Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing three separate corruption indictments, has formally requested clemency from President Isaac Herzog.

Herzog's office said it would consult the judiciary before deciding on the "highly-stakes" petition, signalling careful consideration of the unprecedented move.

Netanyahu has been charged with corruption, fraud, and breach of trust over the past five years, charges he has consistently denied. In a video message accompanying his request, he acknowledged a preference to see the legal process through but said that the national interest "demands the opposite."

Opposition party figures have emphasised that an apology requires an admission of guilt, underlining the political sensitivities surrounding the request.

Earlier this month, former US President Donald Trump publicly urged Herzog to grant Netanyahu a full pardon. Herzog responded by reiterating that any such request must follow standard legal procedures.

On Sunday, Netanyahu’s office released a letter of apology to the president, noting