An Israeli court has denied Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request to postpone testimony in his ongoing corruption trial, despite a call from former U.S. President Donald Trump to cancel the proceedings entirely.
Netanyahu’s legal team had argued that he needed time to focus on national security following Israel’s recent 12-day conflict with Iran. However, the Jerusalem District Court ruled on Friday that the request lacked sufficient justification to delay the hearings.
“The current request does not present a detailed or valid reason for cancellation,” the court stated in its ruling published online.
Earlier this week, Trump labeled the trial a “witch hunt” and urged Israel to cancel it or grant Netanyahu a pardon, calling him a “Great Hero” for his leadership during the Iran conflict, which ended in a ceasefire on June 24. Netanyahu thanked Trump for his continued support.
Netanyahu, who has been in office since late 2022, faces charges in three separate cases. He and his wife, Sara, are accused of accepting over $260,000 in luxury gifts in exchange for political favors. In two additional cases, he allegedly sought favorable media coverage from prominent Israeli outlets.
The Prime Minister denies any wrongdoing and claims the charges are politically motivated. His administration has introduced sweeping judicial reforms, which critics argue aim to weaken the independence of the judiciary.
Since the trial began in May 2020, Netanyahu has requested multiple delays, often citing security concerns tied to conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and most recently, Iran.
