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The Trump administration took a major step toward repairing defense ties with Turkey on Thursday, formally notifying Congress that it intends to move ahead with a military sale valued at more than $700 million. The proposed agreement would provide Turkey with military aircraft propulsion systems, signaling a significant shift in U.S.-Turkish relations after years of tension.

The official notification to lawmakers followed reports that surfaced a day earlier indicating the White House was preparing to move forward with the transaction.

The proposed sale comes despite continuing objections from several members of Congress, who remain uneasy over Turkey’s decision to retain the Russian-made S-400 air defense system it purchased in 2019. Lawmakers have long argued that the system poses security risks to NATO and Western military technology.

Relations between Washington and Ankara deteriorated during President Donald Trump’s first administration after Turkey acquired the Russian S-400 missile defense system. U.S. officials maintained that the platform could potentially be used to gather intelligence on advanced Western defense capabilities.

Following that purchase, the United States imposed sanctions on Turkey’s defense procurement agency and removed Ankara from the multinational F-35 fighter jet program, ending its role in producing components for the aircraft and eliminating its opportunity to receive the stealth fighters.

More recently, however, reports have suggested that Turkey has expressed a willingness to give up the S-400 system, a move that could pave the way for its return to the F-35 program.

Thursday’s announcement was widely viewed as a symbolic gesture toward Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whom President Trump has increasingly described as an important strategic ally.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Trump revealed that he had personally urged Erdogan not to become involved in the conflict with Iran, saying the Turkish leader agreed to stay out.

“You know, he was a prime candidate to go into the war with Iran. Maybe, on Iran’s side because he’s not a big fan of Israel, as you know. And I asked him to stay out. He stayed out,” the President told reporters.

Trump continued by offering warm praise for the Turkish president, emphasizing both his patriotism and leadership.

“Erdogan loves Turkey, right? He’s doing a great job. He loves Turkey. I love the US, but he loves Turkey, and he’s doing a great job. He’s a respected man, a respected leader. He’s been a friend of mine.”

When asked whether his administration would ultimately approve Turkey’s long-sought request to acquire F-35 fighter jets, Trump suggested that such a move remains under consideration.

“I think so. He’s a member of NATO. Some people don’t consider himself, but he really is. He is a strong member of NATO. Yeah, I’m going to probably do something that’s going to make him very happy.”

{Matzav.com}

An Israeli citizen living in the United States has been released after spending nearly a month imprisoned in Northern Cyprus on what his attorney successfully argued were baseless smuggling charges. During his detention, he says he endured physical abuse by prison guards, death threats from fellow inmates, and horrific prison conditions before finally regaining his freedom.

Yisrael Meir Gutthold, 24, who has been living in the United States in recent years, was traveling back to America approximately one month ago carrying medical vials related to his work when he was detained at the airport in Northern Cyprus. Authorities accused him of illegally smuggling sensitive medical equipment.

“I explained to them that they were mistaken,” Gutthold recalled in an interview with Mako. “I showed them all the official documents, the international permits proving everything was completely legal and that I work in the United States and Mexico. But nothing helped. They were completely convinced of their version of events. They confiscated the equipment, arrested me, and threw me into a detention cell.”

Along with Gutthold, a local physician and the manager of a medical clinic who allegedly sold him the equipment were also arrested.

Gutthold said the initial police detention was manageable compared to what awaited him after he was transferred to Northern Cyprus’ central prison.

“The conditions were horrific,” he told Mako. “The food was terrible, and other than fruits and vegetables, I couldn’t bring myself to eat anything. I suffered severe physical and emotional abuse there.”

Housed in an overcrowded cell with 13 other inmates, Gutthold found himself surrounded by prisoners from Iran and Syria. He said the atmosphere became increasingly hostile because he was Israeli.

“They imposed punishments on me and ostracized me. They forbade me from smoking, exercising, or even praying. The war outside only made the way they treated me inside even worse,” he told Mako. “They openly threatened my life. They told me, ‘You’re Israeli. You’re going to stay here for a long time,’ and made it clear they would order me killed if I violated the rules they imposed on me, while they themselves were allowed to do whatever they wanted. I was terrified of them. I sat in the corner, frightened, constantly praying to God to get me out of there. I couldn’t sleep at night because I was afraid they would get up and slaughter me.”

Gutthold said the hostility did not come only from fellow prisoners.

“There was one prison guard who would punch and kick me in the face simply because I’m Israeli,” he said. “He cursed me and spat on me for no reason.”

As time passed, prison officials reportedly realized Gutthold himself was in danger from other inmates. Rather than releasing him, they moved him into solitary confinement, where he spent 11 days in a tiny makeshift cell located in a prison corridor.

Reflecting on the ordeal, Gutthold said he lost approximately 33 pounds during his imprisonment.

“I lost 15 kilograms during that month. It was the nightmare of my life. It’s the kind of place where people lose every bit of hope and simply commit suicide. There were very difficult moments when I was convinced I was going to be buried there for years over something I never did. Every day felt like an entire year.”

Meanwhile, Gutthold’s family enlisted the assistance of Rav Chaim Azimov, the Chabad shliach in Northern Cyprus. They also retained local attorney Mert Ugur, who worked tirelessly to improve Gutthold’s conditions and secure his release.

According to the family, Ugur demonstrated that Gutthold was neither a criminal nor a smuggler, but an authorized courier operating in full compliance with strict international medical standards.

At the same time, relatives organized tefillos for his release. This past Motzoei Shabbos, members of the extended family gathered at the Kosel to daven before the court hearing that ultimately resulted in what they described as a miraculous release.

Gutthold’s brother, Yossi, said that the family’s tefillos had been joined by many others.

“Many people prayed for his release. Every Motzoei Shabbos, friends, acquaintances, and family members gathered to pray for him, and I want to sincerely thank them. Our family is grateful to everyone who was involved in securing his release, and we thank Hakadosh Baruch Hu that he was freed unharmed.”

Five of the senior members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Degel HaTorah have formally joined the call of Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch urging avreichim throughout Eretz Yisroel to undertake a daily taanis dibbur and intensified hasmadah in response to the escalating gezeiros against the olam haTorah.

In a special letter now being distributed to kollelim across the country, the gedolim expressed their wholehearted support for Rav Hirsch’s initiative, calling on avreichim to devote themselves to uninterrupted learning while observing a taanis dibbur during at least the first half-hour of the morning seder through the Yomim Noraim.

The letter states: “We hereby join wholeheartedly in the call of the Rosh Yeshivah, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, shlita, to establish special siddrei shekidah in all the kollelim throughout Eretz Yisroel, learning with complete continuity and observing a taanis dibbur for at least the first half-hour of the morning seder, until the Yomim Noraim.”

The proclamation bears the signatures of five senior members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah: Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, Rav Berel Povarsky, Rav Aviezer Piltz, Rav Dovid Cohen, and Rav Eliezer Yehudah Finkel.

Concluding the letter, the gedolim offered a heartfelt berachah: “May this merit stand for Klal Yisroel against the severe persecutions and the renewed troubles brought about by those who oppress us.” The appeal comes amid the increasingly difficult situation facing the olam haTorah due to the ongoing gezeiras hagiyus and the continued withholding of funding from yeshivos.

The publication of the letter follows a special gathering held at Rav Hirsch’s home shortly before his departure to the United States on behalf of the Keren Olam HaTorah campaign. Dozens of roshei kollel from across Eretz Hakodesh participated in the meeting.

At that gathering, Rav Hirsch issued an extraordinary spiritual appeal, urging roshei kollel and avreichim to accept upon themselves a daily taanis dibbur during the first half-hour of every learning seder, beginning immediately and continuing through the conclusion of the Yomim Noraim. He emphasized that it is specifically the difficulty of such a commitment that gives it its power.

“This is something very difficult, and precisely because it is difficult and constitutes a form of mesirus nefesh, it will bring tremendous Kevod Shamayim,” Rav Hirsch wrote in his original letter. “As a result, Hakadosh Baruch Hu will draw closer to us, and we will merit special siyata diShmaya from Hakadosh Baruch Hu. Without that special siyata diShmaya, it will not be possible to prevail against those who are fighting against us.”

Organizers also announced that another gathering of leading gedolim is expected to take place at the home of Rav Dov Landau, where an additional call for spiritual strengthening and renewed kabbalos by avreichim and bnei Torah is anticipated.

A similar letter was recently issued by Rav Moshe Sternbuch, Gaavad of the Badatz of the Eidah HaChareidis, urging increased hischazkus as part of the spiritual battle against Amalek. The parallel calls from leading gedolim across different segments of the olam haTorah underscore the profound sense of urgency for heightened avodas Hashem during this challenging period.

{Matzav.com}