Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally submitted a request to President Isaac Herzog seeking a pardon in the corruption cases for which he is currently on trial. The move follows repeated appeals from former US President Donald Trump, who wrote to the Israeli president months ago urging clemency for Netanyahu, a key regional ally.
Netanyahu’s request was filed through the legal office of the presidency and included two documents — a comprehensive application from his lawyer and a separate letter personally signed by him. According to protocol, the justice ministry will first examine the materials and then forward them to the Legal Advisor in the President’s Office, who will prepare additional legal opinions to help guide the president’s decision.
Herzog’s office described the appeal as an “extraordinary request” with considerable implications. Although the presidency in Israel is a largely ceremonial institution, the president does hold the authority to grant pardons in exceptional cases.
Netanyahu remains the only sitting Israeli prime minister ever to stand trial. He faces three separate corruption cases involving allegations of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, centred on ties to wealthy businessmen and favours in exchange for gifts and media influence. He has not been convicted in any of the cases and maintains that the charges are politically motivated.
Netanyahu was indicted in 2019, and his trial — ongoing since 2020 — has yet to reach a verdict. The pardon request marks a major development in the legal and political battle that has surrounded him for years and will now depend on the procedural review and the president’s final judgment.
