Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally requested an end to his ongoing corruption trial, submitting a petition to Israel's president that echoes strategies used by former United States President Donald Trump. Netanyahu's request, which avoids admitting guilt or expressing remorse, comes shortly after Trump himself urged the Israeli president to grant a pardon. The move has shifted the focus of Israeli political debate away from other contentious issues, such as proposed military service exemptions and the government's response to last year's Hamas-led attack. Opposition leaders argue that any pardon must require Netanyahu's retirement from politics, while analysts suggest the request is a calculated maneuver to control the national agenda and potentially set up a new campaign narrative if the pardon is denied.