Israeli President Herzog Upholds Judicial Standards Despite Trump’s Netanyahu Pardon Criticism

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has upheld judicial standards and constitutional processes in reviewing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pardon request, issuing a statement Thursday that directly addressed Donald Trump’s criticism characterizing his approach as disgraceful.
Herzog’s office outlined the proper legal procedures governing the pardon review, explaining that the Ministry of Justice is currently conducting a detailed legal analysis of the application following all established governmental protocols and constitutional requirements. The statement emphasized that Herzog has not made any determination and will only do so after the legal review is complete, basing his decision strictly on legal merits and Israeli law without yielding to external political pressure.
The controversy escalated when Trump, during a White House press conference held while Netanyahu was visiting Washington for bilateral talks, publicly attacked Herzog’s handling of the matter. The former American president declared that Herzog “should be ashamed of himself” for not immediately approving the pardon and encouraged Israeli citizens to condemn their president. The comments represented an extraordinary intervention in another sovereign nation’s internal legal processes.
Netanyahu faces serious corruption allegations across three active criminal cases. Two prosecutions involve accusations that he orchestrated arrangements with Israeli media companies, allegedly leveraging governmental authority to secure favorable news coverage in exchange for regulatory benefits. The third case involves claims that Netanyahu accepted luxury items worth over $260,000 from billionaire associates, including expensive cigars, champagne, and jewelry, allegedly in return for political favors.
As Israel’s first incumbent prime minister to stand trial on corruption charges, Netanyahu has created a historic political crisis that has divided the nation since 2019. Throughout all proceedings, Netanyahu has consistently maintained his innocence, characterizing the prosecutions as a politically motivated “political trial” orchestrated by opponents. While one of four original charges was dismissed, three substantial cases continue through the courts. The pardon controversy emerged when Trump addressed the Israeli Knesset in October and publicly urged Herzog to grant clemency, leading Netanyahu’s legal team to submit a formal pardon petition.