US President Donald Trump has sent a formal letter to Israeli President Isaac Herzog urging him to grant a presidential pardon to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently facing multiple corruption charges.

According to a statement from Herzog’s office, the letter was received on Wednesday morning and includes Trump’s personal appeal for clemency. The letter comes as Netanyahu remains on trial in three separate cases, all of which he has denied, claiming the charges are politically motivated.

In his letter, Trump praised Netanyahu as a great leader in times of conflict and called the corruption allegations a “political, unjustified prosecution.” He also emphasized his respect for the Israeli 'justice' system while questioning the motives behind the charges.

“I hereby call on you to fully pardon Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been a formidable and decisive War Time (sic) Prime Minister,” Trump wrote. “While I absolutely respect the independence of the Israeli Justice System... I believe that this 'case' against Bibi... is political, unjustified prosecution.”

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Herzog's office responds to Trump’s request

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The statement from Herzog's office emphasized that proper legal procedure must be followed: “Alongside and not withstanding this... anyone seeking a Presidential pardon must submit a formal request in accordance with the established procedures.”

At the same time, the office added that Herzog holds Trump “in the highest regard and continues to express his deep appreciation for Trump's unwavering support for 'Israel'.”

Judicial reform and political context in 'Israel'

Netanyahu’s current term, which began in late 2022, has been marked by controversy, particularly over proposed judicial reforms that were aimed at weakening the independence of Israeli courts. The proposed changes sparked months of mass protests before being largely overshadowed by the outbreak of the war on Gaza in October 2023.

Trump, who has himself long claimed that US authorities unfairly targeted him through politically motivated legal cases, has repeatedly drawn parallels between his own legal battles and those faced by Netanyahu.

Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, stand accused in one case of accepting over $260,000 in luxury gifts, including cigars, champagne, and jewelry, from wealthy businessmen in exchange for political favors. In two other cases, the prime minister is accused of attempting to negotiate favorable media coverage from local outlets in return for regulatory advantages.

Although no verdict has yet been issued in the ongoing proceedings, the trials have become a central issue in "Israel's" political landscape, fueling both domestic criticism and international attention.

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