President Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on Israeli President Isaac Herzog Thursday, demanding he immediately pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and accusing him of breaking multiple promises to do so.
According to journalist Barak Ravid’s reporting, Trump claimed Herzog had made several pledges to pardon Netanyahu but never delivered on them. The President reportedly labeled Herzog “a disgrace” and insisted he should issue the pardon right away.
“He promised me five times that he would grant Bibi a pardon,” Trump stated, using Netanyahu’s well-known nickname. “I don’t want anything on Bibi’s mind other than fighting against Iran.”
Trump’s harsh words inject fresh controversy into the ongoing discussion about Netanyahu’s corruption case, which launched in 2020 with allegations of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Netanyahu has maintained his innocence throughout and claims the charges are politically driven.
The U.S. President has consistently backed Netanyahu and drawn parallels between the Israeli leader’s legal challenges and what Trump characterizes as politically motivated cases against him in America. In his recent statements, Trump indicated that the court proceedings might interfere with Israel’s focus during heightened tensions with Iran.
Israeli law gives the president power to issue pardons. These decisions usually follow recommendations from legal experts and thorough examination of case details. While the idea of pardoning Netanyahu has emerged in Israeli political discussions before, it continues to spark debate.
Herzog’s representatives have previously stated that any pardon consideration would go through appropriate legal channels and have rejected assertions that the president made definitive commitments on this matter.
This confrontation unfolds during a critical time for Israel as the nation continues dealing with expanding regional tensions involving Iran following recent military actions and counter-strikes throughout the Middle East.
Trump’s statements represent an unusually bold intervention by a U.S. leader in Israel’s domestic legal and political matters while highlighting his belief that Netanyahu should concentrate solely on dealing with Tehran.
