Don’t count me among those celebrating Jared Kushner’s return to Trump’s inner circle. Has anyone heard from Jared – or Ivanka, for that matter – throughout Trump’s campaign or during the countless challenges he faced over the past few years? I certainly haven’t. Back in 2022, it was widely reported that Jared and Ivanka wanted to steer clear of politics to focus on their young family. In February of this year, Jared himself stated that he wouldn’t join a second Trump administration if his father-in-law were reelected: “I’ve been very clear that my desire at this phase of my life is to focus on my firm…I’ve really enjoyed the opportunity as a family to be out of the spotlight.

Williamsburg Hatzolah has added 11 new members to its team. This strategic expansion is designed to meet the community’s growing needs, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of Williamsburg residents. The new members joining Williamsburg Hatzolah are: Mordchai Stein (W300) Mendy Rosner (W301) Menachem Moskowitz (W302) Avrum Duvid Binik (W303) Duvid Launda (W304) Hershi Hirsch (W305) Avrumi Lefkowitz (W306) Ari Schwartz (W307) Hershi Deutch (W308) Isumer Tovia Schwartz (W309) Yosef Yitzchok Biener (W310) With these additions, Williamsburg Hatzolah strengthens its ability to provide rapid, reliable emergency care, ensuring residents that help is always close by.

Donald Trump is naming longtime adviser Stephen Miller, an immigration hard-liner, to be the deputy chief of policy in his new administration. Vice President-elect JD Vance posted a message of congratulations on Monday to Miller on X and said, “This is another fantastic pick by the president.” The announcement was first reported by CNN. Miller was a senior adviser in Trump’s first term and has been a central figure in many of his policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families as a deterrence program in 2018. Miller helped craft many of Trump’s hardline speeches and plans on immigration.

The Israel Defense Forces has announced the death of Major (Res.) Itamar Levin Fridman HY’D, 34, from Eilat, who served as a squad commander in the ‘LOTAR Eilat’ Unit. He was killed during combat operations in the northern Gaza Strip. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

For the past three weeks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has conducted most of his official duties from a secure room in the basement of the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, according to a report from Israel’s Channel 12 News. The move follows an attempted assassination by Hezbollah, whose drone struck his private residence in Caesarea on October 19. The drone attack involved three Hezbollah drones, one of which reportedly hit a bedroom window at Netanyahu’s home. Fortunately, the prime minister and his wife were not present at the time of the incident. In response to the attack, Israeli security officials advised Netanyahu to limit his time in any single location. They also recommended postponing the wedding of his son, Avner, as a precautionary measure.

A senior Kremlin official told Kan News on Monday that Russia is ready to assist efforts to achieve a diplomatic arrangement between Israel and Hezbollah. He confirmed Sunday’s report that Russia is involved in the negotiations. The official told Kan: “Russia is ready to help and support anything that will stop the killing of civilian populations and prevent the destruction of civilian infrastructure.” Ironically, reports say that Russia, which has killed, maimed, and exiled millions of civilians in the war it launched on Ukraine, fired a record number of drones at Ukraine over the weekend. Also on Monday, the Kremlin vehemently denied reports that President Vladimir Putin spoke with US President-elect Donald Trump, adding that Putin has no current plans for such a conversation.

A direct rocket hit caused damage in Kiryat Atta following a heavy Hezbollah barrage (more than 70 rockets!) targeting the Haifa area a short time ago. Magen David Adom reports that a 17-year-old boy sustained minor injuries from glass shards while rushing to a bomb shelter during the attack. MDA teams searched an additional site with 2 vehicles on fire. Bichasdei hHashem, there were no casualties found.

Israeli Air Force fighter jets, under precise intelligence guidance from IDF Intelligence, Shin Bet, and the Southern Command, carried out a targeted attack and eliminated Islamic Jihad commander Muhammad Abu Sakhil, a joint statement from the IDF and Shin Bet announced on Sunday evening. Sakhil was the Islamic Jihad operations coordinator in the Gaza Strip and operated in a command center established in a Gazan school. He was a key Islamic Jihad figure who was involved in planning and executing terror acts against Israeli citizens and IDF forces in Gaza. He also coordinated terror acts with Hamas. “Before the attack, many steps were taken to reduce the likelihood of harming civilians, including aerial surveillance and the use of precise intelligence information,” the statement said.

President-elect Donald Trump says that Tom Homan, his former acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director, will serve as “border czar” in his incoming administration. “I am pleased to announce that the Former ICE Director, and stalwart on Border Control, Tom Homan, will be joining the Trump Administration, in charge of our Nation’s Borders,” he wrote late Sunday on his Truth Social site. Homan was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border and Trump’s pledge to launch the largest deportation operation in the country’s history.

Hezbollah launched a large barrage of rockets at northern Israel shortly after noon on Monday, triggering sirens in numerous cities and towns in the Upper and Western Galil. MDA paramedics reported that they treated three people who were injured by shrapnel in the northern Arab town of Bi’ina, near the northern city of Karmiel,  and evacuated them to the Galil Medical Center in Nahariya. The victims were a 27-year-old woman in moderate to serious condition, and a one-year-old baby and a man of about 35 in light condition. Following the barrage, the IDF spokesperson said “50 rockets were launched, some of which were intercepted. Rocket hits were identified.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)