TEL AVIV (Sputnik) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday requested a two-week break in the court proceedings against him on corruption charges, citing pressing regional challenges and the need to focus on critical national issues, including the Gaza conflict and hostage negotiations.
Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump said that Netanyahu’s trial must be immediately canceled or he should be pardoned as a «Great Hero, who has done so much for the State.» Trump said that the criminal cases against Netanyahu are a «ridiculous witch hunt,» aiming to harm the head of the Israeli government.
«Following the Operation Rising Lion [against Iran’s nuclear program], alongside other regional and global developments, the prime minister must dedicate his full attention to addressing political, national and security priorities, including managing operations in the Gaza Strip and solving the hostage problem,» Netanyahu’s petition read, as quoted by the state-run Kan broadcaster.
Netanyahu stands accused of multiple corruption-related crimes. The most serious accusations of bribery have been made within the so-called Case 4,000 on lobbying the interests of Bezeq, the country’s largest telecommunications company, in exchange for maintaining positive image of Netanyahu on Walla, a popular internet news site controlled by the company.
