jmdrake
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So was this what the war in Gaza really about? Did Netanyahu have the IDF stand down so he could get "wartime leader" status and angle for a pardon?
(Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump urged Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Monday to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, during an address to the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem.
During a more than one-hour speech, Trump said:
"Hey, I have an idea. Mr. President, why don't you give him a pardon? Cigars and some champagne — who the hell cares?" referring to the fraud, bribery and breach of trust charges, which Netanyahu denies.
President Donald Trump enters the Knesset, with Israel's President Isaac Herzog and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, before he speaks, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Jerusalem. Evan Vucci/Pool via REUTERS© Thomson Reuters
Netanyahu was indicted in 2019 in three cases, one of which includes receiving almost 700,000 shekels ($210,000) in gifts from businessmen, including champagne and cigars.
Israel's President holds a largely ceremonial role but he does have authority to pardon convicted criminal if there are unusual circumstances presented.
However, there has been no ruling in Netanyahu's long-running trial which began in 2020 and has been interrupted frequently during two years of war and Middle East upheaval. He has pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing.
President Donald Trump enters the Knesset with Israel's President Isaac Herzog and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, before he speaks, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Jerusalem. Evan Vucci/Pool via REUTERS© Thomson Reuters
Trump in June called for Netanyahu's trial to be cancelled. Netanyahu has cast his legal ordeal as a left-wing witch-hunt aimed at toppling an elected right-wing leader.
(Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump urged Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Monday to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, during an address to the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem.
During a more than one-hour speech, Trump said:
"Hey, I have an idea. Mr. President, why don't you give him a pardon? Cigars and some champagne — who the hell cares?" referring to the fraud, bribery and breach of trust charges, which Netanyahu denies.
President Donald Trump enters the Knesset, with Israel's President Isaac Herzog and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, before he speaks, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Jerusalem. Evan Vucci/Pool via REUTERS© Thomson Reuters
Netanyahu was indicted in 2019 in three cases, one of which includes receiving almost 700,000 shekels ($210,000) in gifts from businessmen, including champagne and cigars.
Israel's President holds a largely ceremonial role but he does have authority to pardon convicted criminal if there are unusual circumstances presented.
However, there has been no ruling in Netanyahu's long-running trial which began in 2020 and has been interrupted frequently during two years of war and Middle East upheaval. He has pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing.
President Donald Trump enters the Knesset with Israel's President Isaac Herzog and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, before he speaks, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Jerusalem. Evan Vucci/Pool via REUTERS© Thomson Reuters
Trump in June called for Netanyahu's trial to be cancelled. Netanyahu has cast his legal ordeal as a left-wing witch-hunt aimed at toppling an elected right-wing leader.
