Netanyahu Requests Presidential Pardon Over Corruption Cases
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally requested a presidential pardon from President Isaac Herzog in connection with his ongoing legal cases.
Although Netanyahu did not acknowledge guilt or issue an apology in the letter, observers interpret the move as an implicit acceptance of the charges brought against him in multiple court cases.
The President’s Office described the request as highly unusual, as pardons in Israel are typically sought after a final verdict and an admission of guilt—not before.
Netanyahu and his family are facing multiple allegations including bribery, abuse of official authority, and cronyism. These charges are at the center of several high-profile legal proceedings that have sparked political controversy in Israel for years.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump stated on social media last week that it was time for Netanyahu to be pardoned. Trump has consistently denounced the legal cases against Netanyahu as “political and unfair.”
Netanyahu’s appeal comes at a time when Israel’s judiciary and rule-of-law institutions are under increasing political pressure, raising fresh concerns about the independence of the country’s legal system.
