Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally petitioned President Isaac Herzog for a pardon in his ongoing corruption trial, describing the request as being driven by the “public interest.”
Netanyahu, who was indicted in 2019, becoming a first for any sitting Israeli prime minister, is charged with bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. The allegations span several cases, including claims that he received high-value gifts such as cigars and champagne from wealthy business figures in return for political advantages.
In a statement on Sunday, his office confirmed that a one-page pardon request had been submitted to the president’s legal department. The letter, which stopped short of admitting wrongdoing, argued that the plea was in the “public interest”.
Responding to the development, Isaac Herzog acknowledged the sensitivity of the appeal.
Calling the submission an “extraordinary request,” the presidency said it carries “significant implications,” but added that he would “consider it with great care and responsibility.”
The trial, which opened in 2020, faced early delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic before resuming, with Netanyahu providing testimonies in court. Judges have recently indicated a desire to fast-track proceedings.
Public reactions remain sharply split. Allies of the prime minister frame the prosecution as a “politically motivated witch hunt,” while critics argue the case is essential to uphold accountability and defend the rule of law.
The pardon request has also drawn diplomatic spotlight after former US President Donald Trump reportedly communicated with Herzog in support of Netanyahu earlier this month. There is, however, no indication that the outreach influenced the formal plea process.
Herzog is expected to review the application ahead of further court sessions, in a decision that could redefine the next phase of Israel’s most closely watched political trial in decades.
