Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu requested the cancellation of his hearing due to political and security reasons. At the same time, Al Jazeera noted he would submit his reasoning to judges in a sealed envelope. Channel 14 later reported that the court had agreed to postpone the session.
Despite these reports, Reuters confirmed that Netanyahu appeared in court on Monday, marking his first presence since formally requesting a presidential pardon from President Isaac Herzog. The pardon request has triggered sharp opposition criticism, with some lawmakers insisting any clemency must be conditional on Netanyahu’s resignation from politics and admission of guilt. Others argued that he should first oversee the next Knesset elections, slated for October 2026, before seeking leniency.
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett stated he would support ending the trial if Netanyahu agreed to step down, saying such a move could help Israel escape political turmoil. Herzog, responding to the pardon request, acknowledged the issue was deeply unsettling for many Israelis and promised to handle it with precision and care.
Netanyahu’s allies in the right-wing coalition have backed his appeal, which came two weeks after former U.S. President Donald Trump urged Herzog in a letter to consider granting clemency. Meanwhile, opposition parties have made Netanyahu’s legal troubles a centerpiece of their campaigns, with polls suggesting his coalition may struggle to secure enough seats to form the next government.
Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, was charged in 2019 with bribery, fraud, and breach of trust following years of investigation. His trial, which began in 2020, centers on accusations of press manipulation and receiving illicit gifts in exchange for political favors.
Adding to the controversy, Netanyahu’s former defense attorney Micah Fettman told Channel 12 that a pardon could not be granted unless the premier admitted guilt, citing Israel’s Basic Law that empowers the president to pardon offenders. Anti-Netanyahu protesters rallied outside Herzog’s residence in Tel Aviv, demanding he reject the request. Herzog has since sought a legal opinion before making any decision, denying speculation that he was leaning toward a conditional pardon or plea bargain.
Hossein Amiri - ahmad shirzadian
