Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-04 at 18:01

HEADLINES
Turkey eyes F-35 return amid NATO talks
Zelensky Trump could end war with Russia
Ben-Gvir cancels UN police chiefs conference

The time is now 6:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, an editorial piece ahead of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosting NATO leaders in Ankara next week describes him as a radical, antisemitic, viciously anti-Western and anti-Israeli dictator and argues that he must be confronted. The article notes that Washington has announced the shipment of 80 engines to Ankara, worth more than $700 million, for Turkey’s homegrown fighter jet, and that the United States is weighing the possibility of allowing Turkey back into the F-35 program after its 2019 expulsion over the Russian S-400 system. It also says the European Union is seeking major economic and energy contracts with Turkey, including central roles in overland energy networks that would bypass the Arabian Gulf, Russia, and Israel. The piece contends that Erdogan’s approach threatens Western values and long-term interests and would undermine Israel.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the article in Hebrew reports that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he spoke with Donald Trump and that there is a real possibility to end the war with Russia, with American resolve potentially making a decisive difference.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Ben-Gvir’s office reportedly will not attend a United Nations police chiefs conference in New York this week, with the Hind Rajab Foundation alleging the cancellation came amid legal pressure from complaints filed in the United States over his prison policies. Ben-Gvir’s office has not confirmed whether the trip was canceled due to legal proceedings or activist pressure. The HRF says it has asked the US Department of Justice to prosecute Ben-Gvir and, together with the Center for Constitutional Rights, has appealed to New York Attorney-General Letitia James to open an investigation. The group described the reported cancellation as showing that accountability is no longer theoretical and said it would continue pressing US authorities to investigate.

In Uplifting News, Ben-Gurion University researchers report that the speed at which an older adult takes a step—particularly when distracted by a cognitive task—may serve as a valuable predictor of how long they will live. Led by Prof. Itshak Melzer from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, with colleagues from Soroka University Medical Center, the study was conducted with collaborators from the University of Minnesota and RxFunction Inc. and published in Gerontology under the title Speed of voluntary step execution may predict survival among older adults: An explorative study.

Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.

SOURCES
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-901226
https://t.me/newssil/205879
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-901393
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-901395