"Protesters rallied outside President Isaac Herzog's residence in Tel Aviv on Sunday, urging him to reject Benjamin Netanyahu's request for a pardon and to allow the prime minister's corruption trial to proceed. Footage filmed outside the president's home in Tel Aviv on Sunday shows crowds of protesters holding Israeli flags and banners, chanting slogans against the prime minister. Demonstrators are also seen brandishing bananas against what they called a 'banana‑republic' pardon attempt. "Bibi is a criminal from many aspects, and we think that the trial should continue, and there is no option from any aspect, legally, socially, whatever, that he will get any reduction from our president," a resident said. "I get the feeling that there is some deal here, that Herzog owes Bibi something. It all fits together. It's not exactly a pardon, it's some sort of... what happened in 1993," he added. In 1993, Interior Minister Aryeh Deri and Deputy Minister Raphael Pinhasi resigned under indictment, setting a Supreme Court precedent that any Israeli minister facing serious charges must step down, or be fired by the prime minister. Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, has been on trial for five years over three separate corruption cases, including bribery, fraud and breach of trust. He denies the charges, and his lawyers said in a 111-page letter to the president that he still expects a full acquittal. Hours before Sunday's protest, Netanyahu formally asked Herzog for a pardon to end his trial, without admitting any guilt. Legal experts say this is unusual under Israeli law, where pardons typically follow a conviction. The request came weeks after US President Donald Trump publicly urged Herzog to intervene during a speech to Israel's parliament. Beyond domestic charges, Netanyahu is also wanted by the Hague-based International Criminal Court. In November 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the war in Gaza. Meanwhile, several international human‑rights organisations, including the Israeli NGO, B'Tselem, have described Israel's actions in Gaza as constituting 'apartheid' or 'genocide' under international law. Netanyahu rejects the accusations, calling them politically motivated and claiming that Israel's military operations only aim to target Hamas militants."