Former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly called for the Israeli government to either pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or to drop the corruption trial currently underway against him. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump asserted that the United States intervened to save Israel in its war with Iran and is now positioned to "save" Netanyahu from what he termed a "witch hunt."
Netanyahu, who has been facing legal proceedings since 2020 for charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, has denied all allegations against him. Trump's support comes at a critical time as Netanyahu is set to appear in court shortly after a recent conflict with Hamas.
Yair Lapid, Israel's leading opposition figure, criticized Trump's interference, suggesting that a former American president should not meddle in the legal processes of an independent nation. This statement gains weight amidst speculations that Trump's remarks might be part of a larger political maneuver, possibly related to negotiations regarding the war in Gaza.
Trump's statements have raised eyebrows, especially since they follow his disapproval of Israel's military actions against Iranian targets shortly after announcing a ceasefire. Amid the chaos of the ongoing conflict, Netanyahu's legal troubles have been overshadowed, with significant delays in court proceedings due to the war against Hamas, which some critics believe might be benefiting Netanyahu’s political standing by postponing the legal resolution he faces.
Overall, Trump's call for a pardon reflects a deepening alliance between the two leaders but also raises questions regarding the boundaries of political support across international legal matters.
