Netanyahu Seeks Pardon As Israeli President Faces Tough Decision

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Monday that he will weigh Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request for a pardon strictly through the lens of Israel’s national interest, a decision that has intensified debate across the country as the long-running corruption cases return to the spotlight.

Herzog, in a brief statement, stressed that the matter would be handled “in the most correct and precise manner,” adding that he would consider “solely the best interests of the State of Israel and Israeli society.” His remarks came a day after Netanyahu formally announced that he had submitted a clemency appeal, arguing that years of legal battles have deepened divisions and weakened national cohesion.

Netanyahu, who has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, said the cases had become a distraction at a time when Israel “desperately needs broad reconciliation.” His request arrives after years of courtroom proceedings, political turmoil, and public protests that have shaped Israel’s political climate.

The corruption allegations, including claims of receiving luxury gifts and seeking favourable media coverage, remain at the centre of Israel’s most contentious legal saga.

The prime minister and his wife, Sara Netanyahu, are accused in one case of accepting more than $260,000 worth of high-end items such as cigars, champagne and jewellery from wealthy businessmen. Prosecutors say the gifts were exchanged for political favours, an allegation Netanyahu insists is baseless.

Two additional cases involve claims that he attempted to negotiate favourable treatment from major Israeli media organisations in exchange for regulatory benefits. These accusations, which have circulated for years, have drawn widespread attention and fuelled broader questions about power, influence and accountability in Israel’s political system.

The controversy has also reached beyond Israel’s borders. Former U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly wrote directly to Herzog last month, urging him to grant Netanyahu a pardon, an extraordinary intervention in a domestic legal matter. The letter, according to Israeli media, praised Netanyahu as a “patriot” and argued that the trials were causing unnecessary national friction.

The competing tensions surrounding the case were visible again on Monday as Netanyahu attended a hearing at a Tel Aviv courthouse. Outside, crowds of protesters, both supporters and opponents, filled the streets. Anti-Netanyahu demonstrators chanted that the prime minister should face justice like any other citizen, with some dressed in bright orange prison jumpsuits.

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“He should be standing on trial just like every other citizen in Israel,” protester Paula Keusch told AFP.

But across the barricades, his supporters argued that ending the legal battle is in Israel’s best interest. “If the good of the country leads Netanyahu to request a stay of the trial, then I support him,” said demonstrator Rafael Shamir.

Herzog has not indicated when a decision will be made. Whatever the outcome, it is expected to carry significant political consequences as Israel continues to grapple with internal division and questions about its democratic institutions.