Netanyahu requests postponement of his trial due to "regional and international developments"

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu submitted a formal request to the Jerusalem District Court on Thursday to cancel his scheduled testimony in his corruption trial over the next two weeks, "due to extremely important regional, international, and security developments."

The request, submitted by Netanyahu's lawyer, Amit Hadad, stated that in the wake of the war on Iran, as well as "additional regional and international developments, the prime minister is required to devote all of his time and energy to addressing first-order political, national, and security issues, including managing the war on Gaza and handling the prisoners' file."

The request added, "Under these exceptional circumstances, the honorable court is requested to cancel the sessions in which the prime minister was scheduled to testify over the next two weeks." Defense attorneys indicated that they will attempt to summon additional defense witnesses during this period "as much as possible."

Earlier today, Netanyahu shared a post by US President Donald Trump calling for his trial to be canceled. Netanyahu wrote, "Thank you, President Trump, for your moving support for me and for your tremendous support for Israel and the Jewish people." He added, "We will continue to work together to defeat our common enemies, free our captives, and quickly expand the circle of peace."

Trump called on Israel to "immediately cancel" Netanyahu's corruption trial, describing the case against the "warrior" as a "witch hunt." In a lengthy message posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, "Such a persecution of a man who has done so much is unbelievable to me."

The US President considered that Netanyahu "deserves much better, and so does the State of Israel. Bibi Netanyahu's trial must be immediately dropped or a great hero pardoned." He posted, "I just learned that Bibi will be summoned to court on Monday."

"Bibi and I have just been through hell, fighting Israel's long-time archenemy, Iran, and Bibi could not have been better, more intense, or more passionate about the amazing Holy Land," he added. Netanyahu's trial has been postponed several times since it began in May 2020, with his lawyers requesting it be postponed due to the war on Gaza and later the war on Lebanon.

In the first case, Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, are accused of accepting luxury gifts, such as cigars, jewelry, and champagne, worth more than $260,000, from wealthy individuals in exchange for political favors. In two other cases, he is accused of seeking more favorable media coverage in Israeli media outlets.

In his post, Trump recalled the military support his country provided to Israel during the war on Iran, saying, "The United States saved Israel, and now the United States will be the one saving Bibi Netanyahu."