Israeli justice ministry rejects pardon recommendation for Netanyahu in corruption cases

JERUSALEM: The Pardon Department of the Israeli Ministry of Justice has decided not to recommend a presidential pardon for Prime Minister Netanyahu in corruption cases.

According to media, the Pardon Department of the Ministry of Justice has completed its legal opinion and sent it to Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

This document has been given to the Minister of Culture and Heritage on the instructions of the Minister of Justice, who will complete the formalities up to the Presidential Office.

According to reports, the Pardon Department of the Ministry of Justice has said in its opinion that the Prime Minister’s pardon request does not meet the legal requirements, so it will be difficult to grant a pardon.

It is believed that the case against Netanyahu is still under trial and he has not yet been convicted of any crime.

In addition, the Israeli Prime Minister has neither admitted to the crime nor expressed any remorse in his pardon request, which is considered an important condition for a premature pardon.

Israel’s High Court has already ruled that a person can be pardoned even before sentencing, but the condition for this is that the applicant confesses to his crime.

Meanwhile, there have been reports of US President Donald Trump pressuring the Israeli president to pardon Netanyahu.

However, President Isaac Herzog had made it clear that he would decide on the matter without any external pressure and by fulfilling the requirements of justice.

Netanyahu Corruption Case: A Brief History

In 2019, the Israeli Prosecutor General first charged Netanyahu with bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

The following year, the formal trial against the Israeli Prime Minister began in the Tel Aviv District Court.

After which, solid evidence was presented in various hearings held for 5 years, but Netanyahu denied all these allegations.

However, in 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu filed a request for a presidential pardon during the ongoing corruption trial against him.

On which conflicting opinions emerged across the country, and now the Justice Ministry’s Pardon Department has prepared a legal opinion not to recommend a pardon for Netanyahu, but the final decision will be made by President Isaac Herzog.