Israeli President Isaac Herzog has defended his commitment to thorough legal review of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pardon request, issuing a statement Thursday that responded to Donald Trump’s demands for immediate action that Trump characterized as disgracefully delayed.
Herzog’s office provided detailed information about the constitutional review process, explaining that the Ministry of Justice is conducting a comprehensive legal analysis of the pardon application according to all established procedures. The statement stressed that Herzog has not reached any decision and will only do so after receiving the complete legal opinion, basing any determination exclusively on legal merits and Israeli law without yielding to external political pressure.
The diplomatic tension escalated when Trump, speaking at a White House press conference during Netanyahu’s Washington visit for bilateral discussions, publicly attacked Herzog’s handling of the matter. The former American president declared that Herzog “should be ashamed of himself” for not immediately granting the pardon and encouraged Israeli citizens to shame their president. Trump’s remarks represented an extraordinary level of direct intervention in Israel’s internal legal affairs.
Netanyahu currently faces corruption allegations in three ongoing criminal prosecutions. Two cases involve accusations that he arranged quid pro quo deals with Israeli media companies, allegedly using governmental authority to secure favorable news coverage in exchange for regulatory benefits. The third case centers on claims that Netanyahu accepted extravagant gifts worth over $260,000 from billionaire associates, including luxury cigars, premium champagne, and designer jewelry, allegedly in return for political favors.
As the first incumbent Israeli prime minister to stand trial on corruption charges, Netanyahu has created a historic and divisive political situation since 2019. Netanyahu has consistently maintained his innocence throughout all proceedings, characterizing the cases as a politically motivated “political trial” designed to undermine his leadership and force him from office. 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 prompted Netanyahu’s legal team to submit a formal pardon petition to the presidential office.
