{"id":2520291,"date":"2025-12-11T18:41:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T23:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fetterman-whacks-small-ball-trial-against-netanyahu-in-pardon-appeal\/"},"modified":"2025-12-11T18:41:48","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T23:41:48","slug":"fetterman-whacks-small-ball-trial-against-netanyahu-in-pardon-appeal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fetterman-whacks-small-ball-trial-against-netanyahu-in-pardon-appeal\/","title":{"rendered":"Fetterman whacks \u2018small ball\u2019 trial against Netanyahu in pardon appeal"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffetterman-whacks-small-ball-trial-against-netanyahu-in-pardon-appeal%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2520291&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) has made a rare and unexpected move among Democrats by directly appealing to israeli President Isaac herzog to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Fetterman believes that pardoning netanyahu,who is currently <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/government-opposes-menendezs-push-to-delay-bribery-trial\/\" title=\"Government opposes Menendez&#039;s bid to postpone bribery ...\">facing multiple corruption charges<\/a>,would serve Israel&#8217;s best interests during a critical wartime period. He <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >criticized teh ongoing corruption trial<\/a> as a distraction that could <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/opinion-the-american-media-has-spread-russian-propaganda-more-effectively-than-russia-itself\/\" title=\"OPINION: The American Media Has Spread Russian Propaganda More Effectively Than Russia Itself\">undermine national unity<\/a> and provide ammunition to Netanyahu&#8217;s critics. Fetterman&#8217;s stance is unusual within his party, as many Democrats oppose Netanyahu&#8217;s policies, but he insists his support is based on what he perceives as the right outcome for Israel, rather than political alignment. The senator did not coordinate this appeal with Netanyahu or the White house and has yet to receive a response from President Herzog, who is reportedly considering the pardon carefully.Netanyahu has maintained his innocence since being indicted in 2019 for alleged bribery and fraud.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">John Fetterman whacks &lsquo;small ball&rsquo; trial against Netanyahu in pardon appeal<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2386994\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-fetterman\/\">John Fetterman<\/a> (D-PA) has found himself to be an outlier among his Democratic colleagues once again, this time as part of his direct appeal for Israeli President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3901973\/netanyahu-pardon-request-corruption-trial\/\">Isaac Herzog to pardon<\/a> Prime Minister <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/benjamin-netanyahu\/\">Benjamin Netanyahu<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Fetterman told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> on Thursday that his pardon request, made in a recent letter to Herzog that was first reported by <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/talkingpointsmemo.com\/news\/fetterman-letter-netanyahu-pardon\">Talking Points Memo<\/a><\/em>, for Netanyahu to be cleared of his yearslong public corruption trial would be in the wartime nation&rsquo;s best interest.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3915388\/john-thune-nears-spending-deal-fiscal-hawks-christmas-recess\/\">Thune nears spending deal with fiscal hawks ahead of Christmas recess<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3914823\/dueling-healthcare-bills-rejected-senate-obamacare-subsidies-expire\/\">Dueling healthcare bills rejected by Senate as Obamacare subsidies set to expire<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3914846\/thune-pours-cold-water-trump-plea-scrap-blue-slips\/\">Thune pours cold water on Trump plea to scrap blue slips<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know why you&rsquo;d want to distract the prime minister during this very critical time, and it&rsquo;s really, I think, it&rsquo;s small ball, honestly,&rdquo; Fetterman said of the bribery, fraud, and breach of trust charges facing Netanyahu across three cases.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Why would you bog him down and the nation?&rdquo; he continued. &ldquo;And that also creates an opportunity for the critics here and [Israel] to just point to that.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Herzog&rsquo;s office <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/11\/30\/middleeast\/netanyahu-pardon-israel-president-intl\">said<\/a> in recent weeks that the president was considering a personal pardon appeal from Netanyahu &ldquo;with great care and responsibility.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>But the direct pardon request from a U.S. senator to a foreign nation&rsquo;s leader &mdash; albeit a close ally &mdash; is an unusual one. Fetterman&rsquo;s ardent support for Israel during its yearslong war with Gaza has alienated many of his more liberal colleagues and the Democratic Party&rsquo;s base, a point the centrist senator alluded to in an interview at the U.S. Capitol. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;I guarantee I&rsquo;d be the only Democrat to feel that way,&rdquo; he said of a Netanyahu pardon. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m aware I&rsquo;ve been an outlier on Israel, but I think &mdash; that&rsquo;s what I strongly believe. That&rsquo;s the right outcome.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Fetterman did not consult with Netanyahu or the White House about seeking a pardon and had yet to receive a response from Herzog.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3901973\/netanyahu-pardon-request-corruption-trial\/\">NETANYAHU SUBMITS PARDON REQUEST DURING CORRUPTION TRIAL<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Netanyahu was indicted in 2019, began his trial in 2020, and started testimony last year that has since been repeatedly delayed. He&rsquo;s maintained his innocence against charges in the separate but related cases that he accepted bribes in exchange for actions benefiting wealthy supporters and businessmen.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I think coming from a Democrat that&rsquo;s been very, very unapologetically supportive of Israel, that it&rsquo;s really not politics or my party, it&rsquo;s what&rsquo;s right for Israel,&rdquo; Fetterman said. &ldquo;And I can&rsquo;t imagine what is the upside to carry this [trial] out.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fetterman urges pardon for Netanyahu, calls trial &#8216;small ball<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2520292,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25315026018107.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[7921,6524,68678,68677,4853],"class_list":["post-2520291","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-fetterman","tag-netanyahu","tag-pardon-appeal","tag-small-ball","tag-trial"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25315026018107.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2520291","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2520291"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2520291\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2520295,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2520291\/revisions\/2520295"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2520292"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2520291"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2520291"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2520291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}