TEL AVIV, Dec 1 (Reuters) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared in court on Monday for the first time since asking the country’s president for forgiveness in his long-running corruption case, a request supported by close ally U.S. President Donald Trump.
Opposition politicians have spoken out against the request, with some arguing that any pardon should be conditioned on Netanyahu retiring from politics and admitting guilt. Others said the prime minister must first call national elections, which are scheduled for October 2026, before requesting any pardon.
Naftali Bennett, a former prime minister, stated that he would support an end to the trial if Netanyahu agreed to withdraw from politics ‘in order to lead Israel out of this chaos’.
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“This way we can put this behind us, come together and rebuild the country together,” said Bennett, who led a coalition government that won the 2021 election, removing Netanyahu from office. Netanyahu won the election the following year to return to power.
Polls show Bennett is the favorite to head the next government if Netanyahu leaves.
Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, was indicted in 2019 on charges of corruption, fraud and breach of trust after years of investigations. His trial began in 2020.
The prime minister has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and admitted no guilt in his pardon application, with Netanyahu’s lawyers saying he believes the legal proceedings, if completed, would end in a complete acquittal.
A small group of protesters gathered outside Monday’s hearing at the Tel Aviv court, some of them wearing orange prison jumpsuits and calling for Netanyahu to go to prison.
Ilana Barzilay, one of the protesters outside the court, said she believed it was unacceptable that Netanyahu had asked for a pardon without pleading guilty or taking any responsibility.
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In a letter to President Isaac Herzog released on Sunday, Netanyahu’s lawyers said the frequent court appearances were harming the prime minister’s ability to govern. A pardon would also be good for the country, they said.
Typically, pardons in Israel are granted only after the conclusion of court proceedings and the conviction of the accused. There is no precedent for granting a pardon mid-trial.
“This will be handled in the most correct and precise manner,” Herzog said in a statement on Monday, acknowledging that the pardon request has sparked debate and left many Israelis uneasy.
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(Reportagem de Rami Amichay)
