A heated debate erupted Monday during a session of the Knesset Finance Committee focused on funding and security arrangements for the upcoming hilulah of Rav Shimon bar Yochai in Meron.
The session turned chaotic when MK Naama Lazimi, a member of the opposition, clashed with chareidi representatives over the decision to divert trains to accommodate the tens of thousands traveling to Meron for Lag BaOmer.
Lazimi criticized the rerouting of train service to Karmiel, claiming it disrupted regular public transportation in favor of what she described as a “gang of draft dodgers and looters” heading to the pilgrimage. Her remarks sparked outrage in the room.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara escalated her war against Torah on Tuesday, ordering the IDF to send draft notices to all Chareidim of draft age in the upcoming draft year [which begins in June], without any distinction in their status as Lomdei Torah. There are approximately 80,000 bnei yeshivos who are eligible for the draft and about 18,000 have received draft orders.  The implication is that in the upcoming draft year, in addition to the new draft cohort, the IDF will have to send conscription notices to approximately 60,000 bnei yeshivos. Baharav-Miara, whose real goal is to topple the government, is escalating the crisis caused by reports of an arrest operation of Chareidi draft dodgers on Monday evening.

Amid escalating tensions surrounding the draft law debate in Israel, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi has reportedly instructed military authorities to intensify enforcement against chareidim who fail to report after receiving draft orders.
According to a report aired Monday evening by journalist Yoeli Barim on Channel 13 News, the Chief of Staff has directed the army to adopt a stricter stance toward mitchayevim—young men from the chareidi sector who received call-up orders but failed to appear at draft offices. Under the new directive, every chareidi man who does not show up will be treated as violating the law and may face criminal sanctions.

Lebanese media reports an Israeli drone strike on a motorcycle in southern Lebanon’s Houla. The IDF has yet to comment on the incident.

President Joe Biden’s physical deterioration was so severe that advisers privately discussed the possibility he’d need to use a wheelchair if he won re-election, according to a new book.

POTUS: “We have the biggest business leaders in the world here today… In the United States, it’s probably two million jobs that we’re talking about — this visit.”

Consumer prices rose 2.3% in April compared to a year ago, cooling slightly from the previous month and defying fears of an inflation surge in the aftermath of Pres. Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs last month.

Yaakov AmidrorJERUSALEM (VINnews) — Former National Security Council Chief, Major General (Res.) Yaakov Amidror, said in an interview on Channel 12’s “Avri and Sharki” program that those

President Trump is greeted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Police arrested a 21-year-old man Tuesday on suspicion of starting fires at U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s private house, another property linked to Starmer and a car. The Metropolitan Police force said the suspect was detained on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life a day after an early-morning fire on Monday damaged the door of the house where Starmer and his family lived before he was elected to lead the country. Police said that the arrest also concerns two other fires that may be linked — a vehicle fire near Starmer’s house on Sunday and a May 8 door fire at a property in another part of north London. The second property is a house converted into apartments and also is linked to Starmer. No injuries were reported from any of the fires.

Special Envoy Steve Witkoff at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv: “I hope this is a beacon of hope for everybody else, and thank God for President Trump”

Saudi F-15’s escorted Air Force One as it arrived over Saudi Air Space earlier today.

Ben Shapiro on Qatar gifting Trump a plane: “Taking sacks of goodies from people who support Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, that’s not America first. If you want President Trump to succeed, this kind of skeezy stuff needs to stop.”

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