JERUSALEM, March 5 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday called again on Israel’s president to grant Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a pardon for corruption charges, saying the premier should have nothing on his mind but the war with Iran.
* Trump, referring to Netanyahu by his nickname, said in aninterview with Israel’s N12 television news: “President Herzogmust give Bibi a pardon today. I don’t want there to be anythingtroubling Bibi other than the war with Iran … Herzog is adisgrace … he promised me five times to give Bibi a pardon.” * President Isaac Herzog’s office said in response thatwhile Israel is at war, he is not dealing with the matter ofNetanyahu’s pardon request. * Herzog added that he deeply respects Trump’s contributionto Israel’s security and his position on Iran but that Israel isa sovereign state that abides by the rule of law. * “The president will examine the request according to thelaw, the good of the state, his conscience and free of anyinternal or external pressure,” the statement from Herzog’soffice said.
KEY CONTEXT
* Netanyahu is Israel’s first sitting prime minister to becharged with a crime and denies bribery, fraud and breach oftrust charges dating back to his 2019 indictment. * Trump has called on Israeli President Isaac Herzog togrant Netanyahu a pardon several times before. * Netanyahu submitted his pardon request in November. * Herzog has in the past disputed Trump’s claim that he hadpromised to grant Netanyahu a pardon. * The United States and Israel on Saturday launched a jointbombing campaign against Iran.
WHAT’S NEXT
* Under Israeli law, the president has the authority topardon convicts. But there is no precedent for issuing a pardonmid-trial. The legal process of a pardon can be slow.
(Reporting by Maayan Lubell; Editing by Aidan Lewis)
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