Breaking Report:
An Iranian plane heading to Syria was forced to turn back after the new Syrian regime denied it access to Syrian airspace.
“I don’t speak because I have the power to speak; I speak because I don’t have the power to remain silent.” Rav Kook z"l
An Iranian plane heading to Syria was forced to turn back after the new Syrian regime denied it access to Syrian airspace.
INSANE! Kamala campaign advisor Lindy Li quits the Democrat Party: I don’t want to be part of this tent anymore. I don’t want to be part of this craziness. I want to be part of the team that treats me with common decency.
— Bad Hombre (@joma_gc) December 21, 2024
Li says she’s been the target of a smear and cancel… pic.twitter.com/L2epKDCvWo
🚨Mark “White Rage” Milley lied about Joe Biden’s mental fitness a year ago in a 60 Minutes interview because he didn’t want President Trump to win the election. This was a massive cover-up:
— Steve Cortes (@CortesSteve) December 21, 2024
“I meet frequently with the President and every single time I meet with [Biden] — he’s… pic.twitter.com/FhvkqM1rZu
Hamas proudly posts propaganda videos showing they’re digging up water pipes in Gaza to use as rockets.
— Marina Medvin 🇺🇸 (@MarinaMedvin) December 20, 2024
At the same time, anti-Israel governments are blaming Israel for “genocide” through “dehydration.”
You can’t make this stuff up!pic.twitter.com/N2yTUiT5Bs
When they said “DC swamp creatures”, I thought it was just a metaphor 😳 https://t.co/9Qmn92BGkO https://t.co/w7e0Gp1trv
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 20, 2024
Over 480 police officers, soldiers and psychologists took part in the operation, during which computers, phones and other equipment were confiscated as potential evidence.
According to a source from the prosecution who spoke with local media, “Coordination was carried out with the Jewish community in Guatemala to ensure that the humanitarian needs of the affected children would be met, while ensuring their security and protection throughout the entire process.”
The raid was initiated after four children and teenagers, who are not Guatemalan residents, escaped the site last month and gave testimonies about abuse and human trafficking taking part in the sect. Authorities added that buried bodies were also found at the compound, some of which may belong to minors.
The rescue operation in the agricultural municipality of Oratorio, 78 kilometers (48.47 miles) southeast of Guatemala City, highlights ongoing concerns over the controversial practices of the Lev Tahor sect, which has faced similar allegations in the past.
“Based on the statements of the complainants, the evidence obtained, and the medical examinations, it was possible to establish that there are forms of human trafficking against these minors, such as forced marriage, abuse, and related crimes,” Nancy Paiz, a prosecutor at Guatemala’s Prosecutor’s Office Against Human Trafficking, said at a press conference.
The Lev Tahor community, founded in 1988 in Israel, practices an austere form of Judaism with interpretations of Jewish law that include long prayer sessions and arranged marriages for minors. The community has faced multiple allegations of kidnapping, child marriage and physical abuse since it was founded in the 1980s. Currently three of the leaders of the sect are serving lengthy prison sentences in the US for kidnapping and child exploitation.
The Jewish community of Guatemala said in a statement that the sect was foreign to its own organization and expressed support for Guatemalan authorities in carrying out necessary investigations “to protect the lives and integrity of minors and other vulnerable groups that may be at risk.”
It called on the “government and diplomatic corps of countries from whose nationalities make up members of Lev Tahor, to join forces to protect those whose rights may be violated.” The minors are now under the protection of the government and investigations remain underway.
On Sunday, a retired Mossad agent reveals how they engineered the pagers to explode.
Even by the horrifying standards of Middle East savagery, the mass grave discovered in Syria with 100,000-plus bodies stands out for its hideousness.
Indeed, the world hasn’t seen anything like it since the days of Hitler and Stalin.
And it’s just one of several such graves, courtesy of the country’s recently ousted barbaric strongman, Bashar al-Assad.
Since 2012, Assad is suspected of torturing and killing possibly hundreds of thousands of his own citizens and foes.
It’s a testament to his depravity, following in the footsteps of his father, Hafez al-Assad, who similarly slayed dissenters with abandon.
“We really haven’t seen anything quite like this since the Nazis,” marvels former US war crimes ambassador at large Stephen Rapp.
How’d Bashar Assad get away with it?
Simple: The world let him.
It closed its eyes to his evil, preferring to focus on pet targets like . . . Israel.
Those “enlightened” stooges setting up encampments on college campuses? They weren’t protesting Assad’s murder machine; they wanted to stop Israel.
Democrats like President Biden, Veep Kamala Harris and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez weren’t outraged by the long-running Assad death factory but by an imaginary “genocide” the Jewish state is supposedly waging against Palestinians.
No, it didn’t start with them: Who can forget President Barack Obama’s “red line,” threatening a US military response if Assad deployed chemical weapons against his enemies?
Yet when the Syrian Army fired missiles laced with sarin gas into neighborhoods controlled by the opposition, killing more than 1,400 civilians, Obama did . . . nothing.
Actually, he and then-Secretary of State John Kerry invited in Vladimir Putin — asking Russia to help “resolve” the crisis (well, end Obama’s embarrassment) by coming in and saying it had collected Syria’s chems.
Moscow had been pushed out of the Middle East decades before; now it became a key ally of Assad, and proceeded to back him mercilessly in the civil war, bombing civilians (especially hospitals) with abandon.
With nary a peep on US campuses, nor at the United Nations, International Criminal Court and so on.
Elsewhere in Syria, Ankara is even now masterminding a fresh assault on the Kurds — a completely stateless people who survive despite decades of oppression from the rulers not just of Turkey and Syria but also Iran, Iraq and even ISIS.
Meanwhile, the sadistic Kim family in North Korea is notorious for slaughtering and starving to death millions; terrorists and despots have offed hundreds of thousands more in Africa and Asia.
Still, the one nation sacrificing its soldiers to defeat Middle East savages — Israel — somehow winds up the one smeared in headlines by much of the left and at the UN and ICC as a “war criminal.”
Assad’s mass graves are a reminder not just of he evil that still walks the world, but of the perverse hypocrisy of all the supposed moralizers waxing furious about a “genocide” that doesn’t exist.
One block of President Street in Brooklyn will be renamed "Lubavitcher Rebbe Way."
City Council Member Crystal Hudson, who proposed the legislation, stated, “Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, known as the Lubavitcher Rebbe, was the seventh leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement and one of the most transformative figures in modern Jewish history."
“After escaping the Holocaust and arriving in the United States in 1941, the Rebbe’s leadership expanded Chabad-Lubavitch’s global reach, establishing countless institutions: kindergartens, schools, drug rehabilitation centers, care homes, and synagogues,” Hudson added. “His ability to meet people where they were—engaging them with warmth and heartfelt communication regardless of their background or status—set him apart."
Chabad Public Relations official Yaakov Berhman praised the move to honor the Rebbe, writing on X, "Today, the @NYCCouncil officially named President Street, located between Brooklyn and New York Avenues, as 'Lubavitcher Rebbe Way.' This is the block where the rebbe lived during his leadership and where his home remains as a sacred place of prayer and inspiration. I am honored to have delivered the invocation to open the city council session. Thank you, @CMCrystalHudson, for naming the street, for honoring me with the invocation, and for your tribute to the Rebbe."
Singer and composer Eliezer Botzer was killed in an accident while on reserve duty this morning (Friday) at the age of 43, his family announced. Botzer was married and a father of eight, and lived in Amuka.
In 2002, after completing his service in the IDF, Botzer was appointed a state security officer in the settlement of Yitzhar. He worked for security cooperation between the security forces and the settlers and even received a certificate of appreciation for his performance during the Second Intifada.
In 2013, his first album "Disruptions. Attention. Concentration" was released. In 2014, his second album, "Am Ha'aretz," was released. In 2021, he produced the song "Amaraya" with Indian singer Lucky Ali.
Just a few days ago, Botzer eulogized his friend and fellow musician Gilad Vital, saying, "I was privileged to take my first steps in recording songs with the late Gilad Vital. How much light and love you gave to everyone. It is unbelievable that you are no longer with us. A man of light, your songs and your uplifting image are engraved in our hearts forever. May your memory be blessed, dear friend."
Minister Amichai Eliyahu eulogized him: "My dear brother Eliezer Botzer returned his rich soul to the Creator tonight, as he was on his way back home from the reserves. He left me memories and talks about joy in serving God, carrying a wounded man up the steps of the Old City of Safed, meeting with navigators at the IDF commanders' course, melodies, art, hope and dreams."
He spoke about his last meeting with the singer. "On Wednesday, we met while he was in uniform and talked about the tourism potential that the heritage of the city of Safed has. I will miss my brother Eliezer. May your soul be bound in the bonds of life."
Botzer's friend, Rabbi Oded David, wrote: "With sorrow and astonishment I am forced to announce that my dear and beloved friend, singer and spiritual man Eliezer Botzer, has passed away suddenly. He was a man of great soul, who inspired faith in many."
Millions of Israelis evacuated early Saturday morning to bomb shelters, as sirens sounded in central Israel.
Sixteen people were lightly injured after the Houthi-launched ballistic missile exploded in Jaffa.
According to the IDF, "one projectile launched from Yemen was identified and unsuccessful interception attempts were made. A fallen projectile was identified in the area."
The IDF later confirmed that the projectile had fallen in Tel Aviv-Jaffa. The hit created a crater in a playground between two residential buildings.
"Several lightly injured individuals were evacuated to receive medical treatment, and Home Front Command teams are currently operating with the security forces in the scene," the IDF added.
Magen David Adom (MDA) reported that 16 people were lightly injured by broken glass and evacuated to Wolfson Medical Center in Holon and to Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv. Another 14 people were injured while running to shelter, and seven others suffered shock. Home Front Command teams, as well as police, MDA, and firefighters, arrived at the scene.
MDA paramedic Yosef Kurdi, who lives in the area, said, "I was at home and I heard a loud explosion. I immediately went to the scene and I heard significant blast hits in buildings near the scene of the strike. Large numbers of MDA teams quickly arrived. We immediately began to search the buildings and injured people began to arrive from their homes."
MDA paramedic Noam Weisboch and EMT Noa Shimoni said, "The scene was complex because the blast hits were in apartments in nearby buildings. At the beginning a number of people lightly injured from broken glass and suffering shock arrived. We searched apartments, treated [victims], and evacuated 16 lightly injured victims from the scene, including a girl of about three, and we also treated shock victims."
"Following an IAF and IDF Home Front Command initial inquiry regarding the incident of a fallen missile fired from Yemen early this morning (Saturday), the incident is still being thoroughly examined. Some of the conclusions have already been implemented regarding interceptions and alerts," a later IDF statement read.
"No further details regarding aerial defense activities and the alert system can be given due to information security considerations. We emphasize that aerial defense is not hermetic and the public must follow the Home Front Command instructions."
On Friday, Romanian low-cost airline Biz Airlines, which only started flying to Israel in August, will renew flights to Ben-Gurion International Airport after suspending them for several weeks, Israeli business site Globes reported.
Spanish carrier Air Europe and Hungarian airline Wizz Air will also restore flights (Wizz Air will start operating flights first only to Cyprus until mid-January, Globes reported).
Polish airline Lot and Air Baltic will renew Israel flights at the end of this week. Bulgaria Air will again fly to Israel at the start of next week.
Air France announced on Monday that its suspension of Israel flights will remain in effect until Jan. 9. It made its decision after Ben-Gurion Airport sirens warned of an incoming missile from Yemen.
According to Israel Hayom, United Airlines has canceled flights to Israel until further notice, and British Airways and Delta Airlines won’t fly to Israel until the end of March.
American Airlines has canceled flights until March. It has also taken down from its site all flights to and from Israel until the end of the summer of 2025.
The Fontainebleau Miami Beach has filed a lawsuit against celebrity Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, accusing him of defamation and extortion. The hotel claims Boteach used AI-generated videos and inflammatory social media posts to falsely accuse it of antisemitism, comparing staff to Nazi collaborators.
The dispute began with a lobby altercation two years ago, after which Boteach allegedly demanded compensation and lifetime hotel perks to avoid launching a public smear campaign. More recently, he claimed the hotel obstructed a police investigation into antisemitic remarks directed at him.
The lawsuit alleges Boteach demanded $1 million for his charity, World Values Network, in exchange for ending his public attacks. Boteach denies wrongdoing, calling it a “David and Goliath battle.”
An exclusive report from the Daily Mail reveals growing tensions within the Democratic Party as the Bidens prepare to leave the White House.
Leading the charge is First Lady Jill Biden, who reportedly harbors deep resentment toward several prominent figures, including the Obamas, White House staffers, and the national media. However, the most significant target appears to be former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
According to insiders, Jill Biden is said to be encouraging President Joe Biden to retaliate against those she perceives as having undermined them. “Jill views Capitol Hill Democrats, the wider party, and even the Obamas with such resentment that it seems she’s urging Joe to burn bridges, despite his better judgment,” a source told the Daily Mail.
The rift with Pelosi reportedly stems from her role in pressuring Biden to step aside in the 2024 presidential race. The Bidens have not spoken to Pelosi in months, effectively ending a decades-long friendship. At the recent Kennedy Center Honors, Pelosi and her husband, once frequent guests of the presidential box, were notably seated far from the Bidens.
The animosity extends beyond Pelosi. Vice President Kamala Harris was also reportedly snubbed at the event, further highlighting tensions within the administration. Democratic donor and attorney John Morgan suggested Biden’s decision to elevate Harris may have been an act of defiance against internal critics, including Pelosi and Barack Obama.
“Biden faced a palace coup from multiple directions,” Morgan told the Daily Mail. “Pelosi wanted a nomination process, and Obama delayed endorsing Harris for days. It’s clear Biden pushed back against them in his own way.”
As the Bidens’ departure approaches, speculation grows about whether they will air grievances and expose internal party divisions. Critics suggest this could destabilize the Democratic Party, adding fuel to an already tumultuous political landscape
The dramatic fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad, ousted by rebel forces on December 8, has taken a startling turn with allegations that Assad handed over classified military intelligence to Israel before fleeing the country.
According to a report published by the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet and echoed by global outlets, including Britain’s Daily Mail, Assad shared sensitive information about Syria’s military assets in exchange for a safe escape route, according to a report on Ynet News.
Per Hurriyet, the information provided by Assad included detailed maps of weapons stockpiles, missile launchers, and military hangars across Syria. The Ynet News report emphasized that the precision of Israel’s subsequent airstrikes on Syrian military infrastructure strongly suggests the data was both comprehensive and accurate. The Hurriyet report claimed that Israel guaranteed Assad a secure passage in return for this intelligence, a deal that underscores the fraught and complex dynamics of the Syrian civil war and its regional players.
Ynet News noted Turkish commentator Abdulkadir Selvi’s account, which added crucial context to the unfolding story. Selvi reported that Assad fled Damascus on the morning of December 8, escaping to Moscow via the Russian-operated Khmeimim Air Base. The evacuation was reportedly coordinated by Russia, after attempts to secure asylum in Iran and the UAE failed. According to Ynet News, Selvi claimed Assad had initially sought refuge in Tehran, but Iran refused him, and subsequent negotiations with the UAE also proved fruitless, leaving Russia as Assad’s last resort.
On December 7, as rebel forces closed in on Damascus, a critical summit was convened in Doha, according to Ynet News’ coverage of Selvi’s account. The meeting involved Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Selvi quoted Fidan as saying, “We met with the Russians and the Iranians in Doha and discussed a few topics. I prefer not to say more.” The Ynet News report highlighted this cryptic remark as indicative of the sensitive negotiations surrounding Assad’s fate.
Ynet News also detailed Selvi’s assertion that Assad’s decision to provide Israel with classified military intelligence was driven by a pressing need to secure his own safety. Selvi stated that Assad handed over these documents with precise coordinates of Syrian military assets, ensuring that Israeli strikes would avoid targeting his escape route. “Judging by the precision of Israel’s strikes on Syrian military assets following Assad’s fall, it seems Israel received highly accurate information,” Selvi wrote, as reported by Ynet News.
The implications of these developments are profound. If true, Assad’s alleged deal with Israel marks a stark reversal of his long-standing adversarial stance against the country. The Ynet News report placed an emphasis on how this episode could reshape perceptions of Assad’s legacy, illustrating the lengths to which embattled leaders may go to ensure their survival.
The fallout from these revelations could ripple across the region, affecting not only Syria’s future but also the broader geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East.
Fifty Knesset members and ministers signed a letter to President Isaac Herzog asking him to grant pardon to Eli Feldstein and the reservist, Sgt. A., the defendants in the case of the leaked classified documents from the Prime Minister’s Office.
The letter states: “The current reality in Israeli society necessitates extra caution. The intensive and exceptional investigation that the defendants underwent, alongside the ongoing legal proceedings against them poses a real threat to social cohesion at this critical time for the State of Israel. Moreover, the continuation of the proceedings could undermine public trust in the Shin Bet as a state body above all political disputes.”
Earlier, additional Knesset members, including the chairman of the UTJ party chairman, Housing Minister Yitzchak Goldknopf, Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli, and other Knesset members, sent a request to Herzog to respond to the pardon request submitted by A.
Goldknopf wrote: “As a minister in the Israeli government and as one entrusted with the welfare of the citizens of the State of Israel, I request your intervention on this matter. The sergeant, a dedicated officer to the state and the IDF, served his people loyally. Even if he erred in his conduct, he acted out of a genuine desire to do good and certainly did not intend to harm state security. It is known to the President that the sergeant’s mental and physical condition is deteriorating day by day.”
“I ask you to advance his release by granting a pardon while maintaining the necessary balances between security needs and IDF values against humanitarian principles. I sincerely hope that my request to visit the sergeant in detention will become unnecessary as I trust the President will act to secure his immediate release.”
Chikli and MKs Moshe Saada and Dan Illouz are collecting signatures from ministers and Knesset members on a letter of support for the president, stating, “A. has never acted with the intention of harming state security but rather the opposite. The conduct of the State Prosecution and law enforcement system raises feelings of severe injustice, damaging public trust in the law enforcement system.”
Earlier, Shas chairman Aryeh Deri spoke with Herzog and requested a response to Sergeant A.’s request for a pardon. Deri said: “This is a normal soldier who made a mistake and acknowledges it. He poses no danger to the public in any way, and we must put an end to his suffering and prolonged detention.”
The President’s Office stated: “The pardon request of Sgt. A. has been received at the President’s Residence, and an investigation into the matter has begun. It should be emphasized and clarified – the President of the State has full trust in the judicial system – and the request will be examined and evaluated like all requests submitted to the President’s Office.”
(DIN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Renowned Daf Yomi Maggid Shiur Rabbi Eli Stefansky held a massive event in Boro Park on Wednesday night, where he started Mesechta Sanhedrin.
Reb Eli’s “Mercaz Daf Yomi” organization has a staggering 19,000 people doing the Daf with his Shiur each day.