Herzog: I Will Consider Pardoning Netanyahu According to the Interest of the State and Israeli Society

SadaNews - Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed the request for pardon submitted to him by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today, Monday, stating, "It is clear to me that this matter is shaking many people in the country and provoking a debate. I have clarified and stated that it will be taken care of in the most accurate and proper manner. I will consider only the interest of the state and Israeli society."

Sources in the Israeli President's Office mentioned that the pardon request submitted by Netanyahu is "unusual and carries significant implications," and after Herzog receives all legal perspectives, "he will examine them responsibly and thoroughly," according to a statement issued by the president's office.

Netanyahu's pardon request included two documents: the first is a letter signed by his lawyer, and the second is a letter signed by Netanyahu himself, in which he states, "I bear a wide public and moral responsibility, based on my understanding of the implications of all the events. Therefore, despite my personal interest in managing the trial and proving my innocence until full acquittal, I believe that the public interest necessitates another course of action."

Netanyahu, who refrained from taking personal responsibility for the violations mentioned in the indictments against him, added that he is "committed to doing anything to heal divisions, achieve unity among the people, and restore trust in state institutions, and I expect all heads of state arms to do the same."

Netanyahu continued, "Granting a pardon will allow the Prime Minister to work on healing divisions, as well as address other issues, such as the judiciary and the media. These are matters he is prohibited from dealing with due to the ongoing trial against him."

He reiterated that he has "hesitated a lot regarding this matter. But recent events have clarified the situation. Due to a decision from the judges considering the case, I am required to testify three times a week. This is an impossible request that no other citizen in Israel has been asked to comply with."

Today, the judges approved Netanyahu's request to cancel his trial session scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, claiming "a political-security schedule," and the public prosecution agreed to the request on the condition of extending the trial session for the day after tomorrow, Wednesday, with the judges deciding to extend it by one hour.

Netanyahu attacked prosecutor Yehudit Tirosh during his trial session today, after she presented an interview with him on the "Walla" website during the last election period, even though Netanyahu claimed in his testimony that he had not conducted interviews with "Walla" during that time.

Netanyahu told the prosecutor, "You should be ashamed, and it’s ridiculous how much you have lied throughout this trial while you cannot see your own hump and the hump of your system. I have always viewed Walla as an antagonistic site and repeatedly refused their request for an interview."