Trump Calls On Israeli President To Pardon Netanyahu, Slams ‘Unjustified Prosecution’

President Donald Trump urged Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, saying that it would unite the country. 

In a letter to Herzog, Trump said that he believes that the case against Netanyahu is politically motivated and “unjustified.” Netanyahu has been charged with bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in three different cases, accusations he has strongly denied. 

Trump said that a pardon for Netanyahu would help the country focus on maintaining peace in the region now that a ceasefire with Hamas has been agreed to. 

“As the Great State of Israel and the amazing Jewish People move past the terribly difficult times of the last three years, I hereby call on you to fully pardon Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been a formidable decisive War Time Prime Minister, 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.” 

Trump also said that the case against Netanyahu was without merit. 

“Prime Minister Netanyahu has stood tall for Israel in the face of strong adversaries and long odds, and his attention cannot be unnecessarily diverted,” Trump wrote. “While I absolutely respect the independence of the Israeli Justice System, and its requirements, I believe that this ‘case’ against Bibi, who has fought alongside me for a long time, including against the very tough adversary of Israel, Iran, is a political, unjustified prosecution.”

“It is time to let Bibi unite Israel by pardoning him, and ending that lawfare once and for all,” Trump added. 

Herzog’s office responded to Trump’s letter, thanking him for his support, and said that Netanyahu must request a pardon for it to be considered. 

“The President of Israel holds President Trump in high regard and continues to express his appreciation for Trump’s unwavering support for Israel and his major contributions to the release of hostages, reshaping the Middle East and Gaza, and safeguarding Israel’s security,” Herzog’s office said.

“That said, as the president has repeatedly clarified, anyone seeking a pardon must submit a formal request in accordance with established procedures,” it added. 

In a speech to Israel’s Knesset in October after brokering a ceasefire deal in Gaza, Trump called for Netanyahu to be pardoned and had previously called for the trial to be cancelled.