Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally requested a pardon from President Isaac Herzog amid ongoing legal challenges. Netanyahu is currently on trial for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust related to three separate cases, charges he denies. His request comes after suggestions from U.S. President Donald Trump for a complete pardon.
President Herzog’s office has stated that he will seek opinions from justice officials regarding this “extraordinary request,” which carries significant implications for the nation. It remains unclear when a decision may be reached.
Notably, Netanyahu made history in 2020 as the first sitting Israeli prime minister to face trial. The charges against him include allegations of receiving gifts from businessmen in exchange for favors, offering to assist a newspaper in improving its circulation in return for favorable coverage, and promoting regulatory changes beneficial to a telecom company’s controlling shareholder in exchange for positive media coverage.
In a recent video message, Netanyahu expressed a desire to resolve the legal proceedings, stating that the ongoing trial has divisively affected the country during critical times. He argued that resolving the trial could help foster national unity and reconciliation, which he deemed necessary given the significant challenges and opportunities facing Israel.
According to Israel’s Basic Law, the president has the authority to grant pardons, but the High Court of Justice has ruled that such actions can occur before a conviction if deemed in the public interest or based on extreme personal circumstances. Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party has consistently supported the idea of a pardon, although many within Israeli society, particularly those on the left, view it as a threat to the integrity of the nation’s democracy and legal system. Public concerns regarding the government’s proposed judicial reforms have also sparked significant protests in recent months, indicating widespread apprehension about the state of Israel’s democracy.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gv76r5qpvo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss