Trending 
US President Donald Trump has publicly defended his ally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging for the corruption trial against him to be dropped amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. In a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday, Trump denounced the proceedings as a “witch hunt” against a leader who has “given so much.”
Trump, who has faced his own legal battles he claims were politically motivated, said he recently learned Netanyahu—often nicknamed “”Bibi”—was summoned to court on Monday. “Bibi and I have just been through hell together, battling a tough and brilliant enemy of Israel, Iran. Bibi was sharper, stronger and showed immense love for the Holy Land,” Trump wrote.
He called for Netanyahu’s trial to be “cancelled immediately” or for the former Israeli leader to receive a pardon, describing him as a “great hero.”
Trump’s strong support for Netanyahu came a day after an unusual outburst against Israel, where he criticised the country in explicit terms for allegedly planning an attack on Iran despite a ceasefire announced the previous evening.
During the episode, Trump appeared to urge Netanyahu to halt Israeli air strikes, shortly after which he claimed Israeli planes would “turn around and head home.”
Netanyahu’s corruption trial, which began in May 2020, has been repeatedly delayed, partly due to the ongoing Israeli bombardment in Gaza and subsequent conflict in Lebanon. One of the cases alleges that Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, accepted luxury gifts worth over $260,000—including cigars, jewellery and champagne—from wealthy businessmen in return for political favours.
Two additional cases accuse Netanyahu of attempting to secure favourable media coverage from two Israeli outlets. Netanyahu has denied all allegations.
Prior to the ceasefire agreement on Tuesday, Israel launched intense and unprovoked strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites during 12 days of conflict, while Iran retaliated with missile attacks on its regional adversary.
The United States joined in support of Israel, dropping large bunker-buster bombs on two nuclear facilities and firing guided missiles from a submarine at a third site. Trump announced the ceasefire shortly after Iran targeted a US base in Qatar, declaring the US had “fully defeated” the Iranian forces.
“It was the United States of America that saved Israel, and now it is going to be the United States of America that saves Bibi Netanyahu,” Trump declared in his social media statement.
