Trump: 'America saved Israel, now it will save Bibi Netanyahu'
US President Donald Trump has called for an end to the corruption trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling the allegations against the Israeli leader a "witch hunt". Mr Trump declared that after "saving Israel", the US would continue to "save Bibi Netanyahu".
In a post on the social network Truth Social on the evening of June 25 (US time), President Trump praised Mr. Netanyahu and suggested that the trial should be immediately canceled or he should be pardoned.
“Bibi Netanyahu’s trial should be dismissed, immediately, or a pardon should be granted to a great man who has done so much for our country,” Trump wrote.
The US president called Mr Netanyahu a “fighter, perhaps unlike any other in the history of Israel”. He stressed that such a “witch hunt, against a man who has given so much, is unthinkable”.
Mr Trump linked his call to the recent confrontation with Iran, saying he and Mr Netanyahu "just went through hell together, fighting a very tough and brilliant long-time enemy of Israel, Iran".
"It was America that saved Israel, and now it will be America that saves Bibi Netanyahu," Mr. Trump declared.
Prime Minister Netanyahu is currently on trial for bribery, fraud and breach of public trust in three separate cases. His trial began in 2020 and he has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Under Israeli law, a sitting prime minister is not required to resign unless convicted by the Supreme Court.
Mr Trump's call comes just days after a ceasefire between Israel and Iran came into effect.
