BEIT ZARZIR, Israel (VINnews) — Isaac Herzog said Friday that Israel’s dignity and sovereignty are “not for sale,” responding to criticism from Donald Trump over the possibility of a pardon for Benjamin Netanyahu.

Speaking at the site of an Iranian missile strike in the Bedouin town of Beit Zarzir, Herzog said the dispute touches on the independence of Israel’s governing institutions.

“I am not seeking personal honor, but the honor of the state,” Herzog said, stressing that Israel’s leadership must make decisions free of outside pressure.

He said any request for a pardon would be reviewed carefully and independently if it is formally submitted, adding that the matter would be handled with a clear mind and without external influence.

Trump criticized Herzog earlier this week in a phone interview, urging him to pardon Netanyahu, who is facing a criminal corruption trial in Israel. The U.S. president argued that the legal proceedings distract the Israeli leader from focusing on the war.

Trump has repeatedly criticized Herzog in recent days over the issue, escalating tensions between the two leaders.