Overview
- Herzog’s office confirmed receiving a letter in which President Trump called for a “full pardon” and labeled the corruption case against Netanyahu a “political, unjustified prosecution.”
- Officials reiterated that clemency requests must be submitted through established channels by the person seeking a pardon, and Netanyahu has not filed such a request.
- Netanyahu remains on trial in three cases alleging bribery, fraud and breach of trust stemming from 2019 indictments, and he has pleaded not guilty.
- Trump framed the appeal around Netanyahu’s wartime leadership and recent diplomacy, echoing a similar call he made in an October address to the Knesset.
- Opposition leaders and legal experts warned against foreign interference and noted that Israeli pardons typically follow conviction and may require an admission of guilt, making a pre-verdict pardon unusual.