Israeli court rejects PM Netanyahu's call to postpone graft trial hearings

JERUSALEM, June 27 (AFP): An Israeli court on Friday rejected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's request to postpone giving testimony in his corruption trial, after US President Donald Trump said the case should be cancelled.

Netanyahu's lawyer on Thursday asked the court to excuse the leader from hearings over the next two weeks, saying he needed to concentrate on "security issues" after Israel's 12-day war with Iran.

The Jerusalem district court said in a judgement published online that "in its current form (his request) does not provide a basis or detailed justification for the cancellation of the hearings".

Trump on Wednesday described the case against Netanyahu as a "witch hunt", saying the trial "should be CANCELLED, IMMEDIATELY, or a Pardon given to a Great Hero".