Jerusalem | November 30, 2025 :
Israel’s political landscape was thrown into deeper turmoil this week after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally requested a presidential pardon on November 30, 2025, as his years-long corruption trial approaches its decisive phase. The bid for clemency has reignited fierce divisions across the country, with supporters and opponents flooding the streets in competing demonstrations.
Netanyahu is facing charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust tied to allegations of receiving lavish gifts from media tycoons and offering regulatory advantages to associates in exchange for positive news coverage. The high-profile case, active since 2019, also names key figures including his wife, Sara Netanyahu, and State Attorney Amir Ohana.
The pardon request—submitted to President Isaac Herzog, who is under no obligation to approve it—has triggered intense political pressure. Likud loyalists claim Netanyahu is being targeted by left-leaning elites, labeling the proceedings a “witch hunt.” Opposition leader Yair Lapid condemned the move as an assault on democratic norms, warning it could erode judicial independence and further destabilize an already divided nation.
Outside the Jerusalem courthouse, thousands of protesters clashed with rival groups chanting “Bibi must go” and “The people stand with Bibi,” reflecting Israel’s deepening polarization. The trial’s testimony phase wrapped up last month, with witnesses alleging Netanyahu bartered policy influence for favorable media treatment.
Herzog has 30 days to deliver his decision, but legal experts expect a rejection—an outcome that could force Netanyahu to step down and potentially trigger snap elections by mid-2026. The timing is especially fraught, as the government navigates fragile Gaza ceasefire negotiations involving U.S. envoy Brett McGurk and Hamas representatives.
With polls showing 52% of Israelis favor Netanyahu’s removal, analysts warn that the pardon request could shape his legacy forever, defining the future of Israel’s longest-serving prime minister amid mounting security threats and internal fractures.
