In an attempt to reassure Israeli concerns amid rising diplomatic unease, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee pushed back against claims that President Donald Trump’s upcoming Middle East trip — which notably skips Israel — signals a snub. The former Arkansas governor, speaking to Israel’s Channel 12, acknowledged that Trump’s first regional tour as president-elect includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, but not Jerusalem — a move that’s raised eyebrows across the Israeli political spectrum. “His first trip is about economic opportunity. That’s where his focus is,” Huckabee explained. “It’s not about leaving Israel out. He’s spent more time with the Israeli prime minister than with any other leader.

After about 30 hours, Chief Fire  Eyal Caspi announced at 6:30 p.m. that control had been achieved over the massive fire in the Jerusalem hills. “The Fire Chief has instructed to gradually reduce forces,” a statement said. “The firefighters will continue to work at low intensity but with a strong presence on the ground to prevent the fire from rekindling. The Fire Chief thanks all the forces and parties that assisted in the national effort to extinguish the fire.” The main hotspots on Thursday were Latrun, Burma Road, Eshtaol, Mesilat Zion, Ta’oz, Canada Park, Sha’ar HaGai, Kedoshim Forest, and Shoresh. According to the Fire and Rescue Authority, a special investigative team has launched a probe into the circumstances of the fire, and an in-depth investigation is underway.

On February 18, 2025, YWN received a letter signed by Hagaon HaRav Dov Landau, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka, calling for “all Charedi representatives to immediately withdraw from Zionist institutions,” specifically targeting involvement in organizations like the World Zionist Organization (WZO). YWN has since uncovered that nearly every print publication that ran this letter was paid to do so, a revelation that raises serious questions about the authenticity of the campaign. For clarity, YWN was neither offered nor paid to publish the letter and has maintained its editorial independence.

A somber and heart-wrenching levaya took place on Sunday afternoon for Natasha (Sara) Saada A”H and her two young daughters, Diana (7) A”H and Debra (5) A”H, who were tragically killed in a devastating car accident on Shabbos afternoon near Ocean Parkway and Quentin Road. Hundreds of mourners gathered at Shomrei Hadas Chapels in Boro Park to give kavod acharon to the victims, whose lives were cut short in a senseless tragedy that has shaken the Flatbush Sephardic community and beyond. Rabbi Hillel Haber, Rabbi Yosef Ozeri, and Rabbi Shlomo Diamond delivered heartbreaking hespedim, offering words of chizuk and mourning the immeasurable loss. Leading Sephardic Rabbonim from across the community were in attendance, standing in solidarity with the grieving family.

In a video statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that if Hamas does not return the hostages by Saturday at noon, the ceasefire will end, and the IDF will resume heavy military operations “until Hamas is completely defeated.” After Hamas announced a delay in the hostage release, Netanyahu said he ordered the IDF to mobilize forces in and around the Gaza Strip. “If Hamas does not return our hostages by noon on Saturday, the ceasefire will end, and the IDF will resume intense fighting until Hamas is decisively defeated…. “I have just concluded an in-depth four-hour discussion in the Security Cabinet. We all expressed outrage at the appalling condition of the three hostages who were released last Saturday…..

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he’s given his advisers instructions to obliterate Iran if it assassinates him. “If they did that they would be obliterated,” Trump said in an exchange with reporters while signing an executive order calling for the U.S. government to impose maximum pressure on Tehran. “I’ve left instructions if they do it, they get obliterated, there won’t be anything left.” If Trump were assassinated, Vice President JD Vance would become president and would not necessarily be bound by any instructions left by his predecessor. Federal authorities have been tracking Iranian threats against Trump and other administration officials for years. Trump ordered the 2020 killing of Qassem Soleimani, who led the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force.

In a highly relevant Q&A session, Rav Aharon Lopiansky shlit”a delivered a pertinent message on the role of Daas Torah in medical decision-making. The discussion, moderated by Rabbi Sruly Fried of Chai Lifeline, centered around a question posed: Does Daas Torah have a place in medical advice and referrals, and if so, what is its role? Rav Lopiansky’s response was clear and unequivocal: One must differentiate between moral dilemmas and technical expertise. “If someone is building a structure and is unsure if the supports are strong enough, would anyone even have a hava amina to ask Daas Torah? Of course not. You ask an engineer,” he explained. The same applies to vaccines—why should a Rav be expected to be a medical expert?

A soldier from the elite Egoz unit of the Commando Brigade was seriously injured on Shabbos during military activity in Jenin as part of Operation Iron Wall. A second soldier was moderately injured in the incident and a third soldier was lightly injured. “The soldiers were evacuated to receive medical treatment at a hospital, and their families were informed,” the IDF spokesperson stated. The IDF spokesperson added that IDF, Shin Bet, and Border Police forces continued counterterrorism activities in northern Shomron over the week, killing over 10 terrorists and arresting around 20 terror suspects. On Friday night, an Air Force aircraft targeted a vehicle carrying a terror squad, killing three terrorists. The strike was carried out based on precise Shin Bet intelligence.

Agam Berger is among the hostages expected to be released on Shabbos. Her mother, Merav, made a tremendous Kiddush Hashem and made a video urging Israeli media to honor Shabbos by refraining from coverage. Merav said “We are waiting with bated breath for our daughters…. We also know that it will apparently happen on Shabbos, and not for no reason, either: Our enemies apparently intended that.

On the night before October 7, an IDF intelligence unit gathered information indicating that Hamas was preparing to fire rockets at Israel and also observed unusual activity among Hamas’ aerial forces that indicated they were preparing for activity, Ynet reported on Thursday. These signs were discussed in IDF consultations in the following hours but no officials made a decision to raise alerts over a possible Hamas attack or cancel the Nova party which was being held with thousands of attendants in an open area near the Gaza border. Contrary to earlier reports, during these consultations, senior IDF officials had seriously considered the possibility that Hamas was about to launch an attack on Israel.