PM Netanyahu says he’s ‘thinking about’ Trump’s pardon request, wants greater military independence from US

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would consider accepting a pardon in his bribery case if President Isaac Herzog were to offer one, after U.S. President Donald Trump asked him to do so in a letter.

Speaking to journalist Erin Molan on her podcast show, Netanyahu addressed a wide range of issues, including Syria, Gaza, and seeking greater independence from U.S. military aid.

The prime minister emphasized he was “grateful” for Trump’s letter to Herzog.

“He tells it like it is. I mean, this trial is so absurd... I spend three days a week in a court talking about why my son Yair, when he was five years old, received a Bugs Bunny doll. That’s a terrible bribe. Or how I received some cigars from a friend. I mean, the whole thing is ridiculous,” Netanyahu said.

The prime minister further argued that the case against him is “falling apart” and that mainstream media had “stopped covering it” because of this.

🇮🇱 PM @netanyahu on the Possibility of a Pardon: Speaking to @Erin_Molan :

“They’re discussing why my son Yair received a ‘Bugs Bunny’ doll at age five — as if that’s a ‘terrible bribe.’ #Netanyahu #Israel #Trump #Politics #MiddleEast #ErinMolan #Justice #WitchHunt… pic.twitter.com/d0TGFVQ8U6

— The Jewish Voice (@TJVNEWS) November 13, 2025

“President Trump basically called it a politicized and unjust witch hunt… but the important thing is, I think it hurts both American and Israeli interests,” said Netanyahu.

“My time has to be free to pursue the things that will determine Israel’s future and the future of peace in the Middle East. So the thing is: it’s absurd, and this absurdity should end. And I appreciate the fact that he said it like it is. As for my answer – yeah, I’ll think about it.”

However, he strongly rejected the idea that he could admit to some of the charges in exchange for a pardon, saying, “Nobody suggests that that’s what I’ll do, and I certainly won’t do that. That’s not going to happen.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu responding in real time to @axios headline “Israel seeks 20 year military Aid deal with US” that dropped as our interview began:

Full conversation on The Erin Molan Show LINKED 👇 pic.twitter.com/skLtfaaAE0

— Erin Molan (@Erin_Molan) November 13, 2025

At the start of the interview, Molan asked Netanyahu about a recently published report by Axios News claiming that Israel is seeking a new 20-year military aid deal with the United States.

“My direction is the exact opposite,” Netanyahu replied, adding the report was “untrue.”

“I want to make our arms industry independent – totally, as independent as possible.”

Asked whether the military aid should be cut completely, Netanyahu said, “I think it’s time to ensure that Israel is independent. Understand that our military aid is a fraction – tiny, tiny, tiny – of what the U.S. spent in Afghanistan or in the Middle East. But I think we have a very strong economy and a very strong arms industry.”

He further noted that 80% of the aid Israel receives is spent in the U.S. and to create jobs there. “Nevertheless, I’d like to see an even more independent Israeli defense industry,” he added.

“And remember: Israel doesn’t ask others to fight for us. Israel is the one American ally in the world that says, ‘We don’t need boots on the ground. We don’t need American servicemen fighting on the ground for Israel or around Israel. We’re fine.’ We fight our own battles.”

“But in doing so, we also serve important American interests – like preventing countries that chant ‘Death to America’ from having nuclear weapons that can reach America, and so on. So my direction is independence. My direction is not greater dependence,” Netanyahu said.

During the interview, the Israeli leader also said Trump was the best thing to happen to Israel “since maybe Cyrus,” while noting he wasn’t “afraid” of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s threats to arrest him if he visited the city.

“It’s good to be a young leader, but it’s not good to be a young, uneducated leader. I think he should brush up on economics, anti-Semitism, and who the bad guys are. Then we might have a conversation,” Netanyahu said.

The prime minister expressed reservations about Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's visit to Washington, stressing that it is important to watch what actions he will take: “Does Syria become a peaceful country? Does he weed out the jihadists in his military?”

Netanyahu also reiterated his criticism of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who visited France this week.

“To embrace him as a prince of peace is the opposite of reality,” Netanyahu charged, stressing that “the force for peace is Israel, not the Palestinian Authority, which funds terrorism. And look at the demonstrations supporting Hamas – do they wave the American flag? No. They burn it. But when you see pro-Israel demonstrations, you see both the Israeli and American flags. That’s the difference. President Macron should be with those who support France.”

Regarding the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu stressed that Israel would “retain control of Gaza’s security. We won’t relinquish our security to anyone else.”

“Hamas has been decimated, but we still have work to do. We’re committed to ensuring Gaza is demilitarized, as part of President Trump’s peace plan. Israel will maintain full security responsibility. We won’t farm it out.”