The Trump administration said Monday that it will no longer exempt any countries from U.S. sanctions if they continue to buy Iranian oil, stepping up pressure on Iran in a move that primarily affects the five remaining major importers: China and India and U.S.

The Vaad Rabbonim for Transportation on Monday morning released information to travelers on public buses to the Kosel on how to turn these lines into mehadrin lines.

A joyful trip to Israel for Pesach has turned to heartbreaking tragedy for a family from Monsey, New York. 3-year-old Baruch Eisenberg was struck and killed by a bus in Beitar Illit on Monday evening, Chol Hamoed.
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Two women from Peru were apprehended entering Israel on Friday evening, erev Pesach, carrying over 3.5kg (7.7 LBS.) of cocaine.
The two suspects, in their 20s, were carrying the drug on their bodies when apprehended by airport police.
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Three Jewish youths were arrested on Har Habayis on Monday, the second day of Chol Hamoed Pesach.
They were part of a group visiting the holy site and were taken into custody after prostrating themselves and reciting ‘Shema Yisrael…”, which is prohibited.

Coalition negotiations are underway as Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu hopes to assemble another coalition government. As is always the case, there are always demands for the various government portfolios, with a focus on the senior posts.
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Yahadut Hatorah officials have given a written list of its demands to Likud’s Yariv Levin as coalition negotiations between the parties will be limited to writing during Pesach week.
While the chareidi parties, Shas and Yahadut Hatorah, have recommended Binyamin Netanyahu receive the presidential mandate to form a coalition government, talks will not officials get underway until after Pesach.

Chairman of the Central Election Committee Justice Chanan Meltzer has turned to Attorney General Dr. Avichai Mandelblit and Israel Police with a request to launch a probe into election fraud at polling stations.
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Three fire rescue vehicles from the Beit Shemesh district responded to a motzei Shabbos and first day of Pesach fire on the Burma Road, which parallel’s Highway 1. The vehicle was totally engulfed in flames and therefore, destroyed.

Veteran residents of the Upper Golan Heights admit they do not remember the last time they saw significant snow during Chol Hamoed Pesach, and this year in particular, a leap year, with Pesach falling in “spring” according to the Gregorian calendar.