Donald Trump has sent a letter to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, formally requesting a pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges. The letter was dispatched as Trump noted that “the two countries are at a historic moment of peace.”
“It is my honor to write to you during this historic period, as together we have secured the peace that has been sought for at least 3,000 years,” President Trump states in his letter, which was received this morning by President Herzog.
Trump urges the Israeli president to “grant full pardon” to Netanyahu, whom he describes as a “strong and determined prime minister in a time of war.” He adds that Netanyahu “is now leading Israel into an era of peace,” referring to the U.S. government’s efforts to expand the Abraham Accords to additional countries in the Middle East.
“I absolutely respect the independence of the Israeli judicial system,” Trump emphasizes, yet characterizes the corruption charges against Netanyahu as “political and unjustified persecution.”
The American president also references his collaboration with Herzog, noting: “Isaac, we have built a great relationship, for which I am grateful and honored. We agreed from the day of my inauguration in January that the priority was to bring back the hostages and finalize the peace agreement. Now that we have achieved these unprecedented results and are keeping Hamas in check, it is time to allow Bibi to unite Israel by granting him a pardon and ending this legal conflict once and for all.”
Trump had made a similar request during his recent speech at the Knesset.
Benjamin Netanyahu has been on trial since 2020 for one count of bribery and three counts of fraud and breach of trust, in cases related to corruption allegations. His trial is ongoing and is not expected to conclude anytime soon.
Isaac Herzog, in a statement from his office, refrained from taking a position, emphasizing that any request for a pardon “must be submitted through established institutional processes.” “The president holds great respect for President Trump and has repeatedly expressed his appreciation for his unwavering support for Israel, as well as for his contribution to the release of hostages, the reshaping of the Middle East, and ensuring Israel’s security,” the official statement reads.
“Without detracting from any of the above, as the president has made clear many times, anyone wishing to receive a pardon must submit an official request according to established procedures,” it adds.
According to the Israeli Constitution, the president of the country has the authority to grant pardons to convicted individuals or, in exceptional cases, even before judicial proceedings are completed if deemed in the public interest. So far, neither Netanyahu nor any member of his family has submitted such a request; however, according to reports from Channel 13, discussions are underway for his wife, Sara Netanyahu, to do so soon.
The article Trump: “Together we ended a 3000-year war” – Letter to Herzog for “full pardon” for Netanyahu first appeared on Philenews.
Source: Philenews
