Israel: Herzog responds to Trump over Netanyahu pardon: ‘Independence is not for sale’

Turin, 13 March (LaPresse) – Israeli President Isaac Herzog has stated that his country’s ‘dignity, independence and sovereignty’ are not for sale. These remarks came after US President Donald Trump described him as ‘weak and pathetic’ for his handling of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request for a pardon. This was reported by the Times of Israel. Herzog suggested that Trump’s repeated insults regarding the pardon request constitute ‘a blatant attack on the symbols of the government and the sovereignty of the State of Israel’. “I am not seeking my personal honour, but the honour of the State,” he stated. “There is a difference between the political and legal disagreements that have persisted for decades on various issues, even with our allies, and a blatant attack on the symbols of the government and sovereignty of the State of Israel. On this issue, it is necessary to take a stand. Our dignity, independence and sovereignty are not for sale to anyone,” he continued. “Naturally, I will respond to the request for a pardon when it arrives, as independently and freely as possible, without pressure and without interference from any quarter, with a clear mind and clean hands,” Herzog added.