US President Donald Trump called for the corruption trial against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be dropped, BTA reported.
"The trial against Bibi Netanyahu must be dropped or this great hero who did so much for his country must be pardoned", the Republican wrote on his social network "Truth Social". "The US saved Israel, and now the US will save Bibi Netanyahu," he added. "This travesty of justice should not be allowed."
Trump said he was shocked to learn that Israel "is continuing this ridiculous witch hunt against its great wartime prime minister".
The Republican has often used the term "witch hunt" in reference to the legal cases against him. However, it is unclear what he meant by his words that the US would save Netanyahu, as it saved Israel (in the war with Iran), and what they could do, given that this is a legal battle.
The case against the Israeli prime minister has been ongoing for more than five years. He is accused of fraud, breach of public trust and corruption for alleged illegal services he provided to telecommunications giant "Bezek" while he was communications minister.
Netanyahu is also accused of receiving generous gifts from his billionaire friends. The prime minister denies the charges and also says he is the victim of a "witch hunt".
The case against him is the first against a sitting Israeli prime minister. It could last for several more years.
Dozens of Jewish settlers attacked a Palestinian town in the West Bank. Clashes broke out, ending with Israeli forces shooting, killing three Palestinians, the Israeli army and the Palestinian authorities said, as quoted by Reuters and BTA.
Three Palestinians were killed and seven – injured in violence that broke out in the village of Kafr Malik, northeast of Ramallah, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said.
The Israeli army said dozens of Jewish settlers invaded the village and began burning Palestinian property. Clashes broke out between settlers and local Palestinians, including stone-throwing. Israeli police and army forces arrived at the scene after receiving reports of the violence.
According to the military statement, several Palestinians opened fire and began throwing stones at Israeli forces, who returned fire.
Five Israelis were arrested. An Israeli army officer was slightly injured.
Video footage, whose authenticity cannot be confirmed, shows at least two burning cars.
Hussein al-Sheikh, the deputy to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, wrote in Ex: "With its behavior and decisions, the Israeli government is making the situation in the region explosive".
"We call on the international community to urgently intervene in defense of the Palestinian people," he said.
Earlier yesterday, the Israeli army shot and killed a Palestinian boy in an operation in al-Yamoun, a West Bank town west of Jenin, the Palestinian Red Crescent said.