Following his meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago on Monday, President Trump boldly defended the Israeli Prime Minister.

He called Netanyahu a “wartime prime minister who’s a hero” and addressed a possible pardon.

According to President Trump, the President of Israel has told him that a pardon for Netanyahu is “on its way.”

Watch what he had to say for yourself:

Backup here, if needed:

TRUMP ON NETANYAHU’S PARDON: “NETANYAHU IS A HERO – HOW DO YOU NOT GIVE A PARDON?”

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“He’s a wartime prime minister who’s a hero.

How do you not give a pardon? You know, I think it’s a very hard thing not to do it.

I spoke to the president and It’s on.

I mean, he tells me it’s on it’s way.”

Benjamin Netanyahu is facing several criminal charges in Israel.

Last month, President Trump sent a letter urging Israeli President Isaac Herzog to issue a pardon.

Newsweek provided more background:

Trump’s public advocacy for Netanyahu’s pardon, including a formal letter sent in early November calling the case “political, unjustified prosecution” and a speech to Israel’s parliament urging clemency, has raised questions about undue pressure on Israel’s legal system. Any pardon would set a historic precedent, as no sitting prime minister has previously been charged with crimes or pardoned mid-trial.

The controversy comes during a critical period for Middle East diplomacy, with senior American officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, making high-profile visits that Israeli media dubbed “Bibi-sitting” to ensure Israel maintains the fragile Gaza ceasefire.

Netanyahu submitted his pardon request on November 30, becoming Israel’s first sitting prime minister to face criminal charges. He is charged with fraud, breach of trust, and accepting bribes in three separate cases, accusing him of exchanging favors with wealthy supporters, including a telecom company, a Hollywood producer, and a newspaper publisher. The Justice Ministry announced the indictments in 2019, and the trial began in May 2020.

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According to Israeli law, the president holds the authority to pardon convicts, but pardons typically occur only after all legal proceedings have concluded. The president’s office called Netanyahu’s request “extraordinary,” with “significant implications” for Israel’s justice system and the prime minister’s hold on power. Legal experts note that pardons usually require an admission of guilt and expression of remorse, making a pre-conviction pardon highly unusual and potentially illegal.

Despite President Trump all but confirming that Netanyahu will be pardoned, the office of Israel’s President Isaac Herzog released a statement that no decision has been made yet.

The pardon process still has to go through all formal legal proceedings.

USA Today has more:

The Israeli president’s office, however, denied that any decisions have been made and claimed Herzog and Trump have not spoken to each other in the weeks since Netanyahu on Nov. 30 formally requested a pardon for his bribery, fraud and breach of trust charges.

“There has not been a conversation between President Herzog and President Trump since the pardon request was submitted,” Herzog’s office said in a statement.

“Several weeks ago, a conversation took place between President Herzog and a representative on behalf of President Trump, who inquired about the U.S. President’s letter,” the statement continued, referring to a Nov. 12 letter from Trump to Herzog urging him to consider a pardon for Netanyahu.

“During that conversation, an explanation was provided regarding the stage of the process in which the request currently stands, and that any decision on the matter will be made in accordance with the established procedures. This was conveyed to President Trump’s representative, exactly as President Herzog stated publicly in Israel,” the statement said.

What’s your conclusion?

This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport. View the original article here.
 

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