Israeli President Isaac Herzog has prioritized constitutional standards and legal processes in reviewing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pardon request, clarifying Thursday that Donald Trump’s criticism characterizing his approach as disgraceful did not reflect the proper procedures being followed.
Herzog’s office issued a comprehensive statement detailing the ongoing legal review, noting that the Ministry of Justice is conducting a detailed analysis of the pardon application in accordance with established governmental protocols. The statement emphasized that Herzog has not reached any conclusion and will make his determination only after the legal review is complete, basing it strictly on legal merits and Israeli law without external political influence.
The diplomatic situation became more tense when Trump, speaking at a White House press conference during Netanyahu’s Washington visit for bilateral meetings, publicly attacked Herzog’s handling of the matter. The former American president stated that Herzog “should be ashamed of himself” for not immediately granting the pardon and encouraged Israeli citizens to condemn their president. Trump’s comments marked an extraordinary level of intervention in another sovereign nation’s internal legal affairs.
Netanyahu currently faces corruption allegations in three ongoing criminal prosecutions. Two cases involve accusations that he negotiated quid pro quo deals with major Israeli media outlets, allegedly trading governmental regulatory decisions for favorable news coverage. The third case centers on claims that Netanyahu accepted luxury gifts worth over $260,000 from billionaire associates, including expensive cigars, premium champagne, and designer jewelry, allegedly in exchange for political favors that benefited these wealthy individuals.
As the first serving Israeli prime minister to stand trial on corruption charges, Netanyahu has created a historic political crisis that has divided the nation since 2019. Throughout all proceedings, Netanyahu has vigorously maintained his innocence, consistently describing the prosecutions as a politically motivated “political trial” designed to undermine his leadership. While one of four original charges was dismissed, three serious cases remain active in the courts. The pardon controversy emerged when Trump addressed the Israeli Knesset in October and publicly urged Herzog to grant clemency, which led Netanyahu’s legal team to formally submit a pardon petition to the presidential office.