President Isaac Herzog announced that he will evaluate the details of an “extraordinary request” before issuing a decision.
MADRID, Nov. 30. (EUROPA PRESS).- The Prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahuformally requested the President of the country, Isaac Herzogto issue a clemency order and definitively exempt him from any responsibility in the trial for corruption to which the head of the Israeli government is being subjected.
In his letter, Netanyahu explains that, despite his personal interest in “bringing to a successful conclusion” the judicial process to which he is being subjected, the procedure is causing such instability that he sees no solution other than to accelerate its conclusion to “reduce the tension in the debate that has arisen around it.”
“Therefore, and despite my personal interest in proving my innocence until my complete acquittal, I believe that the public interest dictates otherwise,” said the Israeli Prime Minister.
“Due to my public responsibility, as Prime Minister, to try to achieve reconciliation between the parts of the people, I have no doubt that the conclusion of the trial will help reduce the tension in the debate that has arisen around it,” he stated before once again using the conflict in Gaza as the priority reason for his request.
“Given the security challenges and political opportunities currently facing the State of Israel, I am committed to doing everything possible to heal divisions, achieve people’s unity and restore confidence in State systems, and I hope that all branches of State will do the same,” he said.
The Prime Minister is accused in three cases for a battery of crimes, including fraud or accepting bribes, although he accused that everything is part of political persecution. In fact, he managed to return to power for a sixth term with the processes already open, at the end of 2022.
Among the accusations against him is the improper use of power to pressure the media to spread favorable information about the government. One of the cases dates back to 2000, when he allegedly tried to reach an agreement with the newspaper Yedioth Aharonot so that he would speak positively about his administration in exchange for promoting legislation that would harm his main competition, the newspaper Israel Hayom.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza war, Netanyahu has lamented that the trial against him has been a burden that has prevented him from carrying out his task normally. The Prime Minister has made numerous requests for adjournments in his Court appearances, citing issues of health, security or diplomatic visits.
Two weeks ago, the President of the United States (EU) and Netanyahu’s great ally, Donald Trump, went a step further by sending a letter to Herzog asking him to directly consider a pardon for the Prime Minister by ensuring that the court case has been “politically motivated” since 2020 and stating that the crimes of which Netanyahu is accused are “unjust charges intended to do him great harm.”
The Israeli Presidency proceeds to study the request
In its first response, the office of the Israeli Presidency avoided commenting immediately and indicated that it will study the situation thoroughly.
“This is a request for extraordinary clemency with important implications. After receiving all the opinions, the President of the State will consider it responsibly and seriously,” the note reads.
The office of President Herzogin its statement, details that the request was presented to the Legal Department of the Presidency by the Prime Minister’s lawyer, Amit Hadad, and from there it will be transferred to the Department of Pardons of the Ministry of Justice, “which will seek the opinions of all the competent authorities.”
“These opinions will subsequently be transmitted to the Legal Adviser to the President and her team to formulate an additional opinion for the President,” at which time Herzog will make a decision on the matter, the statement concludes.