President Isaac Herzog of Israel has upheld proper review processes for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pardon request, issuing a statement Thursday that addressed Donald Trump’s condemnation of his deliberative approach as disgraceful.
The detailed statement from Herzog’s office explained the constitutional procedures being followed, noting that the Ministry of Justice is preparing a comprehensive legal opinion on the pardon application according to established governmental protocols. Herzog’s team stressed that no decision has been made and that the president will base any determination exclusively on legal considerations and Israeli law, without yielding to external political pressure or internal partisan dynamics.
Trump’s harsh criticism emerged during a White House press conference held while Netanyahu was visiting Washington for diplomatic discussions. The former U.S. president used strong personal language to attack Herzog’s handling of the pardon request, declaring that Herzog “should be ashamed of himself” for not immediately granting clemency and suggesting that Israeli citizens should publicly shame their president. The remarks represented a notable intervention in Israel’s internal governmental processes.
The corruption allegations against Netanyahu encompass three active criminal prosecutions involving serious charges. Two cases focus on accusations that Netanyahu arranged deals with Israeli media companies, allegedly using governmental authority to secure favorable news coverage in exchange for regulatory benefits. The third case involves claims that he accepted extravagant gifts valued at over $260,000 from billionaire supporters, including luxury cigars, premium champagne, and designer jewelry, allegedly in return for political favors.
Netanyahu’s position as Israel’s first incumbent prime minister to face criminal trial has created an unprecedented political situation since proceedings commenced in 2019. Netanyahu has consistently maintained his innocence throughout all cases, characterizing the prosecutions as a politically motivated “political trial” orchestrated by opponents. Although one of four original charges was dismissed, three substantial cases remain active in the courts. The pardon controversy began when Trump publicly called for Herzog to grant clemency during an October speech to the Israeli parliament, which prompted Netanyahu’s legal team to submit a formal pardon petition to the presidential office.
