Tel Aviv: While Israeli opposition parties rejected US President Donald Trump's call to dismiss corruption charges against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, far-right ministers backed the idea.
According to Anadolu Agency, opposition leader Yair Lapid expressed disapproval of Trump's interference, stating, "With all due respect to Trump, he should not interfere in a legal process in an independent country." Lapid described Trump's call as a form of 'compensation' for Netanyahu, speculating that the US President would pressure Netanyahu on the Gaza issue to end the war, a move Lapid described as typical of Trump.
In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump referred to Netanyahu as a 'warrior' and labeled his trial a 'witch hunt' that should be canceled. However, opposition figures, such as Gilad Kariv from the Democrats Party, countered this notion by asserting, "No one is above the law, not even a prime minister." Ariel Kellner from Netanyahu's Likud Party also rejected Trump's suggestion, emphasizing his opposition to foreign interference in Israel's internal affairs while questioning the judicial system's practices.
Trump's call found support among far-right ministers. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir endorsed the idea, criticizing the judicial proceedings as an attempt by the 'deep state' to undermine democracy. He called for urgent judicial reform, echoing Trump's sentiments. Similarly, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Minister of Communications Shlomo Karhi backed Trump's call, with Karhi asserting that the trial compromised Israel's national security.
US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, supported Trump's statements, as reported by Yedioth Ahronoth. Additionally, Simcha Rotman from the National Religious Party proposed legislative action to halt Netanyahu's trial, describing the process as absurd.
Netanyahu faces three separate corruption cases filed in 2019, known as Case 1,000, Case 2,000, and Case 4,000, which include charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. He has denied any wrongdoing, labeling the accusations as 'fake.' His trial, which began on May 24, 2020, marks the first time a sitting Israeli leader has taken the stand as a criminal defendant.