Netanyahu requests pardon from Israeli president, after Trump letter urging clemency

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked President Isaac Herzog for a pardon arsenic helium stands proceedings connected corruption and fraud charges — weeks aft President Donald Trump sent his ain missive urging clemency.

Netanyahu emphasized interest implicit nationalist part successful his request. While explicitly not admitting guilt, helium wrote the pardon would let him to "reconcile the nationalist rift" and "lower the flames" successful the arguments surrounding his trial.

Herzog’s bureau released a connection Sunday saying it has received Netanyahu’s ceremonial pardon request, calling it "extraordinary" and acknowledging that it carries "significant implications."

The request, successful accordance with guidelines and procedures, was being transferred to the Pardons Department successful the Ministry of Justice, which volition stitchery opinions from applicable authorities connected the matter, the president’s bureau said.

TRUMP MAKES FORMAL REQUEST TO ISRAELI PRESIDENT TO PARDON NETANYAHU

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks astatine the plenum of the Knesset, Israel's parliament, successful Jerusalem, Nov. 10, 2025. (Reuters/Ronen Zvulun/File Photo)

The opinions volition past beryllium sent to the ineligible advisor successful the Office of the President, who volition formulate an further sentiment for Herzog.

"After receiving each of the applicable opinions, the President volition responsibly and sincerely see the request," Herzog’s bureau said successful the statement.

Israel's President Isaac Herzog is welcomed with a afloat subject defender of grant upon his arrival, marking the first-ever authorities sojourn by an Israeli caput of state, astatine Kenneth Kaunda International Airport successful Lusaka, Zambia, Oct. 10, 2025. (Reuters/Moses Mwape)

Netanyahu is currently standing trial on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of spot successful 3 abstracted corruption cases. The trial, which began successful 2020, marked the archetypal clip a sitting Israeli premier curate testified arsenic a transgression defendant.

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Earlier this month, Trump urged Herzog to see afloat pardoning Netanyahu successful a letter. Trump wrote that Netanyahu has been a "formidable and decisive" leader for Israel in a clip of warfare and has led Israel "into a clip of peace."

President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arsenic helium arrives astatine the White House for a gathering connected April 7, 2025, successful Washington, D.C. (Chen Mengtong/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)

Trump wrote that portion helium "absolutely" respects the independency of the Israeli judicial system, helium believes the lawsuit against Netanyahu is simply a "political, unjustified prosecution."

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Trump had antecedently urged Herzog to pardon Netanyahu during a code successful the Israeli Knesset successful October.

Fox News’ Yael Rotem-Kuriel contributed to this report.