Israeli president rejects Trump’s request to pardon Netanyahu for corruption

TEL AVIV: Israeli President Isaac Herzog has formally rejected a request from US President Donald Trump to pardon Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The request, which came in the form of a letter from Trump, asked Herzog to intervene in the ongoing corruption cases against Netanyahu, which have been under investigation for over five years. Trump described the charges as politically motivated and unfair.

In his response, President Herzog said that while he deeply values his friendship with President Trump, Israel’s legal system must remain independent and fully respected. “Israel is a sovereign country, and its legal process must be upheld without external interference,” Herzog said. He added that while the request was extraordinary, his “first, second, and third priority” is the well-being and integrity of the Israeli people.

Netanyahu, who has faced multiple corruption charges, has denied any wrongdoing, describing the legal proceedings as a politically driven attack against him.

NETANYAHU POSTPONES INDIA TRIP OVER SECURITY THREAT

Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu has once again canceled his planned visit to India, citing ongoing security concerns following a bomb blast in New Delhi earlier this week.

According to reports from Israeli media, Netanyahu was scheduled to visit India later this year for high-level talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior officials. However, the recent bombing in India’s capital raised significant safety concerns, leading to the decision to cancel the trip.

This marks the second time in recent months that Netanyahu has called off a visit to India. In September 2025, the Israeli Prime Minister also canceled a one-day visit to India due to similar security issues. Netanyahu’s last official visit to India was in 2018, marking a lengthy gap in bilateral engagements.

The cancellation has raised questions about the ongoing security situation in India, as well as the impact on Israeli-Indian diplomatic relations.