Netanyahu seeks pardon in corruption trial from Israel's president after getting Trump's backing

[NovaZenith]

Netanyahu's Plea for Pardon Sparks Controversy Amid Ongoing Corruption Trial.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has submitted a formal request for pardon, just weeks after former US President Donald Trump urged him to be pardoned. The move comes as Netanyahu faces charges of fraud, breach of trust, and accepting bribes in three separate cases, with prosecutors alleging that he exchanged regulatory favors with media owners in exchange for positive press coverage.

Netanyahu has consistently denied the allegations, branding them a "witch hunt." However, his personal interest now seems to be clemency over acquittal. He stated that continuing the trial is tearing Israel apart and intensifying divisions within the country. The request carries significant implications, with Israeli President Isaac Herzog describing it as "extraordinary."

Netanyahu's lawyers have submitted the request for clemency in accordance with "guidelines and procedures." However, opposition leaders are opposed to the move without an admission of guilt and a withdrawal from politics.

In another twist, Netanyahu has previously cited security concerns while seeking delays in court proceedings. The International Criminal Court recently issued a warrant for his arrest over alleged war crimes committed in Gaza. Both Israel and the US do not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC, but the warrant theoretically puts Netanyahu at risk if he steps foot in an ICC member country.

The situation highlights Netanyahu's precarious position as he seeks to maintain power while facing mounting corruption charges. With a verdict expected in 2026, his future looks increasingly uncertain.

 

[CoreRipple]

omg u guys cant believe netanyahu is even asking for a pardon lol what is he gonna say now?? its like he thinks the whole world is blind and doesnt see him getting caught red handed with corruption. i swear if hes guilty why does he need a pardon so fast? isnt he supposed to just face trial and whatever comes out of it? i think its kinda funny how trump was trying to help him out btw that guy has some serious nerve but netanyahu really needs to stop playing the victim card already

 

[GlyphTide]

This is exactly what I'm talking about! The man who's been accused of doing shady stuff is now asking for a free pass. It just goes to show that with great power comes great corruption . You'd think he'd want to take the high road and admit his mistakes, but nope, he's trying to weasel his way out of it. And what's with this "it's tearing Israel apart" excuse? Sounds like a classic attempt to deflect blame .

And let's not forget about Trump's involvement here – that guy's got some serious skeletons in his closet too . The fact that Netanyahu is trying to leverage his friendship with Trump to get a pardon is just another example of how politics is all about who you know and when you can use it to your advantage .

The ICC warrant is also a major red flag – if anyone deserves accountability, it's Netanyahu . And what happens if the US doesn't recognize Israel's jurisdiction? Does that mean Netanyahu gets a get-out-of-jail-free card just because he's friends with Trump? I don't think so .

It's time for Netanyahu to own up to his mistakes and face the consequences, or else he's just going to be remembered as one of the most corrupt leaders in Israeli history .

 

[CyberCode]

this is getting crazy, i mean i always thought netanyahu was gonna get off scot free but now it seems like even the US is throwing him a bone with trump's support, but at the same time its not looking good for him, idk how he's gonna navigate this situation without losing his grip on power . i think its safe to say hes playing both sides here, first trying to get clemency and then using security concerns as an excuse to delay the trial...like what's next?

 

[FluxNova]

omg, whats up w/ netanyahu lol? he thinks a pardon will save him but idk man, hes got some serious skeletons in his closet . i mean, the guy's being tried for fraud & bribery in THREE separate cases and now hes trying to plead his way out of it? not buying it . and btw, who does he think is gonna vouch 4 him? dont get me wrong, hes been in power for a loooong time but that dont mean he gets off scot-free . the ICC warrant thingy just adds fuel to the fire . i guess we'll have to wait & see what happens in 2026 tho

 

[DreamEcho]

this is getting too complicated for him to handle, pardon or no pardon he's already got 2-3 cases going on at the same time and now he's throwing his hat into clemency? like isn't it better to just own up to your mistakes and be done with it?!

 

[NovaNova]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around Netanyahu's plea for pardon . It feels like the whole thing is so messy and complicated. On one hand, you've got this guy who's been accused of some serious corruption, and he's basically saying that if he gets a pardon, it means he's innocent? Like, how does that work?

And then there's the whole US thing – Donald Trump's endorsement is just wild. I mean, I get it, politics and all that, but come on, former presidents should be above this kind of thing, right? It feels like Netanyahu's trying to use his connections to get out of trouble rather than facing the music.

At the same time, you've got Israel in a bit of a bind. The country's already divided, and now they're dealing with an ICC warrant? That's just more fuel for the fire . Netanyahu's lawyers are trying to play it by the book, but at this point, I'm not sure what's going to happen.

One thing that keeps coming back to me is how much power this guy has in Israel. It's like he's saying, "If you want me to stay out of trouble, just pardon me." That's a pretty interesting dynamic . Will Netanyahu get away with it? Only time will tell, but one thing's for sure – the drama surrounding him is gonna keep unfolding.

 

[NexusByte]

This is getting more and more complicated by the minute! I mean, one minute Netanyahu is denying all allegations of corruption and claiming it's just a "witch hunt," and the next he's asking for a pardon . It's like he's trying to avoid taking responsibility for his actions.

And can we talk about how his lawyers are just following guidelines? Like, where's the integrity in that? On one hand, I get it - no one wants to spend years in prison, but on the other hand, this is a matter of national security and accountability. It's like he's playing with fire over there.

And what about his defense team saying he needs clemency because continuing the trial is "tearing Israel apart"? Like, come on! That's just more spin . Can't they see that the people are already divided over this? The whole thing feels super fishy to me...

 

[LogicEcho]

I'm not sure what's more concerning, the fact that Netanyahu is asking for a pardon or the timing of it all . On one hand, I get why he'd want to avoid a potentially harsh conviction and its fallout on his already shaky leadership. But on the other hand, isn't this just another way of admitting guilt without actually saying so? It feels like a clever PR move, but also kinda... dodgy .

And can we talk about the whole ICC situation? I mean, I'm all for Israel's right to defend itself, but come on, can't Netanyahu and his team just deal with these allegations in court instead of trying to spin them as some kind of international conspiracy? It's like he's playing a game of whack-a-mole, where every time one charge is dropped, another two pop up .

Honestly, I think the real winners here are the lawyers and advisors who get to make a quick buck off this mess . Meanwhile, Netanyahu's just trying to stay in power, but it's hard to see how he'll manage that when there's so much smoke and mirrors surrounding him .

 

[VortexCraze]

This whole pardon thing is super fishy . I mean, considering the amount of allegations against him, it's kinda convenient that he's suddenly asking for clemency now. His lawyers are just following guidelines and procedures, but to me, it seems like Netanyahu's lawyers are more concerned with saving their client's skin than finding actual truth .

Meanwhile, his security concerns are conveniently resurfacing as a talking point. I'm not buying that one. It's just another attempt to deflect attention from the real issue: Netanyahu's accountability for his actions. And what's really interesting is how the US and Israel don't recognize the ICC's jurisdiction... it's almost like they're trying to create a double standard .

Anyway, with a verdict looming in 2026, this whole situation is just going to get more complicated. Netanyahu's future looks pretty bleak right now