Five Palestinian men were indicted on Thursday in connection with the murder of an Israeli teenager, allegedly committed on behalf of the Hamas terror group.
Nasir and Qasseem al-Asafra were charged with stabbing 18-year-old Dvir Sorek, while Ahmad al-Asafra, Yusef Zahour and Mahmoud Atouna have been charged as co-conspirators in the attack.
“The accused formed the cell, which is part of the Hamas terror group, in order to carry out attacks against Israeli targets. As part of their activities, the members of the cell performed training exercises and lookouts, and armed themselves with knives,” the army said.

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/f_diKqssZLTKUEuc.mp4
After a limited launch this past summer, Uber plans to open up its John F. Kennedy International Airport helicopter shuttle service to more people. Starting today, October 3rd, you won’t need to be an Uber Rewards member to check out Uber Copter, reports Reuters.
Depending on demand, the eight-minute flight to or from JFK with Uber Copter will set you back between $200 and $225. Included in that fee is ground transportation on either side of the helicopter flight.

Reissuing a Rabbinic statement (Kol Korei) that was first published 12 years ago and that remains relevant today, Agudas Israel of America is calling upon the community to exercise care regarding the custom of kapporos before Yom Kippur.
Given the size of the community, and the large volume of chickens that will be handled in the upcoming days, the practice of kapporos needs to be conducted in a manner that ensures that proper standards of kashrus, cleanliness, and humane treatment of animals, as defined by halacha, are met.

Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders will participate in the Democratic primary debate scheduled for October 15, according to the Sanders campaign.
The campaign confirmed to The Hill on Thursday that Sanders will appear at the debate in Ohio along with eleven other Democratic candidates.
On Wednesday Sanders’ campaign confirmed that the candidate had undergone heart surgery to clear a blocked artery. Doctors successfully inserted two stents into the artery during surgery.
The campaign cancelled events and postponed purchases of TV ads in Iowa after the incident.
Read more here.
{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Arab citizens held a general strike on Thursday, protesting the rising crime rate in their community and what they claim is the failure of the authorities to help deal with it.
Arab Knesset members also boycotted the swearing-in ceremony at the Knesset on Thursday.
Knesset member Yousef Jabareen (Hadash) of the Joint Arab List stated, “Today, during the opening session of the Knesset, we will faithfully represent our constituents as participants in the demonstration in the Galilee. We will be leading the protests against rising crime and violence in our communities, and the weak response of Israeli law enforcement agencies.”

Israeli forces on Thursday arrested a senior member of the terrorist group suspected of being responsible for the August bombing in Samaria that killed 17-year-old Israeli Rina Shnerb and seriously injured her father and brother, according to Palestinian media reports.
Walid Muhammad Hanatsheh was arrested and his home in At-Tira, near Ramallah, searched early on Thursday morning, according to the reports.
Though Israel’s Shin Bet security agency refused to comment on Hanatsheh’s arrest, it said that 13 Palestinian suspects were arrested in overnight raids around Ramallah, but did not provide further details.
“The investigation into the [terrorist] cell is ongoing. We are not providing information about any arrests at this time,” the Shin Bet said in a statement.

President Donald Trump ordered the removal of Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch from her post in Ukraine following complaints by his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and others, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.

Yovanovitch, who was recalled months earlier than expected in May 2019, was accused by Giuliani without evidence of trying to undermine the President and blocking efforts to investigate Democrats like former Vice President Joe Biden. According to the Wall Street Journal, a person familiar with the matter said that State Department officials were told that her removal was “a priority” for Trump.

Ratzon HaShem
I came to learn in Eretz Yisroel after three years in Beis Medrash (post high school). I grew up in Lakewood, New Jersey, and, like most of my friends, when I came to learn in Eretz Yisroel I had no long-term intentions. I came to do the two-year Eretz Yisroel experience. Like most bochurim, this obviously included Shabbos seudos at the homes of many different types of people.
At one of those Shabbos meals, the question was posed: “How can people live in chutz la’Aretz if there is a mitzvah to live in Eretz Yisroel?”

President Trump on Thursday publicly encouraged both China and Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son amid growing concerns over how Trump has used his position to pressure foreign governments to look into his political rivals.
The president doubled down on unsubstantiated allegations that Biden and his son Hunter Biden engaged in corrupt behavior, also urging a probe by China.
“China should start an investigation into the Bidens,” Trump said before departing for an executive order signing in Florida.

Blue and White No. 2 Yair Lapid announced Thursday that he was giving up his rotation deal with party leader Benny Gantz whereby they would share the premiership, in order to insure that he not constitute an obstacle to a unity government led by Gantz and including the Likud party.
Speaking at the Blue and White faction meeting in the Knesset before the swearing-in ceremony for the 22nd Knesset, Lapid said, “For the sake of a unity government I’m forgoing the rotation. It’s far more important to me that there be unity in the country; that there won’t be another election; that this country begins a healing process, mends the wounds, changes the national priorities.”