Israeli Prime Minister Involved in Corruption; Trump Offers Support | WPN World People News

Let me know if you'd like it phrased more formally or in a journalistic tone.On the 25th, U.S. President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform "Truth Social," stating that the corruption charges against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are "politically motivated." He called on Israel to immediately cancel the trial against Netanyahu or have the president grant him a pardon. Netanyahu had publicly declared the previous day that Israel has never had a better friend in the White House than Trump.

Prime Minister Netanyahu was indicted in 2019 on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. The trial proceedings began in May 2020, making Netanyahu the first sitting Israeli prime minister to stand trial as a criminal defendant. However, due to the outbreak of the Gaza war and later the conflict with Lebanon, the court proceedings were repeatedly postponed at Netanyahu's request. He finally testified in court for the first time on December 10, 2024, and has denied all charges. Netanyahu is scheduled to appear in court again next Monday.

In response, Trump posted on "Truth Social" that he and Netanyahu had just gone through an ordeal together, fighting against Israel’s enemies. He praised Netanyahu as a "warrior" and condemned the legal proceedings against him as a "political witch hunt." Trump declared that the United States saved Israel, and now it must save Netanyahu as well. He urged Israel’s judicial system to drop the trial or issue a pardon.

According to Israel’s constitution, the president holds the power of pardon. However, the current president, Isaac Herzog, stated that granting a pardon to Netanyahu is not on the current agenda, indirectly rejecting Trump’s call.