US President Donald Trump, during his Monday address to the Knesset in Jerusalem, called on President Isaac Herzog to issue Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a pardon, resulting in widespread applause and chants of “Bibi” throughout the Knesset plenum.
“That was not in the speech, as you probably know,” said Trump.
A presidential pardon has particular conditions; however, one of which is a verdict. At present, the trial is set to need at least another year to even begin to get to that point, as it is still in the cross-examination section. Additionally, a request for pardon would have to come from the prime minister himself.
Herzog, in comments made back in May, called on all sides to come to the table and consider a plea deal, given that Netanyahu’s trial has ballooned out of the realm of justice and now affects too many aspects of Israeli society to ignore.
Netanyahu was indicted in 2019 on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, all of which the prime minister denies. The trial began in 2020 and involves three criminal cases. He has pleaded not guilty.
This is not the first time Trump publicly called for Herzog to pardon the prime minister. He made similar comments in a social media post in June, setting off a public storm, wherein most of the Likud echoed the call, while other public figures maintained a stance of sovereign immunity, saying that the US has no business interfering in Israel’s internal affairs and that the legal process must be completed.
Many have claimed that with such an intense war and existential threats against the Jewish state, it is inappropriate to keep the hearings going.
Trump: 'Cigars and champagne, who the hell cares?'
“Cigars and champagne, who the hell cares about that?” the US leader added. “Alright, enough controversy for the day, I don't think it's that controversial.”
In Case 1000, he is on trial for a conflict of interest relating to billionaire Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan, who was his close friend and confidant, while Netanyahu served as communications minister from 2013 to 2015.
Allegedly, the prime minister received thousands of dollars worth of champagne and cigars from Milchan and from Australian billionaire James Packer, who was a friend to both.
Per the indictment, he encouraged legislative and regulatory changes that would have been beneficial to Milchan during that time. In this case, he was charged with fraud and breach-of-trust.