Sultan’s Sultan / E EPA
Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has presented a formal request for a pardon to President Isaac Herzog, in the judicial process in which he is accused of corruption. “A pardon cannot be granted without an admission of guilt and an immediate withdrawal from political life,” says the opposition.
The Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu This Sunday, he asked the country’s president to grant him a pardon on corruption charges – in an attempt to put an end to a judicial process that has deeply divided the nation.
Netanyahu, who has been waging a tough battle with the Israeli judicial system due to these accusations, stated that the pardon request could contribute to unite the country at a time of significant change in the region.
However, the request was immediately target of criticism by his opponents, who consider that this measure would weaken Israel’s democratic institutions and send a dangerous message that the prime minister is above the lawnote to .
In a statement issued this Sunday, the prime minister’s office confirmed that Netanyahu submitted the pardon request to the Presidency’s legal department. The presidency itself classified the request as “extraordinary”highlighting that it entails “isignificant implications”.
“After receiving all relevant opinions, the President will evaluate the request in a responsible and considered manner,” the Israeli president’s office said in a statement.
Netanyahu is the only head of government in office in the history of Israel to be tried in court, after being accused of fraud, abuse of trust and acceptance of bribes in three distinct processesin which he is suspected of having exchanged favors with wealthy political supporters.
In two other cases, he is accused of having tried negotiate media coverage more favorable in two Israeli media outlets.
So far, Netanyahu was not convicted of any of these crimes. The Prime Minister rejects all accusations and has denounced the process as a “witch hunt” carried out by the media, the police and the judicial system.
The request comes just weeks after former US President Donald Trump had publicly appealed to Israel to grant Netanyahu a pardon. Earlier this month, Trump also sent a letter to Herzog, in which he classified the corruption process as “an unjustified political persecution”.
In a video statement, Netanyahu said the trial has divided the country and that a pardon would be fundamental to restoring national unity. He also added that the obligation to appear in court three times a week constitutes a distraction that hinders the government’s leadership.
“The continuation of this trial It’s tearing us up insidefosters divisions and deepens cleavages. I am certain, like many other citizens, that a immediate completion of the process would contribute decisively to calming tempers and promoting the reconciliation that our country so desperately needs”, he stated.
Netanyahu me gave statements in court numerous times over the last year, but the process has been successively postponed due to instability and the conflicts resulting from the Hamas-led attacks in October 2023.
Netanyahu’s pardon request includes two documents: a detailed letter signed by his lawyer and a letter signed by Netanyahu himself. Both will be sent to the Ministry of Justice for opinions and then transferred to the Presidency’s legal advisor, who will prepare new opinions for the President.
Several legal experts consider that the Israeli Prime Minister’s pardon request does not have the capacity to stop judgment. “It’s impossible,” he said. I bought Palmorformer director general of the Ministry of Justice.
“You cannot claim innocence while the trial takes place and, at the same time, ask the president to intervene“, he explained. According to Palmor, the only way to suspend the process would be to ask the attorney general to interrupt the proceedings.
Netanyahu’s request provoked a immediate opposition reactionwho appealed to the president not to give in. Yaïr Golanleader of the “Democrats” party, called on the prime minister to “assume his responsibilities”.
“A pardon cannot be granted without an admission of guilta, an expression of regret and an immediate withdrawal from political life”, declared in turn the leader of the opposition, Yair Lapidthe centrist Yesh Atid party.
