Sara Netanyahu presses Likud to advance presidential pardon for PM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's wife, Sara Netanyahu, has reportedly urged ministers from the ruling Likud party to sign a letter calling for a presidential pardon for the prime minister, even as his corruption trial remains ongoing and no final judgment has been issued.

Sara was quoted by Kan as telling several ministers who had not signed the letter: "This is good timing - even Trump asked, it's important for us. The cases are baseless and will lead nowhere anyway, let's just finish with this."

During a speech at the Israeli Knesset, US President Donald Trump called on Israeli President Isaac Herzog to give Netanyahu a pardon, saying, "I have an idea, why don't you give Netanyahu a pardon," adding, "who cares about cigars and champagne."

Netanyahu had allegedly received both as gifts illicitly, and is a key part of the case nicknamed the "gifts affair".

The report added that ministers who were hesitating subsequently "fell in line" and signed the letter.

The letter, addressed to President Herzog, was signed by 19 Likud ministers and deputy ministers on Tuesday, calling for a pardon for Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes in Gaza.

Netanyahu is currently under a year-long corruption trial that began in 2020, with the PM being charged with one count of bribery, fraud and a breach of trust, in three separate cases of corruption allegations.

The letter claimed that the trial is "harming the unity of the people" and said that Netanyahu was "leading a historic victory over the enemies of Israel," according to the Times of Israel.

According to Haaretz, President Herzog is reviewing whether a pardon could legally be granted while the case is still before the court. While the Israeli president does hold the power to issue pardons, such powers typically apply only after conviction.

For a pre-conviction pardon, the matter must be deemed to serve the public interest, and the request must come from the individual concerned or an immediate family member.

Haaretz also reported that Herzog has explored possible legal avenues for granting a pardon, including consultations with Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, though her office reportedly rebuffed the idea. Herzog’s office later denied claims that he was considering such a move.