Israel’s president denies speaking with Trump about Netanyahu pardon
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US President Donald Trump speaking to the media on Dec 29, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives for talks on Gaza at Mr Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
- Isaac Herzog's office denies Trump's claim they discussed a pardon request for Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces corruption charges.
- Trump asserts Herzog assured him the pardon was "on its way," while Herzog's office clarifies the process and procedures explained.
- Netanyahu, on trial since 2019, dismisses the charges as a "political trial," involving luxury gifts and media favour accusations.
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PALM BEACH, Florida - Israeli President Isaac Herzog denied a claim by Donald Trump on Dec 29 that the pair had discussed the US president’s request for a pardon on corruption charges for Israel’s premier.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is accused of accepting luxury goods from billionaires in exchange for political favours, and of seeking to negotiate more favourable coverage from Israeli media outlets.
“There has not been a conversation between President Herzog and President Trump since the pardon request was submitted,” Mr Herzog’s office said in a statement.
Mr Trump said Dec 29, during a joint press conference with Mr Netanyahu, that he was confident Mr Herzog would grant the Israeli premier a pardon.
“I spoke to the president (Mr Herzog) and he tells me (the pardon) is on its way,” Mr Trump said.
In November, Mr Trump sent a letter to Mr Herzog with the request, which was followed by an official request made by Mr Netanyahu’s lawyers.
“He’s a wartime prime minister who is a hero. How do you not give a pardon?” Mr Trump said, standing next to a smiling Mr Netanyahu outside his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, before a meeting between the two.
Mr Herzog’s office said shortly after that “several weeks ago, a conversation took place between President Herzog and a representative on behalf of President Trump, who enquired about the US President’s letter”.
“During that conversation, an explanation was provided regarding the stage of the process in which the request currently stands, and that any decision on the matter will be made in accordance with the established procedures,” Mr Herzog’s office added.
Mr Netanyahu has long argued that the proceedings against him, which began in 2019, are a “political trial”.
The charges include two cases in which Mr Netanyahu allegedly negotiated favourable media coverage from Israeli news outlets, and a third involving accusations that he accepted more than US$260,000 in luxury gifts such as cigars, jewellery and champagne from billionaires in exchange for political favours.
A fourth corruption charge was previously dismissed.
Mr Netanyahu, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in the three court cases, is the first sitting Israeli prime minister to stand trial for corruption.
Mr Trump himself has long accused his political opponents of using the Justice Department to target him during his time out of office. REUTERS
