Sun Jun 29 14:08:19 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text, formatted for an Indian perspective:
**Summary:**
An Israeli court has granted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a delay in his ongoing corruption trial. The postponement, supported by U.S. President Donald Trump, allows Netanyahu to focus on security concerns related to a recent ceasefire with Iran and ongoing conflict in Gaza. Trump has publicly denounced the trial as a “witch hunt” and called for its cancellation or a pardon for Netanyahu, drawing criticism from Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid who warned against foreign interference. Netanyahu is accused of accepting bribes and attempting to manipulate media coverage. He denies all charges, and his supporters claim the trial is politically motivated. This postponement comes amidst ongoing judicial reforms in Israel that critics argue weaken the courts.
**News Article:**
**Netanyahu Trial Delayed Amid Security Concerns, Trump’s Intervention Sparks Controversy**
**Jerusalem -** A Jerusalem court has postponed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial, granting his request for a delay amid heightened security concerns following a ceasefire with Iran and continuing hostilities in Gaza. The controversial decision, announced on Sunday, June 29, 2025, comes after the court initially rejected a similar request from Netanyahu’s lawyers.
The Prime Minister’s legal team argued that Netanyahu’s attention was urgently needed for national security matters. Ultimately, the court was swayed by arguments from Netanyahu himself, the head of military intelligence, and the chief of the Mossad.
Adding another layer of complexity, former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly weighed in on the case. Trump, in a series of posts on his Truth Social platform, branded the trial a “witch hunt” and demanded its immediate cancellation or a presidential pardon for Netanyahu. Trump’s pronouncements prompted Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid to strongly criticize the former U.S. president’s intervention in an independent nation’s legal proceedings.
“The United States should not interfere in a judicial trial in an independent country,” Lapid stated on Thursday.
Netanyahu, who has thanked Trump for his support following Israel’s recent conflict with Iran, faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. The accusations include accepting lavish gifts in exchange for political favors and attempting to secure favorable media coverage. He denies all wrongdoing, with his supporters claiming the trial is politically motivated.
This delay is the latest in a series of postponements since the trial began in May 2020. The proceedings are unfolding against the backdrop of significant judicial reforms proposed by Netanyahu’s government, reforms that have sparked widespread criticism for potentially weakening the independence of the Israeli judiciary.