Trump: ‘We’ll be involved’ in Netanyahu trial ‘to help him out’
US President Donald Trump boasts of having pressured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach the Gaza ceasefire, while also declaring that Washington will “be involved” in the premier’s criminal trial, arguing that the Israeli premier has been mistreated.
In a lengthy interview on CBS’s “60 Minutes,” the reporter tells Trump he pushed Netanyahu to apologize to Qatar and agree to a ceasefire in Gaza, and asks whether the US president can push the prime minister to recognize a Palestinian state.
Trump dodges the question and reiterates that he has worked well with the “wartime prime minister.”
“That’s the kind of person you needed in Israel at the time,” he adds, before reiterating his belief that Netanyahu is being treated unfairly by being brought on trial.
Trump has weighed in on the matter several times in recent months, dismissing the charges against Netanyahu, who was indicted for bribery, fraud and breach of trust. While speaking in front of the Knesset last month, Trump called on President Isaac Herzog to pardon Netanyahu.
“We’ll be involved in that to help him out a little bit because I think it’s very unfair,” Trump tells “60 Minutes,” revealing that additional US intervention in the Israeli criminal case is in store.
Still, Trump doesn’t deny having pressured Netanyahu.
“I had to push him a little bit one way or the other. I did a great job in pushing,” Trump says, adding that Netanyahu’s a “very talented guy… [who has] never been pushed before.”
“I didn’t like certain things that he did, and you saw what I did about that,” he adds.
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