President Isaac Herzog of Israel has held firm on following proper legal processes for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pardon request, issuing a statement Thursday that addressed Donald Trump’s criticism characterizing his deliberative approach as disgraceful.
The statement from Herzog’s office provided clarity on the constitutional review being conducted, explaining 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.
Trump’s sharp criticism came during a press conference at the White House while Netanyahu was visiting Washington for diplomatic discussions. The former U.S. president used 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 shame their president. The comments marked a significant intervention in Israel’s internal legal affairs.
The criminal allegations facing Netanyahu span three active prosecutions involving corruption 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 status as Israel’s first incumbent prime minister to face criminal trial has created a historic 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 prompted Netanyahu’s legal team to submit a formal pardon petition to the presidential office.