Netanyahu Submits Pardon Request to President Herzog Over Criminal Corruption Cases
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally submitted a request for a pardon in his corruption trial to President Isaac Herzog, according to a statement from the president's office.
Netanyahu has been indicted on three criminal charges: Bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate criminal cases.
In the request, Netanyahu wrote that he "bears broad public and moral responsibility, fully aware of the implications of all the events," referring to the years of public discussion surrounding his trial. "Despite my personal interest in seeing the trial through and proving my innocence in full, I believe that the public interest dictates otherwise," Netanyahu added.
His attorneys told Herzog that granting the pardon "would allow for the healing of rifts between different parts of the nation … in order to strengthen Israel's resilience." Netanyahu further stated that he is "committed to doing everything to heal these divisions, achieve national unity and restore trust in the state's institutions."
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In a video released after submitting the request, Netanyahu added that "the security reality and Israel's national interest require" him to seek a pardon.
In his letter, he also referenced the pardon granted by U.S. President Gerald Ford. "In a similar case, President Ford pardoned his predecessor, President Richard Nixon, even though Nixon had not been convicted (and in fact had never been indicted) and openly refused to acknowledge any guilt on his part," Netanyahu wrote.
A presidential pardon is usually given only after all legal proceedings have been concluded and the defendant is found guilty of their crimes. Netanyahu, however, said in an interview earlier this month that he will not plead guilty to any of the crimes he is charged with: "That's not going to happen. Nobody suggests that that's what I'll do, and I certainly won't do that; that's not going to happen."
Netanyahu's request was submitted to the Legal Department of the Office of the President by Netanyahu's attorney, Amit Hadad. Herzog responded to Netanyahu's request, saying he will "sincerely consider it."
"The Office of the President is aware that this is an extraordinary request which carries with it significant implications," the statement said. According to Herzog's office, the request includes a detailed letter signed by the Prime Minister's lawyer, and a letter signed by Netanyahu himself.
"In accordance with the guidelines and procedures, the request is currently being transferred to the Pardons Department in the Justice Ministry, which will gather the opinions of all the relevant authorities," the statement added.
"Following this, their opinions will be transferred to the Legal Advisor in the Office of the President and her team to formulate an additional opinion for the President."
In an interview with Haaretz in April, Herzog said that he supported a resolution to Netanyahu's trial that would "bring more calm to the nation." However, as Haaretz revealed in November, Herzog tried to advance a pardon for Netanyahu even before he was elected president and before the prime minister's indictment was filed six years ago.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir referred to Netanyahu's request, saying that pardoning the prime minister is "critical for state security," and that, hand in hand with the pardon, the government must continue promoting the judicial overhaul.
"The reform in the judicial system, particularly the corrupt and tainted state prosecutor, who framed Netanyahu, is critical for state security."
Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat appealed to Herzog to pardon Netanyahu and end his trial. "The interest of the State of Israel from the right and the left is to end the trial against Prime Minister Netanyahu," Barkat added.
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid said Sunday that Herzog cannot accept the prime minister's request for a pardon without "an admission of guilt."
In a statement, the Yesh Atid party leader said that Netanyahu must express remorse for his actions and retire immediately from public life.
Yair Golan, leader of The Democrats Party, said in response to Netanyahu's request that "only those guilty seek a pardon."
"After eight years of trial, with the cases against him not collapsing, Netanyahu is now requesting a pardon. The only possible deal is for Netanyahu to take responsibility, admit guilt, leave politics and free the people and the state," he said.
The family members of Israelis taken hostage on October 7, 2023, rejected the prime minister's request.
Einav Zangauker, the mother of returned hostage Matan Zangauker, vowed in a post on X that Netanyahu would not be pardoned on her watch.
In her post, Zangauker wrote that the purpose of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's pardon request was "to escape responsibility and punishment, all in the name of remaining in power." She called Netanyahu a coward, adding, "This is not leadership."
Yonatan Shimriz, the brother of the hostage Alon, who was killed by IDF fire said that "no one is above the law. There will be no pardon for October 7th. Whoever was responsible will pay."
Netanyahu is Israel's first-ever serving prime minister to take the witness stand. He already has the distinction of being the first sitting Israeli PM to be criminally indicted. Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was convicted of corruption, but he resigned before his trial began.
After a three-year police investigation, Netanyahu was formally charged on November 21, 2019, for alleged crimes committed while serving as prime minister. Then, on January 1, 2020, Netanyahu decided to petition for immunity from prosecution from the Knesset to avoid going to trial. He withdrew his request a month later when it became clear that he did not have a majority in the Knesset committee that would consider the request.
On January 28, 2020, the Attorney General filed the indictment in the three corruption cases in the Jerusalem District Court.
The trial itself began nearly four years ago, on May 24, 2020. The case has dragged on, amid multiple postponements requested by Netanyahu's lawyers, judges' sabbaticals, the COVID pandemic, a huge amount of investigative materials, serial switching of defense lawyers, judicial generosity regarding endless cross-examinations of a long list of witnesses on marginal issues, and, most recently, the Gaza and Lebanon wars.