Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed the controversy surrounding comments by President Donald Trump regarding a possible pardon for former Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, speaking Friday at the site of a strike in the town of Zarzir. Herzog said that while political and legal disagreements can continue for years, statements that he described as attacks on Israel’s governing institutions require a clear response.

During his remarks at the location of the strike, Herzog drew a distinction between routine disputes within the political system and criticism that targets the state’s official symbols and authority. “Political matters may be debated for years, but attacks on the symbols of government demand a response,” he said.

Herzog went on to explain that his concern was not about personal respect but about the dignity of the country itself. “I do not seek my own honor, but the honor of the state. There is a saying in our sources: ‘A king whose honor is forgiven, his honor is not forgiven.’ I am not a king; I am the president of Israel, a sovereign and independent state. Under these circumstances, there is a difference between political and legal debates-even with our allies-and blatant attacks on the symbols of Israel’s government and sovereignty, therefore a statement must be made on this matter.”

He also made clear that any decision regarding a potential pardon for Netanyahu would be made independently and without outside pressure. Herzog emphasized that the process would follow legal and constitutional procedures, regardless of international commentary.

“Ultimately, our honor, independence, and sovereignty are not for sale to anyone. I will handle the pardon request, when it arrives, in the most independent and impartial way, without pressure or interference, with a clear conscience and clean hands.”