Overview
- At a Jerusalem press conference with Germany’s Friedrich Merz, Netanyahu said he would not retire from politics if pardoned, saying voters will decide his future.
- President Isaac Herzog confirmed receipt of the 111-page application, called it an extraordinary request, and said he will act in the best interest of Israelis after standard legal consultations.
- The clemency review has been routed to the Justice Ministry’s Pardons Department and the president’s legal adviser, a process legal analysts say could take weeks or months.
- Netanyahu’s lawyers contend frequent court appearances hinder his ability to govern, while opposition leaders argue any pardon should require an admission of guilt or his withdrawal from political life.
- U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Herzog to grant clemency, and Herzog responded that Israel is a sovereign country and outside pressure will not shape his decision.