OCCUPIED 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.
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 a brief conflict with Iran and during ongoing fighting in Gaza where Israeli hostages are held.
Trump on Wednesday described the case against Netanyahu as a 鈥渨itch hunt鈥.
Trump calls for Netanyahu鈥檚 trial to be canceled
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 a 12-day 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.
Israel鈥檚 opposition leader warned Trump against interfering in Israel鈥檚 internal affairs.
鈥淲e are thankful to President Trump, but鈥 the president should not interfere in a judicial trial in an independent country,鈥 Yair Lapid said in an interview with news website Ynet.
Netanyahu is Israel鈥檚 longest-serving prime minister.
In the trial that has been delayed many times since it began in May 2020, Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing.
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.