U.S. President Donald Trump calls on Israel to “pardon” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was tried for suspected corruption or completely revoke the case.
In social media posts, Trump also claimed that the United States saved Israel – suggesting its intervention in Israel’s war with Iran – will now “save” Netanyahu as well.
Israel’s prime minister denied allegations of bribery, fraud and breach of trust and has been on trial since 2020.
Israel’s leading opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized Trump’s statement, saying he should not “interfere with the legal process of independent countries.”
Trump rebuked Israel’s attack on Israel days after announcing a ceasefire agreement.
Netanyahu repeatedly praised Trump’s decision to bomb Iran’s nuclear facility on Sunday, calling it a “bold” move.
Trump posted his long-time allies on his Truth Social Platform, doing a lot for “the great hero, and a “warrior.”
He said Netanyahu’s trial should be “revoked immediately” or he should have pardoned, adding that he learned that Netanyahu will appear in court on Monday. Netanyahu has appeared in court several times since the trial began.
Trump describes the case against Netanyahu as a “witch hunting” – a investigation he repeatedly uses to describe what he calls doing wrong in the United States.
But Yair Lapid believes that the attempted intervention may be part of Trump’s certain move.
“I hope and think it’s a reward (Trump) given (Netanyahu) because he intends to put pressure on Gaza and force to force him to sign a hostage deal that will end the war,” Yair Lapid told Israeli news site YNET.
Netanyahu’s trial has been underway in the context of Israel’s conflict since the deadly and unprecedented Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, resulting in delays in legal proceedings.
In particular, the length of the war in Gaza against Hamas led to claims that Netanyahu wanted to extend the battle to delay the end of the election and trial.
