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The U.S. Air Force is working toward a July 4 target date to bring a Boeing 747 donated by Qatar into service as part of the Air Force One fleet, potentially aligning its debut with the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations, according to a U.S. official and another source familiar with the effort.

The luxury aircraft was accepted by the White House in 2025, after which the Air Force was directed to fast-track its conversion to meet presidential requirements. L3Harris was selected to handle the modifications, and if the timeline is met, President Donald Trump could have the upgraded jet ready for use during the upcoming national milestone.

According to one source, there had also been consideration of completing delivery roughly three weeks earlier to coincide with Trump’s birthday on June 14. The acceptance of the aircraft from Qatar has faced criticism from Democrats and government watchdog groups, who argued it could present a conflict of interest and potentially influence presidential decision-making.

Trump has rejected those concerns, saying it would be “stupid” to turn down the offer of the 13-year-old aircraft. At present, the Air Force One fleet includes two specially configured Boeing 747-200B planes, though any Air Force aircraft carrying the president is designated as Air Force One.

Experts have noted that converting the Qatari jet requires extensive upgrades, including advanced security systems, enhanced communications designed to prevent eavesdropping, and defensive capabilities to counter potential missile threats.

An Air Force spokesperson said, “The aircraft is on schedule to deliver this summer.”

The Air Force reported Friday that the plane has completed its modification phase and flight testing and is currently undergoing painting.

Meanwhile, the official replacement program for Air Force One—Boeing’s project to transform two 747-8 aircraft into next-generation presidential jets—continues to face delays. The initiative is now running about four years behind schedule, with delivery not expected until the middle of 2028.

Originally awarded in 2018 as a fixed-price contract valued at $3.9 billion, the program’s costs have since risen to over $5 billion, with Boeing absorbing approximately $2.4 billion in losses tied to the project.

In an effort to regain control of the timeline, Boeing brought in Steve Sullivan in 2025, a former Northrop Grumman executive with experience on the B-21 bomber program, to oversee the work. The Air Force also recently introduced a new paint scheme for its executive aircraft fleet, featuring red, white, dark blue, and gold—reviving a design long favored by Trump after an earlier version was abandoned in 2022.

This updated color scheme will be applied to the VC-25B, the military designation for the Boeing 747-8, replacing the white and blue design that has been used since the Kennedy administration.

Additionally, four Boeing 757-200 aircraft used by the vice president, cabinet members, and other senior officials are set to receive the same repainting treatment. In December, the Air Force also acquired two former Lufthansa 747-8i jets for $400 million—one to be used for training purposes and the other for spare parts—as preparations continue to phase out the current fleet, which has been in operation since 1990.

{Matzav.com}

A sharp decline in global oil reserves last month, tied in part to the ongoing Iran conflict, has sparked growing worries about fuel availability and rising prices as the summer travel season approaches.

New figures from S&P Global Energy, cited by the Financial Times, show that worldwide crude inventories dropped by close to 200 million barrels in April, equal to about 6.6 million barrels per day. The steep fall is attributed largely to escalating tensions in the Middle East, which have interfered with shipping lanes and energy facilities.

“This is massive; it is far above the usual range,” Jim Burkhard, head of crude research at S&P, told the Financial Times, warning that “an inevitable market reckoning is coming.”

The plunge in reserves occurred even as global demand weakened significantly, with consumption reportedly declining by around 5 million barrels per day—marking the most pronounced drop outside the COVID-19 period.

Experts say the supply disruptions linked to the Iran conflict have outweighed the effects of reduced demand, placing additional strain on already tight markets.

Oil markets have faced volatility since late February, when joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran led to a wider regional confrontation. In response, Tehran took steps to interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage that carries about 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas exports.

The Trump administration has sought to contain the fallout through Project Freedom, a US-led naval initiative aimed at safeguarding commercial vessels passing through the strait and maintaining the flow of global trade.

This week, however, President Trump indicated a potential shift toward diplomacy, announcing a temporary halt to the operation to allow renewed efforts at reaching an agreement with Iran.

“Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement,” Trump wrote on Truth Social while emphasizing the United States would continue pressuring Iran economically.

Oil prices initially spiked amid fears that disruptions in the strait would persist, but eased somewhat on Wednesday, according to the BBC, after Trump’s remarks raised expectations that a deal might be within reach.

Brent crude prices dipped below $110 per barrel after earlier surging by more than 6 percent during the latest escalation.

Despite the slight easing in prices, analysts caution that the situation remains unstable and could deteriorate further.

Goldman Sachs estimates that global supplies of refined fuels have dropped to roughly 45 days of available inventory, with especially sharp reductions reported in Asia and Africa.

In the United States, gasoline stockpiles are expected to fall to historic lows during the peak summer driving months.

“The speed of depletion and supply losses in some regions and products is concerning,” Goldman researchers warned.

Governments around the world have already begun taking steps to shore up energy security. Australia has announced plans to invest heavily in boosting fuel reserves, Norway is increasing oil output, and Qatar is working to conserve its domestic energy capacity, according to Semafor.

Even as fuel prices climb to around $4.50 per gallon in some parts of the United States, demand from American drivers has remained steady, adding further pressure on limited supplies.

Burkhard cautioned, “The worst of the crisis is ahead of us.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu said Wednesday night that Israel remains fully aligned with the United States regarding developments in negotiations with Iran, dismissing reports suggesting Jerusalem had been caught off guard by recent progress in the talks.

Speaking at the start of a political-security cabinet meeting, Netanyahu emphasized the ongoing coordination between the two countries. “We are in constant contact with our friends in the United States. I speak with President Trump almost on a daily basis. My people and his people speak on a daily basis, including today. And I will also speak with President Trump later tonight. We have full coordination, there are no surprises. We share common goals, and the most important goal is to remove the enriched material from Iran, all the enriched material, and dismantle the enrichment capabilities from Iran,” Netanyahu said.

He added that Israel is preparing for all possible outcomes, even as diplomatic efforts continue. “President Trump believes he can achieve it one way or another. But we are prepared for any scenario, and this is my instruction to the IDF and our security forces. Israel is stronger than ever, Iran and its proxies are weaker than ever,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Reuters reported that Israeli officials had been surprised by what was described as a shift in President Donald Trump’s stance toward negotiations with Iran.

President Trump said on Wednesday that a deal aimed at ending the conflict with Iran could be finalized before his planned trip to China next week.

A separate report from Axios indicated that Washington and Tehran are close to reaching a concise, one-page framework agreement designed to end the war. According to the report, the proposed deal would include mutual easing of restrictions on maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, along with US steps to lift sanctions and release frozen Iranian assets. In return, Iran would agree to a “moratorium” on nuclear enrichment, with certain provisions dependent on a broader final agreement.

Following the Axios report, Trump issued a warning to Iran, stating that “if they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before.”

At the same time, Trump told the New York Post that it is “too soon” to discuss direct negotiations with Iranian officials and said he does not believe new talks in Pakistan are imminent.

{Matzav.com}

Slabodka rosh yeshiva Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch has stepped back from his earlier resistance to moving forward with the Draft Law, bringing an end to a period in which the legislation was effectively delayed due to his concerns about its potential impact on yeshiva bochurim.

Rav Hirsch had initially been in favor of the bill, but later withdrew his support after legal advisors introduced revisions that, in his view, could result in stricter penalties for chareidim who do not enlist.

According to a report by Channel 12 News, Knesset members from the Degel HaTorah faction within United Torah Judaism—who act in accordance with Rav Hirsch’s guidance—worked to convince him to back the legislation. They maintained that failure to pass the bill at this stage could leave chareidi men vulnerable to even tougher consequences, including cuts in government funding and the possibility of arrests.

The MKs also cautioned that if the law does not go through, there could be growing frustration among chareidi voters, potentially leading to lower turnout in the upcoming elections.

Following these discussions, Rav Hirsch agreed to remove his opposition, contingent on the position of Slabodka rosh yeshiva Rav Dov Landau.

“Go to Rav Landau; if he approves, I will not oppose it,” he stated. Sources within the chareidi political sphere believe there is a strong likelihood that Rav Landau will give his backing to the move.

Separately, Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni met at length on Sunday with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. During their conversation, the prime minister indicated that should the leading rabbonim give their approval, the coalition is prepared to move the Draft Law forward for a vote before the elections take place.

{Matzav.com}

The Torah world and the city of Yerushalayim are in mourning following the petirah of Rav Aryeh Stern zt”l, a prominent figure in the Religious Zionist rabbinic world, longtime marbitz Torah, and former Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Yerushalayim. He was 81.

Rav Stern was born on November 27, 1944, in Tel Aviv, into a home infused with Torah, emunah, and yiras Shamayim, combining Religious Zionist ideals with a chassidishe warmth. His father, Asher (Yeshaya), and mother, Chava Leah, raised him with a deep attachment to Torah and mesorah. His grandfather, Rav Rafael Stern, served as a respected communal leader in Ungvar and was closely connected to prominent Admorim.

In his youth, Rav Stern learned at Yeshivas HaYishuv HaChadash and later in Yeshivas Chevron. In 1964, he entered Yeshiva Mercaz HaRav, where he became closely attached to the teachings of his rebbi, Rav Tzvi Yehuda HaKohen Kook. Already as a young ben Torah, he distinguished himself with exceptional diligence and depth in learning, and in 1966 was awarded a prize from the Ministry of Religious Affairs for his chiddushei Torah.

In the winter of 1967, he enlisted in the IDF and later served in the Paratroopers Brigade in the reserves, including during the Six-Day War and the Yom Kippur War.

Following his marriage in 1968 to Miriam-Yocheved, Rav Stern settled in Tel Aviv, where he continued his hasmadah in the Shevet MiYehuda kollel, a program dedicated to training dayanim under Rav Ephraim Borodiansky.

In 1970, at the request of his rebbi, Rav Tzvi Yehuda HaKohen Kook, Rav Stern helped establish the Machon Halacha Berurah u’Birur Halacha, together with Rav Yochanan Fried and others. He stood at its helm from its founding, serving as the chief editor of its monumental work, organizing the shitos of the Rishonim and Acharonim on the sugyos of Shas.

Over the years, Rav Stern was a central marbitz Torah in a number of leading yeshivos. He served as a ram in Yeshiva Mercaz HaRav during multiple periods, and later as rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat HaDarom in Rechovot. He also delivered shiurim in Yeshivat Or Etzion, Yeshiva Kiryat Shmona during its early years, Yeshivat HaKotel, Yeshiva Oros Shaul, and the Aish HaTorah yeshivas hesder.

He was also active in strengthening Torah education more broadly, including helping found the Merhavim Institute in Yerushalayim for training melamdim and educators, alongside other prominent figures and with the encouragement of his rebbi. In addition, he took part in restoring the historic home of Rav Avrohom Yitzchok HaKohen Kook, transforming it into a center dedicated to preserving and transmitting his legacy.

For many years, Rav Stern served as the rav of the Har Chorev kehillah in the Katamon neighborhood of Yerushalayim, where he was known as a devoted manhig and moreh derech to his congregants.

In 2014, following years in which the position remained unfilled, Rav Stern was elected Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Yerushalayim, receiving the support of a broad coalition. He was chosen by a majority of the electoral body, alongside Rav Shlomo Moshe Amar, who was elected Sephardic Chief Rabbi.

Upon assuming the position, Rav Stern expressed his vision with clarity, stating: “I intend to serve as a rov for all of Yerushalayim’s residents: secular, religious, and chareidi. To head the Yerushalayim Rabbinate is a great privilege, but it also carries heavy responsibility. I will ensure that all religious services are accessible and welcoming, and in this way serve as a model for other rabbinates in Israel.”

A central focus of his tenure was strengthening the standards of kashrus in Yerushalayim. Through his efforts, the level of supervision was significantly elevated, and many within the tzibbur chareidi came to rely on the city’s mehadrin certification.

Rav Stern also addressed broader issues affecting the tzibbur, expressing opposition to increasing social division and advocating for greater unity among different segments of Klal Yisroel. He supported initiatives that encouraged dialogue and mutual understanding, including establishing forums for engagement between religious and secular communities.

Rav Stern is survived by his wife, Miriam-Yocheved, and their seven children, who continue in his path of Torah and avodas Hashem. Among them are Yekira, Sarah, and Rachel, as well as his son, Rav Yechezkel, a ram in a yeshiva. Their daughter Shira tragically passed away in 2007 at the age of 21.

Rav Stern leaves behind a legacy of harbotzas Torah, steadfast commitment to halacha, and a lifetime devoted to strengthening the רוחניות of Yerushalayim and Klal Yisroel. His impact will continue to be felt through his talmidim, his writings, and the many institutions he helped build.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that recent discussions with Iran have been productive and suggested that a potential agreement could be within reach, emphasizing that Tehran has indicated it is willing to forgo nuclear weapons.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said, “They want to make a deal badly. And we’ll see if we get there. If we get there, they can’t have nuclear weapons. It’s very simple,” underscoring his administration’s central demand in the negotiations.

Trump also pointed to what he described as the significant weakening of Iran’s military capabilities, stating that “had a Navy with 159 ships, and now every ship is blown to pieces and lying at the bottom of the water. They had an Air Force, lots of planes, and they don’t have any planes. They don’t have any anti-aircraft. They don’t have any radar left. Their missiles are mostly decimated. They have some. They have probably 18, 19 percent, but not a lot by comparison to what they had. And their leaders are all dead. So I think we won.”

He added that while negotiations are ongoing, further action remains possible if talks fail. “Now we have to get what we have to get. If we don’t do that, we’ll have to go a big step further. But with that being said, they want to make a deal. We’ve had very good talks over the last 44 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll make a deal,” said Trump.

Reiterating his stance, Trump said, “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. And they won’t. And they’ve agreed to that, among other things.”

The remarks followed an earlier ultimatum Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, where he wrote, “Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran.”

He also issued a warning, stating, “If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before.”

Trump’s comments came after a report by Axios indicated that Washington and Tehran are approaching a concise, one-page agreement aimed at ending the conflict. According to the report, the framework could include reciprocal easing of restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of US sanctions along with the release of frozen Iranian assets, and Iran’s commitment to a “moratorium” on nuclear enrichment, with certain provisions dependent on a broader final agreement.

A day earlier, Trump announced that “Project Freedom” operations in the Strait of Hormuz would be temporarily suspended to provide space for ongoing diplomatic efforts with Iran.

{Matzav.com}

Palestinian media reported that Azzam al-Hayya, the son of Hamas’s Gaza-based leader Khalil al-Hayya, was killed in an Israeli strike in the Gaza Strip, with Israeli officials later indicating he was not the intended target.

Responding to the reports, an Israeli official said that “al-Hayya’s son was not a target for assassination, but he may have been present at the location where IDF forces struck in Gaza during the day.” The official suggested that his death occurred incidentally during an operation carried out by Israeli forces.

A separate senior security source stated that the son of the Hamas leader was considered an “active terrorist” within the organization, adding that his presence at a site where operatives were being targeted pointed to his involvement in militant activity.

Subsequent reports indicated that the strike itself had been directed at a Nukhba commander believed to have overseen one of the Hamas infiltration routes along the Gaza border during the October 7 massacre.

{Matzav.com}

A significant development for the city of Beit Shemesh was confirmed with the approval of a large parcel of land for a new branch of Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim, marking another milestone in the city’s expanding Torah infrastructure.

According to the report, a five-dunam site in the heart of the newly developed Ramat Beit Shemesh Hei 2 (Neve Shamir) neighborhood has been officially designated for the establishment of a major new campus of the Mir Yeshiva, led by the rosh yeshiva, Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel.

The allocation, which followed a detailed professional process, received strong backing from Mayor Shmuel Greenberg, who has prioritized the strengthening of Torah institutions as a key component of the city’s growth. The move is being viewed as a natural continuation of the Mir Yeshiva’s remarkable expansion over the years.

Originally based in the Beit Yisrael neighborhood of Yerushalayim, Mir has grown into the largest yeshiva in the world and has since established prominent branches, including the well-known Mir Brachfeld campus in Modi’in Illit and a yeshiva for younger talmidim in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood of Yerushalayim.

The decision to open an additional branch in Beit Shemesh is widely seen as further solidifying Ramat Beit Shemesh Hei as a major Torah center. Residents and city leaders expressed excitement over the expected arrival of hundreds of bnei Torah affiliated with Mir, noting that their presence will infuse the developing neighborhood with a strong רוחניות and the distinct spirit associated with the Mirrer tradition.

At this stage, yeshiva leadership is preparing to begin the planning phase, with the goal of constructing a large, state-of-the-art campus that will accommodate growing demand and support the continued expansion of the yeshiva as it establishes a new home in Beit Shemesh.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s political system was thrown into turmoil Wednesday following a report that Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu asked senior chareidi party officials to remove the draft law from the agenda and postpone its advancement until after the elections.

The report triggered swift and sharp reactions. In response, the office of Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni quickly issued a denial, insisting the report “never happened.” However, that immediate dismissal raised eyebrows among political observers, as the original publication did not attribute a direct quote to Gafni, prompting questions about how he could so definitively reject the claim.

Political insiders suggested that Gafni may have been aware of the discussions through internal channels and moved quickly to deny the report before it became clear who had been approached or how the information was leaked. In any case, the denial itself only intensified the uncertainty surrounding the behind-the-scenes developments.

Throughout the day, figures within the chareidi parties and those close to the prime minister reportedly attempted to identify the source of the leak, but no clear answer had emerged.

Meanwhile, United Torah Judaism chairman and Minister Yitzchak Goldknopf did not echo the denial and instead launched a direct attack on Netanyahu. Responding to the report, he said: “The truth has come out. As I have said from the beginning, Netanyahu has no and never had any intention of honoring the coalition agreement and the commitments to the chareidi parties.”

Strong remarks were also heard from within the government. Minister Shlomo Karhi said in an interview with Kol Berama radio that the draft law must be passed “the way we want,” even if it leads to a confrontation with the High Court. He added: “The legal advisory system is trying to thwart and interfere with our policy; the golem must return to its natural place and to the dust.”

{Matzav.com}

A new intelligence assessment from the US Department of Homeland Security indicates that the gunman who disrupted President Trump’s dinner with White House correspondents and fired a weapon roughly ten days ago may have been driven in part by opposition to the war in Iran.

“The suspect, Cole Thomas Allen, had numerous political and social grievances. The conflict in Iran may have contributed to his decision to carry out the attack,” the report states. Officials pointed to the suspect’s online activity, which included posts critical of the war in Iran.

A representative for the Department of Homeland Security declined to address the contents of the assessment directly. “These reports inform our partners of the most up-to-date information available following significant events impacting homeland security,” the spokesperson said.

As reported earlier, Allen forced his way into the Washington dinner event attended by President Trump and members of the White House press corps, where he fired at a Secret Service agent. The agent was unharmed. Secret Service personnel subdued Allen at the scene. During subsequent questioning, he has not revealed what led him to attempt to assassinate Trump.

Court documents filed by the Department of Justice show that Allen has been charged with a series of offenses, including attempted assassination, using a firearm during a violent crime, unlawful possession of a weapon, and shooting at a Secret Service agent. Prosecutors wrote in their filings that “Allen disagreed with Trump politically and sought to fight against the administration’s policies and decisions, which he viewed as morally wrong.”

{Matzav.com}

Chareidi askanim have warned that they may launch a widespread consumer boycott against the Israeli airline Israir if it continues to operate flights on Shabbos, according to a report aired Tuesday by N12 News.

Israir CEO Uri Sirkis acknowledged the mounting pressure, confirming that he had been called to Yerushalayim to meet with leading chareidi figures in an effort to address the growing dispute.

“It is important that public discourse be conducted with respect, while avoiding exclusion, ostracism, or boycotts,” Sirkis told investors, concluding with the Leviticus phrase, “You shall love your neighbor as thyself.”

Among Israel’s four main airlines, only El Al refrains from operating on Shabbos. Israir, Arkia, and Air Haifa all continue to run flights during the day of rest, serving a sizable portion of secular travelers and tourists.

Since Air Haifa primarily serves northern routes with limited destinations, a shift in Israir’s Shabbos policy would effectively leave Arkia as the sole airline offering Shabbos flights to most locations.

The potential boycott could extend well beyond air travel. Israir is owned by businessman Rami Levy, who also controls a large supermarket chain that carries his name.

{Matzav.com}

A serious incident during Lag BaOmer celebrations in Elad sparked outrage Tuesday night after a police officer allegedly assaulted a community rov in full view of children. The municipality issued a sharp condemnation, calling it a “serious incident that will not pass quietly.”

The confrontation occurred during the central bonfire of the Chaim Sha’al kehillah, led by Rav Shai Ovad. The kehillah, which includes many baalei batim and baalei teshuvah, holds its annual hadlakah at a designated area in the city’s amphitheater park.

This year, due to the intensity of the flames, sparks began spreading outward, raising safety concerns. A municipal truck arrived, and two workers began spraying water on the fire. However, the effort created a thick cloud of smoke that drifted toward the area where people were dancing, eating, and where children were gathered. Dozens of participants, including both adults and children, began coughing and choking.

As the smoke spread, police officers arrived to oversee the situation. A dispute broke out between residents and officers regarding the firefighting efforts, and amid the crowding, one officer attempted to detain a participant. Rav Shai Ovad, who stepped in to calm the situation and separate those involved, was allegedly attacked. According to witnesses, the officer “lunged at the rov, choked him with his hands, kneed him, and forced him to the ground.” Eyewitnesses also reported that tear gas was deployed at the scene.

Videos circulated within the community show the rov lying on the ground. Three avreichim were arrested in front of children, further escalating tensions at the scene.

Rav Ovad is known to be close to Mayor Yehuda Butbul, who was called to the location and worked to calm the situation.

Following the incident, the Elad municipality released a strongly worded statement: “A serious incident by law enforcement authorities. A severe and shocking harm to one of the most important community rabbonim in the city.” The statement added that “the incident will not pass quietly and will be dealt with to the fullest extent,” and emphasized that the city “strongly protests the harm to the honor of Torah and will act to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Wednesday morning that direct, face-to-face negotiations between the United States and Iran are not imminent, even as reports have suggested the two sides may be nearing an understanding that could bring their 67-day conflict to a close.

In remarks to The New York Post, Trump dismissed the idea that another round of in-person discussions was on the horizon. When asked whether the outlet should send a correspondent back to Pakistan for renewed talks—following reports from sources in Islamabad that a tentative agreement was within reach—Trump replied, “I don’t think so.”

“I think we’ll do it — it’s too far,” he added. “No, it’s too much.”

Earlier that day, Trump addressed the situation on Truth Social, outlining the stakes of the ongoing negotiations. “[a]ssuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran. If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before.”

Trump has previously indicated he would consider traveling to Pakistan to finalize a formal agreement, citing respect for the efforts of Pakistan’s defense chief, Asim Munir, who has been involved in mediating between Washington and Tehran.

The president cut short his phone conversation with The Post on Wednesday, saying he needed to attend a meeting with “the generals.”

His cautious tone follows a report by Axios stating that White House officials believe they are nearing agreement with Iran on a brief framework document that could serve as the basis for a comprehensive peace deal.

According to that report, the proposal includes “Iran committing to a moratorium on nuclear enrichment, the US agreeing to lift its sanctions and release billions in frozen Iranian funds, and both sides lifting restrictions” on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Still, sources familiar with the negotiations told The Post that several versions of the proposal remain under consideration, and no final terms have been settled.

“Which one is going to be approved, no one knows,” said a Pakistani source familiar with mediation efforts.

Trump has made clear in prior conversations that he is reluctant to accept a temporary halt to Iran’s nuclear activity, instead favoring a permanent end to its ability to enrich uranium.

These developments follow Trump’s announcement Tuesday night that “Project Freedom” would be temporarily halted. The initiative had involved U.S. military escorts for commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

According to officials, the pause came after appeals from Pakistan and “other countries,” including Saudi Arabia, which argued that such a move could help advance efforts toward ending the conflict.

{Matzav.com}

Ted Turner, a mercurial tycoon and gadfly visionary whose “superstation” TBS was a cornerstone of cable TV’s early success, whose 24-hour news channel CNN revolutionized TV journalism, and whose sprawling legacy encompassed conservation, philanthropy and professional sports, died Wednesday at his home near Tallahassee. He was 87.

His death was confirmed by Phillip Evans, a spokesman for Turner Enterprises. Mr. Turner revealed in 2018 that he had Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder.

A serial entrepreneur known as “the Mouth of the South” for his bellicosity and bravado, Mr. Turner took over his family’s Georgia-based billboard company at 24, after his father’s suicide, and transformed the business into a media juggernaut that would forever alter broadcasting.

“CNN really heralds the world of Twitter and social networks and interactivity,” said Ken Auletta, a Turner biographer and media writer for the New Yorker. “During the Persian Gulf War, you had a live war for the first time, without commercial breaks. You’d see bombs dropping and people screaming and fire engines roaring. Everything is immediate. It’s the world we live in today. He’s the father of that world.”

Mr. Turner’s achievements transcended journalism and business, and his much-publicized personality made him one of the most captivating public figures of his generation.

The billionaire Mr. Turner championed a world free of conflict but was on friendly terms with dictators and despots, including Saddam Hussein and Vladi­mir Putin. A Goldwater Republican turned unabashed liberal, he had friends running the political gamut – from former president Jimmy Carter to Sen. Jesse Helms (R-North Carolina), from televangelist Jerry Falwell to communist Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who became a duck-hunting companion.

CNN was initially laughed off as the “Chicken Noodle Network,” in part because of its conspicuously low-budget look and its headquarters in the distinctly non-media capital of Atlanta. In CNN’s first five years, it hemorrhaged tens of millions of dollars.

Gradually, CNN upended the way news was consumed, riveting audiences by covering historic events and dramatic human-interest stories as they unfolded: the space shuttle Challenger explosion in 1986; the 58-hour rescue of a toddler from a well in Midland, Texas, in 1987; the Chinese government’s massacre of pro-democracy student demonstrators in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in spring 1989; and the demolition of the Berlin Wall – amid the dissolution of the Soviet bloc – in fall 1989.

CNN and its Headline News sister station, which launched in 1982, paved the way for cable ventures by CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox and served, in the view of CNN admirers, as a constant visual watchdog.

“The idea of 24-hour news and global news is his creation,” Christiane Amanpour, who became the network’s chief international correspondent, told the New Yorker. “That’s changed the world. It’s changed people’s relations with their governments. It’s meant that governments can no longer crack down with impunity on protests.”

Mr. Turner, who was treated for bipolar disorder, was powered by hasty enthusiasms and a tolerance for high-wire risk.

After CNN’s distinguished Persian Gulf War coverage in 1990-1991 and its high ratings during the 1995 O.J. Simpson murder trial, Mr. Turner seemed to be at his career apogee when he sold Turner Broadcasting System to Time Warner in 1996 for nearly $7.5 billion.

Biographers observed that, in work or in play, Mr. Turner strove to disprove his father’s dim view of him when he was a young man. The elder Turner was said to have disparaged his son, then a sailing-obsessed college dropout, as a wastrel and an unworthy heir to the family business.

In 1984, having landed on Forbes magazine’s list of the richest people in America, Mr. Turner was speaking to Georgetown University undergraduates when he held aloft a copy of Success magazine with his picture on the cover.

His voice, according to biographer Porter Bibb, trailed off into an eerie whisper, and his eyes searched somewhere above the crowd. “Is this enough?” he asked. “Is this enough for you, Dad?”

Survivors include two children from his first marriage, Laura and Teddy; three children from his second marriage, Rhett, Beau and Jennie; 14 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post · Adam Bernstein 

A dramatic incident unfolded Tuesday evening during the Lag BaOmer hilulah near Tzfas, when a 64-year-old woman and her four children, ages 10 to 15, who had gone missing on their way to Har Meron, were located stranded on a steep cliff.

The initial emergency call was received by United Hatzalah at 6:43 p.m., after the family reported that they had lost their way in the mountainous terrain and were unable to find a route out.

Following the report, national search and rescue units were dispatched to the scene and began operations in a challenging, mountainous area under limited visibility. At the same time, an aerial search was launched to locate the family using advanced equipment.

During the search, a United Hatzalah drone identified the mother and her children standing on a steep cliff, unable to descend or move forward. The drone operators immediately relayed the precise location to rescue teams on the ground, who confirmed that the identification significantly accelerated the rescue effort.

Rescue forces quickly initiated a complex extraction operation, using guidance from the drone to safely reach the family. Officials noted that the terrain posed significant challenges, but coordination between the units allowed for swift and accurate progress.

At this stage, rescue operations remain ongoing as teams work to bring all members of the family down to safety. United Hatzalah emphasized that the drone played a critical role in the rapid location of the missing family, saving valuable time.

{Matzav.com}

MK Michael Malchieli of Shas addressed the controversy surrounding the cancellation of the mass Lag Ba’omer pilgrimage to Har Meron, offering cautious support for the decision by security officials while voicing measured criticism over how such decisions impact the chareidi public.

In an interview with the main news broadcast on Radio Kol Chai, Malchieli said that while it is easy to judge the move in hindsight, it becomes far more complicated when all security bodies—including the Defense Ministry, the police, and Home Front Command—present a clear and credible threat assessment.

He explained, “If we had seen missiles in the last 24 hours heading toward Meron, everyone would have said how wise it was to close.” He added that although many in the chareidi community feel that restrictions are imposed more quickly on their events, in this case it is difficult to ignore the security evaluations and Meron’s proximity to the northern border.

At the same time, Malchieli acknowledged that the reaction within the chareidi public is not simple, particularly given that other large gatherings across the country have continued to take place. “I have a lot of criticism when the chareidi public is harmed by such decisions,” he said, “but in the end, when a clear threat picture is presented to you, there is not much room to maneuver.”

Later in the interview, Malchieli turned to a central political issue for the chareidi parties—the effort to advance legislation regulating the status of yeshiva students. He described it as the most critical issue currently facing the chareidi public, but noted that there is still no agreed-upon draft that has received rabbinic approval. “If you had asked me a year ago whether we would reach Lag Ba’omer without a law, I would have said it’s impossible. And yet, here we are,” he said.

Malchieli revealed that despite extended discussions in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, full agreements have not yet been reached with legal and political stakeholders. He said representatives of the chareidi parties have been instructed to remain engaged in negotiations rather than withdraw, in the hope that a finalized version can be presented when the summer session opens.

Addressing the ongoing tensions between the government and the attorney general, Malchieli sharply criticized the judicial system, arguing that there is a “small but powerful group” that he claims directly limits the government’s ability to govern. He said ministers and Knesset members repeatedly encounter rulings, delays, and interventions that interfere with government decisions.

{Matzav.com}

In an interview on Kol Chai’s main radio broadcast, Mishpacha editor Aryeh Ehrlich sharply criticized the handling of this year’s Meron framework, calling it a collapse of leadership and a retreat by authorities. He argued that the near-total cancellation of access to the mountain—limiting participation to just 200 people—amounted to an abdication of responsibility, masking the state’s inability to enforce control and maintain sovereignty at the site.

Despite police efforts to project an image of calm, Ehrlich described troubling accounts of police violence directed at those attempting to reach Meron through alternate routes and access roads. He pointed in particular to a disturbing incident in which an officer was filmed violently choking an older, respected man, Yeshayahu Gotfarb, saying it reflects a degrading attitude toward the chareidi public.

“Chareidi blood is not hefker,” Ehrlich declared, comparing the shutdown at Meron to large-scale sporting events in the north that have continued under similar security threats. In his view, the state should have implemented a structured “capsule” system to allow for safe and controlled access, rather than leaving tens of thousands to attempt reaching the site on their own under risky conditions.

Amid what he described as organizational chaos, a significant bright spot emerged in Yerushalayim, where a massive gathering took place led by the mashpia Rav Meilech Biderman. The event drew approximately 70,000 participants and was carefully organized by Minister Meir Porush and his team to provide a spiritual alternative, discouraging large crowds from attempting to reach Meron under dangerous conditions. Ehrlich praised the initiative as an important lesson learned, noting that dispersing the crowds to multiple locations is essential given the rapid growth of the chareidi population, which no longer allows for hundreds of thousands to be safely concentrated in one place at one time.

The conversation then shifted to the political landscape. Ehrlich argued that the early alliance between Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid proved to be a strategic misstep that weakened their standing in the polls, while Gadi Eisenkot has been acting with greater political discipline. He said Bennett has been accused of “intoxication with power” and of issuing threats toward senior police officials even before being elected, while Eisenkot has managed to position himself as a more consistent and credible governing alternative. Ehrlich added that the Bennett-Lapid partnership also contributed to the weakening of Benny Gantz’s party, which is paying a political price for its emphasis on statesmanship.

{Matzav.com}

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unveiled a new federal effort aimed at reducing reliance on psychiatric medications, introducing the initiative during a Make America Healthy Again Institute summit focused on mental health and concerns about overmedicalization.

“Today, we take clear and decisive action to confront our nation’s mental health crisis by addressing the overuse of psychiatric medications —especially among children,” Kennedy said.

He added, “We will support patient autonomy, require informed consent and shared decision-making, and shift the standard of care toward prevention, transparency and a more holistic approach to mental health.”

As part of the plan, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will compile and release a report analyzing prescribing patterns across the country.

In a “Dear Colleague” letter issued Monday, senior officials at the Department of Health and Human Services stressed that psychiatric medications “should not be understood as the only treatment option.”

Kennedy has previously been outspoken in his criticism of psychiatric drugs, at times suggesting that Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors may be linked to school shootings. He has also claimed that such medications are more addictive than heroin, despite evidence contradicting that assertion. Kennedy has publicly spoken about his own past addiction to heroin.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that 16.5 percent of adults in 2020 were taking psychiatric medications to manage their mental health.

The American Psychiatric Association, which represents more than 40,000 professionals in psychiatric care and research, responded Monday by expressing cautious support for aspects of the initiative while objecting to its framing.

“We are supportive of the Administration’s plans for further investment in research and clinician training on the issues of prescribing and deprescribing,” the organization said in a statement.

“That being said, while APA supports efforts to improve the quality, safety, and evidence base of mental health treatment, we strongly object to framing the nation’s mental health crisis as primarily a problem of ‘overmedicalization’ or ‘overprescribing,’” the APA added. “Deprescribing alone is not a sufficient response to this crisis.”

{Matzav.com}

The Lag BaOmer hilulah of the Tanna Eloki Rashbi in Meron took place this year under extreme conditions, as winter-like weather and continuous rain accompanied the limited number of participants who were permitted to ascend the mountain. Police spokesman for the chareidi sector, Shabtai Gerberchik, spoke with Betzalel Kahn on the main broadcast of Kol Chai, explaining that despite the widespread impression that the hilulah had been canceled, small-scale events did take place under strict Home Front Command directives.

Gerberchik noted that inside the tziyun, stewards were assigned to maintain order, while police focused primarily on the outer perimeter and ensuring the safe management of crowd movement.

Road closures became a central issue during the interview, with Gerberchik stressing that access was legally restricted to local residents and those renting accommodations in the area. Despite repeated explanations, many attempted to bypass the checkpoints. “There are people who try to reach the site… and we must make it clear to them that the law limits entry.” He rejected calls to reopen the roads due to the reduced crowds, emphasizing that police are bound by Home Front Command orders, which remain in effect until Thursday at 8:00 p.m.

Addressing reports of confrontations on the roads, Gerberchik said that calm was maintained within the village of Meron itself, but clashes occurred outside the area as individuals attempted to force their way up the mountain. He urged people not to endanger themselves, stating, “This way of thinking puts them at risk… the decision to close Meron is a very painful one, painful for everyone.” He added on a personal note that it is far easier for police to manage an open event with large crowds than to enforce restrictions and limit access, but the security situation required it.

Despite the reduced scale and harsh weather, this year’s hilulah once again demonstrated the deep longing of Klal Yisroel for Rashbi. Even with roadblocks and heavy rain, efforts to reach the site continued until the last moment, requiring ongoing police action to remove people and transport them back to their points of origin by bus. Gerberchik also mentioned that officers were called upon to handle internal disputes that arose over signage associated with various chassidishe courts.

{Matzav.com}

A 72-year-old Yid from Moshav Azrieli experienced an extraordinary turnaround after being diagnosed with severe pre-Alzheimer’s symptoms that had progressed to the point where he could no longer recognize letters. After several months of steady limud haTorah in a local kollel, the symptoms receded completely. His treating physician later remarked in astonishment that the condition had reversed without conventional medical treatment.

One question weighs heavily on every person who is zocheh to arichas yamim: Will the memory—the most precious matanah we possess—remain with us into old age? For R’ Yefet of Moshav Azrieli, the outlook appeared especially grim when the diagnosis struck him and his family. Early Alzheimer’s symptoms had begun to chip away at his daily functioning to the extent that he could no longer identify even the form of letters.

Yet it was davka from that low point that the yeshuah came—mibein koslei beis hamedrash.

The transformation began at the Tiferes Zekeinim kollel in the community, established for retirees who wish to fill their days with Torah and meaningful ruchniyus. It is part of a broader project of Torah across the country serving thousands of members of the older generation.

R’ Yefet, who had been grappling with a sharp cognitive decline, decided to strengthen himself and join the fixed morning seder. “I reached a point where I could not recognize letters,” he recalled painfully. “But in the kollel, I found an approach that was exactly suited to our challenges.”

With time, the consistent framework of daily limud—at an appropriate pace and with close guidance—gave him a steady seder that began to impact his overall functioning.

Within just a few months, family members began to see open nissim. The clarity returned to his face, names that had been forgotten came back, and the fog lifted. When he returned to the specialist for a follow-up, what unfolded left everyone stunned.

The physician, upon reviewing the new tests, was left speechless. “The Alzheimer’s has completely disappeared,” the specialist concluded, struggling to understand how such a persistent condition could recede without any standard medical intervention. The results were clear: the cognitive measures had returned to normal, and the symptoms were gone.

Rav Yosef Taizi, the rosh kollel, described the transformation with visible emotion: “It was incredible to see how within a few months r’ Yefet became a new person. Not only did he return to himself, he became an active participant who asks deep questions and is involved in the life of the community.”

It became evident that for R’ Yefet, Torah was not merely study. It was truly a sam chaim, a magical “drug,” restoring his ability to live a full and meaningful life.

Today, he serves as a source of chizuk and inspiration for those around him and for all who hear his remarkable story, a powerful reminder that even at an advanced age, and even when facing difficult medical challenges, limud haTorah has the koach to transform and bring back light into a Yid’s life.

{Matzav.com}