Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested a postponement of his testimony in his long-running corruption trial, citing pressing national and international developments following a recent military conflict with Iran and ongoing hostilities in Gaza. The move comes shortly a U.S. President Donald Trump publicly called for the case against Netanyahu to be cancelled, describing it as a “witch hunt.”
In a court filing on Thursday, Netanyahu’s lawyer, Amit Hadad, asked the tribunal to cancel hearings scheduled over the next two weeks, stating that the Prime Minister must focus on “national, diplomatic, and security issues of the utmost importance.” Netanyahu thanked Trump for his support, calling him a “great friend of Israel” and sharing Trump’s Truth Social post on X.
Trump’s intervention, however, sparked criticism from across the Israeli political spectrum. Opposition leader Yair Lapid welcomed U.S. support for Israel but warned against foreign interference in Israeli legal proceedings. “The president should not interfere in a judicial trial in an independent country,” Lapid told news outlet Ynet.
Even within Netanyahu’s own coalition, reactions were mixed. Simcha Rothman, chair of the Knesset’s judicial affairs committee and a member of the far-right Religious Zionism party, said Trump’s involvement was inappropriate, though he criticized the handling of Netanyahu’s trial as damaging to Israel’s global image. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir supported Trump’s stance, calling the trial politically motivated, while Foreign Minister Gideon Saar echoed sentiments that continuing the trial during wartime was unjust.
Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving leader, has denied all charges in a trial that has faced numerous delays since it began in 2020. The charges involve receiving over $260,000 in luxury gifts in exchange for political favors and alleged attempts to influence media coverage.
The latest postponement request follows several similar appeals citing Israel’s military engagements, first in Gaza, later in Lebanon, and most recently with Iran. Netanyahu’s government, under scrutiny for proposed judicial reforms seen by critics as attempts to undermine the judiciary, continues to face both legal and political pressure amid wartime challenges.
