Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requests a presidential pardon amid corruption trial
Netanyahu neither apologizes nor admits guilt, but President Herzog assures that he will seriously consider the request.
BarcelonaIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested a pardon from the country's president as part of his ongoing corruption trial, which has dragged on for several years. According to Netanyahu, the legal proceedings are hindering his ability to govern, and a pardon would be beneficial for Israel. "My lawyers sent a pardon request to the president today. I hope that all those who wish the best for the country will support this step," Netanyahu said in a video released by his Likud party. "I am required to testify three times a week… This is an impossible demand that is not placed on any other citizen." The request comes two weeks after President Trump sent a letter to Justice Herzog asking him to pardon Netanyahu.
President Isaac Herzog's office has confirmed receipt of the request, which it described as "extraordinary," and has released the lawyers' letter. The request was submitted to the Presidential Legal Department by Netanyahu's lawyer, Amit Hadad. According to standard practice, the request will be sent to the Pardons Department of the Justice Ministry for review, and these opinions will then be forwarded to the Presidential Legal Counsel, who will issue the final recommendation.
Traditionally, a pardon in Israel is only granted once legal proceedings have concluded and the defendant has been convicted. However, Netanyahu's lawyers argue that the president can intervene when the public interest justifies it. They contend that in such a case, a pardon would help reduce social divisions and bring the trial to a close, contributing to national reconciliation. Netanyahu, the longest-serving prime minister in the country's history, was indicted in 2019 on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in connection with three separate but interrelated cases, and has been on trial for five years. He has denied any wrongdoing and the accusations that he granted favors to tycoons in exchange for gifts and favorable media coverage for himself and his family. We are working to expand the information.