Netanyahu asks for pardon in Israel corruption trial

Netanyahu’s request comes weeks after US President Donald Trump mentioned the need for a pardon for the prime minister. The American called the Israeli “formidable” in leading the country and said it was “time to forgive him.”

Proceedings against Netanyahu

Netanyahu is being prosecuted in three cases for corruption. In one of them, the prime minister and his wife are accused of accepting more than US$260,000 (equivalent to R$1.4 million) in luxury items such as cigars, jewelry and champagne from billionaires in exchange for political favors.

He is also accused of negotiating more favorable coverage from two Israeli media outlets in the other cases. The prime minister repeatedly denied any malpractice in the three processes. His followers consider him to be politically motivated.

During his current term, which began at the end of 2022, the prime minister has proposed broad judicial reforms that, according to his rivals, seek to weaken the power of the courts. This attempt triggered mass protests that ended with the start of the war in Gaza, provoked by the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.