U.S. President Donald Trump said Israeli President Isaac Herzog is “disgraceful” for not granting a pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, adding that he “should be ashamed of himself”.
Speaking in the Oval Office a day after meeting Netanyahu at the White House, Trump criticised Herzog for not exercising his clemency powers.
“You have a president who refuses to give him a pardon. He should be ashamed of himself,” Trump told reporters. “He is disgraceful for not giving it. He should give it.”
Trump described Netanyahu as an “extraordinary” wartime leader and said Israelis should pressure Herzog to issue a pardon. He has previously urged clemency publicly and sent a letter to Herzog in November 2025 encouraging him to grant it.
Herzog’s office said no decision has been made.
“Israel is a sovereign state governed by the rule of law,” the president’s office said in a statement.
“For the sake of clarity, as has been explained repeatedly, the Prime Minister’s request is, according to the procedures, under review at the Ministry of Justice for a legal opinion.”
The statement added that only after that process is completed will Herzog consider the request in accordance with the law and “without any influence from external or internal pressures of any kind”.
Herzog’s office also stated that the president “deeply appreciates President Trump for his significant contribution to the State of Israel and its security” but stressed that the legal process must run its course.
Trump has publicly urged the Israeli president to pardon Netanyahu several times, and said in late December that Herzog had told him the pardon was on its way. Herzog's office was quick to dispute it.
Netanyahu formally submitted a pardon request on 30 November last year, seeking relief from corruption charges without admitting wrongdoing or stepping down from public life. Despite previously saying he would not seek clemency, he later filed the request.
He has been on trial since 2020 in three cases, known as Case 1000, Case 2000 and Case 4000, involving allegations of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. He denies all charges.
Under Israeli law, a presidential pardon can generally only be granted following an admission of guilt, and there is no precedent for issuing one while a trial is ongoing.
Beyond the domestic proceedings, Netanyahu is also facing international legal scrutiny. In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against him over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
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The Turkish Vice President’s visit to Yerevan this week marked a “turning point” in bilateral ties, Türkiye’s special envoy for normalisation with Armenia has said.
The Australian government will spend billions to boost national fuel stockpiles and create a permanent, state-owned strategic reserve, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced.
Ukraine has accused Russia of violating a ceasefire proposed by Kyiv that came into effect at midnight on 6 May, reporting continued strikes that left at least one person dead and several others injured across frontline regions.
A 77-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman were killed on Monday (4 May), after a man drove a car into a crowd on a pedestrianised street in the the eastern German city of Leipzig, authorities said.
Iran warned Armerican forces on Monday (4 May) not to enter the Strait of Hormuz, after the U.S. said it had launched a mission to try and reopen the sea passage. Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister said there was no military solution to the Middle East conflict.
The United Arab Emirate said it was dealing with missile and drone attacks from Iran for the second day in a row on Tuesday (5 May), despite denials from authorities in Tehran who threatened a "crushing response" if the UAE retaliated.
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All remaining passengers aboard a luxury cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak are asymptomatic, Spain’s Health Minister Mónica García said on Wednesday.
The Australian government will spend billions to boost national fuel stockpiles and create a permanent, state-owned strategic reserve, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced.
ITA Airways is preparing to raise ticket prices by between 5% and 10% this year as soaring fuel costs linked to the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the U.S. continue to pressure airlines worldwide.
Ukraine has accused Russia of violating a ceasefire proposed by Kyiv that came into effect at midnight on 6 May, reporting continued strikes that left at least one person dead and several others injured across frontline regions.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to discuss Cuba and global religious freedom with Pope Leo during a visit to the Vatican on Thursday (7 May), following recent criticism from President Donald Trump over the pope’s comments on the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.
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