Netanyahu Seeks President's Pardon in Corruption Trial

Would pardoning Netanyahu unite Israel during a crisis, or would it reward corruption and deepen divisions?

Published 4 days ago

Netanyahu Seeks President's Pardon in Corruption Trial

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Above: Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Sept. 29, 2025. Image credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-government narrative

Netanyahu's trial has torn the nation apart for a decade. Granting a pardon is essential to reunite the country during an unprecedented security crisis when unified leadership is desperately needed. He has earned the public's trust through elections and must be allowed to focus on defending Israel.

Benjamin Netanyahu on X

Israel Katz on X

Government-critical narrative

Only the guilty seek pardons, and after eight years, Netanyahu's cases haven't collapsed. Real unity requires Netanyahu to admit guilt, take responsibility and leave politics permanently. A pardon without resignation would reward corruption and further divide the nation rather than heal it.

Yair Golan on X

Al Arabiya English on X

Narrative C

Netanyahu, cornered by a grueling trial and shrinking plea-deal prospects, wields a bold pardon bid as leverage. His message to Israel's legal gatekeepers is unmistakable: grant clemency, and I'll leash Yariv Levin, spare the High Court and bury the judicial overhaul. In this fraught moment, both his vulnerability and his power reach their peak, forcing Herzog to choose between the law and a national truce.

The Jerusalem Post

Narrative D

A pardon request does not constitute an admission of guilt, and Herzog could, in principle, grant Netanyahu clemency even while his trial continues. A pardon reflects individualized compassion and justice, tailored to a person's specific circumstances. Consequently, there are no formal prerequisites, and the law does not dictate the president's criteria for evaluating such requests.

Israel Democracy Institute