Benjamin Netanyahu has formally requested a pardon from Israel's president, Isaac Herzog, for bribery and fraud charges, seeking to end his five-year corruption trial in what he argues is the 'national interest'. The 111-page submission was received by Herzog's office and forwarded to the pardons department of the justice ministry, with the president's legal adviser set to formulate an opinion before a decision is made.
A statement from the president's office described the request as 'extraordinary' and carrying 'significant implications', adding that Herzog would consider it 'responsibly and sincerely'. Presidential pardons before conviction are exceptionally rare in Israel, with only one notable precedent: a 1986 case involving Shin Bet security service officials. A pre-emptive pardon for a politician without an admission of guilt would be unprecedented and highly controversial.
The request comes weeks after Donald Trump wrote to Herzog urging him to pardon Netanyahu, who has been on trial since 2020 for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Netanyahu denies the allegations, calling the case a 'witch-hunt', and has argued in a televised statement that while his personal interest is proving innocence in court, the national interest demands ending the trial to reduce divisions.
Legal experts question whether the 1986 precedent applies, noting that in that case the officials admitted guilt and the Shin Bet head resigned. Suzie Navot, a constitutional law professor, said granting a pardon now would effectively place Netanyahu 'above the law'. Opposition leaders have vowed to fight any pardon, with Yair Lapid stating that Herzog cannot grant it without an admission of guilt, remorse, and withdrawal from politics.
