Netanyahu seeks to postpone trial summons after Trump backing
JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked a court on Thursday (Jun 26) to postpone his testimony in his long-running corruption trial, after US President Donald Trump called for the case to be cancelled altogether.
Trump's backing of Netanyahu over the case drew criticism from some Israeli politicians, including members of his own coalition and the opposition.
It came days after Trump and Netanyahu declared victory over Iran in a 12-day conflict that saw Israel bombard the Islamic republic and US warplanes drop powerful missiles on its nuclear facilities.
In a court filing, Netanyahu's lawyer Amit Hadad said the prime minister's testimony should be delayed due to "regional and global developments".
"The 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," the filing read.
It argued Netanyahu was compelled to devote "all his time and energy" to managing diplomatic and security affairs following the conflict with Iran and amid continued fighting in Gaza, where Israeli hostages remain captive.
Trump on Wednesday described the trial as a "witch hunt".
"The Netanyahu trial should be CANCELLED, IMMEDIATELY, or a Pardon given to a Great Hero," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, referring to the end of the war with Iran.
Netanyahu responded by thanking Trump for his 'heartfelt support for me and your incredible support for Israel and the Jewish people.'
'I look forward to continue working with you to defeat our common enemies, liberate our hostages and quickly expand the circle of peace,' he said on X, sharing a screenshot of Trump's post.
CRITICISM FROM ISRAELI POLITICIANS
Opposition leader Yair Lapid told local media: "We are thankful to President Trump, but the president should not interfere in a judicial trial in an independent country."
Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, has denied wrongdoing in a case that has seen multiple delays since the trial began in May 2020.
In the first of three cases, Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, are accused of accepting over US$260,000 worth of gifts, including cigars, jewellery and champagne, from billionaires in return for political favours.
In two additional cases, Netanyahu is accused of seeking favourable media coverage in exchange for regulatory or financial benefits.
Simcha Rothman, a member of Netanyahu's coalition and chair of the parliament's judicial affairs committee, also criticised Trump's intervention.
"It is not the role of the president of the United States to interfere in legal proceedings in the State of Israel," Rothman said. He added, however, that 'the management of Netanyahu's cases is transforming the image of the State of Israel from a regional and global power into a banana republic.'
Meanwhile, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, another far-right ally, echoed Trump's stance, calling the trial politically motivated.
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also said continuing the trial during wartime was 'distorted, unreasonable, contrary to the basic sense of justice,' supporting Trump's call to cancel the case.
Since returning to office in late 2022, Netanyahu's government has advanced sweeping judicial reforms that critics say aim to weaken the courts.
The prime minister has requested several postponements to the trial, citing the war in Gaza since April 2023, later the conflict in Lebanon, and now the hostilities with Iran.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Times
15 minutes ago
- Business Times
The high cost of Trump's brain drain
[WASHINGTON, DC] – US President Donald Trump's attacks on Harvard University and its international students have shocked the world, not just because of their crudeness but also because of their blatant short-sightedness. For decades, leading universities like Harvard have been a cornerstone of American 'soft power'. Many of the world's brightest students have aspired to attend US institutions, and top researchers have sought to join their faculties. Harvard itself represents the pinnacle of American – and global – higher education. Even Chinese President Xi Jinping chose to send his daughter there. Now, the tide is turning. Prominent scholars are leaving the US to escape the paranoid atmosphere fostered by Trump's policies, and top-tier international students who once aimed to attend universities like Harvard, Columbia, or Northwestern – all recently targeted by Trump – are choosing other countries, fearing their education might be disrupted. Severe consequences The consequences could be severe. Since 2000, US-based researchers have won around two-thirds of the Nobel Prizes in chemistry, physics, and medicine – and 40 per cent of those laureates were immigrants. Notably, nearly half of immigrant US-based Nobel Prize winners completed their graduate studies at US universities. These scholars not only advanced groundbreaking research and enhanced their institutions' prestige but also served as teachers and mentors to both American and international students, attracting a new generation of academic talent. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Moreover, these cross-cultural interactions help American students gain a deeper understanding of other societies while giving their international counterparts firsthand experience of life in the US. Many of those who study in America later return to their home countries and rise to prominent positions in government, academia, and the private sector. As at 2024, 70 heads of state or government had completed part or all of their higher education in the US. Until recently, these benefits were widely acknowledged across the US political spectrum. A well-functioning system – the Student and Exchange Visitor Programme (SEVP) – allowed certified institutions to admit foreign students. SEVP enabled graduates on student visas to remain in the country for up to three years to gain work experience. But in a stunning display of ignorance and malice, the Trump administration tried to strip Harvard of its ability to enrol international students and even instructed US consulates not to process visa applications for those planning to attend the university – a move that was recently blocked by a federal court. This uncertainty is deeply unsettling for current and prospective students. Those who had planned to begin their studies in September may now find it is too late to enrol elsewhere for the upcoming academic year. A decline in international-student enrolment will not only hinder research at US institutions by shrinking the pool of talented assistants; it will also weaken the global pipeline of future scientists, diminishing the depth and quality of research worldwide. Strong link What Trump and his acolytes fail to grasp is the strong link between the excellence of American universities and the country's record of innovation. An analysis from 2022 found that more than half of US startups valued at over US$1 billion had at least one foreign-born founder, and in half of those cases the founder first came to the country as a student. Some Trump supporters have argued that barring foreign students from enrolling at Harvard and other private universities would create more opportunities for American students. But while a few additional spots might open up, the impact will likely be minimal. In fact, since a significant share of international students pay full tuition, their absence would reduce the resources available for financial aid. Foreign students have been effectively subsidising American students receiving assistance – a vital source of financial support that would now be lost. Those lost revenues pale in comparison to the broader contributions of Harvard and the higher-education system. University education has long been a major US export, with far more international students coming to the country than Americans going abroad. In the 2023-24 academic year alone, foreign students contributed an estimated US$44 billion to the US economy. To be sure, Harvard and other universities are not immune from criticism. But discouraging or restricting foreign enrolment would be a profound loss for American and international students and faculty alike. By attacking leading universities, the Trump administration is undermining one of America's crown jewels and dealing an unprecedented blow to the engine of US competitiveness. PROJECT SYNDICATE The writer, a former World Bank chief economist and former first deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund, is senior research professor of international economics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and senior fellow at the Centre for International Development at Stanford University.
Straits Times
41 minutes ago
- Straits Times
While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, June 27, 2025
A man taking a photo of a residential building in Tehran that was hit by an Israeli missile, with the damaged part covered by a large Iranian flag, on June 25. PHOTO: AFP While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, June 27, 2025 Iran says no plan for new US nuclear talks Iran on June 26 denied it is set to resume nuclear talks with the United States after the end of a 12-day war with Israel, and accused Washington of exaggerating the impact of US strikes. The most serious conflict yet between Israel and Iran derailed nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, yet President Donald Trump said Washington would hold discussions with Tehran next week, with his special envoy Steve Witkoff expressing hope 'for a comprehensive peace agreement'. But Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shut down what he said was 'speculation' that Tehran would come to the table and said it 'should not be taken seriously'. Mr Araghchi's denial came as Iranian lawmakers passed a 'binding' Bill suspending cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog and after supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Mr Trump of exaggerating the impact of US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. READ MORE HERE US' Rubio to welcome Asian 'Quad' back to Washington US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will welcome counterparts from the 'Quad' – Australia, India and Japan – to Washington on June 24, in an at least brief re-focus on Asia, the State Department announced. Mr Rubio had welcomed Quad foreign ministers on Jan 21 in his first meeting after President Donald Trump's inauguration, seen as a sign that the new administration would prioritise engagement with like-minded countries to counter China. Since then, much of Mr Rubio's attention has been on the Middle East, with the United States bombing Iranian nuclear sites in support of Israel, and on Ukraine, as Mr Trump unsuccessfully seeks a ceasefire in Russia's invasion. READ MORE HERE Harvard contingency plan for international students Harvard University and the University of Toronto have unveiled a contingency plan that would allow select Harvard graduate students to continue their studies in Canada if US visa restrictions prevent them from re-entering the United States. It is the first international student backup strategy announced since the US Department of Homeland Security moved in May to strip Harvard of its ability to enroll international students. A federal judge has since blocked the government's move. In response to potential US visa challenges, students at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government who are unable to return to the United States will have the option to continue their studies through a visiting student programme at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. READ MORE HERE Anna Wintour steps down as editor of US Vogue Magazine legend Anna Wintour is stepping down as editor of fashion bible US Vogue after 37 years in the post, US media reported on June 26. British-born Wintour, 75, has been one of the most influential and formidable figures in fashion and magazine journalism for decades, famous for her ever-present sunglasses and unchanging bob haircut. She was widely seen as the inspiration behind The Devil Wears Prada, a hit 2003 novel and 2006 movie, in which the role of a tyrannical magazine editor was played by Meryl Streep. READ MORE HERE Man City destroy Juve to top group at Club World Cup Manchester City secured top spot in Group G of the Club World Cup with a 5-2 thrashing of Juventus on June 27, exposing the Serie A side's defensive frailties in emphatic fashion. With both teams already through to the knockout stage, City underlined their status as title favourites by becoming the only team to finish the group phase with three wins, showing flashes of their brilliant selves. Pep Guardiola's side finished three points clear of Juventus, who will face the winners of Group H in the last 16. READ MORE HERE Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
US says it reaches understanding to expedite rare earth exports from China
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a \"One Big Beautiful\" event at the White House in Washington, DC., U.S., June 26, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard US says it reaches understanding to expedite rare earth exports from China WASHINGTON - The United States has reached an understanding with China on how to expedite rare earth shipments to the U.S., a White House official said on Thursday, amid efforts to end a trade war between the world's biggest economies. During talks in May in Geneva, China committed to removing non-tariff countermeasures imposed against the United States since April 2, although it was unclear how some of those measures would be walked back. As part of its retaliation to U.S. tariffs announced by President Donald Trump, China added rare earths to its controlled export list. "The administration and China agreed to an additional understanding for a framework to implement the Geneva agreement," a White House official said on Thursday. The understanding is "about how we can implement expediting rare earths shipments to the U.S. again", the official said. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was quoted as saying by Bloomberg: "They're going to deliver rare earths to us" and once they do that "we'll take down our countermeasures." China's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
