Queen Elizabeth believed Israelis were "terrorists"

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin told attendees of a Technion gala event in London that the relationship between Israel and the late Queen Elizabeth II was “difficult.”

“The relationship between us and Queen Elizabeth was a little bit difficult because she believed that every one of us was either a terrorist or a son of a terrorist,” Rivlin said at the gala according to British Jewish News.

“She refused to accept any Israeli official into [Buckingham] Palace, apart from international occasions,” Rivlin added.

However, Rivlin said that King Charles III was always “So friendly” to Israeli officials.

Although Queen Elizabeth had cordial ties with Jewish leaders and Israeli ministers, she never visited Israel in her lifetime.

By contrast, when he was King Charles was Prince of Wales, he made unofficial visits to Israel in 1995 and 2016 to attend the funerals of Yitzchak Rabin and Simon Peres respectively.

He made his first official visit to Israel in 2020 when he represented the United Kingdom in the World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem.

In 2009, British historian Andrew Roberts said the Queen’s unofficial policy of boycotting Israel is a result of “Arabists” within the UK’s Foreign Office:

“The true reason, of course, is that the FO [Foreign Office] has a ban on official royal visits to Israel, which is even more powerful for its being unwritten and unacknowledged.”

“As an act of delegitimization of Israel, this effective boycott is quite as serious as other similar acts, such as the academic boycott, and is the direct fault of the FO Arabists,” Roberts added.

In 2018, Prince William, the Queen’s grandson and future heir to the throne, broke with tradition by becoming the first British royal to visit Israel on an official trip. During his tour of Israel and Jordan, he also met with representatives from the Palestinian Authority.

He also paid his respects at the Jerusalem tomb of his grandmother, Princess Alice, who is honored as one of the Righteous Among the Nations for sheltering Jews during the Holocaust.

She was buried at the Russian Orthodox Church of St. Mary Magdalene, located just outside the Old City.

 

Biden has only uttered 7 Words in Two weeks, and the Press Won't Even Tell Us What Those Words Were

   

DIN's Back !

I had a "shtikal" emergency and was rushed to the hospital Moitzei Shabbos! 

Alls well that ends well! 

The RBS"O gave me life and I'm grateful! 

I have a lot of good stuff coming up and I missed you guys! 

The world collapsed in between and that's why the world needs DIN! I see they cannot function without me! 

As long as the RBS"O gives me life and health. I'll keep you guys informed and entertained! 

DIN Will resume in a day or so .......sorry

Rebels seen touring the palace of the Governor of Hama.

 

Look how the Arabs live! This a palace for a governor! Crazy!

Syrian Rebels Release Footage of Prisoners Freed from Hama Central Prison

The emotional moment was captured as the cameraman was moved to tears. 

One of the freed prisoners exclaimed, "May Allah burn Assad's heart."

“J Street” has moved outside the pale

 

What kind of Jew would go to non-Jewish legislators and lobby them to embargo arms intended for Israel?

We don’t do excommunications anymore. There are many reasons, many obvious. And sometimes we do not have to because the subjects excommunicate themselves.

“J Street” is a self-excluding entity of Jew haters: Not that they hate all Jews. They have room for George Soros and Bernie Sanders. They proudly take the lead in sabotaging the one and only country of the Jews. Enough to set themselves outside the machaneh, the “camp,” of Klal Yisrael (the Community of Israel). And they have room for unabashed Israel-haters. Two years ago, they circulated a petition stating that Ilhan Omar is not anti-Semitic . . . and not even anti-Israel.

Let us be clear. All because a Jew thinks diametrically differently from you or from the majority does not separate that Jew from the Community of Israel. But there are those who truly are outside the pale. They have been there throughout Jewish history: the Kamenevs, Zionovievs, Radeks, and Trotskys. They come in different times and in different forms and shapes. In our day, they include forms like “IfNotNow,” “Jewish Voice for Peace,” and Jews in “Students for Justice in Palestine.”

But “J Street” occupies a unique place. In This World (Olam HaZeh), it devolves on us to exclude them, to maintain our distance, just as Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses Our Teacher) warned Jews of his time to maintain their distance from Korach and his assemblage.

The thing is, Korach was a tzaddik, a righteous Jew, when compared to “J Street.” He had been at Mt. Sinai and believed in G-d. He fulfilled mitzvot, observed the Shabbat and kashrut laws. His tragedy was his pursuit of personal prestige that defied the order of life that G-d had set forth. He brought tragedy on himself and on his followers. But he did not really aim to bring tragedy on Klal Yisrael, the greater Community of Israel. By contrast, “J Street” would, if they ever were to actualize their efforts.

IDF eliminate terrorist who commanded Nahal Oz massacre

The IDF and ISA eliminated the terrorist who commanded the October 7th massacre in Nahal Oz, a joint announcement indicated.

Over the past week, in joint IDF and ISA operations, the IAF struck and eliminated several senior terrorists from Hamas' Shati Battalion.

Majdi Aqilan, the deputy commander of the Hamas Shati Battalion and a company commander, was eliminated. He had been one of the commanders of the Nahal Oz massacre on October 7th and was responsible for terrorist activities against IDF troops in northern and central Gaza.

Mamdouh Mehna, a senior member of the tunneling unit in Hamas' Gaza division who had infiltrated Nahal Oz on October 7th, was eliminated as well. Mehna had directed the planning and construction of Hamas tunnels, as well as underground training for operatives.

Ahmad Suwaidan, a company commander in the Shati Battalion, was also eliminated. Suwaidan had been involved in abducting Israeli civilians into the Gaza Strip on October 7th.

The senior leadership in Hamas' Shati Battalion and Gaza Division had been actively involved in carrying out terror activities against IDF forces and Israeli civilians.

The IDF and ISA will continue to target anyone who took part in terror activities against Israeli civilians.

Senator Tom Cotton Introduces Bill to Rename “West Bank” as “Judea and Samaria” in U.S. Documents

 Senator Tom Cotton (R-AK) introduced legislation on Thursday aimed at requiring all official U.S. documents and materials to use the term “Judea and Samaria” instead of the commonly used “West Bank.” The bill, titled the Retiring the Egregious Confusion Over the Genuine Name of Israel’s Zone of Influence by Necessitating Government-use of Judea and Samaria (RECOGNIZING Judea and Samaria) Act, seeks to adopt historically and culturally accurate terminology for the region.

“The Jewish people’s legal and historic rights to Judea and Samaria go back thousands of years,” Cotton said. “The U.S. should stop using the politically charged term ‘West Bank’ to refer to the biblical heartland of Israel.”

The legislation was co-introduced in the House by Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (R-NY), who stressed the importance of aligning U.S. policy with Israel’s sovereignty over the area. “This bill reaffirms Israel’s rightful claim to its territory,” Tenney said. “At this critical moment, the United States must stand firmly with Israel and its undeniable connection to Judea and Samaria.”

The proposal underscores growing debates over language in U.S. policy regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with supporters arguing it strengthens ties with Israel, while critics view it as undermining potential peace efforts.

Hezbollah Planned an "Oct 7" To Raid Tiveria, Nahariya; Massacre & Abduct Civilians

 The Hezbollah terror group planned an Oct. 7-Hamas style invasion into Israel’s north, Fox News Digital reported after obtaining and viewing shocking new video footage and documents.

“Hezbollah has been planning their own 10/7,” an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intelligence official told Fox News Digital.

“The plan has been effectively eliminated. We dismantled the high-level command of Radwan,” the IDF official said about Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force.

Fox News Digital viewed a video of the interrogation of a Radwan terrorist who was captured by the IDF in the south Lebanese village of Aita al-Shaab and revealed the group’s chilling plan to “Conquer the Galil” and massacre Israelis.

The terrorist said that Hezbollah’s war goal was to “Occupy the Galil.”

“They said they want to enter (Israel), they want to break through. The Rawdan forces are essentially on the frontline, to gather information and (build) invasion tunnels,” he said.

He explained further: “Gathering information about the settlements, positions, the quantity of weapons and tanks, using intelligence equipment. The entry into Israel was planned for the morning. They wanted to execute the operation, starting with a very strong attack – thousands of rockets, Burkan missiles, everything… War plans, essentially.”

When asked about Radwan’s approach to Israeli civilians, he said: “Those they encounter, we’ll fight. Face to face, us and them, and those who want to surrender can do just that, just like I did, then I came here. Same thing. We take those who surrender as prisoners, take them and bring them (into Lebanon).”

For the Israeli civilians who refuse to surrender, the Rawdan terrorist said one word about their fate: “Kill.”

According to the report, the Galil was in the crosshairs of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah for over a decade.

“Nasrallah’s 2011 plan to conquer the Galil was massive,” said the IDF intelligence official.

The IDF found a document in Kfar Blida, Lebanon, which is only four kilometers from Kibbutz Yifatach in Israel, outlining the plans behind Nasrallah’s scorched earth policy for towns and cities in the Galil.

The document describes “raids on Kiryat Shmona, Nahariya and Tiveria.”

“Company 1143 will provide air defense to secure the operational area and prevent enemy aircraft from disrupting the maneuvering forces, with the goal of capturing Kiryat Shmona,” wrote, Mihrab, the Hezbollah operative and author of the document.

A section of the war plan notes that “…the entire battalion will prepare to continue the offensive toward the city of Nahariya.”

The IDF intelligence official stressed to Fox News Digital: “It is a constant motif of Hezbollah to conquer the Galil.”

He added about Hezbollah, “We destroyed their infrastructure and set them back a few decades. This plan [Conquer the Galil] can never be allowed to become practical again.”

Senior Iranian Official Warns Arabs About Israel’s Power

 

A video of an Iranian official warning about the military power of the IDF went viral, especially because the speaker, Madhi Afraaz, is a senior official at the Khomeini Policy Institute and is affiliated with the Iranian regime.

His remarks spurred heated reactions on social media.

“Our friends think that military action against Israel is a PlayStation game,” Afraaz began. “You have to understand that the military power of Israel is the military power of the West – it’s not a joke at all.”

“Last year, one of our friends in Hezbollah told us: ‘You Iranians are ignorant about the power of Israel and you make a joke of it. And you see how Israel eliminates Hezbollah members before they even grasp what’s going on. Israel announces if the elimination was successful or not.”

“The F-35 is something important in today’s world, it’s very important. Now Israel, in order to attack the Persian Gulf Star [Iran’s newest and most important oil refinery], which is one of its foremost targets [that if attacked, 70% of Iran’s gas stations will be out of use], Israel wouldn’t even need to enter Iran’s airspace. It could launch the bomb from the base in Bahrain and the bomb could fly 300 kilometers. That’s how Israel could directly attack Iran if we didn’t have air defense systems.”

“We shouldn’t delude ourselves. Even when our inferior forces are so brazen and decide to attack Israel, it’s considered as ‘throwing your burden on G-d.'”

“Tonight, our friends who are now in Syria called us. They told us that the displaced refugees [from Lebanon], the Shi’ites, those who support Hezbollah – who are now in hotels in Damascus – are cursing everyone – first of all Iran, and also others. Because their life, everything they had was destroyed.”

5 Israelis From Tzfas Killed In Car Accident In Morroco

 A terrible tragedy occurred on Friday morning in Morocco: five Israelis were killed in a serious car accident.

The niftarim were part of a group on a visit to the country to daven at the kevarim of tzaddikim.

Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is involved and ZAKA is also working to bring the niftarim back to Israel as soon as possible.

ZAKA reported that this morning, around 10:00 a.m., a report was received at its national headquarters regarding a fatal car accident near the city of Ouarzazate, Morocco, involving a vehicle with five Israelis who apparently lost control and overturned. All the passengers in the vehicle were killed as a result of the force of the accident.

Chaim Wingenberg, Deputy Director of ZAKA said: “From the moment we received the report about this serious incident, we are working with the international unit and the authorities in Morocco to expedite the process of releasing and identifying the bodies, and also to assist the families in any way possible to bring them to burial.”

The mayor of Tzfas, Yossi Kakon, published a special statement following the horrifying accident: “With heavy sorrow, I learned about the serious car accident that occurred last night in Morocco, involving several residents of Tzfas. From the moment I received the news, I have been in continuous contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the official bodies handling the incident and receiving ongoing updates on the situation.”

He added, “I and senior city officials, together with professionals, are at the command center dealing with the event. As needed, I have instructed all city departments, primarily the welfare department, to prepare to provide immediate responses and full support to the precious families. City teams are on full alert and will provide any necessary assistance.”

Kakon pleaded: “We ask in every possible way not to publish names or identifying details – the families have not yet been notified about the status of their loved ones.”

Israel headed to civil war if court ousts Netanyahu

 An Israeli government minister and member of the ruling Likud party warned Wednesday that any attempt by the judiciary to force Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu out of office, including any attempt to declare him incapable of fulfilling his duties as premier, would likely spark violence and possibly even lead to an Israeli civil war.

Speaking with Galei Yisrael radio on Wednesday, Regional Cooperation Minister David Amsalem ruled out the possibility of the Supreme Court ousting Netanyahu, saying that public outrage would be overpowering should the judiciary attempt to declare the prime minister unfit to serve.

“That won’t happen, we won’t let it happen,” said Amsalem. “I suppose we can make the judges stay clear of such a place and we can do other things so that the public will act spontaneously.”

However, should the court attempt to force the issue, Amsalem continued, popular resistance to the move would likely turn violent.

“In my opinion, that already would be a coup d’etat par excellence, and it would lead to a civil war.”

When asked whether he would back the use of armed force by citizens in such a situation, Amsalem responded: “No, not with guns. That would lead to physical confrontations between citizens. Not with guns. That could escalate to that at some later stage.”

Amsalem advocated for civil disobedience and protests, should the courts attempt to force Netanyahu out of office.

“It’s possible also to do other things, like preventing judges from entering their chambers; people could come and barricade the entrance. You can always escalate to the next stage, and then the next stage after that.”

By World Israel News Staff

Biden White House mulls pre-emptive pardons for Anthony Fauci, Adam Schiff and Liz Cheney

 

President Biden’s top aides are reportedly weighing the idea of issuing pre-emptive pardons to current and former government officials ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration next month. 

Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), Sen.-elect Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Dr. Anthony Fauci are among those being discussed as potentially needing a pardon before Trump takes office, according to Politico. 

Fauci has been accused by Republicans and watchdog groups of lying to Congress about the origins of COVID-19 and his use of a private email account to do government business. 

Cheney, an outspoken critic of the president-elect, was a leading figure in the House of Representative’s investigation into Trump’s role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol Building. 

Schiff, a congressman elected to the US Senate last month, has long peddled accusations about the Trump campaign’s alleged collusion with Russia during the 2016 election cycle.

The pardon discussions have been spearheaded by White House counsel Ed Siskel and have involved other top West Wing officials, including chief of staff Jeff Zients, but Biden, 82, has not yet been involved in the deliberations, the outlet reported on Wednesday. 

One of the concerns being weighed is whether doling out blanket pardons to people who haven’t been charged with a crime would suggest impropriety. 

White House officials are also aware that those being offered pre-emptive pardons may reject them.

The discussions were sparked after the White House was lobbied by congressional Democrats, according to Politico, and stem from fears that Trump, 78, will launch criminal investigations into his political enemies that could result in indictments when he assumes office. 

On the campaign trail, however, Trump downplayed having any interest in retribution. 

“The country doesn’t want that,” he told Fox News host Sean Hannity in June, referring to potential indictments against Biden after he leaves office. 

Trump also noted in several public appearances that he opposed prosecuting his 2016 Democratic rival Hillary Clinton during his term of office, despite his supporters clamoring for him to “lock her up.”

The president-elect, who regularly denounces what he calls the “weaponization” of the Justice Department under the Biden-Harris administration, even suggested on the campaign trail that he would be open to pardoning the president’s son, Hunter.

Hunter, 54, received a blanket pardon from his father on Sunday, absolving him of offenses committed between Jan. 1, 2014, and Dec. 1, 2024, including any crimes for which he has not been charged.

The pardon came after repeated declarations by the White House and the president that Hunter would not be receiving one. 

The first son pleaded guilty in September to nine criminal counts related to $1.4 million in unpaid taxes and was found guilty of three federal gun charges in June after he was charged with possession of a firearm while addicted to illegal drugs.

The president claims he issued the pardon because Hunter was “treated differently” by his own Justice Department.  

The White House did not respond to The Post’s request for comment. 

By Victor Nava

First Charedi Air Force ground technical crew formed

The graduation ceremony for haredi soldiers certified as first-level technicians on F-16 fighter jets was held on Tuesday at the Air Force technical training base in Haifa.

During the course, the soldiers were certified as first-level technicians on F-16 fighter jets and they will serve at the protective aircraft shelter, which functions as the operational center for combat aircraft in the Air Force.

The protective aircraft shelter unit is located in the “Scorpion" Squadron (105) at the Ramat David base. The twenty-six trained technicians will ensure that aircraft and weapon systems are ready for operational activity.

The first training course for first-level technicians from the haredi sector requires that the IDF implement necessary adjustments for them to maintain a religious lifestyle, such as gender separate accommodation, strictly kosher food, and the establishment of a synagogue in the facility.

Head of the Planning and Resources Department in the Air Force, Colonel Einav Uzan-Shemesh, stated: "Air Force missions require excellent, committed and highly motivated individuals throughout the organization. We are dedicated to making all necessary adjustments to ensure that the force is ready for all its tasks. The haredi program opens doors for anyone who wants to participate in operational activities and make an impact."

Haredi parties Want To Topple Netanyahu Because of the "Draft Law"

 

As we all know, the leaders of the Chareidie parties are all corrupt many have sat in jail for taking graft והמבין יבון 

All they care is making sure that their constituents get funds but then send their Roshei Yeshivas to America to schnoor and  say "we don't get government funding," and to make sure their big shlubs don't go to the army!

Should they be successful in bringing down the government, they will be shooting their own feet, and I suggest that Netanyahu ignore them and let them carry out their bluff! 

Should there be new elections because of them, they will never be in a government again, the left hate them and Netanyahu has a long memory!

The haredi parties are planning to intensify their pressure for the enactment of the Draft Law.

The haredi Mishpacha newspaper reported on Wednesday night that the haredi parties, who are considered loyal coalition partners of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are preparing to present him with a significant challenge.

According to the report, the haredi lawmakers intend to submit two significant legislative proposals that could place Netanyahu in a serious political dilemma.

The first proposal is a Draft Law tailored to the haredi community, which would exempt large numbers of yeshiva students from mandatory military service.

Alongside this, a second proposal will be submitted—a law to dissolve the Knesset. Approval of this law would bring down the government and lead to new elections.

These two contradictory proposals constitute both an ultimatum to the Prime Minister and an explicit threat to the continuation of his tenure.

“Ministers Are Afraid To Vote For Attorney-General’s Ouster”

 

Moshe Saada

In light of the investigations against senior officials in the Israel Prison Service (IPS) and the police by Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara and the State Prosecutor’s Office, Likud MK Moshe Saada, who served for a year as acting head of the Police Investigations Department and for about seven years as deputy head of the department, claims that ministers from Likud are afraid to vote for the dismissal of the Attorney-General due to concerns that an investigation will be opened against them.

Speaking on Radio Galey Israel, Saada said: “I’m telling you from personal knowledge – following the investigation of Israel Prison Service Chief Kobi Yaakobi yesterday, the investigators told him that he must not return to the IPS right now, but why? They didn’t take him to court for that, as is done when a person receives restrictions after an investigation and is not willing to comply. Why didn’t they take him? Because he is courageous and knew they had nothing.”

“So he did return to the meeting that was held yesterday – and they didn’t take him to court! Is it not clear to anyone that they’re persecuting him? They arrested him in a reckless and dangerous manner; his bodyguards approached the civilian vehicle that came to arrest him with their guns drawn. The detectives who arrested him didn’t even wear hats identifying themselves.”

“It’s time for the ministers to honor themselves, and instead of expressing themselves in the media – they should start to initiate a move to dismiss the Attorney-General. The ministers are afraid to vote in favor because they know they will be the next ones investigated. I’m telling you there are ministers in the government who are afraid to vote for the dismissal of the Attorney General because they fear her and the system.”

After Being Mocked and Ridiculed Rav Deutsch Retracts From His Crazed Psak About the Song Being "Apikorsas"

 

This is too nuts to believe. Rav Deutsch issued a "fatwa" against a song that Harav Arush wrote calling it "apikorsas" and brought proof from a Chazon Ish! 

Now he states:

 “I was under the mistaken impression that the lyrics were written by a secular person [but] Now that I understand they were composed by a respected religious authority, I completely withdraw my previous statements. In fact, it’s now a mitzvah [religious duty] to share this song widely.”

This comment is crazier than his fatwa! If the words of the song are "apikorsas" then who cares who wrote it? So only a tzaddik is allowed to utter words of heresy? What happened with the Chazon Ish's explanation of Bitachon? Did that change because a frum guy wrote the song?

"Ela Mei" Rav Deutsch realized that he said something crazy and stupid and got called out by other Rabbanim who knew the words of the Chazon Ish very well, and nevertheless thought what Rav Deutsch said was ridiculous! Instead of saying "I am embarrassed by my stupidity" he said he "thought the song was written by a secular person" 

In a significant turn of events  Rabbi Avraham Deutsch, the Posek of Ma’ale Adumim, has retracted his previous criticism of the popular religious song “Hashem Loves Me” (God Loves Me) following a clarification of its message and authorship.

The controversy, which had gained media attention, centered around Rabbi Deutsch’s initial condemnation of the song in his published works, where he had labeled it as “corrupt” and said that no one should listen to it. However, in a dramatic reversal described on social media by Rabbi Arush’s disciples, Rabbi Deutsch withdrew his criticism after he had investigated the content of the song based on the writings of its author, Rabbi Shalom Arush. Rabbi Deutsch also allegedly said in a discussion with Rabbi Arush that “I didn’t know these were your words, you are my teacher and master and I have been studying your books for years.”

Rabbi Deutsch initially thought that the song’s lyrics “it will be even better,” implied that the present situation isn’t good, but that’s not what he was saying at all.

In fact, for the last 40 years, Rabbi Arush has consistently taught that everything happening in the present moment is absolutely the best it could be. His core message has always been that there is no true evil in the world and that everything God does is for the good. When he says “it will be even better,” he’s specifically talking about the future, not criticizing the present.

This aligns perfectly with traditional Jewish teachings. The Chazon Ish, Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin, and other respected rabbis all write about the commandment of faith – the obligation to believe that God will resolve our problems and that things will improve even further in the future. This concept of having faith in future improvement doesn’t contradict the belief that the present is already perfect in God’s plan.

Rabbi Arush’s message is actually very straightforward: whatever is happening right now is the best possible thing, and additionally it will get even better in the future. This is a fundamental belief that all agree on – it’s part of the basic commandment to have faith in God’s ongoing goodness.

In addition to this, Rabbi Deutsch explained that “I was under the mistaken impression that the lyrics were written by a secular person [but] Now that I understand they were composed by a respected religious authority, I completely withdraw my previous statements. In fact, it’s now a mitzvah [religious duty] to share this song widely.”

The Rabbi emphasized that his original comments were taken out of context by media outlets, leading to unnecessary controversy.

Record Number of Frum Women Enlist in Idf’s Shlav Bet

Over the weekend, more than 120 Orthodox women aged 26-50 enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces as part of the Shlav Bet (“Phase 2”) program track for religious women over the usual recruitment age.

This third and largest cohort of previously exempt religious women arrived at the Bakum recruitment center at Tel Hashomer in Ramat Gan, ready to serve their country.

The majority of these women will undergo a two-week basic training before being assigned to roles that align with their professional backgrounds, including nursing, social work and programming. Some recruits will be immediately integrated into units awaiting their expertise, bypassing basic training. These direct placements include as media representatives for the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, emotional support specialists for IDF Resilience Centers, and a podiatrist to care for soldiers returning from Gaza.

Yehudit Yeres-Weinstein from Otniel, who championed the project, expressed enthusiasm for the program’s success. Yiska Dekel, enlisting as a casualties intelligence officer after her brother Sgt. Maj. (res.) Yishai Greenbaum was mortally wounded in Southern Lebanon in October, embodies the spirit of determination among the recruits.

The integration of religious women into the IDF has been gaining momentum. In 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that the Education Ministry must create pre-army programs for national-religious girls, paving the way for increased participation. In 2022, the IDF launched a company for women soldiers only, to cater to female religious women who wish to serve. In August 2023, Ohr Torah Stone launched a initiative called Maaminot BeMadim (“Believers in Uniform“) to provide Torah-observant women with spiritual, halachic and practical support during their service in the Israel Defense Forces.

Hila Gonen, who manages a Resilience Center in Sderot and is enlisting to provide therapeutic interventions and rebuild resiliency for those suffering from trauma, highlighted the importance of their contributions.

“Today, I’m actualizing a dream. I’m enlisting in the IDF, albeit 30 years too late, but I have the excitement of an 18-year-old. When people teach the history of the Iron Swords war, they will also talk about the fact that we were here and we enlisted. Us women, some with four children at home, or six, or eight, some who are pregnant, others who are nursing, we all came and we all took part. We are here.”

Dekel is a teacher from the Golan Heights. Originally, she wasn’t going to be allowed to enlist because the army didn’t have a job for her. She fought for her position and asked what was needed until she received the answer that there was a need to fill positions as soldiers who notify family members of casualties.

She responded, “Wherever there is a need, I will serve,” and that is what she will be doing for her service.

“My friends thought that I was crazy and told me that there is no way they would ever do that job,” she told the Srugim news site.

“I will be doing this holy work with as much passion and compassion as humanly possible. I feel that it is my mission to serve, we all do. We look like a high school trip as everyone is so excited, but no one here knows anyone else. Not yet. But we are now a part of history and that is exciting,” she said.

The Shlav Bet program isn’t the only program bringing in religious women to serve in the IDF. Many who are younger are enlisting on their own or in smaller groups. An administrator from the Aish Seminary program, a Jerusalem-based religious women’s seminary catering to students and young professionals, reported that several students and alumnae from the seminary’s Aspire program have enlisted in the military over the past year, while some current students are seriously considering doing so in the future.

Meah Shearim Tzaddik Menachem Yova Accused of Rape

 The Jerusalem Magistrates Court extended by six days the remand of Rabbi Menachem Yova, the head of the Chachmei Lublin yeshiva in Meah Shearim, who is suspected of committing serious abuse offenses against his students.

Rabbi Yova (51), a resident of Jerusalem, was arrested Tuesday evening is suspected of performing the abuse over a period of many years against his students.

“This is an ongoing and sensitive investigation,” a police spokesperson stated. “Our Central Unit is thoroughly investigating all allegations, particularly given the vulnerable nature of the alleged victims and the position of authority held by the suspect.”

The investigation remains active as detectives work to determine if there are additional victims. Police have established a hotline for anyone with information related to the case.

As Rabbi Yova entered the court Wednesday, members of victims families called out at him: “Rapist, rot in jail.”

Channel 12 reports that police have received many complaints as well as documentation which corroborates the serious nature of the acts which Rabbi Yova allegedly committed.

One of the sisters of the victims said that “We were sure that our brothers learning in yeshiva were pure and unsullied. We now discovered that they were suffering for years from severe sexual harassment from Rabbi Yova. This has ruined their lives.”

The investigation started after police received a report and after signs were hung in Geula and adjacent regions lambasting the Rosh Yeshiva for his actions. A few months ago Channel 13 published an investigative piece on the matter.

A group of prominent charedi rabbis including Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu and Rabbi Tzion Boaron published a warning about Rabbi Yova earlier this year, calling him “evil, depraved and causing many to sin. He exploited the innocence of young students to perform forbidden acts.” They encouraged people to contact the police and inform about the rabbi’s acts.