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Trump asks Israeli president to pardon Netanyahu

2025-11-12 21:48:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has received a letter from US President Donald Trump urging him to consider pardoning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Herzog's office announced on Wednesday.

Netanyahu has been facing a long-running corruption trial, and Trump has repeatedly called for his close ally to be pardoned. Netanyahu denies the charges and has pleaded not guilty.

"While I fully respect the independence of Israel's judicial system, I believe this 'case' against Bibi, who has fought alongside me for a long time - including against Israel's bitter enemy, Iran - is a politically motivated and unreasonable prosecution," Trump's letter said, according to Herzog's office.

The office clarified that anyone seeking a presidential pardon must submit a formal request in accordance with established procedures.

During Trump's visit to Israel in October, he also publicly called on the Knesset in Jerusalem to pardon Herzog.

Netanyahu was indicted in 2019 on three counts, including charges that he accepted gifts worth about $211,832 from businessmen.

Although the position of Israeli president is largely ceremonial, Herzog has the authority to pardon convicts in exceptional circumstances.

However, Netanyahu's trial, which began in 2020, has not yet concluded, and he has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Netanyahu has described his trial as a left-wing "witch hunt" aimed at overthrowing a democratically elected right-wing leader./ REL