Trump says Netanyahu should be pardoned for corruption

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be pardoned for corruption charges. He criticized Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog, saying that he should be "ashamed" if he does not grant the pardon.

Trump called Netanyahu a "great war prime minister" and said he deserves support. He made the comments during an event at the White House the day after their meeting in Washington, where they discussed Iran's nuclear program and ballistic missiles. It was the seventh meeting between the two leaders since Trump returned to office.

Netanyahu is the first sitting prime minister of Israel to be charged with a criminal offense. Since 2019, he has faced charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, which he denies.

Under Israeli law, the president has the power to grant pardons, but there is no precedent for granting them during an ongoing trial. Herzog's office said the request is under legal review by the Justice Ministry and the president has not yet made a decision. He also emphasized that Israel is a sovereign state governed by the rule of law.

(reuters, est)