Staging Chaos Amid Crisis: Netanyahu’s Pardon Fallout Hits Tel Aviv
The English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency and Al Jazeera, reports that Israeli Prime Minister benjamin netanyahu’s appeal to President Isaac Herzog for a pardon has sparked intense political and judicial controversy in the occupied territories. The move has significantly widened divisions over its implications for the current government and Israel’s future.
Sources close to President Herzog have described Netanyahu’s request as unprecedented with far-reaching consequences. They stressed that despite exceptional internal and external pressures, Herzog will thoroughly review all legal opinions before making a decision.
Netanyahu’s opponents and political analysts view the pardon bid as a severe blow to judicial credibility and law enforcement authority. They argue that granting clemency woudl legitimize corruption, with Netanyahu seeking political immunity to remain in power without accountability.
Opposition leaders like Yair Lapid and Yair Golan have warned against any pardon unless Netanyahu resigns from office and explicitly acknowledges his charges. Meanwhile, Naftali Bennett emphasized Israel is on the verge of internal collapse and civil strife, calling for Netanyahu’s dignified political retirement to end a longstanding national crisis.
In contrast,coalition parties quickly rallied behind Netanyahu’s request,claiming corruption cases against him are fabricated. Support came notably from defense Minister Yisrael Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
Gideon Weitzes,an Israeli journalist who first exposed corruption allegations against Netanyahu,condemned the recent pardon request as corrupt-a direct assault on law enforcement mechanisms at their core.
In a Haaretz article,Weitzes sharply criticized herzog for aligning with Netanyahu to help him evade trial. He contends that this petition reveals Netanyahu has no intention of leaving politics but plans instead “to return the criminal to the scene of his offenses.”
Weitzes believes this plea surpasses mere legal or political dissent; it exposes profound fractures within Israel’s political system. It reflects an unprecedented level of internal division while signaling hazardous exploitation of pardoning powers aimed at undermining rule of law and entrenching corruption in Israeli politics.
Moran Azulai,a political correspondent for Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper,wrote that despite initial preparations coordinated with U.S. President Donald Trump,ニュースの申し込み marked important shockwaves across Israel’s judiciary and political landscape.
The analyst added that unlike typical clemency cases requiring admission or regret by defendants-and often resignation-Netanyahu demands full exoneration without admitting guilt or stepping down amid ongoing unrest since October 7th events cast serious doubt over his premiership legitimacy.
Azulai further noted if Herzog accepts this request, it would grant Netanyahu his greatest advantage yet in his battle against judiciary authorities; though if rejected he will revert to being a central figure ahead of what is expected to be one of Israel’s most contentious elections ever held.
The reporter concluded emphasizing Israel faces a decisive moment-not merely concerning one corruption case-but representing an existential struggle over its identity: between upholding rule-of-law principles versus increased dominance by entrenched politicians’ influences within its governance system.
