The day before the arrival of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Israel on Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said that Israel will not let the US stand in the way of ensuring that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons. Blinken’s visit comes shortly before the fifth round of negotiations between Iran and the US on returning to the 2015 nuclear deal. In his speech at a ceremony during which the new Mossad head was appointed and top Mossad agents were honored, Netanyahu said: “The primary mission for every one of you is to prevent Iran from arming itself with a nuclear weapon. That is the supreme mission.” “I very much appreciate our friend the United States, which has stood by us for many years,” Netanyahu continued.

Thanks to a fast response by the NYPD and Flatbush Shomrim, a violent anti-Semite was arrested outside a Flatbush Shul on Monday night. The incident unfolded at around 9:30PM, when an approximately 20-year-old black man allegedly walked up to a Shul on East 27th Street and Avenue S, and began shouting anti-Semitic slurs, and attempted to gain access to the premises. The suspect was immediately confronted by a Federal Agent (U.S. Customs / Border Patrol) who was Davening in the Shul, and was told to go away. The suspect responded by punching the security guard in the face. The suspect also assaulted another bystander, all while screaming anti-Semitic slurs. Police and Shomrim were called who both responded in seconds – thanks to a massive deployment in the area.

Police arrested a 25-year-old man Monday accused of knocking a Jewish man to the ground and assaulting him with a group of others. Faisal Elezzi and several others allegedly surrounded Joseph Borgen on Broadway on Thursday, then punched, kicked and pepper sprayed him, police said. Borgen was also hit with crutches. Elezzi was charged with assault as a hate crime, menacing as a hate crime and aggravated harassment as a hate crime. Police previously arrested Waseem Awawdeh on charges of assault as a hate crime, gang assault, menacing and criminal possession of a weapon. The NYPD was still looking for several others in connection with the incident on Monday night.

The families of the victims of the Meron disaster sent a letter on Sunday to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu demanding the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the disaster. The families also sent copies of the letters to UTJ chairman Moshe Gafni, Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, and Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai. “Unfortunately, in recent days, some are calling for an investigation that is not part of an independent state commission of inquiry,” the letter stated. “We, the representatives of the bereaved families…wish to clearly and unequivocally say – all the families together – that we are demanding an independent state commission of inquiry.

Michael Elk, the Christian missionary who had infiltrated the French Hill Chareidi community of Jerusalem, was spotted in Beit Shemesh san his Chareidi “disguise,” B’Chadrei Chareidim reported. Elk was reportedly exploring the possibility of moving to the city and was seen visiting the local council and community center and local stores. Apparently, Elk is not planning on moving back to the States in the wake of the discovery of his true identity. Anti-missionary groups had said that they were working on having him deported from the country but as of now, he seems to be searching for another place in Israel to settle down. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Days after Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced that a drone launched at Israel last week during Operation Guardian of the Walls was made in Iran, an Iranian drone factory suffered a mysterious explosion. Nine people were injured in the explosion at the Sepahan Nargostar chemical and fireworks factory in the Isfahan province of Iran on Saturday night, Iranian media reported. The factory “produces a variety of aircraft and drones for Iranian and pro-Iranian forces,” according to The Guardian. The explosion took place at 3:36 a.m. local time but Iranian media only reported the incident on Sunday morning. Social media users in the area reported hearing the blast and feeling the explosion shake the ground and rattle windows long before an official report was issued.

Thanks to a fast response by Flatbush Shomrim, a hate crime suspect was taken into custody moments ago. Sources tell YWN that the NYPD and Flatbush Shomrim were on alert looking for a woman who was caught on security cameras writing “Free Palestine” on numerous construction sites in Flatbush. A large contingency of Police and Shomrim were canvassing the area of East 24th Street and Avenue L looking for the suspect, after multiple eye-witnesses called Shomrim on Monday reporting they had seen the women. Shomrim eventually found her on Bedford Avenue between K and L, and thanks to a 30 second response by dozens of NYPD officers who have been flooding the area, she was taken into custody without incident.

An attempted stabbing attack took place near the Ammunition Hill light rail station in Jerusalem on Monday afternoon at about 1:30 p.m. The station, located near the Israel Police National Headquarters, has been the site of many terror attacks over the years. Two young men, ages 21 and 23, were moderately injured with stab wounds to their upper torso and were evacuated to Hadassah Har Hatzofim Hospital by emergency responders in mobile intensive care units. The terrorist first stabbed a civilian in his back with a large knife. A nearby soldier then tried to intervene and the terrorist stabbed him as well. A nearby Border Police officer then shot and killed the female terrorist.

As YWN reported last week, the Gerrer chassidus, the largest chassidus in Israel, will no longer be using bleachers during weddings and tischim in the wake of the Karlin tragedy. This week, one of the Gerrer Rebbe’s grandchildren is getting married and arrangements had to be made to host the large crowd expected at the wedding without the use of bleachers. It was decided that the guests will attend the wedding in shifts, with the yeshivah bochurim participating in the first part of the wedding, outside the main Gerrer Beis Medrash on Rechov Yirmiyahu in Jerusalem. The older guests will attend the second half of the wedding in the older section of the Gerrer Beis Medrash.

A cable car taking visitors to a mountaintop view of some of northern Italy’s most picturesque lakes plummeted to the ground Sunday and then tumbled down the slope, killing 14 people. The lone survivor, a young child, was hospitalized in serious condition with broken bones, authorities said. Five of the dead were Israeli citizens, including a family of four who lived in Italy, the Israeli foreign ministry said. Israel’s Foreign Ministry, citing Italian authorities, said the victims appeared to include an Israeli couple living in Italy and their son. Another elderly couple, likely visiting from Israel, was also killed, the ministry said, adding that the information was still being verified.