New York
The U.S. Justice Department has asked Mayor Zohran Mamdani to respond to allegations of unequal treatment of Jewish residents as federal officials expand efforts to investigate antisemitic incidents.
According to the Justice Department and a report by the New York Post, the Civil Rights Division is actively probing hate crimes, including those targeting Jews, in the city and nationwide. The inquiry follows complaints raised by former New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind. Hikind said he recently met with Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who heads the division, and was informed that a letter had been sent to Mamdani seeking answers on the matter. The Justice Department confirmed its ongoing enforcement work against antisemitism through investigations, prosecutions, and related actions.
A two-alarm fire heavily damaged Jerusalem II Pizza and neighboring businesses on Central Avenue in Lawrence, forcing the kosher restaurant to temporarily close. Approximately 150 firefighters from multiple departments responded to the blaze and brought it under control in about 90 minutes. No injuries were reported. The fire also affected nearby storefronts, including a thrift shop that suffered significant smoke and water damage. Officials have not determined the official cause, though investigators are examining a possible electrical malfunction.
Mayor Mamdani announced that the city is issuing cease-and-desist orders to more than 40 retailers, including Amazon, demanding that they stop selling illegal high-powered e-bikes and similar devices. These products exceed legal speed and power limits under city law and have been linked to fatal crashes. New York Attorney General Letitia James joined the mayor for the announcement. The orders require the companies to halt sales of prohibited motorized scooters and e-bikes to New York City residents and businesses. Retailers face potential civil penalties of up to $2,000 per violation if they fail to comply. City officials noted that such illegal devices account for a significant share of rider fatalities involving e-bikes and stand-up scooters.
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office is actively examining potential tax fraud uncovered through the rollout of New York City’s new pied-à-terre tax. The review focuses on cases in which property owners claim an NYC residence as their primary home while showing conflicting indicators, such as not paying New York City income taxes or registering vehicles outside the city. The surcharge targets high-value secondary homes that are not primary residences. Hochul’s spokesperson stated that the tax was designed to ensure those who can afford luxury second homes but do not pay New York income taxes still contribute. The Department of Taxation and Finance will take action against those found to have falsely claimed non-resident status.
New York has approved the first cholov Yisroel infant formula for purchase through the federal Women, Infants, and Children program, following a three-year effort by the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty. The change will allow low-income Orthodox Jewish families who observe the stricter kosher dairy standard to use WIC benefits to buy qualifying formula, closing a longstanding gap in the program. Met Council CEO David Greenfield said the approval is expected to benefit tens of thousands of families across New York’s Orthodox communities. Previously, the state’s list of more than 40 approved formulas included some kosher options but none that met the cholov Yisroel requirement. The formula is expected to be added to New York’s WIC offerings later this month.
New York City First Lady Rama Duwaji is expected to travel to Syria and Lebanon next month with members of the NYPD security detail assigned to Mayor Mamdani and his family, according to the New York Post and a source familiar with the plans. The trip is scheduled to begin Sept. 20 and has been described by the mayor’s office as a family visit. Both countries face significant security concerns, with the State Department warning Americans against travel to Syria and advising heightened caution in Lebanon. Duwaji, a Syrian-American artist with family ties to the region, previously traveled overseas without police protection. City Hall confirmed that the security detail would join her upon the strong recommendation of the NYPD.
U.S.
President Donald Trump signed two executive orders aimed at targeting birth tourism and further protecting the value of American citizenship. One order directs the secretaries of State and Homeland Security to take steps to halt the practice of foreign nationals entering the United States on nonimmigrant visas specifically to give birth on American soil. It defines birth tourism and authorizes measures including visa denials, revocations, and entry bars for those engaging in or facilitating the practice. The second order identifies certain categories of children of aliens who, consistent with a recent Supreme Court ruling, are not entitled to birthright citizenship, including cases involving alien enemies or foreign government agents. The administration stated that the actions follow the Court’s decision and seek to prevent exploitation of immigration laws.
The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general in a 50-49 vote, installing President Trump’s former personal lawyer as the permanent head of the Justice Department. Blanche had been serving in an acting capacity since April. The narrow confirmation came after weeks of negotiations over concerns related to a prior settlement involving Trump and the IRS. Blanche becomes the second Senate-approved attorney general of Trump’s current term. Officials noted that the vote clears the way for fuller implementation of the administration’s priorities at the department.
The Senate passed the late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s Russia and Iran sanctions bill in an 86-11 vote, advancing legislation the South Carolina Republican had long championed before his death last month. The measure targets Russian oil and gas exports that have supported Moscow’s war against Ukraine and extends existing sanctions on Iran’s energy and weapons sectors. It authorizes the Trump administration to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on the largest importers of Russian crude oil or natural gas. The bill had cleared a key procedural hurdle the previous week, shortly after Graham’s funeral. The House is expected to consider the measure after its summer recess.
Jay Clayton has been formally sworn in as the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, becoming the permanent head of the nation’s intelligence community. He succeeds Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned earlier this year, and takes over after serving in prior roles including U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Clayton now oversees the country’s 18 intelligence agencies following his Senate confirmation.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement made approximately 51,000 immigration arrests in July, averaging about 1,645 arrests per day and marking the highest monthly total in the agency’s history, according to Fox News. The figure surpasses June’s roughly 43,000 arrests, giving ICE consecutive record-breaking months. The increase coincides with the Trump administration’s expansion of immigration enforcement, including the hiring of thousands of new agents and billions of dollars in additional funding. Operations have broadened nationwide, with more than 30 arrests reported at U.S. airports during the month.
A judge has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to block Palm Beach County’s investment in Israel bonds, ruling that the plaintiffs failed to establish a legal basis for the case. Three Palestinian American residents filed the suit last year, challenging the county’s roughly $1 billion in holdings of Israeli government bonds. They argued the purchases were improper and claimed the investments caused them harm because relatives in Gaza were affected by the war. Circuit Judge Glenn Kelley determined the alleged injuries were too indirect to support a taxpayer challenge and found no sufficient causal link between the investments and the claimed losses. The investments were made with surplus tax dollars rather than operational funds.
A U.S. federal appeals court ordered the Trump administration to stop construction on a $400 million ballroom planned for the site of the White House’s demolished East Wing. The ruling upheld a lower court’s finding that the president lacks authority to fundamentally reshape the White House without explicit congressional approval. Judges stated that each president is a temporary tenant rather than the owner of the property and that such major changes require legislative authorization. The decision deals a significant setback in a case testing the scope of presidential authority over the executive residence. The court paused its order for 14 days to allow the administration time to seek Supreme Court review. The National Trust for Historic Preservation had challenged the project after the East Wing was torn down and construction began without prior congressional consent.
Police are investigating two bias crimes targeting Jewish organizations in Jackson Township, New Jersey. One involves repeated acts of vandalism at a Chai Lifeline facility, where windows were intentionally damaged on multiple occasions. The second centers on a burglary at the BMG school, formerly a public middle school, in which suspects entered the building, caused extensive damage, and left antisemitic graffiti, including swastikas and the phrase “Heil Hitler,” on blackboards and other surfaces. Authorities said suspects have been identified in the school case, though names have not been released as the investigation continues. Patrols have been increased around Jewish institutions and other sensitive locations in the township.
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has opened Title VI investigations into San José State University and San Francisco State University for allegedly failing to address antisemitism on campus. Jewish students at San José State reported threats, shunning, classroom hostility, physical attacks, and disruptions from anti-Israel protests. At San Francisco State, complaints cite faculty actions that contributed to a hostile environment, along with antisemitic graffiti, attempted break-ins, and ongoing intimidation. Both universities are accused of not taking meaningful steps to protect Jewish students from discrimination based on shared ancestry. The probes will examine whether the institutions violated federal civil rights law by allowing a hostile climate to persist. University officials stated that they take antisemitism seriously and will cooperate with the investigative process.
Sen. Mitch McConnell has been discharged from a rehabilitation center and is heading home to continue his recovery. The 84-year-old senator has been absent from the chamber since mid-June following a fall and a subsequent mild case of pneumonia. His return to the Senate floor does not appear imminent.
Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has rejected President Trump’s 15-point peace plan for Gaza, stating that Israel will not withdraw its forces until Hamas is genuinely disarmed. Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said, “Israel rejects the 15-point document,” and emphasized that the Israeli military will continue to thwart threats against its forces and citizens. The plan, announced by Trump’s Board of Peace, called for Hamas to disarm in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu added that Israel is discussing the matter with American officials and that some ideas are acceptable while others are not. He reiterated that no Palestinian state would be established in Gaza or the West Bank under his leadership.
Israel has launched Project Nexus, a national initiative to develop a homegrown quantum computing platform while expanding investments in robotics, drones, and advanced AI models. The effort aims to reduce reliance on foreign technology and leverage the country’s research, defense, and startup ecosystem. A tender has been issued for a nationally produced quantum computer under the program. Parallel requests for information focus on creating a national testing ground for physical AI applications and advancing sovereign foundation models.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a low-cost blood test that uses light to detect lung cancer by analyzing cell-free DNA. The method labels cancer-related DNA changes with fluorescent molecules and reads the resulting patterns on a specialized chip without full genetic sequencing. In a study of 103 participants, the test distinguished lung cancer patients from healthy subjects with a sensitivity of 93.1 percent and a specificity of 90.3 percent for stages 2 through 4. It also differentiated between the two main subtypes of the disease. The approach costs roughly $60 per sample and can produce results within two to three days. Larger clinical trials are now underway in Israel and Europe to evaluate its potential for early diagnosis and monitoring treatment response.
Israeli flag carrier El Al reported that its second-quarter net profit more than doubled to $132 million as the airline continued to dominate travel to and from Israel while many foreign carriers remained sidelined by regional tensions. Revenue rose 27 percent to $986 million, even after accounting for a $55 million impact from the war. The company said it holds a $1.4 billion booking backlog and plans to increase seat capacity by up to 10 percent in the third quarter.
An Ashkelon couple has been arrested on suspicion of carrying out a long-running espionage operation for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. According to investigators, the pair allegedly gathered intelligence on a range of sensitive sites, including the homes of Israeli security officials as well as civilian and military infrastructure, and passed the information to IRGC handlers. They reportedly received payments in cryptocurrency in exchange for the material. An indictment was filed charging them with contact with a foreign agent and delivering information useful to the enemy. The suspects are said to have photographed locations across the country, including ports and other strategic sites.
Sephora is set to begin opening locations in Israel on August 20, with standalone stores planned at Azrieli Tel Aviv, Jerusalem’s Malha Mall, and Ayalon Mall, along with Sephora corners inside Glam 42 stores. Initially, the locations will carry only Sephora Collection products. The rollout is being handled by Israeli retailer Glam 42 as an official import partnership. The move is viewed as a test of the Israeli market. If successful, plans call for potentially introducing a broader range of Sephora offerings within the next two years.nmj
World
Antisemitic assaults in Britain rose by 82 percent in the first six months of 2026, reaching the highest half-year total ever recorded by the Community Security Trust. The Jewish security organization documented 135 physical assaults against Jews between January and June, up from 74 in the same period of 2025. Overall antisemitic incidents totaled 1,926, a 21 percent increase and the second-highest first-half figure on record. School-related incidents rose 59 percent and synagogue-related incidents rose 31 percent, both hitting record levels for the opening six months of any year.
Colombia has recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, becoming only the second UN member state to do so after the United States. The Colombian Foreign Ministry announced the decision, describing Israeli control of the area as an essential component of its national defense and ability to protect its citizens. The recognition followed a commitment made between the two countries. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar thanked Colombian President Álvaro de la Espriella and praised the move as a demonstration of Colombia’s commitment to Israel. The declaration comes amid Bogotá’s broader efforts to strengthen ties with Jerusalem, including the full restoration of diplomatic relations and plans to relocate its embassy.
Mount Etna in Sicily has erupted, prompting authorities to raise the volcanic aviation alert level amid concerns over ash in the atmosphere. Catania Airport suspended all arriving flights due to the eruptive activity and associated ash cloud. Departures from the airport continued to operate normally during the temporary closure of affected airspace. A plume of smoke and ash was visible from the summit. The airport serves eastern Sicily, a major tourist area, and the disruption affected several inbound flights.
Isaac Cohen, chief rabbi of the Israelite Association of Venezuela, asked the government of interim President Delcy Rodríguez to restore full diplomatic relations with Israel. Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia received Cohen in his office in Caracas. Cohen delivered a letter requesting the renewal of ties to address the needs of the country’s Jewish community. “Venezuela has historically welcomed, with open arms, a significant Jewish community, whose contributions have contributed and continue to contribute to the well-being and development of our nation,” the foreign minister was quoted as telling Cohen. Plasencia also expressed gratitude for Israeli assistance following a recent earthquake in Venezuela. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were severed in 2009.
