between two possible 2028 presidential rivals.



Ocasio-Cortez has publicly endorsed Pennsylvania state Rep. Chris Rabb in the competitive three-way Democratic primary for a Philadelphia-area House seat. She has fundraised for Rabb, promoted him on social media, and is rumored to campaign for him in Philadelphia later this month. The winner of the Democratic primary is widely expected to win the deep-blue seat in November.



Behind the scenes, however, Axios reported that Shapiro and his allies have privately tried to block Rabb’s path. According to the report, Shapiro advised Philadelphia building trades unions to avoid running attacks against candidate Ala Stanford that could unintentionally help Rabb consolidate progressive support. Rabb has repeatedly clashed with Shapiro in recent years, including publicly demanding: “Governor Shapiro, stop state collaboration with ICE!”



The race has also exposed deep divisions inside the Democratic Party over Israel. Rabb is a sharp critic of Israel and has faced accusations of antisemitism from some Democrats, including Stanford adviser Jay Howser, who also consults for Shapiro. Critics pointed to a social media post from Rabb’s account suggesting the Bondi Beach attack on Jews was a false flag operation by “Zionists.” Rabb later disavowed the post, blamed it on a former staffer, and said he strongly condemns antisemitism.



Shapiro spokesman Manuel Bonder dismissed the report, saying: “This is yet another D.C. story more focused on clicks than the reality on the ground in Pennsylvania.” Rabb’s campaign declined comment

Josh Shapiro Quietly Moves Against AOC-Backed Candidate Over Israel Dispute

The IDF announced Sunday that an Israeli reservist was killed in a Hezbollah drone attack in northern Israel a day earlier.



The killed soldier was identified as Warrant Officer (res.) Alexander Glovanyov Hy&#8217;d, 47, of Petah Tikva, who served as a driver in the Transport Center’s 6924th Battalion.



According to an IDF investigation, Hezbollah launched several explosive drones toward Israeli territory near the Lebanon border during the attack.



One of the drones struck the area and killed Glovanyov, the military said.

IDF Reservist Hy’d Killed In Hezbollah Drone Strike Near Lebanon Border

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in his first American broadcast interview since the onset of the war with Iran, acknowledged that Israel has achieved only half of the postwar objectives he had previously outlined for Gaza, proposed an independent commission to investigate the failures that allowed the Oct. 7 attack to occur, and revealed that Israel killed 20 Iranian nuclear scientists &#8211; 12 of them in the opening minute of the operation &#8211; as part of its campaign to cripple Tehran&#8217;s atomic program.



The interview was recorded Saturday and broadcast Sunday on CBS News&#8217;s &#8220;60 Minutes.&#8221;



In a candid exchange with CBS anchor Major Garrett, Netanyahu was asked to assess four commitments he had made roughly a year earlier regarding Hamas: disarmament, demilitarization, the elimination of weapons factories and the halting of arms smuggling into Gaza. He said that weapons factories had been &#8220;reduced a lot&#8221; and smuggling &#8220;really curtailed,&#8221; but that Hamas had failed to voluntarily disarm or demilitarize as it had promised under the terms of the cease-fire agreement.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="470" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/98079.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26804" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/98079.jpg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/98079-300x157.jpg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/98079-768x401.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



&#8220;Two out of four, largely achieved,&#8221; Netanyahu said. &#8220;But the first two was supposed to be done by Hamas. That was part of the deal.&#8221;



He said Hamas had reneged on its pledges and that Israel would complete the disarmament by force if necessary. &#8220;Could be done the hard way, could be done the easy way,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I always prefer the easy way.&#8221;



On the question of personal accountability for Oct. 7 &#8211; the Hamas-led attack that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and set off the regional conflict now in its eleventh week &#8211; Netanyahu said responsibility extended across the entire security establishment, including himself.



&#8220;Everybody bears some responsibility, from the top, from the Prime Minister down,&#8221; he said. He called for the creation of a bipartisan independent commission modeled on the American inquiry into the Sept. 11 attacks, and said he would testify before it. &#8220;I&#8217;ll be the first one to go there,&#8221; he said, while arguing that the more pressing historical verdict should rest on what had been accomplished since Oct. 7, not what had failed before it.



Nearly all of the senior officials responsible for Israeli security on that day have since left their posts &#8211; the defense minister, the military chief, the heads of military intelligence, the internal security service and the air force. Netanyahu, who has faced intense domestic pressure to resign, has not done so.



On Iran, Netanyahu provided an unusual level of operational detail. He said Israel had killed 20 of Iran&#8217;s top nuclear scientists over the course of the campaign, including 12 in the opening minute of the first military operation &#8211; referred to in the interview by the Israeli code names &#8220;Rising Lion&#8221; and &#8220;Roaring Lion.&#8221;



&#8220;Taking out that amount of know-how sets them back,&#8221; he said, while cautioning that it did not eliminate Iran&#8217;s nuclear capability. &#8220;It means that if they planned this arsenal of nuclear atomic bombs that they thought they&#8217;d have by now &#8211; that&#8217;s gone.&#8221;



He described what he characterized as the single most important strategic achievement of the conflict: demonstrating that Iranian territory was not beyond the reach of military force. &#8220;For 47 years, Iran has been bullying everybody in sight,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Everybody understood you cannot fight Iran on Iran&#8217;s territory. That was a given, and we changed it.&#8221;



On timing, Netanyahu avoided a firm timetable throughout the broadcast. But asked how long the conflict would continue, he offered a brief, unscripted moment of candor: &#8220;It better not take months.&#8221; He immediately hedged, saying outcomes depended on conditions he declined to specify.



Netanyahu also addressed Russia&#8217;s involvement in the conflict &#8211; an exchange that did not appear in the broadcast &#8211; saying that Moscow&#8217;s direct military support for Iran had not been a significant factor. &#8220;Direct military support &#8211; that&#8217;s not been a big issue,&#8221; he said, when asked whether Russian assistance could eventually draw Israel into confrontation with Russia. He declined to characterize the extent of any intelligence cooperation between the two countries.



On China, he said Beijing had provided &#8220;certain components of missile manufacturing&#8221; to Iran and said he &#8220;didn&#8217;t like it,&#8221; but suggested that China&#8217;s long-term strategic interests &#8211; including its dependence on energy flowing through the Strait of Hormuz &#8211; should ultimately align it against a destabilizing Iranian regime. The remarks came days before a scheduled summit between President Trump and President Xi Jinping. &#8220;Not everything is a zero-sum game,&#8221; Netanyahu said.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="510" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/98077.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26805" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/98077.jpg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/98077-300x170.jpg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/98077-768x435.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



Netanyahu also called Trump&#8217;s decision to impose a counter-blockade on Iran &#8211; reversing what had been an Iranian attempt to choke off the Strait of Hormuz &#8211; &#8220;actually a brilliant move,&#8221; saying Iran had badly miscalculated the consequences. &#8220;They should have figured out that&#8217;s what&#8217;s coming,&#8221; he said. The broadcast version referenced the blockade only briefly and without Netanyahu&#8217;s characterization of it. He also cited a private remark by the British ambassador to Washington &#8211; which has since been reported publicly &#8211; to the effect that Britain no longer holds a special relationship with the United States and that the true special relationship is now between Washington and Jerusalem. &#8220;I don&#8217;t always find myself in agreement with British ambassadors,&#8221; Netanyahu said, &#8220;but enough to agree on this one.&#8221;



On the decline in American public support for Israel &#8211; a Pew Research survey cited in the interview found that 60 percent of U.S. adults now hold an unfavorable view of Israel, up nearly 20 points in four years &#8211; Netanyahu largely attributed the shift to coordinated foreign manipulation of social media through bot farms he said could be traced to specific countries he declined to name. He acknowledged that Israel had made mistakes during the conflict but maintained that its ratio of combatant to civilian casualties was among the lowest in the history of modern urban warfare.



On his proposal to phase out the $3.8 billion annual American military aid package over the coming decade &#8211; a plan he said he had already presented to President Trump &#8211; Netanyahu framed the move as a shift from dependency to strategic parity, proposing that the two countries jointly fund defense technology projects and share the resulting benefits equally. He drew a parallel to a similar decision he said he had made regarding American economic aid when he first became prime minister in 1996. &#8220;I want to draw it down,&#8221; he said, &#8220;and then suggest joint projects &#8211; for intel, for weapons, for missile defense.&#8221;



The interview, conducted a day after Israeli strikes on Iranian-backed Hezbollah positions in Lebanon and amid continued hostilities in the Persian Gulf, also touched on Arab state attitudes toward Israel. Netanyahu said several Gulf governments &#8211; which he declined to name &#8211; had privately proposed strengthening alliances with Israel in ways he said were without precedent, spanning artificial intelligence, energy and quantum computing. &#8220;The degree of economic cooperation &#8211; on energy, on AI, on quantum &#8211; that&#8217;s happening right now,&#8221; he said.

Netanyahu, in Rare U.S. Interview, Acknowledges Gaps in Gaza Goals and Calls for 9/11-Style Inquiry Into Oct. 7

Nassau County Executive and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman sharply criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a rally against antisemitism in Queens on Sunday attended by roughly 150 people.



Speaking to The New York Post at the event in Forest Hills, Blakeman accused Mamdani of making antisemitism a divisive political issue in the city.



“One of his first acts as mayor was to change the definition of antisemitism. We don’t have enough problems in the city? That was the first thing he had to do?” Blakeman said, referencing controversy surrounding the mayor’s handling of antisemitic tensions, including protests outside Park East Synagogue last week.



Blakeman then launched a broader attack on the mayor.



“He’s got a dark heart. He’s un-American and he’s antisemetic. And he’s got to change or otherwise this city will rise up against him because this is a city of good people,” the Nassau County executive said.



“This is a city of every race, religion, ethnic group. People of all abilities and lifestyles. And they should all be living together in peace and harmony. And not have a mayor that divides us.”



The rally, held at Yellowstone Park in Forest Hills, was organized in response to what organizers described as a “staggering” rise in antisemitic hate crimes in Queens.



Comedian Zach Sage-Fox, another speaker at the event, also criticized Mamdani and his wife, Rama Duwaji, over social media activity that resurfaced earlier this year, including posts allegedly supporting Hamas following the October 7 massacre in Israel.



“I’d rather him be honest. At least his wife doesn’t play both sides. At least she says who she is. Her silence is complicity and at least we know what we’re dealing with,” Sage-Fox said.



“But no, the two-faced stuff, it’s BS and we’re not going to stand for it. We’re not going to stand for it,” he continued.



“We have a person running this city who takes no accountability for the rise of antisemitism that he helped create over his political career. I’m sorry, but it’s the truth — he’s playing both sides of the coin.”

Blakeman Blasts Mamdani At Queens Rally Against Antisemitism

The Rebbetzin of Hagaon Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka, has been hospitalized and is in need of rachamei Shomayim.



Harav Moshe Hillel had been scheduled to participate in Keren Olam HaTorah&#8217;s fundraising mission to Brazil and Argentina, which departed Motzaei Shabbos, but remained in Eretz Yisroel to be at his Rebbetzin&#8217;s side following her sudden hospitalization.



The mission is continuing as planned, led by Harav Yaakov Hillel, Harav Avrohom Salim, Harav Chaim Peretz Berman, Harav Malkiel Kotler, Harav Shimon Galei, and Harav Yosef Chevroni, who are traveling on behalf of the campaign to sustain the Torah world in Eretz Yisroel and fortify its yeshivos and kollelim.



The tzibbur is asked to daven for the refuah sheleimah of Avigayil Gittel bas Chaya Miriam.

Tefillos Requested for Hagaon Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsch’s Rebbetzin

President Trump tells Barak Ravid in a phone call Sunday afternoo. that he &#8220;doesn&#8217;t like&#8221; Iran&#8217;s latest response to the draft agreement, calling it &#8220;inappropriate.&#8221; 



Trump added that he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this evening and briefly discussed the Iranian reply. 



&#8220;It was a very nice conversation. We have a good relationship, but this is my matter, not anyone else&#8217;s,&#8221; Trump said regarding the Iran negotiations.

BREAKING: Trump Says He “Doesn’t Like” Iran’s “Inappropriate” Response to Draft Deal

Iran’s latest response to a US-backed peace proposal avoids addressing its nuclear program and instead focuses on ending the fighting across the region, according to Iranian state media on Sunday.



The regime’s counterproposal, reportedly sent through Pakistani mediators, calls for guarantees on security and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz before negotiations begin on more divisive issues, including Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, the IRNA news agency reported.



The American proposal had reportedly included plans to end the war, reopen the vital shipping lane and curb Iran’s nuclear program.



The White House has not yet publicly responded to Iran’s reply.



President Trump has repeatedly said dismantling Iran’s nuclear program remains one of the central goals of the conflict.



“We will never bow our heads before the enemy, and if talk of dialogue or negotiation arises, it does not mean surrender or retreat. Rather, the goal is to uphold the rights of the Iranian nation and to defend national interests with resolute strength,” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on X.



President Trump also warned Saturday that the US could revive “Project Freedom” — an operation involving Navy escorts for commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz — if negotiations collapse.



US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Sunday that Trump is giving diplomacy “every chance we possibly can before going back to hostilities.”



Iran has largely blocked non-Iranian vessels from moving through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passageway that carried roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply before the war.

Iran Refuses To Discuss Nuclear Program In Response To US Peace Proposal

Abraham “Abe” Foxman, the longtime national director of the Anti-Defamation League and one of the world’s most prominent voices against antisemitism, passed away Sunday at the age of 86.



Foxman led the ADL from 1987 until his retirement in 2015, remaining active as national director emeritus in the years that followed. During his nearly five decades with the organization, he became a leading advocate for the Jewish community and Israel, regularly confronting antisemitism and hate on the global stage.



Born in 1940 in what is now Belarus, Foxman survived the Holocaust after his parents entrusted him to a Polish Catholic nanny, Bronislawa Kurpi, who baptized him and hid his Jewish identity during the war. He was reunited with his parents after the Holocaust, and the family immigrated to the United States in 1950.



Foxman later graduated from the City College of New York and NYU School of Law before joining the ADL in 1965 as an assistant director of legal affairs. He rose through the organization’s ranks before becoming national director in 1987.



ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt called Foxman “an iconic Jewish leader” whose voice carried “moral authority and clarity.”



“America and the Jewish people have lost a moral voice, a passionate advocate for the Jewish people and the state of Israel, and a remarkable leader,” Greenblatt said in a statement.



Greenblatt added that Foxman “transformed ADL while confronting antisemitism and hate (from both left and right), opposing the global rise in antisemitism, holding world leaders accountable and working to ensure that Israel was Jewish, secure and democratic.”



ADL Board Chair Nicole Munchnik said Foxman “helped build the modern liberal era of America” and described him as “a great leader and passionate advocate for tolerance.”



“Abe was a warm friend, advisor, spirited antagonist and hugger – all over lunch,” she said.



Following his retirement from the ADL, Foxman served as vice chair of the board of trustees at New York’s Museum of Jewish Heritage between 2016 and 2021.



Foxman is survived by his wife Golda, his children Michelle and Ariel, and several grandchildren.



His funeral is scheduled for Tuesday morning.



6

Former ADL Leader Abe Foxman Passes Away At 86

President Donald Trump has increasingly been asking advisers and friends a question that is fueling Republican speculation about 2028: “What do you think? JD or Marco?”



According to several people close to Trump, the president has repeatedly asked which of the two &#8211; Vice President JD Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio &#8211; they prefer as a future presidential nominee. Trump has also joked that the two should run together on the same ticket in 2028.



Trump advisers insist the president is simply entertaining himself and is not focused on the next election. Still, both men have taken on larger public roles ahead of the midterms, drawing growing attention inside the Republican Party.



This week, Rubio appeared in the White House briefing room answering questions about the Iran war before heading to Italy, where he met Pope Leo XIV and presented him with a crystal football. “Wow, OK,” Leo said to Rubio after receiving the gift. Rubio also met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and is expected to accompany Trump on a trip to China.



At the same time, Vance traveled to Iowa to campaign for Rep. Zach Nunn, where he sharply criticized Democrats while reflecting on his own political evolution.



“It’s heartbreaking for a kid who came from a union Democrat family to realize that Democrats these days, they seem to care more about gender transition than they do about you keeping more of your hard-earned money,” Vance said.



The pair’s high-profile appearances have intensified speculation over whether Rubio could eventually challenge Vance for the Republican nomination. People close to both men say they are friends and do not want to appear to be rivals, though many acknowledge it is still far too early to know how the race will unfold.



“They both appreciate the moment, right?” Sen. Eric Schmitt said. “This is a historic comeback by a president who was out of office, who came back, and a unique coalition that, you know, brought that to be.”



He added: “I think that drives them to work together in addition to their kind of personal friendship.”



Rubio’s allies argue his broad appeal and visibility could help expand Trump’s coalition beyond the president’s core base. Republican pollster Whit Ayres said Rubio is capable of reaching Republicans who supported Trump without being deeply enthusiastic about him.



“He is a politician who could appeal to a whole lot of Republicans who went along with Trump but weren’t overly enthusiastic about him,” Ayres said.



Rubio himself has previously ruled out challenging Vance if the vice president runs.



“If JD Vance runs for president, he’s going to be our nominee, and I’ll be one of the first people to support him,” Rubio told Vanity Fair last year.



Even so, Vance is widely viewed as the current front-runner for the GOP nomination due to his close ties to Trump’s political base and growing influence inside the Republican National Committee.



“The logistical upper hand that JD has cannot be understated,” former Trump press secretary Sean Spicer said.



Still, political challenges remain for both men, particularly over the unpopular Iran war and concerns about the economy. During his Iowa visit, Vance acknowledged that two Iowans were killed in an Iranian drone strike on a military base in Kuwait earlier this year.



“We have to make this country worthy of that sacrifice,” Vance said.



Some Republicans also note that Trump himself could complicate any future presidential race, given his dominant role inside the party.



“The president understandably expects full loyalty from a vice president,” said Marc Short, former chief of staff to Mike Pence. “But in my experience he doesn’t really set up his vice president for political success afterwards.”

Trump Floats ‘JD Or Marco’ As Vance, Rubio Ramp Up 2028 Profiles

Seventeen Americans still aboard the hantavirus-stricken MV Hondius cruise ship are expected to be evacuated to a quarantine center in Nebraska in the coming days, the CDC said Sunday.



The ship docked in Tenerife on Sunday as officials began removing 147 passengers in stages. The passengers, who come from about a dozen countries, are being taken off by nationality, with 13 Spanish nationals set to disembark before the Americans.



The U.S. passengers are expected to be flown on a government medical repatriation flight to the National Quarantine Unit, which is overseen by Nebraska Medicine and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The facility, described as the only federally funded quarantine unit in the country, has 20 single-occupancy rooms with private bathrooms and negative air pressure systems.



The CDC said it will also deploy a team to Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Nebraska, to support the public health assessment of returning passengers. Health officials are expected to allow the Americans to leave the quarantine facility if they agree to six weeks of additional monitoring, following a WHO recommendation for a 42-day isolation period.



Acting CDC Director Jay Bhattacharya sought to calm public concern Sunday, saying the outbreak should be handled through existing hantavirus protocols. “This is not COVID. This is not going to lead to the [same] kind of outbreak,” he told CNN, adding, “We shouldn’t be panicking when the evidence doesn’t warrant it.”



At least three passengers aboard the Hondius have died and five others became seriously ill. Hantavirus has a reported fatality rate of about 38%.

17 Americans To Be Evacuated From Hantavirus Cruise Ship To Nebraska Quarantine Unit

BDE: A man around 50 was killed Sunday afternoon in a fatal crash on Route 4711 near the entrance to the Charedi city of Elad. Two other people were injured in the crash and taken for medical treatment. Emergency officials said the crash involved three vehicles, including a truck and an electric car.



The electric vehicle burst into flames after the collision, sparking a brush fire in the nearby open area. Magen David Adom medics, United Hatzalah volunteers and other rescue teams arrived at the scene and began treating the wounded.



“When we arrived, we saw a difficult scene,” MDA emergency medic Motti Farkash and paramedic Matan Yarom said. “A vehicle was burning after a crash with a truck. Next to the vehicle lay a man around 50, unconscious and suffering multi-system trauma. We performed advanced resuscitation efforts, but in the end, we were forced to pronounce him dead.”



Hatzalah medics said they also treated a man around 25 in moderate condition and a woman around 40 in light condition. Both were evacuated to Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva for further treatment.



Fire and Rescue teams were dispatched to the scene and worked to extinguish the burning electric vehicle. Officials said firefighters used dedicated equipment for lithium battery fires while also stopping the flames from spreading through the brush.



“We arrived at a very difficult scene involving a truck and a private electric vehicle that had begun burning with great intensity,” incident commander Rav Reshef Tamir Cohen said. “The main challenge was stopping the fire in the electric vehicle, which threatened to ignite the entire open area around us.”

Man Killed After Electric Car Bursts Into Flames In Crash Outside Elad

Harav David Yosef, shlita, the Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel, issued an impassioned call Thursday evening during his weekly shiur, urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Yitzchak Herzog to publicly join U.S. President Donald Trump’s landmark “Shabbat 250” initiative; the first time in American history that a sitting president has called on the nation to observe Shabbos.



President Trump, in a proclamation signed on May 4 designating May 2026 as Jewish American Heritage Month, called on all Americans to observe a national Shabbos &#8211; dubbed “Shabbat 250” &#8211; from sundown on Friday, May 15, through nightfall on Saturday, May 16, in honor of the 250th anniversary of American independence.



<figure class="wp-block-video"><video height="562" style="aspect-ratio: 988 / 562;" width="988" controls src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/96051.mp4"></video></figure>



“From sundown on May 15 to nightfall on May 16, friends, families, and communities of all backgrounds may come together in gratitude for our great Nation,” the President wrote. “This day will recognize the sacred Jewish tradition of setting aside time for rest, reflection, and gratitude to the Almighty.” The Shabbos in question is Shabbos Bamidbar, the “Shabbos Kallah” preceding Shavuos.



Rav Yosef seized on the moment, drawing a connection between Trump’s call and the sacred character of the upcoming Shabbos. “I first and foremost expect and call upon the President of the State and the Prime Minister of the Jewish State to join the call of the President of the United States; at the very least here in Eretz Yisrael,” the Rav declared.



The Rav extended his call to Jews across the Diaspora, invoking the well-known ma’amar Chazal that if Klal Yisrael were to observe two Shabbosos, the Geulah would come immediately. “How important it is that we all unite around Shabbat Kodesh,” he said. “If a non-Jew honors our religion to such a degree and calls even non-Jews to rest on Shabbos — how much more so we, the Jews, who have the Torah, who have our mesorah, who have the precious gift called Shabbat Kodesh. How vital it is that everyone unite around shemirat Shabbat, and through this we will merit the complete Geulah speedily.”



Trump’s proclamation, which also invoked President George Washington’s celebrated 1790 letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport &#8211; in which Washington affirmed that the United States “gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance” &#8211; paid tribute to the contributions of Jewish Americans since the country’s founding, citing among others Haym Salomon, the Revolutionary War-era financier who helped bankroll American independence. The initiative has drawn broad support across the frum community, with Agudas Yisroel of America calling “Shabbat 250” an opportunity to celebrate the religious liberty that America affords its Jewish citizens, and Chabad hailing it as a chance for Yidden to “unplug and connect with G-d, family, and community.”

Sephardi Chief Rabbi Calls on Israeli Prime Minister, President to Join Trump’s ‘Shabbat 250’ Initiative.

A New York City Department of Education social worker who serves as the official anti-bullying ambassador at her Manhattan high school, responsible for protecting students from discrimination and bias, has been identified as the author of blatantly antisemitic social media posts, including images of insects posted in response to a video of Jewish men and children celebrating Lag Ba’Omer.



Lauren Camiolo, 40, a social worker at Landmark High School in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, uploaded images of beetles on four separate occasions in response to a Facebook video of Jewish men dancing in celebration of Lag Ba’Omer, the yahrtzeit of Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="919" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/95891.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26755" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/95891.jpg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/95891-294x300.jpg 294w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/95891-768x784.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



The comparison of Jews to insects — a staple of Nazi propaganda — has triggered sharp condemnation from Jewish advocacy groups, educators, and communal leaders.



What lends the episode an added dimension of bitter irony is Camiolo’s official role at the school: she serves as the Landmark High School’s Respect for All liaison, a DOE-designated position whose explicit mandate is to “foster and maintain safe learning environments that are supportive, inclusive, and free from discrimination, harassment, and intimidation of any kind.”



“That’s a very dangerous and antisemitic trope coming from Nazi Germany, where Hitler would categorize Jews as subhuman and insects,”&nbsp; Karen Feldman, president of the New York City Public Schools Alliance told the NY Post. “When a Jewish student faces discrimination or bias, they have no one to go to if their Respect for All liaison traffics in antisemitism.”



Moshe Spern, president of United Jewish Teachers, was equally direct. “Hitler often called Jewish people insects and pests. This is a direct act of antisemitism. Too many educators use their political beliefs to hurt Jewish students and fellow educators.”



Camiolo’s social media activity, which has been widely circulated, extends beyond the Lag Ba’Omer incident. Her Facebook page contains numerous posts expressing hostility toward Israel and Jewish identity. Among them: “Chosen people do not steal &amp; harvest they create” (July 2025); “Zionism is a cult, a group of people incapable of thinking for themselves” (October 2025); and a post superimposed over an image of the Ten Commandments reading, “Genocide bloodshed of women &amp; children on holy land by colonizers in the name of God that they will never know.”



Belaaz uncovered a Facebook post in which Camiolo responded to a video reporting on the terror attack on a Michigan synagogue carried out by Islamic terrorist Ayman Ghazali, by deflecting attention away from the attack entirely. &#8220;Israel and and [sic] America bombed a school,&#8221; she wrote beneath the post. &#8220;No one cares.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="443" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/95874.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26756" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/95874.jpg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/95874-300x148.jpg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/95874-768x378.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



The posts do not stop at anti-Israel sentiment. Camiolo’s Facebook page also contains explicitly anti-white content, including “Never trust a white woman,” captioned beneath a photo of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton greeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and “Never forget white women owned slaves &amp; had them raise their children” (June 2025). The Respect for All program, by contrast, explicitly lists “color” and “religion” among the protected categories its liaisons are obligated to uphold.



Camiolo, who public records show has been employed by the DOE since at least 2020 and earned $115,665 in 2025, threatened to contact police when reached for comment by the New York Post, which first reported the story. “I’m Jewish… I’m also biracial,” she claimed, adding that she feared for her and her son’s safety.



A source at the school described Camiolo as “unhinged,” saying that students avoid seeking her out and that colleagues have raised concerns about her conduct as a social worker.



Landmark High School, which serves approximately 294 students and uses project-based assessments in lieu of Regents examinations, was founded in 1994.



A DOE spokesperson said the department “unequivocally condemn[s] any behaviors that represent antisemitism, and any forms of intolerance and prejudice,” and added that staff members who exhibit such behavior “will be investigated and will be subject to discipline as appropriate.”

NYC DOE ‘Respect for All’ Social Worker Posted Images of Insects Mocking Children Celebrating Lag Ba’omer

A man was arrested after allegedly directing antisemitic abuse at Jewish passengers, including children, aboard a London bus and claiming he was carrying a knife, the UK’s Jewish Chronicle newspaper wrote Motzoei Shabbos.



The incident reportedly took place Thursday on a bus route passing through Stamford Hill, a London neighborhood with a large Charedi Jewish population of more than 15,000 residents.



Witnesses quoted by the Jewish Chronicle said the suspect shouted at Jewish passengers that it was a “shame Hitler didn’t kill you,” and said they should have been sent to the gas chambers.



London Shomrim said in a statement that “the bus driver stopped the bus and activated the emergency alarm” as bystanders intervened to help the Jewish passengers.



The organization said its volunteers arrived quickly and “swiftly detained the suspect” until police officers reached the scene and took him into custody.



In a statement cited by the Jewish Chronicle, London’s Metropolitan Police said a 50-year-old man was arrested “on suspicion of making threats to kill.”



Police added that although the suspect claimed he had a knife during the confrontation, officers searched him and did not find any weapon.

Man Arrested After Alleged Antisemitic Threats Against Jewish Children On London Bus

Three people were struck by vehicles in three separate accidents in Boro Park within a span of approximately 25 minutes on erev Shabbos, leaving all three critically injured, Belaaz has learned.



Two of the victims are 13-year-old boys from the Boro Park Jewish community. The third victim was also critically injured. All three were transported to the hospital and are on respirators. Physicians have identified brain bleeds in all three cases.



The accidents involved three different drivers on three different streets. Hatzolah responded to the scenes. There is no known connection between the incidents.



The tzibur is asked to daven for: Yaakov Tzvi Hirsch ben Chana Yettel Chaim ben Feiga Rivka for a refuah shleimah b&#8217;soch sha&#8217;ar cholei Yisrael.

Three Pedestrians Struck in Unrelated Boro Park Accidents Within Minutes; All in Critical Condition

The Toronto Jewish community is on high alert following a frightening incident Thursday night in which three individuals were fired upon with a replica weapon outside a local shul. The Toronto Police Service has confirmed it is officially investigating the drive-by assault as a hate-motivated offense.



According to police reports, the three individuals were standing in front of the Bobover shul, located in the heart of the community near Bathurst Street and Highway 401, when a passing vehicle approached. An occupant of the vehicle then fired at the group using a replica firearm.



Authorities stated that one of the individuals was struck during the attack, sustaining minor injuries. Baruch Hashem, the victim did not require transport to a hospital. As the investigation continues, police have not yet released identifying information regarding the suspect vehicle or the specific type of replica weapon utilized in the assault.



The attack has deeply unsettled local residents and congregants. Raphael Goldberg, a member of the Chasidei Bobov shul, expressed the apprehension felt by many in the community. Speaking to local media, Goldberg noted, “Attacks like this one are frightening. Especially when they happen at places of worship.” Reflecting on the broader climate in the area, he added, “I think there’s a hatred happening in the city and it’s scary.”



This latest assault is part of a deeply troubling and escalating pattern of violence directed at Jewish institutions in the region. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) issued a stark warning in response to Thursday night&#8217;s attack, noting that this is already the second such incident in just a single week, following three separate shootings that targeted Toronto synagogues in March.



&#8220;This is not normal, and it cannot become normalized,&#8221; CIJA declared in a statement. &#8220;Individuals were targeted outside a Jewish institution and subjected to intimidation and violence because of who they are and where they were.&#8221;



The organization emphasized the heavy toll these repeated attacks are taking on the local kehillah. &#8220;The cumulative impact on the Jewish community is profound. Families should not have to fear attending synagogue, gathering in community spaces, or simply standing outside Jewish institutions in Toronto.&#8221;



As the Toronto Police continue their investigation into the hate crime, CIJA issued an urgent call to action, demanding that &#8220;Governments, law enforcement, and civic leaders must treat these incidents with the seriousness they deserve and ensure those responsible are identified and held accountable.&#8221;

Three Jews Shot with Replica Firearm Outside Toronto Bobover Shul

Americans can now earn accredited bachelor’s and master’s degrees entirely on their mobile phones, according to Cornerstone University, as higher education continues moving further away from the traditional classroom model.



The university’s SOAR program allows students to complete an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in strategic business management, or a master’s degree in organizational leadership. Cornerstone University President Gerson Moreno-Riaño told Fox Business, “We developed the nation’s first mobile platform to deliver an accredited undergraduate degree and a master’s degree as well, all via your mobile phone.”



The program launched in August and has about 250 students enrolled, according to the university. Moreno-Riaño said some transfer students with prior credits are expected to become the program’s first graduates this year.



The bachelor’s degree costs $24,000 from start to finish, while the master’s degree costs $12,000. The university said more than half of current students are paying no tuition because of scholarships and grants, and said the program has a 91% month-to-month persistence rate.



Cornerstone described the program as an answer for non-traditional students who cannot, or do not want to, return to a standard college model. “We see this as an opportunity to address a gap in our country now when it comes to education, and frankly, we’re convinced that the current American higher ed infrastructure cannot address this challenge,” Moreno-Riaño said.



Instead of moving a standard college course onto Zoom, Cornerstone says it rebuilt the program for a phone screen. The app uses self-paced microlearning modules, with short videos, podcasts, audiobooks, interviews and instant assessments instead of fixed class times. New classes begin every two weeks, and students can move through lessons while commuting, traveling or doing chores, according to the university.

University Now Lets Students Earn Bachelor’s And Master’s Degrees Entirely By Phone

A man in his 50s was arrested in London on Thursday after allegedly shouting Nazi abuse and threatening Jewish passengers on a bus in Hackney, police said.



The incident happened at about 3:45 p.m. on a Route 254 bus near the Stamford Hill area, home to one of Britain’s largest Jewish communities. According to Shomrim, the Jewish neighborhood watch group, the suspect shouted at Jewish passengers, “It’s a shame Hitler didn’t kill you” and “You should all go to the gas chambers.”



He also allegedly threatened to kill Jewish children and claimed he had a knife. The bus driver stopped the vehicle and activated the emergency alarm, while Shomrim volunteers and members of the public intervened. Volunteers detained the suspect until police arrived.



The Metropolitan Police said the man was arrested on suspicion of threats to kill and public order offenses. Police said the incident is being investigated as an antisemitic hate crime. Officers searched the suspect and said no weapon was found.



Transport for London condemned the incident. “No-one should ever have to fear or experience abuse when using our network,” said Siwan Hayward, TfL’s director of security, policing and enforcement. The London arrest came after a separate incident Wednesday night in Salford, near Manchester’s Jewish community, where a man in his 60s was arrested over alleged antisemitic threats.



The arrest came as London police moved to create a new 100-officer Jewish protection team, combining neighborhood officers with counterterrorism specialists, after a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents. The Met said around 50 people had been arrested for antisemitic hate crimes in the previous four weeks.

London Police Arrest Man Over Nazi Abuse And Death Threats To Jewish Bus Passengers

Leaders of the Jewish Cemetery of the Virginia Peninsula said 24 Matzeivos were damaged in a vandalism attack that has deeply unsettled members of the local Jewish community.



The destruction was discovered in a section of the Hampton cemetery that dates back more than 130 years, making it one of the oldest burial grounds in the area.



“This is not merely property damage,” E.D. “Buddy” David, president of the Jewish Cemetery of the Virginia Peninsula told WVEC-TV. “It is an assault on our dead, on our grief, and on our dignity as a community.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="499" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/93814.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26733" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/93814.jpg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/93814-300x166.jpg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/93814-768x426.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



David said investigators found shattered and overturned headstones spread across part of the cemetery grounds.



Hampton Police Chief Jimmie Wideman said authorities believe the damage was caused by an 11-year-old boy who lives nearby.



Police said the FBI has been consulted and investigators currently do not believe the vandalism was driven by antisemitism or considered a hate crime.



“At this point, there’s nothing to suggest that was his motive,” Wideman said. “The primary indication right now appears to be issues within his family situation, including substance abuse.”



Wideman said no charges have been filed so far, though detectives are continuing to examine potential charges.



Despite police saying the act does not appear to have been motivated by hate, David said the Jewish community still feels deeply shaken by what happened.



“It might turn out to be the actions of a disturbed 11-year-old juvenile, but we nonetheless feel violated,” David said. “And of course, as Jews, we have cause to look around the corner.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="460" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/93816.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26731" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/93816.jpg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/93816-300x153.jpg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/93816-768x393.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



Cemetery officials said efforts are already underway to repair the damaged graves and restore the cemetery grounds.



“We are in touch with a company and expect this to be done within the next 10 days or so,” David said. “But we will never forget.”



Leadership at the cemetery also said additional security measures are being considered, including improved lighting and motion-detection systems.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="459" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/93810.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26732" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/93810.jpg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/93810-300x153.jpg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/93810-768x392.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>

Jewish Cemetery In Hampton Desecrated As 24 Matzeivos Smashed In Overnight Vandalism

Egyptian Islamic terrorist Mohamed Sabry Soliman was sentenced Thursday to spend the rest of his life behind bars without the possibility of parole after admitting to a deadly firebombing attack at a gathering in Boulder, Colorado aimed at spreading awareness of then-hostage Israelis held in Gaza by Hamas.



The 46-year-old man, who federal officials say was residing illegally in the United States, pleaded guilty to dozens of felony offenses in state court, among them two first-degree murder charges that each carry automatic life sentences.



Prosecutors said Soliman attacked participants at a June 2025 rally supporting Israelis held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza by throwing Molotov cocktails into the crowd gathered at a downtown Boulder pedestrian mall.



Karen Diamond Hy&#8217;d, 82, suffered severe injuries in the attack and later died. Another 12 people were wounded.



According to investigators, Soliman had allegedly prepared for the assault for about a year and was motivated by a desire “to kill all Zionist people.”



During Thursday’s hearing, Soliman mostly stared downward at the defense table. He still faces separate federal hate crime charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty. Federal prosecutors are reportedly weighing whether to seek the death penalty.



Speaking through an interpreter, Soliman expressed remorse to the victims and addressed Diamond’s death directly.



“There are no words that can express my sadness for her passing,” Soliman says.



He told the court he was not asking for mercy and urged federal authorities not to seek execution in the pending federal case.



“If I went back, I would not have done this as this is not according to the teaching of Islam,” Soliman says. “What I did came out of myself and only myself.”



Earlier in the proceedings, a prosecutor read a statement from Diamond’s sons, who said Soliman should “not be allowed to see his family again since he is responsible for our mother never seeing her family again.”

Islamic Terrorist Receives Life Sentence for Murdering Elderly Jewish Woman in Colorado Firebombing

Police in Yavne&#8217;el, Northern Israel, released footage on Thursday, from a raid on a wedding between a 16-year-old girl and a 30 years old man.



<figure class="wp-block-video"><video height="1080" style="aspect-ratio: 1920 / 1080;" width="1920" controls src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Untitled-design-2026-05-07T161146.536.mp4"></video></figure>



Despite the family&#8217;s claim that the event was only a &#8220;vort&#8221; (an engagement party), officers discovered a hidden kesubah, a ring, and a decorated car. The Kalah as well was dressed in 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="740" height="416" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Sy11P6OH5C11e_0_0_1280_720_0_x-large.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-26720" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Sy11P6OH5C11e_0_0_1280_720_0_x-large.avif 740w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Sy11P6OH5C11e_0_0_1280_720_0_x-large-300x169.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px" /></figure>



a white dress.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="740" height="416" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/rkvTuSc0bl_0_0_1280_720_0_x-large.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-26719" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/rkvTuSc0bl_0_0_1280_720_0_x-large.avif 740w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/rkvTuSc0bl_0_0_1280_720_0_x-large-300x169.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px" /></figure>



 Marriage under 18 is not legal in Israel.



A similar raid occurred a few weeks earlier. Law enforcement officials described it as a complex phenomenon of secret weddings involving underage girls. They say it is difficult to combat with the current tools available. According to the officials, in many cases when police receive information about an event, those involved claim it is only an engagement ceremony, which makes it hard to take legal action at an early stage.



As long as there is no clear indication that it is leading to an actual marriage, the law does not give police clear authority to intervene. In many cases, investigations are opened only after the fact, and even then, investigators struggle to build a strong enough evidence base. 



<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="499" data-id="26721" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-07-163156.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26721" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-07-163156.jpg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-07-163156-300x166.jpg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-07-163156-768x426.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="505" data-id="26724" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-07-163209.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26724" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-07-163209.jpg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-07-163209-300x168.jpg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-07-163209-768x431.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="509" data-id="26723" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-07-163221.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26723" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-07-163221.jpg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-07-163221-300x170.jpg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-07-163221-768x434.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="489" data-id="26722" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-07-163243.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26722" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-07-163243.jpg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-07-163243-300x163.jpg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-07-163243-768x417.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>
</figure>

Israel Police Raid Secret Wedding of 16-Year-Old in Yavne’el

Israeli President Yitzchak Herzog met secretly with Yaakov Bardougo, a commentator and close associate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to discuss options for ending the prime minister&#8217;s ongoing corruption trial — including a possible pardon — according to a report aired Thursday on Israel&#8217;s Channel 12.



The report comes as Herzog has effectively rejected the pardon, defying months of mounting pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to grant Netanyahu immediate clemency. Herzog has decided to shelve Netanyahu&#8217;s pardon request, preferring to press both sides toward a negotiated plea agreement that would end the case.



According to senior Israeli officials with direct knowledge of his thinking, Herzog believes there are options beyond the binary pardon-or-no-pardon choice, and that his primary role as president is to foster national unity.



For now, those officials said, he will not say yes or no to the pardon request.



The decision to hold off amounts to a direct rebuff of Trump, who has waged an unusually aggressive campaign to intervene in Israel&#8217;s domestic legal affairs. Trump told Axios in March that he speaks with Netanyahu every day about the war and wants the prime minister focused solely on the fighting against Iran. &#8220;I want the only pressure on Bibi to be the fighting against Iran,&#8221; Trump said, demanding that Herzog grant the pardon immediately and calling the Israeli president &#8220;a disgrace&#8221; for failing to act.



Trump dismissed the underlying charges — which involve allegations that Netanyahu received hundreds of thousands of dollars&#8217; worth of gifts from billionaires in exchange for political favors — saying Netanyahu &#8220;should not be on trial over wine and cigars&#8221; and that he is a wartime prime minister who &#8220;should not be in jail.&#8221;



As recently as last week, Trump told Axios that Netanyahu had raised his corruption trial during a phone call between the two leaders, telling him he would be back in court instead of focusing on Iran. &#8220;In the middle of a war? Give me a break,&#8221; Trump said.



Herzog has not budged. Both the Justice Ministry&#8217;s Pardons Department and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara have advised against granting the pardon on the basis of the current request. Proceeding against those legal recommendations would have risked intervention by the High Court of Justice and potential damage to the presidency as an institution.



The Pardons Department issued a detailed opinion in March stating there is no legal basis for a pardon without an admission of guilt or conviction — a condition Netanyahu, who insists he is the victim of a political witch hunt, has shown no willingness to meet.



It is against that backdrop that Thursday&#8217;s Channel 12 report takes on added significance. According to the report, the secret Shoham meeting was arranged only after weeks of sharp public attacks by Bardougo against Herzog.



Bardougo had called the president unfit for his office, accused him of harming state security by refusing to pardon Netanyahu, and suggested he was being manipulated by left-wing elements. Despite the acrimony, representatives of the president&#8217;s office moved to arrange the meeting, with mutual acquaintance Yoram Marciano serving as intermediary.



At the gathering — attended by Herzog, his director-general, and Bardougo — those present discussed the possibility of a pardon as well as other alternatives for concluding the prime minister&#8217;s legal proceedings.



According to the report, Herzog told Bardougo at the conclusion of the meeting that he intended to actively advance a plea agreement and offered to invite both sides to the president&#8217;s residence to reach a swift resolution. Roughly a month later, Herzog made a public call for plea negotiations — but without disclosing the prior understandings reached with Netanyahu&#8217;s associate, or the behind-the-scenes pressure that preceded it.



Herzog&#8217;s office pushed back firmly on the Channel 12 account, insisting the Shoham meeting was a routine background conversation with a journalist, of a kind the president holds periodically with media figures across the political spectrum. &#8220;The meeting in question was a general background conversation only, as part of meetings of this type, and no agreement, promise, or concrete discussion regarding a pardon took place,&#8221; the statement read.



&#8220;Contrary to the claims, the president did not reach any understandings with Bardougo — not on the matter of a pardon, and not on any other matter.&#8221;



The office added that Bardougo &#8220;was not involved directly or indirectly&#8221; in the president&#8217;s mediation efforts — efforts which, it noted, Bardougo is known to oppose. Herzog&#8217;s office has consistently maintained that the president will examine any pardon request &#8220;in accordance with the law, the best interests of the state, and his conscience, and without any influence from external or internal pressures of any kind.&#8221;

Report: Herzog Held Secret Meeting on Netanyahu Trial as He Rebuffs Trump Pardon Demands

When more than 100 demonstrators gathered outside Park East Synagogue on Manhattan&#8217;s Upper East Side Tuesday evening, the scene quickly drew national attention: Hezbollah flags, chants of &#8220;intifada revolution,&#8221; and a Jewish preschool that closed early because administrators said they could not ensure a safe dismissal.



But the statement that drew perhaps the sharpest criticism did not come from the protesters. It came from Mayor Zohran Mamdani.



Hours before the demonstration, a spokesperson for the mayor said he was &#8220;deeply opposed&#8221; to the real estate expo being held at the synagogue that evening, which included the promotion of property in Yehuda and Shomron. The mayor&#8217;s office added that it was committed to ensuring safe entry and exit from the building &#8211; but critics said leading with condemnation of the event inside, rather than concern for the people attending it, crossed a constitutional line.



&#8220;When a crowd targets a house of worship, the mayor&#8217;s job is not to explain why the crowd has a point,&#8221; wrote Rabbi Mark Goldfeder, CEO of the National Jewish Advocacy Center and a law professor at Touro Law School, in a piece published Wednesday by National Review. &#8220;It is to protect the people inside.&#8221;



The event in question was an aliyah fair — a gathering where attendees could consult experts on relocating to Israel. Its website invited attendees to &#8220;listen to experts&#8221; on topics including aliyah, higher education in Israel and finances in Israel. Among the potential landing spots listed was Gush Etzion, a cluster of Israeli settlements.



The protest was organized by Pal-Awda, a hardline anti-Zionist group that supports Hamas, Hezbollah and other terror groups. Chants of &#8220;There is only one solution, intifada revolution,&#8221; &#8220;From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,&#8221; and &#8220;We don&#8217;t want a two-state, we want &#8217;48&#8221; rose from the crowd; slogans that Jewish organizations have characterized as calls for violence and the elimination of Jewish presence in the region.



City Council Speaker Julie Menin, who had recently passed legislation compelling the NYPD to codify protocols for buffer zones around houses of worship, offered a pointed critique of both the protesters and the police response. &#8220;I&#8217;m deeply disturbed by the hateful rhetoric heard last night outside Park East Synagogue,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Calls for the destruction of Israel and the glorification of Hezbollah are horrific, intimidating, and only fuel the flames of antisemitism.&#8221; 



Mamdani, by contrast, reiterated his criticism of the event on Wednesday and doubled-down on his position at a press conference. &#8220;I think that critique of the policies of a government is very much separate from bigotry towards a people of a specific religious faith, and there is no tolerance for anti-Semitism,&#8221; he said.



Goldfeder&#8217;s legal argument centers on what he describes as the constitutional significance of official condemnation. Citing Bantam Books v. Sullivan (1963) and last year&#8217;s unanimous Supreme Court ruling in NRA v. Vullo, he argues that a mayor&#8217;s statement can chill protected religious activity even without any formal government action.



He also invoked Masterpiece Cakeshop (2018), in which the Supreme Court held that official hostility toward religious motivation constitutes a constitutional violation regardless of whether formal enforcement follows.



Speaking with Belaaz, Goldfeder elaborated on the distinction he sees between permissible political speech and actionable government conduct. &#8220;A mayor is allowed to have foreign-policy opinions,&#8221; he said. &#8220;He is not allowed to use the authority of his office to single out a lawful Jewish religious event for condemnation while that event is being targeted. That is where political speech starts to look like viewpoint discrimination and unequal protection. The mayor is not just another commentator on X. He speaks for the city.&#8221;



Goldfeder explained that &#8220;If a pattern emerges in which Jewish institutions are treated as ideologically suspect when they need protection, that can become evidence of municipal policy or custom for purposes of civil-rights liability.&#8221;



Such a pattern, critics say, has already been demonstrated. Mamdani has previously deleted city statements about protecting Jewish New Yorkers, rescinded an order adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance&#8217;s definition of antisemitism, reorganized the city&#8217;s Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes into a broader office and vetoed a bill requiring buffer zones for protestors at schools.



The Anti-Defamation League&#8217;s New York/New Jersey branch said the mayor &#8220;had a responsibility to de-escalate. He did the opposite.&#8221;



Goldfeder rejected that framing. Aliyah, he wrote, is not a detachable political position for most Jews &#8211; it is bound up with theology, history, and religious identity. Official condemnation of a Jewish gathering on those grounds, he argued, &#8220;tells Jewish institutions that protection may come with ideological conditions.



The preschool attached to the synagogue did not reopen for regular dismissal that afternoon. For Goldfeder, that was the central fact the mayor&#8217;s statement failed to acknowledge. &#8220;A Jewish preschool closed early,&#8221; he wrote, &#8220;and the mayor&#8217;s first move was to explain the grievance of the people outside.&#8221;

Mamdani’s Statement on Synagogue Protest Draws Legal Scrutiny

An Israeli man was diagnosed with hantavirus after apparently contracting the rare disease during a trip to Eastern Europe, according to a Thursday report by Maariv. The case is believed to be the first confirmed hantavirus infection reported in Israel in years.



According to the report, the patient developed symptoms consistent with hantavirus infection after returning from Eastern Europe several months ago. Antibody testing initially indicated exposure to the virus, while a later PCR test confirmed the infection. The patient is reportedly in stable condition and under medical monitoring. His identity, place of residence, and the medical center involved were not published.



Maariv reported that the Israeli case is linked to a European hantavirus strain and is not connected to the ongoing MV Hondius outbreak in the South Atlantic. The ship outbreak, which has been tied to the Andes strain of hantavirus, has reportedly left three people dead and several others infected or under investigation. Unlike most hantavirus strains, the Andes variant has been associated in rare cases with person-to-person transmission.



According to the report, there is currently no indication of wider spread inside Israel or an immediate public health threat. The article did not cite any special Health Ministry warning or new restrictions connected to the case.



Hantavirus is primarily carried by rodents and usually spreads when people inhale particles from dried urine, droppings, or saliva left behind by infected mice or rats. Early symptoms can resemble the flu and include fever, muscle pain, headaches, nausea, and weakness, while severe cases may lead to respiratory or kidney complications.

Israeli Diagnosed With Rare Hantavirus After Eastern Europe Trip — Report

El Al Airlines has inaugurated a state-of-the-art kosher aviation catering facility at Ben Gurion Airport, marking what the carrier is calling the largest and most advanced operation of its kind in the world.



The new plant, built by Tamam, El Al&#8217;s in-house catering subsidiary, spans approximately 14,000 square meters &#8211; nearly double the footprint of the previous facility &#8211; and represents an investment of hundreds of millions of shekels.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="600" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/92673.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26690" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/92673.jpg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/92673-300x200.jpg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/92673-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



Production capacity has grown from roughly 30,000 meals per day to approximately 50,000, with advanced technological systems enabling precise process management, rigorous quality control, and elevated culinary standards.



The facility replaces a plant that had been in operation for decades. The transition to full operations is expected to take place gradually over the coming months.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="600" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/92679.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26692" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/92679.jpg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/92679-300x200.jpg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/92679-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



El Al CEO Levi Halevy said the investment reflects the airline&#8217;s broader commitment to the passenger experience. &#8220;Every component of the customer journey is part of the overall experience,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The new Tamam facility allows us to raise the culinary standard for El Al passengers, expand our operational capabilities, and support El Al&#8217;s growth for years to come.&#8221;



Tamam CEO Oz Radomsky called the move &#8220;a significant leap forward,&#8221; saying the facility combines cutting-edge production technology with the expertise of the company&#8217;s longtime staff. &#8220;The plant will allow us to increase our volume, improve operational efficiency, and continue delivering a high-quality product to our customers,&#8221; he said.



<figure class="wp-block-video"><video height="576" style="aspect-ratio: 1024 / 576;" width="1024" controls src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/92742.mp4"></video></figure>



Kenny Rozenberg, controlling shareholder of El Al, said the inauguration carries broader significance. &#8220;The dedication of the world&#8217;s largest kosher food facility is a meaningful moment for us as an Israeli company,&#8221; he said. &#8220;This investment reflects deep confidence in the company and its people, and strengthens our commitment to continued growth and development. The new plant will make it possible to provide the highest-quality kosher food to the international market as well.&#8221;



The expanded capacity is expected to support a wider variety of in-flight meal options across El Al routes, alongside improvements in product quality and overall service.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="600" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/92670.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26691" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/92670.jpg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/92670-300x200.jpg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/92670-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



Photo and video credit: Asif Lankry

El Al Inaugurates World’s Largest Kosher Aviation Catering Facility

A new photo published Thursday showed Rabbi Liraz Zeira, who lost both legs while serving in the IDF reserves in southern Syria, back on the street helping a man put on tefillin.



The image, shared by the Instagram account “Smiling Soldiers / חיילים מחייכים,” shows Zeira standing on prosthetics, wearing his uniform and carrying a rifle as he continues his Chabad outreach. The photo was taken by Menachem Geisinsky near the Chabad House Zeira runs for college students in Jerusalem.



Zeira, 42, a father of five and Maj. (res.), was seriously wounded in an explosion in southern Syria after hundreds of days of reserve duty during the war. He lost both legs and underwent a long rehabilitation process before returning in recent months to his work as a Chabad emissary.



“Even after losing both legs in a mine explosion in southern Syria while serving as a major in the IDF reserves, Rabbi Liraz Zeira refuses to surrender to darkness,” the post said. It described him as continuing to encourage students and spread “joy, Torah and Chassidic warmth” to those around him.



Zeira has previously described his return to campus outreach as part of his recovery. “This is the real rehabilitation for me,” he said. In another line that has been widely shared, he summed up his mission after the injury: “I have no legs, but I received wings.”

Chabad Rabbi Liraz Zeira Seen Helping Jews Put On Tefillin After Losing Both Legs in Syria

President Donald Trump abruptly suspended a newly launched U.S. operation in the Strait of Hormuz after backlash from key Gulf allies, including Saudi Arabia, according to U.S. officials familiar with the matter who spoke with NBC.



The operation, dubbed “Project Freedom,” was intended to help commercial ships safely navigate the strategic waterway amid Iranian threats and attacks. But officials said the plan hit immediate resistance after Trump publicly announced it Sunday on social media without first fully coordinating with regional partners.



According to two U.S. officials, Saudi leaders were angered by the surprise announcement and responded by suspending permission for the U.S. military to use Saudi airspace and Prince Sultan Airbase near Riyadh in support of the mission.



Officials said a subsequent phone conversation between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman failed to resolve the disagreement, forcing the administration to temporarily halt the operation while attempting to restore military access through the region.



Other Gulf allies were also reportedly caught off guard. Trump only spoke with Qatari leadership after the mission had already been launched.



A Saudi source told NBC News that Trump and the crown prince “have been in touch regularly.” Saudi officials were also in contact with Trump, Vice President JD Vance, U.S. Central Command and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the source said.



Asked whether Saudi Arabia had been blindsided by the announcement, the source replied: “The problem with that premise is that things are happening quickly in real time.”



The same source added that Saudi Arabia was “very supportive of the diplomatic efforts” being led by Pakistan to help broker a deal between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending the conflict.



The White House disputed claims that regional allies were not informed beforehand. A White House official said, “Regional allies were notified in advance.”



A Middle Eastern diplomat told NBC News that Oman was only brought into discussions after Trump publicly announced the initiative.



“The U.S. made an announcement and then coordinated with us,” the diplomat said, adding, “we were not upset or angry.”



Trump introduced Project Freedom over the weekend as a way to counter Iran’s blockade efforts in the Strait of Hormuz. Senior administration and Pentagon officials spent much of Tuesday publicly defending the mission before the president suddenly paused it about a day and a half after it began.



One U.S. official said the military had already positioned additional vessels in the Gulf in preparation for escorted transit operations before the pause order was issued. Earlier, U.S. Central Command announced that two American-flagged ships had successfully crossed the strait under the operation.



Trump later wrote on social media that Project Freedom would be “paused for a short period of time to see whether or not” an agreement ending the war “can be finalized and signed.”



The United States maintains significant military infrastructure at Prince Sultan Airbase, including fighter jets, refueling aircraft and missile defense systems. Saudi Arabia had previously allowed the U.S. to use the base and its airspace to support operations connected to the war with Iran.



“Because of geography, you need cooperation from regional partners to utilize their airspace along their borders,” one U.S. official said. “In some cases there is no other way around.”



Military aircraft were considered essential to protecting vessels participating in Project Freedom, providing what officials described as a defensive umbrella over the shipping lanes.



The Pentagon refers to such permissions as “ABO,” short for access, basing and overflight rights. Officials noted that Saudi Arabia and Jordan are particularly important for aircraft basing, Kuwait is essential for overflight access, and Oman plays a key role in both overflight and naval logistics.



Trump also contacted Qatar’s emir after the operation had already started. According to a Qatari statement, the two leaders discussed the ceasefire effort and the “implications for maritime security and global supply chains.” The emir also stressed the need for de-escalation.



Despite the pause, the U.S. military continues to maintain a heavy presence in the Gulf region. Officials said there are now two carrier strike groups deployed there, along with expanded logistics support and replenished stockpiles.



Project Freedom briefly involved American surveillance systems, military personnel and firepower aboard ships to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz as Iranian forces continued threatening maritime traffic. Pentagon officials emphasized the mission was separate from the broader bombing campaign against Iran, known as “Epic Fury,” which began Feb. 28.



At the same time, the Trump administration continues pursuing diplomatic channels to end the fighting. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Tehran was reviewing another American proposal and would consult with Pakistan, which has been serving as a mediator.



Trump hinted Wednesday that negotiations may be progressing.



“They want to make a deal,” Trump said from the Oval Office. He added there had been “very good talks over the last 24 hours.”



With midterm elections approaching in November, pressure is increasing on the administration to resolve the conflict. In an interview with PBS, Trump suggested an agreement with Iran could potentially be reached before his planned trip to Beijing next week to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping.



“I think it’s got a very good chance of ending, and if it doesn’t end, we have to go back to bombing the hell out of them,” Trump told PBS.



According to multiple former U.S. officials, some Trump allies have urged him to intensify military operations against Iran and eliminate the regime’s remaining conventional military capabilities before the China trip.



China also entered the diplomatic picture Wednesday as Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Iranian officials and urged a rapid end to the war.



“We believe that a comprehensive ceasefire is urgently needed, that a resumption of hostilities is not acceptable, and that it is particularly important to remain committed to dialogue and negotiations,” Wang said.



Iranian officials, however, signaled skepticism toward the latest American proposal.



“Americans will not obtain through a failed war what they failed to gain in face-to-face negotiations,” Iranian parliament official Ebrahim Rezaei wrote on X. “Iran has its finger on the trigger and is ready; if they do not surrender and grant the necessary concessions, or if they or their devilish henchdog allies try to act mischievously, we will deliver a harsh and regret-inducing response.”



Still, regional officials indicated there is growing momentum behind diplomacy.



“The Iranians don’t have the economic means to keep this going,” a Jordanian official told NBC News. “Their economy is failing, they can’t pay salaries.”

Report: Trump Nixed Strait Of Hormuz Operation Due to Pushback From Gulf Allies

Nissim Louk never wanted to be a politician. A mechanical engineer by training, he spent decades staying out of the arena his father once inhabited. Then Hamas killed his daughter. Shani Louk Hy&#8217;d, 22, was abducted from the Nova festival on October 7, 2023, her image — taken to Gaza in the back of a pickup truck — becoming one of the most widely circulated photographs of that day&#8217;s atrocities. She was later confirmed dead.



Now her father is channeling his grief into a new political party, Orot Hashachar &#8211; &#8220;Dawn Light,&#8221; evoking the moment before sunrise when the first light appears on the horizon. The party has been registered with Israel&#8217;s Interior Ministry in Jerusalem and positioning itself to the right of Benjamin Netanyahu&#8217;s Likud on the central question of what to do with Gaza and its population.



&#8220;I&#8217;m not connected to politics,&#8221; Louk told Belaaz in an interview. &#8220;But after the seventh of October, I feel that the land of Israel needs a better future, a better destiny.&#8221;



The party&#8217;s platform, as Louk describes it, rests on a demand that most of Israel&#8217;s established political parties have declined to adopt as official policy: the full transfer of the Palestinian population out of Gaza, Yehuda and Shomron, permanently.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="675" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/91885.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26675" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/91885.jpg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/91885-300x225.jpg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/91885-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



Louk drew a distinction between several Arab populations he believes must be addressed. The first are Palestinians in Gaza and Yehuda and Shomron, whom he described as stateless refugees without Israeli documentation, living there for decades. The second are Israeli Arabs and Bedouins in mixed cities like Jaffa, Akko, and Beersheva who he said have intermarried with Palestinians from Gaza and Yehuda and Shomron, whom he regards as a potential internal security threat. He said the party&#8217;s platform covers all of these groups.



&#8220;We must do a full immigration for all the people of Gaza,&#8221; Louk said. &#8220;This is the first thing.&#8221;



He acknowledged the legal obstacles directly. &#8220;Moving two million people from Gaza to other countries is an international crime — we know it,&#8221; he said. &#8220;There are legal problems, international problems. But we have to fight for it, and we will succeed.&#8221;



Louk said the plan also calls for not rebuilding Gaza after the war, envisioning the territory converted into &#8220;an international park.&#8221;



As for where the displaced population would go, he offered no specific destination, describing it as a diplomatic challenge to be resolved. The second plank of the platform, he said, is preparing Israel to absorb a large wave of Jewish immigration from the diaspora &#8211; particularly from North America and Europe, where he sees growing Muslim political influence as a push factor. The party also calls for investment in education and what Louk described as national renewal.



Orot Hashachar&#8217;s most prominent figure alongside Louk is Jonathan Pollard, who in Israel is widely regarded as a hero; a patriot who sacrificed his freedom for the state.



Pollard, a former civilian intelligence analyst for the United States Navy, pleaded guilty in 1987 to passing classified information to Israel and received a life sentence that drew immediate and sustained criticism from across the American legal and political establishment. Dozens of Americans convicted of the same offense had received sentences averaging twelve years and served an average of four.



Former Attorney General Michael Mukasey, in a letter to President Obama, wrote that in eighteen years on the bench he had imposed life sentences on only four defendants — two murderers and two terrorists — and that Pollard&#8217;s offense &#8220;does not nearly approach any of those.&#8221;



Pollard&#8217;s attorneys long argued that his life sentence was unfairly influenced by the anti-Israeli sentiments of then-Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, whose sealed sentencing memorandum was never made available to the defense. A 2014 letter to President Obama signed by former CIA Director James Woolsey, former Assistant Defense Secretary Lawrence Korb, and former National Security Advisor Robert McFarlane called the sentence &#8220;grossly disproportionate&#8221; and the legal basis for keeping him imprisoned &#8220;patently false.&#8221;



Henry Kissinger, former Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Dennis DeConcini, and every Israeli prime minister from Yitzchak Rabin onward also called for his release.



Pollard himself maintained that he had provided only information vital to Israeli security that was being withheld by the Pentagon in violation of a 1983 intelligence-sharing memorandum between the two countries; including data on Soviet arms shipments to Syria, Iraqi and Syrian chemical weapons programs, the Pakistani nuclear project, and Libyan air defense systems. He was released in 2015 after serving thirty years and made aliyah to Israel in 2020.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="506" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/91861.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-26676" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/91861.webp 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/91861-300x169.webp 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/91861-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



Louk said the two men have spoken extensively by telephone but have not yet met in person, with an in-person meeting planned for this week.



 &#8220;He heard me, and the story of Shani,&#8221; Louk said. &#8220;And when he heard that, he decided to join us. He is a very clever man. He really loves the people of Israel, and he&#8217;s part of us.&#8221;



Pollard, Louk said, brings credibility and intellectual depth to the party&#8217;s foreign policy thinking. &#8220;He knows so many things, and he&#8217;s so smart.&#8221;



A central argument of the party is that Israel&#8217;s governing right wing — including Netanyahu — has failed to act on its professed ideology. &#8220;There is no right party in Israel,&#8221; Louk said flatly. He pointed to the 1998 Wye River Memorandum, under which Netanyahu&#8217;s first government transferred additional territory to the Palestinian Authority, as evidence that the prime minister&#8217;s right-wing credentials are hollow. &#8220;If you give land to the Palestinians,&#8221; Louk said, &#8220;you cannot call yourself right wing in any aspect.&#8221;



He was sharply critical of what he described as a pattern of Israeli military advances in Gaza followed by withdrawals, which he said meant soldiers dying to retake the same ground repeatedly. &#8220;Each time that we conquer an area, soldiers are falling and dying, and the next month we are going back again, and we are conquering the same area for like 10 times,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Twenty soldiers are dying for nothing, because our government does not have a plan.&#8221; Louk invoked President Trump favorably, noting that Trump had proposed relocating Gaza&#8217;s population to other Arab countries. &#8220;Instead of doing that, we waited and waited and waited,&#8221; he said, &#8220;and now America is deciding about what happens in Israel.&#8221;



One question facing any new party on Israel&#8217;s right is whether it can consolidate enough support to clear the electoral threshold and enter the Knesset &#8211; 3.25 percent of the national vote &#8211; rather than siphon votes from existing parties and leave the right weaker overall.



Asked about that risk, Louk said the party intends to serve as a unifying platform for several small right-wing factions and figures who currently cannot pass the threshold independently. He named Moshe Feiglin, the libertarian-nationalist politician who founded the Zehut party and several others. He described these as potential coalition partners within a broader slate, though he acknowledged that negotiations over details were ongoing and no unified list had been finalized.



There is a historical precedent that Louk was asked to address directly: the Kach party, founded by R. Meir Kahane, which advocated Arab expulsion and was banned from the Knesset in 1988 under anti-racism legislation, later designated a terrorist organization by both Israel and the United States. Louk argued that October 7 had fundamentally changed the political environment.



&#8220;Until the seventh of October, we were innocent &#8211; we were nice, and everything went well,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But on the seventh of October, all the people that saw that there was a chance of some kind of negotiation and peace with the Arabs woke up. Now most of the people understand that the peace they always wanted is not a real peace.&#8221;



He also met with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, whose father was assassinated in 1968 by Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian. &#8220;We sat at the table for two hours,&#8221; Louk said. &#8220;I explained to him that there is no future in Gaza for any Palestinian &#8211; the kids in Gaza are going to be terrorists.&#8221;



Louk was careful to describe his political ambitions as time-limited and personal. He said he did not enjoy politics and did not seek a career in it.



&#8220;My aim is only one thing: to avenge the death of my daughter, and to avenge the death of 3,000 people, and to save and help the Jewish people, and to prepare the land for aliyah,&#8221; he said. &#8220;When I finish this &#8211; when the people of Gaza will not be there anymore &#8211; I&#8217;m going to leave politics.&#8221;



Orot Hashachar is formally registered as a political party with the Israeli Interior Ministry, Louk confirmed. Whether it can translate the raw intensity of post-October 7 grief into electoral power &#8211; and whether its platform survives contact with Israeli and international law &#8211; remains to be seen.



Louk&#8217;s daughter Shani&#8217;s name, the bereaved father notes, can be read in a way that translates to the word &#8220;change.&#8221;



&#8220;Shani will bring the change to the people of Israel,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I hope we will rebuild our country again, and the country will be safe.”

Belaaz Interview: Father of Oct. 7 Victim Launches New Party With Jonathan Pollard, Calling for Palestinian Expulsion

A California college professor accused in the death of a 69-year-old Jewish man during a 2023 anti-Israel protest will avoid a trial after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter.



Loay Abdel Fattah Alnaji, 54, of Moorpark, admitted Tuesday to felony involuntary manslaughter and felony battery causing serious bodily injury in connection with the death of Paul Kessler Hy’d, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.



Alnaji, who teaches computer science at Moorpark College, and Kessler had attended opposing demonstrations over the Israel-Hamas war in Thousand Oaks in 2023 when prosecutors say Alnaji hit Kessler in the head with a megaphone during the confrontation.



Authorities said the impact caused Kessler to collapse onto the pavement, where he suffered a fatal head injury.



As part of the plea agreement, Alnaji acknowledged “aggravating factors that he used a weapon and that the victim was particularly vulnerable” and that he had “personally inflicted great bodily injury to Kessler,” prosecutors said.



Although he pleaded guilty, Alnaji is expected to receive formal probation and could spend up to one year in jail, according to the district attorney’s office. He had originally faced a maximum sentence of four years in prison.



“Alnaji should be sentenced to prison for his violent behavior, and our office strongly objects to any lesser sentence,” Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said in a statement.



“While no amount of punishment will ever fully account for the Kessler family loss, a prison commitment underscores the severity of this crime and will deter others from committing similar acts of violence.”



“Mr. Alnaji made a thoughtful decision today, one guided by his family’s well-being and a deep concern for community peace,” Alnaji’s attorney, Ron Bamieh, told The Post.



“The tragedy that befell Mr. Kessler, compounded by the geopolitical tensions surrounding Israel and Gaza, led Mr. Alnaji to reconsider pursuing a full trial,” he added.



Bamieh argued that Kessler approached Alnaji during the protest and “thrust a cellphone in his face while making inflammatory accusations.”



According to the defense attorney, Alnaji had only intended to knock the phone away when he struck Kessler in the head.



“Mr. Kessler suffered from an epidermoid cyst located on his brain stem—a rare condition that had previously caused balance problems and contributed to his falling weeks before the confrontation, witnessed by multiple people,” Mr. Bamieh added.



Bamieh said the central dispute at trial would have focused on whether Kessler’s fall was caused by the blow or by the preexisting medical condition.



Alnaji remains free on $50,000 bail and is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on June 25.

Pro-Palestinian Professor Pleads Guilty In Death Of Jewish Demonstrator Paul Kessler Hy’d

Asked about the timeframe for the United States and Iran to reach an agreement on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) permanently ending the war between them, U.S. President Donald Trump responded that it could take one week.



Speaking during a phone interview with Fox News, the president sounded cautiously optimistic regarding the potential diplomatic breakthrough. However, observers note that Mr. Trump has been known to offer varying timelines pertaining to the ongoing Iran talks during the unprompted phone calls he frequently takes from journalists.



The president&#8217;s timeframe follows a report by Axios earlier in the day, which indicated that the U.S. is expecting a response from Iran regarding the MoU within the next 48 hours. It remains unclear whether Trump is suggesting that an additional few days of negotiations would still be required following Tehran&#8217;s anticipated response.



The prospective agreement reportedly seeks to remove Iran’s highly enriched uranium and place a moratorium on all uranium enrichment for at least 12 years. Nevertheless, the deal would eventually permit limited enrichment and would not mandate the removal of Iran&#8217;s full nuclear stockpile.



Nuclear experts are closely analyzing the reality of dismantling Tehran&#8217;s nuclear infrastructure, particularly following the June 2025 war with Iran and the current conflict.



Analyst David Albright told Channel 12 the recent military conflicts “have changed the situation dramatically.&#8221; Albright noted that satellite imagery demonstrates that Israel “significantly” degraded Iran’s ability to manufacture nuclear weapons through past strikes, though he cautioned that “you can’t eliminate it a hundred percent.”



Addressing the potential removal of the full uranium stockpile, Albright stated that &#8220;given the destruction of [Iran’s] centrifuge program&#8221; during previous U.S. and Israeli military strikes, &#8220;we would really have years before we’d have to think about Iran enriching significant amounts of weapon-grade uranium.&#8221;



Ultimately, Albright emphasized the practical limitations of the current diplomatic efforts. “What you’re trying to do is lengthen the time and reduce the chance of success,” he explained. “If the goal is to eliminate a nuclear program to where it can never be reconstituted or rebuilt, I think that’s not a realistic goal.”

Trump Foresees One-Week Timeframe for U.S.-Iran Agreement; Experts Weigh Nuclear Implications

Azzam al-Hayya, the son of senior Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in eastern Gaza City, according to reports from Al Hadath and Al-Arabiya.



The targeted strike in Gaza marks the latest in Israel&#8217;s ongoing campaign to dismantle the leadership and infrastructure of the Hamas terror organization.



Khalil al-Hayya is a prominent and highly influential figure within the Hamas political bureau. He has served as a key deputy and a major negotiator for the terror group, frequently representing Hamas in international ceasefire and hostage negotiations in Cairo and Doha alongside other senior leaders. The elimination of his son, Azzam, represents a significant personal and organizational blow to the group&#8217;s top echelon.



The IDF has not yet released a formal statement confirming the specific operational details of the strike.

Son of Senior Hamas Leader Khalil al-Hayya Eliminated in Eastern Gaza Strike

Authorities in Antwerp have moved forward with criminal charges against two esteemed mohelim; a decision that has sparked sharp criticism from Jewish leaders and government officials in Israel and the United States.



Rabbi Menachem Margolin, chairman of the European Jewish Association, reacted strongly on Wednesday, warning that the case reflects a broader threat to Jewish life in Europe.



“This is not borderline and not ambiguous-this is antisemitism,&#8221; Margolin declared. “Another red line has been crossed. This prosecution is antisemitic in nature and represents a clear attempt to misuse irrelevant constitutional provisions in order to effectively ban circumcision.&#8221;



He said the charges follow a pattern seen in Europe’s past. “Not similar. Not comparable. Identical in its logic of restriction to what we saw in Europe before the Second World War,&#8221; he said.



Margolin also accused Belgian authorities of selectively enforcing the law. “The same prosecutor’s office that too often closes cases of antisemitism is now choosing to act against Jewish life itself. This crosses a red line.&#8221;



The case has also drawn condemnation from U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Bill White, who criticized the decision in a post on X. “The prosecution of these religious figures (mohels), one of whom is American, is WRONG and won’t be tolerated,” White wrote. “Belgium will be thought of now as antisemitic by the world. Until this is resolved—there is no way around it,” he added.



White was responding to remarks by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who also denounced the charges. “Belgium joins a short and shameful list, together with Ireland, of countries that use criminal law to prosecute Jews for practicing Judaism. This is a scarlet letter on Belgian society,” Sa’ar wrote.



Margolin warned that the implications extend far beyond the individuals involved. “Today it is clear exactly what we are facing,&#8221; he said, criticizing what he described as empty reassurances from European leaders. “All the ‘beautiful words’ of politicians about the importance of Jewish life in Europe mean nothing if they do not act immediately to stop this injustice.&#8221;



Addressing the broader debate, he emphasized the central role of circumcision in Jewish life and its medical standing. “Circumcision has been shown throughout decades of medical research not to be harmful to baby boys-and even to have benefits. Attacking it in this way, only when it concerns Jewish children, is an attack on Jewish life in Europe.&#8221;



He further argued that the prosecution contradicts fundamental rights under Belgian law. “Freedom of religion is a fundamental right in Belgium, and this decision stands in direct contradiction to it.&#8221;



In a stark warning, Margolin said the development sends a troubling message. “The message here is clear: Jews are no longer welcome in Belgium. Belgian Jews are now second-class citizens with limited rights.&#8221;



He added that the European Jewish Association is weighing its response, including the possibility of encouraging emigration. “We will convene a conference to address this issue, including the possibility of emigration from the country,&#8221; he said.



“That it has come to this marks a deeply shameful moment for Belgium,&#8221; Margolin concluded.

Belgium Files Charges Against Mohels, Drawing International Backlash

The IDF announced that 231 Charedi soldiers enlisted this week for combat roles and 131 for combat support positions, falling short of expectations for the latest recruitment cycle.



The IDF had expected roughly 300 combat recruits and 200 support recruits.

IDF: 231 Charedi Soldiers Join IDF Combat Units, 131 in Support Roles — Below Expected Numbers

In the first Israeli strike on the Lebanese capital in weeks, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out a targeted operation in Beirut, successfully eliminating the commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force.



The high-level operation marks a significant blow to the terror organization&#8217;s leadership structure. The Radwan Force, Hezbollah&#8217;s special operations unit, has been the primary driver behind the relentless cross-border attacks that have displaced tens of thousands of residents from northern Israel.



Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the authorization of the strike in a joint statement, emphasizing Israel&#8217;s unwavering commitment to neutralizing threats and restoring security to the northern border.



Joint Statement from the Prime Minister and Defense Minister: &#8220;In accordance with the approval of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, the IDF has just struck in Beirut the commander of the Radwan Force in the Hezbollah terrorist organization in order to eliminate him.



&#8220;Radwan Force terrorists, led by him, were responsible for firing at Israeli communities and harming IDF soldiers.



&#8220;No terrorist has immunity — Israel’s long arm will reach every enemy and murderer.



&#8220;We promised to bring security to the residents of the north — this is how we act, and this is how we will continue to act.&#8221; The targeted elimination reinforces the defense establishment&#8217;s stated objective of dismantling Hezbollah&#8217;s operational capabilities, specifically targeting the commanders responsible for the daily barrages on northern communities. The strike signals a firm continuation of Israel&#8217;s campaign to ensure the eventual safe return of evacuated residents to their homes.

IDF Strikes Beirut, Eliminates Commander of Hezbollah’s Elite Radwan Force

London police announced today that 100 extra officers will now patrol and help protect Jewish neighborhoods after the recent surge in antisemitic attacks, including arsons and the stabbing of two Jewish men last week.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="512" height="384" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/HHP6wETXEAAZk5O.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26643" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/HHP6wETXEAAZk5O.jpg 512w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/HHP6wETXEAAZk5O-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure>



Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley warned that Jewish communities are facing “sustained threats” from extremist groups, as police revealed more than 80 arrests had been made in recent weeks tied to antisemitic incidents and terror investigations.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="506" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/HHP6wEeW0AAposW.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26644" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/HHP6wEeW0AAposW.jpg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/HHP6wEeW0AAposW-300x169.jpg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/HHP6wEeW0AAposW-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



British officials are also preparing new laws targeting Iran-linked groups accused of recruiting criminals online to attack Jewish and Israeli targets, with prosecutors warning: “If we allow this behavior to become normalized, then its seriousness will become diminished, and the problem of antisemitism will continue to grow.”

London Police Deploy 100 Extra Officers to Protect Jewish Neighbourhoods Amid Surge in Antisemitic Attacks

The Anti-Defamation League said Wednesday that 2025 was one of the most violent years for Jews in the United States, even as total antisemitic incidents declined from the previous year. The group’s annual audit released today found a sharp rise in physical attacks despite an overall drop in reported cases.



The audit recorded 6,274 antisemitic incidents in 2025, a 33% decrease from 9,354 in 2024, but still the third-highest total ever documented by the ADL. At the same time, assaults rose to 203 incidents, a 4% increase, while assaults involving a deadly weapon jumped nearly 40%, from 23 to 32 cases.



ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said the findings reflect a shift toward more dangerous forms of antisemitism. “Numbers that would have shocked us five years ago are now our floor,” he said. “People are being murdered because of antisemitism on American soil, and thousands more are threatened.” Three people were killed in antisemitic attacks in the U.S. in 2025, according to the report.



Other categories saw significant declines. Vandalism dropped 21% and harassment fell 39%, while campus incidents plunged 66% following the collapse of anti-Israel protest encampments that had driven a surge in 2024. Incidents tied to Israel or Zionism also declined, accounting for 45% of cases, down from 58% the year before.



Geographically, the highest number of incidents occurred in New York, followed by California, New Jersey, Florida and Pennsylvania. The ADL said the data shows that while overall activity has decreased, violence has become a more central feature of antisemitism in the United States.

ADL Says Antisemitic Assaults Hit Record High in 2025; Total Incidents Dropped

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged Charedi party leaders in recent days to remove the controversial draft exemption law from the agenda until after upcoming elections, according to multiple Hebrew media reports, though officials have issued conflicting accounts and denials.



In conversations with senior Charedi figures, Netanyahu argued that “There is no majority in the Knesset plenum to pass the law moments before the primaries and elections” and added, “This does not need to be on the agenda right now.” He reportedly suggested advancing the legislation only after elections, saying that at that stage “Knesset members are waiting for positions, and then the law’s approval can be forced.”



However, reports diverge on his actual position. While Behadrei Charedim and Israel Hayom described efforts to delay the law, Ynet cited Charedi sources claiming Netanyahu is specifically pushing to pass it immediately. Meanwhile, the office of Moshe Gafni denied that any request to delay the legislation had been made.



The political fallout has already begun. Yitzhak Goldknopf, chairman of United Torah Judaism, said in response to the reports: “The cat is out of the bag. As I said from the beginning, Netanyahu has no intention and never had any intention of honoring the coalition agreement and the commitment to the Charedi parties. The dispute comes as the Charedi draft exemption law remains stalled under mounting legal and political pressure following a 2024 Israeli Supreme Court ruling against blanket exemptions for yeshiva bochurim.

Reports: Netanyahu Asked Charedi Parties to Delay Draft Exemption Law Until After Elections

Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy won the Republican primary for governor of Ohio on Tuesday, setting up what is expected to be a competitive general election contest this fall against Democratic nominee Amy Acton, a former state health director who ran unopposed in her party&#8217;s primary.



Ramaswamy, who gained national prominence during the 2024 Republican presidential primary before withdrawing and endorsing President Donald Trump, now returns to his home state as the GOP standard-bearer in the governor&#8217;s race. Early polls show the race between Ramaswamy and Acton to be closely contested.



Ohio Democrats, buoyed by competitive polling in both the governor&#8217;s and Senate races, are expressing cautious optimism about their prospects in a state that has trended Republican in recent cycles. &#8220;It just feels like Ohio is back,&#8221; said state Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Clyde. It has been twenty years since Ohio last elected a Democrat as governor.



In Indiana, President Trump&#8217;s aggressive intervention in the state&#8217;s Republican primary elections yielded sweeping results Tuesday, as Trump-backed challengers defeated five of the seven incumbent state senators he had targeted for ouster. The incumbents had drawn the president&#8217;s ire last December when they voted to block a redrawn congressional map he had championed, which was designed to deliver two additional House seats to Republicans ahead of the fall midterm elections.



Trump-endorsed challengers Blake Fiechter, Tracey Powell, Michelle Davis, Brian Schmutzler, and Trevor De Vries each defeated their incumbent opponents. Fiechter&#8217;s victory was particularly notable, as he unseated state Sen. Travis Holdman, a member of the Republican Senate leadership. One Trump-backed challenger lost, with incumbent Greg Goode successfully defending his seat — the only senator among the seven to have held public listening sessions with constituents on the redistricting question before casting his vote against the map.



Roughly $12 million was spent on advertising across the seven Indiana contests, the bulk of it by Trump-allied outside groups opposing the incumbents, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact. The results represent a significant display of the president&#8217;s continued hold over the Republican base, as GOP voters largely sided with his push to reshape the state party in his image.



The Indiana races drew an additional subplot, as former Vice President Mike Pence broke publicly with Trump by endorsing incumbent state Sen. Jim Buck in the District 21 contest. Buck went on to lose to Trump-backed challenger Tracey Powell.



In Ohio&#8217;s Senate primary, former Sen. Sherrod Brown won the Democratic nomination, setting up a general election rematch of sorts against Republican Sen. Jon Husted, who was appointed to the seat after Vance became vice president. Brown, a three-term senator who lost his seat in 2024, is seeking a political comeback in what early polls suggest could be a closely fought race.

Ramaswamy Wins Ohio GOP Gov. Primary; Trump-Backed Challengers Sweep Indiana State Senate Races

Health authorities say a rare and highly dangerous strain of hantavirus &#8211; capable of spreading between people and carrying a mortality rate of about 40% &#8211; is likely behind the outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship, where three passengers have died and seven others have fallen ill.



While hantavirus is typically transmitted through contact with rodent waste, officials warned that this unusual strain appears to break that pattern &#8211; a possibility the World Health Organization said Tuesday “can’t be ruled out.”



Authorities in Cape Verde have refused to allow the Dutch-flagged vessel to dock, explaining the decision was made with the “aim of protecting national public health.”



The outbreak emerged during the ship’s voyage from Argentina to Cape Verde, and no passengers have been permitted to disembark so far, according to the cruise operator.



“We do believe that there may be some human-to-human transmission that is happening among the really close contacts,” said Maria Van Kerkhove, the World Health Organization’s epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention director.



The suspected strain, known as the Andes virus, is typically found in mountainous regions of Argentina and Chile. Although the MV Hondius departed Argentina on March 20, it did not originate from an area where the strain is commonly detected.



With a fatality rate approaching 40%, the Andes strain poses a severe risk, particularly in a confined setting like the 80-cabin vessel carrying roughly 150 people, where infections could escalate rapidly.



Concerns about this strain intensified after the WHO reported no evidence of rodents aboard the ship, which remained anchored off Cape Verde on Tuesday.



Medical teams in full protective gear have boarded the vessel to assist with suspected cases involving two crew members &#8211; one British and one Dutch &#8211; while also testing other passengers and crew showing symptoms.



The WHO believes the first infected passenger may have contracted the virus before boarding, Van Kerkhove said.



“Our working hypothesis is that there’s probably a couple of different types of transmission that might be happening,” she told BBC Breakfast Tuesday, noting that passengers visited multiple islands where exposure to infected rodents &#8211; through waste or saliva &#8211; could have occurred.



Spain has reportedly granted the ship permission to dock in the Canary Islands, though its health ministry pushed back on claims that a final decision has been made.



“Depending on epidemiological data gathered from the boat as it travels past Cape Verde, the most appropriate next stop for it will be decided,” the ministry said in a statement.



“Until then, the health ministry will not take a decision, as we have explained to the WHO.”

WHO Warns Of Rare 40% Fatal Strain of Hantavirus as Outbreak Traps Cruise Ship

It is with sadness that we report the petirah of Harav Rachamim Eliyahu Mazuz, zt“l, senior posek of Yeshivas Kisei Rachamim in Bnei Brak, nasi of the Machon Harav Matzliach sefarim institute. He passed away after an extended illness at Mayanei HaYeshuah Hospital in Bnei Brak.



Rav Rachamim was born on the 17th of Kislev, 5709, in Tunisia, into the illustrious Maazuz family. He was the younger brother of the previous Rosh Yeshivah of Kisei Rachamim, Harav Meir Mazuz, zt“l, and the brother of the current Rosh Heshivah, Harav Tzamach Mazuz, shlit”a. His father was Harav Matzliach Mazuz, zt“l, the author of the Ish Matzliach, Hy”d, who was murdered in Tunisia.



From his earliest youth, the Rav displayed extraordinary gifts in halachah. His father would pose complex shailos to him for analysis, recognizing in him a singular mastery of the works of the Acharonim and shailos v’teshuvos sefarim.



Following the murder of his father, Rav Rachamim was the first of the family to leave Tunisia for Eretz Yisrael, acting on a dream his mother a”h, had received. After a delay of approximately two and a half months in a transit camp in France and roughly a week’s voyage by sea through Greece, the family arrived in Eretz Yisrael.



Rav Rachamim devoted his life to a singular mission: preserving, editing, and disseminating the writings of his father. He served as nasi of Machon Harav Matzliach, the institute established under the auspices of Yeshivas Kisei Rachamim for the publication of his father’s works, including the Shu”t Ish Matzliach and the sefer Matzmiach Yeshuah.



According to B&#8217;Chadrei Charedim, Rav Rachamim became widely known among the broader public especially through his haga’os on the Ish Matzliach’s perush on the Mishnah Berurah. Earlier in his career, he also edited with great erudition the sefer VaYomer Yitzchak of his rebbe, Rav Yitzchak Bachunik, and the sefer Mishpat Kasuv of Rav Yisrael Zeitoun.



For more than forty years, Rav Rachamim led the kollel of Yeshivas Kiseh Rachamim. He also delivered shiurim to outstanding yeshivah talmidim.



His style in halachic writing earned him extraordinary recognition. Harav David Yosef, shlit”a, the Rishon LeTzion, testified: “I am thoroughly familiar with the style of my great father, Rav Ovadiah Yosef, zt“l &#8211; but the only one whose writings I read and confuse with those of my father is Harav Rachamim Mazuz.”



Last Cheshvan, as his medical condition deteriorated, the names Chaim and Shalom were added to his name following consultation with his brother, Rosh Yeshivah Harav Tzamach Mazuz, shlit”a, and his son-in-law, Harav Eliyahu Binyamin Madar. At that time, Harav David Yosef issued a public call to Klal Yisrael: “The public in Eretz Yisrael does not sufficiently know who this great gaon is — he is a towering giant in Torah, a wondrous genius whom our generation has not sufficiently recognized. He is a talmid chacham who protects the generation, and it is fitting that we all daven for his complete recovery.”



 Rav Rachamim is survived by his wife, Rabbanit Tamar, as well as by sons, sons-in-law, and grandchildren who continue his unique legacy.



The levayah will be held Wednesday from Bnei Brak and proceed to Yerushalayim, where kevurah will be held on Har HaZeisim, in the chelkah of his father.



Yehi zichro baruch.

BDE: Harav Rachamim Mazuz, zt“l, Posek of Kisei Rachamim

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth maintained Tuesday that the cease-fire with Iran remains intact, even as tensions surged following a wave of aggression from Tehran on Monday and acknowledgment from America’s top general that Iran has carried out at least 10 attacks on US forces since the truce began April 8.



“Not over. Ultimately, this is a separate and distinct project,” Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon while discussing the Trump administration’s effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. “We said we would defend and defend aggressively, and we absolutely have.”



“The president is going to make a decision whether anything were to escalate into a violation of a cease-fire,” Hegseth went on. “Certainly, we would urge Iran to be prudent in the actions that they take to keep that underneath this threshold. This is about the straits. This is about freedom of navigation. This is about international waterways. This is about the free flow of commerce.”



Despite the cease-fire declaration, Iran has “fired at commercial vessels nine times and seized two container ships, and they’ve attacked US forces more than 10 times, all below the threshold of restarting major combat operations,” according to Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.



Caine characterized the maritime assaults as “low, harassing fire,” adding that he believes Tehran is “grasping at straws to try to do something across the southern flank” while the regime struggles to maintain internal control at lower levels.



On Monday, the US military initiated “Project Freedom,” aimed at ensuring safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz after Iranian actions disrupted shipping lanes and drove oil prices above $110 per barrel.



As of Tuesday, approximately 22,500 mariners remain “trapped” aboard more than 1,550 commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf amid the ongoing standoff, Caine said.



Hegseth, however, insisted that “the lane is clear” for maritime traffic, pointing to two US-flagged commercial vessels that successfully navigated the strait Monday under destroyer escort.



“We know the Iranians are embarrassed by this fact. They said they control the strait. They do not. So American ships led the way. Commercial and military,” the secretary of war said.



“As a direct gift from the United States to the world, we have established a powerful red, white, and blue dome over the strait,” Hegseth added. “These international waters belong to all nations, not to Iran to tax, toll or control our partners, allies, and the rest of the world.”



During the briefing, both Hegseth and Caine dismissed reports suggesting Iran may be deploying explosive-laden dolphins to obstruct the strait, while stopping short of fully addressing whether the US possesses similar capabilities.



“It’s still pretty low-level kinetics at this point in time, and I can’t confirm or deny whether we have kamikaze dolphins &#8211; but I can confirm they don’t,” Hegseth said.



Caine laughed off the claims.



“I haven’t heard the kamikaze dolphin thing. It’s like sharks with laser beams, right?” he said, referencing a plot element from the 1997 satire “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.”



A recent Wall Street Journal report cited Iranian officials as claiming the regime had considered deploying dolphins equipped with mines to target US naval vessels, though no independent evidence has confirmed such a capability.

Cease-Fire In Name Only? Hegseth Downplays Iranian Attacks As Tensions Escalate In Strait Of Hormuz

President Donald Trump on Monday called on Americans to observe a national Shabbos later this month, as part of his proclamation marking Jewish American Heritage Month. The observance will take place from sundown May 15 through nightfall May 16, during the United States’ 250th anniversary year.



Trump said Americans of all backgrounds are encouraged to take part, describing the day as a time for “rest, reflection, and gratitude.” The call is tied to the broader “Rededicate 250” events marking the anniversary.



The proclamation also formally designates May 2026 as Jewish American Heritage Month and highlights Jewish contributions to the country’s history. . Trump wrote that Jewish Americans have shown an “unwavering commitment to the values that make our country great — faith, family, and freedom.”



He also addressed rising antisemitism, saying his administration is working to combat attacks and hold offenders accountable. “I will never stop fighting to protect our birthright of religious freedom,” Trump said.



The proclamation also cited George Washington’s 1790 letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, which stated that the United States “gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.”

Trump Calls for National Shabbos During Jewish Heritage Month

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani came out of a coma Monday and was awake and speaking while continuing treatment in a Florida hospital after battling pneumonia, longtime friend John Catsimatidis told reporters.



Catsimatidis said he received the update Monday afternoon from a close former aide to the 81-year-old. “He’s talking, he’s alert. To me, that’s great news,’’ the supermarket and media mogul told reporters.



Giuliani was hospitalized over the weekend after falling ill with a serious respiratory infection, his business partner Tom von Essen &#8211; the city’s fire commissioner during 9/11 &#8211; said.



“Rudy had a tough weekend. He had pneumonia,” von Essen told The NY Post, describing Monday as “an important day’’ in terms of Giuliani’s recovery.



A spokesman for Giuliani, Ted Goodman, confirmed to the Post the former mayor was recovering from pneumonia and remained under observation as a precaution.



He is now breathing independently, with family members and his primary doctor by his side, the spokesman said.



“Mayor Giuliani is the ultimate fighter &#8211; as he has demonstrated throughout his life &#8211; and he is winning this battle,” Goodman said.



The illness is linked to a chronic condition tied to Giuliani’s exposure during the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, his representative added.



“On September 11th, Mayor Giuliani ran toward the towers to help those in need, which led to a restrictive airway disease diagnosis,” the spokesman said.



“This disease adds complications to any emerging respiratory issue, and the virus quickly overwhelmed his body, requiring mechanical ventilation to maintain his blood pressure.”



The latest update followed Sunday’s disclosure that Giuliani &#8211; a close ally of President Trump &#8211; was in critical but stable condition with an unspecified illness at the time.



Messages of support poured in, including from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.



“Absolutely, I’m wishing strength and recovery to former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and his loved ones during this difficult time. And I hope that his recovery is steady, and I hope that his family finds peace in one another during this time,” Mamdani said during a press conference.



“I think former Mayor Giuliani is someone that we, as New Yorkers, know well, and he’s been a fixture in our city’s politics and public life for so many years, and I know that many New Yorkers are concerned by reports he is in critical condition and so we do keep him and his family in our prayers at this time,” he added.



Former New York Gov. George Pataki told the Post he had been expecting to see Giuliani at a charity event later in the week.



“I was looking forward to seeing him … and being able to talk at length,’’ Pataki said. “I haven’t talked to him in a few months.



“We were great partners for the city and the state for seven years together, and we were able to just do a tremendous amount to make the city and state a better place by working together.



“So obviously now we just hope he gets better,’’ Pataki said.



Pataki said he was stunned to learn Giuliani had been hospitalized.



“It was just a shock’’ to learn Giuliani was even hospitalized, he said.



“You just take for granted that figures that have such a large profile in our state and our country will be around for a long time,’’ he added.



At the same media gathering, WABC host Dominic Carter also expressed support, saying, “History is going to judge [Giuliani] as the greatest mayor of New York City ever.”



Asked about their long friendship &#8211; despite past legal disputes &#8211; Catsimatidis said the bond remains strong.



“Friends for 40 years, brothers for 40 years,’’ he said.

Report: Giuliani Emerges From Coma, Awake And Speaking

A grassroots effort to bring back Spirit Airlines has drawn more than $22 million in pledges within a day of the carrier’s shutdown. The campaign, “Let’s Buy Spirit,” aims to relaunch the airline as a community-owned company modeled after the Green Bay Packers football team, with support from former passengers, employees, and aviation enthusiasts who say the low-cost carrier played a key role in keeping fares affordable.



Spirit Airlines ceased operations on May 2 after years of financial pressure, failed merger attempts, and rising costs. The airline grounded its fleet, canceled all flights, and ended a 34-year run, leaving passengers scrambling for alternatives. Its final revenue flight landed at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport shortly before the closure was announced.



Organizers behind the campaign say the goal is to give everyday travelers a stake in the future of low-cost aviation, branding Spirit as “The People’s Carrier.” The effort has gained traction on social media, where supporters are sharing plans for a restructured airline, though key details remain unclear.



The proposal would shift ownership away from traditional investors toward broad public participation. While the idea has sparked interest, aviation experts note the industry’s high costs, regulatory barriers, and operational challenges would make any revival difficult.



Supporters argue Spirit’s disappearance could drive up ticket prices, pointing to the airline’s long-standing role in pushing competitors to lower fares through its ultra-low-cost model.

Grassroots Campaign To Revive Spirit Airlines Surpasses $22 Million In Pledges

The Jewish community of Rego Park, Queens, awoke to a disturbing scene on Monday morning after multiple institutions, private homes, and a vehicle were targeted with antisemitic vandalism.



Spray-painted swastikas and the word &#8220;Hitler&#8221; were discovered defacing several properties throughout the neighborhood. Among the targeted communal locations were the Machaneh Chodosh shul and the Rego Park Jewish Center. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="436" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/87108.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26601" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/87108.jpg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/87108-300x145.jpg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/87108-768x372.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



The hateful graffiti was also found tagged on a local preschool building, an act that has caused considerable distress for parents and educators arriving at the start of the week.



In addition to the communal and educational institutions, the vandals targeted private property. The spray-painted symbols were found on several neighborhood homes and at least one car parked in the area.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="626" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/87113.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26600" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/87113.jpg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/87113-300x209.jpg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/87113-768x534.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



The discovery of the graffiti on Monday morning prompted immediate concern and heightened security awareness within the Queens Jewish community. Incidents of this nature, involving the targeted vandalization of houses of worship and early childhood centers with hate symbols, are typically referred to the NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force for investigation.



Authorities were notified as the community awaits further developments in identifying the perpetrators responsible for the desecration.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="447" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/87117.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26595" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/87117.jpg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/87117-300x149.jpg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/87117-768x381.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



City Council Speaker Julie Menin visited the scene of the incidents, and wrote on X: &#8220;When rabbis and congregants arrived to pray this morning, they expected to be met with their usual loving community. When a family woke up, they were prepared to begin an otherwise normal week. Instead, they were met with terrifying signals of hatred and threats of violence.



&#8220;We have visited some of these locations and are in contact with the NYPD, which is investigating and searching for at least four individuals responsible for the terrible incidents. The graffiti will be removed once the investigation is complete.&#8221;



&#8220;With antisemitism on the rise here and across the globe, we will always stand up for our Jewish community and fight back against hate.&#8221;



Queens Jewish Alliance head Sorolle Idels told Belaaz that &#8220;The fear is real. Hate isn’t isolated—it’s showing up regularly, here in NYC and beyond. Jews everywhere are feeling it.What will it take to feel safe? What can we do? Thank you to Speaker Menin, Council Members Schulman and Wong, the NYPD 112 pct, and Queens Shmira for being on the scene this morning.&#8221;



&#8220;Our mayor is notably absent.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="880" height="1024" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/87160-880x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26599" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/87160-880x1024.jpg 880w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/87160-258x300.jpg 258w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/87160-768x893.jpg 768w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/87160.jpg 900w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 880px) 100vw, 880px" /></figure>



Footage of the incident was first published by FreedomNews.

Swastikas and Antisemitic Graffiti Found on Shuls and Homes in Rego Park, Queens

The Buyaner Rebbe is leading the Lag Baomer Hadlakah in Meron tonight, Monday, joined by a limited crowd, amid strict security restrictions put in place by Prime Minister Netanyahu.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="jeg_video_container jeg_video_content"><iframe loading="lazy" title="ל&quot;ג בעומר תשפ&quot;ו | ושידור חי מההדלקה המרכזית בראשות כ&quot;ק מרן אדמו&quot;ר מבאיאן שליט&quot;א | אתרא קדישא מירון" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f0l9XjlJaAk?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
</div></figure>

WATCH LIVE: Buyan Lag Baomer Hadlakah in Meron

The United States military announced on Monday that two American-flagged merchant ships successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz, marking the initial phase of a concerted effort to break the ongoing Iranian naval blockade in the region.



The initiative, dubbed “Project Freedom,” has positioned U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers in the Arabian Gulf to assist in restoring vital maritime routes for global commercial shipping.



According to statements from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the operation is currently functioning as a humanitarian extraction mission rather than a direct military confrontation. While the U.S. Navy is actively providing foreign commercial vessels with navigational intelligence &#8211; particularly regarding sea lanes free of Iranian mines &#8211; officials clarified that American warships are not currently providing direct escorts. Instead, a robust force comprising naval vessels, aircraft, and 15,000 troops remains &#8220;in the vicinity&#8221; and on high alert to intervene if Iranian forces attack the merchant ships.



The commencement of Project Freedom was immediately met with aggressive posturing and conflicting reports from Tehran. Iran’s Fars news agency claimed on Monday that Iranian forces fired two missiles at a U.S. warship near Jask Island after the vessel allegedly ignored Iranian warnings, forcing the American ship to retreat.



Furthermore, Iranian state media asserted that U.S. warships were actively prevented from entering the Strait. Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya emergency headquarters issued a severe warning, stating: &#8220;We have declared that the security of the Strait of Hormuz is in the hands of Iranian forces&#8230; We warn that any foreign armed force, and especially the U.S. military, will be attacked if it attempts to approach or enter the Strait of Hormuz.&#8221;



However, a senior U.S. official firmly rejected these claims, confirming to Axios that no American vessels had been struck or damaged by Iranian fire.



The current parameters of Project Freedom reflect a strategic choice by President Donald Trump to avoid immediate military escalation. According to reports, President Trump rejected a significantly more aggressive strategy proposed on Thursday night by CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper.



Adm. Cooper’s plan would have involved forcing passage through the Strait, pre-emptively striking any Iranian missile batteries or attack boats, and committing the U.S. to a broader conflict if Iran retaliated against Gulf nations. Frustrated by a stalemate that offered neither war nor a peaceful resolution, the President ultimately opted for a more measured approach.



A source close to the President noted to Israeli media that while the current operation lacks direct naval escorts, it serves as the &#8220;beginning of a process that could lead to a confrontation.&#8221; The source added, &#8220;If the Iranians do something, they will be the bad guys and we will have the legitimacy to act.&#8221;



Behind the scenes, diplomatic efforts to secure a lasting agreement are ongoing, though heavily complicated by Iranian internal dynamics. A senior U.S. official told Arutz 7 that offers are being exchanged, but progress is exceptionally slow due to the uncertain status of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. &#8220;They’re carrying messages by hand to caves or wherever he or whoever is hiding,&#8221; the official noted.



US Mideast Envoy Steve Witkoff remains a strong proponent of a diplomatic resolution and is reportedly pushing the President to stay the course on negotiations. However, the window for diplomacy may be narrowing. As one senior U.S. official starkly summarized, &#8220;It’s either we’re looking at the real contours of an achievable deal soon, or he’s going to bomb the [daylights] out of them.&#8221;



The blockade and subsequent military buildup have drawn sharp condemnation from regional allies. The United Arab Emirates issued a strong statement following an Iranian drone attack on an Emirati commercial ship in the Strait. &#8220;The Iranian aggression continues unabated, with acts of maritime piracy,&#8221; UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash stated on X. Gargash emphasized that Iran’s ongoing threat &#8220;to the security and stability of the region continues and cannot be ignored,&#8221; reaffirming the UAE&#8217;s steadfast commitment to upholding freedom of navigation in the vital international corridor.

U.S. Forces Initiate ‘Project Freedom’ to Break Iranian Blockade in Strait of Hormuz

Switzerland’s Federal Intelligence Service said Monday it will allow access to a long-sealed file on Nazi war criminal Josef Mengele, potentially shedding light on whether the Auschwitz doctor hid in or passed through Switzerland after World War II.



The move reverses a February 2026 decision denying access to the file. Swiss officials said the change came after confirming it had already been reviewed by the Bergier Commission, which investigated Switzerland’s actions during World War II. Under a 2001 government ruling, such files are meant to be opened under more lenient access rules. “The appellant will thus obtain access to the file under conditions and modalities still to be defined,” the Federal Intelligence Service said.



The appeal was brought by Bern historian Gérard Wettstein, who has been seeking access to the file through the Federal Administrative Court. His central question is whether Mengele was in Kloten, near Zurich, in 1961, and whether Swiss authorities failed to arrest one of the world’s most wanted Nazi fugitives.



Mengele, known as the “Angel of Death,” served as an SS doctor at Auschwitz, where he carried out selections and brutal medical experiments, especially on twins. After the war, he fled Europe, lived for years in South America, and died in Brazil in 1979 without facing trial.



The file, transferred to the Swiss Federal Archives in 2001, was previously expected to remain sealed until 2071 because the last documents were added in 1991, restarting an 80-year protection period. Its opening could now provide long-awaited answers about whether Switzerland was part of one of the most infamous Nazi escape routes.

Switzerland Opens Secret Mengele File on Possible Zurich Escape Route

A sweeping recycling proposal in New York would require many companies to eliminate plastic wrap from packaging, prompting critics to warn that essential items like diapers and toilet paper could be left vulnerable to damage.



The proposed Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act would mandate that companies earning more than $5 million annually reduce and eventually phase out non-reusable or toxic packaging, replacing it with environmentally friendly alternatives.



Similar packaging laws have already been implemented in several states, including Maryland, Maine, Oregon, Colorado, California, and Minnesota, as well as in certain countries.



Under the proposal, manufacturers would need to cut non-environmentally friendly packaging by 10% within three years and by 30% over a 12-year period.



The legislation would also require companies to ensure that at least 5% of their packaging is reusable or refillable by 2032, increasing to 10% by 2040 and 20% by 2055.



In addition, at least 25% of packaging would need to be recyclable by 2032, rising to 50% by 2040 and 75% by 2055.



“New York State must follow suit to meet the moment for environmental accountability,” said a memo supporting the bill, sponsored by Assemblywoman Deborah Glick and state Sen. Peter Harckham.



“This legislation shifts the onus of recycling and waste hauling for packaging from municipalities and residents and ensures that producers of products are serving our interests by establishing solutions to sustainable packaging,” the memo said.



The measure would impose financial penalties on companies that fail to meet the new standards, with the revenue directed toward recycling programs and infrastructure.



Industry representatives and supermarket groups argue the changes would force a shift from protective plastic to less effective paper packaging, increasing the risk of damaged goods.



“Even with its recent amendments it will eliminate the plastic film packaging that keeps essential products like toilet paper, paper towels, and diapers dry and sanitary,” Dan Felton, president and CEO of the Flexible Packaging Association told the NY Post.



“Without it, retailers and consumers face increased product damage, higher replacement costs, and less reliable shelf availability.



“We agree that we must improve recycling systems and reduce waste, but good public policy will also avoid higher costs and keep critical packaging in place to protect public health,” he said.



Nelson Eusebio of the National Supermarkets Association warned that even modest policy shifts could quickly raise costs for working-class communities.



“For independent supermarkets serving New York City’s working-class and minority communities, even modest shifts in packaging policy can quickly translate into higher costs for families,&#8221; he told the Post.



“When changes move forward without scalable, commercially viable alternatives, those costs ripple through the supply chain and affect prices at the register.”



A similar version of the bill cleared the state Senate last year but failed in the Assembly amid opposition from plastics manufacturers.



The legislation comes as Gov. Kathy Hochul negotiates with lawmakers over easing deadlines tied to the state’s 2019 climate law, which aims to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydro power.



Lawmakers behind the bill said it has undergone significant revisions, with roughly 150 changes, including extended timelines for compliance and adjustments to restrictions on certain materials.



“The underlying challenge has not changed. New York is facing a growing solid waste and pollution crisis, and the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act is a real solution that must be passed this year,” Glick said.



Harckham said the revised bill reflects input from industry stakeholders.



“We have forged a middle ground with these amendments to our bill, and now we are working to finally gain the necessary legislative and executive approvals that will save New Yorkers millions of dollars each year while helping to protect our environment,” he said.



The measure has gained support from multiple environmental organizations and the state Association of Counties, which argue that excessive plastic waste is overwhelming landfill capacity.



“New Yorkers are drowning in plastic waste, and for too long, taxpayers have been stuck with the bill while multi-billion-dollar companies pump toxic chemicals into our communities,” said Judith Enck, founder of Beyond Plastics and a former regional administrator for the US Environmental Protection Agency.



“These amendments are a major concession to the plastic industry, but the foundation of the bill remains important, necessary and impactful. We cannot afford another year of inaction.”



Business groups, however, maintain that the proposal would still impose heavy burdens on companies and consumers despite the revisions.



“This proposal includes requirements – such as stringent source reduction targets, material restrictions, and limited flexibility – that go well beyond those in EPR laws adopted by other states, most recently Minnesota, Washington, and Maryland,” a joint statement from the Business Council of New York State and the American Institute for Packaging and the Environment said.



“If adopted, this bill would impose significant operational challenges on business and result in significant impacts on consumer costs and product availability.”

New York Bill Targeting Plastic Packaging Sparks Fears Of Higher Costs, Damaged Goods

Israel believes Hezbollah is preparing to launch rockets toward the Meron area during Lag Baomer festivities, according to a report aired Sunday evening by Kan News, as heightened tensions continue surrounding the planned events.



Even though the main celebration at the kever of Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai has been called off, police are bracing for the possibility that extremist groups may still attempt to reach the area and clash with security forces. Officials are preparing for scenarios that could involve violence, including the potential use of tear gas.



As part of the security response, police have reached out to multiple bus companies, instructing them not to operate transportation to Meron. Authorities expect roads to be blocked, preventing access to the mountain and surrounding areas.



Separately, the three lighting ceremonies that had been scheduled for Monday may also be canceled due to severe weather conditions. Forecasts indicate that evening winds could reach speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour, raising additional safety concerns.



Under the revised plan, only three lightings were initially approved this year &#8211; a major significant reduction from the usual 19 &#8211; with attendance capped at approximately 200 participants.

Report Warns Of Hezbollah Threat To Meron Celebrations

A handwritten siddur rooted in the teachings of Harav Yitzchak Luria, zt&#8221;l — the Arizal &#8211; will be displayed publicly for the first time beginning Lag B&#8217;Omer at the ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv.



The 16th-century manuscript, reproduced in the museum&#8217;s 18th century copy, is particularly fitting for the Lag B&#8217;Omer season. It was the Arizal who is chiefly credited with emphasizing the importance of the day, and the siddur preserves his kavanos — the meditative intentions composed to direct one&#8217;s thoughts during tefillah.



The siddur contains detailed written instructions for the kavanos alongside visual elements including diagrams and tables intended to guide the mispalel.



Written in ink on paper and bound in an ornate leather cover adorned with leather panels and gold leaf, the manuscript was copied by hand in 1749 in the town of Stanov — then part of Poland, today within Ukraine — by the sofer Yisrael ben Raphael Segal.

Rare Siddur With Kavanos Arizal Goes on Public Display for Lag B’Omer

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and Energy Minister Eli Cohen emerged as the top vote-recipients in an informal “mini-primary” held during the Likud party’s weekend “Likudiada” gathering in Eilat, offering an early glimpse into activist sentiment ahead of anticipated primaries in the coming months, as national elections are currently scheduled for October.



The event drew criticism for taking place while fighting with Hezbollah terrorists continues, including ongoing rocket and drone attacks on northern Israeli communities. Despite that backdrop, most cabinet members attended the weekend conference in the southern resort city.



Rounding out the top 10 in the informal vote were Transportation Minister Miri Regev, Science and Technology Minister Gila Gamliel, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, Knesset Economics Committee chairman David Bitan, MK Sasson Guetta, Coalition Whip Ofir Katz, and MK Tally Gotliv.



Economy Minister Nir Barkat, who has previously pointed to internal polling showing him as a potential successor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, placed 15th. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi ranked 17th, while Education Minister Yoav Kisch finished in 20th place.



The results reflect the views of approximately 2,000 party activists who attended the conference, rather than the broader Likud membership of about 120,000. While the outcome offers insight into grassroots preferences, it is not considered a reliable predictor of primary results. In a previous conference in 2022, both Regev and Gamliel ranked highly in similar polling but ultimately secured lower positions on the party’s final list.



Even so, such rankings are closely followed within Likud circles as an early signal of internal support ahead of primaries that have yet to be officially scheduled.

Likud Conference Straw Poll Shows Ohana, Eli Cohen Leading

Some of the most notorious murderers in history &#8211; including the “Son of Sam” murderer David Berkowitz &#8211; could be eligible for release if two parole reform bills under consideration in Albany are approved, critics caution.



One proposal, known as the Elder Parole bill, would allow inmates convicted of violent crimes to seek early parole once they reach age 55 and have served at least 15 years, regardless of the severity of their offenses.



A second measure, the Fair and Timely Parole bill, would direct the state parole board to grant release to inmates unless they are deemed a current threat to public safety, placing less emphasis on the nature of their original crimes.



Both pieces of legislation could lead to the release of inmates serving life sentences, including those convicted of especially brutal killings.



“Consider some of the most heinous and noteworthy people in . . . prison today, they will undoubtedly be released within the next two years if these bills are signed into law,” a law enforcement source told the NY Post.



The Elder Parole bill is sponsored by Sen. Cordell Cleare of Harlem and Assemblywoman Maritza Davilla of Brooklyn.



Under that legislation, inmates granted parole would be placed under community supervision as though they had completed their full sentences. If denied parole, they must receive a written explanation detailing the reasons and would automatically become eligible again after two years.



That process would require victims’ families to repeatedly return to parole hearings to oppose the release of those convicted of killing their loved ones.



The Fair and Timely Parole bill is sponsored by state Sen. Julia Salazar and Assemblyman David Weprin.



The proposal would make it easier for inmates with strong disciplinary records behind bars to be released, regardless of the brutality of their crimes.



Advocacy group The People’s Campaign for Parole Justice says the bill would “provide more meaningful parole reviews.”



Raphael Mangual of the Manhattan Institute said momentum for the legislation appears to be building in Albany and could lead to passage this year.



“I think it’s a real risk, especially given the recent decline in crime in New York City,” he told the NY Post. “I think that might have led to a space where people might be more tolerant than they were five years ago of engaging in this kind of experiment.”



He added: “It really shouldn’t matter how well somebody behaves in prison. You should have behaved before you got there.



“You hear people who will say with very full confidence, including the advocates, that the likelihood of a person reoffending zeros out in older age,” he said. “No it doesn’t. A majority of state prisoners who are released will reoffend.”



One victim’s family member said the possibility of early release is deeply troubling.



“My brother was brutally tortured to death throughout the night,” Michael Pravia, whose 19-year-old brother Kevin was murdered in 2008 told the news outlet. “You know, I just feel like we’re living in a time where it feels like it’s another form of corruption, you know, letting these devils out of prison to harass the masses.



“They will have blood on their hands,” Pravia said of the legislators who pass the bills.



Pravia said his brother’s killer, Jeromie Cancel, showed no remorse.



“He was proud of his crimes,” he said.



Cancel laughed and smiled during his 2010 sentencing, prompting Pravia to shout, “I’ll&#8230;kill you!” in Manhattan Criminal Court.



“There is not one ounce of me that thinks he is rehabilitated or has the ability to be rehabilitated,” Pravia, 34, said Thursday. “I think he is truly a sociopath. He’s bragged that he would do it again.”



According to a law enforcement source, Cancel could be eligible for release under the Fair and Timely Parole bill if he maintains a clean disciplinary record in prison.



It remains unclear whether Gov. Kathy Hochul would sign or veto the measures if they reach her desk.



A spokesperson for Hochul told the Post the governor “is committed to ensuring the safety of New Yorkers and will review any bill that passes both houses of the Legislature.”



Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman strongly criticized the proposals and accused Hochul of enabling the release of violent offenders.



“Kathy Hochul has fast-tracked the release of violent criminals &#8211; even those who’ve killed police officers &#8211; and will certainly grant ‘get out of jail free’ cards to even more dangerous thugs,” he said. “The Hochul pro-criminal era ends the day I take office.”



Among those who could potentially benefit from the legislation is David McClary, who was convicted of killing NYPD Officer Edward Byrne in 1988 and is currently serving a 25-years-to-life sentence.



McClary, now 60, has been denied parole eight times since becoming eligible in 2013, requiring the victim’s family to repeatedly oppose his release.



The Police Benevolent Association has also pushed back against the bills, citing concerns over public safety and justice for victims.



PBA President Patrick Hendry told the Post, “Passing either of these bills would be a cruel and despicable blow to the families of our fallen heroes.



“There is no age and no formula that can absolve cop-killers of their heinous crimes or entitle them to rejoin society,” Hendry said. “We will fight tooth and nail alongside the families of our murdered police officers to ensure [these two bills] do not become law.”

New York Parole Bills Could Open Door For Notorious Killers’ Release

Israel Police officially announced Sunday morning that this year’s Lag BaOmer hillula at Meron will not take place in its traditional mass format, after authorities sealed roads leading to the mountain and barred public access to the Kever of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai due to escalating security threats in northern Israel. Under the restrictions, no private vehicles or buses will be allowed into Meron, including those carrying rebbeim or public officials, while entry to the town itself will be limited to residents and pre-authorized individuals presenting identification.



Instead of the usual gathering of tens of thousands, authorities approved a limited symbolic framework designed to preserve the traditional ceremonies under strict supervision. Three bonfires are scheduled to take place Monday night: the central bonfire of the Boyan Rebbe, a Sephardi ceremony led by Rabbi Shlomo Amar, and a third event associated with Dati Leumi rabbis. Each ceremony will reportedly be capped at 200 participants coordinated in advance by organizers, while livestream broadcasts from the Rashbi compound are also expected.



The decision came after Israeli officials spent days preparing a broader controlled-access framework that would have allowed approximately 37,500 worshippers to rotate through Meron over roughly 32 hours, with about 10,000 people permitted on the mountain at one time. But Home Front Command restrictions tightened sharply Friday, limiting outdoor gatherings in the area to 200 people and effectively collapsing the larger plan. Israeli officials cited Hezbollah rocket fire, explosive drone threats, and concerns that large crowds near the Lebanese border could not be evacuated quickly in the event of an attack.



Police and Border Police forces have now deployed extensively throughout the area, including forests and open areas surrounding the mountain, to prevent unauthorized arrivals by vehicle or on foot. In a sharp warning, police said they had been exposed to “serious and extremist publications calling on the public to equip themselves with assault equipment, pepper spray, and other means intended to harm police officers.”



“The forces will operate on the ground with one goal: protecting public safety and enforcing the law,” police said, adding that “any attempt to act violently against security forces or disturb public order will be met with a firm response and zero tolerance.”

Meron Hillula on Lag Ba’Omer Canceled as Three Symbolic Hadlakot Approved Under Tight Restrictions

A new study suggests artificial intelligence may be able to identify early warning signs of pancreatic cancer long before tumors can actually be seen through standard imaging, potentially opening a path to earlier and more effective treatment.



Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, have developed an AI system that was able to spot subtle abnormalities on CT scans up to three years before patients received a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, according to findings published in the journal Gut. The system is now undergoing evaluation in a clinical trial.



To build the model, scientists trained it on CT scans from patients who originally underwent imaging for unrelated health concerns but were later diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Radiologists then reviewed the same scans, and their ability to detect early indicators was compared against the AI system. The results showed the AI outperformed human experts by a factor of three in identifying early warning signs.



Dr. Ajit Goenka, a radiologist at the Mayo Clinic and one of the study’s authors, explained the reasoning behind the research direction: “We knew, based on the biology of the disease, that this is not something which is coming all of a sudden in three months.” Goenka told NBC. “We knew that the signal was there. We just needed to find a way to be able to detect it,”



Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest forms of cancer, with a five-year survival rate of just 13%. It is projected to become the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths by 2030. Most patients roughly 80% are diagnosed only after the disease has already spread, limiting treatment options.



Unlike more commonly screened cancers such as breast or colon cancer, there is no standard screening test for pancreatic cancer in healthy individuals. The pancreas is also difficult to examine physically due to its deep abdominal location. Early symptoms like weight loss or abdominal pain typically appear only after the cancer has progressed significantly.



Doctors say that early-stage changes are extremely subtle and often invisible on imaging until the disease advances. In many cases, scans may appear completely normal just months before diagnosis.



“I analyze these images every day,” said Dr. Daniel Jeong, a diagnostic radiologist at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, who was not involved in the Mayo Clinic research and told NBC News. “We’re really looking for a measurable mass that could represent the cancer. So these tumors need to grow to a certain level to become visible.”



Researchers behind the AI model believe one of the signals it detects involves abnormal cellular activity in the pancreas that helps shield cancer from immune system detection, something previously known in theory but difficult to observe on scans.



Goenka noted that the technology may be especially useful for high-risk individuals, such as those with genetic predisposition or diabetes, even before symptoms appear. In such cases, additional testing like blood work or advanced imaging could follow a positive AI signal.



“Unfortunately, if they have symptoms and if it’s truly pancreas cancer, you don’t need AI for that,” he said.



The AI system is part of a broader wave of innovation in pancreatic cancer research. Recent developments include an experimental mRNA vaccine that showed early survival benefits in a small patient group, as well as a targeted drug, daraxonrasib, which has been shown to extend life expectancy in later-stage trials. Regulators have also begun allowing expanded access to the drug in controlled settings for patients who have exhausted other options.



At the same time, scientists are working on advanced blood-based tests designed to detect early biological markers of the disease before symptoms emerge.



“We’re making, actually, major strides. It hasn’t turned this disease around,” Dr. Tamas Gonda, director of the pancreatic disease program at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center told NBC News.



Experts say earlier detection could significantly expand treatment options, allowing more patients to qualify for surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation before the disease spreads.



“This really could be a game changer for us for early detection,” Dr. Pam Hodul, a surgical oncologist at Moffitt Cancer Center, told NBC News.



AI is also gaining traction in other areas of medicine. In a separate study published in Science, researchers found that AI systems matched or exceeded physicians in diagnosing emergency room cases, further highlighting its diagnostic potential.



Despite the promising results, researchers caution that widespread clinical use is still years away. The ongoing trial will need to track patients over several years to determine how accurately the model predicts future cancer development.



“In a disease where we have been just wandering in darkness for decades, this is a milestone that shows us the finish line, but we still have to get to the finish line,” he said.