Knesset Speaker Urges President to Grant Netanyahu Clemency

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana has formally requested that President Isaac Herzog grant clemency to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The appeal, submitted on Sunday, follows testimony from former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit. Ohana argued in his letter that Mandelblit's testimony revealed "a chain of failures, deficiencies, and violations of the law" that warrant a decision on Netanyahu's clemency request, which was filed approximately seven months ago.

Ohana expressed shock at Mandelblit's testimony, stating that even the remaining charges, after the court panel twice suggested the prosecution withdraw the bribery indictment, are based on illegal investigative actions conducted without Mandelblit's knowledge or approval. He further noted that Mandelblit did not recall reading claims about 315 instances of alleged positive media coverage in the revised indictment and did not remember signing the indictment himself.

According to Ohana, this conduct necessitates a decision on the clemency request, rather than just media reports. He criticized the justice system's handling of the clemency request, suggesting that the clemency department and legal counsel's stance, as reflected in Minister Amihai Eliyahu's recommendation and media briefings, indicate a desire to end the Prime Minister's political career through a compromise. Ohana asserted that, based on his public and legal experience, the "just, brave, and appropriate decision" given the findings is to grant clemency.

Concluding his letter, Ohana highlighted the "malady" of procedural delays within the justice system, emphasizing that the seven months since the clemency request was filed, coupled with the revealed facts, should be sufficient for a ruling.