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President Trump has officially requested that Israeli President Isaac Herzog pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently standing trial on multiple corruption charges.
Some shit you should know before you dig in: Prime Minister Netanyahu is currently standing trial on three separate corruption cases, involving charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust (making him the first sitting Israeli prime minister to face criminal prosecution). In Case 1000, prosecutors allege that Netanyahu and his wife received over $260,000 worth of luxury gifts, including cigars, champagne, and jewelry, from wealthy businessmen in exchange for political favors. Case 2000 involves claims that Netanyahu sought a deal with the publisher of Yedioth Ahronoth, one of Israel’s largest newspapers, offering legislative support that would weaken a rival paper in return for more favorable coverage. The most serious, Case 4000, accuses Netanyahu of pushing regulatory decisions that benefited Bezeq, Israel’slargest telecommunications firm, in exchange for positive reporting on the Walla! News site, which was controlled by the company’s owner. Netanyahu has pleaded not guilty to all charges, consistently maintaining that the cases are politically motivated attacks orchestrated by his opponents and designed to remove him from power.
What’s going on now: In a letter addressed to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, President Trump called for a full pardon of Prime Minister Netanyahu, arguing that the ongoing corruption trial is a “political, unjustified prosecution.” Trump praised Netanyahu as a “formidable and decisive War Time Prime Minister” who, in Trump’s words, has helped secure historic achievements such as the Gaza ceasefire and the expansion of the Abraham Accords. Trump framed his request as a way to unify Israel after years of turmoil, stating that now that hostages have been returned , and peace efforts are underway, it’s time to “end that lawfare once and for all.”
In response, President Herzog acknowledged Trump’s longstanding support for Israel and praised his role in recent regional diplomacy, but made it clear that a presidential pardon in Israel cannot be granted based on foreign appeals. Israeli law requires that a pardon request come directly from the accused or an immediate family member and must follow formal procedures.
The letter sparked immediate political backlash in Israel. Opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the involvement of a foreign leader in domestic judicial matters, saying that Israel is a “sovereign country” and not a “protectorate state,” and argued that Israeli law should not be circumvented due to outside pressure. Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s allies welcomed Trump’s intervention. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir urged Herzog to “listen to President Trump,” calling the indictments against Netanyahu “fabricated” and accusing prosecutors of misconduct.
