Israeli President Isaac Herzog has maintained his commitment to judicial integrity in reviewing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pardon request, issuing a statement Thursday that responded to Donald Trump’s pressure tactics that characterized his deliberative approach as disgraceful.
Herzog’s office provided detailed information about the constitutional review process, noting that the Ministry of Justice is conducting a comprehensive legal analysis of the pardon application according to all established procedures. The statement emphasized that Herzog has not made any determination and will only do so after receiving the complete legal opinion, basing his decision strictly on Israeli law and constitutional principles without yielding to external political pressure.
The controversy escalated when Trump, during a White House press conference held while Netanyahu was visiting Washington for bilateral discussions, publicly attacked Herzog’s handling of the matter. The former American president declared that Herzog “should be ashamed of himself” for not immediately approving the pardon and encouraged Israeli citizens to shame their president. The comments represented an extraordinary intervention in Israel’s internal legal processes.
Netanyahu faces serious corruption allegations across three ongoing criminal cases. Two prosecutions involve accusations that he arranged deals with Israeli media companies, allegedly using governmental authority to secure favorable news coverage in exchange for regulatory benefits. The third case centers on claims that Netanyahu accepted extravagant gifts worth over $260,000 from billionaire associates, including luxury cigars, premium champagne, and designer jewelry, allegedly in return for political favors that benefited these wealthy supporters.
As Israel’s first incumbent prime minister to stand trial on corruption charges, Netanyahu occupies a unique and controversial position that has polarized the nation since 2019. Netanyahu has consistently maintained his innocence throughout all proceedings, characterizing the cases as a politically motivated “political trial” designed to undermine his leadership. While one of four original charges was dismissed, three substantial cases remain active in the courts. The pardon controversy emerged when Trump addressed the Israeli Knesset in October and publicly urged Herzog to grant clemency, prompting Netanyahu’s legal team to submit a formal pardon petition to the presidential office.