Trump-Netanyahu Meeting Yields Little Progress on Trade Dispute

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s second meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump this year, while warmly staged, appears to have fallen short of delivering concrete results especially on the pressing issue of trade tariffs.

Following their first encounter in February, members of Netanyahu’s coalition loudly celebrated the meeting’s success. This time, however, there was near-total silence. The lack of public praise is telling, particularly in an Israeli political climate where positive spin is rarely withheld.

One of the major disappointments came in the form of Trump’s refusal to reverse the newly imposed 17% tariffs on Israeli goods. When pressed on the issue, Trump casually replied, “Maybe yes, maybe no.” With Netanyahu sitting beside him, the Israeli leader was left to meekly point out that Israel does not impose tariffs on the United States a comment that, while factual, underscores Israel’s one-sided vulnerability in the new trade dynamic.

This raises broader concerns about the future of Israeli-American economic ties. Netanyahu has suggested that the trade imbalance where Israel exports more than it imports from the U.S. will somehow be corrected. But he has not clarified how this will happen. Will Israeli exports shrink, or will U.S. goods be pushed into the Israeli market? Businesses and economic leaders in Israel remain in the dark.

Equally disconcerting to many Israelis was Trump’s public announcement that he intends to open direct negotiations with Iran. This marks a dramatic pivot for a president who, during his first term, exited the Iran nuclear deal at Netanyahu’s urging. Now, Trump is proposing a new engagement strategy an ironic reversal of roles that must be unsettling for a prime minister who has spent years warning the world about Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

To be sure, the Trump-Netanyahu meeting wasn’t entirely without value. Trump reaffirmed his support for Israel’s right to self-defense in Gaza and issued a stern warning to Iran. Yet these gestures were largely symbolic. They may boost morale, but they do little to address Israel’s growing economic concerns or to contain Iran’s regional aggression in a meaningful way.

In the end, the meeting produced more headlines than substance. While Netanyahu sought strategic reassurance and economic relief, he left Washington without either. For Israeli leaders and citizens alike, it’s a sobering reminder that even close friendships in politics can carry sharp limits.

Beit Shemesh Rabbis Done with "Sheitlach" Now Rule: Don’t Flush Chametz Down The Toilet

Prior to Pesach, which begins on Saturday night, the rabbis of Beit Shemesh published a special public notice (“Kol Koreh”) with specific instructions for the disposal of chametz (leavened products), emphasizing a prohibition against discarding chametz via the toilet.

DIN: There is no such "prohibition"; they made it up! It's a common-sense issue! I see signs in the toilets on an airplane and in malls that one shouldn't flush down anything except toilet paper, and no rabbi ever signed beneath those signs! 

The notice, signed by Rabbi Natan Kupshitz—chief rabbi of the Haredi quarter in Beit Shemesh and a judge on the Badatz of the Edah HaChareidis—along with about 30 other rabbis from the city, states that the prohibition applies to flushing chametz down the toilet “whether on its own, and all the more so if wrapped in plastic or placed in a container.”

DIN: its erev Pesach and everyone I see on the street has no time to talk to each other, yet these rabbis got together to discuss this? When was this "asifa?" was this on zoom? Wasn't there one single rebbitzen screaming at their husband " stop with the shutsim, go unpack the Pesach stuff"

Because Passover Eve this year falls on Shabbat, it requires special preparations for the removal of chametz. Many people have been accustomed to disposing of chametz on Shabbat by flushing it, but the rabbis are now ruling that this is not permissible.

DIN: Are they ruling? For whom are they "ruling" this? Every sane person knows not to flush down stuff that can clog the plumbing! Apparently, the Yeshiva Leit are so naive and dumb that they need a ruling to "prohibit" something that makes common sense! 

This letter comes in response to a request from Rabbi Meir Shechter, a member of the city council and the supervisor of the municipal water corporation “Mei Shemesh.” He reported that in previous years with the same calendar setup, incidents occurred where flushing chametz caused clogs, pipe bursts, and even flooding that led to chametz resurfacing in people’s homes during the holiday.

DIN: My premonition is correct, they are addressing the Yeshiva Leit who are so far-frumt or should I say far-krumpt, that they have no problem flushing down plastic bags with chumetz! And this krum thinking comes from not working for a living! Someone who works for a living and knows how difficult it is to support a family knows not to clog his pipes, because they don't need an extra expense! 

The rabbis stress that this is not only a technical or infrastructure concern, but also poses significant halachic (Jewish legal) problems.

“There have been several cases where, due to clogged pipes, chametz surfaced in other people’s homes, causing both damage and halachic stumbling blocks. This falls under the category of a ‘mitzvah achieved through a transgression,’ which is forbidden.”

DIN: "halachic stumbling blocks?????" What???? "Significant halachic problems????".......I am asking in all seriousness... would anyone in their right mind eat their neighbor's chumetz that came up through his pipe? What "halachic problems other than having a mess is there? I cannot for a second believe any of the signed rabbanim even know about this. This must be a sick prank!! 

As an alternative, the rabbis recommend a different solution:
“Therefore, in a year like this, leftover pieces of chametz should be thrown into a public garbage bin such as one on the street or sidewalk [where there is an eruv], and it must be done before the deadline for chametz burning.”

The city’s rabbis, representing all community sectors, add that this solution is fully acceptable, stating:
“The municipality does not intend to take possession of what is in the public bins and will officially renounce ownership of all public garbage bins before Shabbat.”

According to some poskim one must include the garbage can in one’s Mechiras Chametz and also put bleach on the chametz one throws into the garbage to render it unfit for consumption.

The Beit Shemesh rabbis also instructed that the traditional burning of chametz must be done on Friday morning, as early as possible, as in other years—not in the later hours of the day.

Song of Sanhedrin

 

Hamas Lies about Casualty Count Exposed and the Media and Hamas Agrees!

 Hamas’s release of their latest fatality list has validated every page of our @HJS_Org report into previous lists. Recent revelations reinforce and prove our earlier findings.

- Thousands of errors, showing that the numbers parroted by world media for 18 months were totally unreliable.

- Demographic data showing the majority by proportion are fighting age male deaths.

- Inclusion of natural deaths.

- Concealment of combatant deaths.

We have been proved right about absolutely everything.

Deeply telling that all criticism has been nothing but personal attacks. Nobody has landed a punch on this work, because they’re simply Hamas’s own numbers and words, nothing else. We just exposed them and did the work the world’s media should have done.

Very proud to have worked on this with Salo Aizenberg, Elliot Malin, Mark Zlochin and others.

The report has had over 300m social media impressions, media coverage in 20+ countries and has been briefed to lawmakers in Washington, Israel, Paris and Westminster.

You can read it here: henryjacksonsociety.org…

Its Bein Hazmanim and the Ones Protecting Us Are Out in Full Force to Protest!

 

Rabbi YY Jacobson on Why Frum Jews Must Vote in WZO Elections

 

We are facing a critical moment:

*Progressives are trying to take over* the World Zionist Congress.
If they succeed, they’ll use that power to fund movements that oppose Torah, Jewish identity, and tradition.

DIN: I truly believe that Rabbi Feldman and Rav Malkiel Kotler and his gang of 4, who are vehemently against voting, are secretly wishing that the Progressives take over and that they destroy Torah, Jewish identity, and tradition in Israel! 

They want Frum Jews to remain in Chutz Le'aaretz!! Their hatred towards the only Jewish State, a home for close to 8 million Jews, makes no sense, just like the hatred that Arabs have against the State makes no sense!  They are deliberately sabotaging Israel at the expense of Frum Jews! 

That's why The Lakewood gang of 4 had thousands of Koill Guys slam their Gemarras Shut so they could attend an Asifa against the WZO vote, but turned into a Hate-Fest against the State of Israel. Their featured Speaker was R' Aaron Feldman a hater of the State!  That's why last week Thursday they had another Asifa for Lakewood Avreichim and Bocrim and shlepped in an accused Sexual Pervert and vile, vicious hater of Israel, R' Schapiro, who wrote a Nazi-Like Book called "The Empty Wagon," a book similar to Mein Kampf! 

Just like the Meraglim, that were the Torah Leaders of their time, wanted to stay in the Midbar and not enter Eretz Yisrael, the modern-day Meraglim are no different and want to enrich their own Moisdois in Chutz Le'aaretz

They are עתיד ליתן דין וחשבון 

Now We Know How Hezbollah Was DESTROYED With a Pager

 

Trump: I don't understand why Israel gave up Gaza

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US President Donald Trump on Monday evening. The American president received Netanyahu warmly upon his arrival at the White House.

The two were expected to discuss the hostage deal, Iran, and the tariffs imposed last week on Israeli imports. Netanyahu arrived in the US directly from his state visit to Hungary - during which he spoke with the US president.

Before the meeting, the two leaders spoke to the press in the Oval Office. "I want to thank you for inviting me again to the White House. You've been a remarkable friend to the State of Israel. You stand by us, you are a great champion of our alliance. You actually do things that you say you would, and people respect that enormously," Netanyahu told Trump.

Regarding the meeting, Netanyahu summed up: "We had the opportunity to talk about many subjects. First if I can mention tariffs. I said to the President a very simple thing: We will eliminate the trade deficit with the US. We intend to do it very quickly, we think it's the right thing to do and we're going to also eliminate trade barriers. I think Israel can serve as a model for countries that ought to do the same." Netanyahu noted that he recognizes the US's position on imposing tariffs on countries that have tariffs on US imports.

Netanyahu also noted that he and the President discussed the hostages as well as the elimination of Hamas in Gaza and enabling the people of Gaza to leave.

Israel was not informed of direct negotiations with Iran

A diplomatic source admitted this morning (Tuesday) that Prime Minister Netanyahu did not receive prior updates on the move announced by President Trump - the initiation of direct talks with Iran regarding its nuclear program.

The source noted that while the possibility that Trump would renew contacts with Iran was considered, it was evident from the joint press conference of the US President and the Prime Minister that Netanyahu did not know in advance about the move and was surprised by the statement.

He added that the fact that the Prime Minister was informed about the negotiations and that the USA has pledged to report to Israel on any developments that arise from them is very positive.

The source believes the talks will be noticeably different from those held under the Obama administration. The source claimed that these negotiations are imposed on Iran by American shows of force and sanctions, aligning with the Israeli insistence that America only negotiate through demonstrations of power.

President Trump announced that the US will start direct talks with Iran regarding its nuclear program this coming Saturday during his recent press conference with Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Netanyahu emphasized that the negotiations should lead to a situation where Iran has no way to obtain nuclear weapons.

Iran on Monday responded to US President Donald Trump’s announcement, made during a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, that the US and Iran would hold direct talks on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.

The Islamic Republic said the comments are "a planned psychological move designed to influence local and global public opinion", according to the Reuters news agency.

Meanwhile, three Iranian officials with knowledge of plans for talks with the United States told The New York Times that Iran’s understanding of the talks was somewhat different from what President Trump described to reporters in the Oval Office.

According to the Iranian officials, representatives from Tehran and Washington plan to meet in Oman on Saturday for indirect talks, where representatives from each country would sit in separate rooms and Omani diplomats would carry messages back and forth.

The Iranian officials told The New York Times that Iran would be open to direct talks with the United States if the indirect negotiations went well.

16 Evacuation Flights For Gazans Have Already Departed

 

Interior Minister Moshe Arbel on Monday stated that the initiative to evacuate civilians from the Gaza Strip is ongoing and 16 evacuation flights have already departed from Israel’s Ramon Airport.

“Over 16 flights have already departed from Ramon Airport – this will increase in the near future,” Arabel said at a conference.

Last month, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu ordered the Mossad to locate countries willing to accept large numbers of Gazan residents.

Israel has already begun discussions on the initiative with several countries, including Indonesia, Somalia, and South Sudan.