He Israeli President Isaac Herzogmade public on Wednesday a carta of the president of United States, Donald Trumpin which he makes a official request so that started it to the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, tried for corruption.” I hereby ask you to fully forgive Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been a formidable prime minister y decisive during the war, and who is now guiding Israel towards an era of peace,” reads the US president’s letter released by Herzog’s cabinet.
“President Herzog holds President Trump in the highest esteem and reiterates his deep gratitude for his steadfast support for Israel,” the Israeli president’s cabinet said in a statement published on its official channels. “However, and without prejudice to the foregoing,” he continued, “as the presidency has made clear at all times, anyone wishing to obtain a presidential pardon must present a formal request in accordance with established procedures.”
Netanyahuwhich has not yet been sentencedhas three open court cases: cases 1,000 and 2,000, for fraud y abuse of confidenceand 4,000, considered the most serious and which revolves around an alleged bribery agreement between Netanyahu and businessman Shaul Elovich, who controlled the Bezeq telecommunications company and the Walla News website and who benefited financially in exchange for a favorable coverage.
“Unjustified political persecution”
“While I absolutely respect the independence of the Israeli judicial system and its requirements, I believe that this case against ‘Bibi’ is a “unjustified political persecution”the US president stated in his letter to Herzog.
Trump had already asked Herzog for Netanyahu’s pardon during his speech at the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) on October 13, within the framework of the visit he made to Israel after the Israeli Government and the Islamist group Hamas accepted his peace plan. “Why don’t you grant a pardon to Netanyahu?” Trump asked Herzog then before parliamentarians.
It is planned that the Israeli prime minister testifies on Tuesdayas announced by the court investigating the case on its website, according to the weekly trial agenda, which requires the president’s appearance three times a week.
There are many times that the president has requested the postponement of the process since its beginning in 2024. In most cases, has been supported in the war offensive of his troops against the Gaza Strip – now under a theoretical ceasefire – to justify his absences.
Netanyahuwhich claims that the trial against him is a “witch hunt” and a “deep state” plot, is the first head of government in Israeli history to be prosecuted while in office.
