Court asked to postpone testimony in light of 鈥榬egional and global developments鈥
鈥 US president鈥檚 support for PM draws criticism from Israeli politicians
JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked a court on Thursday to postpone his testimony in his long-running corruption trial, after US President Donald Trump called for the case to be cancelled altogether.
Trump鈥檚 move in support of Netanyahu over the case drew criticism from some Israeli politicians, including a member of the Israeli leader鈥檚 own coalition and the leader of the opposition.
It came days after Trump and Netanyahu declared victory over Iran in a 12-day conflict that saw Israel bombard the Islamic republic and US planes also drop powerful missiles on its nuclear installations.
In a filing to the tribunal, Netanyahu鈥檚 lawyer Amit Hadad said the premier鈥檚 testimony should be delayed in light of 鈥渞egional and global developments鈥.
鈥淭he court is respectfully requested to order the cancellation of the hearings in which the prime minister was scheduled to testify in the coming two weeks,鈥 the filing said.
It said Netanyahu was 鈥渃ompelled to devote all his time and energy to managing national, diplomatic and security issues of the utmost importance鈥 following the conflict with Iran and during ongoing fighting in Gaza.
Trump on Wednesday described the case against Netanyahu as a 鈥渨itch hunt鈥.
In a message on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the Netanyahu trial 鈥渟hould be CANCELLED, IMMEDIATELY, or a Pardon given to a Great Hero鈥, after the end of the war with Iran.
Netanyahu on Thursday thanked Trump for his 鈥渉eartfelt support for me and your incredible support for Israel and the Jewish people鈥.
鈥淚 look forward to continue working with you to defeat our common enemies, liberate our hostages and quickly expand the circle of peace,鈥 Netanyahu wrote on X, sharing a copy of Trump鈥檚 Truth Social post.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said in an interview with news website Ynet: 鈥淲e are thankful to President Trump, but鈥 the president should not interfere in a judicial trial in an independent country.鈥
Israel鈥檚 longest-serving prime minister, Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing in the trial, which has been delayed many times since it began in May 2020.
In a first case, Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, are accused of accepting more than $260,000 worth of luxury goods such as cigars, jewellery and champagne from billionaires in exchange for political favours.
In two other cases, Netanyahu is accused of attempting to negotiate more favourable coverage in two Israeli media outlets.
One of Netanyahu鈥檚 coalition allies, Simcha Rothman of the far-right Religious Zionism party, also called for Trump to stay out of the court case.
鈥淚t is not the role of the president of the United States to interfere in legal proceedings in the State of Israel,鈥 said Rothman, who chairs the Israeli parliament鈥檚 judicial affairs committee.
Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2025