Israel utilized the recent visit of US Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,  to convey several messages to the incoming Biden administration about Iran and other regional issues, Axios reported on Wednesday. Since Milley is expected to continue in his position through the US administration’s transition, Israel views him as a “potential bridge” to Biden’s administration, the report said. “We wanted to make our case to the new administration on Iran through someone who is still going to be in the room when Biden assumes office and is going to play a substantive role in any policy review that will take place,” an Israeli official told Axios.

A new unknown photo of HaGaon HaRav Yisrael Meir HaCohen of Radin, the Chofetz Chaim, z’tl, was recently discovered by Rav Dan Schlesinger, B’Chadrei Chareidim reported. The rare picture was publicized on Wednesday morning by the author Yekusiel Yehudah Ganzel in the Hamevaser newspaper. Earlier this week, Rav Schlesinger published a special booklet with stories about the Chofetz Chaim, including the story of his planned trip to settle in Eretz Yisrael, which has never been published before. Rav Schlesinger discovered the anecdotes about the Chofetz Chaim when he received an inheritance which included documents and banknotes that the Chofetz Chaim sent to a Yerushalmi Jew named Rav Yosef Levi Chagiz.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is considering another run for president in 2024, even if it means challenging a Donald Trump comeback bid. “I would not rule it out,” Christie told radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt in an interview on Monday, when asked specifically if he would run — even if that put him up against Trump. Christie frequently refers to his decades-long friendship with Trump, and has stood by the president’s side despite repeated snubs over the last four years. But he made clear in his interview with Hewitt that he disagreed with how Trump was handling his loss to President-elect Joe Biden, and was keeping his options open whether Trump sought a second term or not. “If I go and look up Christie2024, will that URL already be reserved?” Hewitt asked Christie.

The IDF Commander of military’s ground forces, Major-General Yoel Strick, was surrounded by members of the Peleg Yerushalmi who were protesting near the String Bridge at the entrance to Yerushalayim today. The protesters surrounded Strick’s car and made him feel uncomfortable to the extent that he pulled out his weapon and brandished it at the protesters. He was eventually rescued by the Israel Police Special Patrol Unit (Yassam). According to a statement made by the police, officers spotted protesters surrounding a military vehicle and attacking it. Officers immediately swung into action and extricated the vehicle from the crowd of protesters and the driver continued on his way. “The police will continue to allow the freedom of expression and the right to protest.

A group of prominent Boro Park dayanim and Misaskim representatives had a face to face meeting with a senior El Al executive on Monday to discuss a serious problem that arose last week for kohanim and to ensure that concrete steps are being taken to prevent future recurrences. Misaskim arranged the meeting between El Al Vice President for North and Central America Yoram Elgrabli and the Karlsburger Rebbe, Rav Yechezkel Roth, the Debrecziner Rebbe, Rav Moshe Stern, Rav Herschel Ausch and Rav Moshe Roth in Boro Park in light of the December 16th discovery that aronos were no longer being placed in special boxes that prevented issues of tumah for kohanim on JFK flights.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday pardoned 15 people, including Republican allies, a 2016 campaign official ensnared in the Russia probe and former government contractors convicted in a 2007 massacre in Baghdad. The pardons included former Republican Reps. Duncan Hunter of California and Chris Collins of New York. Collins, the first member of Congress to endorse Trump to be president, was sentenced to two years and two months in federal prison after admitting he helped his son and others dodge $800,000 in stock market losses when he learned that a drug trial by a small pharmaceutical company had failed.

German pharmaceutical company BioNTech is confident that its coronavirus vaccine works against the new UK variant, but further studies are needed to be completely sure, its chief executive said Tuesday. The variant, detected mainly in London and the southeast of England in recent weeks, has sparked concern worldwide because of signs that it may spread more easily. While there is no indication it causes more serious illness, numerous countries in Europe and beyond have restricted travel from the UK as a result. “We don’t know at the moment if our vaccine is also able to provide protection against this new variant,” CEO Ugur Sahin told a news conference the day after the vaccine was approved for use in the European Union.

Startling footage has emerged of a truck carrying hundreds of propane tanks bursting into flames following a crash early Tuesday morning in New York City. Investigators told the New York Post that the truck likely overturned on the Long Island Expressway around midnight after passing over black ice. The truck was carrying 294 propane tanks and its driver told police that he lost control while attempting to avoid another vehicle that had cut him off, according to WABC. It reportedly took hours for firefighters to extinguish the massive blaze caused by the wreck. The driver is said to have refused medical treatment at the scene and there were no other reports of injuries.

Israel’s Health Ministry confirmed 3,594 coronavirus cases in the previous 24 hours on Tuesday morning, the highest number of daily cases in months, with tests showing a positivity rate of 4.2%, also a record high number. There are currently 27,628 active virus cases, with 427 seriously ill patients, of whom 119 are ventilated. The death toll has risen to 3,111. Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said on Tuesday that Israel’s situation is critical. “We’ve missed the train…and there’s no escape from a lockdown,” Edelstein said on a visit to a senior care facility that was launching a vaccination program for its residents. “It will take two to three months until the vaccination program will have an effect.

Israel’s new restrictions banning non-Israelis from entering Israel due to fear of the new coronavirus variant were approved by the Knesset’s Law Committee on Tuesday morning. The Chaim V’Chessed organization sent Rav Nechemya Malinowitz as its representative to the hearing and due to his presence and in consultation with Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, MK Yisrael Eichler and MK Yitzchak Pindrus, the law was approved in a way that allows for the continued entry of some foreign residents of Israel, namely families. Families who are recognized as Toshvei Yisrael, residents of Israel, will be allowed to enter Israel with entry permits, even after Wednesday, December 23, when the new coronavirus travel restrictions take effect.