Jakarta –
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has applied for pardon while on trial on corruption charges. He said this long-standing case had torn the country apart.
“The trial in my case has been going on for almost six years, and is expected to continue for many years,” Netanyahu said as reported by the AFP news agency, Monday (1/12/2025).
Netanyahu made it clear that he wants to see this process through to acquittal. He said the case that dragged him in only caused division in the country.
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“The continuation of this trial is tearing us apart from within, giving rise to bitter divisions, intensifying divisions,” he added.
The cases against Netanyahu have exposed divisions in Israeli society between his supporters and opponents. Netanyahu’s supporters consider the trial to be politically motivated.
Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, are accused in one case of receiving luxury goods such as cigars, jewelry and champagne worth more than $260,000 from billionaires in exchange for political favors. He was also accused of trying to negotiate more favorable coverage from two Israeli media outlets in two other cases.
(wnv/wnv)