U.S. President Donald Trump has mounted an unusually direct campaign against Israel’s judicial proceedings, demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial be scrapped or that the premier receive a presidential pardon. In successive Truth Social posts beginning 25 June, Trump labelled the three-count indictment a “witch hunt”, praised Netanyahu as a “great hero” and said the United States, which provides Israel with billions of dollars in annual support, would “not stand” for the prosecution.
Trump escalated the pressure on 28 June by hinting that U.S. military assistance could be suspended if the case continues. Netanyahu swiftly thanked the American leader, while Israeli opposition figures, including Yair Lapid, said Washington should refrain from interfering in the country’s independent judiciary.
Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, has pleaded not guilty to allegations that he accepted more than $260,000 in cigars, jewellery and champagne from wealthy businessmen and sought favourable media coverage in separate dealings. The trial, which opened in May 2020 after a 2019 indictment, has been punctuated by repeated delays linked to domestic turmoil and the regional conflict with Iran and Hamas.
Legal scheduling became the immediate focal point. On 27 June the Jerusalem District Court rejected a defence request to postpone the prime minister’s testimony, which had been set for 30 June. Two days later, after arguments from Netanyahu, military intelligence and Mossad chiefs, the same court reversed course and cancelled hearings for the week, saying security and diplomatic demands required his full attention.
Further relief followed on 2 July, when judges agreed to cancel next week’s testimony so Netanyahu can travel to Washington for talks. Prosecutors consented on condition that additional hearing dates be added later. The back-and-forth underscores the political and diplomatic cross-currents surrounding the high-profile case, now complicated by public U.S. pressure and Israel’s continuing war-time agenda.
💥Due to his trip to the United States, Netanyahu's judges have now cancelled his trial testimony for all of next week. A few more days off and, thanks to the judiciary's summer recess, he gets off scott free till October.
The Israeli prosecution approves a request by Prime Minister Netanyahu to postpone next week’s hearings in his corruption trial due to his planned visit to Washington to meet Trump
The testimonies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his criminal trial hearings have been cancelled for next week due to his diplomatic visit to the United States.
