Every so often, US President Donald Trump makes some bombastic, earth-shaking statement, which receives extensive attention and guesses as to what he really meant and whether it is rooted in some concrete reality.
Such was his statement on Truth Social last Wednesday night (US Eastern time). “I was shocked to hear that the State of Israel, which has had one of its Greatest Moments in History, and is strongly led by Bibi Netanyahu, is continuing its ridiculous Witch Hunt against their Great War Time Prime Minister [...] Bibi Netanyahu’s trial should be canceled, immediately, or a Pardon given to a Great Hero, who has done so much for the State.”
The fact that Trump said in his statement that Netanyahu’s trial was a “politically motivated case, concerning cigars, a Bugs Bunny doll, and numerous other unfair charges” suggests that the president is not really well informed about the essence of Netanyahu’s trial.
In fact, the prime minister is on trial on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, inter alia involving the receipt by the Netanyahu family – upon their request/demand – of regularly delivered expensive gifts from several billionaires.
Since Trump himself is an extremely wealthy man, who maintains special relations with many of America’s richest persons, one may assume that he sympathizes not only with Netanyahu but with his wealthy friends as well.
Trump certainly has little or no knowledge about Israel’s legal and judicial systems. However, on the basis of what he is doing to the American legal and judicial systems, he appears to have no qualms about messing around with those of other states as well, if this serves his interests. Furthermore, he doesn’t really care if what he is doing is simply “not done” among civilized democratic states.
Several commentators in Israel are guessing that the source of Trump’s information on Netanyahu’s trial, and the person who suggested to him that he call for the end of the trial or for a pardon, is no other than Netanyahu’s eldest son, Yair.
Several Israeli legal experts have suggested that Bibi himself might have spoken to Trump on the matter, even though such an act on his part might actually constitute a felony. But whomever the source might be, Trump reacted, and one cannot help wondering what his motives were.
We know that Trump’s feelings toward Netanyahu are mixed. Last week, he actually accused Israel’s and Iran’s leaders of “not knowing what the f–k they’re doing.” Many commentators have suggested that Trump has some major regional changes in mind. These will include a rapid end to the Israel-Hamas War, along with the institution of an alternative Arab/Palestinian administration in the Gaza Strip, without Hamas, which quite a few members of the Israeli government will find very difficult, if not impossible, to fathom.
There is also talk of the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, which might well involve Israel being pushed into a change in its basic position regarding the Palestinians, thus changing the internal balance of power within the Middle East.
Such a change could involve the joining of several additional Muslim states to the Abraham Accords, but also several states with extreme Islamic leaders into the regional equation.
It is suggested that getting Netanyahu off the hook with regard to his legal travails in Israel will make it easier for him to find his place in this “new Middle East,” without losing his government along the way.
However, is Trump’s current vision for the Middle East feasible? Not so very long ago, we were talking about the feasibility of “voluntarily” transferring the two million inhabitants of Gaza elsewhere, and creating an American-run “Riviera” in this hapless territory. Trump might have glorious visions, but can he really realize any of them?
Some say cancelling the trial is disturbing
Regarding Trump's call for the cancellation of Netanyahu’s trial, or his pardon: It is not only the opposition in Israel that finds Trump’s move not only disturbing, but also unacceptable. Surprisingly, among the coalition members voicing an objection was MK Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionism), chair of the Knesset Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee.
He argued that “It is not the job of the US president to interfere with the legal procedures of the State of Israel,” and that it is necessary for all of us, including Netanyahu himself, to preserve Israel’s independence and its legal system.
Rothman added, however, that “in the essence of the matter, Trump is clearly right, and that the way the Netanyahu trial is being run turns the image of the State of Israel from a regional and world power, into a banana republic.”
Surprisingly enough, former Supreme Court president Aharon Barak argued that even though Trump’s initiative is “very disturbing,” he personally is in favor of finding a way to end the Netanyahu trial, “either by means of a pardon or a plea bargain.”
Another problem with Trump’s call is that the only ones who can act to cancel Netanyahu’s trial are the attorney-general, the State Attorney’s Office, the Supreme Court, and the Knesset, all working in harmony. At the moment, there is no chance of this happening.
What might perhaps work is an initiative by President Isaac Herzog to pardon Netanyahu. It is said that Herzog is inclined to play ball. However, for this to happen, Bibi must first request a pardon, admit that he was in transgression of the law, agree to assume the principle of disgrace upon himself, and agree to leave office immediately, for good or for an agreed-upon period of time.
Since Netanyahu continues to argue that he has done no wrong and is responsible for nothing, the chances of anything resulting from a move by Herzog are unfortunately slim.
In fact, the same applies to the demand of a majority in Israel to establish a state commission of inquiry to examine the background and causes of the October 7, 2023, massacre by Hamas, and determine who in Israel is to blame.
Netanyahu is willing to take full credit for victories, such as Israel’s glorious victory in its recent attack on Iran. However, he refuses to take any responsibility for the catastrophe of October 7, nor for any of the charges that appear in the indictment issued against him on November 21, 2019.
No doubt, it’s a conundrum.
The author has written journalistic and academic articles, as well as several books on international relations, Zionism, Israeli politics, and parliamentarism. From 1994-2010, she worked in the Knesset Library and the Knesset Research and Information Center.