Zionists in shock over Trump’s controversial proposal regarding Netanyahu

Trump’s early-morning request today—urging the cancellation of the Israeli prime minister’s corruption trial or granting him clemency—drew varied responses from Israeli officials and political figures.

Yair Lapid, leader of the Israeli opposition, responded to Trump’s request by saying: “We thank President Trump, but as Knesset member Simcha Rothman has also said, a president should not interfere in Israel’s judicial process.”

In an interview with the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, Lapid added: “I think this statement is a kind of bargaining chip from Trump, as he likely wants to pressure Netanyahu into compromising on Gaza and bringing an end to the war.”

Simcha Rothman, Chair of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, also commented: “Israel’s judicial system has many flaws, and Netanyahu’s trial might well reflect the accumulation of those flaws.”

He continued: “While the U.S. president has no jurisdiction to interfere in Israel’s legal proceedings, there’s no doubt that the Israeli president could put an honorable end to this absurd situation.”

On the other hand, Ze'ev Elkin, a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party, told Yedioth Ahronoth: “We understand the U.S. President’s stance. The trial process must resume this week… During wartime, it made sense to postpone or slow down the Prime Minister’s testimony, but now the situation appears unreasonable.”