Israeli authorities have launched a criminal investigation after two flares were fired at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s private residence in Caesarea on Saturday. The flares landed in the yard, causing no damage or injuries. Police confirmed that Netanyahu and his family were not at home during the incident. The act has drawn widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum. Opposition leader Yair Lapid and National Unity chairman Benny Gantz called for swift action, urging law enforcement to hold the perpetrators accountable. President Isaac Herzog labeled the attack “a highly dangerous incident, which I strongly condemn,” adding that he had spoken with the Shin Bet chief to stress the urgency of the investigation.

Former national security adviser John Bolton has called on the FBI to investigate Reps. Matt Gaetz and Tulsi Gabbard, who were named as Trump’s picks for attorney general and director of national intelligence, respectively. Bolton voiced his concerns on NewsNation’s The Hill, questioning the suitability of both candidates for high-level national security roles. With his nomination of Gabbard for director of national intelligence, Trump “is sending a signal that we have lost our mind when it comes to collecting intelligence,” Bolton said. “Up until a few hours ago, I would have said that was the worst cabinet appointment in recent American history.

HaGaon HaRav Moshe Shternbuch’s great-grandchild recently got married and one of the Sheva Brachos was held at his home. HaMekubal HaRav Yitzchak Meir Morgenstern attended the simcha and took the opportunity to ask HaRav Shternbuch: “What can we do to sweeten  [the din] of the war and other dinim?” HaRav Shternbuch responded that we should increase limmud Torah – and even the addition of a few minutes a day of limmud Torah has the koach to sweeten and even revoke dinim. Rafael Schwartz filmed the encounter: (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Donald Trump made a victor’s return to Washington on Wednesday, visiting the White House for an Oval Office meeting with Democratic President Joe Biden and committing to a smooth transition of power as the Republican president-elect moves quickly to build out his new administration. “Donald, congratulations,” Biden said, greeting Trump with a handshake and adding that he looked “forward to a smooth transition.” Trump made a similar pledge and expressed thanks to Biden for the invitation — one that Trump himself had not extended to Biden after losing the 2020 election. “Thank you very much,” Trump said. “Politics is tough. And it’s, in many cases, not a very nice world.

President Joe Biden left reporters scratching their heads on Tuesday when he sidestepped a question about negotiating a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas. Instead of addressing the serious topic directly, Biden responded with an odd comment about avoiding a camera bump. The exchange happened during a visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog to the Oval Office. As the two leaders sat together, Israeli reporter Neria Kraus asked Biden, “Do you think that you can get a hostage deal by the end of your term?” Rather than giving any insight, Biden quipped, “Do you think you can keep from getting hit in the head by a camera behind you?” An awkward silence filled the room, as Biden seemed unfazed by the missed opportunity to discuss the high-stakes negotiations.

In what will likely go down as one of the most extravagant failures in American campaign history, Vice President Kamala Harris managed to blow through more than $1 billion in just three months—only to lose to former President Donald Trump. The lavish spending, complete with a parade of A-list concerts and influencer contracts, ended up yielding little more than empty hype as Trump sailed to victory, winning critical battleground states and becoming the first former president since Grover Cleveland to reclaim the White House in a nonconsecutive term. Harris’s fundraising spree brought in unprecedented amounts from wealthy Democratic donors, filling her war chest with cash from Silicon Valley titans like George Soros and Michael Bloomberg. And it sure didn’t take long to spend it.

Marn’i Washington, a former FEMA supervisor recently dismissed over allegations she directed workers to skip hurricane-damaged homes displaying Trump campaign signs, claims her directive was in line with a broader FEMA policy of avoiding “politically hostile” residences. Washington argues that the practice isn’t isolated to her team, calling it a “colossal event of avoidance” and saying it has been applied in other regions, including the Carolinas. In a revealing interview with podcaster Roland Martin, Washington, who was terminated last week, insisted she was following a widespread approach that prioritizes worker safety. “FEMA preaches avoidance first, and then de-escalation. This is not isolated,” she said.

President-elect Donald Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Israel, Trump announced Tuesday. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel’s interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a great public servant, Governor, and Leader in Faith for many years,” Trump said in a statement. “He loves Israel, and the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him. Mike will work tirelessly to bring about Peace in the Middle East!” (AP))

Sarah Yasour, the head teacher at the kindergarten that was hit by an attack drone in the northern city of Nesher on Tuesday morning, was praised as a heroine for saving the lives of 20 children and the staff. The neis was especially potent since for unknown reasons, no sirens sounded in the city and she brought the children into the shelter only as a precaution, saving their lives. “We truly experienced a neis shel ha’nissim,” she said, thanking Hashem for the Hashgacha. She also thanked her staff, saying: “It wasn’t only me, it was all the staff.

Two people were killed after a rocket strike in Nahariya, a northern coastal city, a short while ago. Magen David Adom responded and found two victims in critical condition. Sadly, they were both Niftar a short while later. MDA EMT Dor Vaknin said that this was a warehouse hit by a rocket. Vaknin says “we arrived quickly at the scene, where there was significant destruction and an active fire. We conducted medical assessments on two men who were lying unconscious and suffering from severe injuries. Unfortunately, their injuries were too severe, and after our assessments, we had to pronounce both of them deceased.” The IDF reports that 10 rockets were launched in the attack, with some intercepted and others hitting populated areas or open spaces in the Western Galilee.