US President Donald Trump sends a letter to Israeli President Isaac Herzog formally asking him to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption.
“It is my honor to write to you at this historic time, as we have, together, just secured peace that has been sought for at least 3,000 years,” wrote Trump in his letter, received this morning by Herzog.
“I hereby call on you to fully pardon Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been a formidable and decisive War Time Prime Minister,” wrote Trump, “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 stressed that “I absolutely respect the independence of the Israeli Justice System,” but decries the corruption charges against Netanyahu as a “political, unjustified prosecution.”
“Isaac, we have established a great relationship, one that I am very thankful for and honored by, and we agreed as soon as I was inaugurated in January that the focus had to be centered on finally bringing the hostages home and getting the peace agreement done,” Trump concluded.
BREAKING: In an official letter, U.S. President Donald Trump urges Israeli President Isaac Herzog grant a pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is indicted by the ICC. pic.twitter.com/MegL1FqrFO
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) November 12, 2025
“Now that we have achieved these unprecedented successes, and are keeping Hamas in check, it is time to let Bibi unite Israel by pardoning him, and ending that lawfare once and for all.”
In his Knesset speech last month, Trump called on Herzog to pardon Netanyahu.
The Israeli premier is currently on trial and is charged with one count of bribery, as well as fraud and breach of trust, in three separate cases relating to corruption allegations against him. His trial began in 2020 and is still far from reaching an end.
Herzog Response
Herzog declines to take a position, saying in a statement from his office that a pardon request must go through the proper channels.
“The president holds great respect for President Trump and repeatedly expresses his appreciation for Trump’s unwavering support of Israel and his tremendous contribution to the return of the hostages, the reshaping of the Middle East and Gaza, and the safeguarding of Israel’s security,” said Herzog’s Residence.
“Without detracting from the above, as the president has made clear on multiple occasions, anyone seeking a pardon must submit a formal request in accordance with the established procedures.”
Reactions
Responding to US Trump’s letter, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid stated that it would require the premier to admit he broke the law.
“Reminder: Israeli law states that the first condition for receiving a pardon is an admission of guilt and an expression of remorse for the actions,” Lapid said in a statement.
Meanwhile, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called on Herzog to accede to Trump’s appeal.
“The fabricated and disgraceful indictments against Prime Minister Netanyahu have long since turned into an indictment against the prosecution, whose disgrace and crimes are exposed in the trial every day. A pardon in this case is the right and urgent thing to do. President Herzog, listen to President Trump,” he tweeted.
For his part, the Democrats chairman Yair Golan said the premier should resign if he is unable to run the country and face the law at the same time.
“Netanyahu claims ‘there was nothing and there will be nothing’ [to the accusations], but at the same time he’s begging Trump to help him get a pardon,” said Golan.
“If he’s struggling to run a country and a trial at the same time, he should resign. The law is clear — and everyone is equal before it.”
Source: Israeli media and agencies (edited by Al-Manar)
