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In a televised address at the same time as Netanyahu’s application was submitted, he claimed that “I would prefer the trial to continue until I prove my innocence.” But unfortunately, he continued, the trial steals so much of his time “that the security of the country is threatened”. The description rhymes badly with the recent dramatic scenes in the courtroom, where several people testified about how Netanyahu and his family ordered gifts from rich acquaintances.
In his speech and in his application, Netanyahu made a big deal of Donald Trump‘s support on the issue. During a speech in the Knesset recently, the American president embarrassed his Israeli colleague Herzog with the words “Give him a pardon!” Soon after, in a letter, Trump repeated his call to Herzog.
It would be very surprising if the president, former party leader of the Labor Party, were to put his legacy on the line by pushing through a pardon, breaking all the laws. According to accepted procedure, persons seeking pardon must confess their crimes and express remorse. Netanyahu does not, who on the contrary claims that the three corruption charges against him are a political conspiracy.
A broad public here, including many of Netanyahu’s opponents, has advocated a pardon, but on the condition that he resign and end his political career. But in his application to Herzog, Netanyahu makes it clear that he has no thoughts of retirement, on the contrary. A pardon, he says, would help him run the country more effectively.
In his television appearance Netanyahu urged “those who support me” to show this, that is, to put pressure on the president. Perhaps this is the idea behind Netanyahu’s surprise move: to mobilize broad popular opinion to put pressure on Herzog until he relents.
During the eight years that the police investigations and trial against Netanyahu have been ongoing, he has acted increasingly purposefully to cast doubt on and weaken the judiciary and the police. His government no longer “recognizes” either the President of the Supreme Court or the government’s own legal adviser, who heads the prosecution.
