Trump asks Israeli president to pardon Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has been facing corruption charges for years and US President Trump has once again weighed in on the debate, saying he believes the charges are unjustified.
Tel Aviv (dpa) - US President Donald Trump has once again called on Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been charged with corruption.
He respects the independence of the Israeli judiciary, but believes that the charges against Netanyahu are politically motivated and unjustified, according to a letter signed by Trump and published by Herzog's office.
Trump: Netanyahu must not be unnecessarily distracted
Trump went on to write that Netanyahu had been an "impressive and determined war prime minister" and was now leading Israel into a period of peace. "His attention must not be unnecessarily distracted," argued the US president.
Israel's opposition leader Yair Lapid wrote on Platform X: "Under Israeli law, the first prerequisite for receiving a pardon is an admission of guilt and an expression of remorse for the acts committed."
Israel's far-right police minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, on the other hand, spoke of "fabricated and shameful charges." A pardon was the right thing to do in this case, he said. "President Herzog, listen to President Trump."
Debate over pardon not new
Back in October, the US president called for Netanyahu to be pardoned during a speech to the Israeli parliament. The head of government has been facing corruption charges for years. Among other things, he is accused of accepting luxury gifts worth the equivalent of around €174,000 from billionaire friends – jewellery, cigars and pink champagne. Netanyahu has consistently rejected all allegations in the past and spoken of a "witch hunt’"