The prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahulaunches another operation in defense of its innocence. This Sunday, the Israeli leader presented a formal request for pardon al President Isaac Herzogas reported by the Presidential Residence. In a 111-page request from his attorney and a signed letter by Netanyahu himself, the president has defended that a presidential pardon would allow him “reconcile national division” and “reduce the flames” in the arguments surrounding his corruption trial, in which he is currently testifying. The president of the United States, Donald Trumpsent a letter with the same request to Herzog a few weeks ago.
“It has passed almost a decade since the investigations against me began,” he said in a video statement released shortly after submitting the request. “The trial on these matters has been almost six years in progress and it is expected to continue for many more years,” Netanyahu explained. According to the prime minister, it is increasingly evident that “serious crimes” in building the case against him and stresses that his own interest remains in continuing with the legal process until he is acquitted of all charges. “But the diplomatic and security reality – the national interest– demands the opposite,” he adds.
Netanyahu’s request has been joined by similar requests from his allies. The Minister of Economy and Industry, and former mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkathas demanded a pardon for his party leader. “He interest of the State of Israelfrom both the right and the left, is to end the trial against Prime Minister Netanyahu,” he defended in a statement. “It is time to free Israel from the saga of the Netanyahu trial that is tearing the nation apart“, declared the Minister of Culture and Sports, Miki Zoharadding that “the correct thing is to grant the pardon for the good of the future of the country.” Also the far-right Itamar Ben Truein charge of the National Security portfolio, has said that the pardon is “crucial for state security“.
Without admitting guilt or apologizing
However, not all of Netanyahu’s supporters have supported his strategy. The Likud deputy, Tally Gotlivhas wondered why the Prime Minister would make such a request, which makes him feel “pain and humiliation in light of the request for clemency”.
In the one-page letter to Herzog asking for forgiveness, Netanyahu neither admits guilt nor apologizes for any wrongdoing. He does acknowledge that “the procedures carried out in my case have become a focus of confrontations“, and a “wide public responsibility and ethics” for the tension caused by his trial. “I understand the consequences of these events,” he added.
For its part, the opposition has asked Herzog to reject the request for pardon. “You cannot pardon Netanyahu without an admission of guilt, an expression of remorse and a Immediate withdrawal from political life“, the opposition leader declared in video, Yair Lapid. The head of the Democrats, Yair Golanhas gone further to defend that “Only the guilty seek clemency.” “After six years of trial, after a decade of stating that ‘there is nothing and there will be nothing,’ it now turns out that you fear the truth“, he said, addressing the prime minister.
Other politicians have accused him of trying to distract the public with this request, while fears of a new military offensive against Lebanon increase.
“Some are above the law”
“Granting a pardon to a prime minister accused of serious crimes of fraud and breach of trust would send a clear message that some citizens are above the law,” said the Movement for a Quality Government. The monitoring group has stressed that it would constitute “a mortal blow to the rule of law and to the principle of equality before the law, the very soul of Israeli democracy” and has urged Herzog to “stand firm in the face of pressure and defend the israeli democracy“.
Two weeks ago, the Israeli president received a letter from Trump demanding a pardon for his ally. “While I absolutely respect the independence of the Israeli justice system and its requirements, I believe that this ‘case’ against Bibi, who has fought alongside me for a long time, including against Israel’s very tough adversary, Iran, is a unjustified political process“he stated.
The figure of the president of Israel is rather ceremonialbut has the authority to pardon convicted criminals under unusual circumstances. However, Netanyahu’s trial, which began in 2020, has not yet concluded. The prime minister has presented it from the first moment as a witch hunt of the left destined to overthrow a right-wing leader, and has been trying for almost three years dismantle the judicial system through a controversial legal reform that brought tens of thousands of people to the streets.
Netanyahu has also not acknowledged responsibility for the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, which took the lives of 1,130 Israelis. For both reasons, and for his collusion with the far right in his own coalition, he is an increasingly unpopular leader.
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