Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has asked Israeli President Isaac Herzog to grant a pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose long-running corruption trial has divided Israel’s political establishment and public alike.
Herzog’s office confirmed receipt of Trump’s letter on Wednesday, describing the former president as a “steadfast friend of Israel” but emphasizing that any request for clemency must follow formal legal channels.
“President Herzog holds President Trump in the highest regard and continues to express his deep appreciation for President Trump’s unwavering support for Israel, his tremendous contribution to the return of the hostages, to reshaping the situation in the Middle East and Gaza especially, and to ensuring the security of the State of Israel,” Herzog’s office said in a statement.
“Alongside and notwithstanding this,” the statement continued, “anyone seeking a presidential pardon must submit a formal request in accordance with the established procedures.”
Trump’s letter, dated earlier this week and obtained by several Israeli media outlets, praises Netanyahu as “a formidable and decisive war-time prime minister” and portrays him as central to what Trump described as “Israel’s path toward peace.” Trump also linked his appeal to the success of recent ceasefire efforts and the release of hostages from Gaza, saying, “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.”
While asserting that he respects Israel’s judicial independence, Trump called the charges against Netanyahu a “political, unjustified prosecution.” The prime minister is currently on trial in Jerusalem for alleged bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in three separate cases. He denies all wrongdoing, calling the proceedings a politically motivated “witch hunt.”
The unprecedented appeal adds a new layer of complexity to Netanyahu’s legal and political challenges. The Israeli leader, now serving his sixth term, has led a wartime coalition government since Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel and has faced intense scrutiny both domestically and abroad over the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Netanyahu’s trial, which began in 2020, centers on allegations that he traded regulatory favors for favorable media coverage and accepted lavish gifts from wealthy businessmen. Despite repeated calls from opposition figures for him to step aside, Netanyahu has refused to resign, arguing that doing so would amount to surrendering to what he calls judicial overreach and partisan persecution.
Trump’s intervention underscores his continuing involvement in Israeli politics long after leaving the White House. As president, Trump forged a close personal and political alliance with Netanyahu, culminating in several landmark policy shifts including recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, moving the U.S. embassy there, and brokering the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations.
In his letter to Herzog, Trump referenced those diplomatic achievements, describing his efforts as “world-changing” and suggesting that Netanyahu’s leadership was key to their success. “He is leading Israel into a time of peace,” Trump wrote, “which includes my continued work with key Middle East leaders to add many additional countries to the Abraham Accords.”
Herzog’s response, while diplomatically warm, made clear that the Israeli presidency would not bypass legal procedure. Under Israeli law, presidential pardons are typically considered only after a conviction is finalized and a formal application is submitted by the convicted party or their legal representatives. Netanyahu’s trial is ongoing, and no conviction has been reached.
The request comes at a sensitive political moment for both leaders. Trump, who is campaigning to return to the White House in 2025, has made Israel a recurring theme in his public remarks and continues to highlight his administration’s role in shaping the Middle East. Netanyahu, facing pressure over the Gaza war and his corruption trial, has sought to maintain unity within his fractured coalition while managing strained relations with Washington.
While it is unlikely that Herzog will act on Trump’s request in the near term, the letter serves as a reminder of Trump’s enduring influence on Israeli politics and of the deep, sometimes controversial, bond between the two leaders whose political fates remain intertwined.
