Trump urges Israeli president to pardon Netanyahu
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The news: US President Donald Trump wrote to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, urging him to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.
The context: In an undated letter published by Herzog’s office on Wednesday, Trump said that the case against Netanyahu was a “political, unjustified prosecution”, adding that the Israeli PM was a “formidable and decisive War Time Prime Minister, and is now leading Israel into a time of peace” following “terribly difficult times”.
In 2019 Netanyahu was charged in three cases, one on which alleged that the PM received almost 700,000 shekels ($335,000) in gifts from businessmen, including champagne and cigars.
“I hereby call on you to fully pardon Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been a formidable and decisive War Time Prime Minister,” Trump said in the letter, which Herzog’s office published and said was received on Wednesday morning. “Netanyahu has stood tall for Israel in the face of strong adversaries and long odds, and his attention cannot be unnecessarily diverted.”
While Trump said he had “absolute respect” for the Israeli judicial system, the letter may be perceived by Israelis as the US President interfering in domestic political matters.
“Now that we have achieved these unprecedented successes, and are keeping Hamas in check, it is time to let Bibi unite Israel by pardoning him, and ending that lawfare once and for all,” Trump wrote.
Herzog said in an accompanying statement that anyone seeking a presidential pardon must submit a formal request in accordance with the established procedures.
During Trump’s visit to Israel in October he urged Herzog to pardon Netanyahu while addressing the Knesset in Jerusalem.
