Gantz pointed out that the purpose of this request is to “distract the public from the exemption from conscription law that Netanyahu is pushing forward at the expense of our children,” and likened his action to “firefighters who start the fire and then demand protection fees to put it out.”
It is worth mentioning that President Isaac Herzog received at the beginning of November a letter from US President Donald Trump appealing to him to consider the possibility of granting a pardon to Netanyahu, considering that “pardoning him would be an important step to unite Israel after difficult years.” Trump stressed in his letter that Netanyahu “has steadfastly defended Israel in the face of powerful adversaries, and that the case against him is political and unjustified.”
The President’s office responded by confirming that “anyone who wants to obtain a pardon must submit a formal request in accordance with the procedures followed in Israel.”
For his part, Netanyahu stated on Sunday: “Ending my trial immediately would promote the national interest that we desperately need,” noting that “the investigations into my case began 10 years ago, and the trials 6 years ago and may continue for many years,” considering that its continuation “raises disagreements,” and that ending it “will reduce tensions and achieve broad reconciliation.”
Netanyahu continued his speech, explaining that “my interest was to continue the judicial procedures to obtain acquittal, but security and political considerations impose a different option.”
