Trump says Israeli president "should be ashamed" for not pardoning Netanyahu
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Trump speaks with Israeli PM Netanyahu (R) as President Herzog looks on during a trip to Tel Aviv last October. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty
President Trump harshly attacked Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Thursday for not giving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a pardon.
Why it matters: Trump's criticism of Herzog — the latest in a string of interventions in Israeli domestic affairs over Netanyahu's corruption trial — came a day after he met Netanyahu for three hours in the White House.
- It is not clear whether Netanyahu and Trump discussed the pardon issue during their meeting on Wednesday, but Netanyahu had asked Trump to press Herzog on the matter in a previous meeting.
What they're saying: "You have a president who refuses to give him a pardon. He should be ashamed of himself. The president's got the power to give pardons. He doesn't want to do it, because I guess he loses his power. I think the people of Israel should really shame him. He is disgraceful for not giving it," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
- Trump's comments came in response to a question about Netanyahu's responsibility for the failures that led to the Hamas Oct. 7 attack.
- Trump said "everybody is responsible" and stressed that no prime minister would have seen it coming.
The other side: Herzog and his team were making their way back to Israel from Australia when Trump spoke. They were surprised by his comments, according to a source familiar.
- In a statement, Herzog's office said Netanyahu's pardon request was being reviewed by the Justice Ministry according to proper procedure.
- "Only after the process is completed will the President examine the request in accordance with the law, the interest of the country, and his conscience — and without any influence from external or internal pressures of any kind."
- "President Herzog 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. Contrary to the impression created by President Trump's remarks, President Herzog has not yet made any decision on the matter," the statement said.
Catch up quick: Trump has intervened repeatedly in Israel's politics and judicial system by pressuring Herzog to pardon Netanyahu, who stands trial on multiple corruption charges.
- During his meeting with Netanyahu in Mar-a-Lago in December, Trump claimed Herzog told him he would pardon Netanyahu. The Israeli president quickly denied it.
State of play: The legal process of reviewing Netanyahu's pardon is still ongoing and Herzog hasn't received final legal opinions from all the relevant government lawyers.
- At the moment, Netanyahu refuses to admit any wrongdoing or express regret — two key conditions for getting a pardon.
- Netanyahu's testimony in court is still ongoing, with the prime minister and his lawyers using numerous delay tactics to cancel hearings or cut them short. The prime minister has contradicted himself at times in his testimony.
- Netanyahu maintains his innocence and has described the trial as a witch hunt.
