Netanyahu’s pardon request isn’t desperation. Regardless of whether you like him as a political leader or agree with his politics, it’s another masterful move from “The Magician.”
It would be arrogant indeed for an Englishman to pretend to understand the intricacies of Israeli politics.
But perceptually, I suggest this article is correct.
As with POTUS, the Left can't seem to beat Bibi at the ballot box, so lawfare is wheeled in.
Broadly, it's the tactic also used in France and Germany to try and defeat the centre Right.
Whilst stating again I don't fully understand Israeli politics, the dishonest Western MSM coverage of the IDF and the war tells me all I need to know - I wish that we had a decisive and patriotic leader such as Bibi right here in the UK.
The left in Germany is definitely going much farther than just lawfare now.
cf. the mysterious deaths of SEVEN AfD (the right-wing nationalist party, for those who are unfamiliar) candidates—none of them old or infirm, most favored to win—in the months leading up to the recent election.
I detect NDS, similar to TDS, in many Israelis. It complicates the truth, especially when the justice system becomes politically activist similar to what we have in US.
Appreciate the summary of the chages against Netanyahu and the conditions for a pardon under Israeli law. This is quite different from the nearly unconditional power an American President has to grant pardons, which can be granted to convicts who never admit guilt because they believe they were innocent or otherwise wrongfully convicted. It is odd that under Israeli law a wrongfully convicted and innocent person must admit guilt before being granted a pardon. So the guilty can be pardoned, but not the innocent? Doesn't make sense.
You are misreading the Burdick case. Burdick refused to accept a pardon because he felt it would be tantamount to admitting guilt. The Supreme Court agreed with Burdick's suggestion that accepting a pardon gives the appearance of admitting guilt. They did not rule that accepting a pardon is tantamount to admitting guilt. Burdick is ignored and meaningless today. Pardons are granted before charges are even filed, as seen in Biden's most recent pardons of his son Hunter and political cronies. They are given to avoid the expense of having to defend oneself at trial, and to even cut short investigations to even determine if a crime occurred.
Good analysis Joshua. And yes, Bibi is a masterful politician, but the politics are starting to get ugly for him. Tactically, this maneuver is a wag the dog method for distracting attention from his unpopular IDF waiver for the ultra-orthodox and avoiding discussion of an October 7 commission. Strategically, it keeps his options open and shores up his base. The real issue is that Bibi has lost the trust of the majority of Israelis and it's time for him to move on and pass the torch to a new generation of leadership. There is a growing bench of under-50 activists, technologists, and civil-society leaders who emerged from the 2023–24 protest movements: people fluent in security realities but unwilling to accept the fatalism of the old guard; people who understand both code and combat. Their names are not yet household fixtures, and none has the machinery of a major party behind them, but they are already changing the tone of Israeli public life. If Israel is going to restore itself as Startup Nation rather than slide deeper into Exit Nation, the renewal may well come from this rising generation: leaders with no corruption cases, no coalition debts, and no nostalgia for a political era that has outlived its usefulness.
First of all, just because Israel is now a wealthy country is not necessarily a good thing but beyond that we want these leftist elites to leave the country. Let them go to Harvard and Berkeley. They can help destabilize the US.
Since main the reason that the trial is dragging on for so long is the stalling tactics of Netanyahu's team, and since when responding to a petition to the Supreme Court that he shouldn't be allowed to form a government while indicted, he claimed that he is perfectly able to face a trial AND lead the government because he is uncommonly gifted ... to now claim that the process has been going on for too long and that he cannot face the trial and lead the gov't at the same time, is extraordinarily disingenuous - and totally unsurprising coming from him. What he knows more than anything is that this won't bother his "base", anymore than the news that some of his closest advisers were working in the PM's office and at the same time receiving payments from Qatar bothered it. Netanyahu is perfectly able to rouse his "base", through his minions, against the judiciary and turn Israel into an authoritarian country, and to split the population into warring camps because it is good politics, even if it is terrible for a nation engaged in a war - because he cares more about himself than about the country. This is why a pardon will benefit the country only if it is conditional on his leaving politics.
That’s the “popular” simple narrative that’s promoted in the press and eagerly devoured by the left leaners. Sound familiar?! It actually mimics the worldwide anti-Israel smear. People with no real connection or solid facts jump on the “Bad Bibi” (Bad Israel) bandwagon with their biased speculations to keep their place in the Cool Crowd Club. With some exceptions, all humans care about themselves—an inherently built in human/animal survival mechanism. Very few dedicate and sacrifice their lives to defending their country.
If you read my comment to mean that Bibi is identical with Israel, then you should re-read it. In fact, the problem is that Bibi THINKS that he is Israel, like Louis XIV.
My comment analyzes Bibi as Israel's problem not because what Bibi does to Israel's reputation in the world, but because of what his struggle for political power does to Israel's internal coherence and strength at a time when the country is facing numerous challenges.
In that case, I misread your comment, and I apologise. It was your use of the word "punishment" that led me astray. I agree that, if there is sufficient evidence upon which to a) indicted him and b) find him guilty to the level of probability required in a criminal trial in Israel, he should indeed be punished. However, due process must be followed. I do not like presidential pardon in any country.
He should get the pardon for the sake of the country. He is a good leader in a time of war and turmoil. Sort of like Churchill. When the threat of Iran and Hamas is gone, get a peacetime leader. Until then, you need a proven wartime leader like Netanyahu. The war is ongoing as long as Hamas is still around, so Israel should not rest easy just yet. Also, I would have thought that the Left in Israel would cease their griping after Oct 7th, but it's started up again. It's annoying, but one of the prices you have to pay for living in a democracy.
Hamas has been around for 40 years and will most certainly be around for 40 more. Not even Netanyahu can live that long (despite what his ביבי המלך המשיח devotees think).
Here is the deal I would propose: Bibi receives a full pardon in exchange for declaring A Zionist Apology for the Nakba.
This apology does not imply sole responsibility for the Nakba, nor does it absolve the Arabs of their own culpability.
The apology acknowledges a historical truth that has for too many years been denied. It opens a path to reconciliation. And Bibi gets to walk into the sunset with a degree of honor.
And of course, that means that Jews take the blame for 5 arab armies converging on them in a vain attempt to genocide them.
I’m sure it will also be conveniently ‘forgotten’ that the arab leadership ordered the arabs residing in the affected areas to leave, with the promise that they could come back when the Jews were wiped out and take everything said Jews had created for themselves.
Also ‘forgotten’ will be the fact that Israel asked these arabs not to leave, but to stay and become full citizens of Israel. The ones who did stay were in fact granted this citizenship, which endures to this day.
In your scenario, you would have Jews apologising for defending THEIR land and lives, while grovelling to a bunch of homicidal moslem colonisers, who attempt on a regular basis to slaughter every Jew they can get their filthy hands on.
I suppose you want us to apologise and take the blame for October 7 too?
It's unfortunate but not surprising that you have bought into many of our origin myths, like I did (Sabra, IDF veteran, son of Holocaust survivors) before I did some honest research. For example, about 200,000 Arabs were driven from their villages BEFORE Israel declared independence. Educate yourself and gain freedom from denial of the truth.
I am a staunch Zionist, and have been so my whole life. And I proudly served in the IDF. I also have the intelligence to understand that the world is not black and white, history is filled with ambiguity. Of course, the Arab "leaders" are responsible for the 1948 war because they boycotted the UN debate on Palestine and refused to recognise Resolution 181. But there were two wars in 1948: a justified war against the 5 invading armies (which the Palmach and Haganah easily won) and a second war, which resulted in the unjust expulsion of 750,000 Palestinians -- the vast majority of whom were not involved in any acts of violence. It seems that you are too indoctrinated in your false convictions to be able to wrap your head around multiple truths.
Exactly. To do such a thing would be like apologizing for the Shoah. We have the right, and the imperative, to live. Period. And the same holds true for our defending ourselves against those who want us tortured, dead, and gone.
The Nakba term was first coined in 1922 , when Syria cut loose the people known as Sth Syrians , who later are known as Palestinians . The term was later adopted for those people who ‘holidayed ‘ abroad at the request of the ALA to get out of the way , while they annihilated Jewish Palestinians . The only apology is due from Jews who are apologists for libels on the defenders of Jewish lives in (now ) Israel
He may be a magician BUT if he recieved gifts and agreed to manipulate media as a selfish and vindictive use of his powers, then be a bench, admit want ypu did, stop justifying your behavior and be a human who takes responsibility for their actions. The magic want does nothing to promote Israel. It's selfish. Other leaders are ready to be at the helm.
COMPARED TO LAPID NETANYAHU IS A SAINT. LAPID INSTIGATED RIOTS TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT. THE LIBERAL WORLD PRESS OF COURSE BLAMED NETANYAHU FOR TRYING TO DESTROY DEMOCRACY WHEN HE WAS TRYING TO RESTORE IT.
It would be arrogant indeed for an Englishman to pretend to understand the intricacies of Israeli politics.
But perceptually, I suggest this article is correct.
As with POTUS, the Left can't seem to beat Bibi at the ballot box, so lawfare is wheeled in.
Broadly, it's the tactic also used in France and Germany to try and defeat the centre Right.
Whilst stating again I don't fully understand Israeli politics, the dishonest Western MSM coverage of the IDF and the war tells me all I need to know - I wish that we had a decisive and patriotic leader such as Bibi right here in the UK.
Sadly the Israeli media is also leftist and hate Bibi so it's very difficult to get a read on reality.
One can only hope.
Had Starmer, or Soonak, or Johnson (or Biden) been the Israeli premier, you could take it to the bank that not a hostage would have been freed.
That Hezbollah would be even stronger than pre-war, that Hamas would have a seat at the UN.
That Israel would be supplying ever more financial and material 'aid' to Gaza, Samaria and Judea.
Once upon a time we too had decisive leaders - think Falklands, think Iranian Embassy, think Gibraltar - that all ended in '97.
I cannot think of a Western leader as committed to his country as Bibi.
The left in Germany is definitely going much farther than just lawfare now.
cf. the mysterious deaths of SEVEN AfD (the right-wing nationalist party, for those who are unfamiliar) candidates—none of them old or infirm, most favored to win—in the months leading up to the recent election.
I detect NDS, similar to TDS, in many Israelis. It complicates the truth, especially when the justice system becomes politically activist similar to what we have in US.
Very good analysis. I don’t know whether he is guilty or not. He has done a great job since 10-07. I hope he gets the pardon and everyone moves on
Appreciate the summary of the chages against Netanyahu and the conditions for a pardon under Israeli law. This is quite different from the nearly unconditional power an American President has to grant pardons, which can be granted to convicts who never admit guilt because they believe they were innocent or otherwise wrongfully convicted. It is odd that under Israeli law a wrongfully convicted and innocent person must admit guilt before being granted a pardon. So the guilty can be pardoned, but not the innocent? Doesn't make sense.
Well, if you’re innocent, a pardon is irrelevant.
If you're innocent but incarcerated because a jury found you guilty, a pardon is highly relevant!
You are misreading the Burdick case. Burdick refused to accept a pardon because he felt it would be tantamount to admitting guilt. The Supreme Court agreed with Burdick's suggestion that accepting a pardon gives the appearance of admitting guilt. They did not rule that accepting a pardon is tantamount to admitting guilt. Burdick is ignored and meaningless today. Pardons are granted before charges are even filed, as seen in Biden's most recent pardons of his son Hunter and political cronies. They are given to avoid the expense of having to defend oneself at trial, and to even cut short investigations to even determine if a crime occurred.
Thank you for the clarification
Good analysis Joshua. And yes, Bibi is a masterful politician, but the politics are starting to get ugly for him. Tactically, this maneuver is a wag the dog method for distracting attention from his unpopular IDF waiver for the ultra-orthodox and avoiding discussion of an October 7 commission. Strategically, it keeps his options open and shores up his base. The real issue is that Bibi has lost the trust of the majority of Israelis and it's time for him to move on and pass the torch to a new generation of leadership. There is a growing bench of under-50 activists, technologists, and civil-society leaders who emerged from the 2023–24 protest movements: people fluent in security realities but unwilling to accept the fatalism of the old guard; people who understand both code and combat. Their names are not yet household fixtures, and none has the machinery of a major party behind them, but they are already changing the tone of Israeli public life. If Israel is going to restore itself as Startup Nation rather than slide deeper into Exit Nation, the renewal may well come from this rising generation: leaders with no corruption cases, no coalition debts, and no nostalgia for a political era that has outlived its usefulness.
First of all, just because Israel is now a wealthy country is not necessarily a good thing but beyond that we want these leftist elites to leave the country. Let them go to Harvard and Berkeley. They can help destabilize the US.
Since main the reason that the trial is dragging on for so long is the stalling tactics of Netanyahu's team, and since when responding to a petition to the Supreme Court that he shouldn't be allowed to form a government while indicted, he claimed that he is perfectly able to face a trial AND lead the government because he is uncommonly gifted ... to now claim that the process has been going on for too long and that he cannot face the trial and lead the gov't at the same time, is extraordinarily disingenuous - and totally unsurprising coming from him. What he knows more than anything is that this won't bother his "base", anymore than the news that some of his closest advisers were working in the PM's office and at the same time receiving payments from Qatar bothered it. Netanyahu is perfectly able to rouse his "base", through his minions, against the judiciary and turn Israel into an authoritarian country, and to split the population into warring camps because it is good politics, even if it is terrible for a nation engaged in a war - because he cares more about himself than about the country. This is why a pardon will benefit the country only if it is conditional on his leaving politics.
That’s the “popular” simple narrative that’s promoted in the press and eagerly devoured by the left leaners. Sound familiar?! It actually mimics the worldwide anti-Israel smear. People with no real connection or solid facts jump on the “Bad Bibi” (Bad Israel) bandwagon with their biased speculations to keep their place in the Cool Crowd Club. With some exceptions, all humans care about themselves—an inherently built in human/animal survival mechanism. Very few dedicate and sacrifice their lives to defending their country.
Israel derangement syndrome is definitely a very real thing these days
If you read my comment to mean that Bibi is identical with Israel, then you should re-read it. In fact, the problem is that Bibi THINKS that he is Israel, like Louis XIV.
My comment analyzes Bibi as Israel's problem not because what Bibi does to Israel's reputation in the world, but because of what his struggle for political power does to Israel's internal coherence and strength at a time when the country is facing numerous challenges.
Great article Josh. I emailed you a few weeks ago about joining our podcast - did you get it?
Yes will reply soon!
He need to face punishment like all other currupt oeople
You are prejudging that he is corrupt. This has not been proven in a court of law.
But he need to face the curt and justice not to get free from the process thats the whole oroblenm IM NOT PREJUDGING ANYTHING
IF HE IS NOT CURRUPT HE HAS NOTHING TO HIDE 😂😂🙏
In that case, I misread your comment, and I apologise. It was your use of the word "punishment" that led me astray. I agree that, if there is sufficient evidence upon which to a) indicted him and b) find him guilty to the level of probability required in a criminal trial in Israel, he should indeed be punished. However, due process must be followed. I do not like presidential pardon in any country.
He should get the pardon for the sake of the country. He is a good leader in a time of war and turmoil. Sort of like Churchill. When the threat of Iran and Hamas is gone, get a peacetime leader. Until then, you need a proven wartime leader like Netanyahu. The war is ongoing as long as Hamas is still around, so Israel should not rest easy just yet. Also, I would have thought that the Left in Israel would cease their griping after Oct 7th, but it's started up again. It's annoying, but one of the prices you have to pay for living in a democracy.
Hamas has been around for 40 years and will most certainly be around for 40 more. Not even Netanyahu can live that long (despite what his ביבי המלך המשיח devotees think).
Bibi: legal advice…say you enjoyed the cigars and send cheap champagne to the judiciary who are as corrupt as ours. You are a blessing to the world.
I wish Bibi and Israel the best outcome , a pardon so Bibi can get on with his day and night job of PM of this country and protector of diaspora Jewry
Corruption needs daylight.
He should admit guilt before he's granted any pardons even if acting in the interest of Israel
Only if he is guilty, surely?
Here is the deal I would propose: Bibi receives a full pardon in exchange for declaring A Zionist Apology for the Nakba.
This apology does not imply sole responsibility for the Nakba, nor does it absolve the Arabs of their own culpability.
The apology acknowledges a historical truth that has for too many years been denied. It opens a path to reconciliation. And Bibi gets to walk into the sunset with a degree of honor.
Https://www.NewZionist.org
And of course, that means that Jews take the blame for 5 arab armies converging on them in a vain attempt to genocide them.
I’m sure it will also be conveniently ‘forgotten’ that the arab leadership ordered the arabs residing in the affected areas to leave, with the promise that they could come back when the Jews were wiped out and take everything said Jews had created for themselves.
Also ‘forgotten’ will be the fact that Israel asked these arabs not to leave, but to stay and become full citizens of Israel. The ones who did stay were in fact granted this citizenship, which endures to this day.
In your scenario, you would have Jews apologising for defending THEIR land and lives, while grovelling to a bunch of homicidal moslem colonisers, who attempt on a regular basis to slaughter every Jew they can get their filthy hands on.
I suppose you want us to apologise and take the blame for October 7 too?
It's unfortunate but not surprising that you have bought into many of our origin myths, like I did (Sabra, IDF veteran, son of Holocaust survivors) before I did some honest research. For example, about 200,000 Arabs were driven from their villages BEFORE Israel declared independence. Educate yourself and gain freedom from denial of the truth.
So you’re an ‘anti-Zionist’ jew.
Why would I listen to anything you have to say?
I’ll stick to actual history, not the crap spewed by the likes ilan pappe, thanks very much.
I suggest you do better research, if ‘truth’ means so much to you.
I am a staunch Zionist, and have been so my whole life. And I proudly served in the IDF. I also have the intelligence to understand that the world is not black and white, history is filled with ambiguity. Of course, the Arab "leaders" are responsible for the 1948 war because they boycotted the UN debate on Palestine and refused to recognise Resolution 181. But there were two wars in 1948: a justified war against the 5 invading armies (which the Palmach and Haganah easily won) and a second war, which resulted in the unjust expulsion of 750,000 Palestinians -- the vast majority of whom were not involved in any acts of violence. It seems that you are too indoctrinated in your false convictions to be able to wrap your head around multiple truths.
Exactly. To do such a thing would be like apologizing for the Shoah. We have the right, and the imperative, to live. Period. And the same holds true for our defending ourselves against those who want us tortured, dead, and gone.
What historical truth !
The Nakba term was first coined in 1922 , when Syria cut loose the people known as Sth Syrians , who later are known as Palestinians . The term was later adopted for those people who ‘holidayed ‘ abroad at the request of the ALA to get out of the way , while they annihilated Jewish Palestinians . The only apology is due from Jews who are apologists for libels on the defenders of Jewish lives in (now ) Israel
He may be a magician BUT if he recieved gifts and agreed to manipulate media as a selfish and vindictive use of his powers, then be a bench, admit want ypu did, stop justifying your behavior and be a human who takes responsibility for their actions. The magic want does nothing to promote Israel. It's selfish. Other leaders are ready to be at the helm.
COMPARED TO LAPID NETANYAHU IS A SAINT. LAPID INSTIGATED RIOTS TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT. THE LIBERAL WORLD PRESS OF COURSE BLAMED NETANYAHU FOR TRYING TO DESTROY DEMOCRACY WHEN HE WAS TRYING TO RESTORE IT.
No coincidence this is happening now, just as the unsolvable charedi draft evasion crisis is coming to a head.