US won't stand for Netanyahu prosecution, says Trump
Trump said the US, as Israel's biggest financial backer, won't stand for Benjamin Netanyahu's prosecution on corruption charges. File photo: Reuters
US President Donald Trump has lashed out at prosecutors in Israel over the corruption trial that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced, saying Washington, having given billions of dollars worth of aid to Israel, was not going to "stand for this".
Netanyahu was indicted in 2019 in Israel on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust - all of which he denies. The trial began in 2020 and involves three criminal cases.
On Friday, the court rejected a request by Netanyahu's lawyers to delay his testimony for the next two weeks because of diplomatic and security matters following the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran this month.
He is due to take the stand on Monday for cross-examination.
"It is INSANITY doing what the out-of-control prosecutors are doing to Bibi Netanyahu," Trump said in a Truth Social post, asserting that the judicial process was going to interfere with Netanyahu's ability to conduct talks with Palestinian militant group Hamas, and Iran.
A spokesperson for the Israeli prosecution declined to comment on Trump's post.
Netanyahu on X retweeted Trump's post and added: "Thank you again, @realDonaldTrump. Together, we will make the Middle East Great Again!"
Trump's second post over the course of a few days defending Netanyahu and calling for the cancellation of the trial went a step further to tie Israel's legal action to U.S. aid.
"The United States of America spends Billions of Dollar a year, far more than on any other Nation, protecting and supporting Israel. We are not going to stand for this," Trump said.
Netanyahu "right now" was in the process of negotiating a deal with Hamas, Trump said, without giving further details. On Friday, the Republican president told reporters that he believed a ceasefire was close.
Hamas has said it is willing to free remaining hostages in Gaza under any deal to end the war, while Israel says it can only end it if Hamas is disarmed and dismantled. Hamas refuses to lay down its arms.
Interest in resolving the Gaza conflict has heightened in the wake of the US and Israeli bombings of Iran's nuclear facilities. (Reuters)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTHK
6 hours ago
- RTHK
Australia cancels Kanye West visa over Hitler song
Australia cancels Kanye West visa over Hitler song Kanye West has been going to Australia for some time 'because he has family in the country'. File photo: Reuters Australia has cancelled US rapper Kanye West's visa over his song glorifying Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, the government said on Wednesday. The 48-year-old musician, who has legally changed his name to Ye, released "Heil Hitler" on May 8, the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II West – whose wife Bianca Censori is Australian – has been coming to Australia for some time because he has family in the country, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said. "He's made a lot of offensive comments," Burke said. "But my officials looked at it again once he released the 'Heil Hitler' song and he no longer has a valid visa in Australia." Burke said the rapper's cancelled visa was not intended for holding concerts. "It was a lower level, and the officials still looked at the law and said: You're going to have a song and promote that sort of Nazism – we don't need that in Australia," he told public broadcaster ABC. Asked if it was sustainable to bar such a popular figure, the minister said: "I think what's not sustainable is to import hatred." But he said immigration officials reassess each visa application. Australian citizens have freedom of speech, Burke added. "But we have enough problems in this country already without deliberately importing bigotry." (AFP)
RTHK
8 hours ago
- RTHK
Brics summit and Egypt visit set for Li Qiang
Brics summit and Egypt visit set for Li Qiang Li Qiang will attend the Brics summit in Rio de Janeiro from July 5 to 8 and visit Egypt from Egypt from July 9 to 10. File photo: Reuters Premier Li Qiang will visit Brazil for a meeting of Brics countries and then Egypt next week, Beijing's foreign ministry said on Wednesday. "Li Qiang will attend the 17th Brics summit upon invitation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 5 to 8," a foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement. Beijing and Moscow have hailed the Brics club as a counterweight to what they see as Western hegemony on the world stage. A loose grouping of countries named after founding members Brazil, Russia, India and China, its members pledge to boost trade and cooperation, though it is not a trade pact and has few institutional ties. The Kremlin said last week, however, that President Vladimir Putin would not travel to Brazil for the upcoming summit due to the outstanding International Criminal Court arrest warrant on the Russian president. Following his visit to Brazil, Li will then "pay an official visit to Egypt from July 9 to 10", Beijing said. Beijing has sought to frame itself as a mediator in the Middle East, facilitating a 2023 rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran and portraying itself as a more neutral actor in the Israel-Palestinian conflict than its rival the United States. (AFP)
RTHK
9 hours ago
- RTHK
Brics summit and Egypt visit set for Li Qiang
Brics summit and Egypt visit set for Li Qiang Li Qiang will attend the Brics summit in Rio de Janeiro from July 5 to 8 and visit Egypt from Egypt from July 9 to 10. File photo: Reuters Premier Li Qiang will visit Brazil for a meeting of Brics countries and then Egypt next week, Beijing's foreign ministry said on Wednesday. "Li Qiang will attend the 17th Brics summit upon invitation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 5 to 8," a foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement. Beijing and Moscow have hailed the Brics club as a counterweight to what they see as Western hegemony on the world stage. A loose grouping of countries named after founding members Brazil, Russia, India and China, its members pledge to boost trade and cooperation, though it is not a trade pact and has few institutional ties. The Kremlin said last week, however, that President Vladimir Putin would not travel to Brazil for the upcoming summit due to the outstanding International Criminal Court arrest warrant on the Russian president. Following his visit to Brazil, Li will then "pay an official visit to Egypt from July 9 to 10", Beijing said. Beijing has sought to frame itself as a mediator in the Middle East, facilitating a 2023 rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran and portraying itself as a more neutral actor in the Israel-Palestinian conflict than its rival the United States. (AFP)
