On Nov. 30, lawyers for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a 111-page request for a full pardon on the charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, which he is facing, to the residence of Israeli President Isaac Herzog. In a letter accompanying the legal request, Netanyahu unconvincingly argued that he was eager to prove his innocence in court, but that it was in the “national interest” to bring the five-year corruption trial to an end, because it is “tearing us apart.” Netanyahu has called the trial a “witch hunt,” but critics say that he has prolonged the war in Gaza in order to stall his legal case. The pardon of a political figure before a conviction or any admission of guilt, would set a precedent. Herzog’s office has described the move as “extraordinary,” and passed the document to the Pardon Department of the Israeli Justice Ministry for review. Herzog would want his legal advisors to formulate a legal opinion before considering any decisions.
On Nov. 12 U.S. President Donald Trump also sent a letter to Herzog requesting a pardon for Netanyahu. President Trump’s letter stated that at this “historic time, as we have, together, just secured peace that has been sought for at least 3,000 years, I hereby call on you to fully pardon Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been a formidable and decisive War Time Prime Minister.… While I absolutely respect the independence of the Israeli Justice System … I believe that this ‘case’ against Bibi … is political, unjustified prosecution.”
