Donald Trump has once again asked Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently facing trial in three separate corruption cases. The Israeli prime minister has consistently denied any wrongdoing in these ongoing legal proceedings. No verdicts have been reached yet, and his supporters claim the trials are driven by political motives.
In a letter made public by Herzog’s office on Wednesday, Trump stated he was writing at a “historic time, as we have, together, just secured peace that has been sought for at least 3,000 years.” He called on Herzog to “fully pardon Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been a formidable and decisive War Time Prime Minister.” Trump added that while he respects Israel’s justice system, he believes the case against Netanyahu is a politically motivated and unjust prosecution.
Trump had previously suggested a presidential pardon for Netanyahu in social media posts and a speech to the Israeli parliament last month. Although the Israeli presidency is largely ceremonial, Herzog does have the authority to grant pardons under exceptional circumstances.
Netanyahu’s trials, which began in 2020, are still ongoing, and he has pleaded not guilty to all charges. In one case, he and his wife Sara are accused of accepting over $260,000 worth of luxury items, including cigars, jewelry, and champagne, from billionaires in exchange for political favors. In two other cases, he is alleged to have tried to secure more favorable coverage from Israeli media outlets.
Herzog has previously turned down Trump’s requests for a pardon and on Wednesday advised the U.S. president to follow standard procedures. A statement from Herzog’s office expressed high regard for Trump and gratitude for his support of Israel but emphasized that anyone seeking a pardon must submit a formal request according to established rules.
On Tuesday, Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a key liaison between Netanyahu and the White House since 2022, announced his resignation. A prominent member of the right-wing government and a close ally of Netanyahu, Dermer led months of intense negotiations leading up to the U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire that took effect last month.
Dermer’s departure follows weeks of speculation in Israeli media. Critics have accused him of failing to end the war in Gaza sooner, with some suggesting he helped Netanyahu prolong the conflict to avoid potential imprisonment on corruption charges if removed from office.
Since the ceasefire began, Hamas has released all 20 living hostages and returned the remains of 24 others. Dermer, a former ambassador to Washington, played a crucial role in U.S.-Israeli relations during the conflict. Netanyahu appointed him in February to lead truce talks, despite his low profile among Israelis and criticism over his lack of military experience, limited media presence, and perceived unfamiliarity with Israeli language and culture.
Israel is due to hold elections within a year, and some analysts predict they may occur earlier. Yossi Mekelberg, an Israel politics expert at Chatham House in London, noted that Dermer’s resignation would have limited impact, as he lacked a political base in Israel, though Netanyahu trusted him deeply.
In his resignation letter, Dermer, appointed in 2022, stated he had promised his family he would not serve more than two years and praised Netanyahu’s unique leadership. He reflected that the government would be remembered both for the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and for its response.He wrote, “We rejected moral ambiguity and the fear of confronting our enemies, facing them with clarity and courage. Two years later, we have struck a devastating blow against Iran’s terror network and are now in a strong position to bring about an era of security, prosperity, and peace.”
Most Israelis, regardless of political affiliation, support forming a robust state-led inquiry. They want a panel chosen by the supreme court president to assign responsibility for the lapses that allowed Hamas to invade southern Israel in 2023. In that attack, militants killed approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 hostages. Four bodies have not yet been returned.
In response, Israel’s military offensive has resulted in the deaths of nearly 69,000 people in Gaza, the majority of whom were civilians.
On Monday, Netanyahu dismissed renewed opposition demands to create such an inquiry, claiming it would lack “broad-based support” and that an alternative approach would be preferable. Opposition leaders are concerned that a government-led commission would have weaker authority and be more susceptible to influence.
Reporting contributed by Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the topic Trump again asks Israeli president to pardon Netanyahu designed with clear questions and direct answers
Basic Understanding Context
Q1 What is this news story about
A Its about former US President Donald Trump publicly urging Israels President to grant a pardon to Benjamin Netanyahu who is facing ongoing corruption trials
Q2 Who is Benjamin Netanyahu
A He is a longserving and influential former Prime Minister of Israel who is currently on trial for charges of fraud breach of trust and bribery
Q3 What is the role of the Israeli President Can they pardon people
A The Israeli President is the head of state a largely ceremonial role Yes the president has the power to pardon convicts or commute their sentences but this is typically done through a formal legal process not based on public requests
Q4 Why would Trump ask for this
A Trump and Netanyahu have had a longstanding political alliance Trump may be showing support for an ally influencing Israeli politics or criticizing what he sees as a politically motivated legal case
Deeper Analysis Implications
Q5 Can the Israeli President actually pardon Netanyahu right now
A Technically yes but its highly unlikely and controversial A pardon is usually considered after a conviction Netanyahus trial is still ongoing so a preemptive pardon would be unprecedented and seen as interfering with the judiciary
Q6 Has the Israeli President responded to Trumps request
A Typically the Presidents office does not comment on specific pardon requests to maintain the integrity of the process They generally state that all requests are reviewed according to the law
Q7 How does this affect USIsrael relations
A It creates diplomatic friction The current US administration follows a policy of noninterference in Israels internal legal matters Trumps public request contradicts that official stance and can be seen as meddling
Q8 Is it common for a foreign leader to get involved in another countrys legal cases
A No it is highly unusual and generally considered a breach of diplomatic protocol Nations are expected to respect each others sovereign legal processes
Q9 What are the corruption charges against Netanyahu about
A They involve three separate cases including
