\u201cYou have a president [who] refused to give him a pardon\u2026 [He] should be ashamed of himself,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n
\t \u201cThe primary power he\u2019s got is\u2026 to give pardons, and he\u2019s not. He said he\u2019s given it five different times, but he doesn\u2019t want to do it because, I guess he loses his power,\u201d Trump said, without elaborating.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the people of Israel should really shame him. He\u2019s disgraceful for not giving it,\u201d the US president added.<\/p>\n Herzog\u2019s office quickly responded, insisting that \u2014 contrary to Trump\u2019s claims \u2014 the Israeli president has not made a decision on whether to grant Netanyahu a pardon.<\/p>\n This is because the matter is still being reviewed by the Justice Ministry, which has to provide a legal opinion before the president can make a decision, the statement from Herzog\u2019s office said.<\/p>\n \u201cOnly upon completion of that process will President Herzog consider the request in accordance with the law, the best interests of the State of Israel, guided by his conscience, and without any influence from external or internal pressures of any kind,\u201d the statement added.<\/p>\n \u201cPresident Herzog deeply appreciates President Trump for his significant contribution to the State of Israel and its security. Israel is a sovereign state governed by the rule of law,\u201d the statement added, cautiously suggesting that Trump was trying to infringe on Israel\u2019s sovereignty, while insisting that Herzog would not allow that to occur.<\/p>\n \t While hosting Netanyahu in December, Trump claimed that he spoke with Herzog about the issue and that the Israeli president told him a pardon was \u201con its way.\u201d<\/p>\n The claim was quickly denied by Herzog, who said the pair had not spoken recently and that no decision about a pardon had been made.<\/p>\n Herzog\u2019s office said at the time that he spoke several weeks earlier with \u201ca representative on behalf of President Trump, who inquired about the US president\u2019s letter,\u201d referring to a November letter Trump sent to Herzog formally urging him to pardon Netanyahu.<\/p>\n During that conversation, \u201can explanation was provided regarding the stage of the process in which the request currently stands, and that any decision on the matter will be made in accordance with the established procedures,\u201d Herzog\u2019s office added.<\/p>\n Trump has waged a very public campaign on Netanyahu\u2019s behalf, publicly urging Herzog to pardon the prime minister during a speech at the Knesset in October 2025.<\/p>\n Weeks later, Trump sent a letter to Herzog in which he formally made the request, dismissing the legal case against Netanyahu and insisting that pardoning him would unite the country.<\/p>\n \t Herzog then reiterated that he could only consider a pardon if Netanyahu submits a request, leading the premier\u2019s lawyers to do so at the end of November in a filing that notably did not include any admission of guilt.<\/p>\n Speaking a day after receiving the request, Herzog said that he would handle it \u201cin the most proper and precise way. I will consider only the good of the country and Israeli society.\u201d<\/p>\n While Herzog reportedly planned to make a decision on pardoning Netanyahu within weeks, urgency on the matter has appeared to wane.<\/p>\n Given that the trial is still ongoing, some legal experts argue that Herzog does not even have the authority to grant a pardon at this stage.<\/p>\n But the trial against Netanyahu has gone on for nearly six years and is expected to last several more, not including a likely appeal.<\/p>\n
If so, we have a request.\u00a0<\/p>\n Every day during the past two years of war and rising global anti-Zionism and antisemitism, our journalists kept you abreast of the most important developments that merit your attention. Millions of people rely on ToI for fact-based coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.\u00a0<\/p>\n We care about Israel – and we know you do too. So we have an ask for this new year of 2026: express your values by joining The Times of Israel Community, an exclusive group for readers like you who appreciate and financially support our work.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t
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\n\t\tUS President Donald Trump makes an announcement in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC on February 12, 2026. (SAUL LOEB \/ AFP)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/85858585-1-640x400.jpg\")
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\n\t\tPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the Tel Aviv District Court to testify in his criminal trial, January 27, 2025. (Yariv Katz\/POOL)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/F251201CG05-640x400.jpg\")
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\n\t\tActivists protest outside a court hearing in the trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, calling not to grant him a pardon, December 1, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg\/Flash90)<\/p>\n
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