President Isaac Herzog of Israel has maintained his independence in reviewing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pardon request, clarifying Thursday that Donald Trump’s attack characterizing his deliberative approach as disgraceful did not reflect the proper constitutional processes being followed.
The comprehensive statement from Herzog’s office outlined the ongoing legal review, noting that the Ministry of Justice is preparing a formal legal opinion on the pardon application in accordance with established governmental protocols and constitutional standards. Herzog’s team emphasized that no decision has been made and that the president will make his determination only after this legal analysis is complete, basing it strictly on Israeli law without external political influence.
Trump’s pointed criticism came during a press conference at the White House held while Netanyahu was visiting Washington for diplomatic meetings. The former U.S. president used unusually strong language to condemn Herzog’s handling of the pardon request, stating that Herzog “should be ashamed of himself” for not immediately granting clemency and suggesting that Israeli citizens should publicly condemn their president. The comments marked a significant intervention in another democratic nation’s internal legal processes.
The criminal allegations facing Netanyahu span three active prosecutions involving corruption charges. Two cases focus on accusations that Netanyahu negotiated arrangements with major Israeli media outlets, allegedly trading governmental regulatory decisions for favorable news coverage. The third case involves claims that he accepted luxury gifts valued at over $260,000 from billionaire supporters, including expensive cigars, premium champagne, and designer jewelry, allegedly in exchange for political favors that benefited these wealthy individuals.
Netanyahu’s status as Israel’s first serving prime minister to face criminal trial has created an unprecedented political crisis since proceedings began in 2019. Throughout all cases, Netanyahu has consistently maintained his innocence, characterizing the prosecutions as a politically motivated “political trial” orchestrated by opponents to undermine his leadership. 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 address to the Israeli parliament, which led Netanyahu’s legal team to formally submit a pardon petition.