Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced on Monday that his decision regarding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s possible request for a pardon concerning corruption charges will be determined exclusively by what is in the best interests of Israel.
Herzog remarked that the matter is “clearly provoking debate and is deeply unsettling for many people in the country, across different communities” in a statement.
“I will consider solely the best interests of the State of Israel and Israeli society,” he further stated.
Why is Netanyahu pursuing a pardon from Herzog?
Netanyahu, who has been undergoing a trial for corruption charges for nearly six years, declared on Sunday that he had officially submitted a request for a pardon to President Herzog.
Netanyahu maintains his innocence in the legal proceedings but contends that the ongoing protracted legal battle is significantly “tearing the country apart” and exacerbating domestic divisions.
In a video statement, Netanyahu articulated that while he would prefer to see the trial concluded with an acquittal, the current “security and political reality,” along with the “national interest,” requires an immediate cessation of the process.
He specifically pointed out the “impossible requirement” of having to testify three times a week as having “tipped the scales.” His lawyers’ 111-page submission to Herzog also did not contain an admission of guilt, but rather emphasized the necessity for “broad reconciliation.”
This action follows a letter sent to Herzog earlier this month by President Donald Trump, who urged the Israeli President to grant a pardon to Netanyahu. The allegations against the long-serving Prime Minister include accusations of accepting over $260,000 in luxury items from affluent benefactors in exchange for political favors. He also faces charges related to allegedly attempting to secure more favorable coverage from two Israeli media outlets.
