Benjamin Netanyahu begs pardon to Israel's president Isaac Herzog amid fraud and bribery allegations

The 76-year-old, who is Israel's longest-serving prime minister, denies the bribery, fraud, and breach of trust charges.

His lawyers said in a letter to the president's office that the prime minister still believes the legal proceedings would result in a complete acquittal.

"My lawyers sent a request for pardon to the president of the country today. I expect that anyone who wishes for the good of the country support this step," Mr Netanyahu said in a brief video statement.

Neither the prime minister, who has been on trial for five years, nor his lawyers made any admission of guilt.

President Isaac Herzog's office described the request as "extraordinary" with "significant implications".

The president "will responsibly and sincerely consider the request" after receiving relevant opinions, his office said.

Donald Trump wrote to President Herzog this month, urging him to consider granting the prime minister a pardon, saying the case against him was "a political, unjustified prosecution".

The letter read: "While I absolutely respect the independence of the Israeli Justice System, and its requirements, I believe that this 'case' against [Mr Netanyahu], who has fought alongside me for a long time, including against the very tough adversary of Israel, Iran, is a political, unjustified prosecution."

President Herzog's office said the request would be forwarded to the pardons department in the justice ministry, as is standard practice, to collect opinions, which would be submitted to the president's legal adviser, who will formulate a recommendation for the US president.

Pardons in Israel have typically been granted only after legal proceedings have concluded and the accused has been convicted.

Prime Minister Netanyahu's lawyers argued that the president can intervene when public interest is at stake, as in this case, with a view to healing divisions and strengthening national unity.

His legal team has claimed that criminal proceedings against him had deepened societal divisions and that ending the trial was necessary for national reconciliation.

They also said that increasingly frequent court hearings were burdensome while the prime minister was attempting to govern.

"I am required to testify three times a week ... That is an impossible demand that is not made of any other citizen," Mr Netanyahu, who was first elected as prime minister in 1996, said.

Mr Netanyahu was indicted in 2019 in three separate but related cases that centre around accusations that he granted favours to prominent business figures in exchange for gifts and sympathetic media coverage.

He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Coalition allies issued statements supporting his request for a pardon, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

Opposition politician Yair Golan, a former deputy chief of the military, called on the prime minister to resign, urging the president not to grant a pardon.