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Russia has introduced visa-free entry for Chinese citizens for stays of up to 30 days, following a decree signed Monday by President Vladimir Putin on the basis of reciprocity with Beijing. The measure took effect immediately. Under the decree, valid through Sept 14, 2026, holders of regular Chinese passports may enter Russia for short stays of no more than 30 days for purposes such as tourism, business travel, family visits, participation in cultural, scientific, economic, socio-political or sports events, or for transit. No visa will be required for these categories. The exemption, however, does not apply to Chinese citizens seeking to work, study or reside in Russia, nor to those involved in international road transport as drivers, crew members, freight forwarders or interpreters. Tourism industry representatives in Moscow said the policy is expected to significantly boost arrivals from China. Alexander Musikhin, vice president for inbound tourism at the Association of Tour Operators of Russia, predicted a 30–40 percent rise in Chinese tourists during the summer season. The decree will also spur independent travel and business visits, said Alexander Bragin of the Russian Association of Travel Aggregators, who estimated that individual arrivals could increase by up to twofold. He noted that the policy is likely to improve hotel occupancy even during off-peak months. Nikita Kondratyev of Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development said China already accounts for the highest number of inbound tourist trips to Russia. With the new visa-free system in place, he expects the number of Chinese visitors to exceed 2 million next year. China, for its part, began a one-year trial of a similar 30-day visa-free scheme for Russian citizens on Sept 15, covering travel for business, tourism, family visits, exchanges and transit.  

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, carrying a preliminary peace plan aimed at ending the nearly four-year-long war in Ukraine. The meeting comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits Ireland, continuing his tour of European nations that have supported Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion. After months of stalled diplomacy, U.S. President Donald Trump is deploying officials to advance his peace proposals. Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, will also attend the meeting, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that discussions will involve only Witkoff, Kushner, and a U.S. interpreter and will continue “as long as needed.” The U.S. has so far pursued parallel talks, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio meeting Ukrainian officials while Witkoff heads to Moscow. Zelenskyy met Tuesday with the Ukrainian delegation that returned from the latest U.S. negotiations in Florida. Rubio described the talks as “progressing,” while noting that “more work remains.” Zelenskyy said the Florida discussions were based on a document drafted earlier in Geneva, which he described as “finalized,” without further explanation. He emphasized that Ukrainian diplomats are working to involve European partners “substantially” in decision-making and warned of Russian disinformation campaigns. “Ukrainian intelligence will share with our partners information on Russia’s true intentions and its attempts to use diplomacy to ease sanctions and block key European decisions,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram. In Dublin, Zelenskyy held meetings with Irish political leaders and lawmakers during his first official visit. Ireland, a neutral country outside NATO, has provided nonlethal military aid to Ukraine and hosts over 100,000 Ukrainians who fled the war. Despite ongoing consultations, few details have emerged on bridging the gap between Russia and Ukraine. Disagreements over territorial control and Ukraine’s security remain major obstacles, with European officials cautioning that peace will take time. French President Emmanuel Macron said he and Zelenskyy, who recently visited Paris, spoke by phone with Witkoff, along with leaders of eight other European countries, EU officials, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Macron described the coming days as “crucial” for U.S. and Western discussions. Zelenskyy faces immense pressure amid one of the war’s most challenging periods, balancing diplomacy, funding for Ukraine, a high-level corruption scandal, and ongoing Russian attacks. The Kremlin claimed late Monday that Russian forces captured the key city of Pokrovsk in eastern Donetsk, though Zelenskyy said fighting there continued on Monday.  

Following last week’s shooting of two National Guard members in Washington by a suspect who is an Afghan national, the Trump administration has announced a series of measures aimed at tightening entry and residency rules for certain foreigners. The administration said it is pausing asylum decisions, reviewing green card applications from people from “countries of concern,” and halting visas for Afghans who assisted the U.S. war effort. A memo obtained by The Associated Press revealed that, even before the shooting, the administration planned to review the cases of all refugees admitted to the U.S. during the Biden administration. Refugee advocates and Afghan support groups have criticized the moves as collective punishment and a waste of resources, arguing that reopening processed cases is unnecessary. The Trump administration maintains that the policies are needed to ensure individuals entering or already in the country do not pose security threats. All asylum decisions suspended Joseph Edlow, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said on the social platform X last week that asylum decisions will be paused “until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.” Aside from this post, no formal guidance has been issued, leaving details about the pause unclear. Asylum seekers must demonstrate that they would face persecution if returned to their home countries due to race, nationality, or other grounds. Successful applicants are allowed to stay in the U.S. and can eventually apply for green cards and citizenship. The Afghan suspect in the National Guard shooting was granted asylum earlier this year, according to advocacy group #AfghanEvac. Trump had already restricted asylum applications. In January, he issued an executive order effectively halting asylum for people entering through the southern border, whose cases are processed through immigration courts overseen by the Justice Department. Edlow’s post indicates that USCIS asylum cases, not previously affected by Trump’s order, will now receive additional scrutiny. He did not specify how long the pause will last or what will happen to applicants during it. Caseloads are rising: USCIS currently has 1.4 million pending asylum cases, compared with 241,280 in 2022, according to the Office of Homeland Security Statistics. Separately, around 2.4 million asylum applications are pending in the Justice Department’s immigration courts. Focus on countries ‘of concern’ On Nov. 27, Edlow announced a “full scale, rigorous reexamination” of every green card for people from “every country of concern.” “American safety is non negotiable,” Edlow said. The agency’s press release said new guidance could make it harder for people from 19 “high-risk” countries, including Afghanistan, to apply for immigration benefits, such as green cards or extended stays. The administration had previously banned travel for citizens from 12 of these countries and restricted access for seven others. No visas for Afghans USCIS announced on Nov. 26 that it would suspend all “immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals,” affecting those in the U.S. seeking green cards, work permits, or family reunification. Separately, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X that the State Department has temporarily stopped issuing visas for Afghan passport holders. Previously, the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program allowed Afghans who assisted U.S. efforts and faced retribution to emigrate. The State Department’s new policy effectively closes this pathway. According to #AfghanEvac, about 180,000 Afghans were in the process of applying for SIVs. Review of refugees admitted under Biden administration Even before the shooting, the Trump administration planned to review tens of thousands of refugees admitted under the Biden administration through the U.S. Refugee Assistance Program, which helps people fleeing persecution. Unlike asylum seekers, refugees apply from abroad. Edlow’s memo obtained by AP on Nov. 21 stated that all refugees admitted during the Biden administration, nearly 200,000 people, would be reviewed. Advocates note that refugees already undergo rigorous vetting. Noem hints at updated travel ban Late Monday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem suggested more changes could come. She said on X that after meeting Trump, she was recommending a “full travel ban” on countries she said were flooding the U.S. “with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies.” Noem did not name specific countries or provide a timeline. The Department of Homeland Security said in an email, “We will be announcing the list soon.”

Authorities at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail on Tuesday allowed PTI founder Imran Khan’s sister, Uzma Khanum, to meet the incarcerated former prime minister. Uzma visited her brother as scores of PTI supporters, who had accompanied her, gathered outside the prison, According to Pakistan news website Dawn. The development comes amid ongoing PTI protests outside the Islamabad High Court and Adiala Jail, opposing restrictions on Imran Khan’s visitation rights. The party has claimed that the former premier’s family and party leaders had been denied access for several weeks. According to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, no one had been allowed to meet Imran or his wife, Bushra Bibi, since October 27. Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code had been imposed in Islamabad and Rawalpindi ahead of PTI’s protests. The provision empowers district administrations to prohibit assemblies of four or more people in a designated area for a limited period. Tallal’s warning Earlier, Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry said that compliance with Section 144 would be strictly enforced in both cities. “Whether they come to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) or the Adiala jail, action under Section 144 would be carried out without any discrimination,” Chaudhry said, urging PTI-backed parliamentarians to “abide by the law.” Chaudhry linked the measure to terrorism, warning that “terrorists look for instances [which they can use] to spread fear and make headlines; be it [a] political gathering, courts or important places or offices.” He also highlighted the misuse of social media and VPNs for terrorist communication, adding that the interior ministry, in coordination with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), would address the issue. He noted the Peshawar High Court’s ruling that state resources should not be used for political activities. “We hope that the KP (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) chief minister, who repeatedly comes to Islamabad and Pindi, will not use state resources for his political activities,” Chaudhry said, asserting that KP police would be deployed only within KP. Chaudhry stressed that Section 144 was imposed to protect lives, recalling the May 9, 2023, protests following Imran’s arrest. He said, “They will do it themselves just like on May 9, and entire Pakistan will face the consequences. They will do it themselves, and will then deny [any responsibility].” Regarding a possible transfer of Imran to a jail in Islamabad, the minister said, “It is too early to say anything,” noting that the prison’s construction is in its final stages and staff training is pending. Security beefed up in Rawalpindi Rawalpindi police said at least 3,000 officers were deployed to ensure law and order. “Section 144 has been imposed across Rawalpindi for three days which restricts unlawful assembly, rally and protest,” the statement said. Roads leading to key government buildings and the Adiala jail were reported blocked. PTI leader Asad Qaiser said opposition lawmakers from both houses would protest outside the IHC before taking their demonstration to Adiala Jail. “It has been decided to hold protests because IHC has failed to implement its order and the Adiala jail administration is not willing to implement the court orders,” he said. Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and other leaders are also scheduled to stage demonstrations in the twin cities. Last week, KP Chief Minister Afridi staged a sit-in outside the prison after being barred from meeting Imran for the eighth time. Imran’s sisters have previously staged sit-ins outside Adiala Jail, and the PTI alleged that police had “violently detained” them during a protest on November 19. Despite speculations about the former prime minister’s health, both the government and PTI leaders have maintained that he remains in good health.

Hong Kong will establish an independent inquiry committee, chaired by a judge, to investigate the cause of a devastating apartment block fire and recommend reforms to prevent similar disasters, Chief Executive John Lee announced Tuesday. Public pressure for accountability has grown sharply as authorities confirmed the death toll had risen to at least 156, with around 30 people still unaccounted for. Lee pledged to confront entrenched interests and overhaul Hong Kong’s building renovation system. The blaze erupted last Wednesday around scaffolding at the Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po, quickly engulfing seven of its eight towers and leaving thousands of residents displaced. Forty people remain hospitalized. At least 14 individuals — including scaffolding contractors, company heads and an engineering consultant — have been arrested on suspicion of corruption and negligence linked to the renovation project. Hong Kong probes corruption, negligence after deadliest fire in decades claims 128 lives Investigators are examining why the fire spread so rapidly, aided by high winds and allegedly substandard construction materials. Authorities said seven of 20 netting samples collected failed safety standards and that inferior materials were mixed with approved ones to deceive inspectors. Lee would not address reports of arrests tied to criticism of the government but warned he would not tolerate any crimes exploiting the tragedy. He said 2,500 people have been relocated to temporary housing, while about 20 remain in shelters. Source: AP 

Recent warnings from both the United States and Russia about restarting nuclear weapons testing have triggered deep concern worldwide, threatening a long-standing international norm that has curbed such tests for decades. Analysts say the rhetoric from the two biggest nuclear powers risks undermining global nonproliferation efforts and heightening geopolitical tensions. U.S. President Donald Trump announced in late October that Washington would resume nuclear weapons testing “on an equal basis” with other countries, a directive that he said would begin immediately. Moscow quickly countered, with President Vladimir Putin telling his Security Council that Russia would respond in kind if the U.S. or any signatory of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) conducts a test. The CTBT, adopted in 1996 after growing concerns about radioactive fallout from Cold War–era atmospheric tests, established a near-universal expectation against nuclear testing, even though it has never formally entered into force. Of the 44 states required for activation, nine — including the U.S., China, India and Pakistan — have not ratified it. Russia ratified the treaty but revoked its ratification in 2023, citing U.S. inaction. The Vienna-based Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization oversees a vast global detection system with 307 monitoring stations capable of identifying nuclear tests using seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasound and radionuclide technology. Its 2025 budget exceeds $139 million. Experts warn that renewed U.S. testing could open the door for countries with less experience — particularly China and India — to conduct full-scale tests that could help them advance smaller, more sophisticated warheads, ultimately weakening U.S. and global security. Since 1996, only 10 nuclear tests have been carried out, all by India, Pakistan and North Korea. Historically, the U.S. and the Soviet Union conducted the overwhelming majority of roughly 2,000 tests before the CTBT’s adoption. No evidence Iran seeks nuclear weapons: Putin While Washington has not clarified the type of testing Trump meant, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said any upcoming activities would involve subcritical experiments — tests that do not trigger a nuclear chain reaction and do not violate the CTBT’s zero-yield standard. However, experts note that some extremely low-yield hydronuclear tests can evade detection, highlighting a verification gap. The CTBTO says its main mission is to assure member states that any nuclear explosion “anywhere, anytime” would be detected. Its network has successfully identified all six North Korean tests between 2006 and 2017. Source: AP 

Rescue teams are scrambling to locate survivors and retrieve bodies after devastating floods and landslides in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand pushed the combined death toll past 1,200, with hundreds still unaccounted for. Days of relentless monsoon rain submerged large swaths of land, leaving thousands marooned and many taking refuge on rooftops. Authorities reported at least 1,230 fatalities — 659 in Indonesia, 390 in Sri Lanka and 181 in Thailand — while more than 800 people remain missing. Indonesia has suffered the worst impact, with rescuers struggling to reach isolated communities in Sumatra as washed-out roads and collapsed bridges hamper access. The national disaster agency said 475 people are still missing, and adverse weather is slowing air and water operations. In Sri Lanka, military teams are combing through areas ravaged by floods and landslides linked to Cyclone Ditwah, with 352 people still missing. Transport remains severely disrupted due to damaged roads and infrastructure. In Kandy, residents face water shortages and rely on bottled water from natural springs as more rainfall is expected. Cyclone Ditwa: Bangladesh to send relief, rescue team to Sri Lanka on Dec 3 Southern Thailand has begun clearing debris after floods affected over 1.5 million households and nearly 4 million people. Authorities are rushing to restore essential services, while the Interior Ministry plans to open public kitchens and distribute compensation worth 239 million baht ($7.4 million) to 26,000 affected residents. Source: AP 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that the revised U.S. proposal for ending the war with Russia “looks better,” though negotiations are still underway. He made the remarks in Paris after meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to shape the terms of a possible ceasefire in Europe’s largest conflict since World War II. At the same time, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Tuesday with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. Witkoff recently drew scrutiny following reports that he had coached one of Putin’s advisers on how to present Moscow’s position to Donald Trump regarding the peace plan. Zelenskyy’s trip to Paris followed talks between U.S. and Ukrainian officials on Sunday, which U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described as constructive. Both sides are working to revise the original American-drafted proposal, which emerged from Washington-Moscow discussions but was criticized for favoring Russian demands. Late Monday, Russia claimed fresh battlefield victories as negotiations approached, saying its forces had seized the strategic city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. Peskov said Putin was briefed on the capture Sunday. Zelenskyy, however, insisted fighting in the area was still ongoing. A complex stage of negotiations Zelenskyy called discussions over Ukrainian territorial control “the most complicated” aspect of the peace plan. Macron said talks remain in an “early phase” but suggested the current diplomatic momentum could mark a turning point for Ukraine’s future and Europe’s security. Following criticism from Kyiv and European capitals, Trump has distanced himself from his administration’s earlier 28-point peace plan—which would have limited Ukraine’s military, barred its NATO membership, and required territorial concessions—calling it merely a “concept” that still needs refinement. Macron praised U.S. engagement but said any final agreement must include Europe. He again urged Western allies last week to provide Ukraine with strong security guarantees should a ceasefire or peace deal be reached, including a possible “reassurance force” across land, sea, and air. Macron said key discussions among the U.S. and Western partners will take place in the coming days to clarify America’s role in such guarantees. His office said he and Zelenskyy also conferred with leaders from numerous European nations, EU officials, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Both leaders spoke by phone with Witkoff, and Zelenskyy later traveled to Ireland. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that U.S.-Russia talks risk pressuring Ukraine into making excessive concessions, including on territory. “I’m afraid all the pressure will be put on the victim,” she said. Russia touts more gains Russian state media released footage of Putin in military gear meeting top commanders Sunday. General Valery Gerasimov reported that Russian troops had fully taken Pokrovsk—referred to by Russia by its Soviet-era name, Krasnoarmeysk—as well as Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region. Another commander said fighting continued against “small remaining enemy groups” in Pokrovsk. Ukraine did not immediately comment, and the claims could not be independently confirmed. Pokrovsk sits along a key fortified defensive line in Donetsk, crucial for protecting cities like Kramatorsk, Sloviansk, and Druzhkivka. Zelenskyy also dismissed Russia’s claim that Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region had been captured, saying Ukrainian forces had cleared out almost all Russian troops there. Putin, in the released footage, asserted that Russian troops hold the initiative along the entire front. Meanwhile, Moscow condemned Ukrainian attacks over the weekend on Russian energy infrastructure, including a strike on a Caspian Pipeline Consortium oil terminal near Novorossiysk and attacks on two tankers in the Black Sea. Ukraine confirmed the operations. Russian officials called the attacks “outrageous,” noting the CPC terminal is an international facility. Russia’s Defense Ministry said 32 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight across 11 regions and over the Sea of Azov. In Dagestan, an apartment building was damaged in a Ukrainian strike on Kaspiysk, more than 1,000 kilometers from the front. Deadly strike on Dnipro Around midday Monday, a Russian missile hit central Dnipro, killing four people and injuring 40 more, including 11 critically, according to regional officials. The blast damaged residential buildings, an educational institution, and a humanitarian warehouse, and rescue efforts continued through the day. Ukraine’s Air Force reported Russia had launched 89 attack and decoy drones overnight before the strike; 63 were intercepted or jammed. In total during November, Russia fired 100 missiles and nearly 9,600 drones of various types at Ukraine, the Air Force said.

Jailed PTI founder Imran Khan’s son, Kasim Khan, has voiced alarm that authorities may be concealing “something irreversible” about his father’s condition. His concern follows continued protests and sit-ins by PTI leaders and Imran’s sisters outside Adiala jail, where the former prime minister is being held, after being prevented from meeting him for more than three weeks. Despite a court order allowing weekly prison visits, the family has had no direct or verifiable contact with Imran, Kasim told Reuters, as restrictions remain in place and speculation grows over possible transfers to another facility. “Not knowing whether your father is safe, injured or even alive is a form of psychological torture,” he said in written remarks, noting that there had been no independently confirmed communication for a couple of months. “Today we have no verifiable information at all about his condition,” he added. “Our greatest fear is that something irreversible is being hidden from us.” He said the family has repeatedly sought access for Imran’s personal physician, who has been denied the chance to examine him for more than a year. Pakistan’s interior ministry did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment. A jail official, speaking anonymously, said Imran was in good health and that he was unaware of any plan to shift him to a higher-security facility. Imran, 72, has been in prison since August 2023 after convictions in multiple cases he claims are politically motivated following his 2022 ouster in a no-confidence vote. His first conviction was in the Toshakhana case over allegedly selling state gifts, followed by lengthy sentences in the cipher case and the Al Qadir Trust case. The PTI maintains that the prosecutions were designed to sideline Imran from public life and the 2024 elections. Family anxiety grows amid silence Imran’s family says the extended lack of communication has intensified their fear of what they believe is a deliberate attempt to keep him hidden from public view. “This isolation is intentional,” Kasim said, accusing authorities of cutting his father off. “They are scared of him. He is Pakistan’s most popular leader, and they know they cannot defeat him democratically.” Kasim and his elder brother, Suleiman Isa Khan, who live in London with their mother, Jemima Goldsmith, have largely stayed away from politics, speaking rarely except about their father’s imprisonment. Kasim said the last time they saw Imran was in November 2022, when they visited after he survived an assassination attempt. “That image has stayed with me ever since. Seeing our father in that state is something you don’t forget,” he said. “We were told he would recover with time. Now, after weeks of total silence and no proof of life, that memory carries a different weight.” He said the family is pursuing both domestic and international avenues, including appeals to human rights bodies, to restore court-ordered access. “This is not just a political dispute,” Kasim said. “It is a human rights emergency. Pressure must come from every direction. We draw strength from him, but we need to know he is safe.” Responding to Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s claim in a Zeteo interview that Imran’s sons can meet him, Jemima said, “They’re not even allowed to speak to him on the phone. No one is.” HRCP voices concern The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said it was concerned about the conditions of Imran’s incarceration and the repeated denial of meetings with family members and lawyers. “Allegations indicating that he has been unable to meet close relatives, associates or legal counsel warrant urgent clarification, as regular and unhindered access to immediate family and counsel is a fundamental safeguard against isolation and misuse of detention powers,” it wrote on X. HRCP urged the federal government and the Punjab Home Department to ensure that all procedures “comply with constitutional due-process protections and international standards for humane treatment.” END/UNB/FH/1850 Hrs  

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested a presidential pardon as he stands trial on long-running corruption charges that have sharply divided the country. The move drew swift indignation Sunday from opposition leaders and government watchdog groups, while some Israelis voiced support and suggested it was time for the nation to move on. The president’s office described the request as “extraordinary” and carrying “significant implications.” At issue are both the integrity of Israel’s justice system and Netanyahu’s continued grip on political power. Here’s what to know. The charges Netanyahu is the only sitting prime minister in Israel’s history to stand trial. He is charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases accusing him of exchanging favors with wealthy political supporters including a telecom company, a Hollywood producer and a newspaper publisher. The Justice Ministry announced the indictments in the three cases in 2019, after years of investigations, and the trial began in May 2020. Netanyahu rejects the allegations and has described the case as a witch hunt orchestrated by the media, police and judiciary. He has not been convicted of anything. Netanyahu has repeatedly requested postponements of his testimony, citing diplomatic engagements or security issues around Israel’s wars in the past two years with Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. Earlier delays in the trial were caused in part by years of political crisis that gridlocked Israel, with Netanyahu returning to office in late 2022. The delays have angered many Israelis, including some parents of hostages long held in Gaza who accused Netanyahu of drawing out the war with Hamas as part of efforts to stay in office. Netanyahu’s argument The prime minister has portrayed himself in the trial as the victim of a “deep state” conspiracy trying to oust him. He said his pardon request would help unify Israel at a time of momentous change in the Middle East, and asserted that an “immediate conclusion of the trial would greatly help to lower the flames and promote the broad reconciliation that our country so desperately needs.” Some government ministers, including Defense Minister Israel Katz, expressed support for his request. Just weeks ago, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly urged Israel to pardon Netanyahu, turning to President Isaac Herzog during his speech to Israel’s parliament last month. Earlier this month, Trump also sent a letter to Herzog calling the corruption case “political, unjustified prosecution.” Netanyahu mentioned Trump's request in his statement Sunday. Herzog is a former political rival of Netanyahu, but the men have a good working relationship. Herzog in the past has said he believes the best way to end this legal chapter would be through a settlement between prosecutors and Netanyahu’s lawyers. Many Israelis are sensitive to issues involving Netanyahu and the law. Shortly after forming his current government in late 2022, the prime minister launched a plan to overhaul the justice system. That sparked huge anti-government protests as opponents accused him of trying to weaken the system of checks and balances and having a conflict of interest at a time when he was on trial. The plan was revived earlier this year after being put on hold after the outbreak of the war in Gaza. The criticism Opponents of the pardon request said it could weaken democratic institutions and send a dangerous message that some people in Israel are above the law. “He basically says, ‘I’m completely innocent, I’m sure that I can prove this innocence, but not for my own interest, for the country’s interest I’m requesting this pardon,’" said Yohanan Plesner, president of The Israel Democracy Institute. "So there is no assumption of responsibility whatsoever, and this might project a problematic message to all public figures and to what our public norms might look like.” Opposition leader Yair Lapid said Netanyahu cannot be granted a pardon “without an admission of guilt, an expression of remorse and an immediate retirement from political life.” Legal experts said the pardon request cannot stop the trial. The only way to stop it is to ask the attorney general to withhold the proceedings, said Emi Palmor, former director general of the Justice Ministry. What’s next The pardon request will be sent to the Justice Ministry for opinions and then transferred to the legal adviser in the Office of the President, which will formulate additional opinions. Experts said the president has broad discretion to grant one, and oversight is limited. However, “as a rule, the president reviews a pardon request only after all legal proceedings have ended. The possibility of a pre-conviction pardon ... is extremely rare,” The Israel Democracy Institute wrote earlier this month. “A pardon before conviction, while legal proceedings are ongoing, threatens the rule of law and seriously undermines the principle of equality before the law.”