Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu submitted a formal request for a pardon to President Herzog on November 30th, seeking to end his corruption trial.
According to reports from The Times of Israel, Reuters, the Associated Press, and other media outlets, the Israeli presidential palace stated on November 30th that Netanyahu's side had submitted the pardon request to the presidential legal department, and Herzog would review it "responsibly and seriously" after "receiving all relevant comments."
In a video released on November 30th, Netanyahu said that ending the trial was in Israel's national interest. His lawyer, Amit Haddad, stated in a letter to the presidential palace that the trial against Netanyahu had exacerbated social divisions, and ending the trial was crucial for national reconciliation. The increasingly frequent court hearings also placed a heavy burden on the prime minister.
Reuters reported that several of Netanyahu's political allies, including the defense minister and finance minister, have issued statements supporting the pardon.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid, a former prime minister, stated that Netanyahu must plead guilty, express remorse, and immediately withdraw from politics to receive a pardon. Several other opposition figures echoed this sentiment. A former defense lawyer for Netanyahu stated that his pardon request cannot be granted until he pleads guilty, as under Israeli law, a pardon is only for criminals.
In early 2020, Israeli prosecutors formally indicted Netanyahu on three charges: bribery, fraud, and breach of public trust, making him the only sitting prime minister in the country's history to face trial.
Netanyahu has consistently denied the charges, calling the case "political persecution." Since the trial began in 2020, he has repeatedly requested postponements of his testimony, citing diplomatic activities and the ongoing conflict. (End)
