Netanyahu Asks to Be Let Off the Hook in Corruption Trial

Netanyahu Asks to Be Let Off the Hook in Corruption Trial

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has officially asked President Isaac Herzog to pardon him in his long-running corruption trial, claiming it would help heal the country's deep divisions. The request, made public today, has triggered furious debate, with supporters saying it's a chance for unity and critics calling it a desperate attempt to escape justice.

Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving leader, is facing charges of bribery, fraud, and breaking the public's trust across three separate cases. Prosecutors say he traded political favours with rich businessmen in exchange for expensive gifts and flattering media coverage. He was charged back in 2019, making him the first sitting prime minister ever to go on trial. The case has dragged on for over five years now, with Netanyahu himself giving evidence since late 2024. Wars and political chaos have caused constant delays, and there's no verdict expected anytime soon.

In a letter to Herzog's office, Netanyahu wrote that whilst he wants to fully prove his innocence, "the public interest dictates otherwise." He argued the trial is getting in the way of him running the country and is ripping Israel apart, especially during ongoing conflicts. "It is tearing us apart from within," he said in a video statement, insisting a pardon would bring people together without him having to admit any wrongdoing.

The request comes after a push from US President Donald Trump, who wrote to Herzog earlier this month urging him to stop what he called a "political, unjustified prosecution." Trump's involvement has added an international dimension to the whole mess, though legal experts point out that pardons in Israel are extremely rare before someone's actually been found guilty—and usually require the person to show genuine remorse.

Herzog's office called the request "extraordinary" with "major consequences." They'll be asking the justice ministry for advice before making any decision—a process that could take ages. Netanyahu's political allies, like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have backed him, attacking the courts as "corrupt" and politically biased. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has also called for quick action.

Opposition politicians were absolutely scathing. Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid said in a video: "You cannot grant a pardon without admitting guilt, showing remorse, and quitting politics." Left-wing MP Yair Golan wrote on X: "Only guilty people ask for pardons—after eight years, the cases against him still stand strong."

Legal scholars, including those from the Israel Democracy Institute, are warning this could set a terrible precedent, destroying the principle that everyone's equal before the law. Former justice ministry director Emi Palmor pointed out: "You can't claim to be innocent whilst begging someone to rescue you." A pardon wouldn't automatically stop the trial anyway; that would need approval from the attorney general.

With elections due by October 2026, Netanyahu—who can still run unless he's convicted and loses all his appeals—is hoping to shift focus back to security and the economy. But for loads of people, this feels like yet another chapter in a saga that's testing whether Israel's democracy can survive. Herzog now holds the fate of a trial that's gripped the entire nation.