In brief
Former US President Donald Trump has reached out to Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, urging him to grant a full pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, currently on trial for corruption charges including bribery and fraud. While Herzog has praised Trump's sentiments, he indicated that a formal request for pardon is necessary, highlighting the political implications of such a legal move in Israel. Netanyahu has publicly thanked Trump for his support, framing the legal proceedings against him as politically motivated.
Israel's President Isaac Herzog has received a letter from US President Donald Trump formally urging him to fully pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu has been standing trial for the past five years on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in connection with three separate cases. He has denied any wrongdoing.
In the letter, Trump writes that he absolutely respects the independence of Israel's justice system, but that he believes Netanyahu is facing a political, unjustified prosecution.
Herzog's office said he held Trump in the highest regard, but that anyone seeking a pardon had to submit a formal request.
Netanyahu later thanked Trump for the incredible support. As usual, you get right to the point and call it like it is, he wrote on X. I look forward to continuing our partnership to bolster security and expand peace.
In 2020, Netanyahu became the first serving Israeli prime minister to stand trial.
In the first case, prosecutors have alleged that he received gifts - mainly cigars and bottles of champagne - from powerful businessmen in exchange for favors.
He is accused in the second case of offering to help improve the circulation of an Israeli newspaper in exchange for positive coverage.
And in the third, prosecutors have alleged that he promoted regulatory decisions favorable to the controlling shareholder of an Israeli telecoms company in exchange for positive coverage by a news website.
Netanyahu has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and branded the trial as a witch-hunt by political opponents.
Trump's letter expresses his support for Netanyahu, labeling him a formidable and decisive War Time Prime Minister leading Israel into a time of peace. He criticized the legal actions against Netanyahu as politically driven rather than legitimate legal processes.
Officials in Israel have expressed mixed reactions; the ruling party supports seeking the pardon while opposition leaders caution against external influences on domestic legal matters. The ongoing trials and Trump's involvement continue to stir debate around Israel's political landscape and justice system.
