Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent the petition to the president through his lawyer, Isaac Herzogthe follower pardon In the trial in which he faces three cases Corruption, fraud, dishonesty and bribery, The head of state’s office confirmed.
“The Office of the President understands that this is a request rare Which carries important implications. After receiving all relevant opinions, the President will take it into account Demand sincerely and responsibly.” The Israeli presidency indicated in a statement.
In early November, US Pres Donald Trump He sent a letter to Isaac Herzog asking him to grant it pardon To Benjamin Netanyahu, highlighting his role as head of the country. In October, during his visit to Israel, Trump raised this question in Parliament, asking the president directly: “Why don’t we give him a pardon? After all,How important are cigars and bottles of champagne?
As a result of this visit, Netanyahu’s lawyers wrote a letter in which they mentioned Trump’s massive attack and based on it they asked for pardon and an end to the case. Criminal procedures Against the Prime Minister.
Moreover, the Head of State explained that the request had been transferred to the Pardon Department of the Ministry of Justice, which I’ll collect opinions The competent authorities in this portfolio are in the hands of Yariv Levin, from the Likud Party (Netanyahu’s party). These opinions It will be sent to the legal advisor Herzog so that he could formulate his opinion.
“the Criminal procedures In the case of the Prime Minister, it harms the interests of the State of Israel and exacerbates the differences between it Different sectors of the population And distract public opinion from the political and security issues on the national agenda,” the message from Netanyahu’s team stated.
Ending the corruption trial for the “good” of Israel
The president’s lawyers are counting on him “administration” Of the conflicts that Israel faced in the last two years, Such as the attack on Gaza after the October 7 attacks, the attack on Lebanon, the attacks on the Houthis in Yemen, the war in Iran, or the growing tensions with Syria. “It is clear that the Prime Minister must, from now on, devote all his strength, energy, time and intelligence to this leadership of the State of Israel” They point.
Netanyahu’s letter stated on numerous occasions that his “personal interest” was to continue the trial while ensuring his acquittal. On the other hand, he confirms that “The best state” is Israel, It is understood that the public interest depends on the outcome of the trial.
“The Prime Minister is prepared to ask His Excellency for clemency, even though he is doing so Give up your right To carry out the legal procedures in your case until the end, and this, as said, is due to General public interest. The welfare of the people and the state has always been and will always be before the prime minister’s eyes, and that is the case now.”
Netanyahu has three open corruption cases
Netanyahu is being tried in what is known as… “Case No. 1000”, Accused of receiving gifts from a mogul Hollywood Arnon Milchan In exchange for political favors; And in “Case No. 2000,” which supposedly benefited the editor-in-chief of Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, Arnon “Noni” Mozes, in the case Fraud scandal And breach of trust to harm the competing newspaper, “Israel Hayom.”
In addition, he is being tried on charges of involvement – in his second phase as Minister of Communications (2015-2017) – in a case Bribery crime against businessman Shaul Elovitch, They took control of the Bezeq telecommunications company and the Walla News website, to obtain positive media coverage. The Israeli Prime Minister also confirmed that trials against him are ongoing “witch hunt” And the “deep state” conspiracy, because he is the first prime minister in the history of Israel to be tried while in office.