Netanyahu requests a pardon to end his ongoing corruption trial in
Israel
[December 01, 2025]
By SAM MEDNICK
TEL AVIV (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday
asked the country’s president to grant him a pardon from corruption
charges, seeking to end a long-running trial that has bitterly divided
the nation.
Netanyahu, who has been at war against Israel’s legal system over the
charges, said the request would help unify the country at a time of
momentous change in the region. But it immediately triggered
denunciations from opponents, who said a pardon would weaken democratic
institutions and send a dangerous message that he's above the rule of
law.
Netanyahu had submitted a request for a pardon to the legal department
of the Office of the President, the prime minister’s office said in a
statement. The president's office called it an “extraordinary request,”
carrying with it “significant implications.”
Netanyahu is the only sitting prime minister in Israeli history to stand
trial, after being charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting
bribes in three separate cases accusing him of exchanging favors with
wealthy political supporters. He hasn't been convicted of anything.
Netanyahu rejects the allegations and has described the case as a witch
hunt orchestrated by the media, police and judiciary.
Trump's request
His request comes weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly urged
Israel to pardon Netanyahu, turning to President Isaac Herzog during his
speech to Israel's parliament last month. Earlier this month, Trump also
sent a letter to Herzog calling the corruption case "political,
unjustified prosecution.”
Herzog is a former political rival of Netanyahu, but the men have a good
working relationship. Later Sunday, Israeli media reported a small
protest outside Herzog’s home, including a pile of bananas with a sign
saying a pardon equals a banana republic.
In a videotaped statement, Netanyahu said the trial has divided the
country. He also said the requirement that he appear in court three
times a week is a distraction that makes it difficult for him to lead.
“The continuation of the trial tears us apart from within, stirs up this
division, and deepens rifts. I am sure, like many others in the nation,
that an immediate conclusion of the trial would greatly help to lower
the flames and promote the broad reconciliation that our country so
desperately needs," he said.
Case delays
Netanyahu has taken the stand multiple times over the past year. But the
case has been repeatedly delayed as he has dealt with wars and unrest
stemming from the Hamas-led militant attacks on southern Israel on Oct.
7, 2023.
Netanyahu's pardon request consisted of two documents: a detailed letter
signed by his lawyer and a letter signed by Netanyahu. They'll be sent
to the Justice Ministry for opinions and will then be transferred to the
legal adviser at the president's office, which will formulate additional
opinions for the president.
Legal experts say the pardon request isn't able to stop the trial.
“It’s impossible,” said Emi Palmor, former director-general of the
Justice Ministry.
“You cannot claim that you’re innocent while the trial is going on and
come to the president and ask him to intervene,” she said. The only way
to stop the trial is to ask the attorney general to withhold the
proceedings, she said.
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In rare cases, the system could pardon Netanyahu. Experts say the
president has broad discretion to grant one, and oversight is
limited.
However, "as a rule, the president reviews a pardon request only
after all legal proceedings have ended. The possibility of a
preconviction pardon ... is extremely rare,” the Israel Democracy
Institute wrote earlier this month. “A pardon before conviction,
while legal proceedings are ongoing, threatens the rule of law and
seriously undermines the principle of equality before the law.”
Netanyahu portrays himself as victim
In 2008, as opposition leader, Netanyahu called on then Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert to step down as he faced a growing corruption
scandal. At the time, Netanyahu said that a prime minister “up to
his neck” in scandal did not have a mandate to lead the country, and
there was a risk that Olmert would make decisions that served his
personal interests and not those of the nation.
Olmert resigned even before he was indicted that year and would
later serve 16 months in prison.
Netanyahu has struck a different, defiant tone since his own legal
problems began. He has portrayed himself as the victim of a “deep
state” conspiracy trying to oust him from office.
Shortly after forming his current government in late 2022, Netanyahu
launched a plan to overhaul Israel’s justice system.
Netanyahu presented the plan as a much-needed reform. But his
opponents accused him of trying to weaken the justice system,
damaging the country’s system of checks and balances and having a
conflict of interest at a time when he was on trial.
The plan triggered large street protests against the government, and
critics have said the deep divisions sent a message of weakness to
Israel’s enemies that encouraged Hamas to launch its 2023 attacks.
Netanyahu's request also sparked backlash on Sunday, with an
immediate response from the opposition and advocacy groups urging
the president not to give in to his request.
“You cannot grant him a pardon without an admission of guilt, an
expression of remorse and an immediate retirement from political
life," opposition leader Yair Lapid said.
The Movement for Quality Government in Israel said that granting a
pardon to a prime minister accused of serious offenses of fraud and
breach of trust would send a clear message that there are citizens
who are above the law.
But some Israelis expressed support for Netanyahu's request.
“Bibi Netanyahu did totally the right thing requesting the pardon,"
said Lior Gal, a Jerusalem resident, referring to the prime minister
by his nickname. "He deserves to be pardoned. This chapter should be
over and to remain united people and carry on.”
___
Josef Federman contributed to this report from Jerusalem.
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