Overview
- The presidency confirmed receipt of a 111-page petition from Netanyahu’s lawyer Amit Hadad and a personal letter, calling the bid extraordinary and sending it for Justice Ministry opinions.
- Legal specialists say a pre-conviction pardon in Israel is highly unusual and would not automatically halt the ongoing corruption trial.
- Netanyahu argues clemency serves the public interest by easing social divisions and removing the burden of frequent court appearances that he says hinder governing.
- Opposition leaders condemned the move and said any pardon should require an admission of guilt and exit from politics, while former premier Naftali Bennett voiced support only if Netanyahu retires.
- U.S. President Donald Trump urged Herzog in a letter to grant a full pardon, adding international attention to the polarizing domestic debate.