A terrorist opened fire on an Israeli bus near the West Bank settlement of Ariel on Friday, injuring 8 people before being shot dead by security forces, According to the Magen David Adom (MDA) ambulance service, four of the victims sustained gunshot injuries, with three in serious condition and one moderately injured. Another four individuals were lightly wounded by shattered glass. Images from the scene show the terrorist armed with an assault rifle, identified as an M-16, used in the attack. The incident began when the terrorist drove from a village in the Nablus area, traveling from the Tapuach Junction to the Gitai Avisar Junction along a route with no internal checkpoints, according to an initial investigation by the IDF.

The IDF announced plans to establish the first company of the new Chashmonai Brigade, an initiative designed to cater exclusively to Charedi soldiers, by the time Chanukah begins in late December. The brigade’s name is intended to underscore its symbolic alignment with the Chanukah story, as the Chashmonean Dynasty emerged from the successful revolt against the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire, better known in Charedi circles as the Yevanim. The IDF hopes to channel this legacy to inspire Charedi participation in the military. According to reports, 30 young men have already passed initial screenings, and dozens more have expressed interest in joining.

Some New York Democratic lawmakers, led by State Senator Liz Krueger, are seriously considering seceding from the United States and becoming a province of Canada in response to President-elect Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Krueger’s suggestion—an apparent attempt to oppose Trump’s proposed deportation plans—includes the idea that New York’s secession could help alleviate Canada’s supposed burden of enforcing illegal border crossings. “It’s not unreasonable to think outside of the box,” Krueger said, though many might argue this particular box has fallen off its rocking chair. Adding to the spectacle, Krueger floated the idea of withholding federal taxes as a retaliatory measure against Trump’s threat to cut federal funding for states that resist his immigration policies.

A confidential provision in the U.S.-Israel side agreement to the recently brokered Lebanon ceasefire focuses on curbing Iranian influence in the region, Israeli media reported on Wednesday. Referred to as the “Iranian clause” by Israeli officials, the provision is part of a classified two-and-a-half-page letter whose full details remain undisclosed, according to Channel 12 News. The clause reportedly states: “The U.S. commits to working with Israel to prevent Iran from destabilizing the region, establishing a foothold in Lebanon, or undermining the principles of the agreement—either directly or through its proxies.” The agreement further stipulates that if Israel determines military action is necessary, it must notify Washington as soon as possible. The U.S.

Hamas may be prepared to abandon some of its longstanding demands and consider a ceasefire deal that Israel could support, according to a report in The New York Times. The report suggests that even before this week’s ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, both Palestinian and U.S. officials believed Hamas was reevaluating its strategy. This includes moving away from the long-war doctrine championed by Yahya Sinwar, the group’s leader who was recently killed by the IDF. Sinwar had reportedly told Hamas leadership that a prolonged conflict would bring the group closer to its goal of “liberation,” according to senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan.

A senior adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris during her presidential campaign has admitted that internal polling consistently showed she was unlikely to defeat President-elect Donald Trump, contrary to the optimistic picture presented to donors. “We were told she had a real shot at winning—it wasn’t even a question,” Harris campaign fundraiser Lindy Li said. “I was told Pennsylvania was looking good, and we would win 3-4 swing states. On election night, they told us we were going to win Iowa.” However, Harris senior adviser David Plouffe painted a very different picture during an episode of Pod Save America. He revealed the campaign never saw the same leads reflected in public polls, which showed Harris performing well in battleground states.

A number of President-elect Donald Trump ‘s most prominent Cabinet picks and appointees have been targeted by bomb threats and “swatting attacks,” Trump’s transition team said Wednesday. The FBI said it was investigating. “Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and Administration appointees were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them,” Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. The attacks ranged from bomb threats to swatting, in which attackers initiate an emergency law enforcement response against a target victim under false pretenses, she said. The tactic has become a popular one in recent years.

On Tuesday, Hagaon HaRav Shmuel Kamenetzky shlit”a, the zkan roshei yeshiva of America, and the esteemed Rosh Yeshiva of the Philadelphia Yeshiva, made a special visit to the Skverer Rebbe in New Square. The Rosh Yeshiva, who was in Monsey to attend a family simcha, took the opportunity to travel to New Square to meet with the Rebbe. During the visit, the Skverer Rebbe conveyed warm wishes to Rav Kamenetzky, who recently celebrated his monumental 100th birthday. The Rebbe expressed heartfelt brachos for the Rosh Yeshiva to continue his avodas hakodesh with good health and strength, inspiring and teaching Torah to Jews around the globe for many more years. Since suffering a stroke in May 2023, the Rosh Yeshiva has not made many public appearances. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Several of Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees and administration appointees “were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them” on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, the president-elect’s transition team said Wednesday. “These attacks ranged from bomb threats to ‘swatting,” Trump transition spokeswoman and incoming White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. “In response, law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted.” Leavitt added that “dangerous acts of intimidation and violence will not deter us.” The threats come months after the president-elect survived two alleged assassination attempts during his campaign. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

French President  Emmanuel Macron has not acted as a friend to the Jewish state since October 7, instead acting with audacity by repeating lies about Israel’s actions in Gaza and even calling for an arms embargo on Israel. This hypocritical double standard belies its status as a major arms exporter to brutal autocracies in Africa and the Middle East. There are many questions regarding the reasons behind Macron’s stance on Israel, including France’s suspect ties with Iran and its deep involvement in Lebanon, its former protectorate. France has raised millions of dollars for Lebanese “humanitarian” needs, much of which ends up in the hands of the murderous Hezbollah terror organization, which is officially part of the Lebanese government.