Trump criticized Israeli authorities for undermining Netanyahu’s ability to negotiate with Hamas in Gaza and manage mounting tensions with Iran in a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday.
Trump referred to the Israeli leader as “Bibi Netanyahu” in a statement that read “It is INSANITY doing what the out-of-control prosecutors are doing to him” and claimed that his trial would obstruct regional peace efforts.
“The United States of America invests billions of dollars annually in Israel’s defense and support.” He continued, “We are not going to stand for this.”
Netanyahu will appear on the witness stand on Monday for a decade-long corruption investigation that began in 2020.
He denies all of his allegations of bribery, fraud, and trust breach. In response to Israel’s recent 12-day conflict with Iran, his lawyers had requested a two-week delay in testimony. On Friday, that appeal was turned down.
Netanyahu is accused of using regional conflicts to put an end to his corruption trial by Israeli Knesset members.
Naama Lazimi, a Knesset member from the Democrats Party, quoted a journalist from The Times of Israel as saying, “Netanyahu is shaping the future of Israel and our children during his trial.”
By fusing his legal future with regional normalization agreements and captive negotiations, Yesh Atid party Knesset member Karine Elharrar warned that Netanyahu is “acting against the Israeli public interest.”
ICC arrest warrant
A warrant for him and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, was issued last year, among other legal issues.
The charges relate to Israel’s ongoing conflict in Gaza, which will start in October 2023, and include war crimes and crimes against humanity. The arrest warrant has been deemed “anti-Semitic” by both leaders.
Trump made the comments just days after suggesting a possible ceasefire deal with Hamas.
He claimed that Netanyahu and the Palestinian group were talking about negotiations, but no further details were given.
Hamas has pledged to release any Israeli prisoners who are still imprisoned in Gaza as part of a peace deal, but it has rejected Israeli demands for total disarmament.
Trump’s support for Netanyahu was echoed in a tweet from Netanyahu: “Thank you again, @realDonaldTrump. We can all work together to restore Middle East greatness.
calls for Netanyahu’s resignation
Netanyahu’s resignation has been reportedly demanded once more in Israel due to the growing political unrest. Naftali Bennett, the former prime minister, said in a televised interview with Channel 12 that Netanyahu should step down.
He has been in power for 20 years, Bennett claimed. He “has a lot of responsibility for Israeli society’s divisions.”
Source: Aljazeera
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