WASHINGTON: In a dramatic intervention that sparked political undulations in Washington and Tel Aviv, US President Donald Trump demanded an immediate judgment of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Calling Netanyahu a “great hero” and a “warrior”, Trump urged Israel to cancel the procedure or give complete forgiveness.
Netanyahu, the oldest Prime Minister in Israel, was charged in 2019 for corruption, fraud and violation of confidence in three distinct criminal cases. He denied all the allegations and pleaded not guilty. The trial, which began in 2020, is now in the counter-examination phase, with current hearings in Tel Aviv on June 3. The process should take about a year.
“The Bibi Netanyahu trial should be canceled, immediately, or a forgiveness given to a great hero who has done so much for the state (of Israel),” Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social. “It was the United States of America that saved Israel, and now it will be the United States of America that saves Bibi Netanyahu,” he added.
Trump’s remark referring to the United States “saving” Israel seems to be linked to Washington’s unshakable military and diplomatic support for Israeli operations, especially against Iran. The former president also described Netanyahu’s trial as “witch hunt” – the same term he frequently uses to describe his own legal battles.
Israeli president Isaac Herzog has the power to forgive Netanyahu, but according to local media, no request for this type has been submitted and forgiveness is not currently under study.
Trump’s comments are involved in the midst of tensions between the two governments according to Israeli air strikes on Iran which were launched just after a ceasefire agreement. The United States would have played a central role in the temporary judgment of hostilities.
“Israel, as soon as we concluded the agreement, they came out and dropped a bombs burden, which I have never seen before,” said Trump. “I am not satisfied with Israel.”
In a brutal criticism of the wider regional conflict, Trump added: “They fought so long and so hard that they do not know what they are doing.”
The remarks point out a complex turn in the traditionally strong support of Trump in Netanyahu and the Israeli defense policy. While Trump’s administration was known for its pro-Israeli position, including the displacement of the United States Embassy in Jerusalem and standardization of standardization with the Arab states, its recent declarations suggest an increasing frustration of Israeli decision-making in the last climbing of the Middle East.
For the moment, Netanyahu’s legal fate remains in the hands of Israel’s judicial system, while Trump’s unexpected plea for the exemption from his ally injects new volatility into an already tense political environment.
