Overview
- Herzog’s office confirmed receiving President Trump’s letter urging a full pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and reiterated that the process begins only with a formal application.
- Netanyahu remains on trial in three cases alleging bribery, fraud and breach of trust, has pleaded not guilty, and has been testifying as proceedings continue.
- Israeli legal practice typically considers pardons after conviction and involves Justice Ministry review, with recent cases requiring an admission of guilt, making a pre-verdict pardon highly unusual.
- Reactions in Israel split quickly, with far-right allies like Itamar Ben-Gvir endorsing a pardon while opposition leader Yair Lapid emphasized the requirement to acknowledge wrongdoing.
- Trump framed his request as supporting national unity following a U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire and cited his prior public appeals, a move analysts say risks encroaching on Israel’s judicial independence.