US President Donald Trump has sent an official letter to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, calling on him to grant a full pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In the letter, which arrived at the President's Residence in Jerusalem on Wednesday morning, Trump wrote that Netanyahu had stood firm for Israel in the face of powerful adversaries and difficult circumstances, and his attention should not be needlessly diverted. Herzog's office is now considering how to respond, while Netanyahu's office denied any involvement in or prior knowledge of the letter.
"It is my honor to write to you at this historic time, as we have, together, just secured peace that has been sought for at least 3,000 years," Trump wrote. "As the great State of Israel and the amazing Jewish people move past the terribly difficult times of the last three years, I hearby call on you to fully pardon Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been a formidable and decisive war time prime minister, and is now leading Israel into a time of peace, which includes my continued work with key Middle East leaders to add many additional countries to the world changing Abraham Accords."
Herzog's office confirmed receipt of the letter and said that the president "has great respect for President Trump, continues to express appreciation for his unwavering support of Israel, and recognizes his immense contribution to bringing home the hostages, reshaping the Middle East and Gaza, and safeguarding Israel's security. Without detracting from this appreciation, as the president has made clear many times, anyone seeking a pardon must submit a request in accordance with the established rules."
Under Israeli law, a pardon request must be submitted by the individual concerned or an immediate family member, and can only be considered after all legal proceedings have concluded. The sole exception was in the 1984 "Bus 300 affair," when a pardon was granted before the end of legal proceedings.
Officials in Herzog's office are weighing whether to reply formally to Trump's letter, clarifying the legal procedure for pardon requests, or to forgo a response, viewing the letter as a declarative and symbolic gesture.
