Israel’s top legal authority has poured cold water on speculation surrounding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pardon application in his landmark corruption proceedings. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara’s office confirmed to media that no assessment has commenced, adhering strictly to protocol.
This follows a Channel 13 scoop alleging an impending opinion from the AG, potentially urging dismissal. Netanyahu’s November 2025 submission to President Isaac Herzog beseeches exoneration from serious allegations—fraud, bribery, breach of trust—while sidestepping any admission of fault, in a clear play to derail his enduring courtroom ordeal.
The pathway ahead involves the AG’s analysis routed to the clemency board for presidential guidance. Though not requiring guilt acknowledgment, such preemptive pardons are rarities in Israeli jurisprudence, per observers.
With Netanyahu under siege from various inquiries, the office’s stance threatens to amplify domestic strife. Herzog remains steadfast, committing to a fair ruling upon full review.
Tensions escalated recently as US President Donald Trump, after conferring with Netanyahu, blasted Herzog online, deeming pardon denial a disgrace. This builds on Trump’s earlier missive branding the case a political sham.
Addressing Politico, Herzog lauded his Trump ties but insisted on judicial autonomy. ‘Israel stands independent,’ he declared, ‘with legal integrity as my guiding north star over any external pressures.’ The episode spotlights the intricate dance of law, politics, and international ties.