A Hamas spy operation that took advantage of Gazan residents with Israeli mothers to gain access to Israel to gather intelligence for terror purposes was uncovered by Israeli security forces, the Shin Bet stated on Monday. Indictments were filed on Monday at the Central District Court against two spies: Rajab Dacha, 34, an Israeli Arab resident of Lod, and Rami Amoudi, 30, a resident of Tel-Aviv. Amoudi, the son of an Israeli Jewish mother and a Gazan Arab father grew up in the Gaza Strip. Two years ago, he contacted his mother, who was estranged from her husband and living in Tel Aviv and renewed his relationship with her. He eventually acquired Israeli citizenship with his mother’s help and moved to Tel Aviv.

Two weeks after the arrest of Aharon Ramati, suspected of running a cult, the police investigation is not yet completed and the prosecution is requesting to carry out further investigations, B’Chadrei Chareidim reported. The court acceded to the request and extended his arrest by two days. “The defendant has already proven that if he is released he will obstruct [legal proceedings],” the police representative said at the hearing. The police suspect that Ramati received information on his impending arrest two weeks ago and hid some of the minors that were at the “seminary” complex. Since the investigation began, 103 testimonies have been recorded against Ramati.

It’s been released for publication that 22 members of an alleged smuggling ring were arrested on Monday, including six IDF soldiers and 16 Palestinian and Israeli Arabs, two of whom are Israeli citizens. The Palestinians and Israeli Arabs are accused of smuggling weapons, cigarettes and other goods from Yehudah and Shomron into Israel and the IDF soldiers are accused of accepting bribes and endangering state security. An undercover investigation began when suspicion arose that weapons and other goods were being smuggled into Israel from Yehudah and Shomron in private and commercial vehicles through IDF checkpoints.

U.S. stocks fell sharply Monday, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average down by more than 450 points, as investors grappled with fresh worries about the spread of a new virus in China that threatens global economic growth. The sell-off gave the Dow its first 5-day losing streak since early August and handed the S&P 500 its worst day since early October. Both indexes were off about 1.5%, giving up a significant portion of their gains this month. The latest bout of selling on Wall Street came after China announced a sharp rise in cases of the virus. Airlines, resorts and other companies that rely on travel and tourism suffered steep losses. Gold prices rose as did bonds as traders sought refuge in safer holdings.

The State Department Correspondents’ Association says the State Department has denied a National Public Radio reporter a seat aboard Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s plane for an upcoming trip to Europe and Central Asia. The decision came a few days after Pompeo lashed out at another NPR reporter. The correspondents’ association said Monday the decision to remove NPR correspondent Michele Kelemen from Pompeo’s plane led it to conclude “the State Department is retaliating” against NPR. The group asked the State Department to reconsider and allow Kelemen to join Pompeo. The State Department declined to comment on the correspondents’ association request.

Elizabeth Warren is fighting to regain momentum in the turbulent tussle for the Democratic presidential nomination amid lingering questions about her consistency and ability to defeat President Donald Trump. Warren was considered a leader in the crowded race through the fall, yet just days before Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses, allies, adversaries and new polling suggest that progressive rival Sen. Bernie Sanders has a slight advantage — at least in the battle for the party’s left wing. That’s just as establishment-minded Democrats begin to rally behind former Vice President Joe Biden, who has tried to stoke fears about his more liberal rivals’ ability to win in November. Warren’s uncertain status raises questions about whether any female candidate will emerge from Iowa’s Feb.

Baba Sali zt”l We (Yad L’Achim) have arranged for a special tefillah by grandsons of the Baba Sali & Talmidei Chachamim of Yad L’Achim, to take place Thursday, 4th of Shevat, at the hilula (yahrtzeit) of the holy BABA SALI, RAV YISRAEL ABUCHATZEIRA zt”l, this Thursday (CLICK HERE) Please submit any names for tefillah for free by visiting YadLachim.org PLEASE SHARE THIS OPPORTUNITY WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDSshare via WhatsApp The Baba Sali zt”l was very close to Yad L’Achim and encouraged us in our work every step of the way. Shortly before his passing, he penned a letter of great inspiration and encouraging Klal Yisrael to support Yad L’Achim. He included a bracha (blessing) to all who support Yad L’Achim: “הנה בא לפני גודל המעשים של ארגון יד לאחים. .

The chief of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard warned Monday that it will retaliate against American and Israeli commanders if the U.S. continues to threaten top Iranian generals. “I warn them to withdraw from this field,” Gen. Hossein Salami told state television, adding if they do not, they “will definitely regret it.” The U.S. killed Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who headed the expeditionary Quds force, in a drone strike outside of Baghdad’s airport in Iraq on Jan. 3. Five days later, Iran retaliated by launching ballistic missiles at two bases in Iraq housing American troops, causing injuries but no fatalities among soldiers there. Soleimani was responsible for Iranian proxy forces across the Mideast. The U.S. alleged that he was plotting attacks on American targets.

Israel’s reception of world leaders last week for the World Holocaust Forum involved much more than meeting leaders at the airport with flower bouquets and laying out the red carpet. Israel’s cyber defense system was hard at work fighting hundreds of cyber-attacks on Ben-Gurion Airport and the planes of the world leaders, a Channel 12 News report said on Sunday as reported by Times of Israel. The report said that according to officials of Israel’s Airports Authority Cyber Division, over 800 separate cyber-attacks targeted Israeli airspace while the word leaders were landing in Israel on Thursday. Officials added that the attacks, stemming from Iran, China, North Korea, Russia and Poland were all successfully fended off.

President Donald Trump is holding his next rally in a county with almost no factory jobs to save, a reliance on immigrant workers and an economy built in part by coastal elites who summer there. Cape May County on the southern tip of New Jersey reflects just how much loyalty Trump’ commands with voters outside the industrial heartland. More than 65% of its economy comes from tourism. The population booms from 90,000 year-round to more than 670,000 in July and August. Yet the county is reliably safe swimming for Republicans — and a Trump event bringing in thousands of guests into a community that is shuttered for winter is an economic bonus for the hotels, motels and restaurants. Trump is holding the Tuesday rally along the beach in Wildwood in support of New Jersey Rep.