JNS
The Israeli president said that he respects U.S. President Trump “tremendously,” but that his decisions will not bypass Israel’s legal system.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Thursday that he will make decisions regarding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial “independently, according to the rules, the law, and my conscious.”
He spoke during a talk at the World Economic Forum held in Davos, in response to a question about U.S. President Donald Trump’s request to pardon the Israeli premier delivered to Herzog in November.
“Under our laws and guidelines, any such request has to go through a certain procedure,” Herzog reiterated.
“And 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,” he continued.
The Israeli president said that while he respects Trump “tremendously,” the Jewish state has its own legal system through which he must operate.
He also said that he has called “time and again” over the last few years to resolve the court case “amicably, because it has a very negative impact on our system. And I think that solutions should be found. The rest I will leave to the procedure.”
In the letter that Trump sent to Herzog on Nov. 12, the American leader wrote that while he respects the independence and requirements of the Israeli judicial system, he believes the case against Netanyahu is a “political, unjustified prosecution.” He added that “it is time to let Bibi unite Israel by pardoning him and ending lawfare once and for all.”
Israel’s longest-serving prime minister submitted a request for a pardon to Herzog in late November.
“The Office of the President is aware that this is an extraordinary request which carries with it significant implications,” Herzog’s office stated at the time.
“After receiving all of the relevant opinions, the president will responsibly and sincerely consider the request,” it added.
Netanyahu faces corruption charges in three cases—Cases 1000 and 2000 (the charge is “breach of trust” in both instances), and Case 4000 (bribery, fraud and breach of trust).
