Netanyahu asks court to postpone corruption trial summons
Netanyahu asked the court to postpone his testimony, citing security and diplomatic duties.
Trump called for the Israeli PM's corruption trial to be cancelled, calling it a 'witch hunt.'
Israel's opposition leader warned Trump not to interfere in the country's judiciary.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked a court on Thursday to postpone his testimony in his long-running corruption trial, after US President Donald Trump called for the case to be cancelled altogether.
In a filing to the tribunal, Netanyahu's lawyer Amit Hadad said the premier's testimony should be delayed in light of '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 said.
It said Netanyahu was 'compelled to devote all his time and energy to managing national, diplomatic and security issues of the utmost importance' following a brief conflict with Iran and during ongoing fighting in Gaza where Israeli hostages are held.
Trump on Wednesday described the case against Netanyahu as a 'witch hunt'.
READ | Trump demands Israel pardons 'great hero' Netanyahu, or abandons corruption case against him
In a message on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the Netanyahu trial 'should be CANCELLED, IMMEDIATELY, or a Pardon given to a Great Hero', after the end of a 12-day war with Iran.
Netanyahu on Thursday thanked 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,' Netanyahu wrote on X, sharing a copy of Trump's Truth Social post.
Thank you @realDonaldTrump. I was deeply moved by your 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. https://t.co/zRd6LYfMbY pic.twitter.com/YCGN1dIu0d
— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) June 26, 2025
Israel's opposition leader warned Trump against interfering in Israel's internal affairs.
'We are thankful to President Trump, but... the president should not interfere in a judicial trial in an independent country,' Yair Lapid said in an interview with news website Ynet.
Netanyahu is Israel's longest-serving prime minister.
In the trial that has been delayed many times since it began in May 2020, Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing.
In a first case, Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, are accused of accepting more than $260 000 worth of luxury goods such as cigars, jewellery and champagne from billionaires in exchange for political favours.
In two other cases, Netanyahu is accused of attempting to negotiate more favourable coverage in two Israeli media outlets.
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