Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked President Isaac Herzog for a pardon on Thursday in his long-running corruption trial, saying criminal proceedings were hampering his ability to govern and that a pardon would be in Israel’s national interest.
Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, has denied charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust and said in a video released by his Likud party that he still expects a full acquittal. “My lawyers sent a request for pardon to the president of the country today. I expect that anyone who wishes for the good of the country support this step,” he said.
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Herzog’s office confirmed it had received the formal request and released the lawyers’ letter. The request will be forwarded to the Justice Ministry to collect opinions, which will then go to the president’s legal adviser to produce a recommendation for Herzog, the office said — a standard part of the process for presidential pardons in Israel.
Netanyahu’s legal team argued in the letter that the criminal proceedings, which have stretched over years, deepened societal divisions and imposed an “impossible” burden on the prime minister as he tries to run the country. “I am required to testify three times a week … That is an impossible demand that is not made of any other citizen,” Netanyahu said in his video statement.
The lawyers stopped short of an admission of guilt, saying Netanyahu still believes the legal process would result in acquittal. Historically, Israeli pardons have been granted only after legal proceedings have concluded and a conviction has been entered, making this request an unusual and politically charged move.
The prime minister faces three separate cases: one alleges he and his wife, Sara Netanyahu, accepted more than $260,000 in luxury goods such as cigars, jewellery and champagne from wealthy benefactors in exchange for favours; the other two concern alleged attempts to secure more favourable coverage from Israeli media outlets.
Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a fellow Likud member and close ally, heads the ministry that will solicit legal opinions. The involvement of close political allies and the unprecedented timing of the pardon request have intensified debate across Israel’s polarized political landscape.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid said Netanyahu should not receive a pardon without admitting guilt, expressing remorse and immediately retiring from political life. The request also drew international attention: U.S. President Donald Trump wrote to Herzog earlier this month asking that the president pardon Netanyahu.
Legal experts said the decision could hinge on interpretations of “public interest” and whether a president can intervene before a trial concludes. The president’s legal adviser will weigh submissions from the Justice Ministry and other stakeholders before making a recommendation to Herzog, who holds final authority on pardons.
The timeline for obtaining those opinions and the president’s eventual decision was not immediately clear. Netanyahu’s appeal is likely to deepen political fault lines and could prompt legal challenges and public protests from opponents and supporters alike.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
