Polls closed at 8:00 p.m. across New Jersey in today’s highly anticipated primary elections, and within minutes, major races were called — setting the stage for a high-stakes gubernatorial showdown this November. Republican Jack Ciattarelli clinched the GOP nomination for governor by 8:20 p.m., decisively defeating a crowded field that included radio host Bill Spadea. Both candidates aggressively courted President Donald Trump’s endorsement, but it was Ciattarelli who ultimately secured the nod — a move that helped power him to victory. On the Democratic side, Rep. Mikie Sherrill cruised to a commanding win in her party’s primary, making her the official Democratic nominee to face Ciattarelli in November.

The judge accepted the prosecution’s request on Tuesday to extend the detention of the suspect in the arson of HaRav Yitzchak Yosef’s shul, who was arrested by the police and Shin Bet on Monday evening. The suspect’s identity remains under a court-imposed gag order and cannot be published at this time. Until now, nearly all details of the investigation had been under a sweeping gag order, with only the existence of the case made public. The court has now lifted some of those restrictions, allowing additional information to be released. While the suspect’s name remains under gag order, the court has permitted the publication of the fact that the suspect’s detention has been extended.

The IDF successfully intercepted a ballistic missile launched at Israel by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen on Tuesday evening. The missile disintegrated into multiple fragments after being struck by an initial interceptor, prompting the Israeli Air Force to deploy additional interceptors to neutralize the debris. Witnesses reported seeing at least seven interceptors launched. Historical incidents have shown that intact warheads from partially intercepted Houthi missiles can fall to the ground, posing a risk of harm. Sirens blared across central Israel, the Jerusalem area, southern West Bank settlements, and parts of southern Israel, alerting residents to the imminent danger.

A coordinated and unprecedented mobilization is underway across Orthodox Jewish communities in New Jersey, particularly in the Lakewood region, as voters head to the polls for Tuesday’s crucial primary elections. For weeks, leading rabbanim, askanim, and roshei yeshivah have been urging Orthodox Jewish voters to take part in today’s vote, with particular emphasis on supporting Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Gottheimer. Gottheimer, currently one of five major contenders for the Democratic nomination, has emerged as the only viable Democratic candidate with a strong and consistent record of support for Orthodox Jewish communities statewide. Facing off against Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, Rep.

The UK plans on implementing sanctions on Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir over statements the two ministers made on Gaza, The Times of London reported on Tuesday. According to the report, the UK’s move will be replicated by Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries. The report quotes several remarks made by the two ministers about so-called “innocent Gazan civilians,” such as “Gaza will be completely destroyed” and Ben-Gvir’s call to advance the voluntary emigrations of Gazans.

Israel carried out a significant naval attack on a Houthi target in Yemen in the early hours of Tuesday morning, the first attack carried out by missile boats. The strikes targeted military infrastructure at the port of Hodeidah. The attacks were preceded by a warning on Monday evening by the IDF spokesperson in Arabic to evacuate the three Houthi-controlled ports in Yemen, Hodeidah, Ras-Isa, and Salif. Shortly after the reports of the strike, the IDF spokesperson confirmed the attack, stating: “This morning, the IDF attacked targets of the Houthi terror regime in the port of Hodeidah in Yemen, using Navy missile ships.

The long-simmering crisis over Israel’s proposed draft law has reached a boiling point. In a dramatic late-night meeting on Monday, the leaders of Degel HaTorah- HaGaon Rav Dov Landau shlit”a and HaGaon Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlit”a-declared that they will support a motion to dissolve the Knesset this Wednesday, potentially triggering new elections and threatening the survival of the current government. During an in-depth conversation between the two Gedolei Yisroel, it was determined that, in the absence of a finalized and acceptable version of the draft law, the chareidi parties have no reason to remain in the coalition.

Disgraced NY Governor Andrew Cuomo, candidate for Mayor of New York City, today received the endorsement of the Flatbush Jewish Community Coalition (FJCC). The FJCC joins the Sephardic Community Federation, Far Rockaway Jewish Alliance, the Bobov community in Borough Park, and Crown Jewish United and the Crown Heights PAC, in backing Cuomo’s bid. “I am truly honored and humbled to receive the endorsement of the Flatbush Jewish Community Coalition, and I want to thank FJCC Chair Josh Mehlman for his partnership,” Governor Cuomo said. “Our Orthodox community has experienced trauma unlike any other, from surging hate crimes and antisemitism to the unspeakable targeted attacks we saw in Washington, DC and in Denver.

A battalion of 500 U.S. Marines are mobilizing to Los Angeles to respond to anti-immigration enforcement riots. The Marines will be tasked with protecting federal property and federal personnel, according to a senior defense official, and the deployment is open-ended. The Marines will not be carrying out a law enforcement role, but it’s unclear what their use of force rules are if protesters throw things or spit at them. The new deployment comes after President Donald Trump sent some 2,000 National Guardsmen to the riot-racked city over the weekend. The Marines are from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines at Twentynine Palms, California.

Members of Hewlett’s Jewish community awoke Monday morning to reports of three disturbing incidents that occurred overnight within blocks of the shul and surrounding Jewish homes. The incidents, all of whom took place around 3:00 a.m., have sparked fears of coordinated antisemitic attacks, though details surrounding them remain vague and scant. The first incident involved a fire at Avi’s Auto Repair, where a tow truck parked in the lot was set ablaze, and the flames spread to the office building. Minutes later, ASAP Restoration had its windows smashed. A third incident occurred at the Chesed Center, where a banner bearing anti-Israel and antisemitic messaging was tied to the building’s front gate.