Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly requested a two-week break in his long-running corruption trial, due to resume in Jerusalem on Monday.
According to a filing made by the Israeli PM’s lawyer Amit Hadad, as quoted in the Times of Israel, Netanyahu must devote his immediate time to “diplomatic, national and security issues” in light of “regional and global developments”.
Those issues include “managing the war in Gaza and dealing with the issue of the hostages,” Hadad writes to the Jerusalem District Court.
Netanyahu is being tried on charges of fraud and breach of trust, and accepting a bribe in the form of media coverage. He has denied any wrongdoing.
His request comes after an unprecedented call by Donald Trump for the cancellation of the charges (see 6.44am post), describing the case against Netanyahu as a “witch hunt”.
Netanyahu thanked Trump for his intervention today, writing he was “deeply moved” by the US president’s “heartfelt support for me” on X.
