Netanyahu asks the President of Israel for forgiveness in the midst of the ongoing crime – the country
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday asked the country’s President to pardon him for the corruption case, seeking to end a long-running case that has divided the nation.
Netanyahu, who has been at war with Israel’s legal system over the crimes, said the request would help unify the country at a time of great change in the region. But it quickly drew condemnation from opponents, who said the peace would weaken democratic institutions and send a dangerous message that they are above the law.
Netanyahu had sent a pardon request to the Legal Department of the Office of the President, the Office of the Prime Minister said in a statement. The President’s Office called it an “unusual request,” carrying it with “great importance.”
Netanyahu is the only sitting prime minister in Israel’s history to go to court, after being charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate charges against him in exchange for wealthy political supporters. He was not convicted.
Netanyahu rejected the allegations and described the case as a witch hunt organized by the media, the police and the judiciary.
His request comes weeks after US President Donald Trump urged Israel to pardon Netanyahu. Earlier this month, Trump sent a letter to President Isaac Herzog calling the impeachment trial “a political, unjustified prosecution.”
Herzog is a former rival of Netanyahu, but the men have a good working relationship.
In a videotaped statement, Netanyahu said the case has divided the country. He also said that the requirement that he appear in court three times a week is a disruption that makes it difficult for him to earn money.
“The continuation of the case is hurting us, it is stirring this division, and it is very deep. I am sure that the certainty of the trial will help to reduce the flames,” he said.
Netanyahu has taken several independent posts in the past year. But the case has been delayed several times as it has been involved in the fighting and the outbreak of war from the attacks of the Hamas fighters – it led to the attack of the Southern people on Oct 7, 2023.
Netanyahu’s request was accompanied by two documents: a detailed letter signed by his lawyer and a letter signed by Netanyahu. They will be sent to the Department of Justice and Opinions and will then be forwarded to the legal adviser in the office of the President, who will develop additional opinions for the President.
Legal experts say the pardon request cannot stop the trial.
“Impossible,” said Emi Pallor, former Director General of the Department of Justice.
“You can’t plead not guilty while the case goes to the President and ask him to intervene,” he said. The only way to stop the case is to ask the Attorney General to stay the process, he said.
In rare cases, the system can forgive netanyahu. Experts say the President has broad discretion to grant one, and oversight is limited.
However, “as a rule, the President reviews the request for pardon after all legal procedures have been completed. The chance of a psychological pardon … is very rare,” said the Israel Develocy Institute. “Pardoning before conviction, while continuing legal proceedings, threatens the rule of law and undermines the principle of equality before the law.”
Netanyahu appears as a victim
In 2008, as opposition leaders, Netanyahu was called by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to step down when faced with growing corruption scandals. At that time, Netanyahu said that the prime minister “up to his neck” in Scandal did not have the authority to lead the country, and there was a risk that Olmert would make his decisions and not his wishes and not the nation’s.
Olmert left even before he was exposed that year and would later serve 16 months in prison.
Netanyahu has struck a different tone, visible since his legal troubles began. He revealed himself to be “deeply innocent” of the conspiracy to oust him from office.
Shortly after forming his current government in late 2022, Netanyahu launched a plan to shrink Israel’s justice system.
Netanyahu presented the plan as a much-needed reform. But his opponents accuse him of trying to weaken the justice system, undermining the country’s system of checks and balances and conflicts of interest during his trial.
The plan was ripe for mass street protests against the government, and critics said the deep divisions sent a message of weakness to Israel’s enemies that encouraged Hamas to promote its 2023 attacks.
Netanyahu’s request also sparked a backlash on Sunday, with immediate reactions from opposition and conservative groups urging the President not to give in to his request.
“You cannot pardon him without an admission of guilt, a sign of remorse and an early retirement from political life,” the opposition leader said.
A high-level government movement in Israel said that pardoning the prime minister accused of major crimes of fraud and breach of trust could send citizens above the law.
But some Israelis voiced support for Tetenahu’s request.
“Bibi Netanyahu is absolutely doing the right thing asking for forgiveness,” said Liold Gal, a resident of Jerusalem, referring to the prime minister by his nickname. “He deserves to be forgiven. This chapter should be completed and remain united and continue.”
–Josef Federman contributed to this report from Jerusalem.
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