The brouhaha surrounding the closure of Al Jazeera’s Israel operations is part of a broader disinformation campaign against the Jewish state. Even the way the move is being portrayed by the Qatari media outlet—as a violation of free speech—is a lie.
Not surprising, given that mendacity is a requirement for employees of the network. But bad journalism isn’t behind the legislation, which passed last month in a landslide Knesset vote and unanimously by the Cabinet on Sunday.

As the Israeli government and Hamas appear to close in on a possible hostage deal, members of the coalition from both sides of the aisle are weighing in.
War cabinet members Benny Gantz and Gadi Eizenkot have threatened to leave the government if Israel refuses a deal because of what they call political “blackmail.” On the other side are those Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is far more afraid of: The two right-wing parties in his coalition, Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit and Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism. Without these two parties, Netanyahu will lose his Knesset majority.

Tens of thousands of Yidden attended a mass Birkas Kohanim this morning at the Kosel. The large Birkas Kohanim is held every Chol Hamoed and draws tremendous crowds.
The entire Old City of Yerushalayim was closed to vehicles as thousands streamed by foot and via bus to the Kosel. Some had davened Shacharis elsewhere, while others took part at minyanim at the Kosel. All joined together for the central Birkas Kohanim,with the Kosel chazzan calling out the bracha over a microphone. Hundreds of kohanim gathered at the front of the minyan, right by the Kosel, to bentch their fellow Yidden.

Iran could make a dash for the bomb in a matter of weeks, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said, adding that Tehran’s activity “raises eyebrows.”
International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Mariano Grossi told Deutsche Welle that Iran is “weeks rather than months” away from having sufficient enriched uranium to manufacture a bomb.
In late December, the agency said Iran had tripled its uranium enrichment level to 60%, which is just a short technical step away from 90% weapons-grade.
“I have been telling my Iranian counterparts time and again …, this activity raises eyebrows and compounded with the fact that we are not getting the necessary degree of access and visibility that I believe should be necessary,” he said.

N12 reported on Thursday night that the International Criminal Court (ICC) is possibly contemplating the issuance of international arrest warrants against Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and other high-ranking officials for alleged war crimes.
The ICC boasts a membership of approximately 125 countries, including the majority of European nations, which are obligated by treaty law to respect the ICC’s arrest warrants. However, instances have arisen where countries have contested such warrants and refused to adhere to them.
The report sparked confusion as the ICC has yet to resolve key jurisdictional issues before considering arrest warrants.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman said he believed “there’s some truth” to reports that U.S. President Joe Biden negotiated in advance with Iran on the extent of its massive missile attack on Israel.
During the Tuesday edition of the New York City-based radio show, “Sid & Friends in the Morning,” host Sid Rosenberg said he believed that Biden was “behind the whole thing” referring to the missile barrage on Israel.
“I was kind of skeptical, but as the stories are coming out… Look, if this ends up being true, this will be an absolute outrage and a scandal the likes of which I haven’t seen before,” Friedman agreed.

Thousands of African migrants gathered outside City Hall in New York City on Tuesday to participate in a hearing on the black experience in the city’s shelter system.
Some of the migrants said they were promised green cards or work permits for attending the hearing. The migrants, who were mainly new arrivals from Guinea in West Africa, were reportedly directed to City Hall by an activist group.
From The New York Post:

The Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) announced on Sunday that a mourner’s wreath left outside the door of Hamas hostage Liri Albag’s family was the work of “Iranian elements.” Police have opened an investigation into the incident.
The wreath was delivered to her family’s home in Moshav Yarhiv in central Israel. It included the inscription, “May her memory be blessed. The country is the most important.”
Albag, 19, was captured from the Nahal Oz Base on the Gaza border on Oct. 7. She is still presumed to be alive, particularly following a Daily Mail report late last month stating that Israeli forces had found traces of her DNA in Gaza.

Huge crane ships, thousands of relief workers and millions of dollars headed toward Baltimore on Thursday, as efforts turned from recovery after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge to a massive cleanup that some experts described as unprecedented and highly dangerous.
The U.S. Navy deployed several floating cranes, including one that could lift 1,000 tons, while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said it would send more than 1,100 engineering specialists and other experts to begin removing the hulking debris that has crippled the Port of Baltimore.
Federal officials also announced the first relief funds – $60 million sought by Maryland officials – would flow toward disaster recovery just hours after the request was submitted.

Hamas on Wednesday released a recording attributed to Mohammed Deif, the commander of the terror group’s military wing, with Arab media claiming the clip was taped during the Oct. 7 massacre.
“Our people in Jordan and Lebanon, in Egypt, Algeria, the Maghreb, in Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia and in all parts of the Arab and Islamic world,” says Deif in the 35-second audio clip.
“Begin marching today, now and not tomorrow, towards Palestine, and do not let borders, regulations, or restrictions deprive you of the honor of jihad and participation in the liberation of Al-Aqsa Mosque,” he continues.
“Go forth, light and heavy, and strive with your money and your lives in the path of God,” concludes the terror leader.