A swimmer has gone missing after an extremely rare and harrowing shark attack off the coast of northern Israel, sending shockwaves through the local community and raising alarm over an area usually known for its calm, warm waters.

The incident occurred on Monday near Olga Beach in Hadera, approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Tel Aviv. Witnesses on the beach described the scene as chaotic and terrifying, with video footage circulating on social media capturing frantic screams and shocked reactions as the swimmer appeared to struggle far out at sea.

A Shocking and Unprecedented Event

“I was in the water, I saw blood and there were screams,” Eliya Motai, an eyewitness, told Ynet. “It’s terrifying. We were here yesterday and saw the sharks circling us.”

Authorities have closed the beach as Israeli police and rescue teams launch a large-scale search operation for the missing man. Despite the presence of sharks in the area, experts emphasize that shark attacks in Israel are almost unheard of.

According to local reports, this is only the fourth documented shark attack in Israeli waters and the first potential fatality since the country’s founding in 1948. Prior to this, no deadly shark incidents had ever been recorded in Israeli history.

Why Do Sharks Gather in Hadera?

Marine biologists note that dusky and sandbar sharks are known to frequent the waters off Hadera, particularly near the Orot Rabin power station, Israel’s largest electricity-generating plant. The warm water discharged by the plant and the abundance of fish drawn in from a nearby stream make it an ideal environment for these predators.

While these species are typically not aggressive toward humans, the congregation of both fish and sharks in close proximity to swimmers increases the risk of rare interactions.

Community Shaken, Authorities on High Alert

In the wake of the attack, the Israeli public and tourists alike have been urged to exercise caution, especially near power station outflows and known shark aggregation zones.

“This tragic incident is a stark reminder that nature can be unpredictable,” said a spokesperson from Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority. “We are working closely with marine experts to better understand what may have triggered this event.”

Local authorities have yet to release the identity of the missing swimmer. The search continues with divers, drones, and rescue boats combing the coastline in hopes of locating the man or any evidence that might help explain what transpired.

As Israel reels from this rare marine tragedy, many are calling for greater public awareness, enhanced monitoring, and clearer safety guidelines for swimming in areas known for shark activity.

In a highly charged interview with Israel’s Radio 103FM on Tuesday, former Religious Zionist Party MK Zvi Sukkot made waves by asserting that a ruling by the High Court of Justice supporting the removal of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be ignored, should such a scenario arise.

Sukkot’s remarks came in response to recent developments involving Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) Chief Ronen Bar, who submitted an affidavit to the High Court contesting his dismissal by the government. The issue has inflamed debate over legal authority, democratic checks and balances, and the boundaries of executive power in Israel.

“This Is a Coup, Not a Legal Proceeding”

According to Sukkot, the potential collaboration between the head of the Shin Bet, Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, and the High Court to declare Netanyahu unfit for office would constitute what he describes as an illegal seizure of power.
“There cannot be a situation where the prime minister wants to fire people from their positions, and then suddenly those who decide to remove him do so with authority they do not have by law, and the High Court supports this,” Sukkot stated.
He went further, calling such a move “a political event, an event of a coup,” and stressed, “we cannot cooperate with it.”

Sukkot framed his criticism within a broader concern about the balance of power in Israel’s democratic institutions. His statements tap into growing tensions between the executive branch and judicial authorities, as well as longstanding criticisms from the right regarding what they see as overreach by Israel’s legal system.

Defense of Netanyahu Amid Political Turmoil

Sukkot did not stop at criticizing the judiciary. He also took aim at Ronen Bar, questioning the timing and motivations behind his affidavit and public statements.
“Aren’t you bothered that a person, under whose watch these things happened, only remembers to speak to the public after he is fired?” he said.

Sukkot further argued that the role of Israel’s security leadership must be depoliticized and rooted in loyalty to democratic processes, not media optics or political games.
“I expect from the head of the Shin Bet, that if the prime minister tells him, ‘Go spy on citizens illegally, turn the Shin Bet into the Stasi,’ he should leave at that moment, hand over the keys, and tell the people of Israel, ‘This is what the prime minister is trying to do,’” Sukkot added, implying that if Bar had concerns, he should have raised them earlier, not after facing termination.

The Broader Implications

This bold assertion that the judiciary can be ignored if it rules against Netanyahu has sparked a firestorm among legal experts, opposition figures, and defenders of judicial independence. Many warn that Sukkot’s stance risks undermining Israel’s democratic institutions and the public’s faith in the rule of law.

With Israeli politics already navigating turbulent waters amid national security challenges, judicial reform debates, and deep political polarization, Sukkot’s comments underscore the fragility of Israel’s institutional trust and the heightened tensions within the current political climate.

As the situation develops, eyes will remain on both the High Court and Prime Minister Netanyahu’s next moves — with a nation watching closely as questions of legality, leadership, and legitimacy hang in the balance.

A devastating car crash in Brooklyn on March 29 has sent shockwaves through New York City and the Jewish community, after a speeding driver fatally struck a mother and her two young daughters as they were walking home from synagogue on Shabbat. Prosecutors revealed that the driver, 32-year-old Miriam Yarimi, was traveling nearly three times the speed limit—at full throttle—when the collision occurred.

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced on Wednesday that Yarimi has been arraigned in Brooklyn Supreme Court on multiple charges, including second-degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, second-degree assault, and other related offenses.

A Family’s Final Walk

The victims—Natasha Saada, 34, and her daughters, Diana, 8, and Deborah, 5—were crossing Ocean Parkway in Midwood, a neighborhood with a large Jewish population, when tragedy struck. The family was just steps from the sidewalk when Yarimi’s 2023 Audi, reportedly speeding at approximately 68 mph in a 25 mph zone, slammed into the back of a Toyota Camry waiting at the intersection and barreled through the Saadas.

The force of the impact flipped Yarimi’s car, which came to a stop 130 feet away, upside down. Natasha and her daughters were pronounced dead at the scene. A fourth child, 4-year-old Philip, survived but suffered life-threatening injuries, including skull fractures, internal bleeding, and the loss of a kidney.

“This horrific fatal crash was one of the worst I’ve seen in over 25 years as a prosecutor,” DA Gonzalez said. “It wasn’t an accident. This defendant’s unconscionably dangerous driving wiped out a family. We will now seek to hold her fully accountable.”

A Disturbing Pattern

Court documents and investigators say Yarimi ran a red light just blocks before the fatal crash, nearly colliding with other vehicles. Surveillance footage showed no signs of braking before the impact.

Yarimi, who ran a wig business and branded herself online as the “WIGM8KER,” had dozens of traffic violations and was driving with a suspended license at the time of the crash. Her past social media posts often highlighted her Jewish faith and celebrations of holidays like Purim and Passover.

Held Without Bail

Yarimi, who sustained minor injuries in the crash, was hospitalized and is now being held without bail. She faces a maximum prison sentence of 5 to 15 years if convicted. Her car, an Audi with vanity plates linked to her wig business, is now a symbol of the recklessness that ended three innocent lives.

Community in Mourning

The crash has ignited an outpouring of grief in the local and broader Jewish community. Vigils were held, and prayers circulated online. Mayor Eric Adams and other city officials visited the Saada family to offer condolences.

Saada and her daughters were flown to Israel for burial at Har HaMenuchot cemetery in Jerusalem. Philip remains in recovery from his injuries.

A Call for Reform

In the wake of the tragedy, local leaders are calling for new laws to address so-called “super speeders”—drivers with an excessive number of traffic infractions and reckless behavior behind the wheel.

“This wasn’t just a tragedy—it was preventable,” said one Brooklyn lawmaker. “We need to do more to ensure people with dangerous driving records aren’t allowed behind the wheel.”

As the case unfolds, the focus remains on justice for the Saada family—and on preventing future tragedies on New York’s streets.

Source: timesofisrael

As the Israel-Hamas conflict continues to escalate, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has confirmed that Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) will maintain an indefinite military presence within buffer zones across Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. This declaration signals a long-term strategic shift in Israel’s security doctrine amid ongoing regional tensions.

Since March 18, Israeli ground operations have expanded dramatically, resulting in the occupation of more than 50% of Gaza’s territory. This includes strategic control of Rafah, a city near the Egypt-Gaza border, which has become a focal point in both military operations and humanitarian concerns.

The Buffer Zone Strategy

The creation and enforcement of buffer zones are seen by Israel as essential for national security, aiming to prevent cross-border attacks and curtail militant movements. Katz’s assertion underscores the belief that military presence in these zones will serve as a permanent deterrent against future threats from Hamas and Hezbollah.

Critics argue, however, that indefinite occupation blurs the line between defensive security and extended military control, raising questions about international law and the sovereignty of Palestinian territories.

Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

Israel’s seven-week-long blockade of Gaza has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian crisis. Access to food, clean water, and medical supplies remains severely limited, with aid organizations warning of looming famine and disease outbreaks. The Israeli government maintains that the blockade is necessary to pressure Hamas and prevent the smuggling of weapons into the region.

Hostages and Ceasefire Stalemate

Hamas continues to hold 59 Israeli hostages, a key point of leverage in any potential negotiation. The group has made clear that a ceasefire agreement will only be considered under two major conditions: the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and a full end to the blockade.

Despite international efforts—particularly from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States—ceasefire talks remain deadlocked. Israel’s position remains firm: there will be no ceasefire without the unconditional release of all hostages and long-term security guarantees.

The Road Ahead

As the situation develops, global attention is focused on how far Israel will go to maintain its newly established buffer zones and whether continued occupation will inflame tensions or bring about a strategic advantage. Meanwhile, Gaza’s civilians remain caught in the crossfire of geopolitics, military strategy, and humanitarian desperation.

The long-term consequences of Israel’s presence in Gaza—and the international community’s response—may redefine the regional landscape for years to come.

Sources: Reuters, AP News, France24, BBC.

As Jewish communities across New York prepared for Passover, a major clash erupted between the city’s Department of Education and its Jewish educators. This year, the start of Passover fell on Saturday, April 12—coinciding with the Sabbath, making the day prior, Friday, April 11, critical for travel, preparation, and ritual observance. Yet Jewish school staff hoping to take that Friday off for religious reasons found their requests denied.

An internal memo circulated to school leaders earlier in the week acknowledged that employees might need time off but offered limited accommodations. Staff were told to “consider/discuss an alternate schedule,” take a personal or vacation day, or potentially work remotely. One suggestion even included shifting a lunch break to the end of the workday to leave early.

The decision sparked immediate backlash from educators and advocacy groups who felt their religious obligations were being sidelined. While the Department of Education insisted that it supports staff of all faiths and maintained that the offered alternatives were fair, many in the Jewish community strongly disagreed.

“There may be employees who require additional time off on April 11 to prepare, or travel, for religious observance,” the DOE memo stated, but it stopped short of officially recognizing the day as a religious observance day.

City Hall and schools chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos were urged throughout the week to reconsider, but sources confirmed that officials ultimately determined Friday was not a religious holiday, and thus would not be granted special observance status.

A DOE spokesperson reiterated their stance: “While Passover starts on Saturday this year, any staff member who needed time off on the day before could request that their schedule be rearranged to leave early Friday without loss of pay, or to take a paid personal business day or annual leave day.”

Mayor Eric Adams’ office added that the mayor remains committed to an inclusive work environment for all religious groups, but stopped short of overriding the DOE’s directive.

However, Jewish educators and advocacy leaders argue the decision undermines their religious freedom.

“We’re obviously disappointed with their decision and the Jewish staff impacted don’t agree that the accommodations were enough to fulfill their religious obligations of the day,” said Moshe Spern, president of the United Jewish Teachers group.

Tova Plaut, a teacher and co-founder of the New York City Public Schools Alliance, expressed deeper frustration, stating, “The DOE has taken it upon itself to override centuries of Jewish law — deciding it knows better than rabbis when and how Jews should observe Passover. This decision erases core Jewish values and disregards the voices of those who live by them.”

Such disputes are not new. Historically, scheduling conflicts have arisen when Passover and Christian holidays like Good Friday do not align with the public school system’s spring break, which this year begins on Monday.

As debates over religious accommodation in public institutions continue, Jewish educators and their allies say the city must take a more respectful and nuanced approach—especially when it comes to deeply held spiritual traditions and practices that span generations.

Source: nypost