President Donald Trump took a bold and unconventional step during his address to the Israeli parliament on Monday by calling for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be pardoned from his fraud and bribery charges. The request came in the context of the recent return of hostages, an event Trump described as a pivotal moment, which he believed could signal the beginning of a ‘golden age for the Middle East.’
Speaking for over an hour, Trump engaged in lighthearted banter with Netanyahu, acknowledging the Prime Minister’s reputation as a challenging figure, albeit one whose tenacity made him ‘great.’ The president jokingly suggested that Netanyahu might ‘be a little nicer’ now that the war was over, a remark that was met with a standing ovation in the Knesset. Trump also sought to bolster his support for Israel by backing Netanyahu and his coalition, including Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana, a key figure in the Prime Minister’s waning majority. However, the message was not entirely one-sided, as Trump appeared to have some rapport with Netanyahu’s chief rival, Opposition leader Yair Lapid, whom he praised as ‘a very nice opposition leader.’
Netanyahu, however, faces mounting political and legal challenges. Indicted in 2019 on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, the Prime Minister has denied the allegations. His political standing has been further complicated by a significant drop in public support, fueled by frustrations over his military strategy in Gaza and the prolonged period it took to recover the hostages. Some of the bodies of the deceased have yet to be returned, adding to the public outrage. Additionally, Netanyahu’s coalition lost its majority in parliament earlier this year, raising questions about whether an early election could be called.
While the return of 20 hostages on Monday has been a symbolic victory, it remains unclear if it will be enough to restore Netanyahu’s political capital or prompt his rivals to consider dropping the 2019 charges. The political situation has also been marked by internal tensions, with two left-wing members of parliament, Aymen Odeh and Ofer Cassif, expelled from the chamber for displaying signs that read ‘Genocide’ and ‘Recognize Palestine.’ Despite these disruptions, Opposition leader Yair Lapid has denied allegations of genocide, asserting that ‘there was no genocide, no intentional starvation.’ Trump, observing the swift removal of the members, humorously remarked, ‘That was very efficient,’ underscoring the high stakes in Israel’s political arena.