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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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

Anti-Hamas Militia Commander Claims Assassination Of Senior Terrorist Official

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

ANALYSIS: What Will Happen if the Iranian Regime Falls?

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



“That is an absolute outrage.”

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Mass Verizon Outages Reported Across USA

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Press freedom advocates sharply criticized the FBI search on Wednesday.



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



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



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



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

FBI Searches Home Of Washington Post Reporter In Classified Leak Investigation

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Iran Doctor Treats 400 Eye Injuries From Gunshots

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Suspect Arrested for German Shul Arson, Made Nazi Salute

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



“Don’t even try,” the official said.



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



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



Those investigations, the official said, are ongoing.

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



No notable aftershocks were reported after the initial quake.



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Possible US Strike On Iran Looms As Crackdown Death Toll Soars

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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

Yair Netanyahu Appointed to Likud Central Committee

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Witkoff Announces Launch of Phase 2 of Gaza Plan

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



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



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



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



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



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

Venezuelan Opposition Leader María Corina Machado Presents Nobel Medal to Trump

A Palestinian news agency, Ma&#8217;an, citing unnamed sources, claimed Thursday that Israel and Hamas terrorists greed to a ceasefire deal in Gaza which could be declared as early as Sunday.



According to the unconfirmed report, Israel would allow humanitarian aid into Gaza via the Rafah crossing and permit the evacuation of wounded individuals for medical treatment.



The report states that two Egyptian security sources told Ma&#8217;an in Cairo that Israel has allegedly given approval for an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire proposal. The same sources claim that Hamas has already agreed to the terms. 



According to the claims, Egypt has dispatched two delegations—one to Qatar to negotiate the deal&#8217;s details and another to Israel to coordinate its implementation.



Under the reported agreement, the arrangement could lead to the release of five Israeli hostages, including Eden Alexander, who also holds U.S. citizenship, in exchange for a 40-day ceasefire.



The second phase of the deal would involve the gradual release of additional hostages on a weekly basis.



Ma&#8217;an also quotes its sources as saying that Israel would allow humanitarian aid, including mobile shelters and caravans, to enter Gaza through the Rafah crossing. Meanwhile, Egyptian mediators are reportedly holding talks with all parties, aiming to secure a ceasefire over Pesach, which this year coincides with a Muslim holiday. 



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Kan News, in a separate report, cited a Palestinian source who stated that negotiations were ongoing in Qatar with an Egyptian delegation present. This source also suggested that Egypt was consulting with all relevant parties, including U.S. officials.

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MORE FROM BELAAZ

Unconfirmed Report from Palestinian News Agency Suggests Ceasefire Could Start Sunday

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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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

Netanyahu Meets with Japanese Foreign Minister

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



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

Netanyahu to Hold Security Consultation on Iran

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Report Claims Trump Requested Greenland Invasion Plan

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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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

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

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



New Jersey State Police announced Saturday that Hernando Garciamorales, 40, of Palisades Park, was arrested in connection with the incident, which occured on the northbound side of the Turnpike near Exit 70 A/B in Teaneck. Investigators say a rock was hurled at a school bus carrying students to Yeshivat Noam.



According to officials, the rock shattered a bus window and struck an 8-year-old girl, causing a skull fracture and brain bleed, as reported by Belaaz on Thursday. School administrators later informed parents by email that the child will require surgery.



Following an investigation involving the State Police Target Hardening Unit UAS Response Squad and multiple local and county agencies, law enforcement tracked Garciamorales to a “self-made” campsite inside Old Croaker County Park in Bergen County. Authorities also connected him to several similar rock-throwing incidents in Bogota Borough.



Garciamorales has been charged with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal mischief, resisting arrest by flight, and hindering. He was taken to the Bergen County Jail, where he is being held pending a detention hearing.



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

Suspect Arrested for Throwing Rock at School Bus, Seriously Injuring Jewish Child

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly condemned chants supporting Hamas terrorists after initially remaining silent for a day following a pro-Palestinian protest outside a Queens synagogue that sparked widespread outrage.



The hateful incident erupted Thursday night, when demonstrators gathered outside a Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills to protest an Israel real estate information event. Videos that quickly spread online showed protesters chanting, “Say it loud, say it clear, we support Hamas here,” as they marched through the predominantly Jewish area. Baruch Hashem, no one was injured during the protest, and due to barricades erected by the NYPD, attendees to the shul event were able to move freely to and from the venue.



While condemnation from elected officials across the political spectrum came swiftly, Mamdani’s response lagged behind. By Friday afternoon, his office had issued no formal statement, even as the footage garnered millions of views and prompted denunciations from state and federal leaders.



Mamdani’s first public comment came only after a direct question from a Politico reporter during a Brooklyn political event on Friday. As he was escorted to his car, the mayor said, “That language is wrong. I think that language has no place in New York City.”



Later that day, Mamdani issued a written statement to The New York Times, expanding on his remarks and explicitly categorizing the chants as support for terrorism. “Chants in support of a terrorist organization have no place in our city,” he wrote, referring to Hamas terrorists by name.



The mayor added that city officials were coordinating with the NYPD to ensure public safety. “My team is in close touch with the NYPD regarding last night’s protest and counterprotest. We will continue to ensure New Yorkers’ safety entering and exiting houses of worship, as well as the constitutional right to protest,” he said.



The delayed response drew sharp criticism from Jewish leaders and pro-Israel advocates, who questioned why Mamdani did not immediately denounce the chants. Assemblyman Sam Berger, whose district includes the area where the protest took place, publicly called out the mayor for his silence earlier Friday.



Other officials left little ambiguity in their reactions. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “Let’s be clear: Hamas is a terrorist organization committed to the destruction of Jews,” while New York Attorney General Letitia James stated, “Hamas is a terrorist organization. We do not support terrorists. Period.”



On Saturday, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also weighed in, calling the chants “disgusting and antisemitic,” and condemning the decision to bring such rhetoric into a Jewish neighborhood.



The episode has underscored the political tightrope Mamdani faces as mayor, with a progressive base that is virulently anti-Israel while governing a city that is home to the largest Jewish population outside of the Jewish state. Mamdani, in his rapper days, praised the &#8220;Holy Land Five,&#8221; a group of people jailed for funneling money to Hamas, and was the founder of his college&#8217;s Students for Justice in Palestine group.

Mamdani Breaks Silence, Labels Hamas A Terror Group After Delayed Response To Pro-Hamas Chants at Queens Shul

New demonstrations broke out across Iran late Saturday, with videos circulating online appearing to show renewed anti-regime activity in multiple cities despite a nationwide internet blackout.



Footage shared after nightfall indicated protests in several neighborhoods of Tehran, as well as in other cities including Rasht in northern Iran, Tabriz in the northwest, and Shiraz and Kerman in the south.



One video verified by AFP showed fireworks lighting up the sky above Tehran’s Punak Square, as demonstrators banged pots and pans and chanted slogans in support of the Pahlavi monarchy that was overthrown during the 1979 Islamic Revolution.



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The scope of the unrest remains difficult to determine, as Iranian authorities have imposed a countrywide internet shutdown that has sharply limited access to real-time information.



As protests continued, Iran’s leadership reportedly shifted the country into an emergency security stance. According to a report by The Telegraph, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei ordered the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to take command of efforts to suppress nationwide demonstrations, raising the force’s alert level to its highest state — exceeding levels seen during previous major military operations.



Iranian officials told the outlet that underground missile facilities were also placed on high alert, while security forces and strategic assets were repositioned across the country amid concerns of further escalation.



Officials described the regime’s posture as being in “survival mode,” saying Khamenei has no intention of leaving Iran and is instead relying almost exclusively on the IRGC, which he reportedly views as the institution least likely to defect even under intense internal pressure.



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Fresh Protests Spread Across Iran as Regime Moves to Higher Security Posture Than Previous War

Israel and Hamas terrorists are on the brink of renewed fighting in Gaza, as momentum behind President Trump’s proposed peace framework appears to have ground to a halt, according to Saturday reports from multiple news sources.



Israeli defense officials have finalized contingency plans for another ground incursion into Gaza, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources familiar with the deliberations.



According to the Times of Israel, the operation is being eyed for March and would focus on Gaza City, with the aim of expanding IDF control across additional areas of the enclave.



Even with a cease-fire technically in place, Gaza has seen near-daily airstrikes, underscoring the fragility of the truce, according to reports.



At the same time, Hamas terrorists have used the lull in fighting to rebuild their military strength rather than disarm, Israeli and Arab officials told the New York Post.



The terror organization has reportedly replenished its finances using cash concealed in underground tunnels during the war, while also generating revenue by taxing goods and services throughout Gaza.



Officials added that Hamas has also received financial backing from Iran.



With renewed access to funds, the group has been able to pay its operatives and intensify recruitment efforts, seeking to replace commanders eliminated during the two-year war with Israel, according to the report.



Since the cease-fire went into effect in October, Hamas has reportedly moved aggressively to solidify its grip on Gaza, violently suppressing rival factions and sparking clashes within the devastated territory.



Oversight of the second phase of the fragile agreement will fall to a newly created Board of Peace, which President Trump is expected to formally announce next week, including the 15 international leaders who will serve on it. The body will be responsible for determining how Hamas disarmament is implemented and what weapons must be surrendered, including whether small arms are included.



Arab officials said Hamas has signaled a willingness to give up remaining heavy weapons but has drawn a firm line against relinquishing smaller firearms.



“They’ve made an agreement that they’re going to disarm,” Trump said Friday on Fox News. “We’re going to have to assume that they’re going to, but you know it’s not their nature to disarm.”



Trump has previously warned that Hamas would be given “a very short period of time” to hand over its weapons or face severe consequences, saying “there will be hell to pay.” At the same time, he has made clear he does not intend to delay phase two of the plan &#8211; which includes deploying an International Stabilization Force to police Gaza &#8211; while waiting for full disarmament.



Earlier this week, Trump appointed former UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov to head the Board of Peace.



Mladenov met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Thursday and held talks with Palestinian Authority officials in Yehudah and Shomron on Friday.



Despite Israel’s military preparations, any large-scale offensive would require American backing. The US continues to push for progress on the cease-fire initiative, an Arab diplomat told the Times of Israel.



Netanyahu is said to doubt that the Trump-led international framework can successfully disarm Hamas terrorists, prompting him to instruct the IDF to prepare what he described as a “contingency plan” should diplomacy collapse.

Israel Prepares Possible Gaza Offensive As Trump Peace Effort Stalls

The U.S. military launched a series of major airstrikes against ISIS positions across Syria on Saturday afternoon, acting under orders from the Trump administration, according to American defense officials.



“The strikes today targeted ISIS throughout Syria as part of our ongoing commitment to root out Islamic terrorism against our warfighters,” U.S. Central Command said on X.



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“Our message remains strong: if you harm our warfighters, we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world, no matter how hard you try to evade justice.”



According to CNN, 35 separate targets were struck using precision-guided weapons fired by more than two dozen aircraft. Officials have not yet confirmed whether the strikes resulted in casualties.



The military operation was carried out under the name “Operation Hawkeye Strike,” honoring two Iowa service members — Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29 — who were killed by an ISIS terrorist in Palmyra on Dec. 13.



U.S. Central Command released images showing aircraft and munitions involved in the operation, including F-15 fighter jets and Strike Eagles loaded with bombs in preparation for the mission.



“We will never forget, and never relent,” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth posted on X.



Saturday’s action follows a “massive” U.S. retaliatory strike conducted on Dec. 19, which targeted ISIS infrastructure and weapons storage facilities throughout Syria.



“All terrorists who are evil enough to attack Americans are herby warned — YOU WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE IF YOU, IN ANY WAY, ATTACK OF THREATEN THE U.S.A,” President Trump wrote on Truth Social.



The strikes coincided with diplomatic developments, as U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack said he met Saturday with Syria’s new leadership in Damascus to discuss the nation’s path forward.



“President Trump recognizes this moment as a pivotal opportunity for a new Syria,” Barrack wrote on X.



“In recognition of this opportunity, he agreed to lift sanctions in order to ‘give Syria a chance’ to move forward.”

US Pounds ISIS Targets Across Syria In Sweeping Airstrikes

Radical left-wing organizations, including one that received millions of dollars from billionaire George Soros, are driving the anti-ICE protest movement in Minnesota, the New York Post reported on Friday.



At the forefront of the demonstrations is Indivisible Twin Cities, a group that presents itself as a volunteer-based grassroots organization. The group has played a central role in protests opposing ICE operations in the state, where Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed Wednesday after allegedly attempting to run over an ICE agent with her vehicle.



Indivisible Twin Cities is affiliated with the Washington, DC-based Indivisible Project, which describes its mission as defeating the “Trump agenda.” Public records show the Indivisible Project received $7,850,000 from Soros’ Open Society Foundations between 2018 and 2023.



The organization has also been involved in other high-profile demonstrations, including pro-Venezuela protests and nationwide “No Kings” rallies targeting the Trump administration last year.



Beyond Indivisible Twin Cities — which does not list its leadership on its website — additional protest organizers include the Council on American-Islamic Relations, an anti-Israel group. Jaylani Hussein, executive director of CAIR’s Minnesota chapter, has been a prominent presence at anti-ICE rallies.



“A young observer killed in the line of observing, we believe in a peaceful manner. They are lying, as you hear today. They already shared lies about what took place,” Hussein said through a megaphone at an anti-ICE protest on Wednesday.



Good, who occasionally wrote poetry, was described by left-wing activists as a “legal observer” during the ICE operation in which she was killed.



After relocating from Colorado to Minnesota last year, Good became deeply involved in anti-ICE activism. She was identified as an “ICE Watch” member — part of a network of activists focused on interfering with ICE enforcement actions in Minneapolis — according to a previous Post report.



Another leading figure in the protests is Nekima Levy Armstrong, founder of the Racial Justice Network, who has helped organize demonstrations following Good’s death.



Armstrong, a Minnesota attorney and civil rights activist, has been involved in coordinating so-called “legal observers” who attend ICE operations across the city to record agents’ actions, based on her social media activity.



She has also promoted vigils and protests online and was a prominent organizer during the demonstrations that followed George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis in May 2020, according to reports.



Earlier this week, after Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced he would not seek re-election amid a wide-ranging welfare fraud scandal, Armstrong sharply criticized his decision.



“When Democrats respond to bad-faith attacks by retreating, they don’t just lose candidates,” Armstrong wrote in a Facebook post.



“They legitimize the tactic. They teach voters that propaganda works, that cruelty carries no cost, and that marginalized communities can be used as political weapons without consequence. Whatever the intentions, the cumulative effect is strategic capitulation.”



Additional protest leadership includes Edwin Torres DeSantiago, head of the Immigrant Defense Network, an umbrella organization representing more than 90 nonprofits and religious groups advocating for immigrant rights.



DeSantiago, who was born in El Salvador, is the first undocumented immigrant to pursue a PhD at the University of Minnesota. Following Good’s death, he accused President Trump of spreading “terror and chaos” in Minneapolis.

Report: Radical Left Groups Linked To Soros Back Minneapolis Anti-ICE Movement

A deadly traffic accident occurred Friday on Route 89 between the Ein Zeitim junction and the Meron intersection, when a car collided with a bus and was hurled into a ditch. A frum man, 34 years old, was tragically killed at the scene, and the bus driver was lightly injured.



Fire and rescue officials said three firefighting teams from the Galil-Golan station were dispatched to the scene of the collision between the bus and the car.



Upon arrival, firefighters used hydraulic rescue equipment to free a man who was trapped inside the severely damaged vehicle and listed in critical condition. He was transferred to MDA personnel for medical treatment, but was later pronounced dead.



Incident commander, Chief Inspector Roi Finish, described the scene to Bechadrei Charedim: “We arrived at the scene of a complex accident between a bus and a private vehicle. The force of the collision sent the vehicle flying into a ditch. Firefighters performed professional and rapid rescue operations for a person trapped in critical condition from the private vehicle. After the rescue operations were completed, the teams worked to clear the scene of the accident.”



Traffic police officers and accident investigators remained at the scene, working to determine the cause of the crash and directing traffic. Currently, the road is closed in both directions, and motorists are being asked to follow police instructions and use alternate routes.

Frum Man Tragically Killed in Fatal Crash En Route To Meron: Car Hits Bus, Plunges Into Canal

Senior American diplomats traveled to Caracas on Friday to evaluate whether the United States can begin reopening its embassy, which has been closed since 2019, according to a US official who spoke with the Times of Israel.



John McNamara, the top US diplomat stationed in neighboring Colombia, led the delegation alongside other US personnel, who “traveled to Caracas to conduct an initial assessment for a potential phased resumption of operations,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.



The US embassy in Caracas was shut down in March 2019, when American diplomats withdrew shortly after Washington, joined by several European and Latin American governments, declared Nicolas Maduro’s presidency illegitimate following elections that international observers said were marred by serious irregularities.



The visit comes days after President Donald Trump ordered a military raid on Caracas on January 3, during which US forces removed Maduro from power. Maduro faces drug trafficking charges in the United States, accusations he has denied.



Diplomatic sources said no final decision has yet been made on formally reopening the embassy, citing unresolved logistical issues. Preparations are nevertheless underway, they added, pending final approval from Trump.



Since the embassy’s closure, US diplomatic and consular affairs related to Venezuela have been managed from the American mission in Colombia. The United States, however, also does not currently have a full-ranking ambassador posted in Bogotá.

US Officials Travel to Caracas in Hopes of Reopening Embassy After Maduro Ouster

The relationship between President Trump and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene deteriorated so sharply that the White House alerted the Secret Service over concerns Greene may have disclosed details of a surprise presidential dinner to protesters, according to two members of Trump’s team, Axios reported Friday.



The concerns stem from a tense incident last fall at Joe’s Seafood in Washington, where anti-war activists confronted Trump during an unannounced visit. The episode embarrassed the president and heightened security worries inside the White House, coming roughly a year after Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt.



Trump aides now view the Joe’s Seafood incident as the breaking point in his relationship with Greene, once a close ally who later became a vocal critic and left Congress this week.



Greene flatly denied the allegation, telling Axios that any claim she revealed Trump’s plans was “an absolute lie, a dangerous lie. I would never do that.” She said she suggested the restaurant but did not know when Trump planned to go.



According to Greene, only White House aides and the restaurant &#8211; a well-known lobbyist gathering spot near the White House at 15th and H Streets NW &#8211; were aware of the reservation. “The story you should be writing is why didn’t the Secret Service sweep the restaurant,” she said, adding that metal detectors should have been placed at the entrance.



It remains unclear whether the Secret Service is formally investigating Greene. The agency declined to comment, and Greene did not respond to questions about whether agents contacted her.



Trump’s visit to Joe’s on September 9, accompanied by Vice President Vance and several Cabinet members, was intended to highlight what the White House described as improved public safety in Washington following the deployment of National Guard troops.



Instead, activists affiliated with the liberal group Code Pink approached within feet of Trump’s table and shouted, “Free DC.! Free Palestine! Trump is the Hitler of our time!”



For weeks afterward, Trump aides tried to determine how the protesters learned of the dinner, which had not been shared with the media and was known only to a small circle. Trump later called for an investigation into Code Pink, saying, “they should be put in jail.”



Following the confrontation, Trump’s team met with Secret Service leadership to review the incident and reassess the president’s security.



Code Pink spokesperson Melissa Garriga dismissed the suggestion that Greene tipped off the group. “That absolutely did not happen, to the point it is comical,” Garriga told Axios.



White House officials did not offer direct evidence tying Greene to the protesters but said their suspicions were based on two factors.



First, aides pointed to Greene’s role in recommending Joe’s Seafood. After doing so, officials say Greene repeatedly contacted White House staff on the day of the dinner to confirm Trump would attend. Sources said that after Trump learned of the calls, he phoned Greene shortly before leaving the White House and confirmed the visit.



Greene, who was known to frequent the restaurant, did not appear at Joe’s while Trump and his delegation were there — a detail that some aides found unusual.



Second, officials cited Greene’s relationship with Code Pink. White House aides noted her friendship with the group’s co-founder, Medea Benjamin, and said Greene and the organization share opposition to U.S. military aid to Ukraine and Israel.



Benjamin previously praised Greene for opposing Trump’s bombing of nuclear sites in Iran and for advocating cuts to foreign aid within the Pentagon’s budget. Benjamin and other Code Pink members also met with Greene after she announced in November that she would resign from Congress midway through her third term.



“I have enjoyed a friendship with Medea for a few years now, even though politics says that’s not allowed,” Greene said at the time.



According to Trump allies, the rift between the president and Greene began months earlier. Last spring, Trump sent Greene internal polling showing she would likely lose a potential Senate race to a Democrat. Trump has said he shared the data to inform her, not to discourage a run.



In the weeks that followed, allies said Greene’s public criticism of Trump increased, including accusations that he had abandoned “America First” principles and opposition to his “big, beautiful” tax and spending bill.



Trump privately expressed frustration, telling confidants he did not recognize the once-loyal ally.



From Greene’s perspective, however, she felt marginalized early in Trump’s second administration. A source familiar with her thinking said Greene believed Trump’s inner circle dismissed her advice and ignored her outreach despite years of loyalty to the president.

White House Flagged MTG to Secret Service After Protesters Crashed Trump Dinner, Sources Say

A protest targeting a shul in Kew Gardens Hills sparked widespread outrage Thursday night after demonstrators were filmed openly chanting &#8220;We support Hamas here,&#8221; a declaration that drew sharp condemnation from elected officials and Jewish community leaders.



The demonstration, organized by the group PAL-Awda against an Israeli real estate event, took place outside the Young Israel of Kew Gardens. Law enforcement sources tell Belaaz that around 200 protestors arrived at the shul.



While a heavy NYPD presence kept the physical peace, the rhetoric used by protesters, including chants of &#8220;From the River to the Sea,&#8221; and support for Hamas terrorists, shook a neighborhood where many residents have close family in Israel.



Assemblymember Sam Berger, who represents the district, expressed the deep pain felt by the local community as they witnessed the glorification of a terror group on their doorstep. &#8220;For the Jewish community in Kew Gardens Hills, many of whom have family &amp; friends living in Israel, this is horrific,&#8221; Berger said.



&#8220;Accompanied with antisemitic chants of &#8216;From the River to the Sea&#8217; &amp; &#8216;We Support Hamas Here,&#8217; hate sadly does have a place in New York.&#8221;



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Despite the inflammatory language, Berger and witnesses noted that the NYPD maintained safety barricades throughout the event, preventing the demonstrators from breaching the perimeter around the synagogue.



Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY) issued a blistering statement in response to the footage of the chants, calling out the moral failure of those cheering for the perpetrators of the October 7th massacre.



&#8220;Activists protested outside a synagogue, chanting, &#8216;Say it loud, say it clear, we support Hamas here,'&#8221; Torres stated. &#8220;Whatever the amnesia surrounding 10/7, the truth must never be forgotten: Hamas murdered, maimed, mutilated&#8230;and tortured thousands of innocent Israelis. It is, and has always been, a barbaric oppressor of its own people.&#8221;



Torres rejected the notion that the protest was merely pro-Palestinian advocacy. &#8220;Support for Hamas is not an expression of empathy for Palestinians; it is an expression of antipathy toward Jews and Israelis,&#8221; Torres said. &#8220;Hate has no place in NYC.&#8221;



While emotions ran high, askanim urged the Jewish community to exercise restraint to ensure safety. Sorolle Idels, head of the Queens Jewish Alliance (QJA), told Belaaz that she advised residents against holding counter-protests, citing the legal limitations faced by law enforcement.



&#8220;Protesting is a legal right. Intimidation is not. Yet the reality on the ground is that the NYPD’s hands are largely tied unless there is direct physical violence by agitators,&#8221; Idels told Belaaz. &#8220;Knowing this, I have been clear and consistent in my guidance to the community: do not engage in counter-protests. Stay away.&#8221;



Idels acknowledged the difficulty of remaining silent in the face of such provocation but emphasized that safety must come first. &#8220;I understand the frustration. I hear those who say we should not stay silent, that we should not allow ourselves to be bullied&#8230; But rights exercised without wisdom can quickly become unnecessary risk,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Showing strength does not mean walking into a hostile environment where safety cannot be guaranteed.&#8221;



Instead of street confrontations, Idels said supporters could &#8220;Buy Israeli property. Invest in Israel bonds. Support Israeli businesses. Use the power of your purse. That is real support, real impact, and it keeps our community safe.&#8221;



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Torres Slams Kew Gardens Hills Hamas Supporters, NYPD Maintains Safety at Shul

The Jewish neighborhood in Kew Gardens Hills, Queens found itself, in the words of State Assemblyman Sam Beger, &#8220;completely upended&#8221; on Thursday as a Jewish school and a shul announced early closures ahead of a planned anti-Israel protest targeting a real estate event.



Queens Jewish Alliance head Sorolle Idels tells Belaaz that the protestors outside of Young Israel of Kew Gardens, who gathered at around 7PM, were being kept at bay by NYPD barricades, allowing attendees at the real estate event to enter and exit freely &#8211; a marked shift from a November incident at a synagogue in Manhattan, when mobs chanting death threats prevented people from moving.



The anti-Israel group Palestinian Assembly for Liberation [PAL]-Awda announced plans to demonstrate outside the shul, where a Jerusalem-based real estate agency, was scheduled to host an event Thursday evening. In response to the planned mayhem, the shul canceled tefillos while Yeshiva of Central Queens, located closeby, ended school early.



Jewish community figures were outraged.



&#8220;As a community leader, I want to be very clear: this is a lawful, professional event, and people have every right to attend a local shul without fear,&#8221; Idels told Belaaz. &#8220;Peaceful protest is legitimate, but intimidation and attempts to shut down a legal gathering are not. I have spoken with Shmira, our local NYPD, and our elected officials, and there is shared agreement that safety, order, and the right to gather lawfully must be protected. We are fortunate to have elected leaders who stand with our community and support those fundamental principles.&#8221;



Queens Jewish community askan Nechemia Hoch told Belaaz: &#8220;It&#8217;s unfortunate that hatred has come to our streets, but we are grateful for the cooperation and coordination between Shemirah, local officials and the NYPD which will ensure that our community remains safe.&#8221;



Berger, a Democrat who represents the area, told Jewish Insider that local principals, staff and parents are &#8220;very concerned.&#8221; The surrounding area has been &#8220;completely upended,&#8221; he said.



Berger clarified on social media that &#8220;the NYPD&nbsp; did not issue any directives to close to schools, synagogues, or local institutions. They notified them of the planned protest, and each entity made its own determination based on the recent history of these agitators targeting this community. A safety perimeter is in place, but our institutions should not have to be put in this position.&#8221;



The planned protest marks the first major test Mayor Zohran Mamdani will face with the city&#8217;s Jewish community since his inauguration last week. According to Jewish Insider, Mamdani&#8217;s spokesperson did not respond to multiple inquiries on Thursday, including one asking whether the mayor&#8217;s team had discouraged demonstrators from protesting.



&#8220;For our @NYCMayor who has said he &#8216;will always stand steadfast with our Jewish neighbors,&#8217; I am calling on [Mamdani] for an immediate condemnation of this demonstration,&#8221; Berger wrote on X, adding that &#8220;a safety perimeter is in place, and I am confident in the NYPD&#8217;s ability to keep the community safe.&#8221;



In a letter to Mamdani dated January 8, attorneys Marc Goldfeder, CEO of the National Jewish Advocacy Center, and Ben Schlager, the organization&#8217;s Associate Director, placed the mayor&#8217;s office &#8220;on notice&#8221; about the demonstration&#8217;s &#8220;foreseeable risk of intimidation and public-safety violations directed at Jewish individuals and institutions.&#8221;



The letter urged the city to enforce New York Penal Law § 240.20 which prohibits conduct—masked or otherwise—undertaken with intent to cause public alarm or that recklessly creates a risk thereof. “Nothing in the First Amendment requires the City to tolerate masked intimidation, threats, or conduct designed to instill fear,” the attorneys wrote.



Goldfeder also reminded the mayor on social media: “Penal Law §240.20 squarely prohibits disorderly conduct that causes or recklessly risks public alarm—including masked intimidation. These laws must be enforced equally.”



PAL-Awda posted instructions for participants hours before the demonstration, including directives to &#8220;mask up&#8221; and &#8220;bring Palestinian flags and signs,&#8221; according to Jewish Insider.



The group wrote on Instagram that it was protesting because &#8220;Zionist real estate agencies are hosting an illegal event (sic), explicitly advertising the establishment of an &#8216;Anglo community'&#8221;, in Ma&#8217;ale Adumim.



The protest follows a similar demonstration in November, when PAL-Awda led protesters outside Park East Synagogue in Manhattan as it hosted a Nefesh B&#8217;Nefesh event providing information on immigration to Israel. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch later called that protest &#8220;turmoil,&#8221; and apologized for not sufficiently protecting the rights of attendees to move freely, while Mamdani&#8217;s office initially said the event was promoting &#8220;activities in violation of international law&#8221; &#8211; a statement his spokesperson would later revise.



PAL-Awda had also planned a protest outside another Nefesh B&#8217;Nefesh event in Manhattan on Wednesday night but canceled less than an hour before it was scheduled to begin, without providing a reason.



In response to Thursday&#8217;s planned protest, a Zionist group called for a counter-demonstration, posting on social media: &#8220;Anti-Zionist terrorists are threatening NYC Jews for exercising the right of Aliyah — a right enshrined in Jewish history and international law. We stand proud. Aliyah is Jewish return.&#8221; The group urged supporters to gather at Yeshiva of Central Queens at 6:30 PM with &#8220;flags,&#8221; &#8220;pride,&#8221; and &#8220;strength.&#8221;



New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Tuesday she plans to implement a policy establishing &#8220;safety zones&#8221; around houses of worship, though that policy will not be enacted in time for Thursday&#8217;s demonstration.

Mamdani Silent on Anti-Israel Protest in Queens; Protestors Kept Behind Barricade

A third-grade student from Yeshivat Noam in Paramus suffered severe injuries when a rock was thrown at her school bus on the New Jersey Turnpike on Wednesday; the extent of her injuries was not known until Thursday.



The horrifying incident occurred&nbsp;as the bus were returning to Paramus following a third-grade trip to the Liberty Science Center. As the buses traveled along the Turnpike at Teaneck Road, a large rock was hurled at one of the vehicles, breaking a window and striking the girl in the head.



Ezra Finkelstein, Chief of Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps tells Belaaz that emergency responders, including members of his organization, Teaneck Fire Department and New Jersey State Police arrived on the scene. 



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&#8220;We are proud to be able to serve all residents and visitors of Teaneck, and we hope that the patient has a full recovery,&#8221; Finkelstein said.



The child was subsequently transported to Hackensack University Medical Center.



While the injury initially appeared minor at first, the situation took a drastic turn on Thursday. A CAT scan revealed that the child is suffering from brain bleeding and will require surgery.



No arrests have been announced as of Thursday afternoon. Investigators are urging anyone with relevant information regarding the attack to contact the authorities immediately.



In a letter sent to parents shortly after the incident occurred, Yeshivat Noam Head of School Rabbi Chaim Hagler sought to reassure the parent body.



&#8220;I am writing regarding an incident that occurred this afternoon involving our 3rd-grade trip bus,&#8221; Rabbi Hagler wrote. &#8220;While returning from the Liberty Science Center, as the bus was exiting the Turnpike at Teaneck Road, an object was thrown at the vehicle, causing a window to break,&#8221; he wrote.



Rabbi Hagler noted that school administration was on-site immediately. &#8220;Our teachers took immediate control of the situation, and I joined them on-site to accompany the children back to school,&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;Upon arrival, our mental health team met with the students to provide a safe space for them to process the event and share their feelings.&#8221;



Sol Itzkowitz, head of Bergen County Chaverim, told Belaaz that he is &#8220;shocked by this horrendous incident.&#8221;



Itzkowitz lauded the &#8220;swift response of local and state law enforcement,&#8221; noting that in the wake of the attack, emergency meetings have been held involving elected officials, the Sheriff&#8217;s office, Teaneck and Paramus police departments, school staff, parents, and Jewish community chaplains.



The Teaneck Police Department and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office have launched a joint investigation into the attack.



Authorities have not yet determined if the incident was a targeted act of antisemitism.



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

Young Jewish Girl Suffers Brain Bleed After Rock Thrown at School Bus on NJ Turnpike

A shocking discovery was made Thursday at the kever of the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh, the matzeivah of the tzadik was desecrated and vandalized.



The timing carries significant weight, as this date marks the Yahrzeit of the Or HaChaim’s grandfather, Harav Chaim ben Rav Moshe ben Attar; after whom the Ohr Hachaim was named.



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According to reports from the scene at Har Hazeisim, vandals defaced the Magen Dovid adorning the kever. Moroccan Jews say that the symbol was crafted by the talmidim of the Or HaChaim, possibly including the Chida, Harav Chaim Yosef David Azulai. The desecration caused deep distress among the mispallelim who arrived at the kever; a frequent destination for people in need of yeshuos. . Following the discovery of the vandalism, immediate contact was made with Rabbi Zuriel Crispel, Chairman of the Cemetery Council. Crews were quickly dispatched to the site to remove the offensive markings and restore the dignity of the Tziyun.



News of the vandalization was first reported by Israeli media outlet Hamechadesh.



Israeli police have opened an investigation into the incident in an effort to locate and apprehend those responsible for the shameful act of vandalism.

Kever of Or HaChaim HaKadosh Desecrated on Har Hazeisim

Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art agreed Thursday to implement a series of measures aimed at curbing antisemitism and harassment on campus, resolving a lawsuit that alleged the school failed to protect Jewish students during an anti-Israel protest.



The agreement was announced Thursday by attorneys representing 10 Jewish students who argued that the private Manhattan college created a hostile academic environment, in violation of Title VI of US civil rights law. That statute prohibits institutions receiving federal funds from allowing discrimination based on race, religion, or national origin.



As part of the settlement, Cooper Union will appoint a Title VI coordinator to oversee how discrimination and harassment complaints are handled. The school will also introduce training programs for staff and students on relevant policies and ban the use of masks intended to conceal identities during demonstrations, according to the students’ lawyers. In addition, the college will provide financial compensation to the 10 students, though the amount was not disclosed.



“Jewish students deserve to learn without being targeted, harassed, or excluded because of who they are or what they believe,&#8221; Ziporah Reich, director of litigation at the Lawfare Project, which represents the students told the Times of Israel. &#8220;Universities have a legal duty to protect them.&#8221;



Cooper Union and its legal counsel did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the settlement.



The lawsuit stemmed from an incident on October 25, 2023, when pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside the school’s library. According to the complaint, protesters pushed past security guards, pounded on doors and windows, waved signs, and chanted “Free Palestine,” while Jewish students sheltered inside, saying they feared for their safety. The students alleged that administrators failed to intervene and instructed police officers who offered assistance to stand down.



In February, US District Judge John Cronan rejected Cooper Union’s attempt to dismiss the case, ruling that free speech protections did not excuse the treatment described by the students.



The case against Cooper Union emerged amid a broader wave of litigation following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, massacre in Israel, after which Jewish students across the United States reported a sharp rise in antisemitism on college campuses. Several major universities, including Columbia University, Harvard University, and New York University, have faced similar lawsuits and reached settlements.

Cooper Union Settles Antisemitism Lawsuit, Agrees To Campus Reforms After Students Trapped in Library During Protest

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Thursday that the deployment of Turkish forces in Gaza is improbable due to firm opposition from Israel.



Speaking in an interview with the Kan public broadcaster, Huckabee emphasized that Israeli resistance would be a decisive factor. “I don’t think you’re going to see it if Israel has strong reservations about it… [and] Israel does have strong reservations,” he said.



He added that there appears to be no readiness to override those concerns, stating, “As far as I can tell, there’s not going to be some willingness to say, ‘Sure, let the Turks come in, as long as Israel has the reservations they have.”



Huckabee is known as a close ally of US President Donald Trump, though it remains unclear how much sway he holds over Washington’s policy regarding Gaza.

Huckabee Implies Turkish Troops Unlikely To Enter Gaza Over Israeli Objections

Saudi Arabia is setting a clear red line in Yemen in recent weeks, launching airstrikes near the port city of Mukalla aimed at curbing the advance of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), the Jerusalem Post reported Thursday.



On Thursday, Arab News, a Saudi outlet, featured an Old West-style “wanted” front page aimed at Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, the leader of the STC. Zubaidi had been scheduled to travel to Riyadh on January 7 for talks. Instead, apparently fearing detention, he did not arrive and reportedly fled to Abu Dhabi.



The STC has maintained control over parts of southern Yemen, while Saudi Arabia supports the internationally recognized Yemeni government, which itself holds only limited territory across the country.



Riyadh’s strikes against the STC marked a dramatic departure from the past. For years, Saudi Arabia and the UAE were broadly aligned in Yemen, but their objectives and local allies increasingly diverged. In a swift series of developments, Saudi Arabia directly confronted the STC, pushing it back toward Aden and effectively dismantling its grip on power within the span of roughly a week.



In the aftermath, the Yemeni government, represented by the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), consolidated control over southern Yemen, reclaiming areas that had been under STC authority.



Arab News wrote that “at a time when he should have acted like a statesman and boarded the plane scheduled to take him to Riyadh on Tuesday evening to meet and shake hands with Yemeni President Rashad Al-Alimi, agreeing to prioritize the interests of the Yemeni people and seek forgiveness for actions taken for personal gain at the expense of the nation, Aidarous Al-Zubaidi chose instead a ‘no-show,’ cementing his image as a traitor to his country.”



The Saudi outlet accused Zubaidi of promoting the secession of southern Yemen, reinforcing Riyadh’s portrayal of the STC as a separatist movement.



While Zubaidi stayed away, the Yemeni government’s leadership did convene in Saudi Arabia on January 7.



Arab News reported that “the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, headed by Al-Alimi, held an emergency meeting attended by members Sultan Al-Arada, Tariq Saleh, Abdulrahman Al-Muharrami, Dr. Abdullah Al-Alimi, and Othman Mujalli.” The PLC is now moving to consolidate authority after years of internal weakness and fragmentation, during which the UAE-backed STC had appeared ascendant. The STC’s rapid collapse after a week of clashes is widely seen as a broader warning to the region.



Recent events have underscored how structures that appear strong can unravel quickly, as seen with the Assad regime’s sudden collapse over a single week in early December 2024.



While the STC and the Assad regime are fundamentally different, the comparison highlights regional volatility. The Assad government ruled Syria for half a century. Southern Yemen, by contrast, traces its political identity to the 1960s, existed as an independent state, and later unified with North Yemen in 1990. Saudi Arabia has long viewed renewed attempts to revive an independent South Yemen with concern.



The STC’s push for expanded autonomy, and potentially independence, appears to have triggered alarm in Riyadh in December 2025. The group had made notable territorial gains earlier that month, prompting Saudi airstrikes and calls for the UAE to withdraw its support from southern Yemen. Once that backing faded, the STC seems to have crumbled amid mounting pressure and political maneuvering.



Only days before its downfall, Kurdish outlet Rudaw reported that “the Southern Transitional Council (STC) has consolidated control over southern Yemen and is stepping up its international outreach to advance what it describes as the South’s ‘legitimate right to self-determination,’ a well-placed source in Aden told Rudaw on Tuesday.”



The STC’s reliance on Emirati support proved to be a critical vulnerability. Yet broader regional considerations were also in play. Reports circulated suggesting that Israel’s recognition of Somaliland in December could be part of a larger realignment, potentially encouraging Israeli backing for the UAE’s position in Aden. Middle East Monitor noted that Israel’s Maariv newspaper “says recognition of Somaliland could pave the way for a similar move in south Yemen against Houthis.” Iran’s Mehr News likewise accused Israel of “eyeing” southern Yemen.



These dynamics raise the question of whether Saudi Arabia’s rapid move against the STC was tied to wider strategic concerns in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Israel’s recognition of Somaliland sparked discussion about shifting power balances in the Horn of Africa, an arena where Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Turkey, and others all compete for influence. Riyadh and Abu Dhabi also diverge over Sudan, with Saudi Arabia reportedly favoring a ceasefire and closer alignment with Egypt, while the UAE has been accused of backing the Rapid Support Forces. Similar tensions appear to exist in Somaliland, where Emirati interests are well established.



Saudi Arabia is intent on preventing a gradual erosion of its regional standing. It has sought to stabilize ties with Iran through China-backed talks, improved relations with Turkey, and supported outreach by Syria’s new government to Washington. Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister was in Washington on January 7.



According to the Saudi Press Agency, “Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, arrived in Washington on Wednesday on an official visit to the United States.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with him the same day, later writing, “Just concluded a meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan to discuss continued coordination in support of Middle Eastern security and stability, including in Gaza, Yemen, Sudan, and Syria.”



Multiple regional developments appear interconnected, according to the Jerusalem Post. The UAE and Ethiopia have urged dialogue in Sudan. Arab News also reported that “the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation announced that an extraordinary meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers would take place in order to discuss the rapidly escalating developments in Somalia.” This followed a January 6 visit to Somaliland by Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar.



Saudi Arabia is visibly reasserting itself as a central regional actor. This comes as the US backed a trilateral meeting in Paris involving Israel and Syria, and as Israeli officials voiced concern over clashes between Syrian government forces and Kurdish groups in Aleppo. Riyadh is closely monitoring developments across Somaliland, Yemen, Sudan, and beyond.



Against this backdrop, Saudi Arabia’s growing confidence may shape how it responds to recurring reports about potential normalization with Israel. Riyadh has made clear it seeks tangible changes in Gaza and in Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians.



The notion that Saudi Arabia would normalize relations without receiving anything in return is unrealistic. Riyadh has also bristled at disparaging remarks from some Israeli politicians, including a comment telling Saudis to “keep riding camels.”



Saudi Arabia’s actions in Yemen demonstrate that it will not tolerate perceived slights or challenges to its interests. When Riyadh draws a red line, it is prepared to enforce it. Regional actors who may have underestimated Saudi resolve are now reassessing. After years marked by setbacks following the 2015 Yemen intervention, Saudi Arabia appears once again firmly in control of its regional strategy.

Saudi Arabia Draws Red Line In Yemen, Signals Return To Regional Superpower Role

At the annual Colel Chabad dinner Wednesday night, Hedge fund billionaire and philanthropist Bill Ackman presented a special award to Ahmed Al Ahmed, the Muslim Australian hero who risked his life to save Jews during the horrifying Bondi Beach Islamic terror attack in Australia last month.



At the event, community leaders gathered to support one of Israel’s oldest tzedaka organizations. But the highlight of the night was the tribute to Al Ahmed, whose selfless bravery during the Chanukah terror attack made headlines around the world.



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Ackman, known for his stoic public persona, broke down in tears on stage as he described the sheer courage it took for Al Ahmed to charge into mortal danger. Al Ahmed, who was injured in the attack, wrestled a terrorist to the ground during the attack, effectively stopping the slaughter and saving countless Jewish lives from the attackers.



&#8220;There wasn’t a dry eye in the room,&#8221; reported Crown Heights activist Rabbi Yaacov Behrman, who attended the event.



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In a moment that stunned the audience, Al Ahmed was embraced on stage by Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, a senior Dayan in Sydney. Rabbi Ulman’s son-in-law, Rabbi Yitzchak Schlanger, was murdered at the Menorah lighting during the attack. Despite his personal tragedy, Rabbi Ulman spoke powerfully to the crowd, declaring that &#8220;darkness will not prevail.&#8221;



When asked about his heroism, Al Ahmed remained humble, telling the audience simply that &#8220;God led him to save lives.&#8221;



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Rabbi Behrman, who met with Al Ahmed personally after the ceremony, described the event as &#8220;a powerful evening none of us will forget.&#8221;



&#8220;Let us in New York learn from his courage and heroism,&#8221; Behrman added, &#8220;and let his story inspire us to continue building those bridges.&#8221;



The dinner, hosted by Colel Chabad&#8217;s Director Rabbi Sholom Duchman, was hailed by attendees as an incredible tribute to true heroism and the enduring strength in the face of terror.

Bill Ackman, in Tears, Honors Muslim Hero Who Saved Jews During Bondi Beach Massacre at Colel Chabad Dinner

After Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun took office on Tuesday as the United States Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, his official State Department website was launched Wednesday.



Following his swearing-in ceremony, which Belaaz reported was expedited due to the urgent volume of work awaiting the new envoy, the State Department launched Ambassador Kaploun’s official website, outlining his mandate and personal background, complete with an official portrait.



Filling a vacancy left by the departure of Holocaust historian Deborah Lipstadt last year, Ambassador Kaploun was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 18.



In his new role, he serves as the primary advisor to the United States government on global antisemitism, tasked with developing and implementing policies to counter rising anti-Jewish hatred worldwide.



According to his newly launched office website, Ambassador Kaploun brings a background in both public service and business to the State Department.



&#8220;The son and grandson of rabbis, Ambassador Rabbi Kaploun has dedicated his life to public service,&#8221; the biography states. It highlights his tenure as Executive Vice President of the Moses and Aaron Foundation, where he &#8220;worked closely with founder and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel to support special needs children and their families.&#8221;



The biography also notes his role as a &#8220;long [time] advocate for Jewish communities in the United States and around the world,&#8221; specifically citing his work following the October 7, 2023 attacks. Ambassador Kaploun &#8220;met and assisted numerous hostage families&#8221; in the aftermath of the attacks and &#8220;hosted the first memorial for the attack in Doral, Florida, which was attended by President Trump.&#8221;



Prior to his appointment, Kaploun was a prominent figure in the private sector. He served as co-founder and President of RussKap Water and previously led Watergen USA. His official biography credits him with leading &#8220;groundbreaking efforts to address global water scarcity by harnessing atmospheric water generators to transform air into water,&#8221; noting that he received a Nobel Peace Prize nomination in 2024 for these achievements.

Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun Begins Work as Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism; Website Launches

A shooting erupted outside a Salt Lake City church during a funeral service late Wednesday night, leaving two people dead and eight others wounded.



Police said three of the injured victims are in critical condition following the attack.



Authorities reported that no suspects have been taken into custody in connection with the shooting, and it is not known at this time if the shooting was terrorism-related.



The area surrounding the church remained shut down late Wednesday night, with law enforcement urging the public to avoid the vicinity as the investigation continues.

Deadly Shooting At Utah Church Funeral Leaves Two Killed, Eight Wounded

President Trump hailed the mission to seize Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as a “perfectly executed” demonstration of U.S. military strength.



That public description, however, omitted critical moments that highlighted how perilous the raid became as American forces closed in on Maduro’s heavily defended compound; and how narrowly the mission avoided disaster, according to a Wednesday New York Times report.



A U.S. military helicopter took damage and fought to remain airborne above Caracas, throwing the entire American operation into jeopardy, according to the report.



In the pre-dawn hours of Saturday, U.S. Army helicopters flew just 100 feet above the ocean before sweeping over Venezuela’s capital, racing toward their objective. Their approach was concealed by a U.S. cyber operation that plunged Caracas into darkness, alongside radar-avoiding American fighter jets that struck Venezuela’s Russian-made air defense systems.



At first, the helicopters, carrying dozens of elite Army Delta Force commandos, advanced without being detected.



That changed as they neared Maduro’s compound. The aircraft came under fire and returned it. The lead helicopter in the assault, a massive twin-rotor MH-47 Chinook, was hit but managed to stay airborne. According to current and former U.S. officials speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the mission, the flight leader &#8211; who also designed the operation and was piloting the Chinook &#8211; was wounded three times in the leg.



As the crippled helicopter fought to stay aloft long enough to deploy its troops, the outcome of the entire mission, known as Absolute Resolve, hung in the balance. The operation involved more than 150 aircraft launched from 20 separate land and sea bases across the region.

Damaged Helicopter Nearly Doomed U.S. Raid To Capture Venezuela’s Maduro

Rabbi Uri Lupolianski, who served as Jerusalem’s mayor and established the Yad Sarah volunteer organization, passed away late Wednesday night at the age of 74 following a lengthy and difficult illness.



Lupolianski was the driving force behind Yad Sarah, a nationwide nonprofit that delivers medical equipment and social assistance to the elderly, the ill, and people with disabilities. In addition to his public service work, he led the city of Jerusalem as mayor between 2003 and 2008.



Relatives said that during his final years, Lupolianski endured significant medical suffering before his passing. Approximately two weeks earlier, he was admitted to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in critical condition.



His funeral is scheduled for Thursday at 11:00 a.m., beginning at his residence in the Sanhedria Murhevet neighborhood. The procession will continue to Har HaMenuchos, where he will be laid to rest.



Born in Haifa in 1951, Lupolianski learned in Yeshiva Torah Or Yeshiva Yerushalayim and the Negev Yeshiva in Netivot. He later served as a medic in the IDF, worked in education, and pursued studies in public administration.



In 1976, following personal difficulty obtaining medical equipment for his young son, Lupolianski founded Yad Sarah. Named in memory of his grandmother who was murdered in the Holocaust, the organization expanded into a nationwide network of volunteers and services. Its contributions were recognized with numerous honors, including the Israel Prize in 1994, the President’s Volunteer Medal, and the Knesset Speaker’s Prize.



Lupolianski entered municipal politics in 1989 as a member of the Jerusalem City Council, where he held several senior roles. After Ehud Olmert resigned in February 2003, Lupolianski was appointed mayor on behalf of United Torah Judaism. He later won election for a full term that June and remained in office until November 2008.



A longtime resident of Yerushalayim&#8217;s Sanhedria Murchevet neighborhood, Lupolianski is survived by his wife, Michal, their 12 children, and an extensive family. His son, Rabbi Yitzchak Lupolianski, heads the Nachalas Yair yeshiva in the community of Metzad in Gush Etzion.

BDE: Former Yerushalayim Mayor And Yad Sarah Founder Rabbi Uri Lupolianski z”l, 74

A woman was shot and killed by an ICE officer in Minneapolis on Wednesday morning, with witness descriptions sharply diverging from the version of events offered by federal officials.



Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey reacted angrily after viewing video of the shooting, calling claims that it was an act of self-defense a “garbage narrative.” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz also said he had seen the footage, stating, “Don&#8217;t believe the propaganda machine. The state will ensure there is a full, fair, and expeditious investigation to ensure accountability and justice.”



According to federal authorities, ICE officers were “conducting targeted operations” when they were confronted by what officials described as “rioters” who blocked their movement. Officials claimed one of the individuals “weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them.”



ICE said an officer, who was “fearing for his life,” fired what were described as “defensive shots” to protect himself and other officers, resulting in the woman’s death. Minneapolis officials later identified the victim as a 37-year-old white woman.



Video circulating on social media shows the moment the woman was fatally shot. After viewing the footage, Mayor Frey reiterated his rejection of the self-defense claim, again labeling it a “garbage narrative.”



President Donald Trump personally weighed in, writing on Truth Social: &#8220;I have just viewed the clip of the event which took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is a horrible thing to watch. The woman screaming was, obviously, a professional agitator, and the woman driving the car was very disorderly, obstructing and resisting, who then violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer, who seems to have shot her in self defense. Based on the attached clip, it is hard to believe he is alive, but is now recovering in the hospital. The situation is being studied, in its entirety, but the reason these incidents are happening is because the Radical Left is threatening, assaulting, and targeting our Law Enforcement Officers and ICE Agents on a daily basis. They are just trying to do the job of MAKING AMERICA SAFE. We need to stand by and protect our Law Enforcement Officers from this Radical Left Movement of Violence and Hate!&#8221;



Witnesses interviewed by FOX 9 offered a different account of the incident. They said the woman entered a red vehicle near Portland Avenue and East 34th Street on Wednesday morning, where ICE agents surrounded the car.



According to those witnesses, one ICE agent stood on each side of the vehicle while a third approached and pulled on the driver’s side door. Witnesses said one agent then stepped back and opened fire, shooting three times through the driver’s side window. One witness said the vehicle was not moving toward the agents at the time.



Witnesses also said a doctor who happened to be at the scene attempted to render aid to the woman but was prevented from doing so by ICE agents. They said an ambulance arrived roughly 15 minutes later but was initially unable to reach the victim because ICE vehicles were blocking the street.



Those at the scene told Fox that ICE agents later carried a “limp body” down the street, where the woman was placed into the ambulance.



The shooting occurred amid what the Department of Homeland Security has described as the “largest ever” ICE operation currently underway in Minnesota.



“We collectively are going to do everything possible to get to the bottom of this, to get justice and to make sure that there is an investigation conducted in full. But what we do know is that a 37-year-old woman is dead, and she was shot by ICE,” Frey said Wednesday. “We’ve dreaded this moment since the early stages of this ICE presence in Minneapolis… They are not here to create safety in this city, what they are doing is causing chaos and distrust.



DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said that the incident amounted to domestic terrorism. “These vehicle rammings are domestic acts of terrorism. We are working with the DOJ to prosecute them as such.”



In a full statement, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended the officers’ actions and blamed political rhetoric for escalating tensions.



“Today, ICE officers in Minneapolis were conducting targeted operations when rioters began blocking ICE officers and one of these violent rioters weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them &#8211; an act of domestic terrorism.



“An ICE officer, fearing for his life, the lives of his fellow law enforcement and the safety of the public, fired defensive shots.



“He used his training and saved his own life and that of his fellow officers.



“The alleged perpetrator was hit and is deceased. Thankfully, the ICE officers who were hurt are expected to make full recoveries.



“This is the direct consequence of constant attacks and demonization of our officers by sanctuary politicians who fuel and encourage rampant assaults on our law enforcement who are facing 1,300% increase in assaults against them and an 8,000% increase in death threats.



“This is an evolving situation, and we will give the public more information as soon as it becomes available.”

Minneapolis ICE Shooting: Witnesses Dispute Federal Account, Noem Says Protestor Was Domestic Terrorist

The Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel held a meeting in Yerushalayim Wednesday night over the government&#8217;s draft bill, with the fate of the coalition in the balance. Rabbi Yitzchak Pindrus of Degel Hatorah tells Belaaz that Channel 12 reports of a simultaneous meeting among the Moetzes of Degel are not true.



As of late Wednesday night, the meeting concluded without the immediate publication of a final decision, following heavy pressure from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and coordination between the Chassidic and Litvish leadership to avoid a precipitous collapse of the government.



In the halls of Beis Malka on Rechov Brandeis, the revered Chasidish Rebbes of the Moetzes of Agudas Yisroel arrived one by one after 9:00 PM.



The gathering was led by the Gerrer Rebbe, the Belzer Rebbe, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, the Sanzer Rebbe, the Seret-Vizhnitzer Rebbe, and the Modzitzer Rebbe, shlita. There appears to be discrepancies in Israeli media reports as to whether the Boyaner Rebbe, shlita, attended.



Conspicuously absent was the Slonimer Rebbe, shlita, who sent a powerful letter read before the assembled sages. The Rebbe declared: &#8220;We oppose any law that imposes penalties and sanctions on lomdei Torah. We will not leave the heichalei hayeshivos under any circumstances.&#8221;



The Sadigura Rebbe did not attend as he is currently in the United States.



At the behest of the Belzer Rebbe, Harav Pinchas Friedman arrived to articulate the Rebbe’s position.



Notably, the Agudah MKs; Housing Minister and chairman&nbsp; Rabbi Yitzchak Goldknopf, Yerushalayim Affairs Minister Rabbi Meir Porush, and MK Rabbi Yisrael Eichler, were present, alongside Bnei Brak Mayor Chanoch Zeibert.



However, in a departure from norm, the MKs were not invited back into the room following the deliberations to receive instructions, signaling the sensitivity of the moment.



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As the Agudah Moetzes prepared to meet, messages were passed from Degel HaTorah to Agudat Yisrael in an effort to stop any immediate decision opposing the conscription law, Bechadrei Charedim reported.



On Tuesday, a discussion took place between Rabbi Aharon Hirsch, son of Degel HaTorah leader Hagaon Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, and Yaakov Walzer, gabbai of the Agudath Moetzes. 



After that exchange, Walzer reportedly met with the Gerrer Rebbe and relayed Degel HaTorah’s position. The Rebbe did not reject the argument and went further, proposing that the council session scheduled for today be called off and that, instead, a joint meeting of both Moetzos should be convened in the coming days to reach a unified stance on the legislation.



That initiative, however, stalled. Harav Hirsch’s son declined to commit to the idea of a joint council and reiterated the original request — that no decision be taken at this time against the law.



Ultimately, the council meeting was not canceled. It remains uncertain whether a definitive ruling against the conscription law will emerge, or whether the pressure from Degel HaTorah will succeed in delaying such a move, as heightened attention continues around the outcome.



The drama behind the scenes was as intense as the deliberations within. Earlier in the evening,&nbsp; Netanyahu conveyed an urgent message to Agudah, pleading with the Rebbes to withhold a final decision tonight. The Prime Minister argued that the wording of the draft law is &#8220;expected to change&#8221; and that a premature rejection could tank the coalition.



&#8220;Going to elections would be a mistake,&#8221; Netanyahu reportedly told UTJ MKs earlier in the day. &#8220;The conscription law needs to be explained to the public&#8230; We will be required to complete this legislation as soon as possible.&#8221;



Kan News reported that the Charedi parties have threatened to support the dissolution of the Knesset if the pace of the draft law legislation is not accelerated. With six months having passed since the last failed attempt to dissolve the Knesset, the motion can now be brought to a vote again.



However, for now, the decision remains in abeyance. The Agudah Moetzes left after an hour and a half without a public declaration.

Agudah Moetzes Meets Over Draft Law as Coalition Teeters; Pindrus Rejects Report of Degel Moetzes Meeting

Mayor Zohran Mamdani is considering appointing Phylisa Wisdom &#8211; an activist who accused Charedi leaders of being &#8220;self interested&#8221; and who worked at the virulently anti-yeshiva group YAFFED (Young Advocates for Fair Education) &#8211; to lead the city’s efforts in combatting antisemitism.



The potential move, first reported by Jewish Insider on Wednesday, citing anonymous sources, has triggered immediate alarm among community leaders who warn that her history of antagonism toward the Charedi community &#8211; the population most frequently targeted in antisemitic hate crimes &#8211; makes her unfit for the role.



Wisdom, in her current role as head of the leftist New York Jewish Agenda group, has made sweeping public accusations against the Charedi lifestyle and political advocacy. In statements, she has accused the entire Charedi world of actively seeking to harm broader society, playing into age old antisemitic tropes.



&#8220;In New York, Ultra-Orthodox leaders deliver votes as a block, convincing elected officials that their will is the Jewish will, whether on issues like funding yeshivas, defunding public education, policing, criminal justice&#8230; Israel,&#8221; Wisdom has stated.



She further claimed that the community defines the &#8220;Jewish agenda as right-wing and only self-interested.&#8221;



YAFFED, an organization dedicated to imposing strict secular equivalency standards on yeshivos  which would effectively force them to close, was created by Jewish people who left Torah observance. They have filed multiple lawsuits against yeshivos, in legal battles that have rocked the Jewish community and made Orthodox Jews fear for their ability to remain in the state for over a decade.



The prospect of Wisdom leading the Office for Combating Antisemitism was met with disbelief.



Critics note that the vast majority of violent antisemitic hate crimes in New York City are perpetrated against visibly Orthodox, Chassidish, and Yeshivish Jews; the very demographic Wisdom has spent her career criticizing.



Rabbi Yaacov Behrman, a prominent Jewish activist in Crown Heights, took to X&nbsp; to voice strong opposition to the potential appointment.



&#8220;The leader of the Office of Antisemitism cannot have a contentious relationship with the Chassidic yeshiva community,&#8221; Behrman wrote. &#8220;When the office was created, I was part of the early conversations about its purpose: ensuring that Jewish New Yorkers feel protected and free to live openly and proudly.&#8221;



Behrman emphasized that the role requires deep trust and cooperation with victims of hate crimes.



&#8220;It is difficult to understand how someone who has spent years publicly antagonizing yeshivas could build the relationships or provide the reassurance needed for the community most often targeted by antisemitic attacks. This is not politics. It is common sense.&#8221;



Community leaders are contrasting Wisdom’s record with that of Moshe Davis, current executive director of the office. Davis told Jewish Insider on Monday that he was attending work as usual.



&#8220;We trusted and worked with Moshe Davis precisely because he maintained constructive relationships across all segments of the Jewish community,&#8221; Behrman noted.



The fear among activists is not just that Wisdom would be ineffective, but that the position could be weaponized. Behrman warned that given her &#8220;outspoken attacks on yeshivas and her support for cutting their funding,&#8221; she might &#8220;use the position to advance anti-yeshiva goals, undermining the mission of the office and making the community feel less safe, not more.&#8221;



The mayor, a democratic socialist and vocal opponent of Israel who has praised convicted supporters of Hamas, came under fire from prominent Jewish organizations last week after overturning several executive orders enacted by former Mayor Eric Adams, including measures that embraced the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism and prohibited city agencies from participating in boycotts aimed at Israel.



Mamdani’s office has not yet confirmed the appointment, but the mere suggestion has already strained relations with the city&#8217;s Orthodox leadership.

Report: Mamdani Considering Anti-Orthodox Activist to Lead Office for Combating Antisemitsm

The victim of Tuesday night’s fatal bus ramming at an anti-draft protest in Yerushalayim has been identified as Yosef Eisenthal a&#8221;h, a 14-year-old yeshiva bachur from the Ramot neighborhood.



Yosef was the son of Rav Shmuel Eisenthal, a rebbe in the Ohel Torah-Ponevezh Yeshiva in Ramot. He was also the grandson of Rabbi Uriel Eisenthal who served as the Rav of the Ramot 3 neighborhood.



As previously reported, Yosef was killed when a public bus drove into protesters on Yirmiyahu–Shamgar streets during a large demonstration against the draft. United Hatzalah paramedics and EMTs attempted to rescue him after he became trapped beneath the bus, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Three other protesters were injured in the incident.



Police have confirmed that the same bus carried out two separate rammings in the area. The driver, an Arab man who was arrested at the scene, has claimed that protesters were attempting to enter the bus. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing but have determined that the attack was not terror-related.



The death of Yosef has sent shockwaves through the Ramot community and the broader Torah world, where his father and grandfather were widely respected rabbanim. Further details are expected as the investigation continues.

Name Released: Yosef Eisenthal a”h, 14, Killed In Yerushalayim Bus Ramming

A 13-year-old boy was tragically killed and three other protesters were injured Tuesday night after a public bus twice drove into demonstrators during an anti-draft rally in Yerushalayim. Police say the incident is still under investigation but have determined that the attack was not terrorism-related.





The first incident took place on Yirmiyahu–Shamgar streets, where protesters were standing on the roadway. According to initial findings, the same bus carried out another ramming in the area, striking protesters and continuing to drive before coming to a stop. Video footage from the scene shows the bus accelerating toward demonstrators and running over several people.



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United Hatzalah paramedics and EMTs arrived quickly and provided emergency treatment to multiple victims. One protester was pronounced dead after being trapped beneath the bus, while three others suffered injuries ranging from moderate to serious and were treated at the scene before being evacuated to hospitals.



Police confirmed that the driver, an Arab man, was arrested and taken in for questioning. During his interrogation, the driver claimed that protesters attempted to force their way onto the bus, prompting him to drive forward. Law enforcement officials have not confirmed this version of events.



Charedi officials expressed grief and outrage. In a statement, Shas said: &#8220;We are deeply shocked by the serious incident of a bus ramming in Jerusalem, in which a young Charedi man was run over to death during a demonstration. The difficult scenes of the bus driver driving wildly through a crowd of people, while dragging the man dozens of meters, are horrifying and shocking and must not be passed over in silence. We demand from the police an immediate, thorough and uncompromising investigation, and full justice for those responsible. Charedi blood is not hefker!&#8221;



United Torah Judaism&#8217;s head Rabbi Yitzchak Goldknopf said: &#8220;We call on the police to bring the driver to justice with the utmost severity, and to examine all aspects of the investigation to ensure that justice is done. It is impossible to pass over the agenda of loss of control and harm to human life&#8221;

14-Year-Old Killed And 3 Injured After Bus Rams Protesters Twice In Yerushalayim

During President Trump&#8217;s summer visit to Fort Bragg, he appears to have observed a special forces training exercise strikingly similar to the one used in the recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.



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 Video from the June 2025 training demo at shows the elite Delta Force commandos executing a rapid raid on a replica fortified compound — tactics that closely parallel those in Operation Absolute Resolve, the pre-dawn extraction (led by the same Fort Bragg-based unit) that took down Nicolás Maduro in Caracas.



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The rehearsal included rapid breaching, helicopter insertions, and compound assault tactics — all elements confirmed in official accounts of Maduro&#8217;s January 3, 2026 capture.



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WATCH IT: Trump’s Summer Visit to Fort Bragg — Exact Tactics Used to Nab Maduro

Iran’s Defense Council has warned that the country may carry out preemptive military strikes against its enemies if it determines that a serious and immediate threat to national security exists.



In a formal statement, the council &#8211; established to oversee defensive policy in the aftermath of the 2025 war with Israel &#8211; declared that “Iran’s security, independence and territorial integrity are an uncrossable red line, and any aggression or continuation of hostile behavior will be met with a proportionate, decisive and decisive response.”



The statement further accused Iran’s adversaries of escalating hostile rhetoric, saying: “The long-standing enemies of this land… are pursuing a targeted approach by repeating and intensifying threatening language and interventionist statements in clear conflict with the accepted principles of international law, which is aimed at dismembering our beloved Iran and harming the country’s identity.”



The council emphasized that Tehran would not limit itself to responding only after an attack occurs, stressing that it “does not consider itself limited to reacting after the fact, and considers objective signs of threat as part of the security equation.”



At the same time, Iran is facing widespread domestic unrest, with protests erupting in at least 17 of the country’s 31 provinces, according to an analysis by BBC Verify and BBC Persian. The demonstrations represent the most serious challenge to the Islamic Republic’s Islamic leadership since 2022.



The BBC analysis relies solely on protests for which verified video evidence exists, meaning the actual scope of unrest is likely significantly larger. Additional reports suggest demonstrations have also taken place in another 11 provinces.



The protest movement has expanded quickly since December 28, when initial demonstrations broke out in Tehran following a sudden and steep drop in the value of Iran’s currency against the US dollar and other major foreign currencies.



Video footage verified over the past 10 days documents anti-government protests and public gatherings in more than 50 cities and towns nationwide, including areas previously considered firmly loyal to the regime.



More than 100 videos, geolocated and authenticated by journalists, illustrate the scale of the unrest, with demonstrators flooding the streets of major urban centers in what analysts describe as the most significant uprising since the Women, Life and Freedom protests of 2022.



Verified footage has also confirmed protests in Qom and Mashhad; cities long regarded as ideological strongholds of the Islamic Republic and home to populations traditionally supportive of the regime.



Prof. Sina Azodi, Director of the Middle East Studies Program at George Washington University, told the British news outlet that demonstrations in those cities were “very telling,” indicating that the government’s “base of support is also suffering under the economic hardship.”



Historically, Iranian authorities have relied on force to suppress unrest. During the 2022 protests, which followed the death in custody of Mahsa Amini after she was detained for wearing an “improper hijab,” human rights groups estimate that more than 550 people were killed by security forces.



Although the initial police response to the current protests appeared more restrained, verified footage shows a sharp escalation in force since Saturday. This shift followed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s first public comments on the unrest, when he declared that “rioters must be put in their place.”



After Khamenei’s remarks, Iran’s judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, said the authorities would “listen to protesters and critics who legitimately and rightly have concerns about their livelihood and social and economic welfare.”



However, he warned that the state would “deal firmly with those who seek to exploit the situation, incite riots, and undermine the security of the country and the people.” The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has also issued warnings in Lorestan province, signaling that street protests will no longer be tolerated.



Meanwhile, the Norway-based human rights organization HRANA reports that at least 35 people have been killed so far during the unrest, including two members affiliated with Iran’s security forces.

Iran Warns of Preemptive Strikes as Nationwide Protests Rock Regime Strongholds

A radical faction of New York City educators is planning to use the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday vacation as an opportunity to spread antisemitism to young New Yorkers.



Belaaz has obtained promotional literature for a &#8220;teach-in&#8221; hosted by &#8220;New York City Educators for Palestine,&#8221; scheduled for January 19.



The event, targeted at children aged 6 to 18, appears designed to indoctrinate students into a hardline anti-Israel ideology, framed under the guise of education.



Throughout the text of the promotional material, the word &#8220;zionism&#8221; is deliberately de-capitalized. This grammatical choice is a common tactic in radical circles intended to delegitimize the concept and strip it of its status as a proper noun or recognized national movement.



In stark, chilling contrast, the literature capitalizes the word &#8220;Resistance.&#8221; In the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, &#8220;Resistance&#8221; is frequently utilized as a euphemism by terror organizations to describe violent attacks against Israeli civilians, and is used by Hamas, Iran and other extremists. By capitalizing &#8220;Resistance&#8221; while lowering &#8220;zionism,&#8221; the organizers are subtly signaling to attendees, including first graders, which side commands respect and which constitutes the enemy.



The event is billed as &#8220;Day one of a six-part series that begins with the question: What is zionism?&#8221;



According to the flyer, educators will facilitate a program where students &#8220;grapple with the history, meaning, and context of zionism.&#8221; However, the description of subsequent sessions reveals the ultimate goal of the series. Future teach-ins promise to &#8220;dive beyond zionism to consider contemporary and historical Palestinian resistance&#8221; and discuss &#8220;Palestine’s deliberate absence from the mainstream classroom.&#8221;



Critics argue that framing the curriculum around &#8220;Palestine’s deliberate absence&#8221; suggests a conspiracy-laden worldview that seeks to rewrite history and erase Jewish ties to the land, presenting a one-sided narrative to impressionable minors. The organizers are actively soliciting the attendance of siblings, asking parents to &#8220;register multiple children,&#8221; effectively turning a day off from school into a recruitment drive for radical activism.



The involvement of credentialed NYC educators in the terrorism-supporting program has sparked outrage among Jewish community leaders and teachers alike. In a statement to Belaaz, Moshe Spern, head of the United Jewish Teachers, stronglt condemned the event



&#8220;Although this isn’t a sanctioned event by the NYC schools, it’s scary to think NYC educators would use their time to indoctrinate kids as young as six years old on a day off from school,&#8221; Spern said, adding that while these programs have been held before, they haven&#8217;t previously targeted six-year-olds.



Spern further emphasized the betrayal felt by Jewish union members. &#8220;This is very concerning as a member of the UFT that fellow UFT members are behind this session and I’m sure it will be very biased and antisemitic.&#8221;



Perhaps most concerning is the institutional backing this event appears to have received. Spern noted that the &#8220;MORE&#8221; caucus of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) &#8211; a social justice-oriented caucus within the union &#8211; promoted the event on their social media feed. &#8220;We cannot allow this session to happen and I’m calling on elected officials to step in and UFT leadership as well to stop this event,&#8221; Spern told Belaaz. &#8220;The MORE caucus of the UFT which posted this event on their social media feed is helping arrange this event. This antisemitic behavior must end immediately.&#8221;



As of press time, the location of the event remains &#8220;To be Determined,&#8221; with organizers stating they are waiting to gauge the number of children they can recruit before announcing a venue.

Radical NYC Teachers Group Targeting 6-Year-Olds for ‘Anti-Zionist’, Pro ‘Resistance’ Teach-In

Authorities ordered the evacuation of the Arizona State Courts Building in downtown Phoenix on Monday following reports that explosives were discovered in the facility’s mail room.



According to 12News, preliminary testing indicated that the package contained homemade explosive material.



The Arizona Department of Public Safety confirmed it was examining a suspicious package sent to the building but said it could not release additional information while the investigation was ongoing.



The Arizona State Courts Building, which is home to the state Supreme Court, is situated near the Capitol complex at 15th Avenue and Washington Street.

Arizona State Courts Building Evacuated After Homemade Explosives Found In Mail Room

The BBC has issued an apology after a December 26 episode of its long-running program The Repair Shop discussed the Kindertransport at length without once identifying the rescued children as Jews, and even appeared to have edited the content specifically to avoid mentioning Jewish Holocaust victims.



The one-hour episode focused for roughly 15 minutes on a cello damaged during the Kindertransport, yet failed to state that the children involved &#8211; including the cello’s original owner &#8211; were fleeing Nazi persecution because they were Jewish.



The Repair Shop follows expert craftspeople who restore treasured family items. In this episode, celebrated British actress Dame Helen Mirren brought in a historic cello for restoration. The instrument had belonged to her late friend, theater producer Martin Landau, and was damaged by Nazi guards when he escaped to Britain on the Kindertransport at age 14.



The cello, dating back to the 1800s and missing its neck, remained in disrepair for decades before being entrusted to the show’s luthier, Becky Houghton. The episode later shows Mirren reunited with the restored instrument, which is played by Jewish cellist Raphael Wallfisch.



As The Jewish Chronicle reported, the word “Jewish” appeared to have been removed from the beginning of a sentence spoken by Mirren, which aired as: “…children were put on the Kindertransport.”



Despite the detailed retelling of the cello’s journey and the Kindertransport itself, the program never explained that Landau was forced to flee Germany because he was Jewish.



The Kindertransport was the rescue operation that saved approximately 10,000 Jewish children from Nazi-controlled Europe between 1938 and 1939. Their parents sent them to countries including Britain, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Belgium, with resettlement assistance provided by Jewish and humanitarian organizations such as the Central British Fund for German Jewry, the Movement for the Care of Children from Germany, the Society of Friends, and the Polish Jewish Refugee Fund.



Following criticism, the BBC added a clarification to the episode’s iPlayer page stating: “This program is subject to a clarification. The Kindertransport was the organized evacuation of approximately 10,000 children, the majority of whom were Jewish, from Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia.”



However, as of Monday, the BBC Media Centre’s article about the episode had not been updated to include the words “Jew” or “Jewish.” It still reads: “Originally from Germany, Martin fled the country on the Kindertransport, but unfortunately his cello was broken by the Nazis before he was able to get on the train.” No correction had been added.

BBC, in Telling Kindertransport Story, Omits Jews

A storage shed on the private property of Brandenburg’s Commissioner for Combating Antisemitism, Andreas Büttner, was set ablaze in what authorities believe was a deliberate arson attack early Sunday morning, according to statements from Büttner and Brandenburg Police.



The fire was ignited while Büttner’s family was inside the home. Both the commissioner and police confirmed that no one was injured during the incident.



Law enforcement officials reported that an “unconstitutional symbol” was sprayed close to the burned shed. Israeli Ambassador to Germany Ron Prosor said on X that the marking was a red inverted triangle, a symbol commonly used in Hamas terrorists’ propaganda to identify a target.



Police have opened an investigation and are treating the blaze as a suspected arson attack.



Büttner said the attack marked a “massive escalation” aimed at him personally as well as at his family and home, adding that he would not allow the incident to intimidate him.

German Antisemitism Commissioner’s Shed Torched, Hamas Symbol Found

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced on Monday morning that he will not seek reelection for a third term in the 2026 gubernatorial race, reversing his earlier September announcement that he would run.



In a statement posted on X and released by his office, Walz wrote: “Minnesota has to come first &#8211; always. Today, I’m proud of the work we’ve done to make Minnesota the best place to live and raise kids. I’ve decided to step out of the race and let others worry about the election while I focus on the work.”



The decision comes amid national and local criticism—led by President Trump—of his administration’s handling of a major welfare, Medicaid, and childcare fraud scandal.



The controversy, which has involved allegations of billions in misused funds with many cases linked to schemes by Somali immigrants, exploded further after a viral video by conservative content creator Nick Shirley claimed widespread fraud at Somali-run daycare centers.



Walz cited the need to focus undivided attention on addressing the fraud without campaign distractions, describing the past year as extraordinarily difficult for the state and emphasizing that he has “zero sadness and zero regret” about stepping aside.



He has defended his administration’s efforts to combat the fraud while criticizing political opponents for exploiting the issue to attack Minnesota’s communities.



The announcement follows reports from political insider Blois Olson, who cited sources indicating Walz would drop out, including a Sunday meeting with Senator Amy Klobuchar to discuss the move. Internal Democratic pressure had mounted for clarity on his plans.



With Walz out, Senator Amy Klobuchar is seriously considering a run for governor and receiving outreach, while Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon has also been mentioned as a potential contender. Several Republicans, including former federal prosecutor Chris Madel and others, have already entered or signaled interest in the race.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz Announces He Will Not Seek Reelection in 2026 Amid Fraud Scandal

Ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores pleaded not guilty Monday to federal charges including narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking conspiracy.



Appearing before Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein in Lower Manhattan, Maduro—dressed in an orange jail uniform with a short-sleeve navy shirt.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">“I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man.&quot;<a href="https://twitter.com/OutnumberedFNC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OutnumberedFNC</a> breaks down what happened inside the courtroom as Nicolás Maduro made his first in-person court appearance — with the ousted dictator claiming he&#39;s &quot;still president of my country.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/OePglRRCKo">pic.twitter.com/OePglRRCKo</a>&mdash; Fox News (@FoxNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNews/status/2008231579550658765?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Maduro identified himself as Venezuela&#8217;s president and declared through an interpreter, “I’m innocent. I’m not guilty. I am a decent man,” while asserting he had been “kidnapped” in a U.S. military raid in Caracas two days earlier.



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The couple, whose hair showed signs of gray, face a lengthy trial that could take well over a year before a jury is seated. As we reported earlier, Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro has hired prominent Washington criminal defense attorney Barry Pollack as his lead counsel in the federal narco-terrorism case pending in the Southern District of New York.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="358" height="335" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/7452fa11-8bcd-4494-a758-694f934f7013-e1767635958159.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-22336" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/7452fa11-8bcd-4494-a758-694f934f7013-e1767635958159.jpg 358w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/7452fa11-8bcd-4494-a758-694f934f7013-e1767635958159-300x281.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 358px) 100vw, 358px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Prominent Washington trial lawyer Barry Pollack.

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Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro Pleads Not Guilty, Claims He Was ‘Kidnapped’

Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro has hired prominent Washington criminal defense attorney Barry Pollack as his lead counsel in the federal narco-terrorism case pending in the Southern District of New York. Pollack, best known for serving as the longtime lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, negotiated the 2024 plea deal with the U.S. Justice Department that resulted in Assange&#8217;s release after more than 15 years of litigation under the Espionage Act.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="358" height="335" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/7452fa11-8bcd-4494-a758-694f934f7013-e1767635958159.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-22336" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/7452fa11-8bcd-4494-a758-694f934f7013-e1767635958159.jpg 358w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/7452fa11-8bcd-4494-a758-694f934f7013-e1767635958159-300x281.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 358px) 100vw, 358px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Prominent Washington trial lawyer Barry Pollack. </figcaption></figure>



According to a newly filed court notice, Pollack entered his appearance on this morning, Monday, ahead of a scheduled noon hearing in the case.



Maduro&#8217;s wife and co-defendant, Cilia Flores, will be represented by veteran Houston federal prosecutor Mark Donnelly, who also filed an initial appearance in the matter.

Maduro Hires Julian Assange’s Lawyer Barry Pollack for U.S. Narco-Terrorism Case

A 26-year-old William DeFoor is in custody after attempting to break into Vice President J.D. Vance’s Cincinnati residence early Monday morning.



 At around 12:15 a.m., U.S. Secret Service agents spotted a man running near the VP&#8217;s East Walnut Hills property after he allegedly used a hammer to smash several windows. 



Police launched an urgent investigation following the breach, though no further details on a motive have been released.

Suspect Arrested After Hammer Attack on J.D. Vance’s Home

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is expected to announce on Monday that he will withdraw from the 2026 gubernatorial race, according to political insider Blois Olson, who cited sources familiar with the matter.



On Sunday afternoon, a spokesperson for the governor said Walz would hold an 11 a.m. news conference to take questions and “discuss the news of the day.” The governor’s office did not provide additional details about the planned appearance.



Walz is set to address his political future during that Monday morning event. Olson reported that the governor is likely to use the occasion to confirm he is stepping aside from the 2026 race. Walz has served as governor since January 2019 and was previously the Democratic nominee for vice president alongside Kamala Harris.



Later on Sunday, Olson reported that Walz was preparing to make a formal decision about his political future and would “likely drop out of the 2026 race.” Olson also said the governor met with Senator Amy Klobuchar earlier Sunday to discuss the move.



FOX 9 plans to broadcast the 11 a.m. news conference live on FOX 9 and FOX Local, allowing viewers to watch the announcement as it happens.



The expected decision comes as Walz has faced sustained national criticism, including from President Trump, over his handling of Medicaid fraud cases in Minnesota, perpetrated largely by Somali immigrants. Republican critics have accused the governor of responding too slowly to the issue and even ignoring the billion-dollar scheme.



Olson also reported that Walz has been under internal pressure from fellow Democrats to clarify whether he intends to seek another term in 2026.



As of late Sunday night, FOX 9 had not independently confirmed Olson’s report. The outlet said it contacted the governor’s office for comment but had not yet received a response.



Looking ahead, Olson said during FOX 9 News at 10 p.m. that Senator Amy Klobuchar is among the names being discussed as a potential contender for governor should Walz formally bow out. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon was also mentioned as a possible candidate.

Walz Expected To Exit 2026 Minnesota Governor’s Race As Pressure Mounts

A planned protest by pro-Palestinian groups outside a Teaneck kosher cafe on Queen Anne Road ended in retreat Sunday, after Jewish counter-protestors arrived and drowned out their chants.



The demonstration was originally organized to target an Israeli real estate expo scheduled to take place at the Lazy Bean Cafe. However, organizers of the expo had relocated the event to a secure, undisclosed location prior to the start time to ensure the safety of attendees.



Despite the venue change, anti-Israel agitators arrived at the Queen Anne Road location as planned. The group carried Palestinian flags defaced with images of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and held signage condemning both Israel and the United States.



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They were met by a large group of Jewish counter-protestors. According to reports from the scene, the Jewish group significantly outnumbered the agitators, chanting and singing over the anti-Israel slogans.



Sol Itzkowitz, head of Bergen County Chaverim, spoke with Belaaz following the event. He praised the local law enforcement for maintaining order but noted that the sheer volume of the Jewish response effectively ended the demonstration.



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“Overall, everything went peacefully, and we thank the Teaneck Police Department for their outstanding work. As always, they kept the groups separate and operations were smooth,” Itzkowitz told Belaaz.



Itzkowitz described a decisive morale victory for the community.



“By the end, they left in shame,” he said. “We had three or four times the amount of people they had. They couldn&#8217;t even speak anymore because the Jewish voices were much louder than theirs.”



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Anti-Israel Protestors ‘Leave in Shame’ After Being Outnumbered at Teaneck Real Estate Event Site

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has prepared a contingency plan to flee the country if mounting unrest overwhelms his security forces or triggers defections, according to an intelligence report cited by The Times, based in the UK.



The report says the 86-year-old leader would leave Tehran with a tightly controlled group of up to 20 close aides and family members if he concludes that the army and security services tasked with suppressing protests are no longer obeying orders.



“The ‘plan B’ is for Khamenei and his very close circle of associates and family, including his son and nominated heir apparent, Mojtaba,” an intelligence source told The Times.



Beni Sabti, a former Israeli intelligence officer who fled Iran eight years after the Islamic Revolution, said Khamenei’s destination would almost certainly be Russia. He told The Times that Khamenei would go to Moscow because “there is no other place for him.”



Khamenei, Sabti added, “admires Putin, while the Iranian culture is more similar to the Russian culture.&#8221;



The reported plan mirrors the escape of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, who fled Damascus for Moscow shortly before opposition forces seized the capital in December 2024.



According to the intelligence source, regime leaders “have plotted an exit route out of Tehran should they feel the need to escape,” a plan that includes “gathering assets, properties abroad and cash to facilitate their safe passage.”



Khamenei is believed to control a vast financial empire, much of it under Setad, one of Iran’s most powerful semi-state foundations known for opaque finances. A 2013 Reuters investigation estimated the holdings at roughly $95 billion, spanning real estate and corporate assets directly controlled by the supreme leader.



Several senior figures around Khamenei already have family members living overseas. These include Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, who recently warned President Donald Trump to stay out of Iran’s internal affairs. Relatives of top officials reportedly reside in countries including the United States, Canada and the United Arab Emirates.



The intelligence assessment comes as nationwide protests driven by economic hardship spread across Iran over the past week, reaching cities including the religious center of Qom.



Demonstrators accuse anti-riot forces &#8211; made up of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Basij militia, police and army units &#8211; of using violent tactics such as live fire, tear gas and water cannons to break up protests.



Those forces ultimately answer to Khamenei, who wields overriding authority in the Islamic republic, eclipsing the government, judiciary and media. He relies heavily on the IRGC as a pillar of regime control.



The escape plan would be activated if Khamenei believes those forces are no longer loyal. While defections are difficult due to his tight grip on appointments and protection of loyalists, a Western intelligence agency’s psychological profile of Khamenei, seen by The Times, suggests growing vulnerability.



The same assessment said Khamenei has been “weaker, both mentally and physically” since last year’s 12-day war with Israel. He has made few public appearances and has been conspicuously absent during several days of escalating protests. During the war, he reportedly remained in a bunker to avoid the fate of senior IRGC officials killed in Israeli strikes, reinforcing what the assessment described as his “obsession with survival.&#8221;



The profile labels Khamenei a “paranoid” leader, arguing that this mindset underpins his contingency planning. “On one hand, he is very ideologically motivated, but on the other he is pragmatic in what he sees: he sees tactical compromise for long-term greater cause. He is a long-term thinker,” the assessment stated.



Under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Khameni joined the opposition, was arrested repeatedly, and tortured by the Savak secret police. In 1981, he survived an assassination attempt that left one of his hands permanently disabled.



According to the intelligence assessment, that attempt cemented a belief in a “divine mission” to rule Iran, oppose Israel and the West, and preserve the regime at all costs. After the revolution, he rose through senior posts, eventually becoming supreme leader following the death of Ruhollah Khomeini, despite lacking the traditional religious credentials usually required for the role.



Khamenei views himself as the global leader of Shi’ite Islam, a self-image that has driven Iran’s investment in what it calls the “axis of resistance,” including terrorist groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and Shi’ite terror groups across Iraq, Syria and Yemen.



The dismantling of much of that network during the war with Israel has fueled public anger inside Iran, with many questioning why resources were spent abroad while living conditions at home deteriorated amid soaring inflation. One chant heard during the protests captured that sentiment: “No to Gaza, no to Lebanon, I’d give my life for Iran only.”

Khamenei Said To Have Escape Plan As Iran Protests Grow, With Moscow As Likely Refuge

As jubilant scenes unfolded across Venezuela after the US-led removal of President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday, the country’s small and long-besieged Jewish community responded with restraint rather than public celebration.



Many Jews in Caracas privately view the regime change with hope, but years of repression have taught them to keep a low profile, wary that overt joy could invite retaliation, members of the community told the Times of Israel.



“Everyone is very happy about the news, but they have to be very cautious,” Daniel Behar, an Israeli resident who left Venezuela two decades ago as the government tightened its authoritarian grip told the Israeli news outlet. “There is fear that the entire community might face repercussions later on.”



Venezuelans across the globe, including large numbers who fled the country to escape Maduro’s rule, openly welcomed news of his capture by US forces in a surprise pre-dawn operation. For Jewish Venezuelans still inside the country, however, memories of intimidation and violence temper any impulse to rejoice.



Past threats by officials to seize Jewish schools, restaurants, and communal institutions have reinforced fears that celebrating too openly could provoke renewed hostility.



“The community’s chief rabbi has warned many times not to publicly oppose the government,” Behar said. “There was always a fear that if something happens, people will blame Israel and the Jews.”



Jewish life in Venezuela stretches back at least two centuries, to the period surrounding independence from Spain in 1821. While some historians believe forcibly converted Jewish Conversos may have arrived even earlier, documented communities emerged in coastal cities such as Coro and Caracas, where Sephardic Jews became active in trade and commerce.



The community expanded further in the 20th century through additional immigration waves, eventually reaching between 25,000 and 45,000 Jews before Hugo Chávez rose to power in 1999, according to various estimates.



That number collapsed in the years that followed, as political persecution and economic collapse drove millions of Venezuelans abroad — a trend that accelerated after Maduro succeeded Chávez in 2013. An estimated quarter of the country’s population left over two decades, while the Jewish community shrank to roughly 4,000 to 6,000 people.



“This used to be the richest country in South America, and one of the wealthiest in the world,” said Arie Kacowicz, the Chaim Weizmann Chair in International Relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. “The Jewish community was quite wealthy and generally pro-Israel, but ten years after Chávez came to power, he broke off diplomatic relations with Israel in 2009. Since then, reports of antisemitism have been sporadic.”



Much of the antisemitism seen in Venezuela today originates within the political leadership and is closely tied to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, with state-controlled media often deploying anti-Zionist language that echoes classic antisemitic themes.



“The revolutionary left-wing government has an intrinsic distrust and hatred for the Jewish community, but they aren’t persecuted for being Jewish,” said Gustavo Aristegui, a Spanish diplomat and analyst who has written extensively on Venezuela. “They are persecuted mainly for being against the regime and its relationships with Iran and Hezbollah.”



Behar agreees. “Antisemitism in Venezuela is not the same as in Europe,” he said. “It’s mostly tied to the Palestinian issue, and it is encouraged by the dictatorship. The people on the streets have bigger problems to worry about.”



Still, the aggressively anti-Israel policies of both Chávez and Maduro, combined with a long record of brutal crackdowns on dissent, have left the Jewish community feeling persistently exposed.



“You have to remember that we are talking about one of the most violent countries in the world,” Aristegui said. “The regime has used a constant threat of violence to repress its people.”



Although violent crime has dropped since peaking in the mid-2010s, Venezuela continues to record one of the world’s highest homicide rates — a reality Aristegui says the government exploits to silence critics.



“Often, what looks like a mugging in the street, or a home robbery that leads to a whole family being killed, is really a political assassination,” he alleged. “The Jewish community is particularly vulnerable to these attacks, and that’s why you only see them speak out against the regime after they have left the country.”



Aristegui added that Venezuela has cultivated deep ties with Iran and Hezbollah, allegedly using drug trafficking and money laundering networks to bankroll terror activity. He accused the country of hosting Hezbollah training camps and operating large-scale illegal Captagon trafficking rings.



“Venezuela is Tehran’s most important ally in Latin America,” Aristegui said. “Its 27-year relationship with Hezbollah and Iran has been very profitable.”



“Hopefully this will all end with the fall of the regime,” he added.



Venezuela’s path forward remains uncertain. According to Aristegui, heavily armed, state-backed militias continue to patrol the streets, suggesting that stability is far from guaranteed.



Washington has announced plans to assume control of Venezuela’s oil fields and invest heavily in modernizing production, pledging to revive the country’s most valuable economic asset. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has meanwhile been named interim president to ensure what authorities describe as “administrative continuity.”



Jewish leaders were alarmed when Rodríguez claimed the US operation against Maduro carried “a Zionist tint.” Aristegui described her as “one of the most dangerous members of the current regime.”



“The Jewish population is on standby,” said Samy Yecutieli, a member of the Security Forum of the Israel–Latin America Chamber of Commerce. “Everyone is staying low-profile. The regime controls everything, and repression could still be very aggressive.”



Even so, Yecutieli said there are cautious grounds for hope. Opposition figure María Corina Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, has emerged as a possible future leader and has voiced support for restoring diplomatic ties with Israel.



“That would be very good for Israel and for the local Jewish community,” Yecutieli said.

Venezuela’s Jews Fear Backlash As Maduro Falls, Choosing Caution Over Celebration

Israel and Syria will begin their fifth round of negotiations tomorrow in Paris, according to a report by Axios citing an Israeli official and another source with knowledge of the discussions. The talks are expected to last two days.



US President Donald Trump reportedly requested that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu restart the negotiations when the two leaders met last week at Mar-a-Lago. Tom Barrack, Trump&#8217;s Syria envoy and US Ambassador to Turkey, will mediate the discussions.



Following the resignation of Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Netanyahu has restructured Israel&#8217;s negotiating team. US Ambassador Yechiel Leiter will now lead the Israeli delegation, joined by Military Secretary Maj. Gen. Roman Gofman and acting National Security Adviser Gil Reich. Syria will be represented by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani.



The December 8, 2024, collapse of Bashar al-Assad&#8217;s regime during a major offensive by opposition forces marked a historic turning point in Syria after more than 50 years of Assad family rule. Assad fled to Russia where he was granted asylum, and Ahmed al-Sharaa was appointed as president for the transitional period in January 2025.



The fall of the Assad government fundamentally altered the regional security landscape and Israel-Syria relations. Shortly after the collapse, Netanyahu declared the 1974 Disengagement Agreement &#8220;void until order is restored in Syria&#8221;. In response, Israel occupied the demilitarized zone in the Golan Heights and expanded its control inside Syria.



Following Assad&#8217;s fall, Israel launched extensive military operations across Syria. According to an Israeli military spokesperson, within 48 hours Israel destroyed 70-80 percent of Syria&#8217;s military capacity, including the near total destruction of its air defense and radar systems. By December 2025, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data reported that Israel has carried out attacks across Syria more than 600 times, averaging nearly two times a day.



Israel launched hundreds of airstrikes and some ground incursions to destroy Assad-era weaponry, maintain a demilitarized buffer zone, and to protect Syria&#8217;s Druze minority. Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said that Israeli forces would remain in southern Syria &#8220;for an indefinite period of time to protect our communities and thwart any threat.&#8221;



Despite initial hostilities, both sides began engaging in dialogue. On August 20, 2025, the official Syrian News Agency issued a statement that Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met in Paris with an Israeli delegation &#8220;to discuss a number of issues related to strengthening stability in the region and in southern Syria.&#8221; This marked the first official acknowledgment of contact between the Syrian government and Israel in over 25 years.



A few days later, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa claimed that a security agreement with Israel was at an advanced stage, and emphasized that he would not hesitate to publicly reach a peace agreement with Israel if it benefited Syria and the region.



Since late June 2025, Israel and Syria have been engaged in U.S.-brokered &#8220;advanced talks&#8221; aimed at ceasing hostilities and normalizing relations. The possibility of Syria joining the Abraham Accords has been discussed, though significant obstacles remain.



The negotiations face several major challenges. During his visit to Washington, D.C. in November 2025, al-Sharaa stated that they are in direct negotiations with Israel, and reiterated that Israel should withdraw to their pre-December 8 borders before a final agreement can be reached.



Among the key obstacles is Syria&#8217;s demand that Israel cease operating or striking targets within Syrian territory. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani stated that Syria aspires to return to the terms of the 1974 Disengagement agreement.



Israeli media have recently reported that talks between the two had reached a dead end, mainly as a result of Netanyahu&#8217;s unwillingness to compromise on Israel&#8217;s refusal to withdraw from the territory it has seized in the last year.



The Trump administration has been actively pushing for a deal between the two nations. On December 2, 2025, Trump said he wanted both Syria and Israel to &#8220;have a long and prosperous relationship together,&#8221; and his special envoy Tom Barrack has been central to mediating the discussions.



The US has expressed hope that Israel and Syria will establish diplomatic relations or a security pact, though the interim Syrian authorities have said there will be no security agreement with Israel until it withdraws from the Golan Heights, which Trump has recognized as belonging to Israel.

Report: Israel and Syria to Resume Negotiations in Paris Monday

The predawn raid that extracted Nicolás Maduro from Caracas marks one of the most powerful assertions of American power in Latin America since the Cold War. While the operation raises serious questions about international law and sovereignty, there are compelling reasons to view it as a justified, if controversial, response to an intolerable situation that had festered for over a decade.



The strongest argument in favor of Trump&#8217;s decision rests on the simple fact that Maduro&#8217;s regime had become utterly illegitimate by any reasonable standard. This wasn&#8217;t merely a matter of poor governance or ideological disagreement. As Professor Aryeh Katzovich of Hebrew University writes for Channel 12, Maduro presided over a comprehensive collapse of Venezuelan society; transforming what was once South America&#8217;s wealthiest nation into a failed state that has hemorrhaged over 8 million citizens, roughly a quarter of its population. The regime&#8217;s involvement in international drug trafficking, documented ties to cartels, and alleged crimes against humanity placed it beyond the pale of normal diplomatic engagement.



The July 2024 election fraud, following similar manipulation in 2018, demonstrated that no internal democratic solution was possible. When a dictator falsifies elections, imprisons opposition leaders, and controls all branches of government through force, the usual tools of international pressure reach their limits. Katzovich notes that over 50 countries have not recognized the legitimacy of his regime for many years, underscoring how isolated Maduro had become internationally.



From a purely strategic perspective, the operation also served important American interests. Venezuela&#8217;s vast oil reserves had become leveraged by hostile powers; China, Russia, and Iran, as part of what Ryan Berg, director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), calls &#8220;the axis of authoritarians.&#8221; The Trump Corollary outlined in the 2025 National Security Strategy drew a clear line about non-hemispheric competitors in the Western Hemisphere. As Berg observes, the fact that President Trump launched this operation hours after Nicolás Maduro met with China&#8217;s special envoy sends a clear and unequivocal message to China about Beijing&#8217;s role in the Americas.



Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, who became installed by Venezuela&#8217;s Supreme Court as President after Maduro&#8217;s capture, went so far as to accuse Israel of involvement in the US military action. Speaking during a Saturday address in which she convened a National Defense Council, Rodriguez claimed the attack has &#8220;Zionist undertones,” she said. “It’s truly shameful.”



Her baseless claims have raised concerns among members of Venezuela’s small Jewish community, both domestically and overseas. During heightened tensions between Caracas and Washington in November, Maduro had also accused Zionists of attempting to deliver Venezuela to &#8220;devils.&#8221; At a November 15 Bolivarian Integral Base Committee event, Maduro said, “There are those who want to hand this country over to the devils – you know who, right? The far-right Zionists want to hand this country over to the devils.”



Venezuela cut ties with Israel in 2009 under President Hugo Chavez, and has aligned itself with Israeli &#8211; and US &#8211; enemies, including Iran.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="873" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot_20260104_140837_Gallery.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-22286" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot_20260104_140837_Gallery.jpg 900w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot_20260104_140837_Gallery-300x291.jpg 300w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot_20260104_140837_Gallery-768x745.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



The tactical brilliance of the operation itself should not be overlooked. Berg describes how the U.S. Air Force controlled the skies, Venezuela&#8217;s radars and electrical grid were jammed, and many of its air defenses were destroyed. Unlike the chaotic invasions of Iraq or Afghanistan, this was a surgical strike targeting a specific criminal leader under U.S. indictment. The precision minimized casualties and, as Katzovich hopes, created space for Venezuelans themselves to chart their country&#8217;s future course, benefiting from an organized opposition and an alert and proactive civil society.



Yet even acknowledging these points, the intervention demands serious scrutiny on multiple fronts. The most fundamental objection concerns the precedent it establishes for international relations. Justin Logan, director of defense and foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute, warns that one could easily imagine a Chinese indictment of a Taiwanese leader, under specious grounds, as lubricating a Chinese attack on Taiwan. The rule of law means little if major powers can simply declare their adversaries criminals and act accordingly.



The European Union&#8217;s measured response captured this tension well. Katzovich notes their position: the Maduro regime was no longer legitimate and had to be replaced, but the transition to a new and legitimate regime must be done peacefully, and with the decision of the Venezuelan people. This isn&#8217;t mere legalistic nitpicking; it reflects a hard-won understanding that regime change imposed from outside, however justified it may seem in the moment, frequently produces outcomes far worse than the original problem.



The risk of mission creep looms large. Trump&#8217;s statement that the United States would be &#8220;running&#8221; Venezuela, even temporarily, evokes the darkest chapters of American interventionism in Latin America. Berg noted a troubling detail: just as noteworthy was the dearth of mentions of Venezuelan opposition in Trump&#8217;s press conference. This raises serious questions about who actually governs Venezuela now and what role democratic forces will play.



Emma Ashford, a senior fellow with the Reimagining U.S. Grand Strategy program at the Stimson Center, poses a critical question: if the worst does happen, what then will be the message received in Beijing or Moscow? Will it demonstrate American strength or simply remind adversaries that American presidents can act against their own long-term interests? She suggests the &#8220;Trump Corollary&#8221; may end up as little more than a synonym for overconfident failure if things go wrong.



The regional implications also cut both ways. Daniel DePetris, a fellow at Defense Priorities, observes that even small powers don&#8217;t like to be dictated to, and if the pressure gets too intense, they may choose to enact strategies of hedging or balancing to defend their own security interests. He notes the irony that it would be the height of irony if Trump&#8217;s military operation in Venezuela winds up complicating his own grand strategy by potentially pushing other Latin American nations closer to China; exactly the opposite of what the Trump Corollary aims to achieve.



Stephen Kinzer, a senior fellow at the Watson School for International and Public Affairs at Brown University, offers a particularly sharp critique of the underlying motivations. He suggests that Secretary of State Marco Rubio&#8217;s real goal is to destroy Cuba&#8217;s lifeline, hoping that without Venezuelan oil, Cuba&#8217;s political system will finally collapse. Kinzer warns this could turn both countries into submissive clients &#8211; or into bloody battlegrounds where a new generation of Latin Americans will seek to defy what the Nicaraguan rebel leader Augusto César Sandino called &#8220;the eagle with larcenous claws.&#8221;



The operation&#8217;s ultimate success cannot be judged by its tactical brilliance alone. Berg aptly frames the moment: This is, to paraphrase Winston Churchill, not the beginning of the end, but the end of the beginning. The harder question is whether Venezuela will emerge from this moment with legitimate, stable governance—or whether it will descend into chaos.



Katzovich draws a cautionary comparison to the 2003 Iraq invasion: it is hoped that with the relatively &#8220;surgical&#8221; activity of the United States, in contrast to the invasion of Iraq that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003 and led to chaos and civil war in the country, the scenario in Venezuela will be more positive and with a better ending. But he acknowledges that the future is shrouded in mist.



The country does have advantages. As Katzovich notes, Venezuela benefits from an organized opposition and an alert and proactive civil society, which will know how to direct a correct path to decide its fate.



But prolonged American control remains deeply problematic. Daniel Drezner, academic dean and distinguished professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, warns that the Trump administration will use this Maduro action to threaten the leaders of recalcitrant allies and weak adversaries that they might be next on the chopping block, which could either cow them into compliance or drive them toward other great powers for protection.



Bob McNally, founder and president of Rapidan Energy Group, offers a sobering assessment of Venezuela&#8217;s economic potential: while the country could eventually play a much bigger role in global oil markets given its enormous reserves, it is essential to recognize that achieving long-term potential will be a long and winding road, with numerous political, commercial and market risks.

Maduro’s Ousture and Trial: Was Trump Right?

According to Israel&#8217;s Kan News, members of Iran’s roughly 8,000-strong Jewish community are keeping a low profile as anti-regime protests spread across the country.



Community members are avoiding protest flashpoints and areas of unrest.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="828" height="1008" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_1385.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-22280" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_1385.webp 828w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_1385-246x300.webp 246w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_1385-768x935.webp 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 828px) 100vw, 828px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Iranian Rabbi Gerami</figcaption></figure>



Last month, Iran’s lone Jewish MP was summoned by security agencies over Jews engaging with pro-Israel content online.

Iran’s Jewish Community Keeps Low Profile, Avoids Protests as Unrest Spreads Nationwide

Israel Police uncovered a large and unusual cache of weapons inside a vehicle parked near a residential neighborhood in Rosh Pina, Arutz 7 reported Motzoei Shabbos. 



Officers who searched the vehicle found a significant arsenal, including shoulder-fired missiles, explosive charges and materials, a Negev machine gun, rifles, pistols, grenades, and substantial quantities of ammunition.



The discovery began by chance when Northern District officer Yariv Bochnik noticed a vehicle that appeared out of place while he was walking his dog. After observing several suspicious details, he alerted police forces, who arrived at the scene and conducted an initial inspection. As concerns grew, the area was sealed off and bomb disposal units were called in to secure the vehicle.



A comprehensive search later revealed the full scope of the weapons stockpile. Preliminary assessments indicate that much of the weaponry and ammunition had been stolen from the IDF. Police said an investigation is ongoing and that all potential leads are being pursued.



Bochnik described the moment he realized something was wrong, saying, “I conducted a visual scan and saw a number of irregularities. I immediately contacted the station and requested a patrol.”



He added that the discovery may have averted a deadly incident. “Had this vehicle been started, it could have exploded and caused a catastrophic loss of life. I’m relieved that our alertness helped protect civilians.”



In a statement, Israel Police stressed their continued efforts to combat serious crime and illegal arms trafficking. “Northern District officers continue to act decisively to safeguard public security,” police said, noting that more than 1,000 weapons were seized in the district during 2025 and that several armed cells were thwarted during the year.

Dog Walk Leads To Discovery Of Massive Stolen IDF Weapons Cache In Northern Israel

Several hundred demonstrators gathered Saturday outside 10 Downing Street and the Iranian Embassy in London to voice support for the ongoing anti-regime protests sweeping Iran.



The rallies followed the eruption of mass demonstrations across Iran beginning December 28, after the collapse of the rial and surging inflation deepened public anger toward the Islamic regime.



The protest near Downing Street was organized by Stage of Freedom, a UK-based network of Iranian pro-democracy activists advocating for regime change in Tehran.



Demonstrators were heard chanting “Javid Shah” &#8211; “Long Live the Shah” &#8211; while waving Iranian flags, the Imperial Standards of Iran flag, and British flags. Many also carried posters depicting Reza Pahlavi, son of the last Shah of Iran.



Ahead of the rally, Stage of Freedom circulated suggested chants to supporters, including “Hear the Iranian people’s voice- Pahlavi is their choice,” and “From Iran to the UK- Pahlavi is the only way.”



Roger Macmillan, a former director of security at Iran International TV, attended the protest and later wrote on X that “Iranians are demanding freedom, dignity, and accountable leadership.” He also said demonstrators made their dissatisfaction with the BBC’s coverage clear.



Multiple Iranian activists and diaspora organizations have criticized international media reporting on the protests, arguing that coverage has distorted the nature of the demonstrations.



One BBC headline read, “Iran protesters break into government buildings as unrest continues.” The Iranian Diaspora Collective rephrased it as, “Iran protesters reclaim government building as nation-wide regime rejection continues.”



“Dear Journalists &#8211; Use your words carefully in your coverage of Iran,” the group warned.



Organizers announced that another protest is planned for Sunday outside BBC Broadcasting House in London.



A large Jewish presence was reported at the second demonstration outside the Iranian Embassy. The group Stop The Hate also participated.



“At a time when the Iranian people are standing under pressure, repression, and bullets, Jews and the people of England stood beside us in London, not out of slogans, but out of conscience, humanity, and an understanding of the truth,” said journalist and advocate Niyak Ghorbani.



“We Iranians will not forget this support. We will not forget these friendships. These days, this solidarity, this courage in standing with truth, are now written into the history of a nation,” Ghorbani added.



Ghorbani also confirmed plans for an additional protest outside BBC Broadcasting House, saying, “We are Iranian-British. We stand for truth. We stand against the Islamic Terrorist Regime. We stand with the Iranian people and their right to freedom, dignity, and a future without fear.”



 Israel’s embassy in London accused the BBC of fixating on Gaza while “largely ignoring” the ongoing protests in Iran.

Hundreds Rally In London As Iranians And Jews Unite Against Tehran Regime

The BBC will pay compensation to the Horenstein family of Netiv Ha’asara after a BBC photographer unlawfully entered their private home in the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas terrorist massacre.



According to the broadcaster, a BBC news team &#8211; which included International Editor Jeremy Bowen &#8211; entered the Horenstein residence in the days immediately following the attack, without permission from the family.



Jewish News reported that the BBC agreed to pay 120,000 shekels in compensation for the unauthorized entry.



The incident sparked widespread criticism and renewed scrutiny of the network’s conduct and Middle East coverage, adding to ongoing debates surrounding its reporting standards.



Tzeela Horenstein described the ordeal in stark terms, telling Jewish News, “Not only did terrorists break into our home and try to murder us, but then the BBC crew entered again, this time with a camera as a weapon, without permission or consent. It was another intrusion into our lives. We felt that everything that was still under our control had been taken from us.”



The Horenstein family survived the October 7 massacre after their door jammed while terrorists attempted to blow it open with explosives. At the time the BBC crew entered the home, relatives of the family still did not know whether they were alive.

BBC Ordered To Compensate Israeli Family After Trespassing In Home Following Oct. 7 Massacre

President Donald Trump announced Saturday that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and removed from the country during a large-scale U.S. military operation, marking an extraordinary escalation in regional tensions that has drawn sharp criticism from allies and adversaries alike.



The predawn raid, which Trump approved late Friday night, saw elite Delta Force operators seize Maduro from his compound in Caracas as American warplanes systematically dismantled Venezuela&#8217;s air defenses. The Venezuelan leader and his wife, Cilia Flores, landed at Stewart Airport north of New York City Saturday afternoon to face federal drug trafficking charges that were first filed in 2020.



&#8220;We&#8217;re going to run the country&#8221; on a temporary basis during the transition and &#8220;get the oil flowing,&#8221; Trump declared at a press conference from Mar-a-Lago, his Florida resort.



Maduro is widely accused of stealing the last election, when he was opposed by Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia. Opposition leader María Corina Machado had to flee to Norway to avoid being killed by Maduro&#8217;s agents. She issued a public letter to Venezuelans following the capture of Maduro and his wife.



Machado said Maduro will “face international justice for the atrocious crimes committed against Venezuelans and against citizens of many other nations.”“The time for freedom has come!” Machado, the recipient of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, wrote in the message shared on X.



As of Saturday, it remained unclear whether Machado was in Venezuela. She fled to Norway last month in a covert operation. In an interview with CBS News in mid-December, she said she was “absolutely” in favor of President Trump’s escalating military pressure on the Maduro regime and added that she would welcome “more and more pressure so that Maduro understands that he has to go.”



Machado wrote &#8220;The time has come for popular sovereignty and national sovereignty to prevail in our country. We are going to restore order, release the political prisoners, build an exceptional country, and bring our children back home.We have fought for years, we have given it our all, and it has been worth it. What was meant to happen is happening.This is the hour of the citizens. Those of us who risked everything for democracy on June 28th. Those of us who elected Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as the legitimate President of Venezuela, who must immediately assume his constitutional mandate and be recognized as Commander-in-Chief of the National Armed Forces by all the officers and soldiers who comprise it.Today we are ready to assert our mandate and take power. Let us remain vigilant, active, and organized until the democratic transition is complete. A transition that needs ALL of us.



&#8220;To the Venezuelans who are currently in our country, be ready to put into action what we will be communicating to you very soon through our official channels.To Venezuelans abroad, we need you to be mobilized, engaging the governments and citizens of the world and committing them from now on to the great operation of building the new Venezuela.In these crucial hours, receive all my strength, my confidence, and my affection. We remain vigilant and in contact.VENEZUELA WILL BE FREE! We go hand in hand with God, until the end.&#8221;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Operation</h2>



Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine revealed that Trump gave final approval for the mission, designated Operation Absolute Resolve, at 10:46 p.m. Friday. Throughout the night, more than 150 aircraft launched from 20 bases across the Western Hemisphere, converging on Venezuela&#8217;s capital.



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&#8220;As the night began, the helicopters took off with the extraction force, which included law enforcement officers, and began their flight into Venezuela at 100 feet above the water,&#8221; Caine told reporters. The assault force flew protected by drones, bombers and fighter jets that disabled Venezuelan air defenses as the helicopters approached Caracas.



Power went out across much of the capital during the operation. Trump suggested this was intentional, saying the lights had gone dark &#8220;due to a certain experience that we have.&#8221;



Despite maintaining the element of surprise, the helicopters came under fire at Maduro&#8217;s compound but remained operational. Trump said Maduro attempted to flee to a steel-reinforced safe room but &#8220;wasn&#8217;t able to make it to the door because our guys were so fast.&#8221; U.S. forces and FBI agents entered the compound, where Maduro and his wife surrendered.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Legal Charges</h2>



Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that Maduro would face charges outlined in a superseding indictment filed in the Southern District of New York. The document accuses Maduro and five others of operating a drug trafficking conspiracy spanning more than 25 years. The official charges include conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and to import cocaine, as well as possession of and conspiracy to possess &#8220;Machineguns and Destructive Devices.&#8221; 



Prosecutors allege that Maduro and his associates worked with drug traffickers and narco-terrorists to import &#8220;thousands of tons of cocaine&#8221; into the United States, enriching himself, his family and Venezuela&#8217;s political and military elite. The indictment also accuses Maduro of using state-sponsored gangs, including Tren de Aragua, to facilitate and protect the drug-trafficking operation.



&#8220;They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,&#8221; Bondi said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">International Reaction</h2>



The operation drew swift international condemnation. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said he was &#8220;deeply alarmed&#8221; by the military action, calling it &#8220;a dangerous precedent&#8221; and expressing concern that &#8220;the rules of international law have not been respected.&#8221;



Venezuela&#8217;s envoy to the United Nations requested an emergency Security Council meeting to discuss what he termed &#8220;acts of aggression perpetrated by the United States of America.&#8221; Colombia and Russia backed calls for the meeting, which diplomatic sources said could occur as early as Sunday.



China condemned the capture. &#8220;China is deeply shocked by and strongly condemns the U.S.&#8217;s blatant use of force against a sovereign state and action against its president. Such hegemonic acts of the U.S. seriously violate international law and Venezuela&#8217;s sovereignty, and threaten peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean region. China firmly opposes it.&#8221;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Domestic Political Fallout</h2>



The operation sparked a sharp partisan divide in Washington, with lawmakers raising constitutional concerns about Trump&#8217;s decision to bypass congressional notification.



Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the administration&#8217;s decision not to brief Congress beforehand, saying lawmakers have &#8220;a tendency to leak&#8221; and that &#8220;it&#8217;s just not the kind of mission that you can pre-notify because it endangers the mission.&#8221;



Democratic Senator Tim Kaine announced plans to force a vote this week on a war powers resolution he characterized as addressing &#8220;an illegal war,&#8221; requiring the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela not authorized by Congress.



Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries demanded immediate briefings for the Gang of Eight and all members of Congress. &#8220;President Trump&#8217;s announced plan to run Venezuela is unacceptable,&#8221; they said in a joint statement.



Even some Republicans expressed reservations. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania said bluntly, &#8220;The only country that the United States of America should be &#8216;running&#8217; is the United States of America.&#8221;



Senator Susan Collins of Maine, while calling the mission &#8220;a limited scope operation&#8221; that &#8220;effectively apprehended an international criminal,&#8221; said the administration should have informed Congress sooner.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Venezuela&#8217;s Response</h2>



Trump claimed that Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro&#8217;s handpicked vice president who was sworn in to replace him, indicated she would cooperate with U.S. plans. &#8220;We&#8217;ll do whatever you need,&#8221; Trump said Rodriguez told administration officials, though he acknowledged &#8220;she doesn&#8217;t have another choice.&#8221;



However, Rodriguez struck a defiant tone in her first televised appearance following the operation, calling Maduro&#8217;s capture &#8220;barbaric&#8221; and an &#8220;illegal and illegitimate kidnapping.&#8221; She demanded the immediate release of Maduro and his wife, declaring Maduro &#8220;the only president of Venezuela.&#8221;



&#8220;What they did to Venezuela today, they can do to anyone,&#8221; Rodriguez warned. &#8220;That brutal use of force to bend the will of the people can be done to any country.&#8221;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Context and Buildup</h2>



The operation followed months of U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean, with the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and numerous warships positioned in the region. The administration had previously conducted a series of strikes on more than 30 boats it claimed were carrying drugs, some of which proved deadly.



Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that the Federal Aviation Administration had restricted airspace over the Caribbean and Venezuela, leading multiple airlines to cancel flights. He did not specify when the restrictions would be lifted.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Questions About What Comes Next</h2>



Trump&#8217;s announcement that the United States would temporarily &#8220;run&#8221; Venezuela raised immediate questions about the scope and duration of American involvement. When pressed, Trump and administration officials provided few specifics about how the transition would work or what role Venezuelan officials would play.



Rubio suggested that Maduro had been given &#8220;multiple very, very, very generous offers&#8221; to leave Venezuela voluntarily but &#8220;chose instead to act like a wild man.&#8221; He declined to elaborate on the nature of those offers.



The secretary of state also hinted at potential action against Cuba, saying that if he lived in Havana and worked in the government, he would be &#8220;concerned, at least, a little bit.&#8221; Trump similarly suggested that Cuba, which he called &#8220;a failing nation right now,&#8221; would be &#8220;something we&#8217;ll end up talking about.&#8221;



The operation represents an unprecedented direct military intervention to remove a sitting head of state in the Western Hemisphere in recent decades, though it echoes past U.S. actions in the region, including the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in 1961.



Notably, current Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard vehemently opposed military intervention in Venezuela during Trump&#8217;s first term, when she was running for president as a Democrat. &#8220;It&#8217;s about the oil … again,&#8221; she wrote in 2019, and warned that intervention would &#8220;wreak death &amp; destruction to Venezuelan people.&#8221;



As Maduro and his wife prepared to face American justice, the full implications of the operation remained unclear, with international leaders, U.S. lawmakers and Venezuelan officials all expressing concern about what one U.N. official termed &#8220;worrying implications for the region.&#8221;

Trump Says U.S. Will ‘Run’ Venezuela After Army Captures President Maduro

Federal agents have intercepted a murderous plot by an 18-year-old North Carolina Muslim man who allegedly planned to carry out attacks on Jews, Christians and others at a local grocery store and a fast-food restaurant on New Year’s Eve in the name of ISIS.



Christian Sturdivant of Mint Hill, a town just outside Charlotte, was arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. According to Russ Ferguson, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, the suspect intended to target locations frequented by the public, including the Burger King where he was employed.



&#8220;He talked about where he was planning to do this attack, which was at a grocery store and a fast food restaurant in Mint Hill. Places that we go every day and don&#8217;t think that we may be harmed,&#8221; Ferguson stated during a press conference.



The investigation began on December 18, after the FBI received tips regarding Sturdivant’s social media activity. Posts allegedly made by the suspect disparaged Christians, including an image of figurines with a caption reading &#8220;May Allah curse the cross worshipers,&#8221; and expressed alignment with the Islamic State.



Following these posts, Sturdivant engaged in online communications with an undercover government employee he believed to be an ISIS operative. During these exchanges, prosecutors say he shared photographs of weapons, including hammers and a knife. The U.S. Attorney’s Office noted that Sturdivant declared, &#8220;I will do jihad soon,&#8221; and referred to himself as &#8220;a soldier of the state.&#8221;



&#8220;He was preparing for jihad, and innocent people were going to die. And we were very, very fortunate they did not,&#8221; Ferguson said, noting the specific groups the suspect intended to harm, including Jews and Christians.



A search warrant executed at Sturdivant’s residence on December 29 yielded significant evidence. Agents discovered a handwritten plan titled &#8220;New Years Attack 2026,&#8221; along with tactical gear such as masks, vests, and gloves. The manifesto reportedly outlined a goal of stabbing approximately 20 to 21 civilians and included a &#8220;martyrdom Op&#8221; designed to ambush police officers responding to the scene. Physically, agents recovered two butcher knives and two hammers concealed beneath the suspect&#8217;s bed.



Top law enforcement officials praised the intervention for preventing a potential tragedy. &#8220;This successful collaboration between federal and local law enforcement saved American lives from a horrific terrorist attack on New Year&#8217;s Eve,&#8221; Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. &#8220;The Department of Justice remains vigilant in our pursuit of evil ISIS sympathizers &#8211; anyone plotting to commit such depraved attacks will face the full force of the law.&#8221;



FBI Director Kash Patel echoed these sentiments, highlighting the bureau&#8217;s diligence over the holiday season.



&#8220;The FBI and our partners continued working 24/7 over the holidays protecting the American people, and this case out of Charlotte foiling another alleged New Years Eve attacker is the latest example of their tremendous work,&#8221; Patel said. &#8220;Our teams quickly identified the threat and acted decisively — no doubt saving American lives in the process. Thanks to our Joint Terrorism Task Force and regional partners both in New York and Western North Carolina for their efforts.&#8221;



Officials revealed that this was not Sturdivant&#8217;s first brush with radicalization. James C. Barnacle, Jr., special agent in charge of the FBI&#8217;s Charlotte Field Office, disclosed that the bureau first noticed Sturdivant in January 2022, when he was still a juvenile.



&#8220;He was in contact via social media with an unidentified ISIS member overseas. Sturdivant received direction from this unidentified ISIS member to dress in all black, knock on people&#8217;s doors, and attack them with a hammer. In fact, Sturdivant did dress in all black. He left this house with a hammer, and fortunately his family stepped in,&#8221; Barnacle explained.



At that time, Sturdivant was referred for psychological care rather than facing criminal charges. Barnacle emphasized that the current case underscores the persistent danger of online radicalization.



&#8220;The FBI&#8217;s mission is to protect the American people, and this case demonstrates our dedication to do everything we can to protect the residents of North Carolina. We worked closely with the Department of Justice, NYPD, Mint Hill Police Department, and our FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force partners to investigate and disrupt this serious threat of a violent attack. We will never stop working to hold people accountable who seek to harm and terrorize our community,&#8221; Barnacle said.



&#8220;This investigation highlights the very real threat posed by people who self-radicalized online and are inspired by jihadist ideologies espoused by foreign terrorist organizations,&#8221; he added. Barnacle closed with a plea for community vigilance regarding the radicalization of youth. &#8220;We rely on the communities we serve and encourage the public to contact law enforcement when they see or hear something that doesn&#8217;t seem right. I also have this personal message – if your child, relative, friend, or neighbor is sliding into a dangerous ideology, you&#8217;ll be the first to see it. And together we can stop it. The threats we face are bigger than any one law enforcement or intelligence agency, requiring everyone who hears this message to work together to keep people safe,&#8221; Barnacle stated.



Sturdivant remains in federal custody. If convicted, he faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

FBI Thwarts North Carolina ISIS-Inspired New Year’s Eve Plot on Jews and Christians

Israel and Jewish advocacy groups sharply escalated criticism of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Friday, accusing the newly inaugurated mayor of undermining protections for Jewish New Yorkers by revoking policies designed to combat antisemitism and by removing official statements addressing Jew hatred posted by his predecessor during his first day in office.



The backlash followed Mamdani’s decision to repeal several executive orders issued by former Mayor Eric Adams, including a directive that barred city officials from boycotting or divesting from Israel. His administration also eliminated an order that formally adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, which Adams’ office had said includes “demonizing Israel and holding it to double standards as forms of contemporary antisemitism.”



Adams had posted a thread on Wednesday morning, hours before leaving office, promoting the city’s “first-ever municipal report” on fighting antisemitism and describing it as a “blueprint for 2026.” When Mamdani took office the next day, two posts in that thread had been removed, leaving only the final post visible.



Below are the tweets that Mamdani deleted:



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="473" height="1024" src="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1000293920-473x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-22230" srcset="https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1000293920-473x1024.jpg 473w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1000293920-138x300.jpg 138w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1000293920-768x1664.jpg 768w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1000293920-709x1536.jpg 709w, https://api.belaaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1000293920.jpg 900w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 473px) 100vw, 473px" /></figure>



“On his very first day as New York City Mayor Mamdani shows his true face: He scraps the IHRA definition of antisemitism and lifts restrictions on boycotting Israel,” Israel’s Foreign Ministry wrote in a post reacting to the moves.



“This isn’t leadership. It’s antisemitic gasoline on an open fire.”



Mamdani also repealed Executive Order 61, issued last month, which directed the NYPD to increase enforcement aimed at protecting synagogues and other religious institutions from harassment by protesters. The order included establishing buffer zones prohibiting demonstrations within a set distance of churches, mosques, and synagogues.



However, Mamdani released a new executive order which contained roughly the same language as Adams&#8217;.



Mamdani spokesperson Dora Pekec denied that the X posts were removed because of their content, saying the deletions were part of an administrative process. “The Mayor’s team has begun archiving posts from the @NYCMAYOR account that were published by the previous administration, in chronological order,” Pekec said.



“This ongoing process is administrative in nature and is not based on the content of the posts.“The Mayor remains steadfast in his commitment to root out the scourge of antisemitism in our City and will deliver on his commitment to renewing the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism and increasing funding for the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes by 800%,” she added.



In response to the Mamdani administration&#8217;s defense of the tweet removals, CEO and Director of the National Jewish Advocacy Center, Rabbi Dr. Mark Goldfeder told Belaaz that no such custom exists among newly elected officials. &#8220;There is no legal requirement, custom, or practice forcing them to delete a predecessor&#8217;s tweets. To the extent that they chose to do so, they should have absolutely considered the message it sends to Jewish New Yorkers on day one of the administration.&#8221;



When asked if leaving the tweets, which now feature Mamdani&#8217;s name and image, would lead to confusion about Mamdani&#8217;s stance on Israel &#8211; a possible justification on the part of the administration, Goldfeder responded that it would be clear to all when and by whom the statements were made, adding that &#8220;If he is so worried about being associated with support for the Jewish state, think about the message that sends.&#8221;



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Overall, Goldfeder says Mamdani&#8217;s actions convey the very message Jewish leaders have been worried about for months.&#8221;On his first day, he has done multiple things to suggest that protecting Jewish New Yorkers is not a priority, and he has done nothing to suggest that it is.&#8221;



Sorolle Idels, head of Queens Jewish Alliance, told Belaaz that &#8220;Though I have a pit in my stomach, I’m hopeful that his being on center stage &#8211; and surrounded by others &#8211; will curb how much damage he can do. If nothing else, this should underscore the urgency of voting and drive turnout in the June primaries for Governor and Congress.&#8221;



As criticism mounted, a Jewish civil rights group raised additional concerns, accusing Mamdani of deleting official statements about antisemitism from the city’s mayoral X account shortly after assuming office.



According to the National Jewish Advocacy Center, two posts shared by Adams’ administration highlighting the city’s efforts to combat antisemitism were removed from the @NYCMayor account after Mamdani took control of it Thursday.



“It is difficult to overstate how disturbing it is that one of your very first acts as Mayor of New York City, on your very first day in office, was to delete official @NYCMayor tweets addressing the protection of Jewish New Yorkers,” the organization wrote in a letter addressed to Mamdani.



“At a moment of unprecedented antisemitic intimidation, violence, and exclusion in the City the decision to erase official statements affirming the safety and protection of Jews is not merely tone-deaf, it is shameful. It sends a message, whether intended or not, that Jewish New Yorkers are uniquely underserving of continuity, clarity, or reassurance from their own government.”



The letter was also sent to the city’s Department of Investigation and the Conflicts of Interest Board, according to Goldfeder.



The group warned that removing posts from the mayoral account without proper archiving could violate the city charter, since social media posts are considered public records.



“Even if they were archived, the choice to delete statements specifically addressing Jewish safety on Day One invites scrutiny and erodes public trust,” the letter said.



“New York City’s mayoralty is an institution, not a social-media account to be curated for convenience or optics. The record matters, the law matters, and the safety and dignity of Jewish New Yorker’s most certainly matter.”



Brooklyn Republican City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov also condemned Mamdani’s actions in a series of posts on X.



“We need to enforce federal law that’s already in place here because the pro-Hamas antisemites emboldened by @NYCMayor are coming!” she wrote.



In a separate post, Vernikov said: “Mamdani @NYCMayor just UNDID previous executive order which adopted the IHRA definition of antisemitism. IHRA protects from discrimination Jews who believe in self determination and provides clarity on the definition.”



Mamdani, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, has faced sustained criticism over his record on Israel, including past refusals to recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state and statements vowing to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a war criminal if he enters New York City. While members of his transition team have ties to anti-Zionist groups, Mamdani has sought to broaden his appeal to Jewish voters since the election, including appearing in a recent Hanukkah video with actor Mandy Patinkin.



City Hall said Mamdani’s first executive order revoked all executive orders issued by Adams on or after Sept. 26, 2024 — the day Adams was indicted on federal corruption charges — describing the move as “ensuring a fresh start for the incoming administration.” Officials said the mayor intends to reissue orders he continues to support, including one maintaining the Office to Combat Antisemitism.



The National Jewish Advocacy Center said the mayor’s early actions send a troubling signal.



“Your first days in office will define your administration,” the group wrote.



“This is not how that definition should begin.”

Outrage at Mamdani Over Antisemitism Policy Rollbacks and Deleted Adams Tweets

U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach said Wednesday that he is exploring plans to introduce a $250 bill displaying the image of President Donald Trump, telling the Daily Calle that preliminary work is already underway.



As U.S. treasurer, Beach oversees the production of the nation’s paper currency and coins, including direct authority over the U.S. Mint and Fort Knox.



Before assuming his current role, Beach spent more than ten years as a Republican member of the Georgia State Senate. He was appointed U.S. treasurer by Trump in May.



“When Trump appointed me to the job, I told him I wanted to do a $250 bill with his picture on the 250th birthday celebration” of the U.S., Beach told the Caller. He added that such a move would first require congressional action, as current law mandates that a president must be deceased before appearing on U.S. paper currency.



Beach said that if Congress approves the necessary legislation and it is signed into law, he would move quickly to begin work on the $250 bill, which would rank among the highest-denomination bills in circulation.



He also noted that the Treasury has already begun developing designs for a $1 coin bearing Trump’s likeness, an effort first announced in October.



Congress has passed the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary, authorizing the Treasury Department to mint special $1 coins ahead of the semiquincentennial on July 4.



According to Beach, “it is going to be legal tender.”



“This is not a commemorative coin. You can go in and buy something with this $1 coin with Trump’s picture on it,” he said.



Beach added that the administration is planning additional coin releases tied to the 250th anniversary, including designs recognizing the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will see most matches hosted in major U.S. cities.

Trump Administration Weighs $250 Bill Featuring President Donald Trump

A potential agreement to end Russia’s war against Ukraine is “90 percent ready,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a New Year’s address to the nation late Wednesday, stressing that he would only sign a deal that safeguards Ukraine’s sovereignty.



“Ten percent remains … Those 10 percent contain, in fact, everything,” Zelenskyy said in a 20-minute speech focused largely on the war, which is set to enter its fifth year in 2026. “Those are the 10 percent that will determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe, how people will live.”



Zelenskyy explained that while Ukraine’s position has gained broad international attention, it has not yet been fully accepted. “Have our arguments been heard? We very much hope so. Have they agreed with us? Not fully. Not yet. That is precisely why, for now, we speak of 90 percent, not the full 100 percent, readiness of a peace agreement,” he said.



He emphasized that Kyiv would reject any deal that compromises its future. “What does Ukraine want? Peace? Yes. At any cost? No. We want the end of the war — not the end of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said, warning that a weak agreement would “only fuel war.”



In his address, the Ukrainian president thanked nearly all European countries individually for their support, notably omitting Hungary. Referring to Budapest’s approach to Russia’s invasion, he remarked, “A Budapest-style piece of paper will not satisfy Ukraine.”



Zelenskyy also referenced U.S. President Donald Trump, saying, “The U.S. president always mentions our people and talks about how bravely Ukrainians are fighting.”



Acknowledging the strain on the population, Zelenskyy said Ukrainians were “tired,” but added they were “not ready to surrender.” He noted that Russia’s invasion has now lasted longer than the Nazi occupation of Ukraine during World War II.



He rejected claims by Russian President Vladimir Putin that a Ukrainian withdrawal from the Donbas region would end the war. “That is how deception sounds when translated from Russian … Does anyone still believe them? Unfortunately. Because too often, the truth is still avoided and called diplomacy, though in reality it is simply lies in suits,” Zelenskyy said.



Reiterating his core message, Zelenskyy warned, “Either the world stops Russia’s war, or Russia drags the world into its war.”



The speech came as Russia launched another overnight aerial assault on Ukraine. Zelenskyy said more than 200 attack drones were deployed, with most intercepted, though strikes were reported in the Volyn, Rivne, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv regions.



“If the strikes do not stop even during the New Year holidays, then air defense deliveries cannot be delayed. Our allies have the necessary scarce equipment. We expect that everything agreed with the United States at the end of December for our protection will be delivered on time,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.



A follow-up meeting between Zelenskyy and international leaders is scheduled to take place Monday in France, according to officials.

Zelensky Says Ukraine Peace Plan Is ‘90 Percent Ready,’ Vows Only to Sign Strong Agreement

Zohran Mamdani was publicly sworn in Thursday as the 112th mayor of New York City, ushering in a new era of far-left governance for the five boroughs. The 34-year-old self-described democratic socialist, who becomes the city’s first Muslim mayor, took the oath of office administered by Senator Bernie Sanders on the steps of City Hall, after a smaller ceremony at midnight. Other progressive figures, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez attended.



While the inauguration ceremony was filled with rhetoric about &#8220;freedom&#8221; and &#8220;abundance,&#8221; Mamdani’s ascent to City Hall has drawn sharp criticism and deep concern from many New Yorkers, particularly regarding his radical stances on law enforcement and his troubling history of statements regarding anti-Israel extremism.



In his inaugural address, Mamdani did not shy away from his socialist roots, declaring, &#8220;I was elected as a democratic socialist and I will govern as a democratic socialist.&#8221; He explicitly rejected the idea that the era of big government is over, promising that his administration would not hesitate to use state power to &#8220;tax the wealthiest few&#8221; to fund universal programs. Critics, however, point to his controversial record on public safety. Mamdani has previously advocated for &#8220;defunding the police,&#8221; a stance that has raised alarms among residents concerned about crime rates and the stability of the NYPD. His speech today emphasized that he would &#8220;not abandon [his] principles,&#8221; suggesting that his administration may pursue these drastic cuts to law enforcement funding despite widespread opposition.



Perhaps most concerning to the Jewish community is Mamdani’s consistent refusal to distance himself from violent anti-Israel rhetoric. Throughout his political career, Mamdani has declined opportunities to denounce the slogan &#8220;globalize the intifada,&#8221; a call to violence against Jews and Israelis worldwide. Furthermore, Mamdani has previously expressed &#8220;love&#8221; for the &#8220;Holy Land 5,&#8221; a group of men convicted in federal court of funneling millions of dollars to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. His support for individuals convicted of financing terror remains a focal point of concern for Jewish leaders and security experts in the city.



The concerns over Mamdani&#8217;s associations were underscored by those present at the inauguration. Mahmoud Khalil, a known Hamas supporter and former Columbia University graduate student, was spotted at City Hall attending the event. Khalil served as a lead negotiator for the disruptive 2024 Gaza Solidarity Encampment protests and was previously the subject of deportation discussions under the Trump administration.



The atmosphere at the inauguration reflected the city&#8217;s divisions. When Mamdani mentioned former Mayor Eric Adams during his speech, a significant portion of the crowd booed. Senator Bernie Sanders, who administered the oath, praised Mamdani’s victory as &#8220;the biggest political upset in modern American history,&#8221; framing it as a triumph for the working class. However, Mamdani’s promise to &#8220;reset&#8221; the city&#8217;s expectations was met with skepticism by those wary of his economic policies, including rent freezes and the elimination of bus fares, which economists warn could strain the city’s budget.



Amidst the pomp, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine was sworn in as the New York City Comptroller, formally becoming the current highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the city government. Levine took his oath of office upon a Chumash, administered by Attorney General Letitia James.



As the confetti cleared from the &#8220;Canyon of Heroes,&#8221; New York City faces an uncertain future under an administration openly committed to a socialist overhaul and led by a mayor whose past statements on policing and Israel continue to cast a long shadow over City Hall. As Mamdani himself stated in his closing remarks, &#8220;The work, my friends, has only just begun.&#8221;

Socialist Zohran Mamdani Sworn in as NYC Mayor in Daytime Ceremony

Tensions between the Religious Zionist and Charedi communities have reached a peak in recent months, following two years of war in which segments of the national-religious public view traditional Charedi army exemptions with contempt. The prolonged conflict, during which Religious Zionist soldiers played leading roles on the battlefield, has pushed the debate over Israel’s conscription law to the center of public discourse. Gedolei Yisrael throughout the generations and in our present time have fiercely opposed conscription, as the army presents an environment unfit for a Torah Jew.



Charedim who have refused conscription have been arrested, sparking major protests, including one that was attended by hundreds of thousands of people in the fall.



The controversy intensified after the coalition presented a revised version of the draft law, which was significantly more lenient than the proposal previously advanced by Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Yuli Edelstein. Still, Charedi lawmakers say it fell short of what was promised to them originally.



Against this backdrop, a new survey published by the newspaper B&#8217;sheva and conducted by Direct Polls reveals a more nuanced picture. Despite sharp criticism within the religious public toward the Charedi sector, a clear majority of respondents favor a conscription framework that would be formulated with the agreement of Charedi leadership.



According to the survey, 56% believe the correct path to advancing enlistment is through legislation reached in coordination with Charedi leaders, alongside outreach efforts, public information campaigns, and the creation of service frameworks tailored to Charedi needs, although Gedolei Yisrael say that such conditions are not feasible.



By contrast, 33% of respondents support enforcing conscription through punitive measures, including sanctions, arrests, and the withdrawal of state funding from yeshivas. An additional 7% favor full enforcement through arrests and sanctions applied uniformly to all young Israelis who do not enlist, while 4% said they were unsure.

Despite Tensions, Majority of Religious Zionists Support Draft Law With Charedi Agreement

What began as scattered protests across Iran on Wednesday has exploded into a nationwide uprising, with demonstrators clashing violently with security forces in dozens of cities and towns, leaving at least four people dead and raising fears of a brutal government crackdown.



The unrest, which initially centered on economic grievances in several provinces, has rapidly evolved into broader anti-regime demonstrations, with protesters openly challenging Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and chanting support for the former monarchy.



Iranian security forces opened fire on demonstrators in the central city of Lordegan on Thursday, killing at least four people, according to footage and activist accounts circulating online. Video shared on social media showed protesters carrying bodies from the streets before crowds overran a local courthouse in apparent retaliation for the shootings.



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The violence in Lordegan represents a significant escalation from Wednesday&#8217;s protests, which left at least two people dead in initial confrontations between demonstrators and police.



In the western city of Azna in Lorestan Province, residents reported that demonstrators took control of sections of streets and briefly overran a local police station, which protesters reportedly set ablaze. The brazen attack on a symbol of state authority underscores the intensity of public anger fueling the demonstrations.



The western provinces of Iran have emerged as the epicenter of the unrest, with particularly intense clashes reported in multiple cities.



Nahavand in western Iran has turned into a battleground, with regime supporters embedded alongside security forces clashing with anti-regime protesters in street-to-street confrontations.



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In Asadabad, witnesses described &#8220;epic battles&#8221; between protesters and regime forces, while in nearby Kuhdasht, demonstrators employed unconventional tactics, reportedly rolling a tractor loaded with bricks toward security forces and hurling the projectiles in a dramatic act of defiance. Large crowds have taken to the streets of Kuhdasht as the wave of nationwide protests continues to spread.



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The unrest has now reached Harsin in Kermanshah Province, where floods of people have taken to the streets in a massive turnout that activists say signals the will to resist remains strong across the country.



In a particularly symbolic development, protests have erupted even in Qom, the spiritual heart of Shiite Islam in Iran and home to the country&#8217;s most important religious seminaries. Video footage showed demonstrators throwing stones at regime security forces while chanting &#8220;clerics get lost&#8221; &#8211; a direct challenge to the Islamic establishment that has ruled Iran since 1979.



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Anti-regime slogans have echoed across the country. In Marvdasht, crowds chanted: &#8220;This year is gonna be bloody, Seyed Ali (Khamenei) is doomed!&#8221; &#8211; an explicit threat directed at Iran&#8217;s Supreme Leader.



I&nbsp; Lordegan, protesters were heard chanting &#8220;Long live the Shah,&#8221; invoking the memory of Iran&#8217;s pre-revolutionary monarchy.



The anti-government sentiment has manifested in symbolic actions as well. In Ardabil in northwest Iran, a newly installed statue of former President Ebrahim Raisi was toppled just days after its unveiling, demonstrating public contempt for the hardline cleric who died in a helicopter crash last year.



As the protests intensified Thursday, Iran&#8217;s state-run Fars News agency reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) may respond &#8220;decisively&#8221; if the unrest continues; a thinly veiled threat of violent suppression that has been employed in past uprisings.



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The warning comes as the regime appears increasingly concerned about its ability to contain the demonstrations, which have spread rapidly across both urban and rural areas.



In a notable development, the regime appointed Ahmad Vahidi, wanted by Interpol for the 1994 AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people, as deputy commander of the IRGC, a move that signals the government&#8217;s willingness to employ hardline figures to manage the crisis.



In an unusual public statement Thursday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged government failures, telling the nation: &#8220;If people are dissatisfied, we are to blame, not America or anyone else. It is our responsibility to manage resources properly, improve efficiency and productivity, and solve the people&#8217;s problems. Our failures are the result of poor management.&#8221;



The admission represents a rare moment of official accountability in a system that typically blames foreign adversaries for domestic unrest.



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The protests are rooted in Iran&#8217;s deepening economic crisis, which has left millions struggling to afford basic necessities. The minimum wage in Iran currently stands at approximately $90 to $120 per month, while average salaries range from $200 to $400. Meanwhile, basic living costs for a family now run between $200 and $400 monthly, meaning at least 30% of Iranian households cannot cover food, rent, and utilities on wages alone.



The economic hardship has been exacerbated by years of international sanctions, government mismanagement, and corruption, creating a powder keg of public frustration that appears to have finally ignited.



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Despite the scale and intensity of the demonstrations, the unrest has drawn relatively little attention from human rights groups of the United Nations, even as Iranian forces are violently quelling dissent. This lack of external scrutiny may embolden regime forces to employ increasingly violent tactics to suppress the protests, as they have in previous uprisings.



As night fell Thursday across Iran, the situation remained fluid, with reports continuing to emerge of new clashes and demonstrations in additional cities. A police station was seen being torched, but its location has yet to be determined.



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The coming days will likely prove crucial in determining whether the regime can reassert control or whether Iran faces a sustained period of instability that could challenge the foundations of the Islamic Republic itself.



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Protests Intensify Across Iran as Death Toll Rises and Regime Faces Mounting Pressure

Zohran Mamdani was sworn in Thursday morning shortly after Midnight as mayor of New York City, entering office amid sharp political divisions and widespread scrutiny over his policy agenda and past statements. Mamdani, the first Muslim person to hold the position, took the oath at the Old City Hall subway station while holding a Quran and was sworn in as the city’s 112th mayor by New York Attorney General Letitia James, a longtime political adversary of President Donald Trump.



A large-scale inauguration celebration is planned for Thursday during the daytime, to be attended by prominent leftists, including Sen. Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as well as by now-former Mayor Eric Adams. The event will cost the city hundreds of thousands of dollars in overtime pay for NYPD officers; servicemen who Mamdani had for years derided as a member of the Defund the Police movement. He softened his tone on police after gaining momentum in the mayoral race.



Mamdani assumes office as one of the most controversial figures to lead the city in recent decades. He now faces the challenge of translating sweeping campaign pledges into policy while managing tensions with the White House and addressing criticism from multiple sectors, including deep unease within the Jewish community.



During the campaign, Mamdani outlined a socialist socio-economic platform. Among his central promises is the creation of a free early childhood education system for children from six weeks to five years old, a program estimated to cost roughly $6 billion annually and dependent on approval from New York State lawmakers.



He has also pledged to freeze rents on nearly one million rent-stabilized apartments. The proposal would rely on the Rent Guidelines Board, whose members are appointed by the mayor and vote annually on rent increases.



Additional proposals include establishing a network of city-owned supermarkets intended to reduce food prices by operating without rent or property tax obligations, and eliminating bus fares citywide to improve affordability and speed.



As Mayor, Mamdani will have limited abilities to carry out many of these plans, unless he receives the full backing of the State legislature and City Council.



One position drawing particular attention involves Israel. Mamdani has repeatedly said he would instruct the New York Police Department to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits the city, citing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court. Netanyahu has publicly stated that he intends to visit New York regardless, as the United States is not bound by the ICC, and city officials have no jurisdiction to arrest foreign dignitaries.



Mamdani’s relationship with President Trump remains uncertain. During the campaign, Trump sharply criticized Mamdani, warning that New York had “0% chance of succeeding or surviving” under his leadership and raising the possibility of federal intervention. However, the two met earlier this month in what Trump later described as a “great” meeting, signaling a potentially pragmatic working relationship.



Questions have also been raised about Mamdani’s limited executive experience. Before becoming mayor, he served in the New York State Assembly and previously worked as a housing consultant and had a brief, unsuccessful stint in the rap music industry.



Criticism of Mamdani has been especially pronounced over his record on Israel and Zionism. Jewish leaders have voiced concern that his rhetoric could exacerbate antisemitism in a city already experiencing heightened tensions. Mamdani has previously expressed support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, opposed U.S. aid linked to Israeli communities beyond the Green Line, and said repeatedly that he does not recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. In one of his rap lyrics, he expressed admiration for the &#8220;Holy Land Five;&#8221; men convicted in the early 2000s of funneling money to Hamas terrorists.



Those concerns were amplified after Mamdani appointed a candidate with a documented history of antisemitic statements to a senior role. Following exposure of the statements by the Anti-Defamation League, the appointee resigned. Other appointments have also drawn criticism, including the selection of individuals described by critics as inexperienced or extremist, such as a former rapper with a criminal record appointed as an adviser on criminal justice issues.



In December, Jewish leaders met with Mamdani, urging him to moderate his rhetoric on Israel and reconsider his stance regarding Netanyahu. In interviews after the meeting, Mamdani said his positions on Israel had not changed.



A spokesperson for Mamdani criticized a shul that hosted a Nefesh B&#8217;Nefesh event that was set upon by a large mob of protestors who had called for violence and blocked the attendees&#8217; movement. Mamdani, facing fierce backlash from Jewish community figures who pointed to the incident as evidence that Jews would not be safe under his administration, eventually walked back the statement. He also issued an unequivocal condemnation of the Bondi Beach massacre, where 15 Jews were killed by a Muslim terrorist pair at a Chanukah celebration, as an act of antisemitic terrorism.



Born in Uganda to an academic father and a filmmaker mother, Mamdani immigrated to New York at age seven. He later became politically active through pro-Palestinian student movements before rising rapidly within the Democratic Socialists of America and winning election to the State Assembly in 2019. His swift ascent culminated in a mayoral victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo.



As Mamdani begins his tenure, supporters and critics alike are watching closely to see whether he can govern a deeply divided city while navigating national politics and addressing fears among communities concerned about his ideological record.

Zohran Mamdani Takes Office As New York Mayor

The US military destroyed two suspected drug-trafficking boats on Wednesday, killing five individuals described as “narco-terrorists,” as the Trump administration continues its expanded counternarcotics campaign across the Western Hemisphere.



According to US Southern Command (Southcom), the two vessels were operated by a designated terrorist organization and were intercepted while transiting known drug-smuggling routes. Three people were killed aboard the first boat, while two others were killed on the second.



“Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and engaged in narco-trafficking,” Southcom said in a statement.



Southcom did not disclose whether the strikes occurred in the Caribbean or the eastern Pacific, the two regions where all US lethal operations against alleged drug boats have taken place since the campaign began in early September. The military also did not identify the terrorist group involved or specify which narcotics were being transported.



Responding to inquiries from The Hill, Southcom said, “due to operational security reasons, we will not comment on the location” of the mission.



Since September 2, US forces have carried out at least 35 strikes against suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Those operations have killed a minimum of 115 people, according to US officials, who say the campaign is aimed at disrupting narcotics flows and defending the United States from transnational criminal and terrorist networks.



On Tuesday, US forces also targeted a convoy of suspected drug-trafficking boats in the Southcom area of responsibility. Southcom said three narco-terrorists were killed aboard the first vessel, while individuals on the second and third boats jumped into the water before follow-up strikes sank their vessels.



Following that operation, Southcom said it notified the US Coast Guard to activate its search-and-rescue system. The Coast Guard did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill. Reports indicated that eight individuals survived after abandoning the boats.



As with other recent operations, the military declined to disclose where Tuesday’s strike occurred, again citing operational security concerns.



The stepped-up maritime strikes come as President Donald Trump intensifies pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and amid reports that the CIA recently carried out a drone strike on a dock facility along Venezuela’s coast believed to have been used to store narcotics.

US Military Destroys Two Drug-Smuggling Boats, Killing 5 Narco-Terrorists, Southcom Says

A Washington state Tesla owner has secured a place in automotive history after completing what he says was the first fully autonomous drive across the United States, covering nearly 2,700 miles without a single manual intervention.



David Moss, a Tesla owner from Tacoma, detailed the journey in a viral post on X, describing a coast-to-coast trip completed entirely using Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software.



“I am proud to announce that I have successfully completed the world’s first USA coast to coast fully autonomous drive!” Moss wrote.



According to Moss, the drive was completed using Tesla’s FSD version 14.2, with no disengagements at any point during the journey, including while parking and charging.



“This was accomplished with Tesla FSD V14.2 with absolutely 0 disengagements of any kind even for all parking including at Tesla Superchargers,” he said.



The journey was made in a stealth gray Tesla Model 3 equipped with FSD v14.2.1.25, Tesla’s latest iteration of its self-driving system, which allows users to track how many miles are driven autonomously. The software, released earlier this month, offers smoother and more human-like driving behavior, though it still requires driver supervision.



Moss began the trip at the Tesla Diner in Los Angeles and drove 2,732.4 miles to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The cross-country drive took two days and 20 hours and passed through 24 states. Moss shared a detailed map of the route and documented nearly 30 charging stops along the way.



He emphasized that the system encountered no serious issues during the drive, noting in comments that there were no close calls or safety concerns throughout the trip.



The feat extended beyond the single journey. Data from the FSD database and a community tracker showed that Moss completed 10,638.8 miles using Full Self-Driving without ever taking control of the vehicle, according to Teslarati.com. His Tesla account indicates the vehicle was the first to surpass 10,000 autonomous miles without interruption.



Members of the Tesla community praised the achievement, noting that it came 122 years after Horatio Jackson and Sewall Crocker became the first people to drive an automobile across the United States, a trip that took 63 days from San Francisco to New York.



“We are now living in an era where crossing the American continent by autonomous driving is possible,” one Tesla shareholder wrote.



Tesla CEO Elon Musk also responded to the milestone, reposting Moss’s announcement on X with a brief reaction: “cool.”



The achievement comes as Musk continues to push forward with autonomous driving technology. Earlier this year, Tesla launched a limited robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, using modified Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving software, and Musk recently said the vehicles were being tested without safety monitors in the front seat.

Tesla Owner Completes First Fully Autonomous Coast-To-Coast Drive, Musk Reacts

The Supreme Court on Wednesday evening issued an interim order halting the transfer of roughly 2 billion shekels that had been approved days earlier by the Knesset Finance Committee, including approximately 1 billion shekels ($314 million) designated for Charedi educational institutions.



The decision followed a petition submitted by opposition lawmakers, who argued that the funding transfer was carried out unlawfully. According to the petition, the money was drawn from the state budget reserve and included allocations to Charedi schools that are exempt from teaching the legally required core curriculum.



Reaction from both Charedi and some right-wing figures was quick and fierce.



Rabbi Yitzchok Pindrus, of Degel Hatorah, tells Belaaz that the decision is part of an ongoing &#8220;war&#8221; against the Torah community.&#8221;It&#8217;s very simple. It&#8217;s part of the war against the Charedi community, to make them illegitimate in Eretz Yisrael,&#8221; Pindrus said. &#8220;The Supreme Court, together with the Yoetzat Hamishpat are doing everything trying to close down the Charedi institutions.&#8221;And we&#8217;ll have to go through it. We&#8217;re going through difficult times in Eretz Yisrael. This attack is against the Charedi community, the Yeshivas, against everything, and the Supreme Court is part of this political fight.&#8221;



UTJ chairman Yitzchak Goldknopf sharply criticized the move, accusing the petitioners of singling out the Charedi public. He said the funding transfers underwent all required professional and legal scrutiny and expressed confidence that the court would ultimately dismiss the petition.



Degel Hatorah Chairman MK Moshe Gafni said: &#8220;The court has declared war on the Charedi public and the Torah institutions. The court demanded a response within just a few hours—a timeframe unacceptable even by court standards—and budgets that were passed legally, following accepted procedures and required approvals, were struck down with a single blow in half a day.



&#8220;The judges will not be absolved of the guilt for harming the livelihoods of teaching staff and the entire educational system, nor will the wicked petitioners be excused. It turns out that there is no democracy in the State of Israel; the judges make decisions as they see fit, according to their own worldview, completely detached from the issues themselves or the professional decisions made by the government and the Knesset. We will do everything to restore the situation to its former state.&#8221;



Chair of the Finance Committee and Likud MK Chanoch Milwidsky said: &#8220;It is no surprise that Justice Amit’s protégé is freezing funds that were legally transferred to Charedi institutions. The High Court is amassing more and more power for itself. Unfortunately, for now, it is playing on an empty field. This will not stop until we decide to rebel against this legal tyranny. We are already long overdue.&#8221;



Agudas Yisrael&#8217;s Meir Porush said: &#8220;It is now clear beyond any doubt: the legal system is not interested in security needs; they are at war against everything sacred. Lapid and the High Court are trying to battle the holy education of the Tinokos Shel Beis Rabban. No legal process will prevent us from passing on the tradition of Israel from generation to generation. Yesterday, we recited in the Asara B’Teves Selichos: &#8216;The council of tyrants sought our entrapment, yet we did not dare to oppose them.'&#8221;



Minister of Justice Yariv Levin said: &#8220;I join the outrage of the United Torah Judaism members over the High Court’s decision regarding Charedi educational institutions. I call on the faction members not to suffice with protest, but to announce their readiness to immediately vote in favor of the series of legal reform bills that have been stuck in the Knesset for months. This is the best answer to the deliberate harm inflicted upon the Charedi public.&#8221;



The interim injunction was issued in response to a petition filed by lawmakers from the opposition Yesh Atid party, challenging the legality of the funding decision.



The funding transfer had received approval last week from the Finance Committee of the Knesset, which is controlled by the governing coalition.



According to the court order, a panel of judges is scheduled to hold a hearing on the petition by January 8, 2026. Until that date, the Finance Committee, the Education Ministry, and the Finance Ministry have been instructed to submit formal responses explaining and justifying the transfer of funds to the Charedi schools named in the petition.

Israeli High Court Freezes Billions In State Funds, Including Billion Allocated To Charedi Education

Anti-regime protests have erupted across the Iranian capital and southern provinces, with demonstrators openly chanting &#8220;Javid Shah&#8221; (Long live the Shah) in a defiant rejection of the Islamic Republic, as reports confirm the first protestor killings of the unrest.



According to local media and witness footage, Iranian security forces opened fire on demonstrators in the city of Fasa, Fars Province, killing two protesters. The violence marks a significant escalation in the government’s crackdown on a populace pushed to the breaking point by economic collapse due in part to Western sanctions that were placed on Iran for refusing to abandon its nuclear program.



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The protests, which began as scattered gatherings over the skyrocketing cost of living, have rapidly morphed into a political uprising. In Tehran, thousands flooded the streets, their chants of &#8220;Javid Shah&#8221; signaling a yearning for the pre-1979 monarchy and a total rejection of the current, terrorism-supporting religious leadership.



The unrest is fueled by an economy in freefall. Hyperinflation has rendered the official currency, the Rial, practically obsolete in daily commerce. Citizens have effectively abandoned the currency in favor of &#8220;tomans,&#8221; a colloquial unit now treated as the standard, with street exchange rates valuing one toman at approximately 10,000 rials.



With the government unable to access foreign reserves or export oil at pre-sanction levels, the financial burden has fallen entirely on the Iranian public. The state&#8217;s inability to provide basic services or stabilize the currency following the military defeat has stripped away the last vestiges of its legitimacy, driving the desperate population into the streets.

At Least 2 Killed by Police at Mass Protests Against Iranian Regime

Turkish security forces have detained hundreds of suspected Islamic State terrorists in sweeping nationwide operations following deadly clashes that left police officers and militants dead, authorities said Wednesday.



Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that police detained 357 suspects linked to the extremist group in coordinated raids across the country. The arrests followed an hours-long confrontation in the northwestern city of Yalova, where three police officers and six suspected Islamic State terrorists were killed during an eight-hour standoff.



In a post on X, Yerlikaya said the operations were carried out in coordination with chief public prosecutors’ offices, the national police counterterrorism department, intelligence units, and provincial police forces.



“This morning, in 21 provinces, we apprehended 357 suspected ISIS members in simultaneous operations conducted by our police,” he wrote.



“Just as we have never given opportunities to those trying to bring this homeland to its knees through terrorism up to this day, we will never give them opportunities in the future either!”



The confrontation in Yalova was part of a broader security operation launched Monday targeting more than 100 locations nationwide. The clash spilled into nearby streets, prompting authorities to close five schools in the area and shut off natural gas and electricity supplies as a precaution.



Officials said the latest operations followed intelligence indicating potential planned attacks during New Year celebrations. More than 100 suspected Islamic State members were detained last week in connection with those alleged plots.



Turkey has intensified its campaign against suspected Islamic State networks this year. The group was responsible for a wave of deadly attacks nearly a decade ago, including assaults on an Istanbul nightclub and the city’s main airport that killed dozens of people. Turkey had previously served as a key transit route for foreign fighters traveling to and from Syria, though attacks have significantly decreased since the violence peak between 2015 and 2017. Authorities have nonetheless continued regular operations against suspected cells.



The crackdown continued Wednesday, with Yerlikaya announcing additional arrests. According to a statement reported by AFP, security forces detained 125 more suspects in simultaneous raids across 25 provinces, including Istanbul, Ankara, and Yalova.



“We captured 125 Daesh suspects in simultaneous operations carried out in 25 provinces this morning,” Yerlikaya said, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS.



He shared video footage showing security forces raiding homes and detaining suspects, some with their hands cuffed behind their backs.



“Those who seek to harm our brotherhood, our unity, our togetherness… will only face the might of our state and the unity of our nation,” he wrote.



The minister said the latest arrests bring the total number of suspects detained in recent days to well over 480, underscoring Ankara’s determination to dismantle Islamic State networks operating within Turkey.

Turkey Detains Fresh Batch Of Islamic State Suspects, 375 Total, After Deadly Nationwide Clashes

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is preparing to appoint Manhattan district superintendent Kamar Samuels as New York City’s next schools chancellor, Belaaz has learned.



Samuels, who currently serves as superintendent of Manhattan’s District 3, is expected to assume leadership of the nation’s largest public school system on January 1, overseeing more than 900,000 students and approximately 135,000 employees.



United Jewish Teachers head Moshe Spern reacted positively to the expected appointment, calling Samuels a “really good choice” for the role.



“He is a well experienced superintendent and school leader. I am very hopeful he will be a partner in combatting antisemitism that is still happening in our public schools across the city,” Spern told Belaaz, adding that Samuels hosted a meeting with a Jewish principal last year which touched on Israel issues with a positive perspective.



The anticipated appointment comes as City Hall finalizes preparations for Mamdani’s public swearing-in ceremony. The selection was first reported by City &amp; State and the NY Post.



The race to lead the city’s school system ultimately narrowed to Samuels and current Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos, who has openly expressed interest in remaining in the role. However, sources said neither candidate was initially Mamdani’s top choice.



Instead, former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s schools chief, Meisha Porter, had been widely expected to secure the position. “She was this close,” one insider told the NY Post, adding, “[Porter] was not happy with Mamdani.”



Mamdani is scheduled to be sworn in as mayor on January 1, with Samuels expected to take office immediately afterward.

Unconfirmed Report from Palestinian News Agency Suggests Ceasefire Could Start Sunday

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