Trump defends Netanyahu, attacks Israeli prosecutors over corruption trial

US President Donald Trump links US assistance to Netanyahu’s corruption proceedings successful fiery station connected his societal media site.

United States President Donald Trump has launched a scathing onslaught connected Israeli prosecutors implicit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial, calling it “insanity” and linking Washington’s fiscal enactment to the proceedings.

Posting connected his Truth Social level connected Saturday, Trump lashed retired astatine Israeli authorities for undermining Netanyahu’s quality to negociate with the Palestinian radical Hamas successful Gaza and negociate mounting tensions with Iran.

“It is INSANITY doing what the out-of-control prosecutors are doing to Bibi Netanyahu,” Trump wrote, referring to the Israeli person with his nickname and claiming his proceedings would obstruct bid efforts successful the region.

“The United States of America spends billions of dollars a twelvemonth … protecting and supporting Israel. We are not going to basal for this,” helium added.

Netanyahu attends his proceedings connected corruption charges astatine a territory tribunal successful Tel Aviv, Israel, December 16, 2024 [Stoyan Nenov/Pool via Reuters]

Netanyahu is acceptable to instrumentality the basal connected Monday for cross-examination successful a long-running corruption lawsuit that began successful 2020.

He faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of spot – each of which helium denies. His lawyers had requested a two-week hold successful testimony, citing nationalist information demands pursuing Israel’s caller 12-day struggle with Iran. That entreaty was rejected connected Friday.

Members of Israel’s Knesset person accused Netanyahu of utilizing the determination conflicts to unafraid an extremity to his corruption trial.

“[Netanyahu] is conditioning the aboriginal of Israel and our children connected his trial,” Naama Lazimi, Knesset subordinate from the Democrats Party, told The Times of Israel newspaper.

Karine Elharrar, Knesset subordinate from Yesh Atid party, warned that Netanyahu is “acting against the Israeli nationalist interest” by linking his ineligible destiny with captive negotiations and determination normalisation agreements.

ICC apprehension warrant

Netanyahu’s ineligible troubles see an International Criminal Court apprehension warrant issued past twelvemonth for him and his erstwhile defence minister, Yoav Gallant.

The charges see warfare crimes and crimes against humanity related to Israel’s warfare connected Gaza, opening successful October 2023. Both leaders person called the apprehension warrant “anti-Semitic”.

Trump’s comments travel conscionable days aft helium suggested a ceasefire woody with Hamas whitethorn beryllium close.

Speaking to reporters, helium claimed Netanyahu was engaged successful negotiations with the Palestinian group, though nary further details were provided.

Hamas has stated it would escaped remaining Israeli captives successful Gaza arsenic portion of a woody to extremity the war, but has rejected Israeli demands for full disarmament.

Netanyahu responded to Trump’s defence with a station connected X: “Thank you again, @realDonaldTrump. Together, we volition marque the Middle East Great Again!”

Calls for Netanyahu to resign

The governmental turmoil successful Israel has deepened, with renewed calls for Netanyahu’s resignation. In a televised interrogation with Channel 12, erstwhile Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said it was clip for Netanyahu to measurement aside.

“He has been successful powerfulness for 20 years … that’s excessively much,” said Bennett. “He bears dense work for the divisions successful Israeli society.”

Bennett, who has taken a interruption from politics, is reportedly eyeing a return, with polls suggesting helium could situation Netanyahu erstwhile more.

Source:

Al Jazeera and quality agencies