Netanyahu Seeks Presidential Pardon Without Remorse or Retirement: A Political Earthquake in Israel

The decision by the head of the occupation government, Benjamin Netanyahu, to formally approach Israeli President Isaac Herzog with a request for a pardon, has sparked a massive wave of internal debate about the state's identity and the authorities' powers. This request comes at a sensitive time, as Netanyahu aims to obtain a pardon without offering any apology or showing remorse, and most importantly, without any indication of his intention to leave the political arena, which was widely considered an attempt to impose a new reality that bypasses the judicial process.

Opposition circles quickly condemned this move, with opposition leader Yair Lapid calling on President Herzog not to grant the request unless Netanyahu commits to permanently retiring from political life. The opposition accused Netanyahu of trying to divert attention from his government's efforts to pass the 'Conscription Law,' which exempts Haredi Jews from military service, and which is scheduled to begin deliberation in the Knesset tomorrow, Monday.

For his part, President Herzog's office confirmed that the request was referred, according to established procedures, to the pardon department in the Ministry of Justice to gather the necessary legal opinions. The office noted that this request is 'exceptional and has serious implications,' emphasizing that the President will consider it responsibly and seriously after completing all consultations with the legal advisor and relevant parties.

Netanyahu's request included a detailed letter from his defense lawyer and a personal one, in addition to a video in which he tried to justify the move as aiming to mend internal divisions. Netanyahu said in his letter that despite his interest in proving his innocence through trial, 'the public interest dictates otherwise' in light of the security challenges and historic political opportunities facing Israel in the Middle East, emphasizing his need to dedicate his full time and energy to these tasks.

Unlike typical pardon requests, Netanyahu's file did not include any admission of wrongdoing, but rather stressed that the criminal proceedings against him harm the state's interests and fuel divisions. He pointed out that the current pace of the trial, which consumes most days of the week, constitutes a heavy burden that prevents him from performing his duties as prime minister and dealing with vital issues such as the judicial system and the media.

In the same context, sources revealed that this move comes after external pressure and recommendations, as former US President Donald Trump had publicly called on Herzog to grant Netanyahu a pardon during his visit to the Knesset about a month and a half ago, followed by an official memorandum 20 days ago. While government ministers, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, blessed this step to stop 'internal bleeding,' observers and legal experts described it as an attempt to escape the imminent danger of conviction in corruption cases that began investigations a decade ago.