Netanyahu: I’m innocent but pardon me anyway in the ‘national interest’
The Israeli Prime Minister has submitted a request to President Herzog, arguing that a pardon would 'promote the broad reconciliation the country desperately needs'
Benjamin Netanyahu has officially requested a pardon from Israeli President Isaac Herzog, claiming that while he personally wants to continue a trial into alleged corruption to prove his innocence, it would be in the “national interest” for the situation to be brought to a close.
In a video address on Sunday evening, the Israeli Prime Minister claimed that as “exonerating evidence that totally disproves the untrue accusations against me is revealed in court, and as it is revealed that the case against me was built through serious violations, my personal interest was and remains to continue this to its end, until full acquittal on all counts.”
However, he continued, “the security and political reality, the national interest, calls for an alternative. The ongoing trial is tearing us apart from within, fuelling fierce disagreements, and deepening divisions. I am sure…that ending it immediately would help lower tensions and promote the broad reconciliation the country desperately needs.”
It has been almost five years since Netanyahu was accused of charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. A few weeks ago, US President Donald Trump, an ally of Netanyahu, wrote to President Herzog directly urging him to pardon the Israeli Prime Minister. At the time, the response from Herzog’s office was that anyone seeking a pardon had to submit a formal request. The President’s office has now confirmed that such a submission has been received by the Prime Minister’s lawyers, and that “after receiving all of the relevant opinions, the president will responsibly and sincerely consider the request.”
Israeli opposition parties have pointed out that Netanyahu has not been found guilty at this time. A previous lawyer for the Israeli Prime Minister, Micha Fettman, has stated that in his opinion according to Israeli law such a pardon could not be granted unless Netanyahu were to admit guilt, which he has never done.
Naftali Bennett, the previous Prime Minister of Israel, who seems likely to stand his own party in next year’s general election, has publicly said that he supports a pardon for Netanyahu which is conditional on the current Israeli leader leaving politics.