• Trump sent a letter to Israeli President Herzog requesting a pardon for Prime Minister Netanyahu.
• The U.S. president called Netanyahu's corruption charges a "political, unjustified prosecution."
• Netanyahu's ongoing trial has raised questions about U.S. influence on Israeli politics.
• Netanyahu has been charged in three separate corruption cases and has denied all allegations.
• The Israeli president's office emphasized the need for a formal pardon request from Netanyahu.

U.S. President Donald Trump wrote to Israeli President Isaac Herzog on November 12, urging him to grant a pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption. In his letter, Trump referred to Netanyahu as “a formidable and decisive War Time Prime Minister” and characterized the ongoing trial as a “political, unjustified prosecution,” raising concerns about the influence of American politics on Israeli judiciary matters, according to SCMP and Reuters.

In September, Trump had urged Herzog during a speech at the Knesset to consider a pardon for Netanyahu, which he reiterated in his letter. Trump’s appeal comes in the backdrop of Netanyahu’s allegations of accepting bribes and fraud, amidst claims that the charges are part of a broader political witch-hunt, according to India Times and Anadolu Agency.

Herzog's office stated that anyone seeking a presidential pardon must submit a formal request, which Netanyahu has not yet done, complicating the situation further. Analysts have noted that Israeli law requires admissions of guilt for a pardon to be considered, adding to the political complexity surrounding the request and raising questions about the potential ramifications for Israeli governance, according to Middle East Eye and LA Times.

Netanyahu's supporters view the legal proceedings as an attempt to undermine their leader, echoing Trump’s sentiments. The letter's release has activated discussions on the growing American influence on Israeli domestic issues, highlighting a tension within U.S.-Israeli relations, not only over political influence but also over security implications stemming from the ongoing conflict with Hamas, as mentioned in Al Jazeera and Le Monde.