In an extraordinary and unprecedented move, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet voted unanimously in the early hours of Friday morning to dismiss Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar. The ousting of Bar—the first-ever dismissal of a Shin Bet director in Israeli history—has sent shockwaves through the country, with critics decrying it as a dangerous power grab and a potential obstruction of justice, while supporters praised it as a necessary step to restore confidence in national security leadership. However, on Friday, Israel’s High Court intervened, issuing an injunction that temporarily freezes Bar’s dismissal pending a full legal review. Bar’s final day was initially set for April 10, though Netanyahu’s government had hinted at forcing him out even sooner if a replacement were secured.

A United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) staffer currently hospitalized in Israel has been discovered to have prominent pro-Nazi tattoos, a source revealed to JNS. The U.N. staffer, who was injured in a booby trap attack in Gaza, was initially treated in a Gaza hospital before being transferred to an Israeli medical facility for further care. Despite the U.N. blaming Israel for the attack, Israeli sources maintain that the IDF does not operate in that part of Gaza, and the injuries were likely caused by a Hamas-planted trap. While receiving lifesaving treatment in an Israeli hospital, it was discovered that the staffer bore tattoos with explicit Nazi imagery.

Former Shin Bet chief Nadav Argaman was questioned by police on Thursday for alleged extortion against Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. In an interview with Channel 12 last week, Argaman said that he will reveal private information about Netanyahu if he decides that the prime minister is acting “illegally.” Argaman was repeating the leftist refrain that Netanyahu is acting “illegally” whenever he does anything not to their liking – such as his plans to fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and oust Attorney-General Gali Baharav Miara. “For now, everything that happened in one-on-one meetings between the prime minister and me—I keep in that space,” Argaman said. “It is absolutely clear that I have a great deal of knowledge, and I could use it, but I am not, for the reasons I mentioned.

It is with deep regret that YWN informs you of the petirah of Hagaon HaRav Pinchos Kahn ZT”L, a Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshivas Chaim Berlin, who was niftar this morning at the age of approximately 89. A towering marbitz Torah and magid shiur for over four decades, Rav Kahn was mechanech and guided thousands of talmidim who passed through the hallowed halls of the yeshiva, imprinting upon them the derech haTorah and daas Chachomim of his revered rebbi and Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Yitzchok Hutner ZT”L. Rav Pinchos zt”l, who was unwell in recent years and suffered from various ailments, was zocheh to daven Shacharis this morning before returning to his bed, where he was niftar in his sleep – a true misas neshika – leaving behind a large family of talmidei chachomim and marbitzei torah.

The IDF and Shin Bet have eliminated Rashid Jahjuh, the head of Hamas’ General Security Forces, alongside Ayman Atsalih, the head of Hamas’ Khan Yunis sector within the same division. Jahjuh, who took over after his predecessor Sami Oudeh was eliminated in July 2024, was at the helm of Hamas’ clandestine intelligence operations, responsible for exposing so-called “collaborators,” safeguarding senior Hamas officials, and ensuring the terror group’s iron grip over Gaza. Additionally, he played a key role in Hamas’ propaganda machine, manipulating public perception and rallying support for its militant agenda.

A massive crowd gathered Wednesday night in the BMG dining room to hear from Rav Malkiel Kotler, Rav Yisroel Neuman, and Rav Aharon Feldman of Ner Yisroel in an asifa against participation in the ongoing World Zionist Organization (WZO) elections. The WZO elections, held every five years, play a pivotal role in determining how billions of dollars are allocated across Eretz Yisroel. The Eretz Hakodesh party was formed with the goal of securing representation in the World Zionist Congress and redirecting funds to support Torah institutions and yeshivos. The initiative has received backing from many gedolim and was endorsed in the previous election by Harav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l. However, not all gedolei torah agree with this approach.

Shin Bet operatives and Northern District police officers thwarted an Israeli-Arab’s plan to carry out a ramming attack on IDF soldiers. Jihad Zariqat, a resident of Kfar Kana, an Arab town in the Galil, was arrested last month for alleged security offenses. During his arrest, security forces found Hamas pamphlets with guidelines for carrying out terror attacks and other nationalistic materials in his possession. An investigation revealed that Zariqat had decided to carry out a ramming attack against IDF soldiers and had even attempted to execute his plan.

Israel has expanded its ground operations in Gaza in recent hours and IDF forces have raided additional areas in the northern Strip, Channel 12 reported on Thursday morning. The report comes after the IDF spokesperson announced on Wednesday that Israel has launched focused ground operations in central and southern Gaza in order to expand the security zone and create a partial buffer between the northern and southern Strip. As part of the operation, IDF forces are re-taking control of the Netzarim Corridor, an area they withdrew from last month as part of the ceasefire agreement.

The IDF intercepted a missile fired by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen early Thursday morning, preventing it from entering Israeli airspace. Despite the successful interception, air raid sirens sounded across central Israel, including Tel Aviv and the Jerusalem area, sending millions of civilians scrambling to bomb shelters in the middle of the night. The Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency medical service reported treating multiple individuals who sustained injuries while rushing to seek shelter, as well as others suffering from acute anxiety due to the alarm. The attempted attack marks the latest escalation in the region as Iran-backed terrorist groups continue to target Israel.

A shocking incident unfolded in Beit Shemesh as a group of Chareidi extremists launched a violent attack on Mayor Shmuel Greenberg, his family, and his vehicle. Sources tell YWN that the assailants targeted the mayor due to his efforts to support various Chareidi groups in establishing schools and securing funding for programs that include secular studies such as math and history—moves that have apparently sparked outrage among the extremists. The assault took place as Mayor Greenberg was leaving a family Chasunah. According to a statement from the Beit Shemesh Mayor’s Office, the situation quickly escalated into chaos. “Mayor Shmuel Greenberg was attacked by extremists as he was leaving a family celebration.