The President of Israel personally thanked Mikheil Saakashvili for pardoning Israeli citizens. The phone conversation between the two leaders was initiated by Shimon Peres. During the phone conversation, the Presidents of Georgia and Israel drew attention to the multi-century friendship and warm relations which exist between the Georgian and Jewish people.

The two citizens of Israel, Roni Fuchs and Ze’ev Frankel were arrested by Georgian law enforcement officials on October 14, 2010 in Batumi and charged with bribery. On December 2, 2011 the President of Georgia made a decision to pardon Roni Fuchs and Ze’ev Frankel while considering the personal request of Shimon Peres as well as the age and health conditions of the persons arrested.