Latest news with #BibiNetanyahu
Asharq Al-Awsat
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Trump Slams Israel's Prosecutors over Netanyahu Corruption Trial
US President Donald Trump on Saturday 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, Reuters said. 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, adding that the judicial process was going to interfere with Netanyahu's ability to conduct talks with the Palestinian group Hamas, and Iran. A spokesperson for the Israeli prosecution declined to comment on Trump's post. 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 US 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 believes a ceasefire is 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.
Mint
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Mint
Trump defends Netanyahu as Israeli PM faces corruption charges, hints at Hamas negotiations: ‘He's got a big job to do'
President Donald Trump on Saturday declared that the United States would "not stand by" as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to face prosecution on corruption charges, while hinting at Israel's negotiations with Hamas. In a post on Truth Social, Trump extended his support to Netanyahu and wrote, 'It is terrible what they are doing in Israel to Bibi Netanyahu. He is a War Hero, and a Prime Minister who did a fabulous job working with the United States to bring Great Success in getting rid of the dangerous Nuclear threat in Iran.' He added, '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. We just had a Great Victory with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu at the helm — And this greatly tarnishes our Victory. LET BIBI GO, HE'S GOT A BIG JOB TO DO!' The US President also claimed that allegations against the Israeli Prime Minister will have an impact on Iran and Hamas negotiations. 'This travesty of 'Justice' will interfere with both Iran and Hamas negotiations. In other words, it is INSANITY doing what the out-of-control prosecutors are doing to Bibi Netanyahu,' he said. Calling the case against Netanyahu a 'political witch hunt,' Trump stated, 'How is it possible that the Prime Minister of Israel can be forced to sit in a Courtroom all day long, over NOTHING (Cigars, Bugs Bunny Doll, etc.). It is a POLITICAL WITCH HUNT." On Friday, an Israeli court denied Prime Minister Netanyahu's request to delay his testimony in his ongoing corruption trial, stating that he failed to present sufficient grounds for the postponement. In one of the cases, Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, are alleged to have received over $260,000 in luxury items—including cigars, jewellery, and champagne—from wealthy businessmen in return for political favours. In two other cases, Netanyahu is accused of attempting to negotiate more favourable coverage from two Israeli media outlets.
The Independent
10 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Trump suggests billions for Israel at stake over ‘war hero' Netanyahu's corruption trial
President Donald Trump appeared to suggest that billions of dollars of U.S. aid to Israel could be at stake if prosecutors do not drop corruption charges against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump lashed out at Israeli prosecutors in a Truth Social post Saturday evening and said it was 'terrible' what was happening to 'war hero' Netanyahu, who faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. He denies all of the allegations. While the president did not directly threaten prosecutors, he highlighted that the United States has sent billions of dollars to Israel and said the nation was 'not going to stand' for it. 'It is INSANITY doing what the out-of-control prosecutors are doing to Bibi Netanyahu,' Trump said. '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.' He called Netanyahu's prosecution a 'POLITICAL WITCH HUNT' and compared the case to the 'very similar to the Witch Hunt that I was forced to endure' following the president's multiple indictments on conspiracy and fraud charges. Israel is the largest recipient of U.S. foreign aid, having received hundreds of billions of dollars in military and economic support over the last several decades, including billions in additional support for Israel during its war in Gaza. The president said on Saturday that Netanyahu was 'right now in the process of negotiating a Deal with Hamas,' but did not specify further details. Trump told reporters on Friday that he believed a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was close. Trump's intervention, the second in days, comes as Netanyahu's cross-examination, which began on June 4, is set to resume Monday. Netanyahu was indicted in 2019. He pleaded not guilty after the trial, involving three criminal cases, began in 2020. In the first case, Netanyahu is alleged to have committed fraud and breach of trust over claims he and his wife Sara received expensive gifts illicitly from a Hollywood media mogul, according to The Times of Israel. In the second, he is accused of fraud and breach of trust over allegedly trying to persuade a newspaper publisher to give him positive coverage in exchange for legislation weakening the newspaper's key rival. In the third case, Netanyahu is alleged to have passed legislation that financially benefited a telecommunications giant shareholder in return for more favorable media coverage. Trump vowed to 'save' the Israeli leader earlier this week. 'Bibi Netanyahu's trial should be CANCELLED, IMMEDIATELY, or a Pardon given to a Great Hero, who has done so much for the State,' Trump said in a post on Truth Social. 'It was the United States of America that saved Israel, and now it is going to be the United States of America that saves Bibi Netanyahu,' he added. The Trump administration has been working on a deal after Israel shattered a two-month truce with Hamas by launching strikes in April. Interest in resolving the crisis picked up steam this month after Israel's bombing campaign in Iran and Trump's decision to bomb several Iranian nuclear facilities. A ceasefire to the 12-day Israel-Iran conflict went into effect early this week.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump slams Israel's prosecutors over Netanyahu corruption trial
By Ryan Patrick Jones and Mike Stone (Reuters) -President Donald Trump on Saturday 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. "It is INSANITY doing what the out-of-control prosecutors are doing to Bibi Netanyahu," Trump said in a Truth Social post, adding that the judicial process was going to interfere with Netanyahu's ability to conduct talks with Palestinian militants Hamas, and Iran. 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 [sic] 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 believes a ceasefire is 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 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 U.S. and Israeli bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities. A ceasefire to the 12-day Israel-Iran conflict went into effect early this week.
Russia Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Netanyahu's corruption trial should be ‘canceled'
US President Donald Trump has called for an end to the corruption trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, days after Israel and Iran reached a ceasefire. 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. He 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 US 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, which ended nearly two weeks of open hostilities between Iran and Israel, took effect on Tuesday and has so far been upheld.
