Benjamin Netanyahu Requests Presidential Pardon Amid Ongoing Trial

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally submitted a request for a presidential pardon, marking a dramatic turn in the long-running legal saga that has defined much of his recent political career. The request was delivered to Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, whose office confirmed that it would seek legal assessments from justice officials before weighing the “extraordinary request which carries significant implications.”

Benjamin Netanyahu has been standing trial for five years on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust across three separate cases. He has consistently denied all wrongdoing, portraying the proceedings as politically motivated and part of what he calls a “witch-hunt.” In a video message released shortly after the request became public, the prime minister said he would have preferred to see the trial continue to its conclusion, but claimed that national interests “demanded otherwise.”

President Herzog’s office released both the pardon request and an accompanying letter written by Benjamin Netanyahu, highlighting the gravity of the move. Herzog offered no timeline for when a decision might be reached, noting only that the matter would require careful consideration.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s Unprecedented Pardon Appeal

The request follows comments made earlier this month by US President Donald Trump, who publicly urged Herzog to “fully pardon” Benjamin Netanyahu. At the time, Herzog clarified that any individual seeking clemency would need to submit a formal application, a requirement Netanyahu has now fulfilled.

Netanyahu’s appeal represents one of the most consequential pardon requests in Israel’s history. In 2020, he became the first sitting Israeli prime minister ever to stand trial, placing the country in uncharted legal territory.

The cases against Benjamin Netanyahu involve three distinct allegations:

Prosecutors allege that Netanyahu received expensive gifts—primarily cigars and champagne—from wealthy businessmen in exchange for political favours. According to the indictment, the gifts were valued at tens of thousands of dollars.

In this case, Netanyahu is accused of proposing a deal to improve the circulation of a major Israeli newspaper in exchange for more favourable coverage. The alleged arrangement never materialised, but prosecutors argue that the discussions themselves constituted misconduct.

Prosecutors claim that Netanyahu, while serving as both prime minister and communications minister, advocated for regulatory decisions that financially benefited the controlling shareholder of a major Israeli telecommunications company. In return, the news website owned by the company allegedly provided him with positive media coverage.

Benjamin Netanyahu has pleaded not guilty to all charges, insisting that his actions were lawful and that political rivals engineered the cases to remove him from power.

In his video message, Benjamin Netanyahu framed his pardon request as an act made in the interest of national unity. He argued that the ongoing trial “tears us apart from within” at a moment when Israel faces “enormous challenges, and alongside them great opportunities” that require the country to stand together.

“I am certain, as are many in the nation, that an immediate end to the trial would greatly help lower the flames and promote broad reconciliation,” he said, positioning the pardon as a step toward healing internal divisions.

His supporters within the right-wing Likud party have long advocated for a pardon, portraying the charges as an assault on both Netanyahu and the political right. They argue that the country cannot afford prolonged internal conflict while facing security threats and regional instability.

Israel’s Basic Law grants the president the authority to pardon criminals or alter their sentences. While typically used for convicted individuals, the High Court of Justice has previously ruled that a president may issue a pardon even before conviction if justified by public interest or compelling personal circumstances.

This precedent opens the door for Benjamin Netanyahu’s request to be considered valid, although granting such a pardon would be highly controversial.

The possibility of a presidential pardon for Benjamin Netanyahu has already intensified political divisions. For supporters, it represents a necessary correction to what they see as a biased legal campaign against a long-serving prime minister. For critics, however, a pardon would be a dangerous erosion of democratic norms.

Many on Israel’s political left argue that granting clemency before a verdict would signal that powerful leaders are not accountable under the law. Israel only recently emerged from mass protests in 2023 over government plans for sweeping judicial reforms, which critics said threatened the independence of the judiciary. Those concerns were overshadowed by the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023 and the subsequent Gaza war—but they have not disappeared.

As President Herzog weighs the request, Israel faces a moment of legal and political consequence. Whether or not the pardon is approved, Benjamin Netanyahu’s move marks another pivotal moment in a career defined by both enduring influence and deep controversy.

For now, the nation waits for a decision that could reshape not only Netanyahu’s future but also the boundaries of presidential authority and the integrity of Israel’s judicial system.