Benjamin Netanyahu’s Sunday pardon request to President Isaac Herzog has Israeli analysts calling it a blatant political ploy to dodge his corruption trial and clear the runway for 2026 re-election.
The first sitting PM to face charges, Netanyahu appears in court weekly for three cases alleging bribery, fraud and breach of trust. He seeks mercy without conviction or guilt admission – unprecedented in Israel.
Axios reported on Monday that Netanyahu asked US President Donald Trump for support during a call, citing one Israeli and two US officials. Trump already urged Herzog twice: from the Knesset podium and in a letter.
“A win-win bet”
Yedioth Ahronot columnist Naum Barnea wrote the filing is “the first act of a negotiation to end the trial”. If granted, Netanyahu “frees himself, proves his power and rides the wave to victory”. If denied, he plays the victim “until election day”.
At 76, Netanyahu has led Israel for over 18 years since 1996 – the longest-serving PM.
No guilt, no remorse
Netanyahu insists he’s innocent and the cases are a “deep state” witch-hunt by rivals and media. He argues mercy would let him focus on national unity amid war.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid demands any pardon include guilt admission, remorse and immediate political retirement.
Quid pro quo?
Analyst Ari Shavit sees a trade: pardon for Netanyahu in exchange for shelving the 2023 judicial reform that sparked Israel’s largest protests ever – seen by critics as an assault on democracy.
The reform aimed to “rebalance” judicial and executive powers but divided the nation.
Public mood: 40% against mercy
Two polls show 40% of Israelis oppose any pardon for Netanyahu.
The current Knesset term ends November 2026, but snap elections loom if his fragile right-wing coalition collapses.
“Political tool, not legal”
Tel Aviv University law professor Dorit Koskas called the request a “political tool” to erase October 7 failures and continue his career without accountability.
Analyst Myriam Shermer said a pardon could limit divisions only if it paves the way for a broad centrist coalition after years of deadlock – but that requires the opposition to stop demonising Netanyahu so he drops his far-right allies and forms a “real commission” to probe security and political failures leading to the Hamas attack.
Netanyahu opposes such a probe, against overwhelming public opinion.
Shermer: Last term trade-off
Shermer predicts Netanyahu would happily shelve judicial reform for one final, less turbulent term crowned by diplomatic wins – like normalising ties with Saudi Arabia.
Also read: Netanyahu seeks pardon to kill corruption case
For more videos and updates, check our YouTube channel.
