Trump says U.S. is negotiating end to war with Iran

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/03/23/trump-iran-talks-strikes/

President Donald Trump said Monday the United States is negotiating with Iran to end the three-week-old war, declaring that the two sides had two days of “very good and productive conversations” that will continue throughout this week.

It was the president’s first acknowledgment of high-level talks between the two sides since the United States and Israel unleashing a withering bombardment of Iran on Feb. 28, hammering the country’s military and leadership but also leading to a global energy shortage that has brought economic pain around the world.

Trump delays strikes on Iranian power plants after ‘very good’ talks with Tehran

 https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/iran-war-us-israel-trump-03-23-26

 Trump postpones strike threat: President Donald Trump says the US and Iran have held “productive conversations” and that he will hold off any military strikes against Iranian energy sites for five days, walking back his threat to strike if Tehran did not allow the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz – a waterway crucial to the global economy – by tonight.

• Oil plunges on news: Oil prices have plummeted after Trump suggested that the “very good” talks could lead to the end of the war.

Lindsey Graham Faces GOP Fury—‘Needs to Be Removed From the Situation Room

 Lindsey Graham Faces GOP Fury—‘Needs to Be Removed From the Situation Room

Senator Lindsey Graham is facing fury from his fellow Republicans after expressing support for the U.S. seizing Iran’s Kharg Island in an interview on Sunday.

Speaking on Fox News Sunday, the South Carolina Republican,  who is one of the leading advocates for the war, said: “This has been an amazing military operation. God bless the fallen.”

He added: “I trust DOD [Department of Defense]. We got two Marine expeditionary units sailing to this island. We did Iwo Jima. We can do this. The Marines—my money is always on the Marines.”

Hamas rebuilding rapidly in Gaza as Israel’s attention remains elsewhere, experts warn

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424426

Despite heavy damage during the post-October 7th war, Hamas continues to recruit operatives, rebuild tunnels, and assert control over civilian life in Gaza, raising concerns along the Israeli border.

While Israel focuses on threats from Iran and the northern front, Hamas is quietly reconstructing its infrastructure and strengthening control over Gaza, according to security experts. Footage and intelligence reveal convoys guarded by armed operatives, tunnels being refurbished, and the organization reestablishing itself economically-raising concerns among residents near the Gaza border that warnings of Hamas’s collapse have been premature.

Despite significant damage to its infrastructure, Hamas is establishing new economic and organizational systems. Data shows that roughly 4,200 trucks enter Gaza weekly. Hamas charges a 15% fee on each shipment, reducing its dependence on Qatari aid, which had previously been its lifeline.

Hamas also remains Gaza’s largest employer, with tens of thousands of operatives in uniforms and civilian clothing receiving salaries while managing municipal services.

‎Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו‎'s Post

https://www.facebook.com/Netanyahu/posts/sara-and-i-were-deeply-saddened-to-hear-of-the-passing-of-chuck-norris-a-great-f/1502776497884822/ 

Sara and I were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Chuck Norris, a great friend of Israel and a close personal friend.

Chuck brought martial arts and the warmth of his character to millions around the world.

May his memory be a blessing.

Chuck Norris Endorses Netanyahu: Israel Has Its Own Tough Guy, His Name Is Bibi

Half Shekel was Atonement for Sin of Golden Calf

 Or HaChaim (Shemos 30:13) The alienation between Israel and its G'd resulted from the episode of the golden calf which affected the roots of all the Jewish souls. G'd therefore commanded that the people give a "half-shekel" to symbolise that their previous action had resulted in something whole having become divided. The contribution of this half-shekel was to repair the damage done to the whole through the people's participation in the sin of the golden calf. Every mitzva is meant to close a gap that may exist between man and G'd. 

Moshe's defense of the making of the Golden Calf

 Ramban (Shemos 32:11) ETERNAL, WHY DOTH THY WRATH WAX HOT AGAINST THY PEOPLE? Now when Moses prayed about this great sin, it would have been fitting that he do so by way of confession and supplication, similar to what he said later on, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and just as Ezra prayed and confessed because of the faithlessness of them of the captivity, and there is no reason why he should say, why doth the Eternal etc.? Our Rabbis, prompted by this difficulty have in various homiletic ways tried to mention several reasons for Moses’ minimizing the sin before Him.

Yalkut Shimoni (795) Moshe told G-d that the Golden Calf was a good thing and that it would assist Him. G-d asked how it would assist? Moshe answered “When You make it rain it will produce dew.When you make storms it will make lightning.”G-ds replied Moshe you also are mistaken about the Golden Calf . Moshe replied “If so why are You angry with Your people and say that they have sinned a great sin?” This can be compared to a king who was angry with his wife and sent her from his house. Her defender questioned the king for what he did and also asked his wife why she was upsetting the king 

Devarim Rabbah (01:02)  When Israel made the Golden Calf, G-d desired to destroy them, whereupon Moses said to Him: ‘Master of the Universe! This Calf will be of great help to Thee.’ God then asked him, ‘How can it help Me?’ Thereupon Moses replied: ‘Thou causest rain to fall, the Calf will produce dew; Thou bringest out the winds, the Calf will bring out lightnings.’ Said God to Moses: ' So you also are going astray after the Calf! ' Whereupon Moses exclaimed before God: ' Then," Why doth Thy wrath wax hot against Thy people" seeing that the Calf is nought?’ To Israel, however, he said: ' Ye have sinned a great sin.’

Bamidbar Rabbah (02:15) Moses’ plea: Lord, why doth Thy wrath wax hot against Thy people, etc. . Moses suggested: ‘This calf which Israel have made can now be of assistance to Thee.’ He can send down rain while Thou wilt produce the dew! ‘‘But,’ replied the Holy One, blessed be He, ‘is there any such hope from him?’ ‘Then,’ came Moses’ retort, ‘if there is no substance in him, why art Thou wroth? ' ‘Lord, why doth Thy wrath wax hot against Thy people... wherefore should the Egyptians speak... For evil did He bring them forth... Remember Abraham,’ etc. (ib.11 ff.). What follows in the text? And the Lord repented of the evil which He said He would do unto His people (ib. 14). ‘His people.’ Thus has been explained the text, ‘And it shall come to pass that, instead of that which was said to them,’ etc.

Berachos (32a) Moses spoke insolently towards heaven The school of R. Jannai learnt it from here: And Di-Zahab. What is ‘ And Di-Zahab’? They said in the school of R. Jannai: Thus spoke Moses before the Holy One, blessed be He: Sovereign of the Universe, the silver and gold which Thou didst shower on Israel until they said, Enough, that it was which led to their making the Calf. 

Shemos Rabbah (43:10) When Israel made the Golden Calf, God intended to destroy them, but Moses pleaded: ' Lord of the Universe! Didst Thou not bring them forth from Egypt, a place of idol-worshippers?

Golden Calf changed the Way Torah was Given

 Sforno (Shemos 24:12) “which I (the Lord) have written.” If it had not been for the sin of the golden calf, the entire Torah would have been handed to the Jewish people (Moses) as a signed and sealed document just like the Tablets with the Ten Commandments. Instead, Moses wrote down the Torah at G’d’s command. In fact, Moses only brought the Tablets to within sight of the people in order to smash them before their eyes, so that they would understand what they had forfeited due to their disloyalty to G’d. This demonstration of Moses having smashed the Tablets was designed to shock the people into penitence. 

Bessent responds to Trump’s post about Mueller’s death - Trump is a vile human being because he is a victim

 https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5795894-bessent-trump-empathy-plea/

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday said people need to give President Trump more empathy after Trump posted that he was “glad” former FBI Director Robert Mueller was dead.

“I think that given what has been done to President Trump and his family it is impossible for either of us to understand what he has been through,” Bessent said during a Sunday appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

“I was with the president in the green room at Davos and there was a video playing of what may have been an illegal raid on his home at Mar-a-Lago. They are going through his wife’s wardrobe,” Bessent told moderator Kristen Welker on Sunday.  

Arson attack on London volunteer ambulances being treated as antisemitic hate crime, police say

 https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/mar/23/jewish-volunteer-ambulances-fire-golders-green-suspected-arson-antisemitic-ntwnfb

Four ambulances belonging to the Jewish community ambulance service have been set on fire in Golders Green, with police saying they were treating the incident as an “antisemitic hate crime”.

Officers were called to Highfield Road in Golders Green at about 1.45am on Monday after receiving reports of a fire.

The Metropolitan police confirmed the incident in north London was being treated as an antisemitic hate crime.

The ambulances were run by Jewish charity Hatzola, which was established in 1979 and is run by volunteers, providing free medica

Golden Calf was a reboot of Mankind by G-d to its Original Status

Malbim (Shemos 32:34) וביום פקדי - ...ובדרך הדרוש יש טעם נכון בזה, כי מה שהניח ה' שיבא מעשה העגל לידי גמר, ולא הודיע למשה תיכף שירד מן ההר וישבית מעשיהם, ומה שהצליח מעשה שטן הוא מפני שבעת שהקדימו נעשה לנשמע פקע יצר הרע מלבם, ולא היה להם אפשרות לחטא, כי נעשו כמלאכי השרת שאין להם יצר הרע ונעשו חירות ממלאך המות. וזה נגד הכונה בבריאת האדם, שהאדם נברא שיהיה לו יצר הרע המסית אותו לחטא, והוא ינצח המלחמה... ועל כן לא השבית ה' מעשה זאת, שעל ידי העגל חזר יצר הרע ללבם, ומעתה יש להם בחירה ושכר על מעשיהם. וזה תירוץ ואמתלא על מעשה העגל שלא להענישם. אבל אמתלא זאת לא תועיל רק אם ינצחו המלחמה ולא ישמעו לעצת היצר הרע בעתיד, שאז היה מעשה העגל לזכות להם לזכותם בעתיד, אבל אם בעתיד ישמעו לעצת היצר הרע וינוצחו מאתו, אם כן אין להם אמתלא וזכות במה שעשו את העגל, ועל כן ביום פקדי על חטאים אחרים ופקדתי עליהם, שאז יתחייבו על חטא העגל... (שם לב לד)

RFK Jr. is a 'big fan' of this treatment and plans to widen access

 https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/22/kennedys-latest-maha-approved-plan-could-supercharge-peptide-craze-00839137

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is poised to declare victory on widening access to one of the country’s biggest wellness fads: peptides, the building blocks of proteins that biohackers claim help quickly heal injuries and promote muscle growth and fat loss.

Kennedy’s supporters in the Make America Healthy Again Movement, which include social media influencers selling popular peptide treatments, and his pharmacist allies have applauded his remarks and say they expect bold action from him any day now.

Yet some pharmacists and doctors warn that any move by the FDA to loosen current regulations around peptides could pose serious health risks because of the lack of scientific data to support many of them.

“We’re about to unleash one of the biggest medical experiments in the history of America onto Americans as the test subjects,” Alec Ginsberg, chief operating officer at C.O. Bigelow, the country’s oldest pharmacy, said, referring to the lack of clinical data on peptide use.

Trump’s shifting Strait of Hormuz strategies raise questions about US war preparation

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/trumps-shifting-strait-of-hormuz-strategies-raise-questions-about-us-war-preparation/

After failing to assemble coalition to secure critical oil shipping route, president has resorted to a threat to hit Iran’s power plants that critics warn is illegal, may backfire

At war with Iran, US President Donald Trump is cycling through an increasingly desperate list of options as he searches for a solution to the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz. He has jumped from calls to secure the waterway through diplomatic means to lifting sanctions and now escalating to a direct threat against civilian infrastructure in the Islamic Republic.

Trump and his allies insist they were always prepared for Iran to block the strait, yet the Republican president’s erratic strategy has fueled criticism that he is grasping for answers after going to war without a clear exit plan. On Saturday came his latest attempt, via an ultimatum to Iran: Open the strait within 48 hours or the United States will “obliterate” the country’s power plants.

Trump’s aides defended the threat as a hard-edged tactic to press Iran into submission. American opponents framed it as the failure of a president who miscalculated what it would take to get out of a geopolitical mire.

“Trump has no plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, so he is threatening to attack Iran’s civil power plants,” said Democratic Senator Ed Markey, adding: “This would be a war crime.”