Netanyahu's Pardon Bid Sparks Debate in Israel

In a surprising move, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked for a pardon while his corruption trial is still ongoing. This request has caused quite a stir in the country. Netanyahu's lawyers say that the trial is making it hard for him to do his job as prime minister. They also claim that a pardon would be good for Israel. However, many people disagree. Some politicians think that any pardon should have conditions. They want Netanyahu to admit guilt or step down from politics. Others believe that he should call for new elections before asking for a pardon. Naftali Bennett, a former prime minister, said he would support ending the trial if Netanyahu agreed to leave politics. Bennett thinks this would help unite the country. Netanyahu was charged with bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in 2019. His trial started in 2020, and he has denied all wrongdoing. His lawyers say they believe he will be found not guilty if the trial continues. But not everyone is convinced. Some people protested outside the court, wearing orange jumpsuits and calling for Netanyahu to go to prison. Pardons in Israel usually happen after a trial is over and the person is convicted. There is no example of a pardon being given during a trial. U. S. President Donald Trump, a close ally of Netanyahu, has called the case against him political and unfair. Trump even wrote to Israel's president asking him to consider pardoning Netanyahu. Netanyahu's legal troubles have been a big issue in recent elections. Polls show that his coalition might struggle to win enough seats in the next election. This makes the pardon request even more controversial. It's clear that this situation is far from simple and has many people talking.