Benjamin Netanyahu just did something no sitting Israeli prime minister has ever done: he asked to be pardoned for corruption charges while still in office. And he's not admitting any guilt.
The request landed on President Isaac Herzog's desk on Sunday, and by nightfall, protesters had gathered outside Herzog's home carrying bananas and signs reading "Pardon = Banana Republic." Welcome to Israeli democracy in 2025.
The Charges And The History
Netanyahu has been on trial since 2019, facing charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust across three separate cases. The accusations include accepting nearly $200,000 worth of champagne, cigars, and positive press coverage from wealthy businessmen in exchange for political favors.
He's denied everything from day one, calling it a "witch hunt" orchestrated by political enemies. But here's what makes this request so unusual: typically, Israeli presidents only grant pardons after conviction. Netanyahu wants his trial cancelled entirely — without admitting wrongdoing, without expressing remorse, and without stepping down from office.
Trump's Fingerprints Are All Over This
President Trump publicly urged Israel to pardon Netanyahu during his speech to the Knesset last month. He followed up with a letter calling the corruption case "political, unjustified prosecution." Netanyahu mentioned Trump's support in his own video statement, saying a pardon would let him and Trump "advance mutual interests."
A recent poll shows Israelis are split almost evenly: 48% oppose an unconditional pardon, 44% support it. The remaining 8% don't know.
What Happens Now
The pardon request goes to the Justice Ministry first, which will gather opinions from relevant authorities. President Herzog called it an "extraordinary request" with "significant implications." He's said he'll consider it "in the most correct and precise manner."
Opposition leader Yair Lapid was blunt: "You cannot grant Netanyahu a pardon without an admission of guilt, an expression of remorse, and an immediate withdrawal from political life." The Movement for Quality Government called a pardon "a deadly blow to the rule of law."
Whatever Herzog decides, it will shape Israel's political future. And with elections coming next year, the timing isn't coincidental.