Motzai Shabbos News Roundup | October 24
Toronto Votes Monday in a Tight Mayor's Race
Torontonians head to the polls on Monday, October 26, with Olivia Chow and Brad Bradford running neck and neck. Both candidates spent Saturday on the campaign trail, Chow in Scarborough and Bradford in Etobicoke.
Recent polling puts the two within about three points of each other. Bradford is promising a one-year property tax freeze and relief on the land transfer tax for home buyers, while Chow has pledged to keep tax increases close to inflation.
Polls are open Monday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
U of T Student Union Votes to Cut Ties With Israeli Universities
The University of Toronto Students' Union has passed a motion calling on the university to end its partnerships with Israeli institutions, including Hebrew University and programs linked to the Technion and Tel Aviv University.
The university responded that the motion will have no effect on its partnerships. Students who opposed the motion said debate was cut short after only a handful of speakers.
B'nai Brith Canada warned that the vote singles out Jewish students and creates a hostile campus environment, and StandWithUs Canada criticized the process as one-sided.
Two IDF Soldiers Killed in Terror Attack Near Chevron, Hy”d
Two IDF soldiers were killed and three others wounded on Friday morning when terrorists opened fire on a checkpoint at Yehuda Junction, near Chevron.
The fallen soldiers are Staff Sgt. Ron Yonatan Roytman, 23, of Ashkelon, and Sgt. Yuval Shai Svilem, 20, of Hod Hasharon, both of the Search and Rescue Brigade.
According to security officials, the terrorists were planning to target civilian traffic on nearby highways. Both were killed after a lengthy exchange of fire, and the checkpoint is credited with preventing a much larger attack.
IDF Widens Counterterror Operation in Chevron
Following Friday's attack, IDF troops, together with the Shin Bet and Border Police, continued operating in Chevron throughout Shabbos, carrying out searches and arrests in the neighbourhoods the terrorists came from. The operation is expected to continue for several days.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Israel will use the same approach it took against terror hubs in northern Shomron, and hinted at a “big surprise” for the Palestinian Authority.
Final Poll Shows Close Race Ahead of Tuesday's Election
The last Channel 12 poll before Tuesday's Knesset election shows Gadi Eisenkot's party narrowly ahead of Likud, 23 seats to 21. Shas polled at eight seats and United Torah Judaism at seven.
On the question of who is better suited to be prime minister, Eisenkot led Netanyahu 44% to 38%, though the gap has narrowed in recent weeks.
Tefillos Requested for the Gerrer Rebbe
The Gerrer Rebbe, HaGaon HaRav Yaakov Aryeh Alter, is set to begin medical treatment at Hadassah Ein Kerem in Yerushalayim on Sunday.
The public is asked to daven for HaGaon HaRav Yaakov Aryeh ben Yuta Henna.
U.S. Pulls Personnel From Region Amid Iranian Threats
The United States has started moving diplomatic and military personnel out of several Middle East locations after intelligence warnings of advanced Iranian plans to target Americans, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Washington has also updated travel advisories for the region, including Israel.
