Trump writes to Herzog asking him to pardon Netanyahu amid ‘unjustified’ trial

President Isaac Herzog announced Wednesday that US President Donald Trump had written him to ask him to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently standing trial on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

Trump, who was himself convicted on 34 felony counts in a hush-money case in 2024, has called several times in recent months for Herzog to pardon Netanyahu, including during a speech at the Knesset in October.

Herzog has thus far demurred, pointing to the process of requesting a pardon, which requires the accused or members of their family to make the case for a pardon.

Netanyahu, testifying in his trial on Wednesday appeared to reference Trump’s request, telling prosecutors their charges were absurd: “All the world leaders are amazed, and I’m not exaggerating,” according to the Ynet news site.

Late, Netanyahu thanked Trump for his “incredible support.”

“As usual, you get right to the point and call it like it is,” Netanyahu wrote on X. “I look forward to continuing our partnership to bolster security and expand peace.”

In a letter received by Herzog on Wednesday morning, Trump wrote: “It is my honor to write to you at this historic time, as we have, together, just secured peace that has been sought for at least 3,000 years.”

“I hereby call on you to fully pardon Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been a formidable and decisive War Time Prime Minister,” he wrote, “and is now leading Israel into a time of peace, which includes my continued work with key Middle East leaders to add many additional countries to the world changing Abraham Accords.”

“I absolutely respect the independence of the Israeli Justice System,” Trump stressed, but decried that the case against Netanyahu was a “political, unjustified prosecution.”

“Isaac, we have established a great relationship, one that I am very thankful for and honored by, and we agreed as soon as I was inaugurated in January that the focus had to be centered on finally bringing the hostages home and getting the peace agreement done,” Trump concluded. “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.”

Netanyahu, who often touts his close friendship with Trump, is charged with one count of bribery, as well as three counts each of fraud and breach of trust, in three separate cases relating to corruption allegations against him. His trial began in 2020 and is still far from reaching an end.

Herzog, in response to Trump, declined to take a position on the matter, saying in a statement from his office that a pardon request must go through the proper channels.

“The president holds great respect for President Trump and repeatedly expresses his appreciation for Trump’s unwavering support of Israel and his tremendous contribution to the return of the hostages, the reshaping of the Middle East and Gaza, and the safeguarding of Israel’s security,” said the President’s Residence.

“Without detracting from the above, as the president has made clear on multiple occasions, anyone seeking a pardon must submit a formal request in accordance with the established procedures,” it said.

The president of the state is empowered to grant pardons to those convicted in court and, on very rare occasions, even before legal proceedings have concluded, if it is deemed to be in the public interest.

However, the individual seeking the pardon, or an immediate family member, must make the request. Netanyahu and his relatives have yet to do that, but Channel 13 reported last month, citing sources in the Prime Minister’s Office, that there are discussions underway about Netanyahu’s wife, Sara, submitting a request.

Trump’s latest request for Netanyahu to be pardoned was welcomed by members of the premier’s coalition, even as opposition lawmakers criticized the prime minister for appearing to seek help with his legal woes from the US president.

“Reminder: Israeli law states that the first condition for receiving a pardon is an admission of guilt and an expression of remorse for [illegal] actions,” Opposition Leader Yair Lapid said.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called on Herzog to accede to Trump’s appeal.

“The fabricated and disgraceful indictments against Prime Minister Netanyahu have long since turned into an indictment against the prosecution, whose disgrace and crimes are exposed in the trial every day,” he wrote on X. “A pardon in this case is the right and urgent thing to do. President Herzog, listen to President Trump.”

Yair Golan, chair of the Democrats alliance, comprising center-left Labor and left-wing Meretz, suggested that Netanyahu should resign if he is unable to run the country and face the law at the same time.

“Netanyahu claims ‘there was nothing and there will be nothing’ [to the accusations], but at the same time he’s begging Trump to help him get a pardon,” said Golan. “If he’s struggling to run a country and a trial at the same time, he should resign. The law is clear — and everyone is equal before it.”

Jeremy Sharon contributed to this report.