Israeli security forces on Monday received intelligence information indicating that a terrorist was making his way from the Shomron toward Tel Aviv to carry out a terror attack. A high-speed chase took place, and police and Shin Bet forces stopped a vehicle as it approached Route 1 via Route 6 on Monday afternoon. A search of the vehicle revealed nine Palestinians who had entered Israel illegally, including the terrorist who was armed with an assault rifle. The suspects were arrested and transferred for questioning.   (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his wife landed in Washington D.C. on Sunday evening and were greeted by Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter. Shortly later, Netanyahu and his entourage rushed to the Blair House for a meeting with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The meeting, which focused on the 17% tariff imposed by the Trump administration on Israel, was described by the Prime Minister’s Office as “warm, friendly, and productive.” Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump on Monday at 1 p.m., and the two will hold a joint press conference following the meeting. There has been speculation in the Israeli press about the main issues the two leaders will discuss.

Rejecting Washington’s demands for direct talks on its nuclear program, Tehran is instead pushing for indirect negotiations via Oman — a long-standing backchannel between the two adversaries. The unnamed official, speaking to Reuters, said that while Iran will not engage in direct diplomacy under threats of war, it remains open to mediated discussions that could “test the seriousness” of the U.S. position. “Indirect talks offer a chance to evaluate Washington’s seriousness about a political solution,” the official said, adding that such discussions could begin soon — if the U.S. signals genuine interest.

Fox News host Sean Hannity praised President Donald Trump’s recent musings about a potential third term in office, calling the remarks a savvy psychological tactic that keeps Trump “living rent-free” in his critics’ minds. Appearing on a podcast, Hannity downplayed any serious intent behind Trump’s remarks, describing the idea of a third term as “ultimately a constitutional issue,” but applauded the former president’s ability to provoke strong reactions. “I love it because they bubble and fizz like Alka-Seltzer,” Hannity said, referring to media and political opponents who react to Trump’s controversial comments.

A political firestorm erupted Thursday after Republican Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio referred to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer as “Fuhrer Schumer,” invoking the title of Adolf Hitler. “Here’s the main thing you’ve got to understand,” Moreno told reporters while discussing President Donald Trump’s tax proposals. “Republicans are independently minded. Democrats are monolithic sheep that follow the Fuhrer Schumer’s orders.” The incendiary comment was immediately denounced by Jewish leaders and civil rights organizations.

The Lavi organization submitted an urgent petition to the Supreme Court on Friday demanding that Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara be ordered to refrain from dealing with the affairs of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and former Shin Bet chief Nadav Argaman. The petition is based on a recent revelation of personal friendships spanning decades between Baharav-Miara and her husband, and Bar and Argaman. The Attorney-General’s husband, Tzion Miara, served as a Shin Bet operative before he became ill 20 years ago and was diagnosed with ALS. Bar and Argaman were Miara’s Shin Bet colleagues and close friends who maintained contact with him after he became ill and homebound.

A furor arose in Israel after Kan News revealed a recording of a Shin Bet senior official saying that Jewish residents of Yehudah and Shomron are arrested “even without evidence” for several days. In a recording, the Shin Bet officer, the head of the Jewish Department, is heard speaking with Cdr. Avishai Mualem, the Yamam commander, about several Jews who were arrested in Yehudah and Shomron. “Put them in cells, with the mice,” says the officer, who is identified only as A. A. adds: “We always want to detain them for interrogation as much as possible. You’ll see how they deal with Shin Bet investigations.

Azerbaijan’s security services revealed on Shabbos that it thwarted an Iranian attempt to assassinate Rabbi Shneur Segal, the main Chabad Rav in the country. In the fall, an Iranian Quds Force commander met with Agil Aslanov, a drug trafficker from Georgia, the Washington Post reported. The office showed Aslanov a photo of Rabbi Segal and gave him detailed instructions on how to kill him. Aslanov agreed to assassinate him and also attack an education center in exchange for $200,000. Aslanov traveled to Baku and recruited a local accomplice, and they began to track Rabbi Segal.

A firestorm of outrage has erupted across social media after veteran “60 Minutes” host Lesley Stahl asked a question that many are calling shocking—and even sympathetic to terrorists—during a Sunday night segment with American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel, recently released from nearly 500 days in Hamas captivity. In the emotional interview, Siegel recounted being starved, beaten, and humiliated by his Hamas captors. He recalled how, after his wife Aviva was released, “they became very mean and very cruel and violent.

Mayor Eric Adams, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch and other NYPD and Mayoral officials joined with community leaders for a Passover Security Briefing at Police Headquarters on Wednesday April 2, 2025. The NYPD Honor Guard presented the colors after which World Renowned Cantor Nissim Saal beautifully sang the National Anthem for the crowd of over 400 people. Mayor Eric Adams spoke about public safety and the strong working relationship between the NYPD and the Jewish community, especially after the horrific October 7th terrorist attack in Israel. Commissioner Tisch stated there will be an increased police presence at synagogues and the nobility of policing. Chief Chaplain Rabbi Dr. Alvin Kass spoke about the beauty of Pesach and the meaningfulness of freedom after slavery.