Overview
- Herzog’s office confirmed receiving Trump’s letter and released its text, in which Trump calls the case a political, unjustified prosecution and asks for a full pardon.
- The presidency reiterated that any pardon must follow established procedures initiated by the affected individual, and no request from Netanyahu has been filed.
- Netanyahu’s corruption trial on bribery, fraud and breach of trust charges, launched in 2020 after 2019 indictments, is ongoing and he has pleaded not guilty.
- Israeli legal analysts note pardons are typically considered after conviction, making a pre‑conviction pardon rare and legally fraught.
- Political reaction in Israel is sharply divided, with Netanyahu’s allies welcoming Trump’s appeal and opponents warning about external interference and risks to the rule of law; Trump also made a similar plea in an October Knesset speech.