Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday asked the country's president to pardon him on corruption charges, seeking to end a lengthy trial that has sharply divided the nation.
Netanyahu, who has battled the country's legal system over the charges, said the request would help unite the country at a time of important change in the region. But it promptly drew condemnation from his opponents, who said it would weaken Israel's democratic institutions and send a dangerous signal that it was above the rule of law.
A statement from the Prime Minister's Office on Sunday said Netanyahu had submitted a pardon request to the legal department of the President's Office. The presidential administration called it an “extraordinary request” with “significant consequences.”
“After receiving all relevant findings, the President will consider the request responsibly and sincerely,” the office of Israeli President Isaac Herzog said in a statement.
Netanyahu is the only sitting prime minister in Israeli history to stand trial after being charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases in which he was accused of exchanging favors with wealthy political supporters. He hasn't been convicted of anything yet.
Netanyahu denies the charges and has denounced the case as a witch hunt orchestrated by the media, police and judiciary.
The request comes weeks after US President Trump called on Israel to pardon Netanyahu. Earlier this month, Trump also sent a letter to Herzog, calling the corruption case a “political, baseless prosecution.”
In a videotaped statement, Netanyahu said the trial had divided the country and that a pardon would help restore national unity. He also said that the requirement to appear in court three times a week is a distraction that prevents him from leading the country.
“The continuation of the trial is tearing us apart from the inside, strengthening this rift and deepening the rift. I am confident, like many others in the country, that immediate completion of the trial would go a long way to extinguishing the flames and promoting the broad reconciliation that our country so desperately needs,” he said.
Netanyahu has taken the position several times over the past year, but the case has been repeatedly delayed as he deals with the wars and unrest resulting from the Hamas-led militant attacks in October 2023.
Netanyahu's request for clemency consisted of two documents – a detailed letter signed by his lawyer and a letter signed by Netanyahu. They will be sent to the Justice Department for an opinion and then forwarded to the legal counsel in the Office of the President, who will formulate additional opinions for the president.
Many legal experts argue that a pardon petition cannot stop the trial.
“It's impossible,” said Amy Palmore, former director general of the Justice Department.
“You can't plead your innocence while the trial is going on and go to the president and ask him to intervene,” she said. According to her, the only way to stop the trial is to ask the attorney general to suspend the proceedings.
Netanyahu's request prompted an immediate reaction from the opposition, which called on the president not to comply with his request.
“You cannot give him a pardon without admitting guilt, expressing remorse and immediately resigning from political life,” said opposition leader Yair Lapid.
