TEL AVIV — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked President Isaac Herzog to grant him a pardon amid his long-running corruption trial that has deeply divided the country. Netanyahu’s office said Sunday that he submitted the request to the legal department of the Office of the President; the president’s office described the filing as an “extraordinary request” with “significant implications.”
Netanyahu is the only sitting Israeli prime minister to face trial. He has been charged in three separate cases with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes, allegations that accuse him of exchanging favors with wealthy political supporters. He has not been convicted.
The pardon request follows public calls from U.S. President Donald Trump urging Israel to pardon Netanyahu. In a videotaped statement, Netanyahu said the trial has fractured the nation and argued a pardon would help restore unity. He also said the requirement that he appear in court three times a week distracts him and hampers his ability to govern.
The submission to the president consisted of two documents: a detailed letter from Netanyahu’s lawyer and a personal letter from Netanyahu. Those papers will first go to the justice ministry for review and then to the Legal Advisor in the Office of the President, who will prepare further opinions for the president’s consideration.
