Israel is processing the implications of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request for a pardon on corruption charges, a scandal that has shaped the country’s politics for years.
For Mr Netanyahu’s supporters, a pardon would allow the country to reunite after a period of unprecedented division and allow him to lead effectively at a time of Middle East conflict. For his opponents, any obstruction to his trial would be a dangerous moment for Israel’s judicial system that could pave the way for corruption and a permanent weakening of the law.
Others, sensing the difficulty of the moment, are floating potential compromises. This group includes Naftali Bennett, a possible successor to Mr Netanyahu. Mr Bennett said he would support “a binding agreement that will include [Mr Netanyahu’s] dignified withdrawal from political life”, to end a period in which “Israel has been led to chaos and to the brink of a civil war”.
Israel's President Isaac Herzog says he will handle the pardon request in a 'co
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