U.S. President Trump Asks Israel to Consider Pardon for Netanyahu
Jerusalem – Former U.S. President Donald Trump has formally requested that Israel’s President Isaac Herzog consider a pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently facing trial on corruption charges. The request, delivered in a letter, highlights Trump’s continued support for Netanyahu, a long-time ally.
Trump described the case against Netanyahu as a “political” prosecution. He urged President Herzog to fully pardon Netanyahu, recognizing his strong leadership.
Netanyahu is the first sitting Israeli Prime Minister to face a trial, with allegations including fraud, breach of trust, and accepting bribes. Netanyahu has strongly denied these accusations, echoing similar sentiments to Trump by calling the case a politically motivated “witch hunt.”
In response to Trump’s support, Netanyahu thanked the former president on social media.
President Herzog acknowledged receiving the letter but stated that a formal request from Netanyahu is necessary before a pardon can be considered. While Herzog has expressed concerns about the trial’s divisiveness, he has not indicated how he would respond to a formal pardon request.
Some Israeli figures have raised concerns about the implications of a pardon, suggesting it could be interpreted as an admission of guilt. Experts also warn that granting a pardon without an admission of guilt could damage the rule of law.
