Justice Ministry Pardons Dept not recommending Netanyahu pardon — trial ongoing, no admission of guilt

The Justice Ministry's Pardons Department completed its legal position paper on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's pardon request and determined it is not recommending a pardon. The department found that his request falls short of the necessary conditions: his trial is ongoing, he has not been convicted, and he did not admit guilt or express remorse for his actions in the pardon request. The High Court of Justice had previously ruled that pre-conviction pardons are theoretically possible only when the person requesting it has admitted to the crimes. The final decision on whether to pardon Netanyahu rests with President Isaac Herzog, who has said he will make the decision free of external influence — including from US President Donald Trump, who has applied heavy pressure on Herzog to grant the pardon. Netanyahu has been on trial for bribery, fraud and breach of trust since 2020. The Pardons Department position paper has been passed to Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, who was delegated by Justice Minister Levin to manage the bureaucratic process before transmission to the President's office. The pardon saga runs as a domestic political subthread alongside the war — Netanyahu is simultaneously commanding the most ambitious military campaign in Israel's history while fighting to avoid criminal conviction.