Netanyahu knocks out Obama and John Kerry in first appearance in corruption trial

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed deep differences with former President Barack Obama over Iran and a Palestinian state in his first court appearance on corruption charges.

“Obama made it clear to me that U.S. policy was going to drastically change from what I believed in,” Netanyahu recalled of his interactions with the United States in the early days of the Obama administration.

“He sees Iran not as a threat, but as an opportunity, and believes that we urgently need to return to the lines of ’67 and establish a Palestinian state here.”

Netanyahu testified for about four hours in Tel Aviv District Court on Tuesday morning. According to Reuters, the trial was moved from Jerusalem and held in an underground court for undisclosed security reasons. He recalled his rocky relationship with Obama – who failed to reach agreement on an appropriate course of action for the Palestinians.

“I must face tremendous pressure to establish a Palestinian state,” Netanyahu said.[Obama] When the request was made at the first meeting, he said, “You will not build a brick on the Green Line.” I responded, “Half of Jerusalem is on the Green Line; for example, the Gilo neighborhood.” Obama said : “Giro too. “He’s demanding a total freeze on construction, putting tremendous pressure on it. I’ve got to deal with this, I’ve got to deflect it, it’s no small matter.

Netanyahu to testify in corruption trial across multiple conflicts

Netanyahu was reminded of his disagreements with then-Secretary of State John Kerry, who urged Israeli troops to withdraw from Judea and Samaria.

“Kerry explained to me that my concerns about handing over the security of Judea and Samaria to Palestinian troops were unfounded because the Americans were training Palestinian troops and we could withdraw.”

He also said that Obama suggested that Israel learn from the experience of the US policy in Afghanistan, and Netanyahu did not expect this policy to become obsolete.

“Obama suggested that I visit Afghanistan secretly to see how the U.S. military was training local troops. I told him that once you leave Afghanistan, these troops will collapse under the rule of Islamic forces, and that’s exactly what happened.”

The corruption trial, which stems from a 2019 indictment of alleged breach of trust, bribery and fraud, takes place against the backdrop of Israel’s war with Hamas. Netanyahu must appear in court three times a week during his court proceedings.

“Obama made it clear to me that U.S. policy would shift sharply against ideas in which I believe,” Netanyahu said. (White House)

Netanyahu claimed that Obama invited him to make a secret visit to Afghanistan. (Courtesy of Simon & Schuster)

Netanyahu, 75, is the first sitting prime minister to be charged with a crime.

The charges include accepting gifts from Israeli Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan in exchange for advancing his own interests and failing to report bribery attempts at Yediot Aharonot Publisher Arnon Mozes wanted Netanyahu to allow a bill to ban free newspapers to pass and provide him with favorable coverage in exchange, and accepted the offer from Shaul, the owner of Israeli telecoms group Bezek. Elovitch’s proposal that he would give Netanyahu favorable media coverage in exchange for favorable regulatory changes.

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Netanyahu said he was not in office for personal gain and responded directly to accusations that he demanded a constant supply of luxury goods such as champagne and cigars.

“Absolutely a lie,” he said. “I work 17-18 hours a day… around the clock and into the night. I barely have time to see my family. I don’t see my children and that’s a heavy toll,” Netanyahu said, adding that he rarely Free time is spent reading history or economics books.

The prime minister argued that if he cared about better media coverage, he might have given Palestine statehood outright.

“If I want good coverage, all I have to do is signal a two-state solution… If I move two steps to the left, I will be popular,” he said.

The court had allowed Netanyahu to delay testifying during the 14-month-long war in Gaza, but ruled last week that he must begin testifying. Before appearing in court, Netanyahu classified the charges against him as a political persecution and blamed law enforcement and the media.

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“The real threat to Israeli democracy is posed not by the elected representatives of the public, but by elements within the law enforcement authorities who refuse to accept the choice of the voters and attempt to stage a coup through a frenzied political investigation that would not be possible in any Not acceptable to any country.

“Netanyahu goes on trial for allegedly using his political power to improve media coverage. His defense: The coverage was not positive but hostile and I did not try to change it for the benefit of Netanyahu’s citizens , but for the good of the country Amit Segal, chief political analyst for Israel’s Channel 12, recounted the prime minister’s testimony to Fox News Digital.