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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has officially submitted a request for a presidential pardon to President Isaac Herzog, seeking to end the long-running corruption trial that has cast a shadow over his leadership. The move comes shortly after direct and public appeals for his exoneration from his close ally, U.S. President Donald Trump.
Netanyahu is currently on trial in three separate cases, where he is facing charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. The allegations include accepting lavish gifts from wealthy benefactors and offering regulatory favors to media moguls in exchange for favorable news coverage. The prime minister has consistently denied all wrongdoing, dismissing the proceedings as a politically motivated "witch hunt."
The timing of the request is significant, arriving just weeks after President Trump formally intervened on Netanyahu's behalf. In a mid-November letter, Trump urged Israel to pardon the prime minister, calling him a "formidable and decisive War Time Prime Minister" who is "now leading Israel into a time of peace." Trump had also voiced this sentiment during an earlier speech to the Israeli parliament in October.
Trump’s overt involvement has been controversial, stoking concerns over U.S. influence on Israeli judicial matters and Israel’s internal affairs. President Herzog's office confirmed receipt of Trump's letter and has previously acknowledged the deep societal divisions caused by the trial. Herzog had stated he would consider any potential pardon request with "full transparency," prioritizing "what's best for the state" above other considerations. The decision now rests entirely with him, placing him at the center of a politically charged legal dilemma.
A potential pardon could conclude a legal saga that has polarized Israeli society for years. However, it would also likely ignite a fierce national debate over the rule of law, accountability for public officials, and the appropriateness of external political pressure on a sovereign nation's justice system. The outcome is poised to be a defining moment for both Netanyahu's legacy and Herzog's presidency.
