U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the entrance of the White Home in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 7, 2025.
Leah Millis | Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday lashed out at prosecutors in Israel over the corruption trial that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confronted, saying Washington, having given billions of {dollars} value of help to Israel, was not going to “stand for this”.
Netanyahu was indicted in 2019 in Israel on prices of bribery, fraud and breach of belief – all of which he denies. The trial started in 2020 and includes three prison circumstances.
On Friday, the court docket rejected a request by Netanyahu’s legal professionals to delay his testimony for the subsequent two weeks due to diplomatic and safety issues following the 12-day battle between Israel and Iran this month.
He is because of take the stand on Monday for cross-examination.
“It’s INSANITY doing what the out-of-control prosecutors are doing to Bibi Netanyahu,” Trump stated in a Reality Social submit, asserting that the judicial course of was going to intrude with Netanyahu’s capacity to conduct talks with Palestinian militant group Hamas, and Iran.
A spokesperson for the Israeli prosecution declined to touch upon Trump’s submit. Netanyahu on X retweeted Trump’s submit and added: “Thanks once more, @realDonaldTrump. Collectively, we are going to make the Center East Nice Once more!”
Trump’s second submit over the course of some days defending Netanyahu and calling for the cancellation of the trial went a step additional to tie Israel’s authorized motion to U.S. help.
“The USA of America spends Billions of Greenback [sic] a yr, excess of on another Nation, defending and supporting Israel. We aren’t going to face for this,” Trump stated.
Netanyahu “proper now” was within the technique of negotiating a cope with Hamas, Trump stated, with out giving additional particulars. On Friday, the Republican president informed reporters that he believed a ceasefire was shut.
Hamas has stated it’s keen to free remaining hostages in Gaza beneath any deal to finish the struggle, whereas Israel says it will probably solely finish it if Hamas is disarmed and dismantled. Hamas refuses to put down its arms.
Curiosity in resolving the Gaza battle has heightened within the wake of the U.S. and Israeli bombings of Iran’s nuclear amenities.
