Every member of the cabinet from the Likud party signed a letter on Tuesday calling on President Isaac Herzog to grant a pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the latest effort to dismiss the premier’s longstanding corruption charges and end his years-long trial.

The letter, spearheaded by Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman and signed by every one of Likud’s 19 ministers and deputy ministers, contends that the trial is “harming the unity of the people” and says that Netanyahu is “leading a historic victory over the enemies of Israel.” It urges Herzog to seize the moment.

“These historic days have created a great opportunity for restoration and unity, through your use of your authority,” the letter read. “The entire nation is asking you to rise like a lion, act, and weave true unity into the people of Israel.”

Netanyahu is charged with one count of bribery, as well as fraud and breach of trust, in three separate cases relating to corruption allegations against him. His trial began in 2020 and is still far from reaching an end. Likud lawmakers have long supported Netanyahu’s repeated claims that the charges he faces are spurious.

He is the first sitting Israeli prime minister to go on trial, and routinely attends hearings for hours of questioning, though he has occasionally asked for them to be postponed or cut short, citing his official duties or his health.

The letter comes alongside a other efforts to relieve Netanyahu of a possible conviction.

In his address to the........

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