Israel News for 11-12-2025

News Update

President Herzog today received a letter from President Trump urging him to pardon Prime minister Netanyahu. While emphasizing that he respects “the independence of the Israeli justice system,” Trump described the criminal proceedings against Netanyahu as “a political, unjustified prosecution,” adding that Netanyahu “has fought alongside me for a long time, including against the very tough adversary of Israel, Iran.” Herzog responded that before considering it, Netanyahu would first have to request a pardon, according to Israeli law.

Here is the letter:

Head of the IDF Central Command, Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, reportedly is demanding expanded legal powers to tackle a growing wave of settler violence, including the authority to impose heavy fines. His request came amid mounting pressure from IDF field commanders urging the reinstatement of administrative detention orders for Jewish extremists, Defense Minister Katz canceled earlier this year. Yesterday, Bluth, leading an IDF exercise, happen to witness around 100 settler youth attacking a Palestinian village in northern Samaria.

Since the start of the year, 400 people have died in car accidents in Israel. 28% of those killed this year were pedestrians, 22% were motorcycle or electric-bike riders, and 21% were drivers or passengers in private vehicles. The last time the figure was this high was in 2005, when 465 people were killed. The Transportation Ministry is preparing a proposal to present to the government for funding a national road safety program.