Ambassador's son critically wounded in terror attack: 'Neria needs a miracle'

 https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/09/23/ambassadors-son-critically-wounded-in-terror-attack-neria-needs-a-miracle/

Neria Leiter was critically injured in a car-ramming attack. His older brother, Maj. (res.) Moshe Yedidya Leiter, was killed in battle in Beit Hanoun during the Swords of Iron War. Their father, Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter: "They choose death, we choose life."

According to police, a terrorist drove his vehicle toward a Judea and Samaria District Police patrol car in which a policewoman and an IDF soldier were operating as part of a joint mission, deliberately attacking them. Leiter suffered head injuries and was evacuated to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, where doctors are fighting to save his life. Security forces killed the terrorist at the scene.

Leiter's critical injuries are another tragedy for a family that has already paid the heaviest possible price. Neria's older brother, Maj. (res.) Moshe Yedidya Leiter, may God avenge his blood, was killed in November 2023 in a powerful explosion in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, alongside several other soldiers.

Trump’s approval plunges into the 20s, and Republicans give up

 https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/6104722-trump-approval-low-gop/

It was received wisdom during President Trump’s first term that his hard floor of support sat somewhere around one-third of Americans. Those were the MAGA true believers, the die-hards, the folks who stood in line for hours to attend their fifth Trump rally of the year. That rule of thumb proved to be true. Trump’s approval was still hovering in the 40s before ending around 34 percent on Jan. 4, 2021.

It was received wisdom during President Trump’s first term that his hard floor of support sat somewhere around one-third of Americans. Those were the MAGA true believers, the die-hards, the folks who stood in line for hours to attend their fifth Trump rally of the year. That rule of thumb proved to be true. Trump’s approval was still hovering in the 40s before ending around 34 percent on Jan. 4, 2021.

An American Research Group poll published this week found Trump’s approval at just 29 percent — a new low for his presidency and a flashing warning sign for the congressional Republicans being dragged beneath the waves by the president’s plummeting popularity. 

'Stunning numbers': Enten evaluates Trump's new polling low

Macron says Hamas was ‘never active’ in West Bank. Nearly 40 years of terror campaign say otherwise

 https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hkmomwzqgl

French President Emmanuel Macron’s speech Tuesday night at the UN General Assembly immediately sparked an uproar in Israel after he claimed that Hamas had never “caused trouble” in the West Bank, a statement contradicted by nearly four decades of the terrorist organization’s activity there.

Just two days earlier, hours before Yom Kippur began, Netanel Shukrun, a French citizen and father of six, was killed in a shooting attack at the Ein Re’iya spring. The attacker, Qadri Samara, was identified as a Hamas operative.

Hamas’ presence in the West Bank did not begin this week. In fact, its activity there dates back to the late 1980s, not long after the terrorist organization was founded in the Gaza Strip in December 1987, with the outbreak of the First Intifada.

Macron's blatant lie is only a sideshow

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/433518

Macron’s false statement about Hamas is grotesque, but the real story is the lethal "palestine" fairytale dreamed up by the KGB and now believed the world over. 

Everyone is going crazy over French leader Emmanuel Macron’s blatant lie at the United Nations today that Hamas has “never been active in the West Bank"-Judea and Samaria.

Yes, the statement is a total lie. Hamas has operated networks and carried out terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria for decades.

Macron's Hamas comments at UN were translation 'misinterpretation

 https://www.jpost.com/international/article-909407

French President Emmanuel Macron's earlier comments on Hamas's West Bank operations were a translation "misinterpretation," a French diplomatic source told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.

According to the source, the statement was translated as "Hamas has never been particularly active," but the meaning of the French phrase stated by Macron, "le Hamas n'a jamais sévi en Cisjordanie," is "Hamas has never governed the West Bank."

The apparent clarification follows criticism from several Israeli officials after Macron made the comments during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Netanyahu decries Macron’s ‘grotesque’ claim that Hamas ‘never operated’ in West Bank

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-decries-macrons-grotesque-claim-that-hamas-never-operated-in-west-bank/

PM notes an Israeli with French citizenship was killed by a Palestinian terrorist just days before; French official tells ToI that Macron meant Hamas ‘doesn’t govern’ the territory

Israel shot back angrily Tuesday at French President Emmanuel Macron who, in an address to the United Nations, criticized Israeli actions in the West Bank and claimed Hamas was never active in the territory that is home to the Palestinian Authority.

“The grotesque absurdity of Emmanuel Macron’s statement is staggering,” said a statement from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is expected to deliver a defiant address to the world body on Thursday.

“Hamas terrorists carry out attacks against Jews almost every day. They have murdered countless Israeli civilians in Judea and Samaria,” it said, using the Biblical name for the West Bank, which Israel captured during the 1967 Six Day War. “Ignorance is no excuse for erasing their blood.”

Responding to the Israeli criticism, a French diplomatic official told The Times of Israel that Macron “meant to say that Hamas does not govern the West Bank.”

Hidden Rewards

 https://aish.com/479983793/

Fascinatingly, the Midrash in Vayikra Rabbah tells us that Tsara'at HaBayit comes as a reward. Now how can this be possible? You lose your home and it's a reward? Explains the Midrash. When the Canaanites were fleeing from the Holy Land, they hoped that one day they would return to their homes. And so they hid their most valuable possessions inside the walls of those homes. And so Hashem identified those homes by placing the discolouration on the walls.

Consequently, once the homes were raised to the ground, the owners were able to find that hidden treasure.

I believe that there is a powerful message here for all of life. Sometimes things go wrong, and we cry out to God and we say: 'Why have you cursed us in this fashion?' Little do we realise that actually we are taking a few steps backwards in order to move hundreds of steps forwards. Sometimes the greatest of treasures in life come through difficulty and travail. This is how the Gemara in Masechet Brachot puts it, Kol man d'avid Rachmana l'tav avid. Whatever God does, he does for the good.

Birkas Asher (Vayikra 14:34) Rashi notes that the affliction of the house was actually a good thing since it revealed the treasure hidden in the walls by the Canananites though that implies that the phenomenon happened only when they were first conquering Israel, This requires further study.. In addition there is an additional question as to why the benefit of finding treasure was only for those who spoke lashon harah. The Maskil l’Dovid explains that when the Jews first came to Israel it was not a punishment but a reward

Or HaChaim (Vayikra 14:34) When you come to the land…and I will give a plague of "leprosy," etc. How can one describe the plague of "leprosy" breaking out on one's house as good news so that the Torah describes it as a gift from G'd? Why did the Torah not merely write: "when the walls of your houses develop certain stains, etc." in the same way as the Torah described such a skin disease in 13,9? Vayikra Rabbah 17,6 was conscious of this and explained that the Canaanites who heard that the Israelites were approaching hid their valuables inside the walls of their houses. When the walls would display signs of "leprosy," the Jewish owner would investigate and discover the hidden treasure. This is homiletics, of course. Rabbi Levy explains in that same Midrash that when G'd wishes to reprove us He does not immediately inflict pain on our bodies, but He first afflicts our houses, and in the event this does not help He afflicts our clothing. Only if we fail to respond to these two warnings does G'd inflict the plague on our bodies, i.e. our skin. When viewed in this light the affliction on the house is indeed a "gift" i.e. a demonstration of G'd's loving concern for us.

Gunman who fired on police outside Canada synagogue dies of gunfight wounds

https://www.timesofisrael.com/gunman-who-fired-on-police-outside-canada-synagogue-dies-of-gunfight-wounds/

 Like many Western countries, Canada has seen a rise in reported incidents of antisemitism over the last three years amid criticism of Israel’s response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror onslaught.

Sunday’s shooting comes months after Carney warned that Canada was failing its Jewish community amid a surge in antisemitism.

Carney cited shootings at Jewish schools, firebombings of synagogues and attacks on community centers and Jewish-owned businesses. His government announced millions in additional funding to help faith-based institutions pay for security infrastructure, training and personnel.

Tzaras is Natural or Miraculous

Bamidbar Rabbah (19:03) On what account is a leper cleansed with the aid of the tallest of tall trees and with the lowest of low ones, namely, with the cedar tree and the hyssop? He had been punished with leprosy owing to his having exalted himself like the cedar tree. Having humbled himself like the hyssop he was healed by the aid of a hyssop.

Birchas Asher (Vayikra13:01) According to those who agree with the view of Rambam one can ask from the words of the gemora that  there is no tzuras in Babylonia because they eat beets, drink beer, and bathe in the waters of the Euphrates.\that means that Tzuras is physiological In contrast there is a medrash about turas of houses in which it was a sign from God to find hidden treasure. Thus we see that our Sages were not in agreement about this and there are conflicting views

Kesubos (77b) Rabbi Yoḥanan said: For what reason are there no lepers in Babylonia? Because they eat beets, drink beer, and bathe in the waters of the Euphrates, all of which are good for the body. It is prohibited to go four cubits to the east of a leper. R. Simeon b. Lakish said: Even a hundred cubits. They did not really differ; the one who said four cubits referred to a time when there is no wind blowing, whereas the one who said not even a hundred cubits, eferred to a time when a wind is blowing. R. Meir would not eat eggs that came from an alley of lepers. R. Ammi and R. Assi would not enter a leper's alley. Resh Lakish, when he saw one of them in the city, threw stones towards him, and said: ' Go to your place, and do not defile other people,’ as R. Hiyya taught: He shall dwell alone of them, hid himself from him, 

Magen Avraham (O.C. 173:1): The combination causes leprosy – It is possible that in modern times there is not so much danger because we know that many things that are mentioned in the Talmud as being a danger because of ruach rah and other reasons do not cause harm today because nature has changed. Also it is a function of the nature of the particular country…

Moreh Nevuchim (03:47) Tzaraas is a miracle received in our nation by tradition, in the same manner as the effect of the trial of a faithless wife. The good effect of this belief is evident. Leprosy is besides a contagious disease, and people almost naturally abhor it, and keep away from it.

Ralbag (Vayikra 13:47) Tzara’as on these objects is caused by moisture and heat… this causes them to be damaged and destroyed… the discoloration is what you’d find in moldy places, like water near a dump, where things turn green or red.

Ramban (Vayikra 13:47) AND WHEN THE PLAGUE OF LEPROSY IS IN A GARMENT. This is not in the natural order of things, nor does it ever happen in the world outside Israel, and similarly leprosy of houses is not a natural phenomenon. But when Israel is wholly devoted to G-d, then His spirit is upon them always, to maintain their bodies, clothes and houses in a good appearance. Thus as soon as one of them commits a sin or transgression, a deformity appears in his flesh, or on his garment, or in his house, revealing that G-d has turned aside from him…

Ramban (Vayikra 14:34) Scripture states with reference to plagues in houses, and ‘I’ shall put the plague of leprosy, in order to allude to the fact that it was G-d’s hand that did this, and not an act of nature at all, 

Vayikra Rabbah (17:03) For ten sins does leprosy come upon the world: (i) idol-worship, (ii) gross unchastity, (iii) bloodshed, (iv) the profanation of the Divine Name, (v) blasphemy of the Divine Name, (vi) robbing the public, (vii) usurping [a dignity] to which one has no right, (viii) overweening pride, (ix) evil speech, and (x) an evil eye. 

Vayikra Rabbah (17:06) When the Canaanites heard that the Israelites were approaching, they set to and hid their valuables in the houses and in the fields. Said G-d: ' I promised the Israelites’forefathers that I would bring their children into a land full of all that is good,’ as it is said, And houses full of all good things. What did G-d do?-He brought plagues upon a house

Trump criticizes the press for failing to report fake accomplishments

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/09/22/politics/trump-press-fake-accomplishments

 President Donald Trump, defending his decision to ban CNN and two other media outlets from the White House, argued Monday that the press has “an obligation” to report on his accomplishments.

But Trump immediately cited two supposed accomplishments that do not actually exist.

We don’t report that he “settled eight wars” because he didn’t. We don’t report that there is “$21 trillion pouring in” to the United States because there isn’t. Both numbers are wildly inflated.

Trump’s claims about having won a “landslide” victory, having “the best economic numbers for the country” and that “we’ve done so well” with Iran are some combination of too subjective and too vague to debunk, though it’s clear all three can be reasonably challenged. But his claims that “I’ve settled eight wars” and “we have $21 trillion pouring in” are incorrect, as CNN has repeatedly noted when he has made the same or similar claims on numerous previous occasions.

Gaza journalist who met with Mamdani admits he buried Oct. 7 footage of Israeli hostages being beaten to protect perpetrators

 https://nypost.com/2026/09/21/world-news/gaza-journalist-who-met-with-mamdani-admits-he-buried-footage-of-israeli-hostages-being-beaten-to-protect-perpatrators/

A Gaza journalist who has met with Mayor Mamdani and been honored with a Nobel Peace Prize nomination and a spot on the Time100 list admitted that he buried footage of Israeli hostages being beaten by a Palestinian mob on Oct. 7, 2023 in order to protect the perpetrators.

Photographer Motaz Azaiza also revealed that all media in Gaza is controlled by Hamas through a single WhatsApp group — and the terror group will target any journalist who publishes criticism.

Azaiza — who has become one of the most famous journalists in Gaza — was in the territory on Oct. 7, when Hamas marched the hostages taken from Israel through the streets of Gaza, where all hell broke loose.

“Photographers in Gaza have become accustomed to lowering their cameras the moment someone says something bad about Hamas, he said, “because anyone who dares to show reality is persecuted relentlessly.”

He said he had to flee the territory after publishing people criticizing Hamas. He now lives in Qatar.

Despite Azaiza withholding the footage of the hostages being beaten as part of his coverage of the war, some of the hostages who were paraded around the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7 eventually spoke out about the ordeal.

Itay Regev, a survivor of the Nova Music Festival massacre, said Hamas had driven him and others around the streets of Gaza and displayed them like human “trophies” to the angry crowds.

Revelation raises questions about reporting from Gaza

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/433489

Motaz Azaiza says he filmed Gazans assaulting hostages but withheld the footage out of concern that Israel would identify them. He also revealed pressure exerted by Hamas on journalists.

Palestinian Arab photographer Motaz Azaiza says he possesses footage from October 7 that he did not publish, including recordings showing Gaza residents beating and assaulting hostages in the Gaza Strip.

According to Azaiza, the decision to keep the material off the internet was deliberate: He feared that the footage would help Israel identify those involved and take action against them.

One of his revelations concerns a WhatsApp group called “Smart." According to Azaiza, its members include journalists from Gaza, and it is managed by a media figure affiliated with Hamas. He said the group was also used to organize attacks against media personnel who dared to publish criticism of the organization.

“Photographers in Gaza have become accustomed to lowering their cameras the moment someone says something bad about Hamas," he claimed.

An eight-step guide to blaming Israel

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/433475

The beginner should start with a simple rule: Never permit an event to have more than one cause if Israel can be blamed.

Next up is correct chronological selection. History is dangerous because it contains events that interfere with arguments. The solution is simply to begin the story after those events.

Israel must never be crudely compared with what its enemies do. It should be measured against an imaginary country operating under ideal conditions available only in thought experiments.