AhlulBayt News Agency: US President Donald Trump has strongly criticized the ongoing prosecution of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling it a “witch hunt” and warning that continued legal proceedings could jeopardize the $3.8 billion in annual US military aid to Israel. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Washington “is not going to stand for this.”
Trump compared Netanyahu’s legal troubles to his own, questioning how the Israeli leader could be forced to sit in court “over NOTHING,” referencing trivial items like cigars and a Bugs Bunny doll. He claimed the charges were politically motivated, similar to what he faced before returning to office.
In May 2024, Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments. He also faced federal cases, including one tied to efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Netanyahu is on trial for multiple charges, including bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, stemming from three separate corruption cases involving wealthy businessmen and media executives. He denies all allegations.
The Israeli leader is also wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes in Gaza, where over 53,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023.
On Friday, an Israeli court rejected Netanyahu’s request to delay his testimony, ruling that he failed to provide sufficient justification. His legal team had argued he needed time to focus on national security matters.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett criticized Netanyahu in a televised interview, saying he has been in power too long and is responsible for deep divisions in Israeli society. Bennett called Netanyahu’s leadership a “catastrophe” and urged him to step down.
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