Political earthquake in Israel: Trump boldly intervenes in Netanyahu trial
Report by Amal Shehadeh, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi
Israel woke up Sunday to what many described as a political earthquake shaking the foundations of the country's judiciary and democratic image.
This time, the turmoil was not triggered by threats to the ruling coalition or pressure from religious hardliners but by an unprecedented intervention from former U.S. President Donald Trump.
In a statement issued at dawn, Trump openly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ongoing corruption trial, warning that the legal proceedings could undermine Netanyahu's ability to negotiate with Hamas and Iran.
Trump effectively linked Netanyahu's political survival to Israel's military and diplomatic priorities, suggesting that clearing Netanyahu of charges is a necessary step to end the Gaza war and maintain U.S. military support for Israel.
Trump, eager to secure a Middle East deal that could pave his way to a Nobel Peace Prize, has pushed to remove any obstacles to what he envisions as a comprehensive regional agreement. His outspoken defense of Netanyahu, who faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, has deepened internal divisions in Israel, with critics describing Trump's remarks as a political bombshell that turned Netanyahu into a pawn in Trump's broader strategic ambitions.
In response to growing tensions, Israeli judges postponed Netanyahu's trial sessions for the coming week, citing classified security briefings from the heads of Mossad and Military Intelligence.
As Netanyahu chaired an emergency cabinet meeting focused on the Gaza war and ongoing efforts to secure a hostage deal, political sources downplayed the likelihood of breakthroughs before Netanyahu travels to Washington in two weeks.
The only tangible progress expected in the short term is the expansion of the Abraham Accords. Talks are reportedly advancing with three countries: Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia.
Ahead of the high-stakes Netanyahu-Trump meeting, Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer is scheduled to visit Washington on Monday to discuss the Abraham Accords and hostage negotiations.
Meanwhile, all eyes remain on Netanyahu's trial, which has been temporarily delayed but continues to cast a shadow over Israel's political landscape.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
LBCI
an hour ago
- LBCI
Lebanon's president meets UNIFIL's new commander to discuss border issues
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with the new commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), General Diodato Abagnara. The meeting stressed the importance of UNIFIL continuing its work alongside the Lebanese Army in the south to fully implement Resolution 1701. The meeting also emphasized the need for Israeli forces to withdraw from the five occupied sites in order to enable the Lebanese Army to complete its deployment up to the internationally recognized borders.
LBCI
an hour ago
- LBCI
Lebanon's Grand Mufti set to meet Syria's president Saturday, LBCI sources confirm
LBCI sources confirmed Monday that Lebanon's Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian will visit Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa next Saturday, heading a delegation of religious officials.
MTV Lebanon
2 hours ago
- MTV Lebanon
Is Lebanon Close to Peace or Will It Pass It By?
'CONGRATULATIONS WORLD, IT'S TIME FOR PEACE!' That was US President Donald Trump's declaration during the Iran-Israel confrontation, following Iran's strike on the largest US base in the region, in Qatar. For those watching closely, it wasn't just a hopeful sentiment, it was a political signal. Soon after, US envoy Tom Barrack, made a pointed visit to Lebanon, meeting key figures amid renewed momentum around the Abraham Accords, the normalization framework that continues to reshape the Middle East. His presence raised eyebrows in diplomatic circles, and for good reason. As US advisor Witkoff recently confirmed, 'One of the President's key objectives is that the Abraham Accords be expanded and more countries come into it, and we are working on that.' The message is clear: Washington wants more Arab states on board. But how close is Lebanon to joining this evolving regional order? The question is both delicate and premature. Normalization with Israel remains one of the most politically and emotionally sensitive issues in Lebanon, a country still shaped by its history of war, occupation, and its geographic 'intimacy' with the Israeli border. While several Gulf countries have moved to normalize from afar, Lebanon doesn't have that luxury. Its situation is defined by unresolved disputes and proximity. In a n interview with political analyst Ibrahim Rihan, speaking exclusively to MTV's website, it's evident that Lebanon is not on the verge of a dramatic shift. Rihan explained that Israel and the United States have launched deliberate media and diplomatic campaigns to present peace with Israel as a natural step forward, especially since the October 7 attacks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made multiple references to a "New Middle East" in public speeches, echoing a narrative that normalization is both achievable and desirable. According to Rihan, these efforts are designed to influence regional public opinion and normalize the concept of peace with Israel. In many places, the taboo has already been broken, maybe not entirely, but among significant and influential segments of society. That shift is intentional. But Lebanon, he explains, remains anchored in the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which calls for land in exchange for peace and a two-state solution. That initiative, born at the Beirut Summit, still represents the foundation of Lebanon's stance. And there are complications: disputed land borders, the issue of prisoners, Israel's violations, and the unresolved status of the Shebaa Farms, which Lebanon claims, but also requires Syrian cooperation to settle definitively. Rihan emphasizes that Lebanon would only move forward with negotiations under full Arab sponsorship and with comprehensive US guarantees, especially on sovereignty and border security. Lebanon's place in the Abraham Accords, he notes, would almost certainly come last. Not just because of political resistance, but because of the country's frontline geography. "Lebanon has more outstanding issues with Israel than any other Arab state," Rihan says, 'from land to airspace, to war memory…' But there's a wildcard: Syria. Historically, Lebanon has never pursued or signed a peace agreement with Israel without Syria taking the lead. If Syria were to normalize relations Lebanon would find itself geopolitically cornered by Israel from the south and Syria from the north and west. That, Rihan argues, could compel Lebanon to reckon with a new political and geographic reality. For now, though, Lebanon stands at a crossroads, cautious and waiting. Peace may be on someone else's timetable, but for Beirut, it will never be automatic.
