In a surprising moment during his exuberant Knesset speech on Monday, President Trump publicly called on Israeli President Isaac Herzog to consider granting a pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing bribery charges. You can read more about the address here.
“Listen, I have a suggestion. Mr. President, why not grant a pardon? Just give him a pardon,” Trump proposed, eliciting enthusiastic applause from the assembly.
“And just to be clear, that wasn’t part of the prepared remarks, as you might guess, but I happen to really appreciate this gentleman sitting right here,” Trump noted.
“It really makes perfect sense. Love him or hate him, he has been one of the great wartime leaders,” Trump asserted.
“And cigars and champagne? Who really cares about that?”
Netanyahu, who holds the record for being Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, has been indicted since 2019 on multiple charges, including breach of trust, fraud, and bribery.
The allegations encompass three distinct cases, wherein Netanyahu and his wife are accused of receiving extravagant gifts like cigars and champagne from wealthy benefactors.
Netanyahu is also alleged to have traded favors with the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth and the telecommunications company Bezeq, seeking more favorable media coverage in return for governmental support.
After prosecutors concluded their case last year, defense attorneys began their cross-examination of witnesses, leading to an extended trial process.
Although Netanyahu was scheduled to testify, that has been postponed due to conflicts in scheduling.
The prime minister firmly denies all accusations against him, while the trial has already involved testimonies from over 140 witnesses, including former allies, and has introduced a variety of evidence, such as recordings and text messages.
Once rivals in politics, both Netanyahu and Herzog have had a complicated relationship.
Herzog led the opposition against Netanyahu from 2013 to 2018. Netanyahu represents the center-right Likud party, while Herzog has affiliations with the center-left Labor Party.
As the president, Herzog can grant pardons and has indicated he may be open to it in the past.
“The Netanyahu case has significant implications for Israeli society. Should a request arise, I will communicate it to the public with full transparency,” Herzog mentioned on Israel’s Army Radio last month. “I will evaluate what is best for the state and all other factors involved.”
Trump enjoys a strong following in Israeli political circles, contrasted with Netanyahu’s declining popularity.
During a recent event in Tel Aviv, special envoy Steve Witkoff was met with jeers when he mentioned Netanyahu’s name, while Trump drew applause from the crowd.
Although Trump has generally enjoyed a friendly rapport with Netanyahu, their relationship has not been without conflict.
“He’s not the easiest individual to work with, I’ll tell you that much,” Trump commented about Netanyahu at another point in his address. “But that’s part of what makes him remarkable.”
Last month, during Netanyahu’s visit to the White House, Trump urged him to apologize to the Qatari leader for a failed military operation on September 9.
After advocating for his 20-point peace plan intended to resolve the Israel-Hamas conflict, Trump reportedly became frustrated when Netanyahu showed little enthusiasm for the proposal.
“I don’t get why you’re always so f—ing negative. This is a victory. Embrace it,” Trump reportedly expressed to him, Axios reported.
Throughout the 2024 campaign, Trump also criticized Netanyahu frequently, expressing anger over the prime minister’s decision to cancel a planned strike against late Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and his acknowledgment of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election.
