Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally submitted a pardon request to Israel’s president, citing national security, political unity, and coordination with the United States as primary reasons for the unprecedented move. In a public statement, Netanyahu acknowledged the personal and legal stakes of the decision, noting that his trial has persisted for nearly six years and has been ongoing for almost a decade since the initial investigations began.

Netanyahu emphasized that exonerating evidence has emerged, which he asserts disproves the allegations against him, and that the case has been marred by what he calls “serious violations” in the judicial process. Despite his personal interest in seeing the trial through to full acquittal, he argued that the national interest requires a different path, given Israel’s current security threats and political opportunities.

The Prime Minister highlighted the heavy demands imposed by the judicial panel, requiring him to testify three times a week—a burden he described as impossible and unprecedented for any other Israeli citizen. He also referenced repeated appeals from former President Donald Trump, who called for an immediate conclusion to the trial to allow Israel and the United States to focus on strategic goals during a limited window of opportunity.

Netanyahu framed the pardon request as a step to lower domestic tensions, promote unity, and safeguard Israel’s national interests, stressing that ongoing legal proceedings have deepened divisions and hampered cooperation at a critical moment. “Ending the trial immediately would help lower tensions and promote the broad reconciliation our country so desperately needs,” he said.

The Prime Minister concluded by reminding citizens that he has been democratically elected multiple times and entrusted with leadership primarily to achieve historic goals. He called on Israelis and officials to support the move, portraying the pardon request as a necessary measure to secure both Israel’s internal stability and its strategic partnership with the United States.