Trump blasts Israel's president over Netanyahu clemency decision
US president says Israel's Herzog should be 'ashamed' for not granting clemency, as Israeli presidency says request under review.
US President Donald Trump has said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should receive a pardon in his corruption trial, arguing that Israeli President Isaac Herzog should be "ashamed of himself" for not granting one.
Speaking at a White House event on Thursday, Trump said Netanyahu has been a great “wartime prime minister” and that the Israeli public should shame Herzog for not issuing a pardon.
"He's disgraceful for not giving it. He should give it," Trump said.
Netanyahu met Trump in Washington on Wednesday for talks on Iran's nuclear programme and ballistic missiles.
It marked the seventh meeting between the two since Trump took office last year.
Presidency rejects claim
Netanyahu is Israel's first sitting prime minister to be charged with a crime.
Trump has publicly urged Herzog to pardon Netanyahu several times and said in late December that Herzog had told him a pardon was on its way.
Herzog's office disputed that claim at the time.
In response to Trump's latest remarks, the Israeli presidency said the request was under review and would be considered without any influence from external or internal pressures.
Under Israeli law, the president has the authority to pardon convicts.
However, there is no precedent for issuing a pardon while a trial is still underway.
Domestic and International Pursuit
In addition to the domestic legal proceedings he is facing in what is known as the "Milchan case," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is accused of receiving gifts from Israeli-American billionaire and film producer Arnon Milchan, with whom he has a long-standing relationship, as well as from another billionaire, James Packer, during his time in office in exchange for alleged favours.
He is also facing arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against him and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant.
The court said it had found reasonable grounds to believe that both men "bear criminal responsibility for the following crimes as co-perpetrators for committing the acts jointly with others: the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare, and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts," according to the court’s statement.