US President, Donald Trump has repeated a request to Israel’s President, Isaac Herzog, for a pardon for Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on trial in three separate corruption cases.
In a letter released by Herzog’s office today, Wednesday, November 12, 2025, Trump said that he is writing to the President at a “historic time, as we have, together, just secured peace that has been sought for at least 3,000 years.”
“I hereby call on you to fully pardon Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been a formidable and decisive War Time Prime Minister … While I absolutely respect the independence of the Israeli Justice System … I believe that this ’case’ against Bibi … is political, unjustified prosecution.”
Donald Trump
Trump has already suggested a presidential pardon for Netanyahu in a series of social media posts and a speech to the Israeli parliament last month.
Despite the largely ceremonial role of the Israeli presidency, Herzog has the authority to pardon convicted criminals under unusual circumstances.
Netanyahu’s trials, which began in 2020, have not yet concluded, and he has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The Israeli Prime Minister has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in the ongoing court cases. No rulings have been delivered, and his supporters have dismissed the trials as politically motivated.
Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, are accused in one case of accepting more than $260,000 (£198,000) worth of luxury goods such as cigars, jewellery and champagne from billionaires in exchange for political favours. He is also accused of attempting to negotiate more favourable coverage from two Israeli media outlets in two other cases.
On Tuesday, Israel’s strategic affairs Minister, Ron Dermer, who has been a key liaison between Netanyahu and the White House since his appointment in 2022, announced his resignation.
One of the most influential members of the country’s rightwing government, Dermer is a close aide of Benjamin Netanyahu and led months of intense negotiations before the US-led Gaza ceasefire deal that came into effect last month.
Dermer’s departure follows weeks of speculation in Israeli media. Critics accuse the US-born 54-year-old of failing to bring the war in Gaza to an earlier end, with some saying that he helped Netanyahu drag out the conflict to avoid potential imprisonment on corruption charges if ousted from office.
In his resignation letter, Dermer, who was appointed in 2022, said he had promised his family he would not serve for longer than two years, and praised the Israeli Prime Minister’s singular leadership.
“This government will be defined both by the [Hamas] attack on October 7th [2023] and by the prosecution of the two-year … war that followed.
“We rejected moral equivocation and fear to confront our enemies with clarity and courage. Two years later, we have dealt a devastating blow to Iran’s terror axis and are now powerfully positioned to usher in an age of security, prosperity and peace.”
Ron Dermer
Since the ceasefire took effect in Gaza, Hamas has freed all 20 living hostages it was holding and returned the remains of 24 other deceased captives.
Trump Advised To Follow Usual Process For Netanyahu Pardon
Herzog has previously rejected Trump’s requests for a pardon, and today, advised the US President to follow the usual processes.
A statement from Herzog’s office said that he held Trump “in the highest regard” and expressed “his deep appreciations” for the US President’s support for Israel.
“Alongside and not withstanding this … anyone seeking a presidential pardon must submit a formal request in accordance with the established procedures.”
Isaac Herzog ‘s office
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