Netanyahu Formally Requests Pardon from Herzog in Ongoing Corruption Trial

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu submitted a formal request Sunday afternoon to President Isaac Herzog for a pardon that would end his long-running corruption trial, a move his office described as serving the national interest amid deepening political divisions.

The 111-page submission, delivered through Netanyahu’s attorney Amit Hadad, includes a detailed legal argument and a personal letter from the prime minister. It argues that halting the trial — which has dragged on for more than five years — would heal societal rifts and allow Netanyahu to focus fully on leading the country through its security and economic challenges

In a video statement released shortly after the filing, Netanyahu said the proceedings have “torn us apart from within” and imposed an unsustainable burden, requiring his court appearances three times a week. “Despite my personal interest in proving my innocence in full, I believe the public interest dictates otherwise,” he said. “Ending this trial is essential for national unity and for my ability to devote all my time and energy to Israel’s security and prosperity.”

Herzog’s office confirmed receipt of the “extraordinary request,” which carries “significant implications.” The documents have been forwarded to the Justice Ministry’s Pardons Department for review, where it will gather opinions from relevant authorities before returning to the president’s legal advisors. “The president will consider the request responsibly and sincerely,” the office said in a statement.

Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, has pleaded not guilty to charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three cases known as 1000, 2000 and 4000. Prosecutors allege he traded regulatory favors for wealthy media moguls and accepted lavish gifts from Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan in exchange for political benefits. The trial, which began in May 2020, is expected to continue for years, with witness testimony ongoing in the Tel Aviv District Court.

The request comes weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump sent a letter to Herzog urging him to grant Netanyahu a pardon, citing the prime minister’s leadership in the ongoing conflicts with Hamas and Hezbollah. Trump’s intervention drew sharp criticism from opposition figures, who accused it of foreign interference in Israel’s judicial system.

Support for the pardon has poured in from Netanyahu’s coalition partners. Defense Minister Israel Katz called it a step toward “ending legal charges born in sin that have divided the nation.” National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir described it as “critical for state security,” tying it to broader judicial reforms. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Economy Minister Nir Barkat echoed the calls, emphasizing national healing.

Opposition leaders swiftly condemned the move. Yesh Atid head Yair Lapid said Herzog could not approve it without an admission of guilt, adding, “Only a guilty man asks for a pardon.” Democrats Party Chairman Yair Golan labeled it an act of cowardice, saying, “This is not leadership.” Naftali Bennett, the former prime minister, argued it would undermine the rule of law, while relatives of hostages killed in Gaza invoked the October 7, 2023, attacks, insisting “no one is above the law.”

Legal experts noted that while Israel’s president has broad pardon powers — including pre-conviction in exceptional public-interest cases — such a grant for a sitting leader would be unprecedented. Netanyahu has previously rejected any pardon tied to stepping down from public life, and his submission makes no such concession.

The filing arrives as Israel faces mounting pressures: elections loom within 11 months, coalition tensions simmer over military draft exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews, and the Gaza war has claimed over 70,000 Palestinian lives, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Proponents of the pardon argue it could pave the way for a broad unity government, sidelining partisan boycotts that have paralyzed politics.

Herzog, who has navigated similar controversies with restraint, has not indicated a timeline for his decision. The process could take weeks or months, prolonging the uncertainty gripping Israeli politics.