WEST JERUSALEM - DEC. 2, 2025: Protesters gathered outside Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s residence in West Jerusalem on Tuesday, Dec. 2, to protest Prime Minister Netanyahu’s pardon request from the corruption charges.

The protesters claimed that Netanyahu was trying to evade justice for political gain and urged President Herzog to reject the request.

Participants called for justice to be carried out without delay, chanting slogans such as “Netanyahu must be tried.”

On Sunday, Netanyahu formally submitted a request to the Israeli president asking to be pardoned from the corruption charges being examined by the court, charges he completely denies, triggering internal division.

The office of President Isaac Herzog said in a statement that the request will be referred to the Justice Ministry’s Pardons Department for opinions, which will be followed by the president’s legal counsel before Herzog issues a final decision.

Since the start of his trial in May 2020, Netanyahu has refused to admit guilt, and Israeli law does not allow the president to grant a pardon without such an admission.

Netanyahu’s request comes at a sensitive time, as Israel has effectively entered its election year ahead of a vote scheduled for next October, unless it is brought forward.

In January, Netanyahu began interrogation sessions related to corruption charges in cases designated 1000, 2000 and 4000, all of which he denies.

Case 1000 involves accusations that Netanyahu and his wife received expensive gifts such as cigars and champagne from wealthy businessmen in exchange for political favors.

Case 2000 concerns alleged negotiations with Arnon Mozes, publisher of the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, to gain favorable media coverage.

Case 4000, considered the most serious, involves allegations of providing regulatory and other benefits to Shaul Elovitch, the former owner of the Walla news site and the telecommunications giant Bezeq, in exchange for favorable media coverage.

The Israeli prime minister also faces charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, with the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for him and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024 over atrocities in Gaza, where over 70,000 people, mostly women and children, have been killed since October 2023.

Reporting by Ameer Muhammad Abed Rabbo Fasfus / Writing by Ayse Elif Erdis