
Trump says Netanyahu's corruption trial should be ‘canceled'
Trump showered his Middle Eastern ally with praise in a post on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday evening. 'Bibi Netanyahu was a WARRIOR, like perhaps no other Warrior in the History of Israel,' he wrote.
Trump hailed Netanyahu's leadership during Israel's conflict with Iran and slammed the allegations against him as 'politically motivated.'
'Such a WITCH HUNT, for a man who has given so much, is unthinkable to me,' the president wrote. 'Bibi Netanyahu's trial should be CANCELLED, IMMEDIATELY, or a Pardon given to a Great Hero, who has done so much for the State.'
Netanyahu, whose trial began in 2020, denies any wrongdoing in three separate cases involving charges of corruption and influence peddling. He is Israel's first sitting prime minister to take the stand as a criminal defendant. Under Israeli law, Netanyahu is not required to resign unless convicted by the Supreme Court.
Netanyahu has praised Trump's support for Israel and his 'historic' decision to carry out strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities on June 22. The ceasefire that ended nearly two weeks of open hostilities between Iran and Israel took effect on Tuesday and has so far been upheld.
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EU creating ‘liberal dictatorship' in ex-Soviet country
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Russia Today
2 hours ago
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Tel Aviv didn't have another external 'guardian', and this significantly strengthened Washington's position. The loss of US support would have jeopardized Israel's entire security architecture, and a conflict with the White House was a risk Netanyahu couldn't afford to take. The asymmetrical goals of the parties also played an important part. Israel declared that it wanted to eradicate the Iranian regime – an ambitious yet unrealistic goal. In contrast, Iran didn't seek to escalate the conflict; it aimed to maintain internal stability and minimize losses – a goal Tehran successfully achieved, but one that Israel may have failed at. Nevertheless, both sides managed to save face. Netanyahu announced the destruction of key facilities of Iran's nuclear program. Although leaks published in the American media have suggested that Tehran evacuated sensitive materials ahead of time, Iran officially acknowledged some of the damage. 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French President Emmanuel Macron has echoed that line, consistently emphasizing his country's role in arming Ukraine's military. Trump has fewer tools at his disposal compared to the situation with Israel. Sure, he can say that this isn't his war; but if Ukraine loses, it will go down in his biography as 'the second Afghanistan.' That's why the US is hesitant to leverage its influence: a thorough audit of the billions of dollars in aid provided to Ukraine hasn't been initiated yet, despite corruption allegations growing louder in Kiev. Such an audit could significantly impact Zelensky's behavior and push him toward negotiations. The question of Zelensky's legitimacy also remains: Zelensky's presidential term expired in May 2024, a fact that Moscow has often noted. Currently, there are no signs that Trump is ready to instigate a political process, but perhaps his calls for 'doing something' also pertain to this aspect. Unlike the conflict that has flared up in the Middle East, the Ukraine conflict is not just a temporary crisis; it poses a long-term challenge to the framework of European security. The Israeli-Iranian standoff hasn't changed the balance of power in the region, but the Ukrainian conflict has reshaped Eastern Europe in the political, military, and psychological sense. Neither side is willing to return to how things were before. The process of constructing a new security system on the European continent that accommodates the interests of all parties involved is a fundamental task; a simple ceasefire won't solve these issues. Russia has made it clear that it will not settle for a temporary ceasefire that merely looks like peace. Long-term guarantees are needed to prevent the conflict from recurring, which means Kiev must reassess both its foreign and domestic strategies. For now, neither the EU nor Washington has demonstrated any real willingness to head in that direction. While he understands the complexity of the situation, Trump is cautious about getting involved in negotiations. He has expressed frustration with both sides, as if saying – I tried, but no one was interested. This approach has allowed the US to shift responsibility for the crisis onto Europe, implying: now it's your war – you go find a solution. Brussels recognizes this signal and is doing everything it can to keep Washington focused on Ukraine. But as time goes on, it becomes increasingly clear that Trump does not want to take on the role of chief mediator in this conflict. He has not provided any clear signals regarding a long-term strategy. His position remains chaotic and reactive, making it even harder to predict the future actions of the United States.


Russia Today
3 hours ago
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South Africa seeks extension of US tariff hike deadline
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