Netanyahu formally asks for pardon from Israeli president
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally requested a pardon from President Isaac Herzog over his ongoing corruption charges.
In the request, Netanyahu argues that it would be in the "public interest" for him to be pardoned, as he says it would reduce tension in Israeli society.
"Out of a public responsibility as prime minister to try to bring about reconciliation between the parts of the people, I have no doubt that the end of the trial will help to reduce the intensity of the flames in the debate that has arisen around it," he wrote.
"Faced with the security challenges and political opportunities currently facing the State of Israel, I am committed to doing everything in my power to heal the rifts, achieve unity among the people, and restore trust in the state's systems, and I expect all heads of state agencies to do the same."
Netanyahu faces charges of fraud, bribery and breach of trust, to which he has entered a plea of "not guilty".
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The prime minister is accused in one case of accepting more than $260,000 worth of luxury goods from billionaires in exchange for political favours, as well as attempting to negotiate more favourable coverage from two Israeli media outlets in two other cases.
Netanyahu's court appearances have been repeatedly delayed for a variety of reasons, including Israel's military attacks on Gaza, Syria and Iran.
The Israeli prime minister also proposed judicial reforms that critics say sought to weaken the courts and prompted massive protests that died out after the start of the genocidal Gaza war in October 2023.
US President Donald Trump is among those who have called for Netanyahu to be pardoned.
Earlier this month, Trump sent a letter to Herzog calling for the prime minister's pardon.
In it, Trump praised Netanyahu's efforts at securing "peace" with Arab countries, something he claimed had "been sought for at least 3,000 years".
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