Israeli president denies Trump’s claim of imminent pardon for Netanyahu

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Monday that he has not held any talks with US President Donald Trump since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu submitted a request for a pardon in his corruption trials. He firmly rejected Trump’s statement that “a pardon is on its way”.

On 12 November, Trump formally asked Herzog to issue a pardon for Netanyahu. Netanyahu later submitted an official request for clemency, while the Israeli president said at the time that he was reviewing the request.

Trump’s call for a pardon drew widespread criticism inside Israel, with accusations that he was interfering in Israeli internal affairs and undermining equality before the law.

Earlier on Monday evening, during a meeting with Netanyahu at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump said: “He’s a wartime prime minister who’s a hero. How do you not give a pardon?”

He added: “I spoke to the president … he tells me it’s on its way.”

However, Herzog’s office said in a statement that there has been no contact between President Herzog and President Trump since the pardon request was submitted several weeks ago.

Netanyahu is facing charges of corruption, bribery, and breach of trust in three separate cases. If convicted, he could face a prison sentence.

One of the cases, known as Case 1000, also known as the Gifts Affair, concerns Netanyahu and members of his family allegedly receiving expensive gifts from businessmen in return for providing favours and assistance in various fields.