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U.S. President Donald Trump has sent a formal letter to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, urging him to grant a full pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing an ongoing trial on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. The move represents a significant and direct intervention by a U.S. leader into the judicial proceedings of a close ally.
In the letter, distributed by the Israeli president’s office, Trump praised Netanyahu as a "formidable and decisive War Time Prime Minister" and characterized the legal proceedings against him as a "political prosecution." The U.S. President's letter stated: "I hereby call on you to fully pardon Benjamin Netanyahu... who is now leading Israel into a time of peace." President Herzog's office has confirmed receipt of the letter but has not issued a detailed public response regarding the request.
This is not the first time Trump has advocated for Netanyahu's acquittal. During a speech to Israel's parliament in October, while promoting his ceasefire plan for the war in Gaza, Trump made an unscripted plea for a pardon. However, the formal letter escalates the pressure and has sparked debate within Israel, with critics and opposition figures raising questions about American influence over Israel's internal affairs and the independence of its judiciary.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has consistently denied any wrongdoing in the three separate cases against him, dismissing the allegations as a politically motivated "witch hunt" orchestrated by his opponents and the media. The trial has been a deeply polarizing issue in Israeli society for years, and a presidential pardon would be a highly controversial step. The process for granting a pardon in Israel is complex, and while the president holds the authority, it is typically exercised after legal proceedings have concluded and all appeals are exhausted.
