Netanyahu Requests Pardon Amid Corruption Trial, Signals Shift to Election Mode

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally requested a pardon from President Isaac Herzog as he faces serious allegations of bribery and fraud in his ongoing corruption trial. This request is perceived as a strategic move as Netanyahu enters what many view as election mode, potentially exacerbating existing divisions within the country. The situation underscores not only Netanyahu's legal challenges but also a troubling pattern of political corruption in Israel, with every prime minister since 1996 facing similar scrutiny.