Fresh outrage and deep concern among New York City’s Jewish community was sparked following reports that Rama Duwaji, the wife of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, liked social media posts celebrating and supporting the horrific Hamas atrocities of October 7.



According to a report published by Jewish Insider, Dawaji’s social media activity on the very day of the worst slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust included &#8220;liking&#8221; a post that featured screenshots of Hamas Nukhba terrorists. The images showed the terrorists riding in a commandeered Israeli military vehicle as they infiltrated southern Israeli communities to carry out their massacre. The chilling post, shared by radical left-wing groups, was captioned, “Opposing apartheid since 1948.”



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Dawaji, a Syrian-American artist who married Mamdani in 2025, also reportedly liked a post published by The People’s Forum. That post called on residents to join protests against Israel and openly expressed support for continued &#8220;Palestinian resistance&#8221; &#8211; a thinly veiled euphemism for the terror attacks that occurred that morning. Another post she endorsed encouraged attendance at an anti-Israel demonstration, defending the &#8220;right to resist&#8221; what it termed occupation, while warning of consequences in Gaza if violence escalated.



When confronted with the deeply disturbing report, Mayor Mamdani attempted to distance his administration from his wife&#8217;s digital endorsements.



“My wife was a private person who did not hold an official role in my campaign or in City Hall,” Mamdani said during a press conference. “I, on the other hand, was elected to represent all 8.5 million residents of the city. Because of that responsibility, I believe it is my duty to answer questions about my own views, politics, and positions.”



During Mamdani&#8217;s first month in office, antisemitic hate crimes in New York City have skyrocketed by an alarming 182%. This surge in targeted hatred, coupled with widespread complaints of a deteriorating quality of life and rising crime across the five boroughs, has left many Jewish New Yorkers feeling alienated and unprotected by the current administration.

Outrage as Mamdani’s Wife Found to Have Liked Posts Glorifying Oct. 7 Massacre

Early risers across NYC will have a chance to witness a striking celestial display Tuesday as a total lunar eclipse paints the moon a deep red hue, known as a &#8220;blood moon.&#8221;



A total lunar eclipse happens when Earth moves directly between the sun and the moon.



During the event, the moon will take on a reddish tint, a phenomenon commonly referred to as a &#8220;blood moon.&#8221;



According to astronomers, this marks the final total lunar eclipse that will be visible anywhere in the world until 2028.



Viewing times for NYC:



The eclipse will unfold during the pre-dawn hours Tuesday, with totality expected to last approximately 58 minutes:



3:44 a.m. – Eclipse begins



4:50 a.m. – Partial eclipse becomes visible



6:25 a.m. – Total eclipse begins



6:28 a.m. – Moon begins to set



What is a total lunar eclipse?



The National Weather Service explains that a lunar eclipse occurs when the sun projects Earth’s shadow onto the moon.



For the event to qualify as a total lunar eclipse, the moon must pass completely into Earth’s darkest central shadow, known as the umbra.



Unlike a solar eclipse, viewing a lunar eclipse requires no special eye protection. The event can be safely enjoyed with the naked eye, as well as through binoculars or a telescope.

Rare ‘Blood Moon’ Total Lunar Eclipse to Drench NYC Skies in Red Tuesday Morning

President Donald Trump stated that potential candidates from within the Iranian government who were identified to potentially lead a new regime have been killed during the recent military strikes.



In a conversation with ABC News’ Jonathan Karl, the President expressed satisfaction with the success of the ongoing military campaign. When asked who would lead Iran following the operation, President Trump responded, “No one we thought, because they’re all dead.” He noted that the strikes successfully eliminated most of the individuals within the Iranian government structure who had been considered possible successors.



While former Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has long been touted by many as a potential replacement to lead a post-Islamic Republic Iran, Pahlavi is alive and currently resides in the United States. President Trump’s comments specifically referred to candidates operating inside the existing Iranian government apparatus.



President Trump also disclosed that communication with remaining Iranian officials is underway. He confirmed that an individual who survived the strikes and is no longer answering to the Supreme Leader has reached out to him. The President has previously indicated a willingness to engage in a new round of talks with Iran.



Addressing the tragic loss of three American service members during the mission, the President was candid about the realities of combat, stating, “It’s war, and there are casualties in war.” He highlighted the overall effectiveness of recent military efforts. Pointing to three significant military operations—including a previous action in Iran, the operation against Nicolas Maduro, and the current campaign—he noted that, Boruch Hashem, the United States has suffered only three casualties, while Iranian losses are too numerous to count. &#8220;Nobody else could have done this, but me,&#8221; the President added.

Trump Says Candidates To Replace Iranian Regime Were Killed In Military Operation

JERUSALEM &#8211; Tzedek Association is closely monitoring the escalating conflict and actively exploring secure evacuation routes for Jews urgently seeking to leave Eretz Yisroel.



A Tzedek representative tells Belaaz that the group is considering chartered flights via Egypt, similar their successful June 2025 operation during the 12-day war, when evacuations proceeded through Sharm El Sheikh with private security, Egyptian authorities, the Egyptian army, and U.S. diplomatic backing.



 &#8220;Any charter would only proceed if demand is high and it is deemed necessary due to worsening tensions and security risks,&#8221; the source told Belaaz.



Meanwhile, Tzedek is reporting a surge in inquiries and is preparing all viable options.

Tzedek Closely Monitoring Escalating Conflict, Exploring Evacuation Options for Jews in Eretz Yisroel

The names of four of the nine people killed in Sunday&#8217;s Iranian missile strike on Beit Shemesh have been released: Sarah Elimelech Hy’d, her daughter Ronit Elimelech Hy’d, Oren Katz Hy’d, and Gavriel Baruch Revach Hy’d. The deadly attack hit a shelter inside a shul, claiming the lives of civilians and wounding dozens more. Ronit was a volunteer for United Hatzalah in the city.



Initial assessments indicate that some victims were inside the shelter at the time of impact, while others were in adjacent buildings.



United Hatzalah Founder and President Eli Beer issued a message about Ronit, saying: &#8220;Today, we mourn the devastating loss of United Hatzalah volunteer EMT Ronit Elimelech, 45, who was killed in the missile strike in Beit Shemesh. Her mother, Sarah, was also among the victims. Ronit was more than a medic. She was a symbol of compassion, professionalism, and selfless dedication. In addition to responding to emergencies, she volunteered in our &#8220;Ten Kavod&#8221; project, caring for the elderly with dignity and love. Even in her final moments, as she was rushing with her family toward shelter, her medical vest and kit were by her side the very tools she used to save countless lives.&#8221;



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Jerusalem District Police Commander Avshalom Peled said at the scene that some of the fatalities were apparently inside the shelter when it sustained the direct strike. He noted that the Home Front Command is examining whether the shelter was functioning properly.



The IDF stated that a preliminary investigation found the alert system had operated as required prior to the missile impact.



Sixty people were wounded in the attack. Three are listed in critical condition, including a young girl. Five were moderately injured, among them two children, including a four-year-old, while the remainder &#8211; some of them children &#8211; sustained light injuries. Hadassah Medical Center reported that a pregnant woman was among the injured.



Fire and Rescue Services said more than 70 victims were evacuated from the scene.



Home Front Command commander Shai Klapper said the direct hit appears to have breached the shelter’s protective structure. Commander Peled explained that while reinforced shelters and protected rooms provide substantial protection from nearby impacts and shrapnel, they have not withstood direct hits from heavy ballistic missiles.



At the scene, the Police Commissioner stressed, “Protected rooms and public shelters remain the safest places to be during rocket and missile attacks,” despite the tragic outcome.

Names of 4 Victims Murdered in Beit Shemesh Missile Strike Released

Reb Mordechai Levi, z”l, a familiar presence at the Kosel HaMaaravi for over half a century, passed away on Friday at the age of 81.



For more than fifty years, morning, afternoon, and evening, Reb Mordechai could be found at the Kosel. Distinguished by his flowing white beard and radiant smile, he dedicated himself to greeting visitors at the Kosel. He became renowned for his heartfelt, original brachos —often delivered in joyful rhymes &#8211; that brought comfort and warmth to countless mispallelim arriving to daven.



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Reb Mordechai was deeply devoted to the kedushah of the Kosel HaMaaravi. He consistently urged visitors to treat the last remnant of the Beis Hamikdash with the utmost reverence, gently encouraging the public to approach the holy site with appropriate tznius.



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In recent years, as he grew older and his health weakened, his visits to the Kosel became less frequent. He was niftar on Friday, leaving behind a legacy of love for his fellow Jews and a deep connection to the Makom HaMikdash. The levayah was held on Erev Shabbos, followed by kevurah at Har HaMenuchos in Yerushalayim shortly before the onset of Shabbos.



Yehi zichro baruch.



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BDE: Reb Mordechai Levi, z”l, Fixture at the Kosel for Over 5 Decades

President Donald Trump spoke Sunday for the first the on US casualties of the war in Iran, confirming three American servicemembers were killed and offering a grim warning in a phone interview with the Daily Mail. He also revealed that he had spoken with the leaders of Saudi Arabia &#8211; who he implied will join the war effort &#8211; and Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, and Jordan regarding the ongoing conflict.



“They’re great people,” Trump said of the fallen soldiers. “And, you know, we expect that to happen, unfortunately. Could happen continuous — it could happen again.” The servicemembers have not been publicly identified.



Trump noted that the casualties mark the first in his second term, following prior operations such as the January capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and the June strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, which resulted in no American deaths. “We’ve done pretty well,” he said.



The president suggested that the fighting could continue for roughly four weeks. “It’s always been a four week process. We figured it will be four weeks or so. It’s always been about a four week process so &#8211; as strong as it is, it’s a big country, it’ll take four weeks &#8211; or less,” he explained.



Trump acknowledged that the US and Israeli strikes had removed significant portions of Iran’s leadership. “No, I think it’s going as per planned. You know, other than we took out their entire leadership; far, far more than what we thought. Looks like 48,” he said.



The president remains open to further negotiations with Iran but did not specify a timeline. “They want to, they want to talk, but I said you should have talked last week not this week,” he said.



Trump spoke from his Mar-a-Lago resort, where he has been overseeing the campaign, and indicated he may address the American public again soon. He is expected back in Washington later Sunday.



He also confirmed discussions with the leaders of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states about the conflict, noting that “they’re fighting, they’re fighting too,” in reference to potential regional involvement.



Trump has met with the families of the fallen servicemembers and said he may attend the dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base or host the families at the White House. He expressed cautious optimism that the strikes could pave the way for a future democracy in Iran, saying, “It’ll be very interesting to watch. But a lot of things could happen and a lot of very positive things could happen.”

Trump Gives Update On Iran War, Says Saudis ‘Are Fighting’ Amid US Casualties

Sirens blared across northern Israel late Sunday night after rockets were fired from Lebanon, the IDF reported.



Alerts sounded in Haifa and surrounding areas, as well as multiple locations across the Upper Galilee.



The IDF said the details of the launches are still under investigation, while Magen David Adom confirmed it had not received any reports of injuries.



Security sources tell Channel 12 that Hezbollah carried out the launch and that a particularly &#8220;harsh response&#8221; will follow.



It remains unclear who carried out the attacks, but Hebrew media outlets have attributed the rocket fire to Hezbollah, though the group has not officially claimed responsibility.



If confirmed, this would be the first time Hezbollah has joined Iran in striking Israel, as it stayed out of the previous Israel-Iran conflict in June.



It would also mark the first rocket attacks by Hezbollah on Israel since the U.S.-brokered Israel-Lebanon ceasefire took effect in November 2024.

Suspected Hezbollah Rockets Hit Northern Israel

In his first live address since the Iran campaign began, President Donald Trump defended the decision to launch the assault even as polling shows most Americans oppose it. He argued that a “sick and evil regime” potentially armed with long-range missiles and nuclear weapons had created an unacceptable threat. Earlier, he also avoided ruling out the possibility of sending U.S. ground forces.



Trump said Monday that American planners initially expected the conflict to last roughly four to five weeks, but he stressed that the United States is prepared to continue “far beyond that” if needed. Speaking from the White House, he described the offensive as “our last and best opportunity” to confront Tehran’s leadership, adding, “We will win easily.”



He delivered the remarks during a Medal of Honor ceremony for veterans of the Vietnam and Afghanistan wars. Until then, Trump had only issued prerecorded messages, posted on his Truth Social platform or given phone interviews. His appearance coincided with fresh polling showing the political risks: a Reuters/Ipsos survey conducted after the initial strikes found 27 percent support the war, 43 percent oppose it and 29 percent remain unsure.



Trump said the United States had previously “destroyed” Iran’s nuclear infrastructure during last June’s “Midnight Hammer” operation and warned Tehran not to rebuild it. He claimed Iran ignored the warning and continued pursuing nuclear weapons, while rapidly accelerating development of ballistic missiles he described as a growing threat to U.S. forces and allies.



“The regime already had missiles capable of striking Europe and our bases, both in the region and overseas, and it was close to obtaining missiles capable of reaching our beautiful America,” he said.



He argued that Iran’s expanding missile arsenal was intended to protect its nuclear ambitions and deter outside intervention. “An Iranian regime equipped with long-range missiles and nuclear weapons would have been an intolerable threat to the Middle East and to the American people. Our country was under threat,” he said.



Trump maintained he had attempted to resolve the crisis diplomatically. “We thought we had a deal,” he said. “But then they backed out. I said you can’t negotiate with these people. You have to act the right way.” He also attacked the nuclear agreement brokered under the Obama administration, saying, “We signed with them in our great stupidity.”



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He laid out the objectives of the operation, saying it would continue “as long as required.” The goals include eliminating Iran’s missile capabilities and production sites, crippling its navy, preventing it from obtaining nuclear weapons and cutting off its ability to arm or direct proxy forces outside its borders. Although he did not list regime change as a formal aim, he again urged Iranians to rise up against their leaders. He pushed back on suggestions he would grow tired of the conflict, noting that the United States had expected it would take four weeks to eliminate Iran’s military leadership but completed the task “in about an hour.”



In an interview with the New York Post earlier Monday, Trump declined to commit to keeping U.S. ground forces out of the conflict, saying he avoids blanket statements. He added that he believes ground troops are unlikely to be needed but would consider them if the situation required it.



Trump insisted he had made “the right thing” in ordering the operation and dismissed negative polling. He argued that allowing “crazy people” to obtain nuclear weapons would have posed a far greater threat than the prospect of a broader regional war.



In a separate interview with CNN, he warned that “the big wave hasn’t even happened. The big one is coming soon,” suggesting a possible escalation ahead. He also said he was surprised by what he described as Iranian attacks on Arab states, claiming that countries once expected to remain only marginal participants now “want to fight.” In an interview with Fox News, Trump asserted that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed during a breakfast meeting with senior advisers, assuming the United States and Israel would avoid striking during daylight hours.



Meanwhile, Iranian forces targeted oil infrastructure and other sites across a 2,000-kilometer swath of the region, from the Gulf of Oman &#8211; where a drone-laden boat struck an oil tanker &#8211; to Cyprus, hitting a British military base.



The US military said Kuwait’s air defenses accidentally shot down three American F-15E fighters during an Iranian attack, though all six crew members were safely recovered. Video footage showed one of the planes spiraling out of control before crashing in a fireball.



Black smoke rose near the US embassy in Kuwait amid a heavy presence of security personnel, ambulances, and fire trucks. Explosions were reported in Dubai and Samha in the UAE, and in Doha, Qatar. Saudi Arabia shut its largest refinery after drone strikes triggered a fire, part of a wider wave of attacks on oil installations.



In the first strike to hit US allies in Europe, a drone targeted Britain’s Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus overnight. Both Britain and Cyprus reported only limited damage and no casualties.



The campaign to topple Iran’s leadership marks one of the boldest US foreign policy moves in decades. President Donald Trump reiterated calls for Iranians to rise up and said the air campaign could continue for weeks. “The big wave hasn’t even happened. The big one is coming soon,” he told CNN.



US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday that the campaign’s objectives are to destroy Iran’s navy, its ballistic missile program, and its nuclear weapons potential. He emphasized that the United States will not become mired in the conflict, stating, “This is not Iraq. This is not endless.”



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B-2 stealth bombers reportedly struck Iranian missile facilities with 2,000-pound bombs. Trump said 10 Iranian warships were sunk and the navy’s headquarters largely destroyed.



Within Iran, residents jammed highways to escape the bombings, expressing a mixture of fear and excitement. One Tehran resident described Monday’s bombardment as the heaviest yet, hitting hospitals and clinics. “We are becoming like Gaza,” he said. Another, Hosna, a 45-year-old lawyer, said: “Every time we hear the noises [of explosions], we get scared for just a second. But we experience some joy and excitement every time we hear a strike.”



The Iranian Red Crescent reported 555 deaths and attacks on over 130 cities. Israeli officials said Monday’s strikes targeted regime command centers and senior leaders. In Israel, 11 people have been killed Hy&#8217;d, while 52 died in Lebanon, authorities said.



European allies initially criticized Trump’s war decision as failing to meet the legal threshold of an imminent threat but later agreed to assist in suppressing Iran’s capacity to retaliate. A senior White House official said Washington plans to eventually engage Tehran but will continue “Operation Epic Fury” for now.



Iran’s temporary leadership, including elected president Masoud Pezeshkian and members of the judiciary and guardian council, has taken over Khamenei’s duties. Ali Larijani, head of Tehran’s supreme national security council, said on X that Iran would not negotiate with Trump, accusing him of “delusional ambitions” and warning the country is ready for a prolonged conflict.



Missiles fired toward central Israel were intercepted, though booms rattled windows in Jerusalem. An Israeli military spokesperson said the reduced overnight attacks were a result of Israeli operations weakening Iran’s military capabilities. Hezbollah’s involvement, he added, was a strategic error.



Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been halted, disrupting about a fifth of global oil trade. Oil prices surged sharply, while stock markets fell. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reported striking three US and UK oil tankers and military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain with drones and missiles. Hundreds of vessels, including oil and gas tankers, were forced to anchor nearby.



Global air travel has been heavily affected as major Middle Eastern airports remain closed due to airstrikes.



The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said Monday that it had no evidence of Israeli or US attacks hitting Iran’s nuclear facilities, despite an Iranian claim of targeting one the previous day. Rafael Grossi, the agency’s chief, confirmed that any existing nuclear installations appear to have been largely spared during this campaign.

Trump in 1st Live Address: U.S. Ready for Long War Against ‘Sick, Evil’ Iranian Regime; Conflict Widens

A newly released poll indicates strong backing from the American public for the SAVE America Act, a measure designed to bolster election security protocols nationwide.



According to the survey data, 71% of Americans overall are in favor of the legislation. The poll numbers also show significant cross-aisle appeal, finding that 69% of independent voters and fully half (50%) of Democrats support the bill.



The SAVE America Act, which recently passed the House of Representatives, would mandate that individuals provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. It would also require voters to present valid photo identification at the polls. Proponents of the bill maintain that these steps are vital to ensure only eligible citizens cast ballots.



Commenting on the widespread approval reflected in the poll, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that the numbers confirm the public&#8217;s priorities regarding the electoral process. “Strong public support shows one thing clearly: Americans want confidence in their elections,” Hegseth said.



He dismissed the notion that securing the voting process inherently suppresses lawful turnout. “Safeguarding the ballot and protecting access aren’t opposing goals — they’re complementary responsibilities,” Hegseth explained.



“Election integrity works best when security measures are clear, fair, and applied consistently to protect every eligible voter,” he concluded. The legislation currently awaits further action in the Senate.

Poll Shows Strong Support For SAVE America Act

Melbourne, Australia &#8211; UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis arrived in Australia for a series of planned engagements and made a visit to the Adas Yisroel Shul on his first day in Melbourne.



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 This is the Chief Rabbi&#8217;s second visit to Australia in recent months. The current trip was scheduled about a year ago. While the primary purpose of his trip was other previous commitments, he specifically requested to stop by the shul to meet with the Rov (Gaaved) of Adas Yisroel, Rav Shloime Kohn, a source involved in the Jewish community affairs in Melbourne tells Belaaz. 



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 The Chief Rabbi inspected the part of the shul that was firebombed in December 2024, which authorities linked to Iran. His visit comes amid rising threats to Jewish sites worldwide. Rabbi Mirvis described being at the site as a &#8216;sobering reminder&#8217; of the global dangers Jews face from Iran and its proxies.&#8221; 



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 The Chief of Police of Melbourne also attended the meeting in hornor of the Chief Rabbi. In a statement posted on X today, Rabbi Mirvis shared: &#8220;When I planned this trip nearly a year ago, I didn’t know that this would be my second visit to Australia within a matter of months. On my first day here in Melbourne I visited the Adass Israel Synagogue, which was firebombed in December 2024, an attack which Australian authorities say was linked to Iran. Being here is a sobering reminder of the threat that Jews around the world face from Iran and its proxies.&#8221;



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UK Chief Rabbi at Adass Yisroel Melbourne: Inspects Firebombed Site, Calls It Sobering Warning Against Iran and Proxies

Iranian media outlets reported Sunday afternoon that former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was killed along with his bodyguard in an Israeli airstrike carried out while he was under house arrest.



Ahmadinejad, who governed as Iran’s sixth president from 2005 to 2013, was widely viewed as one of the regime’s most hardline and openly antisemitic figures. He repeatedly voiced his desire to see Israel destroyed, and he was also an explicit Holocaust denier who hosted an international conference for like-minded Jew haters.



His disputed 2009 reelection ignited the largest demonstrations Iran had seen since the revolution. The government he led responded with a violent crackdown that left dozens dead and hundreds imprisoned.

Former Iranian Leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Reportedly Killed in Airstrike

The IDF carried out airstrikes on Iran’s national oil infrastructure on Saturday night, marking the first time such targets have been hit since the war began.



According to military sources who spoke with Arutz 7, the operation focused on 30 separate oil storage tanks across the country.



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A source within Iran’s Oil Ministry reported that several locations were struck. “Israeli fighter jets attacked three oil depots this evening &#8211; in Kohak, Shahran, and Karaj.”



The IDF later confirmed the operation, stating: “The Israeli Air Force, with the guidance of IDF intelligence, struck a number of fuel storage facilities in Tehran a short while ago.”



“The military forces of the Iranian terrorist regime make direct and frequent use of these fuel tanks to operate military infrastructure. Through them, the Iranian terrorist regime distributes fuel to various consumers, including military entities in Iran.



“This is a significant strike that constitutes an additional step in deepening the damage to the military infrastructure of the Iranian terrorist regime. The IDF will continue to operate with determination in order to significantly degrade the regime’s capabilities and remove threats to the State of Israel.”



Opposition leader MK Yair Lapid praised the attack, offering rare public support for the government’s wartime actions. Writing on X, he said that “Israel must destroy all of Iran’s oil fields and the Iranian energy industry on Kharg Island.”



“This is what will crush Iran’s economy and bring down the regime,” he added. “This war must end with the fall of the regime in Iran, the destruction of the nuclear facilities, the destruction of the entire ballistic missile industry, and the destruction of Hezbollah in Lebanon.”

VIDEO: Israel Strikes Iranian Oil Infrastructure

Dan Sohail, the man authorities allege repeatedly rammed his vehicle into the Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters on January 28, is now facing federal prosecution.



Footage from the scene shows Sohail exiting his vehicle and shouting at bystanders, &#8220;I dunno, it slipped!&#8221; as a crowd gathered. He also appeared to spit in their direction while officers from the New York City Police Department escorted him to a patrol car.



The incident occurred as thousands of Lubavitchers from across the globe were assembled at the headquarters to mark the 75th yahrtzeit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the Rayatz zt&#8221;l, and the subsequent appointment of Harav Menachem Mendel Schneerson zt&#8221;l as his replacement.



Before the federal case, Sohail had already been charged at the state level with hate crimes. He remains jailed after being unable to meet bail requirements.



Details about the specific federal counts have not yet been disclosed. Although a federal magistrate judge has directed that the criminal complaint be made public, the filing has not appeared on the docket.



Authorities have expressed ongoing concern about isolated individuals carrying out attacks in the wake of U.S. military action overseas, including strikes targeting Iran.



&#8220;There could be retaliation from these efforts and not just on the fields in Iran and the Middle East,&#8221; New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Monday. &#8220;We have a very vulnerable target in New York City. We&#8217;ve known that for a long time. But also, there could be lone actors, the details are coming out about the mass shooting in Austin, Texas for example.&#8221;



Hochul emphasized that the state is committed to protecting both Jewish and Iranian communities.



&#8220;We will not tolerate any hate or retaliation against anyone who calls New York home because of what&#8217;s happening,&#8221; the governor said. &#8220;Americans are tired of wars and they do not see how this keeps them safer.”

Federal Charges Filed in 770 Car Ramming

Two IDF soldiers were killed early Sunday when Hezbollah launched an attack in southern Lebanon, as rockets and drones were fired toward large parts of northern Israel throughout the day.



At the same time, the IDF continued extensive strikes across Lebanon. The military said that roughly 200 members of Hezbollah and other terror groups have been killed since the escalation in fighting began last week.



One of the soldiers killed was identified Sunday afternoon as Sgt. First Class Maher Khatar, 38, a heavy machinery operator serving in the combat engineering unit of the 91st “Galilee” Regional Division. He was from Majdal Shams.



The military said the identity of the second fallen soldier would be released later.



The deadly incident occurred near an IDF position in southern Lebanon opposite the Israeli border community of Manara.



According to a preliminary IDF investigation, the situation began when a Puma armored personnel carrier became stuck during operational activity in the area. Another Puma APC and two D9 armored bulldozers were dispatched to help extract the vehicle.



During the rescue effort, one of the D9 bulldozers was hit by a projectile, believed to have been either an anti-tank missile or a mortar round. The impact sparked a fire that killed the two soldiers. An officer was also lightly wounded in the attack.



Overnight and throughout Sunday, rocket and drone sirens repeatedly sounded across northern Israel, forcing residents in Haifa, Karmiel, Safed, Rosh Hanikra and other communities to rush to protected areas.



The IDF said most of Hezbollah’s attacks were launched from deeper inside southern Lebanon rather than from areas immediately near the border.



By mid-morning Sunday, at least three drones launched from Lebanon were intercepted by Israeli defenses in northern Israel. One of the drones triggered a lengthy pursuit that set off warning sirens across a wide region.



During attempts to shoot down the drone, several homes in northern Israel were damaged by helicopter fire. The military said the helicopter used 30mm cannons and ultimately destroyed the drone near the Lebanon border.



“As part of the interception attempts, a small number of homes in Israeli territory were hit by artillery shells that were fired,” the military said, adding that no injuries were reported and that the incident is being investigated.



The IDF also said Sunday that it had carried out more than 600 strikes in Lebanon, dropping over 820 bombs since Hezbollah began attacking Israel on Monday following the killing of Iran’s supreme leader.



Among the roughly 200 terrorists killed in the past week were about 80 members of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force and 70 Hezbollah artillery operatives, along with several senior commanders, including the head of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Lebanon. Lebanon’s health ministry reported that Israeli strikes over the past week killed 394 people, including 83 children.



Lebanon’s government — which says it has been working to disarm Hezbollah — has sharply criticized the terror group’s renewed attacks on Israel, accusing it of dragging the country into a broader regional war on Iran’s behalf.



During the night between Saturday and Sunday, Israel also struck an upscale hotel in Beirut, killing at least four people. The IDF said the strike targeted senior commanders from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.



Amid the escalating cross-border fighting, more than 100 Iranian nationals — including diplomats — were evacuated from Beirut overnight, according to a Lebanese official who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity.



“A total of 117 Iranians, including diplomats and embassy staff, were evacuated on a Russian plane that left Beirut overnight from Saturday to Sunday,” the official said.



The evacuation followed a decision by Lebanon’s government on Thursday to ban all activity by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, one of Hezbollah’s main backers. Authorities also introduced visa requirements for Iranian citizens entering Lebanon as part of measures aimed at pressuring Hezbollah.



The official said Lebanese authorities were notified in advance by the Iranian embassy about the evacuation, which departed from Beirut’s international airport. The aircraft reportedly headed toward Turkey, though the Iranians’ final destination was not specified.



The plane also carried the body of an Iranian diplomat killed during the war, along with the bodies of his wife and three children, the official said.



On Sunday, the IDF repeated its warning to civilians throughout southern Lebanon to leave the area because of the ongoing fighting against Hezbollah terrorists.



“Hezbollah’s terror activities are forcing the IDF to act against it with force in the area,” said army spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee.



“Airstrikes are ongoing as the IDF operates with great force in the area. Therefore, for your safety, we once again urge you to evacuate your homes immediately and head north of the Litani River,” he said.



The IDF first issued the evacuation warning Wednesday. The military estimates that more than 420,000 Lebanese civilians have left their homes since Hezbollah resumed rocket fire on Israel last week, prompting expanded Israeli operations against the terror group.



Israel had already been carrying out regular strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon following a 2024 agreement, accusing the terror group of violating the ceasefire. Israeli forces also maintained control of five border outposts inside Lebanon for security reasons, and have since expanded operations beyond those positions as the current fighting intensified.



The November 2024 ceasefire had ended a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. That conflict began when the terror group started firing missiles and drones into northern Israel one day after Hamas terrorists launched their devastating attack on southern Israel that ignited the war in Gaza.

Two IDF Soldiers Hy’d Killed in Lebanon; Name of One Released

In an exclusive NBC News interview from Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Iran is ready and unafraid of a potential U.S. ground invasion amid the escalating war with the U.S. and Israel. When asked if he feared American troops entering Iran, Araghchi responded defiantly: &#8220;No, we are waiting for them.&#8221; Pressed on ground forces, he replied, &#8220;Yes. That would be a big disaster for them,&#8221; claiming that Iran could confront and defeat any such operation. Araghchi also rejected negotiations with the U.S. and stated Iran has not requested a ceasefire, denying President Trump&#8217;s claim.

Iran FM Says ‘We Are Waiting’ for US Ground Invasion – “That would be a big disaster for them.”

A volatile scene unfolded outside Gracie Mansion on Saturday afternoon as an anti-Islam demonstration and a left-wing counter-protest clashed, resulting in six arrests and the deployment of suspected improvised explosive devices by the counter-protesters.



The initial protest, billed as &#8220;Stop the Islamic takeover of New York City,&#8221; was organized by Jake Lang, a far-right influencer and pardoned January 6 rioter. Deliberately timed during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, the provocative gathering drew roughly 20 participants. In a move designed to offend religious sensibilities, the demonstrators  roasted a pig &#8211; an animal anathema to the Muslim faith &#8211; outside the mayoral residence.



In response, a larger counter-protest numbering roughly 125 people gathered under the banner &#8220;Run the Nazis out of New York City, Stand Against Hate.&#8221;



Tensions between the two factions quickly boiled over. Shortly after noon, an individual from the initial right-wing protest was arrested for deploying pepper spray against the opposing crowd.



However, the violence escalated significantly roughly twenty minutes later when a counter-protester, identified by police as 18-year-old Emir Balat, lit and hurled an incendiary device near the protest area.



According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, witnesses reported seeing smoke and flames trailing the object as it flew through the air, ultimately striking a barrier and extinguishing itself before it could fully detonate.



Balat and another counter-protester, 19-year-old Ibrahim Nikk, were subsequently arrested. The NYPD Bomb Squad recovered two devices at the scene, which were described as jars wrapped in black tape and packed with nuts, bolts, screws, and a hobby fuse. Authorities are currently conducting tests to determine whether the items were fully functioning explosives or hoaxes.



Notably, despite the highly inflammatory nature of the right-wing demonstration, the anti-Islam protesters did not deploy or utilize explosive devices, nor did they threaten Mamdani or his wife .The physical escalation involving the suspected nail bombs came entirely from the left-wing counter-protesters.



Following the incident, Mayor Zohran Mamdani&#8217;s press secretary, Joe Calvello, issued a statement forcefully condemning the right-wing gathering. Calvello called the demonstration &#8220;despicable and Islamophobic,&#8221; adding that &#8220;the events are a stark reminder of the threats they both face regularly.&#8221; He did not condemn the violent counter-protestors.



Yet, to many observers, the administration&#8217;s statement framing the mayor and his wife as the primary targets of the day&#8217;s violence rang false. While the anti-Islam protest was offensive, the only potentially lethal threats deployed at the scene were thrown by the left-wing counter-protesters who had ostensibly gathered to oppose the hate speech.



Three additional individuals were arrested at the scene for disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic. No injuries were reported in the clash.

Possibly Explosive Devices Thrown by Counter-Protesters at Anti-Islamic Gracie Mansion Clash; 6 Arrested

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Friday morning that gasoline prices are expected to drop within a matter of weeks after climbing sharply following the outbreak of war in the Middle East.



“Look, Iran has been an escalator of energy prices [for] 47 years, the whole history of their regime,” Wright told “Fox &amp; Friends.”



“We’ve got a little bit of an interruption right now, to finally put an end to their ability to wreak havoc, to kill Americans, and to terrorize their neighbors.”



Data from AAA shows the national average cost of a gallon of regular gasoline has climbed to $3.32, compared with $2.98 just a week earlier, before the launch of Operation Epic Fury.



The increase pushed gasoline prices above the $3-per-gallon mark for the first time since November, a development that could create political challenges for President Trump and congressional Republicans as they promote their economic affordability agenda ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.



Drivers in the tri-state region have seen slightly smaller increases. The average price for regular gasoline stands at $3.23 in New York, $3.20 in New Jersey, and $3.18 in Connecticut — increases of 22 cents, 29 cents, and 26 cents respectively since Feb. 27.



A Reuters/Ipsos survey released Sunday found that 45% of voters said they would be more likely to oppose Operation Epic Fury if the military campaign resulted in higher energy and gasoline prices in the United States.



Speaking in a phone interview with CNN, President Trump also expressed confidence that the rise in prices would not last long, saying the spike would be “short-term” and “go way down, very quickly.”



Earlier in the week, Trump said US Navy ships could begin escorting oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if needed in order to keep global oil supplies flowing.



On Friday, Wright said such naval escorts could begin “as soon as it’s reasonable to do it.”



Iran previously announced it was closing the key shipping route in the Persian Gulf and warned it would attack vessels attempting to enter the passage, which handles roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply.



According to the US Energy Information Administration, more than 20 million barrels of oil moved through the strait each day in 2023, the most recent year with available data.



In his CNN interview, Trump said he had already addressed the issue of securing oil shipments through the waterway.



“We’ve knocked their navy because, you know, when you knock out the navy, they can’t do what they wanted to be able to do,” he said. “The navy is almost, we just hit about the 25 mark. Can you imagine that? Big ones — 25 ships are down.”



Iran has continued retaliatory attacks against oil-producing Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.



While Trump has suggested the conflict could end within four weeks or less, other administration officials have declined to estimate how long the war might continue.



Inflation slowed to 2.4% in January, according to the latest Consumer Price Index data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, though many everyday goods remain expensive for consumers.



Energy prices previously spiked following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, when crude oil climbed to nearly $119 per barrel.

Energy Secretary Says Gas Prices Should Fall Within Weeks Despite War-Driven Surge

A man reportedly poured flammable liquid on himself and ignited himself aboard a public bus in Kerzers, Switzerland, Tuesday evening, triggering a rapid fire that killed at least 6 passengers and injured several others, according to local police. 



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 Emergency crews responded swiftly, but the bus was engulfed in flames within minutes complicating the rescue mission. Authorities are currently investigating the incident and motive.







 



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Tragedy in Kerzers: 6 Dead After Man Sets Himself Ablaze on Swiss Bus

The gunman behind Sunday’s mass shooting at a bar near the University of Texas-Austin campus was identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, a former New York City resident, law-enforcement sources told The NY Post. He was wearing a “Property of Allah” hoodie and may have been motivated by the US strike on Iran.



Sources said Diagne, a US citizen originally from Senegal, had a Quran in his vehicle and may also have worn an undershirt featuring the Iranian flag or other Iranian symbols when he opened fire on the crowded bar. He was naturalized in 2013 and had applied for asylum in 2016.



Authorities described him as a known emotionally disturbed individual with a history of arrests in both New York City and Texas. Diagne reportedly lived in New York from 2000 and accumulated several arrests between 2001 and 2016, including one for illegal vending; three other city arrests remain sealed.



“Obviously it’s still way too early in the process to determine the exact motivation but there were indicators on the subject and in his vehicle that indicate potential nexus to terrorism,” Alex Doran, acting Special Agent in charge of the FBI’s San Antonio office told the Post. The FBI and local police are investigating the shooting as a possible ideologically motivated act of terrorism.



The attack occurred around 2 a.m., as the bar was closing and hundreds of patrons were leaving. Diagne’s large SUV was seen circling the block multiple times before he stopped in front of the bar and began firing from his front window, striking people on the front patio, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said. He then exited the vehicle and shot at pedestrians on the street.



Police confronted the shooter within less than a minute at an intersection on 6th Street, fatally shooting him. Two victims and Diagne died at the scene, while 14 others were transported to nearby hospitals, three in critical condition.



“Our hearts go out to the people that are victims of this and I want to reiterate my thanks to our public safety officers and officials that so rapidly were on the scene, they definitely saved lives,” Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said.



Texas Governor Greg Abbott added, “This act of violence will not define us, nor will it shake the resolve of Texans. To anyone who thinks about using the current conflict in the Middle East to threaten Texans or our critical infrastructure, understand this clearly: Texas will respond with decisive and overwhelming force to protect our state.”

Deranged Man Kills 2, Wounds 14 In Austin Mass Shooting; FBI Investigates Possible  Islamic Terror Link

US President Donald Trump addressed the nation Thursday evening to announce the launch of Operation Epic Fury, describing it as “one of the largest, most complex, most overwhelming military offensives the world has ever seen.” He said the United States and its partners had struck hundreds of targets in Iran, including Revolutionary Guard facilities, air defense systems, and nine ships along with a naval building, all within minutes.



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Trump called Iran’s former supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei “wretched and vile” and blamed him for the deaths of thousands of Americans and countless innocents worldwide. He said celebrations erupted across Iran after the announcement of Khamenei’s death and that the country’s entire military command had been effectively neutralized, with many seeking to surrender.



The president reported that three U.S. service members have been killed in action, expressing grief for their sacrifice while emphasizing that operations would continue until all objectives were achieved. “America will avenge their deaths and deliver the most punishing blow to the terrorists who have waged war against civilization,” Trump said.



Trump underscored the strength of the U.S. military and its purpose, highlighting that an Iranian regime with nuclear weapons and long-range missiles would pose a dire threat to the United States. “We cannot allow a nation that raises terrorist armies to possess such weapons,” he said.



The President also issued a direct appeal to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and military police, urging them to lay down their arms in exchange for immunity or face “certain death.” He called on Iranian patriots to seize the moment to reclaim their country, promising U.S. support.



“These actions are necessary to ensure that Americans will never have to face a radical, bloodthirsty terrorist regime armed with nuclear weapons,” Trump said. He framed the operation as a defense of not only the present generation but future generations, invoking the duty of free peoples to protect their children.



Trump concluded by praising U.S. troops and reaffirming the nation’s resolve: “God bless you, our incredible warriors, and God bless the United States of America.”

Trump in Address Praises Military Accomplishments, Calls on Iran to Surrender and Promises Immunity

President Trump has confirmed Tuesday afternoon that the US military has destroyed 10 inactive mine-laying vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, with more targets to follow. 



This comes after Iran&#8217;s threats to disrupt oil shipments through the vital waterway. Trump warned Iran that if they place mines in the Strait, they&#8217;ll face &#8220;military consequences at a level never seen before&#8221;. CENTCOM posted on X earlier: &#8220;U.S. forces eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels, March 10, including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz.&#8221;



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Iran&#8217;s Revolutionary Guards have warned that any ship passing through the strait will be fired on, while Trump&#8217;s administration has vowed to protect shipping in the region.



The Strait of Hormuz is a critical passage for global oil trade, with about 20% of the world&#8217;s oil supply flowing through it. The US has been conducting strikes against Iranian mine-laying vessels to keep the waterway open.

President Trump Warns Iran Over Strait of Hormuz Mines: ‘Face Military Consequences’

WASHINGTON &#8211; President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he is removing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from her post, marking her the first Cabinet-level ouster of his second term. 



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In a Truth Social post earlier, President Trump praised Noem&#8217;s service particularly on border security and confirmed she will transition to a new role as Special Envoy for &#8220;The Shield of the Americas,&#8221; a forthcoming Western Hemisphere security initiative which is set to launch soon.



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 President Trump also announced that Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), a staunch Trump ally described as a &#8220;MAGA warrior,&#8221; will assume the DHS Secretary position effective March 31. Mullin requires Senate confirmation but could serve in an acting capacity pending approval.



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 The move to oust Noem comes following intense congressional scrutiny, including sharp GOP criticism during Senate hearings over her handling of a controversial $220 million taxpayer-funded ad campaign that prominently featured her and which she claimed Trump had approved, which the White House denied that the President signed off on it.

BREAKING: Trump Fires DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, Taps Sen. Markwayne Mullin as Replacement

New York City saw pothole complaints surge this year after major winter storms, with more than 11,300 reports filed so far, a 33% increase from the same period in 2025.



Nearly half of the complaints came from Queens alone, where more than 5,000 calls were made about damaged roads.



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Officials say freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall worsened road damage and that potholes are typically filled within two days, though more than a quarter of reported potholes remain unresolved across the city.



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NYC Sees 33% Surge in Complaints After Winter Storms

Some advisers to President Trump are privately urging him to begin planning an exit from the Iran war, warning that rising oil prices, falling public support, and political backlash could hurt Republicans if the conflict drags on, according to The Wall Street Journal.



Additionally, the Pentagon spent about $5.6 billion on munitions in the first two days of U.S. strikes on Iran, raising concerns in Congress that the military is rapidly using up limited stocks of advanced weapons, The Washington Post reported.



The report also said the administration is expected to request tens of billions of dollars in additional defense funding from Congress to sustain the military campaign.



Podcaster Joe Rogan is the latest to join the chorus of critics urging President Trump to reconsider his stance on the Iran conflict.



Rogan said earlier Tuesday that Trump supporters “feel betrayed” by the “insane” conflict with Iran.



Rogan said during the latest podcast episode: “Well, it just seems so insane, based on what he ran on. I mean, this is why a lot of people feel betrayed, right?.. He ran on, ‘No more wars,’ ‘End these stupid, senseless wars,’ and then we have one that we can’t even really clearly define why we did it.”



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This pressure is in addition to other pressure Trump is getting from Republican Senators and congressmen.

REPORT: Trump Advisers Urge Iran War Exit as Costs Mount and Support Wines

During a series of airstrikes carried out in Beirut’s southern suburbs on Friday afternoon, the IDF says it targeted a command headquarters belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps along with several Hezbollah sites.



The military states that the facility functioned as a headquarters for the IRGC’s air force operations.



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The IDF also says the strikes hit three additional Hezbollah headquarters connected to the terrorist organization’s naval force, its executive council, and its financial division.



IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said Israel intends to continue targeting Hezbollah and will not abandon efforts to disarm the terrorist group.



&#8220;We are crushing the Iranian terror regime and will seize every opportunity to deepen our achievements. Hezbollah chose to join the campaign alongside Iran and is paying the price. We will seize every opportunity to strike Hezbollah, deepen the achievement, and remove the threat. We will not give up on disarming Hezbollah,&#8221; Zamir says to mayors and leaders of local councils on the northern border.



Addressing the officials, Zamir emphasized that the current moment presents a major strategic opening and warned that Israel is preparing for an extended campaign aimed at improving the security situation.



&#8220;This is a great opportunity. Significant work is being done here, and we are preparing for a prolonged campaign. We will do everything to seize the opportunity and bring about a change in the security situation,&#8221; he tells the local officials.

VIDEO: IDF Strikes IRGC Headquarters And Multiple Hezbollah Command Centers In Beirut Air Raids

Massive TSA delays are hitting major U.S. airports during the ongoing DHS funding lapse, with some travelers reporting security wait times of up to 3.5 hours due to staffing shortages.



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Airlines and airports are now advising travelers to arrive up to 4 hours before flights as the shutdown continues, while TSA officers remain on duty but are receiving partial paychecks.



TSA’s website and mobile app stopped updating wait times after staff managing the systems were furloughed, leaving passengers without real-time information on airport security lines. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier on Tuesday during a press briefing: &#8220;To the 100,000 DHS employees out there who are struggling without a paycheck, to any American out there who is showing up to an airport and facing incredibly long wait times, call your Democrat member of Congress and tell them to fund the DHS&#8221;.



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TSA Delays Grip Airports: 3.5-Hour Waits as DHS Funding Runs Low

WASHINGTON &#8211; NBC reported Friday that President Trump has privately expressed “serious interest” in deploying a small contingent of U.S. ground troops inside Iran for specific strategic missions, though officials said he has not made any decision or issued orders.



Sources said Trump discussed a postwar vision in which Iran’s uranium stockpile is secured and the U.S. works with a new Iranian government on oil production, similar to Washington’s current cooperation with Venezuela after the January capture of Nicolás Maduro.



White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back on the report, saying the story relies on anonymous sources “not part of the President’s national security team,” while emphasizing that Trump “always keeps all options open.”

REPORT: Trump Weighs Ground Troops in Iran Amid Escalating Conflict

The IDF carried out a rare ground operation overnight Friday in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley searching for clues about the 1986 disappearance of Israeli Air Force navigator Ron Arad.



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Israeli troops reportedly searched a cemetery suspected of being linked to Arad’s fate, exchanging fire with Hezbollah terrorists during the operation.



Lebanon’s health ministry claimed at least 16 people were killed and 35 wounded during the clashes tied to the search.



Arad was captured by the Amal militia after ejecting from his aircraft over Lebanon in 1986, and Israel has not known his fate since losing track of him in 1988.

IDF Overnight Commando Raid in Beqaa for Missing Airman Ron Arad, 16 Hezbollah Terrorists Killed

Netanyahu and Finance Minister Smotrich in a Video Statement, Pushing for a Special Wartime Defense Budget:



Netanyahu: &#8220;We are in a campaign against a cruel enemy that wants to destroy us. It costs money, a lot of money. Therefore we are required to provide a special budget during the war, with tens of billions of shekels to support the defense budget and the war effort.&#8221;



<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">דברי ראש הממשלה בנימין נתניהו בהצהרה משותפת עם שר האוצר בצלאל סמוטריץ&#39; בנושא תקציב המדינה ותקציב הביטחון: &quot;אנחנו במערכה עם אויב אכזר שרוצה להשמיד אותנו. אנחנו כתשנו את היכולות הגרעיניות והבליסטיות שלו במבצע &#39;עם כלביא&#39;. לדברים המלאים &gt;&gt;<a href="https://t.co/xFEOYpCqqR">https://t.co/xFEOYpCqqR</a> <a href="https://t.co/FeJUuFTGCK">pic.twitter.com/FeJUuFTGCK</a>&mdash; ראש ממשלת ישראל (@IsraeliPM_heb) <a href="https://twitter.com/IsraeliPM_heb/status/2031443594830131571?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Netanyahu Pushes for Wartime Budget Amid Conflict: ‘It Costs Money, A Lot of Money’

The U.S. military intercepted and shot down an Iranian drone on Tuesday. The drone reportedly flew toward the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier positioned in the Arabian Sea.



A U.S. official tells Reuters that the drone was an Iranian Shahed-139 and was downed by an American F-35 fighter jet as it approached the carrier.



The incident comes 50+ hours before the US and Iran are set to meet for nuclear negotiations in Turkey. Earlier in the day, six Iranian gunboats armed with .50-caliber machine guns tried to seize the US-flagged tanker Stena Imperative near the Strait of Hormuz. The tanker sped up and avoided engagement, later meeting a U.S. naval vessel that escorted it safely to port.



Iran is also threatening to leave the Friday talks in Turkey.

US F35 iran drone

MORE FROM BELAAZ

U.S. Downs Iranian Drone in Arabian Sea as Nuclear Talks Loom

An Iranian ballistic missile caused a direct hit on a residential building and shelter in Beit Shemesh, with Israel&#8217;s Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency service confirming nine fatalities. This is the deadliest single incident in Israel since the current wave of attacks began.



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 Several others were lightly and seriously injured, including children. Rescue operations, including search teams and helicopters, continue at the scene amid partial building collapse and concerns over additional trapped individuals.



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 The Home Front Command says it will investigate the circumstances of the impact, including the integrity of the shelter.

TRAGIC: 9 Killed in Iranian Missile Strike on Beit Shemesh

5AM: The IDF announced the elimination of Abdolrahim Mousavi, the Iranian Chief of Staff of the armed forces. Additionally, the IDF reports the elimination of 7 members of the top Iranian security leadership in Tehran and 40 senior commanders.



12:20PM: President Trump: &#8220;Iran just stated that they are going to hit very hard today, harder than they have ever hit before. THEY BETTER NOT DO THAT, HOWEVER, BECAUSE IF THEY DO, WE WILL HIT THEM WITH A FORCE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE!&#8221;



11:10PM: Iran says a temporary three‑member leadership council, made up of the president, the head of the judiciary and a Guardian Council jurist, will assume the duties of the supreme leader following Khamenei’s death until a new leader is chosen, the Jerusalem Post reported.



10:50PM:



Israel&#8217;s Channel 12: Ahmad Vahidi Named New Commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.



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10:20PM:



The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. Central Command and other military units continued to use Anthropic’s language model, Claude AI, in the planning and execution of strikes against Iran and in defending allied forces in the Middle East, even though President Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth on Friday had announced a “blacklist” barring the military from using Anthropic products.



10:08PM:



Iran’s Nour News agency has confirmed the deaths of Ali Shamkhani and IRGC commander Mohammad Pakpour.



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10:00PM:



Australian PM Anthony Albanese: &#8220;Australia stands with the brave people of Iran in their struggle against what is an oppressive regime. Ayatollah Khamenei was responsible for the regime&#8217;s ballistic missile and nuclear program, support for armed proxies and its brutal acts of violence and intimidation against its own people. This claimed countless lives in Iran but also internationally. 



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&#8220;He was responsible for orchestrating attacks on Australian soil. His passing will not be mourned. While we aren&#8217;t directly active in the current military strikes, we have been clear and acted on our utter rejection of the brutal Iranian regime. Last year, we expelled Iran&#8217;s ambassador. That is the first time an ambassador has been expelled from Australia since the Second World War, and that underlines how seriously we took the gravity of Iran orchestrating an attack on our soil, we suspended operations at our embassy in Tehran, and we listed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a state sponsor of terrorism.&#8221;



&#8212;



US&nbsp;President Donald Trump declared Saturday that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had been killed in a massive, coordinated American and Israeli strike campaign against the Islamic Republic, as the two allies launched what Washington has named “Operation Epic Fury” — a sweeping military offensive involving nearly 900 strikes in its first 12 hours alone. Israel has called its campaign “Roaring Lion,” after last year’s Operation Rising Lion, which targeted Iranian nuclear facilities.



&#8220;Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead,&#8221; Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform late Saturday. Iran had not confirmed the death as of press time, and a post appeared on Khamenei’s official X account purporting to show he was still alive. Nevertheless, Israeli officials backed the American president’s claim, stating that the 85-year-old supreme leader was killed along with several of his most senior lieutenants.



Iran’s state media reported that Khamenei’s daughter and grandchild were killed in the strikes. The National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani, whom Iranian and U.S. sources said had been meeting with Khamenei at a secure location just before the strikes commenced, survived and posted a defiant statement on X, vowing that “the brave soldiers and the great nation of Iran will deliver an unforgettable lesson” to the attackers.



Later Saturday night, Iranian state television acknowledged Khameni&#8217;s death and declared a 40-day mourning period.



The Strike: Timed to Kill the Leadership



According to two U.S. sources and a U.S. official familiar with the matter, Israel and the United States timed their attack to coincide with a leadership meeting Khamenei was conducting with top aides. Israeli officials stated that among those killed alongside Khamenei were Ali Shamkhani, the powerful former National Security Council secretary, and Mohammad Pakpour, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).



Trump acknowledged Israel’s key operational role while asserting that the United States played a central part in the targeting. “Khamenei was unable to avoid our intelligence and highly sophisticated tracking systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders who have been killed along with him, could do,” Trump wrote.



A senior U.S. official told reporters that President Trump authorized the operation after receiving intelligence indicating Iran was preparing to deploy its ballistic missiles either preemptively or simultaneously with any American military action. “The president decided he was not going to sit back and allow American forces in the region to absorb attacks from conventional missiles,” the official said. “We had analysis that basically told us that if we sat back and waited to get hit first, the amount of casualties and damage would be substantially higher than if we acted in a preemptive, defensive way.”



According to the Washington Post, President Donald Trump moved forward with strikes on Iran after sustained pressure from Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The report indicates that the Prince repeatedly urged Trump in private phone calls over the past month to launch a U.S. attack, even as he publicly backed a diplomatic path.



900 Strikes in 12 Hours; Iran Fires 300 Missiles



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Fox News, citing an unnamed U.S. official, reported that the American military carried out nearly 900 strikes during the first 12 hours of Operation Epic Fury. The strikes were launched from land, air, and sea, and included drone attacks, while simultaneously defending against hundreds of incoming Iranian ballistic missiles. Iran fired approximately 300 missiles in those first 12 hours, beginning at around 9:30 a.m. local time in Tehran.



The official noted that Iran possesses approximately 2,000 long-range missiles and an additional 2,000 shorter-range missiles in its arsenal — a stockpile that was reportedly replenished following last summer’s U.S. and Israeli strikes. Despite this, the official claimed that Iranian counterstrikes had targeted “empty warehouses” near the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and had not impacted U.S. military objectives.



The stated goal of Operation Epic Fury, according to the U.S. official, is to strip Iran of its “capability to attack its neighbors: no drones, no missiles, no navy.” The official estimated the operation would last “a couple of weeks,” though President Trump could choose to conclude it sooner. Iranian air defense systems remain partially intact, limiting the freedom of U.S. and Israeli aircraft to operate over Iranian airspace.



Diplomatic Breakdown: Talks Failed, Iran Refused Missile Negotiations



A senior U.S. official sought to establish a diplomatic context for the military action, asserting that Washington had exhausted all avenues for a negotiated settlement. The official recounted that the United States offered Iran “free nuclear fuel forever” in exchange for halting its uranium enrichment program — a proposal Tehran rejected. “They basically said that didn’t work for them,” the official said, accusing Iran of seeking to “buy time” rather than negotiate sincerely.



Particularly troubling to the administration, the official said, was Iran’s categorical refusal in the last three rounds of negotiations to discuss its ballistic missile program. “They won’t talk about it with us. They won’t talk about it with our regional partners. They will not talk about those missiles at all. And for us, that was also an unacceptable situation to be in,” the official said. “So the president, frankly, had no choice.”



The official characterized the nuclear weapons ambition as a longer-term threat and Iran’s existing missile arsenal — capable of striking U.S. bases throughout the region — as a more immediate and “intolerable risk.” Iran, the official said, had been “in the throes of rebuilding everything that had been destroyed” in the U.S.-Israeli strikes of June 2025.



Iranian Retaliation: Tel Aviv Struck, Dubai Airport Hit



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Iran responded to the offensive with a broad retaliatory missile campaign of its own. In Tel Aviv, an Iranian ballistic missile strike left a woman in her 40s critically wounded; she subsequently died from her injuries, first responders confirmed. The Magen David Adom emergency service reported an additional 20 casualties, including a man in his 40s in serious condition, a man in his 30s in moderate condition, a woman in her 90s in moderate condition, and 17 others lightly hurt.



In a separate missile barrage later in the day targeting Israel, no injuries were initially reported, though the Fire and Rescue Service dispatched units to multiple sites in Jerusalem and the West Bank where fires broke out after missile shrapnel landed.



Dubai was also struck in Iran’s retaliatory barrage. Emirati authorities confirmed that Dubai International Airport sustained damage during the attacks. Footage circulating online showed significant damage to one of the terminals. The Government of Dubai Media Office reported that four airport staffers were injured and receiving medical treatment, characterizing the damage as “minor” and contained. Separately, the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, was reportedly set ablaze following an Iranian missile strike.



The UAE’s defense ministry reported that the vast majority of the 137 missiles and 209 drones Iran fired at Emirati territory were destroyed or intercepted. The ministry stated it was “on high alert and readiness” and pledged to “firmly confront everything that targets the disruption of the country’s security and stability.”



At the UN: Israel and U.S. Defend Actions



An emergency session of the United Nations Security Council convened Saturday to address the escalating conflict. Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon defended the operation, telling the assembled council that Iranian chants of “Death to Israel, Death to America” and the burning of both nations’ flags constituted “state-sanctioned hatred” and a precursor to action. “But today, alongside our ally the United States, we acted to stop an existential threat before it became irreversible,” Danon declared. “We acted out of necessity.”



Addressing the Iranian people directly, Ambassador Danon said the operation targeted “a regime that has silenced you,” and that Israel stands with the Iranian public.



U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz articulated Washington’s goals for Operation Epic Fury at the Security Council session: dismantling Iran’s missile capabilities, degrading its naval assets, disrupting the supply chains that arm proxy militias, and ensuring the regime can never obtain a nuclear weapon. Notably, Waltz’s stated objectives did not include regime change — a point of contrast with Trump’s public statements calling on the Iranian people to reclaim their country. “Peace is not preserved by appeasing those who threaten it. Peace is preserved through strength in the face of terror,” Waltz said.



Trump Calls on IRGC to Surrender; Iranian Celebrations Reported



President Trump used his Truth Social announcement to call upon Iranian security forces to stand down, offering immunity to those who capitulate. “This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country,” Trump wrote, adding that he was hearing that many IRGC, military, and police personnel “no longer want to fight, and are looking for immunity from us.” Such reports have not been independently verified.



Remarkably, witnesses inside Iran reported scenes of celebration in several cities. Reuters correspondents and witnesses said that some Iranians took to the streets of Tehran, Karaj, Isfahan, Shiraz, and Abdanan to celebrate following Trump’s announcement of Khamenei’s death, with cars honking horns and crowds carrying images of protesters killed in the crackdown on the January anti-government demonstrations.



Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the last Shah of Iran, who was deposed in the 1979 Islamic Revolution, celebrated the reported death of Khamenei and predicted the Islamic Republic would “very soon be consigned to the dustbin of history.” He added that any attempt to appoint a successor to Khamenei “is doomed to fail from the outset.”



Hegseth: ‘We Will Hunt You Down’; Rubio Trip Canceled



Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a stark warning in the wake of the strikes. “If you kill or threaten Americans anywhere in the world — as Iran has — then we will hunt you down, and we will kill you,” Hegseth wrote on X.



Secretary of State Marco Rubio canceled a planned visit to Israel that had been scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. “Due to current circumstances, Secretary Rubio will no longer travel to Israel on March 2,” Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson announced.



Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attempted to characterize Israel as having dragged the United States into the conflict. A U.S. official flatly rejected that claim. “Israel did not drag the US into Operation Epic Fury. President Trump acted out of the national interest of the United States,” the official said. “Any claim to the contrary by a desperate and floundering Iran is false.”



NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the strikes on Iran Saturday night, calling them a “catastrophic escalation in an illegal war of aggression” and saying, “Americans do not want this… They want peace.” In a post on X, Mamdani wrote, without evidence, that the US was “Bombing cities. Killing civilians. Opening a new theater of war,” adding that Americans do not want “another war in pursuit of regime change.” He also addressed Iranian New Yorkers, calling them part of the “fabric of this city.&#8221;



A large group of Jewish young men are seen celebrating in the streets of London, singing &#8220;mi&#8217;shnichnad Adar&#8221; after news broke of Kahmeni&#8217;s death.



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 A Fox News Mideast correspondent reports: &#8220;The strike had to be moved up based on intelligene; this so-called target of opportunity, there was a deliberate decision to accelerate the timeline and to strike during the daytime, which is extremely unusual.&#8221;



&#8220;Usually, the US would not strike during the daytime, but they wanted to catch the senior leadership off guard. It was a Saturday morning during Ramadan, Ramadan, and it was also Shabbat during the day, and that&#8217;s when Israel took the opportunity and dropped those 30 bombs on the compound, and the US simultaneously launched strikes against all of the military targets.&#8221;



Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke Saturday night on Khamanei’s assassination, saying: &#8220;The world is changing very fast right in front of us. The old world is gone.&#8221;



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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in a video address, called the Iranian regime &#8220;abhorrent&#8221;: &#8220;Iran has since launched indiscriminate strikes across the region. I know the British people and communicators across our country, will be deeply concerned about what this means for security and stability and for the fate of innocent people across the region, which for so many of us, includes friends and family members.



&#8220;So whilst the situation is evolving very quickly, I want to set out our response. The United Kingdom played no role in these strikes, but we have long been clear the regime in Iran is utterly abhorrent. They have murdered thousands of their own people, brutally crushed dissent and sought to destabilize the region. 



&#8220;Even in the United Kingdom, the Iranian regime poses a direct threat to dissidents and to the Jewish community. Over the last year alone, they have backed more than 20 potentially lethal attacks on UK soil. So it is clear they must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon that remains the primary aim of the United Kingdom and our allies, including the US. I condemn Iran&#8217;s attacks today on partners across the region, many of which are not parties to this conflict.



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What Comes Next



President Trump pledged that the military campaign would continue. “The heavy and pinpoint bombing will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!” he wrote.



Significant uncertainties remain. A U.S. official acknowledged that Washington knows where Iran is stockpiling its highly enriched uranium but described it as “difficult to reach.” Iranian air defense systems remain partially operational, constraining allied air operations.



The operation represents the most dramatic escalation in the decades-long conflict between Iran and the West, with consequences that remain deeply uncertain as the region braces for what comes next.

Updates: ‘Epic Fury’ of the ‘Roaring Lion’ – Khameni Killed In Massive US-Israeli Strikes

A Gallup survey released Friday shows a dramatic shift in American public opinion on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, with sympathies no longer leaning more toward Israel for the first time in the poll’s 25-year history.



According to the findings, 41% of Americans now say they sympathize more with the Palestinians, while 36% side more with Israel. Though the five-point difference is within the poll’s margin of error, it represents a sharp reversal from only a year ago, when Israel held a 13-point advantage.



From 2001 through 2025, Israel consistently enjoyed double-digit leads in public sympathy, with especially wide margins throughout the early 2000s and 2010s. The gap began narrowing several years before the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023, and has continued to shrink amid the ongoing war in Gaza and the subsequent U.S.-brokered ceasefire that began in October 2025.



As in past years, a significant portion of Americans express no preference: 4% sympathize with both sides, 9% with neither, and 10% offer no opinion.



Independents Drive the Shift



The most striking movement comes from political independents, who for the first time say they sympathize more with the Palestinians than with Israel, by a margin of 41% to 30%. Last year, independents still leaned toward Israel.



Democratic opinion has remained largely steady after shifting decisively toward the Palestinians in recent years. Sixty-five percent of Democrats now side with the Palestinians, while 17% sympathize more with Israel.



Republicans remain strongly supportive of Israel, with 70% siding with the Jewish state. However, that figure has dropped 10 points since 2024, falling to its lowest level in more than two decades.



Generational Changes



Younger Americans continue to show the greatest sympathy for the Palestinians. A majority &#8211; 53% of adults aged 18 to 34 &#8211; now say their sympathies lie with the Palestinians, compared to just 23% who sympathize more with Israel. This marks the first time the younger demographic has shown majority support for the Palestinians.



Middle-aged Americans, traditionally more balanced in their views, also shifted sharply: 46% sympathize more with Palestinians and 28% with Israelis, a near reversal from last year.



Among adults 55 and older, support still favors Israel, though by the narrowest margin since 2005. Forty-nine percent sympathize more with Israel, and 31% with the Palestinians.



Gallup’s separate ratings of favorability toward Israel and the Palestinian Territories likewise show significant movement.



Israel’s favorability has dropped to 46%, nearing its historical low, while the Palestinian Territories have reached a record 37% favorability.



Among independents, the shift is most pronounced: for the first time, equal shares &#8211; 41% each &#8211; view Israel and the Palestinian Territories favorably. Since early 2023, independent voters’ favorability toward Israel has dropped 26 points, while their favorability toward the Palestinian Territories has risen 12 points.



Democrats now view the Palestinian Territories more favorably than Israel, while Republicans remain strongly pro-Israel, though their support has also weakened compared to previous years.



A consistent majority of Americans—57%—support the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. This ties the highest levels recorded since 2003 and reflects continued broad backing for a two-state solution even as partisan divisions widen.



Support is strongest among Democrats (77%), followed by independents (57%). Republican support stands at 33%, down significantly from pre-2023 levels.



Gallup’s latest results underscore a major realignment in how Americans view the longstanding conflict. While Israel continues to enjoy higher overall favorability, it no longer commands the clear sympathy advantage that defined U.S. public opinion for decades.



The survey also highlights growing generational and partisan divides, suggesting that the political landscape surrounding U.S. policy toward Israel may continue to evolve in the years ahead.

Israel No Longer Leads in Americans’ Mideast Sympathies, New Gallup Poll Finds

The third round of American-Iranian nuclear negotiations ended Thursday in Geneva without a breakthrough, and by Friday morning the world was responding as if war had become a real possibility.



Fourteen governments &#8211; including the United Kingdom, China, India, and most of NATO Europe &#8211; issued evacuation orders or their highest-level travel warnings for Iran, urging citizens to leave the country immediately while commercial flights are still available.



Britain went further: it withdrew its diplomatic staff from the Tehran embassy entirely, which is now operating remotely. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office cited a &#8220;deteriorating security situation.&#8221;



The following countries issued evacuation notices for their citizens:



&#8211; Australia — Leave as soon as possible &#8211; Brazil — Immediate departure advised &#8211; Canada — Leave immediately due to risk of hostilities &#8211; China — Evacuate via commercial means right away &#8211; Finland — Avoid Iran; also recommends leaving Israel and Lebanon &#8211; Germany — No travel; leave promptly &#8211; India — All citizens, including students and pilgrims, exit by any available transport &#8211; Kazakhstan — Urging citizens to leave while transport is available &#8211; Poland — Leave immediately &#8211; Serbia — Depart due to deteriorating security &#8211; Singapore — Avoid travel; leave Iran &#8211; South Korea — Do not travel to Iran &#8211; Sweden — Avoid all travel; leave immediately &#8211; United Kingdom — Heightened risks; embassy staff withdrawn &#8211; United States — Leave now; land routes available if needed



France additionally warned its citizens not to travel to Israel, Jerusalem, or Judea/Samaria; a signal that Paris is thinking about a broader regional eruption, not merely a US-Iran confrontation.



The cascade of warnings came the same day as a confidential report by the United Nations nuclear watchdog, obtained by The Associated Press, which acknowledged that it has no idea what Iran is currently doing with its nuclear program. The International Atomic Energy Agency stated it &#8220;cannot verify whether Iran has suspended all enrichment-related activities,&#8221; and that it &#8220;cannot provide any information on the current size, composition or whereabouts&#8221; of Iran&#8217;s stockpile of highly enriched uranium; material that, as of the last verified count, was sufficient to build up to ten nuclear bombs.



Thursday&#8217;s Geneva session was the third this year, all conducted under Omani mediation. Iran&#8217;s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described it as &#8220;the most detailed and longest&#8221; round yet. The talks were split into morning and afternoon sessions.



Araghchi emerged sounding cautiously encouraged: &#8220;We were able to identify the main elements of a possible agreement and discuss these elements. Of course, there are still differences, but in most cases we have at least reached a general understanding of how to resolve these issues.&#8221; Iran&#8217;s foreign ministry added that the session had featured &#8220;constructive proposals&#8221; on both nuclear matters and sanctions relief — the first public acknowledgment that economic concessions are on the table.



Oman&#8217;s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi said there had been &#8220;significant progress in the negotiation.&#8221; The parties agreed to assign technical teams to continue work in Vienna next week, with lower-level talks expected as early as Monday.



But Bloomberg reported that the American envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, left Geneva &#8220;disappointed.&#8221; The core impasse was unchanged: Washington insists Iran halt uranium enrichment entirely and address its ballistic missile program; Tehran insists it will never surrender the right to enrich on its own soil. Iran&#8217;s Ayatollah Khatami stated it plainly Friday: &#8220;The regime will not accept suspension of enrichment.&#8221;



Trump Reiterates Desire for Deal, Unsatisfied With Iran



President Donald Trump said on Friday that “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.. I am not happy with their behavior, but there will still be more talks…. I want a deal.”



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The IAEA Cannot Account for Iran&#8217;s Bomb Material



The confidential IAEA report, circulated to member states Friday, was alarming in its candor about how little the international community currently knows about Iran&#8217;s nuclear program.



The agency said it has been unable to access the Iranian nuclear facilities struck during the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June 2025. Iran has refused entry, telling the IAEA in a February 2 letter that normal safeguards are now &#8220;legally untenable and materially impracticable&#8221; in the wake of the attacks.



As of the last verified count, Iran held 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% purity — a short technical step below the 90% threshold for weapons-grade material. Under normal IAEA protocols, stockpiles at that enrichment level must be verified every month. They have not been inspected since June 2025.



IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has warned that the stockpile could theoretically yield as many as ten nuclear bombs if Iran chose to weaponize it. He added that this does not mean Iran has built such weapons — but acknowledged that without access, the agency simply cannot say.



With inspectors locked out, the IAEA turned to satellite imagery. Commercially available photos of the Isfahan facility — struck by Israel and the United States in June, located some 350 kilometers southeast of Tehran — showed &#8220;regular vehicular activity&#8221; around the entrance to a tunnel complex used to store enriched material. Activity was also detected at Natanz and Fordow, though the agency stressed it could not determine &#8220;the nature and purpose&#8221; of what it was observing.



The report concluded that the &#8220;loss of continuity of knowledge… needs to be addressed with the utmost urgency.&#8221; Grossi himself attended both the February 17 and February 26 rounds of Geneva talks, advising on verification mechanisms. Under the NPT, Iran is legally obligated to cooperate with the IAEA. It has not done so since the June war.



Inside Washington: A House Divided



While negotiators were in Geneva, a sharper internal debate was playing out in Washington over whether the United States is approaching — or has already passed — the moment for military action.



Trump this week delivered his clearest dual message yet. In his State of the Union address, he said: &#8220;My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy. But one thing is certain, I will never allow the world&#8217;s number one state sponsor of terror to have a nuclear weapon.&#8221; In the same speech, he told Congress — and implicitly Tehran — that Iran is already developing missiles capable of striking Europe and is working toward missiles that could reach the continental United States. &#8220;No nation should doubt our resolve,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We have the strongest military in the world.&#8221;



Witkoff told Fox News this week that Trump is &#8220;curious&#8221; why Iran has not capitulated despite the massive military buildup. &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t use the word frustrated,&#8221; he said, &#8220;because he knows he has many alternatives.&#8221; Kushner reportedly argued internally that &#8220;time works in America&#8217;s favor&#8221; and urged the president to give diplomacy further room — while encouraging a clear exit point if talks stall.



Vice President JD Vance articulated the administration&#8217;s official stance: &#8220;I think we all prefer the diplomatic option. But it really depends on what the Iranians do and what they say.&#8221; He rejected regime-change as an explicit goal — &#8220;If the Iranian people want to overthrow their regime, that is up to them&#8221; — but warned that evidence of Iran rebuilding its nuclear program &#8220;creates problems for us,&#8221; and said the U.S. has seen &#8220;indications of such efforts.&#8221;



Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also serving as national security adviser, this week made the sharpest public case for treating Iran as a military threat. &#8220;Iran&#8217;s refusal to discuss ballistic missiles is a very big problem,&#8221; he said Thursday, noting that 30,000 to 40,000 American troops at eight or nine regional facilities are within range of Iranian weapons. He described Iran&#8217;s weapons investment as staggering given its economic condition: &#8220;For a country that&#8217;s facing sanctions, whose economy is in tatters, whose people are suffering — somehow they still find the money to invest in missiles of greater and greater capacity every year.&#8221; Rubio is scheduled to visit Israel on Monday and Tuesday.



Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth kept his message brief: &#8220;Our job is to present options. Everything is on the table. It&#8217;s the president&#8217;s decision.&#8221;



CIA Director John Ratcliffe — known for hawkish views on Iran — has stayed largely silent publicly while playing an active internal role. His rare joint briefing of congressional leaders alongside Rubio drew notice. The CIA this week also released a video in Persian urging Iranians to contact the agency and providing instructions for secure communication using burner phones and anonymous browsing — a move interpreted as both a deterrent signal and operational outreach ahead of a potential conflict.



The most cautious voice in uniform belongs to General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He has reportedly presented Trump with detailed risk scenarios warning that a strike could trigger a prolonged confrontation, American casualties, and no clear definition of success. The Washington Post reported Caine warned of shortages in critical munitions. CNN reported that in an extended Situation Room meeting, Caine could not predict the outcome of a regime-change operation. Trump pushed back publicly on the munitions report, though he did not deny that caution was expressed.



The IDF Is Watching



The Israeli military has been tracking the situation with evident intensity. IDF Spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin addressed the public directly Friday: &#8220;Also this week, we are aware of the sense of uncertainty and the tension felt by the public in light of regional developments.



&#8220;The IDF is closely monitoring developments in Iran and remains alert and prepared to defend you. We are operating in full coordination with our partners in order to strengthen our defensive posture.&#8221;



The reference to &#8220;full coordination with our partners&#8221; is understood as a reference to the United States.



Meanwhile, all U.S. Air Force aerial refueling tankers have been pulled out of Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Refueling tankers are a critical enabler of long-range strike operations. Their movement is among the most closely watched indicators of imminent military action.



Markets Absorb the Shock



UAE stocks retreated Friday on what traders described as a US-Iran impasse, while global oil prices jumped. The Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly one-fifth of global oil flows — runs along Iran&#8217;s southern coast. Any conflict threatening Gulf shipping would send energy prices sharply higher and reverberate through the global economy.



What Comes Next



Technical teams are expected to meet in Vienna as early as Monday to work through the mechanics of a potential deal. But the gap between the two positions remains wide. Washington wants enrichment stopped, centrifuges dismantled, stockpiles surrendered, and ballistic missiles curtailed. Tehran has agreed only to discuss the nuclear question — and only if enrichment continues on Iranian soil.

World on Edge as Iran Talks Stall

Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi is set to meet with Vice President JD Vance and senior U.S. officials in Washington on Friday for a previously undisclosed round of discussions aimed at preventing a military confrontation with Iran, MS Now reported Thursday night.



The meeting follows a session in Geneva on Thursday between Al Busaidi and special envoy Steve Witkoff, along with Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law. Al Busaidi has recently played a key mediating role in indirect negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, facilitating the exchange of communications between the two governments.



The talks coincide with Trump’s increasingly forceful warnings toward Iran, including threats of military action if diplomacy breaks down. The president’s decision not to seek congressional approval for potential strikes has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats, amid concerns that his administration is steering the country toward open conflict.



Vance pushed back on those concerns Thursday evening in an interview with The Washington Post, insisting that the United States was not headed for a prolonged conflict with Iran. “The idea that we’re going to be in a Middle Eastern war for years with no end in sight; there is no chance that will happen,” he said while speaking aboard Air Force Two, despite growing alarm from Pentagon leaders and lawmakers who warn that extended operations could compromise U.S. military preparedness.



Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Thursday night after the conclusion of talks in Geneva that “further progress” had been achieved in what he described as the most demanding round of negotiations yet. He added that discussions would continue in a “more detailed manner on matters that are essential to any deal &#8211; including sanctions termination and nuclear-related steps.”



Al Busaidi echoed this assessment, noting that the two sides had made “significant progress,” even as the U.S. continues to amass military forces within striking distance of Iran.



In his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Trump reiterated his preference for a diplomatic resolution. “My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy,” he said. “But one thing is certain, I will never allow the world’s No. 1 sponsor of terror, which they are by far, to have a nuclear weapon. Can’t let that happen.”

Omani Foreign Minister to Meet Vance in Bid to Stave Off War With Iran

Former hostage Matan Angrest says he was tortured, including being subjected to electric shocks, during more than two years in Hamas captivity.



In a Thursday interview with Channel 12’s investigative program Uvda, he describes an eight-hour interrogation in which he faced pressure to divulge sensitive information. “For eight hours in a row, I sat and had to tell them things, during which I knew that it wasn’t just about my own well-being but the security of the country at stake. There are things that are in the realm of ‘die and don’t tell,’” he says, noting that his exposure to classified intelligence stemmed from serving in an elite tank unit.



Angrest recalls the moment he regained consciousness after being taken from his tank, which had been hit by an RPG near the Gaza border, and realizing he was inside a house in Gaza.



He says he found himself facing more than half a dozen Palestinians seated in front of him.



They questioned him about his military service and the circumstances of his abduction, speaking in Arabic, which he could not understand. He says their frustration quickly escalated into violence as they beat him while his hands and feet were tied.



Angrest adds that his arm was so badly burned that he couldn’t move it.



“Someone came to me with two cables and put them on my wound and just turned (a machine) on. I could feel myself being electrocuted. I screamed in a pain that is impossible to describe,” he recounts.

Former Hostage Matan Angrest Recounts Being Electrocuted in Hamas Captivity

ChatGPT Health frequently overlooks situations requiring urgent medical attention and often fails to identify suicidal thoughts, according to a new analysis of the AI tool, reported by The Guardian on Thursday. Specialists say the findings suggest the system could “feasibly lead to unnecessary harm and death.”



The Health feature, rolled out to select users in January, is marketed as a way for people to “securely connect medical records and wellness apps” so the chatbot can generate tailored health advice. The platform is already receiving more than 40 million health-related queries daily.



Researchers released the first independent safety assessment of the feature in the February issue of Nature Medicine, concluding that the system underestimated the severity of more than half of the medical cases it reviewed.



Lead researcher Dr Ashwin Ramaswamy said the team sought to answer a basic but critical question: “if someone is having a real medical emergency and asks ChatGPT Health what to do, will it tell them to go to the emergency department?”



Ramaswamy’s group designed 60 detailed patient case studies ranging from minor issues to life-threatening conditions. Three physicians independently reviewed each case and agreed on the appropriate level of care based on clinical standards.



Researchers then presented the same cases to ChatGPT Health, altering details such as gender, lab results, and input from friends or family, generating close to 1,000 AI responses.



The AI’s recommendations were matched against the physicians’ guidance.



Although the system performed strongly in clear-cut emergencies like strokes or severe allergic responses, it faltered in more nuanced situations. In one asthma example, the chatbot recommended waiting instead of urging immediate treatment, despite acknowledging signs pointing to respiratory failure.



Overall, in 51.6% of cases requiring an urgent hospital visit, the system advised patients to stay home or schedule a routine appointment. Researcher Alex Ruani described the findings as “unbelievably dangerous.”



“If you’re experiencing respiratory failure or diabetic ketoacidosis, you have a 50/50 chance of this AI telling you it’s not a big deal,” she said. “What worries me most is the false sense of security these systems create. If someone is told to wait 48 hours during an asthma attack or diabetic crisis, that reassurance could cost them their life.”



Ruani noted one scenario in which the system recommended a delayed appointment for a woman who appeared to be suffocating 84% of the time, a wait she would not have survived. At the same time, 64.8% of healthy individuals were mistakenly told to seek immediate care.



The model also reduced urgency nearly twelvefold when a “friend” in the scenario dismissed the symptoms as unimportant.



“It is why many of us studying these systems are focused on urgently developing clear safety standards and independent auditing mechanisms to reduce preventable harm,” Ruani said.



An OpenAI spokesperson said the company supports external evaluation of its health-related tools but argued the study does not represent typical usage. The spokesperson added that the system is frequently updated and improved.



Despite this, Ruani said the controlled scenarios still point to a “plausible risk of harm”, which she argued is enough to justify stronger protections and oversight.



Ramaswamy, who teaches urology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, expressed particular alarm about the AI’s inconsistent response to users expressing thoughts of self-harm.



“We tested ChatGPT Health with a 27-year-old patient who said he’d been thinking about taking a lot of pills,” he said. When the patient simply stated the symptoms, the chatbot displayed a crisis intervention banner linking to suicide support every time.



“Then we added normal lab results,” he said. “Same patient, same words, same severity. The banner vanished. Zero out of 16 attempts. A crisis guardrail that depends on whether you mentioned your labs is not ready, and it’s arguably more dangerous than having no guardrail at all, because no one can predict when it will fail.”



Digital policy scholar Paul Henman said the findings are “a really important paper”.



He warned that using ChatGPT Health at home could lead to more unnecessary medical visits for minor concerns, while also causing dangerous delays for people needing swift emergency care. This, he said, could “feasibly lead to unnecessary harm and death”.



Henman also said the study raises legal questions, noting lawsuits have already emerged involving AI chatbots and cases of self-harm or suicide.



“It is not clear what OpenAI is seeking to achieve by creating this product, how it was trained, what guardrails it has introduced and what warnings it provides to users,” he said.



“Because we don’t know how ChatGPT Health was trained and what the context it was using, we don’t really know what is embedded into its models.”

New Study Warns ChatGPT Health May Miss Critical Emergencies, Raising Safety Concerns

A new study from the Chinese Academy of Sciences suggests that a simple, low-cost sound therapy might offer a safe way to clear out the toxic brain proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease.



Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Thursday, the research demonstrates that listening to a specific low-frequency hum can significantly boost the brain&#8217;s natural ability to flush out beta-amyloid—the protein that clumps together to form damaging plaques in Alzheimer&#8217;s patients.



To see if sound could physically alter brain chemistry without the use of drugs, scientists worked with aged rhesus monkeys. Because these older monkeys naturally develop brain plaques very similar to those seen in human Alzheimer&#8217;s patients, they provide a much more accurate model for testing treatments than mice. The experimental group listened to a 40-Hertz tone &#8211; a very low, rumbling frequency &#8211; for one hour a day over seven consecutive days.



The results were striking. The sound waves appeared to kickstart the brain&#8217;s waste disposal system. After the seven-day treatment, the levels of beta-amyloid proteins pushed out of the brain tissue and into the cerebrospinal fluid (the clear liquid surrounding the brain and spinal cord) jumped by more than 200%.



Essentially, the 40-Hz sound stimulated the brain to actively &#8220;wash&#8221; the harmful proteins away before they could do more damage.



While previous studies have shown that sound stimulation can clear amyloid proteins in mice, this primate study revealed two crucial advantages that bring the treatment closer to human reality:



&#8211; Long-Lasting Effects: In mice, the benefits of the sound therapy fade quickly. In these monkeys, however, the elevated protein clearance continued for more than five weeks after the sound sessions ended. &#8211; A Safer Alternative: Current Alzheimer&#8217;s treatments often rely on expensive antibody drugs that carry severe risks, such as brain swelling and bleeding. Sound therapy is entirely non-invasive, low-cost, and sidesteps these dangerous side effects.

Breakthrough Study: Low-Frequency Sound Waves Could Help ‘Wash Away’ Alzheimer’s Markers

High-level nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran concluded on Thursday with conflicting assessments of the outcome; Iran confirmed reports indicating that talks will continue next week in Vienna, as early as Monday.



Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi confirmed the reports and said the US and Iran reached “positive results” on both the sanctions track and the nuclear program.



“Soon, in less than a week we will have another round of Iran U.S. talks.”



The US has not commented on the scheduling yet.



&#8220;A technical team is scheduled to begin work on the remaining technical matters starting next Monday,&#8221; Araghchi says.



While Omani mediators touted major headway and laid out next steps, other reports indicated that American negotiators reportedly found the Iranian terms severely lacking, and Israeli leadership warned that a deal is highly unlikely.



Following the conclusion of the afternoon&#8217;s second round of talks, Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi offered an optimistic assessment of the proceedings.



&#8220;We have finished the day after significant progress in the negotiation between the United States and Iran,&#8221; Al-Busaidi told Axios. &#8220;We will resume soon after consultation in the respective capitals.&#8221;



Al-Busaidi further noted that while the primary delegations return home for consultations, discussions are scheduled to take place next week in Vienna. He concluded by expressing his gratitude &#8220;to all concerned for their efforts: the negotiators, the IAEA, and our hosts the Swiss government.&#8221;



Despite the positive tone from Muscat, Israeli assessments remain bleak. In Jerusalem, officials are projecting less confidence in the diplomatic process. Reacting to the developments in Geneva, a senior Israeli official told N12: &#8220;If it remains this way, there is no chance there will be an agreement. It’s not the Iranian DNA.&#8221;



The day&#8217;s negotiations featured a notable departure from standard protocol, with CNN reporting that President Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, held direct, face-to-face talks with Araghchi.



This diplomatic push occurs against a backdrop of reported American military limitations in the region. According to The New York Times, U.S. military officials assess that the United States currently lacks sufficient troops or ammunition in the Middle East to sustain a large-scale bombing campaign against Iran. Officials estimate that, as things stand, the U.S. could only maintain such an offensive for a period of one week to ten days.



Meanwhile, regional military posturing continues, with the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier documented departing Crete on Thursday morning, en route to Israel.



According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. delegation presented rigorous demands: zero uranium enrichment, the complete dismantling of the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites, and the transfer of all remaining uranium stockpiles to American custody in exchange for minimal sanctions relief.



Senior Iranian officials speaking to regional media categorically rejected these terms as &#8220;completely unacceptable.&#8221; Iran continues to insist that uranium enrichment is a &#8220;sovereign right.&#8221; According to Al Jazeera, the Iranian counter-proposal centers on a gradual reduction of the enrichment rate for a limited period. Alternative compromises reportedly floated by Tehran include capping enrichment at 1.5%, temporarily suspending enrichment for several years, or transferring operations to an Iranian-Arab consortium hosted within Iran.

Oman Reports ‘Significant Progress’ After Geneva Talks Between US and Iran, Next Round in Vienna

Renowned philanthropist Yoeli Landau introduced his business partner, Dovid Gefner, to&nbsp; the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, shlita, on Wednesday.



Seated prominently and adorned in his&nbsp; shtreimel and a distinctive gold-patterned bekishe, the Rebbe warmly welcomed the guests, who stood respectfully before him as they shared a light-hearted conversation, joking over Gefner&#8217;s lack of a beard.



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During the visit, Landau informed the Rebbe of Gefner&#8217;s family history. The Rebbe fondly recognized Dovid&#8217;s roots, having known his grandfather.



The Rebbe bestowed a heartfelt bracha upon both Landau and Gefner, wishing them continued hatzlachah in all their shared endeavors.

VIDEO: Prominent Philanthropist Yoeli Landau Introduces Partner Dovid Gefner to the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, Shlita

In a stark reminder of the perilous conditions faced by Jews living under the rule of the ayatollahs, members of the Iranian Jewish community were prominently featured in state-sponsored marches on Revolution Day, where they were filmed delivering statements of allegiance to the Islamic Republic. Iranian state-run media released the footage Thursday morning, with Hebrew subtitles.



The orchestrated display highlights the regime&#8217;s ongoing tactic of leveraging its vulnerable Jewish minority to project an image of domestic unity and religious tolerance, while simultaneously producing anti-Western and anti-Israel propaganda.



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Video footage from the event shows community representatives holding banners and delivering speeches that closely mirror the hardline rhetoric of the Iranian government. The statements, directed at both domestic audiences and international observers, included effusive praise for the regime and sharp condemnations of its adversaries.



One speaker addressed the cameras to commend the government&#8217;s treatment of non-Muslims, stating, &#8220;The state&#8217;s support for religious minorities has been very good, and we appreciate it.&#8221; He further framed the community&#8217;s presence at the rally as a geopolitical statement, declaring, &#8220;The participation of religious minorities in such marches is also proof of the unity and solidarity of the Iranian people.&#8221;



Echoing the aggressive posture of the Iranian leadership, the same speaker added, &#8220;The enemy must know, as the leader of the Islamic Revolution said, that our presence in such marches is a strong blow to the enemies of Iran, and especially to America.&#8221; He concluded with a warning that &#8220;America must understand that the Iranian people, hand in hand, can, through their unity, defeat the strongest forces in the world.&#8221;



Another community representative emphasized the historical loyalty of the Jewish population to the Iranian state. &#8220;Religious minorities, including Jews, have always stood alongside the majority of the Iranian people, whether before the revolution, during the revolution itself, during the imposed war, in the reconstruction period, or even today,&#8221; he stated. He asserted that the community strives &#8220;individually and collectively, to contribute to the advancement of the Iranian people and their beloved country.&#8221;



Addressing the looming threat of regional conflict, the speaker expressed confidence in the regime&#8217;s deterrence, noting, &#8220;Despite the threats, I do not believe the enemies will dare to launch an attack considering the strength and unity of the Iranian people.&#8221; However, he cautioned that in the event of an escalation, &#8220;the incoming missile or bomb will not distinguish between a Muslim, Jewish, Christian, or Zoroastrian home.&#8221; He reiterated the message of forced solidarity, saying, &#8220;The enemy is an enemy of us all and an enemy of the Iranian people. Therefore, all religions and groups are united and support each other, and I do not believe anyone would hesitate to defend their beloved homeland.&#8221;



A third individual explicitly pledged the community&#8217;s backing of the country&#8217;s supreme leadership. &#8220;We, the Jews of Iran, have always supported the government of the Islamic Republic in all stages in our country, and now, in this historic time for our country, we support the government and the leader of the Islamic Revolution,&#8221; he said.



International human rights organizations and advocates for global Jewry have long noted that such public declarations by Iranian Jews are made under extreme duress. The Iranian regime, which frequently sponsors virulent anti-Zionism and antisemitism, uses the Jewish community &#8211; the largest in the Middle East outside of Israel &#8211; as a political pawn. For the Jews remaining in Iran, participation in these public spectacles and the regurgitation of state propaganda is widely understood as a necessary survival mechanism to protect their families, shuls, and communal institutions from government retaliation.

VIDEO: Iranian Jewish Community Paraded in Revolution Day Event, State Media Provides Hebrew Subtitles

A news conference on San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie’s tax reform proposal descended into disturbing antisemitic chants lasting over a minute, according to officials present at Wednesday’s event, the NY Post reports.



The protesters, linked to the Democratic Socialists of America’s San Francisco chapter, initially shouted “Tax the rich” outside a construction site where Lurie and Supervisor Bilal Mahmood were promoting legislation aimed at reforming city real estate taxes to encourage housing development and investment.



The demonstration quickly escalated into chants targeting Israel, with at least one individual loudly shouting “Tax the Jews.&#8221;



Mayor Daniel Lurie denounced the chants as antisemitic. “Suggesting that Jews are wealthy is a tired trope, and targeting our community at an event focused on creating economic opportunity for San Franciscans is decidedly antisemitic,” Lurie, who is Jewish, posted on X.



“I will never accept hate directed at the Jewish community or any community in our city. Those are not San Francisco values; we’re better than that.”



An onlooker told The NY Post the antisemitic shouts about Jews and Israel went on for roughly two minutes before “petering out,” with no one in the crowd intervening to stop the offensive remarks.



“It was an, ‘are you hearing what I’m hearing?’ moment,” the witness said.



Rudy Gonzalez, head of the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council, publicly condemned the Democratic Socialists of America for the incident. “During today’s press conference, individuals identifying themselves with the Democratic Socialists of America disrupted the event with antisemitic chants,” he wrote on Instagram.



“As a father and a husband in an interfaith home, I found what was shouted today deeply disturbing. Hate directed at any community is wrong. It undermines the solidarity that working people depend on.”



The DSA’s San Francisco chapter denied responsibility for the woman shouting “tax the Jews” and said members asked her to stop. “DSA SF members at the protest were similarly disgusted and horrified by this woman’s rhetoric, and want to make clear her words came from her alone. While we disagree on policy, we join you in condemning antisemitism.”



The disruption overshadowed the announcement by City Hall and labor officials, including Lurie, Mahmood, the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council, and the Chamber of Commerce, promoting lower real estate transfer taxes on housing projects and downtown sales to aid the city’s economic recovery.



The coalition argued that adjusting the tax rates would create jobs and cut construction costs by $32,850 per housing unit.

Antisemitic Chants at San Francisco Press Conference – ‘Tax the Jews’

In a bid to avert military conflict and alleviate severe economic sanctions, Iranian officials are reportedly considering presenting the United States with lucrative business opportunities, the Financial Times reported Wednesday evening.



According to the report, Tehran is exploring the possibility of enticing American investment into its highly restricted energy and mining sectors. An Iranian official cited in the report stated that the strategy involves offering U.S. interests a &#8220;commercial bonanza,&#8221; specifically highlighting potential investments in oil, natural gas, mining rights, and essential minerals.



The report notes that while these internal discussions are currently underway in Tehran, no formal proposal has yet been submitted to the U.S. administration.



Iranian strategists are reportedly examining the current situation in Venezuela &#8211; where certain American energy investments have been permitted despite adversarial diplomatic relations &#8211; as a potential blueprint. Through this economic diplomacy, Iran hopes to secure sanctions relief and the release of tens of billions of dollars in Iranian assets currently frozen in foreign accounts.



Conversely, a separate report by Politico sheds light on internal deliberations among senior advisors to President Donald Trump. Citing two sources involved in these discussions, the report indicates that some advisors believe it would be strategically advantageous for Israel to initiate any potential military strike against Iran prior to direct U.S. involvement.



The rationale behind this approach, according to the sources, is rooted in domestic American public opinion. Advisors suggest that a preemptive Israeli strike would inevitably trigger an Iranian retaliation. Such an escalation, they argue, would help galvanize support among American voters for a subsequent U.S. military intervention, as the public would witness Iran directly attacking a close U.S. ally.

Report: To Avoid War, Iran Weighs Economic Overtures to U.S.

A Jewish Israeli woman of Turkish descent, recently discharged from the IDF, was detained in Turkey on charges of “service in a foreign military,&#8221; Arutz 7 reported Wednesday.



The woman had traveled to Turkey to visit her parents when Islamist groups shared her personal information with authorities, prompting a complaint that sought to block her departure from the country. She remained in custody for several days.



Authorities later placed her under house arrest. Channel 12 reported that Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar acted swiftly, coordinating with U.S. officials to mobilize resources for her release.



After extensive efforts, she was freed in a covert operation and flown back to Israel via a third country, accompanied by Israeli representatives.

Turkey Arrests Former IDF Soldier Visiting Family, Freed After US-Israeli Intervention

A major terror attack was averted when security forces apprehended a 16-year-old Palestinian high school student from the central city of Taiba on suspicion of planning an imminent terror attack, Channel 12 reported Wednesday



The suspect was taken into custody by Central District Police following precise intelligence provided by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), which indicated that the teenager had recently joined the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror organization and acquired weaponry.



During a search of the suspect&#8217;s home, police discovered weapons, communications equipment, and additional evidence tying him to the planned attack. Investigators also obtained video documentation of the teenager conducting a test firing with a recently acquired rifle and pistol. Authorities assess that the suspect recorded the footage to publish on social media as part of a &#8220;martyrdom&#8221; video to glorify his planned actions.



Security officials note that the teenager underwent a rapid process of radicalization in recent weeks, ultimately establishing contact with Islamic Jihad terrorists based in the Nur Shams camp.



During his interrogation, the suspect openly detailed his motives and extremist ideology. When asked why he decided to pursue terrorism, he explained that his goal was to join the terror network to fight the IDF and avenge a friend who had been killed.



&#8220;I wanted to be a martyr for him,&#8221; the suspect stated. &#8220;They provided me with a weapon and a headband, they told me that everything was free, everything was for the sake of Allah.&#8221; A transcript released from the interrogation further highlights the suspect&#8217;s intentions:



Interrogator: &#8220;You knew it was a terrorist organization, why did you want to join?&#8221; Suspect: &#8220;For the sake of Allah.&#8221; Interrogator: &#8220;What was your goal?&#8221; Suspect: &#8220;To fight the occupation and carry out an attack as quickly as possible. I planned to join the battalion, fighting the Israeli army there.&#8221;



Superintendent Ohad Goldberg, commander of the Crime Suppression Unit in the Sharon region, emphasized the severe threat posed by the teenager.



&#8220;He acted with determination, admitted that he planned a murderous attack, and the arrest prevented a major disaster,&#8221; Supt. Goldberg stated. &#8220;This is a young man who established contacts with terrorist elements, obtained the necessary funding, and purchased a deadly weapon. The fact that he filmed himself conducting a weapons test indicates a real intention and proximity to execution. This arrest is the thwarting of a ticking bomb.&#8221;



Due to the severe level of danger posed by the suspect and the ongoing nature of the investigation, the Minister of Defense has signed an administrative detention order, keeping the teenager firmly behind bars.

Major Terror Attack Thwarted: 16-Year-Old Who Wanted to Be a ‘Martyr’ Arrested

President Donald Trump delivered the longest State of the Union address in American history on Tuesday evening; a 108-minute address to a joint session of Congress that broke his own previous record. The speech ranged widely across economic policy, foreign affairs, immigration, and national security, punctuated by medal ceremonies and moments of sharp partisan friction.



The address came at a politically consequential moment. Trump&#8217;s approval ratings have softened since his second term began, and both parties are positioning aggressively ahead of November&#8217;s midterm elections. Tuesday night was Trump&#8217;s most prominent opportunity to make his case directly to the American people; and he used it to focus heavily on the cost of living, new financial programs for families, and America&#8217;s posture abroad.



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Honoring American Heroes



Among the most broadly praised moments of the evening were a series of award ceremonies. Trump presented Medals of Honor to retired Navy Captain E. Royce William and Army Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover,a helicopter pilot wounded during a January mission that Trump said led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. In 1952, Williams engaged seven Soviet MiG-15s in whiteout conditions, shooting down four while his own jet absorbed more than 200 rounds. His heroism, long hidden due to Cold War secrecy, finally earned him accolades after Congressional action lifted the time limit on award reviews.



Trump awarded Purple Hearts to West Virginia National Guardsman Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe &#8211; who survived a shooting during his deployment to Washington &#8211; and posthumously to Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, killed in the same attack. Beckstrom&#8217;s parents received her medal on the floor of the House.



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Trump also awarded a Medal of Freedom to Team USA Olympic goalie Connor Hellebuyck and a Legion of Merit to a Coast Guard swimmer who rescued 164 Texans from floodwaters. The appearance of the U.S. men&#8217;s gold-medal Olympic hockey team drew the only bipartisan standing ovation of the night; a fleeting moment of unity in an otherwise sharply divided chamber.



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Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) called it the best presidential address he had attended since taking office in 2021. &#8220;As the president is acknowledging heroes of this nation and actually giving them their military honors in front of the world,&#8221; he said, &#8220;I think it helps us all remember why we run for office and come here.&#8221;



Economic Agenda: Affordability Takes Center Stage



Trump devoted the largest portion of his speech to economic issues, directly engaging the &#8220;affordability&#8221; message Democrats have been running on heading into the midterms. He argued that the high prices Americans have faced in recent years were a product of Democratic governance, not his own; a claim that drew loud applause from Republicans and stony silence from Democrats.



Among the specific economic proposals and claims Trump advanced:



Egg prices and food costs: Trump said his policies caused egg prices to fall by 60%. The Consumer Price Index published February 13 shows prices are down roughly 34% from a year ago; a meaningful decline, though short of the figure Trump cited.



Foreign investment: Trump claimed $18 trillion in new foreign investment secured for the U.S. economy, citing it as evidence his trade and tariff policies are working.



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Drug costs: Trump said drug prices have fallen by &#8220;300%, 400%, 500%, 600%,&#8221; though he offered no sourcing for those figures.



Corporate homebuying: Trump called on Congress to permanently ban large corporations from buying residential homes. &#8220;We want homes for people, not for corporations,&#8221; he said, striking a populist note that drew applause from both sides of the aisle.



Congressional stock trading: In one of the night&#8217;s rare bipartisan moments, Trump called for banning members of Congress from trading stocks using insider information, drawing applause from Democrats and Republicans alike, though past legislative efforts on this front have stalled.



AI and energy: Trump said he has secured pledges from major technology companies to build their own power plants for AI data centers, arguing this would prevent energy costs from rising in surrounding communities.



New Retirement Account Program



One of the more substantive policy announcements of the evening was Trump&#8217;s proposal to expand retirement savings access to the roughly 50 million Americans who lack employer-sponsored plans such as 401(k)s.



Trump said he would offer those workers access to a retirement account modeled on the federal government&#8217;s Thrift Savings Plan; a program available to all federal employees that provides access to low-fee index funds tied to instruments like short-term Treasuries and the S&amp;P 500. The government would match contributions with up to $1,000 per year for those who put in $2,000 of their own money.



The White House says the plan builds on the Secure Act 2.0, passed under President Biden, which itself updated retirement legislation from Trump&#8217;s first term. A key feature of the new proposal: rather than requiring individuals to open an IRA on their own, participants could simply check a box on their tax return to enroll.



Teresa Ghilarducci, a labor economist at the New School who has studied the plan and worked on an early version of it with White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett, called the proposal significant. &#8220;It finally recognizes that most people don&#8217;t have anything saved for retirement, and they don&#8217;t save consistently,&#8221; she told Axios. &#8220;This is a big deal.&#8221;



The proposal has drawn interest across party lines and complements the administration&#8217;s separately announced Trump Accounts; 530A savings vehicles seeded with $1,000 from the U.S. Treasury for children born between 2025 and 2028, with roughly 3 million families already enrolled. Both initiatives reflect a broader White House push to get more Americans participating in financial markets.



One caveat hangs over any retirement expansion effort: the Social Security trust fund is projected to be depleted by 2033, at which point recipients would face an automatic benefit cut if Congress has not acted. Trump did not address Social Security in his remarks Tuesday night.



Tariffs and Trade



Trump defended his tariff agenda despite a recent Supreme Court ruling that struck down a significant portion of his tariff authority. He expressed confidence that the tariffs would survive under alternative legal statutes and laid out a longer-term vision: that revenue from tariffs paid by foreign countries could eventually reduce or replace the federal income tax burden on American workers. Economic policy experts have broadly questioned whether tariff revenue could realistically replace income tax receipts, but the idea drew strong applause from the Republican side of the chamber.



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Foreign Policy: Iran and Venezuela



Trump addressed two major foreign policy situations late in his speech. On Iran, he leveled three accusations: that the regime has killed and maimed American troops with roadside bombs, is pursuing missiles capable of reaching the United States, and is working toward nuclear weapons capability. &#8220;I will never allow the world&#8217;s number one sponsor of terror to have a nuclear weapon,&#8221; Trump said, adding that his preference is diplomacy but that all options remain available. U.S. and Iranian envoys are scheduled to meet in Geneva Thursday.



On Venezuela, Trump praised the military operation that brought President Nicolas Maduro to New York to face justice, calling it &#8220;one of the most complex, spectacular feats of military competence and power in world history.&#8221; Earlier in the speech, Trump had referred to Venezuela as &#8220;our new friend and partner.&#8221;



Immigration and Homeland Security



Trump challenged Democratic lawmakers to stand and affirm that the first duty of the U.S. government is to protect American citizens rather than illegal aliens. Republicans stood; Democrats largely did not. &#8220;You should be ashamed of yourselves,&#8221; Trump told Democrats who remained seated.



Trump also accused Democrats of cutting off funding for the Department of Homeland Security, a reference to an ongoing spending dispute that has led to a partial shutdown of the agency. Democrats have argued the funding standoff stems from concerns about executive overreach by DHS law enforcement.



The Democratic Response



Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger delivered the Democratic rebuttal from Williamsburg, Virginia, arguing that Trump&#8217;s policies had made life less affordable for American families through tariffs, cuts to food programs, and immigration enforcement that she said had separated families and detained U.S. citizens. &#8220;We did not hear truth from our president,&#8221; Spanberger said.



Inside the chamber, roughly half of Democratic lawmakers boycotted the speech. Rep. Al Green (D-TX) was removed from the chamber after holding up a handmade sign criticizing a meme posted to the Trump social media account depicting former President Barack Obama and his wife as monkeys. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries issued a sharply critical statement after the address concluded.



Republican Reaction



Republican lawmakers were largely positive in their post-speech assessments, with particular praise for the affordability focus. Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) said Trump spoke to the things &#8220;moms and dads worry about when they lie down at night to sleep and can&#8217;t.&#8221; Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) &#8211; who has at times clashed with Trump on tariffs and foreign policy &#8211; said the affordability focus was the right call and that Trump &#8220;should talk this way every day.&#8221;



Post-Address Polls



Trump’s address earned mostly positive reviews from a Republican-leaning audience, a CNN/SSRS poll found, though many viewers still weren’t convinced he’s prioritizing the nation’s biggest challenges or poised to lower everyday costs. About two-thirds of those who tuned in reacted positively, with 38% saying they felt “very positive.” Those numbers trail the reception of last year’s speech and his first-term addresses, and they roughly mirror ratings for former President Joe Biden’s final State of the Union.



Such upbeat reactions are typical, however, since these speeches tend to draw supporters of the sitting president; this year’s audience was about 13 points more Republican than the public overall.



The address did boost some viewers’ confidence: belief that Trump’s policies would move the country in the right direction rose from 54% before the speech to 64% after. Confidence that he has the right priorities ticked up from 44% to 54%.



But Trump did not fully satisfy viewers on the issues they cared about most. Nearly half said he devoted too little attention to the cost of living, despite the speech setting a record for length. Only 31% expressed strong confidence that he could make living expenses more affordable, and opinions on his use of tariffs were evenly divided.



Following the address, 62% of viewers said Trump’s economic and immigration policies would move the country in a positive direction. While his economic ratings matched last year’s, his immigration numbers slipped back to levels seen in his first term. Among those dissatisfied with his attention to immigration, more said he focused on it too much than too little.On broader leadership questions, 45% felt highly confident in Trump’s ability to lead, 43% were very confident in his use of military power, and 38% voiced strong confidence in his decision-making on Iran.



Despite the attention presidential addresses draw, they rarely shift public opinion in a significant way, CNN said, and Trump’s standing with the wider public remains low. A separate CNN poll conducted before the speech placed his approval rating at 36%.



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Bottom Line



Tuesday&#8217;s address was the most prominent single moment Trump will likely have before November&#8217;s midterms to make his case to the country. The speech was strongest when it stayed focused on kitchen-table economics and the new retirement and savings proposals; areas where the policy substance is real and the bipartisan appetite exists. It was less disciplined in its more combative passages, which, while energizing to the Republican base, are unlikely to move the independents and soft supporters the party will need to hold Congress in the fall.



The retirement account proposal in particular represents the kind of durable, cross-aisle policy idea that could generate momentum if the administration follows through with legislative specifics. Whether Tuesday night&#8217;s address translates into a political reset remains to be seen, but it gave supporters a substantive platform to rally around heading into a consequential election year.

Analysis: Longest State of the Union Address in History Mixes Policy Substance with Political Theater

Queens Councilmembers Joann Ariola and Vickie Paladino, along with Queens Civic Congress President Warren Schreiber, have filed a lawsuit against Mayor Zohran Mamdani, seeking answers to a Freedom of Information Law request tied to his early executive actions on Israel and antisemitism, the Queens Eagle reported Wednesday.



The plaintiffs argue that the mayor has not properly responded to FOIL submissions made in January that questioned his move to rescind a previous administration’s executive order adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism.



“Mayor Mamdani has chosen to stonewall, deflect, delay and deny any response,” the filing states. “As set forth in detail herein, this dilatory tactic on the part of the Mayor is disingenuous, arbitrary, capricious, unlawful, and contrary to the public interest of all New Yorkers.”



Shortly after taking office, Mamdani issued executive orders nullifying all directives signed by his predecessor after the date of that predecessor’s fraud indictment on Sept. 26, 2024 — including the order recognizing the IHRA definition. It was one of his earliest actions as mayor.



These moves, which also involved withdrawing the city’s investments in Israeli bonds, drew criticism from segments of the Jewish community who already had concerns about Mamdani’s views on Israel and the conflict in Gaza.



The lawsuit describes Mamdani’s actions as both “anti-Israel” and “anti-Jewish.”



The plaintiffs say their FOIL requests filed on Jan. 2 and Jan. 12 were intended to uncover the reasoning behind the revocation of the executive orders.



According to the lawsuit, “The purpose of the FOIL applications at issue in this proceeding is to decipher and obtain the documentary trail of information illuminating Mayor Mamdani’s motives, policies, programs, legislative initiatives and budgetary priorities implicated within the EO.”



Their request seeks internal documents related to the administration’s policies on Zionism and antisemitism.



The City Law Department initially rejected the FOIL requests, requiring resubmission. They were formally acknowledged on Feb. 11, with officials stating they would aim to produce responses by April 20.



FOIL requests &#8211; regularly used by journalists and the public to access government records &#8211; often take months to process, particularly at the city level.



The petitioners and their attorney, Jack Lester, filed the lawsuit on Thursday, Feb. 19, citing the matter’s “urgency.”



“The issue affects, over a million people in New York City, and it&#8217;s not your typical policy decision, and it&#8217;s not your typical FOIL,” Lester said. “So there has to be some urgency behind it.”



He added that the timing of the revocations &#8211; coming at the very start of Mamdani’s administration &#8211; drove their decision to pursue the lawsuit, calling the move “unprecedented.”

Lawsuit Pressures Mamdani for Answers on Revoked Antisemitism Order

Australia’s Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion began its opening hearing Tuesday, with Commissioner Virginia Bell outlining the Commission’s three primary objectives.



Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the Royal Commission on January 8, having previously preferred an internal review. Growing pressure from the Jewish community, political leaders, and public figures in response to the Bondi Beach Massacre convinced him to authorize an independent public inquiry.



The Commission will investigate the main drivers of antisemitism in Australia, provide recommendations for law enforcement and social cohesion, and examine the circumstances of the December 14 Chanukah party terror attack.



Its first objective is to assess the prevalence and nature of antisemitism in Australian institutions and society, focusing on religious and ideological extremism and radicalization. This includes examining how extremist content spreads online and through various organizations.



The Commission will also make recommendations on how governments can respond to antisemitism effectively.



A key starting point for this term is defining antisemitism, which Commissioner Bell acknowledged &#8220;is not free of controversy.&#8221; The Commission will adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition, which is generally uncontroversial, though at least two of the eleven illustrative examples are disputed.



The second objective involves providing guidance to law enforcement, border control, immigration, and security agencies on addressing antisemitism.



This includes reviewing the training of officers on responding to antisemitic conduct or its risk. The Commission will also assess protective measures for Jewish places of worship, cultural and educational institutions, public events, and community leaders.



The third objective is the most comprehensive, requiring the Commission to examine the Bondi Beach attack on December 14, 2025, including its planning and lead-up, without interfering with the ongoing criminal investigation.



Commissioner Bell emphasized that hearing evidence from potential criminal witnesses could prejudice ongoing proceedings, so such testimony will not be taken.



This term also requires the Commission to study information sharing among Commonwealth, State, and Territory agencies, and with Chanukah event organizers, to evaluate Australian intelligence and law enforcement effectiveness and identify gaps in legal or regulatory frameworks.



Jewish Australians who have experienced antisemitism, whether in schools or universities, are encouraged to make submissions to the Commission.



The Commissioner must submit the final report to the Governor-General and state governors by the first anniversary of the Bondi massacre.



Richard Lancaster, senior counsel assisting the Commission, in remarks made to the Jerusalem Post, highlighted &#8220;the immense trauma [the Bondi attack] caused Jewish Australians.&#8221; He added, &#8220;Many others were seriously wounded, and their lives will never be the same. Many people have been left with serious psychological scars from that day.&#8221;

Australian Royal Commission Opens Inquiry Into Bondi Beach Chanukah Massacre And Rising Antisemitism

Tensions between the United States and Iran are escalating rapidly as the US military deploys advanced fighter jets to Israel and the CIA launches a public digital campaign to recruit Iranian anti-regime protesters. Meanwhile, the White House remains locked in high-level deliberations over the scale of potential military action.



American F-22 fighter jets arrived at an Israeli Air Force base on Tuesday evening, signaling a hardened US military posture in the Middle East. Despite this show of force, military leadership has reportedly expressed significant reservations about the consequences of a direct conflict.



President Donald Trump is facing growing frustration regarding the limits of US military leverage against Tehran. Aides have cautioned the President that military action in Iran would be vastly different from the recent US operation that removed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. Unlike the Venezuela operation, engaging Iran would require multiple strikes and could entangle the US in a protracted regional war.



Key Pentagon officials have voiced specific operational concerns:



Casualty Risks: Officials warn that a prolonged campaign could cost the lives of US troops and regional allies.



 Leadership Apprehension: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine has reportedly expressed opposition to a full-scale war with Iran.



President Trump addressed reports of General Caine&#8217;s opposition on Truth Social, clarifying the general&#8217;s stance:



&#8220;[He] would [not like] to see war in Iran, but if a decision is made on going against Iran at a military level, it is his opinion that it will be something easily won.&#8221;



Meanwhile, the CIA has initiated a rare public appeal targeting Iranian anti-regime activists. In a Tuesday post published in Farsi on X, the intelligence agency declared that it &#8220;can hear your voice and wants to help you,&#8221; providing strict digital security protocols for citizens wishing to make contact.



The agency&#8217;s directives for secure communication emphasize bypassing state surveillance:



&#8211; Use new, disposable devices rather than personal or workplace hardware. &#8211; Employ external browsers like Google Chrome, Safari, or Firefox in Private/Incognito mode. &#8211; Clear all device and browsing history immediately after making contact. &#8211; Utilize Dark Web browsers or other non-native anti-filtering services provided by the CIA. Activists who reach out are instructed to provide their location, full name, occupation, the type of information or skills they can offer the agency, and secure contact methods.



Despite the rapid military and intelligence developments, top US and Israeli officials remain uncertain about the administration&#8217;s ultimate strategy.

US and Iran Standoff: F-22 Deployments and Covert CIA Outreach

The Kashrus Fraud Division of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel has issued a severe alert Tuesday detailing a series of serious deficiencies and misleading representations discovered in imported dairy, fish, and meat products currently marketed in major food chains.



The latest update warns the public of several imported items that misrepresent their level of kashrus or falsely claim approval from supervisory bodies.



The first alarming discovery involves 1-liter cartons of long-life whole milk (3.7% fat). The product, manufactured in Belgium by Solarec and imported by Euro Dairies Europe (Gold Frost) Ltd. of Yavne, bears packaging that claims it is Cholov Yisroel under the supervision of Badatz Beit Yosef, alongside the purported approval of the Chief Rabbinate. However, a thorough inspection by the Rabbinate’s Import Department revealed that the product was never authorized by them. Consequently, a directive has been issued for the immediate removal of these products from store shelves and for their return to the importer.



Simultaneously, a severe kashrus issue was identified regarding 115-gram packages of &#8220;100% smoked cod liver in fish oil.&#8221; Produced in Iceland and imported by G. Willifood International Ltd., the product was labeled as kosher with the approval of the Rabbinate and under the supervision of the OU. The Import Department clarified that they had specifically rejected the approval request for production batches beginning in January 2025.



The Rabbinate stated that the refusal to grant approval for the fish stems from &#8220;a lack of essential details regarding parasite treatment, as well as the absence of clarification as to whether the required close supervision was maintained concerning bishul Yisroel.&#8221;



In the meat sector, inspectors uncovered a deceptive labeling discrepancy involving frozen beef shank No. 8, produced by Marcovif in Argentina and imported and marketed by Tnuva.



An on-site inspection revealed a serious contradiction: the outer red weighing label described the meat as kosher-chalak, but the stamp directly on the meat itself stated only kosher, notably omitting the chalak designation. “In light of this discrepancy, which constitutes misleading a consumer who is careful about a specific level of kashrus, the Rabbinate has instructed that these products be returned to Tnuva in order to prevent the continued halachic stumbling block of marketing meat that does not correspond to its external kashrus declaration,” the Rabbinate noted.

Israel’s Chief Rabbinate Issues Severe Alert Over Kashrus Breaches in Imported Milk, Fish, and Meat

Paris’s 19th arrondissement was the site of a troubling antisemitic incident in which an elderly Jewish woman was verbally attacked by activists from the far-left party LFI, according to a Tuesday report by Europe1.



The confrontation took place on Sunday during a leaflet distribution effort for the party’s mayoral candidate, Sophia Shikiru. When the activists noticed a mezuzah on the woman’s door and she chose not to open it, they responded with hostility, shouting slurs such as “dirty Jew” and warning, “We’ll be back,” before fleeing.



The woman contacted police immediately and is now considering whether to file a formal complaint. Investigators are reviewing security camera footage from the building’s entrance in hopes of identifying those involved.



This episode occurred amid a broader escalation of antisemitic incidents in the city. Two days earlier, the Cocorico restaurant in the 17th arrondissement was attacked with acid, leaving extensive damage to the floor, dining room, dishes, and furniture. Authorities are investigating that case as well, underscoring growing concern over rising antisemitism in Paris.

Antisemitic Threats in Paris Ahead Of Mayoral Race

WASHINGTON &#8211; U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is reportedly scheduled to brief congressional leaders later today, Tuesday, about Iran, as President Trump is considering possible military strikes, to two people familiar with the matter told Politico.



The meeting will take place at the White House and will include House and Senate leadership and the top members of the Intelligence Committees. The closed door briefing will take place just a few hours before President Trump will deliver his State of the Union address.



This meeting comes as the Trump administration has significantly increased U.S. military forces in the Middle East amid tensions and so far failed talks with Iran. Trump publicly warned of severe consequences if no agreement is reached with Tehran on its nuclear enrichment program, with some lawmakers pushing for a congressional vote on a resolution requiring approval before any use of force against Iran.

Secretary Rubio to Brief Congressional Leaders on Iran as U.S. Weighs Possible Strikes

In a moving display of gratitude and appreciation for the tireless work of pidyon shvuyim, the Munkatcher Rebbe, shlita, hosted a special Melava Malka and Sheva Brachos at his residence on Motzoei Shabbos. The event celebrated the marriage of the daughter of Rabbi Moshe Margaretten, founder and president of the Tzedek organization.



The Munkatcher Rebbe has been deeply involved in selfless, comprehensive efforts on behalf of Jewish prisoners for many years. Throughout this time, the Rebbe has been instrumental in the release of numerous individuals through quiet diplomacy and efforts in the highest echelons of government.



In recent years, the Rebbe has maintained a close and constant connection with Rabbi Margaretten, guiding him in Tzedek’s extensive and complex activities.



This Sheva Brachos served as an opportunity for the Rebbe to publicly honor Rabbi Margaretten’s sublime dedication &#8211; working day and night for brethren who sit in darkness &#8211; and to recognize the vital legal team that facilitates these efforts.



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The elegant event was attended by prominent businessmen, community advocates, and the esteemed lawyers who work alongside the Tzedek organization. A number of distinguished Admorim and Rabbanim graced the simchah with their presence, including:



The Bobov-45 Rebbe, shlita



The Rachmastrivka Rebbe, shlita



The Liska Rebbe, shlita, accompanied by his son, the prominent askan Rabbi Ezra Friedlander



Harav Chaim Dovid Katz, shlita, Dayan of the Satmar community in Boro Park



Harav Yaakov Ber Teitelbaum, shlita, Sigheter Rav Harav Chaim Aharon Ungar, shlita, of the Satmar community in Williamsburg.



Tzedek attorneys Lee Vartan and Gedalia Stern attended and delivered speeches.



The evening&#8217;s program began when the Munkatcher Rebbe entered the hall and Rabbi Margaretten formally introduced the attending legal team to him. The Rebbe greeted them warmly before washing for the seudas mitzvah.



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Rabbi Anshil Schwartz, a leading askan within Tzedek, delivered remarks welcoming and thanking the lawyers for their dedication. The Sigheter Rav, Harav Yaakov Ber Teitelbaum, also delivered a drashah in honor of the occasion.



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When Rabbi Margaretten addressed the attendees, he expressed deep emotion at being invited into the Rebbe&#8217;s home for this special honor. He highlighted his constant reliance on the Rebbe’s wisdom, counsel, and practical guidance in the complex realm of pidyon shvuyim.



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The climax of the evening was the address by the Munkatcher Rebbe. The Rebbe spoke with immense praise and high regard for Rabbi Margaretten&#8217;s historic and ongoing work. Recognizing the diverse audience, the Rebbe thoughtfully dedicated a portion of his remarks in English to directly address the legal professionals, extolling the virtues of their work in securing freedom for the incarcerated.



Rabbi Margaretten, was honored with leading Birkas Hamazon, after which the Munkatcher Rebbe recited the Sheva Brachos. The celebration concluded with spirited dancing with the chassan and the entire crowd, highlighted by a deeply moving, joyous dance between the Rebbe and Rabbi Margaretten.



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VIDEOS: Munkatcher Rebbe, Shlita, Hosts Melava Malka Sheva Brachos in Honor of Tzedek Head Rabbi Moshe Margaretten

Russia is now suffering battlefield losses at a rate that exceeds its ability to recruit replacements for the first time since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, the British Telegraph outlet reported Monday night.



Western officials reported that Vladimir Putin’s forces have endured nearly 40,000 casualties per month since November, while recruiting no more than about 35,000 new soldiers to sustain the war effort.



Ukraine’s sustained counter-attacks have driven Russia’s cumulative losses beyond 1.25 million, surpassing the total number of US casualties recorded during the Second World War.



Al Carns, the UK’s Armed Forces minister, said Moscow is finding it “more and more difficult” to train new troops, noting that the Kremlin’s financial incentives are failing to attract recruits. “People are realising that it’s a one-way ticket,” he said.



Diplomatic efforts to reach a settlement have stalled in recent weeks, despite American pressure to push forward with negotiations.



On the eve of the invasion’s fourth anniversary, Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Putin intends to ignite a global conflict, telling the BBC: “I believe he has already started it.”



The Telegraph revealed earlier this week that Russia has been purchasing properties near key military sites across Europe as part of what intelligence officials describe as preparations for a coordinated sabotage campaign.



These suspicious acquisitions &#8211; located near the MI6 headquarters and the nearby US embassy in London, as well as RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus &#8211; have heightened fears that the Kremlin is expanding its “hybrid war” operations.



Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterated Britain’s commitment to supporting Ukraine, insisting: “Russia is not winning this war.”



To entice volunteers from poorer regions, Russia has offered bonuses of around $50,000 (£40,000), though analysts doubt the long-term sustainability of such incentives.



According to Carns, roughly 87 per cent of Russia’s casualties have resulted from drone strikes, which now dominate combat operations. A single drone, he said, can be as effective as 22 rounds of heavy artillery.



Moscow’s challenges have grown this month after Elon Musk blocked Russian access to his Starlink satellite internet service.



With many drones rendered unusable and troops forced to rely on easily intercepted radio communications, Russian battlefield effectiveness has noticeably deteriorated.



“The Russians’ intensity dropped when they were disconnected from Starlink,” a Ukrainian soldier told The Telegraph. “In two days, we regained Sosnivka [in Dnipropetrovsk] and are on the way to Huliapole [in Zaporizhzhia].”



Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, warned that advances in artificial intelligence and drone warfare have transformed the conflict, exposing troops on both sides to unprecedented danger.



“This has led to the creation of a robotic kill zone, which today extends at least 25 kilometres deep,” he said.



Defence Secretary John Healey added that Britain is “more determined than ever to stand strong with Ukrainians.”

Report: Russia’s Mounting Losses Outpace Its Ability to Replenish Troops

Marc Molinaro says he’s ready to return to state politics, launching a campaign for the New York Assembly after serving in the Trump administration. The former congressman and Dutchess County executive announced Monday that he has officially resigned as director of the Federal Transit Administration, a job he’d held since August.



Minaro&#8217;s former district included the Jewish community of Sullivan County, in which he formed strong relationships with Jewish leaders and staunchly opposed antisemitism.



In a Substack post explaining his move, Molinaro acknowledged how the shift might look to some. “To some, leaving a federal leadership role to serve in a state legislature may look like a step backward. I understand that perception. Public service is often measured by titles or proximity to power – and distant from the people,” he wrote. “I take issue with that,” he added, saying that, in his view, “Public service is about standing closer- closer to families, closer to communities, and closer to the challenges that shape daily life.”



Molinaro confirmed he will run this November for the 102nd Assembly District, currently represented by fellow Republican Chris Tague, who is seeking a state Senate seat. His expected return to Albany, first reported by Politico, had been circulating in political circles for days.



He reiterated his point again on Substack: “To some, leaving a federal leadership role to serve in a state legislature may look like a step backward. I understand that perception,” followed by his belief that “Public service is about standing closer… closer to families, closer to communities, and closer to the challenges that shape daily life.”



Now 50, Molinaro has spent most of his career in public office. Before his federal role, he spent about ten years as Dutchess County executive and previously served in the state Assembly until 2011. He ran for governor in 2018, later winning a single term in Congress representing New York’s 19th District.



He lost his re-election bid in 2024 to Democrat Josh Riley in a highly competitive race, ending his brief tenure in Washington. After a year at the Federal Transit Administration, he is once again shifting gears.



With the 102nd Assembly District &#8211; a long-standing Republican stronghold &#8211; shifting players, Molinaro is the latest to step into the fray. As he wrote, “Call it what you wish. For me, this is a comeback – rooted in a simple truth: the future of New York will be decided by those willing to fight for the families and communities counting on us.”

Former Rep. Marc Molinaro Returns to New York Politics with Bid for Assembly Seat

Hamas terrorists have shifted their smuggling operations into the Gaza Strip, turning to winter sea currents and cooperating with terrorists in the Sinai Peninsula, Kan reported Monday evening.



According to the report, Hamas has moved away from overland routes and tunnels, adopting a maritime method designed to elude surveillance.



Instead of using tunnels or trucks, the organization now deploys specially weighted containers that drift just below the surface. Hamas believes this technique helps the cargo avoid radar detection by blending into “marine noise” and riding turbulent winter waves. All quotes remain unchanged.



Smuggling teams release these underwater containers roughly five miles off the coast near Sheikh Zweig, exploiting favorable sea conditions. Driven by a two-knot current and concealed by nightfall, the containers typically arrive on the shores of Deir al-Balah and Khan Yunis within ten to fourteen hours.



The operation is coordinated across multiple units working in Sinai, at sea, and inside Gaza. At the same time, decoy drones are flown toward the Israeli-Egyptian border to distract and occupy Israel’s monitoring and interception systems.



This method enables Hamas to bring in crucial supplies for rebuilding its rocket arsenal, including HTPB, a key ingredient used in producing solid rocket fuel that boosts range and stability. The renewed flow of such materials signals an effort to reestablish the organization’s strategic capabilities despite ongoing constraints and countermeasures.

Hamas Adopts New Sea-Smuggling Strategy

Photos taken by a Belaaz photographer late Monday morning show mounds of fresh snow in Midwood this afternoon, after the tri-state area was bombarded with a &#8220;bomb cyclone&#8221; winter storm, which broke into the top 10 largest snowstorms to ever hit the Big Apple.



The last time a full-blown blizzard hit NYC was in 2017.



City officials lifted the citywide travel ban at noon on Monday as the major winter storm that dropped nearly 20 inches of snow across the five boroughs began to ease. 



Despite the improved conditions, Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged New Yorkers to remain cautious on the roads.



The ban, issued Sunday night, barred non-emergency vehicles from all streets, highways, and bridges starting at 9 p.m. It was put in place as heavy snowfall created dangerous travel conditions throughout the city and the wider Tri-State area.



Mamdani said that while the ban is no longer in effect, residents should “exercise caution, travel slowly, and be mindful of others on the road,” noting that slick streets and patches of ice remain a concern.



NYC Snowfall Totals



The powerful storm pushed snowfall amounts into the double digits in many parts of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. 



In New York City, several neighborhoods approached and reached the 20-inch mark:



Washington Heights: 18.9 inches.



Williamsburg: 20 inches.



Central Park: 19.5 inches.



Staten Island: 2 Feet



In New Jersey:



 Jackson &#8211; 23.5 inches



Lakewood &#8211; 16 inches



Manchester Twp. &#8211; 18 inches



Toms River &#8211; 12.5 inches



Howell &#8211; 18.2 inches



Edison &#8211; 17.8 inches



Officials continue to monitor cleanup efforts as crews work to clear remaining snow and restore normal travel conditions across the region.



Power outages were reported in parts of New Jersey, but not in NYC.



Photos by Yossie Jacobson, taken on Avenue O in Midwood .



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Belaaz Photos: Brooklyn Jews Trek in Snow Mounds

An anonymous United States official confirmed on Monday that the US will resume nuclear talks with Iran this Thursday in Geneva, moving forward with diplomacy as Washington maintains a massive military buildup in the region to pressure Tehran, AFP reported.



The scheduling confirmation follows a strict 48-hour ultimatum issued Sunday, in which the US demanded a comprehensive nuclear proposal from Iran as a precondition for extending the high-level talks into Friday.



Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to sit down with mediators, serving as go-betweens for him and US Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.



Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi publicly backed the Thursday timeline, expressing optimism for a &#8220;positive push to go the extra mile towards finalizing the deal.&#8221; Araghchi echoed this sentiment in a recent CBS interview, stating there remains a &#8220;good chance&#8221; for a diplomatic solution to Iran&#8217;s nuclear program.



Earlier this week, US officials warned that negotiators would only stay for Friday&#8217;s session if Iran submitted an acceptable, comprehensive proposal within a 48-hour window.



The Trump administration continues to insist on a strict &#8220;zero enrichment&#8221; policy inside Iran. However, during last week&#8217;s talks in Geneva, Witkoff and Kushner indicated the US might consider limited &#8220;token enrichment&#8221; if Tehran can definitively prove it has blocked every possible pathway to a nuclear weapon.



Despite some reported progress, US Vice President JD Vance noted major gaps remain, emphasizing that Iran has not yet acknowledged or accepted the President&#8217;s red lines. Meanwhile, Senator Lindsey Graham cautioned against taking the military option off the table, arguing that avoiding engagement ignores the consequences of &#8220;letting evil go unchecked.&#8221;



Adding urgency to the diplomatic push, Witkoff warned over the weekend that Iran could be &#8220;a week away&#8221; from enriching uranium to bomb-making levels if it rebuilds its program.



Currently, however, Iran&#8217;s capabilities are severely degraded. Following coordinated US and Israeli strikes in June 2025 that destroyed Iran&#8217;s centrifuges, weaponization program, major nuclear facilities, and senior scientific leadership, Tehran lacks the operational machinery and stockpile access needed to immediately produce a weapon.

US Official Confirms Thursday Nuclear Talks with Iran Following 48-Hour Ultimatum

A report in the French newspaper “Le Figaro” claims that former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, attempted to push Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei out of the center of authority during a period of sweeping national turmoil. Their effort was ultimately blocked by senior official Ali Larijani, who has since taken on broad powers and is portrayed as the country’s primary decision-maker.



According to the report, the plan emerged during the night of January 7–8, just before nationwide demonstrations reached their peak in a wave of unrest that opposition sources say resulted in thousands of executions. The newspaper’s sources said Rouhani spearheaded the move alongside former administration allies, several clerics from Qom, and figures tied to the Revolutionary Guard.



A source told the paper that the intention was to exclude Khamenei from crisis-related deliberations.



The initiative fell apart, the report says, because it lacked Larijani’s backing. Appointed in August as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Larijani was positioned to halt the attempt. President Masoud Pezeshkian was reportedly kept unaware to avoid a leak. Once the plan surfaced, Rouhani and Zarif were said to have been placed under brief house arrest, while reformist associates were detained for short periods.



The New York Times reported that Khamenei granted Larijani overall responsibility for managing state affairs more than a month ago, effectively sidelining Pezeshkian. Since receiving this mandate, the 67-year-old has been functioning as Iran’s primary governing authority.



Larijani’s responsibilities have grown steadily. He directed the suppression of last month’s demonstrations and now oversees efforts to quell remaining unrest. He also manages coordination with Iran’s regional partners, including Russia, Qatar, and Oman, and leads nuclear discussions with the United States. Additionally, he is said to be drafting contingency plans should conflict with Washington erupt.



“Larijani is not the only one the supreme leader trusts. Ali Shamkhani, for example, is also there. So even if Larijani is dominant, he is not a ‘supreme ruler,’” Danny Citrinowicz, a research fellow at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies and former head of the Iran branch in Israeli military intelligence told Ynet.



He warned that information emerging from Iran &#8211; especially when circulated by foreign media &#8211; must be approached with caution. If accurate, he said, the developments suggest the Iranian system is working to preserve continuity in case the supreme leader dies or becomes incapacitated.



“Even if that happens, there will not be another supreme leader in the same sense,” he said. “The principle of rule by Islamic jurist remains central to the regime.”



Citrinowicz added that the situation underscores Pezeshkian’s limited leverage, despite the fact that the presidency is supposed to draw its legitimacy from the public.



“In principle, the president’s status is more significant than that of the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council,” he said. “But Pezeshkian’s lack of experience, alongside the trust Larijani enjoys from the leader and his extensive experience, likely gives him the upper hand in the leader’s eyes.”



Before returning to his current position, Larijani served as an adviser to Khamenei. In November 2024, shortly before upheaval erupted in Syria, he met with then-Syrian President Bashar Assad and later traveled to Lebanon during clashes with Israel. During a follow-up visit in July, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun insisted that he would not tolerate Iranian involvement in Lebanon’s internal matters.



On August 5, Larijani was formally named secretary of the Supreme National Security Council; a role he previously held from 2005 to 2007. The position is widely viewed as second in influence only to the supreme leader and more powerful than the presidency, functioning as the leader’s chief implementer of policy.



Larijani earlier headed nuclear talks with Western countries before being removed by then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad following policy disagreements. He ran unsuccessfully for president three times and was barred from running in both 2021 and 2024 after the sudden death of President Ebrahim Raisi.



He is part of a prominent clerical family. His father, Ayatollah Mirza Hashem Amoli, was a high-ranking religious figure, and several of his brothers have held influential positions, including one who served as chief justice. Another brother has held senior religious and academic roles.



Members of the Larijani family, including Larijani himself, have studied in the United States. One of his daughters completed her education there and resides in the U.S. The fact that he and his siblings were born in the Iraqi city of Najaf &#8211; a detail present on their identity documents &#8211; has also drawn criticism among some Iranians.

Power Struggle in Tehran: Failed Bid to Sideline Supreme Leader Elevates Larijani to Iran’s De Facto Ruler

Senior Israeli defense officials have quietly told their American counterparts that they would rather deal directly with the Lebanese army than continue working alongside the UN peacekeeping force operating in southern Lebanon, according to a report aired Monday on Kan News.



Officials within Israel&#8217;s defense establishment have grown increasingly frustrated with UNIFIL in recent weeks, describing the force as having turned adversarial toward the IDF. In unusually blunt terms, senior figures conveyed to American officials that UNIFIL &#8220;causes more harm than good,&#8221; and expressed a clear preference for direct coordination with Lebanon&#8217;s military without UN involvement near the border.



The shift in attitude comes as UNIFIL&#8217;s mandate in southern Lebanon approaches its end-of-year expiration. Israeli officials have pointed to what they describe as problematic coordination and a string of statements issued by UNIFIL that they view as hostile to Israel and the IDF.



Since the ceasefire agreement that halted fighting on Israel&#8217;s northern front, IDF-Lebanese army coordination has been routed through Washington as part of the broader ceasefire implementation framework. Israeli security officials have indicated they are open to direct talks with the Lebanese military in the future, particularly if Beirut moves to disarm Hezbollah — a step they see as a precondition for lasting calm along the border communities.



Meanwhile, competing visions for how to secure Lebanon&#8217;s borders are taking shape internationally. The Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese newspaper *Al-Akhbar* reported in late December 2025 that a European-backed plan is in the works to place international monitors along Lebanon&#8217;s borders with both Syria and Israel. Israel reportedly opposes any arrangement resembling UNIFIL&#8217;s current model, and has indicated a preference for Britain specifically to take on an oversight role, potentially through a network of observation towers along Lebanon&#8217;s northern, southern, and eastern land borders.



Britain has already floated a concrete proposal along these lines. The pan-Arab newspaper *Asharq Al-Awsat* reported last July that London formally offered to supply Lebanon with monitoring towers to be deployed along the Israeli border, framing the initiative as a means of reinforcing stability and ensuring compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701. The offer was presented during Foreign Secretary David Lammy&#8217;s visit to Beirut. Lebanese officials neither accepted nor rejected the proposal outright, but signaled that their immediate priority is consolidating the existing ceasefire before taking on new border arrangements.

Israel Signals Preference to Sidestep UNIFIL, Work Directly With Lebanese Army to Keep Peace

Rabbis on Both Coasts Report Property Destruction, Fires, and Mass Unrest, But No Jewish Casualties, B&#8221;H



The arrest and subsequent death of Nemésio Oseguera Cervantes, known as &#8220;El Mencho,&#8221; the feared leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) &#8211; widely considered the most powerful criminal organization in Mexico &#8211; has sent shockwaves across the country. In the hours following the operation, cartel members launched a sweeping campaign of destruction, burning buses, taxis, government-linked businesses, and other properties across multiple states. Jewish communities from the Pacific coast to the Caribbean found themselves sheltering in place as fires broke out in their neighborhoods.



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Belaaz spoke exclusively with two Chabad rabbis, one stationed on Mexico&#8217;s West Coast and one on the East, who described the situation on the ground and the steps they took to keep their communities informed and calm.



&#8220;A Great Lesson in Emunah&#8221;: Puerto Vallarta



Rabbi Schneur Hecht of Chabad of Puerto Vallarta described a city brought to a standstill. Puerto Vallarta sits on Mexico&#8217;s Pacific coast in the state of Jalisco &#8211; the CJNG&#8217;s home territory &#8211; making it one of the areas hardest hit by the unrest.



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&#8220;They&#8217;ve been trying to get this man for a long time,&#8221; Rabbi Hecht told Hamodia. &#8220;He had millions of dollars on his head. The government launched an operation, captured him, and the Jalisco cartel &#8211; the most powerful in Mexico &#8211; is naturally very upset. They&#8217;re causing tremendous chaos, but they&#8217;re not hurting anyone. There are no killings, no injuries. They are burning down buses, taxis, and establishments connected to the government.&#8221;



Rabbi Hecht said the violence reached right to his doorstep. &#8220;They blew up the OXXO across the street from the Chabad House,&#8221; he said, referring to the ubiquitous Mexican convenience store chain. &#8220;There&#8217;s a lot of smoke, a lot of fire. Nobody is on the street; it&#8217;s very quiet. Everybody is at home.&#8221;



He noted that the cartel itself had circulated a message instructing civilians to stay off the streets, as the group wished to avoid civilian casualties. The state government of Jalisco canceled all public events, including a Jewish wedding that had been scheduled for that day.



Chabad of Puerto Vallarta responded quickly. &#8220;We sent an email and a WhatsApp message to the entire community &#8211; full-time and part-time residents &#8211; early in the morning, as soon as we understood what was happening,&#8221; Rabbi Hecht said. &#8220;We told people to shelter at home until they received word from the authorities, and we gave out our cell phone numbers. People have been reaching out all day, mostly out of fear and panic. Many are in buildings where fire-bombings are happening right outside their windows. As long as people stay home, everyone is safe.&#8221;



Chabad&#8217;s email list for Puerto Vallarta spans some 2,500 names. &#8220;All Jewish people here are safe,&#8221; Rabbi Hecht confirmed. &#8220;Everybody is inside, and b&#8217;ezras Hashem this will be taken care of soon.&#8221;



Rabbi Hecht drew a broader spiritual lesson from the upheaval around him. &#8220;The human mind wants logic, wants to understand, wants stability,&#8221; he reflected. &#8220;But there are many things in the world that are chaotic and defy explanation. A Yid knows that his only true anchor &#8211; the one place where there is no chaos, where there is always stability &#8211; is the Ribbono shel Olam. Everything else in the world will always have chaos. You cannot rely on governments. You cannot rely on people. Certainly not on cartels. We need to be anchored in something real and true.&#8221;



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&#8220;People Feel Safe When They&#8217;re Together&#8221;: Eastern Mexico



Rabbi Dudi Caplin of Chabad Eastern Mexico described a similar picture on the other side of the country. He explained the sequence of events that led to El Mencho&#8217;s death: U.S. authorities, who had long blamed the CJNG leader for fueling America&#8217;s drug crisis, worked with Mexican forces to locate him. Following a confrontation involving significant gunfire, El Mencho was wounded and later died while being transported by a smaller aircraft.



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Rabbi Caplin noted that Jalisco &#8211; the cartel&#8217;s base, several hours west of Mexico City and home to a Jewish community of approximately 300 families &#8211; bore the brunt of the violence. But the unrest spread far beyond it. &#8220;We woke up this morning, and even in Cozumel there were store burnings,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It&#8217;s everywhere.&#8221;



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Despite the widespread destruction, Rabbi Caplin stressed that cartel members deliberately avoided targeting civilians. &#8220;Thank G-d, they don&#8217;t touch citizens,&#8221; he said. &#8220;They go against soldiers, against army personnel, against government banks and government property. They burned a plane at the Guadalajara airport. But not citizens, and not a single Jewish person has been hurt.&#8221;



At his Chabad House, Rabbi Caplin found himself hosting a steady stream of anxious visitors &#8211; tourists and locals alike &#8211; seeking information, a sense of community, and a place to feel grounded. &#8220;We have a full house right now,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We bring people in to eat, we tell them they can stay, we give them Wi-Fi, whatever they need. People feel much better when they see everyone together and when they hear from locals who can tell them what&#8217;s really happening.&#8221;



Rabbi Caplin, who has lived in Mexico for 17 years, said he has never seen anything on this scale. &#8220;I don&#8217;t remember anything like this,&#8221; he said. &#8220;In some towns they burned 20 or 30 places; buses, stores, businesses. It&#8217;s unprecedented.&#8221; He attributed the severity in part to American involvement for the first time. &#8220;America started to step in because, according to Washington, Mexico could not handle the cartels on its own,&#8221; he explained. &#8220;That pressure led to last week&#8217;s intelligence breakthrough on El Mencho&#8217;s location.&#8221;



Rabbi Caplin expressed cautious optimism that the situation would stabilize. &#8220;Historically, when something like this has happened with other cartel figures, it took one or two days to settle,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We&#8217;re watching and waiting.&#8221;



As of this time, Jewish communities across Mexico remained safely sheltered in place, with local Chabad rabbis serving as the primary point of contact and reassurance for a community spanning thousands of families on both coasts.







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EXCLUSIVE – Mexico in Chaos: Jewish Communities Shelter in Place After Cartel Leader’s Death

US officials say negotiators will return to Geneva on Friday, but only if Iran submits a comprehensive nuclear proposal within 48 hours, Axios reported.



Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to meet US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Geneva on Thursday.



Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi later affirmed the plan publicly, writing that talks were set for Thursday and expressing optimism about “a positive push to go the extra mile towards finalizing the deal.”



In a CBS Face the Nation interview, Araghchi said he anticipates meeting Witkoff on Thursday, adding that there remains “a good chance” for a diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear program.



During last week’s Geneva talks, Witkoff and Kushner reiterated that President Donald Trump still demands “zero enrichment” inside Iran but may consider limited “token enrichment” if Tehran proves it can block every pathway to a nuclear weapon, according to Axios.



Senator Lindsey Graham told the same news outlet that Trump is being advised by some not to pursue military action, but he warned against inaction. “I understand concerns about major military operations in the Middle East… However, the voices who counsel against getting entangled seem to ignore the consequences of letting evil go unchecked,” he said.



Despite progress, major gaps remain. US Vice President JD Vance said Iran has yet to accept Trump’s red lines, especially on its nuclear activities. “In some ways it went well… but in other ways it was very clear that the President has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work through,” Vance told Fox News.



On Saturday, Witkoff warned on Fox that Iran could be “a week away” from enriching uranium to bomb-making levels; though he did not mention that Iran currently lacks access to its stockpiles, the machinery to enrich them, or an operational weapons program. “They’re probably a week away from having industrial-grade bomb-making material. And that’s really dangerous,” he said, emphasizing the potential future risk if Iran rebuilds its program.



Israel and the US destroyed Iran’s centrifuges, weaponization program, major nuclear facilities, and senior scientific leadership in June 2025, severely limiting Iran’s ability to access or use its enriched uranium.

US Gives Iran 48 Hours to Submit Proposal Before Friday Geneva Talks

A sudden blaze broke out at the kever of Harav Elimelech of Lizhensk in the city of Lizhensk, Poland, after gas-filled balloons unexpectedly exploded while a large group of visiting students was present.



According to local reports, approximately 300 girls were gathered at the site for an educational tour when several decorative balloons ignited without warning, triggering what witnesses described as a burst of flames and a moment of panic. The fire spread quickly enough to alarm the crowd but was contained shortly after by emergency responders, who arrived within minutes.



Officials noted that the blaze caused damage to a nearby guest lodging structure, often used by visitors who travel to the area throughout the year. Despite the size of the group and the intensity of the initial explosion, b&#8217;chasdei Hashem no injuries were reported and no damage to the kever itself was apparent.



The incident comes just weeks before the yahrtzeit of Harav Elimelech on 21 Adar, when mass crowds travel to his kever, filling the area with thousands who come from across the world to daven at the resting place of the revered tzaddik. Preparations for the annual influx of visitors were already underway when the fire occurred.



Authorities are continuing to assess the structural damage, and local organizers said they expect repairs to be carried out swiftly to ensure the site is ready for the large gatherings anticipated in the coming days.

Fire Erupts at Kever of Harav Elimelech of Lizhensk Zy’a; No Injuries Reported, Guest House Damaged

An armed man in his early 20s was shot and killed early Friday morning after breaching the secure perimeter of the Mar-a-Lago property in Palm Beach, according to a Sunday morning statement released by the United States Secret Service.



The agency said that “on February 22, around 1:30 a.m., a male in his early 20s was shot by U.S. Secret Service agents and a deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) following an unauthorized entry into the secure perimeter at Mar-a-Lago.” The individual, whose name has not yet been released pending notification of relatives, was pronounced deceased at the scene.



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According to the statement, the man was first seen “by the north gate of the Mar-a-Lago property carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can.” Agents from the Secret Service, together with a PBSO deputy, confronted him shortly thereafter. “Shots were fired by law enforcement during the encounter,” the agency said. No law-enforcement personnel were injured.



Authorities emphasized that “there were no Secret Service protectees present at the location at the time of the incident.” The property, which is secured around the clock, has been the site of heightened security activity in recent years.



Federal and local investigators are now examining the background of the deceased, his actions prior to the breach, and any possible motive. The statement noted that “the incident, including the individual’s background, actions, potential motive, and the use of force, is under investigation by the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.”



As is standard protocol, “the involved Secret Service agents will be placed on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.”



Further details are expected as investigators continue to piece together the circumstances surrounding the predawn confrontation.

Mar-a-Lago Intruder Shot Dead by Law Enforcement; Federal Investigation Underway

MK Yitzchak Pindrus of Degel HaTorah, currently visiting Jewish communities in New Jersey, sat down with Belaaz for a wide-ranging interview on Thursday to address the draft law crisis that has gripped Chareidi Jewry in Israel, the future of the Netanyahu coalition, and the Purim-time hope that Israel&#8217;s enemies be defeated.



Speaking at a Belaaz studio in Toms River, Pindrus pulled no punches about the severity of the situation on the ground. Pindrus’ visit to New Jersey follows a week of turmoil in Bnei Brak, where confrontations between Chareidi protesters and security forces drew widespread attention. But for Pindrus, the unrest is a predictable response to an unprecedented legal reality.



 &#8220;Technically, every yeshiva bochur is basically illegal,&#8221; he said bluntly. &#8220;He could be arrested, which brings over a million and a half people in Eretz Yisrael under real threat.&#8221;



 The MK traced the crisis to a sustained political and legal campaign against the Chareidi world. &#8220;It&#8217;s part of an agenda that&#8217;s been going on for years to make the Charedi community illegitimate in Israel; to not let them live as they do in Israel.&#8221; 



He acknowledged that two years of war had complicated the picture, but said Israel&#8217;s secular establishment had exploited that window. &#8220;They&#8217;re taking advantage of that situation. Everybody agrees you can&#8217;t take yeshiva bochurim and put them into the army; but why not use that time to attack the Charedi community?&#8221;



 Pindrus expressed empathy for the protesters in Bnei Brak while stopping short of endorsing the violence that erupted. &#8220;I think it&#8217;s a terrible chillul Hashem,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I can understand where they&#8217;re coming from, but that doesn&#8217;t mean that when you feel uncomfortable and feel pressure to act, you can act in a way that isn&#8217;t befitting a Torah person.&#8221; He was direct about where he sees the real adversary: &#8220;The soldiers are not your enemies. The police are not your enemies. The Supreme Court; yes, they are your enemies. But even regarding the Supreme Court, I wouldn&#8217;t tell people to go beat them up, because that&#8217;s not the right direction.&#8221;



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The Supreme Court Problem, And Why Laws Keep Failing



 A central frustration for Pindrus is that the problem is not lack of legislation; it is a Supreme Court that keeps striking it down. &#8220;The main problem is not that a law hasn&#8217;t been passed,&#8221; he explained. &#8220;A law was passed at least three times; in the 1990s, in 2002, and around 2016–17. But each time, the Supreme Court struck it down.&#8221;



 He leveled sharp criticism at the Court&#8217;s claim to unlimited authority. &#8220;It&#8217;s the only country in the world where the Supreme Court simply says, &#8216;I can overrule anything I want,&#8217; and no one can say anything back.&#8221; He predicted an eventual institutional collision: &#8220;That&#8217;s going to lead to a serious clash one day; a real battle between the Supreme Court and the government over who controls the country.&#8221; Pindrus said his faction has responded to this deadlock with a legislative slowdown. &#8220;What we&#8217;ve been doing for the last year is: we haven&#8217;t let any bill pass in the Knesset; nothing unrelated to the war or urgent matters. No bill has passed in almost a year.&#8221; He connected his physical presence in New York to this very posture: &#8220;It would actually be harder for me to be in New York right now if the Knesset were in full session passing laws.&#8221;



 He disclosed that a breakthrough may be imminent. &#8220;We&#8217;re hoping that in the next couple of days, we&#8217;ll have a draft document; a piece of paper laying out what the bill will look like. With that, we&#8217;ll go to the Gedolei Yisrael and hear from them whether we should vote for it or not.&#8221; He acknowledged the difficulty: &#8220;It&#8217;s a very, very narrow path: on one hand, a bill that can pass and bring a solution; on the other hand, a bill that can also survive the Supreme Court.&#8221;



 Coalition Ultimatum: &#8216;There&#8217;s a Chance; For Now&#8217;



 Asked directly whether Degel HaTorah and United Torah Judaism would topple the Netanyahu government if no bill materializes, Pindrus was measured but unambiguous. &#8220;The only reason we&#8217;re still in the government, and haven&#8217;t brought it down, is because there&#8217;s still a chance. As long as there&#8217;s a chance, we&#8217;re part of the coalition.&#8221;



 The corollary was equally clear. &#8220;We&#8217;re there only for a chance to get a bill. If there&#8217;s no chance; we&#8217;re not there.&#8221; He added: &#8220;You can&#8217;t be part of the government when it&#8217;s very obvious and clear that they&#8217;re not even trying to pass a bill.&#8221;



 He was careful to leave room for Netanyahu personally. &#8220;It&#8217;s not that the Prime Minister politically wants to draft all the yeshiva bochurim; but yes, we have to pressure more.&#8221; Still, the bottom line was firm: regardless of fault, UTJ cannot remain in a government that fails to deliver.



 On Bennett: &#8216;He Believes in One Thing; Being Prime Minister&#8217;



 Pindrus was dismissive &#8211; and colorful &#8211; when asked whether UTJ would join a government led by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who has been positioning himself for a political comeback. &#8220;Bennett has been working for 20 years to be Prime Minister. He has no idea what he actually believes in. Not one word that he says does he actually believe, except one thing: being Prime Minister. That&#8217;s the only thing he truly believes in.&#8221;



 He said he doubted Bennett would reach the premiership, and was firm that UTJ would not be the vehicle that puts him there. &#8220;I don&#8217;t believe he&#8217;s going to be Prime Minister; and certainly not by our hand.&#8221;



 On the question of future coalitions more broadly, Pindrus articulated a single threshold: &#8220;Only a government that is going to allow yeshiva bochurim to sit in the yeshiva and study; only a government like that can get our vote or our backing. No other government can.&#8221; He invoked the community&#8217;s lived reality as the clinching argument: &#8220;I don&#8217;t think you&#8217;ll find anywhere in the world someone who is being attacked, spat at, harassed &#8211; like our community is today in Israel &#8211; who would be part of that government.&#8221;



 A Call to American Jews: Use Your Influence



 Pindrus had a direct message for American Jewish communities; particularly on the question of financial and political leverage. On funding, he called for sustained support: &#8220;The people who are funding kollel avreichim and helping &#8211; people who are coming and helping and pushing &#8211; that has to continue. There&#8217;s a lot that people over here can do, and we need that.&#8221;



 He also urged American Jews to use their social and political networks. &#8220;Any connection you have with Israelis, or with people who make decisions in Israel or have any influence there;&nbsp; use it. Tell them: &#8216;You can&#8217;t be partners with us here in America if you&#8217;re going to make that community illegitimate.&#8217; That&#8217;s a message that has to get through.&#8221;



 Asked whether the Trump administration could be leveraged to pressure Israel on the issue, he was tempered. &#8220;This is ultimately a political-legal issue. The political world doesn&#8217;t want it to go through &#8211; and neither does the Supreme Court. We see President Trump trying to influence the courts in Israel on a different issue entirely &#8211; and so far he hasn&#8217;t succeeded.&#8221; The implication: even American presidential pressure has its limits in the current Israeli judicial climate.



 Iran, and a Purim Tefilah



 The interview concluded on an evocative note. Asked whether a potential Iranian military escalation could push off a Knesset vote on the draft law, Pindrus declined to speculate on timing, but seized on the Purim season for a broader message.



 &#8220;For sure, we&#8217;re in Purim; we&#8217;re all waiting for the Haman of our generation to be hanged on a high tree,&#8221; he said, in an unmistakable allusion to Iran&#8217;s leadership. &#8220;And just as in the time of Achashveirosh, all the haters of the Jewish nation should be wiped out. Now is the time. Amen; kein yehi ratzon.”

INTERVIEW: ‘1.5 Million People in Eretz Yisrael Under Real threat.” – MK Pindrus Sounds the Alarm on Draft Crisis, Coalition Politics, and Purim Hope

Harav Chaim Yosef David Weiss, shlit&#8221;a, senior Dayan of the Satmar kehillah in Antwerp and widely known by the acronym of his name, the Chid&#8221;u, was verbally attacked while attending a Kiddush held in honor of his grandson&#8217;s aufruf at the Bobov-45 Beis Midrash on Chaggai Street in Bnei Brak this Shabbos.



The Rav, who had been seated at the mizrach and engaged in divrei Torah with the Rabbanim and Admorim present at the table, was suddenly approached by an individual who proceeded to hurl a torrent of harsh and deeply disrespectful words at him, reportedly in connection with recent halachic rulings the Dayan had issued in matters affecting the broader community.



For close to ten full minutes, the man continued his verbal assault before the assembled crowd. Family members and distinguished guests, visibly shaken by the brazen affront to the Dayan&#8217;s kavod, moved to intervene and remove the individual from the hall.



It was at this moment that the true greatness of the Chid&#8221;u became manifest to all present.



With complete and unruffled calm, the Dayan raised his hand, signaling quietly but firmly to those around him that no response was to be given. He met the man&#8217;s words with a composed and steady demeanor, allowing him to conclude without interruption. When the individual had finished, the Chid&#8221;u turned to him with a warm &#8220;Gut Shabbos&#8221; and resumed his Torah discussion with those at the table, as though nothing had occurred.



The Chid&#8221;u, a brother of the Horodenka Rebbe, shlit&#8221;a, of Manchester, is regarded as one of the foremost poskim in European Jewry. His response to the incident has been widely praised by rabbinic figures in Bnei Brak and in chassidishe kehillos abroad.



A grand chasuna for the Chid&#8221;u&#8217;s grandson is scheduled to take place this coming Tuesday at Ganei Dekel hall in Bnei Brak, and steps are being taken to ensure the simchah proceeds in an atmosphere of joy and dignity befitting the occasion.

Prominent Dayan Publicly Harassed for 10 Minutes on Shabbos, Responds With ‘Gut Shabbos’

Tucker Carlson flew to Israel last week on a private jet he said he chartered because he is &#8220;cheap,&#8221; sat down with US Ambassador Mike Huckabee inside Ben-Gurion Airport&#8217;s diplomatic terminal, and never left the building. He didn&#8217;t need to. The war he came to wage was not with Hamas or Hezbollah. It was with the American officials, Jewish thinkers, and conservative allies who have spent months pushing back against what Israeli-American political theorist Yoram Hazony has called a &#8220;circus of anti-Jewish messaging&#8221; on Carlson&#8217;s podcast.



The two-and-a-half-hour episode, released Friday, featured a combative 25-minute monologue before Carlson even sat across from Huckabee. In it, Carlson called Israel &#8220;probably the most violent country in the world&#8221; and that most people have held a gun or killed people &#8211; a claim resting on the conflation of mandatory military service with criminal violence.



The vast majority of IDF soldiers have not, contrary to the implication of Carlson, fired their weapons at people. Carlson is also a vocal supporter of the 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms, further showcasing his double-standard for Israel.



Israel&#8217;s homicide rate is a fraction of Honduras, Venezuela, or South Africa. The 2025 Global Peace Index ranks Israel above Russia, Ukraine, Sudan, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Syria.



When the interview began, Carlson opened with a discussion on Jonathan Pollard, the former US Navy analyst convicted of spying for Israel in the 1980s. He called Pollard &#8220;the greatest traitor in modern American history&#8221; and cited an unproven report of Israel passing the information to the Soviet Union. The declassified CIA Damage Assessment found that Israel&#8217;s requests to Pollard focused on Arab states and Soviet weapons systems, not US war plans against Moscow. Former CIA Director James Woolsey noted that Pollard &#8220;did not get anybody killed and was not spying for an enemy.&#8221;



Carlson ignored a long list of genuine traitors who have caused severe damage to the United States, including Robert Hanssen, an FBI agent who gave top-secret information to Russian intelligence for over 20 years, Julius Rosenberg, who gave US Atomic bomb secrets the the Russians and Aldrich Ames, who also gave secret information that led to the deaths of at least 10 U.S. foreign agents. Carlson also glossed over the most infamous traitor in US history; Benedict Arnold, who defected to the British during the American Revolution.



Huckabee acknowledged meeting Pollard at the embassy, saying the visit came after he sent condolences following Pollard&#8217;s wife&#8217;s death. He was unapologetic. &#8220;Tucker, if you&#8217;ve ever been to the US embassy, you would know there&#8217;s no such thing as a secret meeting at the US embassy. There are cameras everywhere.&#8221; He added, &#8220;I did. And frankly, I don&#8217;t regret it.&#8221;



Huckabee incorrectly stated that Pollard was &#8220;sentenced to 30 years.&#8221; He was sentenced to life in prison and served approximately 30 years before being paroled in November 2015.



The interview&#8217;s most charged exchange came over Prime Minister Netanyahu&#8217;s invocation of Amalek on October 28, 2023, the eve of the Gaza ground offensive. &#8220;That is calling for genocide,&#8221; Carlson said. &#8220;And you know that.&#8221;



Huckabee rejected the accusation. &#8220;Because if Israel wanted to commit genocide, they could have done it in two-and-a-half hours.&#8221; Israel possesses overwhelming military superiority in the region, and has not deployed it to its maximum capacity. The Prime Minister&#8217;s Office has long stressed that the verse Netanyahu quoted from Devarim, a commandment to remember, is not the passage commanding destruction that Carlson cited. The phrase appears on Holocaust memorials and at Yad Vashem.



The confrontation over civilian casualties produced what may be remembered as the defining moment of the interview. After Huckabee defended the IDF&#8217;s warning system&nbsp; text messages, leaflets, roof-knocking, evacuation maps and said Israel&#8217;s procedures exceed those of the United States military, Carlson pounced. &#8220;Your dig at the United States is very revealing,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Because your priorities are very clear.&#8221;



Huckabee gestured to his American flag pin. &#8220;What flag am I wearing here?&#8221;



&#8220;Well, that&#8217;s, of course, my flag as well,&#8221; Carlson replied. He did not let up.



On child casualties, Huckabee said some of those killed had been recruited by Hamas, &#8220;kids as young as 14.&#8221; Carlson&#8217;s retort &#8220;Do you think a 14-year-old child has agency?&#8221;&nbsp; was pointed. Hamas has operated military training camps for children, and the UN has documented the use of minors in armed roles. Recruiting children under 15 into armed groups constitutes a war crime under the Rome Statute.



On Christian rights in Israel, Carlson was on weaker ground than he appeared. His claim that Christians are &#8220;far fewer in absolute numbers&#8221; than in 1948 contradicts data from Israel&#8217;s Central Bureau of Statistics, which shows the Christian population has grown from approximately 34,000 in 1949 to around 185,000 today. He also raised incidents of Jews spitting on Christian clergy in Jerusalem&#8217;s Old City. Huckabee did not hedge. &#8220;It shouldn&#8217;t happen. It&#8217;s horrible.&#8221; He added, having made over 100 trips to Israel over 53 years, that he had never personally experienced such treatment. Shadi Khalloul, a prominent Israeli Arab Christian advocate, told the Jerusalem Post separately that the incidents do not represent the Christian experience in Israel, are perpetrated by a &#8220;fanatic, tiny minority&#8221; and are &#8220;punished when reported.&#8221;



After Tucker Carlson made his case against Israel on camera as part of his interview with US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, one of the most influential voices in the conservative intellectual world provided a behind the scenes look into Carlson&#8217;s diatribes.



Hazony, a shomer Shabbos, Jerusalem-based Israeli-American political theorist who founded the Edmund Burke Foundation and organized the National Conservatism conference movement, disclosed Motzoei Shabbos that he had spoken with Carlson at length in early February at the Trump administration’s urging. The account is striking for what it reveals not about Carlson’s ideology, but about his judgment.



On January 11, President Trump, asked whether he condemns antisemitism on the right, said &#8220;certainly&#8221; and added: &#8220;I think we don&#8217;t need them. I think we don&#8217;t like them.&#8221; Trump then met with Carlson at the White House on January 16. It was pressure&nbsp; discreet but unmistakable from an administration that relies on both Jewish and Christian Zionist support.



Carlson, according to Hazony, wanted to know what &#8220;practical steps&#8221; he could take. Hazony&#8217;s response was direct. He told Carlson that nearly every Jewish person he knew believed Carlson had been waging &#8220;a savage campaign against Jews, Judaism, and Israel&#8221; for the past 18 months, with the apparent aim of driving Jews and Zionist Christians out of the Trump coalition and out of the Republican Party.



When Carlson asked why anyone would consider him an antisemite, Hazony spent more than an hour walking him through specific examples from his program; guests who had claimed Jews control the American government, that Jews shot John F. Kennedy, that Jews financially sustained Winston Churchill to provoke a war with Hitler, that the Hebrew Bible teaches only revenge and genocide.



Carlson kept expressing amazement. Hazony kept producing examples. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t feel he was open to dialing down the hostility,&#8221; Hazony wrote. He kept the door open anyway, in case the administration&#8217;s pressure eventually produced movement.



It did not. The weeks since January 11 have brought no discernible change in the content or direction of Carlson&#8217;s program.



Then came a sequence that reads as alternately audacious and farcical. On February 3, two days after a conversation in which Hazony had described in precise terms why Carlson was considered a leading antisemite of his generation, Carlson wrote to ask if he could speak at the first NatCon conference in Jerusalem, scheduled for June. Hazony declined, explaining in writing that much of the speaker lineup &#8220;will revolt if you join the program and that story will blow back on you in addition to blowing up the conference.&#8221;



On February 9, Carlson asked Hazony to arrange a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Hazony&#8217;s reply was frank: &#8220;I don&#8217;t see how that could happen. It doesn&#8217;t serve any interest I&#8217;m aware of. It could only damage him.&#8221;



In the same video released Friday that included his interview with Huckabee, Carlson characterized Hazony&#8217;s refusal as evidence that Israel was suppressing access. He also suggested, in what Hazony described as a &#8220;peevish summary,&#8221; that Israel might be trying to kill him and his family.



&#8220;The private person turns out to be exactly who we&#8217;ve been seeing in public,&#8221; Hazony concluded. &#8220;As of now, I&#8217;m not seeing any sign that he is willing to play ball with the mainstream nationalist camp in the Republican party, much less that he has any regrets about who and what he has become since leaving Fox News in 2023.&#8221;

Tucker Carlson Tried, Failed to Meet Netanyahu, Reports Emerge After Interview With Huckabee

A newly opened branch of a well-known London bakery was vandalized on Wednesday following a pro-Palestinian demonstration accusing the company of “funding Israel.”



Gail’s Bakery, which has around 170 sites across the UK, launched its latest shop in north London, where a small group of protesters gathered with a banner reading, “Boycott Israel For Genocide And War Crimes in Gaza.” Another sign alleged the business was “funded by investors in apartheid,&#8221; according to video footage shared online.



In the video posted on X, a Jewish passerby challenges the demonstration, asking, “Why are you protesting a UK-based business saying ‘Boycott Israel’? Is it because they’ve got Jewish directors?&#8221;



A protester replies that the bakery’s profits were “going to private equity owners and investors&#8221; who, they claimed, had put money into Israeli “war tech.”



After the protest, red paint was thrown across the bakery’s storefront and signage, accompanied by sprayed words reading “Boycott Gails, funds Israeli tech.”



London’s Metropolitan Police reported no arrests so far and said officers are reviewing additional footage to identify potential suspects.



Gail’s traces its origins to a wholesale bakery established in the 1990s by Israeli bakers, including Gail Mejia and Ran Avidan, before opening its first retail shop in 2005.



The business was acquired in 2021 by the American investment firm Bain Capital, which has invested in Israeli technology companies.



“We are a British business with no specific connections to any country or government outside the UK,&#8221; a Gail’s spokesperson told the Jewish News. “Our focus right now is on working with the authorities and making sure our people feel safe and supported.&#8221;



Gail’s is not alone in facing such activism. In the United States, the bakery chain Tatte has been protested in person and online, and New York’s Breads chain recently saw unionization efforts tied to accusations of supporting “the genocide happening in Palestine.”



The vandalism sparked swift backlash from Jewish organizations in the UK, who said it echoed rising hostility toward Jewish-linked businesses.



“Targeting a business on the basis of alleged or perceived Israeli and or Jewish connections reflects a very worrying trend,” a spokesperson for the Board of Deputies of British Jews said. “Across the UK, companies and individuals are increasingly singled out by reference to their association, real or otherwise, to Israel, with an inevitable disproportionate impact on the Jewish community. That is not legitimate protest; it is creating an atmosphere of intimidation for Jewish businesses, staff and customers. And is part of a wider trend to try and drive Jews out of wider civil society.&#8221;



The European Jewish Congress called the incident “deeply concerning” in a statement on X.



“Targeting a local business because of perceived Jewish or Israeli associations reflects a troubling normalization of hostility that must be firmly rejected,” the post said. “Such acts have no place in our societies and must be unequivocally condemned.&#8221;



British Labour MP David Taylor also criticized the protest, writing on X, “This is pure anti-semitism, no ifs, no buts.&#8221;

Jewish-Owned London Bakery Vandalized After Anti-Israel Protest

A powerful nor’easter is poised to hit the Northeast with intense snowfall, blizzard conditions and damaging winds.



Forecasters had grappled with uncertainty in the days leading up to the storm, but projections have now solidified around a major system stretching from the Mid-Atlantic into New England, affecting major cities such as New York and Boston.



The storm is expected to rapidly strengthen into a bomb cyclone off the East Coast starting Sunday, placing the region just a day away from its most severe impacts.



New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill has declared a state of emergency beginning at noon Sunday, anticipating significant snowfall. In neighboring New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul issued states of emergency across 22 of the state’s 62 counties starting Sunday morning.



New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani cautioned that the upcoming conditions could surpass those of the previous month’s storm. Officials are deploying outside snow-removal equipment earlier than before, adding extra crews to clear bus stops, sidewalks and pathways. More than 40 warming centers will open, and outreach teams will intensify efforts to assist homeless residents.



Hochul warned that the forecast has deteriorated quickly and described the approaching storm as “potentially life-threatening” and “historic.” She urged residents to stay indoors and sign up for emergency alerts. In Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser plans to dispatch the District Snow Team &#8211; about 200 plows &#8211; ahead of the storm’s arrival.



Blizzard warnings now cover millions from near Philadelphia to Boston, including Delaware, eastern Maryland, most of New Jersey, New York City and parts of coastal southern New England. This marks New York City’s first blizzard warning since 2017.



Snow totals could reach a foot or more from Philadelphia through New York City and Boston, with several inches expected farther south into the Mid-Atlantic, including Baltimore and smaller amounts in Washington, DC.



Travel is expected to be severely disrupted. Snow begins Sunday, but the worst conditions will strike Sunday night into Monday, likely crippling the Monday morning commute. More than 1,100 Sunday flights have already been canceled, with major delays expected at airports in New York City and Boston.



Power outages are possible as heavy, wet snow combines with winds over 40 mph, weighing down branches and power lines.



 Severe to extreme impacts are anticipated from the Delmarva Peninsula through eastern Pennsylvania, much of New Jersey, the New York tri-state area and southern New England, according to NOAA’s Winter Storm Severity Index. Dangerous travel and widespread closures are likely.



Small shifts in the storm’s track could alter snowfall totals, but the system will be strong regardless. The heaviest snow &#8211; possibly 12 to 24 inches &#8211; is expected near and southeast of Interstate 95 from Philadelphia to New York and Boston.



If forecasts hold, this would be New York City’s first storm exceeding one foot of snow in more than five years. A storm a month earlier came close, dropping 11.4 inches.



The snow will be heavy and moisture-packed, prone to clinging to trees and power lines. When paired with wind gusts over 40 mph — and up to 55 mph along the immediate coast — damage and outages become more likely.



Strong winds will also push seawater inland, similar to storm surge in a hurricane. Moderate to locally major coastal flooding is possible from Delaware and New Jersey to Long Island and southern New England, peaking around high tide late Sunday night or early Monday.



Snow and rain will begin developing Sunday across parts of New York and the Mid-Atlantic, transitioning to all snow as colder air arrives.



Conditions will deteriorate quickly Sunday evening as the storm intensifies offshore. Snowfall rates could exceed an inch per hour, spreading from the Mid-Atlantic toward southern New England with increasingly strong winds.



By sunrise Monday, the storm’s harshest effects will still be battering areas from Philadelphia to New York City and across southern New England. Blizzard conditions are expected along coastal regions, making travel dangerous or impossible.



Snow and strong winds will gradually ease from south to north through Monday afternoon. By Monday evening, the storm will be winding down, though parts of New England may still experience lingering effects.

Explosive Nor’easter Set to Slam the Northeast With Blizzard Conditions

The Islamic State terror group announced on Saturday that it carried out two assaults on Syrian military personnel in the country’s north and east, presenting the incidents as the start of a new operational campaign aimed at the Syrian government.



According to the group’s Dabiq news outlet, its terrorists shot “an individual of the apostate Syrian regime” in Mayadin, located in Deir al-Zor province, using a handgun. It added that two additional troops were targeted with machine-gun fire in the northern city of Raqqa.



Syria’s Defence Ministry reported that a soldier and a civilian were killed the same day by what it described as “unknown assailants.” A military source said the fallen soldier served in the army’s 42nd Division.



These attacks follow a rise in operations by Islamic State against the leadership of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who left al-Qaeda in 2016 and later led an alliance of Islamist groups that ousted Bashar al-Assad at the end of 2024.



Later on Saturday, the group released an audio message from spokesperson Abu Hudhayfa al-Ansari, who claimed that Syria had “moved from Iranian occupation to Turkish-American occupation.”



Islamic State declared that it had launched a “new phase of operations” in the country, labeling Sharaa a “watchdog” for the international coalition and warning that his fate would ultimately mirror that of Assad.



Sharaa formally committed Syria to the global coalition against Islamic State last November during a visit to the United States, where he met with President Donald Trump.



The latest attacks occurred just two days after the group claimed responsibility for another assault in Deir al-Zor that killed a member of the Interior Ministry’s internal security forces and injured another.



In recent hours, multiple social media pages and Telegram channels aligned with Islamic State have urged supporters to increase attacks, particularly those involving motorcycles and small arms.



Since Assad’s fall, the terrorist group has carried out six attacks on Syrian government targets.



A report released last week by the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism stated that Sharaa and two senior ministers have survived five attempted assassinations attributed to the group.

ISIS Signals Escalation With Fresh Strikes on Syrian Forces

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch on Friday for New York and New Jersey as a significant snowstorm approaches the region this weekend.



The agency announced that the watch will remain in place from Sunday morning through Monday afternoon.



Forecasters expect widespread heavy snowfall across the tri-state, with reduced visibility and dangerous travel conditions. Wet, heavy snow combined with strong winds may also lead to fallen tree limbs.



Accumulations between 3 and 10 inches are projected for parts of New York City as well as Westchester, Putnam and Nassau counties, northeastern New Jersey and portions of Connecticut.



Areas farther east, particularly Suffolk County, could receive 10 to 13 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service, prompting warnings of potentially blizzard-like conditions.



The New York City Office of Emergency Management is urging residents to stay off the roads Sunday and Monday morning unless absolutely necessary, recommending mass transit as an alternative. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani says crews are preparing as officials continue to monitor the storm closely.



A winter storm watch is in effect for New York and New Jersey from Feb. 22 to Feb. 23, 2026, as the system moves toward the region.

Winter Storm Watch Announced for Tri-State This Weekend

President Donald Trump issued an extended and fiery response on social media following the Supreme Court’s decision striking down his use of emergency tariff powers, calling the ruling “deeply disappointing” and accusing several justices of lacking courage.



Trump opened his statement by blasting the court’s majority:



“The Supreme Court&#8217;s Ruling on TARIFFS is deeply disappointing! I am ashamed of certain Members of the Court for not having the Courage to do what is right for our Country.”



He argued that the justices who voted against him were either politically motivated or intimidated, writing:



“Others think they&#8217;re being ‘politically correct’… they&#8217;re just FOOLS and ‘LAPDOGS’ for the RINOS and Radical Left Democrats… very unpatriotic, and disloyal to the Constitution.”



He went even further, suggesting outside influence on the majority:



“It is my opinion that the Court has been swayed by Foreign Interests, and a Political Movement that is far smaller than people would think. But obnoxious, ignorant, and loud!”



Trump reserved praise for the three conservative justices who dissented:



“I would like to thank and congratulate Justices Thomas, Alito, and Kavanaugh for your Strength, Wisdom, and Love of our Country.”



He urged supporters to read the minority’s reasoning:



“When you read the dissenting opinions, there is no way that anyone can argue against them.”



He later quoted Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s dissent at length, highlighting that multiple other statutes &#8211; Sections 232, 122, 201, 301, and Section 338 of the Tariff Act &#8211; may still allow a president to impose duties.



Trump framed tariffs as both an economic and national security tool, proclaiming:



“This was an important case to me, more as a symbol of Economic and National Security, than anything else.” He argued the decision paradoxically strengthened presidential trade powers:



“The Supreme Court&#8217;s decision today made a President&#8217;s ability to both regulate Trade, and impose TARIFFS, more powerful and crystal clear, rather than less.”



“I have very effectively utilized TARIFFS over the past year to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.”



“Our Stock Market has just recently broken the 50,000 mark on the DOW and… 7,000 on the S&amp;P.”



He also claimed tariffs helped end wars and cut fentanyl inflows by 30%.



Trump ridiculed the legal logic of the ruling:



“The Court said that I&#8217;m not allowed to charge even $1 DOLLAR to any Country under IEEPA… but I am allowed to cut off any and all Trade… even imposing a… destroying embargo… How nonsensical is that?”



“They are saying that I have the absolute right to license, but not the right to charge a license fee. What license has ever been issued without the right to charge a fee?”



Despite the setback, Trump vowed to move aggressively using other authorities. He emphasized:



“All National Security TARIFFS, Section 232 and existing Section 301 TARIFFS, remain in place.”



He then announced a new across-the-board measure:



“Today I will sign an Order to impose a 10% GLOBAL TARIFF, under Section 122, over and above our normal TARIFFS already being charged.”



He added that his administration is initiating new Section 301 and other investigations to counter what he described as unfair trade practices.

Trump Fires Back at Supreme Court After Ruling Against Tariffs, Plans Roundabout Way to Impose Rules

The Supreme Court on Friday delivered a sweeping rebuke to President Donald Trump’s use of emergency powers to impose broad tariffs, ruling that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize the president to levy duties on foreign imports.



The 6–3 decision throws the future of Trump’s trade agenda into turmoil and opens the door to potentially massive refunds &#8211; totaling tens of billions of dollars &#8211; to businesses that paid the now-invalidated tariffs.



Chief Justice John Roberts authored the majority opinion, joined by Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor. The ruling marks a rare coalition of conservative and liberal justices united in sharply limiting executive authority.



Roberts wrote that the IEEPA contains a “lengthy list of powers” granted to the president in national emergencies, but pointedly excludes any reference to tariffs or duties. That absence, he argued, is decisive.



“It stands to reason that had Congress intended to convey the distinct and extraordinary power to impose tariffs, it would have done so expressly — as it consistently has in other tariff statutes,” Roberts wrote. “He cannot.”



Trump ripped into the Supreme Court after ruling that his tariffs were not authorized. &#8220;The Supreme Court&#8217;s ruling on tariffs is deeply disappointing, and I&#8217;m ashamed of certain members of the court &#8211; absolutely ashamed &#8211; for not having the courage to do what&#8217;s right for our country,&#8221; Trump said in broadcast remarks.



&#8220;Democrats on the court are thrilled, but they will automatically vote no&#8230; they&#8217;re against anything that makes America, strong, healthy, and Great Again.



&#8220;They also are a, frankly, disgrace to our nation.&#8221;



The ruling invalidates an array of Trump-imposed levies, including:



A 10% baseline tariff applied to all U.S. trading partners on “Liberation Day” in April 2025



Additional duties of 10%, 25% and 35% on imports from China, Mexico and Canada, tied to fentanyl trafficking concerns.



A 25% tariff on nations importing oil from Venezuela.



A 25% tariff on India for its purchases of Russian petroleum.



A 40% tariff on selected products from Brazil.



As of mid-December 2025, IEEPA-based tariffs had generated $133 billion of the roughly $251 billion in tariff revenue collected across fiscal years 2025 and 2026, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The ruling does not stipulate whether those funds must be returned, and the majority opinion remains silent on the issue.



In dissent, Justice Brett Kavanaugh warned that the refund process is likely to be a “mess,” and said the decision could destabilize trade arrangements negotiated under pressure from the tariffs.



Trump’s team had prepared for a loss. The White House previously signaled it could turn to other legal authorities &#8211; including Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and Sections 201 and 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 &#8211; though these mechanisms are narrower, more procedurally burdensome and sometimes time-limited.



The president has also floated rebranding his tariff system as a licensing fee regime, though experts say that too would face significant hurdles.



During oral arguments last fall, several conservative justices expressed deep skepticism of Trump’s approach. Gorsuch warned that granting such authority would become a “one-way ratchet toward the… continual accretion of power in the executive branch.”



The ruling invokes the major questions doctrine, emphasizing that programs of far-reaching economic impact must be explicitly authorized by Congress.



The decision is already reshaping international expectations. European officials, who had been preparing for Trump to swiftly reinstate tariffs using alternate laws, are now reassessing a July 2025 trade agreement awaiting ratification.



“Our basic assumption that President Trump could use another legal basis has to be confronted with the new contextual elements,” a European official said, noting the ruling’s implications for future negotiations.



EU policymakers are now modeling scenarios that assume the U.S. may have far fewer tariff tools available; potentially weakening Washington’s leverage.



Democrats, meanwhile, are celebrating the ruling as they head into a high-stakes election year. With inflation and household costs dominating voter concerns, party strategists see a fresh opening to tie Republicans to unpopular price hikes tied to tariffs.



“This decision from SCOTUS will NOT save vulnerable House Republicans,” the House Majority PAC said. “They voted multiple times to enable Trump’s tariffs which have raised prices across the board.”



House Democratic leaders suggest the decision could force Republicans into a politically perilous vote if Trump presses Congress for new tariff authority.



The midterm election cycle begins in earnest next month, with control of both chambers of Congress up for grabs.



Trump has warned repeatedly that invalidating the tariffs could require the U.S. government to issue enormous refunds &#8211; “many Hundreds of Billions of Dollars,” he claimed last month &#8211; and trigger collateral compensation claims from companies that made costly investments to avoid duties. When those investments are accounted for, he argued, the total could reach “Trillions.”



The court’s ruling does not address those assertions. But with so much money collected under an authority now deemed invalid, political, diplomatic and financial turmoil is likely to continue unfolding for months.



No president before Trump attempted to use IEEPA to impose tariffs. The only historical parallel came in 1971, when Richard Nixon invoked a precursor statute to impose a temporary 10% tariff on most imports.



Analysts say U.S. households may see meaningful savings this year; though the president’s pledge to mail out $2,000 “tariff dividend” checks looks increasingly unlikely.



Before Friday’s ruling, the average U.S. household faced an estimated $1,300 to $1,700 in added annual costs due to an average tariff rate of 16.9%, according to Yale’s Budget Lab.



 But with the court invalidating the IEEPA-based duties, the expected burden may fall by roughly half.John Ricco, associate director of policy analysis at the Budget Lab, told CNBC that households could now save approximately $600 to $800 in 2026; a projected boost for consumers amid continued inflation concerns.



The precise amount remains contested. Some experts believe the earlier cost projections were low to begin with.Trump’s promise to send Americans $2,000 “rebate” checks tied to tariff revenues now appears at risk. With the IEEPA duties struck down &#8211; and no guarantee that alternative legal pathways will generate equivalent revenue &#8211; there may simply not be funds to sustain the proposed payout.



“I’m actually shocked that the number wasn’t a little higher,” Erik Rosica, a sales supervisor at OEC Group New York, speaking to The NY Post. Still, he agreed that removing the tariffs would likely cut the financial hit by about half.



Whether savings will fully reach consumers remains uncertain. Rosica warned that while companies might trim prices on lower-cost goods, many firms could feel pressured to maintain elevated prices amid volatile supply-chain costs.“Again, that’s only if people lower their prices,” he cautioned, adding that business incentives don’t always align with consumer relief.



Trump’s promise to send Americans $2,000 “rebate” checks tied to tariff revenues now appears at risk. With the IEEPA duties struck down &#8211; and no guarantee that alternative legal pathways will generate equivalent revenue &#8211; there may simply not be funds to sustain the proposed payout.



“The decision means there just won’t be funds to pay for the checks,” Rosica said, though he noted that unexpected policy maneuvers could still emerge, adding, “nothing’s off the table.”



As global markets absorb the shock and the White House searches for new options, one thing is clear: the Supreme Court has upended the legal foundation of Trump’s trade war, leaving a policy once touted as a “national security bonanza” on uncertain ground.

Supreme Court Deals Major Blow to Trump Tariff Strategy, Leaving Billions in Question

President Trump criticized the handling of the probe into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance on Thursday, urging reporters to broaden their attention to “other subjects” after weeks of intense public scrutiny surrounding the suspected abduction.



Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, vanished on Feb. 1 after a masked intruder was caught on camera at the entrance of her home outside Tucson.



Trump said he was baffled that officials disclosed to the press that a Pima County Sheriff’s Department helicopter had been outfitted with an FBI Bluetooth “sniffer” intended to pick up signals from Guthrie’s pacemaker.



“I didn’t like when they talked about going after the pacemaker before they even started going after it,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he traveled to Georgia.



He continued, “If in fact they could do it that way, the person would say, ‘Well, I’m not going to let that happen’… I can’t imagine why they would have done that, just in terms of strategy.”



Trump added that it was time for the media to “start reporting on other subjects also and see what happens,” calling the saga “a very sad situation.”



Meanwhile, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has been under mounting fire as leads diminish, particularly for sending a glove discovered near Guthrie’s residence to a private laboratory in Florida instead of a potentially faster FBI facility. Testing revealed DNA from an unidentified individual.



“It is a common belief in this agency that this case has become an ego case for Sheriff Nanos,” said Sgt. Aaron Cross, who heads the Pima County Deputies Organization, the union representing sheriff’s office staff.



Although the FBI is assisting, the agency has not taken over the investigation; something that would require determining that a federal crime may have occurred.



It remains unknown whether local authorities or federal agents leaked details about the Bluetooth “sniffer,” first reported by Fox News. An FBI representative later told NewsNation that “sophisticated FBI technology” was being utilized in the search.



Trump told The Post on Monday that if Guthrie is not found alive, he believes those responsible should receive the death penalty.

Trump Rebukes Investigators Over Guthrie Case, Calls for Shift in National Focus

Footage released Thursday sharply contradicts anti-Israel commentator Tucker Carlson’s&nbsp; claims of being detained by security upon arriving in Israel. Instead of a tense standoff, the video shows a cheerful Carlson enjoying celebrity treatment in the VIP lounge of Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport.



Carlson originally painted a harrowing picture of his arrival for a scheduled interview with U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, describing the ordeal as a “bizarre” experience. He alleged that his team was aggressively confronted by local authorities upon landing.



“Men who identified themselves as airport security took our passports, hauled our executive producer into a side room and then demanded to know what we spoke to Ambassador Huckabee about,” Carlson claimed.



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The footage, obtained by @OliLondonTV reveals a starkly different reality, exposing a false narrative seemingly designed to smear Israel. Far from being mistreated, the footage captures Carlson in high spirits, enthusiastically hugging an Israeli airport staff member and happily posing for a photo.



Official sources have also pushed back against the commentator&#8217;s story. A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Israel firmly denied that Carlson was detained or restricted, stating: “It is not accurate that Israel only was going to let Tucker into the country for the interview.”



Adding to the controversy, Carlson never left the immediate vicinity of the airport during his trip. This decision came despite receiving multiple invitations from various organizations, including local Christian groups, offering to host him for visits to different parts of the country.



Critics argue that his refusal to actually explore Israel and meet with diverse communities exposes an extreme anti-Israel bias. This latest incident is drawing renewed scrutiny to Carlson&#8217;s increasingly controversial rhetoric; his platforming of a Holocaust denier, a softball interview with Neo-Nazi Nick Fuentes, and frequent praise of Iran-alligned nations like Russia and Qatar.

New Footage Dismantles Tucker Carlson’s ‘Detention’ Claims at Israeli Airport

US President Donald Trump announced Thursday&nbsp; that the international community will discover &#8220;over the next, probably, ten days&#8221; if Washington can secure a diplomatic agreement with Iran or if it will resort to military force.



Speaking at the debut assembly of his Board of Peace in Washington, D.C., Trump acknowledged that &#8220;we have some work to do&#8221; to reach a consensus with the Islamic Republic regarding its nuclear ambitions, warning that &#8220;we may have to take it a step further.&#8221;



Despite the President&#8217;s ten-day timeline, an source heavily connected to the Israeli defense establishment told Belaaz that Israel is maintaining a heightened state of alert, expecting a potential attack within the next 72 hours. This source suggested that the President is attempting to give Iran a false sense of safety, remarking that he would make a fine &#8220;anesthesiologist.&#8221;



The United States has rapidly increased its military presence in the Middle East over the past few days, as talks with the Islamic Republic have stalled.



According to Thursday reports, the US Armed Forces have already authorized tactical strike blueprints, standing ready should Trump issue the final command to launch an offensive against Iran.



Meanwhile, a coalition of Democratic legislators, joined by a few Republicans, has publicly objected to executing any military operations in Iran without explicit authorization from Congress.



During his address, Trump highlighted that Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the President&#8217;s son-in-law, recently engaged in &#8220;some very good meetings&#8221; with Iranian officials. Reflecting on the historical challenges of these negotiations, the President stated, &#8220;It&#8217;s proven to be, over the years, not easy to make a meaningful deal with Iran,&#8221; adding, &#8220;Otherwise bad things happen.&#8221;



Just a day prior, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt cautioned that Tehran would be &#8220;very wise&#8221; to reach an agreement with Washington, emphasizing that Trump continues to prefer a diplomatic resolution concerning Iran&#8217;s nuclear operations.



Upon its initial unveiling, Trump&#8217;s Board of Peace was widely perceived as an initiative to conclude the two-year conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and to manage the subsequent rebuilding efforts. However, over the past month, the coalition&#8217;s scope has seemingly expanded far beyond a single regional crisis, prompting speculation that the roughly two-dozen-nation assembly, chaired by Trump, is designed to bypass the United Nations entirely.



To bolster these potential operational plans, American troops have steadily intensified their regional presence in recent weeks, with a level of force deployment not seen since the Gulf War of 1991. Simultaneously, Iran&#8217;s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has taken to social media to issue direct threats against US military personnel. Elaborating on this rhetoric, one of Khamenei&#8217;s online statements read: &#8220;The US President constantly says that the US has sent a warship toward Iran. Of course, a warship is a dangerous piece of military hardware,&#8221; before warning, &#8220;However, more dangerous than that warship is the weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea.&#8221;

Trump’s 10-Day Ultimatum on Iran; Will an Attack Happen Sooner?

On Thursday, the British daily The Times revealed that the UK has restricted the United States from utilizing its military installations on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia for potential strikes against Iran. This development follows a statement made Wednesday night by US President Donald Trump, who asserted that America would have no choice but to utilize the strategic outpost to protect the UK and &#8220;other friendly countries.&#8221;



Simultaneously, The Wall Street Journal noted that Tehran turned down Washington&#8217;s framework for a sweeping diplomatic resolution. The US proposal demanded a complete halt to Iran’s nuclear development alongside strict limits on its ballistic and hypersonic missile programs. In response, Iranian negotiators countered with an offer featuring significantly smaller nuclear concessions. According to US officials, the talks have reached a deadlock with little hope of a breakthrough.



Tensions further spiked when a high-ranking Iranian military commander announced today that &#8220;the Revolutionary Guards are ready to take control of the Strait of Hormuz or close it as soon as possible.&#8221; Concurrently, state-run media in Iran confirmed the conclusion of a naval exercise conducted by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the critical waterway, which had been ongoing since Monday.



Further details from The Wall Street Journal suggest that the influx of US military assets into the Middle East provides Washington with the firepower necessary for a prolonged, multi-week aerial campaign. This contrasts sharply with the swift, single-blow execution of the &#8220;Midnight Hammer&#8221; attack, the targeted US strike on three Iranian nuclear facilities conducted last June.



The escalating brinkmanship between the US and Iran led Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to urge all Polish citizens currently in Iran to evacuate without delay. Highlighting the urgency of the situation, he warned, &#8220;Within a few hours, there may no longer be a possibility to evacuate Poles from Iran.&#8221;



Local news broadcasts indicated Thursday morning that the IDF have further raised their readiness levels in anticipation of a potential strike on Iran. Military assessments suggest that if the US opts for military intervention, Israel will be notified beforehand. However, to maintain operational security and avoid damaging leaks, this intelligence will remain classified from the public. The report noted that discreet logistical preparations are already underway, echoing the covert strategies used during Operation &#8220;With a Dog.&#8221;



Attempting to temper the ensuing media frenzy, IDF Spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin released a statement. &#8220;Negotiations are underway, and the IDF has been prepared for maximum defense for a long time. If we are attacked – we will respond forcefully. There is no change in the assessment of the situation, and if there is – we will update through the IDF spokesman and the Home Front Command. There is no room for false alarm,&#8221; he clarified.



Later in the evening, CBS cited national security insiders who claimed the US armed forces are positioned to strike Iran by this weekend, though the operational window could easily stretch beyond the coming days. The network also revealed that the Pentagon plans to strategically relocate some of its regional personnel to Europe and the US over the next 72 hours to shield them from potential Iranian retaliation.



Following CNN&#8217;s coverage of a potential coordinated offensive pending President Trump&#8217;s authorization, Israeli defense officials are emphasizing a stark reality: even if Israel does not directly participate in the strike, intelligence assessments anticipate that Iran will retaliate by firing on Israeli territory.



Concurrently, the Israeli defense establishment has ramped up its internal readiness for the month of Ramadan, heavily reinforcing troop presence across Judea and Samaria. Northern border units are also on high alert over concerns of a sympathetic escalation by Hezbollah, while national emergency services have been directed to brace for a multi-front conflict. Despite this heightened state of vigilance, official safety directives for the civilian population remain unchanged.

Report: UK Denies US Access to Diego Garcia as Iran Nuclear Negotiations Stall

Russia appealed for restraint Thursday as concerns mount over a potential US strike on Iran, even while Moscow and Tehran carry out joint naval exercises that the Kremlin says were scheduled in advance and should not be seen as provocative.



Iran has become one of Russia’s closest partners since the start of Moscow’s campaign in Ukraine.



The United States has significantly increased its military presence in the Middle East, and President Donald Trump has pressed Iran to reach an agreement with Washington, implying that military force could follow if negotiations collapse.



Moscow and Iran are also conducting naval maneuvers in the Sea of Oman Thursday.



“These are planned exercises and they are agreed upon in advance,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says.



“Russia continues to develop relations with Iran and in doing so, we call on our Iranian friends and all parties in the region to exercise restraint and prudence,” he adds.



Moscow says that “political and diplomatic means to be given absolute priority in resolving various issues,” according to Peskov.



Several nations have urged their citizens to leave Iran, warning of the possibility of a military clash.



“We are currently witnessing an unprecedented escalation of tension in the region, but we still hope that political and diplomatic means and negotiations will continue to prevail in the search for a settlement,” Peskov says.

Russia Urges Calm Even As It Holds Naval Drills With Iran

An elite Manhattan school tied to the United Nations is accused of brushing aside repeated reports of anti-Semitic harassment from a longtime Jewish faculty member &#8211; while launching a prolonged investigation into the teacher herself, according to a new lawsuit shared with the Washington Free Beacon.



The filing says Nadine Sébag, a French teacher at the UN International School (UNIS) for three decades, described a workplace openly hostile toward Jewish staff. She alleges a colleague made comments about “Jews are driven by money” and issued “vulgar references to the Holocaust,” yet the school refused to act. Instead, Sébag says UNIS subjected her to a 15-month inquiry into her own conduct, ultimately forcing her out.



According to the lawsuit, Sébag filed eight detailed complaints but received “not a single substantive response” from the school or its board. Rather than end the misconduct, the suit states, administrators let it escalate while intensifying their scrutiny of her.



The case emerges amid longstanding concerns about anti-Semitism in UN-run schools abroad. The complaint argues that the same problems have spread to the UN’s U.S. educational arm, pointing to foreign donors &#8211; including a 2023 $60 million pledge from Qatar &#8211; that have historically supported extremist groups. Although founded and overseen by the UN, UNIS is a nonprofit subject to New York anti-discrimination law.



Sébag says the harassment began after she was assigned to share an office in 2022 with teacher Nehad Soliman, who allegedly made repeated anti-Jewish and anti-French remarks. The suit claims Soliman accused Sébag of anti-Muslim bias after a conversation about head coverings but later privately conceded the accusation was false—yet the investigation continued for months.



Sébag says the hostility and prolonged probe damaged her health and amounted to “constructive termination.”



Another teacher, Isabelle Chu, reported that Soliman “physically assaulted” her after Chu defended Sébag. Chu wrote that Soliman raged about Jews “controlling” UNIS and New York and threatened that those who crossed her would “pay accordingly.”



Jewish faculty member Michal Urieli separately told administrators she had faced “vulgar references to the Holocaust and gas chambers.” She alleged Soliman repeatedly shoved a phone in her face showing graphic images meant to depict Israeli soldiers harming children, demanding she “respond on behalf of the State of Israel.” Urieli also raised concerns about a school “Walls of Peace” project that she said featured material linked to a pro-Hamas organization.



NJAC, which represents Sébag, says the case reflects a broader pattern: “Rather than examine the reported anti-Semitic conduct, the institution turned its investigatory machinery on the Jewish faculty member who reported it,” said senior litigation counsel Lauren Israelovitch.

UN-Affiliated NYC School Accused of Ignoring Anti-Semitic Abuse, Targeting Jewish Teacher Instead

A formidable bomb cyclone may barrel into New York City this weekend, potentially dumping as much as another foot of snow on the city, forecasters warned Wednesday.



Meteorologists say that if a nor’easter intensifies along the coast and tracks north, the Big Apple could be slammed with a significant snowfall late Sunday, according to AccuWeather’s Alex DaSilva.



The “more likely” outcome, however, is that the system “bombs out” rapidly dropping in pressure and strengthening farther south or east, leaving New York City with “just a couple of inches” of accumulation, DaSilva explained.



“Anywhere between zero and a foot is possible,” he said.



Under a worst-case scenario, snowfall totals in the city could range between 6 and 12 inches.



“It could rival the storm on January 25,” the meteorologist said, referencing the system that blanketed the city with 11.4 inches of snow in Central Park.



“It would absolutely be a very messy Monday morning commute,” DaSilva said.



The potential bomb cyclone could also lash the city with wind gusts reaching 40 mph before moving out by Monday afternoon, he added.



By Thursday, forecasters are expected to have a clearer picture of the nor’easter’s track and be able to offer more precise projections, DaSilva said.



If the storm strengthens along a northern coastal path, another heavy round of snow could sweep into the city Sunday night.



New York City is still digging out from the late-January storm that left streets and sidewalks coated in snow.



The system’s impact zone could stretch from as far south as New Jersey and Pennsylvania to as far north as Maine, the meteorologist noted.



The looming threat follows a light coating of about an inch of snow that greeted residents Monday morning.



Meanwhile, piles of grimy, trash-strewn snow from the late-January storm continue to linger across the city.

Monster ‘Bomb Cyclone’ Could Bury NYC in Up to a Foot of Snow This Weekend

Tucker Carlson’s brief visit to Israel erupted into a public dispute on Wednesday after the anti-Israel commentator alleged that he and his staff were “detained” and subjected to unusual questioning by Israeli authorities — a claim firmly rejected by the U.S. embassy, which said he underwent routine procedures. Carlson provided no evidence to support his account.



Carlson traveled to Tel Aviv for a highly anticipated interview with former U.S. ambassador Mike Huckabee, who had challenged him to a face-to-face conversation following Carlson’s recent criticism of Israel’s treatment of Christians and its military operations in Gaza. The two have known each other for decades, and Huckabee framed the meeting as an opportunity to air disagreements directly.



But shortly after the taping, Carlson told the Daily Mail that airport security had confiscated his passport and taken his executive producer into a side room for questioning. According to his account, officials demanded details about what he discussed with Huckabee. Carlson described the experience as “bizarre” and said his team left the country immediately afterward.



His public complaints followed criticism from&nbsp; commentators who accused him of remaining inside the airport rather than engaging more broadly with the country during his short visit. Former ambassador David Friedman mocked him online, suggesting Carlson intentionally avoided touring Israel despite multiple invitations.



Behind the scenes, two sources told the Daily Mail that the Israeli government initially considered blocking Carlson’s entry, prompting quiet negotiations involving the State Department. Israel ultimately allowed him to proceed in order to avoid what one local report described as a potential diplomatic incident.



A spokesperson for the U.S. embassy in Israel flatly rejected Carlson’s account of being detained. The spokesperson said Carlson was simply asked routine passport-control questions &#8211; the same ones posed to countless travelers, diplomats, and even Huckabee himself &#8211; and insisted there was nothing unusual about the encounter. The embassy added that it had no involvement in Carlson’s movements other than coordinating the landing of his private plane.



“It is not accurate that Israel only was going to let Tucker into the country for the interview,” the spokesperson said, adding that Carlson opted on his own to stay only a few hours. “He received the same positive treatment as any visitor to Israel.”



The interview itself came after Carlson accused Huckabee on his YouTube program of failing to do enough to protect Christians in Israel. Huckabee publicly invited him to discuss the matter in person rather than through media commentary, an invitation Carlson accepted. Their sit-down was reportedly encouraged by figures in former President Donald Trump’s orbit, who are working to reduce internal Republican tensions over Israel.



Trump, according to former Fox News anchor Melissa Francis, has urged Carlson and others to help “turn down the temperature” within the party. Carlson remains a close ally of Trump and Vice President JD Vance and has recently been in and out of the White House for discussions on foreign policy.

Tucker Carlson’s Claims of Detention in Israel Refuted by U.S. Embassy

An Israeli security source with close ties to the military told Belaaz on Wednesday that a joint United States–Israel strike against Iran is likely imminent, possibly within the next 24 hours, as extraordinary military preparations are underway across Israel.



The source, who has extensive, active connections to senior Israeli military figures, told Belaaz that Israel has been placed on its highest military alert status, a posture that CNN also reported this week, citing U.S. officials describing Israel as being in the &#8220;best 24 hours&#8221; of readiness.



&#8220;We&#8217;re talking from tomorrow night,&#8221; the source said in Hebrew. &#8220;Not a week and a half; tomorrow night.&#8221;



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According to the source, Israeli military preparations have been extensive and costly. Army bases across Israel&#8217;s southern region have been evacuated &#8211; a major logistical undertaking that the source acknowledged was &#8220;very expensive&#8221; but deemed necessary because, in his assessment, &#8220;the south is going to be Iran&#8217;s target zone.&#8221;



Air defense systems have been redeployed across the country, and mobile safe houses have been positioned at bases, including in northern Israel. The source also said Israeli defense systems have been moved to new locations not previously used.



When asked specifically about Dimona &#8211; Israel&#8217;s highly sensitive and officially undeclared nuclear research facility in the Negev Desert &#8211; the source said the site cannot be fully evacuated, but that whatever assets and materials could be moved have been taken underground.



&#8220;Dimona can&#8217;t be touched at all. We&#8217;ve moved underground what needs to be moved. But the building still exists.&#8221;



The source also reported that 15 missile defense batteries had been deployed at a northern Israeli base.



When asked whether Israel or the United States would initiate military action, the source said he believed both would strike together. &#8220;I think it&#8217;s going to be together, or coordinated together,&#8221; he said.



The source interpreted recent diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Iran as a delay tactic rather than a genuine attempt at resolution, saying the talks were used to &#8220;buy time&#8221; and allow for greater military preparation.



Saudi Arabia&#8217;s public statements &#8211; in which Riyadh has warned the United States not to use their territory for military operations &#8211; were dismissed by the source as performative. &#8220;That&#8217;s just a joke,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It&#8217;s so they don&#8217;t get attacked themselves.&#8221; He noted that imagery circulating on social media appeared to show the largest U.S. military base in the region now positioned inside Saudi Arabia.



The source said he believes Hezbollah will enter the conflict despite having been significantly weakened following the killing of its longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah and subsequent Israeli operations against its infrastructure. &#8220;They still have missiles that could reach Tel Aviv and definitely the north,&#8221; he said, adding that Hezbollah retains capacity across multiple areas of Lebanon.



&#8220;Once they deflated their balloon &#8211; and that balloon was Nasrallah &#8211; the story is over. But they still have power.&#8221;



In a notably analytical passage, the source offered an interpretation of Iran&#8217;s strategic behavior rooted in Shia Islamic eschatology &#8211; specifically the doctrine of the &#8220;Hidden Imam,&#8221; or Mahdi, a messianic figure in Twelver Shia theology believed to have entered a state of occultation over a thousand years ago, who will return in a time of global upheaval.



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&#8220;Everything the Iranians do as Shia is to cause the Hidden Imam &#8211; their Messiah &#8211; to be revealed. How will he be revealed? By them provoking great wars in the world. So everything they are doing now is to stir up major wars. That is their belief. They have to do it for him to appear.&#8221;



This analysis aligns with longstanding assessments by Western and Israeli intelligence analysts who have noted the influence of Mahdist theology on elements of the Iranian leadership, particularly within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The source argued that this doctrinal framework explains what he described as Iran&#8217;s seemingly irrational willingness to escalate; the goal is not victory in a conventional military sense, but the triggering of global chaos that, in their belief, will precipitate the Mahdi&#8217;s return.



He added that Iran&#8217;s negotiating posture must be understood within this framework: &#8220;They know how to negotiate. Israel and America know they&#8217;re full of bluff, but their whole goal is to create chaos and war in the world.&#8221;



In a remark that underscores the gravity of the anticipated events, the source predicted that Israeli parliamentary elections would not take place on schedule. &#8220;There won&#8217;t be elections in the next two years,&#8221; he said, suggesting the conflict would fundamentally reshape Israel&#8217;s political landscape.



The source also referenced March 15th as a potentially significant date, though it was unclear from context whether this referred to a specific operational deadline or a broader assessment of the window for military action.



In response to major US military deployment in the Middle East, Iran partially closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil transfer channel.

EXCLUSIVE: Israel and U.S. on Verge of Joint Military Strike Against Iran, IDF Bases Evacuated, Security Source Says

Tucker Carlson, who has made false accusations against Israel&#8217;s treatment of Christians among his many lies about Jews and Israel, flew to Israel on Wednesday for an interview with US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee inside Ben Gurion Airport, and left swiftly. He did not visit a single house of worship. He did not meet with a single Christian community leader. He did not walk through the Christian quarters of the Old City, or travel to the Galilee, where Christian communities have lived continuously for millennia.



He did not leave the airport.



For a man who spent an entire podcast episode telling his American audience that their coreligionists in Israel are being persecuted, oppressed, and driven from their homes by the State of Israel &#8211; with American tax dollars footing the bill &#8211; the decision to conduct a drive-through visit without once meeting the communities he claimed to champion raised the ire of many.



In early February, Carlson published an episode filmed near the Jordan River titled &#8220;Christian Persecution.&#8221; The episode featured interviews with the Anglican Archbishop of Jerusalem and a Jordanian businessman, and built toward a sweeping indictment: that Israel systematically mistreats its non-Jewish minority populations, that American viewers are unknowingly funding this mistreatment through US foreign aid, and that Ambassador Mike Huckabee &#8211; a prominent figure in American evangelical circles and a close ally of President Trump &#8211; is personally complicit and &#8220;should be ashamed.&#8221;



The episode landed hard in certain corners of American conservative media, where Carlson has spent recent years positioning himself as a critic of US support for Israel and a self-styled defender of persecuted Middle Eastern minorities.



Ambassador Huckabee, a former governor and former presidential candidate, was not inclined to let the attack stand unanswered. On February 5th, he responded on X with a direct challenge: &#8220;Hey @TuckerCarlson instead of talking ABOUT me, why don&#8217;t you come talk TO me?&#8221;



Carlson, who has previously platformed Holocaust deniers and gave a softball interview to Neo-Nazi Nick Fuentes, accepted.



Before examining what happened in that airport terminal, it is worth noting what Carlson told his audience, and how much of it holds up to scrutiny.



His central factual claim was that the Christian&nbsp; population he was discussing is &#8220;far fewer in absolute numbers&#8221; in Israel than when the state was founded in 1948. This is not a matter of interpretation or political framing. It is simply false.



Data from Israel&#8217;s Central Bureau of Statistics, published as recently as late December 2025, tells a different story entirely. In 1949, approximately 34,000 members of this community lived within Israel&#8217;s borders. Today that number stands at roughly 185,000 &#8211; an increase of more than five-fold over the state&#8217;s history. Israel is, by the numbers, home to one of the only growing communities of this kind anywhere in the Middle East. In neighboring countries across the region, these communities have been devastated; driven out by war, persecution, and ethnic cleansing carried out by hostile Muslim regimes and terror organizations. In Israel, they have grown.



This population does represent a smaller share of Israel&#8217;s total population today than in 1948 &#8211; dropping from around 10% to under 2% &#8211; but that shift reflects the dramatic growth of Israel&#8217;s Jewish and Arab Muslim populations, not any decline in the community itself. It is a statistic that sounds alarming but was twisted out of context by Carlson.



Carlson also claimed the US is funding &#8220;the cultural and religious life of the region&#8221; through its aid to Israel, a statement he never substantiated and which conflates military assistance &#8211; directed overwhelmingly toward defense cooperation &#8211; with something it is not.



Perhaps most revealingly, Carlson&#8217;s own interview subject undercut the episode&#8217;s thesis in real time. When Carlson told viewers that &#8220;what Ambassador Huckabee is doing is shameful and he&#8217;s going to have to answer for it,&#8221; the Archbishop himself stepped in to say: &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to blame Huckabee for this.&#8221; On the incidents of Jewish extremists harassing clergy in Jerusalem, the Archbishop himself described the perpetrators as &#8220;fringe groups&#8221; and &#8220;radicals,&#8221; a characterization that fit poorly with the sweeping indictment Carlson was constructing around it.



The episode, notably, included no Israeli response whatsoever.



The airport visit becomes still more striking when set against what Carlson chose not to do.



According to reports, leaders of the very communities Carlson spent an episode claiming to advocate for reached out and offered to meet with him personally. They offered to arrange special tours of significant historic sites across the country. They wanted to show him their communities, their institutions, their lives.



Tucker Carlson did not respond.



He flew into Ben Gurion Airport, filmed an interview with Ambassador Huckabee inside the terminal complex, and was back in the air by 3 p.m. The community leaders who had extended a hand of welcome to the man who claimed to speak for their cause were not afforded so much as a phone call in return.



The visit comes at a moment of unusual turbulence within American conservatism over the question of Israel. What was once a near-unanimous position in Republican politics — strong support for the US-Israel alliance — has become an increasingly sharp internal debate, driven in no small part by Carlson&#8217;s media platform and the wing of the right he speaks for.



The tension has apparently reached the highest levels. According to Melissa Francis, a former television news anchor who has been active in pro-Israel advocacy since October 7th and who was recently interviewed at the Jerusalem Post studios, President Donald Trump has personally urged Carlson to ease up.



&#8220;President Trump told Tucker Carlson to &#8216;turn down the temperature&#8217; on the GOP rift over Israel,&#8221; Francis told the Jerusalem Post.

Tucker Carlson Visits Israel to Meet Huckabee, But Won’t Leave the Airport;  Trump Reportedly Tells Him to Dial Down Anti-Israel Rhetoric

As images of clashes between extremist Charedi protesters and Israeli police continue to circulate on social media, Charedi leaders are navigating a crisis that threatens Torah life in the Jewish state. Belaaz spoke with Degel Hatorah MK Rabbi Yitzchak Pindrus, who delivered a fiery speech in the Knesset this week, and director of Eretz Hakodesh and its Iggud Bnei Yeshivos Chu&#8221;l program, Rabbi Nechemia Malinowitz, who has been working behind the scenes on behalf of American dual citizens navigating Israel&#8217;s military bureaucracy.



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&#8212; &#8216;They Made a Million and a Half People Criminals&#8217;



MK Pindrus did not mince words when asked to describe the current atmosphere facing the Charedi tzibur in Israel.



&#8220;There&#8217;s no doubt that the tzibbur is under tremendous pressure,&#8221; he told Belaaz. &#8220;It&#8217;s been going on for almost two years, and it&#8217;s becoming worse and worse.&#8221;



He described a multi-front assault on Charedi life &#8211; budget cuts to Charedi education, erosion of the communal boundaries that have allowed the community to maintain its lifestyle, and above all, the looming specter of criminal liability for yeshiva bochurim who have not enlisted. &#8220;They&#8217;re making 100,000 boys into criminals; illegal and criminals,&#8221; Pindrus said, noting that the ripple effects extend across a community of over a million people. &#8220;Between 1.3 and 1.5 million people are under tremendous pressure.&#8221;



When asked about the violent protests that have made international headlines &#8211; demonstrators blocking roads, burning trash bins, and confronting police officers &#8211; Pindrus offered a sharp rejoinder to those who have condemned the Charedi community for the unrest. He argued that those demanding calm are the very same people who created the conditions for the explosion.



&#8220;It&#8217;s as if I walked into your house, started breaking in, I start stealing everything, and then I start screaming at you &#8211; &#8216;What are you doing? Why are you so nervous? Calm down,'&#8221; he said. &#8220;The same people that created that pressure, that created the delegitimization of us that put a million and a half people outside the fence &#8211; they&#8217;re the ones complaining, &#8216;Why are they so violent?'&#8221;



He was careful to note that there is a difference between criticism from within and criticism from without. &#8220;If my brother tells me, &#8216;Listen, I think you should calm down, let&#8217;s figure out a way to take control of the situation&#8217; — that&#8217;s one thing. But the intruder himself? You&#8217;re out of your mind.&#8221;



On the legislative front, Pindrus confirmed that a vote on the draft bill &#8211; which has been the subject of intense coalition negotiations &#8211; could come at any moment. &#8220;It could happen tonight, it could happen tomorrow, it could happen by the weekend,&#8221; he said. If the Charedi parties can support the bill as written, it moves forward. If not, he warned, &#8220;that probably means we&#8217;re going to elections.&#8221;



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The American Question



For American dual citizens with sons learning in Israeli yeshivos, the crisis has raised urgent practical questions: Are Americans being swept up in arrests? Are their sons at risk? Is the situation affecting their ability to stay and learn?



Rabbi Nechemia Malinowitz, who has emerged as a tireless advocate for American bnei yeshiva within the Israeli system, says he is very close to finalizing arrangements with army officials on behalf of this community — and that, for now, Americans are largely not being caught up in the dragnet.



&#8220;There&#8217;s no American issue,&#8221; he said. &#8220;There&#8217;s like 25 in one yeshiva in Bnei Brak, but that&#8217;s about it. There&#8217;s no real issue with Americans being rounded up anywhere.&#8221;



The increased posture of Israeli law enforcement has not, by and large, targeted Americans. Rabbi Malinowitz acknowledges that American bochurim occasionally get arrested for &#8220;doing stupid things,&#8221; but says the broader crackdown is not focused on them.



Critically, Rabbi Malinowitz has worked to convince Israeli authorities &#8211; including senior army generals he met with on a tour of American yeshivos &#8211; that the American world is distinct from the Israeli Charedi world.



&#8220;I succeeded in convincing them that the American world is disconnected from this,&#8221; he said.



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&#8212;



Rabbi Malinowitz was direct when speaking about the violent protests: &#8220;It&#8217;s very, very sad. It&#8217;s a few bad apples. It&#8217;s not the da&#8217;as Gedolei Torah. It&#8217;s not our derech in any way, shape or form.&#8221;



He also declined to give the police a pass. &#8220;The police are terribly wrong here too. Both sides in this latest story are terrible.&#8221;



His bottom line was a call for de-escalation across the board. &#8220;Everybody has to take a deep breath and realize that this has to get solved — sooner rather than later. Each side doubling down on their positions is not going to get anybody anywhere. At the end of the day, there&#8217;s going to have to be some sort of agreement, some sort of a law.&#8221;



What Comes Next



For American families with sons in Eretz Yisroel, Rabbi Malinowitz says relief may be on the horizon. He is in the final stages of negotiations aimed at simplifying the rules governing American dual citizens — rules he describes as overly complicated and poorly understood even by those most affected.



&#8220;Part of what we&#8217;re working very hard on is to make the rules simpler,&#8221; he said. &#8220;If we make the rules simpler and change some of them, you&#8217;ll be able to understand them, and I&#8217;m willing to help get them out there. That&#8217;s part of the deal.&#8221;



He noted that once any agreement is finalized, communicating the new rules to the American community will be a priority. &#8220;If we change the rules, it&#8217;s going to be our job to get it out there.&#8221;



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Belaaz Exclusive: UTJ MK Yitzchak Pindros and Eretz Hakodesh Head Nechemia Malinowitz Speak Out on IDF Draft Crisis and Protests

A New Jersey Superior Court judge has denied a motion by Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) to dismiss a lawsuit alleging the university engaged in antisemitic discrimination and retaliation against a Jewish professor.



The ruling marks a significant legal victory for the plaintiff, Ira Jaskoll, an adjunct professor and former volunteer Jewish chaplain at the school, who filed the suit last September. The court’s decision allows the case to proceed to discovery, rejecting the university&#8217;s attempt to have the claims thrown out early in the legal process.



In an exclusive statement to Belaaz, legal scholar Marc Goldfeder, who is representing the plaintiff along with the National Jewish Advocacy Center (NJAC) and Rothbort Law, praised the court for distinguishing this case from other recent rulings that have shielded universities.



“Thank God this court became the first to reject the First Circuit’s flawed, nonprecedential reasoning and call antisemitism what it is: Hateful, wrong, and potentially unlawful, even when it hides behind the veil of ‘anti-Zionism,’” Goldfeder told Belaaz.



Goldfeder highlighted the broader legal implications of the decision on social media, noting that the judge explicitly rejected FDU’s attempt to use a recent decision involving MIT by the First Circuit Court of Appeals as a shield against liability.



“The judge DENIED FDU’s motion to dismiss—and rejected FDU’s attempt to use the First Circuit’s MIT decision as a get-out-of-liability card for antisemitic discrimination,” Goldfeder wrote on X.



The ruling signals that New Jersey courts may take a stricter stance on how universities handle anti-Zionist rhetoric when it crosses the line into discriminatory conduct against Jewish staff and students.



The lawsuit began in September 2025, when Jaskoll alleged that the private university suspended him from his volunteer chaplaincy role after he protested an on-campus event. According to the complaint, a speaker at the event accused Israel of committing “genocide” and operating an “apartheid” state.



Jaskoll reportedly stood up during the event to tell the audience that the rhetoric was discriminatory against Jews. He was subsequently told to leave the premises. Following the incident, the university allegedly suspended him from his volunteer role and conditioned his return on an apology.



Despite the conflict, Jaskoll has remained listed as a faculty member.



FDU is known in the Jewish community for its “yeshiva and seminary programs,” which allow Orthodox students to transfer credits and complete degrees on an accelerated schedule.



Since the filing of the lawsuit, Fairleigh Dickinson University has maintained its innocence. In a statement provided to JNS when the suit was filed in September, Dina Schipper, FDU’s executive director of communication, said the school “categorically denies” the allegations. “Students, faculty and staff have been able to freely study and work at the university,” Schipper stated at the time.



With the motion to dismiss denied, the university will now have to face the allegations in court as the case moves forward.

NJ Judge Refuses to Dismiss Antisemitism Lawsuit Against Fairleigh Dickinson University

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani presented a $127 billion preliminary budget on Tuesday that threatens to upend the finances of New York’s middle-class homeowners, proposing a collosal property tax increase to close a looming fiscal gap.



While the Democratic Socialist mayor campaigned on a platform of wealth redistribution and protecting the “working class” from the elite, his first major budget proposal targets a very different demographic: the city’s homeowners, many of whom are struggling with the cost of living.



Included in the mayor’s fiscal plan is a proposed 9.5 percent increase in city property taxes; a levy he can enact without approval from Albany. The hike is intended to plug part of a projected $5.4 billion revenue shortfall over the next two fiscal years.



The proposal has drawn immediate criticism for contradicting the central tenet of Mamdani’s political identity. Throughout his campaign, the Mayor pledged that new revenue would be derived from the ultra-wealthy to fund social programs like free buses and universal childcare. However, the data reveals that the burden of this new tax will fall squarely on the shoulders of the middle class.



According to city figures acknowledged by the Mayor himself, the tax hike would impact more than 3 million residential units. The median income of these property owners is $122,000 ; a figure that, in the high-cost environment of New York City, represents working families rather than the millionaire class Mamdani frequently targets in his speeches.



Critics note that for a mayor who swept into office with chants of “tax the rich,” balancing the budget on the backs of families earning a middle-class income suggests a collision between socialist ideology and fiscal reality.



“Owners of small rental properties are sick and tired of being treated like ATM machines every time the city needs to balance the budget,” said Ann Korchak, board president of the Small Property Owners of New York. She characterized the move as a “war” on immigrant property owners and multigenerational families who have invested their life savings into their homes.



Mamdani portrayed the property tax hike as a &#8220;painful&#8221; necessity that he hopes to avoid, positioning it as leverage to force Governor Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature to enact a new tax on millionaires and corporations.



“There are two paths that we can walk: One that offers long-term stability and a second one with significant pain that we deeply hope to avoid,” Mamdani told reporters at City Hall.



However, political observers view this as a risky gamble with the city’s fiscal stability. Governor Hochul has already signaled her opposition to raising taxes on the wealthy this year and dismissed the Mayor’s property tax proposal.



“I’m not supportive of a property tax increase,” Hochul said Tuesday. “I don’t know that that’s necessary.”



Even fellow Democrats in the City Council are balking at the proposal. City Council Speaker Julie Menin, a moderate Democrat, rejected the idea, stating that with New Yorkers already grappling with an affordability crisis, such increases &#8220;should not be on the table whatsoever.&#8221;



While the Mayor seeks more revenue from homeowners, questions regarding city spending remain at the forefront of the budget debate.



The budget proposal includes drawing down $1.2 billion from the city’s “rainy day” fund and retiree healthcare reserves, a move that fiscal watchdogs warn could leave the city vulnerable during future economic downturns.



Furthermore, despite a decrease in the number of asylum seekers arriving in the city, the costs associated with the migrant crisis continue to strain the treasury. The Mayor’s budget allocates an additional $1.2 billion for migrant care in the 2026 fiscal year. This brings the city’s total spending on the crisis to over $10 billion in the last half-decade.



While the number of asylum seekers in city care has dropped from a peak of nearly 69,000 in 2024 to roughly 30,000 today, the sustained high level of spending has led taxpayers to question whether the administration is doing enough to tighten its own belt before asking families to tighten theirs.



For New York’s Jewish community, many of whom are property owners with paid-off mortgages who live on fixed incomes, the prospect of a near double-digit tax hike is a cause for deep concern.

Mamdani Threatens to Increase Property Tax by Nearly 10% if State Refuses to Fund $127 Billion Budget

U.S. and Iranian officials wrapped up a second round of indirect talks in Geneva on Tuesday, with reports indicating “good progress.” At the same time, the United States sent a massive force of more than 50 fighter jets to the Middle East, underscoring that military action remains a clear option if diplomacy falters.



The Geneva negotiations, mediated by Oman, concluded with Tehran agreeing to submit detailed proposals within two weeks to bridge gaps over its nuclear program. Yet, the optimism from the talks stood in stark contrast to the surge of American airpower and renewed anti-regime protests erupting across Iranian cities.



A U.S. official, speaking anonymously to the Times of Israel, said the discussions advanced the process, though major challenges remain.



“Progress was made, but there are still a lot of details to discuss,” the official said. “The Iranians said they would come back in the next two weeks with detailed proposals to address some of the open gaps in our positions.”



Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, who has long served as a bridge between the West and Iran, struck a cautiously hopeful tone. He noted that the talks ended with “good progress towards identifying common goals and relevant technical issues.”



Earlier this month, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Albusaidi in Muscat, highlighting the Trump administration’s reliance on Gulf partners to maintain these sensitive communication channels.



Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian sought to convey conciliation on Tuesday, telling interviewers that Tehran is open to international “verification” to demonstrate it is not pursuing nuclear weapons.



“We are absolutely not seeking nuclear weapons,” Pezeshkian claimed. “If anyone wants to verify this, we are open to such verification to take place.”



At the same time, Pezeshkian insisted that “Iran will never give up on its nuclear program.” Western powers remain skeptical, pointing out that Tehran has enriched uranium to near weapons-grade levels, far beyond civilian needs, while repeatedly blocking inspectors from international agencies.



While diplomats exchanged proposals in Switzerland, the Pentagon executed one of the largest aerial deployments to the region in recent decades.



U.S. officials and flight tracking data show that over a 24-hour period, more than 50 fighter jets—including F-22s, F-35s, and F-16s, supported by aerial refueling tankers—were sent to the Middle East.



Diplomatic sources described the scale of the deployment as unprecedented in decades. The move sends a sharp signal from the Trump administration, which has warned that it could respond with force to both Iran’s nuclear advances and its violent suppression of domestic dissent.



Pressure on Tehran is mounting internally as well. On Tuesday, protests erupted nationwide in Iran, marking the 40th day of mourning for the tens of thousands killed in the January crackdown.



Despite heavy-handed suppression, videos verified by international news agencies showed crowds in Abadan and Mashhad chanting “Death to Khamenei” and “Long live the Shah.” Footage from Abadan captured civilians fleeing the sounds of gunfire.



The Iranian regime held counter-rallies in Tehran, blaming the deaths of protesters on “terrorist acts.”

Iran Pledges Nuclear Proposal After 2nd Round of Talks With US, Mediated by Oman

Hezbollah terrorists rejected the Lebanese government’s decision to give the national army at least four months to advance the second stage of a countrywide disarmament plan of the terror group, arguing that the move ultimately benefits Israel and therefore cannot be accepted, Hezbollah said Tuesday.



In August 2025, Lebanon’s cabinet instructed the army to craft and begin carrying out a strategy to bring all weapons held by armed groups under state authority: an initiative primarily aimed at disarming Hezbollah following its 2023–2024 war with Israel.



The following month, the cabinet officially approved the army’s proposal for disarming the group, though it avoided setting a concrete deadline and warned that the army’s limited capabilities and ongoing Israeli strikes could impede progress.



Speaking Monday, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem argued that “what the Lebanese government is doing by focusing on disarmament is a major mistake because this issue serves the goals of Israeli aggression.”



Information Minister Paul Morcos said during a late press conference that the government had reviewed the army’s latest monthly progress report. The plan includes limiting weapons in areas north of the Litani River up to the Awali River in Sidon, and the government granted the military a four-month window to proceed. “The required time frame is four months, renewable depending on available capabilities, Israeli attacks and field obstacles,” he stated.



Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah reaffirmed the group’s firm opposition to both the timeline and the broader effort, declaring, “we cannot be lenient.”



The group has repeatedly dismissed the disarmament initiative as misguided, pointing to ongoing Israeli strikes on its members. Shi’ite ministers walked out of the cabinet meeting in protest.



Israel insists that removing Hezbollah’s weapons is essential for security, arguing that arms held outside Lebanese state control pose a direct threat, as the terrorists have pledged to not end their campaign of murdering Israelis.



Israeli officials maintain that any disarmament plan must be fully implemented, particularly in areas near the border, and that Hezbollah’s continued actions violate the ceasefire.



Israel has also indicated it will continue operations aimed at preventing Hezbollah from rebuilding or expanding its arsenal.

Hezbollah Rejects Lebanon’s Four-Month Disarmament Timeline

Jesse Jackson, a prominent figure in the civil rights movement whose decades of public life were frequently marred by the embrace of openly antisemitic figures and inflammatory rhetoric against the Jewish community, has died at the age of 84.



While Jackson was widely recognized as a force in American politics &#8211; mounting two failed presidential campaigns and registering millions of voters &#8211; his legacy within the Jewish community remains deeply troubled, defined by a series of incidents that created a rift that never fully healed.



For many American Jews, Jackson’s name became synonymous with the breaking of the historic civil rights alliance between Blacks and Jews. This fracture was most vividly exposed during his 1984 presidential run, when Jackson was forced to admit to using the antisemitic slur &#8220;Hymietown&#8221; to describe New York City in a conversation with a reporter.



The derogatory reference to &#8220;Hyman,&#8221; a common English name used by Jews at the time, which bears resemblance to the name &#8220;Chaim,&#8221; shocked the Jewish community.



Jackson initially denied making the comments, including during a televised national debate. It was only later, facing mounting pressure, that he offered an apology at a synagogue in New Hampshire, stating, &#8220;It is human to err, divine to forgive.&#8221;



However, for many communal leaders, the &#8220;Hymietown&#8221; affair was not an isolated incident, but part of a disturbing pattern of hostility.



During that same 1984 campaign, Jackson refused to distance himself from Louis Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam, who had introduced Jackson at a rally. Even after Farrakhan notoriously referred to Judaism as a &#8220;gutter religion,&#8221; Jews as &#8220;termites,&#8221; among other hateful remarks, Jackson’s campaign issued a statement denouncing the specific comments but notably failed to denounce Farrakhan himself. Farrakhan has also praised Adolf Hitler.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="644" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/1000356953.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-24323" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/1000356953.webp 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/1000356953-300x215.webp 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/1000356953-768x550.webp 768w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/1000356953-350x250.webp 350w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Jessie Jackson with Nation of Islam founder Louis Farrakhan.</figcaption></figure>



Jackson’s record on Israel further exacerbated tensions. Long before it was common in American politics, Jackson met with PLO leader Yasser Arafat in Lebanon in 1979. At the time, the United States refused to engage with the PLO until it acknowledged Israel’s right to exist.



Jackson’s embrace of Arafat, who had ordered many terror attacks on Jews, was viewed by many as a legitimization of terrorism.



In the summer of 1984, Jackson further alienated Jewish leadership by claiming that Israeli weapons were being used to maintain apartheid in South Africa and questioning U.S. military aid to the Jewish state.



Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, Jackson made various attempts to rehabilitate his image with Jewish leadership. In July 1992, he addressed the World Jewish Congress in Brussels, where he condemned antisemitism and called Zionism a &#8220;liberation movement.&#8221;



Yet, Jewish leaders remained skeptical of his sincerity, often viewing his overtures as political pragmatism rather than genuine repentance.



Abraham Foxman, the national director of the Anti-Defamation League at the time, was blunt regarding Jackson&#8217;s attempts to pivot. &#8220;It is a record that has been marred by an insensitive view of Jewish history, the Holocaust, Zionism and the modern Jewish state,&#8221; Foxman said. &#8220;One speech to the Jewish community&#8230; will not repair it.&#8221;



Even in later years, when Jackson was invited to speak at Yeshiva University and other Jewish venues, he often minimized the threat of antisemitism within his own community. In a speech at YU, he denied that &#8220;Black antisemitism&#8221; was a structural phenomenon, despite the Black community&#8217;s statistically disproportionate representation among antisemitic hate crimes and assaults, insisting instead that hatred was confined to &#8220;misguided individuals&#8221; and arguing that the greater threat to Jews came from the far right.

Jesse Jackson, Civil Rights Figure Whose Rhetoric and Alliances Alienated Jewish Community, Dies at 84

An archaeological site used for the production of stone vessels during the Bayis Sheni era was uncovered on the eastern slopes of Mt. Scopus in Yerushalayim following the arrest of a gang of antiquities thieves this week, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced Tuesday.



The IAA notes that the workshop produced vessels for Jews some 2,000 years ago, a period when the use of stone was prevalent due to the halachos of tumah and taharah.



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The discovery was made by the IAA’s Theft Prevention Unit. Inspectors noticed &#8220;fresh excavation marks at the Ras Tamim antiquities site,&#8221; which raised suspicions of illegal activity. Following &#8220;covert surveillance and an ambush,&#8221; five suspects were arrested late at night. They were found in possession of excavation equipment, including a generator, excavating tools, and a metal detector.



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The suspects are expected to be indicted for illegal excavation and causing damage to an antiquities site.



Inside the underground cave where the workshop operated, archaeologists discovered &#8220;hundreds of stone fragments, production waste, and unfinished items.&#8221;



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Researchers emphasized the location&#8217;s importance for people traveling to the Beis Hamikdash for the Shalosh Regalim.



“The discovery of this workshop, alongside huge water reservoirs and a mikveh from the Bayit Sheni period, testifies to the centrality of this site some 2,000 years ago, as it was located on the main road that Jewish pilgrims used when coming to Yerushalayim from the east,” the researchers said.



The stone vessels from the workshop are now on public display in a new exhibition at the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel in Yerushalayim.



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In a separate announcement on Tuesday, the IAA revealed that a rare stone seal from the era of Malchus Yehudah (8th century BCE) was discovered during construction at the Ein Tut Interchange in northern Israel.



The seal features intricate carvings, including four pomegranates on the upper section. The other two sections contain an ancient Hebrew inscription reading: &#8220;Belonging to Makhach (son of) Amichai.&#8221;



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Bayis Sheni Era Stone Vessel Workshop, Rare Seal From Malchus Yehudah Uncovered in Yerushalayim

In a major signal of military contingency plans amid ongoing diplomatic negotiations, the United States has deployed more than 50 fighter jets to the Middle East over the past 24 hours, according to U.S. officials who spoke with the Times of Israel and flight tracking data.



The significant buildup includes advanced F-22, F-35, and F-16 combat aircraft, as well as aerial refueling tankers, marking a scale of military movement that diplomatic sources say has not been seen in the region in decades.



The deployment coincides with the second round of high-level talks between U.S. and Iranian officials in Geneva, Switzerland, aimed at addressing Tehran’s nuclear program.



A U.S. official confirmed to the Axios news site that the aircraft were repositioned within the last day. The move follows open-source flight tracking data that spotted the massive wave of airpower heading toward the region.



The surge in military hardware comes against a backdrop of heightened tensions. The Trump administration has repeatedly threatened the use of force, citing both Tehran’s rapid advancement of its nuclear capabilities and its deadly crackdown on protesters last month.



&#8220;The scale of the military buildup in the Middle East hasn’t been seen in decades,&#8221; a diplomatic source told the Faytuks Network, underscoring the severity with which Washington is approaching the current standoff.



While the State Department has not officially commented on the operational details, the presence of such a large strike force serves as a potent backdrop to the negotiations in Switzerland, signaling that the military option remains on the table should diplomacy fail.

U.S. Deploys Over 50 Fighter Jets to Middle East Amid Nuclear Talks

Delegations from Moscow and Kyiv met in Geneva on Tuesday for a new round of U.S.-brokered peace talks, coming just days before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. With both sides holding firm on core demands, expectations for a breakthrough remained low.



Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov shared photos of the delegations seated around a horseshoe-shaped table, noting that the agenda focuses on security and humanitarian issues. The United States was represented by envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner.



A major obstacle continues to be Russia’s insistence that Ukraine cede control of the eastern Donbas region. Military leaders from the United States, Russia, and Ukraine also joined the discussions to explore potential ceasefire monitoring mechanisms and future security guarantees.



President Donald Trump called the gathering “big talks” and urged Ukraine to “come to the table fast,” even though Kyiv has consistently taken part in negotiations.



Russia’s delegation is led by Vladimir Medinsky, a longtime adviser who previously headed peace efforts in early 2022. Also attending on the U.S. side were Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Europe, and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll.



As the talks were underway, Russia launched a large-scale drone and missile attack across 12 Ukrainian regions, injuring civilians and leaving tens of thousands without heat or running water in the city of Odesa. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strikes, saying they undermine Washington’s push for peace and reiterating that Ukraine has accepted all realistic U.S. proposals, including a long-term ceasefire.



Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Security Service carried out long-range drone strikes on strategic sites deep inside Russia, including the Tamanneftegaz oil terminal in the Krasnodar region and the Metafrax Chemicals plant in the Perm region.



The Geneva discussions coincided with separate indirect U.S.–Iran talks also being held in the city, underscoring Geneva’s role in several parallel diplomatic efforts.

U.S.-Brokered Russia–Ukraine Talks Resume in Geneva as Hopes for Progress Remain Limited

A self-driven car became stuck at an intersection in the heart of the Los Angeles Jewish community Monday afternoon, sparking renewed concerns regarding the safety of autonomous vehicles, especially in densely populated neighborhoods.



During a bout of heavy rain, a Waymo driverless taxi malfunctioned and stalled directly in the center of the intersection at Beverly Boulevard and North La Brea Avenue, near Yeshiva Rav Isacsohn Toras Emes Academy.



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A witness told Belaaz that the vehicle appeared to become &#8220;confused&#8221; by the inclement weather, freezing in place while oncoming traffic was forced to swerve around the obstacle.



&#8220;It stalled in the middle of the intersection. As you can see, cars are going around it and it&#8217;s pouring rain,&#8221; the concerned local resident told Belaaz.



The intersection, a critical artery for residents of the Hancock Park and La Brea areas, is frequently traversed by families and children.



The resident expressed deep concern that the novelty of the technology is masking serious safety risks, particularly for visitors to the area.



&#8220;Tourists from Lakewood or elsewhere.. they think [the cars] are so cute,&#8221; the resident said, noting the popularity of the driverless taxis among families visiting from out of town. &#8220;They don&#8217;t realize it&#8217;s really dangerous.&#8221;



This is not the first time autonomous vehicles have struggled with complex driving conditions. Industry experts have noted that heavy rain can interfere with the LIDAR and camera sensors these vehicles rely on to navigate. However, for the local residents, the technical explanation offers little comfort when safety is compromised near schools and shuls.



The witness continued. &#8220;I feel like this is my sharing, trying to educate people,&#8221; she stated. &#8220;They&#8217;re really not safe. They&#8217;re not safe at all.&#8221;

Driverless Waymo Taxi Stalls Near L.A. Yeshiva in Rain Storm

ARIZONA &#8211; Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed this afternoon that the entire Guthrie family, including all siblings and spouses, has been fully cleared of involvement in the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie. This includes the son in law brother in law who many suspected that may have been in volved. The Sheriff stated: “The family has been nothing but cooperative and gracious and are victims in this case.”

Entire Guthrie Family Cleared of Involvement in Mother’s Disappearance

Morocco and Albania are preparing to join the International Stabilization Force in Gaza, which will take on peacekeeping responsibilities during the Trump administration’s Phase 2 ceasefire plan between Israel and Hamas, the Jerusalem Post reported Monday. Kan News added that Greece is also set to participate.



The news come shortly after Indonesia announced it would be the first country to formally join the mission, and just ahead of the Board of Peace summit scheduled to take place in the United States on Thursday. According to the Associated Press, Indonesia’s contribution will begin in April, starting with about 1,000 troops and expanding to around 8,000 by June; a larger force than previously projected.



There is still no confirmed deployment schedule for Morocco, Albania, or Greece, but reports in mid-January indicated Morocco was expected to be one of the largest contributors alongside Indonesia. Morocco has maintained close defense ties with Israel since the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020.



Indonesia has already begun selecting and screening troops for the mission, the AP reported. Still, officials noted the deployment could be delayed if conditions in Gaza worsen or if renewed clashes with Hamas make the situation unsuitable for peacekeepers on the ground.



In recent months, several other nations &#8211; including the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Italy, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Qatar, Turkey and others &#8211; were mentioned as potential contributors to the stabilization force, but none have progressed beyond general statements of interest.



Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is expected to visit Washington for Trump’s Board of Peace summit on February 19.



Neither the ISF as a whole nor Indonesia’s contingent is expected to engage directly with Hamas or attempt to disarm the group. The mission is instead intended to monitor existing ceasefire lines and potentially help manage border-related issues.

Morocco, Albania and Greece Expected to Join Gaza Stabilization Force

Gov. Kathy Hochul is directing another $1.5 billion in state funds to New York City, offering a financial boost to Mayor Zohran Mamdani as he urges Albany to raise taxes on the wealthy.



Hochul announced Monday that the state will provide $1 billion for the current fiscal year and an additional $500 million for the next. The infusion arrives as the democratic socialist mayor faces a looming budget gap ahead of his first spending plan; a major challenge for a new administration that pledged billions in new public benefits.



Mamdani previously sparked concern after warning of a $12 billion deficit he said was left behind by the Eric Adams administration due to under-budgeting. But his team walked back that projection two weeks later, revealing the shortfall was at least $5 billion smaller because officials failed to include $7.2 billion in end-of-year tax revenue, largely tied to Wall Street bonuses.



Still, Mamdani has continued pressing Hochul and lawmakers to impose a 2% tax increase on New Yorkers earning $1 million or more. Hochul has repeatedly resisted the idea, with insiders pointing to the political risks of embracing a tax hike in an election year.



“A strong New York City means a stronger New York State. This investment protects services and puts the city on stable financial footing,” Hochul said. “New Yorkers expect the state and the city to work together, and I’m proud to partner with the Mayor to deliver for working families.”



Mamdani welcomed the financial support, saying he was “heartened” by the governor’s decision. “This is what it looks like to begin a new, productive, and fair relationship between City Hall and Albany – focused on delivering for working New Yorkers,” he said.



The mayor is scheduled to present his 2026 and 2027 fiscal plans on Tuesday, both of which must be balanced.

Gov. Hochul Sends $1.5 Billion Lifeline to NYC as Bailout for Mamdani

A proposed Constitutional amendment that would allow Congress to invalidate presidential pardons secured its first Republican co-sponsor on Monday, marking an unusual moment of GOP resistance aimed at President Trump.



The effort comes as Trump’s use of the pardon power continues to spark bipartisan criticism. He began his second term by pardoning thousands of Jan. 6 defendants, including individuals accused of assaulting law enforcement during the 2021 Capitol riot. He has since granted clemency to several high-profile figures, including Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas, former Rep. George Santos of New York, Ozy Media CEO Carlos Watson, Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht, former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and cryptocurrency executive Changpeng “CZ” Zhao. Most recently, he pardoned five former NFL players convicted of financial and drug-related offenses.



The amendment is being led by Rep. Johnny Olszewski of Maryland, who announced Monday that Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska has joined as the first Republican co-sponsor. The proposal would create a process allowing 20 House members and five senators to force a vote on overturning a presidential pardon, which would then require a two-thirds majority in both chambers. “This amendment creates a narrow, commonsense check to ensure the pardon power is used fairly and responsibly — regardless of who occupies the White House,” Olszewski said in a statement.



Bacon said the measure would restore balance to the system. “Presidential pardons are an important constitutional authority, but like all powers held by the executive branch, these authorities benefit from the appropriate checks and balances the Constitution envisioned,” he said. He added that concerns over misuse have spanned multiple administrations: “Frankly, it is clear to me the pardon authority has been abused. I&#8217;m pleased to cosponsor Rep. Olszewski&#8217;s Pardon Integrity Act, a constitutional amendment that establishes a narrow, commonsense guardrail.”



Controversial pardons have been a recurring feature of modern presidencies. For Bill Clinton, it was the pardon of financier Marc Rich. For George W. Bush, it was Scooter Libby. Trump’s first term included pardons for close allies such as Michael Flynn, Roger Stone and Paul Manafort. At the end of his term, President Biden pardoned his son Hunter after his conviction on felony gun charges and guilty plea to tax charges.



Despite renewed attention, the amendment faces steep odds: changing the Constitution requires two-thirds approval in both the House and Senate, or ratification by 38 states, making the proposal a long shot.

Bid to Let Congress Overturn Presidential Pardons Picks Up Bipartisan Support

A simmering conflict regarding religious freedom in Europe erupted into a full-scale diplomatic confrontation on Monday, as the United States launched a scathing public rebuke of the Belgian government over the prosecution of three Antwerp mohalim.



In a move described as a &#8220;frontal battle&#8221; for religious rights by US Ambassador to Belgium Bill White, the Ambassador issued a statement demanding that Belgian authorities immediately drop what the US administration has termed an &#8220;anti-Semitic and ridiculous lawsuit&#8221; against the religious leaders.



According to Israel&#8217;s Channel 14 News, The Ambassador’s intervention is backed by the highest levels of the American administration, including President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance.



The dispute centers on the prosecution of three senior mohalim in Antwerp. Police raided their homes in the dead of night, terrifying the rabbis&#8217; families &#8211; a case that has drawn the ire of Jewish communities worldwide.



White wrote on X in a statement direcred to the Belgian Minister of Health, Frank Vandenbroucke, that he cease&nbsp; &#8220;unacceptable harassment&#8221; and allow for full religious freedom. &#8220;We are in 2026,&#8221; the Ambassador stated. &#8220;Move forward to the 21st century and stop this ridiculous trial.&#8221;



White described Vandenbroucke&#8217;s conduct as “particularly impudent.”



According to Channel 14, during an official meeting between the two nations&#8217; representatives, the Belgian Health Minister refused to shake the American representative’s hand or pose for a photograph in the conference room.



&#8220;This is an evasive tactic,&#8221; the US statement read, dismissing the Minister&#8217;s hesitation. The American delegation demanded that the Minister stop waiting for legal proceedings to drag out and instead act immediately to settle the legal status of Bris Milah and protect those who perform it.



In a stinging reminder of historical atrocities, the American representative pointedly reminded&nbsp; Vandenbroucke that tens of thousands of American soldiers sacrificed their lives on Belgian soil to secure the country’s freedom during two World Wars.



&#8220;It is clear you don’t like America,&#8221; the message read, emphasizing that Belgium has a moral obligation to behave as a &#8220;civilized country that respects religious freedom.&#8221;



Escalating the pressure further, White announced plans to travel to Antwerp next week. The visit is intended as a show of solidarity, where he will meet personally with the mohalim facing prosecution and their families.



In a direct challenge to the Belgian government, the Ambassador publicly invited&nbsp; Vandenbroucke and politician Conner Rousseau to join him on the visit, urging them to see firsthand the distress their policies have caused the Jewish community.



&#8220;It is disgusting what is happening to these families because of your inaction,&#8221; the representative concluded.

US Demands Belgium Halt Prosecution of Antwerp Mohalim

Winter-weary New Yorkers started their Monday with a new layer of snow; and forecasters say an even bigger round could arrive in about a week.



Most neighborhoods across the city picked up at least an inch overnight, while some parts of Long Island collected more than two inches. This came even as old, grimy piles of snow from storms weeks earlier still clutter streets and sidewalks.



“Pretty impressive little quick-hitting storm today,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Alex DaSilva told The NY Post, noting that another system may develop exactly a week from now, sometime between Sunday and next Monday.



“It looks like there could be a coastal storm that may try to form during that time. It’s way too early to talk about any kind of amounts or anything like that. And it’s still possible that the storm could go safely out to sea,” DaSilva said.



Thankfully, temperatures are expected to climb into the 40s on Monday. For the rest of the week, conditions should mostly stay above freezing; welcome news for anyone tired of navigating lingering snowbanks.



“So through this week, highs and lows above freezing should be able to melt some of that dirty snow that we’re seeing across the city,” DaSilva said.



He added that although the city may not see every last pile disappear &#8211; some mounds are simply too big &#8211; a significant portion should melt away by Friday.



Monday morning’s snowfall also didn’t seem to interfere much with local air travel, according to flight-tracking data.

U.S. Downs Iranian Drone in Arabian Sea as Nuclear Talks Loom

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