Trump asks Israeli president to pardon PM Netanyahu

Nov. 12 (UPI) — President Donald Trump wrote Israeli President Isaac Herzog to ask him to pardon Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while undergoing criminal trials.

Herzog’s office on Wednesday announced it received a letter from Trump, who earlier called for Netanyahu to be pardoned in three cases that accuse him of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, The Hill reported.

A spokesperson for Herzog distributed copies of the correspondence.

“I hereby call on you to fully pardon Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been a formidable and decisive wartime prime minister and is now leading Israel into a time of peace,” Trump said in the letter, as reported by CNN.

“While I absolutely respect the independence of the Israeli justice system and its requirements,” Trump said in the letter, “I believe that the ‘case’ against Bibi, who has fought alongside me for a long time, including against the very tough adversary of Israel, Iran, is a political, unjustified prosecution.”

The president previously made the request to pardon Netanyahu while addressing the Israeli Knesset in October as the cease-fire in Gaza was being finalized.

Herzog’s office on Wednesday noted Trump’s support for Israel and his contributions toward attaining peace in Gaza and the Middle East.

Requests for pardons, though, must come from the accused in Israel and through “established procedures” to do so.

“As the Office of the President has made clear throughout, anyone seeking a presidential pardon must submit a formal request in accordance with the established procedures,” Herzog’s office said in a prepared statement.

Netanyahu is defending himself in three separate corruption cases and has pleaded not guilty to all charges filed against him.

Netanyahu’s political allies in Israel welcomed the U.S. president’s support, but opposition members said the prime minister can’t seek Trump’s help in the matter.

“The prime minister cannot keep running to President Trump every time to ask for help,” opposition party leader Yair Lapid said while addressing the Knesset, as reported by The Hill.

“A proud nation, with national dignity, does not behave like this,” Lapid said.