Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally requested a pardon in his long-running corruption trial, arguing it was in the “public interest.”
In a letter addressed to President Isaac Herzog, Netanyahu wrote that his trial has change into “a focal point of fierce controversy” for which he bears “broad public and more responsibility, with an understanding of the overall ramifications of these events.”
Netanyahu mentioned it was in his “personal interest” to show his innocence in the ongoing trial, however “the public interest dictates otherwise.” The letter was submitted on Thursday and publicized on Sunday.
As Israeli head of state, Herzog has the only real mandate to problem pardons. His workplace confirmed it obtained the request, and Herzog would “consider it with great care and responsibility.”
In the one-page letter, Netanyahu doesn’t embody an act of contrition or make any commitments about his political future. He has repeatedly proclaimed his innocence on costs of bribery, fraud and breach of belief.
The formal request for a pardon is a reversal for the long-time Israeli chief, who has mentioned the indictments would collapse and that he would show his innocence in court docket.
“Faced with the security challenges and diplomatic opportunities currently before the State of Israel, I am committed to do everything in my power to heal the rifts, achieve national unity, and restore public trust in the state’s institutions,” Netanyahu wrote, “and I expect all branches of government to do the same.”
The opposition had been fast to criticize the request from Netanyahu who has confronted accusations of stoking rifts inside Israeli society – towards the Arab inhabitants and the left in specific – in addition to prolonging the warfare in Gaza for his personal political achieve.
Yair Lapid, the chief of Israel’s opposition, urged Herzog to reject the pardon request, not less than in its present kind. “You cannot grant Netanyahu a pardon without an admission of guilt, an expression of remorse, and an immediate withdrawal from political life,” Lapid mentioned in a video assertion.
Head of the left-wing Democrats occasion Yair Golan mentioned on X, “Only someone guilty asks for a pardon. After eight years of trial, when the cases against him have not collapsed, Netanyahu is now asking for a pardon.”
But Netanyahu’s political allies got here out in favor of the pardon. Far-right Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir supported the request, saying in a press release it’s “critical for the security for the security of the state.”
Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump as soon as once more weighed in on the case together with his personal letter to Israel’s president, asking for a pardon for arguably his most vocal worldwide cheerleader.
“I hereby call on you to fully pardon Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been a formidable and decisive War Time Prime Minister, and is now leading Israel into a time of peace,” Trump wrote in a letter distributed by the Israeli president’s spokesperson.