President Donald Trump urged Israeli prosecutors to drop its “politically motivated” corruption trial against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“LET BIBI GO, HE’S GOT A BIG JOB TO DO!” Trump said in a Truth Social post on Saturday, referring to the prime minister by his nickname.
Trump stated the United States “isn’t going to stand” for his prosecution, stressing that it spends billions of dollars a year to protect and support Israel.
The president in his statement compared Netanyahu’s legal challenges to his own, further suggesting the trial interferes with ongoing talks with Iran and Hamas.
Following Trump’s statement, the Jerusalem District Court on Sunday cancelled this week’s trial hearings after initially rejecting Netanyahu’s request for delay. The court changed its judgment after hearing new arguments from the prime minister, the head of military intelligence, and the chief of the Mossad spy agency, it said in its new ruling.
Netanyahu was scheduled to take the stand for cross-examination on Monday.
It’s unclear whether Trump’s social media post influenced the court’s decision.
Trump further described Netanyahu as a “war hero” and asked how it’s possible for him to “sit in a courtroom all day long” over “nothing.”
Trump denounced the case against Netanyahu and said the prime minister has been going through a “Horror Show” since the trial first began back in 2020.
Netanyahu was indicted in 2019 on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. The prime minister has pleaded not guilty.
Trump asserted that the trial “tarnishes” the recent bombing of Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities, saying Netanyahu was “at the helm” of the “great victory” and worked with the United States to get rid of its nuclear threat.
“Together, we will make the Middle East Great Again!” the prime minister wrote.
This isn’t the first time Trump has publicly defended Netanyahu over his prosecution. Opposition Leader Yair Lapid previously said that while Israelis appreciates Trump, the U.S. president should not involve himself in internal Israeli judicial issues.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu has long maintained his innocence.
His trial began in 2020 and involves three criminal cases.
In one case, prosecutors allege that Netanyahu granted regulatory favors worth about $500 million to the Bezeq Telecom Israel, the country’s largest telecommunications group in exchange for positive news coverage. In this case, Netanyahu has been charged with bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.
Netanyahu has also been charged with fraud and breach of trust over accusations that he and his wife wrongfully received almost $210,000 worth of gifts from Arnon Milchan, a Hollywood producer and an Israeli citizen, and Australian billionaire businessman James Packer. Prosecutors allege the prime minister accepted gifts such as champagne and cigars in exchange for business favors.
In a third case, Netanyahu has been charged with fraud and breach of trust for allegedly negotiating a deal with Arnon Mozes, owner of Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, for better coverage in return for legislation to slow the growth of a rival media outlet.
Sunday’s cancellation of this week’s hearings marks the latest delay in the long-running corruption trial against Netanyahu. The trial has been stalled several times over the years due to many factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Reuters contributed to this report.
