Israeli President Isaac Herzog has defended his adherence to constitutional processes in reviewing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pardon request, clarifying Thursday that Donald Trump’s characterization of his approach as disgraceful misrepresented the proper legal procedures being followed.
Herzog’s office issued a comprehensive statement explaining the ongoing review, noting that the Ministry of Justice is conducting a thorough legal analysis of the pardon application in accordance with all established procedures and constitutional requirements. The statement emphasized that Herzog has not made any determination and will only do so after the legal review is complete, basing his decision strictly on legal merits and Israeli law without external political influence.
The controversy intensified when Trump, during a White House press conference conducted while Netanyahu was in Washington for bilateral meetings, publicly attacked Herzog’s handling of the matter. The former American president stated that Herzog “should be ashamed of himself” for not immediately approving the pardon and encouraged Israeli citizens to condemn their president. The remarks represented an extraordinary departure from conventional diplomatic norms.
Netanyahu faces serious allegations across three ongoing criminal cases. Two prosecutions involve accusations that he negotiated quid pro quo arrangements with major Israeli media outlets, allegedly trading governmental regulatory decisions for favorable news coverage. The third case centers on claims that Netanyahu accepted luxury gifts worth over $260,000 from billionaire associates, including expensive cigars, premium champagne, and designer jewelry, allegedly in exchange for political favors that benefited these wealthy supporters.
As Israel’s first sitting prime minister to stand trial on corruption charges, Netanyahu occupies a unique position that has deeply divided the nation since 2019. Throughout all proceedings, Netanyahu has vigorously maintained his innocence, consistently describing the prosecutions as a politically motivated “political trial” designed to remove him from power. While one of four original charges was dismissed, three substantial cases remain active in the judicial system. The pardon controversy emerged when Trump addressed the Israeli Knesset in October and publicly urged Herzog to grant clemency, prompting Netanyahu’s legal team to submit a formal pardon petition.
