Netanyahu asks President for pardon amid corruption trial

Benjamin Netanyahu is asking his President for mercy, something Bibi has held in very little regard over the last three years. Netanyahu is asking to be pardoned for his bribery and fraud charges, and unsurprisingly, Donald Trump is loyally backing him. The Israeli PM has been under investigation for almost five years but argues that ending the trial is in “national interest”. Netanyahu has continually played the victim, even though there is mounting evidence supporting the Israeli prosecution’s case.  

Benjamin Netanyahu has been investigated for corruption, bribery, and fraud five separate times since 2016, and was charged for three of these investigations in 2020. Netanyahu was charged in three of the cases. Case 1000 claims Netanyahu had a conflict of interest while he was the Minister of Communications, accepting $200,000 USD over the span of five years from businessman Arnon Milchan and his associates. Case 2000 is a criminal investigation that concerns the relationship between Netanyahu and the publisher and controlling owner of Yedioth Ahronoth, a prominent English-language Israeli paper. Mozes reportedly offered Netanyahu kinder coverage in Yedioth Ahronoth for him and his family, and harsher coverage for his political opponents. In exchange, Netanyahu was charged with using his influence to promote legislation that would impose restrictions on Israel Hayom, a competing publication, to benefit Mozes and his business associates financially. Case 4000 accuses Netanyahu of promising regulatory changes that would be favourable to the business interests of Shaul Elovitch, the owner of Bezeq, an Israeli telecommunications company. Netanyahu was charged with fraud, breach of trust, and bribery in this case, as was Elovitch.

Earlier this month, on November 17, Donald Trump wrote to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, asking him to pardon Netanyahu for his crimes, "As the Great State of Israel and the amazing Jewish People move past the terribly difficult times of the last three years, I hereby call on you to fully pardon Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been a formidable and decisive War Time Prime Minister, and is now leading Israel into a time of peace." In the letter, Trump claimed that Netanyahu was experiencing "a political, unjustified prosecution". "While I absolutely respect the independence of the Israeli Justice System, and its requirements, I believe that this 'case' against Bibi [Netanyahu], who has fought alongside me for a long time, including against the very tough adversary of Israel, Iran, is a political, unjustified prosecution." Herzog thanked Trump for the letter but said that anyone seeking a pardon had to submit a formal request. "[Israel] holds President Trump in the highest regard and continues to express his deep appreciation for President Trump's unwavering support for Israel". Benjamin Netanyahu also thanked Trump in a post on Twitter. 

According to Israeli law, the President "has the power to pardon criminals and reduce or transmute their sentence," but Presidential pardons before conviction are extremely uncommon in Israel, with one notable exception from 1986. Netanyahu is the first sitting President to be only a sitting prime minister in Israeli history to stand trial for crimes of this nature. The details of Netanyahu’s request have not been released, but he has consistently portrayed himself as the victim of a “deep state” conspiracy trying to upend his political career.

The President's office didn’t publicly shut down the request, but acknowledged its historical nature.“The Office of the President is aware that this is an extraordinary request which carries with it significant implications. After receiving all of the relevant opinions, the president will responsibly and sincerely consider the request.” Netanyahu’s critics have been vocal, encouraging the President not to cede the request, not without an admission of guilt, a lifetime ban from politics, or a trial beforehand.