Timing and Political Calculations

There was a clear “threat” delivered in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s formal letter to the President Isaac Herzog requesting a pardon in his corruption case, senior Haaretz columnist Dahlia Scheindlin said on the Haaretz Podcast. 

Netanyahu’s government continues to conduct a “campaign of vicious political incitement against the Israeli judiciary,” Scheindlin noted. “And what he's basically saying in the request is: ‘You see how bad I can make things. This is what will happen and continue to happen if you don't end this.’ It’s a very severe statement.’’

On Sunday, Netanyahu formally submitted a pardon request to the Israeli president. He has been on trial for three separate criminal cases – charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust – since 2020 and is currently being cross-examined by prosecutors in court. 

On the podcast, Scheindlin discusses the impact a pardon would have on a future election and the U.S.-led efforts to pursue the goals laid out in the Gaza cease-fire agreement, as well as what she believes Israel’s opposition needs to do to seize this moment ahead of next October’s election in order to formulate a “winning strategy” to defeat Netanyahu. 

Read more from Dahlia Scheindlin:

The Visionary Palestinian Peace Plan for Israel and Gaza That You've Never Heard Of

Nobody Wants This? Netanyahu Is Gaslighting Israelis Over October 7 Investigation

What Israel's Opposition Should Learn From Mamdani

Read more on Netanyahu's pardon request:

What You Need to Know About Netanyahu's Bid for a Presidential Pardon in His Corruption Trial

43 Percent of Israelis Oppose Pardoning Netanyahu in Corruption Trials, Polls Show

It's Clear What Defendant Netanyahu Gets Out of a Pardon. But What's in It for Trump?

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