Netanyahu requests pardon from Israeli president

On Sunday, November 30, Benjamin Netanyahu submitted a pardon request to Isaac Herzog, the President of Israel, concerning his ongoing corruption trials.

The President’s office confirmed the news, reporting that Netanyahu recently submitted the request, which has now been forwarded to the legal department. Recently, Donald Trump, U.S. President and close ally of Netanyahu, had asked Herzog to grant him a pardon.

Netanyahu faces charges in three separate cases involving bribery, fraud, and breach of public trust, all of which he has consistently denied.

He has been on trial since 2019 in cases known as Case 1000, Case 2000, and Case 4000. It is expected that no verdict will be issued until at least 2026, and Netanyahu will have the option to appeal to the Supreme Court.

So far, Netanyahu has repeatedly requested delays in his trial for various reasons, some of which have been approved by the court.

Many experts believe that Netanyahu deliberately prolonged the Gaza conflict to divert attention from domestic crises, including his financial corruption cases.

Regarding this, Netanyahu stated: “The investigations into my cases began 10 years ago, and my trials started six years ago. They could continue for many more years.”

He claimed that while he was interested in following the legal process to achieve acquittal, political and security interests dictated otherwise.

The Israeli Prime Minister added that continuing his trial would create controversy, and he is confident that ending it would reduce disputes and lead to broader reconciliation.

Netanyahu further stated: “Trump requested that my trial end immediately so I can cooperate with him on important shared interests between Israel and the United States.”