Mekelberg: Netanyahu's pardon request threatens judicial independence & Israel as liberal democracy

"A very unusual request": Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he would focus only on Israel's "best interests" when he weighs Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's request for a pardon on corruption charges. Senior Consulting Fellow at Chatham House, Yossi Mekelberg argues, this is as much about the integrity of the judiciary, the separation of powers, and a deeply scarred nation, as it is about the soul of Israel’s democracy. “The idea that Netanyahu can actually continue to be prime minister while just stopping a corruption case is completely unacceptable,” asserts Mr. Mekelberg. If Herzog agrees to pardon, "he will probably compromise Israel’s liberal democracy and the independence of the judiciary.”