Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich took the stage at a Yom Yerushalayim rally at the Kosel on Monday night and made bold statements asserting that Israel is “not afraid of the word occupation.” In his speech, he also advocated for the return of Jewish settlements to the Gaza Strip.
“We are liberating Gaza – and settling it,” Smotrich proclaimed to those gathered in honor of the annual Yom Yerushalayim celebration.
He accused some of being reluctant to fully embrace an Israeli victory.

French First Lady Brigitte Macron was seen placing both hands on President Emmanuel Macron’s face in what appeared to be a playful shove as they were about to step off their plane during the opening of a diplomatic visit to Southeast Asia. The unexpected gesture, caught on video, sparked a flurry of speculation and headlines in France, though the president insisted it was all in good fun.
Footage from the scene—captured just as the aircraft door opened—quickly circulated online and in the French press.
President Macron brushed off the incident, describing it to reporters as lighthearted teasing between spouses. “We were just goofing around, joking together,” he said. “But it’s being treated like some sort of international incident.”

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B”h
Dear fellow friends,
My name is Racheli, and I’m the mother of four wonderful children. Our youngest, Gitty, was born three years ago with multiple complex heart defects. From the moment she came into the world – our lives changed forever.
At just one month old, Gitty had to undergo a major heart surgery in Boston. The cost was astronomical, but it saved her life. Since then, we’ve had to fly with her every six months for checkups and catheterizations.
Now, in just four months, Gitty will need her second and most critical surgery – the one doctors couldn’t perform when she was a baby.
💔 But we’re already drowning in medical expenses!

Iran would be able to withstand a collapse in nuclear talks with the United States, President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday, responding after President Donald Trump characterized the most recent discussions with Tehran as “very good.”
Efforts are ongoing to settle the long-standing disagreement over Iran’s nuclear activities, with Trump warning of severe sanctions and potential military action if a new deal is not reached.
Commenting on the negotiations, Pezeshkian was quoted by Iranian state outlets saying, “It’s not like we will die of hunger if they refuse to negotiate with us or impose sanctions. We will find a way to survive.” His statement underscored Iran’s insistence that it can endure U.S. pressure.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara issued a legal opinion on Monday declaring the appointment of Major General David Zini to lead the Shin Bet as both unlawful and invalid.
Baharav-Miara argued that Prime Minister Netanyahu should not have played a role in this appointment due to a conflict of interest. She maintained that such a decision must be made collectively by the government. “Netanyahu acted contrary to the Supreme Court’s Decision, while deliberately violating the binding legal guidelines. Looking to the future, the Prime Minister must refrain from dealing the the appointment of the Shin Bet director or an acting director, whether directly or indirectly, at least until the investigations into the relevant cases conclude,” Miara stated.

President Trump delivered a heartfelt Memorial Day address at Arlington National Cemetery, honoring fallen military heroes while also taking a swipe at his predecessor. He promised the nation would always remember the sacrifices of its service members, stating, “We certainly know what we owe to them. Their valor gave us the freest, greatest, and most noble republic ever to exist on the face of the earth, a republic that I am fixing after a long and hard four years.”

Russia responded on Monday to President Trump’s stinging rebuke of Vladimir Putin by implying that the American leader might be reacting out of heightened emotion. Trump had slammed the Russian president as “crazy” following an intensified military campaign in Ukraine.

Charlie Rangel, who represented New York City in Congress for nearly 50 years and became one of Harlem’s most prominent political figures, has passed away at the age of 94.
Rangel made history in 1971 when he unseated Rev. Adam Clayton Powell Jr. to secure a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, launching a long and influential career in Washington.
“The Lion of Lenox Ave was a transformational force of nature,” wrote House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on X. “Harlem, NYC & America are better today because of his service.”
“May he forever rest in power,” Jeffries added.
In a heartfelt tribute, New York businessman and grocery chain owner John Catsimatidis described Rangel as “a symbol of Harlem, a fighter for justice, a skilled diplomat.”

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu indicated that an update may be imminent concerning the 58 hostages still being held in Gaza.
“I hope we can announce something today or tomorrow regarding the hostages,” Netanyahu stated.
This remark came after a Reuters report claimed that Hamas had consented to release ten hostages in two separate batches in return for a ceasefire lasting seventy days.
Despite that report, Barak Ravid of Axios noted that US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff dismissed the suggestion that Hamas had agreed to the terms he had proposed.
“What I have seen from Hamas is disappointing and completely unacceptable,” Witkoff told Ravid.

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A Dedication Ceremony Was Held at Ramot Mall in Jerusalem for the New “Lehachayot” Kindness Club