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Israel submitted a counterproposal to a new Egyptian proposal for a hostage release/ceasefire deal, the Prime Minister’s Office announced on Motzei Shabbos. Hamas agreed to a new Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire/hostage release deal on Pesach and Eid al-Fitr,  Al-Arabay Al-Jadeed reported on Shabbos. The report quoted Egyptian sources who said that Hamas agreed to release US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander along with four other hostages in exchange for a ceasefire and the launch of negotiations on a long-term ceasefire. However, there definitely won’t be a deal by Eid al-Fitr, which begins on Sunday. According to a Kan News report on Friday, Hamas’s willingness to accept a deal is not related to Eid al-Fitr but to the recent protests in Gaza against Hamas.

Pesach is a time to reconnect, reflect, and rejoice. As we prepare for the Seder and the beautiful days of Yom Tov, ArtScroll has just released a collection of brand new books that are sure to enhance your Pesach experience, whether at the table, in the Beis Medrash, or relaxing with family.

Another wipeout walloped Wall Street Friday. Worries are building about a potentially toxic mix of worsening inflation and a U.S. economy slowing because of households afraid to spend due to the global trade war. The S&P 500 dropped 2% for one of its worst days in the last two years. It thudded to its fifth losing week in the last six after wiping out what had been a big gain to start the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank 715 points, or 1.7%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 2.7%. Lululemon Athletica led the market lower with a drop of 14.2%, even though the seller of athletic apparel reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Friday that Denmark has “underinvested” in Greenland’s security and demanded that Denmark change its approach as President Donald Trump pushes to take over the Danish territory. The pointed remarks came as Vance visited U.S. troops on Pituffik Space Base on the mineral-rich, strategically critical island alongside his wife and other senior U.S. officials for a trip that was ultimately scaled back after an uproar among Greenlanders and Danes who were not consulted about the original itinerary. “Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,” Vance said.

Hamas is currently considering freeing a number of hostages as part of a potential ceasefire agreement timed around the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr and the days that follow, according to individuals with direct knowledge of the situation, as reported by Kan 11 News on Friday evening.
Qatar is said to be playing a major role in the discussions, working in tandem with the United States to facilitate progress.
While the specific demands from Hamas and the official stance of Israel remain unclear, initial indications suggest that Edan Alexander, a soldier who holds American citizenship, could be among the captives released if a deal is reached.

Utah has become the first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water, despite widespread opposition from dentists and national health organizations. Republican Gov. Spencer Cox signed legislation late Thursday that bars cities and communities from deciding whether to add the mineral to their water systems. Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Utah lawmakers who pushed for a ban said putting fluoride in water was too expensive. Cox, who grew up and raised his own children in a community without fluoridated water, compared it recently to being “medicated” by the government. The ban comes weeks after U.S. Health Secretary Robert F.

Americans are less likely to see Canada and the U.S. as close allies than they were two years ago, the latest indication that President Donald Trump’s tariff threats and talk of taking over a neighboring ally are souring a critical economic and military relationship. The U.S. shift in viewpoint comes primarily from Democrats, though Republicans are less likely to see Canada as America’s ally now too, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. While about 7 in 10 Democrats saw Canada and the U.S. as close allies before Trump returned to office, now that number is down to about half. For Republicans, the number dropped from 55% to 44%. Although most still see the countries’ relationship as at least “friendly,” just under half of U.S.