A political firestorm erupted Thursday when former FBI Director James Comey posted a cryptic Instagram photo of seashells arranged to form the numbers “8647,” which many in conservative circles interpret as a coded call to assassinate President Donald Trump. The post, deleted after sparking outrage, has prompted investigations by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Secret Service, with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard leading calls for Comey’s arrest. The controversy stems from the phrase “86 47,” where “86” is slang for “to get rid of” or, more recently, “to kill,” and “47” refers to Trump’s status as the 47th President of the United States.

Syria’s new government under President Ahmad al-Sharaa is reportedly considering the return of the remains of legendary Israeli spy Eli Cohen — a potential diplomatic gesture that could mark a striking departure from decades of hostile silence between the two countries. According to Arab diplomats cited by Al-Akhbar, a pro-Hezbollah Lebanese newspaper known for its deep connections in the region, Syrian officials have not ruled out the possibility of transferring Cohen’s remains to Israel, nearly 60 years after he was hanged in a Damascus public square in 1965. The report, authored by Al-Akhbar editor-in-chief Ibrahim al-Amin, claims that covert security talks between Israel and Syria have intensified in recent weeks, with a particular focus on confidence-building measures.

The father of Edan Alexander, the US-Israeli soldier recently freed from captivity in Gaza, offered a glimpse of the brutal conditions his son endured while held hostage by Hamas. In an interview with The New York Times, Adi Alexander described how his 20-year-old son—who had been serving in the IDF for just ten months—was seized, blindfolded with a bag over his head, and subjected to beatings and interrogations. “There was nothing to interrogate him about,” the elder Alexander said. “They knew about the arrangement of the IDF much better than he did.” According to Alexander, Edan’s suffering was compounded when a tunnel collapsed around him, injuring his shoulder. For months, he survived on a starvation diet of pita bread, brown beans, rice, and bitter black coffee.

Hatzalah volunteers in Maryland can now legally use emergency lights in their personal vehicles during emergencies, thanks to a new law spearheaded by Senator Dalya Attar – the highest elected frum female in U.S. history. Senate Bill 1030, which formally codifies this permission into Maryland law, was signed by Governor Wes Moore on Tuesday. The legislation marks a huge win for Hatzalah of Baltimore and similar volunteer EMS organizations, ensuring they can continue to respond to life-threatening emergencies with maximum speed and safety. “This is a major milestone,” said Senator Attar, who championed the bill through the legislative process.

Yehudah and Shomron have undergone a dramatic revolution in recent months, with an unprecedented drop in terror attacks, a recent Ynet report said. Of course, as Am Yisrael mourns over the brutal murder of a mother on the way to give birth on Wednesday evening, frum Jews are aware of the constant Yad Hashem. The number of “attempted” terror attacks in the Shomron is staggering and there are constant nissim on the roads of Yehudah and Shomron every single day. According to security data, which was revealed for the first time in the report, the number of terror attacks in the Shomron in April 2025 was the lowest in five years, 46, of which three were significant (shooting, stabbing, or explosives).

YWN readers know that there have been significant recent developments in the long-running battle to protect our yeshivos from the State Education Department. Last week, important and helpful legislation was enacted, and yesterday the State’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, heard argument in the challenge to SED’s onerous substantial equivalence regulations. At the argument, SED conceded for the first time that parents can supplement any supposedly deficient instruction at their child’s yeshiva with a tutor, homeschooling or an extracurricular class. The state had insisted otherwise for three years, and had used that to try to force parents to enroll their children at other schools. In fact, many parents have received letters to that effect in recent days.

Israel Police has completed its preparations for the Rashbi event at Meron which will take place on Lag B’Omer, on Thursday evening and Friday. Thousands of police, Border Police, National Guard, and traffic police officers are already deployed in the town of Meron, at the Rashbi compound, and on access roads in order to maintain public order and direct traffic. At the same time, Israel Police is operating a helicopter, observation equipment, drones, ATVs, off-road vehicles, and motorcycles in the entire area. Thousands of ushers from the Chareidi community will operate in all areas of Meron. The number of attendants has been limited through pre-purchased Ministry of Transport travel tickets. The drive up to Meron will only be permitted to public buses and shuttles.

Amid an outbreak of measles in the city of Modi’in Illit, the city Rabbanim published a letter this week calling on the public to urgently vaccinate themselves and their children against the disease. An outbreak of measles in Israel began last month, including in several Chareidi cities. There are currently 14 cases in Modi’in Ilit, eight in Jerusalem, and eight in Bnei Brak. According to data from the Health Ministry, there are about 350,000 Israeli children under the age of 10 who are not vaccinated – 100,000 of them in the Chareidi community. The Health Ministry is working to raise awareness of the risks and provide accessible information about vaccinations to the Chareidi public.

Amid renewed diplomatic momentum to end the Gaza war and secure the release of Israeli hostages, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff has introduced a new framework aimed at achieving a ceasefire and removing Hamas from power, according to reports from Israel’s Channel 12. The proposed plan, reportedly presented during President Trump’s high-profile visit to Saudi Arabia this week, has garnered support from international mediators involved in the ongoing negotiations. Israeli officials say Witkoff, a close ally of President Trump, is “personally invested” in the effort to bring the hostages home.

A new national survey of Jewish voters reveals a striking disconnect between President Trump’s fight against antisemitism and how the majority of American Jews perceive those efforts. The poll, conducted by GBAO Strategies for the newly launched Jewish Voters Resource Center, paints a picture of growing disillusionment—not only with Trump, but also with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and the direction of U.S. and Israeli policy. According to the survey of Jewish registered voters, more than half (52%) say the label “antisemitic” describes President Trump very or somewhat well.