Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked President Isaac Herzog for a pardon while his corruption trial is still underway, a move that drew heavy criticism from opposition leaders and watchdog groups on Sunday, even as some Israelis voiced support and called for the country to move forward.
The president’s office described the request as extraordinary and said it carries serious implications for Israel’s justice system and Netanyahu’s political future.
Netanyahu is on trial for fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three cases involving alleged favors to wealthy associates, including a telecom executive, a Hollywood producer and a newspaper publisher. The indictments were filed in 2019 after lengthy investigations, and the trial began in May 2020. Netanyahu denies all allegations and says he is the victim of a politically motivated campaign by the media, police and judiciary.
He has not been convicted of any charges. His testimony has been postponed several times, with Netanyahu citing diplomatic engagements and security concerns during Israel’s recent conflicts with Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. Earlier delays were caused by prolonged political deadlock before Netanyahu returned to power in late 2022. Critics, including some families of Israelis held in Gaza, have accused him of prolonging the war for political survival.
Netanyahu said his request for a pardon would help calm political tensions and promote national unity at a moment of major regional upheaval. He said closing the case now would allow Israel to move toward reconciliation. Several ministers, including Defense Minister Israel Katz, voiced support for him.
His request follows public appeals by U.S. President Donald Trump, who urged Israel to pardon Netanyahu during a recent speech in Jerusalem. Trump later sent a letter to Herzog calling the prosecution politically motivated. Netanyahu referenced Trump’s appeal in his Sunday statement.
Herzog and Netanyahu were once political rivals but now maintain a stable working relationship. Herzog has previously indicated that a negotiated settlement between prosecutors and Netanyahu’s legal team would be the best way to resolve the long-running legal battle.
Opposition leaders said granting a pardon now would damage Israel’s democratic institutions and suggest that powerful figures are above the law. Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, said Netanyahu’s request lacked any acceptance of responsibility and could send a dangerous signal about public norms. Opposition leader Yair Lapid said Netanyahu cannot receive a pardon without admitting guilt, expressing remorse and immediately retiring from political life.
Legal experts said the request does not halt the trial. Only the attorney general can pause proceedings, said Emi Palmor, former director general of the Justice Ministry.
The request will be reviewed by the Justice Ministry and then by legal advisers in the president’s office. The president has wide discretion to grant a pardon, but such decisions typically come only after legal proceedings end. Experts say pre-conviction pardons are extremely rare and could undermine the rule of law and the principle of equality before the law.
The Israel Democracy Institute said earlier this month that granting a pardon during ongoing proceedings would pose a serious threat to the country’s justice system.