Journalist and Judea & Samaria pioneer activist Elchanan Groner asserted on Sunday during an interview on Yoman Tzorayim that recent violent clashes in the Samaria village of Qusra are part of an orchestrated left-wing narrative campaign. “You first have to look at the broader context—we are in an election season, and the ‘settler violence campaign’ is the chosen issue,” Groner stated.
“It’s All a Propaganda Campaign”, BDS Protest | Photo: Reuters
Groner maintained that what actually occurred in Qusra over the weekend was initiated by local Arabs: “Dozens of Arabs set up stone roadblocks around Talpiot—a highly strategic mountain in central Binyamin. They hurled rocks, and only later did additional Jews arrive.” He claimed the incident is part of a wider pattern of staged friction: “Anarchists entered the village of Zita and staged deliberate provocations. In another incident, a child was sexually harassed by a British anarchist.”
Qusra, This Month | Photo: Flash90
Groner explained the method: “You have to understand, there are delegations: yesterday in Hebron eight activists confronted soldiers and created provocations. I’m coming now from Givat Ronen—15 activists with megaphones also came there—they sat three hours on the ground in the sun and left—no one touched them.” Over the weekend, IDF and Border Police forces were dispatched to Qusra following reports of Israeli citizens arriving in the area and violent friction developing.According to a joint statement released by the IDF and Border Police, stones were hurled toward ‘Palestinians’ and local residents during the confrontation.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich instructed professional staff on Sunday to advance an emergency reduction in the excise tax on gasoline, aiming to blunt an impending surge in consumer fuel prices driven by the global energy crunch and ongoing tensions with Iran.
Illustration | Photo: Shutterstock
According to a statement from his office, Finance Ministry officials are evaluating the precise scale and implementation mechanism of the tax cut. Smotrich plans to sign the official decree promptly to ensure price relief takes effect at pumps nationwide in the coming days. The policy intervention is designed to shield Israeli drivers from volatility across global crude markets. The excise tax constitutes a major component of retail pump pricing; reducing it allows the state to offset inflationary pressures stemming from geopolitical shocks.
Gas Station, Illustration | Photo: Shutterstock
At this stage, authorities have not finalized the exact percentage cut or the final savings per liter for consumers, as technical staff deliberate over the fiscal ceiling and budgetary offsets. Smotrich’s bureau emphasized that the ministry is moving rapidly. Once administrative reviews conclude, the minister will sign the required decree to bring the lowered excise rate into effect within days.
Gas Station, Illustration | Photo: Olivier Fitoussi, Flash90
The move comes against the backdrop of an international energy crunch exacerbated by the prolonged conflict with Iran, factors that have exerted heavy upward pressure on retail fuel prices. By absorbing part of the price surge through excise relief, the Finance Ministry aims to prevent the full inflationary cost from falling entirely on domestic motorists. The initiative remains an operational directive, with specific parameters—including the exact reduction rate and net impact on consumer prices at the pump—slated for finalization upon the conclusion of internal ministerial reviews.
The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit announced that Israeli forces struck a target in the Deir al-Balah area of the central Gaza Strip, eliminating Hossam Osama Hussein Nseir, a terrorist operative in Hamas’s military wing.
Photo: Arab social media
According to the military, the terrorist was actively advancing terror plots directed against IDF forces and Israeli civilians. The targeted strike was carried out to remove an immediate operational threat. The IDF emphasized that prior to the strike, numerous measures were taken to mitigate civilian harm, including the deployment of precision-guided munitions and continuous aerial surveillance.
IDF Southern Command troops remain strategically deployed across the sector in accordance with the agreement and will continue to operate decisively to eliminate any emerging threats.
A historic and emotional moment unfolded Sunday morning in northern Samaria, as Education Minister Yoav Kisch and Samaria Governor Yossi Dagan inaugurated new kindergartens in the towns of Ganim and Kadim ahead of the school year. Over 40 excited children, along with their parents and extended families, attended the special ceremony—21 years after the educational institutions there were destroyed and evacuated as part of the disengagement plan. Also present at the festive event were Education Ministry Deputy Director-General Yigal Tzarfati, District Director Ella Mozes, Hemed Central District Supervisor Orly Batito, Council CEO Haim Margolis, and Education Department Director Tal Navoni.
Photo: Meshi, Channel 14
The return to Ganim and Kadim is being carried out as part of the “Reconnection Plan,” led by Governor Yossi Dagan in collaboration with the Amana movement, which outlines the establishment of 19 communities in the northern Samaria region as part of the “Million in Samaria” plan. The re-establishment of the communities was made possible following a cabinet decision to regulate the communities, led by Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Education Minister Yoav Kisch declared during the ceremony that the return to northern Samaria is a national mission of the highest order, and emphasized that the education system is proud to take part in correcting the historical injustice and building the next generation throughout Judea and Samaria.
Hodaya Haniya, a kindergarten teacher in Kadim, said: “To see a kindergarten opening in a community being rebuilt, after years of waiting, is a moment of great gratitude to God and excitement that’s hard to describe in words. The minister’s presence at this first step of the pioneering families warms the heart and gives tremendous strength. The staff and I are simply waiting to embrace the children with warmth and love, and to fill this place with life, and lots of joy and fun among all the sweet children.”
Photo: Meshi, Channel 14
Moriah Maslati, a mother of five whose son Yehuda began the school year this morning in the renewed town of Ganim, said: “We are very, very excited that the new kindergarten opened today in the rebuilt town of Ganim. We feel like we’re really making history here and bringing life back to Ganim after 21 years when there was no life here and no children running through the streets.”
As Israel’s right-wing bloc scrambles ahead of the Central Elections Committee’s slate deadline on Tuesday to manage the fallout of Ofer Winter’s political entry—a move that has upended established dynamics—the opposition bloc is also working to digest the consequences. Following the publication of internal and media polling, an opposition official conceded: “Upon his entry, Winter shaved roughly one and a half seats from our bloc—an event that could prove far more consequential than currently estimated.”
עופר וינטר | צילום: פלאש 90
According to the source, polling assessments indicate Winter is drawing right-leaning voters previously leaning toward Eisenkot, Bennett, Gantz, Erdan, and Yoaz Hendel. While the prevailing assessment across both camps is that Winter is currently siphoning support primarily from right-wing factions—triggering intense maneuvering among Prime Minister Netanyahu, Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben Gvir, Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich, and Zehut chairman Moshe Feiglin—the opposition’s deeper fear is structural. If the right-wing camp successfully consolidates before slates close, internal vote shifting within the right will stabilize, while the opposition faces a net loss of crossover votes.
While some analysts argue that 1.5 seats represents Winter’s maximum potential for drawing support across bloc lines, Winter’s campaign insists this is merely the opening phase. “The first wave to back Winter were right-wing voters loyal to the right-wing bloc, but once voters recognize this is a stable party crossing the electoral threshold and set to become a central player in the next Knesset, significant momentum will begin drawing from the opposition camp as well,” his campaign stated.
ארכיון | צילום: פלאש 90
According to an opposition source, the primary concern surrounding Winter lies in the distinct message he projects to right-leaning voters currently leaning toward opposition parties: while Winter explicitly committed to recommending only Netanyahu for Prime Minister, his candidacy signals that he will not give Netanyahu an easy ride—neither on the military draft law nor on core policy matters. Unlike Smotrich and Ben Gvir, whose coalition alignment led them to fully back the draft legislation out of commitment to Netanyahu, Winter projects independence and principled steadfastness rather than deference to coalition demands—a posture that appeals directly to right-leaning voters searching for a political home.
בצלאל סמוטריץ’ | צילום: אלוני מור, חדשות 14
On the negotiation front among right-wing parties, the only tangible progress is currently between the Religious Zionism party and the Zehut party. While both sides favor a joint run, the main hurdle remains the electoral projection: even if an alliance keeps the joint slate above the threshold, internal estimates suggest it would capture only a modest 4 to 5 seats.
This dynamic is further complicated because Religious Zionism has already conducted its internal primaries, meaning an alliance would push several elected candidates out of realistic spots. Furthermore, even if Smotrich foregoes his personal leader appointments, he has already reserved a spot for Zvika Mor, which he intends to keep in a realistic slot—directly displacing sitting MKs. Meanwhile, figures in Religious Zionism and Likud continue to hold out hope that despite Itamar Ben Gvir’s public refusal, mounting pressure in the remaining days could still make a broader right-wing union viable before the candidate lists officially close.
A record number of ultra-Orthodox recruits reported to the Tel Hashomer induction and sorting base on Sunday, with hundreds of young men from the Haredi sector joining the Israel Defense Forces. The current wave of enlistment is expected to continue over the next two weeks, with hundreds of the new recruits slated to join combat units in tracks adapted to their lifestyle. Among the units they’ll join are the Netzah Yehuda Battalion, the Hasmonean Brigade, the Hetz company in the Paratroopers Brigade, and the Negev platoon in the Air Force.
Photo: Shomer Israel Association/Netzah Yehuda Association
Shomer Yisrael, the national organization for integrating Haredim into the IDF, expressed great satisfaction with the growing numbers and noted that the intensive work of pre-military academies and Haredi hesder yeshivas is producing proven results on the ground. The organization’s CEO, Lt. Col. (res.) Yossi Levy, said the young leaders are proving it’s possible to combine strict adherence to Torah identity with direct contribution to the country’s security on the front lines. Recruit Itamar Reinhold, a graduate of the Nitzutz B’Emunah preparatory academy, shared that his brother’s service in Gaza inspired him to join the fight.
Photo: Shomer Israel Association/Netzah Yehuda Association
The spirit of mobilization and mutual responsibility was evident among the recruits and their emotional parents who accompanied them to the induction base. Nachman, an enlistee in the Hasmonean Brigade, emphasized that in the current situation everyone needs to mobilize for the country’s security, regardless of sectoral affiliation. Rachel Zeitoun from Petah Tikva, mother of one of the recruits, said that after her son left yeshiva, it was clear to the whole family that he would enlist and contribute in the Netzah Yehuda Battalion, while Rivka Yifrach from Bnei Brak expressed great pride in her son’s enlistment in the Negev platoon in the Air Force.
Brad Lander, the progressive Jewish Democratic nominee for Congress in New York’s 10th Congressional District, was verbally assaulted and chased away by anti-Israel protesters outside Madison Square Garden in Manhattan—despite arriving to join their demonstration against the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat event. Lander, who has repeatedly accused Israel of “genocide” in Gaza and demanded an immediate end to U.S. military partnership, was rejected the moment demonstrators identified him as a Zionist. “There’s no such thing as a good Zionist,” demonstrators screamed at him, aggressively ordering him to leave the area. “You’re a Zionist. We don’t need your help. We’re doing just fine without Zionists here.”
Video: Social media
Another demonstrator shouted, “Fuck off, dirty Zionist!” while others yelled, “Get out of here, Zionist!” Some hurled crude obscenities, branding him “Zionist scum” and telling him to “go support genocide somewhere else.” Video footage from the scene shows Lander trying to explain that he arrived to stand in solidarity with the protest, but demonstrators drowned him out and forced him to leave.
Clash Outside ‘Universal Oneness’ Event
The confrontation took place outside the “Universal Oneness Celebration,” a rally attended by approximately 5,000 people featuring a keynote address by Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Lander introduced himself to cameras and stated he came to “say no to the RSS,” which he characterized as a fascist gathering. He said he was invited to demonstrate solidarity, then responded to the confrontation by asserting, “They have no right to tell me where to stand.” Several bystanders stepped in to separate Lander from the hostile demonstrators and de-escalate the confrontation.
Photo: New York Post X page
Lander, who previously served as New York City Comptroller, describes himself as a “liberal Zionist,” though his stances toward Israel have been sharply critical.Over the past year, he referred to the war in Gaza as “genocide” and called for an end to American military backing. He pledged to vote against additional defense assistance to Israel.In June, Lander defeated incumbent pro-Israel Congressman Dan Goldman in the NY-10 Democratic primary. For additional context on the political backdrop and rhetoric leading up to the rally outside Madison Square Garden, watch Brad Lander’s remarks on the Madison Square Garden RSS event. This video highlights Lander’s public statements denouncing the gathering before the protest.
A deadly and violent night unfolded across Israel overnight, resulting in one fatality and leaving three others severely injured in separate incidents of violence in Jaffa, Rahat, and Beit Shemesh.
Photo: Police Spokesperson’s unit
Deadly Shooting in Jaffa: Murder Probe Underway
In Jaffa, gunfire erupted on Leib Ben Sara Street, critically wounding one man and seriously injuring another. Emergency medical teams rushed both victims to Wolfson Medical Center in Holon, where medical staff were forced to pronounce the critically injured man dead.
The Israel Police launched an immediate murder investigation. Large forces from the Jaffa Police Station alongside Tel Aviv District forensics teams swarmed the scene, collecting forensic evidence and launching extensive sweeps to track down the shooters. Tel Aviv District Commander, Major General Haim Sargroff, conducted an operational situation assessment at the scene alongside Ayalon Sub-District Commander, Brigadier General Danny Hadad. The investigation has been formally assigned to the Tel Aviv District’s Central Investigation Unit (YAMAR).
Photo: Shutterstock
Severe Stabbing in Rahat
In the southern Bedouin city of Rahat, a 25-year-old man sustained severe penetrating wounds in a violent altercation. Magen David Adom’s 101 emergency dispatch in the Negev region received the initial report at 04:30 AM. Paramedics and emergency responders provided immediate life-saving care at the scene before evacuating the victim to Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva in serious condition. MDA EMT Alaa El-Huzail recounted: “We arrived to find the victim fully conscious but suffering from severe penetrating trauma across his body. We administered urgent, life-saving medical treatment and rushed him to the hospital in serious condition.”
Illustration | Photo: Flash90
Violence in Beit Shemesh
Earlier in the night, emergency responders were called to a violent assault on Bnei Dan Street in Beit Shemesh, where a 60-year-old man was critically injured. United Hatzalah first responders Mendy Goldberg and Shlomi Peretz provided emergency on-scene treatment: “The victim suffered severe penetrating trauma. We administered trauma care, including hemorrhage control and advanced bandaging.” Following stabilization, the victim was evacuated in serious condition to Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Jerusalem for further emergency surgery.
Israeli security forces thwarted a weapons smuggling attempt last Thursday adjacent to the Jordanian border, seizing seven handguns destined for illicit distribution inside Israeli territory. During the operation, security forces opened fire and wounded a knife-wielding suspect who attempted to flee.
Israel – Jordan border | photoby by: Michael Giladi/Flash90
The counter-smuggling operation began after the Central Investigation Unit (YAMAR) of the Judea and Samaria Police District gathered intelligence on active trafficking corridors along the eastern border. Tactical teams established an operational ambush near the Jordan River to intercept the illegal arms consignment. During the stakeout, forces identified a suspect armed with a knife advancing in the sector. Troops initiated suspect-arrest procedures, which culminated in gunfire that struck the suspect before he fled. In the ensuing pursuit, security forces located an abandoned bag containing seven handguns.
Security forces transferred the seized firearms to the Judea and Samaria Central Investigation Unit for forensic and investigative processing. The Israel Police and the IDF affirmed that security forces will continue decisive operations to counter illicit weapons smuggling networks along the eastern border.
The IDF eliminated Abd al-Fattah Abu al-Ish, a Nukhba force terrorist in Hamas’s military wing, in a precision airstrike in the Jabaliya area of the northern Gaza Strip.
Video: IDF Spokesperson’s unit
According to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, Abu al-Ish was among the terrorists who invaded Israeli territory during the October 7 massacre. The targeted strike also eliminated Raed Adel Mohammed Alyan, a terrorist operative in Hamas’s military wing. Military officials confirmed that the two terrorists had recently been working to advance new terror plots targeting IDF operational forces and Israeli civilians, while actively attempting to restore and reconstitute Hamas’s terror capabilities in systematic violation of the ceasefire.
The IDF stated that the pinpoint strike was carried out to neutralize the immediate threat. Forces under the Southern Command remain strategically deployed in the area in accordance with established operational agreements and will continue to operate decisively to eliminate any emerging threats.
