Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s office swiftly denied claims by US President Donald Trump that a pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “on its way.”
Trump made the assertion during a meeting with Netanyahu in Florida, saying Herzog had told him a pardon was imminent. Herzog’s office responded within minutes, stating there had been no direct conversation between the two leaders on the matter.
According to Herzog’s office, the Israeli president previously spoke only with a representative of Trump, who was briefed on the status of the pardon request submitted by Netanyahu’s attorneys last month. The office emphasized that any decision would follow established legal procedures.
Netanyahu is currently on trial in multiple corruption cases, including charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Trump has repeatedly called the prosecution political and has publicly urged Herzog to grant a full pardon, including in a speech to the Knesset and a formal letter last month.
Herzog has said he will consider the request carefully and act solely in the best interest of Israeli society. Opposition figures have strongly criticized the pardon request, especially because it does not include any admission of guilt.
