Hod Hasharon Mayor Ami Kochavi sparked a political firestorm Wednesday night with remarks delivered during a Holocaust Remembrance Day event, where he appeared to link current Israeli actions to the potential for committing atrocities, warning of a “lust for revenge” as hostages remain in Gaza.
“Jewish morality dictates, ‘Never again’ — not just to us, but to all peoples, as an ethical and moral command on a just and healthy society,” Kochavi said during his address.
He continued by cautioning that moral clarity demands speaking out against abuses worldwide, regardless of who is responsible. “We must not be silent in the face of atrocities carried out against people of other nations in the world — even if they are carried out in our name,” he stated.

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NEW YORK- The federal pros

The International Criminal Court’s Appeals Chamber has overturned a prior decision by a lower court that dismissed Israel’s objection to the court’s jurisdiction in a case involving the Jewish state. The appellate judges determined that the lower chamber mishandled the matter and have now returned it for reconsideration.
Israel initially challenged the court’s legal standing to preside over the case, asserting that the ICC lacked jurisdiction. That challenge was rejected by the Pre-Trial Chamber, which claimed it was premature to address the issue. In response, Israel filed an appeal.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was originally slated to deliver a speech this coming Shabbos at the Young Israel of Woodmere in Long Island, New York.
Today, the shul, which boasts more than 2,500 members, announced that the event would no longer take place.
No official explanation was issued by the shul, but individuals close to the minister indicated that the rov who was supposed to host the gathering experienced a petirah in his family, which led to the cancellation.
There has not yet been any update on what alternate plans Ben Gvir may have made for his time in the United States.

If you’re fond of basking in the sunshine, you may want to soak it up while you still can. That’s because British scientists are seriously considering giving the sun a little timeout. In an effort to cool down the planet, researchers are preparing to launch outdoor experiments designed to dim the sun. Don’t snicker – dimming the sun by reflecting light away from Earth might soon be a government-backed strategy. According to The Telegraph, the government’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) is expected to greenlight outdoor trials in the coming weeks, with a £50 million budget allocated to explore solar geoengineering — a set of high-tech methods aimed at dialing down the thermostat on planet Earth.

In a bold economic initiative aimed at crippling Hamas’ financial infrastructure in Gaza, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has formally urged Bank of Israel Governor Prof. Amir Yaron to take unprecedented action: remove the legal tender designation from specific 200 Shekel banknotes.
This dramatic proposal is part of a wider strategy to disrupt Hamas’ access to liquid funds, which Sa’ar said forms the core of its operational strength in the region. He noted that billions of shekels in physical cash fuel Hamas’ activities in Gaza.

President Trump and Scott Bessent provide an update on potential trade deals with nations around the world.

Dozens attend the levaya of Barack Tzach z”l, who was killed in a shark attack off the Israeli coast earlier this week.