President Trump is intensifying his push for Israeli President Isaac Herzog to grant Benjamin Netanyahu a pardon, this time with a carrot instead of a stick. In a fresh interview, Trump told Herzog that securing Netanyahu's release from his corruption trial would make him a "national hero," a sharp departure from months of personal attacks on the Israeli leader.
The timing of Trump's latest plea is notable. During a Tuesday night call with Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister raised his ongoing trial and noted he would be back in court Wednesday. Trump seized on the disconnect, telling Axios: "In the middle of a war? Give me a break." The logic is familiar: Trump argues that Netanyahu, as a wartime leader, cannot be distracted by legal proceedings.
What's striking is that Trump himself initiated the pardon discussion during the conversation with news outlets, suggesting he remains personally invested in the outcome. After spending months attacking Herzog as "weak and pathetic" and "a disgrace," Trump adjusted his tone considerably. "I like the guy, Herzog," he said. "He will be a national hero if he gives Bibi a pardon. I will very much appreciate it."
Trump has framed Netanyahu's trial as harmful to Israel's image and dismissed the corruption charges as trivial. "Wine and cigars," he called them, referring to allegations that Netanyahu received gifts in exchange for political favors. Netanyahu has denied the charges.
Herzog, however, is pursuing a more cautious path. This week, he invited Netanyahu's legal team, the attorney general, and the state prosecutor to negotiate a possible settlement. The Israeli president signaled he will not make a pardon decision until plea deal talks are fully exhausted. Trump countered that Netanyahu "can't take" a settlement and requires a full pardon.
The legal and political obstacles are substantial. Under Israeli law, a pardon typically requires the recipient to acknowledge wrongdoing and express remorse. Netanyahu has refused both. Any settlement would likely require him to plead guilty to charges that could result in a ban from holding office, something Netanyahu is extremely unlikely to accept.
A plea deal appears equally unlikely from the prosecution's perspective. With Netanyahu refusing to budge on guilt or remorse, prosecutors are unwilling to settle for lesser charges.
The stakes for Herzog are real. Granting a pardon would win him favor from Trump and Netanyahu's supporters but would enrage many Israelis. A new election is scheduled for October, and if Netanyahu loses power, his legal jeopardy increases significantly.
Trump has championed Netanyahu's cause since at least June of last year, calling the trial a "witch hunt" comparable to his own legal troubles. His shift from harsh criticism to flattery of Herzog suggests either that his attacks weren't working or that Netanyahu himself recommended a softer approach. Either way, Trump's message is clear: a pardon would be a gift he personally appreciates and rewards.
Author James Rodriguez: "Trump's pivot to flattery over insults is classic dealmaker theater, but Herzog isn't buying what Trump's selling if it means torpedoing Israeli justice."
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