Trump intervenes in Netanyahu’s corruption case

According to Reuters, the letter — sent from the White House — referenced Trump’s recent speech to the Knesset during his visit to the occupied territories prior to the ceasefire agreement with Hamas. In the letter, Trump wrote:

“As Israel navigates the very difficult period of the past three years, I ask that you grant Benjamin Netanyahu a full pardon. He has been a strong and decisive leader in wartime and is now guiding Israel toward a new era of peace — one that includes my continued work with key Middle Eastern leaders to expand the historic Abraham Accords.”

The letter comes as Netanyahu’s corruption trial has convened multiple times. His political opponents claim that the Israeli Prime Minister has sought to delay the proceedings — and a possible conviction — by launching wars and creating crises.

In another part of the letter, Trump stated: “While I fully respect the independence of Israel’s judiciary and its responsibilities, I believe this ‘case’ against Bibi — who has long fought alongside me, including against Israel’s fierce enemy Iran — is politically motivated and baseless.”

Trump added: “Now that we have achieved unprecedented successes and brought Hamas under control, it is time to unite Israel by pardoning Bibi and ending this legal battle once and for all.”

The move marks a direct and unprecedented intervention by Israel’s closest ally in its internal judicial affairs.

However, The Times of Israel reported that President Isaac Herzog, in response to Trump’s letter, stated that Benjamin Netanyahu could only be pardoned “within the framework of formal legal procedures and upon an official request for clemency.”

Netanyahu has been on trial since 2020 on three separate charges of bribery and fraud, with no verdict yet issued. He is also under investigation by international judicial bodies for alleged war crimes in Gaza.