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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally requested a presidential pardon from President Isaac Herzog, seeking an end to the corruption trial that has overshadowed his political career for more than five years. The move, revealed on Sunday, marks an extraordinary escalation in a case that has divided Israeli society, shaken political institutions, and intensified partisan tensions.
Netanyahu, who faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate cases, maintains his innocence and has repeatedly dismissed the proceedings as a politically motivated "witch hunt." In a video message accompanying the announcement, the prime minister argued that the trial has become a national burden, claiming that continued litigation "tears Israel apart from within" and undermines his ability to govern effectively.
According to the president's office, Herzog will seek formal opinions from legal authorities before considering the request, noting that the application carries "significant implications." Under Israel's Basic Law, the president has broad pardoning powers, though historically these have been applied after a conviction, not while a trial is still underway. However, the High Court has previously ruled that a pre-conviction pardon is possible in exceptional circumstances tied to public interest.
Netanyahu's lawyers say this is precisely such a moment. They argue that the ongoing trial has deepened societal rifts and that an immediate pardon would help restore stability and foster national unity—especially amid strategic threats and the lingering trauma of the 2023 Hamas attacks that precipitated the current Gaza war.
Opposition figures sharply disagree. Opposition leader Yair Lapid insisted that no pardon should be granted without an admission of guilt, remorse, and Netanyahu's complete withdrawal from political life. Former military commander and left-wing politician Yair Golan echoed that view, saying that "only the guilty seek pardon."
The request also comes weeks after former U.S. President Donald Trump urged Herzog to pardon Netanyahu, calling the case a "political, unjustified prosecution." Netanyahu has denied any coordination, though critics say the appeal mirrors his long-standing effort to conflate his personal legal battles with the fate of the nation.
For now, Herzog has offered no timeline for a decision. As political pressure mounts and Israel remains embroiled in war and internal division, the question of Netanyahu's future, both legal and political, hangs more sharply in the balance than ever.
