Rabbi Shlomo Mordechai Hager z&#8221;l, a Vishnitzer Chosid and one of the last remaining non-Lubavitch members of the Crown Heights Jewish community, was niftar Sunday night, Rosh Chodesh Shevat.



Rabbi Hager had lived in Crown Heights since 1948, where he was a familiar and respected presence.



In July 2024, after Rabbi Hager wrote an encouraging letter to then-former President Donald Trump, he received a personal response. Trump thanked him for his message, writing that he and his wife “are deeply grateful for your encouragement” and pledging to “never stop working on behalf of the Jewish people!”



Rabbi Hager has also met with House Speaker Mike Johnson, and bestowed brachos on him.



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The levaya will take place Monday at 11:00 a.m. at Shomrei Hadas Chapels, 3803 14th Ave. Kevurah will follow at Old Montefiore Cemetery.

BDE: Rabbi Shlomo Mordechai Hager z”l.

The Jewish community was shocked Monday evening after two infants lost their lives and dozens were injured in a Yerushalayim daycare after toxic chemicals leaked from the building&#8217;s heating equipment.



The two infants were identified as Lia Tzipora Golovnetsitz, a”h, and Aharon (Ari) Katz a&#8221;h.



The incident occurred Monday afternoon at a daycare on Hamem-Gimmel Street in the Romema neighborhood of Yerushalayim.



Emergency responders evacuated 55 children from the daycare to hospitals across the city. Two four-month-old infants were transported in critical condition to Shaare Zedek Medical Center and Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center while undergoing resuscitation efforts. Both were later pronounced dead.



Israeli President Yitzchak Herzog, issued a statement following the tragedy, saying: “I share in the deep sorrow of the parents of the babies and the pain of the families. The loss of the lives of young toddlers is a deep, indescribable heartbreak, and my heart goes out to all the parents and children who were affected.”



Lia Tziporah was approximately three and a half months old. She was the daughter of Rabbi Mordechai Dovid Golovnetsitz, an avreich, and the granddaughter of Rabbi Binyamin Golovnetsitz of Ramat Shlomo. Her mother is Mrs. Bracha Golovnetsitz, from the Rolnik family.



The family had recently moved to Romema from Pisgat Ze’ev.



Shortly afterward, Lia’s mother shared a message on social media, writing: “My Lia, thank you for being mine. Your soul will be within me forever. Baruch Dayan HaEmes.”



Lia is survived by her parents and a younger brother.



The second victim, Ari Katz, was four months old. Family members said Monday was Ari’s first day at the daycare, after his mother dropped him off there for the first time that morning.



Ari was the son of Rabbi Yaakov Katz. His mother, Mrs. Channa Katz (née Eisenbach), had previously left her career in clothing production to focus on raising her children.



Her brother described the family’s anguish, saying: “Chani, my sister, left the entire world&#8230; to be with her Ari. Today, for the first time since he was born, she left him for just a few hours with a maternal caregiver she knew personally and trusted. And what happened, happened. We don&#8217;t know the cheshbonos of Shamayim.”



Family members noted that they had sent their older children to the same caregiver in the past and regarded her as caring and reliable.



To determine the precise cause of death, the infants were transported by Holon Ambulance to the Abu Kabir Institute of Forensic Medicine. In keeping with kavod hameis, officials said only an external CT scan will be conducted.



Details regarding the levayos will be released when available

Names Released Of Infants Who Died In Yerushalayim Daycare Tragedy

Mordy Berkowitz, who has spent years advocating against drunk driving following a fatal crash in 2022, b&#8217;chasdei Hashem had his prison term sentence commuted on Tuesday by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy.



After askanim, including members of Tzedek Association, extensively lobbied on his behalf, Berkowitz had his six-year sentence commuted to two years. He is now expected to be released in 2028.



Berkowitz, 24, was sentenced to New Jersey State Prison on December 3, 2025, by judge Dina Vicari.



Askanim expressed that the sentence was higher than anticipated. They had worked tirelessly on Berkowitz&#8217;s behalf, emphasizing his commitment to rehabilitation and his active efforts to educate the public on the dangers of driving while intoxicated.



The commutation was one of Murphy&#8217;s last acts as governor; Democrat Mikie Sherill was sworn in to office hours after the announcement. A total of 148 people were pardoned the same day.



Following the Governor’s decision, Lee Vartan, Berkowitz&#8217;s attorney, issued a statement to Belaaz expressing gratitude for the decision, citing his client&#8217;s dedication to preventing future tragedies.



&#8220;We are incredibly thankful to Governor Murphy for his thoughtful consideration of Mordy’s clemency application and his commutation,&#8221; Vartan said. &#8220;Mordy Berkowitz spent years educating the community on the dangers of drinking and driving. The Governor’s commutation will allow him to return to that important work, which has become his passion, years sooner.&#8221;



Vartan also acknowledged the role of community organizations in supporting the application. &#8220;The Berkowitz family thanks the incredible outpouring of support from the community, including from Tzedek Association, on Mordy’s behalf. Mordy will make the best of his second chance.&#8221;



Murphyalso issued a full pardon to Moshe Glick, who was charged with assault stemming from a November 2024 confrontation outside Congregation Ohr Torah in West Orange. The charges were dropped after video evidence showed Glick acted defensively while intervening during clashes sparked by an anti-Israel protest outside the shul, contradicting the state’s original claims.

NJ Governor Commutes Mordy Berkowitz’s Sentence

The U.S. Geological Survey said a new assessment shows the Permian Basin in Texas contains an estimated 1.6 billion barrels of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and 28.3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in the Woodford and Barnett shale formations. The findings highlight major untapped energy potential deep beneath West Texas and southeastern New Mexico.



According to the USGS, the two formations could also yield about 813 million barrels of natural gas liquids. At current consumption levels, the oil alone would supply the United States for roughly 10 weeks, while the natural gas could meet national demand for about 10 months.



The Woodford and Barnett shales lie far deeper than many other Permian formations, in some areas as deep as 20,000 feet below the surface. While these depths once made development difficult, advances in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing have made production increasingly viable.



“The U.S. economy and our way of life depend on energy, and USGS oil and gas assessments point to resources that industry hasn’t discovered yet,” USGS Director Ned Mamula said. “In this case, we have assessed that there are significant undiscovered resources in the Woodford and Barnett shales in the Permian Basin.”



USGS geologist Christopher Schenk said modern drilling techniques have transformed what is possible. “The shift to horizontal drilling with fracking has revolutionized oil production, and we’ve changed with it,” he said.



The Permian Basin already accounts for more than 40 percent of U.S. oil production. Industry analysts say targeting deeper formations like the Woodford and Barnett could extend the basin’s lifespan as shallower areas mature.



Major producers including ExxonMobil, Diamondback Energy, Occidental Petroleum, and SM Energy are already testing or developing wells in these formations. The USGS noted the resources remain “undiscovered,” meaning they have not yet been confirmed by drilling but are considered recoverable with current technology.

1.6 Billion Barrels Of Oil And 28.3 Trillion Cubic Feet Of Gas Believed to Be in Texas, New Mexico

Discussions are taking place within President Donald Trump’s administration about potentially granting asylum to Jewish people from the United Kingdom, amid growing concern over rising antisemitism, according to a report in the Telegraph citing Trump’s personal lawyer.



Attorney Robert Garson told the newspaper that he has spoken with officials at the US State Department about offering refuge to British Jews who say they are leaving the UK because of increasing antisemitic threats.



Garson, 49, said he believes Britain is “no longer a safe place for Jews,” pointing to recent developments including an Islamist attack on a synagogue in Manchester and what he described as a sharp rise in antisemitism following the Hamas terrorists’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.



In a US television interview in late 2023, Garson described protesters in New York and Los Angeles who opposed Israel’s actions as “marauding mobs,” accusing them of “masquerading as protesters” while chanting what he said were “antisemitic chants baying for Jewish blood.”



In his latest interview with the Telegraph, Garson said he sees “no future” for Jews in the UK and placed significant blame on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, accusing him of allowing antisemitism to spread unchecked.



Garson, a former British barrister who practiced law in London before moving to the US in 2008, said: “The UK is no longer a safe place for Jews. I have spoken to the state department as to whether the president should be offering British Jews asylum in the US.”



He argued that such a move would be beneficial for the United States, describing British Jews as “a highly educated community.” He added: “It is a populous that speaks English natively, that is educated and doesn’t have a high proportion of criminals.”



Garson continued: “When I look at what is going on with Jews in Britain, and when I look at the changing demographics, I don’t believe – and I have discussed this with people in the Trump administration – that there is a future for Jews in the United Kingdom.



“For me, that is particularly sad.”



Garson said he raised the idea of the US serving as a refuge for British Jews with Trump’s special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism, Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, while serving as a board member of the US Holocaust Memorial Council. Trump appointed Garson to the council in May after removing members who had been appointed during Joe Biden’s presidency.



Trump previously hired Garson to pursue a $50 million lawsuit against investigative journalist Bob Woodward, which was later dismissed.



A 2025 survey by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research found that feelings of safety among British Jews have declined sharply. According to the survey, 35% of Jews reported feeling unsafe in the UK in 2025, compared with 9% in 2023, before the Hamas terrorists’ attack and the subsequent protests in Britain over Israel’s war in Gaza.



The survey also found that perceptions of antisemitism have intensified, with 47% of British Jews calling it a “very big” problem, up from just 11% in 2012.



In October, the Trump administration announced plans to cap US refugee admissions for 2026 at 7,500, with most slots expected to be allocated to white South Africans. It remains unclear how British Jews would be included in that framework should the US decide to grant them asylum.

Trump Administration Weighs Offering Asylum To UK Jews Amid Surge In Antisemitism

After 3 days of searches, the body of 17-year-old Moshe Ludmir Z&#8221;l, a yeshiva Bacur from Modi&#8217;in Illit and a Buysner Chassid from Betar Illit, was found Friday morning after he was tragucally swept away by a flash flood in s river newr Modi&#8217;in earlier in the week.



He entered the stream with a friend on Tuesday to Toival for Shovevim; the friend escaped and raised the alarm after he went missing.



Despite massive search efforts involving police, firefighters, drones, helicopters, special units, ZAKA, and hundreds of volunteers over four stormy days, the search sadly concluded with the discovery of his body.



The Levaya took place earlier today, Friday

Heartbreaking: 17-Year-Old Moshe Ludmir z”l Found After Being Swept Away in Flash Flood

A peer-reviewed medical study spearheaded by an Israeli physician murdered while treating patients during the Oct. 7 Hamas attack has now been published in a leading international journal, bringing to completion research he began before his death and underscoring both its medical significance and the profound personal loss behind it, Ynet reported Friday.



Dr. Daniel Levi Hy’d, an ear, nose and throat specialist at Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva, was killed while on duty at the clinic in Kibbutz Be’eri during the Hamas assault. The research project he launched, which examined whether surgery for obstructive sleep apnea is safe for infants and toddlers, appeared this week in the journal Clinical Otolaryngology, with Levi listed as a lead author.



The study focused on surgical outcomes in children under the age of two, a population long viewed as having elevated surgical risk. According to the authors, Levi and fellow researcher Dr. Daniel Yafit contributed equally to the work.



Levi, his wife Lihi, and their two children relocated to Kibbutz Be’eri in 2022 after he began his residency at Soroka, part of Clalit Health Services. On the morning of Oct. 7, as terrorists overran the kibbutz, Levi was summoned from his home to the local dental clinic, which had been converted into an improvised treatment center for the wounded. He treated patients there for several hours before being killed by a grenade explosion shortly before 2 p.m.



By the time of his murder, Levi had already completed most of the study’s data collection. His colleagues at Soroka later finalized the analysis and manuscript, determined to see the research published under his name and formally dedicated to his memory.



“For us, this was about more than commemoration,” Dr. Oren Ziv, a senior physician in Soroka’s ENT department and a co-author of the study told Ynet. “It was about ensuring Daniel’s work reached the medical community.”



The retrospective analysis reviewed 419 pediatric patients who underwent surgery for obstructive sleep apnea. The children were divided into three age groups: infants under one year old, toddlers aged one to two, and children over two. Procedures evaluated included adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy, and combined surgeries.



Researchers found that infants and toddlers generally had longer hospital stays and higher rates of precautionary pediatric intensive care unit admissions, especially among infants. However, once the type of surgery was taken into account, there were no meaningful differences in serious complications such as bleeding, dehydration, fever, or emergency room visits.



The authors concluded that obstructive sleep apnea surgery in children aged two and younger is generally safe when appropriate surgical methods and follow-up care are used. They emphasized, however, the importance of informing parents about longer hospitalizations and the potential need for future procedures.



The study was rejected by several journals, not because of its scientific content, but because of a dedication written for Levy, which stated that he was murdered while treating patients, Ziv said. The team refused to remove the section.



Ultimately, the study was accepted and published with the dedication intact: “In memory of our beloved Dr. Daniel Levi, who was brutally murdered on 7/10/23 while treating patients in the infirmary of Kibbutz Be’eri.”



Levi’s widow said the timing of the publication; just days before what would have been his 37th birthday, was especially emotional.



“It’s an enormous source of pride,” Lihi Levi said. “But it also sharpens the sense of everything he didn’t get to finish.”



Colleagues remembered Levi as meticulous, deeply committed, and driven by both patient care and scientific rigor.



“Beyond everything else,” Ziv said, “this study ensures that Daniel’s work, his name and his impact will remain part of medicine.”

Study Led By Doctor Murdered On Oct. 7 Published Despite Antisemitic Resistance

The historic nuclear bunker beneath the East Wing of the White House is being dismantled as part of a sweeping renovation ordered by President Donald Trump, as part of his plans to build a massive ballroom.



According to a Monday CNN report, the underground bunker is expected to be rebuilt later using advanced technologies designed to meet future threats.



The report states that demolition work at the White House has extended beyond the visible structure, reaching sensitive underground facilities. Among those removed is the nuclear bunker located beneath the East Wing. The work is part of broader preparations for the ballroom project, which Trump has described as a central element of the renovation plan.



Sources told CNN that the East Wing was completely razed. One individual familiar with the project said that all subterranean infrastructure beneath the wing has been eliminated, including the bunker itself, heating and ventilation systems, facilities used by the White House Military Office, and a Secret Service unit. 



The bunker’s official name is the Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC). It was established more than 80 years ago during World War II on the orders of then-President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, amid fears of attacks on U.S. soil following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Over time, the facility was expanded and transformed into a command-and-control center believed to be capable of withstanding a nuclear strike.



CNN stressed that the removal of the old bunker does not compromise the president’s safety. The network noted that multiple alternative systems and locations exist to protect the president during emergencies. Still, the specifics surrounding the construction of a new facility remain classified, and the White House declined to comment officially on the report.



Trump has previously said that the U.S. military is closely involved in the ballroom project, which will be built directly above the area where the bunker once stood. According to Trump, the work is being carried out in coordination with senior officials from the U.S. military and the Secret Service. A source quoted by CNN described the former bunker as a “very complex submarine,” equipped with its own water supply, air filtration, and secure communications systems, allowing it to operate entirely cut off from the outside world.

Report: The White House’s Secret Nuclear Bunker Is Being Dismantled and Replaced

Widespread demonstrations broke out across Israel Monday night after authorities moved to carry out autopsies on two infants who died in a Yerushalayim daycare center.



Acting on instructions from leading rabbinic figures within the Charedi community, thousands took to the streets, warning that the procedure would violate kavod hameis. The protests rapidly escalated, with serious confrontations reported in multiple locations. In Beit Shemesh, police deployed stun grenades in an effort to disperse demonstrators.



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The protests followed the decision by the prosecutor’s office and police to insist on autopsies for investigative purposes. The Badatz of the Edah Charedis ordered a forceful campaign against the move. That directive sparked mass demonstrations.



In a rare and emphatic message from Hagaon Harav Moshe Shternbuch shlita, the Rav instructed his talmidim and the wider public to go out into the streets and protest the intention to perform the autopsies.



His p&#8217;sak underscored how gravely rabbanim view the matter.



Protests quickly spread to several central major streets in Yerushalayim, including Shmuel Hanavi, Yechezkel, Bar Ilan Junction, and Givat Moshe. At the same time, demonstrations flared beyond the capital, with major flashpoints reported in Beit Shemesh and as far north as Har Yona. Accounts from the scene described escalating clashes with security forces, and in Beit Shemesh police were documented using stun grenades to restore order.



Earlier on Monday, the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court approved the autopsies of the toddlers. In response, ZAKA announced that its legal department would appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court, stating that the appeal was being filed “with the aim of exhausting every legal option to preserve the toddlers’ dignity and minimize the harm to them as much as possible.&#8221;

Protests Erupt Over Planned Autopsies Following Yerushalayim Daycare Tragedy

A leaked draft of the charter for the &#8220;Board of Peace,&#8221; President Donald Trump’s proposed international body for post-war conflict resolution, reveals a structure that grants the U.S. President indefinite executive authority and offers permanent membership status to nations that contribute at least $1 billion in cash.



The document, obtained by The Times of Israel and reviewed by Belaaz, outlines a major departure from established diplomatic protocols. While the body was ostensibly commissioned by the UN Security Council in November to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza, the charter itself contains no specific references to the Strip, instead outlining a broad global mandate to intervene in areas &#8220;affected or threatened by conflict.&#8221;



In a move likely to reshape alliance dynamics, Article 2.2(c) of the charter introduces a financial threshold for permanent influence. While standard member states are limited to three-year terms subject to renewal, the charter stipulates that this term limit &#8220;shall not apply to Member States that contribute more than USD $1,000,000,000 in cash funds to the Board of Peace within the first year.&#8221;



The provision effectively creates a two-tier system, favoring wealthy nations, such as Gulf states like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, or the UAE, over traditional allies or smaller regional powers who may be unable to meet the liquidity requirement.



The charter codifies a governance structure centered almost entirely on the persona of the Chairman. Article 3.2(a) designates President Donald Trump as the &#8220;inaugural Chairman&#8221; while simultaneously allowing him to serve as the representative of the United States.



This dual role is bolstered by Article 3.1(e), which subjects all majority decisions by member states to the &#8220;approval of the Chairman.&#8221; This effectively grants the Chairman veto power over the Board’s operations, regardless of the consensus among member nations. Furthermore, Article 7 designates the Chairman as the &#8220;final authority&#8221; on interpreting the charter, precluding oversight by independent judicial bodies.



The organization’s existence is structurally tenuous. Under Article 10.2, the Board of Peace is set to dissolve automatically at the end of every odd-numbered calendar year unless explicitly renewed by the Chairman. This &#8220;sunset&#8221; mechanism ensures that the continuation of the body remains at the sole discretion of the U.S. President.



The document’s preamble strikes a confrontational tone regarding existing international frameworks, calling for a departure from &#8220;approaches and institutions that have too often failed;&#8221; a likely reference to the United Nations and UNRWA.



By establishing independent &#8220;international legal personality&#8221; (Article 6) and bypassing the UN’s universal membership model in favor of an invitation-only coalition, the charter suggests the White House aims to construct a parallel diplomatic infrastructure grounded in &#8220;pragmatic judgment&#8221; rather than international consensus.



The White House has not yet commented on the authenticity of the draft or the specific provisions regarding financial contributions.



On Friday, the White House formally announced the creation of a new “Gaza Executive Board” as part of President Trump’s broader Board of Peace, tasked with overseeing Phase Two of the Gaza ceasefire and directing postwar governance and reconstruction.



The board is composed of Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, former British prime minister Tony Blair, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, senior Qatari official Ali al-Thawadi, Egyptian intelligence chief Gen. Hassan Rashad, UAE minister Reem al-Hashimy, and former UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov, who will serve as the senior on-the-ground representative in Gaza.



According to the framework, a 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee approved by Israel would manage daily civilian affairs, while a stabilization force would be responsible for security. Reconstruction is projected to take up to seven years.



Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#8217;s office issued a statement criticizing the Board of Peace in its current form, stating: &#8220;The announcement by the US administration regarding the composition of the Gaza Executive Board was not coordinated with Israel and runs contrary to its policy.&#8221; 



According to Ynet, Netanyahu ordered Foreign Minister Gideon Sa&#8217;ar to raise Israel&#8217;s objections directly with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Leaked Charter for Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ Grants President Supreme Authority

A homeless fugitive who told the court he believed a school bus was “evil” was ordered detained Friday after allegedly hurling a rock through a bus window, shattering an 8-year-old girl’s skull and traumatizing a bus full of third graders, prosecutors told a Bergen County judge.



Superior Court Judge Marc Ramundo ordered Hernando Garcia Morales, 40, held in the Bergen County jail following a detention hearing in Hackensack, citing his violent history, flight risk, and danger to the public.



Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor Ricky Ruddy said the attack left the young victim with catastrophic head injuries that required surgeons to operate in her skull, remove bone fragments, and implant a plate.



The child suffered a deep, nickel-sized fracture so severe that swelling forced her eyes shut, Ruddy told the court.



He added that she permanently lost the use of her right sinus due to the injury.



The girl was riding with fellow third graders from Yeshivat Noam in Paramus, returning from a class trip to the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, when the rock smashed through the bus window last week.



“The little girl took the worst of it, but all of the children on the bus were harmed seeing this,” Ruddy told the judge.



After hearing both sides, Ramundo ordered Garcia Morales detained for allegedly throwing the baseball-sized rock near New Jersey Turnpike Exits 70 A and B on Jan. 7.



“You go from kids having fun to hearing crying and chaos on the bus,” the judge said.



Ramundo described Garcia Morales as “repetitive, very violent and very dangerous,” adding that “no conditions other than detention will ensure this defendant will return to court.”



The injured child’s parents attended the hearing via Zoom.



During the proceeding, the court learned that Garcia Morales, originally from Oaxaca, had been a fugitive for nearly 17 years following a burglary conviction.



Prosecutors said he had been living in Old Croaker Park, a section of Overpeck Park, where he had set up a makeshift campsite.



They also revealed that Garcia Morales had been arrested eight times for throwing rocks in Bogota, along with prior incidents involving peering into residential homes.



The parents also learned that Garcia Morales has a daughter of his own, about 10 years old, whom he had abandoned.



Defense attorney Heather Aguilar told the judge that GarciaMorales suffers from mental health issues.



She said he threw the rock because he believed the bus was “evil” and claimed he did not intend to injure anyone.



Ruddy rejected that explanation, telling the court that Garcia Morales “takes every opportunity to harm people or damage property.”



“He attempts to evade law enforcement at every possible junction and therefore must be detained,” the prosecutor said.



Ramundo agreed, ruling that Garcia Morales met all three standards required for detention: danger to the community, risk of flight, and risk of obstruction.



The judge said Garcia Morales’ history of “random acts of violence” and peering into the windows of sleeping residents created “an extra level of danger to the community” if he were released.



Even if the court had ordered his release, GarciaMorales would not have gone free.



Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed a detainer on him, requiring that he remain in custody for immigration proceedings.



ICE issues detainers when it has proof or reasonable suspicion that an inmate is in the country illegally, with the person’s status considered “uncertain” or “contested.”



Under the detainer, Garcia Morales will be brought before a federal immigration judge in Newark, who will determine whether he is in the United States legally and what happens next.



He could be deported immediately or returned to Bergen County to stand trial on the school bus assault and other pending charges.



Bergen County Sheriff Anthony Cureton has honored the ICE detainer, unlike sheriffs in some other New Jersey counties.



Authorities said Garcia Morales was captured last Friday, Jan. 9, in Old Croaker Park, near Fort Lee Road and close to where the rock was thrown.



Law enforcement sources said he was quickly identified and tracked down due to his extensive criminal record.



Garcia Morales had previously been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Bogota last July, spending two months in jail before being released in September.



Within weeks, he was charged again with aggravated assault on law enforcement officers on Oct. 5 and Oct. 11, records show.



This time, the New Jersey State Police Target Hardening Unit worked with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office, and police departments in Teaneck and Bogota to locate and arrest him.



He now faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault, child endangerment, resisting arrest, and illegal weapons possession.



Following Friday’s hearing, Judge Ramundo ordered Garcia Morales returned to the Bergen County jail.



Sol Itzkowitz, head of Bergen County Chaverim, tells Belaaz that he is grateful for the ruling, and praised the &#8220;swift actions of law enforcement in apprehending the suspect and keeping our communities safe.&#8221;

Judge Rejects Bail for Psycho Who Threw Rock at Schoolbus, Severely Injuring Jewish 3rd Grader, ICE Places Detainer

Some of Iran’s wealthiest residents escaped to neighboring Turkey to attend lavish parties while back home the country’s oppressive government was killing thousands as nationwide anti-regime protests intensified.



The affluent elite, largely untouched by the economic hardship that originally ignited the unrest, relocated to Van, a Turkish province about 60 miles from Iran’s border. Reporters for The Telegraph said they saw “elite Iranians gathering” at private parties.



“These people benefit from the regime. They left Iran for now, because they were worried about staying there. Here, they can feel safe,” one Iranian attendee told the outlet.



“They have made a lot of money from their businesses in Iran, and then they come here to spend it,” he added.



Across the mountains separating Turkey from Iran, tens of thousands of demonstrators continue pressing forward with weeks-long protests against the Islamic Republic.



Disturbing footage emerging from Iran has shown rows of bodies laid out outside multiple morgues, with the exact number of victims unclear.



Survivors described scenes in which members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the regime’s central military force, were “spraying everyone with gunfire” and “calmly trying to aim for people’s heads.”



Activist groups estimate that 3,100 people have been slaughtered since the protests erupted on Dec. 28.



President Trump had initially vowed to intervene if the regime carried out executions of protesters, but later pulled back after officials in Tehran reportedly halted plans for mass hangings.



Despite that pause, Iran’s judiciary has warned that those accused of Mohareb — an Islamic legal charge meaning waging war against God — could still be executed. Many of the roughly 24,000 protesters arrested so far are reportedly facing that accusation.



Doctors, however, cautioned that the true death toll may be far higher, possibly nearing 16,000, as the regime carries out what they described as a “genocide under the cover of digital darkness.”

Iran’s Elite Flee To Turkey For Lavish Parties As Regime Brutally Crushes Protests At Home

Let’s give credit where it is absolutely due: All of the living hostages are home.



After years of agony, stalled negotiations, and the painful stagnation that defined the Biden administration’s approach, President Trump delivered. He achieved what his predecessor could not. Families have been reunited, and a national wound has begun to close. For that, he deserves the praise he is currently taking. It is a tangible victory that proves his pressure campaigns can yield results that &#8220;quiet diplomacy&#8221; often cannot.



But if we look closely at how this victory was achieved, and more importantly, at the other red lines currently being crossed around the world, a disturbing pattern emerges. The President is securing wins, but he is sacrificing American deterrence to get them.



Consider the timeline of the hostage release. On the campaign trail, Donald Trump was explicit. He didn&#8217;t just promise their return; he issued a definitive ultimatum. He warned Hamas that if the hostages were not released within 24 hours of his inauguration, &#8220;all hell would open.&#8221;



The 24-hour mark came and went. The hostages remained in captivity. &#8220;All hell&#8221; did not open. Instead, negotiations continued, eventually leading to their release. While the outcome was good, the lesson taught to our adversaries was dangerous: The President’s deadlines are flexible. His &#8220;fire and fury&#8221; is negotiable.



Even on the hostage issue, Trump proceeded with beginning the second phase of the ceasefire and the launch of the Board of Peace while terrorists still hold the body of murdered hostage Ran Gvili Hy&#8217;d.



We are seeing the tragic consequences of that lesson play out right now in Iran.



When the Iranian regime began its brutal crackdown on protesters, President Trump drew another line in the sand. He told the Ayatollah that if he killed protesters, they would be &#8220;finished.&#8221; It was the kind of muscular rhetoric that distinguishes him from the hesitation of the Biden years.



But Tehran, emboldened by the flexible deadlines they saw in Gaza, called his bluff. Reports indicate that over 16,000 Iranians have now been slaughtered. The regime did not fall. They were not &#8220;finished.&#8221; Instead, the White House has largely looked the other way, accepting a token &#8220;cancellation of executions&#8221; as a diplomatic off-ramp while the killing fields likely expand.



This is the paradox of the second Trump term. He is undeniably more effective than Joe Biden at the brass tacks of getting a deal done; the empty seats at Israeli dinner tables are finally filled. But in achieving this, he has relied on a strategy of loud threats that he rarely enforces.



This inconsistency is further highlighted by the President’s confusing signaling on Israel itself. While he celebrates the return of their citizens, he simultaneously undermines their security by hosting rabid antisemite Tucker Carlson at the White House. Giving a platform to the loudest voice for isolationism, delegitimization of Israel and abandonment of foreign allies sends a mixed message to Jerusalem: We will help you today, but don&#8217;t count on us tomorrow.



We can be grateful that the hostages are free while still being terrified by what comes next. By teaching dictators that his &#8220;red lines&#8221; are actually pink ribbons,President Trump may have solved one crisis only to invite a dozen more.



The hostages are safe. But with 10,000 dead in Iran and a White House that blinks when tested, the world is becoming a much more dangerous place.

Op-ed: Are Trump’s Red Lines Written in Disappearing Ink?

A major, sudden deterioration has been reported in the medical condition of the Grodno Rosh Yeshiva, Hagaon Harav Yitzchak Hacker shlita, a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Degel HaTorah.



According to reports from Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, the Rosh Yeshiva lost consciousness near midnight on Motzoei Shabbos. He has been hurriedly transferred to the Intensive Care Unit, where his condition is described as critical.



Family members have reportedly gathered around his bedside at the hospital, according to Bechadrei Charedim.



This deterioration follows a complex medical procedure the Rosh Yeshiva underwent this past Thursday, which involved the amputation of part of his leg due to a severe infection.



The Rosh Yeshiva, who is the son-in-law of the legendary Rosh Yeshiva of Ponevezh, Hagaon Harav Shmuel Rozovsky zt&#8221;l, is in need of immediate rachmei shamayim.



The tzibur is asked to daven for (Rav) Yitzchak ben Nechama, for a refuah shleima b&#8217;soch sha&#8217;ar cholei Yisrael.

TEHILLIM: Grodno Rosh Yeshiva and Moetzes Member, Hagaon Harav Yitzchak Hacker Shlita

In a move that is sending shockwaves through Europe, President Trump sent a blistering letter on Monday to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, declaring he is no longer obligated to “think purely of peace” after being snubbed for the Nobel Peace Prize.



In the letter, President Trump unleashed his frustration over the Nobel snub, writing: “Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America.”



The President then pivoted to his long-standing desire to purchase Greenland, dismissing Denmark&#8217;s sovereignty over the territory as merely the result of a boat landing &#8220;hundreds of years ago.&#8221;



“Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a ‘right of ownership’ anyway? There are no written documents, it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also.”



Trump concluded the letter with a direct demand to NATO, stating that the alliance owes the United States for his contributions. “I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland.”



The White House has not yet commented further, but this letter signals a major escalation in U.S.-European relations.



Danish troops have entered Greenland to reinforce the territory&#8217;s security, signaling that Copenhagen is not backing down.



Simultaneously, massive protests have erupted across the region. Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets in Nuuk and Copenhagen, chanting “Hands Off Greenland” and “Not For Sale,” waving Danish and Greenlandic flags in defiance of the proposed American takeover.

Trump Sends Scathing Letter To Norway, Declares ‘America First’ Will Rule Over ‘Peace’, Demands Greenland

The IDF released on Sunday new information about a secret mission carried out in Gaza last year that led to the recovery of Oron Shaul Hy’d, who was murdered and abducted by Hamas terrorists during the 2014 Gaza war.



The military said critical intelligence about the location of Shaul’s body was obtained after Sayeret Matkal forces captured a senior figure in Gaza City. Following questioning by the Shin Bet, the detainee provided exact details that enabled planners to move forward.



Within a day, a joint force made up of Shin Bet operatives, the Navy’s Shayetet 13 commandos, and the 188th Armored Brigade carried out a raid on what was described as a civilian location. Shaul’s body was recovered and brought back to Israel on Sunday, shortly before a ceasefire took effect.

IDF Reveals Secret Gaza Raid That Brought Oron Shaul Hy’d Home

New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin has announced a comprehensive five-point legislative plan designed to combat the rising tide of antisemitism in the city.



Speaking at a briefing held at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Manhattan, Menin outlined the urgency of the moment.&nbsp; &#8220;As the first Jewish speaker of the New York City Council, I must emphasize that no one is in a position too high or too low to fight hate,&#8221; Menin said. &#8220;This is a duty that belongs to all of us, not just people in elected office. Leadership is not just a title, it&#8217;s a responsibility.&#8221;



The legislative package is designed to address hate crimes through security, education, and enforcement. The centerpiece of the plan includes:



Buffer Zones: The passage of the Schools and Houses of Worship Access and Safety Act. This legislation will establish a &#8220;safe perimeter&#8221; around the entrances and exits of schools and houses of worship, ensuring that protests are not allowed to block access or intimidate community members. Security Programs: The implementation of two new security programs specifically designed to protect schools and houses of worship. Educational Initiatives: Legislation requiring the Department of Education (DOE) to distribute materials specifically addressing the role of social media in spreading antisemitism.



Holocaust Education Funding: A dedicated $1.25 million in funding allocated to the Museum of Jewish Heritage to support Holocaust education efforts.



Reporting Hotline: The creation of a dedicated hotline to report antisemitic incidents. This tool will also be used to collate data, helping officials identify and track patterns of hate incidents across the boroughs.



Councilman Eric Dinowitz, who serves as both the Chair of the Education Committee and the Chair of the Jewish Caucus, praised the move toward tangible policy.



&#8220;Rhetoric is not enough. Policy fights antisemitism,&#8221; Dinowitz stated. &#8220;This government action will help our Jewish community that will go beyond saying &#8216;I condemn antisemitism&#8217; because it is not enough.&#8221;



Jewish New Yorkers continue to be targeted in hate crimes more than all other groups combined, according to NYPD data.

NYC Council Speaker Menin Unveils 5-Point Plan to Combat Antisemitism

As tensions with Tehran mounted following the violent crackdown on Iranian protesters, conflicting accounts have emerged regarding Vice President JD Vance’s advice to President Donald Trump.



While Vice President Vance has long been characterized as a skeptic of foreign entanglements, The Washington Post reported that Vance supported a U.S. military strike on Iran.



Citing a U.S. official and a source close to the White House, the report indicates that Vance argued President Trump had to maintain credibility after warning Tehran against killing protesters.



&#8220;Vance reasoned that Trump had drawn a red line by warning Iran not to kill protesters and had to enforce it,&#8221; a source close to the White House told The Post.



In stark contrast, a separate report by The Wall Street Journal depicts Vance as a leading voice for caution, urging the President to pursue one final round of negotiations before resorting to kinetic action.



According to The Journal, Vance and other senior officials were scheduled to meet with Trump on Tuesday to persuade him to engage in talks with the Islamic Republic.



Sources indicated that Vance viewed a new round of negotiations as a necessary &#8220;final option&#8221; to exhaust diplomatic avenues before military operations begin.



However, the President ultimately decided against the strike after being briefed on the potential fallout and the assessment that an attack would not guarantee swift regime change. Vance reportedly aligned himself with the President&#8217;s final decision to hold off, the Post reported.



Officials noted that the window for military action remains open. The President is expected to have another opportunity to authorize strikes in the coming weeks, once additional U.S. assets arrive in the region to address Israeli security concerns.

Conflicting Reports Emerge Over Vice President Vance’s Stance on Potential Iran Strike

A report published by The Sunday Times, citing testimony and data from Iranian doctors working inside the country, says at least 16,500 people have been killed and more than 300,000 injured during the regime’s violent crackdown on nationwide anti-government protests.



The findings, compiled from hospital records and eyewitness accounts provided by medical professionals, describe what doctors called an unprecedented level of force, with most casualties occurring over just two days amid a near-total communications blackout imposed by authorities.



The report gathered data from eight major eye hospitals and 16 emergency departments across Iran. The report was assembled using information transmitted via satellite internet connections after authorities shut down nationwide access earlier this month. Physicians say the blackout has made independent verification difficult and has allowed the crackdown to unfold largely unseen by the outside world.



Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on state television that “several thousands” had been killed since the protests began, blaming demonstrators for the violence and accusing them of acting on behalf of foreign powers. The doctors’ report directly contradicts that assessment, pointing instead to widespread use of military-grade weapons by security forces.



Medical professionals involved in compiling the figures told the Times a large proportion of those killed and wounded were under the age of 30.



Hospitals have documented thousands of severe eye injuries, with estimates that at least 700 to 1,000 people have lost an eye. One major eye clinic in Tehran alone reportedly recorded around 7,000 eye injuries.



Doctors told the Times the true toll is likely far higher, as many wounded protesters avoid hospitals for fear of arrest, and bodies have been removed from streets and buried in other cities to obscure the scale of the killings. In some cases, families were allegedly forced to pay large sums to retrieve the bodies of relatives.



Protests began in late December over economic collapse and rapidly escalated into nationwide demonstrations demanding regime change. Crowds spread across all 31 provinces, drawing in students and young people in particular. Security forces responded with mass arrests, live fire, and sweeping operations by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and allied militias.



While streets in many cities have since fallen quiet, activists and medical sources say the scale of deaths and injuries marks a turning point. They warn that the reported figures represent only the minimum number of casualties so far and that the full human cost may not be known for months, if ever, as Iran remains largely cut off from the outside world.

Report: Iranian Doctors Say 16,500 Killed And Over 300,000 Injured In Crackdown

When used as directed, acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol or Tylenol, does not  raise the likelihood of developmental disorders in children, according to a major review of dozens of studies published Friday.



Acetaminophen is widely recommended during pregnancy as a first-line option for managing pain or fever, although doctors generally advise using it in limited amounts.



Previous studies produced inconsistent results, with some suggesting a potential increase in autism or ADHD risk, leaving many expectant parents uncertain about the medication&#8217;s safety.



The new meta-analysis, published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynecology &amp; Women&#8217;s Health, examined approximately 60 studies to evaluate the evidence.



The researchers concluded that when acetaminophen is used according to the label, there is no connection to developmental disorders, marking one of the most thorough evaluations on this topic to date.



&#8220;The clearest takeaway is that the best-quality evidence does not support a causal link between taking paracetamol during pregnancy and autism or ADHD in children,&#8221; Dr. Asma Khalil, study co-author and professor of obstetrics and maternal fetal medicine at St. George&#8217;s Hospital in London, told ABC News.



&#8220;Pregnant women should feel reassured that paracetamol remains the recommended first-line option for pain or fever in pregnancy when used as directed,&#8221; she added.



In September, President Donald Trump began claiming that acetaminophen use in pregnancy was &#8220;associated with a very increased risk of autism&#8221; and advised, &#8220;Don&#8217;t take Tylenol.&#8221; He has since repeated the advice many times.



The president has repeated the claim on social media, also suggesting that young children, including infants, should not be given acetaminophen, without providing evidence.



At the time, the Food and Drug Administration issued a note to doctors about a potential link between acetaminophen in pregnancy and autism, clarifying that no evidence confirms Tylenol causes autism and that the issue remains under scientific study.



HHS told ABC News that &#8220;many experts have expressed concern of the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy.&#8221;



Leading medical groups raised alarms that such claims could discourage pregnant women from using acetaminophen even when it may be beneficial.



Tylenol’s manufacturer, Kenvue, stated that research indicates acetaminophen does not cause autism.



In a new statement to ABC News, Kenvue said it would review the latest analysis. &#8220;Our view of the existing science remains the same: we believe independent, sound science shows Tylenol is safe and taking acetaminophen does not cause autism,&#8221; the company said.



The review emphasized sibling-comparison studies, which compare siblings born to the same mother, one exposed to acetaminophen in utero and one not. Because siblings share genetics and family environment, this approach helps distinguish the drug’s effects from other factors.



Across these analyses, acetaminophen exposure during pregnancy was not linked to autism, ADHD, or intellectual disabilities, even in studies tracking children for more than five years.



The researchers suggested this review may clarify why some earlier observational studies seemed to show a possible association between acetaminophen use and developmental disorders.



&#8220;People do not take acetaminophen randomly but for symptoms such as fever, infection, inflammation or pain,&#8221; the authors noted. These underlying conditions could influence fetal brain development, creating confusion about whether the drug or the symptom caused the outcome.



Jessica B. Steier, head of the science communication group Unbiased Science, said that leaving symptoms untreated, such as fever, could be harmful to both the pregnant person and the fetus.



&#8220;Untreated fever has documented associations with serious pregnancy and fetal risks,&#8221; she explained. &#8220;The alternative pain medications — NSAIDs, opioids — carry their own pregnancy risks. Acetaminophen remains the safest option when medication is needed.&#8221;



Steier also cautioned that studies linking acetaminophen to autism can be misleading, particularly when amplified on social media.



An HHS official told ABC News that the new analysis &#8220;does not resolve an important public health question; it sidesteps it. By excluding the vast majority of relevant evidence, privileging one study design known to bias results toward the null, and misrepresenting statistical power, the authors engineer a finding rather than evaluate causality.&#8221;



Khalil advised patients to use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration and seek medical guidance if symptoms persist, worsen, or return — particularly fever.



The review does have limitations, including a small number of sibling-based studies, which made it difficult to account for other factors influencing both painkiller use and neurodevelopmental outcomes.



Still, the findings align with guidance from professional medical groups such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).



ACOG recommends using acetaminophen as needed, following label instructions, consulting a doctor when appropriate, and monitoring the symptoms prompting its use.



Persistent high fever, severe pain, or symptoms not improving during pregnancy may signal an underlying issue requiring medical attention, according to ACOG.



&#8220;It&#8217;s always sensible to use paracetamol appropriately in pregnancy: the lowest effective dose for the shortest time, and avoid unnecessary prolonged use without medical review,&#8221; Khalil said.

Review of 60 Studies Finds Tylenol Use in Pregnancy Does Not Raise Risk of Autism, Contrary to Trump Claims

Federal housing officials have opened a formal investigation into Minneapolis, accusing the city of unlawfully favoring certain racial and national origin groups in its housing policies, Fox News Digital reported early Friday.



HUD Secretary Scott Turner said the probe reflects deeper, long-standing issues in the state. &#8220;Minnesota has been ground zero for fraud and corruption because it plays a cynical game of racial and ethnic politics,&#8221; Turner told Fox. &#8220;This goes against our values as Americans, united by a common heritage, language and commitment to equal treatment under law.&#8221;



On Thursday evening, Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Craig Trainor sent a letter to Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey notifying him that HUD is investigating whether the city violated the Fair Housing Act and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act through its housing strategies, programs and internal equity directives.



The Fair Housing Act bars discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, disability, or family status. Title VI separately prohibits discrimination based on race or national origin in any program that receives federal funding.



The investigation comes as Minnesota faces mounting scrutiny over what authorities say is widespread fraud tied to COVID-era social services. Nearly 100 individuals &#8211; most from Minnesota’s Somali community &#8211; have been charged, and federal prosecutors estimate losses across state-administered programs could exceed $9 billion.



HUD officials say the alleged misuse of taxpayer funds has raised broader concerns that racial politics may also be shaping Minneapolis housing policy.



In its letter, HUD argues that the city has “committed to making available and allocating housing resources based on race and nationality,” a stance that could amount to federal civil rights violations.



The department pointed to specific language in the city’s “Minneapolis 2040” comprehensive plan and its Strategic and Racial Equity Action Plan as particularly troubling.



Adopted in 2020 under Mayor Frey, Minneapolis 2040 lays out the city’s long-term economic, infrastructure and environmental goals. One section promotes the creation of “cultural districts,” defined as a “contiguous area with a rich sense of cultural and/or linguistic identity rooted in communities significantly populated by people of color, Indigenous people, and/or immigrants.”



&#8220;This plan strives to eliminate disparities among people of color and indigenous peoples compared with white people,&#8221; Minneapolis 2040 states.



HUD’s letter also highlights the city’s Strategic and Racial Equity Action guide, which directs departments to align racial equity objectives with budgets and operations.



&#8220;Minneapolis’s current Strategic and Racial Equity Action Plan claims to tangibly align ‘racial equity goals with department plans and budgets,'&#8221; the letter states. &#8220;For example, your Community Planning and Economic Development department will prioritize &#8216;rental housing for Black, Indigenous, People of Color and Immigrant communities’ by ‘leveraging (its) rental licensing authority.’&#8221;



Trainor was blunt in his response to those policies. &#8220;That is not going to fly,&#8221; he wrote to Frey.



Turner emphasized that the investigation aligns with the administration’s broader housing agenda. &#8220;I will continue to deliver on President Trump’s promise to support affordable housing for American families, in part by dismantling illegal racial and ethnic preferences that deny Americans their right to equal protection under the law,&#8221; Turner said.



&#8220;I am committed to delivering on this promise by thoroughly investigating any housing discrimination involving the City of Minneapolis,&#8221; he added.



Fox News Digital reached out to Mayor Frey’s office and the city’s communications team for comment but did not receive a response by publication time.



The fallout from Minnesota’s alleged fraud crisis has already reshaped state politics. In January, Democratic Gov. Tim Walz ended his re-election campaign, acknowledging that the misconduct occurred during his tenure while arguing Republicans had “sensationalized” the multibillion-dollar estimates.



Walz, who has served as governor since 2019, accepted responsibility for oversight lapses but disputed the scale of the alleged losses.



Mayor Frey also addressed the issue earlier this month, saying &#8220;obviously, everybody could have done more to prevent&#8221; fraud, while stressing that &#8220;you do not hold an entire community, any community, accountable for the actions of individuals,&#8221; referring to the Somali community.



At the same time, Minneapolis has been shaken by protests and clashes between agitators and federal law enforcement deployed amid the investigations. Tensions escalated further after an ICE agent fatally shot a woman in early January after she allegedly attempted to use her vehicle as a weapon against a federal officer.



Turner said HUD investigators have been on the ground in Minnesota since the start of the year, examining how federal housing dollars are being used.



&#8220;We have investigators that are making sure that any HUD-funded programs in Minnesota are being carried out appropriately,&#8221; Turner said. &#8220;Also, we just launched an investigation and housing authorities, public housing authorities there in Minnesota. They receive about $108 million in Minneapolis and also about $46 million in public housing assistance there. So, we want to make sure that we&#8217;re being good stewards of taxpayer money.&#8221;



In a post on X earlier this week, Turner said HUD uncovered “up to $84 million in ineligible assistance during Biden’s final year, including $496,000 in improper assistance to 509 dead tenants.”



As federal scrutiny intensifies, Minneapolis now faces simultaneous investigations into housing discrimination, public spending, and one of the largest alleged fraud scandals in state history.

HUD Launches Sweeping Civil Rights Probe Into Minneapolis as Allegations of Race-Based Housing, Massive Fraud Rock Minnesota

Internet access is gradually returning for some Iranian users after nearly three weeks of a near-total communications shutdown imposed during the regime’s violent suppression of nationwide protests. Even satellite alternatives such as Starlink were available only in very limited locations and for short, unreliable windows, leaving much of the country effectively cut off from the outside world.



State-affiliated media outlets Mehr and Fars reported Sunday that Google services were once again accessible on certain mobile networks, along with a handful of domestic websites. Connectivity, however, remains inconsistent, and broad access to social media platforms and encrypted messaging services is still largely restricted.



Other reports indicated Saturday night that internet access was restored only to people heavily vetted by Iranian authorities.



Earlier Sunday, an official Iranian official admitted to Reuters that at least 5,000 people were killed during the unrest, as demonstrations appear to be weakening under sustained and brutal force by the regime. Doctors who spoke with the Sunday Times on Saturday said that the death toll is over 16,000.

Internet Slowly Restored In Iran After Three-Week Blackout, No Social Media

President Donald Trump delayed a planned strike on Iran last Wednesday after his envoy, Steve Witkoff, relayed that Iran had suspended the executions of roughly 800 people, The Washington Post reported. Senior advisers had expected Trump to authorize a strike amid rising tensions, but the message prompted him to pause.



US military movements in the Middle East suggested preparations for an imminent attack. At the same time, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sent a text to Washington, which, according to an American official, helped ease tensions. US Central Command was ordered to remain on high alert for the coming month.



A source familiar with the matter said US allies had already been warned a strike was likely. Interviews with officials in the US and the Middle East showed Trump’s shifting messages left advisers stunned and Iranian opposition figures frustrated. His statements ranged from promising support to protesters to claiming the goal had been met once executions stopped.



Officials said Trump became increasingly aware of the risks, including destabilizing another Middle Eastern nation. Pentagon officials warned US forces might not be sufficient to repel Iran’s expected retaliation. Israel, exhausted from a recent 12-day conflict, raised similar concerns. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt also urged restraint.



Several officials said Trump concluded that a strike could be messy, disrupt the global economy, and endanger over 30,000 US troops in the region. “Trump prefers operations like the one in Venezuela,” a former US official said, referring to the capture of Nicolas Maduro without escalation. Iranian protesters were reportedly disappointed by what now looks like a retreat from Trump’s promises.



Inside the White House, Trump received mixed advice. Vice President JD Vance surprisingly supported a strike, while Witkoff and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles urged caution. CIA Director John Ratcliffe showed Trump classified footage of Iran repressing protesters on a secure iPad.



By Wednesday evening, the USS Roosevelt had entered the Persian Gulf, and US personnel in Qatar were evacuated as allies prepared for potential retaliation. Then came Araghchi’s text to Witkoff. Shortly after, Trump told reporters the executions had stopped, and Pentagon advisers were told they could leave.



Middle Eastern partners warned Trump against striking, fearing Iranian proxies like Hezbollah and the Houthis. Israel was unprepared defensively without US support. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Trump twice, urging restraint. Despite Vance’s initial support, he ultimately agreed with Trump’s decision to wait.



Former US ambassador Dan Shapiro said Trump’s comments and Khamenei’s provocations suggest the president might attempt to target the Iranian leader this week. Shapiro added that regime change would not come from a single strike but from sustained support of the Iranian people.

Report: Trump Paused Iran Strike After Witkoff Texts Executions Halted

A federal judge on Friday imposed new limits on Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Minnesota, ordering agents to scale back their tactics against demonstrators as protests continue to roil Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of a woman by an ICE officer earlier this month.



U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez ruled that ICE officers may not retaliate against, arrest, or detain “persons who are engaging in peaceful and unobstructive protest activity,” amid escalating confrontations between federal agents and protesters.



The order also bars officers from using pepper spray “or similar nonlethal munitions” on demonstrators and prohibits them from stopping or detaining drivers and passengers unless there is “reasonable articulable suspicion that they are forcibly obstructing or interfering with Covered Federal Agents.”



Menendez acted after six people filed a lawsuit in December alleging ICE officers “subjected them to the use of chemical irritants, intimidation, including by pointing firearms at them, detention, and arrest, in violation of their First and Fourth Amendment rights.”



One of the plaintiffs, Somali-American and U.S. citizen Abdikadir Noor, told the court that he pulled over after seeing masked ICE officers in plain clothes stop another vehicle “occupied by two Latinos.” Noor said he joined others in protesting the stop, during which officers grabbed demonstrators and dragged a pregnant woman to the ground before turning their attention to him.



Noor testified that he was arrested and placed in a vehicle traveling “about 85 miles per hour,” preventing him from fastening a seatbelt. He said officers examined his passport and that he overheard remarks including, “[T]hey all come here fraudulently. 50% are here fraudulently”; “Somalis drained Minnesota”; and “Somalis should go back home.” Noor said he was detained but released without charges or paperwork.



The judge cited additional reports describing ICE efforts to discourage protests, including allegations that officers pointed weapons at demonstrators, used pepper spray, and threw people to the ground before detaining them.



Menendez requested sworn declarations from David Easterwood, the acting field office director for ICE’s St. Paul office, but said the statements he provided “are entitled to considerably less weight than Plaintiffs’ declarations.”



The lawsuit predates the Jan. 7 shooting death of Minneapolis resident Renee Good by an ICE officer, an incident that sparked widespread protests in the Twin Cities and beyond. The Trump administration defended the officer involved and labeled Good a “domestic terrorism” threat, claiming she attempted to run Russ over with her SUV.



As unrest intensified, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz placed the Minnesota National Guard on standby Saturday evening, authorizing troops to support local law enforcement and emergency management agencies if needed. The Guard said its members are prepared to assist but have not yet been deployed to city streets.



“Members of the Minnesota National Guard are on standby, ready to assist local law enforcement and public safety agencies,” the Guard said in a post on X. Officials added that if activated, troops would wear reflective safety vests “to help distinguish them from other agencies in similar uniforms.”



Photos circulating on social media showed guardsmen lining up Humvees and preparing equipment, as authorities braced for further unrest after weeks of volatile protests that have damaged federal vehicles and government property.



State officials said the Guard’s mission, if activated, would focus on “protection of life, preservation of property and supporting the rights of all who assemble peacefully.”



The violence has not been limited to clashes with federal agents. On Saturday, left-wing protesters allegedly attacked and stabbed Jake Lang, a pardoned Jan. 6 rioter and Florida state Senate candidate, after his “March Against Fraud” demonstration encountered violent opposition in Minneapolis. Video from the scene showed Lang, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, shouting into a microphone before the assault.



The disorder has drawn a forceful response from Washington. President Donald Trump warned Thursday that he may invoke the Insurrection Act if local and state officials fail to restore order, a move that would allow the federal government to deploy military forces or federalize National Guard units despite objections from state leaders.



Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has issued subpoenas to Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey as part of a criminal investigation related to the unrest. Walz called the subpoenas “an authoritarian tactic,” while Frey said they were an “obvious attempt to intimidate me for standing up for Minneapolis, our local law enforcement, and our residents against the chaos and danger this Administration has brought to our streets.”



Additional incidents have further inflamed tensions. In one case, a Venezuelan migrant was shot in the leg by a federal immigration enforcement officer after the Department of Homeland Security said the officer was attacked by two people during an arrest. Both the migrant and the officer were hospitalized, and two suspects were detained.



ICE has also been accused of detaining four Oglala Sioux tribal members in Minneapolis this week. One individual was released, while three remain in custody. Tribal President Frank Star Comes Out said the individuals were homeless and detained beneath a bridge, though DHS said it could not “verify any claims” that the tribal members were arrested.

Federal Judge Restricts ICE Actions As National Guard Goes On Standby Amid Minnesota Unrest

Fighting intensified in northeastern Syria on Sunday as forces loyal to Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa advanced against Kurdish fighters, capturing key oil and gas assets from the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces.



The territory has been controlled for years by the SDF, a Kurdish-led alliance supported by Washington that established a self-governing administration across large parts of the northeast.



The current escalation erupted in early January after negotiations collapsed between al-Sharaa and the Kurdish Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, known as DAANES. Al-Sharaa has made clear his goal of dismantling Kurdish autonomy and restoring full central control over the country.



On Sunday morning, al-Sharaa’s troops reportedly scored a major breakthrough in Deir ez-Zor province. Three security sources told Reuters that regime forces captured the Omar oil field, Syria’s largest, along with the nearby Conoco gas field. Both sites had been held by Kurdish forces, and their loss marks a significant strategic setback for the SDF as Syrian forces continue pushing toward the former ISIS stronghold of Raqqa.

Syrian Forces Seize Major Oil Fields As Kurds Retreat Toward Raqqa

President Donald Trump said Friday that he could impose tariffs on countries that refuse to support U.S. control of Greenland, even as a Congressional delegation was in Copenhagen meeting with Danish and Greenlandic officials in an effort to ease rising tensions.



Trump has repeatedly argued in recent months that the United States should take control of Greenland, a semiautonomous territory belonging to NATO ally Denmark. Earlier this week, he said that any outcome short of U.S. control of the Arctic island would be “unacceptable.”



“I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland,” Trump said Friday, without offering specifics. “We need Greenland for national security.”



The president had not previously suggested using tariffs as leverage in the dispute.



Earlier this week, the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland traveled to Washington for meetings with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.



Those talks failed to bridge the fundamental disagreements, though they did result in a decision to establish a working group. Denmark and the White House later offered sharply different public explanations of what that group would do. Greenland remains a semiautonomous territory under Danish sovereignty, and Denmark is a NATO ally of the United States

Trump Threatens Tariffs on Countries That Refuse to Back U.S. Control of Greenland

The Pentagon has placed roughly 1,500 active-duty soldiers on standby for a potential deployment to Minnesota as early as Sunday, amid expanding protests against the federal government’s immigration enforcement campaign, according to a new report.



The Army reportedly issued the prepare-to-deploy orders as a contingency measure should confrontations between protesters and authorities turn more violent, marking the latest escalation in the administration’s warnings to demonstrators, the Washington Post reported.



According to the report, the orders were directed at two US Army infantry battalions assigned to the 11th Airborne Division, a unit based in Alaska whose forces are trained for operations in extreme cold-weather conditions.



The move follows President Trump’s public threat to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy military forces to Minnesota if state leaders are unable or unwilling to stop protesters from targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents operating throughout the state.



Responding to reports that troops had been told to prepare, the White House emphasized that such planning was routine, saying it was not unusual for the Pentagon “to be prepared for any decision the President may or may not make,” according to the Washington Post.



Tensions between Minnesota residents and the federal government sharply escalated after heated demonstrations erupted in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a US citizen and mother of three, by ICE agent Jonathan Ross on Jan. 7. Good was shot as she attempted to drive away after being ordered to exit her vehicle.



In the aftermath of the shooting, the president authorized the deployment of nearly 3,000 ICE and Border Patrol agents to Minneapolis and surrounding communities, significantly increasing the federal presence in the region.



Trump has repeatedly defended the large-scale deployment of immigration officers to Democrat-run cities, arguing that the operations are necessary to combat crime and restore public safety.



In Minnesota specifically, the president has also pointed to a multi-million-dollar fraud scandal involving the state’s social-welfare programs as justification for the intensified federal intervention.



Critics of the administration’s actions have accused Trump of abusing federal authority, arguing that he is using immigration enforcement as a tool to suppress political opposition.



After Trump’s threats to send in federal troops, Gov. Tim Walz ordered the mobilization of Minnesota’s National Guard to “support local law enforcement and emergency management agencies,” according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.



While National Guard units have not yet been deployed on the streets, the department said the forces “are ready to help support public safety, including protection of life, preservation of property and supporting the rights of all who assemble peacefully,” according to an official statement.

Pentagon Puts 1,500 Active-Duty Troops on Alert as Minnesota Protests Intensify

Demonstrations broke out across Greenland on Saturday as large crowds pushed back against President Donald Trump’s renewed effort to bring the Arctic island under U.S. control, with protesters chanting that Greenland is “not for sale” and insisting on the right to decide their own future, according to Reuters.



“We are not interested in being Americans,” one protester said on video during the demonstrations in the capital, Nuuk.



The protests came after Trump escalated his campaign to acquire Greenland, including a Truth Social post on Saturday announcing new tariffs on several European countries unless they agree to a deal for the island’s purchase.



In that post, Trump said Denmark and other European nations would face a 10% tariff starting Feb. 1, increasing to 25% on June 1, adding that the tariffs would stay in effect “until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.”



During the demonstrations, some protesters wore red baseball caps modeled after the “Make America Great Again” hats associated with Trump supporters, but altered to read “Make America Go Away.”



In Nuuk, thousands of demonstrators, led by Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, marched toward the U.S. consulate carrying flags and banners while chanting “Kalaallit Nunaat,” Greenland’s name in its native language, Reuters reported. Nielsen later addressed the crowd outside the consulate, drawing loud applause.



“I’ve come here today because I think it’s important to show that Greenland is not for sale. It is not a toy. This is our home,” said Naja Holm, a civil servant who spoke to Reuters at the protest.



Trump has repeatedly argued that Greenland is critical to U.S. national security because of its strategic Arctic position and valuable mineral resources, warning that China and Russia are seeking to expand their influence on the island. He has said U.S. control would strengthen Western security in the region.



The dispute has triggered strong reactions across Europe. Sweden’s prime minister said Europe would not be “blackmailed,” while French President Emmanuel Macron warned that tariff threats were unacceptable and said Europe would respond together in a post on X.



“No intimidation nor threat will influence us, neither in Ukraine, nor in Greenland, nor anywhere else in the world when we are confronted with such situations,” Macron wrote. “Tariff threats are unacceptable and have no place in this context. Europeans will respond to them in a united and coordinated manner if they were to be confirmed.”



Dutch Prime Minister David van Weel also responded on social media, saying, “We have taken note of President Trump’s announcement on tariffs.” He added that military exercises in Greenland are intended to strengthen Arctic security and said the Netherlands is coordinating with the European Commission and partners on a response.



UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain would take the issue directly to Washington, writing, “Our position on Greenland is very clear – it is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and its future is a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes.” He added that Arctic security is a NATO-wide concern and said imposing tariffs on allies for pursuing collective security was “completely wrong.”



Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with a population of roughly 57,000.



While all parties represented in Greenland’s parliament support eventual independence, they disagree on timing and have said they would prefer remaining within Denmark rather than becoming part of the United States, Reuters reported.

Protests Erupt Across Greenland As Trump Pushes Takeover, Crowds Declare: ‘We Are Not Interested In Being Americans’

US President Donald Trump publicly thanked Iran after authorities there canceled more than 800 executions that had been scheduled to take place on Thursday, posting his remarks on Truth Social on Friday.



“I greatly respect the fact that all scheduled hangings which were to take place yesterday (over 800 of them) have been cancelled by the leadership of Iran. Thank you!” Trump wrote.



In an interview with Fox News, Trump was asked whether Arab and Israeli officials had persuaded him not to strike Iran.



“Nobody convinced me. I convinced myself! They canceled the hangings. That had a big impact,” Trump said.



Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump held a phone call on Thursday evening focused on the unrest in Iran, Axios reported on Friday, citing two sources familiar with the discussion.



The call marked their second conversation in two days. During their first discussion on Wednesday, Netanyahu reportedly urged the United States to hold off on any strike against Iran until Israel had sufficient time to prepare for a possible response.



On Thursday, the Kremlin announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin had spoken separately with Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, offering to mediate between Israel and Iran. Earlier in the week, Kan News reported that Netanyahu had sent a message to Iran through Putin, stating that Israel had no intention of going to war with the Islamic Republic.



Mossad Director David Barnea arrived in the United States on Friday morning for talks regarding the Iran situation and potential American responses, according to an Axios report.



Barnea is expected to meet with White House envoy Steve Witkoff in Miami. Witkoff has been overseeing direct communication between Iran and the United States amid the recent protests and has maintained contact with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.



It remains unclear whether Barnea will also meet with US President Donald Trump during his visit.

Trump Praises Iran For Halting Mass Executions As Tensions Ease

Tens of thousands of people were expected to participate in over 800 coordinated protests across the country on Tuesday, as opposition groups mobilize around President Donald Trump’s first year since returning to the White House.



Organizers of the Free America Walkout called on participants to leave work and school and refrain from shopping, framing the action as a nationwide protest against policies enacted during the first year of Trump’s second term.



According to organizers, the demonstrations are focused on Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, administration policies affecting immigrants and expanded government surveillance. They said the aim is to create visible disruption that draws the administration’s attention.



Organizers said more than 800 walkouts were planned in all 50 states, with over 38,000 people registered to attend events in cities including Tampa, Los Angeles and New York City.



At 2 p.m. local time Tuesday, participants plan to step away from their normal routines as part of what organizers describe as the “Free America” movement.



Organizers emphasized that the effort is meant to disrupt daily activity rather than simply gather crowds.



The protests follow the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Macklin Good, 37, by an ICE officer in Minnesota after she attempted to run over the agent; an incident organizers say has become a focal point for the movement.



The Women’s March, one of the groups involved in organizing the walkouts, said similar actions are also planned outside the United States, including in Canada, France, Italy and the Netherlands.



With immigration-related protests continuing in several areas, questions have been raised about public safety. Officials said they are anticipating peaceful demonstrations, and the Women’s March stated that it maintains a clear nonviolence policy.



Recent data shows protest activity has exceeded levels seen during Trump’s first term. Last summer’s “No Kings” demonstrations drew an estimated 5 million people nationwide. While most events were peaceful, some resulted in arrests, serious injuries and one death, which officials have said were isolated incidents.



According to data from the Crowd Counting Consortium, protest activity during Trump’s second term has surpassed that seen at the same point in his first administration.



The data indicates that more than 10,700 protests took place in 2025, representing a 133% increase from the 4,588 recorded in 2017. The analysis also found that a majority of U.S. counties — including 42% that voted for Trump — have experienced at least one protest since his second inauguration.



Organizers said Tuesday’s walkouts will help determine whether weekday actions can exert meaningful pressure on the Trump administration.



Tuesday marks one year since Trump was sworn in for his second term.

800 Nationwide Walkouts Planned As Trump Marks One Year Back In Office

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich acknowledged on Wednesday that he is now backing the transfer of millions of shekels in Israeli funds to support humanitarian aid efforts in Gaza, a notable reversal from his earlier firm opposition to such assistance.



In an interview with the Kan public broadcaster, Smotrich insisted that the money should not be seen as aid but rather as a strategic tool. “It’s not money for humanitarian aid, it’s money to win the war. Had we controlled the humanitarian aid to Gaza we would have won the war a while ago,” he said.



Smotrich suggested that reallocating resources from combat to logistics could be a more effective approach, saying it would be better to divert funding from an IDF division and instead support American companies overseeing aid operations. “This is money that’s inseparable from the war effect,” he explained.



The finance minister had previously taken a hardline stance, even threatening to leave the coalition when Israel decided to ease restrictions on aid entering Gaza.



Earlier in the year, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid accused the government of quietly channeling humanitarian support into Gaza via two foreign shell companies; an alleged tactic to avoid political fallout among the prime minister’s right-wing allies.

smotrich

MORE FROM BELAAZ

Smotrich Reverses Course, Approves Millions in Aid for Gaza

California Governor Gavin Newsom appeared to retreat from incendiary language previously used by his own press team during a pointed interview with conservative commentator Ben Shapiro on Thursday.



Newsom faced tough questioning from Shapiro on the governor’s podcast, “This is Gavin Newsom,” with the two sparring over immigration enforcement, political language, and other issues.



A central clash emerged when Shapiro pressed the governor on statements issued by Newsom’s office following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. Newsom’s press team had described the incident as “state-sponsored terrorism,” a phrase that quickly drew national attention.



The shooting ignited widespread controversy and intensified debate over law enforcement practices and the rhetoric used to describe federal immigration authorities.



“Your press office tweeted out that it was state-sponsored terrorism,” Shapiro said, challenging the framing and defending federal agents.



“Our ICE officers obviously are not terrorists,” Shapiro added.



“Yeah, I think that’s fair,” Newsom responded, signaling agreement. The governor also said he “disagreed” that ICE should be abolished.



The exchange rapidly spread online, with critics pointing to the moment as proof that Newsom’s public statements were out of sync with the aggressive messaging coming from his own communications team.

Newsom Walks Back ICE Rhetoric After Ben Shapiro Confrontation

President Donald Trump granted full clemency to R’ Yaakov Chaim Deutsch of Williamsburg on Thursday, ending a prison term that supporters and legal advocates have long decried as unjust and excessive.



The Tzedek Association, an advocacy group instrumental in the case, confirmed the news. According to the organization, the notification came directly via a personal phone call from the White House to Rabbi Moshe Margaretten, President of the Tzedek Association.



A team is already en route to pick up Deutsch from Ottisville prison to be reunited with his family after serving nearly 22 months, Tzedek tells Belaaz.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="710" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1000310446.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-22821" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1000310446.jpg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1000310446-300x237.jpg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1000310446-768x606.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



While the clemency is being celebrated as a victory for justice, the case has also drawn attention due to disturbing allegations regarding the conduct of the sentencing judge.



Speaking to Belaaz, a spokesperson for the Tzedek Association disclosed that the judge presiding over Deutsch&#8217;s trial in Connecticut had made racially charged remarks during the proceedings. The spokesperson alleged that the judge stated, &#8220;there are too many white landlords in Connecticut,&#8221; a comment that advocates point to as evidence of potential bias that may have influenced the severity of the sentencing.



Tzedek&#8217;s legal team consisted of many lawyers who took on the case without pay.



Deutsch was sentenced to 62 months in prison, a term that far exceeded the guidelines recommended by the prosecution. Prosecutors had originally asked for a sentence of up to 18 months, making the judge&#8217;s decision to impose a sentence nearly three and a half times that length a focal point of the Tzedek Association’s advocacy.



Pictures of Deutsch that were taken after his return home were shared exclusively with Belaaz.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="555" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1000310733.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-22847" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1000310733.jpg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1000310733-300x185.jpg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1000310733-768x474.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1000310725.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-22846" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1000310725.jpg 1024w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1000310725-300x169.jpg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1000310725-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



In a statement released following the White House call, the Tzedek Association described the event as an &#8220;unforgettable moment of justice, compassion, and light.&#8221; &#8220;R’ Yaakov Chaim&#8230; is now on his way home and reunited with his beloved family,&#8221; the statement read. The organization credited the outcome to &#8220;tireless and heartfelt advocacy&#8221; and &#8220;deep Siyata Dishmaya,&#8221; noting that the news has brought &#8220;true simcha to Klal Yisroel.&#8221;



In a follow-up statement, shared with Belaaz, the organization wrote: &#8220;Tzedek Association welcomes and sincerely thanks President Donald J. Trump for commuting the sentence of Jacob Deutsch, bringing long-overdue correction to a deeply disproportionate outcome.Mr. Deutsch received an extreme sentence in a non-violent matter involving no financial loss and no restitution obligation-exceeding by threefold even what federal prosecutors recommended. The President&#8217;s action restores balance, reunites a family, and underscores the vital role of mercy in the administration of justice.&#8221;



Rabbi Margaretten, in a statement shared with Belaaz, stated: “This decision reflects leadership guided by conscience. President Trump showed that justice requires the humility to recognize excess and the resolve to correct it. We are grateful to the President, to Alice Johnson, to the Department of Justice, and to those throughout the administration who approached this case with seriousness and compassion.”



The statement concluded with a powerful message summarizing the relief felt by the community: &#8220;This is light breaking through darkness, justice revealed, and hope restored.&#8221;

President Trump Pardons Yaakov Chaim Deutsch of Williamsburg

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said she “presented” her gold Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump during a White House meeting, nearly two weeks after Trump ordered the capture of Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro.



Machado, who won the award last year for opposing Maduro’s “brutal, authoritarian state,” told reporters the gesture was “in recognition [of] his unique commitment [to] our freedom.” It was unclear whether Trump accepted the medal. Nobel organizers had previously stated the award could not be transferred.



The meeting came after Trump installed Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, as acting president, bypassing Machado despite her movement’s widely believed win in Venezuela’s 2024 election. Analysts say her gift was a symbolic attempt to regain Trump’s favor.



Machado compared presenting her medal to Trump with Marquis de Lafayette sending a gold medal to Simón Bolívar in 1825, framing it as a sign of US-Venezuelan solidarity in the fight for freedom.



The White House said Trump’s decisions were based on “realities on the ground,” noting ongoing cooperation from Rodríguez and her team, including the recent release of five US citizens from Venezuelan jails.



Rodríguez condemned the US invasion in a state of the union address in Caracas but indicated willingness to engage diplomatically with Washington, emphasizing Venezuela’s right to maintain international relations while asserting her independence as acting president.

Venezuelan Opposition Leader María Corina Machado Presents Nobel Medal to Trump

Iran’s security forces reportedly raided a hospital in a Kurdish-majority region and assaulted wounded protesters and medical personnel, according to multiple accounts and human rights reports cited Thursday by the New York Post.



Footage circulating online from a January 4 raid at Imam Khomeini Hospital shows security forces firing at protesters gathered outside before forcing their way into the building and discharging live ammunition and tear gas inside the medical facility.



At the time of the raid, the hospital was treating more than 40 people who had been shot and injured during protests, a 38-year-old nurse told DW.



“We knew the security agents were coming to arrest the wounded or record their identities,” the nurse, who spoke anonymously, said.



“People gathered at the entrance to stop them,” she added. “At the same time, we were desperately short of blood, so calls for donors went out on social media.



“But the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] and special units prevented donors from reaching us.”



According to reports cited by human rights organizations, the siege of the hospital lasted more than 24 hours. During that time, patients, doctors, nurses, and even children were injured as security forces continued their assault.



“Security forces allegedly raided the Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ilam, deploying tear gas and beating patients and medical personnel,” the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said in its most recent Fact-Finding Mission report.



One witness told DW that at least 11 wounded protesters receiving treatment were taken away by the IRGC, while five others were reportedly left handcuffed to their hospital beds.



The World Medical Association strongly condemned the raid, calling it a direct attack on healthcare workers and a violation of international humanitarian law.



“Doctors must never be forced to choose between their professional ethics and their personal safety. Intimidating physicians, interfering with patient care, or turning hospitals into sites of enforcement are unacceptable violations of medical neutrality,” said Dr. Jacqueline Kitulu, president of the World Medical Association.



“The Iranian authorities must immediately cease all intimidation of healthcare professionals, respect the inviolability of medical facilities, and guarantee that doctors can provide care freely, safely, and without fear,” Kitulu added.



Iranian security forces have been repeatedly accused of extreme violence at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ilam, an impoverished, minority-majority province that has seen some of the harshest crackdowns against anti-government protesters as unrest continues across the country.

Iranian Regime Forces Storm Hospital, Attack Wounded Protesters And Medical Staff, Reports Say

A federal appeals court on Thursday reopened the door for the possible rearrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate who emerged as a central organizer of the disruptive, antisemitic campus protests that erupted in support of Hamas during Israel’s war in Gaza.



While any new detention would not be immediate and Khalil’s legal team plans to appeal, the ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit dealt a significant setback to Khalil, whose case has been championed by activists despite his prominent role in demonstrations that paralyzed campus life and intimidated Jewish students.



Khalil, a legal permanent resident married to an American citizen and the father of a U.S.-born child, was among the first students arrested after participating in anti-Israel protests that repeatedly crossed into open antisemitism. Those protests, particularly at Columbia, drew national attention for their support of Hamas and for incitemen against Jewish students.



He was arrested in March and held for more than three months in a Louisiana detention facility, even as courts released others in similar cases.



In a split decision, Judges Thomas Hardiman and Stephanos Bibas ruled that the New Jersey federal judge who ordered Khalil’s release lacked the authority to do so. They said the case should have been handled first by an immigration court, not a district court. Judge Arianna J. Freeman dissented, arguing that Khalil had shown irreparable harm and alleged violations of his fundamental rights.



Judges Hardiman and Bibas were appointed by Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump, respectively, while Judge Freeman was appointed by President Joe Biden.



Khalil’s attorney, Baher Azmy, criticized the ruling, saying: “We are disappointed with and strongly disagree with the majority opinion, but take heart in the very powerful and persuasive dissenting opinion. We’ll continue to fight with all available legal options.”



The appeals court ordered U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz to dismiss Khalil’s habeas petition, finding that immigration law required Khalil to challenge his detention and deportation through the immigration court system first.



The Trump administration initially moved to deport Khalil based on a determination by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who argued that Khalil’s presence in the United States contributed to the spread of antisemitism. Rubio relied on a rarely used statute to justify removal.



After Khalil’s lawyers challenged the detention, the administration added a second basis for deportation, alleging Khalil failed to disclose affiliations with several organizations when applying for residency in March 2024.



Judge Farbiarz later ruled that the statute cited by Rubio was likely unconstitutional and ordered Khalil released. Deportation proceedings were subsequently paused while the case moved to the Board of Immigration Appeals.



Thursday’s ruling could allow those proceedings to resume, unless Khalil’s lawyers succeed in securing review by the full Third Circuit, a move that would temporarily halt further action.

Appeals Court Clears Path To Rearrest Of Mahmoud Khalil, Figure Behind Antisemitic Columbia Protests

After hours of anticipation of what appeared to be an imminent strike on Iran, President Donald Trump softened his rhetoric late Wednesday night after being told that the Iranians would stop killing protestors.



Then early on Thursday, Trump reportedly told Tehran that Washington had no plans to attack Iran and urged the Islamic Republic to show restraint, according to several news outlets, including Al Jazeera and the Pakistani media site Dawn, citing Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam. Israeli media outlets, including Times of Israel and i24, accepted the reports as credible.



Military preparations appeared to be in flux Thursday morning. According to The New York Times, following comments from President Trump that hinted at a withdrawal, the Pentagon began preparing to redeploy troops back to the Middle East; contradicting reports from just a day prior about evacuations. While strategic bombers were initially placed on high alert for potential secondary strikes, those plans now appear to be on hold, according to the Times.



However, a source tells Belaaz that over the last 72 hours, the White House explicitly notified several top Senators that the President had decided to launch an attack on Iran. The source added that plans for Iran were so pressing to White House officials and top cabinet members that other issues were placed on the back burner, and weren&#8217;t up for discussion.



Adding to the complexity, Walla military analyst Amir Bohbot reports that Trump personally intervened late Wednesday night to call off a planned strike. According to the report, the President had sought a swift, decisive action capable of toppling the regime immediately. When advisors informed him that such a result could not be guaranteed expediently, Trump reportedly decided the timing was not right, expressing concern about being dragged into a prolonged large-scale conflict.



Channel 14 reports that one of the reasons for Trump&#8217;s decision to hold off on the attack was that regional allies would not allow U.S. Air Force fighter jets to take off from bases located on their territory.



The reversal has left observers questioning whether the President has genuinely pulled back, or if the mixed messaging is a tactical game designed to preserve the element of surprise.



Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of the President, is urging immediate action, telling reporters he believes an attack should happen “sooner rather than later.” Graham stated that Trump “is serious when he says help is on the way,” adding that “an attack on the regime is the only help that really matters.”



Regional powers are urging caution. The New York Times reports that officials from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman have warned the Trump administration against striking Iran. These nations argue that forcibly changing the regime could destabilize the entire region, creating a power “vacuum” that they fear Israel might move to fill.



Meanwhile, the diplomatic focus shifts to New York Thursday afternoon. According to a spokesperson for the Somali presidency, the UN Security Council is scheduled to meet for “a briefing on the situation in Iran.” The scheduling note confirms this briefing was requested by the United States.



As pressure mounts, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed late Wednesday night that Iranian leaders are frantically moving tens of millions of dollars out of the country. “We are now seeing the rats fleeing the ship,” Bessent told Newsmax. “We are tracing these assets and they will not be able to keep them.”



Despite the regime&#8217;s apparent fragility, President Trump expressed skepticism about the viability of the exiled opposition. Speaking to Reuters in the Oval Office, Trump questioned whether Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi could successfully rally the country. &#8220;He seems very nice, but I don&#8217;t know how he&#8217;d play within his own country,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;And we really aren&#8217;t up to that point yet.&#8221; He added, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know whether or not his country would accept his leadership&#8230;&#8221;



On the ground in Iran, the situation remains dire. Human rights groups haslve accused the regime of committing mass unlawful killings on an unprecedented scale, citing verified footage and eyewitness accounts.



Disturbing video has surfaced showing makeshift morgues overflowing with bodies. In one clip, anguished relatives are seen screaming beside rows of at least 100 black body bags, one of which was labeled with the birth date of a 16-year-old.



Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attempted to dismiss these reports as a “misinformation campaign,” claiming figures of thousands dead were “an exaggeration” and asserting, contrary to all evidence, that there had been no unrest over the past four days. Regarding individual cases, the fate of Erfan Soltani, a 26-year-old arrested during the January 10 protests, remains uncertain. While state media quotes the judiciary claiming Soltani is charged with “colluding against the country’s internal security and propaganda activities against the regime” &#8211; charges they claim do not carry the death penalty &#8211; fears for his safety persist.



Trump addressed the issue of capital punishment at a White House briefing early Thursday, stating he had received assurances from &#8220;very important sources on the other side&#8221; that executions would not go ahead.



In a sign of slightly de-escalating logistical tensions, Iran reopened its airspace at approximately 10:40 PM (New York time) after a nearly five-hour closure. The shutdown, which barred all non-permitted flights starting at 5:15 PM local time Wednesday, had forced airlines to delay or reroute traffic amid fears of imminent military action.

After Hours of Anticipation, Trump Reportedly Says He Won’t Strike Iran

A 4.2-magnitude earthquake jolted southern Israel on Thursday morning, activating alerts across the Dead Sea area and the southern Negev.



Emergency officials said there were no injuries or significant damage. Magen David Adom reported that medical teams were not required to treat any casualties following the tremor.



Seismologists at the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center said the quake’s epicenter was located near Dimona.



The Geological Survey of Israel said the earthquake struck at a depth of more than 20 kilometers (12 miles) below the earth’s surface.



No notable aftershocks were reported after the initial quake.



The shaking triggered warning sirens and public safety announcements via loudspeakers in several nearby communities. Given the heightened regional tensions with Iran, some residents initially feared the alerts signaled an incoming missile attack.



The tremor was felt near the Jordan Valley, an area that lies along a major seismic fault separating the African and Arabian tectonic plates.



Seismic experts say the region is especially vulnerable to earthquakes, with major events occurring roughly every 80 to 100 years. The last powerful quake struck in 1927, killing 500 people and injuring 700, fueling concerns that another major earthquake could occur in the near future.



Israeli officials warned in November before the Knesset Internal Affairs and Environment Committee that the country remains dangerously unprepared for a large-scale earthquake, despite more than two decades of warnings and repeated state audits pointing to serious systemic failures.

Earthquake Near Dimona Triggers Sirens, Mistaken for Missile Alerts in Southern Israel

A federal three-judge panel on Wednesday approved California’s use of a newly adopted U.S. House map for the 2026 midterm elections, rejecting efforts to block the voter-backed plan.



In a 2–1 decision, the Los Angeles–based panel turned aside challenges from state Republicans and the U.S. Justice Department, which argued the map violated the Constitution by factoring race into the redistricting process to benefit Hispanic voters.



The map was approved by voters in November through Proposition 50 and is projected to give Democrats a chance to flip up to five House seats next year. The push was led by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom as a counter to a Texas redistricting effort backed by President Donald Trump. Republicans currently control nine of California’s 52 House seats.



The ruling marks a significant win for Democrats in a growing mid-decade redistricting fight that could shape control of the House in 2026. Similar redraws in states including Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio have tilted lines in partisan directions, though the Justice Department has challenged only California’s map.



“Republicans&#8217; weak attempt to silence voters failed,” Newsom said in a statement.



Republicans are expected to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. State GOP officials did not immediately comment.



Judges said the evidence showed the map was drawn for political, not racial, advantage, citing Supreme Court precedent that partisan gerrymandering is not for federal courts to decide. “After reviewing the evidence, we conclude that it was exactly as one would think: it was partisan,” the panel wrote.



The decision follows a Supreme Court ruling last December allowing Texas to use its own new map for 2026. Conservative Justice Samuel Alito noted in a concurring opinion that California’s map was also approved for political advantage, suggesting it may withstand further review.



House Democrats need only a small net gain next year to reclaim the chamber, a shift that could stall Trump’s agenda and open the door to congressional investigations of his administration.

Federal Judges Clear California’s New Congressional Map for 2026, Handing Democrats a Boost

A new investigation has uncovered that the Hamas-funded Dar Al-Salam Center in Kafr Qara has allegedly used Wikipedia as a platform to promote Islamic proselytism and influence Israeli public opinion under the guise of moderation.



According to a Wednesday report by Hakol Hayehudi, the center received substantial financial backing from Zakat Al-Quds Foundation; an organization tied to Hamas and accused in a 2022 indictment of serving as the terror group’s financial arm in Jerusalem, as well as from Muslim Hands, a group previously banned for Hamas affiliations.



The investigation also revealed that Dar Al-Salam conducted courses for prospective converts in Turkey, where participants were taught to carry out &#8220;dawah&#8221; (Islamic missionary work) toward Jews using methods developed by some of the world’s most prominent antisemites.



Records show that in 2018, members of the center participated in three workshops hosted by Wikimedia Israel at their Kafr Qara facility. During these sessions, participants reportedly created 42 new Wikipedia entries on Islamic topics and edited more than 100 additional articles.



The Wikipedia course page paints a benign picture of the center’s work. It describes Dar Al-Salam as “a center for understanding the religion of Islam, for Muslims and members of other religions… [with] the purpose to teach the scriptures of Islam and its true principles, according to the understanding of the local people, which include: tolerance, moderation, openness, modest and spiritual living… [and] mutual acquaintance among the various cultures living in Israel, to promote peaceful coexistence and mutual respect for each other&#8217;s culture.”



However, documents obtained by the investigation suggest a far more strategic approach. In correspondence with Ali Arbash, head of Turkey’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, the center explicitly defines its activities as “electronic dawah.” The letter, which sought support for opening a dawah center in Jerusalem’s Old City, states:



&#8220;Electronic dawah via Facebook and Hebrew Wikipedia: Praise and thanks to God, a contract was signed with the Israeli Wikipedia in Hebrew to add and edit content on Islam in this encyclopedia, which serves as the main source of information on Islam in Hebrew. 58 new entries were added, and 500 entries were edited. The views of the new and edited entries exceed 82,000.&#8221;



The investigation raises questions about the use of Wikipedia as a platform for ideological influence. Wikimedia Israel responded, in a statement provided to Arutz 7 on Wednesday, by emphasizing that while it has hosted editing workshops for various groups, “the training activities of the organization are entirely separate from Wikipedia’s content control mechanisms: every article is reviewed by the editing community according to uniform standards, regardless of whether the writer is a volunteer or a graduate of the organization&#8217;s training. The organization’s training has no effect on editorial judgment or preferential treatment in the community.”



Still, the investigation paints a clear picture: Hamas-linked organizations are finding ways to leverage educational platforms and online tools to spread ideology, potentially shaping narratives for Hebrew-speaking audiences under the guise of cultural and religious education.

Investigation Reveals Hamas-Linked Islamic Center Used Wikipedia to Push Propaganda

An Israeli security Source tells Belaaz that Israel expects a US attack on Iran will likely begin tonight or over the next 24 hours, as nationwide unrest in the Islamic Republic enters its third week; the largest protest movement in the country’s history and one met with a brutal government crackdown that human rights groups say may have killed over 12,000 civilians. 



European officials likewise told Reuters that intervention by the United States appears imminent, with one saying action “could come in the next 24 hours” as Tehran intensifies its suppression of protests. The scope and timing of possible strikes remain unclear, but there has been widespread speculation among intelligence and diplomatic circles that the Trump administration is prepared to act. 



Inside Iran, security forces have responded to demonstrations, which began in late December and have persisted across all 31 provinces, with lethal force, detaining thousands and reportedly killing many more in some of the harshest measures in modern Iranian history.



Amid these developments, US President Donald Trump has issued increasingly forceful statements. He has publicly backed the protesters and warned Tehran to “show humanity” in response to reports of extensive bloodshed, declaring that “help is on its way” and urging demonstrators to “take over your institutions if you can.” Trump has also suspended diplomatic engagements with Iranian officials and signaled that the United States is considering “strong options,” including potential military or cyber operations; a shift from earlier comments suggesting negotiations might still be possible. 



A traveler with connections to Israeli officials tells Belaaz that he was advised to reschedule his early Thursday flight from Israel to Wednesday night, in anticipation of shifting conditions.



Another unnamed official told Israeli media that Trump has effectively decided to intervene, though details on the strategy remain unsettled.



The New York Times reported that Washington is weighing various courses of action, from targeted cyber strikes to operations against elements of Iran’s internal security apparatus that have been implicated in the violent repression of protesters. US planners are also said to be preparing for the possibility of a “significant response” from Iran should any strikes be carried out.



In response to rising tensions, the US military has begun precautionary movements in the region, including advising some personnel to leave the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US installation in the Middle East, amid warnings of potential retaliation. Tehran has informed regional governments, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Turkey, that American bases in their territories would be legitimate targets if Washington attacks Iran. 



The Lufthansa Group canceled overnight stays for crew in Israel and all flights during that period, while Austrian Airlines also pulled scheduled service to Tel Aviv, reflecting broader concerns about stability in the region.



In Israel, media figures such as Michael Shemesh of Kan News report that authorities expect a brief warning, possibly just hours, ahead of any American strike.

Possible US Strike On Iran Looms As Crackdown Death Toll Soars

Verizon customers across the United States are currently experiencing disruptions, with many reporting that their phones are displaying ‘SOS’ instead of the usual network bars. The outage comes after several months of relative stability, with the last significant disruption recorded in October 2024.



Reports of connectivity issues have surged on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Threads, and Down Detector shows more than 46,000 users affected. Verizon has been contacted for comment, while TechRadar has launched a live blog to track developments in real time.



A Verizon spokesperson confirmed the outage to TechRadar, acknowledging its impact on both voice and data services.



“We are aware of an issue impacting wireless voice and data services for some customers. Our engineers are engaged and are working to identify and solve the issue quickly. We understand how important reliable connectivity is and apologize for the inconvenience,” the spokesperson said.



While Verizon has not specified the full extent of the outage, social media posts suggest that the disruption is widespread. No estimated timeline for resolution has been provided, but engineers are actively addressing the issue.



Some users on Verizon’s mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), Visible, report uninterrupted service..



Visible operates using Verizon’s network, making it notable that the MVNO appears unaffected by the current outage.



Verizon’s own social media accounts, including @Verizon, @VerizonSupport, and @VerizonNews on X, have not yet issued further updates regarding the outage. Meanwhile, users continue to share experiences of lost service across various social platforms.



Verizon’s Network Status tool does not currently reflect any issues, even when testing multiple locations. However, users from regions including the New York Metro area, Texas, Florida, Las Vegas, and South Carolina have reported service disruptions. Some attempts to access the status checker have triggered error messages, suggesting potential wider system strain.



By early afternoon, Down Detector indicated over 180,000 reported problems, with many users seeing ‘SOS’ on their devices. This message typically indicates that the phone cannot connect to the cellular network and is defaulting to satellite connectivity, a feature available on newer smartphones

Mass Verizon Outages Reported Across USA

U.S. intelligence agencies blocked more than 10,000 individuals with ties to narco-terrorism from entering the country in 2025 and added over 85,000 additional suspects to the federal terror watchlist, according to U.S. officials familiar with the data.



Counterterrorism officials told Fox News Digital that intelligence gathered by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence was shared with the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, enabling authorities to prevent terror-linked cartel and gang members from accessing the United States.



“President Trump gave the order to secure the homeland, and ODNI’s National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) delivered,” Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told Fox News Digital. “In 2025, intelligence shared by our team to federal, state and local partners stopped more than 10,000 persons with connections to terrorism from accessing our country.”



According to Gabbard, intelligence produced by the National Counterterrorism Center has fueled thousands of successful enforcement actions against cartels and criminal gangs, directly resulting in the arrest and removal of dangerous individuals from U.S. soil.



“Thousands of successful actions against cartels and gangs are driven by intelligence from the National Counterterrorism Center, whose integrated intelligence, analysis, and timely response to terrorist threats have directly led to the apprehension and removal of thousands of criminals from U.S. soil,” Gabbard said.



She credited President Trump and NCTC personnel for the results, adding, “Thanks to President Trump for his commitment to securing our nation, and thanks to the men and women of NCTC for their vigilance and dedication to keeping the American people safe.”



A senior counterterrorism official told Fox News Digital that President Donald Trump’s decision to designate drug cartels as terrorist organizations significantly expanded the intelligence community’s ability to target them.



The official said the designation allowed counterterrorism authorities to “leverage the tools of the intelligence community,” leading directly to the denial of entry for more than 10,000 cartel- or gang-linked individuals in 2025.



Those denials included visa revocations, arrests, deportations, and active investigations, the official said.



In addition, the National Counterterrorism Center added more than 85,000 new identities to the terrorist database, information that feeds directly into the FBI’s Terror Watchlist and is distributed to law enforcement agencies nationwide.



“Had we had a capability like this pre-9/11, the hijackers wouldn’t have been able to come into our country in the first place,” the official told Fox News Digital. “We have denied 10,000 narco-terrorists from coming into the country — from every setting foot in America — which is a huge success.”



The official said career intelligence professionals believe the previous administration allowed suspected cartel and gang members to move freely between Mexico, South America, and other regions without consequence.



“But because of watchlisting work and designation, these 10,000 have been denied access, and another 85,000 have been put on the watchlist. These people will also be denied access,” the official said. “Cartels prior to the Trump administration were killing 100,000 Americans per year due to fentanyl alone, so taking them off the playing field is saving American lives.”



By contrast, the official said that under the Biden administration, authorities often had to “wait for the individuals to come into the country and then commit another crime” before taking action.



While narco-terrorism remains a top focus, officials stressed that traditional terrorist threats have not disappeared.



“The tragic thing is that after 9/11, NCTC developed a comprehensive set of tools to block traditional terrorists from coming into the country,” the official said. “The Biden administration did not use those tools. And it is still a threat because the border was wide open for four years.”



According to the official, fewer than five traditional terrorists attempted to enter the U.S. during the Trump administration, with those individuals trying to arrive via commercial flights rather than the southern border. All were denied entry.



“Don’t even try,” the official said.



The official added that NCTC continues to monitor and counter threats tied to cartels and gangs, al Qaeda, Iranian networks, and ISIS.



“We also have gotten the inclusion of Antifa as a terrorist organization,” the official said. “We are looking at foreign ties to that organization as well.”



Those investigations, the official said, are ongoing.

U.S. Blocks Over 10,000 Narco-Terrorists As Terror Watchlist Jumps by 85,000 In 2025

Federal agents searched the home of a Washington Post reporter as part of an FBI investigation into the unauthorized disclosure of classified materials connected to President Trump’s push to reduce the size of the federal government.



The search, first disclosed by The New York Times and confirmed by the Post, targeted the residence of reporter Hannah Natanson, who has spent much of President Trump’s second term covering the administration’s efforts to cut federal jobs and rein in government spending from her White House beat.



The Washington Post confirmed the FBI action to The Hill on Wednesday, saying it was closely following developments but would not comment further.



According to the Post, Natanson was present during the search, and agents seized two laptops, her cellphone, and a Garmin watch.



A search warrant cited by the Post said the probe centers on a Maryland-based government system administrator who “has a top secret security clearance and has been accused of accessing and taking home classified intelligence reports that were found in his lunchbox and his basement.”



Attorney General Pam Bondi acknowledged the search in a statement Wednesday, alleging Natanson was “obtaining and reporting classified and illegally leaked information from a Pentagon contractor.”



“The leaker is currently behind bars,” Bondi said. “I am proud to work alongside Secretary Hegseth on this effort. The Trump Administration will not tolerate illegal leaks of classified information that, when reported, pose a grave risk to our Nation’s national security and the brave men and women who are serving our country.”



Several of Natanson’s colleagues publicly rallied behind her. Washington Post White House bureau chief Matt Viser praised her as “a tireless reporter who has been the engine for countless must-read stories that have informed all of us.”



Searches of journalists’ homes by federal authorities are exceedingly uncommon in the United States, even in sensitive cases involving classified information or national security concerns.



However, efforts to obtain journalists’ records are not without precedent. During President Trump’s first term, the Justice Department sought gag orders preventing reporters from learning that their phone and email records had been subpoenaed.



Those orders remained in effect into the early months of the Biden administration, which later notified CNN, The New York Times, and The Post of the subpoenas and subsequently issued guidelines sharply limiting searches of journalists’ records.



That policy shifted in April, when Attorney General Bondi signed a memo reopening the door to seizing journalists’ records in leak investigations.



Natanson herself addressed the challenges of sourcing stories in a first-person piece published late last year, describing the volume of tips she received from disaffected government employees reacting to Trump’s downsizing efforts.



“The stories came fast, the tips even faster,” she wrote. “I kept worrying: What if I got something wrong? What if I got someone in trouble?”



The Washington Post has also drawn criticism from the Trump administration over intelligence-related reporting in recent months. In July, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard accused Post reporter Ellen Nakashima of “actively harassing” staff at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.



At the time, Post executive editor Matt Murray defended Nakashima, reaffirming the paper’s mission to “report on government officials and hold power to account, without fear or favor and regardless of party.”



Press freedom advocates sharply criticized the FBI search on Wednesday.



“Any search targeting a journalist warrants intense scrutiny because these kinds of searches can deter and impede reporting that is vital to our democracy,” said Jameel Jaffer, executive director of the Knight First Amendment Institute.



“Attorney General Bondi has weakened guidelines that were intended to protect the freedom of the press, but there are still important legal limits, including constitutional ones, on the government’s authority to use subpoenas, court orders, and search warrants to obtain information from journalists.”



The White House defended the FBI’s actions, emphasizing national security concerns.



“Leaking classified information puts America’s national security and the safety of our military heroes in serious jeopardy,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X. “President Trump has zero tolerance for it and will continue to aggressively crack down on these illegal acts moving forward.”

FBI Searches Home Of Washington Post Reporter In Classified Leak Investigation

Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, announced Wednesday that Phase two of the administration’s Gaza plan is beginning, launching a new stage focused on demilitarization, technocratic governance, and large-scale reconstruction, according to officials familiar with the initiative.



The move comes as Hamas terrorists continue to violate the ceasefire on a near-daily basis and as one hostage is still held in the Gaza Strip.



Despite the terrorists not returning the last murdered hostage held in Gaza, the Trump administration is pressing forward with its broader vision for Gaza’s future, viewing Phase two as a necessary step toward stabilizing the territory and dismantling Hamas’s grip on civilian life.



Two weeks ago, President Trump met in Florida with the family of Ran Gvili Hy&#8217;d, the final remaining hostage in Gaza, and pledged to work toward the return of his body. Administration officials have indicated that while the hostage issue remains a priority, it has not been formally tied to a halt in the rollout of Phase two.



Trump has repeatedly described his long-term vision for Gaza as transforming the territory into a “prosperous Riviera of the Middle East,” a goal that has drawn skepticism as Hamas continues to refuse disarmament &#8211; a central pillar of the administration’s plan first unveiled last October.



Under Phase two, a Palestinian technocratic government is to be established to oversee Gaza’s civilian administration, including sanitation, infrastructure, and education, according to the sources. Demilitarization of the territory is viewed as essential to enabling reconstruction and preventing the reemergence of terrorist control.



The framework also calls for the creation of a Peace Board tasked with providing international coordination and strategic oversight. Former UN Middle East envoy and former Bulgarian foreign minister Nickolay Mladenov is expected to play a senior role, serving as a liaison between the technocratic administration and the Peace Board.



Speaking earlier this week aboard Air Force One, Trump said the board would include “the most important leaders from the most important countries,” without naming specific participants.



Witkoff, working closely with senior adviser Jared Kushner, played a central role in shaping the Phase 2 blueprint, which is expected to outline immediate measures to stabilize Gaza and protect civilians, followed by longer-term reconstruction efforts aimed at turning the territory into a regional economic and technological hub.



One unresolved component of the plan is the formation of an International Stabilization Force that would be responsible for maintaining order during the transition period. Officials said discussions are ongoing, with potential contributing countries expressing concern about being perceived as an occupying force and about the risk of attacks by Hamas terrorists.



U.S. officials have privately acknowledged that Hamas’s continued influence presents a major obstacle to reconstruction and governance, but maintain that sustained pressure and the establishment of an alternative governing structure will gradually erode the group’s control.



On Sunday, Hamas announced it would dissolve its current governing structure once the technocratic administration formally assumes authority, a declaration U.S. officials are treating cautiously as Phase 2 moves from planning to implementation.

Witkoff Announces Launch of Phase 2 of Gaza Plan

Police in Germany arrested a man in connection with a suspected arson attack outside a shul in the city of Giessen, near Frankfurt.



Surveillance footage from outside the Beith-Jaakov shul shows a man wearing a black backpack making a gesture that appeared to be a Nazi salute before igniting a pile of cardboard boxes that had been placed against the building’s facade. The man then walked away from the scene.



German police told DPA news that the suspect is 32 years old, is believed to have acted alone and that investigators have not yet determined a motive.



Rabbi Menachem Margolin, chairman of the European Jewish Association (EJA), told JNS the suspect’s raised hand “was a poignant reminder that Nazism has not died out.“ He warned that “German authorities and the leaders of the free world must declare war on the rising extremism in Europe,” adding, “Governments in the West must immediately increase security at Jewish institutions, synagogues and schools.”



Germany recorded a historic surge in antisemitic incidents last year, with 8,627 cases documented nationwide &#8211; the highest annual total ever recorded and an 80% increase compared to 2023.



The data was published in a 2024 report by the Federal Association of Research and Information on Antisemitism, or RIAS, which has tracked antisemitic incidents across Germany since 2018 and in Berlin since 2015.



On January 5, a storage shed belonging to Brandenburg’s Commissioner for Combating Antisemitism, Andreas Büttner, was set ablaze in what authorities believe was a deliberate arson attack. The fire was ignited while Büttner’s family was inside the home. Both the commissioner and police confirmed that no one was injured during the incident. Police discovered Hamas symbols scrawled on the property.



RIAS noted that the 2024 figures translate to an average of about 24 incidents per day; roughly one antisemitic incident every hour nationwide.

Suspect Arrested for German Shul Arson, Made Nazi Salute

Senior Palestinian Authority officials are continuing to promote claims of education reform to Western and regional partners, but a review of current textbooks shows that incitement against Israel and Jews remains widespread, with content closely mirroring Hamas ideology, according to a Wednesday report in Israel Hayom.



Palestinian Authority Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh has held frequent meetings in Ramallah and Gulf capitals with Western diplomats and regional leaders as part of broader efforts to position the PA to assume control of Gaza after the war and advance the establishment of a Palestinian state. Those efforts are framed within the Trump plan endorsed by the UN Security Council, a framework Israel did not oppose.



However, international engagement with the PA is conditioned on internal reforms, including ending payments to terrorists and overhauling the PA education system. Despite repeated assurances, no substantive change has been implemented.



The Oslo Accords required the Palestinian education system to promote peace, coexistence, and tolerance. That requirement has never been enforced. The European Union, the primary funder of the PA education system, has consistently rejected Israeli demands to condition funding on curriculum reform. As a result, Palestinian students continue to be exposed from an early age to material that promotes hostility toward Israel, Zionists, and Jews, including antisemitic themes and direct encouragement of violence. Periodic PA announcements of reform have resulted only in minor cosmetic revisions.



In recent meetings, al-Sheikh has claimed that progress has been made over the past year and that education officials are drafting a new curriculum. Israel Hayom reported last week that Saudi Arabia agreed to assume a supervisory role over the reform process in exchange for Israel releasing PA tax revenues it is currently withholding.



The reform narrative has also been promoted by Israeli and international left-wing groups, including J Street and Peace Now. According to Israeli and Gulf sources, the claims have not withstood scrutiny. Israel Hayom has learned that during al-Sheikh’s recent visit to the United Arab Emirates, officials presented him with examples of incitement taken from current PA textbooks. Following that presentation, Emirati officials rejected his request for financial assistance.



Israel Hayom also reported that in 2025, Mahmoud Abbas’ office explored the possibility of a comprehensive overhaul of the education system and sought guidance from international organizations involved in curriculum reform. Sample textbooks were reviewed, but Abbas demanded changes that contradicted principles of tolerance and peaceful coexistence, preventing the initiative from moving forward.



Dr. Arnon Groiss, who has studied references to Israel, Jews, and peace in Palestinian Authority textbooks for 25 years, told the news outlet the current curriculum remains fundamentally unchanged. He said the textbooks are based on three core principles: rejection of the existence of the State of Israel anywhere in the land and opposition to the presence of its seven million Jewish citizens; extreme demonization of Israel and Jews, including on religious grounds; and advocacy of violent struggle for total “liberation,” at times implying their destruction.



“The State of Palestine” is presented as the sovereign authority over the entire territory in place of Israel, both in text and on maps, while Israel is referred to exclusively as “the Zionist occupation,” Groiss said.



According to Groiss, Jewish history in the land is entirely denied, including the existence of Judaism’s holy sites, foremost among them the Western Wall. Jews are portrayed as “infidels, helpers of Satan and enemies of God’s prophets,” accused of betraying Muhammad in the past and of posing an existential threat to Palestinians today. The textbooks claim Jews are driven by religious ideology to carry out massacres aimed at exterminating Palestinians.



The curriculum promotes jihad and “istishhad” — martyrdom for the nation and Islam — as the educational ideal. Terror attacks, including the 1978 Coastal Road bus massacre, are presented as legitimate components of the “struggle for liberation,” alongside the demand for the “return of refugees.”



PA textbooks are mandatory in all schools in Yehudah and Shomron and Gaza, including UNRWA and private institutions. Many schools in eastern Jerusalem also use the same materials.



Despite the broader failure of reform, Israeli and international officials see Gaza as a potential testing ground for change. Since the ceasefire began in October, international organizations have worked to resume schooling in the Strip, where most school buildings were destroyed. In the absence of a functioning governing authority, some educational frameworks are no longer based on the PA curriculum previously used under Hamas rule.



At US facilities in Kiryat Gat preparing for postwar governance scenarios, a dedicated team is working on education infrastructure and future curricula. The United Arab Emirates and Morocco are playing prominent roles, developing programs that omit incitement against Israel and Jews in anticipation of a governing authority replacing Hamas.



In areas controlled by clans opposed to Hamas, makeshift schools have already been established. The most prominent example is in territory controlled by the al-Shabab clan in southern Gaza, where several hundred children are studying in temporary facilities using a curriculum developed by international education experts from across the Arab world. The program is now being reviewed by additional clans interested in adopting it.



Hamas continues to operate academic institutions in Gaza. Last month, the group’s education ministry announced that 230 students had completed medical studies, underscoring its continued efforts to maintain influence over higher education even as alternative education models emerge elsewhere in the Strip.

PA Education Reform Claims Debunked As Textbooks Continue To Glorify Terror, Deny Israel

A single eye specialist in Tehran has recorded more than 400 gunshot-related eye injuries at a hospital, underscoring the scale of injuries as medical workers are pushed beyond capacity by an intensifying and violent crackdown on protests across Iran.



According to messages sent by three doctors and shared with the Guardian, hospitals and emergency rooms are overflowing with protesters suffering from gunshot wounds. The doctors said injuries were overwhelmingly focused on the eyes and heads, mirroring a pattern rights groups say was deliberately used by authorities during the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom protests.



“[Security forces] are deliberately shooting at the head and the eyes. They want to damage the head and the eyes so they can no longer see, the same thing they did in [2022],” said a doctor in Tehran. He added that many patients had their eyes surgically removed and were left blind.



The current wave of unrest began on 28 December following a sharp drop in Iran’s currency value and has since grown into the country’s largest anti-government protest movement since 2009. Tens of thousands of people have filled the streets nightly in cities nationwide, chanting slogans such as “death to the dictator,” aimed at supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.



Authorities have responded with alarm. On Thursday night, they cut off internet and mobile service nationwide, severing Iranians’ contact with the outside world. Rights organizations say the blackout has been used to conceal a violent suppression of demonstrators.



Between 12,000 and 20,000 people have been killed since the protests began, while over 16,700 people have been arrested, according to CBS and other reports.



Even by Iran’s recent history, the scale of killing is staggering. Just two weeks in, the death toll is already four times higher than that of the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests, which had previously been considered an unusually brutal crackdown.



Doctors inside Iran say the official numbers barely scratch the surface. They reported a dramatic surge in wounded protesters arriving at hospitals immediately after authorities shut down the internet on Thursday.



“It’s like in the war movies where you see the injured soldiers getting treated on the open field. We don’t have blood, we don’t have enough medical supplies. It’s like a war zone,” the Tehran doctor said. A colleague said staff were forced to treat the wounded outdoors in freezing weather because hospital wards were full.



Medical workers are also operating in isolation, the Tehran doctor said, as the communications blackout has made it impossible to coordinate with other hospitals or emergency responders. He added that security forces periodically enter hospitals to arrest injured protesters.



“My colleagues are very distressed, tired and horrified. They are breaking down in tears,” the doctor said. He added that one fellow physician was shot and wounded while trying to reach the hospital.



The nature of the injuries has reinforced doctors’ belief that protesters’ eyes are being intentionally targeted, a conclusion echoed by rights groups. Medical staff reported seeing wounds consistent with shotguns firing metal pellets, as well as injuries from live rifle ammunition.



“Eyes were hit by birdshot pellets and it was deliberate, they are shooting to kill,” said the Tehran doctor. Another physician said they removed “20 pellets” from a single protester’s body.



“The evidence demonstrates that even when utilising ‘less-lethal’ weapons, the Islamic Republic deliberately targets vital organs, transforming these tools into instruments of systematic mutilation and permanent disability to terrorise protesters,” the spokesperson said.



Iranian officials have denied responsibility for the violence, instead blaming protesters. Authorities have released videos they claim show foreign saboteurs and have pointed to footage of protesters beating police officers, the killing of a police chief by Sunni militants, and mosques being vandalized as proof that demonstrations turned violent.



HRANA reports that at least 135 people connected to the Iranian government have been killed during the unrest.



Protesters who managed to bypass the communications blackout offered a starkly different account, saying security forces were the ones initiating deadly force. A 20-year-old protester described a demonstration in Tehran on Friday that turned lethal after security personnel intervened.



“We were just chanting Javid Shah [Long live the king] and plainclothes killers infiltrated the people a few lines ahead and shot point blank, from behind, with guns directly at their head. We ran away and we don’t even know if they picked up the dead bodies,” they said.



Footage sent to the Guardian by activists showed a protester lying motionless on the ground, blood pouring from his mouth, following especially severe crackdowns Thursday in Fardis, west of Tehran. “He’s not breathing! Please hold on, I swear to god, please hold on,” a voice can be heard screaming as blood continues to gush from the man’s mouth.



Despite the violence, demonstrations have continued into a 17th consecutive day, with thousands of people still filling streets each night.



Doctors warned that the international community is seeing only a fraction of the catastrophe unfolding inside Iran.



“The images and data broadcast by the international media do not represent even one per cent of the reality, because the information simply does not reach them,” a physician who fled Iran told the US-based Center for Human Rights in Iran on Monday.



“This was a mass-casualty situation. Our facilities, space, and personnel were far below the number of injured people arriving,” the doctor said, describing conditions inside the hospital.

Iran Doctor Treats 400 Eye Injuries From Gunshots

A clear majority of Americans say they would support U.S. military intervention in Venezuela after learning about the country’s alleged ties to narcoterrorism, Iran, and Hezbollah, according to a new survey.



The Morning Consult poll, conducted for the pro-U.S. energy Council for Secure America, questioned 2,202 adults on January 10–11 about whether those connections would make them more or less likely to support American intervention.



“As you may know, Venezuela is a known hub for Iranian and Hezbollah terror, including military drone production and narcoterrorism. Does this make you more or less likely to support American intervention in Venezuela?”



Sixty percent of respondents said they would be more likely to support intervention, while 40% said they would be less likely, according to the survey obtained by The Post on Tuesday.



Support was especially strong among Hispanics and men, with 66% of each group backing intervention. The poll also found that 64% of white respondents favored military action, compared to 54% of women.



By contrast, a majority of black Americans opposed intervention, with 57% against and 43% in favor of an invasion of Venezuela.



The polling comes after U.S. forces earlier this month captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and brought him to New York to face drug trafficking charges filed by the Justice Department. Maduro has denied the allegations and maintains his innocence.



Across income brackets and geographic regions — including urban, suburban, and rural areas — respondents broadly expressed support for military intervention in the socialist South American nation.



The survey also tested views on Venezuela’s energy potential, noting that the country holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves despite a largely nonfunctional energy sector.



Respondents were asked whether they agreed or disagreed with the following statement: “Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world, but its energy industry largely fails to produce oil.



“Knowing this, how much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? With help from the American energy industry, Venezuela can become a world leader in energy production – providing prosperity to Venezuelans and helping reduce the global influence of Middle Eastern oil.”



Forty-five percent of those surveyed said they agreed that U.S. energy companies could help revive Venezuelan oil production, while 37% said they had no opinion and 17% said they disagreed.



“Council for a Secure America’s polling demonstrates strong American support for US engagement in Venezuela given the extent of Iran’s entrenchment in the country’s energy sector and Hezbollah’s involvement in the criminal drug economy,” said CSA executive director Jennifer Sutton.



“Both Iran and Venezuela have used their vast energy resources to finance and fuel terrorism. Support is especially strong among men and Hispanic Americans, with the data showing broad agreement that US energy expertise can help Venezuela become a major energy producer again while strengthening American security.”



CSA also released a fact sheet alongside the poll outlining what it described as extensive formal ties between Iran and Venezuela, as well as evidence of Iran-Hezbollah terror networks operating inside the country.



The poll’s margin of error is plus or minus 2 percentage points.

Majority Of Americans Back Military Action In Venezuela, With Hispanic Support Surging To 66%: Poll

More than 12,000 people are feared to have been killed in Iran after over two weeks of nationwide anti-government protests, according to sources with access to information from inside the country who spoke with CBS on Tuesday, as President Donald Trump urges Iranians to overthrow the regime.



With limited phone access partially restored after days of a government-imposed communications blackout, two sources &#8211; including one inside Iran &#8211; told CBS that the death toll is believed to be at least 12,000 and could reach as high as 20,000. Activist networks compiling figures from hospitals and medical officials across Iran say earlier estimates significantly understated the scale of the crackdown.



When asked to clarify what he meant by saying ‘help was on the way,’ Trump refused to comment.



U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff held a discreet meeting over the weekend with exiled former Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi to discuss Iran’s ongoing anti-regime protests, according to a report by Axios.



Confirming the true toll has proven difficult as Iran’s rulers cut off internet and phone services nationwide for five days. While some calls from inside Iran were possible Tuesday, outside callers were still unable to reach the country.



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CBS&#8217; Iranian source also said that security forces have been visiting private hospitals in Tehran, pressuring staff to provide the names and addresses of people treated for protest-related injuries.



The death toll, if accurate, would far exceed those released by most activist groups to date, though those groups have consistently warned their counts are incomplete.



Iran International, an opposition television network, reported Tuesday that its information also pointed to roughly 12,000 deaths.



Iran itself has released death figures. Reuters cited an unnamed Iranian official as saying about 2,000 people had been killed since protests began December 28, blaming the violence on foreign-backed “terrorists” and claiming agitators were paid to incite unrest, without providing and evidence.



Video posted online Tuesday showing hundreds of bodies piled at a morgue in a Tehran suburb. The footage appears to show forensic workers documenting severe injuries as families searched for missing relatives.



The 16-minute video was first shared by an Iranian activist and blogger known as Vahid Online, who said it was sent by a source who traveled roughly 600 miles to upload it during the communications blackout. The video shows bodies bearing what appear to be gunshot wounds and shotgun pellet injuries, as well as piles of blood-stained clothing.



The protests erupted in late December over rising living costs in Iran’s sanctions-hit economy but quickly spread to all 31 provinces, with demonstrators openly calling for the downfall of the Islamic Republic.



Even the lower casualty figures cited by British officials, if confirmed, would exceed any officially reported death toll from anti-regime protests since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.



As the unrest escalates, President Donald Trump repeatedly warned Iran’s leadership against killing protesters. On Tuesday, he issued one of his most direct appeals yet for mass civil resistance.



“Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING — TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY,” Trump wrote on social media.



The White House has not detailed what assistance may follow. Trump’s national security team was scheduled to meet Tuesday to review options, according to officials familiar with the discussions. Pentagon officials told CBS News the president has been briefed on a range of military and covert measures beyond conventional airstrikes.



Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, head of the Norway-based Iran Human Rights organization, said the crackdown appears far worse than previously understood.



“The information that we are receiving shows that the violent crackdown [against] the protests has probably been much worse than we can even imagine,” he said, adding that the international community’s “red lines have been crossed.”



Iran’s internet and messaging services remained largely blocked Tuesday following the blackout imposed January 8, after exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi urged Iranians to rise up. Iranian officials continue to claim the protests were directed from abroad; a narrative activists say is broadly rejected inside the country.

Iran: Death Toll in Iran Reportedly Over 12,000 as Trump Urges Regime Change, Witkoff Meets Crown Prince

Pesach Osina, a frum Jewish government aide with long ties to southeast Queens, announced Tuesday that he is running for New York State Assembly District 23, a seat that includes the Rockaways, Broad Channel, Howard Beach, and South Ozone Park.



Osina is entering the race with the endorsement of outgoing Assemblymember Stacey Pheffer Amato, who is vacating the seat after a decade in Albany.



“I’m proud to endorse my good friend Pesach Osina for NYS Assembly. I’ve worked hand in hand with Pesach over the last decade and know he will show up and deliver for our community. Pesach will be a commonsense legislator in Albany by supporting our first responders and law enforcement, fighting to make our neighborhoods more affordable, and standing up for our community. In challenging times like these we need a leader who knows how to cut through the noise and focus on what’s really important. That’s Pesach Osina and that’s why I’m strongly endorsing him for NYS Assembly,” said Pheffer Amato.



Osina has spent more than 20 years working in government, including roles connected to the Assembly district, the New York City Comptroller’s office, and, most recently, the New York City Council Speaker’s office, where he has served for the past four years.



Announcing his candidacy, Osina described his experience in a social media post:



“In these roles, I wasn’t focused on titles; I was focused on people. I listened, I educated, I advocated, and I helped residents navigate government so they could get real, meaningful results. With so much uncertainty, we need elected leaders who understand how to make government work for working people. That’s what I’ve done my whole career and that’s how I’ll deliver for our communities as our next Assemblymember,” Osina said.



State elections records show that Osina is not alone in seeking the open seat. According to the New York State Board of Elections’ public filings, both Osina and Mike Scala, a Democratic attorney based in South Queens, have filed paperwork to run for Assembly District 23.



Pheffer Amato, a Democrat, confirmed in November that she will not run for reelection.



On the Republican side, Tom Sullivan is planning to enter the race, according to a GOP insider.



Before Osina’s announcement, neither he nor Scala had formally launched their campaigns, though political insiders said Osina was expected to declare his candidacy early in the new year, according to local outlet The Wave.



Osina has lived in Far Rockaway since 1999, previously sought a City Council seat in 2013 during a special election to replace James Sanders Jr., who resigned after being elected to the State Senate. At the time, Osina was serving on the staff of then-Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder and entered a crowded field of eight candidates vying for the Council District 31 seat, which covers the eastern portion of the Rockaway peninsula. Despite the crowded race, Osina finished with one of the stronger showings.



A board member of the Jewish Community Council of the Rockaway Peninsula, Osina drew strong support from Far Rockaway’s Orthodox Jewish community during that campaign. His platform emphasized “safety and security” and youth-focused initiatives, along with calls for increased funding for schools and afterschool programs and additional flood-mitigation resources following Hurricane Sandy.

Frum Jewish Community Figure Pesach Osina Launches Bid For Queens Assembly Seat With Incumbent’s Backing

Thousands of nurses across New York City were back on the picket lines Tuesday as a major labor strike against some of the city’s largest hospital systems moved into its second day.



Union leaders say about 15,000 nurses began the strike Monday morning, walking out at multiple locations operated by NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia, Montefiore Medical Center, and Mount Sinai.



In response to the walkout, the hospitals have brought in large numbers of temporary nurses in an effort to maintain staffing levels and continue operations.



Both hospital officials and union representatives have stressed that patients should not delay or avoid seeking medical care during the strike.



The current labor action comes three years after a similar nurses strike that forced hospitals to transfer patients and divert ambulances due to staffing shortages.



As they did during the 2023 strike, nurses say unsafe staffing levels remain a central issue, accusing well-funded hospital systems of refusing to commit to enforceable standards that would ensure manageable workloads and patient safety.



The private, nonprofit hospitals involved in the negotiations say they have improved staffing in recent years and argue that the union’s demands would impose unsustainable costs.



On Monday, the city’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, joined nurses on a picket line outside NewYork-Presbyterian, applauding their efforts and saying they were fighting for “dignity, respect, and the fair pay and treatment that they deserve.”

NYC Nurses Strike Enters Second Day As 15,000 Walk Off Job And Hospitals Scramble To Cope

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and First Lady Rama Duwaji officially moved into Gracie Mansion, the 227-year-old mayoral residence, on Monday.



Despite the move, the socialist mayor promised that living in a historic landmark would not change his hands-on approach to city life. “While there is no security deposit being put down today, Rama and I intend to strive each day to be the best possible custodians of this beautiful home, because we know that we are only its temporary occupants,” he said.”



Mamdani confirmed he would continue to commute using the subway, buses, and city bikes from his new home near Carl Schurz Park, at East End Avenue and 88th Street in Yorkville. His wife initially expressed hesitation about leaving their rent-stabilized apartment in Astoria, Queens, but the couple ultimately decided that security concerns made the move necessary.



During the move, Mamdani joked about the mansion’s rumored hauntings, quipping, “I haven’t yet met the ghost or heard from the ghost,” and hinted that he plans to adopt a cat once his allergy shots take effect. “I am currently getting my allergy shots so that I can fight off my allergy to cats. That’s the hope.”



Meanwhile, President Donald Trump continued his criticism of New York City leadership, framing the city’s administration as failing under what he sees as misguided policies. On Monday, he attacked Manhattan’s congestion pricing as a “disaster,” writing on Truth Social: “Congestion Pricing in Manhattan is a DISASTER for New York. It’s got to be ended, IMMEDIATELY! It’s never worked before, and it will never work now. I love New York, and hate to see it being destroyed so rapidly with such obviously foolish ‘policy.’ Thank you for your attention to this matter!”



Trump’s comments arrive as federal courts prepare to hear arguments over whether his administration can terminate the program, which charges drivers up to $27 to enter Manhattan. Despite threats to withhold federal funding and approvals for New York projects, the state and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority have sued to prevent the toll program’s cancellation, with oral arguments scheduled for Jan. 28.



The congestion pricing program, which went into effect earlier this month, has drawn mixed reactions. Governor Kathy Hochul and MTA officials say it has reduced traffic, while critics argue it merely raises costs for commuters and businesses without significantly easing congestion. Delivery trucks, for example, face tolls as high as $21.60 per trip into the zone south of 60th Street, passing on those costs to consumers.

Mamdani Moves Into Gracie Mansion While Trump Rips Into Him Over Congestion Pricing

In a major development for the kosher food service industry, S. Bertram Foods, which owns familiar brands like B&#8217;gan, announced Monday the acquisition of Dependable Foods, also one of the largest and most well-known kosher food distributors in the tri-state area.



The acquisition marks the end of an era for Dependable, owner of the Masbia brand and many others, which has served the community for 30 years. In a letter sent to customers Monday, Dependable management announced that the company will be ceasing operations



The email says that Tuesday, Jan 13, will be the last day to place orders, and that the following day will be the last for deliveries.



&#8220;We are deeply grateful for the trust you placed in Dependable Food&#8230; Your support has meant a great deal to us,&#8221; the Dependable management team wrote, signing off with their motto, &#8220;The Joy of Serving.&#8221;



Coinciding with this acquisition, Bertram, another major player in the kosher food industry, announced it is relocating its warehouse to a new state-of-the-art facility in Eatontown, NJ.



To facilitate the move and the integration of Dependable&#8217;s operations, Bertram announced a brief pause in service; Friday, Jan 16 and Sunday, Jan 18, with full service restored o Monday.



As part of the transition, Bertram intends to keep the popular Masbia line of products previously distributed by Dependable, according to social media reports.



While consolidation in the food industry often raises concerns regarding decreased competition and higher pricing, Bertram emphasized their commitment to maintaining &#8220;the same personalized service you&#8217;ve come to expect,&#8221; now bolstered by the efficiency of their new facility.

Major Shakeup in Kosher Food Industry: S. Bertram Acquires Dependable Foods

A Jewish Labour MP was reportedly prevented from visiting a school in his own constituency over concerns that his appearance would “inflame teachers.”



Damien Egan, the Labour MP for Bristol North East, had been scheduled to visit Bristol Brunel Academy in September, but the trip was called off following pressure from far-left activists linked to Bristol’s branch of the National Education Union (NEU) and a local Palestine Solidarity Campaign group.



According to reports, Egan was blocked on the grounds of unspecified “safeguarding concerns” after activists — claiming to speak on behalf of teachers, parents, and local residents — raised objections to his association with Labour Friends of Israel.



Campaigners hailed the cancellation as a victory, describing it as a win for “safeguarding, solidarity, and for the power of the NEU trade union staff group, parents, and campaigners standing together.”



One NEU representative said teachers had planned to wear keffiyehs inside the school on the day of the visit and were preparing “work that members could do with students in preparation” before the visit was ultimately scrapped.



The incident was publicly addressed on Sunday by Communities Secretary Steve Reed, who disclosed that a Jewish MP had been denied access to a school in his own constituency due to fears about staff reaction.



“I have a colleague who is Jewish, who has been banned from visiting a school and refused permission to visit a school in his own constituency, in case his presence inflames the teachers,” Reed told the Jewish News.



“That is an absolute outrage.”

Jewish Labour MP Barred From Visiting Local School Amid Claims His Presence Would ‘Inflame Teachers’

Iran’s parliamentary speaker warned Monday that Tehran’s military would deliver what he called “an unforgettable lesson” to US President Donald Trump if Washington follows through on threats to strike the Islamic Republic over its violent crackdown on anti-regime demonstrations.



Speaking at a pro-government rally in Tehran on Monday, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf framed the regime’s response to the nationwide unrest as a justified battle, labeling the protests a “war against terrorists.”



Qalibaf claimed Iran is currently engaged in what he described as a “four-front war,” citing economic pressure, psychological warfare, a “military war” with the United States and Israel, and what he called “today a war against terrorists.”



“The great Iranian nation has never allowed the enemy to achieve its goals,” Qalibaf said, as crowds around him chanted “Death to Israel, Death to America” in Persian.



Human rights activists say the regime’s crackdown has left more than 540 people dead, describing the violence as a “massacre” carried out while authorities imposed widespread internet blackouts to suppress information. Other groups place the amount of killed protestors in the thousands.



Iran has previously warned that any US strikes would be met with retaliation against Israel as well as American military assets throughout the Middle East.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Warns Trump Of ‘Unforgettable Lesson’ Over Possible US Strikes

Hussam al-Astal, who leads an armed anti-Hamas militia operating in eastern Khan Yunis, released a video asserting that his fighters carried out the killing of the head of the investigations department within Hamas’ Khan Yunis police force.



According to al-Astal, the official was killed after being shot at close range near his residence in the Hamas-controlled al-Mawasi area. Hamas initially accused Israel’s Shin Bet security agency of being responsible for the killing.



In the video, al-Astal displays a firearm he says was seized from the slain official and launches a blistering attack on Hamas. He claims, “This is a man who harmed civilians, tortured and killed, and made the lives of the residents a nightmare. Anyone who works with Hamas is putting their lives at risk. We are no longer responsible for their lives.”



He continues with a direct warning to Gaza’s families, saying, “We call on the families in Gaza: disavow your children who work with Hamas. Whoever continues serving in their ranks will be exposed to assassination. Hamas is finished, and death is on its way for anyone who hurts people.”



Al-Astal also urges civilians to relocate to what he described as a “humanitarian zone” under militia control, claiming it will soon be rebuilt. Addressing potential supporters, he adds, “Whoever wishes to join us, come. We will welcome all those who respect Gaza and hate Hamas. Don&#8217;t be afraid of them; they will fear us.”

Anti-Hamas Militia Commander Claims Assassination Of Senior Terrorist Official

Yair Netanyahu, son of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a Miami resident, has been elected to the Likud Central Committee as a representative of the Ma&#8217;ale Yosef branch in the northern Israeli border area.



He joined without elections, through allocations by Member of Knesset Sasson Guetta, via internal agreements at the recent Likud conference.



While he previously stated no intention to run for Knesset, his recent moves (including a blocked attempt at a senior Zionist Organization role) have sparked questions in Likud about whether he plans to pursue significant public or political positions in the future.

Yair Netanyahu Appointed to Likud Central Committee

In a stunning address at a Tzedek Association event Sunday night, Senator Lindsey Graham dropped a massive bombshell, strongly implying that significant U.S. military action to assist in the overthrow of the Iranian regime is imminent; possibly even unfolding Sunday.



Addressing a crowd of Jewish community leaders and activists, Graham began by praising the Tzedek Association’s advocacy work in Washington, promising to champion their domestic priorities.



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&#8220;The bottom line, folks, is I appreciate you helping me. I will be your voice the best I can be in Washington,&#8221; Graham said. &#8220;I will make sure that your issues are heard, that we keep knocking at the door until the American people open it. One day we&#8217;ll have school choice, because it makes so much sense. I think there&#8217;s going to be bipartisan support for expanding IVF; criminal justice was a bipartisan thing. I want to keep Israel bipartisan as much as we can.&#8221;



However, the tone of the evening shifted dramatically when the Senator abruptly announced he had to cut his appearance short due to urgent developments.



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&#8220;But the reason I had to cut the speech off a little bit&#8230; it was really very kind of you to do what you were doing. I don&#8217;t know what, but this might be the night. It&#8217;s just a matter of time. You know what I&#8217;m talking about, don’t you?&#8221; Graham told the hushed room.



He then launched into a fiery condemnation of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, suggesting the United States is ready to forcibly remove the regime to reshape the Middle East.



&#8220;This tyrannical regime needs to end. We need to end this for the good people of Iran, and for our own selves and the people of Israel. We need to take this guy down. He needs to leave—standing up or laying down, I don&#8217;t care. He needs to go,&#8221; Graham declared. &#8220;And if we can pull this off, it’d be the biggest change in the Mideast in a thousand years.&#8221;



Graham painted a picture of the region post-Ayatollah, predicting the collapse of Iran&#8217;s terror proxies.



&#8220;Hamas, Hezbollah—gone. The Houthis—gone. The Iranian people an ally, not an enemy. The Arab world moving toward Israel without fear. Saudi-Israel normalized. No more October the 7th.&#8221;



The Senator also offered high praise for President Trump’s aggressive posture, dismissing concerns from European allies. &#8220;I haven’t slept or eaten in three or four days. You know, President Trump is changing the world. I can tell you right now, I&#8217;ve never appreciated strong versus weak as I do right now,&#8221; Graham said. &#8220;To our European hand-wringing allies: get over it. I had two people call me saying, &#8216;Trump is making us nervous.&#8217; I said, &#8216;Drink a beer or go see a therapist.&#8217; Get over it. He&#8217;s got a different style—do you agree with that?—but it&#8217;s paying off, folks.&#8221;



In a final sign that operations may already be underway, Graham asked the audience for prayers before rushing off the stage. &#8220;I want you to pray tonight. I want you to pray for our men and women. Whether it&#8217;s tonight&#8230; it&#8217;s coming. Keep them in your prayers. I want you to pray for the people of Iran who are out in the streets without any weapon, willing to die.&#8221; He concluded, &#8220;So, ladies and gentlemen, I gotta run here. God bless you all. God bless this movement. God bless Israel. God bless America.&#8221;



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‘This Might Be The Night’ – Sen. Graham Hints At Imminent U.S. Action To Topple Iranian Regime During Tzedek Association Event

More than 2,000 demonstrators gathered near Central Park on Sunday for a large anti-ICE rally, marking the latest major protest following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis last week.



The crowd assembled along Fifth Avenue, where marchers moved under heavy NYPD supervision. Protesters held signs condemning federal immigration authorities and President Trump, as outrage continued to build over the Minnesota incident.



“I’m here today to overthrow Trump’s Gestapo, which is ICE,” said one protester from Rockland County who identified himself only as Glenn, 61.



Some demonstrators used explicitly violent language while addressing reporters and fellow protesters.



“Renee Good was murdered by ICE and you’re asking me if we think it’s OK to meet them with violence? Yes,” Glenn said. “They are kidnappers. If violence is what they understand, speak in the language they understand.”



Despite the heated rhetoric, police said the demonstration remained noisy but orderly through the late afternoon, with no major clashes reported.



Federal officials have disputed protesters’ characterization of the shooting. The Trump administration, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, has said ICE agent Jonathan Ross fired in self-defense after Good allegedly struck him with her vehicle during a confrontation with federal agents in Minneapolis last Wednesday.



According to authorities and video footage, Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot three times as she attempted to drive away from the ICE operation, appearing to clip Ross with her car moments before the gunfire.



The White House has blamed left-wing agitators for escalating tensions during the fatal encounter, saying interference with federal agents led to the deadly outcome.



The Minneapolis shooting has ignited protests across the country, with New York City becoming one of the largest flashpoints. Sunday’s rally featured banners reading “ABOLISH I.C.E.” and slogans linking ICE to U.S. foreign policy and military actions abroad.



In Manhattan, protesters at the “No Wars, No Kings, No ICE” rally waved signs declaring “ICE Out” and “ICE = Murder,” while others held placards reading “Sic Semper Tryanus,” a Latin phrase meaning “always a tyrant.”



“Said it loud, say it clear,” the crowd chanted. “ICE is not welcome here.”



Some participants made a point of separating local law enforcement from federal immigration authorities, expressing appreciation for the NYPD’s presence at the scene.



“We feel safe because of the NYPD,” one 79-year-old protester told the New York Post. “Even though ICE shot that woman in the face, we feel much safer with the NYPD here with us today.”

NYC Anti-ICE Rally Draws Thousands As Anger Flares After Minneapolis Shooting

EL AL Israel Airlines is planning a significant expansion of its U.S.–Israel service for summer 2026, saying it expects to operate up to 55 weekly flights between the United States and Tel Aviv during peak travel periods.



The airline’s largest increase will be in the New York metropolitan area, where it plans to add three additional weekly flights split between JFK and Newark. During peak summer weeks, EL AL expects to run as many as seven daily flights from the New York area.



Miami is also slated to see an increase, with one additional weekly flight planned as part of the summer schedule.



According to the airline, the U.S. expansion is part of a broader seasonal buildup that would bring its global operation to roughly 900 weekly flights. The summer plan includes added capacity on select long-haul routes, with EL AL indicating it intends to deploy larger aircraft on some services to accommodate higher demand.

EL AL Plans Expanded U.S.-Israel Flight Schedule for Summer 2026

The Islamic Republic of Iran is facing its most critical existential threat in decades, with massive protests that have cut loose the stranglehold the terror-sponsoring government has on its populace.



Following the devastating war with Israel in 2025, the country has been plunged into chaos, driven by &#8220;enormous inflation&#8221; and a population that has shattered the barrier of fear.



According to a report by the New York Post, security levels within Iran are now higher than they were during the height of the war with Israel last year. The regime, desperate to hold onto power, has reportedly killed hundreds, or according to some reports, thousands, of protesters in recent weeks as unrest sweeps the nation at unprecedented levels.



As the dictatorship teeters, speculation is mounting over who could replace Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei if the Islamic Republic falls.



The Exiled Prince: Reza Pahlavi Reza Pahlavi, the 65-year-old son of the last Shah of Iran, has emerged as a leading figure. Pahlavi, who has lived in Maryland since his family was overthrown in 1979, is seeing a massive surge in popularity.



When Pahlavi called for protests on January 8 and 9, his message garnered a staggering 3.2 million likes and 88 million views on Persian Instagram.



In a recent Washington Post op-ed, Pahlavi positioned himself not as a monarch demanding a throne, but as a &#8220;steward&#8221; for a &#8220;transition to democracy.&#8221;



&nbsp; &#8220;Nostalgia has increased inside the Islamic Republic,&#8221; Reuel Marc Gerecht, a former CIA officer told the Post. &#8220;As the Islamic Republic’s charisma has cratered, Pahlavi’s standing has grown, if not skyrocketed.&#8221;



Experts warn that regime insiders are also jostling for position, hoping to save the system, or themselves, by pivoting to a new leader.



Hassan Rouhani: The former President (2013–2021) is being floated as a potential stabilizer. However, he is under &#8220;hard scrutiny&#8221; by the regime. Expert Ali Reza Nourizadeh revealed, &#8220;They’re listening to his telephone. They are watching him,&#8221; fearing he may be back-channeling with the Americans.



&nbsp; Seyed Hossein Mousavian: A former diplomat and Princeton scholar, Mousavian is seen as another potential operator with a &#8220;well-honed survival instinct,&#8221; according to Andrew Apostolou of the Britain Israel Communications and Research Center.



Despite the high-profile names, the ultimate collapse may come down to raw power. Alireza Nader, a prominent Iran scholar, warned that the transition might not be led by a politician, but by whichever faction of the security services can seize control.



&#8220;It’s not going to be a person per se. What forces can come in and take control of the streets?&#8221; Nader noted. &#8220;As long as the regime sticks together, they’re going to kill a lot of people before it comes to that.&#8221;



With the economy in ruins and the streets burning, the world is watching to see if 2026 will mark the end of the 47-year-old Islamist regime.

ANALYSIS: What Will Happen if the Iranian Regime Falls?

Harrowing footage captured a Waymo passenger jumping out of a self-driving vehicle moments before a train approached, after the car became stuck on light rail tracks in Phoenix, the New York Post reported Sunday.



The incident occurred Wednesday, when the autonomous vehicle stopped on the tracks and left its passenger with no choice but to flee the car and run to safety, according to KPHO.



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Video filmed by a bystander shows the white Waymo vehicle positioned directly on the tracks, with a light rail train approaching nearby. After the passenger exited, the car continued moving along the tracks alongside another train.



“&#8230;the Waymo’s on the track, what an idiot. Here comes the train,” the person recording the TikTok video can be heard saying.



Waymo, which launched in Phoenix and now operates commercial robotaxi services in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Austin, and Atlanta, updates its routes and software on a weekly basis. Each vehicle is equipped with 29 cameras designed to help it navigate complex environments.



Experts suggested the vehicle may have been confused by changes in the area. Construction was underway near the site of the incident, and the light rail line had only been added within the past year &#8211; factors that may have interfered with the car’s navigation system.



“I actually felt a little sorry for the car. It obviously made a bad decision and got itself in a difficult place,” Andrew Maynard, a professor specializing in emerging and transformative technology at Arizona State University, told KPHO.



“I think Waymo has a challenge because no matter what they do with their system, there are always going to be unexpected circumstances where they have to learn from them,” Maynard said, adding that he still believes autonomous vehicles are generally safer than human drivers.



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“These cars, in many circumstances, are safer than human drivers because they don’t have distractions, like a human driver does,” Maynard said.



Valley Metro, which oversees public transportation in the Phoenix region, confirmed the incident took place during the Wednesday morning rush hour.



“At approximately 9 a.m. on Wednesday morning, a Valley Metro employee observed an autonomous Waymo vehicle on the northbound light rail tracks near Southern Avenue and Central Avenue in Phoenix,” the agency said in a statement.



“Our Operations Control Center was immediately notified, light rail operations staff responded to the scene, and Waymo was contacted. To minimize service impacts, northbound and southbound trains exchanged passengers before reversing direction to continue service,” the statement continued.



“The incident caused no significant delays and the scene was clear by 9:15 a.m. For any further information on Waymo, its vehicle or operation, please reach out to Waymo,” Valley Metro added.

Waymo Passenger Bolts From Self-Driving Car Stuck On Train Tracks As Oncoming Rail Approaches In Phoenix

On Sunday morning, Hagaon Harav Azriel Auerbach shlita, the leader of the Peleg Yerushalmi and the Bnei Torah movement, paid a shiva call to the Eisenthal home in Yerushalayim&#8217;s Ramot neighborhood. The family is currently sitting shiva following the tragic death of their son, Chaim Yosef Eisenthal z&#8221;l, who was struck by a vehicle and killed during a recent demonstration against the draft law in Yerushalayim.



The Rav spent a long time offering words of strength and blessings to the father, Rav Shmuel Eisenthal shlita, who serves as a Ra&#8221;m in Yeshivas Ohel Torah-Ponevezh and is a prominent figure in the Ramot community. Also present during the visit was boy&#8217;s grandfather, Rav Uriel Eisenthal shlita, the Rav of Ramot Gimmel and a close confidant of Rav Auerbach.



During the visit, a discussion arose regarding the appropriate text to be inscribed on the matzeiva, given the tragic circumstances of Chaim Yosef&#8217;s petirah. Rav Auerbach expressed the opinion that the acronym &#8220;Hy&#8217;d&#8221; (Hashem yinkom damo) should be used, signifying that he died al Kiddush Hashem. Rav Uriel Eisenthal noted that he was familiar with the halakhic reasoning regarding this title, and indicated that a final decision on the inscription would be made shortly.



Notably, &#8220;Hy&#8217;d&#8221; had already appeared on the mourning notices posted on wall plaques throughout the Ramot neighborhood announcing his petirah.

Hagaon Harav Azriel Auerbach Recommends ‘Hy’d’ Inscription for Bochur Killed at Anti-Draft Protest

Yemen’s internationally recognized government announced on Saturday that it had retaken two strategic provinces from the Southern Transitional Council (STC), declaring that government forces have now reasserted control over southern Yemen. The reversal follows weeks of escalating turmoil that has exposed a deep and increasingly public split between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.



For years, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi operated as close allies in a coalition against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who control roughly a third of Yemen’s territory and about two-thirds of its population. Alongside the Houthis, Yemen also has a Saudi-backed government recognized by the international community. In recent weeks, however, the UAE-supported STC &#8211; a separatist faction seeking independence for parts of southern Yemen &#8211; seized wide swaths of territory, a move that sharply angered Saudi Arabia.



Saudi officials denounced the separatist advance, particularly in areas near the kingdom’s border, arguing that it posed a direct threat to Saudi security. Over the past week, Yemeni government forces, backed by Saudi support, reclaimed most of the lost areas and reestablished control over the key southern city of Aden. During the clashes between rival camps, Saudi Arabia struck an Emirati arms shipment at the port of Al-Mukhlah, prompting Abu Dhabi to announce the withdrawal of its forces from Yemen.



The crisis took a major turn on Tuesday when a delegation of senior STC figures traveled to Riyadh for talks with Saudi officials. While in the kingdom, a senior STC official appeared on television reading from a prepared statement announcing the dissolution of the organization and the abandonment of its separatist ambitions. The unusual circumstances surrounding the broadcast immediately raised doubts about whether the declaration was made freely.



Since arriving in Saudi Arabia early Wednesday morning, members of the delegation have gone completely silent. According to reports, they have not been reachable by fellow STC members, relatives, or journalists.



A senior STC figure based in the United Arab Emirates publicly claimed the announcement was “forced.” Multiple sources cited by The New York Times said the delegation did not represent the full leadership of the council, though they declined to say explicitly whether the officials in Riyadh were coerced into reading the statement.



A family member of one senior delegate told the newspaper that his relative made a single, one-minute phone call on Thursday to say he was safe — and has not been heard from since. The relative requested anonymity, citing fears that speaking out could endanger his family member.



Following the announcement, several delegates gave recorded interviews to Saudi-controlled television channels in which they sharply criticized the STC leadership and developments of the past month. Observers noted that each appeared visibly distressed, fueling allegations that the statements were delivered under duress.



Saudi Arabia has faced similar accusations in the past, including a high-profile incident in which Lebanon’s prime minister announced his resignation while in the kingdom, only to reverse the decision after leaving Saudi territory.

Senior Yemeni Separatist Delegation Vanishes In Saudi Arabia After Televised “Surrender” As Riyadh–Abu Dhabi Rift Explodes

The IDF announced that it carried out a second wave of airstrikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in several parts of Lebanon on Sunday evening, following civilian evacuation alerts in the south.



Earlier on Sunday, the military said it had already struck Hezbollah weapons-storage shafts at multiple locations in southern Lebanon, citing suspicious activity at those sites that had been monitored over recent months.



According to the IDF, the renewed strikes came after evacuation warnings were issued Sunday afternoon to residents in parts of southern Lebanon. Arabic-language spokesperson Col. Avichay Adraee relayed the alert on X, formerly Twitter.



Adraee warned that the area surrounding Kfar Hatta would be targeted in the coming hours, explaining that the operation would focus on a Hezbollah terror military infrastructure site. He instructed civilians to remain at least 300 meters away from a specific building identified in his post.



The evacuation notice followed the first wave of strikes earlier Sunday, when the IDF confirmed it had hit a weapons storage shaft used by Hezbollah terrorists in southern Lebanon.



The latest attacks are part of an ongoing series of Israeli strikes against Hezbollah positions. On Friday, the military said it carried out strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon “in response to the terrorist organization’s continued violations of the ceasefire understandings.”



On Thursday, the IDF also conducted an airstrike in the Zaita area of southern Lebanon that killed a Hezbollah operative. A subsequent IDF statement identified the operative as Alaa’ Hourani, who served as a Hezbollah drone operator.



The military said Hourani was involved in efforts to rebuild Hezbollah’s terror infrastructure in the region and played a role in intelligence collection and the deployment of terrorist forces during the conflict.

IDF Launches 2 Waves Of Strikes On Hezbollah Targets Across Southern Lebanon After Evacuation Warnings

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met today, Sunday, in his Jerusalem office with the Foreign Minister of Japan.



&#8220;The Prime Minister welcomed the Foreign Minister and the members of the delegation on their visit to the country and thanked them for their support. During the meeting, the two sides discussed the continuation of cooperation between the countries and ways of dealing with regional challenges&#8221;, a statement from the PM&#8217;s office read.

Netanyahu Meets with Japanese Foreign Minister

JERUSALEM &#8211; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene top advisers and ministers for a security consultation Sunday afternoon, according to the offices of two ofrcials participating.



The meeting came as anti-government unrest continued to expand across Iran, after a senior Iranian official threatened to attack Israel if the United States strikes the Islamic Republic, with the full Israeli security cabinet scheduled to convene on Tuesday.

Netanyahu to Hold Security Consultation on Iran

A report by The Daily Mail on Sunday claims that U.S. President Donald Trump directed senior military officials to explore plans to invade Greenland, a move that has reportedly met resistance from top defense leaders and raised alarm among U.S. allies.



According to the report, Trump asked the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) to draw up an invasion plan. Sources cited by the British news outlet say the proposal has been opposed by the joint chiefs of staff, who argue that such an action would be illegal and would lack congressional support.



The report says the push is being driven by policy advisers described as foreign policy “hawks,” led by White House adviser Stephen Miller, who are said to be emboldened following the recent U.S. operation against Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. These advisers reportedly believe the United States should move quickly to secure Greenland before Russia or China increases its influence in the region.



Trump stated last year that the US needs to &#8220;own&#8221; Greenland to prevent Russia and China from doing so, and has reiterated his intention to annex the country in recent days.&#8221;Countries have to have ownership and you defend ownership, you don&#8217;t defend leases. And we&#8217;ll have to defend Greenland,&#8221; Trump told reporters on Friday, in response to a question from the BBC. The US will do it &#8220;the easy way&#8221; or &#8220;the hard way&#8221;, he added. 



Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory of fellow Nato member Denmark, but Trump would not rule out the option of annexing it by force if a monetary offer was not accepted.



British diplomatic sources told the Daily Mail they believe Trump may also see the issue as a way to shift public attention away from domestic economic concerns ahead of the U.S. midterm elections later this year, which could affect Republican control of Congress.



Diplomats reportedly warned that any attempt by the United States to seize or coerce control over Greenland would severely strain relations with European allies, including the United Kingdom under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and could trigger a major crisis within NATO.



One source quoted in the report said: “They have tried to distract Trump by talking about less controversial measures, such as intercepting Russian ‘ghost’ ships – a clandestine network of hundreds of vessels operated by Moscow to evade Western sanctions – or launching a strike on Iran.”



European diplomats are said to have conducted internal planning exercises focused on what they described as an “escalatory scenario,” in which the U.S. could use military force or political pressure to weaken Greenland’s ties to Denmark.



According to one diplomatic cable cited in the report, the most severe outcome could be “the destruction of Nato from the inside.” The cable added: “Some European officials suspect this is the real aim of the hardline MAGA faction around Trump. Since Congress would not allow Trump to exit Nato, occupying Greenland could force the Europeans to abandon Nato. If Trump wants to end Nato, this might be the most convenient way to do it.”

Report Claims Trump Requested Greenland Invasion Plan

The Jewish third-grade girl who was seriously injured last week when a rock was thrown through her school bus window on the New Jersey Turnpike is showing encouraging signs of recovery, her family tells Belaaz.



The child was hurt on Wednesday when a rock struck the bus she was riding on while traveling northbound near Exit 70 A/B in Teaneck. Authorities said the bus was transporting students to Yeshivat Noam when the rock shattered a window and hit Gili in the head, causing a skull fracture.



In a statement shared exclusively with Belaaz, the family provided a positive update on her condition following several days of hospitalization.



“BH Gili had a good Shabbos; the swelling is going down, she&#8217;s still getting IV antibiotics. She&#8217;s talking and laughing, starting to eat and drink. Her pain is under control. The MRI is scheduled for tomorrow, and pending results, she should be discharged Monday. Thank you for your tefillot, it feels like a warm hug!”



 The tzibur is asked to continue davening for Gila Bracha bas Michal Ilana.



New Jersey State Police announced on Friday that Hernando Garciamorales, 40, of Palisades Park, was arrested in connection with the incident. Investigators said he was located at a “self-made” campsite inside Old Croaker County Park in Bergen County after a multi-agency investigation. Authorities also linked him to several other rock-throwing incidents in Bogota Borough.

EXCLUSIVE: Jewish Girl Injured In School Bus Rock Attack Showing Signs Of Recovery, Family Says

A 6-year-old Jewish boy is in critical condition after being hit by an ambulance in Boro Park over Shabbos.



The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. on 52nd Street between 15th and 16th avenues. Authorities said the child ran into the street mid-block when he was struck by an ambulance.



Emergency responders rushed the boy to Maimonides Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition. After transporting the child, the ambulance returned to the scene as police began an investigation, the New York Post reported.

6-Year-Old Jewish Boy Critically Injured After Being Struck By Ambulance In Boro Park

Authorities have taken a suspect into custody following a rock-throwing attack on the New Jersey Turnpike that left a young Jewish child badly injured.



New Jersey State Police announced Saturday that Hernando Garciamorales, 40, of Palisades Park, was arrested in connection with the incident, which occured on the northbound side of the Turnpike near Exit 70 A/B in Teaneck. Investigators say a rock was hurled at a school bus carrying students to Yeshivat Noam.



According to officials, the rock shattered a bus window and struck an 8-year-old girl, causing a skull fracture and brain bleed, as reported by Belaaz on Thursday. School administrators later informed parents by email that the child will require surgery.



Following an investigation involving the State Police Target Hardening Unit UAS Response Squad and multiple local and county agencies, law enforcement tracked Garciamorales to a “self-made” campsite inside Old Croaker County Park in Bergen County. Authorities also connected him to several similar rock-throwing incidents in Bogota Borough.



Garciamorales has been charged with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal mischief, resisting arrest by flight, and hindering. He was taken to the Bergen County Jail, where he is being held pending a detention hearing.



The tzibur is asked to continue davening for Gila Bracha bas Michal Ilana.

Suspect Arrested for Throwing Rock at School Bus, Seriously Injuring Jewish Child

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly condemned chants supporting Hamas terrorists after initially remaining silent for a day following a pro-Palestinian protest outside a Queens synagogue that sparked widespread outrage.



The hateful incident erupted Thursday night, when demonstrators gathered outside a Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills to protest an Israel real estate information event. Videos that quickly spread online showed protesters chanting, “Say it loud, say it clear, we support Hamas here,” as they marched through the predominantly Jewish area. Baruch Hashem, no one was injured during the protest, and due to barricades erected by the NYPD, attendees to the shul event were able to move freely to and from the venue.



While condemnation from elected officials across the political spectrum came swiftly, Mamdani’s response lagged behind. By Friday afternoon, his office had issued no formal statement, even as the footage garnered millions of views and prompted denunciations from state and federal leaders.



Mamdani’s first public comment came only after a direct question from a Politico reporter during a Brooklyn political event on Friday. As he was escorted to his car, the mayor said, “That language is wrong. I think that language has no place in New York City.”



Later that day, Mamdani issued a written statement to The New York Times, expanding on his remarks and explicitly categorizing the chants as support for terrorism. “Chants in support of a terrorist organization have no place in our city,” he wrote, referring to Hamas terrorists by name.



The mayor added that city officials were coordinating with the NYPD to ensure public safety. “My team is in close touch with the NYPD regarding last night’s protest and counterprotest. We will continue to ensure New Yorkers’ safety entering and exiting houses of worship, as well as the constitutional right to protest,” he said.



The delayed response drew sharp criticism from Jewish leaders and pro-Israel advocates, who questioned why Mamdani did not immediately denounce the chants. Assemblyman Sam Berger, whose district includes the area where the protest took place, publicly called out the mayor for his silence earlier Friday.



Other officials left little ambiguity in their reactions. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “Let’s be clear: Hamas is a terrorist organization committed to the destruction of Jews,” while New York Attorney General Letitia James stated, “Hamas is a terrorist organization. We do not support terrorists. Period.”



On Saturday, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also weighed in, calling the chants “disgusting and antisemitic,” and condemning the decision to bring such rhetoric into a Jewish neighborhood.



The episode has underscored the political tightrope Mamdani faces as mayor, with a progressive base that is virulently anti-Israel while governing a city that is home to the largest Jewish population outside of the Jewish state. Mamdani, in his rapper days, praised the &#8220;Holy Land Five,&#8221; a group of people jailed for funneling money to Hamas, and was the founder of his college&#8217;s Students for Justice in Palestine group.

Mamdani Breaks Silence, Labels Hamas A Terror Group After Delayed Response To Pro-Hamas Chants at Queens Shul

New demonstrations broke out across Iran late Saturday, with videos circulating online appearing to show renewed anti-regime activity in multiple cities despite a nationwide internet blackout.



Footage shared after nightfall indicated protests in several neighborhoods of Tehran, as well as in other cities including Rasht in northern Iran, Tabriz in the northwest, and Shiraz and Kerman in the south.



One video verified by AFP showed fireworks lighting up the sky above Tehran’s Punak Square, as demonstrators banged pots and pans and chanted slogans in support of the Pahlavi monarchy that was overthrown during the 1979 Islamic Revolution.



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The scope of the unrest remains difficult to determine, as Iranian authorities have imposed a countrywide internet shutdown that has sharply limited access to real-time information.



As protests continued, Iran’s leadership reportedly shifted the country into an emergency security stance. According to a report by The Telegraph, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei ordered the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to take command of efforts to suppress nationwide demonstrations, raising the force’s alert level to its highest state — exceeding levels seen during previous major military operations.



Iranian officials told the outlet that underground missile facilities were also placed on high alert, while security forces and strategic assets were repositioned across the country amid concerns of further escalation.



Officials described the regime’s posture as being in “survival mode,” saying Khamenei has no intention of leaving Iran and is instead relying almost exclusively on the IRGC, which he reportedly views as the institution least likely to defect even under intense internal pressure.



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Fresh Protests Spread Across Iran as Regime Moves to Higher Security Posture Than Previous War

Israel and Hamas terrorists are on the brink of renewed fighting in Gaza, as momentum behind President Trump’s proposed peace framework appears to have ground to a halt, according to Saturday reports from multiple news sources.



Israeli defense officials have finalized contingency plans for another ground incursion into Gaza, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources familiar with the deliberations.



According to the Times of Israel, the operation is being eyed for March and would focus on Gaza City, with the aim of expanding IDF control across additional areas of the enclave.



Even with a cease-fire technically in place, Gaza has seen near-daily airstrikes, underscoring the fragility of the truce, according to reports.



At the same time, Hamas terrorists have used the lull in fighting to rebuild their military strength rather than disarm, Israeli and Arab officials told the New York Post.



The terror organization has reportedly replenished its finances using cash concealed in underground tunnels during the war, while also generating revenue by taxing goods and services throughout Gaza.



Officials added that Hamas has also received financial backing from Iran.



With renewed access to funds, the group has been able to pay its operatives and intensify recruitment efforts, seeking to replace commanders eliminated during the two-year war with Israel, according to the report.



Since the cease-fire went into effect in October, Hamas has reportedly moved aggressively to solidify its grip on Gaza, violently suppressing rival factions and sparking clashes within the devastated territory.



Oversight of the second phase of the fragile agreement will fall to a newly created Board of Peace, which President Trump is expected to formally announce next week, including the 15 international leaders who will serve on it. The body will be responsible for determining how Hamas disarmament is implemented and what weapons must be surrendered, including whether small arms are included.



Arab officials said Hamas has signaled a willingness to give up remaining heavy weapons but has drawn a firm line against relinquishing smaller firearms.



“They’ve made an agreement that they’re going to disarm,” Trump said Friday on Fox News. “We’re going to have to assume that they’re going to, but you know it’s not their nature to disarm.”



Trump has previously warned that Hamas would be given “a very short period of time” to hand over its weapons or face severe consequences, saying “there will be hell to pay.” At the same time, he has made clear he does not intend to delay phase two of the plan &#8211; which includes deploying an International Stabilization Force to police Gaza &#8211; while waiting for full disarmament.



Earlier this week, Trump appointed former UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov to head the Board of Peace.



Mladenov met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Thursday and held talks with Palestinian Authority officials in Yehudah and Shomron on Friday.



Despite Israel’s military preparations, any large-scale offensive would require American backing. The US continues to push for progress on the cease-fire initiative, an Arab diplomat told the Times of Israel.



Netanyahu is said to doubt that the Trump-led international framework can successfully disarm Hamas terrorists, prompting him to instruct the IDF to prepare what he described as a “contingency plan” should diplomacy collapse.

Israel Prepares Possible Gaza Offensive As Trump Peace Effort Stalls

The U.S. military launched a series of major airstrikes against ISIS positions across Syria on Saturday afternoon, acting under orders from the Trump administration, according to American defense officials.



“The strikes today targeted ISIS throughout Syria as part of our ongoing commitment to root out Islamic terrorism against our warfighters,” U.S. Central Command said on X.



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“Our message remains strong: if you harm our warfighters, we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world, no matter how hard you try to evade justice.”



According to CNN, 35 separate targets were struck using precision-guided weapons fired by more than two dozen aircraft. Officials have not yet confirmed whether the strikes resulted in casualties.



The military operation was carried out under the name “Operation Hawkeye Strike,” honoring two Iowa service members — Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29 — who were killed by an ISIS terrorist in Palmyra on Dec. 13.



U.S. Central Command released images showing aircraft and munitions involved in the operation, including F-15 fighter jets and Strike Eagles loaded with bombs in preparation for the mission.



“We will never forget, and never relent,” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth posted on X.



Saturday’s action follows a “massive” U.S. retaliatory strike conducted on Dec. 19, which targeted ISIS infrastructure and weapons storage facilities throughout Syria.



“All terrorists who are evil enough to attack Americans are herby warned — YOU WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE IF YOU, IN ANY WAY, ATTACK OF THREATEN THE U.S.A,” President Trump wrote on Truth Social.



The strikes coincided with diplomatic developments, as U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack said he met Saturday with Syria’s new leadership in Damascus to discuss the nation’s path forward.



“President Trump recognizes this moment as a pivotal opportunity for a new Syria,” Barrack wrote on X.



“In recognition of this opportunity, he agreed to lift sanctions in order to ‘give Syria a chance’ to move forward.”

US Pounds ISIS Targets Across Syria In Sweeping Airstrikes

Radical left-wing organizations, including one that received millions of dollars from billionaire George Soros, are driving the anti-ICE protest movement in Minnesota, the New York Post reported on Friday.



At the forefront of the demonstrations is Indivisible Twin Cities, a group that presents itself as a volunteer-based grassroots organization. The group has played a central role in protests opposing ICE operations in the state, where Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed Wednesday after allegedly attempting to run over an ICE agent with her vehicle.



Indivisible Twin Cities is affiliated with the Washington, DC-based Indivisible Project, which describes its mission as defeating the “Trump agenda.” Public records show the Indivisible Project received $7,850,000 from Soros’ Open Society Foundations between 2018 and 2023.



The organization has also been involved in other high-profile demonstrations, including pro-Venezuela protests and nationwide “No Kings” rallies targeting the Trump administration last year.



Beyond Indivisible Twin Cities — which does not list its leadership on its website — additional protest organizers include the Council on American-Islamic Relations, an anti-Israel group. Jaylani Hussein, executive director of CAIR’s Minnesota chapter, has been a prominent presence at anti-ICE rallies.



“A young observer killed in the line of observing, we believe in a peaceful manner. They are lying, as you hear today. They already shared lies about what took place,” Hussein said through a megaphone at an anti-ICE protest on Wednesday.



Good, who occasionally wrote poetry, was described by left-wing activists as a “legal observer” during the ICE operation in which she was killed.



After relocating from Colorado to Minnesota last year, Good became deeply involved in anti-ICE activism. She was identified as an “ICE Watch” member — part of a network of activists focused on interfering with ICE enforcement actions in Minneapolis — according to a previous Post report.



Another leading figure in the protests is Nekima Levy Armstrong, founder of the Racial Justice Network, who has helped organize demonstrations following Good’s death.



Armstrong, a Minnesota attorney and civil rights activist, has been involved in coordinating so-called “legal observers” who attend ICE operations across the city to record agents’ actions, based on her social media activity.



She has also promoted vigils and protests online and was a prominent organizer during the demonstrations that followed George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis in May 2020, according to reports.



Earlier this week, after Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced he would not seek re-election amid a wide-ranging welfare fraud scandal, Armstrong sharply criticized his decision.



“When Democrats respond to bad-faith attacks by retreating, they don’t just lose candidates,” Armstrong wrote in a Facebook post.



“They legitimize the tactic. They teach voters that propaganda works, that cruelty carries no cost, and that marginalized communities can be used as political weapons without consequence. Whatever the intentions, the cumulative effect is strategic capitulation.”



Additional protest leadership includes Edwin Torres DeSantiago, head of the Immigrant Defense Network, an umbrella organization representing more than 90 nonprofits and religious groups advocating for immigrant rights.



DeSantiago, who was born in El Salvador, is the first undocumented immigrant to pursue a PhD at the University of Minnesota. Following Good’s death, he accused President Trump of spreading “terror and chaos” in Minneapolis.

Report: Radical Left Groups Linked To Soros Back Minneapolis Anti-ICE Movement

A deadly traffic accident occurred Friday on Route 89 between the Ein Zeitim junction and the Meron intersection, when a car collided with a bus and was hurled into a ditch. A frum man, 34 years old, was tragically killed at the scene, and the bus driver was lightly injured.



Fire and rescue officials said three firefighting teams from the Galil-Golan station were dispatched to the scene of the collision between the bus and the car.



Upon arrival, firefighters used hydraulic rescue equipment to free a man who was trapped inside the severely damaged vehicle and listed in critical condition. He was transferred to MDA personnel for medical treatment, but was later pronounced dead.



Incident commander, Chief Inspector Roi Finish, described the scene to Bechadrei Charedim: “We arrived at the scene of a complex accident between a bus and a private vehicle. The force of the collision sent the vehicle flying into a ditch. Firefighters performed professional and rapid rescue operations for a person trapped in critical condition from the private vehicle. After the rescue operations were completed, the teams worked to clear the scene of the accident.”



Traffic police officers and accident investigators remained at the scene, working to determine the cause of the crash and directing traffic. Currently, the road is closed in both directions, and motorists are being asked to follow police instructions and use alternate routes.

Frum Man Tragically Killed in Fatal Crash En Route To Meron: Car Hits Bus, Plunges Into Canal

Senior American diplomats traveled to Caracas on Friday to evaluate whether the United States can begin reopening its embassy, which has been closed since 2019, according to a US official who spoke with the Times of Israel.



John McNamara, the top US diplomat stationed in neighboring Colombia, led the delegation alongside other US personnel, who “traveled to Caracas to conduct an initial assessment for a potential phased resumption of operations,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.



The US embassy in Caracas was shut down in March 2019, when American diplomats withdrew shortly after Washington, joined by several European and Latin American governments, declared Nicolas Maduro’s presidency illegitimate following elections that international observers said were marred by serious irregularities.



The visit comes days after President Donald Trump ordered a military raid on Caracas on January 3, during which US forces removed Maduro from power. Maduro faces drug trafficking charges in the United States, accusations he has denied.



Diplomatic sources said no final decision has yet been made on formally reopening the embassy, citing unresolved logistical issues. Preparations are nevertheless underway, they added, pending final approval from Trump.



Since the embassy’s closure, US diplomatic and consular affairs related to Venezuela have been managed from the American mission in Colombia. The United States, however, also does not currently have a full-ranking ambassador posted in Bogotá.

US Officials Travel to Caracas in Hopes of Reopening Embassy After Maduro Ouster

The relationship between President Trump and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene deteriorated so sharply that the White House alerted the Secret Service over concerns Greene may have disclosed details of a surprise presidential dinner to protesters, according to two members of Trump’s team, Axios reported Friday.



The concerns stem from a tense incident last fall at Joe’s Seafood in Washington, where anti-war activists confronted Trump during an unannounced visit. The episode embarrassed the president and heightened security worries inside the White House, coming roughly a year after Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt.



Trump aides now view the Joe’s Seafood incident as the breaking point in his relationship with Greene, once a close ally who later became a vocal critic and left Congress this week.



Greene flatly denied the allegation, telling Axios that any claim she revealed Trump’s plans was “an absolute lie, a dangerous lie. I would never do that.” She said she suggested the restaurant but did not know when Trump planned to go.



According to Greene, only White House aides and the restaurant &#8211; a well-known lobbyist gathering spot near the White House at 15th and H Streets NW &#8211; were aware of the reservation. “The story you should be writing is why didn’t the Secret Service sweep the restaurant,” she said, adding that metal detectors should have been placed at the entrance.



It remains unclear whether the Secret Service is formally investigating Greene. The agency declined to comment, and Greene did not respond to questions about whether agents contacted her.



Trump’s visit to Joe’s on September 9, accompanied by Vice President Vance and several Cabinet members, was intended to highlight what the White House described as improved public safety in Washington following the deployment of National Guard troops.



Instead, activists affiliated with the liberal group Code Pink approached within feet of Trump’s table and shouted, “Free DC.! Free Palestine! Trump is the Hitler of our time!”



For weeks afterward, Trump aides tried to determine how the protesters learned of the dinner, which had not been shared with the media and was known only to a small circle. Trump later called for an investigation into Code Pink, saying, “they should be put in jail.”



Following the confrontation, Trump’s team met with Secret Service leadership to review the incident and reassess the president’s security.



Code Pink spokesperson Melissa Garriga dismissed the suggestion that Greene tipped off the group. “That absolutely did not happen, to the point it is comical,” Garriga told Axios.



White House officials did not offer direct evidence tying Greene to the protesters but said their suspicions were based on two factors.



First, aides pointed to Greene’s role in recommending Joe’s Seafood. After doing so, officials say Greene repeatedly contacted White House staff on the day of the dinner to confirm Trump would attend. Sources said that after Trump learned of the calls, he phoned Greene shortly before leaving the White House and confirmed the visit.



Greene, who was known to frequent the restaurant, did not appear at Joe’s while Trump and his delegation were there — a detail that some aides found unusual.



Second, officials cited Greene’s relationship with Code Pink. White House aides noted her friendship with the group’s co-founder, Medea Benjamin, and said Greene and the organization share opposition to U.S. military aid to Ukraine and Israel.



Benjamin previously praised Greene for opposing Trump’s bombing of nuclear sites in Iran and for advocating cuts to foreign aid within the Pentagon’s budget. Benjamin and other Code Pink members also met with Greene after she announced in November that she would resign from Congress midway through her third term.



“I have enjoyed a friendship with Medea for a few years now, even though politics says that’s not allowed,” Greene said at the time.



According to Trump allies, the rift between the president and Greene began months earlier. Last spring, Trump sent Greene internal polling showing she would likely lose a potential Senate race to a Democrat. Trump has said he shared the data to inform her, not to discourage a run.



In the weeks that followed, allies said Greene’s public criticism of Trump increased, including accusations that he had abandoned “America First” principles and opposition to his “big, beautiful” tax and spending bill.



Trump privately expressed frustration, telling confidants he did not recognize the once-loyal ally.



From Greene’s perspective, however, she felt marginalized early in Trump’s second administration. A source familiar with her thinking said Greene believed Trump’s inner circle dismissed her advice and ignored her outreach despite years of loyalty to the president.

White House Flagged MTG to Secret Service After Protesters Crashed Trump Dinner, Sources Say

A protest targeting a shul in Kew Gardens Hills sparked widespread outrage Thursday night after demonstrators were filmed openly chanting &#8220;We support Hamas here,&#8221; a declaration that drew sharp condemnation from elected officials and Jewish community leaders.



The demonstration, organized by the group PAL-Awda against an Israeli real estate event, took place outside the Young Israel of Kew Gardens. Law enforcement sources tell Belaaz that around 200 protestors arrived at the shul.



While a heavy NYPD presence kept the physical peace, the rhetoric used by protesters, including chants of &#8220;From the River to the Sea,&#8221; and support for Hamas terrorists, shook a neighborhood where many residents have close family in Israel.



Assemblymember Sam Berger, who represents the district, expressed the deep pain felt by the local community as they witnessed the glorification of a terror group on their doorstep. &#8220;For the Jewish community in Kew Gardens Hills, many of whom have family &amp; friends living in Israel, this is horrific,&#8221; Berger said.



&#8220;Accompanied with antisemitic chants of &#8216;From the River to the Sea&#8217; &amp; &#8216;We Support Hamas Here,&#8217; hate sadly does have a place in New York.&#8221;



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Despite the inflammatory language, Berger and witnesses noted that the NYPD maintained safety barricades throughout the event, preventing the demonstrators from breaching the perimeter around the synagogue.



Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY) issued a blistering statement in response to the footage of the chants, calling out the moral failure of those cheering for the perpetrators of the October 7th massacre.



&#8220;Activists protested outside a synagogue, chanting, &#8216;Say it loud, say it clear, we support Hamas here,'&#8221; Torres stated. &#8220;Whatever the amnesia surrounding 10/7, the truth must never be forgotten: Hamas murdered, maimed, mutilated&#8230;and tortured thousands of innocent Israelis. It is, and has always been, a barbaric oppressor of its own people.&#8221;



Torres rejected the notion that the protest was merely pro-Palestinian advocacy. &#8220;Support for Hamas is not an expression of empathy for Palestinians; it is an expression of antipathy toward Jews and Israelis,&#8221; Torres said. &#8220;Hate has no place in NYC.&#8221;



While emotions ran high, askanim urged the Jewish community to exercise restraint to ensure safety. Sorolle Idels, head of the Queens Jewish Alliance (QJA), told Belaaz that she advised residents against holding counter-protests, citing the legal limitations faced by law enforcement.



&#8220;Protesting is a legal right. Intimidation is not. Yet the reality on the ground is that the NYPD’s hands are largely tied unless there is direct physical violence by agitators,&#8221; Idels told Belaaz. &#8220;Knowing this, I have been clear and consistent in my guidance to the community: do not engage in counter-protests. Stay away.&#8221;



Idels acknowledged the difficulty of remaining silent in the face of such provocation but emphasized that safety must come first. &#8220;I understand the frustration. I hear those who say we should not stay silent, that we should not allow ourselves to be bullied&#8230; But rights exercised without wisdom can quickly become unnecessary risk,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Showing strength does not mean walking into a hostile environment where safety cannot be guaranteed.&#8221;



Instead of street confrontations, Idels said supporters could &#8220;Buy Israeli property. Invest in Israel bonds. Support Israeli businesses. Use the power of your purse. That is real support, real impact, and it keeps our community safe.&#8221;



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Torres Slams Kew Gardens Hills Hamas Supporters, NYPD Maintains Safety at Shul

The Jewish neighborhood in Kew Gardens Hills, Queens found itself, in the words of State Assemblyman Sam Beger, &#8220;completely upended&#8221; on Thursday as a Jewish school and a shul announced early closures ahead of a planned anti-Israel protest targeting a real estate event.



Queens Jewish Alliance head Sorolle Idels tells Belaaz that the protestors outside of Young Israel of Kew Gardens, who gathered at around 7PM, were being kept at bay by NYPD barricades, allowing attendees at the real estate event to enter and exit freely &#8211; a marked shift from a November incident at a synagogue in Manhattan, when mobs chanting death threats prevented people from moving.



The anti-Israel group Palestinian Assembly for Liberation [PAL]-Awda announced plans to demonstrate outside the shul, where a Jerusalem-based real estate agency, was scheduled to host an event Thursday evening. In response to the planned mayhem, the shul canceled tefillos while Yeshiva of Central Queens, located closeby, ended school early.



Jewish community figures were outraged.



&#8220;As a community leader, I want to be very clear: this is a lawful, professional event, and people have every right to attend a local shul without fear,&#8221; Idels told Belaaz. &#8220;Peaceful protest is legitimate, but intimidation and attempts to shut down a legal gathering are not. I have spoken with Shmira, our local NYPD, and our elected officials, and there is shared agreement that safety, order, and the right to gather lawfully must be protected. We are fortunate to have elected leaders who stand with our community and support those fundamental principles.&#8221;



Queens Jewish community askan Nechemia Hoch told Belaaz: &#8220;It&#8217;s unfortunate that hatred has come to our streets, but we are grateful for the cooperation and coordination between Shemirah, local officials and the NYPD which will ensure that our community remains safe.&#8221;



Berger, a Democrat who represents the area, told Jewish Insider that local principals, staff and parents are &#8220;very concerned.&#8221; The surrounding area has been &#8220;completely upended,&#8221; he said.



Berger clarified on social media that &#8220;the NYPD&nbsp; did not issue any directives to close to schools, synagogues, or local institutions. They notified them of the planned protest, and each entity made its own determination based on the recent history of these agitators targeting this community. A safety perimeter is in place, but our institutions should not have to be put in this position.&#8221;



The planned protest marks the first major test Mayor Zohran Mamdani will face with the city&#8217;s Jewish community since his inauguration last week. According to Jewish Insider, Mamdani&#8217;s spokesperson did not respond to multiple inquiries on Thursday, including one asking whether the mayor&#8217;s team had discouraged demonstrators from protesting.



&#8220;For our @NYCMayor who has said he &#8216;will always stand steadfast with our Jewish neighbors,&#8217; I am calling on [Mamdani] for an immediate condemnation of this demonstration,&#8221; Berger wrote on X, adding that &#8220;a safety perimeter is in place, and I am confident in the NYPD&#8217;s ability to keep the community safe.&#8221;



In a letter to Mamdani dated January 8, attorneys Marc Goldfeder, CEO of the National Jewish Advocacy Center, and Ben Schlager, the organization&#8217;s Associate Director, placed the mayor&#8217;s office &#8220;on notice&#8221; about the demonstration&#8217;s &#8220;foreseeable risk of intimidation and public-safety violations directed at Jewish individuals and institutions.&#8221;



The letter urged the city to enforce New York Penal Law § 240.20 which prohibits conduct—masked or otherwise—undertaken with intent to cause public alarm or that recklessly creates a risk thereof. “Nothing in the First Amendment requires the City to tolerate masked intimidation, threats, or conduct designed to instill fear,” the attorneys wrote.



Goldfeder also reminded the mayor on social media: “Penal Law §240.20 squarely prohibits disorderly conduct that causes or recklessly risks public alarm—including masked intimidation. These laws must be enforced equally.”



PAL-Awda posted instructions for participants hours before the demonstration, including directives to &#8220;mask up&#8221; and &#8220;bring Palestinian flags and signs,&#8221; according to Jewish Insider.



The group wrote on Instagram that it was protesting because &#8220;Zionist real estate agencies are hosting an illegal event (sic), explicitly advertising the establishment of an &#8216;Anglo community'&#8221;, in Ma&#8217;ale Adumim.



The protest follows a similar demonstration in November, when PAL-Awda led protesters outside Park East Synagogue in Manhattan as it hosted a Nefesh B&#8217;Nefesh event providing information on immigration to Israel. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch later called that protest &#8220;turmoil,&#8221; and apologized for not sufficiently protecting the rights of attendees to move freely, while Mamdani&#8217;s office initially said the event was promoting &#8220;activities in violation of international law&#8221; &#8211; a statement his spokesperson would later revise.



PAL-Awda had also planned a protest outside another Nefesh B&#8217;Nefesh event in Manhattan on Wednesday night but canceled less than an hour before it was scheduled to begin, without providing a reason.



In response to Thursday&#8217;s planned protest, a Zionist group called for a counter-demonstration, posting on social media: &#8220;Anti-Zionist terrorists are threatening NYC Jews for exercising the right of Aliyah — a right enshrined in Jewish history and international law. We stand proud. Aliyah is Jewish return.&#8221; The group urged supporters to gather at Yeshiva of Central Queens at 6:30 PM with &#8220;flags,&#8221; &#8220;pride,&#8221; and &#8220;strength.&#8221;



New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Tuesday she plans to implement a policy establishing &#8220;safety zones&#8221; around houses of worship, though that policy will not be enacted in time for Thursday&#8217;s demonstration.

Mamdani Silent on Anti-Israel Protest in Queens; Protestors Kept Behind Barricade

A third-grade student from Yeshivat Noam in Paramus suffered severe injuries when a rock was thrown at her school bus on the New Jersey Turnpike on Wednesday; the extent of her injuries was not known until Thursday.



The horrifying incident occurred&nbsp;as the bus were returning to Paramus following a third-grade trip to the Liberty Science Center. As the buses traveled along the Turnpike at Teaneck Road, a large rock was hurled at one of the vehicles, breaking a window and striking the girl in the head.



Ezra Finkelstein, Chief of Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps tells Belaaz that emergency responders, including members of his organization, Teaneck Fire Department and New Jersey State Police arrived on the scene. 



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&#8220;We are proud to be able to serve all residents and visitors of Teaneck, and we hope that the patient has a full recovery,&#8221; Finkelstein said.



The child was subsequently transported to Hackensack University Medical Center.



While the injury initially appeared minor at first, the situation took a drastic turn on Thursday. A CAT scan revealed that the child is suffering from brain bleeding and will require surgery.



No arrests have been announced as of Thursday afternoon. Investigators are urging anyone with relevant information regarding the attack to contact the authorities immediately.



In a letter sent to parents shortly after the incident occurred, Yeshivat Noam Head of School Rabbi Chaim Hagler sought to reassure the parent body.



&#8220;I am writing regarding an incident that occurred this afternoon involving our 3rd-grade trip bus,&#8221; Rabbi Hagler wrote. &#8220;While returning from the Liberty Science Center, as the bus was exiting the Turnpike at Teaneck Road, an object was thrown at the vehicle, causing a window to break,&#8221; he wrote.



Rabbi Hagler noted that school administration was on-site immediately. &#8220;Our teachers took immediate control of the situation, and I joined them on-site to accompany the children back to school,&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;Upon arrival, our mental health team met with the students to provide a safe space for them to process the event and share their feelings.&#8221;



Sol Itzkowitz, head of Bergen County Chaverim, told Belaaz that he is &#8220;shocked by this horrendous incident.&#8221;



Itzkowitz lauded the &#8220;swift response of local and state law enforcement,&#8221; noting that in the wake of the attack, emergency meetings have been held involving elected officials, the Sheriff&#8217;s office, Teaneck and Paramus police departments, school staff, parents, and Jewish community chaplains.



The Teaneck Police Department and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office have launched a joint investigation into the attack.



Authorities have not yet determined if the incident was a targeted act of antisemitism.



The tzibur is asked to daven for Gila Bracha bas Michal Ilana.

Young Jewish Girl Suffers Brain Bleed After Rock Thrown at School Bus on NJ Turnpike

A shocking discovery was made Thursday at the kever of the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh, the matzeivah of the tzadik was desecrated and vandalized.



The timing carries significant weight, as this date marks the Yahrzeit of the Or HaChaim’s grandfather, Harav Chaim ben Rav Moshe ben Attar; after whom the Ohr Hachaim was named.



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According to reports from the scene at Har Hazeisim, vandals defaced the Magen Dovid adorning the kever. Moroccan Jews say that the symbol was crafted by the talmidim of the Or HaChaim, possibly including the Chida, Harav Chaim Yosef David Azulai. The desecration caused deep distress among the mispallelim who arrived at the kever; a frequent destination for people in need of yeshuos. . Following the discovery of the vandalism, immediate contact was made with Rabbi Zuriel Crispel, Chairman of the Cemetery Council. Crews were quickly dispatched to the site to remove the offensive markings and restore the dignity of the Tziyun.



News of the vandalization was first reported by Israeli media outlet Hamechadesh.



Israeli police have opened an investigation into the incident in an effort to locate and apprehend those responsible for the shameful act of vandalism.

Kever of Or HaChaim HaKadosh Desecrated on Har Hazeisim

Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art agreed Thursday to implement a series of measures aimed at curbing antisemitism and harassment on campus, resolving a lawsuit that alleged the school failed to protect Jewish students during an anti-Israel protest.



The agreement was announced Thursday by attorneys representing 10 Jewish students who argued that the private Manhattan college created a hostile academic environment, in violation of Title VI of US civil rights law. That statute prohibits institutions receiving federal funds from allowing discrimination based on race, religion, or national origin.



As part of the settlement, Cooper Union will appoint a Title VI coordinator to oversee how discrimination and harassment complaints are handled. The school will also introduce training programs for staff and students on relevant policies and ban the use of masks intended to conceal identities during demonstrations, according to the students’ lawyers. In addition, the college will provide financial compensation to the 10 students, though the amount was not disclosed.



“Jewish students deserve to learn without being targeted, harassed, or excluded because of who they are or what they believe,&#8221; Ziporah Reich, director of litigation at the Lawfare Project, which represents the students told the Times of Israel. &#8220;Universities have a legal duty to protect them.&#8221;



Cooper Union and its legal counsel did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the settlement.



The lawsuit stemmed from an incident on October 25, 2023, when pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside the school’s library. According to the complaint, protesters pushed past security guards, pounded on doors and windows, waved signs, and chanted “Free Palestine,” while Jewish students sheltered inside, saying they feared for their safety. The students alleged that administrators failed to intervene and instructed police officers who offered assistance to stand down.



In February, US District Judge John Cronan rejected Cooper Union’s attempt to dismiss the case, ruling that free speech protections did not excuse the treatment described by the students.



The case against Cooper Union emerged amid a broader wave of litigation following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, massacre in Israel, after which Jewish students across the United States reported a sharp rise in antisemitism on college campuses. Several major universities, including Columbia University, Harvard University, and New York University, have faced similar lawsuits and reached settlements.

Cooper Union Settles Antisemitism Lawsuit, Agrees To Campus Reforms After Students Trapped in Library During Protest

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Thursday that the deployment of Turkish forces in Gaza is improbable due to firm opposition from Israel.



Speaking in an interview with the Kan public broadcaster, Huckabee emphasized that Israeli resistance would be a decisive factor. “I don’t think you’re going to see it if Israel has strong reservations about it… [and] Israel does have strong reservations,” he said.



He added that there appears to be no readiness to override those concerns, stating, “As far as I can tell, there’s not going to be some willingness to say, ‘Sure, let the Turks come in, as long as Israel has the reservations they have.”



Huckabee is known as a close ally of US President Donald Trump, though it remains unclear how much sway he holds over Washington’s policy regarding Gaza.

Huckabee Implies Turkish Troops Unlikely To Enter Gaza Over Israeli Objections

Saudi Arabia is setting a clear red line in Yemen in recent weeks, launching airstrikes near the port city of Mukalla aimed at curbing the advance of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), the Jerusalem Post reported Thursday.



On Thursday, Arab News, a Saudi outlet, featured an Old West-style “wanted” front page aimed at Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, the leader of the STC. Zubaidi had been scheduled to travel to Riyadh on January 7 for talks. Instead, apparently fearing detention, he did not arrive and reportedly fled to Abu Dhabi.



The STC has maintained control over parts of southern Yemen, while Saudi Arabia supports the internationally recognized Yemeni government, which itself holds only limited territory across the country.



Riyadh’s strikes against the STC marked a dramatic departure from the past. For years, Saudi Arabia and the UAE were broadly aligned in Yemen, but their objectives and local allies increasingly diverged. In a swift series of developments, Saudi Arabia directly confronted the STC, pushing it back toward Aden and effectively dismantling its grip on power within the span of roughly a week.



In the aftermath, the Yemeni government, represented by the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), consolidated control over southern Yemen, reclaiming areas that had been under STC authority.



Arab News wrote that “at a time when he should have acted like a statesman and boarded the plane scheduled to take him to Riyadh on Tuesday evening to meet and shake hands with Yemeni President Rashad Al-Alimi, agreeing to prioritize the interests of the Yemeni people and seek forgiveness for actions taken for personal gain at the expense of the nation, Aidarous Al-Zubaidi chose instead a ‘no-show,’ cementing his image as a traitor to his country.”



The Saudi outlet accused Zubaidi of promoting the secession of southern Yemen, reinforcing Riyadh’s portrayal of the STC as a separatist movement.



While Zubaidi stayed away, the Yemeni government’s leadership did convene in Saudi Arabia on January 7.



Arab News reported that “the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, headed by Al-Alimi, held an emergency meeting attended by members Sultan Al-Arada, Tariq Saleh, Abdulrahman Al-Muharrami, Dr. Abdullah Al-Alimi, and Othman Mujalli.” The PLC is now moving to consolidate authority after years of internal weakness and fragmentation, during which the UAE-backed STC had appeared ascendant. The STC’s rapid collapse after a week of clashes is widely seen as a broader warning to the region.



Recent events have underscored how structures that appear strong can unravel quickly, as seen with the Assad regime’s sudden collapse over a single week in early December 2024.



While the STC and the Assad regime are fundamentally different, the comparison highlights regional volatility. The Assad government ruled Syria for half a century. Southern Yemen, by contrast, traces its political identity to the 1960s, existed as an independent state, and later unified with North Yemen in 1990. Saudi Arabia has long viewed renewed attempts to revive an independent South Yemen with concern.



The STC’s push for expanded autonomy, and potentially independence, appears to have triggered alarm in Riyadh in December 2025. The group had made notable territorial gains earlier that month, prompting Saudi airstrikes and calls for the UAE to withdraw its support from southern Yemen. Once that backing faded, the STC seems to have crumbled amid mounting pressure and political maneuvering.



Only days before its downfall, Kurdish outlet Rudaw reported that “the Southern Transitional Council (STC) has consolidated control over southern Yemen and is stepping up its international outreach to advance what it describes as the South’s ‘legitimate right to self-determination,’ a well-placed source in Aden told Rudaw on Tuesday.”



The STC’s reliance on Emirati support proved to be a critical vulnerability. Yet broader regional considerations were also in play. Reports circulated suggesting that Israel’s recognition of Somaliland in December could be part of a larger realignment, potentially encouraging Israeli backing for the UAE’s position in Aden. Middle East Monitor noted that Israel’s Maariv newspaper “says recognition of Somaliland could pave the way for a similar move in south Yemen against Houthis.” Iran’s Mehr News likewise accused Israel of “eyeing” southern Yemen.



These dynamics raise the question of whether Saudi Arabia’s rapid move against the STC was tied to wider strategic concerns in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Israel’s recognition of Somaliland sparked discussion about shifting power balances in the Horn of Africa, an arena where Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Turkey, and others all compete for influence. Riyadh and Abu Dhabi also diverge over Sudan, with Saudi Arabia reportedly favoring a ceasefire and closer alignment with Egypt, while the UAE has been accused of backing the Rapid Support Forces. Similar tensions appear to exist in Somaliland, where Emirati interests are well established.



Saudi Arabia is intent on preventing a gradual erosion of its regional standing. It has sought to stabilize ties with Iran through China-backed talks, improved relations with Turkey, and supported outreach by Syria’s new government to Washington. Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister was in Washington on January 7.



According to the Saudi Press Agency, “Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, arrived in Washington on Wednesday on an official visit to the United States.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with him the same day, later writing, “Just concluded a meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan to discuss continued coordination in support of Middle Eastern security and stability, including in Gaza, Yemen, Sudan, and Syria.”



Multiple regional developments appear interconnected, according to the Jerusalem Post. The UAE and Ethiopia have urged dialogue in Sudan. Arab News also reported that “the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation announced that an extraordinary meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers would take place in order to discuss the rapidly escalating developments in Somalia.” This followed a January 6 visit to Somaliland by Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar.



Saudi Arabia is visibly reasserting itself as a central regional actor. This comes as the US backed a trilateral meeting in Paris involving Israel and Syria, and as Israeli officials voiced concern over clashes between Syrian government forces and Kurdish groups in Aleppo. Riyadh is closely monitoring developments across Somaliland, Yemen, Sudan, and beyond.



Against this backdrop, Saudi Arabia’s growing confidence may shape how it responds to recurring reports about potential normalization with Israel. Riyadh has made clear it seeks tangible changes in Gaza and in Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians.



The notion that Saudi Arabia would normalize relations without receiving anything in return is unrealistic. Riyadh has also bristled at disparaging remarks from some Israeli politicians, including a comment telling Saudis to “keep riding camels.”



Saudi Arabia’s actions in Yemen demonstrate that it will not tolerate perceived slights or challenges to its interests. When Riyadh draws a red line, it is prepared to enforce it. Regional actors who may have underestimated Saudi resolve are now reassessing. After years marked by setbacks following the 2015 Yemen intervention, Saudi Arabia appears once again firmly in control of its regional strategy.

Saudi Arabia Draws Red Line In Yemen, Signals Return To Regional Superpower Role

At the annual Colel Chabad dinner Wednesday night, Hedge fund billionaire and philanthropist Bill Ackman presented a special award to Ahmed Al Ahmed, the Muslim Australian hero who risked his life to save Jews during the horrifying Bondi Beach Islamic terror attack in Australia last month.



At the event, community leaders gathered to support one of Israel’s oldest tzedaka organizations. But the highlight of the night was the tribute to Al Ahmed, whose selfless bravery during the Chanukah terror attack made headlines around the world.



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Ackman, known for his stoic public persona, broke down in tears on stage as he described the sheer courage it took for Al Ahmed to charge into mortal danger. Al Ahmed, who was injured in the attack, wrestled a terrorist to the ground during the attack, effectively stopping the slaughter and saving countless Jewish lives from the attackers.



&#8220;There wasn’t a dry eye in the room,&#8221; reported Crown Heights activist Rabbi Yaacov Behrman, who attended the event.



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In a moment that stunned the audience, Al Ahmed was embraced on stage by Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, a senior Dayan in Sydney. Rabbi Ulman’s son-in-law, Rabbi Yitzchak Schlanger, was murdered at the Menorah lighting during the attack. Despite his personal tragedy, Rabbi Ulman spoke powerfully to the crowd, declaring that &#8220;darkness will not prevail.&#8221;



When asked about his heroism, Al Ahmed remained humble, telling the audience simply that &#8220;God led him to save lives.&#8221;



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Rabbi Behrman, who met with Al Ahmed personally after the ceremony, described the event as &#8220;a powerful evening none of us will forget.&#8221;



&#8220;Let us in New York learn from his courage and heroism,&#8221; Behrman added, &#8220;and let his story inspire us to continue building those bridges.&#8221;



The dinner, hosted by Colel Chabad&#8217;s Director Rabbi Sholom Duchman, was hailed by attendees as an incredible tribute to true heroism and the enduring strength in the face of terror.

Bill Ackman, in Tears, Honors Muslim Hero Who Saved Jews During Bondi Beach Massacre at Colel Chabad Dinner

After Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun took office on Tuesday as the United States Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, his official State Department website was launched Wednesday.



Following his swearing-in ceremony, which Belaaz reported was expedited due to the urgent volume of work awaiting the new envoy, the State Department launched Ambassador Kaploun’s official website, outlining his mandate and personal background, complete with an official portrait.



Filling a vacancy left by the departure of Holocaust historian Deborah Lipstadt last year, Ambassador Kaploun was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 18.



In his new role, he serves as the primary advisor to the United States government on global antisemitism, tasked with developing and implementing policies to counter rising anti-Jewish hatred worldwide.



According to his newly launched office website, Ambassador Kaploun brings a background in both public service and business to the State Department.



&#8220;The son and grandson of rabbis, Ambassador Rabbi Kaploun has dedicated his life to public service,&#8221; the biography states. It highlights his tenure as Executive Vice President of the Moses and Aaron Foundation, where he &#8220;worked closely with founder and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel to support special needs children and their families.&#8221;



The biography also notes his role as a &#8220;long [time] advocate for Jewish communities in the United States and around the world,&#8221; specifically citing his work following the October 7, 2023 attacks. Ambassador Kaploun &#8220;met and assisted numerous hostage families&#8221; in the aftermath of the attacks and &#8220;hosted the first memorial for the attack in Doral, Florida, which was attended by President Trump.&#8221;



Prior to his appointment, Kaploun was a prominent figure in the private sector. He served as co-founder and President of RussKap Water and previously led Watergen USA. His official biography credits him with leading &#8220;groundbreaking efforts to address global water scarcity by harnessing atmospheric water generators to transform air into water,&#8221; noting that he received a Nobel Peace Prize nomination in 2024 for these achievements.

Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun Begins Work as Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism; Website Launches

A shooting erupted outside a Salt Lake City church during a funeral service late Wednesday night, leaving two people dead and eight others wounded.



Police said three of the injured victims are in critical condition following the attack.



Authorities reported that no suspects have been taken into custody in connection with the shooting, and it is not known at this time if the shooting was terrorism-related.



The area surrounding the church remained shut down late Wednesday night, with law enforcement urging the public to avoid the vicinity as the investigation continues.

Deadly Shooting At Utah Church Funeral Leaves Two Killed, Eight Wounded

President Trump hailed the mission to seize Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as a “perfectly executed” demonstration of U.S. military strength.



That public description, however, omitted critical moments that highlighted how perilous the raid became as American forces closed in on Maduro’s heavily defended compound; and how narrowly the mission avoided disaster, according to a Wednesday New York Times report.



A U.S. military helicopter took damage and fought to remain airborne above Caracas, throwing the entire American operation into jeopardy, according to the report.



In the pre-dawn hours of Saturday, U.S. Army helicopters flew just 100 feet above the ocean before sweeping over Venezuela’s capital, racing toward their objective. Their approach was concealed by a U.S. cyber operation that plunged Caracas into darkness, alongside radar-avoiding American fighter jets that struck Venezuela’s Russian-made air defense systems.



At first, the helicopters, carrying dozens of elite Army Delta Force commandos, advanced without being detected.



That changed as they neared Maduro’s compound. The aircraft came under fire and returned it. The lead helicopter in the assault, a massive twin-rotor MH-47 Chinook, was hit but managed to stay airborne. According to current and former U.S. officials speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the mission, the flight leader &#8211; who also designed the operation and was piloting the Chinook &#8211; was wounded three times in the leg.



As the crippled helicopter fought to stay aloft long enough to deploy its troops, the outcome of the entire mission, known as Absolute Resolve, hung in the balance. The operation involved more than 150 aircraft launched from 20 separate land and sea bases across the region.

Damaged Helicopter Nearly Doomed U.S. Raid To Capture Venezuela’s Maduro

Rabbi Uri Lupolianski, who served as Jerusalem’s mayor and established the Yad Sarah volunteer organization, passed away late Wednesday night at the age of 74 following a lengthy and difficult illness.



Lupolianski was the driving force behind Yad Sarah, a nationwide nonprofit that delivers medical equipment and social assistance to the elderly, the ill, and people with disabilities. In addition to his public service work, he led the city of Jerusalem as mayor between 2003 and 2008.



Relatives said that during his final years, Lupolianski endured significant medical suffering before his passing. Approximately two weeks earlier, he was admitted to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in critical condition.



His funeral is scheduled for Thursday at 11:00 a.m., beginning at his residence in the Sanhedria Murhevet neighborhood. The procession will continue to Har HaMenuchos, where he will be laid to rest.



Born in Haifa in 1951, Lupolianski learned in Yeshiva Torah Or Yeshiva Yerushalayim and the Negev Yeshiva in Netivot. He later served as a medic in the IDF, worked in education, and pursued studies in public administration.



In 1976, following personal difficulty obtaining medical equipment for his young son, Lupolianski founded Yad Sarah. Named in memory of his grandmother who was murdered in the Holocaust, the organization expanded into a nationwide network of volunteers and services. Its contributions were recognized with numerous honors, including the Israel Prize in 1994, the President’s Volunteer Medal, and the Knesset Speaker’s Prize.



Lupolianski entered municipal politics in 1989 as a member of the Jerusalem City Council, where he held several senior roles. After Ehud Olmert resigned in February 2003, Lupolianski was appointed mayor on behalf of United Torah Judaism. He later won election for a full term that June and remained in office until November 2008.



A longtime resident of Yerushalayim&#8217;s Sanhedria Murchevet neighborhood, Lupolianski is survived by his wife, Michal, their 12 children, and an extensive family. His son, Rabbi Yitzchak Lupolianski, heads the Nachalas Yair yeshiva in the community of Metzad in Gush Etzion.

BDE: Former Yerushalayim Mayor And Yad Sarah Founder Rabbi Uri Lupolianski z”l, 74

A woman was shot and killed by an ICE officer in Minneapolis on Wednesday morning, with witness descriptions sharply diverging from the version of events offered by federal officials.



Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey reacted angrily after viewing video of the shooting, calling claims that it was an act of self-defense a “garbage narrative.” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz also said he had seen the footage, stating, “Don&#8217;t believe the propaganda machine. The state will ensure there is a full, fair, and expeditious investigation to ensure accountability and justice.”



According to federal authorities, ICE officers were “conducting targeted operations” when they were confronted by what officials described as “rioters” who blocked their movement. Officials claimed one of the individuals “weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them.”



ICE said an officer, who was “fearing for his life,” fired what were described as “defensive shots” to protect himself and other officers, resulting in the woman’s death. Minneapolis officials later identified the victim as a 37-year-old white woman.



Video circulating on social media shows the moment the woman was fatally shot. After viewing the footage, Mayor Frey reiterated his rejection of the self-defense claim, again labeling it a “garbage narrative.”



President Donald Trump personally weighed in, writing on Truth Social: &#8220;I have just viewed the clip of the event which took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is a horrible thing to watch. The woman screaming was, obviously, a professional agitator, and the woman driving the car was very disorderly, obstructing and resisting, who then violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer, who seems to have shot her in self defense. Based on the attached clip, it is hard to believe he is alive, but is now recovering in the hospital. The situation is being studied, in its entirety, but the reason these incidents are happening is because the Radical Left is threatening, assaulting, and targeting our Law Enforcement Officers and ICE Agents on a daily basis. They are just trying to do the job of MAKING AMERICA SAFE. We need to stand by and protect our Law Enforcement Officers from this Radical Left Movement of Violence and Hate!&#8221;



Witnesses interviewed by FOX 9 offered a different account of the incident. They said the woman entered a red vehicle near Portland Avenue and East 34th Street on Wednesday morning, where ICE agents surrounded the car.



According to those witnesses, one ICE agent stood on each side of the vehicle while a third approached and pulled on the driver’s side door. Witnesses said one agent then stepped back and opened fire, shooting three times through the driver’s side window. One witness said the vehicle was not moving toward the agents at the time.



Witnesses also said a doctor who happened to be at the scene attempted to render aid to the woman but was prevented from doing so by ICE agents. They said an ambulance arrived roughly 15 minutes later but was initially unable to reach the victim because ICE vehicles were blocking the street.



Those at the scene told Fox that ICE agents later carried a “limp body” down the street, where the woman was placed into the ambulance.



The shooting occurred amid what the Department of Homeland Security has described as the “largest ever” ICE operation currently underway in Minnesota.



“We collectively are going to do everything possible to get to the bottom of this, to get justice and to make sure that there is an investigation conducted in full. But what we do know is that a 37-year-old woman is dead, and she was shot by ICE,” Frey said Wednesday. “We’ve dreaded this moment since the early stages of this ICE presence in Minneapolis… They are not here to create safety in this city, what they are doing is causing chaos and distrust.



DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said that the incident amounted to domestic terrorism. “These vehicle rammings are domestic acts of terrorism. We are working with the DOJ to prosecute them as such.”



In a full statement, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended the officers’ actions and blamed political rhetoric for escalating tensions.



“Today, ICE officers in Minneapolis were conducting targeted operations when rioters began blocking ICE officers and one of these violent rioters weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them &#8211; an act of domestic terrorism.



“An ICE officer, fearing for his life, the lives of his fellow law enforcement and the safety of the public, fired defensive shots.



“He used his training and saved his own life and that of his fellow officers.



“The alleged perpetrator was hit and is deceased. Thankfully, the ICE officers who were hurt are expected to make full recoveries.



“This is the direct consequence of constant attacks and demonization of our officers by sanctuary politicians who fuel and encourage rampant assaults on our law enforcement who are facing 1,300% increase in assaults against them and an 8,000% increase in death threats.



“This is an evolving situation, and we will give the public more information as soon as it becomes available.”

Minneapolis ICE Shooting: Witnesses Dispute Federal Account, Noem Says Protestor Was Domestic Terrorist

The Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel held a meeting in Yerushalayim Wednesday night over the government&#8217;s draft bill, with the fate of the coalition in the balance. Rabbi Yitzchak Pindrus of Degel Hatorah tells Belaaz that Channel 12 reports of a simultaneous meeting among the Moetzes of Degel are not true.



As of late Wednesday night, the meeting concluded without the immediate publication of a final decision, following heavy pressure from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and coordination between the Chassidic and Litvish leadership to avoid a precipitous collapse of the government.



In the halls of Beis Malka on Rechov Brandeis, the revered Chasidish Rebbes of the Moetzes of Agudas Yisroel arrived one by one after 9:00 PM.



The gathering was led by the Gerrer Rebbe, the Belzer Rebbe, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, the Sanzer Rebbe, the Seret-Vizhnitzer Rebbe, and the Modzitzer Rebbe, shlita. There appears to be discrepancies in Israeli media reports as to whether the Boyaner Rebbe, shlita, attended.



Conspicuously absent was the Slonimer Rebbe, shlita, who sent a powerful letter read before the assembled sages. The Rebbe declared: &#8220;We oppose any law that imposes penalties and sanctions on lomdei Torah. We will not leave the heichalei hayeshivos under any circumstances.&#8221;



The Sadigura Rebbe did not attend as he is currently in the United States.



At the behest of the Belzer Rebbe, Harav Pinchas Friedman arrived to articulate the Rebbe’s position.



Notably, the Agudah MKs; Housing Minister and chairman&nbsp; Rabbi Yitzchak Goldknopf, Yerushalayim Affairs Minister Rabbi Meir Porush, and MK Rabbi Yisrael Eichler, were present, alongside Bnei Brak Mayor Chanoch Zeibert.



However, in a departure from norm, the MKs were not invited back into the room following the deliberations to receive instructions, signaling the sensitivity of the moment.



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As the Agudah Moetzes prepared to meet, messages were passed from Degel HaTorah to Agudat Yisrael in an effort to stop any immediate decision opposing the conscription law, Bechadrei Charedim reported.



On Tuesday, a discussion took place between Rabbi Aharon Hirsch, son of Degel HaTorah leader Hagaon Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, and Yaakov Walzer, gabbai of the Agudath Moetzes. 



After that exchange, Walzer reportedly met with the Gerrer Rebbe and relayed Degel HaTorah’s position. The Rebbe did not reject the argument and went further, proposing that the council session scheduled for today be called off and that, instead, a joint meeting of both Moetzos should be convened in the coming days to reach a unified stance on the legislation.



That initiative, however, stalled. Harav Hirsch’s son declined to commit to the idea of a joint council and reiterated the original request — that no decision be taken at this time against the law.



Ultimately, the council meeting was not canceled. It remains uncertain whether a definitive ruling against the conscription law will emerge, or whether the pressure from Degel HaTorah will succeed in delaying such a move, as heightened attention continues around the outcome.



The drama behind the scenes was as intense as the deliberations within. Earlier in the evening,&nbsp; Netanyahu conveyed an urgent message to Agudah, pleading with the Rebbes to withhold a final decision tonight. The Prime Minister argued that the wording of the draft law is &#8220;expected to change&#8221; and that a premature rejection could tank the coalition.



&#8220;Going to elections would be a mistake,&#8221; Netanyahu reportedly told UTJ MKs earlier in the day. &#8220;The conscription law needs to be explained to the public&#8230; We will be required to complete this legislation as soon as possible.&#8221;



Kan News reported that the Charedi parties have threatened to support the dissolution of the Knesset if the pace of the draft law legislation is not accelerated. With six months having passed since the last failed attempt to dissolve the Knesset, the motion can now be brought to a vote again.



However, for now, the decision remains in abeyance. The Agudah Moetzes left after an hour and a half without a public declaration.

Agudah Moetzes Meets Over Draft Law as Coalition Teeters; Pindrus Rejects Report of Degel Moetzes Meeting

Mayor Zohran Mamdani is considering appointing Phylisa Wisdom &#8211; an activist who accused Charedi leaders of being &#8220;self interested&#8221; and who worked at the virulently anti-yeshiva group YAFFED (Young Advocates for Fair Education) &#8211; to lead the city’s efforts in combatting antisemitism.



The potential move, first reported by Jewish Insider on Wednesday, citing anonymous sources, has triggered immediate alarm among community leaders who warn that her history of antagonism toward the Charedi community &#8211; the population most frequently targeted in antisemitic hate crimes &#8211; makes her unfit for the role.



Wisdom, in her current role as head of the leftist New York Jewish Agenda group, has made sweeping public accusations against the Charedi lifestyle and political advocacy. In statements, she has accused the entire Charedi world of actively seeking to harm broader society, playing into age old antisemitic tropes.



&#8220;In New York, Ultra-Orthodox leaders deliver votes as a block, convincing elected officials that their will is the Jewish will, whether on issues like funding yeshivas, defunding public education, policing, criminal justice&#8230; Israel,&#8221; Wisdom has stated.



She further claimed that the community defines the &#8220;Jewish agenda as right-wing and only self-interested.&#8221;



YAFFED, an organization dedicated to imposing strict secular equivalency standards on yeshivos  which would effectively force them to close, was created by Jewish people who left Torah observance. They have filed multiple lawsuits against yeshivos, in legal battles that have rocked the Jewish community and made Orthodox Jews fear for their ability to remain in the state for over a decade.



The prospect of Wisdom leading the Office for Combating Antisemitism was met with disbelief.



Critics note that the vast majority of violent antisemitic hate crimes in New York City are perpetrated against visibly Orthodox, Chassidish, and Yeshivish Jews; the very demographic Wisdom has spent her career criticizing.



Rabbi Yaacov Behrman, a prominent Jewish activist in Crown Heights, took to X&nbsp; to voice strong opposition to the potential appointment.



&#8220;The leader of the Office of Antisemitism cannot have a contentious relationship with the Chassidic yeshiva community,&#8221; Behrman wrote. &#8220;When the office was created, I was part of the early conversations about its purpose: ensuring that Jewish New Yorkers feel protected and free to live openly and proudly.&#8221;



Behrman emphasized that the role requires deep trust and cooperation with victims of hate crimes.



&#8220;It is difficult to understand how someone who has spent years publicly antagonizing yeshivas could build the relationships or provide the reassurance needed for the community most often targeted by antisemitic attacks. This is not politics. It is common sense.&#8221;



Community leaders are contrasting Wisdom’s record with that of Moshe Davis, current executive director of the office. Davis told Jewish Insider on Monday that he was attending work as usual.



&#8220;We trusted and worked with Moshe Davis precisely because he maintained constructive relationships across all segments of the Jewish community,&#8221; Behrman noted.



The fear among activists is not just that Wisdom would be ineffective, but that the position could be weaponized. Behrman warned that given her &#8220;outspoken attacks on yeshivas and her support for cutting their funding,&#8221; she might &#8220;use the position to advance anti-yeshiva goals, undermining the mission of the office and making the community feel less safe, not more.&#8221;



The mayor, a democratic socialist and vocal opponent of Israel who has praised convicted supporters of Hamas, came under fire from prominent Jewish organizations last week after overturning several executive orders enacted by former Mayor Eric Adams, including measures that embraced the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism and prohibited city agencies from participating in boycotts aimed at Israel.



Mamdani’s office has not yet confirmed the appointment, but the mere suggestion has already strained relations with the city&#8217;s Orthodox leadership.

Report: Mamdani Considering Anti-Orthodox Activist to Lead Office for Combating Antisemitsm

The victim of Tuesday night’s fatal bus ramming at an anti-draft protest in Yerushalayim has been identified as Yosef Eisenthal a&#8221;h, a 14-year-old yeshiva bachur from the Ramot neighborhood.



Yosef was the son of Rav Shmuel Eisenthal, a rebbe in the Ohel Torah-Ponevezh Yeshiva in Ramot. He was also the grandson of Rabbi Uriel Eisenthal who served as the Rav of the Ramot 3 neighborhood.



As previously reported, Yosef was killed when a public bus drove into protesters on Yirmiyahu–Shamgar streets during a large demonstration against the draft. United Hatzalah paramedics and EMTs attempted to rescue him after he became trapped beneath the bus, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Three other protesters were injured in the incident.



Police have confirmed that the same bus carried out two separate rammings in the area. The driver, an Arab man who was arrested at the scene, has claimed that protesters were attempting to enter the bus. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing but have determined that the attack was not terror-related.



The death of Yosef has sent shockwaves through the Ramot community and the broader Torah world, where his father and grandfather were widely respected rabbanim. Further details are expected as the investigation continues.

Name Released: Yosef Eisenthal a”h, 14, Killed In Yerushalayim Bus Ramming

A 13-year-old boy was tragically killed and three other protesters were injured Tuesday night after a public bus twice drove into demonstrators during an anti-draft rally in Yerushalayim. Police say the incident is still under investigation but have determined that the attack was not terrorism-related.





The first incident took place on Yirmiyahu–Shamgar streets, where protesters were standing on the roadway. According to initial findings, the same bus carried out another ramming in the area, striking protesters and continuing to drive before coming to a stop. Video footage from the scene shows the bus accelerating toward demonstrators and running over several people.



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United Hatzalah paramedics and EMTs arrived quickly and provided emergency treatment to multiple victims. One protester was pronounced dead after being trapped beneath the bus, while three others suffered injuries ranging from moderate to serious and were treated at the scene before being evacuated to hospitals.



Police confirmed that the driver, an Arab man, was arrested and taken in for questioning. During his interrogation, the driver claimed that protesters attempted to force their way onto the bus, prompting him to drive forward. Law enforcement officials have not confirmed this version of events.



Charedi officials expressed grief and outrage. In a statement, Shas said: &#8220;We are deeply shocked by the serious incident of a bus ramming in Jerusalem, in which a young Charedi man was run over to death during a demonstration. The difficult scenes of the bus driver driving wildly through a crowd of people, while dragging the man dozens of meters, are horrifying and shocking and must not be passed over in silence. We demand from the police an immediate, thorough and uncompromising investigation, and full justice for those responsible. Charedi blood is not hefker!&#8221;



United Torah Judaism&#8217;s head Rabbi Yitzchak Goldknopf said: &#8220;We call on the police to bring the driver to justice with the utmost severity, and to examine all aspects of the investigation to ensure that justice is done. It is impossible to pass over the agenda of loss of control and harm to human life&#8221;

14-Year-Old Killed And 3 Injured After Bus Rams Protesters Twice In Yerushalayim

During President Trump&#8217;s summer visit to Fort Bragg, he appears to have observed a special forces training exercise strikingly similar to the one used in the recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.



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 Video from the June 2025 training demo at shows the elite Delta Force commandos executing a rapid raid on a replica fortified compound — tactics that closely parallel those in Operation Absolute Resolve, the pre-dawn extraction (led by the same Fort Bragg-based unit) that took down Nicolás Maduro in Caracas.



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The rehearsal included rapid breaching, helicopter insertions, and compound assault tactics — all elements confirmed in official accounts of Maduro&#8217;s January 3, 2026 capture.



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WATCH IT: Trump’s Summer Visit to Fort Bragg — Exact Tactics Used to Nab Maduro

Iran’s Defense Council has warned that the country may carry out preemptive military strikes against its enemies if it determines that a serious and immediate threat to national security exists.



In a formal statement, the council &#8211; established to oversee defensive policy in the aftermath of the 2025 war with Israel &#8211; declared that “Iran’s security, independence and territorial integrity are an uncrossable red line, and any aggression or continuation of hostile behavior will be met with a proportionate, decisive and decisive response.”



The statement further accused Iran’s adversaries of escalating hostile rhetoric, saying: “The long-standing enemies of this land… are pursuing a targeted approach by repeating and intensifying threatening language and interventionist statements in clear conflict with the accepted principles of international law, which is aimed at dismembering our beloved Iran and harming the country’s identity.”



The council emphasized that Tehran would not limit itself to responding only after an attack occurs, stressing that it “does not consider itself limited to reacting after the fact, and considers objective signs of threat as part of the security equation.”



At the same time, Iran is facing widespread domestic unrest, with protests erupting in at least 17 of the country’s 31 provinces, according to an analysis by BBC Verify and BBC Persian. The demonstrations represent the most serious challenge to the Islamic Republic’s Islamic leadership since 2022.



The BBC analysis relies solely on protests for which verified video evidence exists, meaning the actual scope of unrest is likely significantly larger. Additional reports suggest demonstrations have also taken place in another 11 provinces.



The protest movement has expanded quickly since December 28, when initial demonstrations broke out in Tehran following a sudden and steep drop in the value of Iran’s currency against the US dollar and other major foreign currencies.



Video footage verified over the past 10 days documents anti-government protests and public gatherings in more than 50 cities and towns nationwide, including areas previously considered firmly loyal to the regime.



More than 100 videos, geolocated and authenticated by journalists, illustrate the scale of the unrest, with demonstrators flooding the streets of major urban centers in what analysts describe as the most significant uprising since the Women, Life and Freedom protests of 2022.



Verified footage has also confirmed protests in Qom and Mashhad; cities long regarded as ideological strongholds of the Islamic Republic and home to populations traditionally supportive of the regime.



Prof. Sina Azodi, Director of the Middle East Studies Program at George Washington University, told the British news outlet that demonstrations in those cities were “very telling,” indicating that the government’s “base of support is also suffering under the economic hardship.”



Historically, Iranian authorities have relied on force to suppress unrest. During the 2022 protests, which followed the death in custody of Mahsa Amini after she was detained for wearing an “improper hijab,” human rights groups estimate that more than 550 people were killed by security forces.



Although the initial police response to the current protests appeared more restrained, verified footage shows a sharp escalation in force since Saturday. This shift followed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s first public comments on the unrest, when he declared that “rioters must be put in their place.”



After Khamenei’s remarks, Iran’s judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, said the authorities would “listen to protesters and critics who legitimately and rightly have concerns about their livelihood and social and economic welfare.”



However, he warned that the state would “deal firmly with those who seek to exploit the situation, incite riots, and undermine the security of the country and the people.” The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has also issued warnings in Lorestan province, signaling that street protests will no longer be tolerated.



Meanwhile, the Norway-based human rights organization HRANA reports that at least 35 people have been killed so far during the unrest, including two members affiliated with Iran’s security forces.

Iran Warns of Preemptive Strikes as Nationwide Protests Rock Regime Strongholds

A radical faction of New York City educators is planning to use the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday vacation as an opportunity to spread antisemitism to young New Yorkers.



Belaaz has obtained promotional literature for a &#8220;teach-in&#8221; hosted by &#8220;New York City Educators for Palestine,&#8221; scheduled for January 19.



The event, targeted at children aged 6 to 18, appears designed to indoctrinate students into a hardline anti-Israel ideology, framed under the guise of education.



Throughout the text of the promotional material, the word &#8220;zionism&#8221; is deliberately de-capitalized. This grammatical choice is a common tactic in radical circles intended to delegitimize the concept and strip it of its status as a proper noun or recognized national movement.



In stark, chilling contrast, the literature capitalizes the word &#8220;Resistance.&#8221; In the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, &#8220;Resistance&#8221; is frequently utilized as a euphemism by terror organizations to describe violent attacks against Israeli civilians, and is used by Hamas, Iran and other extremists. By capitalizing &#8220;Resistance&#8221; while lowering &#8220;zionism,&#8221; the organizers are subtly signaling to attendees, including first graders, which side commands respect and which constitutes the enemy.



The event is billed as &#8220;Day one of a six-part series that begins with the question: What is zionism?&#8221;



According to the flyer, educators will facilitate a program where students &#8220;grapple with the history, meaning, and context of zionism.&#8221; However, the description of subsequent sessions reveals the ultimate goal of the series. Future teach-ins promise to &#8220;dive beyond zionism to consider contemporary and historical Palestinian resistance&#8221; and discuss &#8220;Palestine’s deliberate absence from the mainstream classroom.&#8221;



Critics argue that framing the curriculum around &#8220;Palestine’s deliberate absence&#8221; suggests a conspiracy-laden worldview that seeks to rewrite history and erase Jewish ties to the land, presenting a one-sided narrative to impressionable minors. The organizers are actively soliciting the attendance of siblings, asking parents to &#8220;register multiple children,&#8221; effectively turning a day off from school into a recruitment drive for radical activism.



The involvement of credentialed NYC educators in the terrorism-supporting program has sparked outrage among Jewish community leaders and teachers alike. In a statement to Belaaz, Moshe Spern, head of the United Jewish Teachers, stronglt condemned the event



&#8220;Although this isn’t a sanctioned event by the NYC schools, it’s scary to think NYC educators would use their time to indoctrinate kids as young as six years old on a day off from school,&#8221; Spern said, adding that while these programs have been held before, they haven&#8217;t previously targeted six-year-olds.



Spern further emphasized the betrayal felt by Jewish union members. &#8220;This is very concerning as a member of the UFT that fellow UFT members are behind this session and I’m sure it will be very biased and antisemitic.&#8221;



Perhaps most concerning is the institutional backing this event appears to have received. Spern noted that the &#8220;MORE&#8221; caucus of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) &#8211; a social justice-oriented caucus within the union &#8211; promoted the event on their social media feed. &#8220;We cannot allow this session to happen and I’m calling on elected officials to step in and UFT leadership as well to stop this event,&#8221; Spern told Belaaz. &#8220;The MORE caucus of the UFT which posted this event on their social media feed is helping arrange this event. This antisemitic behavior must end immediately.&#8221;



As of press time, the location of the event remains &#8220;To be Determined,&#8221; with organizers stating they are waiting to gauge the number of children they can recruit before announcing a venue.

Smotrich Reverses Course, Approves Millions in Aid for Gaza

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