Trump's intervention delays Netanyahu's trial
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Photo: Getty Images)
The trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on corruption charges has been postponed for a week due to intervention by US President Donald Trump. The decision is linked to the need to focus on peace negotiations in Gaza, according to The Telegraph.
Donald Trump called the corruption trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu harmful to the peace talks aimed at ending the fighting in Gaza.
As a result, the hearings have been postponed for at least one week.
Benjamin Netanyahu is accused of corruption, fraud, and breach of trust. Previous hearings have been repeatedly accompanied by political debates and large-scale protests both in support of and against him in Israel.
Closed consultations and reasons for the delay
Netanyahu was scheduled to testify next week at the Jerusalem District Court. However, after a closed session attended by the head of Mossad and the chief of military intelligence of the IDF, the court decided to postpone the trial.
The court’s decision cited the need to consider the extremely serious situation surrounding the ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip.
Trump defends Netanyahu
Over the past few days, Donald Trump has publicly criticized the criminal prosecution of Benjamin Netanyahu, claiming that the trial is obstructing efforts to reach an agreement with Hamas on hostage release and ending the war.
Netanyahu’s office has already thanked Trump for his support but denied any direct interference by the US president in Israel’s judicial system.
On Wednesday, June 25, Donald Trump demanded that Israel immediately halt the trial against Prime Minister Netanyahu or grant him a pardon.
The US president accused the Israeli judicial system of biased prosecution against Netanyahu, calling the case a witch hunt.
Meanwhile, according to Israeli media, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu have agreed on a five-point plan to resolve the situation in the Middle East, which includes ending the war in the Gaza Strip within the next two weeks.
