An Israeli court has rejected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request to postpone his testimony in his ongoing corruption trial, brushing aside claims that national security matters require his full attention following the recent 12-day war with Iran.
The decision comes shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly defended Netanyahu, calling the trial a “witch hunt” and urging Israel’s judiciary to “immediately cancel the case or pardon this great hero.”
In its statement, the Jerusalem District Court said that “the current request does not provide a detailed or justified basis for suspending the hearing sessions.”
Netanyahu, who returned to power in late 2022, is facing three criminal cases. In the first, he and his wife Sara are accused of accepting over €260,000 in luxury gifts — including cigars, jewelry, and champagne — from wealthy benefactors in exchange for political favors. The two other cases involve alleged efforts to secure favorable media coverage in return for regulatory benefits.
The trial resumes at a tense time, just days after Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire on June 24. Netanyahu’s lawyers argued that the prime minister needs time to focus on urgent security matters stemming from that conflict.
However, the court refused to grant the delay — one of several Netanyahu has requested since the trial began in May 2020, citing conflicts such as the 2023 Gaza war and skirmishes in Lebanon.
Supporters of Netanyahu continue to claim the charges are politically motivated, portraying the legal proceedings as part of a broader effort to weaken a dominant conservative leader.
The court’s decision to reject Netanyahu’s postponement request reflects a strong message: legal accountability in Israel does not pause for political convenience, not even during wartime. Trump’s vocal support adds a layer of international drama, likely aimed at strengthening Netanyahu’s image domestically. But the judiciary’s resilience shows that, despite immense pressure, there remains a line between politics and law. Whether Netanyahu will eventually be acquitted or convicted remains to be seen, but this ruling emphasizes that no political figure is above the legal system — not even with a superpower’s endorsement.