Netanyahu formally requests pardon: Herzog initiates legal review

WISE NEWS PRESS / LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM — DEC. 1, 2025

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally submitted a request for a pardon to President Isaac Herzog, seeking to terminate the corruption trials that have shadowed his leadership for the past five years.

Following the submission, the President's Office announced that Herzog has begun consulting with legal experts to evaluate what they termed an "extraordinary request with potential significant consequences." While Netanyahu argues that ending the legal proceedings is essential for national unity, the move has reignited fierce debate regarding the rule of law in Israel.

The plea for 'national reconciliation'

Netanyahu, 76, who faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in three separate cases, released a video statement on X (formerly Twitter) defending his decision. He argued that while he would prefer to prove his innocence in court, the current national interests dictate a different path.

"Like many in the country, I am convinced that the immediate termination of the trial will make a major contribution to extinguishing the fire and to the broad reconciliation our country so urgently needs," Netanyahu stated, claiming the ongoing trials are "tearing the country apart from within."

Charges and legal precedents

Netanyahu is the first sitting Israeli prime minister to face criminal charges. The allegations against him include:

• Case 1000: Receiving lavish gifts, such as cigars and champagne, from wealthy businessmen in exchange for favors.

• Case 2000: Allegedly negotiating with a newspaper publisher for positive coverage in exchange for legislation that would harm a rival paper.

• Case 4000: Accusations of promoting regulatory benefits for a telecommunications giant in return for favorable coverage on its news site.

Under Israeli law, the President has the authority to pardon criminals or commute sentences. The Supreme Court has previously ruled that a president may grant a pardon even before a conviction in cases involving "public interest" or "extraordinary personal circumstances."

International pressure and domestic divide

The pardon request also has an international dimension. During a recent visit to Israel, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly urged President Herzog to "fully pardon" Netanyahu. At the time, Herzog responded that such a process could only begin with a formal application, which has now been filed.

Domestically, the issue remains deeply polarizing. Netanyahu’s supporters and his Likud party have long dismissed the trials as a "political witch hunt." Conversely, the political opposition and legal experts warn that granting a pre-conviction pardon would undermine the judicial system and the principle that no one is above the law.

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