Trump formally asks Netanyahu to be pardoned and Herzog replies

US President Donald Trump sent Israeli President Isaac Herzog a letter Wednesday requesting thought be given for pardoning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Trump said, “It is time to let Bibi unite Israel by pardoning him, and ending that law-fare once and for all.”  

The US president continued in the letter, saying, "Now that Hamas has been brought under control and unprecedented achievements have been made, it is time to end this legal battle and give Netanyahu a chance to be pardoned." 

Trump had called on the Israeli president to pardon Netanyahu in his speech to the Knesset last month, on the day the 20 hostages were released alive. 

He told Herzog, who appeared surprised by the direct appeal, "I have an idea, Mr. President. Why don't you pardon him?" 

Herzog responds
In response to Trump's letter, the Israeli president said, "Anyone who wants a pardon must submit a formal request, as is the procedure in Israel."

For his part, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid wrote on the X platform that "Israeli law stipulates that the first condition for granting a pardon is an admission of guilt and an expression of remorse for the actions."

Conversely, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called on President Herzog to pardon Netanyahu, saying in a tweet on the same platform: Reminder: Israeli law stipulates that the first condition for receiving a pardon is an admission of guilt and an expression of remorse for those actions.”