President Isaac Herzog of Israel has upheld judicial standards in reviewing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pardon request, responding Thursday to Donald Trump’s accusation that his deliberative approach was disgraceful and worthy of public shame.
The statement from Herzog’s office outlined the current legal review process, emphasizing that the Ministry of Justice is preparing a comprehensive legal opinion on the pardon application according to established protocols. Herzog’s team stressed that the president will make his determination only upon completion of this legal analysis and will base his decision exclusively on Israeli law, rejecting any influence from external political pressures.
Trump’s criticism came during a press conference at the White House, where he addressed Netanyahu’s visit to Washington for diplomatic talks. The former U.S. president used strong language to condemn Herzog’s approach, stating that he “should be ashamed of himself” for not immediately approving the pardon and encouraging Israeli citizens to publicly express their disapproval. The comments marked an unusual instance of direct American intervention in Israel’s internal legal processes.
Netanyahu’s legal challenges stem from three ongoing corruption prosecutions that have dominated Israeli political discourse for years. Two cases involve allegations that Netanyahu orchestrated arrangements with Israeli media companies, trading governmental regulatory decisions for favorable news coverage. The most serious charges involve claims that Netanyahu accepted more than $260,000 in luxury goods from billionaire supporters, including expensive cigars, champagne, and jewelry, allegedly in exchange for political benefits.
As Israel’s first sitting prime minister to face criminal trial, Netanyahu has become a central figure in ongoing debates about political accountability and the rule of law. The proceedings, which began in 2019, have been consistently characterized by Netanyahu as politically motivated persecution. Despite maintaining his innocence throughout all cases, Netanyahu faces three active prosecutions after a fourth charge was previously dismissed. The current pardon debate began when Trump publicly called for Herzog to grant clemency during his October speech to the Knesset, which prompted Netanyahu’s legal team to formally submit their petition.