Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu asks court to postpone his corruption trial
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked a court to postpone his testimony in his long-running corruption trial, after US President Donald Trump called for him to be pardoned.
In a filing to the tribunal, Mr Netanyahu's lawyer, Amit Hadad, said the Israeli leader'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 Mr 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.
Mr Trump, speaking yesterday, described the case against Mr Netanyahu as a "witch hunt".
In a message on his Truth Social platform, Mr 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.
Israel's opposition leader warned Mr 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.
Mr Netanyahu is Israel's longest-serving prime minister, having first become Israeli Prime Minister in 1996, aged 46, with the term lasting until 1999.
He reassumed office in 2009 for a second term, lasting until 2021, taking up his third term in 2022.
In the trial that has been delayed many times since it began in May 2020, Mr Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing.
In a first case, Mr Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, are accused of accepting more than €222,014 worth of luxury goods such as cigars, jewellery and champagne from billionaires in exchange for political favours.
In two other cases, Mr Netanyahu is accused of attempting to negotiate more favourable coverage in two Israeli media outlets.
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