During the five-year trial, Netanyahu and his lawyers have managed to delay the process in various ways. But with the ceasefire in Gaza, it is now more difficult to cite a state of war as a reason to postpone court hearings.
At the same time, campaigning is underway for next year's elections.
That he is doing this now is no coincidence, says Isabell Schierenbeck, professor of political science at the University of Gothenburg.
If he gets rid of the lawsuit, he can also enter the election campaign in a completely different way.
“A different kind of politician”
A presidential pardon usually only comes after a conviction. Netanyahu is requesting to be acquitted in advance – and has made it clear that he will not admit to any of the crimes he has been charged with.
If this goes through, it would be extraordinary and something that has never happened before in Israel, says Isabell Schierenbeck.
The person who decides the issue is President Isaac Herzog.
Although he has been a political rival to Netanyahu, their current relationship is generally described as constructive.
However, the two men have different appearances.
Herzog is not at all a populist, a former leader of the Labor Party and much more of a traditional politician who believes in accountability and who stands behind the Israeli legal system, says Isabell Schierenbeck.
It will probably be difficult for Herzog to approve this if Netanyahu does not take some form of responsibility.
“Like a mine”
Whatever decision Herzog makes, it will likely lead to increased polarization – in a society that is already deeply divided over the illiberal path Netanyahu has taken.
"This is like putting a landmine in the president's lap. If he agrees to it, there will probably be large demonstrations in Israel, with possible riots, and otherwise Netanyahu's camp will mobilize in the streets," says Middle East expert Anders Persson, associate professor and researcher at Linnaeus University.
He believes that the clemency application is another in a series of Netanyahu's many survival strategies, rather than a panic action out of fear of a conviction.
I think he could survive even a full trial. He is one of a group of politicians in the world, along with Trump, who are getting through these kinds of complications.
