Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman has circulated a letter calling on President Isaac Herzog to intervene and halt Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial, in a move inspired by U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks in the Knesset this week.
The draft letter, now being passed among Likud ministers for signatures, urges Herzog to “exercise his authority” to stop the trial. While the word “pardon” does not appear in the document, the language echoes themes of national healing, portraying the case as a political attack on “an entire camp.” Legally, a pardon request must come directly from Netanyahu himself.
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President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump
(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Silman’s appeal follows a widely publicized remark by Trump during his Knesset address, in which he joked to Herzog: “I have an idea, why don’t you give Netanyahu a pardon... Who cares about cigars and champagne?” Some Likud ministers have already signed the evolving letter, and party sources expect full Cabinet support.
The initiative appears to be part of a broader, coordinated campaign within Likud to shift the national agenda away from post-war criticism and toward terminating the legal proceedings against Netanyahu. Senior Likud officials confirmed that the effort is gaining momentum now that the Gaza war has ended without a clear victory, and public scrutiny of the government’s performance has intensified.
On Tuesday, a highly choreographed show of political support unfolded outside the Tel Aviv courthouse as Netanyahu resumed testifying in his corruption trial after nearly a month-long break. Likud heavyweights — including Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar and Silman — joined Knesset members such as Nissim Vaturi and Osher Shekalim in a public display of solidarity.
Netanyahu appears in court flanked by Likud allies, Wednesday
(Video: Moti Kimchi, Netael Bandel )
In a series of near-simultaneous statements, these officials called for an immediate end to the trial, arguing that Netanyahu is leading the country through “historic times.” Justice Minister Yariv Levin also released a dramatic announcement outlining draft legislation that would empower him and Defense Minister Israel Katz to limit court proceedings during states of emergency.
Sources in the party said the campaign stems from dual objectives: formally ending the trial and diverting public attention from the government’s military shortcomings. Critics within Likud say the effort is also driven by internal competition ahead of future primaries, with senior figures vying to prove their loyalty to Netanyahu and the party base.
“This campaign to cancel the trial is about the day after,” a senior Likud official said. “The ministers are competing to outdo each other in demonstrating loyalty — either to the Likud voters or to Netanyahu himself.”