Netanyahu knew full well when he submitted his request that it had no merit, but he judged it would spark a public debate in which even opponents of the pardon would treat it as a legitimate request. He judged correctly

Beitar Jerusalem fans waved the flag of the late Rabbi Meir Kahane's far-right Kach movement at a match against an Arab-Israeli team on Monday. A day earlier, a security official confiscated a shirt reading 'FCK BNGVR,' a reference to far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, from Hapoel Tel Aviv fans