TIME Magazine on Wednesday voted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu one of its “100 most influential people of 2019.”
Netanyahu was chosen for the list’s subsection on “leaders” that also included Donald Trump, Nancy Pelosi, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Brett Kavanaugh, Robert Mueller, and international figures such as Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Pope Francis.
Explaining its decision to include Netanyahu on the prestigious annual list, TIME wrote that “Israel is Bibi’s nation.”
“Were there any doubt, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s election to a fifth term in April not only cemented his hold on the critical Mideast country, but also positioned him to surpass its founding leader, David Ben-Gurion, as Israel’s longest-­serving Prime Minister.”

Alan Garcia, a former president of Peru suspected in a continent-wide corruption scandal, died in a Lima hospital Wednesday after shooting himself as police arrived to search his home.
President Martin Vizcarra confirmed his death in a tweet.
Garcia killed himself when officers attempted to detain him, his lawyer, Erasmo Reyna, said.
“President Garcia made the decision of a free man,” Mauricio Mulder, a lawmaker with Garcia’s Apra party, told reporters outside the hospital. “For we Apristas, who are his family, it’s an act of dignity and honor in the face of a fascist, sick, persecution.”

The Trump administration’s proposal for achieving peace in the Middle East won’t be released until June at the earliest, senior White House adviser Jared Kushner told ambassadors on Wednesday.
The June release would come after the conclusion of the month of Ramadan, which ends early in the month, and would allow recently reelected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to form a governing coalition.
Kushner discussed the proposal Wednesday with roughly 100 ambassadors from around the world at Blair House, which is located across the street from the White House. He reportedly encouraged attendees to keep an open mind, but did not disclose whether the plan would call for the creation of a Palestinian state.

An Aeroflot flight to Israel from New York via Russia was canceled without the airline informing the passengers, who were delayed for seven hours at the airport.
Behadrei Haredim reported that the families received notice that they had no way to reach their destination the Passover holiday, which begins on Friday night. Their only option is an alternative flight with El Al in the evening at a price of $2,000 per ticket, far less than the company is willing to reimburse the stranded passengers. According to the company the plane experienced a technical failure and cannot take off.
Read more at Arutz Sheva.
{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration is reimposing limits on the amount of money Cuban Americans can send to relatives on the island and ordering new restrictions on U.S. citizen, nonfamily travel to Cuba, national security adviser John Bolton said Wednesday.
The new measures, outlined by Bolton in a Miami speech, follow an announcement by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that the administration will lift restraints that have prevented lawsuits from U.S. citizens seeking compensation for property expropriated by the Cuban revolutionary government that seized power there more than six decades ago.
Bolton also announced new sanctions against Venezuela and Nicaragua that will bar parts of their banking systems from U.S. dollar transactions.

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of R’ Refoel Dovid Shonek z”l. He was 30 years old.
R’ Dovid was a walking miracle, having undergone a double lung transplant and endured numerous medical nisyonos that were beyond comprehension. R’ Dovid battled with remarkable emunah and bitachon, being mechazeik all those who wished to strengthen him.
R’ Dovid, who lived in Lakewood and served as a rosh chaburah at Bais Medrash Govoah, was a choshuve ben Torah and ben aliyah, and a devoted son, father and husband. As one adam choshuv said, R’ Dovid was purified by the tribulations he underwent.
R’ Dovid is survived by his wife, his children, his parents, Rabbi and Mrs. Chaim Shonek, and numerous friends and admirers who will miss him dearly.

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President Reuven Rivlin on Wednesday evening entrusted MK and current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the task of forming the next government.

President Donald Trump reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the latter’s visit at the White House last month that Israel could jeopardize its security cooperation with the United States if it doesn’t reduce its ties with China.
Channel 13 and Axios reported the development, citing Israeli officials.
The Trump administration has repeatedly warned Israel about forging close ties with the Chinese, including criticizing an agreement between the Jewish state and China to allow the latter to manage the Haifa port.
US concerns over the Haifa port deal have come from National Security Advisor John Bolton and US Deputy Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette.