In response to Trump’s latest remarks, the Israeli presidency said the request was under review and would be considered without any influence from external or internal pressures.
Under Israeli law, the president has the authority to pardon convicts.
However, there is no precedent for issuing a pardon while a trial is still underway.
Domestic and International Pursuit
In addition to the domestic legal proceedings he is facing in what is known as the “Milchan case,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is accused of receiving gifts from Israeli-American billionaire and film producer Arnon Milchan, with whom he has a long-standing relationship, as well as from another billionaire, James Packer, during his time in office in exchange for alleged favours.
He is also facing arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against him and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant.
The court said it had found reasonable grounds to believe that both men “bear criminal responsibility for the following crimes as co-perpetrators for committing the acts jointly with others: the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare, and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts,” according to the court’s statement.
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