By ABC Middle East correspondent Matthew Doran
US President Donald Trump (L) speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, in Jerusalem on 13 October, 2025. Photo: AFP / Pool
Donald Trump has taken the extraordinary step of writing to Israel's President Isaac Herzog, calling on him to pardon Benjamin Netanyahu of long-standing corruption charges.
In an undated letter released by President Herzog's office, President Trump said he respected Israel's independent judicial system.
But he argued the case against Netanyahu was a "political, unjustified prosecution".
Trump said Netanyahu was a "formidable and decisive War Time Prime Minister, and is now leading Israel into a time of peace" after "terribly difficult times of the last three years".
"Now that we have achieved these unprecedented successes, and are keeping Hamas in check, it is time to let Bibi unite Israel by pardoning him, and ending that lawfare once and for all," Trump wrote.
President Herzog said he holds President Trump in the highest regard.
But in a statement he added that anyone seeking a presidential pardon must "submit a formal request in accordance with the established procedures".
Trump made the suggestion before
It is not the first time Trump has criticised the corruption charges against Netanyahu.
He called upon President Herzog to pardon the Israeli prime minister during a speech to the Knesset last month, saying "who the hell cares" about the allegations Netanyahu accepted gifts including cigars and champagne from wealthy benefactors.
"This man is a good man right here," Trump said referring to Netanyahu while looking towards Herzog.
"Hey, I have an idea, Mr president. Why don't you give him a pardon?"
The US president has also previously called the trial a "witch-hunt" on social media.
"I don't think they treat him very well," Trump told US network CBS last month.
"He's under trial for some things, and I don't think they'd treat him well.
"We'll be involved in that to help him out a little bit, because I think that's very unfair."
Netanyahu was indicted on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in 2019 - all of which he denies.
His trial began in 2020, and since December last year he has been spending a few hours a day, two to three times a week giving evidence in the case.
Letter met with praise and opposition
Netanyahu's political opponents pounced on the letter in a bid to explain Israeli legal processes.
"Reminder, Israeli law stipulates that the first condition for receiving a pardon is an admission of guilt and an expression of remorse for the actions," Opposition Leader Yair Lapis said in a post on social media platform X.
In recent weeks, debate as to whether there could or should be a legislative fix to end the trial has been whipped into a frenzy.
Some of the prime minister's backers have echoed his own sentiments, accusing the "deep state" of being out to get him.
"The fabricated and despicable indictments against Prime Minister Netanyahu have long since become an indictment against the prosecution, whose slander and crimes are exposed in court every day," National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir posted on X.
"A pardon in this case is the right and urgent thing to do.
"President Herzog, listen to President Trump!"
- ABC
