Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday asked the country’s president to grant him a pardon from corruption charges, seeking to end a long-running trial that has divided the nation.Netanyahu said the request would help unify the country, while opponents said a pardon would weaken democratic institutions and send a dangerous message that he’s above the rule of law.Netanyahu had submitted a request for a pardon to the legal department of the Office of the President, the prime minister’s office said in a statement. The president’s office called it an “extraordinary request,” carrying with it “significant implications.”Netanyahu is the only sitting prime minister in Israeli history to stand trial, after being charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases accusing him of exchanging favors with wealthy political supporters. He hasn’t been convicted of anything.Netanyahu rejects the allegations and has described the case as a witch hunt orchestrated by the media, police and judiciary.
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