Courtesy of JNS. Photo credit: Daniel Torok/White House
U.S. President Donald Trump is greeted by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog after disembarking Air Force One at Ben-Gurion International Airport, Oct. 13, 2025
(JNS) — The Office of President Isaac Herzog said on Feb. 12 night that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request for a presidential pardon remains under legal review, following public remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump again urging clemency.
Trump, speaking at a White House event on Feb. 12, repeated an appeal he made in writing last November following a trip to Israel that Herzog pardon Netanyahu, suggesting that Israelis should be “ashamed” if he does not do so.
“I think the people of Israel should really shame him. He’s disgraceful for not giving it. He should give it,” Trump said.
Herzog was en route back to Israel from a four-day visit to Australia when the comments were made, traveling aboard a commercial flight with his delegation.
In a statement issued by the President’s Office in response to media inquiries, Herzog clarified that the prime minister’s request is being reviewed by the Ministry of Justice, in accordance with established procedures.
“Only upon completion of that process will President Herzog consider the request in accordance with the law, the best interests of the State of Israel, guided by his conscience, and without any influence from external or internal pressures of any kind,” the statement said.
The President’s Office added that Herzog “deeply appreciates President Trump for his significant contribution to the State of Israel and its security,” but emphasized that “Israel is a sovereign state governed by the rule of law.”
The statement concluded, “Contrary to the impression created by President Trump’s remarks, President Herzog has not yet made any decision on this matter.”
Herzog addressed the issue publicly last month at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, saying he would make any decision regarding Netanyahu’s corruption trial “independently, according to the rules, the law, and my conscience.
“Under our laws and guidelines, any such request has to go through a certain procedure,” Herzog said at the time. “Right now the request has to go through the procedure of collecting various opinions by the relevant agencies in the Ministry of Justice. I cannot violate that because, of course, I have to operate according to the rules.”
Trump sent a letter to Herzog on Nov. 12, 2025, urging him to pardon Netanyahu, describing the case against the prime minister as a “political, unjustified prosecution” and saying it was “time to let Bibi unite Israel by pardoning him and ending lawfare once and for all.”
Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, formally submitted his pardon request on Nov. 30.
