Netanyahu Pardon Review Advances: Formal Opinion Delivered to President Herzog

The review process for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's pardon request moved another step forward after Minister Amichai Eliyahu delivered his official opinion this morning (Tuesday) to President Isaac Herzog. Minister Eliyahu is serving as a stand-in for Justice Minister Yariv Levin on this matter, after it was determined that Levin has a conflict of interest and cannot submit the recommendation.

The recommendation notes that the government supports granting the pardon, and it includes the opinion of the Pardons Department at the Ministry of Justice along with its appendices.

The President's Residence said: "The President thanked Minister Amichai Eliyahu and the Pardons Department at the Ministry of Justice for their opinions and for the thorough, in-depth work carried out in accordance with the guidelines. All the materials received have now been forwarded to the Legal Adviser to the President's Residence, attorney Michal Tzuk, in line with the binding guidelines. The Legal Adviser to the President's Residence will now review the opinion and the materials submitted and will present her recommendations on the matter to the President."

The President's Residence clarified that only after the legal review is completed and the necessary inquiries are made will the final conclusions be presented for the President's consideration. At the same time, it emphasized that the decision-making process will remain free of outside influence. The statement added: "Any attempt to influence, in any way, the President's decision-making process—from any direction—will not affect the President's discretion and will not change anything. The President will act solely according to the law, the call of his conscience, and the good of the state."