US President Donald Trump has called on Israeli authorities to end Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial, claiming that the investigation is a “ridiculous witch hunt”.
The prime minister has been charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust in relation to allegedly illicit agreements at various points in his political career.
These include allegations that he received a number of gifts from billionaire businessman Arnon Milchan and favourable coverage from the publisher of a prominent newspaper during his time as a minister in exchange for implementing regulations that were helpful to their business interests.
Netanyahu, as well as all the others named in the charges, have denied the allegations, and he has been allowed to remain in office while the trial proceeds – doing so at a glacial pace as hearings are consistently delayed or cancelled due to his health issues and political commitments.
He has also claimed that the allegations were advanced by a “deep state” of bureaucrats and activist lawyers aiming to topple his right-wing coalition.
Now, Trump has seemingly backed this theory, calling for an end to the trial and a complete acquittal for the prime minister.
Taking to his Truth Social platform and referring to the recent war with Iran, he wrote: “I was shocked to hear that the State of Israel, which has just had one of its Greatest Moments in History, and is strongly led by Bibi Netanyahu, is continuing its ridiculous Witch Hunt against their Great War Time Prime Minister!
“Bibi Netanyahu was a WARRIOR, like perhaps no other Warrior in the History of Israel, and the result was something that nobody thought was possible, a complete elimination of potentially one of the biggest and most powerful Nuclear Weapons anywhere in the World, and it was going to happen, SOON!
"Despite all of this, I just learned that Bibi has been summoned to Court on Monday for the continuation of this long running, (He has been going through this “Horror Show” since May of 2020 – Unheard of!”
Trump also referred to the prosecution as a “politically motivated case, concerning cigars, a Bugs Bunny doll, and numerous other unfair charges in order to do him great harm,” adding “Such a WITCH HUNT, for a man who has given so much, is unthinkable to me. He deserves much better than this, and so does the State of Israel.
"Bibi Netanyahu’s trial should be CANCELLED, IMMEDIATELY, or a Pardon given to a Great Hero, who has done so much for the State. Perhaps there is no one that I know who could have worked in better harmony with the President of the United States, ME, than Bibi Netanyahu.
"It was the United States of America that saved Israel, and now it is going to be the United States of America that saves Bibi Netanyahu. THIS TRAVESTY OF “JUSTICE” CAN NOT BE ALLOWED!”
However, the president’s vociferous statement has met with a mixed reaction in Jerusalem.
Netanyahu himself thanked Trump for his “heartfelt support”, while Culture Minister Miki Zohar said: “President Trump is right – it’s time to cancel the trial.”
But Simcha Rothman, a member of the coalition’s Religious Zionism Party and chair of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, said that, while he agreed with Trump, “it is not the role of the president of the United States to intervene in legal proceedings in the State of Israel”.
"The independence of the State of Israel and the independence of its judicial system are values important to us all, including Benjamin Netanyahu,” he added.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid echoed Rothman’s sentiment, saying: “We are grateful to President Trump but as Simcha Rothman said – the president should not interfere in a legal process in an independent country.”
