Israeli opposition leaders say Netanyahu must plead guilty and quit politics before any pardon

Israeli opposition leaders have urged President Isaac Herzog not to grant Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a presidential pardon unless he admits guilt, expresses remorse and permanently withdraws from political life. Netanyahu, who faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate corruption cases, submitted a request for a presidential pardon on Sunday. He has consistently refused to plead guilty or seek a plea deal, as Israeli law stipulates that a pardon may only be granted after an admission of guilt. Opposition leader Yair Lapid said in a video published on the X platform: “I appeal to President Herzog… You cannot grant Netanyahu a pardon without a guilty plea, a show of remorse and an immediate withdrawal from […]