A ruse, a brave gamble or a fantasy? Why Trump’s most puzzling Iran move yet is unlikely to work

 https://edition.cnn.com/2026/05/26/politics/trump-iran-war-peace-deal-analysis

If Donald Trump’s search for a way out of the Iran war was not difficult enough, he’s added a new goal that threatens to vastly complicate the Middle East’s already splintered politics.

The president said Monday he’d asked Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan to join his first-term legacy deal, known as the Abraham Accords, which is designed to forge historic ties with Israel.

Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have longed grasped for huge goals in the Middle East and Ukraine and have so far fallen short, leading critics to question the wisdom of sending two business tycoons to unpick knotty diplomatic problems. Their relative lack of success has undermined the central conceit of Trump’s presidency: that he’s a masterful negotiator and historic dealmaker who can nail breakthroughs that would have been beyond past presidents.

“It’s not entirely clear what President Trump himself has to show for, by way of his track record in running or managing this war, that he feels able to impose such a demand on, on regional countries,” Alhasan said.

Blessing G-d

 Berachos (07a) I once entered into the innermost part [of the Sanctuary] to offer incense and saw Akathriel Jah, the Lord of Hosts, seated upon a high and exalted throne. He said to me: Ishmael, My son, bless Me! l replied: May it be Thy will that Thy mercy may suppress Thy anger and Thy mercy may prevail over Thy other attributes, so that Thou mayest deal with Thy children according to the attribute of mercy and mayest, on their behalf, stop short of the limit of strict justice! And He nodded to me with His head. Here we learn incidentally that the blessing of an ordinary man must not be considered lightly in your eyes.

After four years: Famous personality who refused divorce, gives in to ultimatum

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427574

The Tel Aviv Rabbinic Court has ordered a get (divorce document) to be given to S. after a long struggle with her husband, a famous personality, who refused to divorce her for four years.

The decision came after the court posed an ultimatum to the husband, that if he did not grant the get, harsh legal and financial sanctions would be considered. Among the sanctions on the table were the termination of his employment with his employer and the publication of his name in public.

Attorney and rabbinic advocate Tehila Cohen, who represents the woman in the process, asked the court to apply direct pressure on the get refuser.

She asked that his place of work fire him and that his identity be cleared for publication to end his refusal. Later in the hearings, the husband's employer appeared before the court to consider the possible steps.

The judge, Rabbi Shlomo Shtessman, notified the husband that he was to issue the get by April 30th. The judge made clear that if he did not do so, he would consider the attorney's request for sanctions positively.

Following uproar: Amshinov hassidic court clarifies Temple Mount ruling

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427582

An official statement published by the Rebbe's son, Rabbi Moshe Milikowsky, stressed that the interpretation given to the halachic words spoken in the Rebbe's house was totally distorted.

According to Rabbi Milikowsky, "We were amazed by how the Rebbe's words about the Temple Mount were taken out of context. The Rebbe did not, G-d forbid, allow the ascention to the Temple Mount in opposition to the opinions of all the halachic scholars. They took an internal halachic discussion held at the Rebbe's home a year ago, which was published in an internal publication of the hassidic court, and was meant for those who understand the Rebbe's style of answers, and dishonestly published it as if the Rebbe permits or instructs to visit the Temple Mount in practice, something that would never cross his mind."

The Rebbe's son further clarified that the Rebbe's position is in line with that of all halachic scholars, that it is currently forbidden to enter the Temple Mount in practice, an action that, according to the statement, could easily lead to sins bearing the punishment of "Kareth."

The uproar follows statements first published on Arutz Sheva, which included quotes from the Amshinov court's newspaper, Yirah Vesimcha

Trump says ‘mandatory’ for Muslim nations involved in Iran deal to join Abraham Accords

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-says-mandatory-for-muslim-nations-involved-in-iran-deal-to-join-abraham-accords/

US President Donald Trump insisted on Monday that six Muslim-majority countries join the Abraham Accords normalization agreements with Israel ahead of any deal between the US and Iran to end the war, negotiations on which he said were “proceeding nicely.”

“It may be possible that one or two have a reason for not doing so, and that will be accepted, but most should be ready, willing, and able to make this Settlement with Iran a far more Historic Event than it would, otherwise, be,” he added.

If countries do not sign, he said, they should not be involved in any deal with Iran as “it shows bad intention.”

Trump’s post suggested that he was seeking to offer Israel an upside in the nascent deal to end the war with Iran, whose reported terms have set off alarm bells in Jerusalem. Channel 12 reported on Sunday that senior Israeli officials have warned that, “As it seems, [the agreement] does not serve Israel’s interest.” Other officials have been quoted as calling it a bad deal and highly problematic for Israel.

Israeli officials are concerned that the deal, which would reportedly begin with a 60-day extension of the ceasefire, does not address Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs or its support for regional proxies, delaying negotiations on these and other key war goals. According to the report, officials fear the deal would grant Iran time for economic and military recovery, after which “it will be hard for the Americans and us to go back and fight.”

Trump demands Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan join Abraham Accords as part of Iran deal

 https://www.jpost.com/international/article-897249

"By copy of this TRUTH, I am asking my Representatives to begin, and successfully complete, the process of signing these Countries into the already Historic Abraham Accords," Trump posted on his Truth Social account.

The request was directed at Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and Pakistan, with Trump noting that the other countries involved were already parties to the accords.

"It should be mandatory that all of these countries, at a minimum, simultaneously sign onto the Abraham Accords," said Trump

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump's post. The other countries cited by Trump did not immediately respond to the Abraham Accords post.

The hasidic rebbe's surprising ruling

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427564

The Amshinov hasidic newspaper Yirah Vesimcha, published a conversation between the Amshinover Rebbe and his son, regarding the issue of ascending the Temple Mount during the current period.

During the conversation, the Rebbe was asked whether it is forbidden today to ascend the Temple Mount, and he replied, "A person who is impure from contact with the dead is permitted to enter the Temple Mount itself. Only the cheil, which is beyond the Temple Mount, is forbidden."

"Can someone who immerses in a regular mikveh (ritual bath) enter the Temple Mount?" his son asked. The Rebbe answered: "Yes, but again, only the beginning of the Temple Mount."

The Administration noted that police currently also allow a short route for those who wish to enter only the area near the entrance to the Mount from the gate at the wooden bridge by the Kotel, walking close to the Western Wall from the inside and immediately exiting through the exit gate used by all those leaving the Temple Mount, without completing the full circuit around the Mount.

Why one Trump critic says latest Iran deal feels like "surrender is the endgame"

Israel alarmed as Iran deal takes shape

 https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/05/24/israel-alarmed-as-iran-deal-takes-shape/

Following reports of progress in talks in Pakistan, concern is mounting in Israel, as the Israeli leadership has been almost completely cut off from updates on what is happening behind closed doors in the critical negotiations. Security officials and coalition faction leaders took part in the meeting.

Two Israeli security sources told Israel Hayom that the Israeli leadership had been almost completely cut off from updates on what was happening behind closed doors in the critical talks. They added that, because of the lack of information, Israel had to rely on diplomatic sources as well as intelligence sources within the Iranian regime.

The US has no victory image, and that is bad news for Israel

 https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/05/24/the-us-has-no-victory-image-and-that-is-bad-news-for-israel/

The only real news in the emerging deal at this stage is the mutual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic. All the other disputed issues are being deferred to negotiations that are supposed to begin between the sides at an unknown date. The Iranian regime achieved the goal it set for itself and survived. By contrast, the US administration has not achieved any of its declared objectives.

All the other disputed issues between the countries, which are large, far-reaching and of critical importance to Israel's security, are being deferred to negotiations that are supposed to open between the sides. No one knows whether such negotiations will actually t place. It is even more doubtful that they will mature into any agreement, let alone within two months.ake

In other words, realistically speaking, the result we are likely to reach is the reopening of the straits and a return to the conditions that prevailed before Operation Rising Lion and Operation Epic Fury. Beyond that, it can be assumed that the sides will tread water until further notice.

Trump Defends Iran Deal Amid Republican Criticism

 https://www.newsweek.com/iran-media-says-deal-touted-by-trump-inconsistent-with-reality-11987756

President Donald Trump has defended the peace deal he says the U.S. is nearing with Iran following backlash from hardliner Republican lawmakers saying the agreement would appear to be weaker than what was established before the war.

Reported elements of the draft agreement so far suggest that the U.S. and Iran could agree to end the war without immediately addressing Iran's nuclear program - which had been one of the justifications the White House had raised for launching the war in February.

Critics, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, say such an arrangement would not be "America First" and that it appeared similar to the Obama-era nuclear deal, which Trump withdrew from in his first term in office.

Trump said to assure Netanyahu he will thwart Iran nuke program as Israel fears ‘very bad’ deal

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-said-to-assure-netanyahu-he-will-thwart-iran-nuke-program-amid-jitters-over-emerging-deal/

US President Donald Trump sought to reassure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call that a final agreement with Iran will fully dismantle Tehran’s nuclear program, a senior Israeli official said in a statement on Sunday, as details emerged of a deal being cobbled together with Iran that appeared to leave central Israeli and American demands unmet and prompted profound concerns in Jerusalem.

According to multiple reports, confirmed by Israeli officials, the initial deal will focus on extending an existing ceasefire for another 60-days and opening the choked Strait of Hormuz to vital shipping, with the key issue of Iran’s nuclear activities relegated to discussions during that period, and no requirement for Iran to export its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. In addition, the plan is said to include a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah, but does not include disarming the Iran-backed group.

Trump “clarified that he will stand firm in the negotiations on his longstanding demand for the dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program and the removal of all enriched uranium from Iranian territory, and that he will not sign a final agreement without these conditions being met,” the unnamed senior official said.

Haredi kollel accused of major fraud

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427503

The kollel received over 40 million shekels over a decade for hundreds of students, but a covert audit revealed that only a few dozen students were studying there.

The Israeli Ministry of Education has filed a major lawsuit against a kollel in Ashkelon, alleging what officials describe as one of the largest cases of fraudulent reporting ever uncovered in a Torah study institution.

At this stage, the Ministry of Education is seeking approximately 3 million shekels from the organization, representing government support funds transferred at the beginning of 2022 during the period when inspections were conducted.

The alleged fraud was uncovered in 2022 during a covert inspection conducted at the organization’s institutions. Inspectors reportedly found that only a few dozen students were present at the site.

‘Nightmare for Israel’: Senior GOP senators criticize alleged terms of emerging Iran deal

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/nightmare-for-israel-senior-gop-senators-criticize-alleged-terms-of-emerging-iran-deal/

After Iran says nuclear issues aren’t part of current talks, former secretary of state Mike Pompeo compares terms to 2015 Iran deal, says it will let Tehran ‘terrorize the world’

Senior US senators from the Republican Party voiced criticism on Saturday over the reported terms of the deal that US President Donald Trump, who is also a Republican, is negotiating with Tehran to end the Iran war.

Iran, meanwhile, said that nuclear issues were not part of the current negotiations.

Wicker, on Friday, blamed Trump’s advisers for pushing him to make a deal with Iran “that would not be worth the paper it is written on” rather than allowing the president to “finish the job he started.”