Ammon News - In an interview published Saturday, President Isaac Herzog said that while he respects US President Donald Trump’s opinion that he should pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his corruption case, Israel is a sovereign country and the decision on whether to grant the premier amnesty will be based on “the well-being of the Israeli people.”

“Everybody understands that any pre-emptive pardon has to be considered on the merits,” the president told the Politico news site, vowing to “deal with it with utter seriousness.”

“I respect President Trump’s friendship and his opinion,” he said, referencing Trump’s repeated requests that he pardon Netanyahu.

Netanyahu is charged with one count of bribery and three counts each of fraud and breach of trust, in three separate cases. The charges relate to allegations of improper manipulation of the press and receiving illicit gifts in return for government favors. He denies any wrongdoing and has argued that the charges were fabricated in an attempted political coup by the police and state prosecution.

Times of Israel