Coalition and opposition politicians express conflicting opinions following Netanyahu’s pardon request

Following the announcement by the office of President Isaac Herzog of the receipt of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s letter requesting a pardon in his corruption trial, politicians across the Israeli spectrum expressed strong reactions. 

Members of the opposition called on Herzog to deny the request for a formal pardon, saying that it would harm the rule of law in Israel. 

Opposition leader Yair Lapid of Yesh Atid uploaded a video to his 𝕏 account, saying that Herzog “cannot give Netanyahu a pardon without a confession of guilt, an expression of remorse and an immediate retirement from political life.” 

This opinion was also expressed by the Democrats party chairman Yair Golan, who posted to 𝕏, “Netanyahu, want a pardon? Admit guilt, express remorse, and resign – only then will unity be achieved in the nation.” 

“The only path to unity in the nation is by stopping the machine of hatred and poison, by halting the dismantling of the legal and democratic systems. And this path begins with your resignation and leaving public life in Israel,” Golan addressed Netanyahu in the video. 

Benny Gantz, head of the Blue and White party, and former war cabinet member, said that Netanyahu is only proceeding with the pardon request for political reasons. 

“Netanyahu knows that the pardon request, which does not match the standard process in Israel, is a complete fake, intended to divert the public's eyes from the exemption from conscription law that he is promoting at the expense of our children,” Gantz wrote to 𝕏. “He acts like a firefighter who ignites a fire and then demands protection in order to extinguish it.” 

Gantz called on Netanyahu to go to elections before asking for a pardon, saying, “extinguish the fire you created in Israeli society, stop the harm to democracy, go to elections, and only then request a plea bargain or pardon.” 

Right-wing opposition member Avigdor Liberman also accused Netanyahu of using the request as a political distraction. 

“Do you remember that five minutes ago there was a war here, and the draft exemption law and two hostages who still haven’t returned, and an economy in collapse, and food prices through the roof?” Liberman asked on his social media account. “And what about the whitewash committee they’re setting up? [Referring to the government’s attempts to set up its own October 7 investigation, instead of setting up a state commission of inquiry, which much of the public prefers, according to recent polling]."

MK Ahmad Tibi, a member of the Arab Hadash-Ta’al joint list party, noted that “Netanyahu is not legally seeking a pardon; he is seeking to end the trial.” 

The Movement for Quality Government, which has opposed the judicial reforms proposed by the coalition government, and has supported the efforts to bring Netanyahu to trial on corruption charges, said that granting a pardon to Netanyahu without a verdict would amount to “a deadly blow to the rule of law and to the principle of equality before the law, the very soul of Israeli democracy.” 

As expected, members of coalition parties were supportive of the pardon request. Religious Zionism head and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that his party is committed to the judicial reforms, even if the prime minister receives a pardon. 

“The commitment of Religious Zionism to reform in the judicial system will continue in a substantive manner, regardless of Netanyahu's pardon,” Smotrich wrote in a statement to social media. “Apart from the necessary reform in the law enforcement system, it is clear to every reasonable person that Netanyahu has been persecuted for years by a corrupt judicial system that fabricated political cases against him, and therefore I call on the president to respond to the pardon request.” 

National Security Minister and Jewish Power party head Itamar Ben Gvir claimed that Netanyahu’s trial is itself a political act, saying that a pardon would be good for the nation. 

“Although I believe that the prime minister deserves a full acquittal and the expunging of corruption from the prosecution, out of national responsibility, I support the pardon request,” Ben Givr said. 

Former Netanyahu political opponent and current Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar, said that bringing the case to a close would be good for the state, and that he trusts in Herzog's judgment. 

“The conclusion of the Netanyahu trial saga reflects the good of the state and will contribute to the unity of Israel,” Sa’ar wrote to 𝕏. “I rely on the judgment and broad national vision of the President of the State.” 

Defense Minister Israel Katz, a Netanyahu ally and fellow Likud party member, also expressed his support for the pardon request. 

“I support the pardon request submitted by Prime Minister Netanyahu to President Herzog, and I call on the President to respond to it and bring an end to the legal charges that were born in sin and have created a deep rift that divides the people,” Katz wrote. 

The defense minister also referred to the “complex security reality” currently facing Israel, saying, “At this time, unified leadership is required that is focused on the strategic threat facing us.” 

“Granting a pardon, as the U.S. President also noted, is the only way to end the deep schism that has accompanied Israeli society for about a decade, and to allow the country to reunite in the face of the challenges and opportunities before us,” Katz continued. “I call on President Herzog to support the decision that will allow the State of Israel to continue united forward.”